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Heat. Heat.

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Heat. Heat.

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Heat. Heat.

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Heat. Heat.

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Heat.

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Heat.

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» [clears throat]

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» Good afternoon,
City of Southport Board of Alderman,

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June 11th, 2026. Meeting is now called
to order. Thank you for those in

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attendance and those watching remotely.
We welcome you. Our invocation will be

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by Reverend Annette Clemens. She was
born in Southport. She is pastor of

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Carver's Creek AM Zion Church and her
home church is Brown's Chapel AM Zion

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Church of Southport.
This invocation will be followed by the

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pledge of allegiance. Please stand.

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this afternoon, oh God, thanking you for
your mercy and for your grace. For God,

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truly mercy suits our case. And Father,
we thank you to be able to gather in

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places like this, oh God, to take care
of the business of the city. We lift up

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the city of Southport before you right
now in the mighty name of Jesus. We lift

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up the leadership, oh God, that they
will serve with humility, oh God, with

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integrity and with love, oh God. For
Father, we know that there comes a day

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when we're all going to have to give
them account. So Father, we pray that

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all that is done here be pleasing in
thine sight. This is your servant's

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prayer, and I pray it in the mighty name
of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.

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» Amen. Amen.

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» I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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Thank you, Reverend Clemens, for those
beautiful remarks. Our invocation will

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remember
grace and mercy and humility. So, thank

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you as we do the people's work.
Uh item D is um special recognition.

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First [snorts] will be the uh
presentation by the um

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uh FPT
FP tower incorporated.

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[laughter]

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They are they are not here. So, um,
yeah, y'all may have seen this, uh, in

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the paper and, uh, we'll bring them back
at a, uh, at a later meeting. Um, I'll

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read the two proclamations for this
evening, the, uh, Gooni bird

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proclamation and the Junth proclamation.

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and if you're with the uh Goonberg um
artist appreciation if you would like to

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come up and join me.

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Oh, great. Thank you. Hey.

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Okay, great. All righty.
City of Southport Gooni Bird Artist

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Appreciation Proclamation.
Whereas the anonymous artist behind

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Southport's beloved Goonirds has
brightened our community one colorful

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creation at a time, proving that a
little imagination, a splash of paint,

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and a generous heart can make a
difference. And whereas though her

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whimsical and unmistakable Gooni birds,
she has sparked smiles, inspired

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conversations, and occasionally sent
people on delightful adventures to

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discover where the next Goonird might
appear. And whereas, while she has

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chosen to remain anonymous, her artwork
has become instantly recognizable and

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her kindness has become a cherished part
of the Southport experience. and whereas

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her creativity has transformed simple
pieces of art into symbols of joy,

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encouragement, and community spirit,
reminding us that happiness is often

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found in the most unexpected places and
things. and wears beyond spreading joy

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through her Gooni birds. She has
generously shared her artwork in support

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of numerous charitable organizations and
community causes, proving that kindness,

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like a Gooni bird, has a way of showing
up wherever it is needed most. And

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whereas whenever a local cause has
needed support, she has consistently

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answered the call, demonstrating that
generosity, and community spirit have a

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way of spreading throughout a community,
much like the excitement of spotting a

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Gooni bird. And whereas through her
talent, compassion, and quiet dedication

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to making the world a little brighter,
she has enriched the lives of residents

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and visitors alike and has become a
treasured part of Southport's unique

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character. Now therefore, I, Dr. Joseph
E. Hat, Mayor of the City of Southport,

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on behalf of the board of alderman, do
hereby commend and extend the heartfelt

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appreciation of the city of Southport to
the anonymous Goonird artist for her

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lasting contributions and thank her for
making Southport a little brighter, a

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little kinder, and a lot more colorful
through the joy, encouragement, and

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sense of connection inspired by her
gooni birds.

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I can stand here.
This is

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» okay.

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[laughter]

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» Thank you.

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artist who the heart of our
group and then we have

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supporters and shout out
artist and we also have

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that it's all
a village

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this.

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It's a good resemblance of me, I think.
Look at that.

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[clears throat]

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» [clears throat]

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» Next proclamation, city of Southport
Junth Proclamation.

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Whereas on September 22nd, 1862, Abraham
Lincoln issued the Emancipation

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Proclamation declaring that as of
January 1st, 1863,

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all enslaved people in our nation will
be vented forward and forever free. And

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where is it almost it took almost three
more years of conflict to end the civil

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war. And whereas on June 19th 1865,
General Gordon Granger arrived in

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Galveston, Texas and announced freedom
to some of the last enslaved people in

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the United States. And whereas Junth is
recognized as the oldest nationally

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celebrated commemoration of the ending
of slavery in the United States and

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serves as an opportunity to reflect on
our nation's history, honor the

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resilience and achievements of
African-Americans, and celebrate the

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progress made toward equality and
justice. And whereas Jean Teeth

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encourages all Americans to learn from
the past, recognize the contributions of

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African-Americans to our communities and
nation, and work together to foster

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understanding, respect, and opportunity
for all people. And whereas the city of

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Southport joins communities across North
Carolina and the nation in recognizing

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the significance of Junth and
celebrating the diversity, strength, and

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unity that enrich our community. Now
therefore, I Dr. Joseph P. Hayden, mayor

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of the city of Southport, on behalf of
the board of alderman, do proclaim June

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19th, 2026 as Junth day in the city of
Southport and encourage all residents to

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observe this occasion through
reflection, education, community

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involvement, and celebration of the
enduring principles of freedom and

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equality.

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» [clears throat]

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» I have um opening remarks
concerning the historic preservation

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commission and the local historic
district overlay map amendment and

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standards.
John Julius Doer, river pilot,

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Bonner Herring, Dr. Carter Charles,
Travis Charles, his descendants. I hear

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you. Ephim Goss, river pilot. Katherine
Huff, descendant. I hear you.

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Thomas Brinkman, river pilot.
Tommy Harlson, descendant. I hear you.

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Families of Tontol Hickman Lachland
Davis descendant Betsy Carol. I hear

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you.
Citizens,

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Mr. Howard, a son of Southport, former
mayor and his wife BJ. I hear you.

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Paul Swinsson,
owner of Provision Company. I hear you,

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sir.
Former mayor Sandy Spencer, a daughter

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of Southport, I hear you.
As mayor, I heard from all of you, every

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citizen that wanted to comment on this
issue.

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So for many against the historic
district as currently proposed

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at the mayor's town hall and the public
hearing, you the majority of citizens in

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the district have asked us to consider
alternatives.

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And what was so good about both of the
town hall and the public hearing that I

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believe everyone that wanted to speak
publicly and make their wishes known

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were able to do so.
I hear you and this board hears you.

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Moving forward, historic preservation
will be a voluntary advisory committee.

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It will not be a quasi judicial board.
It will be a committee, not a

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commission.

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I heard you. I saw the signs.

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Historic

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preservation is still a major focus for
our city as it is for you.

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The method is what was not agreed upon.
I believe we now have a compromise in

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which we can move forward and allow the
city staff and historic preservation

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committee to revise the present
document.

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So citizens will have guidelines to help
them if they so choose with new

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buildings, homes, and major renovations.
Historic preservation and property

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rights retained with the voluntary
advisory committee and no quasi judicial

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elements.
Now let us turn to how we prioritize the

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issues for this evening. We have five
public hearings, including the most

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important public hearing on the city
budget. That should be our main focus

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this evening. I want to reassure all
citizens that historic preservation is

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important to our city, to the first
lady, and to me as mayor.

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The evidence is obvious. We held a
patriotic and inspiring first flag

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raising on the returned replica of the
Southport Weather Tower. We can all

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agree on historic preservation and
projects like this and I believe we now

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have a consensus and agreement as how we
move forward in this endeavor.

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You may or may not know that there's a
Senate bill 1047 of regulatory reform

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section 15.
It states that 50% of the residents in a

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proposed historic district must request
that designation and local government

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must adopt by three-fifths vote.
I'm I'm estimating tonight that if that

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vote was taken today that under the new
guidelines of a historic preservation

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committee, a voluntary
uh committee

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voluntary aspect that it would pass by
more than 50% easily. And so um that is

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where we are. Give us time to bring this
forward. your input will be there and uh

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we'll move forward in this endeavor. So,
thank you.

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» Thank you. Thank you so much. Um item E
is uh public comment. You have three

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minutes, name, address, and a topic. And
if you would save your comments that are

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specific to one of the public hearings
uh for that time when we uh open it up.

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So, Madame Clerk,

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» Rich, are you wanting to speak on the
public hearing for the budget?

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» Okay. Um
Jody Wilma.

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» Yeah. Jody, she's going to get roll you
to the uh closer to the microphone and

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bring it to you so we can hear you.

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I think that that as a kid when I was
little, all my neighbors came to my

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porch in my neighborhood. And you don't
see that at all in this town anymore.

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And I think that this town and the
citizens of this town need to think

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about what we want to

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what we're providing for when it comes
to a historical district. It should be

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the people out here that are in that
area should be taking care of this

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problem. Not you as a board have to do
it. I think the people that live in

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these districts and what you choose as a
district should be the ones policing

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that district and making sure that the
houses are built back as close to what

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they look like before they were tore
apart. We have a lot outside that

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district that needs to be looked at
also.

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So you see this is what the board needs
to learn and this is what the citizens

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need. We need to work together to to
figure out a common goat. And sitting at

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a bar and and and not taking care of
this is not and expecting this six to do

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it. That ain't going to happen. I hate
to say it to the ones out here, but we

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all need to come together for the common
goal that we want to pro. And I don't

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think a building is necessarily what Old
Southport's about. It's the people in

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the town. We can build any kind of
building,

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but what is the people in the town doing
to be nice to each other?

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» Does that not make sense? It
>> does. Yes.

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Thank Thank you, Jody. Well said. Thank
you. Uh, Madame Clerk,

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» I have a a letter I'm going to read to
the city of Southport mayor, board of

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alderman, and staff. As a Southport
voter, business operator, and resident

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at 504B West Brunswick Street, I am
writing in regard to item O on the

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agenda for the June 11th, 2026 meeting
of the Southport Board of Alderman,

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North Carolina case law resulting from
Booney Publishers versus Burlington City

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Council requires that a municipal
government must disclose certain

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material information before discussing a
possible purchase of private property,

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specifically the address or specific
location of the property. the names of

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the property owners and the proposed
purpose for acquiring the property. I

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request that this information be made
available to the public during tonight's

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meeting prior to close session to
discuss this matter. Thank you. Jason

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Robbins.
>> Thank you. Who's next? Madam Cler.

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» Uh Jeremy, did you want to speak at
public comment? No. Okay.

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Um Kathy Cabron.

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» Good evening. My name is Kathy Cabraw
and I live at 308 West Street. Um I had

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planned to speak about the Historic
Preservation Commission and I want to

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thank the mayor for his comments. Um and
I think that was um the right way to go.

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Uh, it's hard to say at this point
whether or not more than 50% sorry

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whether more than 50% would be in favor
of uh a historic district in Southport

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and I look forward to seeing the revised
guidelines and how that will work on a

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voluntary basis. So, but I did want to
thank you

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Madame Clark.

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» Katie Boyd.

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» It is
welcome, Rose.

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» Thank you. [clears throat] I feel like
this should be orange because I feel

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like the Lorax.
I have warned everybody for 23 years. I

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do historic ghost tours. And my stories
don't just come from a book that I've

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picked up for free, but it came from,
like Jody was talking about, it came

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from going to people's house, listening
to people's grandparents, going through

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addicts of stuff and newspaper records.
And I have put together lovingly for 23

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years a magnificent product. And in that
23 years, I've had to be a good steward

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of this history, which speaks to the
issue of historic preservation,

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which means that means you educate the
children at the schools for free. It

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means you clean up graveyards for free.
Means you clean up after storms in your

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neighbors houses for free for 23 years.
And I've not asked one thing for 23

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years. But I'm asking you this, and this
is what worries me about historic

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preservation. And Mayor Haydam, I really
do appreciate your words cuz if one

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thing I think we can all agree on in
this room is that in our own way, we

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love we love Southport and it's hard to
stop progress. But with oral history in

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00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:53,839
particular, it's especially pervasive.
It would be akin to us taking a as I've

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00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:58,560
said in like our state magazine, a
chainsaw to the Indian Trail Tree.

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How many of you would be up in arms
about that?

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00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:07,440
What if I said somebody's going to put a
Dollar General on Fort Johnston's lawn?

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00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:13,440
How many of you would be upset about
that? And we have a company that's come

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00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:18,400
in that's not followed one iod of this
tour ordinance that I've had to follow

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00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:23,680
for years. Operate,
take my business, take my individual

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00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:29,359
stories that are my intellectual
property and operate

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00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:32,800
under your noses. And that is what
worries me when we talk about historic

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00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:36,960
preservation because these are just
words

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00:41:34,319 --> 00:41:43,760
unless you implement them. I can go down
this ordinance and give you five reasons

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00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:47,280
why we need to be worried about that.
So, when it comes to historic

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00:41:44,960 --> 00:41:53,200
preservation, it's not just I know I do
the ghost walk and ironically speaking,

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00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:57,440
walk the walk, but that's what I'm going
to ask all of you to consider doing is

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00:41:55,200 --> 00:42:03,760
taking a look with me at this ordinance
as it speaks to historic preservation

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00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:08,480
and putting some there's some caveats in
here that are useful.

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Um,
in in closing,

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we have a duty to not only respect our
shared history, but you have a privilege

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00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:27,440
and a duty to also share in protecting
that. And it's not an easy one. But I'm

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00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:32,319
asking you to take the opportunity to do
what you are called to do, each and

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00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:37,040
every one of us. And not only that,
protect our local businesses. I will

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00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:40,720
also say in closing because I probably
don't look at time very well. My husband

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00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:46,520
tells me I'm on late for everything.
See?

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00:42:42,240 --> 00:42:46,520
Oh, that's is that my timer?

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00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:56,160
When it comes to our local businesses
and especially we cannot allow vulture

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00:42:53,920 --> 00:43:01,119
businesses to come in, view us as
carcasses and be parasitic and feed. But

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00:42:59,359 --> 00:43:05,520
the people that operate in this town
give back to our town. Thank you.

248
00:43:08,319 --> 00:43:14,000
Thank you,
Madam Clerk.

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00:43:12,560 --> 00:43:19,319
» Steve Moore, did you want to speak at
public comment or at a public hearing?

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00:43:15,839 --> 00:43:19,319
» Public. Okay.

251
00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:31,440
» Good evening, mayor, members of the
board of alderman, city manager,

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00:43:27,839 --> 00:43:34,880
and residents. Tonight, I want to speak
about public trust.

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00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:42,240
Southport. I'm sorry I left. I will back
up. I think I left out my address. My

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00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:47,920
name is Steve Moore and I reside at 102
Park Avenue. Tonight I want to speak

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00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:52,800
about public trust. Southport is a
special place. We are fortunate to have

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00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:57,839
engaged citizens, dedicated employees,
and elected leaders willing to serve.

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00:43:55,839 --> 00:44:04,240
Public trust is the foundation that
allows all of that to work.

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00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:10,560
Over the past year, there have been
matters involving elected officials that

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00:44:06,480 --> 00:44:15,680
generated public discussion and concern.
The legal process has addressed those

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00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:22,000
matters, and I totally respect that. My
concern is not the legal outcome or

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00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:27,920
outcomes. My concern is the silence.
Several weeks ago, I emailed the mayor,

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00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:31,280
city manager, and select members of this
board

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00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:35,440
regarding a matter that had received
quite a significant amount of public

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00:44:32,960 --> 00:44:41,119
attention. I did not ask anyone to agree
with me. I did not ask anyone to take

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00:44:38,319 --> 00:44:47,119
action. I simply asked for
acknowledgment that my concerns as a

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00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:54,400
citizen were had been received.
I have not received a response from

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00:44:49,599 --> 00:44:59,200
anyone and that was 14 days ago. To me,
public trust is not about whether we

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00:44:56,640 --> 00:45:03,760
agree. Public trust begins with
listening. It begins with acknowledging

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00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:08,400
citizens that take time to participate
in their government. The same principle

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00:45:06,240 --> 00:45:12,160
applies to decisions before this board,
including issues such as historic

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00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:18,079
preservation.
Citizens deserve to know where issues

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00:45:15,359 --> 00:45:23,440
stand and what decisions are being
considered and when those decisions will

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00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:28,160
be made. The same principle applies to
the budget. I support adding police

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00:45:26,079 --> 00:45:32,560
officers. Public safety is uber
important and officers do an excellent

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00:45:30,319 --> 00:45:37,200
job. Our officers do an excellent job of
protecting our community. Good

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00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:41,680
governance also means looking carefully
at timing, priorities, and long-term

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00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:46,640
planning. If the city can phase in the
hiring of new officers over several

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00:45:44,079 --> 00:45:51,839
months, creating savings in the upcoming
budget, which I do have experience with

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00:45:48,720 --> 00:45:55,680
state budgets, about 30 years of them,
while still fully funding these

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00:45:53,599 --> 00:46:00,000
positions in future budgets, that is
responsible planning. It demonstrates

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00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:04,800
that growth and fiscal stewardship can
work together.

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00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:08,960
I would also encourage the board to
reflect on how your meetings are

283
00:46:06,319 --> 00:46:14,800
conducted. The purpose of public public
comment is to be heard is for citizens

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00:46:12,240 --> 00:46:20,880
to be heard. The purpose of the board
during that time is to listen.

285
00:46:18,560 --> 00:46:25,680
Finally, public trust is shaped far
beyond these walls. Social media, local

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00:46:23,359 --> 00:46:30,720
news outlets, and online discussions
have become the front door through which

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00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:34,880
many people experience Southport.
Facts disappear because they're un

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00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:39,200
excuse me. Facts do not disappear
because they're uncomfortable. What

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00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:44,560
builds confidence is transparency,
communication, and leadership. Citizens

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00:46:42,319 --> 00:46:49,520
do not expect perfection from elected
officials. We expect transparency. We

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00:46:46,880 --> 00:46:54,640
expect accountability. We expect
respectful discussion and we expect

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00:46:51,599 --> 00:47:00,480
decisions to be made and explained.
Trust is earned one decision, one

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00:46:57,280 --> 00:47:05,000
conversation, and one response at a
time. Thank you for your time.

294
00:47:09,040 --> 00:47:14,040
Madam clerk,
>> Larry Cabraw,

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00:47:19,839 --> 00:47:29,599
» Harry Cabraw, 308 West.
Uh, Mayor Alderman, uh, I wanted to get

296
00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:38,079
up here because of my behavior during
the last, uh, hearing. I um disregarded

297
00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:43,440
your uh request for decorum and for
civility and I wanted to publicly

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00:47:39,760 --> 00:47:47,359
apologize to Miss Bray um cuz I publicly
made a comment about her defending her

299
00:47:45,680 --> 00:47:55,880
position which she had every right to
do. So that was all I wanted to say.

300
00:47:52,640 --> 00:47:55,880
» Thank you,

301
00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:07,160
» Madam Clerk.
Ed Dice, are you want to speak at public

302
00:48:03,440 --> 00:48:07,160
comment or public hearing

303
00:48:07,359 --> 00:48:12,568
or none?
[clears throat]

304
00:48:15,040 --> 00:48:19,079
Um, thick braid the

305
00:48:30,160 --> 00:48:34,680
I wanted to do public.
>> Yes.

306
00:48:35,920 --> 00:48:45,839
» Mayor Port of Alderman. Good evening. My
name is Sik Smith, 319 West Brunswick

307
00:48:41,680 --> 00:48:53,040
Street. I had prepared um some words
regarding the HPC, but uh mayor, you

308
00:48:50,000 --> 00:49:00,240
countered them uh extremely well for
which um um thank you for what you uh

309
00:48:57,760 --> 00:49:06,240
what you said to us. So, I'm going to
make this up on the fly now, but um I

310
00:49:04,079 --> 00:49:11,200
was going to talk about respect for the
people that live in the historic

311
00:49:08,160 --> 00:49:15,839
district. Um
and I would like to continue that

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00:49:13,680 --> 00:49:21,200
thought for the words that I'm going to
use right now.

313
00:49:18,319 --> 00:49:25,760
We heard you,
mayor.

314
00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:32,000
We heard your words before the election.
We heard them after the election. and we

315
00:49:29,119 --> 00:49:40,400
hear them tonight.
But words without action

316
00:49:35,200 --> 00:49:46,720
are just hollow, empty words. And I
don't think we are here to continue this

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00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:52,160
discussion based on promises and on
words.

318
00:49:48,240 --> 00:49:57,760
But I hope and I think I can speak for
the red shirt here, but I hope that

319
00:49:55,280 --> 00:50:02,240
tonight we can put those words into
action

320
00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:10,880
and have a discussion about what you
just uh shared with us um mayor and have

321
00:50:06,559 --> 00:50:17,200
a vote. have a vote that you are
dismantling, abandoning the Historic

322
00:50:14,400 --> 00:50:22,720
Preservation Commission
and that you are replacing it by a

323
00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:29,359
voluntary group of people that care for
Southport, and that will help anybody

324
00:50:25,440 --> 00:50:34,800
that plans to build or repair his home
here, that we will be there with

325
00:50:31,680 --> 00:50:40,880
guidelines and support to ensure they do
the right thing. But if you do not vote

326
00:50:37,520 --> 00:50:45,760
tonight for the promise that you made
this evening to us, mayor, then it's

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00:50:43,119 --> 00:50:50,880
just hollow words. And I hope that we
all can agree that we are now moving

328
00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:57,920
beyond the phase of hollow words and
promises, but we'll vote and make sure

329
00:50:54,000 --> 00:51:05,319
that this quasi judicial board is no
longer in place when we all go home

330
00:51:00,400 --> 00:51:05,319
tonight. Thank you for your attention.

331
00:51:16,319 --> 00:51:24,280
Madam clerk,
>> Jim Jericho, are you speaking for a

332
00:51:20,319 --> 00:51:24,280
public comment or public hearing?

333
00:51:24,559 --> 00:51:30,400
» Okay. Um, and then I believe everybody
else that haven't called is for a public

334
00:51:28,720 --> 00:51:35,440
hearing.
If not,

335
00:51:31,359 --> 00:51:35,440
» okay. Um, David Miller. Good

336
00:51:40,160 --> 00:51:48,319
evening, mayor and board. Hopefully,
this person will not get too upset with

337
00:51:45,200 --> 00:51:54,880
me, but we have a individual in the
crowd that has done something very, very

338
00:51:51,520 --> 00:51:59,839
special. She's a resident of Southport.
Her husband's Captain Bullard of the

339
00:51:56,640 --> 00:52:03,839
fire department. And Mary Bullard has
passed is she's a family nurse

340
00:52:01,760 --> 00:52:08,839
practitioner. And I think everybody
should give her a hand for the cops that

341
00:52:05,599 --> 00:52:08,839
she's done.

342
00:52:10,559 --> 00:52:13,720
» Thank you.

343
00:52:21,200 --> 00:52:28,000
» Yes. Congratulations, U Mary, on that
great achievement. Stand up, Mary, so

344
00:52:26,319 --> 00:52:33,400
everyone can see you. [laughter] I know
you're I know you're mortified. There

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00:52:30,240 --> 00:52:33,400
you go.

346
00:52:39,101 --> 00:52:41,121
» [clears throat]

347
00:52:43,760 --> 00:52:50,240
» Item F is the ethics statement. If any
members know of any conflict of interest

348
00:52:48,480 --> 00:52:55,040
or the appearance of a conflict of
interest concerning matters on the

349
00:52:51,839 --> 00:52:59,760
agenda, please so state at this time.
>> Mr. Mr. Mayor, I have the appearance of

350
00:52:56,880 --> 00:53:05,520
a conflict on the
um ABC board. My brother has applied for

351
00:53:03,920 --> 00:53:10,480
that board.
>> All right. Thank you, Alderman Kelly.

352
00:53:07,839 --> 00:53:17,119
Anyone else? [clears throat]
>> Okay. Thank you. So noted. Uh item G, uh

353
00:53:14,960 --> 00:53:25,280
approval of the agenda.
>> Mr. Mayor, um I'd like for us to

354
00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:31,520
um
add an item to the agenda

355
00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:37,040
based on what you said earlier about the
HPC. I would love for us to add HPC as

356
00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:43,760
the first item to the agenda so we can
formalize what you said and have a vote

357
00:53:40,240 --> 00:53:53,000
to send it back to staff for guidance
and back to the HPC for the um new

358
00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:53,000
guidelines to come forward to us again.

359
00:53:55,040 --> 00:53:59,280
» Second.
>> Okay, we we have a motion.

360
00:53:57,680 --> 00:54:05,359
» Second.
>> We have a second. Uh any discussion on

361
00:54:02,800 --> 00:54:10,079
this before
um

362
00:54:07,040 --> 00:54:14,960
I'll ask the uh city attorney is that
necessary

363
00:54:11,680 --> 00:54:19,359
to do this in terms of uh moving forward
or

364
00:54:16,800 --> 00:54:23,200
» sir it's up to the Okay.
>> All right. We have a motion in a second.

365
00:54:21,599 --> 00:54:27,240
Any further discussion? Yeah. I'm asking
for discussion.

366
00:54:23,920 --> 00:54:27,240
» Yeah. Um

367
00:54:31,280 --> 00:54:38,640
We have an ordinance that establishes
the historic preservation commission

368
00:54:36,319 --> 00:54:46,319
that would require
uh dismantling that which is you to do

369
00:54:42,800 --> 00:54:50,559
that. There's a process
and then

370
00:54:48,240 --> 00:54:59,280
replacing it with what we would want to
replace it with. At this point, I would

371
00:54:55,440 --> 00:55:06,640
be happy to support a uh a motion to ask
staff to come back to us with

372
00:55:02,000 --> 00:55:13,520
information about what our uh paths
forward can be to get to what we want to

373
00:55:10,480 --> 00:55:17,440
do. I mean, there there are processes.
We can't just forget the fact that we

374
00:55:15,839 --> 00:55:22,480
have an ordinance establishing
something. So, we have to get rid of the

375
00:55:20,720 --> 00:55:27,359
ordinance. and there's a process for
that. Then if we're going to create

376
00:55:24,960 --> 00:55:33,280
something else, there's a process for
that. So while this doesn't say we don't

377
00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:38,800
want to get there, we do need to do it
the right way. So,

378
00:55:36,240 --> 00:55:43,680
would you be interested in amending your
ordinance or altering your ordinance to

379
00:55:41,680 --> 00:55:49,440
» It's a motion motion.
>> Your I'm sorry, your your your motion to

380
00:55:46,480 --> 00:55:55,359
ask staff to come back to us with the
appropriate language for what we need to

381
00:55:52,319 --> 00:55:57,599
do to go forward with this, all the
steps that we need to take.

382
00:55:56,720 --> 00:56:00,319
» She's just trying to get it.
>> Well, I'm just getting it on the agenda

383
00:55:59,119 --> 00:56:03,599
so we can do that.
>> The city manager to do exactly what

384
00:56:02,160 --> 00:56:06,480
you're talking about without any of
this. So, with or without it being on

385
00:56:05,760 --> 00:56:11,040
the agenda,
>> but we didn't we didn't have consensus

386
00:56:08,960 --> 00:56:14,880
to be [clears throat] able to have the
city manager go in that direction. So, I

387
00:56:13,040 --> 00:56:19,200
just wanted to put it on the agenda so
we could vote on it and get consensus.

388
00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:23,599
» So, the motion tonight is to add it to
the agenda and I just say let's call the

389
00:56:21,280 --> 00:56:28,799
vote and then uh certainly bring this
back at next month's uh meeting.

390
00:56:26,960 --> 00:56:33,520
» I don't think that's what the motion is.
No, the

391
00:56:30,720 --> 00:56:37,599
no the see the motion was to add it to
the agenda and and [clears throat] and

392
00:56:35,359 --> 00:56:41,359
then to vote to
dismantle it.

393
00:56:38,559 --> 00:56:44,240
» Not dismant to give guidance to staff to
figure out what next steps are to bring

394
00:56:43,599 --> 00:56:49,119
that back to us.
>> Well, we can give them guidance without

395
00:56:46,160 --> 00:56:52,559
um you know a motion or putting it on
the agenda. I mean, you don't want to

396
00:56:50,960 --> 00:56:56,640
shred your term paper if you're going to
revise it. And so I don't think we need

397
00:56:54,720 --> 00:57:01,440
to do that and I think everyone in here
would agree with that uh metaphor.

398
00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:07,040
» So just call the vote.
>> So yeah just in in terms of whether or

399
00:57:03,359 --> 00:57:11,040
not uh the motion is to whether we put
>> add it to the agenda. Um by showing

400
00:57:10,319 --> 00:57:16,880
hands
>> may I speak?

401
00:57:12,240 --> 00:57:22,319
» Oh sure. Um, first we had a historic pro
preservation committee that worked on

402
00:57:19,359 --> 00:57:27,839
this document of 103 pages for three and
a half years.

403
00:57:24,640 --> 00:57:34,079
They they have sent that document to the
board of alderman. The mayor has had a

404
00:57:31,599 --> 00:57:40,480
workshop which I attended and greatly
appreciate. We've also had a public

405
00:57:36,799 --> 00:57:47,200
hearing and have heard the comments
and I recorded all the comments on this

406
00:57:42,640 --> 00:57:53,760
page, 62 of them, and it was a 8020.
No.

407
00:57:48,799 --> 00:58:01,280
Um I do think to formalize the process
um that the board of alderman as Sig

408
00:57:57,280 --> 00:58:06,240
Freed mentioned should vote to reject
the document that was sent to the board

409
00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:10,400
of alderman.
We've had a workshop.

410
00:58:08,400 --> 00:58:15,440
We've had public comment and I
appreciate the mayor's comments, but we

411
00:58:12,799 --> 00:58:21,839
should have a vote tonight
to um end the document as it currently

412
00:58:19,119 --> 00:58:26,880
exists. Paul, do you remember the uh
street sweeper hitting our agenda three

413
00:58:23,680 --> 00:58:29,359
times? We voted yes all three times, but
just because we vote on something

414
00:58:28,240 --> 00:58:32,960
doesn't mean it's not coming back
tomorrow. So, at the end of the day,

415
00:58:31,440 --> 00:58:37,280
we've got a lot on this agenda. The
agenda was set last week, and I would

416
00:58:35,680 --> 00:58:40,720
just encourage that we call the vote.
>> Yeah.

417
00:58:39,359 --> 00:58:46,160
That's what I was getting ready to do
until I was uh No, not by you. He had

418
00:58:44,079 --> 00:58:52,799
comments, further discussion. All right.
Uh all in favor of putting the uh

419
00:58:50,480 --> 00:58:59,520
Historic Preservation Commission on the
agenda. Uh raise your hand.

420
00:58:56,640 --> 00:59:04,960
Okay. All opposed.
And I also am opposed. So the motion

421
00:59:01,440 --> 00:59:09,119
does not carry. Thank you.
We're going to give staff staff has been

422
00:59:07,040 --> 00:59:13,920
instructed and we're going to revise our
term paper. We're not going to shred it.

423
00:59:11,839 --> 00:59:20,000
And if you can't if you can't believe
me, then that's that's on you. That's

424
00:59:17,440 --> 00:59:27,760
that's not on us. We are going to move
in the direction that I stated and give

425
00:59:24,559 --> 00:59:31,359
staff time to revise it and bring it
back. It's not going to be quasy

426
00:59:29,280 --> 00:59:37,839
judicial. It's going to be voluntary,
but there we have to be involved. There

427
00:59:33,760 --> 00:59:41,839
has to be structure uh for it. And so
we'll move forward and we'll and we'll

428
00:59:39,680 --> 00:59:46,319
have historic preservation and it will
be in the uh

429
00:59:44,400 --> 00:59:48,640
in a way that everyone will be pleased
with.

430
00:59:46,799 --> 00:59:52,359
» Mr. Mayor, I'd like to mo make a motion
to approve the agenda.

431
00:59:53,119 --> 01:00:01,200
» Motion to uh approve the agenda as
written. And there's a by alderman Carol

432
00:59:57,760 --> 01:00:06,079
and a second by uh Alderman Meller. Any
further discussion?

433
01:00:03,680 --> 01:00:13,119
Okay. All in favor?
Any opposed?

434
01:00:09,040 --> 01:00:19,799
» So two opposed. So 42. All right. Thank
you. Item H, approval of the consent

435
01:00:16,799 --> 01:00:19,799
agenda.

436
01:00:21,520 --> 01:00:32,799
» Okay. Good. We have uh
uh approval of the uh consent agenda and

437
01:00:29,280 --> 01:00:38,079
a second. And quickly, there's uh
support for the Brunswick County bond

438
01:00:34,960 --> 01:00:43,520
issue. We have two finance budget issues
and we have the Bro Law Firm uh rate

439
01:00:41,200 --> 01:00:46,720
adjustment. All in favor?
>> Uh Mr. Mayor, may I may I make a

440
01:00:46,079 --> 01:00:52,240
comment?
>> Yes. Um

441
01:00:50,319 --> 01:01:02,640
the concern I have about the consent
agenda is um the board of alderman have

442
01:00:56,799 --> 01:01:08,000
not had a discussion as a group about
the school bond referendum. We did hear

443
01:01:05,920 --> 01:01:13,040
a presentation
from the school board, a PowerPoint

444
01:01:11,359 --> 01:01:21,119
presentation.
Um, but we as a board have not

445
01:01:18,799 --> 01:01:26,400
talked about the positives, the
negatives, how it'll impact Southport.

446
01:01:24,160 --> 01:01:31,440
What are we what are we getting? What
are we getting out of the school bond

447
01:01:28,160 --> 01:01:37,440
other than a new PA system at Southport
Elementary School with the possibility

448
01:01:34,240 --> 01:01:42,319
of our county taxes going up 8 cents?
So,

449
01:01:39,359 --> 01:01:45,760
my concern is is the process here.
That's all.

450
01:01:43,440 --> 01:01:49,520
» So perhaps we just pull that from the
consent agenda and add it to the agenda.

451
01:01:48,000 --> 01:01:57,280
» We can talk about it now. It's fine.
What it I believe that you if I may mad,

452
01:01:54,319 --> 01:02:03,200
» this is this is simply a support for
this to go to referendum at which we

453
01:02:00,480 --> 01:02:07,280
will all individually vote on this. I'd
like to see this go to referendum. I

454
01:02:05,599 --> 01:02:12,480
mean, everybody should have the
opportunity to be heard on what they

455
01:02:09,359 --> 01:02:17,680
want to spend on the uh on the schools.
>> And this is not saying that we should

456
01:02:14,960 --> 01:02:20,160
vote for this. This should simply that
the um

457
01:02:18,880 --> 01:02:24,240
» we support the referendum
>> support putting it on referendum.

458
01:02:22,079 --> 01:02:27,280
» We support they already have the support
for it. How

459
01:02:25,520 --> 01:02:30,640
» we support educating children. I mean,
that's wherever they are in Brunswick

460
01:02:29,119 --> 01:02:35,119
County. And that's all this letter says.
This letter says that I urge all

461
01:02:32,640 --> 01:02:40,880
eligible voters to join us in voting on
this important measure. Um

462
01:02:39,440 --> 01:02:43,680
I
>> doesn't say yes.

463
01:02:41,599 --> 01:02:48,160
» It doesn't say yes or no. I agree. I
just am concerned that the appearance is

464
01:02:46,480 --> 01:02:55,920
that we're encouraging people to vote
for and not look at it themselves.

465
01:02:52,960 --> 01:03:00,880
I will amend my motion uh to approve the
consent agenda and just ask that we pull

466
01:02:58,319 --> 01:03:10,240
that item and place it on the regular
agenda item as item 8 for discussion

467
01:03:05,599 --> 01:03:14,559
cuz my children will go to South Middle
and High even though I live in

468
01:03:12,720 --> 01:03:19,440
Southport. Mr. Gross.
>> Yeah, I I'm fine. I just like to hear it

469
01:03:16,640 --> 01:03:26,640
have a discussion before we go doing a
consent on a document that we may or may

470
01:03:22,559 --> 01:03:29,039
not agree with.
>> So we have a motion.

471
01:03:27,680 --> 01:03:36,160
» Okay. We have a motion to approve the
consent agenda with the exception of

472
01:03:31,280 --> 01:03:41,640
item one and that will become uh item uh
I8. Uh any further discussion?

473
01:03:43,680 --> 01:03:51,200
That was your motion, Alman Carol. There
was a second. Okay. By Alder Marceller.

474
01:03:48,960 --> 01:03:56,720
All in favor?
Any opposed? Okay. Motion carried. Thank

475
01:03:53,839 --> 01:03:59,960
you. So, consent agenda is approved.
Thank you.

476
01:04:00,720 --> 01:04:09,359
Next will be um
item I

477
01:04:05,760 --> 01:04:14,240
and that is um item I1 shoreline
stabilization. This is a process that

478
01:04:12,079 --> 01:04:20,640
began under Mayor Robert Howard who
appointed a committee under Chairman

479
01:04:17,760 --> 01:04:24,799
Tommy Harelson. They gave us an
excellent report. Then we made continued

480
01:04:23,039 --> 01:04:28,640
progress in my first term as mayor with
the assistance of our state legislator,

481
01:04:26,880 --> 01:04:34,240
Representative Charlie Miller and
Senator Bill Rabin. $5 million for this

482
01:04:31,760 --> 01:04:39,359
project. And always I'm grateful to our
engineers, the most underrated

483
01:04:36,640 --> 01:04:43,520
discipline there is. Without them, there
will be no roads, no bridges, no

484
01:04:41,359 --> 01:04:49,200
electricity, no clean water, no
skyscrapers, no NASA. So, it's lawyers,

485
01:04:47,039 --> 01:04:53,599
engineers, and money. And for this
project, we have all three. Our

486
01:04:51,440 --> 01:04:58,480
waterfront has been eroding. The project
is not only for Southport, Southport,

487
01:04:55,760 --> 01:05:04,720
but for our state and our country. So, I
call on city engineer Bob Jarvis to lead

488
01:05:02,000 --> 01:05:09,119
the discussion on the contract. So,
welcome, Mr. Jarvis.

489
01:05:07,680 --> 01:05:13,680
Thank you very much for those kind
words. Um, we have a couple of related

490
01:05:12,079 --> 01:05:19,599
items here and I know that you do have a
very long agenda so I will uh do my best

491
01:05:16,000 --> 01:05:24,079
to make them quick. Um, and again, good
evening. Uh, with me tonight is Jeremy

492
01:05:21,520 --> 01:05:28,480
Packard. Jeremy's uh, a project manager
with our consultant uh, who's been

493
01:05:26,240 --> 01:05:32,240
working with us on this project uh, FA
Engineering. Uh, he's here to help me

494
01:05:30,559 --> 01:05:36,720
answer questions that you may have on
the next two items. Um, as you're well

495
01:05:35,039 --> 01:05:40,799
aware, the Southport waterfront
continues to experience erosion with

496
01:05:38,559 --> 01:05:45,599
storm generated waves, commercial vessel
traffic, and rising water levels. Uh,

497
01:05:43,760 --> 01:05:51,039
the city's been working on a long-term
solution for several years, as the mayor

498
01:05:47,520 --> 01:05:55,599
indicated, uh, in coordination with FA
Olsen Associates, our engineering

499
01:05:53,119 --> 01:06:00,319
consultant. During that process,
surveys, design work were completed and

500
01:05:58,319 --> 01:06:05,599
uh easements were obtained from affected
property owners and all required permits

501
01:06:03,039 --> 01:06:09,760
have been secured. The project has been
discussed with the board on numerous

502
01:06:07,280 --> 01:06:14,720
occasions and workshops were conducted
to gather community input. The resulting

503
01:06:12,640 --> 01:06:20,000
design uses several shoreline
stabilization techniques including

504
01:06:17,119 --> 01:06:25,520
offshore breakwaters, beach nourishment,
dune restoration, native plantings, and

505
01:06:22,400 --> 01:06:31,280
rock revetment. The construction uh of
the project was recently bid. We had

506
01:06:28,640 --> 01:06:37,520
four competitive bids ranging from the
low bid of approximately $3.3 million to

507
01:06:34,960 --> 01:06:42,720
the high bid of approximately $4.3
million.

508
01:06:40,000 --> 01:06:49,319
Civil Works Contracting of Wilmington
submitted the lowest responsive bid in

509
01:06:45,599 --> 01:06:49,319
the amount of 3,294,6747.

510
01:06:52,319 --> 01:07:00,000
There were two other bids that were
within 4% of the low bid. Staff and our

511
01:06:58,240 --> 01:07:03,520
consultant reviewed the contractor's
qualifications, references, and

512
01:07:01,760 --> 01:07:09,680
experience, and and determined that
Civil Works is capable of successfully

513
01:07:06,240 --> 01:07:14,079
completing the project.
We also had a pre-awward meeting with

514
01:07:12,000 --> 01:07:18,799
the contractor to confirm their
understanding of the project's scope,

515
01:07:16,240 --> 01:07:23,520
schedule, permit requirements, and
construction constraints.

516
01:07:21,119 --> 01:07:28,799
If the board approves, staff will issue
a notice of award to the low bidder and

517
01:07:25,920 --> 01:07:34,319
proceed with the contract execution,
bonding, and insurance requirements.

518
01:07:32,319 --> 01:07:39,359
Construction activities will not begin
immediately. The notice to proceed with

519
01:07:36,720 --> 01:07:44,000
the project is expected to occur in
phases over the coming months. The

520
01:07:42,000 --> 01:07:49,200
initial phase will allow the contractor
to complete his various submitts and

521
01:07:46,960 --> 01:07:54,960
begin procuring and stockpiling
materials offsite. The construction

522
01:07:52,240 --> 01:08:01,440
phase is expected to begin on or about
October 1st, 2026. And this is in in

523
01:07:58,559 --> 01:08:06,160
accordance with the environmental permit
restrictions.

524
01:08:03,599 --> 01:08:10,480
100% of the funding for the project is
being provided through a $5 million

525
01:08:08,160 --> 01:08:14,960
grant, as the mayor implied, from the
state emergency response and disaster

526
01:08:12,720 --> 01:08:21,759
relief fund. Those funds must be
obligated by June 30th, 2026.

527
01:08:18,719 --> 01:08:26,319
To that end, staff recommends award of
the construction contract to Civil Works

528
01:08:24,000 --> 01:08:30,440
Contracting LLC
in the amount of 3,294,6747.

529
01:08:33,440 --> 01:08:40,239
Um, and if you have any questions on
that portion of our discussion, I'll be

530
01:08:38,960 --> 01:08:45,759
happy to answer them.
>> Any questions for Mr. Jarvis?

531
01:08:42,000 --> 01:08:53,440
» Okay. Um, thank you. Uh, I was just
curious if you had any understanding of

532
01:08:48,799 --> 01:08:56,799
the difference because 4.3 and 3.3 are
way different. What that might have been

533
01:08:55,440 --> 01:09:03,440
the difference? You're comfortable with
that? Um, I I'll ask Jeremy to speak in

534
01:09:00,159 --> 01:09:10,400
just a second, but we had four bids. The
three lowest were 3.29 million, 3.31

535
01:09:07,520 --> 01:09:15,120
million, and 3.44 million. Okay,
>> so those bids were extremely close. The

536
01:09:12,960 --> 01:09:22,080
difference between those three bids was
4% and the difference between the lowest

537
01:09:17,600 --> 01:09:26,960
two was 0.4% was $15,000.
Um, and if I may elaborate just a little

538
01:09:24,159 --> 01:09:31,839
bit more, our consulting engineer will
put together an engineer's estimate of

539
01:09:28,880 --> 01:09:38,319
the project cost uh be before uh
advertising uh for construction bids. Uh

540
01:09:34,799 --> 01:09:44,719
their estimate was $3.3 million. So we
had four entities that were right in the

541
01:09:40,960 --> 01:09:50,880
ballpark. The fourth one as an outlier
uh generally in the business that firm

542
01:09:47,759 --> 01:09:54,800
has a lot of work to do. they threw a a
a bid at it. If they got it, uh they're

543
01:09:53,199 --> 01:10:00,400
going to make some good money on it. So,
we're we're confident that uh that the

544
01:09:57,280 --> 01:10:03,760
bid is uh is a qualified bid.
>> I know that there's a lot of sand and

545
01:10:02,159 --> 01:10:08,880
rock involved. Does the has the
contractor uh look to know what uh and

546
01:10:07,120 --> 01:10:14,000
where materials and equipment staging
areas are going to be and how that

547
01:10:11,120 --> 01:10:19,199
construction how we can uh focus on
mitigating the impacts for businesses

548
01:10:15,840 --> 01:10:23,040
and residents at the waterfront. Um
Jeremy, you want to come up and speak?

549
01:10:20,560 --> 01:10:28,080
We we did define specific areas where
the contractor was allowed to stage and

550
01:10:25,520 --> 01:10:32,400
he'll he'll be responsible for
>> Yeah, thank you. So, uh Jeremy Packard

551
01:10:29,679 --> 01:10:35,679
with fourth infrastructure. Um uh so, uh
Oliver's um the restaurant there, we're

552
01:10:34,480 --> 01:10:39,920
going to use that parking lot and
they'll be able to um use that for a

553
01:10:38,080 --> 01:10:45,920
small staging area. And then we also
have the area um next to the harbor walk

554
01:10:42,640 --> 01:10:50,400
um or next to the um the shorefront the
the walkway along the along the park

555
01:10:48,320 --> 01:10:54,880
there. Um so they can use the first 20
ft of that for for staging and access.

556
01:10:52,800 --> 01:10:59,760
Everything else would be staged offsite.
Um and we we talked to this contractor

557
01:10:57,120 --> 01:11:03,440
about this in a pre-awward u meeting and
asked them what their plan was for that.

558
01:11:01,440 --> 01:11:07,920
It sounds like they have a layown area
already established about 10 minutes

559
01:11:05,600 --> 01:11:12,239
away from the project site. Okay. Um, so
we are not allowing them to uh bring in

560
01:11:10,080 --> 01:11:15,920
any stockpile materials. Only a day's
worth of placement of materials is

561
01:11:14,000 --> 01:11:18,960
allowed at the site at any given time.
Everything else will be staged offsite

562
01:11:17,600 --> 01:11:23,840
and uh delivered.
>> That sounds great. Uh, in the past when

563
01:11:20,880 --> 01:11:28,800
we've done projects with large stones,
uh, the roads and curbing can be damaged

564
01:11:26,719 --> 01:11:32,159
in the process. So, I don't know if the
contract includes resurfacing and

565
01:11:30,719 --> 01:11:35,600
restoring areas.
>> Yeah, it is very specific as to

566
01:11:33,920 --> 01:11:39,760
protection of existing facilities to
remain. And we did bring up uh the

567
01:11:37,600 --> 01:11:43,600
pavement, especially at that pre-awward
uh meeting, and asked them, are you

568
01:11:41,280 --> 01:11:47,760
going to use uh mats or rubber uh track
tires? How are you planning to protect

569
01:11:45,280 --> 01:11:51,679
this? Um and they uh they said they may
consider using mats. And they were going

570
01:11:49,520 --> 01:11:57,679
to be very, very careful. And we said,
okay, that sounds great, but if you're

571
01:11:53,760 --> 01:12:02,800
not, then you'll resurface it.
>> That doesn't answer the question,

572
01:11:59,280 --> 01:12:07,600
though. Will they repair and replace if
in fact the worst happens?

573
01:12:05,040 --> 01:12:09,280
» Yes. they they are obligated or they
will not be paid.

574
01:12:08,880 --> 01:12:11,840
» Correct.
>> Very clearly,

575
01:12:10,400 --> 01:12:14,480
» excuse me, that's very clear in the
contract.

576
01:12:12,400 --> 01:12:19,920
» Absolutely.
>> Just a quick question for those um who

577
01:12:17,280 --> 01:12:26,480
haven't been following this project. Um
it is a federal grant, is it not?

578
01:12:22,960 --> 01:12:27,920
» I I believe it is uh uh I believe it's a
state grant.

579
01:12:27,280 --> 01:12:32,800
» State grant.
>> State emergency response and disaster

580
01:12:30,400 --> 01:12:38,719
relief fund. And it certainly was a a
grant that I think we all support up

581
01:12:34,800 --> 01:12:44,640
here and are there's very is needed. Um
there is no match required by the city

582
01:12:41,840 --> 01:12:50,560
of Southport. So this is a state grant
completely paid with non Southport

583
01:12:47,840 --> 01:12:55,760
taxpayer money. It's a grant that's u
greatly needed our shoreline. And uh

584
01:12:53,520 --> 01:13:00,000
thank you Bob for working on this
project for several years now.

585
01:12:57,360 --> 01:13:06,960
» Thank you sir.
I have some additional questions. Um,

586
01:13:04,640 --> 01:13:13,040
in the
Civil Works Contracting LLC bid, it says

587
01:13:11,040 --> 01:13:17,679
in a couple different places, inspection
and vibration monitoring. How long does

588
01:13:15,360 --> 01:13:20,320
the vibration monitoring monitoring go
for? Is that something that they do once

589
01:13:19,280 --> 01:13:24,000
and then it's done or they
>> No, it's it's continuous. Okay. And uh

590
01:13:22,320 --> 01:13:28,960
there's performance standards for uh
thresholds. Um and we just and it it's

591
01:13:26,320 --> 01:13:32,800
monitored continuously and there are um
alerts sent if there are any exceedence

592
01:13:30,880 --> 01:13:37,440
we we get weekly reports that we review
ourselves but obvious and and then also

593
01:13:34,960 --> 01:13:41,600
if there are um occurrences of
exceedence of those thresholds um that

594
01:13:39,520 --> 01:13:45,679
we get immediate notices stop work we
all figure out kind of what's going on

595
01:13:43,199 --> 01:13:49,920
» and then once the work is done the
vibration monitoring stops how does that

596
01:13:48,159 --> 01:13:53,760
» correct yeah and so there's a there's a
pre u pre-construction survey that

597
01:13:51,840 --> 01:13:57,040
happens um lots of photos from every
different angle and uh you know cracks

598
01:13:55,760 --> 01:14:00,239
are measured, everything else. Then we
monitor the vibrations during

599
01:13:58,400 --> 01:14:03,840
construction. Um and then there's a post
construction inspection to make sure um

600
01:14:02,239 --> 01:14:08,880
that there was no uh damage uh
facilities damage that the contractor is

601
01:14:06,000 --> 01:14:14,159
um obligated to uh to repair. Um and
once everybody's good there um then you

602
01:14:11,440 --> 01:14:18,320
know we we issue the asbuilt. Is there
something built in that at the six month

603
01:14:16,320 --> 01:14:23,199
or the one-year mark, it's inspected
again and that the contractor would then

604
01:14:21,520 --> 01:14:27,120
come back and repair at that point if
there's damage during that first year?

605
01:14:25,840 --> 01:14:31,280
» Uh there is a warranty period, a
one-year warranty period.

606
01:14:28,239 --> 01:14:35,360
» Okay. So, do we have a something set up
so that it would be inspected during

607
01:14:32,800 --> 01:14:39,600
that warranty period or do we need to go
add that to say okay at the 9month mark

608
01:14:37,520 --> 01:14:43,040
we need to go in or 10-month mark to go
look at that? There are monitoring

609
01:14:41,840 --> 01:14:46,960
requirements as part of the
environmental permits that uh we have

610
01:14:44,719 --> 01:14:50,719
for the project. Um and so that while
that work isn't contracted for and

611
01:14:48,719 --> 01:14:54,800
scoped yet, we do anticipate that there
will be some observation that uh F is

612
01:14:53,360 --> 01:14:58,719
performing on behalf of the city of
Southport post construction.

613
01:14:56,640 --> 01:15:02,880
» Okay. And that the price for that is
already built in here somewhere.

614
01:15:01,360 --> 01:15:06,400
» No. Oh, it's not?
>> No, the the moni the monitoring is not

615
01:15:05,120 --> 01:15:09,920
built in right now. Sorry. Apologies.
Right. U right now the uh the item that

616
01:15:08,880 --> 01:15:16,320
we're talking about is just the
construction budget for the contractor.

617
01:15:12,480 --> 01:15:20,080
» Okay. So I I I won't let that hold up
what we need to have earmarked before

618
01:15:18,000 --> 01:15:23,440
the end of the month. Um but I would
love to know what those numbers look

619
01:15:21,440 --> 01:15:27,360
like also. And I would hate for that to
be the difference between the percentage

620
01:15:25,280 --> 01:15:34,159
of the awarded contract and one of the
contracts that was not awarded.

621
01:15:31,120 --> 01:15:40,239
Just something to consider. And then um
there are two options for um or option

622
01:15:37,520 --> 01:15:46,400
one for segment one revetment and option
two for segment three revetment. Um

623
01:15:44,640 --> 01:15:49,120
the prices are significantly different.
It those are the different sections of

624
01:15:48,080 --> 01:15:52,480
revetment.
>> They're not actually different options.

625
01:15:50,800 --> 01:15:55,040
They're just different section sections.
Correct.

626
01:15:52,880 --> 01:15:59,199
» So the way that it's it it just has
option one and option two. It's just

627
01:15:57,199 --> 01:16:03,520
» the the bid was originally broken up
into a base bid, which was the area down

628
01:16:01,920 --> 01:16:07,440
near uh South Caswell.
>> Okay.

629
01:16:04,320 --> 01:16:12,960
» And two alternate bids, two options A
and B. In the event that the bid prices

630
01:16:10,239 --> 01:16:17,840
came in and those prices exceeded the
amount that we had, we had the choice of

631
01:16:15,199 --> 01:16:21,280
selecting one or two of the options. And
since the bid prices did come in

632
01:16:19,440 --> 01:16:24,560
favorably, we selected both of the
options.

633
01:16:21,600 --> 01:16:30,080
» Perfect. Thank you for that. And then um
it shows that April 1st, 2027 is the

634
01:16:27,520 --> 01:16:34,960
expected completion date in this as
well. Is there something built in

635
01:16:32,480 --> 01:16:39,520
somewhere where if they go beyond that,
we have some sort of compensation or

636
01:16:37,760 --> 01:16:44,560
» We do have liquidated damages as part of
this contract and the contractor is

637
01:16:41,520 --> 01:16:48,000
aware of those liquidated damages. $500
a day for every day after um the

638
01:16:47,120 --> 01:16:53,360
contract end date.
>> Okay. because certainly by the time we

639
01:16:49,679 --> 01:16:56,880
get to April 2027, um that parking in
that area is a premium and we would love

640
01:16:55,920 --> 01:16:58,719
to have that back.
>> Yes,

641
01:16:57,280 --> 01:17:02,159
» I think that's all my questions on that.
Thank you very much.

642
01:16:59,920 --> 01:17:08,400
» Do you know roughly how much of the
parking spaces there we're going to lose

643
01:17:05,679 --> 01:17:12,719
» for the the jury?
We would expect the entire parking lot

644
01:17:11,199 --> 01:17:18,719
uh with the exception of the of the
spaces immediately adjacent to the

645
01:17:14,400 --> 01:17:24,400
building to be used for uh staging of
the air of of the materials that are

646
01:17:20,800 --> 01:17:28,880
going to be used uh for the revetment.
>> So it it check me if I'm wrong here

647
01:17:27,040 --> 01:17:33,840
Jeremy but it's not going to be used
throughout the duration of the project.

648
01:17:30,880 --> 01:17:38,800
It will be a finite duration. uh once
they complete the revetment in that area

649
01:17:36,480 --> 01:17:42,640
uh they won't require that access to
that

650
01:17:39,040 --> 01:17:45,920
» and y'all are starting um in I believe
the fall did you say like September or

651
01:17:44,960 --> 01:17:49,840
October
>> that's correct we we still have yet to

652
01:17:47,760 --> 01:17:56,159
determine how the contractor is going to
phase that which sections he's going to

653
01:17:52,640 --> 01:17:58,719
work on first and second uh and that
will come up I assume when he submits

654
01:17:57,760 --> 01:18:01,280
his work plans
>> yes

655
01:18:00,000 --> 01:18:05,280
» and then from that I actually had
another question you mentioned that only

656
01:18:02,560 --> 01:18:10,640
one day of rock would be um positioned
at the parking lot. That seems like not

657
01:18:07,840 --> 01:18:15,679
very much for the traffic that would be
like the heavy equipment going back and

658
01:18:12,800 --> 01:18:20,480
forth in the road to move that it
would is one day the optimum to do that.

659
01:18:18,000 --> 01:18:24,320
Is it a week's worth or is it like
bringing rock in every day the best way

660
01:18:22,400 --> 01:18:27,920
to move that forward? I just
>> bringing rock in every day is the best

661
01:18:26,159 --> 01:18:34,000
way to reduce your footprint for your
stockpile materials. Um, and I think in

662
01:18:31,440 --> 01:18:39,120
working we we will be working with the
contractor during construction and so we

663
01:18:36,480 --> 01:18:43,760
can kind of dial what the best amount of
material to have in the most efficient

664
01:18:40,960 --> 01:18:48,080
amount at any given time is and you know
maybe if it's two days or or a week's

665
01:18:45,679 --> 01:18:51,440
worth then we can we can dial that in a
little bit. Right now we wanted to give

666
01:18:49,679 --> 01:18:53,679
the contractor kind of the worst case
scenario. Assume you can only have one

667
01:18:52,960 --> 01:18:59,280
day at a time.
>> Thank you. I appreciate that because

668
01:18:55,120 --> 01:19:03,520
certainly um the least amount of impact
on our roads and our people every day.

