2011-01-13 Agenda Review NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 32
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING,JANUARY 13,2011 PAGE 108
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for Agenda Review on Thursday, January 13
2011, at 4:30 p.m. in the Harrell Conference Room at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230
Government Center Drive, Wilmington,North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; Commissioner Brian M. Berger; Commissioner
Richard G. Catlin; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; Clerk to the Board Sheila L. Schuh and County Manager
Bruce T. Shell.
Vice-Chairman Jason R. Thompson and Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.were absent.
REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Barfield called the meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the meeting is to review
and discuss the Board's January 18,2011,Regular Session meeting agenda.
The Board reviewed Consent Agenda Item 2 —Approval for Leading Into New Communities to Submit a
Grant Application to the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission with New Hanover County as the Applicant
Agency. Assistant County Manager Chris Coudriet presented the request on behalf of Leading into New
Communities to submit a grant application in the amount of $80,000 to the North Carolina Governor's Crime
Commission with New Hanover County as the applicant agency. No local match is required.
The Board reviewed Consent Agenda Item 3 — Acceptance of a $2,500 National Endowment for the
Humanities Grant and Adoption of Budget Ordinance Amendment #11-139. Library Director Harry Tuchmayer
presented the request to accept grant funding in the amount of $2,500. The funds will be used to present five
programs focused on Louisa May Alcott: The Woman behind Little Women. No local match is required.
The Board reviewed Consent Agenda Item 4 — Approval for Cape Fear Museum to Submit a Grant
Application to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Cape Fear Museum Director Ruth Haas presented the
request to submit a grant application to the National Endowment for the Humanities. If awarded, the Museum will
host the exhibit Grass Roots:African Origins of an American Art from January 28 through March 16, 2012. The
cost to the Museum to host the exhibit includes a$1,000 rental fee and$1,000 transportation fee.
The Board reviewed Consent Agenda Item 5 — Approval to Apply for a Grant from the Cape Fear
Memorial Foundation to Fund the Prescription Drug Assistance Program Coordinator at the Senior Resource Center.
Parks, Gardens, and Senior Resources Development Coordinator Janine Powell presented the request to submit a
grant application to the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation in the amount of$10,000. If awarded, the funds will be
used for continued funding for a Prescription Drug Assistance Program Coordinator position. No local match is
required. To date,a savings of more than$200,000 has been realized by County seniors.
The Board reviewed Consent Agenda Item 6 — Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a
Grant Application to the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund for the Purchase of Land for the
Smith Creek Greenway. Long Range Planner Karyn Crichton presented the request for the Board to authorize staff
to submit a grant application to the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund for the purchase of
approximately ten acres of riparian land along Smith Creek. No County match is required. The total grant amount
will be approximately$200,000.
The Board discussed Consent Agenda Item 7—Adoption of Ordinances for Budget Amendments. Parks,
Gardens, and Senior Resources Director Jim McDaniel reported that the budget amendment is for acceptance of
grant funds received from the Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 10 — Consideration of a Resolution of Support for the
Continued Funding of Drug Treatment Courts by the State of North Carolina. Assistant County Manager Chris
Coudriet reported that District Court Judge James Faison and Drug Treatment Court Administrator Penny Craver
will present the request for the Board to adopt the resolution supporting continued funding for Drug Treatment
Courts by the State. Commissioner Catlin will read the resolution into the record.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 11 — Consideration of Firefighter Appreciation Week
Proclamation. Commissioner Berger will read the proclamation into the record.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 12 — Presentation of the Audit Report for Fiscal Year ended
06/30/2010 by Bryan Starnes, Audit Partner with Markin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, PA. County Manager Shell
reported that he will bring comments concerning the audit report/budget at the end of the Agenda Review meeting.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 16 — Consideration of Animal Control Services Citation
Processing Update. Animal Control Services Manager Dr. Jean McNeil presented the request for the Board's
consideration to approve changes to the New Hanover County Code Chapter 5: Animals. Changes include the
authority to levy criminal charges against dog owners who let their animals run loose for four or more times. Fees
for prior running loose offenses will be raised to provide an incentive to change prior to criminal charges being filed.
