2015-01-30 Special MeetingNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
SPECIAL MEETING, JANUARY 30, 2015 PAGE 222
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Special Meeting with the County’s Legislative
Delegation on Friday, January 30, 2015, at 12:00 Noon in the Harrell Conference Room at the New Hanover County
Government Center, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present: Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr; Vice-Chairman Beth Dawson; Commissioner Skip
Watkins; and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Commissioner Woody White was absent.
Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the Board
Teresa Elmore.
Federal Officials present: Catherine Jordan, Director of Outreach from Congressman Jones’s Office; and
Chance Lambeth from Congressman Rouser’s Office.
State Legislators present: Representative Rick Catlin, Representative Ted Davis, and Senator Michael Lee.
Discussion of the following Congressional items of interest to New Hanover County were discussed:
Retain Coastal Storm Damage Reduction and Shallow Draft Inlet Funding
Advocate for Implementation of Marketplace Fairness Act
Address 2015 Reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program
Monitor and Respond to EPA’s Effort to Lower Carbon Dioxide BPP
Discussion of the following State items of interest to New Hanover County were discussed:
Support legislation to grow North Carolina's statewide economy through sound state investments,
including public infrastructure funding, competitive incentives, and coordinated efforts with county
economic development services: (a) Adopt new approaches to economic development incentives to
include rural counties; (b) Restore the film and historic preservation tax credits; and (c) Maintain grant
funding for rural infrastructure projects;
Oppose legislation that erodes the existing local revenue base;
Seek legislation to authorize local option revenue sources already given to any other jurisdiction;
Monitor and Contribute to CRC Pending ‘Sea Level Rise’ Study;
NCACC 2015-2016 Top Five Legislative Goals:
Support continued State funding of Medicaid and support efforts by the State to provide healthcare
access for all citizens;
Seek legislation to restore the statutory requirement that 40% of the net lottery proceeds be
allocated to counties for school capital needs and increase the annual appropriation of lottery funds
until the 40% allocation is restored;
Seek legislation to repeal the statutory authority under N.C.G.S. 115C-431(c) that allows local
school boards to file suit against a county board of commissioners over county appropriations for
education;
Oppose any shift of State transportation responsibilities to counties;
Oppose unfunded mandates and shifts of State responsibilities to counties.
Representative Catlin updated the Commissioners on the following legislative issues:
Senior Citizen’s Tax Credit for Medicare and Medical Cost
Interbasin Transfer for the Towns of Apex, Cary and Morrisville, and Wake County Requesting that
the Board Consider Opposing Alternative 2A and Supporting Alternative 3A
Public Hearing to Reclassify the Cape Fear River to be Held on February 5, 2015 on Board the USS
North Carolina Battleship
Other Items and Wrap Up:
Vice-Chairman Dawson, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation to the Congressmen’s
representatives Ms. Jordan and Mr. Chance and the legislative delegation for meeting with the
Commissioners to discuss the issues.
Chairman Barfield reported that he, along with Commissioner Zapple and County Manager Coudriet,
will be attending the NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, DC during the month of February
and he looks forward to hearing from Congressmen Jones and Rouzer on the issues at the
Congressional breakfast. Also a Legislative luncheon will be held in Raleigh in the spring.
Mr. Lambeth spoke on Congressman Rouzer’s commitment to the coastal communities and
encouraged the Board and Staff to call on their office as a resource. The Congressman will be serving
on the Transportation Infrastructure Committee and three subcommittees and expressed appreciation
for the opportunity to meet with the New Hanover County officials.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
SPECIAL MEETING, JANUARY 30, 2015 PAGE 223
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Barfield adjourned the meeting at 1:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Clerk to the Board