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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-06 Regular MeetingNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 PAGE 902 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Monday, November 6, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present: Chairman Woody White; Vice - Chairman Skip Watkins; Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; Commissioner Patricia Kusek; and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board Kymberleigh G. Crowell. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Jonathan Conrad, Senior Pastor, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, provided the invocation and Vice - Chairman Watkins led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Chairman White requested a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion: Vice - Chairman Watkins MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Kusek, to approve the items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Minutes — Governing Body The Commissioners approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 16, 2017. Adoption of a Resolution to Take Action to Abate a Public Nuisance — County Manager The Commissioners adopted a resolution to take action to abate a public nuisance. New Hanover County has been identified as facing a high rate of prescription - opioid abuse. Beyond the human toll this abuse takes on individuals and families, the community as a whole faces significant costs as the public sector incurs unanticipated costs for emergency response, law enforcement intervention, and uncompensated medical costs. The County faces an opioid epidemic as do other communities across the state and nation. The Board of Commissioners finds that it should explore all remedies available to include judicial intervention to directly prevent and reduce opioid abuse across the County, as such abuse constitutes a public nuisance. This resolution authorizes the County Attorney and other staff to take steps deemed appropriate to successfully mitigate the impact and flow of opioids in the County. A copy of the resolution is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 40.1. Approval of September 2017 Tax Collection Reports — Tax Department The Commissioners accepted the Tax Collection Reports of New Hanover County, New Hanover County Fire District, and New Hanover County Debt Service as of September 2017. Copies of the tax collection reports are hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and are contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 40.2. REGULAR ITEMS OF BUSINESS ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER AS HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH Chairman White announced that Lower Cape Fear Hospice requests that November 2017 be recognized as Hospice and Palliative Care Month in New Hanover County. He read the proclamation into the record and asked for direction from the Board. Motion: Commissioner Zapple MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Kusek, to adopt a proclamation recognizing November 2017 as Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chairman White invited Gwen Whitley, President and CEO of Lower Cape Fear Hospice, to make remarks. Ms. Whitley expressed appreciation to the Board for considering and adopting the proclamation. Lower Cape Fear Hospice is the only not - for -profit hospice in the County. The organization has been in operation for 37 years and has 500 -plus volunteers. The organization also pays for licensed bereavement counselors in each New Hanover County school at no cost to the County. On behalf of the Board, Chairman White thanked Ms. Whitley, the Lower Cape Fear Hospice staff, and volunteers for their dedication and service to this community. A copy of the proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 40.3. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 PAGE 903 ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER AS ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH Chairman White announced that the New Hanover County Department of Social Services (DSS) requests that November 2017 be recognized as Adoption Awareness Month in New Hanover County. Commissioner Barfield read the proclamation into the record. He further stated there are over 400 children currently in DSS custody and some will not be able to be returned into the permanent custody with their parents. Some people in the community have been adoptive or foster parents for over twenty -five years. Every child deserves the chance to live in a loving environment. Chairman White asked for direction from the Board. Motion: Commissioner Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple, to adopt a proclamation recognizing November 2017 as Adoption Awareness Month. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chairman White invited Michelle Winstead, Social Services Director, and Wanda Marino, Social Services Assistant Director, to make remarks. Ms. Marino expressed appreciation to the Board for adopting the requested proclamation and for what everyone in the County does for the children that come into DSS custody. There are 10 to 12 private agencies other than DSS that also work with children to be adopted. She noted that there are a large number of adolescents and young teenagers, in addition to infants and small children, throughout the County that need a home. Those that are interested in becoming foster parents or adoptive parents can call 798 -3400 and ask for a social worker who can assist them in the process. On behalf of the Board, Chairman White thanked Ms. Winstead, Ms. Marino, and the DSS staff for their dedication and service to this community. A copy of the proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 40.4. NEW HANOVER COUNTY PINE VALLEY BRANCH LIBRARY FINAL DESIGN PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD TO BORDEAUX CONSTRUCTION AND BUDGET AMENDMENT 18 -024 Property Management Facilities Project Manager Kevin Caison stated that on September 6, 2016 New Hanover County began working with Vines Architecture to design a library that would replace the current Myrtle Grove Branch. Vines Architecture worked with library staff and other county departments to determine what was needed to provide an appropriate replacement facility. Several meetings and public forums were held to gain the information needed to accurately determine the space needs for the building. Based on the information gathered, Vines Architecture developed schematic plans that were presented to the Board of County Commissioners at the February 20" meeting. Since that meeting, the design has been fully developed with construction plans and specifications, and has gone out to bid. He requested Victor Vines and Jeff Schroeder with Vines Architecture to present the final design. Mr. Vines and Mr. Schroeder presented the following information about the project: New Hanover County Public Library Is: • An exciting destination where people gather, ideas flourish, and the information and technology resources needed for a community to prosper are made freely available Project Goals Achieved: • To create a forward - thinking library with a focus on serving the needs of the full community — children, families, teen, adults, retirees, etc. — and embrace the concept of lifelong learning in all aspects • To create the most flexible and interactive library space which is able to easily transform and adapt to the ever changing library (collection, technology, and programmatic) and community needs • To develop a library that is sustainable and embraces connection with the outdoor environment and programs which connect the community Program Overview: • Entry: Main circulation desk, new releases, self - checkout area, and small coffee /cafe bar • Collection and Associated Program Spaces: • Adult: Adult collection, quiet reading space, reading tables, and computers • Children: Children's program room, children's and family computers, and hands -on learning areas • Teen: Dedicated teen space, gaming and community space, and lounge seating Program and Study: • Multi- purpose: Large library program space and storage, maker lab, and small group and individual study spaces • Outdoor areas • Operations and Support: • Space for staff, Friends of the Library, and IT /AV spaces Building plan: • Gross square footage of building: 19,541 • To build around the key principle of flexibility NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 BOOK 33 PAGE 904 • To connect the building to the surrounding area in an effort to encourage patrons to arrive via other methods (i.e.: Cross -City Trail) in addition to cars • To develop the site with numerous outdoor areas to make the library a community- focused destination • Parking will be increased to approximately 68 parking spaces (current Myrtle Grove Branch has approximately 40 parking spaces) Bidding Process (Design- Bid - Build): • Five attended the Pre -Bid meeting • Bid solicitation schedule: August 14 — September 26, 2017 • Bidders: Bordeaux Construction (Certified Low Bidder); Monteith Construction; Thomas Construction Group Certified Low and Recommended Bid for a 19,541 square foot building: Base Bid $5,300,000 Recommended Additional Alternates: $295 1Square Foot Alternate 02: Additional 3,328 Square Feet $454,000 Alternate 04: Roller Shades $4,400 Alternate 06A: Additional Plantings per Zoning Ordinance 5 200 Total (19,541 Square Feet) 5 763 600 ($295 /Square Foot ) • Value Management Savings Process: • In this process, once the low bidder is on board, the architect and the construction teams are able to assess what, if any, value savings can happen on the project without changing the design intent, scope, or style of the project Total Project Cost (Base + Alternates) $5,763,600 Cost /Square Foot $295 1Square Foot Value Management Savings LLZ211 00 Total Adjusted Project Contract Cost 500 S& 5M,500 Cost /Square Foot (base bid + alternates + value management savings) $283 1Square Foot Project Schedule: • Completed: • Schematic Design: Through December 2016 • Design Development: January — March 2017 • Construction Documents: April — August 2017 • Bidding: August 14, 2017 — September 26, 2017 • To Be Completed: • Board of County Commissioners Approval: November 6, 2017 • Construction: November 27, 2017 - November 2018 • Furniture and Move -In: December 2018 — January 2019 • Pine Valley Branch Opens: January 2019 Chief Financial Officer Lisa Wurtzbacher stated that the Board is being asked to approve budget amendment 18 -024 for $1,377,035, which increases the project budget. During the February meeting, staff informed the Board that they felt there would be a need for additional funds, but the amount was uncertain as the bids had not been received at that time. Since the original budget estimates were prepared in 2016 for inclusion in the 2017 Capital Improvement Plan, material costs along with labor costs have seen a significant increase. As