669
01:19:01,520 --> 01:19:08,159
Um we already have noise ordinance in
place for early morning things and

670
01:19:06,000 --> 01:19:13,280
certainly moving rock in would probably
be loud enough that that would be uh a

671
01:19:10,880 --> 01:19:18,400
concern for people. So perhaps more than
a day at a time would be

672
01:19:16,400 --> 01:19:20,800
a a good idea in this case.
>> Okay. Thank you.

673
01:19:19,520 --> 01:19:27,120
» Thank you.
your lay down yard. Is that the Willis

674
01:19:23,199 --> 01:19:30,000
Marine or the the river pilots land here
on the water by any chance?

675
01:19:28,560 --> 01:19:34,400
» I I don't think it's coastal. I think
it's I think it's um inland and it's the

676
01:19:32,800 --> 01:19:37,440
contractor's private yard where they
didn't even they haven't told us yet

677
01:19:35,920 --> 01:19:40,560
where it is. They will as part of their
work plan, but they just mentioned that

678
01:19:39,040 --> 01:19:43,040
they have a yard 10 minutes away.
>> And this contractor is out of

679
01:19:41,679 --> 01:19:49,000
Wilmington, correct? Yes.
>> So, it's a local contractor. I saw their

680
01:19:45,040 --> 01:19:49,000
truck today actually in downtown.

681
01:19:49,920 --> 01:19:56,560
» It seems like we're going to have to put
up with a a good bit of inconvenience

682
01:19:54,080 --> 01:20:00,480
and things we don't like in order to get
something that's really good.

683
01:19:58,880 --> 01:20:05,120
» Unfortunately, yes, you're correct.
Construction.

684
01:20:03,120 --> 01:20:11,040
Um, I I don't know if y'all noticed, but
there's a huge rock project that was

685
01:20:07,280 --> 01:20:15,120
done by the city uh on U West Bay Street
and did a wonderful job and it wasn't

686
01:20:13,440 --> 01:20:20,239
that disruptive and I'm sure they'll be
cognizant of that for our city and I I'm

687
01:20:18,080 --> 01:20:23,440
very confident of that. Any further
questions?

688
01:20:20,640 --> 01:20:26,320
» And and since you mentioned that, mayor,
that was supposed to be removed as part

689
01:20:25,440 --> 01:20:30,199
of this, right?
>> That's correct.

690
01:20:27,199 --> 01:20:30,199
» Yeah.

691
01:20:33,040 --> 01:20:38,640
Should I make a motion? Are we Are we
there? Does anybody have any with his

692
01:20:37,920 --> 01:20:42,880
presentation?
>> Yeah. Does anything else you need

693
01:20:40,400 --> 01:20:47,600
» any anything other presentation?
>> Uh I have I have one more uh two

694
01:20:45,040 --> 01:20:54,080
separate entities. I'm sorry. I was
>> um the the first one is uh we're asking

695
01:20:51,120 --> 01:21:00,719
uh for the board's approval to award the
contract. Uh my next uh uh item I will

696
01:20:57,600 --> 01:21:05,040
discuss the uh the consulting engineers
construction administration and

697
01:21:02,159 --> 01:21:09,679
inspection uh proposal.
>> So I I'll make the first motion um

698
01:21:07,520 --> 01:21:14,239
motion to authorize the awarding of a
contract between the city and civil

699
01:21:11,440 --> 01:21:19,120
works contracting LLC for the work
defined in the contract documents for

700
01:21:16,400 --> 01:21:23,760
Southport Shorefront Improvements and to
authorize the city manager to execute

701
01:21:21,280 --> 01:21:27,360
any necessary contract documents.
>> Second. Okay, we have a motion by

702
01:21:25,360 --> 01:21:32,320
Alderman Marceler, a second by Alderman
Kelly. Any further discussion?

703
01:21:30,400 --> 01:21:38,080
All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Motion carried unanimously.

704
01:21:35,440 --> 01:21:41,360
Thank you.
Okay.

705
01:21:39,760 --> 01:21:45,679
Following the award of the construction
contract. Um much appreciated. Uh the

706
01:21:43,679 --> 01:21:49,120
next step is to provide engineering and
construction administrative

707
01:21:47,199 --> 01:21:54,239
administration services during
construction. FA uh Olsen Associates,

708
01:21:52,639 --> 01:21:58,880
the city's design consultant, has
submitted task order 7 for those

709
01:21:56,239 --> 01:22:02,320
services. Their responsibilities during
construction and in the months leading

710
01:22:00,639 --> 01:22:05,840
up to construction will include
full-time construction observation and

711
01:22:04,320 --> 01:22:09,840
administration,
review of contractor submitts, requests

712
01:22:08,320 --> 01:22:14,880
for information and payment
applications, attendance of progress

713
01:22:12,159 --> 01:22:20,880
meetings, project documentation, quality
assurance, and project closeout.

714
01:22:19,199 --> 01:22:24,560
These services are intended to provide
day-to-day oversight of the contractor's

715
01:22:22,800 --> 01:22:28,719
work and to help ensure that the project
is constructed in accordance with the

716
01:22:26,320 --> 01:22:32,880
plans, specifications, permits, and
other contract requirements.

717
01:22:30,960 --> 01:22:37,920
Consultant services will begin this
summer with the review of the required

718
01:22:34,719 --> 01:22:44,159
contract submitts and material
procurement activities.

719
01:22:41,360 --> 01:22:48,080
Sorry. Material sourcing and off-site
stockpiling are expected to occur prior

720
01:22:46,400 --> 01:22:51,920
to the start of construction. As I
mentioned, on-site construction

721
01:22:50,000 --> 01:22:56,719
activities along with the necessary
consultant support are anticipated again

722
01:22:54,320 --> 01:23:01,920
to begin this fall as a condition of the
project's environmental permits. Staff

723
01:22:59,199 --> 01:23:06,960
recommends approval of task order 7 with
FA Olsen Associates for construction

724
01:23:04,480 --> 01:23:11,199
engineering and administration services
associated with the shoreline

725
01:23:08,480 --> 01:23:17,679
stabilization project. And if I may add
one item, uh what we will do, uh as the

726
01:23:14,880 --> 01:23:24,480
project draws to an end, uh we will uh
secure uh F's services for additional uh

727
01:23:21,920 --> 01:23:29,280
monitoring in the in the months after
construction. So that that would be a

728
01:23:26,719 --> 01:23:31,600
part of their contract and not the uh
the construction.

729
01:23:30,480 --> 01:23:36,560
» Thank you. I appreciate it.
>> You're welcome.

730
01:23:34,159 --> 01:23:41,280
» Uh thank you. I'll entertain a motion.
Quick qu quick question. By the time

731
01:23:39,440 --> 01:23:47,400
it's all said and done, Bob, are we
still within budget?

732
01:23:43,600 --> 01:23:47,400
» Yes. Thank you.

733
01:23:48,080 --> 01:23:55,600
Um, I'd like to make a motion to
authorize the approval of FA Olsen

734
01:23:52,719 --> 01:24:00,320
Associates Task [clears throat] 07 to
provide construction phase services for

735
01:23:57,920 --> 01:24:03,600
the shoreline protection project.
>> Second.

736
01:24:01,600 --> 01:24:08,719
» Okay, we have a motion by Alderman
Mustellar, second by Alderman Kelly. Any

737
01:24:05,840 --> 01:24:14,480
further discussion?
All in favor? Any opposed?

738
01:24:12,639 --> 01:24:17,280
Excellent. Motion carried unanimously.
Thank you.

739
01:24:15,600 --> 01:24:20,440
» Thank you very much for your patience.
>> Thank you.

740
01:24:32,400 --> 01:24:41,600
Item I2 is the uh public hearing uh
zoning text amendment standards for

741
01:24:38,480 --> 01:24:46,159
mobile food vendors or food trucks and
this is reviewed by the planning board

742
01:24:43,199 --> 01:24:51,600
with their recommendation.
So um as as you know a duly advertised

743
01:24:49,760 --> 01:24:56,719
public hearing is required for a text
amendment to the UDO. So, I declare this

744
01:24:54,480 --> 01:25:03,280
public hearing open and I call on
planning service director Moren Mian.

745
01:25:01,840 --> 01:25:07,120
» Thank you. Thank you, mayor, and good
evening, board of alderman. This

746
01:25:05,120 --> 01:25:10,239
evening, um, we are going to be looking
at a couple different public hearings,

747
01:25:08,719 --> 01:25:14,960
but this first one is an amendment to
the section 3.8Y

748
01:25:12,800 --> 01:25:19,520
of the UDO and the standards for mobile
vendors or food trucks. Um this

749
01:25:17,520 --> 01:25:23,920
amendment has been initiated due to some
confusion with the existing process uh

750
01:25:22,159 --> 01:25:29,280
by vendors and property owners
themselves. So staff has been working

751
01:25:26,320 --> 01:25:34,840
with those vendors.
May I please?

752
01:25:31,520 --> 01:25:34,840
Thank you ma'am.

753
01:25:36,080 --> 01:25:44,320
Okay. So just to give you an idea. The
uh the uh definition of a mobile vendor

754
01:25:41,360 --> 01:25:48,159
is a readily mobile movable trailer or
motorized wheeled vehicle currently

755
01:25:46,800 --> 01:25:52,400
registered with the North Carolina
Division of Motor Vehicles designed and

756
01:25:50,480 --> 01:25:56,960
equipped to serve food and/or sell
merchandise. And the definition of a

757
01:25:54,880 --> 01:26:00,880
food truck is a motorized or trailered
vehicle with power on board,

758
01:25:58,639 --> 01:26:05,440
refrigeration, food preparation
facilities, and usually room for two to

759
01:26:03,040 --> 01:26:09,840
four employees. food trucks shall be
considered a mobile vendor for purposes

760
01:26:07,120 --> 01:26:13,600
of this ordinance.
So currently um we are not going to be

761
01:26:12,080 --> 01:26:16,639
changing any of these definitions. I
just wanted to put them out there

762
01:26:15,199 --> 01:26:20,880
because we're going to be removing food
truck from and it's just going to be

763
01:26:18,159 --> 01:26:25,840
mobile vendor as one that in it takes
encompasses all of the vendors

764
01:26:22,719 --> 01:26:29,520
themselves. So currently mobile vendors
are and food trucks are

765
01:26:27,440 --> 01:26:35,360
non-residentidential land uses. So that
requires the property owner to come to

766
01:26:32,480 --> 01:26:41,679
zoning and get the zoning permit to host
vendors. Then the vendor must go come to

767
01:26:38,320 --> 01:26:47,199
us and get an itinerate merchant permit
so that they can um operate within the

768
01:26:44,639 --> 01:26:52,480
city. So it's a two-step process. Uh
there became a lot of frustration by all

769
01:26:48,960 --> 01:26:57,040
parties u staff you know the vendors and
we would communicate to the property

770
01:26:54,639 --> 01:27:01,440
owners please when you're hiring food
trucks make sure they come to city hall

771
01:26:58,880 --> 01:27:04,880
and get their itinerate merchants but of
course things fell through the cracks

772
01:27:03,360 --> 01:27:08,320
and then we also found out that there
were fire inspections that were being

773
01:27:06,400 --> 01:27:13,760
missed as well. So there were a lot of
things happening. So uh again we're

774
01:27:11,760 --> 01:27:18,400
proposing this amendment not to change
the definition but we want to change

775
01:27:16,639 --> 01:27:23,679
mobile vendor from a non-residential
land use to an accessory land use to the

776
01:27:20,719 --> 01:27:28,400
non-residential property. So the vendor,
the food truck or vendor will apply and

777
01:27:25,600 --> 01:27:34,080
obtain a zoning permit and they will
allow them to operate within the city

778
01:27:30,800 --> 01:27:38,480
for a year and they must submit the same
information that's required now that the

779
01:27:36,480 --> 01:27:43,120
property owners must also submit for
them. Um and then they would be

780
01:27:41,120 --> 01:27:47,360
uploading an agreement or a contract
from the property owner which where they

781
01:27:44,880 --> 01:27:52,239
will be operating. There is an exception
that we have put in here. Um, if you're

782
01:27:50,000 --> 01:27:56,800
only going to be operating at city
hosted events, you do not have to have

783
01:27:54,880 --> 01:28:00,800
uh site plan or consent necessary. You
just need to make sure that you come in

784
01:27:58,639 --> 01:28:06,639
and have your valid license and
registration, any um state or county

785
01:28:03,600 --> 01:28:12,159
permits for food service and ensure you
get your fire inspection. So, this new

786
01:28:09,199 --> 01:28:16,880
permit um will expedite the process.
It'll be a lot cleaner and we were going

787
01:28:15,120 --> 01:28:22,800
to ensure that fire inspections are
included in the workflow. So when the

788
01:28:19,760 --> 01:28:28,880
vendor comes to and applies for the
permit itself that will be part of the

789
01:28:25,360 --> 01:28:34,719
process prior to issuance of the permit.
So that is a overview of the amendment.

790
01:28:32,400 --> 01:28:38,560
I'm happy to answer any questions and
the planning board did hear this in

791
01:28:36,560 --> 01:28:42,159
April um at their meeting and found it
consistent with the UDIO and the

792
01:28:40,000 --> 01:28:46,239
comprehensive plan and do recommend
approval of this change of amendment to

793
01:28:44,719 --> 01:28:52,800
the ordinance.
>> I have questions. Yes, ma'am.

794
01:28:49,040 --> 01:28:57,199
» First, um, this is only on
non-residential

795
01:28:54,400 --> 01:29:00,880
in non-residential zoning, correct?
>> Yes, that's correct.

796
01:28:58,239 --> 01:29:06,000
» Okay. And this is a year-long permit.
>> Yes, ma'am.

797
01:29:01,760 --> 01:29:10,800
» So, a vendor can set up and be there for
a year.

798
01:29:07,840 --> 01:29:15,280
» No, they cannot. I mean, as as the ordin
the ordinance written says that it can

799
01:29:12,400 --> 01:29:20,320
only be in they have to come and leave.
They cannot stay on a property

800
01:29:18,000 --> 01:29:26,960
indefinitely and they can only operate
for 120 days for the 12 months.

801
01:29:23,840 --> 01:29:32,400
» Okay. Can you describe for me what we're
looking at? I mean, a a vendor comes on

802
01:29:30,800 --> 01:29:36,320
what property?
>> Any property that they that

803
01:29:34,159 --> 01:29:42,159
non-residential property that hires them
to serve

804
01:29:38,239 --> 01:29:46,960
their patrons on site. So any it it has
to be 50 ft from an established

805
01:29:44,000 --> 01:29:52,560
restaurant front door. Um but otherwise
any non-residential property owner can

806
01:29:50,400 --> 01:29:57,360
invite a food truck to come to their
property

807
01:29:53,760 --> 01:30:02,960
» like the tap seller has uh the lobster
guy come or the different ones trucks

808
01:29:59,600 --> 01:30:06,432
come there as an example as I'm sure
other yes the brewery maybe and

809
01:30:05,120 --> 01:30:09,280
different things. So that yes,
[clears throat] so most of the time if

810
01:30:07,760 --> 01:30:13,280
it's tap and seller, I know that there
are some other establishments that do it

811
01:30:11,360 --> 01:30:17,199
and and for special occasions, I know
that there have been some other

812
01:30:14,400 --> 01:30:21,920
establishments that aren't um a brewery
or um you know a winery that they've

813
01:30:19,520 --> 01:30:27,679
invited the food vendors for special
events that they're having as well. Is

814
01:30:24,000 --> 01:30:35,239
there any opportunity for other um
restaurants or businesses in the

815
01:30:29,440 --> 01:30:35,239
immediate area to object to the permit?

816
01:30:35,360 --> 01:30:45,760
any permit can be you know can come
anyone can come and um appeal a of

817
01:30:41,760 --> 01:30:50,159
permit that is as has been issued. Um we
have not had any issues with any of the

818
01:30:47,840 --> 01:30:55,840
established restaurants or any other
businesses with u any of the food trucks

819
01:30:52,719 --> 01:31:00,280
that have been operating currently.
Well, you had me at lobster rolls.

820
01:31:00,800 --> 01:31:07,360
» Any other questions for Miss M?
>> I do. um the a signed letter of consent

821
01:31:06,000 --> 01:31:11,280
between the property owner and business
operator or mobile vendor operator. Does

822
01:31:09,840 --> 01:31:15,199
it have to be a formalized letter? Can
they show you a text message that they

823
01:31:13,280 --> 01:31:18,639
accepted? Because I have been in
situations where I text a food vendor

824
01:31:16,880 --> 01:31:23,040
because I was like, "Hey, can you guys
come down?" "Yes, sure." I mean, and

825
01:31:21,199 --> 01:31:26,800
that was the extent of the contract.
>> Yes, I think that that would be

826
01:31:24,239 --> 01:31:31,440
appropriate, especially since you can
upload photos to the permit portal from

827
01:31:29,440 --> 01:31:35,120
your phone. So if it is a last moment
thing that at least it that way we can

828
01:31:33,360 --> 01:31:39,440
track where these trucks are are
operating

829
01:31:36,880 --> 01:31:43,040
» and if someone if at a private residence
wants to have a food truck in front of

830
01:31:41,120 --> 01:31:46,480
their home for a birthday party or
special event, this does not prevent

831
01:31:45,040 --> 01:31:53,080
them from doing that. It does not
require anything of them for that.

832
01:31:48,960 --> 01:31:53,080
Correct. Okay. Thank you.

833
01:31:53,280 --> 01:31:58,080
» Okay. Alderman Davis, you can have a
food truck now. [clears throat]

834
01:31:57,128 --> 01:32:02,719
[laughter]
All right. Any other questions?

835
01:32:00,320 --> 01:32:07,520
All right. Um, madame clerk, who would
like to speak in public comment uh

836
01:32:04,480 --> 01:32:11,520
concerning uh this issue of food trucks
or I should say mobile?

837
01:32:10,080 --> 01:32:13,600
» I don't have anybody. Is there anybody
out there?

838
01:32:12,000 --> 01:32:20,000
» Anyone here to speak on mobile food
vendors?

839
01:32:16,480 --> 01:32:23,040
Okay. Um I I therefore will entertain a
motion to close the public hearing.

840
01:32:22,320 --> 01:32:25,440
» So move.
>> Second.

841
01:32:23,840 --> 01:32:28,639
» Okay. All in favor?
>> I.

842
01:32:26,080 --> 01:32:32,719
» Okay. Motion carried. Thank you. All
right. I will um I'll entertain a motion

843
01:32:32,000 --> 01:32:37,520
board.
>> I'll make a motion to approve the zoning

844
01:32:34,800 --> 01:32:42,159
text amendment to table 3.1 table of
uses and section 3.6 accessory use

845
01:32:40,320 --> 01:32:46,199
standards of the UDO and adopt the
attached consistency statement.

846
01:32:47,199 --> 01:32:55,360
» I have a motion and a second to uh
approve the zoning text amendment and

847
01:32:52,080 --> 01:33:00,480
also that it is consistent with the city
of Southport 2050 comprehensive plan.

848
01:32:58,000 --> 01:33:05,360
Any further discussion?
All in favor?

849
01:33:02,239 --> 01:33:13,760
» Any opposed? Motion carried unanimously.
Thank you.

850
01:33:08,400 --> 01:33:20,639
Item I3 is the uh zoning text amendment.
Uh and this is for the uh bed and

851
01:33:17,520 --> 01:33:25,679
breakfast. And um this was referred to
the board of Aldron by the uh planning

852
01:33:22,960 --> 01:33:30,800
board. and this is their request to uh
host larger events. So, I declare this

853
01:33:29,280 --> 01:33:35,199
public hearing open and I call on
planning service director Moren Mi

854
01:33:33,920 --> 01:33:39,760
um to lead the discussion.
>> Mr. Mayor, if I may, um I just want to

855
01:33:37,520 --> 01:33:42,880
remind the board that I uh brought this
up and attempted to recuse myself before

856
01:33:41,679 --> 01:33:46,480
when we talked about in bed and
breakfast. I just wanted to bring that

857
01:33:44,080 --> 01:33:50,719
up again that I do in fact own a small
inn in town. It is not a bed and

858
01:33:48,320 --> 01:33:54,000
breakfast. We do not provide any food
services at the property, but I did want

859
01:33:52,560 --> 01:34:00,400
to remind the board of that.
>> Great. Thank you.

860
01:33:56,159 --> 01:34:05,360
» Thank you, sir. Um, this is a UDO text
amendment to sections 3.8C, bed and

861
01:34:03,760 --> 01:34:11,360
breakfast.
Um,

862
01:34:07,600 --> 01:34:15,920
thank you. I want So, existing bed and
breakfast use standards. Um, bed and

863
01:34:13,679 --> 01:34:21,440
breakfasts are permitted by a special
use permit with standards in all zoning

864
01:34:18,239 --> 01:34:26,080
districts except the open space. And the
current language does not permit or

865
01:34:23,440 --> 01:34:30,880
prohibit events as it is written. It
just it's very it's a very vague gray

866
01:34:28,400 --> 01:34:36,320
area. In the past, establishments that
had hosted events had those events

867
01:34:34,000 --> 01:34:43,520
outlined in their management plans that
were approved at the special use permit

868
01:34:39,120 --> 01:34:49,199
uh process. Um, currently the standards
include that the in must meet state

869
01:34:46,400 --> 01:34:52,400
sanitation rules. They should include a
management plan. And a management plan

870
01:34:50,800 --> 01:34:56,800
is essentially a business plan and how
you're going to run your operation. And

871
01:34:54,960 --> 01:35:01,920
then there must be an on-site manager
that resides on premises. So those are

872
01:34:59,120 --> 01:35:05,840
existing standards. Um, there was a bed
and breakfast that came forward for a

873
01:35:03,760 --> 01:35:12,560
special use permit. And as that as part
of that request wanted to host large

874
01:35:08,719 --> 01:35:18,239
events on site and that prompted um the
board of alderman to ask that staff do

875
01:35:15,520 --> 01:35:22,480
some research uh to look at events at
bed and breakfast. Is it appropriate?

876
01:35:20,080 --> 01:35:26,480
What if it is appropriate? What what is
appropriate? So we have worked on this

877
01:35:24,400 --> 01:35:30,400
language multiple times and there have
been several versions. Um and this

878
01:35:28,960 --> 01:35:34,000
version has been considered by the
planning board. They uh formed a

879
01:35:32,080 --> 01:35:37,440
committee to work with staff and then
brought it to the full planning board

880
01:35:35,520 --> 01:35:42,880
for discussion.
So the new uh proposed language up

881
01:35:40,800 --> 01:35:49,360
updates the definition of a bed and
breakfast to include that services may

882
01:35:46,239 --> 01:35:55,760
include hosting low impact gatherings or
events. Um defines event which is solely

883
01:35:53,520 --> 01:36:00,400
only the definition for the UDO. It's
not for any other areas within the city

884
01:35:57,760 --> 01:36:06,000
or ordinances of the city. It defines
what a low impact gathering ends is and

885
01:36:04,320 --> 01:36:11,040
then it further updates the standards
for bed and breakfast specifically

886
01:36:08,639 --> 01:36:16,960
section 3.8C2
which is the section on the management

887
01:36:13,679 --> 01:36:21,760
plan. So it requires the management plan
now rather than suggesting that they

888
01:36:18,800 --> 01:36:25,199
should have one. Um it outlines the
requirement elements to include in your

889
01:36:23,360 --> 01:36:32,320
management plan if you would like to
propose events at your site. um those

890
01:36:29,280 --> 01:36:37,360
standards that in the residential zoning
districts where a bed and breakfast

891
01:36:34,000 --> 01:36:42,480
exists, you may only have indoor um
events and it cannot exceed the fire

892
01:36:39,840 --> 01:36:48,800
marshals occupancy numbers that are
allowed. The next one um it only allows

893
01:36:46,639 --> 01:36:53,840
two events per month regardless of the
zoning district where you are. You must

894
01:36:51,360 --> 01:36:58,480
notice your ab budding neighbors prior
to having the this any event that you're

895
01:36:56,320 --> 01:37:05,119
having and it limits the hours that the
events are allowed on site. Um that is

896
01:37:03,119 --> 01:37:07,920
the big broad and I'm happy to ask I
know we've got a lot on the agenda so I

897
01:37:06,560 --> 01:37:11,840
just wanted to outline what it is and
we've seen this a lot but I'm happy to

898
01:37:09,360 --> 01:37:15,840
answer questions. The planning board has
um looked at this, proposed the

899
01:37:14,080 --> 01:37:20,080
amendments and finds that they're
consistent with the UDO and the

900
01:37:18,400 --> 01:37:24,480
comprehensive plan and recommends
approval of this amendment.

901
01:37:22,320 --> 01:37:31,280
I have questions.
Um, I was part of the discussion uh

902
01:37:27,840 --> 01:37:39,600
urging that the um language go back to
the planning board to look at the I was

903
01:37:36,080 --> 01:37:46,639
I obviously was not clear enough to look
for language that specifically prohibits

904
01:37:43,440 --> 01:37:52,400
large gatherings, parties, weddings, and
so forth. And since we got the agenda

905
01:37:49,920 --> 01:37:58,320
and I read through this so carefully, I
looked at the requirements in some of

906
01:37:55,360 --> 01:38:06,080
our neighboring towns that have very
popular BMBBS. Wilmington, Bowfort come

907
01:38:02,880 --> 01:38:12,639
to mind. And both of them spec have
specific language that prohibit events,

908
01:38:09,840 --> 01:38:19,280
weddings, gatherings, and parties.
Period. inside, outside, regardless,

909
01:38:16,239 --> 01:38:25,440
they're very cognizant that they are in
residential areas and so they don't

910
01:38:21,920 --> 01:38:33,920
allow them. What we have here is
language that seeks to create

911
01:38:29,679 --> 01:38:39,920
rules to allow events and I'm very much
opposed to that.

912
01:38:36,000 --> 01:38:48,159
The other language that I I found that
was universal was the number of bedrooms

913
01:38:44,239 --> 01:38:52,320
and the number of occupants. Now, uh
Bowford, I mean, look at this one. Yeah,

914
01:38:50,880 --> 01:38:59,840
Bowfort [laughter]
puts it at um 23 persons and 12 guest

915
01:38:56,880 --> 01:39:05,360
rooms. They got some pretty big uh uh
B&B houses there.

916
01:39:02,080 --> 01:39:11,520
uh others are six, four, that sort of
thing rooms. I think that we could do

917
01:39:08,080 --> 01:39:20,239
that that we could um establish the
occup maximum occupancy that way. One of

918
01:39:15,199 --> 01:39:27,280
my many problems with allowing events is
first it puts the onus of enforcement on

919
01:39:24,080 --> 01:39:32,239
our police department, on our code
enforcement. We don't need to burden

920
01:39:29,600 --> 01:39:38,400
them with more duties and more things to
do in the evenings especially.

921
01:39:35,360 --> 01:39:46,239
We also
we we just do not need to have a

922
01:39:42,960 --> 01:39:52,800
business operating in a residential
area. BMBBS have been long established

923
01:39:50,000 --> 01:40:01,600
over a hundred years of traditional
BMBBS that um exist as

924
01:39:58,400 --> 01:40:08,560
a play as as accommodations.
You know, bed, breakfast. The word event

925
01:40:05,520 --> 01:40:13,840
doesn't come in there. You check in, you
sleep, you eat, you leave.

926
01:40:11,679 --> 01:40:21,119
There are also definitions in some of
the BMBB regulations about the fact that

927
01:40:17,760 --> 01:40:26,800
no food can be served
to the public

928
01:40:23,440 --> 01:40:32,719
for the public to pay for that um food
service whether it's breakfast, lunch,

929
01:40:30,159 --> 01:40:39,360
dinner. Some of them allow all three
meals, but this is paid for as part of

930
01:40:36,400 --> 01:40:47,280
the accommodations. And so having the
public come in and have food,

931
01:40:42,800 --> 01:40:54,800
worshipped, have it catered, this goes
against what a residential use is. So I

932
01:40:52,800 --> 01:41:00,719
would I would like to see us give this
back to the planning board again. So

933
01:40:57,440 --> 01:41:07,679
sorry, but look for look at some of this
other language and let's let's also look

934
01:41:04,000 --> 01:41:13,520
at what the other B&Bs are here. uh what
their womb occupancy is and so on. We

935
01:41:10,800 --> 01:41:19,920
don't want to make them illegal uh
retroactively in any way, but let's

936
01:41:16,719 --> 01:41:24,880
establish those kind of limits and make
it very clear that we're not allowing

937
01:41:22,880 --> 01:41:30,920
events,
a whole business operation as part of a

938
01:41:27,920 --> 01:41:30,920
B&B.

939
01:41:30,960 --> 01:41:41,199
I tend to agree with a lot of Lowe's
comments. Um, it it scares me to have an

940
01:41:37,920 --> 01:41:46,239
event at a BNB. Um, and I guess one of
our newest BNBs is the one across from

941
01:41:43,440 --> 01:41:52,400
the tennis courts on East Moore. I don't
know what the maximum occupancy of that

942
01:41:48,880 --> 01:41:55,360
particular facility would be. Do you
happen to know Mo? I

943
01:41:54,000 --> 01:42:00,239
» I don't know off the top of my head, but
I apologize.

944
01:41:56,000 --> 01:42:08,320
» If it was 50 or 60, um, I'd be concerned
about having an event that large. um in

945
01:42:04,320 --> 01:42:14,000
that location right next to a church and
uh next to residential area. So um I

946
01:42:12,239 --> 01:42:18,080
think I I kind of agree with Love. I'd
like to see it sent back to the planning

947
01:42:15,840 --> 01:42:26,080
board, see if we can come up with some
more reasonable occupancy limits. But,

948
01:42:23,040 --> 01:42:33,040
uh, you know, if this passes and and
there's, um, and the occupancy limits of

949
01:42:29,920 --> 01:42:38,800
that new, uh, B&B across from the tennis
court is 60. Well, we now we've got

950
01:42:36,080 --> 01:42:43,119
competition for our weddings across the
street at the community center. Uh,

951
01:42:40,960 --> 01:42:47,920
we're going to have traffic issues.
We're going to have noise issues in a

952
01:42:45,119 --> 01:42:52,800
residential zoned area right next to a
church. And I I'm just I'm not with this

953
01:42:51,280 --> 01:42:57,199
one right now.
>> I mean, the occupant that this this

954
01:42:54,960 --> 01:43:04,480
current language that we're uh looking
at um talks about occupancy, but that's

955
01:43:01,119 --> 01:43:10,480
fire marshall occupancy. And you know,
we're looking at a budget where we don't

956
01:43:06,320 --> 01:43:15,760
want to see as much overtime as we see.
So, we would be having to have the fire

957
01:43:12,639 --> 01:43:23,440
marshall come out and make sure that
there are only 50 or 60 people under the

958
01:43:19,520 --> 01:43:26,440
roof. Again, we don't need events at
BMBBS.

959
01:43:26,800 --> 01:43:36,080
I think the fire marshall guidelines are
ones that I actually asked for. Um they

960
01:43:33,040 --> 01:43:42,239
allow us to put guard rails on in a way
that takes it off of

961
01:43:38,880 --> 01:43:47,840
uh a business owner who says, "Oh, I
have uh two two people can sleep in each

962
01:43:45,679 --> 01:43:51,840
of my six bedrooms, so that's 12 people
here." That doesn't take into account

963
01:43:50,000 --> 01:43:57,040
the other spaces. I think the fire
marshall um going in is not something

964
01:43:56,000 --> 01:44:02,320
where the fire marshall would
necessarily go out and check during each

965
01:43:59,760 --> 01:44:10,400
event. it does put the guard rails on
the um the owner of the the B&B to be

966
01:44:07,199 --> 01:44:14,000
able to do that. I know that for my in
the fire marshall comes out and does

967
01:44:12,000 --> 01:44:18,560
inspections through each room already.
That is part of the inspection process

968
01:44:15,600 --> 01:44:23,199
that I pay for yearly to have done. Um
in addition to checking smoke detectors

969
01:44:20,800 --> 01:44:29,440
and carbon monoxide dete detectors, it's
also looking for other fire hazards that

970
01:44:25,840 --> 01:44:33,760
could be found within the space. So, I
think the the fire marshal is already

971
01:44:31,040 --> 01:44:39,520
going out to these B&Bs. It's not
creating an additional uh

972
01:44:37,920 --> 01:44:43,920
an additional step for the fire
marshall. It's part of their process

973
01:44:41,360 --> 01:44:46,800
already. I think it just if even in a
building such as this, I think there's

974
01:44:45,199 --> 01:44:50,880
somewhere there's a placard that says
the maximum occupancy inside the

975
01:44:49,280 --> 01:44:55,440
building. And I think that that
translates into what the B&Bs are doing.

976
01:44:53,280 --> 01:44:59,280
And the the guardrails are in place in
this. And I think that the planning

977
01:44:56,880 --> 01:45:04,000
board did a really nice job with a 9:00
a.m. to 9:00 p.m. which actually

978
01:45:00,960 --> 01:45:09,600
shortens the hours from our um noise
ordinance. So if 900 p.m. is the end of

979
01:45:07,360 --> 01:45:14,400
the event, figure if it takes an hour
for everybody to get back to their car

980
01:45:11,119 --> 01:45:22,880
and back home, they're out before that
10 the 10 p.m. um noise and then um not

981
01:45:20,560 --> 01:45:27,280
two events in less than 30 days. I've
got people who live three houses down

982
01:45:25,520 --> 01:45:33,840
who have a party every Friday and
Saturday night and the music is on very

983
01:45:30,719 --> 01:45:40,320
loud and there it's not a B&B, it's
somebody's house. Um, so I think that we

984
01:45:37,440 --> 01:45:44,400
might be looking for a problem where a
problem doesn't exist. And then outside

985
01:45:42,880 --> 01:45:51,119
of that mode, the only question I did
have was notified um within 45 days um

986
01:45:48,159 --> 01:45:54,719
of an event. I just was concerned that
there aren't further guard rails on that

987
01:45:53,040 --> 01:45:59,040
where it's okay, we're going to send it
40 within 45 days could mean, oh, the

988
01:45:57,119 --> 01:46:02,880
event's tomorrow. Just wanted to let you
know it's happening tomorrow. Um, and

989
01:46:01,360 --> 01:46:06,880
that does occasionally happen with
something last minute. I understand

990
01:46:04,320 --> 01:46:11,913
that, but I think that would be my my
feedback for that is just

991
01:46:10,639 --> 01:46:15,199
» You want to go Mark? You've been
[laughter] raising your hand

992
01:46:14,239 --> 01:46:20,480
» boy here. Yeah.
>> I'm not sure quite sure you would go

993
01:46:16,800 --> 01:46:24,480
away with this. So, uh, so in terms of
I'm sending Levi away to college. I got

994
01:46:22,560 --> 01:46:31,280
my downstairs. I'm going to turn it into
a two apartments. What's the difference

995
01:46:26,960 --> 01:46:36,560
in a home stay in a air B&B? Is that the
food?

996
01:46:32,880 --> 01:46:44,480
That's defined in our um ordinance about
short-term stays. We we um short-term

997
01:46:40,480 --> 01:46:47,520
rentals. We um define home stays. We
defined um

998
01:46:46,560 --> 01:46:50,560
» what else do
>> what is the difference then? What is the

999
01:46:49,520 --> 01:46:56,800
difference here? I don't
>> Well, I

1000
01:46:53,040 --> 01:47:02,080
I you have to get licensed to be a B&B.
Uh and to uh the health department comes

1001
01:47:00,719 --> 01:47:09,040
where a health department doesn't come
to a short-term rental or that. Uh and

1002
01:47:04,960 --> 01:47:12,480
we do not allow uh events at short-term
rentals. We don't allow events

1003
01:47:10,719 --> 01:47:18,320
specifically. We have language that says
no events at short-term rentals, no

1004
01:47:14,080 --> 01:47:24,320
events at home stays. Uh, so we've and
do you want to you have more? Okay. So,

1005
01:47:21,600 --> 01:47:30,800
this is and I hear what you're saying,
Rebecca, but um Alderman Kelly, sorry.

1006
01:47:28,000 --> 01:47:36,719
And uh but the state North Carolina
state statute defines bed and breakfast

1007
01:47:33,679 --> 01:47:41,520
home as a business in a private home of
not more than eight guest rooms that

1008
01:47:39,520 --> 01:47:46,880
offers bed and breakfast accommodations
for a period of less than one week and

1009
01:47:44,480 --> 01:47:51,679
that it meets the following criteria and
this is low reference this. It does not

1010
01:47:49,600 --> 01:47:57,760
serve food or drink to the general
public for pay. Uh and B is serves the

1011
01:47:56,080 --> 01:48:02,880
breakfast meal, the lunch meal, the
dinner meal, or any combination of all

1012
01:47:59,760 --> 01:48:09,040
or some of these three meals only to
overnight guests of the home. That's

1013
01:48:05,760 --> 01:48:15,440
what state law says. Our UDO says uh bed
and breakfast uh as defines it as a

1014
01:48:12,320 --> 01:48:20,960
house um or portion thereof where a
where short-term lodging rooms and meals

1015
01:48:17,840 --> 01:48:25,040
are provided. And we've not even ever
mentioned our code of ordinances. So I

1016
01:48:22,719 --> 01:48:29,840
went through the code of ordinances and
the bed breakfast uh uh the code of

1017
01:48:27,840 --> 01:48:34,159
ordinances. It defines bed and breakfast
as a private home offering bed and

1018
01:48:32,320 --> 01:48:40,000
breakfast accommodations to eight or
less persons per night for a period of

1019
01:48:37,360 --> 01:48:44,480
less than one than a week. Uh and it
goes on to say the term is intended to

1020
01:48:42,320 --> 01:48:49,600
describe the offering of temporary
lodging in a private home having

1021
01:48:47,280 --> 01:48:54,239
architectural and historic interest
rather than the provision of food

1022
01:48:51,440 --> 01:49:00,080
service or offerings of facilities for
long-term uh occupancy such as boarding

1023
01:48:56,960 --> 01:49:05,119
houses ins and similar things. Um so all
of this for me is to say that a bed and

1024
01:49:03,440 --> 01:49:09,840
breakfast is supposed to provide
convenient lodging. It's not supposed to

1025
01:49:06,800 --> 01:49:14,320
be an events venue. And um because
already in our small town because of the

1026
01:49:12,560 --> 01:49:20,000
proximity of our businesses to our
residential, we already have enough

1027
01:49:17,199 --> 01:49:24,960
pressure and impact on our in town
residentially zoned areas. So quite

1028
01:49:22,719 --> 01:49:30,320
honestly, I'm not in favor of creating
an ordinance that allows another type of

1029
01:49:27,840 --> 01:49:36,080
business, which an events business is
another type of business um use within

1030
01:49:33,840 --> 01:49:44,320
our residential neighborhoods.
And as for um to answer um Alderman

1031
01:49:40,719 --> 01:49:50,159
Spencer's question, the um if you
created two apartments,

1032
01:49:47,920 --> 01:49:55,920
» I'm sorry.
>> Okay. Then I I you know, you're creating

1033
01:49:52,880 --> 01:50:01,360
a a two family home. And so that would
be you'd have to go in another direction

1034
01:49:57,840 --> 01:50:10,800
to change zoning. But if you had it as a
homeay, a homeay is rooms in your house

1035
01:50:06,159 --> 01:50:17,280
that you you rent out the rooms and you
share kitchen, you share facilities and

1036
01:50:14,320 --> 01:50:21,600
it can be, you know, for a long time.
It's almost like a rooming. No, I guess

1037
01:50:19,360 --> 01:50:28,639
not a rooming house, but other people
stay in your house and pay you to stay

1038
01:50:24,719 --> 01:50:32,960
in your house. the um the rowdy parties.
I guess all of us have experienced those

1039
01:50:30,719 --> 01:50:38,800
at one time, but those are in a private
home. Private people are having a

1040
01:50:35,679 --> 01:50:44,320
private party and it gets loud. That's a
a noise ordinance issue, which we still

1041
01:50:41,600 --> 01:50:51,280
have in front of us to uh to start
revising. So, the issue is do we do we

1042
01:50:48,880 --> 01:50:57,600
give it back to the planning board to
come up with very specific uh language?

1043
01:50:54,639 --> 01:51:05,199
Are we happy with what we have and just
adding no events as a as a phrase as

1044
01:51:01,840 --> 01:51:10,400
part of the uh the definition and
regulations? I think we're going to give

1045
01:51:07,199 --> 01:51:18,400
it back to the planning board to look at
further language that strengthens and

1046
01:51:13,520 --> 01:51:20,560
clarifies BMBBS and prohibits events.
>> Is that a motion?

1047
01:51:19,280 --> 01:51:25,280
» No, that's a motion.
>> Well, not quite. Uh oh yeah we're still

1048
01:51:22,719 --> 01:51:30,639
in this this is a public hearing. So is
there madam clerk anyone from the public

1049
01:51:27,280 --> 01:51:34,840
that wanted to speak uh concerning this?
>> Yes I have John man.

1050
01:51:38,400 --> 01:51:41,880
» Welcome sir.

1051
01:51:42,320 --> 01:51:48,480
» Mics on. Okay good. All right. Good.
John man at 209 East More Street own the

1052
01:51:46,800 --> 01:51:51,840
carriage house bed and breakfast. um
here also representing the Robert R.

1053
01:51:50,159 --> 01:51:57,920
Kaepern Newton and they couldn't be here
today. So um while we truly appreciate

1054
01:51:55,199 --> 01:52:01,599
the adjustments uh that were made from
the last iteration, I appreciate the

1055
01:51:59,599 --> 01:52:04,880
intent behind the amendment and really
uh strongly to preserve the neighborhood

1056
01:52:03,520 --> 01:52:10,080
character of where the bed and
breakfastes reside. However, there's a

1057
01:52:07,040 --> 01:52:13,360
couple points in in the the agenda, the
the change that I would like to bring up

1058
01:52:11,920 --> 01:52:18,000
about the important principles of
fairness along with reasonable standards

1059
01:52:14,880 --> 01:52:21,840
and like even possibly downzoning. Um
first while I understand basically

1060
01:52:20,239 --> 01:52:26,080
managing outdoor activities should not
be completely eliminated you know it

1061
01:52:23,920 --> 01:52:31,599
states the B&Bs can only do interior
events um a lot of our outdoor events

1062
01:52:28,880 --> 01:52:35,599
even like um doing the stuff after hours
the the Brunswick County thing of forgot

1063
01:52:34,400 --> 01:52:39,119
what it's called everybody remembers
what it's called where they just go and

1064
01:52:37,280 --> 01:52:42,480
they meet and they bring a business
after hours and doing something like

1065
01:52:40,639 --> 01:52:47,280
that that would not be allowed there's
lots of things that we do that don't

1066
01:52:44,800 --> 01:52:51,199
have music don't have amplified don't
have anything like that that you know

1067
01:52:48,960 --> 01:52:56,880
just being now eliminated. No disrespect
but I did completely disagree with

1068
01:52:53,119 --> 01:53:00,639
Alderman Low Davis. Um and you know this
is to saying that you just can't do

1069
01:52:58,719 --> 01:53:04,080
anything outside your house is kind of
overly broad and not reasonably tailored

1070
01:53:02,400 --> 01:53:08,800
to the actual impacts that you're trying
to address. Uh regulation should

1071
01:53:06,800 --> 01:53:14,159
mitigate impact and not eliminate
reasonable kind of historical permitted

1072
01:53:11,360 --> 01:53:17,840
uses. Uh indoor events also should not
be living in frequency indoor. Again,

1073
01:53:16,159 --> 01:53:22,639
indoor totally agree with the outdoor
limitations. Um this should be removed.

1074
01:53:20,960 --> 01:53:27,360
We actually had several times where
people come and just do a book club for

1075
01:53:24,880 --> 01:53:30,719
an hour. Not allowed. I mean, I went
through this last time. There's so many

1076
01:53:28,719 --> 01:53:35,280
things that a birthday party, somebody
used my parlor for a birthday party for

1077
01:53:32,880 --> 01:53:39,199
eight people would not be allowed. Um,
and I can go on and on of the small

1078
01:53:37,040 --> 01:53:43,520
events that that support the community
that, you know, the bed and breakfastes

1079
01:53:40,960 --> 01:53:47,520
do support that would now not be allowed
because you're only allowed to have two

1080
01:53:44,880 --> 01:53:52,000
indoor events over every month. That
just makes absolutely no sense when

1081
01:53:49,040 --> 01:53:56,080
you're not um um bothering your
neighbors or anything. There's actually

1082
01:53:53,840 --> 01:54:00,639
no uh minimal or no impact or disruption
on surrounding neighbors. uh placing a

1083
01:53:58,320 --> 01:54:03,840
cap on indoor events that produces no
disruption does not align with stated

1084
01:54:02,320 --> 01:54:07,920
goals for the neighborhood protection
and appears to be arbitrary, not

1085
01:54:05,440 --> 01:54:12,159
reasonable or tied to any impact. Uh
third, the definition of low impact

1086
01:54:09,599 --> 01:54:17,360
gatherings about amplified sound um
completely eliminates the uh opportunity

1087
01:54:14,639 --> 01:54:22,960
of amplified sound. Not that I want, you
know, amplified sound from a a a band,

1088
01:54:21,119 --> 01:54:27,520
but you that also eliminates a
microphone for uh anybody actually just

1089
01:54:25,119 --> 01:54:32,239
doing a speech. um that's amplified
sound or just having you know a you know

1090
01:54:29,520 --> 01:54:36,159
a small speaker on your back patio. Um
totally agree if you don't want you know

1091
01:54:34,239 --> 01:54:40,719
live music and that's eliminated because
it's the residential. I get that. Um but

1092
01:54:39,040 --> 01:54:44,320
to eliminate it completely just doesn't
seem to make sense while they're

1093
01:54:42,080 --> 01:54:48,719
removing. Uh lastly I want to also point
out that these restrictions only apply

1094
01:54:45,920 --> 01:54:53,599
to one business type. similar situation
properties uh uh in the same zoning

1095
01:54:50,719 --> 01:54:56,800
district are not treated consistently
and there are other businesses in the

1096
01:54:54,960 --> 01:55:00,800
same mini area that regulate hosted
gatherings and events without these same

1097
01:54:58,320 --> 01:55:05,199
restrictions. While I understand zoning
categories may differ with real world

1098
01:55:03,040 --> 01:55:08,480
impacts on occupancy and activities are
similar. This raised concerns about

1099
01:55:07,040 --> 01:55:12,480
consistency whether these rules are
being applied in fair balance way based

1100
01:55:10,560 --> 01:55:17,679
upon the impact rather than the property
type. Uh finally, I want to emphasize

1101
01:55:15,199 --> 01:55:21,760
again, we're not asking to, you know,
unlimited events or become a venue for

1102
01:55:19,679 --> 01:55:25,360
events. It's a bed and breakfast that's
just supporting, you know, the community

1103
01:55:23,280 --> 01:55:29,520
for small things like that with our
space that's available. I'm only asking

1104
01:55:27,440 --> 01:55:34,080
for balanced practical standards with
legal fairness included. Um just no

1105
01:55:32,080 --> 01:55:37,679
limit to the indoor gatherings. You
know, a reasonable allowance for outdoor

1106
01:55:35,920 --> 01:55:41,040
events, two a month, three a month,
something like that. No outdoor live

1107
01:55:39,280 --> 01:55:44,800
music. I love the restrictions where
it's only 9 to9. completely okay with

1108
01:55:42,880 --> 01:55:47,440
all those things. Um, I have no problem
with notifying my neighbors. I'm going

1109
01:55:46,159 --> 01:55:51,599
to put them on an email list and make
sure I send an email out saying, "Hey,

1110
01:55:49,280 --> 01:55:55,599
in October, this weekend, this is going
to happen and it's only for 3 hours. So,

1111
01:55:54,159 --> 01:55:58,719
just let you know." I have no problem
with doing that with my budding

1112
01:55:56,719 --> 01:56:01,599
neighbors. Um, I actually talked to Paul
and Jesse and tell them things already.

1113
01:56:00,480 --> 01:56:06,000
So, that's something we're already
doing. Um, and just use the same noise

1114
01:56:04,320 --> 01:56:09,199
ordinances that every other business and
residents have to abide by. I don't

1115
01:56:07,520 --> 01:56:12,239
think you different need a different
noise ordinance just for one specific

1116
01:56:10,880 --> 01:56:17,119
property when everybody else has to
follow the noise ordinances that are in

1117
01:56:13,599 --> 01:56:21,040
the UDO already. Um remembering we're
only trying to fill a need that exists

1118
01:56:19,040 --> 01:56:25,599
in our our community to support
Southport and we're not trying to

1119
01:56:22,800 --> 01:56:30,560
compete against the community center.
Been there open for a year and a half.

1120
01:56:27,119 --> 01:56:34,080
We had one wedding besides my sons. Um
and it was an older couple that was 68

1121
01:56:32,400 --> 01:56:38,000
years old and was only like 25 people
there and that was it. So, it's not

1122
01:56:36,560 --> 01:56:40,639
we're not doing these type of weddings
and doing these big parties that

1123
01:56:39,199 --> 01:56:44,080
everybody keeps throwing out and we're
just trying to solve a problem that

1124
01:56:41,840 --> 01:56:46,880
really isn't existing. Um, I don't think
there's any complaints that have

1125
01:56:45,280 --> 01:56:50,000
happened since we've opened in any of
the bed and breakfast because I've

1126
01:56:48,320 --> 01:56:53,199
checked through. So, that was just my
point of views um to to present to the

1127
01:56:52,080 --> 01:56:57,040
board and hopefully you take those into
consideration and I really appreciate

1128
01:56:54,560 --> 01:57:04,239
your time and uh your cons your
conducting your uh discussions.

1129
01:56:59,920 --> 01:57:08,719
» Thank you. Um I I think um that was a
very good discussion on his part and I

1130
01:57:06,159 --> 01:57:13,119
think the board may the motion I believe
was to do you have a motion now after

1131
01:57:11,679 --> 01:57:17,840
hearing him and is there anyone else
that wants to speak first? Okay, that's

1132
01:57:15,360 --> 01:57:22,560
it. So I I will
>> and I'll make a motion.

1133
01:57:19,119 --> 01:57:27,639
» Yes. All right. I certainly will um
motion to close the uh public hearing.

1134
01:57:27,679 --> 01:57:35,119
All in favor?
Okay. Motion carried. Thank you. All

1135
01:57:32,159 --> 01:57:40,480
right. I'd like to just comment. This
gentleman made some very good points.

1136
01:57:37,440 --> 01:57:44,800
Below made some very good points. Uh I
don't know if we could have a motion

1137
01:57:42,480 --> 01:57:50,080
where this gentleman meets with our
planning board and come up with some

1138
01:57:47,760 --> 01:57:54,000
Maybe he's already done it. Maybe he's
already done it. Let's come up with

1139
01:57:52,480 --> 01:57:57,440
something reasonable. Have we already
done that? Yeah,

1140
01:57:55,520 --> 01:58:03,920
» we have. Why don't we let um Alderman
Davis make her motion? Okay.

1141
01:58:00,480 --> 01:58:10,480
My motion is that we return this um
issue to the planning board yet again

1142
01:58:06,719 --> 01:58:19,840
with instructions to look very closely
at all of the restrictions and the um

1143
01:58:14,960 --> 01:58:28,800
permissions for a B&B
coinciding with what is state law, what

1144
01:58:23,599 --> 01:58:37,760
is our existing ordinance and with an
with an intention of finding a way to

1145
01:58:32,560 --> 01:58:43,520
eliminate large gatherings and events or
any gatherings and events as in the

1146
01:58:40,960 --> 01:58:49,440
state law which simply says that BMBBS
are for accommodations.

1147
01:58:46,080 --> 01:58:55,760
In other words, my motion is that we
give it back to you to come up with

1148
01:58:51,119 --> 01:59:02,239
language that prevents um events and
parties and weddings

1149
01:58:58,400 --> 01:59:08,719
that limits what a B&B can do, that sets
what the maximum occupancy can be

1150
01:59:05,679 --> 01:59:15,599
related to the number of rooms. You can
even set the number of rooms. We don't

1151
01:59:11,360 --> 01:59:20,480
have that many VABs, but I don't mean to
comment while I'm making my motion.

1152
01:59:17,440 --> 01:59:25,280
Anyway, simplify.
Send this back to the planning board

1153
01:59:22,560 --> 01:59:32,880
seeking language that tightens up our
definitions of bed and breakfast and

1154
01:59:27,920 --> 01:59:35,880
eliminates allowing events, um, parties,
etc.

1155
01:59:38,227 --> 01:59:42,639
[clears throat]
>> Mr. Mayor, I would interject. I think if

1156
01:59:40,560 --> 01:59:47,199
it's the intent of the board not to have
events at bed and breakfast, then you

1157
01:59:44,800 --> 01:59:50,639
should deny this request.
If there's no there's no current

1158
01:59:49,040 --> 01:59:55,599
allowance for events in bed and
breakfastes, so to send it back to

1159
01:59:52,400 --> 02:00:00,880
planning board to come back to deny it.
>> Well, part of the problem why why I

1160
01:59:58,239 --> 02:00:06,080
think it has to go back to the planning
board to for the language. The reason is

1161
02:00:03,760 --> 02:00:14,080
that the reason this is here to begin
with is there is no language in the bed

1162
02:00:09,599 --> 02:00:20,560
and breakfast zoning that makes it clear
about events. When the management plan

1163
02:00:16,960 --> 02:00:26,560
went to the board of adjustment for that
particular bed and breakfast they had

1164
02:00:23,760 --> 02:00:30,320
they wanted to do 150 people in their
management plan events and weddings and

1165
02:00:28,560 --> 02:00:33,920
that sort of thing. So what the board of
adjustment did was they said, "Well,

1166
02:00:32,080 --> 02:00:37,599
there there's no zoning for that and
we're not here to write zoning." So

1167
02:00:35,840 --> 02:00:45,520
that's where this came from and that's
how it got sent. So we need something in

1168
02:00:41,280 --> 02:00:49,599
the ordinance that clarifies it. So um
because it just needs to have something

1169
02:00:46,960 --> 02:00:52,639
in the ordinance that clarifies
uh regarding events

1170
02:00:50,719 --> 02:00:57,199
» and that would be to prevent any type of
events at bed and breakfast.

1171
02:00:55,040 --> 02:01:02,719
» Is that correct? But we I I think that
our ordinance needs a little further

1172
02:00:59,119 --> 02:01:09,760
work too to establish room numbers. Uh
how many rooms, how many uh occupants

1173
02:01:06,080 --> 02:01:15,119
and try to coincide, you know, pick up
the exact language of the state law. It

1174
02:01:12,480 --> 02:01:20,880
it it has language in about number of
rooms and stuff. What uh I would say is

1175
02:01:18,480 --> 02:01:26,400
that we certainly understand if they're
having events for their guests. This is

1176
02:01:23,280 --> 02:01:32,000
not about events for their guests. This
is about doing events for people who are

1177
02:01:29,599 --> 02:01:38,080
not staying there that are it becomes an
events venue. And the fact that we have

1178
02:01:34,960 --> 02:01:44,880
a few bed and breakfast today may not
prohibit us having 10 in five years. So

1179
02:01:42,080 --> 02:01:48,880
I I just think
that so I I tend to agree with Alderman

1180
02:01:47,360 --> 02:01:53,760
Davis to send it back to the planning
board. I understand what you say, ma

1181
02:01:50,880 --> 02:02:00,080
manager, but um
>> if the if the guest if someone is a

1182
02:01:57,679 --> 02:02:04,719
guest, can they be allowed to have an
event? That that's the clarification you

1183
02:02:01,920 --> 02:02:07,119
want. So, one of you is saying no events
and one of you saying have events for

1184
02:02:06,560 --> 02:02:11,520
guests.
>> Well, I think that anything with the

1185
02:02:09,440 --> 02:02:16,080
number of guests that they're they're
doing something for their guests, but

1186
02:02:13,679 --> 02:02:21,199
like having dinner outside or something
and they're the lodgers that are staying

1187
02:02:18,080 --> 02:02:24,960
there. I think that if that needs to be
clear, I don't know. I mean, I I would

1188
02:02:23,040 --> 02:02:28,560
make that assumption, but not for
>> and that's why it needs to go back to

1189
02:02:26,320 --> 02:02:33,920
the planning board that to come up with
this kind of language and to imagine

1190
02:02:31,119 --> 02:02:39,280
different scenarios like, okay, we have
a couple of guests who know people here

1191
02:02:36,320 --> 02:02:46,159
who want to invite them over and have
wine and cheese on the on the porch with

1192
02:02:41,840 --> 02:02:52,639
them, whatever. But the actual organized
events that's not appropriate in a board

1193
02:02:49,679 --> 02:02:58,159
bed and breakfast. But again, this is
the job of the planning board right now.

1194
02:02:54,880 --> 02:03:04,159
So my motion is to
now that we've had the public hearing is

1195
02:03:00,639 --> 02:03:11,280
to vote to send the language back to the
planning board for further work and to

1196
02:03:07,360 --> 02:03:16,239
tighten up the language and come up with
things come up with something that this

1197
02:03:14,000 --> 02:03:21,040
board will accept. We
>> have a motion. Do we have a second?

1198
02:03:18,560 --> 02:03:24,320
Second by Alder Marcel. Alderman Kelly
you had

1199
02:03:22,239 --> 02:03:30,800
» I'd love to have discussion further on
this. So um let's say for example I am

1200
02:03:28,480 --> 02:03:38,480
staying at one of the local bed and
breakfasts and it sleeps 12 people and I

1201
02:03:36,400 --> 02:03:43,679
am there by myself because I'm getting
married tomorrow and my future husband

1202
02:03:40,719 --> 02:03:49,199
is not staying at the bed and breakfast.
Can we then have a small wedding at the

1203
02:03:46,639 --> 02:03:55,280
property for 12 people if the rest of
the guests are not attending? Um they

1204
02:03:52,000 --> 02:04:02,320
just happen to be out in town that day.
So it's still 12 people. Um but it's not

1205
02:03:59,199 --> 02:04:08,800
necessarily the guests of the hotel. Um
another thing would be a book club. A

1206
02:04:05,119 --> 02:04:12,800
book club has very small impact on the
community. It is usually during the day.

1207
02:04:10,480 --> 02:04:15,280
it is not necessarily inside. If it's a
beautiful day and they want to bring

1208
02:04:13,679 --> 02:04:19,599
their beach chairs and sit outside, more
power to them. Um, but there's no

1209
02:04:17,360 --> 02:04:23,920
amplified sound. That is already in this
ordinance that there would be no

1210
02:04:20,719 --> 02:04:28,880
amplified sound. Um, I hear you about
live music. I think that we could

1211
02:04:26,320 --> 02:04:37,760
potentially look at changing that. Um
but I think at this point um we've got

1212
02:04:34,639 --> 02:04:45,280
businesses that abut residential all
through town that um have the noise

1213
02:04:42,400 --> 02:04:48,880
ordinance that they get special permits
for that go later than the traditional

1214
02:04:47,040 --> 02:04:54,239
noise ordinance and it affects the
neighbors in 11 11:00 at night. The

1215
02:04:52,159 --> 02:05:00,960
music stops and then there are people
leaving those establishments later than

1216
02:04:56,719 --> 02:05:06,880
that. I think 900 pm is really not
impactful on the neighbors if there's no

1217
02:05:03,679 --> 02:05:13,840
amplified sound. Um, I don't want this
to look like a taking of uh the ability

1218
02:05:10,400 --> 02:05:19,119
for people who that they bought it
without these guidelines in place and

1219
02:05:16,560 --> 02:05:24,000
they were able to do this and now we're
going to prevent them from being able to

1220
02:05:20,800 --> 02:05:28,239
do so. the the things that you are
suggesting are not in the language that

1221
02:05:26,320 --> 02:05:32,560
we have in front of us, which is why I
want to send it back to the planning

1222
02:05:29,599 --> 02:05:36,560
board and get very Alderman Davis. There
are um in the language it says all

1223
02:05:34,639 --> 02:05:42,480
on-site events are scheduled to occur
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00

1224
02:05:38,719 --> 02:05:46,880
p.m. Um Ben Breakfast and residentially
zoned districts shall limit all on-site

1225
02:05:44,400 --> 02:05:49,599
events to interior gatherings, which I
actually disagree with. I think they

1226
02:05:48,159 --> 02:05:53,920
should be allowed to have exterior
gatherings as well. And then on-site

1227
02:05:51,840 --> 02:05:59,760
events shall not exceed two occasions in
30 days. That's only two a month. I

1228
02:05:56,960 --> 02:06:02,960
would love for my neighbors a few houses
down to only have two parties a month

1229
02:06:01,520 --> 02:06:05,679
and for them to let me know which nights
they're going to be so that way I can

1230
02:06:04,320 --> 02:06:12,239
plan to go do something else those
nights. Um, I just think that we we need

1231
02:06:08,880 --> 02:06:16,560
to be fair and um with the communication
with the neighbors already happening, I

1232
02:06:14,719 --> 02:06:20,560
think that's a wonderful thing that's
happening that they're kind of becoming

1233
02:06:18,239 --> 02:06:26,320
part of the fabric of the neighborhood
and not being a thorn in the side. Um, I

1234
02:06:24,080 --> 02:06:30,719
know certainly some of the neighbors um
are very vocal and the fact that they

1235
02:06:28,560 --> 02:06:34,800
weren't here for the public hearing uh
tells us that they're okay with what the

1236
02:06:32,639 --> 02:06:38,679
planning board has gone through over and
over again at this point.

1237
02:06:40,159 --> 02:06:45,199
» We have a motion.
>> Yes, we do have a motion and a and a

1238
02:06:43,280 --> 02:06:50,320
second. And um
>> I go ahead. More discussion. Yeah,

1239
02:06:48,239 --> 02:06:54,159
because I do um I'm struggling a little
bit with this because some of this is

1240
02:06:52,159 --> 02:06:59,040
business, right? Some of this is
business in a residential neighborhood

1241
02:06:56,159 --> 02:07:05,119
and you bought a home or you bought a
B&B and it didn't tell you you could

1242
02:07:02,000 --> 02:07:09,840
could run a business outside of a B&B.
So, I'm struggling a little bit with

1243
02:07:07,199 --> 02:07:13,760
that. Um, I can see to Rebecca's point
why some of these some of these

1244
02:07:11,599 --> 02:07:18,560
functions would make sense, but the
reality is if we ended up putting 180

1245
02:07:16,320 --> 02:07:22,480
people in the backyard of the subject
property, uh, some people aren't going

1246
02:07:20,719 --> 02:07:28,880
to be happy. And I'm pretty certain
we're going to call for Mr. Mr. Paul is

1247
02:07:25,760 --> 02:07:33,840
my guess. Um, so, you know, there's a
fine line between allowing u uh

1248
02:07:31,679 --> 02:07:40,079
businesses to conduct business in a
residential neighborhood. Um, you know,

1249
02:07:37,760 --> 02:07:43,840
so I I'm struggling and I don't know if
sending it back I I I just don't know.

1250
02:07:42,800 --> 02:07:49,119
But
>> I think I think we demonstrated that we

1251
02:07:45,840 --> 02:07:52,880
are not we are not the ones try to come
up with this language. That's why we

1252
02:07:51,360 --> 02:07:59,760
have a planning board. They are the
experts at this. So, let's let them

1253
02:07:57,840 --> 02:08:04,400
Well, Alderman Davis, I'm I'm confused
by what you're asking then. Are you

1254
02:08:01,360 --> 02:08:09,040
asking for no events at all? Are you
asking for only inside events? Are you

1255
02:08:07,040 --> 02:08:14,320
asking for a limit to the number of
exterior events?

1256
02:08:11,440 --> 02:08:20,400
I think that we could perhaps get a
definition of it, but yes, if it comes

1257
02:08:17,280 --> 02:08:30,239
down to it, I'm asking for no events, no
gatherings that involve um people beyond

1258
02:08:26,000 --> 02:08:36,560
the people staying in the um uh in the
B&B. They can certainly have guests over

1259
02:08:33,280 --> 02:08:42,719
to visit, but it's a it's a place to
stay. It's an accommodation. It is not a

1260
02:08:39,679 --> 02:08:47,360
party venue. And so that's what I'm
asking the planning board to consider. I

1261
02:08:45,440 --> 02:08:51,599
think planning board's perfectly capable
of coming back with some optional

1262
02:08:49,440 --> 02:08:56,239
language for us. Several different
things to consider, but the motion on

1263
02:08:53,920 --> 02:09:02,000
the floor is sending it back to the
planning board to revise and consider

1264
02:09:00,079 --> 02:09:05,840
this language
and make suggestions to us.

1265
02:09:04,239 --> 02:09:10,800
» Now, if that's the motion, then that's
good. your earlier motion said and make

1266
02:09:08,079 --> 02:09:15,679
sure there are no events. So, I think we
>> that's what I'm hoping.

1267
02:09:12,639 --> 02:09:19,920
» Well, okay. But let's I think to
Alderman Kelly, let's we'll send it

1268
02:09:17,440 --> 02:09:25,440
back, but let them look at what events
would be like a book club or or

1269
02:09:22,960 --> 02:09:30,000
whatever. U in that regard, just send it
back to them and one more time or either

1270
02:09:28,480 --> 02:09:34,400
that's the motion we have.
>> Can't decide what code enforcement's

1271
02:09:32,400 --> 02:09:37,760
going to be forced to do. you got to
come over and make sure everybody's

1272
02:09:36,000 --> 02:09:41,520
reading the book.
>> I think if the neighbors complain just

1273
02:09:39,760 --> 02:09:46,719
like anything else, then someone goes
out to look at it, but other than that,

1274
02:09:43,440 --> 02:09:51,199
it's not an a standing appointment for
code enforcement or the fire marshall or

1275
02:09:48,960 --> 02:09:57,360
the police to go by and check. I think
that if it is an issue, then there are

1276
02:09:54,320 --> 02:10:01,199
people in place to go check on that. U
Mr. Mayor, it looks like our planning

1277
02:09:59,599 --> 02:10:07,920
services director has something to add
here. Okay, please.

1278
02:10:04,800 --> 02:10:14,400
» Thank you, sir. Um
um with all due respect, I need more

1279
02:10:10,639 --> 02:10:18,560
direction. Um we have vetted other
communities. The planning board has

1280
02:10:16,239 --> 02:10:23,040
looked at what an event is, what size
event. We looked at yes, we want a book

1281
02:10:20,960 --> 02:10:27,840
club to come. Then it was well, no, we
want, you know, and we have defined

1282
02:10:25,920 --> 02:10:32,800
events. So, it's gone through so many
different versions

1283
02:10:29,840 --> 02:10:39,440
to make it very clean. Take a vote on
this, deny it, approve it or not, and

1284
02:10:35,840 --> 02:10:43,599
then say, okay, just to say, please
bring back a couple options. I want to

1285
02:10:41,599 --> 02:10:48,880
know what those options really are very
firm so that we can hit the mark.

1286
02:10:46,320 --> 02:10:53,199
Obviously, we are not hitting the mark
and I want to I want to so that we can

1287
02:10:51,280 --> 02:10:58,800
move forward with this because there are
two very different um ideologies on what

1288
02:10:56,639 --> 02:11:02,320
can happen or should happen at these
that's that's my request. Thank you very

1289
02:11:00,719 --> 02:11:10,159
much.
Are you asking us then to uh change the

1290
02:11:06,239 --> 02:11:17,360
motion to and my motion would be then to
um vote no on this proposal and then we

1291
02:11:15,199 --> 02:11:21,920
come back and
um vote on whether we want to send it

1292
02:11:20,320 --> 02:11:26,320
back to the planning board for other
options. Is that

1293
02:11:24,079 --> 02:11:34,880
» Yes, ma'am.
>> Okay. I will withdraw my motion

1294
02:11:28,880 --> 02:11:42,840
» and revise it to move to um uh vote no
on this uh text amendment.

1295
02:11:39,360 --> 02:11:42,840
» Is there a second?

1296
02:11:47,920 --> 02:11:58,159
» Motion.
The motion is to reject the proposed

1297
02:11:54,400 --> 02:12:02,719
zoning agreement, a zoning amendment on
bed and breakfast as on [clears throat]

1298
02:12:00,400 --> 02:12:08,520
pages 2834.
And

1299
02:12:05,280 --> 02:12:08,520
that's it.

1300
02:12:10,400 --> 02:12:14,440
Language from the attorney.

1301
02:12:15,040 --> 02:12:21,760
Rob, Robert, I'm struggling too. Um I
don't care if they have 30 book club

1302
02:12:19,920 --> 02:12:25,520
meetings a month inside that don't
bother anybody.

1303
02:12:23,280 --> 02:12:30,400
» Um okay. I I don't want to have a party
outside with 90 people in a six piece

1304
02:12:27,599 --> 02:12:36,480
band. So I'm really struggling with this
one and I think there's I think the more

1305
02:12:33,280 --> 02:12:41,440
appropriate thing is for us to digest
this. We've heard from this gentleman

1306
02:12:38,480 --> 02:12:45,920
tonight and we can bring it back to our
meeting our next meeting to vote on it.

1307
02:12:43,599 --> 02:12:52,000
Um, generally speaking, we don't vote on
public hearings, although we have

1308
02:12:47,360 --> 02:12:56,480
already tonight. Um, but, um, you know,
there's nothing wrong with us taking a

1309
02:12:53,760 --> 02:13:02,639
moment to take a breath and digest what
we've heard and and perhaps maybe we can

1310
02:12:59,520 --> 02:13:07,040
come up with a clear motion in another
month.

1311
02:13:03,760 --> 02:13:14,719
» So, I did make a motion. I'm willing to
withdraw that motion and um move to

1312
02:13:10,000 --> 02:13:18,159
table for further u discussion.
>> Well, we we've had the public hearing.

1313
02:13:16,320 --> 02:13:24,480
It's it's it's closed. You've had your
discussion and um we will um we can vote

1314
02:13:22,239 --> 02:13:28,880
on it at a later meeting.
>> And Mr. Mayor, I would uh encourage I

1315
02:13:27,199 --> 02:13:33,440
think a good path would be an ad hoc
committee of the board, maybe one two or

1316
02:13:31,679 --> 02:13:39,400
three from each side so that y'all can
come up with an appropriate amendment to

1317
02:13:35,599 --> 02:13:39,400
digest both sides.

1318
02:13:41,360 --> 02:13:45,040
» Okay. Who would like to serve on the
committee?

1319
02:13:42,800 --> 02:13:53,280
» I like that. Noah, good job. Who?
>> Okay. Ald Alder Meller.

1320
02:13:49,520 --> 02:13:57,599
» Alderman Kelly. Absolutely. And Alderman
Davis, did you want to serve on that? Or

1321
02:13:55,119 --> 02:14:03,520
anyone else want to serve on it?
>> Alderman Gross. Okay, there we go. Y'all

1322
02:14:00,800 --> 02:14:06,560
uh have a book club and um talk about
it.

1323
02:14:05,520 --> 02:14:10,639
» Yeah.
>> Can we do that at one of the BNBs in

1324
02:14:09,199 --> 02:14:13,639
town so we can see what that would look
like?

1325
02:14:16,800 --> 02:14:23,520
» Yes, definitely hold it. I'm sure this
gentleman, Mr. Man, would love to host

1326
02:14:20,880 --> 02:14:28,679
you. I think you said it's only 250 an
hour. So, we'll be we'll be glad.

1327
02:14:33,199 --> 02:14:40,560
Good discussion.
All right. Item I4 for those still

1328
02:14:38,320 --> 02:14:47,040
following it is a uh this one should go
quickly board. Um this is a public

1329
02:14:43,920 --> 02:14:51,360
hearing zoning map amendment yacht basin
parking overlay district. I want to

1330
02:14:49,199 --> 02:14:56,000
thank all the owners of the of land in
Yacht Basin that have joined the parking

1331
02:14:53,440 --> 02:15:00,960
overlay district, such a robust area for
our local economy and where locals and

1332
02:14:58,639 --> 02:15:05,920
visitors alike enjoy the festive
atmosphere of the Yacht Basin and make

1333
02:15:03,040 --> 02:15:10,079
in particular summer memories that last
all year long. I want to thank the next

1334
02:15:08,400 --> 02:15:16,159
property owner who is desiring to
provide parking uh for visitors in the

1335
02:15:12,880 --> 02:15:20,560
Yacht Basin and to and is joining this
uh overlay district. So, I declare this

1336
02:15:18,320 --> 02:15:29,000
public hearing open and I call on
planning services director Moren Mi.

1337
02:15:25,280 --> 02:15:29,000
» Thank you again, sir.

1338
02:15:30,480 --> 02:15:37,520
» So, this is a zoning map amendment that
is a request by the property owners uh

1339
02:15:35,679 --> 02:15:43,679
to be included in the yacht basin
overlay. The subject properties that are

1340
02:15:40,800 --> 02:15:49,040
uh by the yellow dots on this map are
are located are zoned R10 located on the

1341
02:15:46,239 --> 02:15:54,400
corner of South Caswell and West Bay
Street. The parcel ID numbers are 237

1342
02:15:52,480 --> 02:15:59,920
LF00001
and 237 LF00002.

1343
02:15:57,760 --> 02:16:06,079
The properties are located adjacent to
business properties zoned business

1344
02:16:02,480 --> 02:16:14,159
district and zoned R10 uh with the yacht
basin overlay itself. Uh to remind you

1345
02:16:09,280 --> 02:16:17,920
the yacht basin overlay allows um
commercial parking lot with standards on

1346
02:16:16,000 --> 02:16:22,800
the residential lots within this block
itself. Uh the underlying zoning remains

1347
02:16:20,960 --> 02:16:28,800
the same as R10. They still would be
able to uh develop their properties uh

1348
02:16:26,079 --> 02:16:34,240
following the residential standards and
any uses they will um need to follow the

1349
02:16:32,479 --> 02:16:38,960
standards for the yacht basin overlay
which is sur uh surfacing. They must

1350
02:16:36,160 --> 02:16:46,160
have pvious pavers or 57 driveway slate
stone. The perimeters must be outlined

1351
02:16:41,679 --> 02:16:49,760
bordered with uh wood um uh beams and
the driveway entrance must include an

1352
02:16:48,080 --> 02:16:55,519
apron and those are outlined in the
ordinance itself and routine maintenance

1353
02:16:52,000 --> 02:17:00,160
must be taken care of as well. Uh the
planning board has uh looked at this map

1354
02:16:58,000 --> 02:17:06,639
amendment and finds it consistent with
the uh 2050 comp plan and recommends

1355
02:17:03,840 --> 02:17:11,200
approval of this map amendment.
>> Madame clerk, is there anyone here from

1356
02:17:08,399 --> 02:17:14,240
the public that would like to speak?
>> I do not have anybody known.

1357
02:17:12,960 --> 02:17:19,519
» Okay. Anyone here that would like to
speak concerning the parking overlay?

1358
02:17:16,559 --> 02:17:24,399
Okay. Um uh need a motion to close
public hearing.

1359
02:17:21,519 --> 02:17:30,160
We have a motion and a second. Second by
alderman Spencer. Thank you. Um all in

1360
02:17:27,359 --> 02:17:34,319
favor? Okay, we're out of public uh
hearing and board. Any questions for

1361
02:17:32,399 --> 02:17:39,359
Miss Mian or any comments?
>> Just one mo that these property owners

1362
02:17:37,040 --> 02:17:42,319
are coming to us and petitioning to join
the overlay. Correct.

1363
02:17:41,200 --> 02:17:45,439
» Yes, ma'am. That's correct.
>> Okay. Thank you.

1364
02:17:44,000 --> 02:17:52,479
» Yeah, that's that's how we got here.
They uh asked to do it. [clears throat]

1365
02:17:47,840 --> 02:17:56,240
» Um any um any further discussion? This
is a good thing. That's all I got to

1366
02:17:54,080 --> 02:18:00,319
say. It's a good thing. Um,
>> so now all of them, all of that those

1367
02:17:58,639 --> 02:18:03,760
parcels will be in compliance.
>> So, that's a good thing.

1368
02:18:01,760 --> 02:18:05,519
» Um, and since there's no controversy
with that, can I go ahead and make a

1369
02:18:05,120 --> 02:18:09,439
motion?
>> I was asking for a motion.

1370
02:18:07,519 --> 02:18:12,960
» Uh, I would like to make a motion to
approve the land use consistency

1371
02:18:11,280 --> 02:18:16,719
statement and the statement of
reasonleness

1372
02:18:14,559 --> 02:18:20,880
and the zoning map amendment as
presented.

1373
02:18:18,719 --> 02:18:25,040
Second. Okay, we have a motion by
Alderman Meller and a second by Alderman

1374
02:18:23,280 --> 02:18:28,960
Davis to approve the land use
consistency statement and statement of

1375
02:18:27,120 --> 02:18:34,479
reasonableness and the zoning map
amendment as presented. Um, any further

1376
02:18:32,880 --> 02:18:42,599
discussion?
Okay, all in favor? Any opposed? Okay,

1377
02:18:38,000 --> 02:18:42,599
motion carried unanimously. Thank you.

1378
02:18:42,800 --> 02:18:50,639
Okay. Um
item I5

1379
02:18:48,080 --> 02:18:57,200
and that is the uh the public hearing
for fiscal year 2627 budget. The um

1380
02:18:55,200 --> 02:19:02,960
special board of alderman meeting June
17th will be held for a vote. There will

1381
02:18:59,200 --> 02:19:09,040
be no vote on this um tonight. Um for
the public um and the budget I look at

1382
02:19:06,559 --> 02:19:14,399
as four pillars for our city as we
consider the budget. Pillar number one,

1383
02:19:11,760 --> 02:19:19,760
public safety, our fire, police, our
EMS, public health, emergency

1384
02:19:16,800 --> 02:19:23,840
preparedness, and our environment. The
second pillar is promoting and

1385
02:19:21,359 --> 02:19:28,880
maintaining infrastructure. Storm water
is our top priority right now. Um, it

1386
02:19:26,639 --> 02:19:33,120
used to be uh water and sewer that's
been regionalized and then waterfront

1387
02:19:30,880 --> 02:19:38,399
stabilization. It is being uh
successfully uh going to be completed.

1388
02:19:35,920 --> 02:19:42,719
So our priority now storm water roads,
our buildings, our parks, our

1389
02:19:39,920 --> 02:19:46,559
cemeteries. Uh we want a robust and
efficient budget. We want competitive

1390
02:19:44,639 --> 02:19:51,040
salaries and benefits for employees. We
want excellence and service from all

1391
02:19:48,319 --> 02:19:57,439
city departments. We want to support our
local businesses, our local economy, our

1392
02:19:53,760 --> 02:20:02,319
nonprofits, and volunteers.
The third pillar is preserving our

1393
02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:07,200
historic heritage, our culture,
including our unique neighborhoods and

1394
02:20:04,399 --> 02:20:12,000
fishing village atmosphere. And the the
fourth pillar is the enhancement of the

1395
02:20:09,760 --> 02:20:16,560
quality of life, the preservation of the
human spirit for all our citizens. I do

1396
02:20:14,720 --> 02:20:20,560
not promote balancing a budget on cuts
to employee salaries or benefits. I

1397
02:20:18,960 --> 02:20:26,319
think we need competitive salaries and
benefits. This leads to recruitment and

1398
02:20:23,359 --> 02:20:31,760
retention of dedicated employees. This
has value and overall cost savings. A

1399
02:20:29,280 --> 02:20:35,359
healthier and happy employee population
leads to higher performance and

1400
02:20:33,280 --> 02:20:40,560
excellence in services and a better
quality of work life. The city provides

1401
02:20:38,240 --> 02:20:46,080
services. It is not a profit producing
enterprise. And we should provide what

1402
02:20:42,880 --> 02:20:51,120
our citizens need and what is requested
the best way we can deliver. and when

1403
02:20:49,040 --> 02:20:56,319
possible collaborate with our partner
Brunswick County for example on

1404
02:20:53,840 --> 02:21:02,880
financing our EMS.
An advalor tax increase is not an

1405
02:20:59,920 --> 02:21:07,840
unreasonable request when a city is
planning for the future. We are

1406
02:21:04,880 --> 02:21:12,080
susceptible to hurricanes and storms. We
can also use these funds for potential

1407
02:21:10,000 --> 02:21:17,040
smaller storm water projects such as on
Atlantic Avenue and continue paving and

1408
02:21:14,479 --> 02:21:23,520
repairing of roads. The overall storm
water solution engineers estimate $30

1409
02:21:20,240 --> 02:21:29,120
million to replace existing storm water
and 60 million to build what is needed.

1410
02:21:26,640 --> 02:21:34,240
We're looking to the legislature for
assistance in fixing the storm water

1411
02:21:30,880 --> 02:21:38,960
issue at More Street for Bonnets Creek
and for the overall issue we would need

1412
02:21:36,479 --> 02:21:43,600
bond financing uh and that needs to be
evaluated. We have goals and challenges

1413
02:21:41,840 --> 02:21:50,000
and we write a budget to accomplish
these goals in serving the citizens of

1414
02:21:46,319 --> 02:21:55,280
Southport. We also work on grant writing
and asking the legislature for a larger

1415
02:21:52,560 --> 02:22:00,399
amount of the sales taxport generates as
we are the downtown of Brunswick County

1416
02:21:57,840 --> 02:22:05,040
and a center of tourism.
Of note, we are not Oak Island with

1417
02:22:02,319 --> 02:22:09,680
respect to the tax base and it is not
comparable nor is the tax rate.

1418
02:22:07,359 --> 02:22:14,479
Southport is unique in so many ways. We
should lead in excellence in everything

1419
02:22:11,760 --> 02:22:19,200
we do, including this budget. I declare
this public hearing open and I call on

1420
02:22:16,720 --> 02:22:22,960
city manager Noah Salda.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Members of the

1421
02:22:20,800 --> 02:22:27,200
board, as everyone's aware, over the
last several uh months and weeks, we've

1422
02:22:24,880 --> 02:22:32,640
been working on the FY27 upcoming city
budget. That started off with the

1423
02:22:29,280 --> 02:22:37,200
board's uh budget workshop or strategic
goal setting workshop in February. uh

1424
02:22:35,120 --> 02:22:41,200
followed by our internal budget process
of staff and department heads to present

1425
02:22:39,200 --> 02:22:44,160
their proposals to me. Uh following
that, I presented the board my

1426
02:22:42,560 --> 02:22:48,640
recommended manager's budget at the end
of May. And over the last several weeks,

1427
02:22:46,319 --> 02:22:52,880
we've been working uh through two budget
workshops with the board. Um following

1428
02:22:51,040 --> 02:22:56,479
the last budget workshop, it was the
desire of the majority of the board not

1429
02:22:54,800 --> 02:23:02,479
to have the tax increase this coming
year. Uh so staff has worked on that

1430
02:22:59,600 --> 02:23:06,319
proposal and tonight uh I'm pleased to
see say that we've been able to get to a

1431
02:23:04,479 --> 02:23:10,960
balanced budget without raising taxes
this coming year in the following ways.

1432
02:23:08,880 --> 02:23:16,399
Um the most significant adjustment is
coming from new um insurance premiums

1433
02:23:14,880 --> 02:23:21,280
that comes from our North Carolina
League of Municipalities insurance which

1434
02:23:18,240 --> 02:23:25,600
covers all of our buildings, vehicles uh
and other casualty and property

1435
02:23:22,880 --> 02:23:30,640
insurance. uh after receiving a final
quote from them over the last several

1436
02:23:27,760 --> 02:23:36,399
days, we've been able to reduce that um
by up to $200,000.

1437
02:23:32,960 --> 02:23:43,600
Uh and the in the fire department is
also moving to the um league's insurance

1438
02:23:40,240 --> 02:23:49,200
which is saving approximately $70,000 as
well. Um, we have also reduced some

1439
02:23:46,240 --> 02:23:53,040
part-time line items of salary in the
community relations department uh

1440
02:23:51,280 --> 02:23:59,040
without affecting that department's
operations. Um, we have also included

1441
02:23:56,479 --> 02:24:04,160
the board's 7% community building
revenue rate increase that you passed

1442
02:24:01,359 --> 02:24:10,080
last week uh in last week's straw vote
of that budget. Um, so finally, we will

1443
02:24:07,280 --> 02:24:14,000
only need an additional $68,000
of general fund fund balance on top of

1444
02:24:12,000 --> 02:24:18,880
that to balance the budget with no tax
increase. Um, I will note as I have over

1445
02:24:16,560 --> 02:24:23,120
past meetings that we anticipate
appropriated fund balance uh to

1446
02:24:21,040 --> 02:24:27,280
hopefully not be able to be utilized at
the highest level that we will

1447
02:24:24,479 --> 02:24:32,800
appropriate that as we are hopeful our
legislators will pass the new fire fee

1448
02:24:30,080 --> 02:24:37,280
uh legislation in the next few weeks to
offset those costs in the budget. Uh the

1449
02:24:35,600 --> 02:24:42,319
Southport Fire District fee committee
met today uh and passed the rate the 25%

1450
02:24:40,479 --> 02:24:46,319
rate increase subject to the approval of
the legislature. Um so following the

1451
02:24:44,560 --> 02:24:50,160
legislaturator's hopeful adoption of
that in the coming weeks, uh the county

1452
02:24:48,399 --> 02:24:53,840
will adopt a budget amendment for their
budget. We will come back with a budget

1453
02:24:52,160 --> 02:24:58,160
amendment to reduce the appropriated
fund balance in the city's budget once

1454
02:24:55,520 --> 02:25:04,640
that is adopted. So happy we can get to
a balanced budget tonight uh without tax

1455
02:25:00,880 --> 02:25:11,520
increases. I will caution us that using
fund balance uh over overage is not

1456
02:25:08,720 --> 02:25:14,960
necessarily the best practices. Uh but I
think uh since we will not hopefully

1457
02:25:13,359 --> 02:25:20,319
need to be utilizing the full
appropriated amounts um one-time

1458
02:25:17,600 --> 02:25:24,160
expenditures will be acceptable uh in
this year's budget. Um, following

1459
02:25:22,399 --> 02:25:28,080
today's discussion, happy to entertain
any questions or ideas the board has

1460
02:25:25,760 --> 02:25:31,840
tonight. Uh, incorporating that into the
public hearing and then final

1461
02:25:29,840 --> 02:25:36,080
adjustments and budget adoption next
Wednesday, June 17th at 1:00 in Indian

1462
02:25:34,240 --> 02:25:42,080
Trail. Happy to answer any questions.
>> Any questions for city manager?