The update will require no budgetary or staffing changes. The Board of Health unanimously endorsed the changes
at their meeting on January 5,2011. The Board held a brief question and answer period.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 32
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING,JANUARY 13,2011 PAGE 109
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 17 — Consideration of Library Services and Technology Act
Grant Applications. Library Director Harry Tuchmayer presented the request to submit two grant applications to
Library Services and Technology Act as follows:
• Grant in the amount of $100,000. If awarded, the funds will be used to install full-service self-
checkout stations system wide and for the installation of automated full-service DVD and CD delivery
devices at Main, Northeast and Myrtle Grove libraries. The grant requires a twenty-five percent
match: Seventy-five percent ($18,750) of the match will come from the reallocation of currently
budgeted general fund dollars. Twenty-five percent of the match($6,250)will come from the Friends
of the Library and the Library Foundation.
• Grant in the amount of$25,000. If awarded,the funds will be used to replace outdated equipment and
enlarge the Main Library's computer lab and to replace outdated equipment at the Northeast Regional
Library. The grant requires a twenty-five percent match which will be provided by monies raised by
the Friends of the Library book sale.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 18 —Consideration of Application to the North Carolina Parks
and Recreation Trust Fund to Expand Castle Hayne Park. Parks, Gardens and Senior Resources Director Jim
McDaniel presented the request for the Board's consideration to submit a grant application to the North Carolina
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund in the amount of$250,000. If awarded,the funds will be used for the expansion of
Castle Hayne Park to purchase the final 33-acre parcel. The local match requirement will be satisfied by land that
has already been purchased.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 19—Consideration of a Resolution for Sole Source Awards for
the Purchase of Emergency Equipment, Software, and Hardware. Emergency Management& 911 Director Warren
Lee presented the request for the Board's consideration to adopt the resolution for sole source awards for the
purchase of emergency equipment, software, and hardware. The Sheriff's is also requesting to purchase a mobile
data reporting system in the amount of$294,380. These purchases were approved using 911 funds at the Board's
December 6,2010 meeting.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 20 — Committee Appointments. The Board reviewed the
applications for appointment to the Library Advisory Board and Port, Waterway, and Beach Commission.
FINANCIAL AND BUDGET REVIEW—FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011 UPDATE
County Manager Shell presented a financial and budget review in reference to Fiscal Year 2010-2011
highlighting the following:
• Fund balance for FY2010 has grown to$4.2 million
• Fund balance percentage has grown from 14.6%in FY2009 to 18.3%in FY2010
• Actions taken by the County has realized a decrease in debt service of$20-21 million per year
• Successful quarter-cent sales tax referendum funding
• The following steps have been taken in response to the economic conditions:
• Reorganization of County government
• Nineteen days of furlough for employees over a thirty month period
• Reduction of employee leave accrual in FY2008-2009 and FY2009-2010
• Active positions have been reduced by 92
• Operating and capital expenditures have been reduced
• All vacant positions continue to be reviewed by Management Team prior to being filled
• Moody's Investor Service bond rating has been increased to Aaa
In closing, Mr. Shell reported that future budget concerns will include the State budget deficit, especially
relating to Schools,but stated that it is his projection that a tax increase is unlikely for Fiscal Year 2011-2012.
LOCAL LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION BREAKFAST DISCUSSION
Chairman Barfield led the discussion concerning the format to be used for the Local Legislative Delegation
breakfast to be held on Friday, January 14, 2011. After discussion, the consensus was that this time would be used
to listen to the Legislators and build a relationship with them. The Board also determined to discuss legislative goal
priorities at their meeting on Tuesday, January 18, 2011. This list of priorities will then be shared with our local
legislators.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Barfield adjourned the Agenda Review meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the Board