such, the cost per square foot for construction of this facility has increased from the estimated $251 in 2016 to $283. A portion of this budget amendment can be funded through currently budgeted appropriations. County staff have identified $468,444 that can be reallocated from general fund appropriations. This amount represents actual and anticipated savings from various sources such as insurance premiums, materials and supplies, utilities, and salary. The remaining $908,591 needed to fund the budget amendment will be provided by an increase in loan proceeds. The increase in loan proceeds will increase the debt service by an estimated $81,137 over the anticipated debt service. The Board is also being asked to award the construction contract to Bordeaux Construction Company. The contract would be in the amount of $5,534,500 to construct a 19,541 square foot facility which includes the base bid, alternate 02 which increases the square footage by 3,328, alternate 04 which includes the roller shades, and alternate 06A which includes additional plantings for a vegetative buffer. Motion: Commissioner Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple, to approve Budget Amendment 18 -024 to increase the Pine Valley Capital Project by $1,377,035 as detailed and approve award of the construction contract to Bordeaux Construction Company in the amount of $5,534,500 to build a new branch library that will replace the existing Myrtle Grove Branch. This new facility will be located at 3802 South College Road and will be known as the Pine Valley Branch Library. Chairman White opened the floor to Board discussion prior to calling the question for the motion on the floor. In response to Board questions, Ms. Wurtzbacher stated that the process for this project began in 2016 when NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 PAGE 905 staff was preparing the budget for the Fiscal Year 2017 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Plan. Reviews of comparable projects in the area are done to assess square footage costs and project costs and costs have risen quite dramatically since 2016. County Manager Coudriet stated that when a project is being started, staff does look at comparable projects in the area. At the time of this project, the price was estimated to be $250 per square foot. Most of what is being seen is market change in the economy. It is expected that the prices will increase going forward. Regarding questions about the savings, Ms. Wurtzbacher stated that part of the $468,444 is actual savings due to lower insurance premiums and anticipated savings from future usage of utilities for the end of the year. Also, some money is coming from salary lag, which are from positions that haven't been fillable or haven't had someone consistently in the position. For the reallocation of funds, $150,000 is coming from Parks and Recreation, $96,000 is from the Library, and $164,000 is salary lag from DSS. There is $58,000 coming from the administrative reserve. The salary lag for this fiscal year was estimated to be $3 million. There is a three percent contingency on the contract. County Manager Coudriet stated that Ms. Wurtzbacher and Chief Strategy and Budget Officer Beth Schrader vetted the savings with the departments. They strategically assessed the funding changes with each department to ensure there would not be an operating impact. In looking at the end of the year, there will be an over collection in revenue by at least this amount of money. In order to proceed, staff has to identify where in the budget the funds will come from. In response to Board questions, County Manager Coudriet confirmed that the request is for the Board to award the contract, which includes the additional 3,328 square feet, and approve the increase in construction costs per square foot. Staff is recommending to build at the increased square footage as it was felt to be a good value to go from a base bid of 16,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet, which is comparable to the usable space at the Northeast branch. This is the reason for the $81,000 difference. If the Board chooses not to take the recommendation, the new library would be constructed at 16,000 square feet, which is almost three times what is currently being utilized at the Myrtle Grove branch. Staff feels there would be a missed opportunity on building a long -term viable space and as it is attainable, feels the recommendation to increase the square footage to 20,000 is reasonable. In response to Board questions, Mr. Vines stated that in addition to designing a 16,000 square foot building an additional alternate square footage of 3,328 was also designed and price requests were made for the additional square footage. The alternate price came in at about $454,000. The overall systems in the base building of 16,000, were sized to accommodate the alternate square footage, if approved by the Board. Some of the value is in the base building as it relates to mechanical and electrical systems, so the balance of that at a lower cost per square foot would be for the finishes and the restructuring of that end of the building. In response to Board questions, County Manager Coudriet stated that if the Board chooses not to approve the increase in square footage, the Board would still be asked either now or in the future for a budget amendment to move money from the current operating budget into the capital project ordinance. Due to accounting best practices, the money needs to be in one