1463
02:25:38,319 --> 02:25:49,080
» Um, well, I just want to clarify. So,
there's a couple of things as an

1464
02:25:44,080 --> 02:25:49,080
example. Um, line item 42,000.438

1465
02:25:49,680 --> 02:25:57,359
inspection permits. I'm struggling a
little bit there because that alone

1466
02:25:54,160 --> 02:26:04,479
we're budgeting $220,000 less in this
upcoming year than we've projected.

1467
02:26:00,960 --> 02:26:09,560
That seems like that would help, right?
>> Tell me that line item again.

1468
02:26:05,840 --> 02:26:09,560
» Uh 4200.438.

1469
02:26:13,600 --> 02:26:24,920
» Uh I'm sorry. I'm Hold on.
>> What page number? Let me get there.

1470
02:26:21,920 --> 02:26:24,920
Um,

1471
02:26:26,640 --> 02:26:30,040
sorry about that.

1472
02:26:46,640 --> 02:26:50,200
On page 55,

1473
02:26:50,399 --> 02:27:02,399
permitting and inspections,
um the proposed budget is 605,000.

1474
02:26:57,840 --> 02:27:06,600
Uh 2025 actuals were 814. Year to date,
we're at already 622,000.

1475
02:27:06,960 --> 02:27:11,720
It just seems like we underbudgeted
there.

1476
02:27:13,040 --> 02:27:20,479
» So that is with anticipated what we
anticipate growth to be over this next

1477
02:27:17,920 --> 02:27:23,439
year. So though we have seen increase
this year in consulting with the

1478
02:27:22,160 --> 02:27:27,280
building and permanence department and
most department we wanted to

1479
02:27:24,960 --> 02:27:33,040
conservatively budget that and not over
budget that line and I'll make sure

1480
02:27:29,520 --> 02:27:38,000
finance director Joey is that correct?
So we can always certainly budget higher

1481
02:27:35,600 --> 02:27:42,080
revenues but making sure that we are you
know conservative on revenue projections

1482
02:27:40,240 --> 02:27:45,680
since we have lost revenue.
>> I just think there's a couple of

1483
02:27:43,760 --> 02:27:49,120
opportunities as a board. I just wanted
to point out that there's a few

1484
02:27:46,960 --> 02:27:53,359
opportunities where we might have been a
little conservative but we might

1485
02:27:51,600 --> 02:27:57,240
actually make it up.
>> Right. Sure.

1486
02:27:57,280 --> 02:28:04,479
» Anyone else? Any questions?
>> Just a quick question for Noah. we see

1487
02:28:01,920 --> 02:28:09,200
some significantly higher revenues come
in on some line items you can make a

1488
02:28:06,640 --> 02:28:14,160
budget amendment during the year and we
can adjust those maybe reduce the amount

1489
02:28:11,920 --> 02:28:17,200
being taken out of fund balance in lie
of increased revenues

1490
02:28:15,600 --> 02:28:21,280
» that's right for sure just like just
like the fire fee we'll come back and

1491
02:28:18,880 --> 02:28:24,880
reduce same concept as if we have other
revenues that exceed our expectations

1492
02:28:23,040 --> 02:28:29,040
we'll do that as well
>> golf carts was another example correct

1493
02:28:27,120 --> 02:28:32,080
golf carts we underbudget it I don't see
golf carts

1494
02:28:30,240 --> 02:28:36,000
» I don't see fewer golf carts on the
roads next year than we have this year.

1495
02:28:34,080 --> 02:28:38,000
So, I would have at least budgeted what
we've brought in year to date.

1496
02:28:37,280 --> 02:28:41,000
» For sure.
>> Yeah.

1497
02:28:43,280 --> 02:28:49,479
» Anyone else with questions for the city
manager before we uh

1498
02:28:49,600 --> 02:28:58,800
» Not a question. Well, I guess um in this
new budget, do we have the four police

1499
02:28:56,399 --> 02:29:03,040
officers? Is it two police officers that
were pushed back the two months is what

1500
02:29:01,920 --> 02:29:06,800
do we actually have in this meeting?
>> That's correct. So the it's the four

1501
02:29:04,720 --> 02:29:11,600
total officers but spread out at the
board's direct direction at the last

1502
02:29:08,640 --> 02:29:15,680
meeting. So two starting in September,
two starting uh in in Mar January

1503
02:29:14,479 --> 02:29:19,120
January.
>> So spread out like the board had.

1504
02:29:17,200 --> 02:29:23,200
» I would like to see two starting in
September and two starting the following

1505
02:29:21,040 --> 02:29:27,200
July.
>> So that would be a next budget year.

1506
02:29:24,880 --> 02:29:30,200
» Correct. So, two this year, two and 29.
>> Yes.

1507
02:29:31,520 --> 02:29:38,800
» I'm not I'm not in agreement with that.
>> I I would stick with the J my my

1508
02:29:37,600 --> 02:29:45,280
preference would be stick with the
January for this second two.

1509
02:29:41,120 --> 02:29:49,760
» I think at the workshop we agreed on
January January start.

1510
02:29:47,920 --> 02:29:53,840
» I don't think we came to consensus. I
think we talked about it a bunch, but we

1511
02:29:51,520 --> 02:30:01,600
never came to consensus.
Um and I think that what was mentioned

1512
02:29:57,439 --> 02:30:08,160
in the um the budget when during the
last budget meeting was that while

1513
02:30:06,000 --> 02:30:12,960
the January start we only have to budget
for half a year this year, we still have

1514
02:30:10,640 --> 02:30:19,120
to budget for them for a full year next
year. So I think that if in the interest

1515
02:30:15,920 --> 02:30:25,520
of the budget and our future planning,
we need to look at

1516
02:30:22,399 --> 02:30:29,280
stepping in with two this year and then
have the plan for two the following year

1517
02:30:27,680 --> 02:30:33,520
because we already are going to have to
budget for an additional full year for

1518
02:30:31,840 --> 02:30:38,640
those. So that that's not something that
is a one-time deal. We're committing to

1519
02:30:37,280 --> 02:30:41,840
these people, not that we're going to
hire them for six months. We're hiring

1520
02:30:40,240 --> 02:30:47,040
them for a career. Hopefully they'll
stay here for that. So, I just when

1521
02:30:44,960 --> 02:30:50,720
we're looking at trying to be fiscally
responsible, it seems like a way that we

1522
02:30:49,359 --> 02:30:55,040
can do that.
>> Well, and I appreciate that. I think

1523
02:30:52,960 --> 02:31:00,080
that's a that's our goal, right? That's
what we're charged with. So, one of the

1524
02:30:56,640 --> 02:31:06,319
things though, we have not raised taxes.
We've gotten to that point. Um, we're

1525
02:31:02,800 --> 02:31:09,359
only committing $68,000.
Is that is that the number? I'm sorry.

1526
02:31:07,840 --> 02:31:13,600
» In addition to the
>> Right. In addition, I think we've

1527
02:31:11,359 --> 02:31:18,160
already made that up with some of our un
conservative calculations on revenue.

1528
02:31:15,920 --> 02:31:21,760
Uh, as another example, Fort Johnston
gift shop. Do we think that they're

1529
02:31:19,680 --> 02:31:25,760
going to I mean, who are we employing
that their revenues are going to go down

1530
02:31:23,439 --> 02:31:30,399
25%.
So, I mean, why would we do that? I

1531
02:31:28,160 --> 02:31:34,960
don't see Fort Johnson getting fewer
visitors this year or next year than

1532
02:31:32,800 --> 02:31:40,399
they did this year, right? So though I
mean we're going to make up the deficit

1533
02:31:36,479 --> 02:31:47,680
in my opinion based on the conservative
uh figures on revenue from staff. I mean

1534
02:31:43,920 --> 02:31:53,040
there so to further
pick at that to what end is my question

1535
02:31:51,359 --> 02:31:57,359
to just to limit that what we're taking
out of fund balance or

1536
02:31:55,520 --> 02:32:02,399
I I would really like for us to see to
continue the 1 cent that go that had

1537
02:31:59,760 --> 02:32:07,439
been earmarked for capital fund for
rather than digging into our pockets.

1538
02:32:05,600 --> 02:32:11,040
I'd really like for us to continue to
build that. Um, and I think that was a

1539
02:32:09,840 --> 02:32:15,840
great idea. I think, and Robert, I think
you had that idea last year to to do

1540
02:32:13,120 --> 02:32:21,280
that. Um, and I think that if we're
looking towards the future, we have to

1541
02:32:17,600 --> 02:32:26,160
figure out where we can uh make it make
sense to continue that because we have

1542
02:32:24,080 --> 02:32:31,520
big projects coming down the pipeline at
us that aren't going away based on the

1543
02:32:28,800 --> 02:32:35,680
number of employees we have. And the
employees that we already have, we've

1544
02:32:33,359 --> 02:32:41,680
committed to. and I want to give them
all of the um bonuses that we can. I

1545
02:32:39,520 --> 02:32:46,399
want to make sure that they have a full
health package. I want to make sure that

1546
02:32:43,680 --> 02:32:50,560
working for Southport makes uh the the
best people want to come and work with

1547
02:32:47,920 --> 02:32:55,200
us and stay with us. And in order to do
that, I think that we need to make sure

1548
02:32:52,560 --> 02:33:00,960
we're looking towards the future. And
that 1 cent capital fund um is really

1549
02:32:59,200 --> 02:33:04,319
looking at that.
>> I will say something. So, are you

1550
02:33:02,240 --> 02:33:06,720
advocating for a tax increase for 1
cent?

1551
02:33:04,720 --> 02:33:09,920
» I am not. I am advocating for cutting
the budget in other places so we can

1552
02:33:08,560 --> 02:33:14,160
allocate that 1 cent.
>> I'll say something something to think

1553
02:33:11,600 --> 02:33:18,080
about that if you do the two officers as
we talked, we'll have to add back

1554
02:33:15,920 --> 02:33:21,520
significant part-time and overtime. So,
there would be some savings, but it

1555
02:33:19,840 --> 02:33:25,359
would not be two officers.
>> I think we choose public safety over the

1556
02:33:23,359 --> 02:33:29,600
fiscal responsibility here in that
regard. I think that's important. I

1557
02:33:27,200 --> 02:33:34,479
think we that those, you know, four
officers, you've staggered them and I I

1558
02:33:31,840 --> 02:33:40,319
think uh to Alderman Carol's point, we
we may be better off uh as we move

1559
02:33:37,840 --> 02:33:44,240
through the the season, but I I think
it's um

1560
02:33:42,880 --> 02:33:47,920
it's good.
>> Alderman Kelly, I think this was part of

1561
02:33:45,840 --> 02:33:51,200
our conversation. I think it was we take
them out, we save 80, and we put them

1562
02:33:49,600 --> 02:33:56,479
back and then we and then we have to put
back in part-time and stuff and it's

1563
02:33:53,040 --> 02:33:58,960
back to 70. So, the savings is 10 grand.
doesn't make up the one cent we're

1564
02:33:57,920 --> 02:34:01,120
trying to accomplish.
>> So, the battle is

1565
02:33:59,920 --> 02:34:05,200
» I think it comes close.
>> Do we want to let our officers make

1566
02:34:03,040 --> 02:34:10,720
extra money or do we want to protect
them by making sure we don't overwork

1567
02:34:07,120 --> 02:34:16,880
them? So, the overworking part is where
I'm at is that they've got lives, too.

1568
02:34:13,840 --> 02:34:21,120
I'm sure they like the overtime, but we
don't need to wear them out. So, that's

1569
02:34:19,439 --> 02:34:25,600
why I'm gonna stick with the four.
>> And and I hear you, and I just want to

1570
02:34:23,040 --> 02:34:31,120
bring this up. Um, part of the overtime
is time going to court that I believe

1571
02:34:28,080 --> 02:34:35,680
has to happen on days that are not
patrol days, if I understand that

1572
02:34:32,960 --> 02:34:40,000
correctly. Um, that that goes on the
overtime rather than patrol. Can I No.

1573
02:34:38,960 --> 02:34:43,800
Yes.
>> I'm I'm looking for an answer.

1574
02:34:46,080 --> 02:34:50,800
» Okay.
>> All right. So, for those that didn't

1575
02:34:49,040 --> 02:34:55,280
hear, the court date only applies for
overtime for the night shift guys. So

1576
02:34:52,560 --> 02:35:00,880
that way that's on record. Thank you.
>> I'm actually uh pleased with the

1577
02:34:57,840 --> 02:35:05,280
amendments that Noah has proposed. I'm
comfortable with them. Um probably is

1578
02:35:03,520 --> 02:35:12,160
the most conservative person on this
boat fiscally. Um that should bode well.

1579
02:35:08,880 --> 02:35:16,000
But um I think there are opportunities
for revenues higher than what were

1580
02:35:14,240 --> 02:35:23,120
budgeted. Robert, I tend to agree with
you and uh certainly I would hope that

1581
02:35:19,520 --> 02:35:27,439
would be the case. Um, and Noah will
come back with some amendments during

1582
02:35:25,120 --> 02:35:30,880
the year and maybe we can cut some of
the cut some of the amount of money

1583
02:35:28,800 --> 02:35:37,200
we're taking out of fund balance. I
agree with it. I'm I'm in support of uh

1584
02:35:33,040 --> 02:35:44,080
the budget as Noah uh revised it today.
>> Noah, I have one question. You I think

1585
02:35:40,319 --> 02:35:49,760
it's uh public works R&M facilities. It
was 150,000 last year and we've got it

1586
02:35:46,560 --> 02:35:53,600
at zero this year. So that that went to
the capital fund. Um so that's where

1587
02:35:52,160 --> 02:35:57,359
that will be this year to take pressure
off the general fund. I will also note

1588
02:35:55,760 --> 02:36:02,479
within the capital fund, we had some
kind of convers we had conversations uh

1589
02:36:00,080 --> 02:36:07,200
with the community building uh upfit. So
I've added about $100,000 there as well

1590
02:36:05,040 --> 02:36:11,439
to redo the railings on both sides as
well as paint the exterior. So that's an

1591
02:36:09,760 --> 02:36:15,439
additional change we've made there. But
the capital you're or the line item

1592
02:36:13,120 --> 02:36:20,160
you're referring to uh is in the capital
fund. Um, but there is a corresponding

1593
02:36:17,680 --> 02:36:22,640
line that has been updated to take care
of that as well.

1594
02:36:20,960 --> 02:36:25,760
» So, in their budget next year, we're
going to see zero and expect to do zero

1595
02:36:25,280 --> 02:36:30,399
again.
>> No, it will be should be back in the

1596
02:36:27,840 --> 02:36:33,680
general fund next year.
I did that this year to avoid an

1597
02:36:32,000 --> 02:36:37,680
additional tax increase in the general
fund. But hopefully by next year when

1598
02:36:35,840 --> 02:36:40,319
revenues stabilize, it'll be back in the
general fund.

1599
02:36:38,160 --> 02:36:44,720
» And ju just a reminder, we own three
lots on 11th Street. Been sitting there

1600
02:36:43,040 --> 02:36:51,520
for years. We should have sold them
years ago. Opportunity cost lost there.

1601
02:36:47,680 --> 02:36:55,439
We own We own land in BSL. We've been
told recently,

1602
02:36:53,600 --> 02:37:00,640
what we holding on to land we don't need
for opportunity cost lost again. Let's

1603
02:36:58,479 --> 02:37:04,800
let's get those three three parcels on
11 sold and let's get this parcel on BSL

1604
02:37:02,960 --> 02:37:09,680
sold.
Okay. Um is is there anyone from the

1605
02:37:06,880 --> 02:37:14,800
public that would like to speak during
the public hearing?

1606
02:37:11,439 --> 02:37:14,800
» Uh Rich all I

1607
02:37:26,880 --> 02:37:33,200
was asking reason why we don't have a
clock and so we had one at the mayor's

1608
02:37:30,880 --> 02:37:37,840
uh [snorts] meeting.
That's a flashing thing. That's doesn't

1609
02:37:34,800 --> 02:37:43,760
tell me what I'm doing here. Um so my
name is Rich Al. I live at 6165 Cottage

1610
02:37:40,160 --> 02:37:47,680
Creek Road and uh I've already had this
conversation with the ma the manager and

1611
02:37:45,520 --> 02:37:50,800
I respectfully disagree with the manager
and we can do that without actually

1612
02:37:49,120 --> 02:37:58,960
hating each other because we talk all
the time. So the understanding is that

1613
02:37:55,359 --> 02:38:04,479
the ma manager put out a a a budget back
in May I believe it was and even as of

1614
02:38:02,240 --> 02:38:10,479
tonight in front of us we had a workshop
here on the budget. There is no way that

1615
02:38:07,200 --> 02:38:14,560
anybody in the citizen group could have
looked at the budget and come in here

1616
02:38:12,479 --> 02:38:19,920
with fixed ideas of what was going to
happen because you didn't come in here

1617
02:38:17,600 --> 02:38:24,800
with a draft budget that you had all
agreed to. You didn't even get your

1618
02:38:22,000 --> 02:38:28,880
budget until noon today.
So, I don't think you can have a public

1619
02:38:26,479 --> 02:38:32,800
hearing on it. So, I'm just going on
record to say that this was

1620
02:38:30,160 --> 02:38:37,680
inappropriately done.
Chief Coring,

1621
02:38:35,200 --> 02:38:42,319
you and I have multiple conversations
throughout the years, and I have the

1622
02:38:40,080 --> 02:38:46,160
utmost respect for you, but I am going
to question some things about the fire

1623
02:38:44,240 --> 02:38:52,399
department, about the police department.
And none of that means that you and I

1624
02:38:49,280 --> 02:38:55,600
like should hate each other. Okay.
The part about the police department is

1625
02:38:54,240 --> 02:38:59,680
well, first of all, I have 30 years of
police work. So, my heart is with the

1626
02:38:57,600 --> 02:39:04,160
police department. I still teach law
enforcement around the world for the

1627
02:39:01,600 --> 02:39:09,120
State Department. So, I'm pretty used to
this business. So, trying to trying to

1628
02:39:07,840 --> 02:39:12,880
stick me in the eye and saying I don't
know what I'm talking about. There was a

1629
02:39:11,120 --> 02:39:16,240
number given and I asked the city
several weeks ago to help me understand

1630
02:39:14,800 --> 02:39:20,479
the number and that was the number of
calls for service. It's been reported to

1631
02:39:18,640 --> 02:39:25,439
in the meetings. There's a number. It's
going up dramatically, but we don't know

1632
02:39:22,720 --> 02:39:29,760
what those calls of service are.
And you have, if you're going to be

1633
02:39:27,359 --> 02:39:35,439
doing this professionally, you have to
understand what those calls of service

1634
02:39:32,000 --> 02:39:39,439
are and break them down. Is it a call
for service cuz I talked to somebody? Is

1635
02:39:37,760 --> 02:39:44,160
it call for service cuz I wrote a
ticket? Is it a what is the call for

1636
02:39:42,000 --> 02:39:47,600
service? And how they broken down? The
ones that you're the key ones that

1637
02:39:45,520 --> 02:39:53,840
you're really looking for is the call
for services call for service that you

1638
02:39:51,200 --> 02:40:02,240
would hope to have two officers to
respond to it. We have no ma no dialogue

1639
02:39:58,720 --> 02:40:07,600
on that whatsoever. Tom of day what they
are and I've asked and unfortunately

1640
02:40:05,280 --> 02:40:11,840
never got the response for that. So, I
don't know if the police department

1641
02:40:09,680 --> 02:40:16,560
needs four new people because there was
no ability to actually do the

1642
02:40:14,160 --> 02:40:20,479
professional overview of what was going
on.

1643
02:40:18,560 --> 02:40:23,920
We just say it because we feel good that
we're going to give them four more

1644
02:40:21,520 --> 02:40:27,439
people. If they need four more people,
I'm willing to give it to them. And I

1645
02:40:25,840 --> 02:40:32,319
certainly don't want to cut anybody's
benefits in the fire department, the

1646
02:40:29,520 --> 02:40:35,280
police department, or anybody else. I
don't want to go that direction. And I

1647
02:40:33,760 --> 02:40:39,120
think what was spoken today by the board
that they're all in favor of making sure

1648
02:40:37,120 --> 02:40:43,200
we keep the best people around. That's
that's a given as far as I'm concerned.

1649
02:40:41,439 --> 02:40:48,399
But I'm really concerned about the
process that was done by the board in

1650
02:40:46,240 --> 02:40:55,040
trying to have a public hearing when we
do not know what the specifics are that

1651
02:40:52,399 --> 02:41:00,960
what was the ask.
I wouldn't be wouldn't be even

1652
02:40:58,319 --> 02:41:05,840
amazed if what really was wanted was
two. throw four in and hope for two but

1653
02:41:04,399 --> 02:41:10,080
we don't know that because we don't know
have any of the stats and with that uh

1654
02:41:08,479 --> 02:41:14,240
the rest of the all the other issues
that are here in three minutes you can't

1655
02:41:12,000 --> 02:41:19,439
get it done I bring that is the biggest
one up two things one I don't think this

1656
02:41:17,439 --> 02:41:25,120
has been done correctly because we none
of us here can talk about the budget

1657
02:41:21,120 --> 02:41:32,479
because you just changed it and two we
need to have a workforce analysis done

1658
02:41:28,960 --> 02:41:38,640
every time a new person is asked for.
That is the basic business model of all

1659
02:41:36,479 --> 02:41:43,439
municipalities,
state governments, federal governments,

1660
02:41:40,960 --> 02:41:49,640
everybody does the same thing, but we
are unique here in Southport and we're

1661
02:41:45,040 --> 02:41:49,640
not doing it. And thank you very much.

1662
02:41:52,399 --> 02:41:59,760
» Thank you, madam madam clerk. Uh, anyone
else like to speak the public hearing?

1663
02:41:58,160 --> 02:42:04,640
Yes, I have a few letters, too, but I'm
going to alternate back and forth. Okay.

1664
02:42:01,359 --> 02:42:08,399
Um, Mr. Mayor, alderman, I am unable to
be there in person tonight. I do feel

1665
02:42:06,560 --> 02:42:12,960
that I must say a few words concerning
next year's budget. Our money and how it

1666
02:42:10,800 --> 02:42:17,840
is spent is a concern to all Southport
residents. In Southport, we have a few,

1667
02:42:15,520 --> 02:42:24,160
we have few, if any, sources of income
except taxes. This makes what we can ask

1668
02:42:20,640 --> 02:42:29,600
for very limited. In my opinion, want to
have what want to haves no longer exist.

1669
02:42:27,040 --> 02:42:34,560
What exists is musthaves. I realized
that everything must be looked at. In my

1670
02:42:31,840 --> 02:42:39,439
many years in the business world, I came
to realize that any organization's most

1671
02:42:37,040 --> 02:42:43,439
important asset is their people. Without
them, you have nothing. Unfortunately,

1672
02:42:41,920 --> 02:42:48,479
people are the first thing everyone
wants to attack when looking at cost

1673
02:42:45,280 --> 02:42:54,160
cutting measures. Big mistake. Emergency
services are always jumped on quickly.

1674
02:42:51,280 --> 02:42:58,319
Police, fire, EMS, these are functions
that save lives. Think long and hard

1675
02:42:56,399 --> 02:43:03,520
before you consider any changes to these
functions. We are an older community.

1676
02:43:01,680 --> 02:43:09,120
Minutes matter when you are experiencing
a health issue. My family had an issue

1677
02:43:06,800 --> 02:43:13,760
last Tuesday. Help got to us in four
minutes. We are lucky this time. My wife

1678
02:43:11,920 --> 02:43:18,479
will be wearing a heart monitor for a
month. 10 years ago, all my systems

1679
02:43:16,560 --> 02:43:24,000
started shutting down. I was rushed to
New H New Hanover Regional Medical

1680
02:43:21,600 --> 02:43:30,240
Center where doctors spent six hours
probing. What my family was told when

1681
02:43:26,960 --> 02:43:35,920
the surgeon met with them is blunt. He
has a 5050% chance. A few minutes longer

1682
02:43:33,680 --> 02:43:40,800
getting him here and you would have been
an entirely different conversation.

1683
02:43:38,880 --> 02:43:46,000
You would be talking to Peacock or
Andrews about a nice box to put him in

1684
02:43:44,080 --> 02:43:53,279
and to Oakdale about bringing out the
backhoe to section U lot 2S space 7 or

1685
02:43:50,000 --> 02:43:57,600
8. My point is simple. Seconds matter.
The difference between 4 minutes and 10

1686
02:43:55,200 --> 02:44:01,680
plus minutes can be life or death.
Choose wisely when you make these

1687
02:43:59,200 --> 02:44:05,080
decisions. Good luck. You will need it.
Frank Lei.

1688
02:44:07,359 --> 02:44:14,520
A [clears throat] very very nice letter
from Mr. Le. Who's next, madam cler?

1689
02:44:10,960 --> 02:44:14,520
» Uh, Miss Debbie Barnes.

1690
02:44:14,720 --> 02:44:18,040
» Debbie Barnes.

1691
02:44:31,920 --> 02:44:40,080
» Debbie Barnes, 425 West Street,
Southport. Um

1692
02:44:37,760 --> 02:44:49,120
I wanted to talk about the budget just a
moment and it's two components. One is

1693
02:44:44,880 --> 02:44:56,160
uh a department that I feel that has not
grown like many others has over the over

1694
02:44:53,040 --> 02:45:00,640
the years and it's one that's vital and
I've heard you bring it up and everyone

1695
02:44:57,920 --> 02:45:09,600
time and time again. That's our police
department. Our police have been great,

1696
02:45:05,760 --> 02:45:14,479
but they are few. We have a lot more
people coming into this town. Not just

1697
02:45:12,080 --> 02:45:19,120
those that live here, but those that
come in every day. I think I've heard a

1698
02:45:16,479 --> 02:45:25,120
number like something around 20,000
people come in a day.

1699
02:45:22,479 --> 02:45:31,040
Well, they're dealing with that, too.
And I agree

1700
02:45:27,200 --> 02:45:35,520
um with what uh Rich Al said about
things that we need to be doing, but

1701
02:45:33,439 --> 02:45:42,720
they don't have the resources to even do
it. So, at this point, I would like for

1702
02:45:39,200 --> 02:45:50,560
you to please consider making sure our
police department is not impacted and

1703
02:45:46,399 --> 02:45:58,160
can begin to build the way they need to
because there's more coming in. Okay.

1704
02:45:54,240 --> 02:46:02,080
Um, so anyway, that's one. Two,
you talked about your pillar on the

1705
02:46:00,080 --> 02:46:07,600
historic side. So, I'm going to bring up
the historic piece just a moment. And

1706
02:46:04,720 --> 02:46:14,720
first, thank you for your comments. I
did hear you and I understood what you

1707
02:46:09,760 --> 02:46:21,200
were saying. Um, we do need to look at
maybe reducing cost. That is one that

1708
02:46:18,000 --> 02:46:25,920
you're not going to have when you vote
to remove the ordinance, which you will

1709
02:46:23,760 --> 02:46:31,040
be able to do as this form of
government. You'll be you voted to put

1710
02:46:28,319 --> 02:46:35,920
an ordinance in, you can now vote to
remove that ordinance. That's our form

1711
02:46:33,520 --> 02:46:42,560
of government we have here. So, I hope
you will do that. And in doing so, I

1712
02:46:39,279 --> 02:46:48,319
think we can do a voluntary group and
using the great work that the commission

1713
02:46:45,279 --> 02:46:53,439
has done and we'll be able to put in
place an advisory group that can make a

1714
02:46:51,439 --> 02:46:58,319
difference. And I'll be glad to talk
with the planning board and any of you

1715
02:46:55,920 --> 02:47:04,399
on some of the things we've already done
out in the community that's helped to

1716
02:47:00,800 --> 02:47:07,880
preserve homes. Okay.
How'd they do?

1717
02:47:08,880 --> 02:47:15,520
Thank you.
Thank you. And thank you for your

1718
02:47:12,319 --> 02:47:19,160
support of the police department.
Uh madam clerk,

1719
02:47:19,520 --> 02:47:25,120
to the mayor, board of alderman, and
citizens of Southport, I am writing to

1720
02:47:23,520 --> 02:47:29,520
express my strong support and
appreciation for fire chief Charles Drew

1721
02:47:27,760 --> 02:47:33,840
and the outstanding work he has done
leading the Southport Fire Department.

