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CITY OF NEW BERN
BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEETING
JUNE 12, 2018 – 6:00 P.M.
CITY HALL COURTROOM
300 POLLOCK STREET
1. Meeting opened by Mayor Dana E. Outlaw. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Odham. Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Roll Call.
3. Request and Petition of Citizens.
This section of the Agenda is titled Requests and Petitions of Citizens. This is an opportunity for public comment, and we thank you for coming to the Board of Aldermen meeting tonight to share your views. We value all citizen input.Speaker comments are limited to a maximum of 4 minutes during the public comment period. At the conclusion of 4 minutes, each speaker shall leave the podium. Comments will be directed to the full board, not to an individual board member or staff member. Although the board is interested in hearing your comments, speakers should not expect any comments, action or deliberation from the board on any issue raised during the public comment period. In the board’s discretion, it may refer issues to the appropriate city officials or staff for further investigation. If an organized group is present to speak on a common issue, please designate one person to present the group’s comment, which shall be limited to a maximum of 4 minutes.
Consent Agenda
4. Approve Minutes.
Minutes from the May 14, 2018 budget work session and May 22, 2018 regular meeting are provided for review and approval.
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5. Recognition of Graduates of Police Academy.
Graduates of the recent Citizens Police Academy will be in attendance to give an overview of their experience. The latest academy marked the 22nd session that has been held. (See Backup)
6. Discussion of Utility Deposits.
At its May 8, 2018 meeting, the Governing Board established a working group consisting of Aldermen Bengel, Harris and Best to meet with the Director of Finance to discuss the utility deposit. As a result of the group’s discussions, the following changes are recommended for residential customers effective July 1st:
• Per fiscal year, deposits will not be assessed on the first payment arrangement. Payment arrangements may be billed as installments. No late penalties or fees will be assessed if the payment plan is adhered to as agreed upon.
• Per fiscal year, deposits will not be assessed for the first check returned for insufficient funds.
• New customers may pay deposits in installments with 50% due at the time service is established and the balance payable over four billing cycles. Payment arrangements are not permitted until the deposit is paid.
• New residential deposits shall not exceed $500.
• These changes are not retroactive.A memo from J.R. Sabatelli, Director of Finance is attached and provides additional, pertinent information. (See Backup)
7. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving Financing Terms for the Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) Project.
The Board established the ERP Project Fund on November 21, 2017 and adopted a Declaration of Official Intent to Reimburse at that time. Requests for financing proposals were issued, and the Director of Finance recommends First Citizens Bank be utilized. While their interest rate of 3.22% is slightly higher than that offered by SunTrust (3.17%), First Citizens allows the loan to be prepaid with no penalty or other fees. A memo from Mr. Sabatelli is attached. (See Backup)
8. Consider Adopting a Resolution in Support of the Highway 43 Connector Project.
(Ward 6) At the May 22, 2018 Board meeting, Alderman Odham reported on a recent meeting held by the NC Department of Transportation with respect to plans for the Highway 43 Connector. The proposed resolution relays the City’s support of the DOT plan identified as Alternate #2. It also requests DOT give consideration to the sound impact on the existing residential neighborhoods of Trent Creek, Arcadia Village and Craeberne Forest. (See Backup)
9. Consider Adopting a Resolution in Support of Changing the Alfred Cunningham Memorial Bridge Schedule.
(Ward 1) Citizens and merchants have expressed concerns about the Alfred Cunningham drawbridge schedule. The current schedule allows the bridge to open at will or on demand two to three times per hour. This not only creates traffic congestion, but it is also an inconvenience to motorists, local residents and businesses in and around downtown. The resolution proposes the schedule be altered to open only on the half hour of every hour. (See Backup)
10. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for the FY2017-18 Grants Fund.
The Fire Department has received a $2,000 grant from Petco Foundation for the care of the department’s arson dog. The budget amendment acknowledges receipt of the grant funds, which requires no match. A brief memo from Mr. Sabatelli is attached. (See Backup)
11. Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amendment to the 2017 Roadway Improvements Project Fund.