identified capital improvement project. A brief discussion was held about the conditions at the Myrtle Grove branch and how many will be served at the proposed Pine Valley branch. In response to Board questions, Harry Tuchmayer stated that the Myrtle Grove branch is considerably undersized. For the proposed Pine Valley branch, the original plan was to try to build a 20,000 square foot building. During the budget development, two alternatives were developed to be as cost efficient as possible. The team worked very hard with Vines Architecture to be tight and efficient with funds. Within a five -mile radius, the new library will serve a population of about 140,000 residents, which is more than those served in the same size radius at the Northeast, Main Library, and Pleasure Island branches. A Geographic Information Service (GIS) mapping of library card holders shows there are thousands of current users of the Northeast branch who live within half a mile of the new Pine Valley branch. The new building is undersized compared to what other larger communities have, but efforts were made to try to maximize every single space in order to get the most value for the project. In response to Board questions, Mr. Vines confirmed that the efficiencies of the building process allow for a reduction in the square footage as far as the cost per square foot for the alternate. When designing a project, a budget has been set. However, as the firm understands the more in -depth particulars about site - specific projects and begins to identify what they think those costs projections are going to be, if they believe that the projection is slightly over a set budget, they recommend to design and bid with an alternate for the extra space. Once the bids come in, it can then be truly understood what the value is and what the cost of that alternate will be. This was done in this case and basically targets the 20,000 square feet. In other projects the firm is currently working on, it is being seen that the costs are continually increasing due to the fact of natural disasters, market sector, and labor pool. For this project, the hope was to be able to bring forward the full scope of the project, which is 20,000 square feet, with the understanding that it includes an additional $454,000 for the work. In looking at the cost per square foot for the overall building and then comparing the costs for the additional 3,328 square feet, it can be seen that the value being received is good in regards to the additional square footage. In response to further Board questions, Mr. Vines stated that if the additional square footage were to be built at a later date, he does not believe it would be possible to build it for the same cost. He feels the cost would be higher. A value engineering process was done on the entire project, for both the 16,000 square feet and the additional 3,328. If the Board opted to go with a smaller building, the price per square foot after value engineering would be higher, but he does not know at this moment how much higher. A brief discussion was held about the Health and Human Services (HHS) building project. In response to Board questions, County Manager Coudriet stated that the approach used for the HHS building project was Construction Management at Risk (CM @R). The Board awarded Monteith Construction the contract at a fixed NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 PAGE 906 amount. Mr. Caison stated that the CM @R approach is used for a project that costs at least $10 million or for a project with a very complicated scope of work. It was felt that the Pine Valley branch project best fit with the traditional building technique. Mr. Caison further explained that market conditions have affected the project as well as several other projects across the state. As such, if the Board rejects the proposal and directs staff to rebid the project, the costs from the new bids will be higher. The CM @R must be done during the design process and there would be a cost increase to put the project out to bid again. A brief discussion was held about the twenty -five percent cost increase for this project from what was originally approved by the Board. County Manager Coudriet explained that when the project was put out for bid, the planning numbers were about 18 months old. Staff is reevaluating the process of how quickly it can put a bid out once a project is approved and the design work is completed. There has been an exponential increase of construction activity in the community in the last 18 to 24 months. Further discussion was held about the increase cost of the project. Commissioner Barfield stated that the Myrtle Grove branch was built when the population in the southern part of the County was not what it is today. Tremendous growth has been seen in that area and it will continue to grow. He further stated that he made the motion to support the request because it maximizes the cost upfront to have a building that will not only handle the current population, but future growth as well. Vice - Chairman Watkins stated that this would allow the County to parlay community concerns about the quality of libraries provided by the County. The additional space would address the growth in that part of the County. He stated he was in favor of Commissioner Barfield's motion. Chairman White called the question on the motion on the floor. Motion: Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. A copy of Budget Amendment 18 -024 is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 40.5. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING PROCESS Chief Strategy and Budget Officer Beth Schrader stated that during the September 5, 2017 Board of County Commissioners' Meeting, the Board directed staff to bring back recommendations related to the Outside Agency Funding Process. Specifically, staff was to provide the proposed composition of the seven - member citizen Human Services /Other Outside Agency Funding Committee; the proposed timeline for appointments and process; and a proposed rating rubric for the selection committee to use to score proposals. She then presented the following information: Outside Agency Funding Process: • What Qualifies as an Economic Agency: • Paid to recruit/grow /retain business in New Hanover County • Primarily focused on improving tax base or creating jobs • Contributes to creating community wealth (e.g. brings visitors / $$ into local economy) • A jobs skills or job readiness program would fall under Human Services / Other Proposed Human Services /Other Committee: • Seven Member Committee: Three -year terms, staggered: • Group 1: Four (4) members • Group 2: Three (3) members • Initial group assignment by lottery • Categories: At- Large; Educational (Pre -K thru 12); Faith -Based; Seniors /Elders; Business /Workforce Training; Public Safety /Judicial; and Cultural/Recreation Eligibility: • Appointees cannot be directly affiliated with an organization requesting funding • Maximum of two consecutive terms In response to Board questions about following the same model as Smart Start, Ms. Schrader explained that when Smart Start has votes about certain programs and someone has a conflict with that area, that member is not allowed to vote. The committee can be setup however the Board desires and a process similar to Smart Start can be done. Discussion was held about the committee categories and applicant eligibility. Vice - Chairman Watkins stated that he would prefer to avoid conflicts of interest for committee members as best possible. In response to Board questions, Ms. Schrader stated that the "directly affiliated" language refers to board members, employees, and those who might be directly involved with the funding source. Commissioner Zapple commented that a disinterested member who is not involved with a non -profit agency has no idea what an agency does, nor a deep understanding of the importance of having the agency in the community. There is a value in those people who have chosen to get involved with the outside agencies and understand what needs to be happening. He understands the difference in having disinterested members, but there is a difference between being disinterested and being uninformed. He would not want to push aside those who may be the most involved and may be in the position to make the best decisions. In NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 PAGE 907 response to additional Board questions, Ms. Schrader confirmed that the Board would be the appointing authority of the committee members. Commissioner Barfield stated that Smart Start is a very good model to work with in terms of creating this committee. Smart Start is made up of 25 people and there are various conflicts that arise, but they all have one purpose in mind, which is to take care of young people. To have a similar model structure in place would serve the best of both worlds. It's important that people understand the agencies they are supporting or not supporting and where the money is being sent. In response to Board questions, Ms. Schrader stated that the original intent of the eligibility requirements was that committee members could not be directly affiliated with an organization requesting funding. However, it can be handled however the Board directs. County Manager Coudriet stated that the eligibility statement could be eliminated and as applications are submitted, the application can note whether the applicant is part of a non -profit organization, and if so, which non -profit it is. It provides clarity upfront of an applicant's involvement in a non -profit agency. The Board can then use its judgement based on the information provided of who to appoint. Ms. Schrader stated that the seven categories of individuals would be advertised and an applicant would select one when applying. Three organizations conveyed to her that they had hoped there would be categories addressing the veterans, environmental, and recovery areas. She wanted to share this information with the Board in the event the Board wanted to change the make -up of the committee. Hearing no suggested category changes from the Board, Ms. Schrader continued the presentation: Proposed Human Services /Other Committee: • Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will annually provide the committee with an allocable budget • Committee will: • Review and score outside agency requests • Recommend agencies to fund and amount per agency (total not to exceed allocable budget) • Provide feedback to agencies • Staff will provide administrative support In response to Board questions, Ms. Schrader confirmed it is understood by all that the Board of Commissioners decides the allocable budget and the committee will recommend how to divide it. Funding Evaluation Criteria: • Alignment with New Hanover County Strategy /Goals: • Extent to which program directly or indirectly aligns with strategy and goals • Extent to which proposed service fills a gap in New Hanover County services • Agency Organizational