1722
02:47:31,439 --> 02:47:37,920
As a Southport resident, I have watched
with admiration as Chief Drew has guided

1723
02:47:36,319 --> 02:47:42,000
the department through a period of
significant modernization

1724
02:47:40,399 --> 02:47:46,399
and professional development of the
personnel of the department. While many

1725
02:47:44,240 --> 02:47:50,640
citizens may not see the countless hours
devoted to training, equipment

1726
02:47:48,319 --> 02:47:54,960
readiness, emergency planning, and
personnel development, the results are

1727
02:47:52,720 --> 02:47:58,080
evident through our community. One of
the clearest measures of the

1728
02:47:56,160 --> 02:48:02,720
department's success is its recent
achievement of a class 2 fire insurance

1729
02:48:00,479 --> 02:48:08,080
rating from the North Carolina Office of
the State Fire Marshall. The scale is 1

1730
02:48:05,359 --> 02:48:12,399
to 10 where one is the top rating. This
rating is based on factors such as

1731
02:48:10,160 --> 02:48:17,439
staffing, training, equipment,
communications, and emergency response

1732
02:48:14,560 --> 02:48:21,439
capability. Achieving a class 2 rating
places Southport among the better

1733
02:48:19,040 --> 02:48:25,200
performing fire districts in the state
and reflects a department that is

1734
02:48:23,040 --> 02:48:30,800
exceptionally wellprepared to protect
lives and property. This is especially

1735
02:48:28,080 --> 02:48:34,880
noteworthy given how difficult it is for
small departments to achieve this

1736
02:48:32,399 --> 02:48:39,359
status. Chief Drew has fostered a
culture of professionalism,

1737
02:48:36,960 --> 02:48:43,680
preparedness, and service. The Southport
Fire Department's reputation for rapid

1738
02:48:41,279 --> 02:48:48,640
response, community engagement,
volunteer participation, and dedication

1739
02:48:46,000 --> 02:48:54,160
to public safety is a direct reflection
of his leadership. As an example, the

1740
02:48:51,359 --> 02:48:58,160
Southport Fire and EMS response data are
instructive. An outstanding average

1741
02:48:56,160 --> 02:49:03,359
response time of less than 5 minutes for
both. This is significantly better than

1742
02:49:00,800 --> 02:49:07,760
the national benchmark of 8 minutes or
less for the life-threatening events

1743
02:49:05,120 --> 02:49:12,399
such as a cardiac arrest or stroke.
Indeed, for these two, the last two, the

1744
02:49:10,560 --> 02:49:17,760
department's response time is less than
four minutes. For a small rural town,

1745
02:49:15,120 --> 02:49:21,920
this is a remarkable performance.
Southport is growing rapidly, as we all

1746
02:49:19,840 --> 02:49:26,399
know. Managing that growth while
maintaining high standards of emergency

1747
02:49:23,680 --> 02:49:29,840
service is no easy task. Chief Drew has
demonstrated the vision necessary to

1748
02:49:28,240 --> 02:49:34,479
prepare the department not only for
today's needs, but also for the

1749
02:49:31,840 --> 02:49:38,960
challenges that lie ahead. Public
servants often hear complaints when

1750
02:49:36,479 --> 02:49:42,720
things go wrong, but they do not always
receive the recognition they deserve

1751
02:49:40,640 --> 02:49:46,880
when things go right. I believe Charles
Drew deserves that recognition. His

1752
02:49:44,960 --> 02:49:50,800
commitment to continuous improvement has
strengthened the department, benefited

1753
02:49:48,880 --> 02:49:56,560
our community, and enhanced the safety
and quality of life of everyone who

1754
02:49:53,040 --> 02:50:01,680
lives in and visits Southport. I extend
my sincere thanks and appreciation to

1755
02:49:59,120 --> 02:50:05,520
Chief Drew and to the dedicated men and
women of the Southport Fire Department

1756
02:50:03,040 --> 02:50:09,800
for their service. Respectfully, Edward
Glenn, Southport, North Carolina.

1757
02:50:15,600 --> 02:50:24,399
» And I have Mr. Sigfrieded Desm.
>> Okay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Yeah, Mr.

1758
02:50:22,240 --> 02:50:27,342
Glenn and I are kindred spirits with our
bow ties. [laughter]

1759
02:50:40,640 --> 02:50:50,080
Okay, here we go. Good evening again,
mayor, members of the board.

1760
02:50:47,200 --> 02:50:56,000
So, now I can uh read my prepared
speech. Thank you for that.

1761
02:50:52,800 --> 02:51:06,080
My name is Sikfut Smith, 319 West Bronze
Street. I respectfully request you uh to

1762
02:51:00,640 --> 02:51:11,840
vote against the proposed 2027 budget.
The city faces a systemic financial

1763
02:51:08,560 --> 02:51:18,479
budgeting problem as evidenced by its
own historical data and expenditure

1764
02:51:15,279 --> 02:51:24,000
trends that we have analyzed and shared
with you.

1765
02:51:20,240 --> 02:51:29,359
These trends indicate a consistent
misappropriation

1766
02:51:25,680 --> 02:51:35,680
of taxpayer funds and a failure to
allocate the necessary resources for

1767
02:51:32,160 --> 02:51:41,840
infrastructure and storm water repairs.
Instead, they all are directed to

1768
02:51:40,000 --> 02:51:50,000
everinccreasing
personnel costs. Let me summarize some

1769
02:51:44,800 --> 02:51:57,439
of this data to make my point.
Revenue opportunities are limited by

1770
02:51:52,880 --> 02:52:01,120
state law or self-imposed restrictions.
So, we won't talk too much about

1771
02:51:59,600 --> 02:52:08,720
revenue.
What we do control is expenses.

1772
02:52:04,560 --> 02:52:17,600
The proposed general fund has increased
by $4.6 million,

1773
02:52:12,080 --> 02:52:23,760
representing a 43% increase since 2023.
That's only three years ago. Increase of

1774
02:52:20,960 --> 02:52:31,040
43%.
This entire increase was spent on

1775
02:52:26,960 --> 02:52:36,800
personnel costs. This entire increase of
4.6 million over three years went to

1776
02:52:34,479 --> 02:52:42,800
personnel costs.
The fund balance, our saving account

1777
02:52:40,399 --> 02:52:49,279
intended to assist the city in
navigating and operating during extreme

1778
02:52:46,160 --> 02:52:56,000
and damaging emergencies, is being
depleted to balance the budget.

1779
02:52:53,600 --> 02:53:03,840
Personnel costs constitute the largest
portion of our general fund and now

1780
02:52:59,520 --> 02:53:09,359
account for over 71% of Southport's
operating budget.

1781
02:53:06,160 --> 02:53:17,279
For every dollar, For every dollar the
city spends, 71 cents goes to the

1782
02:53:13,359 --> 02:53:23,760
compensation of our city workers.
In 23 this was 59%.

1783
02:53:21,760 --> 02:53:29,680
In 2016,
it was 40%

1784
02:53:25,920 --> 02:53:36,760
or only $2.6 6 million of our general
fund against the $11 million for 2027.

1785
02:53:36,800 --> 02:53:45,359
For 27, the total personnel cost is
projected to increase by another

1786
02:53:42,479 --> 02:53:51,120
$729,000
or a 7.2% increase.

1787
02:53:49,120 --> 02:53:54,560
The number of full-time employees in
2027

1788
02:53:52,640 --> 02:54:02,720
is 91,
an increase of 19 FTEES or 26% increase

1789
02:54:00,240 --> 02:54:09,200
since 2022.
And this excludes the 24 part-time

1790
02:54:05,520 --> 02:54:15,680
employees we currently have.
The average base salary The average base

1791
02:54:12,720 --> 02:54:21,920
salary per full-time employee has
increased by 73%

1792
02:54:18,640 --> 02:54:27,279
since 2023.
These trends and practices are not

1793
02:54:24,720 --> 02:54:33,359
sustainable and are not in the best
interest of the taxpayers.

1794
02:54:30,319 --> 02:54:38,479
We have offered you multiple ideas,
solutions, and options over the past

1795
02:54:36,160 --> 02:54:44,800
months to address the financial
challenges, reorganize the city's

1796
02:54:41,279 --> 02:54:50,640
operations, and become more fiscally
responsible and effective stewards of

1797
02:54:48,000 --> 02:54:56,080
the taxpayers's money.
While I observed some tentative

1798
02:54:52,560 --> 02:55:04,399
attempts, the overall common sense
advice was largely ignored.

1799
02:55:00,319 --> 02:55:11,359
myself and other seasoned retired
professionals are available and willing

1800
02:55:08,240 --> 02:55:15,560
to help or answer any questions you may
have. Thank you.

1801
02:55:16,399 --> 02:55:21,880
» Thank you. Thank you. Uh, Madame Clerk,

1802
02:55:24,000 --> 02:55:31,359
» I am writing to express my concern about
the proposed 26 to 27 budget. As my

1803
02:55:29,680 --> 02:55:36,080
family,
our taxpayers, and the owners of 210

1804
02:55:34,080 --> 02:55:39,760
West Bay Street, I am deeply concerned
about the potential impact of this

1805
02:55:37,680 --> 02:55:44,800
budget affecting city employees,
especially first responders.

1806
02:55:42,240 --> 02:55:48,960
First responders play a crucial role in
providing essential services to our

1807
02:55:46,560 --> 02:55:54,319
residents during challenging times. The
city's decision to fully staff EMS in

1808
02:55:51,600 --> 02:56:00,000
the recent 2024 budget was made by the
city who recognized the value of this

1809
02:55:56,080 --> 02:56:04,960
service. As stated in the October 23rd,
2024 stateport pilot article by one of

1810
02:56:02,640 --> 02:56:09,120
our aldermen. This decision was a
decision our citizens are willing to

1811
02:56:06,800 --> 02:56:13,359
invest in. Comparing Southport to our
neighboring cities is unfair because of

1812
02:56:11,520 --> 02:56:17,920
the exceptional emergency services
provided by the Southport EMS,

1813
02:56:16,160 --> 02:56:22,800
which our neighboring cities do not
provide. The difference is a 3 minute 45

1814
02:56:20,560 --> 02:56:27,920
second response time from the Southport
EMS during a life-threatening event can

1815
02:56:25,279 --> 02:56:31,520
save lives, while a 11 to 12 minute
response time from the county can be

1816
02:56:29,600 --> 02:56:34,720
fatal. Cutting their benefits
demonstrates a lack of care and

1817
02:56:33,120 --> 02:56:39,600
appreciation for the invaluable
contribution to our city. While you have

1818
02:56:37,279 --> 02:56:43,359
mentioned employee retention and morale,
I believe this proposal will only have

1819
02:56:41,439 --> 02:56:47,920
the opposite effect. Instead of
contradicting yourselves, I urge you to

1820
02:56:45,279 --> 02:56:51,359
consider this action and explore
alternative cost-saving measures. For

1821
02:56:50,160 --> 02:56:56,640
instance, you could eliminate
unnecessary and unused contracted

1822
02:56:53,680 --> 02:57:00,640
studies on city related issues. There
are likely other areas where the board

1823
02:56:58,399 --> 02:57:04,880
could tighten its spending without
compensating the well-being of our

1824
02:57:02,399 --> 02:57:09,359
city's heroes. Please take the time to
carefully consider this decision before

1825
02:57:06,960 --> 02:57:14,680
making a final choice. Sincerely,
Heather Hamilton, 210 West Bay Street.

1826
02:57:19,040 --> 02:57:22,760
» Who else? Madam Clerk,

1827
02:57:23,600 --> 02:57:26,920
» Bonnie Bright.

1828
02:57:32,960 --> 02:57:42,080
Hi, Bonnie Bray. Uh, my husband and I
have lived at 515 Quartermaster Drive at

1829
02:57:39,439 --> 02:57:46,640
the end of St. George for the last nine
tax years. I'd like to use the property

1830
02:57:44,160 --> 02:57:51,200
taxes of this house for the basis of my
encouragement to the alderman to resist

1831
02:57:49,279 --> 02:57:56,399
the current cries for lowering the
property tax rate. Resist.

1832
02:57:54,720 --> 02:58:00,560
We live in Southport for a variety of
reasons. Top of the list is the fact

1833
02:57:58,319 --> 02:58:05,680
that city government takes its duty to
provide services seriously and we feel

1834
02:58:03,279 --> 02:58:09,680
as though we who receive those services
have a stake in the quality of life

1835
02:58:07,439 --> 02:58:14,000
here. It takes money to provide those
services and we don't mind paying our

1836
02:58:11,439 --> 02:58:19,600
share because we also use our share of
the services. I submit that the tax

1837
02:58:16,720 --> 02:58:25,520
burden we share is not a burden at all.
When we moved to our current house in

1838
02:58:21,200 --> 02:58:31,600
tax year 2017, the tax rate was 29.56
cents per $100 value where it stayed for

1839
02:58:28,560 --> 02:58:38,640
the next 5 years. And then the next two
years were kind of up and down and until

1840
02:58:34,160 --> 02:58:43,760
the elected officials in 2042 24 uh
raised it to the current rate, which is

1841
02:58:40,560 --> 02:58:50,000
31.5 cents per 100 with one penny of
that going to dedicated to fixing some

1842
02:58:46,080 --> 02:58:53,840
long-term capital improvements.
The total burden shared among us to fund

1843
02:58:52,560 --> 02:59:00,720
government [clears throat] operations
independent of these muchneeded capital

1844
02:58:56,319 --> 02:59:07,840
improvements then is 30.5 cents per $100
value compared to 29.56

1845
02:59:04,000 --> 02:59:13,359
per 100 9 years ago. So where we are
literally a penny different in that

1846
02:59:10,560 --> 02:59:18,560
9-year span.
Meanwhile, during the same nine years,

1847
02:59:15,200 --> 02:59:26,000
the assessed value of my house doubled.
I'm paying $984 more in taxes because of

1848
02:59:22,640 --> 02:59:29,720
that fact, not because the tax rate is
one penny higher,

1849
02:59:31,840 --> 02:59:40,080
when you average, all right, in real
terms, when you average the 984 increase

1850
02:59:37,040 --> 02:59:47,200
in taxes over 9 years at 12 months a
year, it's 108 months. The increased

1851
02:59:43,040 --> 02:59:52,880
amount represents to us $9 difference
per month for 108 months.

1852
02:59:50,880 --> 03:00:00,800
But when you look at the increase in
value of our home, that boils down to

1853
02:59:56,000 --> 03:00:07,359
2,800 every single month over the 9-year
period that our house has increased in

1854
03:00:03,120 --> 03:00:11,359
value. $9, $2,800. I think it's a
no-brainer. People want to come live

1855
03:00:09,600 --> 03:00:16,960
here. it increases the value of our
property. Um, keeping the tax rate in

1856
03:00:14,720 --> 03:00:22,560
where it is or increasing it
incrementally even. I'm not suggesting

1857
03:00:18,960 --> 03:00:27,840
that this this year, but it it is a
win-win for us, my husband and I, other

1858
03:00:25,200 --> 03:00:35,680
property owners, and all the people who
enjoy living in Southport. Thank you.

1859
03:00:32,800 --> 03:00:41,040
» Thank you,
Madam Clerk.

1860
03:00:38,080 --> 03:00:45,040
Dear mayor and board of aldermen,
I have heard there is an attack on

1861
03:00:42,640 --> 03:00:49,600
Southport EMS and talks have started
about cutting these essential services.

1862
03:00:47,279 --> 03:00:54,800
I have lived in Southport for over 25
years and I want to express my sincere

1863
03:00:52,000 --> 03:00:59,840
gratitude for the help I have received
from the Southport Fire Department. I am

1864
03:00:57,040 --> 03:01:04,240
93 years old and I live alone. I rely on
the quick response and the compassionate

1865
03:01:02,479 --> 03:01:08,319
care that I received from the Southport
Ambulance Service. There are many times

1866
03:01:06,399 --> 03:01:12,399
I have fallen and they are at my
residence within 2 to three minutes to

1867
03:01:10,000 --> 03:01:17,200
help me up. There have been times when I
needed my smoke alarm batteries changed

1868
03:01:14,800 --> 03:01:22,000
and they are just a phone call away. The
Southport Fire Department and EMS have

1869
03:01:19,439 --> 03:01:26,080
always been an exceptional service to
the taxpayers of Southport. One of the

1870
03:01:24,240 --> 03:01:30,640
main reasons that I moved to Southport
was the reputation of a stellar

1871
03:01:27,760 --> 03:01:35,439
emergency response system. I do not want
to wait on a county EMS for 15 to 20

1872
03:01:32,880 --> 03:01:39,279
minutes when I call 911. Nor do I want
to wait on a Brunswick County Sheriff's

1873
03:01:37,040 --> 03:01:42,800
deputy if I need the police. The
Southport Police Department are

1874
03:01:40,560 --> 03:01:46,880
wonderful, too. If I wanted the county
service, I would live in the county. I

1875
03:01:44,960 --> 03:01:51,279
came here for the excellent service.
That is why I live in the city limits of

1876
03:01:48,479 --> 03:01:55,840
Southport. In closing, I support the
Southport Fire Department in continuence

1877
03:01:53,359 --> 03:02:00,800
of their EMS service. They need to be
funded and supported, not attacked, not

1878
03:01:58,240 --> 03:02:05,120
underfunded, or their budget cut. This
is a retirement community. Wait until

1879
03:02:03,120 --> 03:02:09,760
you have a heart attack or a stroke.
Then you will be glad to see the

1880
03:02:06,319 --> 03:02:13,920
software EMS show up to save you.
I may be 93, but I can rally up some

1881
03:02:12,000 --> 03:02:20,080
senior citizens to stop this come
election time. I love this lady.

1882
03:02:17,439 --> 03:02:26,240
Thank you for your time. [laughter]
Sincerely, Lily May Yates. I need to

1883
03:02:23,359 --> 03:02:26,240
meet her.

1884
03:02:29,600 --> 03:02:35,359
So, what a name. Lily May Gates. Yes.
Beautiful. Thank you. Who's next, Madam

1885
03:02:34,640 --> 03:02:38,160
Clerk?
>> No, [clears throat] that was all I

1886
03:02:36,560 --> 03:02:43,040
believe. If I have I missed anybody.
>> Okay. Anyone else that had wanted to

1887
03:02:40,960 --> 03:02:49,560
speak in the public hearing and
concerning the budget and did not? Okay.

1888
03:02:46,240 --> 03:02:49,560
Please, Chief.

1889
03:02:54,640 --> 03:03:00,960
I'm Chief Corning, Southport Police
Chief. Um, Mr. Al, I appreciate your

1890
03:02:59,279 --> 03:03:05,040
comments and of course you used to be
our mayor, so you should know my door is

1891
03:03:03,279 --> 03:03:08,720
pretty much always open. I want all our
citizens to know that. Um, and I thought

1892
03:03:07,359 --> 03:03:13,200
about not even coming up here, but since
you addressed me and you know, I've been

1893
03:03:10,960 --> 03:03:17,680
staying off of social media. I have
Facebook, but I don't read all these

1894
03:03:15,680 --> 03:03:22,560
other
platforms because it's not good for my

1895
03:03:20,800 --> 03:03:27,040
health. I'm not saying this for no kind
of pity party. I'm just telling you I

1896
03:03:24,720 --> 03:03:31,120
don't take this job lightly. And I knew
that asking for four people would be a

1897
03:03:28,720 --> 03:03:34,000
lot.
And I've been to a lot of training. This

1898
03:03:32,479 --> 03:03:38,319
is 28 years this year. I've been a
police officer. 35 years being a

1899
03:03:36,800 --> 03:03:42,319
fireman.
Been to a lot of training. But I know

1900
03:03:40,640 --> 03:03:47,600
the critics don't. We're never going to
be trained well enough. I'm not smart

1901
03:03:44,160 --> 03:03:52,200
enough as everybody thinks they are.
But when it comes to the Southport

1902
03:03:48,960 --> 03:03:52,200
Police Department,

1903
03:03:52,240 --> 03:03:58,720
I'm asking four officers because I need
them,

1904
03:03:55,920 --> 03:04:03,920
not because I might need them. You can
come look at the numbers, Mr. Al. I

1905
03:04:00,800 --> 03:04:07,920
presented a a budget to them. I also
presented a workload analysis, that

1906
03:04:06,560 --> 03:04:14,120
fancy word a lot of people like to use.
And I do respect you for being in law

1907
03:04:09,680 --> 03:04:14,120
enforcement, but but you called me out

1908
03:04:18,000 --> 03:04:24,240
» and it's online. The answers to most of
your questions, if not all of them,

1909
03:04:22,000 --> 03:04:29,520
should be there, sir.
Um, but you called me out. So, I'm just

1910
03:04:26,960 --> 03:04:33,920
saying I'm an open book. Yes, sir. You
can come. So, again, I hope I've

1911
03:04:31,840 --> 03:04:38,319
answered all of your questions. uh any
citizen they can come to my office and

1912
03:04:35,840 --> 03:04:41,279
you know and the the numbers are there
whether people think us getting out and

1913
03:04:40,000 --> 03:04:45,040
getting a tree limb out the road. I've
had citizens calling me asking me are we

1914
03:04:42,800 --> 03:04:49,359
defunding the police
um that we're inflating numbers. Not

1915
03:04:47,920 --> 03:04:54,000
that I've read it but I've been told
this. I don't read it. Um but I just

1916
03:04:52,319 --> 03:04:57,680
want you to know and our citizens that
are listening and here before me this is

1917
03:04:56,080 --> 03:05:01,120
not I'm not making this stuff up. the
numbers of the numbers, whether it's a

1918
03:04:59,200 --> 03:05:06,000
service call where we are helping
someone out of their vehicle, whether

1919
03:05:03,040 --> 03:05:08,960
we're stopping a car. Um, I, you know, I
wish I could get a lot of great

1920
03:05:07,120 --> 03:05:13,439
comments. You know, we don't hear a lot
of comments. Hey, I appreciate y'all

1921
03:05:10,240 --> 03:05:16,399
stopping us. We ran that stop sign.
We don't get a lot of that. And Charles

1922
03:05:14,960 --> 03:05:19,840
is behind me. You know, we don't put
fires out and we don't bring you back to

1923
03:05:18,000 --> 03:05:24,240
life, unfortunately. We write you a
ticket,

1924
03:05:21,439 --> 03:05:27,520
you know. So, again, thank you for your
comments. I do respect you. You know

1925
03:05:25,680 --> 03:05:31,680
that. I'm not mad. I'm just I just felt
like I needed to come up here because

1926
03:05:28,800 --> 03:05:35,439
when people toss things out like that,
if one person hears that and they start

1927
03:05:33,680 --> 03:05:38,800
thinking, you know, what is the chief?
Does he really need just two? So, he's

1928
03:05:37,359 --> 03:05:43,680
asking for four. That was one of the
first things I learned in leadership.

1929
03:05:41,120 --> 03:05:48,319
When I became a lieutenant at our
sheriff's office, they sent me to a

1930
03:05:45,680 --> 03:05:51,040
leadership course, you know, and so that
was one of the first things when we did

1931
03:05:49,520 --> 03:05:54,960
a budget course. They told us, "Don't
ask for anything that you don't need. If

1932
03:05:52,640 --> 03:05:58,800
you need two, you ask for two. If you
need three cars, ask for three. Don't

1933
03:05:56,720 --> 03:06:04,080
ask for six. Hoping to get that. So
again, thank you for your consideration.

1934
03:06:01,359 --> 03:06:08,319
Uh I am very proud to be the police
chief here in Southport.

1935
03:06:06,080 --> 03:06:11,720
So thank you.
>> Thank you, Chief.

1936
03:06:22,720 --> 03:06:30,160
Please, please, Chief Drake.
>> Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, you

1937
03:06:27,200 --> 03:06:36,160
know, September 27th,
uh, is forever etched in our mind. The

1938
03:06:33,279 --> 03:06:42,800
first responders that responded to
American Fish Company, Southport Police,

1939
03:06:39,680 --> 03:06:49,200
when my fireman got there, there was one
police officer there.

1940
03:06:45,600 --> 03:06:55,760
from Southport. She cleared the building
because the other police officer that

1941
03:06:51,680 --> 03:07:01,200
was on duty was transporting a prisoner.
We need these police officers.

1942
03:06:58,560 --> 03:07:07,680
We we can't afford to have another
shooting and have one police officer. I

1943
03:07:04,479 --> 03:07:13,279
mean, that that that speaks volumes. My
guys could not even go in and begin to

1944
03:07:10,960 --> 03:07:18,560
treat patients
until a Bowling Spring officer got here

1945
03:07:16,000 --> 03:07:24,240
to assist the police officer that was
there and clear the scene. That's how

1946
03:07:21,520 --> 03:07:29,120
important this stuff is. You know,
everybody wants to make jokes. I was in

1947
03:07:26,479 --> 03:07:36,319
a fire fee meeting today
and it was said to me because I'm

1948
03:07:32,960 --> 03:07:41,439
involved with historic preservation
that people in the historic district are

1949
03:07:39,840 --> 03:07:48,080
afraid
that I would delay response

1950
03:07:45,439 --> 03:07:54,800
and let someone's house burn down. This
is how vicious and vile and evil

1951
03:07:52,240 --> 03:08:00,560
Southport has become.
that I would delay response

1952
03:07:58,080 --> 03:08:05,920
in the historic district and let
somebody's house burn down.

1953
03:08:02,720 --> 03:08:13,439
» That's what was said to me today.
Or that our fire marshall

1954
03:08:09,439 --> 03:08:18,560
would find someone in the business
district because they're against

1955
03:08:15,840 --> 03:08:25,680
historic preservation.
That disgusts me and it insults me. It

1956
03:08:23,040 --> 03:08:32,319
insults my integrity and my
professionalism.

1957
03:08:27,439 --> 03:08:38,560
I would never for 35 years of my life, I
have dedicated myself. I have crawled

1958
03:08:35,520 --> 03:08:42,640
inside houses that were on fire and
rescued trapped people that I did not

1959
03:08:40,720 --> 03:08:47,600
even know.
I would never

1960
03:08:45,120 --> 03:08:53,760
compromise the integrity of the
Southport Fire Department because I

1961
03:08:50,560 --> 03:08:58,399
support what the red shirts don't
support.

1962
03:08:55,520 --> 03:09:02,399
You know, we have a democratic society
and we're all allowed to have our own

1963
03:09:00,399 --> 03:09:06,240
opinions.
Just like Mr. Alt said, that doesn't

1964
03:09:04,240 --> 03:09:11,840
mean I hate you because you have a
different opinion than me. But don't be

1965
03:09:08,640 --> 03:09:17,120
so vile and evil to try to come against
us and say that we would compromise our

1966
03:09:14,880 --> 03:09:22,960
professional integrity
and risk someone's life. That's our job.

1967
03:09:20,560 --> 03:09:26,880
That's what we do for a living. Not only
have I spent 35 years of my life as a

1968
03:09:25,279 --> 03:09:33,840
firefighter,
I've spent the last 40 years of my life

1969
03:09:29,520 --> 03:09:38,640
in the ministry. I pastor a church and I
offer spiritual care to people in this

1970
03:09:36,240 --> 03:09:43,600
community. For 40 years, I have
dedicated my life in service to other

1971
03:09:41,840 --> 03:09:49,279
people.
And you know something, I was so

1972
03:09:46,000 --> 03:09:55,520
insulted today by that comment in the
fire fee meeting. And it it just it

1973
03:09:52,319 --> 03:10:00,319
takes me back to know I don't live in
the Southport

1974
03:09:57,359 --> 03:10:07,200
that I used to live in. I don't live in
the Southport that I grew up in. And for

1975
03:10:03,760 --> 03:10:12,640
the first time in my life tonight, I can
say I'm glad that my grandfather Billy

1976
03:10:10,560 --> 03:10:18,240
Drew is dead.
I've never said that before, but I'm

1977
03:10:15,040 --> 03:10:21,960
glad he's not here to see the Southport
that we've turned into.

1978
03:10:32,080 --> 03:10:39,920
Um, thank you for your comments, Chief.
And chief, I was at that meeting and as

1979
03:10:37,760 --> 03:10:46,000
you know what I said immediately was
that when some gentlemen, they didn't

1980
03:10:43,439 --> 03:10:53,920
know him, I didn't know him, but
Southport Fire and EMS went down to the

1981
03:10:50,160 --> 03:10:59,920
river and one of the officers jumped in
the water and rescued that man and and

1982
03:10:56,960 --> 03:11:03,520
your group saved that man's life. You
didn't know who he was. So, if you would

1983
03:11:02,000 --> 03:11:10,560
do that, you're certainly not going to
let anybody's house burn down. That's

1984
03:11:06,399 --> 03:11:16,479
just ludicrous. And and I agree. And our
the numbers uh that uh Chief Coring that

1985
03:11:14,479 --> 03:11:20,880
you showed us, there's such a dramatic
increase in calls, such a dramatic

1986
03:11:19,200 --> 03:11:26,720
increase in the number of people that
are in Southport every day. They say

1987
03:11:23,200 --> 03:11:31,760
20,000 a day. So, and then the dramatic
story of the unfortunate shooting that

1988
03:11:29,040 --> 03:11:36,080
night. one police officer down there. So
we but public safety is crucial, our

1989
03:11:34,240 --> 03:11:40,960
emergency services, our fire, our
police, our EMS, our emergency

1990
03:11:37,840 --> 03:11:46,640
preparedness so vital and we appreciate
all that you do. So thank you. Um if

1991
03:11:44,640 --> 03:11:50,880
there's no further comment, I'll
entertain a motion to close the public

1992
03:11:49,040 --> 03:11:54,800
hearing.
>> Second.

