2004-02-16 Special Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 29
JOINT MEETING WITH WILMINGTON CITY COUNCIL PAGE 927
FEBRUARY 16, 2004
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in a Special Session with the Wilmington City
Council on Monday, February 16, 2004, at 12:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, 102 North Third Street,
Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William
A. Caster; Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager, Allen O’Neal; County
Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Deputy Clerk to the Board, Teresa P. Elmore.
City Council Members present were: Mayor Spence Broadhurst; Mayor Pro-Tem Laura Padgett; Council
Member Jim Quinn; Council Member Jason Thompson; Council Member Lethia Hankins; City Manager, Sterling B.
Cheatham; City Attorney, Thomas C. Pollard, and City Clerk, Penelope Spicer-Sidbury.
Council Members Katherine B. Moore and Bill Saffo were absent.
Wilmington/New Hanover County Transportation Agency Board Members present were: Jeff Bellows, Bill
Briden, Barbara Cain, Howard Capps, Chris McNamee, Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett, Mayor Pro-Tem Laura
Padgett, and John Stukes.
Mayor Broadhurst called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone present. He stated that the purpose
of the meeting is to hear a presentation on the merger of public transportation services.
Mayor Pro-tem Laura Padgett gave a brief review of the efforts leading to the merger of the Wilmington
Transit Authority (WTA) and the New Hanover Transportation Services (NHTS). One advantage of the merged
services is to provide people with a single-point contact for public transportation needs.
Chris McNamee, Chairman of the Transportation Agency Board, introduced the other members serving on
the Board before making a presentation on the plans to coordinate and consolidate the services. She said the WTA
primarily operated fixed route services within the city limits and paratransit services. NHTS primarily provided human
service transportation and had very limited fixed route service.
Ms. McNamee presented the goals of the merged services as the following:
•Long-term efficiencies in terms of coordination, planning and funding
•Expanded routes and services
•Single portal of entry for access to services and information
•Seamless public transportation services throughout the region (fixed-route, paratransit, TDM)
•Single centralized location of administrative, maintenance and transfer functions
Ms. McNamee stated that a consulting firm will develop a short range plan. She presented the following
recommendations for service improvements:
•Provide local funding for a centralized Maintenance, Administration, and Transfer Facility
•Continue 30 minute service started in February 2004
•Extend a major route along Shipyard Boulevard
•Implement evening service with hourly runs from 7:30 pm until 9:30 pm
•Add Sunday hourly service from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
•Add trolley service to match the hours of bus service on Sundays
•Fund consistent fixed route transit service north to the new Cape Fear Community College Campus south to
Monkey Junction and to the new Jail
•Extend DART Service
Ms. McNamee reported that major users of the bus service are workers who do not have cars. The expanded
hours and weekend service will be a major economic development benefit for the community that will allow people
to accept jobs requiring shift work and working on Sundays.
In discussion of the Maintenance/Transfer Facility, Ms. McNamee explained that NCDOT will provide almost
$8 million for the construction. The facility will provide a transfer location for many of the bus routes, a comfortable
environment to wait for continuing service, a modern maintenance facility for the buses and vans, and administrative
offices for the WAVE Transit Director and staff.
Ms. McNamee requested the City Council and Commissioners to approve the following actions to merge the
transportation services:
•Adopt concurrent resolutions creating the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority effective July 1, 2004
•Adopt an ordinance to repeal the Wilmington Transit Authority
•Approve an Interlocal Agreement addressing funding and budgeting issues, ownership of property, fund
balances, operations, and personnel
•Extend and assign current management contracts
•Approve FY 2004/2005 Wave Transit Funding Request
In conclusion of the presentation, Ms. McNamee said that the total budget is over $14 million of which 70
percent comes from State, Federal, and human service agency contracts. A ten percent local match will be required
for the State’s Moving Ahead Program funds.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 29
JOINT MEETING WITH WILMINGTON CITY COUNCIL PAGE 928
FEBRUARY 16, 2004
In further discussion, Commissioner Pritchett spoke on the importance of encouraging the use of bus service
to relieve traffic congestion. The expanded services will make it more convenient for the public.
Commissioner Caster asked how the Brunswick Connector service will be paid.
Ms. McNamee responded that the Brunswick Connector is a pilot project to be paid by NCDOT. Brunswick
County Commissioners, Navassa City Council, and Leland City Council will be required to make a local match to
continue the program. They will have their own buses.
In discussion of proposed sites for the facility, Ms. McNamee explained that the City has hired a consultant
to locate a site that is centrally located.
Council Member Hankins commented on attending some of the transportation meetings and was pleased that
her concerns were addressed. She asked whether the merged operation will operate as an independent entity or under
the broad umbrella of the City or County.
Assistant City Attorney Dolores Williams responded she and Deputy County Attorney Kemp Burpeau are
working with the Transportation Agency Board to address issues of the interlocal agreement. Initially the City and
County will provide most of the support until the Authority can become autonomous.
Commissioner Caster spoke on the successful effort made by City and County staffs in developing the plan
for the merger. He hoped other consolidated efforts between the governments will be accomplished. He expressed
appreciation to the Staffs for the proposed plan.
In further discussion, Ms. McNamee responded to questions regarding the funding of the project. She said
that other incentive funding will be available because of the WAVE Transit System becoming a regional transportation
system. She will bring other options to the Boards at a later date. She also pointed out that the biggest increase is for
the capital expenditure which will not be a reoccurring expense.
County Manager O’Neal stated that the County’s current cost for its transportation program is approximately
$62,000. The County’s match for the capital expense of $177,000 will be allocated over a couple of years.
In concluding the meeting, Mayor Broadhurst expressed appreciation to Ms. McNamee for the presentation
and thanked the Commissioners for attending the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Deputy Clerk to the Board