2004-03-17 Work SessionNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 29
WORK SESSION, MARCH 17, 2004PAGE 939
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session on Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at
11:30 a.m. in Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North
Carolina.
Members present were: Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William A. Caster; Commissioner
Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager Allen O’Neal; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board Lucie
F. Harrell.
Chairman Robert G. Greer and Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr. were absent.
Others present were: Assistant County Manager Patricia A. Melvin; Finance Director Bruce Shell; Deputy
County Attorney Kemp Burpeau; Sheila L. Schult, appointed Clerk to the Board effective April 1, 2004; Annette
Crumpton, Director of Aging; Christine McNamee, Chair of the Wilmington New Hanover Transportation Agency;
Albert Eby, WAVE General Manager; and Deborah Houston, Wave Transit Assistant Director.
Vice-Chairman Boseman called the meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the Work Session
was to hear a presentation on the strategic plan which includes budget issues and other requirements for merging the
Wilmington Transit Authority and the New Hanover County Transportation Services to become the Cape Fear Transit
Authority, effective July 1, 2004.
Cape Fear Pubic Transportation Authority
Assistant County Manager Melvin presented a brief overview of a joint presentation that was made to the New
Hanover County Board of Commissioners and Wilmington City Council on February 16, 2004 by Christine McNamee,
Chair of the Wilmington New Hanover Transportation Agency. Assistant County Manager Melvin advised that the
next step in implementing the transit plan is for the City and County to adopt concurrent resolutions and approve an
interlocal agreement for funding, as prepared by Kemp Burpeau, Deputy County Attorney and Dolores Williams,
Assistant City Attorney.
Assistant County Manager Melvin introduced Christine McNamee, Chair of the Wilmington New Hanover
Transportation Agency and Albert Eby, WAVE General Manager. Ms. McNamee provided additional information
outlining initiatives that have been implemented to increase ridership by making services more convenient including;
unlimited riding passes, bike racks on all revenue vehicles, and handicapped access. These initiatives are providing
positive results with ridership increasing 43.59% over the same period in 2002.
Ms. McNamee and Mr. Eby outlined the specific budget request for New Hanover County for FY 2004-2005
as $252,564. NC DOT Board Division 3 Representative, Lanny Wilson, secured nearly $8,000,000 of the necessary
funding for a new maintenance/administration/transfer facility from Governor Easley’s NC Moving Ahead Initiative.
For the building of the new maintenance/administration/transfer facility the grant amount will be $7,967,000; the
County’s portion will be $177,044 and the City of Wilmington’s portion will be $708,178. This is a one time cost for
a new facility. Funding for this capital project is applicable during FY 2004-2005, with the possibility of extending
funding for the project in FY 2005-2006.
The remaining $75,520 requested for transit operations and routine capital items represents less than a
$30,000 increase over fiscal year 2003-2004. This modest increase will allow the new authority the ability to provide
expanded services including evening service, Sunday service and additional routes. Short term budget projections
prepared by a professional consultant show that if a centrally located transfer facility is funded, once built, operating
costs for fiscal year 2005-2006 will be lower than FY 2004-2005. Operating budgets for fiscal years beyond 2006 show
only modest increases over the FY 2004-2005 budget.
Deputy County Attorney Kemp Burpeau presented a preview of the Concurrent Resolution of the Wilmington
City Council and the Board of Commissioners of New Hanover County creating the Cape Fear Public Transportation
Authority and the Interlocal Agreement between the City and County to jointly fund and support the operation of the
Authority.
Assistant County Manager Melvin reiterated that the action requested for the next meeting of the Board on
Monday, March 22, 2004 would be the approval of the Concurrent Resolution of the Wilmington City Council and the
Board of County Commissioners creating the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority and approving the Interlocal
Agreement between the City and County to jointly fund and support the operation of the Authority.
Commissioner Pritchett expressed support for the merger stating that this will provide a much needed service
to citizens in the community who are without transportation. She also expressed hopes that the expanded service would
eventually include stops at the beaches, Castle Hayne, and the new jail.
Commissioner Caster voiced support for the merger but expressed concern that the transit system will not be
fully utilized when a State grant in the amount of $8,000,000 has been received to construct a new
maintenance/administration/transfer facility. He noted that this money could have been used to repair bridges and
roads in desperate need of improvements throughout the State. He also pointed out that additional funds for the merged
system will leave the County with less money to provide other services such as expanding water and sewer services in
the unincorporated county.
Commissioner Pritchett stated that the $8,000,000 grant could only be used for the purpose of mass transit,
not for road repairs; therefore, she felt the City and County were fortunate to have received these funds to improve
public transportation in this community.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 29
WORK SESSION, MARCH 17, 2004PAGE 940
Vice-Chairman Boseman spoke in support of the merger and stated she was pleased that the transportation
service and hours of operation could be expanded without a tax increase.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice-Chairman Boseman expressed appreciation for the information and adjourned the meeting at 12:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board