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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWBC Meeting Package 13 May 2015 13May2015 Meeting Minutes Chairman Barbour called the meetingto order at 4:00and introductions were made by each;the meeting’sattendance sheetisattached.The Aprilmeeting minutes were approved and the current Port,Waterway and Beach Commission (PWBC)fund balance was noted at ~$3631.98. The 13 May agenda items were moved tothe June PWBC meeting following an extended discourse by the PWBC regarding the current Inter-local Agreement (ILA). The discussion began withthe Carolina Beach(CB)and Kure Beach(KB)Mayors notingtheir previous notification of cessation from the currentILAagreementas of 30 June 2015. The aforementioned mayors focused their ILA consternation on the percentageof participation by the beach towns if federal and/or state funding failed to reach a 17.5%fundinglevelforfuture coastal storm damage reduction (CSDR) projects. CB Mayor Wilcox initiated the discussion by emphasizing the need for a partnership agreement first and then an equitable funding approach. Mayor Wilcox stated the beach communities combine for ~51% of the incoming room occupancy tax(ROT), ~17% of New Hanover County’s (NHC)property taxes and only~5% of the population. The mayor went on to describe his perspective as a beach community where local taxes provide for the infrastructure/services for ourseasonal visitors, the beach communities also pay county taxes and in the current ILA are askedto pay up to 17.5% of a local CSDR project that benefits the entire county.The mayor noted that all county residents should pay for the CSDR projects. The mayor statedthat NHC only manages the ROT and pays nothing toward the CSDR projects and,as such,hinders the local advocacy efforts in Raleigh and WashingtonDC. KB Mayor Lambeth noted that NHC should have a general fund line item specificallybudgeted for CSDR efforts. The mayor went on to support Mayor Wilcox’s comment that NHC staff has not been supportive or helpful ameliorating thisissue. The mayorsreferencedseveral alternatives that have been brought before staff for consideration. CB Councilman Shuttleworth questioned future federal and state participation in the CB CSDR project, specifically FY19 and the potential CB funding challenge. The Councilman went on to support the Raleigh based advocate recently contracted and hoped continued state participation would be a prioritygoalset by NHC. Chairman Barbour succinctly reviewed the historical cost sharing formula of 65% federal and 35% non-federal. The 35% has historically been split 50/50 between the NC Division of Water Resources and the ROT. CB Mayor Wilcox emphasized that all should be at the table including the state, county, City of Wilmington and the beach communities. Chairman Barbour noted that a portion of the 17.5% provided by the ROT did originate from within the county and the Cityof Wilmington (beyond the Convention Center District). CB Councilman Shuttleworth noted the ROT is everybody’s participation and that NHC should have a budgeted line item for CSDR.The Councilman further questioned the current life-cycle of the ROT in the event the feds were to cease participation. Staff provided the answers and reminded the PWBC thatthe same information had been previously providedin their 9 April 2014 meeting minutes. KB Councilman Bloszinsky portendedsignificant ROT fees are notbeing collected and that NHC needed to step up enforcing ROTreportingcompliance. Chairman Barbour questioned other funding approaches across the nation. Mr. Rogers of Sea Grant noted the application/generation of local CSDR funds nationwide varies bylocality. Eachindividualapproach was specific to local conditions. KB Councilwoman Swearingennoted efforts in Dare County to increase property taxes. She went on to say Kure Beach residents can’t afford a tax increase to cover 17.5% participation. KB Councilman Bloszinsky questioned the FY16 KB CSDR event and the local economic participation. Staff noted that 17.5% of the project’s anticipated cost has been allocated in federal/state budgetsresulting in no required local outlays. Vice-chair Andrew supported a new assessment formula and that NC needs to take a more holisticcoastalview of advocating and supporting our coastal infrastructure’sfundingand maintenanceneeds. Chairman Barbour questioned whether each beach community was saving for CSDR participation. Each concurred. Ms. Bulluck of Wrightsville Beach(WB)emphasized the need for private sector intervention, specifically advocating in WashingtonDC. PWBC member Mr. Loving requested that in future meetings, all referenced alternatives and supporting data be provided prior to the PWBC meetings for discussion preparation. PWBC member Mr. Wilson asked if there was a legal/urgent element to the expiration of the ILA. Staff noted that FY16 maintenance funding for CB and KB was,for the most part,in place and that the next potential funding challenge for CB and KB would beFY19. WB is scheduled for a FY18 maintenance event; however, WBdid not remove itself from the current ILA. Both WB and CB have had extensions granted to their static vegetation line exceptions. Chairman Barbour asked if both CB and KB would be willing to except an interim extension of the current ILA as editsare developed. Both concurred. NHC Commissioner White noted the PWBC’s general concurrencethat there areissues to be addressed within an updated ILA. Commissioner White supported the efforts by staff and management, specifically Raleigh advocacy and a NC coast-wide approachtoward maintaining and supporting coastal infrastructure. CommissionerWhitepresented himselfavailable to the PWBC as needed to move the efforts forward. Vice-chair Andrew introduced a motion requestingthatChairman Barbour drafta letter to the NHC Board of Commissioners suggestingall partiespotentially involved in a revised ILA be assembled with theprimaryintent of revising the ILA’s funding approach. The request would also suggest an interim extension of the current ILA for an initial period of six months during the ILA editing efforts. Chairman Barbour would provide the draft letter to PWBC members prior to the June 10th PWBC meeting for their review and meetingpreparation. The motion was seconded by PWBC member Mr. McIntosh and approved by the PWBC. A second motion by PWBC member Ms. Major-Rhett was made and seconded to table the current agenda until June. The motion passed. Staff noted the job well done by each beach community regarding Anaformed scarps and the natural resourceregulatory coordination that took place per the current project cooperation agreements as well asthelocally held permit stipulations. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:15. Agenda 13 May2015,4:00–5:00PM New Hanover County, Government Center Finance Conference Room #500 4:00Call to Order Welcome/Introductions Request approval of the Marchmeeting minutes (emailed 10April2015). Port, Waterway & Beach Commission (PWBC)fundbalanceis~$3631.98. Inter-local Agreement Introductory Remarks, Mayor of Carolina Beach PWBC Discussion and Direction Current Efforts: NHC WrightsvilleBeach (WB)Coastal Storm Damage Reduction (CSDR)Project th Inter-agencyregulatorymeeting scheduled for May 27. Mason Inlet Relocation Project(MIRP) Permit modifications, re-consultation and revised management planareunder development. Shallow DraftInlet(SDI-5)Permitting Formal consultationtriggeredwithUSFWS and NMFS Shoreline Mapping Program (SMP) 2015 Field work ongoing. CB15-YearExtension(Validation Report) US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Head Quarters (HQ)guidance not yet finalized. FY17 feasibility study placeholder being considered by USACE. Non-federal “plan for reducing risk to people and property during the life of the project.”Team interviews are scheduled for 21 May. WBCSDREconomic Update Wilmington DistrictUSACEeconomic updateisunder way Estimate Cost : Total $333K (federal $216.5K, non-federal $116.5K) WB Validation Report (Supporting Section 902) Scope/fee/schedule yet to bedeveloped CB InletMaintenance Dredging Currituckhopper dredgingcomplete (April 6-15) ~20K cubic yards removed (~91% of the 8-foot template restored) Public Comment: Adjourn