Capacity: • Does the program and service delivery model align with the agency's experience and mission • Collaborative Efforts: • Extent to which agency is partnering /collaborating with other agencies • Impact of Service: • Extent of demonstrated impact or performance measures provided • Number served and magnitude of impact on those served • Other considerations: Dependency on and /or ability to leverage New Hanover County funding degree overlaps or augments existing New Hanover County services Principals Transitioning to Vendor Status: • Already contracting with Outside Agency for all or some of the agency's services in departmental budget(s) • Provides services required by law /statute or rules of Federal/State programs • Fills critical gaps in county service • New Hanover County is a pass through for other funding and provides match to said funding (e.g. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council) Next Steps: • January 8: Committee applications due • January 22: BOCC appointments • February 2: Orientation meeting for committee • February /March: Outside agency presentations /site visits; committee deliberations • March 30: Committee recommendations presented; committee feedback to outside agencies • April 16: Formal presentation of recommended budget; staff recommendations regarding vendor status In response to Board questions, Ms. Schrader stated that several agencies have requested to be considered for vendor status. Some agencies were receptive to it, but had to adjust to discussing fee for service. In some cases, the agencies said they give the County a price break and don't charge the full price for the contracted services provided by them on the County's behalf. The proposed timetable would allow the agencies additional time to review what the actual costs are for the contracted services. In response to Board questions, Ms. Schrader stated that she recommends when committee appointments are made and if the Board desires, staff will bring forward an amount for Board consideration and review. It might also NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 PAGE 908 be the appropriate time to accept the larger budget amount, understanding that when staff comes back and makes recommendations about vendor status, the amount will change and move as some things move into departments. Regarding contact with the outside agencies about the process, Ms. Schrader stated there have been five on- site visits, approximately 10 to 15 phone calls, five or six in- person conversations, and two orientation meetings attended by 35 agency representatives. There has been much conversation and discussion throughout the process, as well as having outside agencies share input so their concerns could be addressed up front. Ms. Schrader stated that the Strategy and Budget Department has also filmed a video tutorial, which will be updated based on today's meeting. It will be posted for viewing online, as well as keep agencies informed regarding the committee process. Commissioner Zapple stated that he knows Ms. Schrader and her staff have made a direct appeal to every agency who currently receives County funding. He expressed appreciation to Ms. Schrader and her staff for their hard work and tremendous outreach efforts on this matter. Commissioner Barfield commented that similar to how the Special Board of Equalization and Review was created, it is always good to put the right people at the table. He expressed appreciation to Ms. Schrader and her team for their efforts on this matter. Vice - Chairman Watkins stated assuming the Board approves this request, he hopes that when this committee makes decisions, the Board will be ready to support it. Chairman White asked for direction from the Board. Motion: Commissioner Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Kusek to approve the recommendations on the outside agency funding process with the eligibility requirements being that appointees must disclose all board positions and /or paid employment with non -profit agencies on the committee application; and if an agency directly affiliated with an appointee applies for funding, the appointee will be recused from that funding deliberation and decision. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON - AGENDA ITEMS Chairman White announced that no one had signed up to speak under public comment. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS Commissioner Zapple stated that there were two events coming to the area that will put New Hanover County on the national and international stage: The Cucalorus Film Festival and the Global Marine Science Summit. The Cucalorus Film Festival will be held November 8" through 12 ". The Global Marine Science Summit occurring November 6" through 8', which he was able to attend a portion of, is being hosted by UNCW. Part of the presentations from today discussed coastal storm damage reduction and how to build a resilient coastal community. The Summit brings scientists together from all over the world and there has been positive news about how New Hanover County is leading in the world of coastal storm damage reduction. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chairman White adjourned the meeting at 5:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kymberleigh G. Crowell Clerk to the Board Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting. The entire proceedings are available for review and checkout at all New Hanover County Libraries and online at www.nhcgov.com.