2015-10-29 Agenda Review
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, OCTOBER 29, 2015 PAGE 401
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for Agenda Review on Thursday, October 29,
2015, at 4:00 p.m. 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.; Commissioner Skip Watkins; Commissioner Woody
White; and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Vice-Chairman Beth Dawson was absent.
Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the Board
Teresa Elmore.
Chairman Barfield called the Agenda Review meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the
meeting is to review and discuss the Board’s agenda items for the November 2, 2015 Regular Meeting with
discussions as noted:
Consent Item 2: Adoption of a Resolution Approving Execution and Delivery of Escrow Agreement
and Amendment to Interlocal Agreement with City of Wilmington Related to Defeasance of General
Obligation Bonds.
County Manager Coudriet announced that City Finance Director Debra Mack and Deputy City
Manager Tony Caudle were present for questions. The City desires to pay off the bond for the Water Street Parking
Deck.
Consent Item 3: Adoption of a Resolution to Dispose of Surplus Property According to Procedures
Outlined in North Carolina General Statutes - Chapter 160A Article 12
. Commissioner Watkins requested to
receive follow-up information on disposal items so that the Commissioners may know the means of disposal and any
revenues generated.
Regular Item 4: Consideration of a Letter of Support for the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Extension.
County Manager Coudriet reported that the Division of Coastal Management will consider a variance for the
Carolina Beach Boardwalk at its meeting on November 12, 2015. The request was rejected in the past.
Commissioner Zapple commended the efforts of the Carolina Beach Town Council in working with the property
owners for an acceptable plan for the boardwalk extension.
Regular Item 5: Fiscal Year 2016 First Quarter Results
. In response to questions on the increase in
revenues to-date, Chief Financial Officer Lisa Wurtzbacher explained that tax bills were sent out one month earlier
than scheduled thereby receiving some payments earlier than usual. County Manager Coudriet noted that the
quarterly report will show revenues and expenditures of the last two and three years to show a trend for budgeting.
The tax base normally grows 1-1.1% annually.
Regular Item 6: Public Hearing on Bald Eagle Lane Assessment.
Chief Financial Officer Lisa
Wurtzbacher reported that she would give the Commissioners a brief report on the number of parcels involved and
the assessment per lot of $1,042.13. After the public hearing, the Board may modify the assessment roll as needed.
Regular Item 7: Rezoning Request by David Harner of Paramount Development Corporation on
Behalf of the Property Owner, Thalia Dukes, and Lawrence S. Craige, Legal Guardian, to Rezone 8.1 Acres
Located at the 6700 Block of Gordon Road from R-15, Residential District, to B-2, Highway Business District
(Z-945, 10/15)
. Planning and Inspections Director Chris O’Keefe briefly reviewed the rezoning case reporting that
concerns were expressed about traffic and proximity to the Gordon Road and Market Street intersection. The
developer openly discussed his intention of building a large 125,000 square-foot building near the Dutch Square
Industrial Park. No road improvements are scheduled for the Gordon Road intersection until 2024; funding has not
been designated. Traffic impact analysis found that the level of service is “D,” which is considered safe and
acceptable. Under the current zoning, twenty residential units could be built by right or 80 units built under the high
density requirements. The Planning Board voted 5 to 1 to recommend approval.
Regular Item 8: Rezoning Request by Cindee Wolf of Design Solutions on Behalf of the Property
Owner, Trask Farms of New Hanover, LLC, to Rezone 23.74 Acres Located at the 2400 Block of N. Kerr Ave
from R-15, Residential District, to (CZD) AI, Conditional Airport Industrial District, to Develop a Veterinary
Use (Z-946, 10/15).
Planning and Inspections Director Chris O’Keefe briefly reviewed the rezoning case reporting
that one Planning Board member recused himself due to representing a client. The site plan calls for a large
veterinarian clinic for the care of horses in a 4,300 square-foot building and a 1,000 square-foot dwelling for an
overnight caretaker. Most of the property will be used for grazing fields. The Planning Board voted 6 to 0 for
approval.
Staff Update: Jobs Incentive Policy
Chief Strategy and Budget Officer Beth Schrader reported that the General Assembly recently passed
stringent rules for local governments giving incentives for economic development. Staff will review the draft
economic development policy for compliance with the new legislation and also review the Maready lawsuit to make
sure the County policy holds up to the court’s ruling. A School of Government report on the lawsuit indicates a
specified time period to determine a return on investment (ROI). Currently the draft policy sets up a period of 10
years, but the Commissioners may need to consider a 3 to 7 year time frame.
In response to questions from the Board on whether a property owner or a business organization would
receive an economic incentive, Director Schrader explained that the organization providing a direct investment in
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, OCTOBER 29, 2015 PAGE 402
the county would receive the incentive whether purchasing a building or property. The new legislation will dictate
whether ad valorem or sales tax is used, but the payout period should be 3 to 7 years. City Council seems to be
satisfied with the proposed joint policy.
Chief Strategy and Budget Officer Schrader reported that the County has 161 employees working below
$15/hour and it would cost $487,000 to increase the pay for those employees to the $15 rate. The lowest paid
employee with the County receives $11.78 per hour. The County continues to trail the state pay rate by 15%.
County Manager Coudriet requested the Commissioners to read his internal memo regarding economic
development so that they will be aware of the new perimeters.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Barfield adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the
New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting.