2015-03-20 Special Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
SPECIAL MEETING, MARCH 20, 2015 PAGE 255
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Special Meeting on Friday, March 20, 2015, at
8:00 a.m. in the Oleander Room of the Executive Development Center, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington,
North Carolina. The purpose of the meeting was to prioritize the County’s strategic objectives for the FY15-16
Budget.
Members present: Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr; Vice-Chairman Beth Dawson; Commissioner Skip
Watkins; Commissioner Woody White; and Commissioner Rob Zapple.
Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the Board
Teresa Elmore.
Chairman Barfield welcomed everyone to the meeting and expressed appreciation to members of staff for
their attendance and participation with the County’s strategic plan process.
County Manager Coudriet reported that the objective of the meeting is for the Commissioners to prioritize
the County’s strategic objectives for 2015-2016 in order to give guidance to finalize the budget.
Warren Miller, the facilitator of the meeting, gave an overview of the agenda for the meeting and reviewed
what success would look like based on the individual interviews conducted with the Commissioners in advance of
the scheduled meeting.
Review of County History Map
Mr. Miller led the discussion of the County’s history starting back in 2006 with the building moratorium
and the economic downturn of the recession and continued with the accomplishments and recovery of 2012 to 2015.
Some of the key issues were:
Built new jail – will need another alternative/expansion
Mental health became a three-county area board with plans to establish a 24-county governing board
2011 Strategic Plan established
2011 Special Use Permit strengthened for I-1 and I-2 Industrial Zones due to non-attainment
classification
WASTEC closed due to losing $500,000 per month
AAA rating with Standard and Poor’s – top 1% in the country February 2013
2014 strategies/policy decisions:
Stated fund balance and debt policies established
Highway 421 Water and Sewer expansion; agreement by April 23, 2015
One-Solution – Improved Development Services
Manager’s sustainable energy program in County buildings
Big take-aways from the history map:
320 Chestnut Street – an opportunity to increase cooperation and collaboration with the City of
Wilmington
Perception that special use permit stymied growth – process not changed in 2014
Service-oriented economy and failure of manufacturing employment
Spirit of cooperation between the City of Wilmington and the County
Sustainability – saving energy good policy for County
Challenges of coastal counties
Federal and State delegation – good relationships
Concept of speaking with regional voice – no longer works for single voice
Support fiscal policies effecting citizens
Responsiveness to citizens – provide needs and wants in a fiscal responsible manner
Importance of preserving historical foundations
Review of County Strategy
Mr. Miller led the discussion in reviewing and reaffirming the County’s Mission, Vision, and Shared
Values as follows:
Mission: Committed to progressive public policy, superior service, courteous contact, judicious exercise of
authority, and sound fiscal management to meet the needs and concerns of our citizens today and
tomorrow.
Comments:
Defines fiscal management - good stewardship; minimize financial impact on citizens
Good, positive, informative
Keep in touch with citizens today and tomorrow
Vision: A vibrant, prosperous, diverse coastal community, committed to building a sustainable future for
generations to come.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
SPECIAL MEETING, MARCH 20, 2015 PAGE 256
Comments:
Responsible to citizens
Arm of State government - not a lot of wiggle room, mandates first
Add addressed in a fiscally responsible manner
Broad, flexible
Expectation of citizens – County does not have unlimited resources, need to tell our story
Add respect for our historical foundation
Shared Values: Professionalism, Integrity, Innovation, Stewardship and Accountability
Review County Enterprise Strategy Map
Strategy and Policy Manager Beth Schrader reviewed the County Enterprise Strategy Map with the
following comments from the Commissioners:
Overall structure makes sense. Policy priorities may change.
Commissioners have a role, but may not have complete control of circumstances.
Have not achieved all goals.
Helpful to have policy discussions tied to strategy map.
County is doing a great job of increasing public awareness of services; citizens also need to go to the
web, NHCTV, etc.
Must maintain flexibility to change.
Review Progress on Strategic Measures and Citizens Survey Results
Ms. Schrader reviewed the strategic measures and presented a summary of the citizens’ survey conducted
in October 2014. Survey results for the community’s top three priorities:
Promote a strong, diverse economy and high quality job growth
Reduce and prevent crime
Prepare students to be successful in a 21st century world
Survey results on how to pay for priorities:
58.4% of respondents would pay additional taxes to fund top priority.
Assuming no tax increase, 28.7% would take money from culturally diverse community and 18.8%
would reduce funding to planned environment/natural resources.
Context Map - Discussion of Trends and Issues Influencing the County and Its Priorities:
Mr. Miller asked the Commissioners to identify the broader community trends, governmental factors,
economic climate, and other outside factors that would impact the County and the Board’s priorities for the next one
to two years. In addition, they were asked to identify five to six critical issues/ideas for the coming year.
Community Trends:
Population growth/aging population/retirees moving here
Growing medical services
More sports/field access/youth activities
Growth in schools
More apartments and multi-family units
Gang violence more visible/increased focus
Expansion of arts/cultural community
Growth in business/economic hub
Political/Governmental Factors:
State support for infrastructure, including inlets, beach, storm damage projects
Cooperation with water and sewer expansion to US Highway 421
New Congressman in D.C. and relatively new State representatives
Expansion of port
Commissioners’ policy emphases on economic development and to small businesses
Community College investment/improvements
22-25% of the County workforce eligible to retire within 5 years
Growth of local government – disproportionate to population growth
Governor’s commitment to road infrastructure throughout the State
Economic Climate:
Does not support middle class wage/not balanced
Becoming more diverse
Consumer confidence up/sales tax and fees - revenues up
More people result in more pressure on infrastructures, need for more jobs, education, etc.
Losing jobs in film industry – many impacts
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
SPECIAL MEETING, MARCH 20, 2015 PAGE 257
Outside Trends:
Decrease Federal/State funding
Emphasis on regional governance
State tax reform (sales tax)
Offshore drilling, windmills
Confusion on education reform (especially University)
Incentives: Film Grants, Job Development Investment Grants (JDIG), etc.
Environmental enforcement (e.g. coal ash, aquifers)
Regulatory environment coastal areas
Assets:
Beaches
Fresh water/aquifers
AAA bond rating
Community College and University
Medical center
Downtown riverwalk
Historic district; history
Airport, port, I-40
People – passionate, smart staff
Parks
Vibrant, growing arts/cultural community
Quality of life, quality of place
Identify Critical Issues:
Coastal storm reduction/beach renourishment
Economic development
Land use planning
Special use permit discussion – clearer revisions to text amendment for a more predictable
streamlined process
Property tax rate
Alternatives to raising taxes
Budget within means
Innovate/look at partnerships/debt timing
Voter approved debt
Disproportionate growth of debt with growth of population
Uncertainties:
Film, television
Shift and shaft – Federal/State to local governments
Unfunded mandates
EPA regulations/shifting standards
Hurricanes
Prioritizing Strategic Objectives
Mr. Miller requested the Commissioners to select their top three priorities in terms of where to allocate
additional dollars/resources for the budget and staff resources for the next year. Board members ranked their top
three choices across all nine strategies with the top choice = 5 points; second choice = 3 points; third choice = 1
point. The ranking results were as follows:
Points Priorities
11 Promote a strong and diverse economy and high quality job growth
7 Increase the safety and security of the community
6 Prepare all students to be successful in a 21st century world
5 Reduce health risks and diseases
5 Support a planned environment that enhances the community and preserves and protects natural
resources
3 Reduce and prevent crime
3 Create and support a vibrant and culturally diverse community that encourages private investment
0 Enhance self-sufficiency of individuals and families
0 Improve community literacy and workforce readiness skills
The Commissioners reviewed the critical issues from the context map and noted that the priorities aligned
with the critical issues.
Wrap Up and Adjourn
County Manager Coudriet reviewed the next steps in the budget process and reported that the Budget
would be presented at the May 4, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, followed by any necessary work sessions. He
thanked the Commissioners for their time and contributions to the retreat.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
SPECIAL MEETING, MARCH 20, 2015 PAGE 258
In closing, Chairman Barfield expressed appreciation to the Commissioners for participating in the
development of the strategic plan and setting priorities in order to give staff direction in the preparation of the
Budget. He thanked management staff, department heads and the facilitators for the hard work and guidance
throughout the process.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Barfield adjourned the meeting at 12:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Clerk to the Board