1993
03:11:51,760 --> 03:11:59,680
» Uh Alderman Marella and Alderman Kelly.
All in favor?

1994
03:11:56,720 --> 03:12:03,040
» Okay. The um
public hearing concerning the um

1995
03:12:02,237 --> 03:12:09,200
[clears throat and snorts] budget is
closed and then we go to item uh I7 will

1996
03:12:06,399 --> 03:12:14,000
be the electric uh rate adjustment. I
declare the public uh hearing open and I

1997
03:12:12,000 --> 03:12:20,632
call on alderman not alderman, excuse
me, manager Noah.

1998
03:12:16,080 --> 03:12:20,632
» I'd be happy to have a vote. [laughter]

1999
03:12:22,240 --> 03:12:29,840
» You notice we we won't be voting until
next week. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Members

2000
03:12:27,520 --> 03:12:33,120
of the board, a state law requires a
separate public hearing for our

2001
03:12:31,520 --> 03:12:37,120
electrical rates whenever we're
adjusting those rates upwards. As we've

2002
03:12:35,840 --> 03:12:41,920
been discussing through the budget
process, there's an 7% include

2003
03:12:39,520 --> 03:12:47,439
adjustment increase due to the passing
of costs from Duke Energy to Electric

2004
03:12:44,479 --> 03:12:51,359
City to the city. So, it'll be adopted.
The 7% increase will be adopted in the

2005
03:12:49,359 --> 03:12:55,040
city budget along with the fee schedule.
Uh, but state law men mandates a

2006
03:12:53,439 --> 03:12:59,920
separate public hearing. So, that's what
we're doing tonight. Thank you.

2007
03:12:58,240 --> 03:13:04,000
» Is there anyone that like to speak on
the U?

2008
03:13:01,760 --> 03:13:06,800
» I thought I thought I did.
>> I did.

2009
03:13:04,880 --> 03:13:11,279
» Okay. I think it's open, but if it's not
open, I thought I said it initially. Um,

2010
03:13:09,040 --> 03:13:15,040
is there anyone that would uh speak like
to speak on the uh Come on. Someone the

2011
03:13:13,920 --> 03:13:19,960
electric.
>> Yes. De Barnes.

2012
03:13:16,960 --> 03:13:19,960
» Okay.

2013
03:13:22,960 --> 03:13:29,840
» I thought you only get one topic. Isn't
that right, Clark?

2014
03:13:27,120 --> 03:13:37,200
Just kidding.
>> Debbie Barnes, 425 West Street. Uh, in

2015
03:13:33,680 --> 03:13:42,319
regards to the electric rate, I know
enough to be dangerous. I've done no

2016
03:13:39,040 --> 03:13:48,640
research. Okay, I'm just going to throw
something out.

2017
03:13:44,239 --> 03:13:57,520
Um, we got involved with Electric Cities
Co-op many, many years ago to bring

2018
03:13:53,040 --> 03:14:04,160
electricity and stuff in.
We have a grid. I think we still have

2019
03:14:01,040 --> 03:14:09,840
the electric grid. Do we still own it?
Yes, I thought so.

2020
03:14:07,680 --> 03:14:14,080
Here's something I'd like you to
consider.

2021
03:14:12,080 --> 03:14:18,640
We're not in the business to be an
electric company.

2022
03:14:16,319 --> 03:14:24,239
I feel like maybe we should look at the
options of selling our electric grid to

2023
03:14:21,920 --> 03:14:29,279
one of the bigger groups, the real
electric companies, and getting the

2024
03:14:26,800 --> 03:14:34,960
money to pay off that debt with
electricities.

2025
03:14:31,600 --> 03:14:40,479
And in doing so, I think our electric
rates would wind up being more

2026
03:14:37,120 --> 03:14:47,439
comparable to what you see elsewhere.
What's happened? I haven't seen or read

2027
03:14:44,239 --> 03:14:55,279
anything about the other cities having a
big issue coming from Duke that caused

2028
03:14:50,960 --> 03:15:01,840
the electric rates to go up 7%.
So, I'm only speculating. I have no

2029
03:14:58,080 --> 03:15:06,880
proof. I said I didn't. I I put it out
there, Karen.

2030
03:15:04,160 --> 03:15:13,359
At the end of the day,
what is the driver of that rate? It's

2031
03:15:10,640 --> 03:15:19,760
going from Duke. That's what I read.
Going from Duke to the electric cities

2032
03:15:16,640 --> 03:15:26,000
and it's passing on to us.
Why is Oak Island and everyone else not

2033
03:15:22,319 --> 03:15:31,520
having a big issue about a 7% increase?
So, you know, at the end of the day, the

2034
03:15:29,040 --> 03:15:37,120
electric grid, whether it has anything
to do with that or not, maybe that's a

2035
03:15:34,239 --> 03:15:45,359
way to get some money back into our
bucket and not have a debt. Anyway, and

2036
03:15:41,120 --> 03:15:51,840
on another note, Charles,
I respect you. I admire you. And I've

2037
03:15:49,279 --> 03:15:55,319
told you that in person before, and I'm
saying it again.

2038
03:15:55,439 --> 03:16:07,520
I think the division that has occurred
here in our city is between people

2039
03:16:04,319 --> 03:16:13,200
having something being placed on them
that they did not want the majority. I

2040
03:16:10,479 --> 03:16:18,319
know you want to stop, but it it needs
to be said just like I know Charles had

2041
03:16:16,080 --> 03:16:24,399
to say what he said and I agree with
him. But the people just because they

2042
03:16:21,840 --> 03:16:28,800
wear a red shirt here, it's not being
vile. They just wanted to be seen.

2043
03:16:26,720 --> 03:16:31,279
» This is public hearing on the electric.
Uh

2044
03:16:29,520 --> 03:16:35,120
» yeah. Okay. And I said it and I thank
you, mayor, and I thank you for

2045
03:16:32,720 --> 03:16:40,880
tolerating it, but I felt like I needed
to let Charles know we love him no

2046
03:16:38,080 --> 03:16:42,880
matter what.
>> So, Miss Deb,

2047
03:16:42,399 --> 03:16:47,166
» thank you
>> about the Can I Thank you.

2048
03:16:45,120 --> 03:16:50,880
» I was next.
[laughter]

2049
03:16:48,479 --> 03:16:54,080
Is there anyone else in the public?
Yeah, you can, but I'm going close the

2050
03:16:52,239 --> 03:16:56,800
hearing and then the board.
>> Yes, you.

2051
03:16:55,760 --> 03:17:00,160
» Anyone else?
>> No, that was all.

2052
03:16:57,680 --> 03:17:05,359
» Okay, great.
>> Um, motion to close the public hearing.

2053
03:17:02,399 --> 03:17:07,840
» Oh, did Tyler do need you want to? Okay,
motion to close the public hearing.

2054
03:17:06,720 --> 03:17:10,399
» So moved.
>> Okay, have a motion a second. All in

2055
03:17:09,439 --> 03:17:12,880
favor?
>> I

2056
03:17:10,880 --> 03:17:18,720
» Okay, the public hearing is closed.
Alderman Carol. So Noah, can you address

2057
03:17:17,120 --> 03:17:22,080
Miss Debbie and some of her questions
because we we did, Miss Debbie, have a

2058
03:17:20,640 --> 03:17:28,479
conversation about the concept of
selling the um so we've we've we've had

2059
03:17:25,120 --> 03:17:32,080
that it was in an open uh meeting. Um
some of that has to do with timeline. So

2060
03:17:30,560 --> 03:17:36,080
in order to sell, we have to give them
notice and we have to give them notice 5

2061
03:17:34,319 --> 03:17:40,960
years in advance or something to that
effect. And then the current contract

2062
03:17:38,479 --> 03:17:44,080
lasts through 2040 if I'm not mistaken.
And in order to get out of that

2063
03:17:42,479 --> 03:17:47,920
contract, we got to give them 10 years
notice that we'd like to get out of that

2064
03:17:45,680 --> 03:17:54,160
contract. Am I I'm all on
>> Okay. So, just I know I know I wasn't

2065
03:17:50,720 --> 03:18:00,080
here then, but [laughter]
>> then I probably

2066
03:17:56,399 --> 03:18:06,160
but um so uh but also as it relates to
competitive, how competitive competitive

2067
03:18:02,399 --> 03:18:10,640
we are with our rates versus those
offered by BEMC. Can you talk on that at

2068
03:18:08,640 --> 03:18:14,000
all? Yeah, and Tyler Mike can jump in as
well. So, the debt you're talking about

2069
03:18:12,160 --> 03:18:20,319
specifically has already been paid off
through electric city. So, we no longer

2070
03:18:16,000 --> 03:18:24,319
pay for that. So, that it is
>> That's right. Yeah. So, when talking

2071
03:18:22,399 --> 03:18:28,399
with the other managers in other cities,
they have steadily raised rates over

2072
03:18:26,160 --> 03:18:32,560
time and have been able to absorb it as
as cost where we have not raised rates

2073
03:18:30,800 --> 03:18:37,120
and and we're not able to absorb the
cost in this budget. Part of the reason

2074
03:18:34,399 --> 03:18:40,880
is the underground project. So once our
infrastructure projects are done like

2075
03:18:38,720 --> 03:18:45,359
the underground projects then I think we
will see a more stable rate. Certainly

2076
03:18:43,200 --> 03:18:50,479
as Duke is in the process of a large
rate at the utility commission now I

2077
03:18:47,200 --> 03:18:55,279
believe it's 18%. So if that passes and
we could see additional increases uh but

2078
03:18:53,200 --> 03:18:59,520
a large portion of the budget this year
is going toward the underground and our

2079
03:18:57,279 --> 03:19:03,120
transformer project. So once that's
done, I believe rates will stabilize and

2080
03:19:01,520 --> 03:19:07,120
then we can start building the fund up
so we don't have to raise rates large

2081
03:19:05,040 --> 03:19:11,279
over time.
>> And

2082
03:19:08,720 --> 03:19:16,319
then the fac they sold some facilities
in the eastern section of North Carolina

2083
03:19:13,760 --> 03:19:20,880
which helped pay for these things help
for it to get paid off. Is that correct?

2084
03:19:18,080 --> 03:19:28,399
Isn't that what you we remember? the
nuclear the nuclear plant our interest.

2085
03:19:24,000 --> 03:19:32,319
» That's right. We got credit on that.
>> And to to be clear, this is not a

2086
03:19:30,720 --> 03:19:38,560
Southport
uh rate increase per se. It is coming

2087
03:19:35,359 --> 03:19:42,560
from it's a pass through that they are
passing down to us, right? Um, so that's

2088
03:19:42,239 --> 03:19:46,239
not
>> you might want to talk to the utilities

2089
03:19:44,000 --> 03:19:52,000
commission uh because that's who allows
them to do their rates.

2090
03:19:49,920 --> 03:19:58,359
» And also just keep in mind we have at
least $20 million more of underground

2091
03:19:54,640 --> 03:19:58,359
that need to be done.

2092
03:19:59,680 --> 03:20:08,560
And that was just for the B&Bs, right?
Back. [laughter] So

2093
03:20:05,840 --> 03:20:13,840
that's why y'all had me here. All right.
So this um will be adopted in the budget

2094
03:20:12,160 --> 03:20:16,880
as part of the budget. Okay. Thank you.
Uh any further questions for the

2095
03:20:15,920 --> 03:20:24,800
manager.
>> Okay. All right. That Okay. Great. Yes.

2096
03:20:21,040 --> 03:20:28,160
» We certainly we certainly can. It was in
>> right

2097
03:20:27,520 --> 03:20:31,120
next meeting.
>> Yeah, that would be fine. That'd be

2098
03:20:29,920 --> 03:20:34,880
good. Okay.
>> Well, the term start July one or at the

2099
03:20:34,080 --> 03:20:38,880
end of the
>> Do you want to add it to Okay. We

2100
03:20:37,520 --> 03:20:42,040
we'll have to read notice it, but we can
do that

2101
03:20:42,800 --> 03:20:48,600
» to the budget meeting. Okay, that is a

2102
03:20:49,520 --> 03:20:52,520
» clarify.

2103
03:21:00,880 --> 03:21:11,800
» So, I'll go ahead and make a motion that
we move item 8 to seven and push seven

2104
03:21:06,080 --> 03:21:11,800
off until our June 17th meeting.

2105
03:21:12,080 --> 03:21:22,319
motion to uh move item I8, the Brunswick
County Schools uh bond referendum letter

2106
03:21:18,720 --> 03:21:29,920
of support, and we'll move the board and
committee appointments uh to our meeting

2107
03:21:24,560 --> 03:21:33,600
on June 17th. Uh is there a second?
>> Second, Baldwin Kelly.

2108
03:21:31,359 --> 03:21:38,960
» So, you're not meeting today. Um
>> correct. Correct.

2109
03:21:36,160 --> 03:21:43,680
Correct. Yes, ma'am. Um, any further
discussion?

2110
03:21:40,960 --> 03:21:48,720
Okay. All in favor?
>> Any oppose? Okay. Motion carried

2111
03:21:46,160 --> 03:21:52,880
unanimously. Thank you. All right. Item
seven will be the Brunswick County

2112
03:21:50,479 --> 03:21:57,200
Schools bond referendum letter of
support. you know, it's in the state

2113
03:21:54,720 --> 03:22:03,760
constitution that we educate our our
citizens and um you know, this bond

2114
03:22:00,000 --> 03:22:09,920
issue is in is important and I believe
um most will uh support it in Brunswick

2115
03:22:07,040 --> 03:22:15,600
County, but uh whatever discussion you
need to have forward on this before you

2116
03:22:11,680 --> 03:22:21,520
vote, uh please go ahead.
My uh request to move it to um the

2117
03:22:18,960 --> 03:22:28,399
regular agenda was simply a process
issue. Um

2118
03:22:25,600 --> 03:22:34,000
the school bond
um may or may not pass. We don't know.

2119
03:22:31,520 --> 03:22:40,399
We don't know. Um and and certainly
school bonds of any of any sort, school

2120
03:22:37,600 --> 03:22:47,520
bond, whatever. Um they're needed from
time to time to address um

2121
03:22:44,560 --> 03:22:53,279
high dollar long-term infrastructure
needs. Um to divide those payments out

2122
03:22:50,479 --> 03:22:59,040
over time, obviously. And that obviously
helps hold down uh it can actually hold

2123
03:22:56,080 --> 03:23:05,760
down the tax rates as well. Um I'm not
opposed to the letter. Uh colleagues

2124
03:23:02,800 --> 03:23:11,760
just want I think we should make sure
that it's sort of neutral. Um we endorse

2125
03:23:09,520 --> 03:23:20,080
having the referendum.
Um let the citizens, you know, do their

2126
03:23:15,200 --> 03:23:25,359
research, find out the facts. Um, we've
we've heard the facts because we've

2127
03:23:22,080 --> 03:23:32,160
heard the the presentation from the
school school board on a PowerPoint and

2128
03:23:29,120 --> 03:23:39,520
as I recall, you know, we noticed some
schools needing to be built. Um,

2129
03:23:35,760 --> 03:23:44,720
uh, because we're approving 50,000 more
units in Brunswick County. Uh, you know,

2130
03:23:42,080 --> 03:23:48,720
who would have guessed that? Uh, that we
need more schools. Um, we know that

2131
03:23:46,960 --> 03:23:55,279
Southport Elementary is going to be
getting a new PA system. Um, uh, we know

2132
03:23:53,040 --> 03:24:03,840
there is the possibility that the county
tax rate could go up 8%.

2133
03:23:59,439 --> 03:24:08,479
However, by the time these schools get
bonded and we start making payments,

2134
03:24:06,399 --> 03:24:15,120
it's hopeful that the tax base in
Brunswick County will have increased

2135
03:24:11,200 --> 03:24:20,560
significantly. So maybe the 8%
um will not be needed for a county tax

2136
03:24:18,160 --> 03:24:24,239
hike. But I think you know those facts
we all know about it, but I don't know

2137
03:24:22,080 --> 03:24:27,680
if the the citizens and the voters know
about it. And then it'll be up to them

2138
03:24:25,840 --> 03:24:34,800
to learn about these facts between now
and November when the um when the

2139
03:24:31,200 --> 03:24:40,239
referendum is put before the voters. But
again, I'm not saying I'm against the

2140
03:24:37,520 --> 03:24:46,560
the school bond. I just think we should
be careful to the way we word that

2141
03:24:44,319 --> 03:24:52,160
letter, Mr. Mayor, just to make sure
we're sort of neutral and um yes, it

2142
03:24:49,760 --> 03:24:56,399
needs to be a referendum and the voters
need to speak and uh and make the

2143
03:24:54,479 --> 03:25:00,560
decision.
>> I tend to agree with Alderman Gross on

2144
03:24:58,239 --> 03:25:03,359
this. Um the verbiage I was actually
looking for earlier is not the end at

2145
03:25:02,399 --> 03:25:06,960
the end of the letter. It's the
beginning of the letter. I am proud to

2146
03:25:04,800 --> 03:25:12,319
voice our strong support for the
Brunswick County Schools bond

2147
03:25:08,319 --> 03:25:16,479
referendum. Um, so I agree that I would
love to see the referendum on the

2148
03:25:13,760 --> 03:25:20,720
ballot. I just don't necessarily want it
to appear that we want everyone to vote

2149
03:25:19,120 --> 03:25:25,920
yes for it. I would like for the public
to make their own decision. Um, and

2150
03:25:23,359 --> 03:25:32,880
during that presentation, um, I did
bring up to the, uh, representative from

2151
03:25:30,080 --> 03:25:35,920
the board of education, uh, I was asking
questions about what Southport

2152
03:25:34,000 --> 03:25:39,600
Elementary was getting. And yes, my
children also attend South Brunswick

2153
03:25:37,439 --> 03:25:42,560
Middle School. So, uh, I also asked
about the bleachers at South Brunswick

2154
03:25:41,120 --> 03:25:48,000
Middle School, if you remember that as
well. Um, but I don't want this to be

2155
03:25:46,000 --> 03:25:51,920
something that looks like we are all for
this. I would like for it to look like

2156
03:25:50,560 --> 03:25:54,800
yes, we would like for it to be a
referendum, but for the citizens to make

2157
03:25:53,520 --> 03:26:00,080
their own decisions when it comes to
that.

2158
03:25:56,800 --> 03:26:04,560
» Could Could we get a revised draft
letter and vote on it on June the 17th?

2159
03:26:02,720 --> 03:26:10,600
» Why don't we vote on the letter? Let's
see how many board members support it

2160
03:26:06,960 --> 03:26:10,600
and those don't.

2161
03:26:12,800 --> 03:26:15,800
» Hello.

2162
03:26:17,359 --> 03:26:24,120
Uh I I I'm I'm certainly receptive to us
making it more neutral.

2163
03:26:24,640 --> 03:26:35,000
» We support the referendum vote.
Point blank. We support bringing it to a

2164
03:26:31,439 --> 03:26:35,000
referendum vote.

2165
03:26:37,279 --> 03:26:44,239
So the the motion is do you
want to revise the letter? have the

2166
03:26:42,000 --> 03:26:50,880
manager revise the letter to support the
referendum vote, but uh that you would

2167
03:26:47,040 --> 03:26:55,040
like to sign it your neutral Southport
Board of Alder.

2168
03:26:53,359 --> 03:27:00,640
A lot of lot of courage there. All
right. So, there's a motion to revise

2169
03:26:57,439 --> 03:27:07,800
the letter. Um
no, we need a motion. It's it's time.

2170
03:27:04,319 --> 03:27:07,800
» So, go ahead.

2171
03:27:11,760 --> 03:27:22,800
I move to revise the letter to support
placing the U bond issue on um

2172
03:27:18,880 --> 03:27:28,720
referendum and that we
put this on the June the 17th agenda.

2173
03:27:25,600 --> 03:27:33,279
» So uh I'll say it's already going to be
on the ballot.

2174
03:27:30,640 --> 03:27:37,920
So we can say we support that which is
fine but I don't think it materially

2175
03:27:35,279 --> 03:27:41,920
does anything. So, we can do that if
that's what the board's will is, but

2176
03:27:39,920 --> 03:27:45,279
it's not going to materially support it
being on the ballot because it's already

2177
03:27:43,520 --> 03:27:49,279
going to be on the ballot by vote of the
commissioner. So, um,

2178
03:27:47,279 --> 03:27:52,479
» they're looking for our endorsement.
>> That's correct.

2179
03:27:50,000 --> 03:27:55,760
» Which I'm comfortable myself doing, but
I might be a party of one of it.

2180
03:27:54,000 --> 03:28:02,279
» Well, I know you're not a party one. I
support I endorse it, too. I'm

2181
03:27:58,479 --> 03:28:02,279
supportive of it. Yes,

2182
03:28:04,800 --> 03:28:12,120
» I support the referendum as well.
>> So, motion to approve the letter as

2183
03:28:09,120 --> 03:28:12,120
written.

2184
03:28:12,640 --> 03:28:19,160
» Yes, sir.
>> I I mean, I made a motion, but it didn't

2185
03:28:15,279 --> 03:28:19,160
get a second. So, that

2186
03:28:20,960 --> 03:28:28,560
» I Sorry, y'all. I would make a motion to
>> Oh, you made it then. I second it. Thank

2187
03:28:26,239 --> 03:28:34,600
you, Mark.
So, Alderman Spencer made a motion to

2188
03:28:31,600 --> 03:28:34,600
portion

2189
03:28:35,279 --> 03:28:41,920
second by Alder Marella.
>> Well, I I'm not going to vote for it

2190
03:28:40,239 --> 03:28:45,439
because I don't want to tell people how
to vote on this because they haven't

2191
03:28:43,520 --> 03:28:50,840
heard all of the sides of this.
>> We're not telling them how to vote.

2192
03:28:46,640 --> 03:28:50,840
We're just saying that we support it.

2193
03:28:50,880 --> 03:28:57,680
» I am proud to voice our strong support
of the Brunswick County Schools bond

2194
03:28:54,560 --> 03:29:01,040
referendum. I don't know that that comes
across as neutral.

2195
03:28:58,960 --> 03:29:07,439
» The the school board is looking for this
board's views to support the referendum.

2196
03:29:05,040 --> 03:29:12,239
So whether you want to support it or you
don't is they're just looking for the

2197
03:29:09,200 --> 03:29:14,720
board's opinion either way. So that's
what they're looking for.

2198
03:29:13,279 --> 03:29:19,439
» Call the vote.
>> Could you repeat that, Noah? So the

2199
03:29:17,279 --> 03:29:23,760
school board is asking for
municipalities, business owners,

2200
03:29:21,520 --> 03:29:27,840
individuals to voice their support for
adoption of the referendum of November.

2201
03:29:26,160 --> 03:29:32,000
So that's the purpose of this. I think
if the board is not comfortable in

2202
03:29:29,520 --> 03:29:37,040
saying that that we support passage of
the bond, I think it's a moot point and

2203
03:29:34,239 --> 03:29:41,520
we should not do anything.
>> So we we have a motion in a second. If

2204
03:29:39,040 --> 03:29:45,279
you do not want to support it because
what for whatever reason, then vote that

2205
03:29:43,680 --> 03:29:49,520
way. If you support it, vote the other
way. Was there any language other

2206
03:29:47,279 --> 03:29:55,200
language in there, Rebecca, that I don't
have it in front of me, but that you

2207
03:29:51,520 --> 03:29:59,920
feel like was not neutral?
>> I think that to the manager's point,

2208
03:29:57,760 --> 03:30:07,520
it's either we say that we want people
to vote for it is essentially what this

2209
03:30:02,800 --> 03:30:14,000
is. Um, or we keep our mouth shut.
>> I haven't seen the referendum language.

2210
03:30:11,520 --> 03:30:18,800
» They made a presentation.
made a presentation, but that wasn't on

2211
03:30:16,239 --> 03:30:22,120
the ballot yet. So, what is the language
on the ballot?

2212
03:30:28,080 --> 03:30:34,239
» Yeah, it's it's
on the ballot will be the school

2213
03:30:32,640 --> 03:30:40,080
referendum bond for the school
referendum. It'll be yes or no.

2214
03:30:36,319 --> 03:30:43,520
» The bond it was like 340 million 340
some million. Is that not right?

2215
03:30:42,319 --> 03:30:46,520
somewhere in that ballpark.
>> Yeah.

2216
03:30:47,040 --> 03:31:00,479
» Okay. So, all in favor of the letter.
>> Is that three? All opposed.

2217
03:30:56,160 --> 03:31:05,279
» Three. Nay. Voting with the uh those
that are for the uh bond referendum

2218
03:31:03,200 --> 03:31:12,319
letter.
And the motion passes. Thank you.

2219
03:31:09,359 --> 03:31:21,520
All right. So, we're at a point board
where we uh we can um

2220
03:31:17,359 --> 03:31:28,000
recess we and motion for recess till
June 17th and we'll

2221
03:31:24,399 --> 03:31:31,760
have a motion to go also into close
session to consult with an attorney

2222
03:31:30,000 --> 03:31:35,520
employed or retained by the public body
in order to preserve the attorney client

2223
03:31:33,600 --> 03:31:39,680
privilege between the attorney and the
public body which privilege is hereby

2224
03:31:37,840 --> 03:31:43,760
acknowledged and also to establish lish
or instruct the public body staff or

2225
03:31:41,680 --> 03:31:48,479
negotiating agents concerning the
position to be taken by or on behalf of

2226
03:31:46,160 --> 03:31:53,680
the public body in negotiating the price
and other material terms of a contract

2227
03:31:51,439 --> 03:31:58,239
or proposed contract for the acquisition
of real property by purchase option

2228
03:31:56,239 --> 03:32:04,640
contract or proposed employment
contract.

2229
03:32:00,239 --> 03:32:09,840
So a motion to uh recess to June 17th
and

2230
03:32:06,720 --> 03:32:11,040
» and then recess at the end and I Mayor,
>> what

2231
03:32:10,319 --> 03:32:14,319
» the disclosure?
>> We also had to disclose for Jason

2232
03:32:12,800 --> 03:32:17,439
Robbins for his request.
>> Oh, yes. Yeah, the disclosure. So

2233
03:32:16,080 --> 03:32:21,279
pursuant to the public comment
disclosure request, the property portion

2234
03:32:19,279 --> 03:32:26,399
of the closed session is related to an
offer received by the city for request

2235
03:32:24,000 --> 03:32:31,560
of the city to purchase a non-address
parcel, which is parcel ID 238HG02705,

2236
03:32:33,040 --> 03:32:42,200
a 2.16 acre parcel next to Low White
Park owned by Craraver Properties LLC.

2237
03:32:43,040 --> 03:32:47,120
And the purpose
to

2238
03:32:45,359 --> 03:32:50,920
» see if the board would like to purchase
the property or not.

2239
03:32:51,040 --> 03:33:00,279
» What would be our purpose in purchasing?
>> We have not been we you have not

2240
03:32:56,640 --> 03:33:00,279
identified that yet.

2241
03:33:02,472 --> 03:33:07,840
[snorts]
>> That's part of the reason why we have to

2242
03:33:03,840 --> 03:33:13,120
go into close session to discuss
>> what is we're going into recess. No,

2243
03:33:10,800 --> 03:33:17,120
we're going to close session.
>> I'm sorry.

2244
03:33:15,279 --> 03:33:20,120
» Okay.
>> Yes.

2245
03:34:24,960 --> 03:34:27,960
Heat. Heat.

2246
03:38:26,800 --> 03:38:29,800
Heat. Heat.

2247
03:39:22,960 --> 03:39:26,040
Heat. Heat.

2248
03:43:28,319 --> 03:43:31,399
Heat. Heat.

2249
03:44:12,800 --> 03:44:15,800
Heat. Heat.

2250
03:48:33,600 --> 03:48:36,600
Heat. Heat.

2251
03:52:51,040 --> 03:52:56,080
All right. Uh motion to come out of
close session.

2252
03:52:54,800 --> 03:52:59,760
» So move
>> we have

2253
03:52:57,680 --> 03:53:04,880
» we have a motion and multiple seconds.
Thank you. All in favor? Okay. We're out

2254
03:53:02,399 --> 03:53:09,920
of close session. The the board took no
action. Uh we'll be taking no action

2255
03:53:07,680 --> 03:53:15,760
with respect to the close session and
I'll ask uh city manager uh Salvo to uh

2256
03:53:15,120 --> 03:53:20,640
wrap it up.
>> I would request a motion to recess this

2257
03:53:18,080 --> 03:53:25,760
meeting subject to reconvene Wednesday,
June 17th at 1 p.m. in Indian Trail

2258
03:53:23,359 --> 03:53:31,840
meeting hall and cancel the previously
noted notice special meeting.

2259
03:53:28,399 --> 03:53:36,479
» So move second.
>> That was very good. Thank you, manager.

2260
03:53:34,319 --> 03:53:39,359
All in favor?
>> Motion carried.