The 2017 Roadway Improvements Project Fund was established on July 11, 2017. On March 13, 2018, the Board approved an agreement with NCDOT to accept ownership and maintenance of sections of Old Airport Road between Taberna Circle and County Line Road. This budget ordinance will appropriate $1,700,000 for the Old Airport Road project and $800,000 for resurfacing Oaks Road. Funds for the Old Airport Road project will derive of $687,000 from DOT and $1,013,000 from borrowing proceeds. A memo from Mr. Sabatelli is attached. (See Backup)
12. Consider Adopting an Amendment to the Declaration of Intent to Reimburse the 2017 Roadway Improvements Project Fund.
The Board adopted resolutions and Declarations of Intent to Reimburse for the 2017 Roadway Improvements Project Fund on July 11, 2017 in the amount of $250,000 and on September 26, 2017 in the amount of $1,050,000. Since that time, the Board has further increased the project by an additional $1,813,000. The total of the project is $2,863,000, and the Declaration of Intent needs to be updated to reflect this amount. A memo from Mr. Sabatelli is attached. (See Backup)
13. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend Article III. City Water and Sewerage Systems of Chapter 74 “Utilities”.
House Bill 436 was passed by the NC General Assembly in July 2017 to amend Chapter 162A of the General Statutes to add Article 8, System Development Fees. This amendment provides for uniform authority to implement system development fees for public water and sewer systems in the State. The City’s Code of Ordinances needs to be amended to establish the water and sewer system development fees and provide the City authority to charge such fees. A memo from Jordan Hughes, City Engineer, is attached. (See Backup)
14. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Establish the Schedule of System Development Fees and Connection Fees for Water and Sewer Customers.
This relates to the previous item. Upon its adoption, the proposed ordinance will establish the Schedule of System Development Fees and Connection Fees for water and sewer. A memo from Jordan Hughes, City Engineer, is attached. (See Backup)
15. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Classification Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
Annually, the Board adopts a Classification Pay Plan. In the past, the pay plan was adopted as part of the annual budget ordinance. After conferring with Attorney Davis, it has been determined the pay plan should be adopted in the format of a resolution and separate from the budget ordinance. A memo from Mr. Sabatelli is attached. (See Backup)
16. Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending the Schedule of Fees and Charges.
As part of the budget process, the Board annually adopts an Amended Schedule of Fees and Charges to, in part, identify in one place all of the fees charged by the City. The fees identified in the schedule are included in the revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and will be effective July 1, 2018.Please note two schedules are presented for consideration. One schedule does not reference the utility deposit cap of $500 identified during the discussion on the utility deposit. The other scheduled does include the deposit cap. A memo from Mr. Sabatelli is attached. (See Backup 1) (See Backup 2) (See Backup 3)
17. Consider Adopting the Budget Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
After extensive review of the Manager’s recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19, several budget workshops, and an extended public hearing, the changes expressed by the Board have been incorporated into the final budget ordinance for Fiscal Year 2018-19. A memo from Mr. Sabatelli outlines the changes made to the recommended budget. (See Backup)
18. Appointment(s).
(a) On May 22, 2018, Alderman Kinsey appointed John Leys to fill the seat previously held by Nancy Gray on the Historic Preservation Commission. Mr. Leys is unable to accept the appointment, and Alderman Kinsey is asked to make a new appointment. The appointee will serve a three-year term. (See Backup)
(b) The first tenure of the Community Development Advisory Committee (“CDAC”) is coming to an end, and the members’ terms will expire on June 30, 2018. Some have expressed a desire to be reappointed, while others have not. Appointments or reappointments have been made for Wards 1, 2 and 6. The following appointments are still needed, and the list provided simply reflects the current appointees:
Ward 3: Marshall Williams
Ward 4: Vernon Guion (interested in reappointment)
Ward 5: Dell Simmons (See Backup)
(c) Charles Bauschard, Director of Public Utilities, began work on May 29, 2018. The previous director was appointed as the City’s Commissioner on the NC Eastern Municipal Power Agency. The Board is asked to consider appointing Mr. Bauschard to fill this vacancy. Of note, the City Manager serves as the first alternate commissioner, and Alderwoman Harris serves as the second alternate commissioner. (See Backup)
19. Attorney’s Report.
20. City Manager’s Report.
21. New Business.
22. Closed Session.
23. Adjourn
2018-06-08