2021-12-02 Agenda Review
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, DECEMBER 2, 2021 PAGE 275
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for Agenda Review on Thursday, December 2, 2021
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: Chair Julia Olson-Boseman; Vice-Chair Deb Hays; Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr.;
Commissioner Bill Rivenbark; and Commissioner Rob Zapple.
Staff present: Deputy County Manager Tim Burgess; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the
Board Kymberleigh G. Crowell.
Chair Olson-Boseman called the Agenda Review meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the
meeting is to review and discuss the agenda items for the December 6, 2021 Regular Meeting with discussions as
noted:
Consent Item 3: Adoption of Public Officials Bond Resolution. In response to Board questions, County
Attorney Copley explained that the bond amounts are pursuant to the general statutes. The County does have
insurance in place to cover an incident over the statutorily minimum required bond amount.
Regular Item 5: Rezoning Request (Z21-13) - Request by Cindee Wolf with Design Solutions, Applicant, on
Behalf of the Property Owner, Coastal Carolina Car Wash, LLC, to Rezone Approximately 1.15 Acres of Land
Located at 6016 and 6100 Castle Hayne Road from B-2, Regional Business District, and R-15, Residential District to
(CZD) B-2, Conditional Regional Business District. In response to Board questions, Long Range Planner Marty Little
explained that no online game or gambling businesses will be allowed. Brief discussion ensued regarding the
concerns of property owners on Blossom Street. Access to the site will not be permitted from Blossom Street and
there will be a fence and vegetative buffer surrounding the property. The allowable uses will be limited based on
the application. No private clubs or outside storage will be allowed as previously proposed.
Regular Item 6: Rezoning Request (Z21-14) - Request by Cindee Wolf with Design Solutions, Applicant, on
Behalf of the Property Owner, Carolyn Faye Barefoot, to Rezone Approximately 2.23 Acres of Land Located at 137
Spring Road from AR, Airport Residential District to (CZD) R-15, Conditional R-15 district, Residential District. In
response to Board questions, Current Planner Ron Meredith explained that the applicant has proposed to leave the
access easement in its natural state and use Spring Road as it is state maintained. It has not been confirmed who will
be responsible for the maintenance of the access easement, but Mr. Meredith stated that he would be able to
confirm that prior to the meeting. The only concern that was received was from the adjacent property owner
regarding the drainage ditch and protecting it.
STAFF UPDATES
Too Good for Violence Update by Chris Preston and Teresa Huffman. Community Justice Services (CJS)
Director Chris Preston and CJS Prevention Director Teresa Huffman presented the following information:
CJS Prevention Services – Too Good for Violence (TGFV):
Prevention Services:
Provides psychoeducational social skill development groups in most local elementary and
middle schools and community centers with the goal of reducing the overall number of youths
involved in the juvenile justice system
All prevention programs utilized are evidenced based and tailored to the age group being
served. Services are voluntary, require parental consent, and focus on age-appropriate social
skill acquisition.
Key Data Points:
From Fiscal Year (FY) 16-17 through FY 20-21 Prevention Services has served an average of
240 middle school youth per year
Groups typically range between 6-10 youth
Groups meet weekly for 10 consecutive weeks, for one hour
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County and New Hanover County
Schools (NHCS) allows for CJS staff to conduct groups in school settings
CJS has served middle school youth in 12 unique settings since July 1, 2016
Partner School Hosts:
Past sites: D.C. Virgo, Williston, Holly Shelter, Trask, Murray, Myrtle Grove, Roland Grise,
GLOW Academy, Noble, MLK Center, Community Boys & Girls Club, Village at Greenfield
Partners for first half of FY 21-22: D.C. Virgo, Holly Shelter, Williston, Noble
Research Based and Local Results:
TGFV studies have shown statistically significant improvement in eight protective factors and
a 45% reduction in student intentions to engage in aggressive behavior
Locally, since July 1, 2016: 98.7% of middle school youth successfully completing middle school
prevention programming had no juvenile justice involvement the following year
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, DECEMBER 2, 2021 PAGE 276
Increased prevention efficacy and scope was key in NHC’s previous five-year strategic plan and
was contributed to overall strategy resulting in 16% reduction in juvenile justice recidivism
during the five-year period
The five-year period also experienced a decrease in NHCS delinquency rate from 34.75 youth
per 1,000 in 2012 to 11.51 youth per 1,000 in 2018
Program Specifics:
School relationships: guidance counselors, principals, elements, and community involvement
Referrals, intakes, parental consent, and connect to additional resources
Preparation for groups by two staff members
C.A.R.E.
Sample lesson/lesson plan
Scenarios/role play
TGFV Expansion and Social Perspectives:
TGFV - Social Perspectives High School: A dynamic, experiential course designed to immerse
students in the core social skill development they need to navigate the world they will enter
after high school. The experiential learning design applies interactive games and activities to
let the students try on and apply the skills and strategies in peer groups. Students learn
essential social emotional learning skills as well as additional skill lessons to ready them to
face the challenges they can foresee and the obstacles they cannot as they work towards
reaching their goals. Some key components of this curriculum are respect for self and others,
conflict resolution, anger management, healthy teen dating, and social media awareness.
Students learn how to navigate the challenges of social and academic pressures like making
responsible decisions, managing stress and anger, reflecting on personal relationships,
resolving conflict peacefully, avoiding cyber-bullying, and practicing responsible citizenship.
What does success look like at the high school level?
School climate
Student ability to recognize bullying/aggressive behavior
Knowledge and comfort regarding reporting incidents
Intent to graduate high school
No future involvement with juvenile justice system
Connection to additional resources
In response to Board questions, Mr. Preston explained that the reduction rate of youth with intentions to
engage in aggressive behavior is measured by testing before and after treatment. The test is a psychological
instrument where a youth measures out how they react to certain situations, and it shows the behavioral intentions
based certain on situations. Students involved in the program are not always ones that are starting to go down the
wrong path, but sometimes students that are needing some additional skills. It is important to have parents support
and the program seeks to put them in that leadership role. Brief discussion ensued regarding the measurement of
success for students involved in the program. Mr. Preston explained some of the tools that are used to measure
success for students who go through TGFV. Ms. Huffman explained that with the time and relationships built through
the program, many of the parents still stay in contact through high school and provide updates. There are students
that have been through the program that have gone on to graduate high school and are doing exceptionally well. In
response to Board questions about expanding the program, Ms. Huffman stated that any opportunity that is
presented where they can keep working with the students will be positive.
Chair Olson-Boseman thanked Mr. Preston and Ms. Huffman for the presentation.
Elements Update by Kristy Williams. Kristy Williams with Elements presented the following information:
Elements - Youth Violence Intervention Program:
Program Overview:
Established in 2006 and based out of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office
It is a behavior based program that provides one on one mentoring and case management to
at risk youth who are enrolled in the program
Program duration for youth: one year
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Serves primarily 4 - 8 grades
Staff:
Youth Intervention Outreach Coordinator
Senior Youth Intervention Specialist
Four Youth Intervention Specialists
Caseloads of 10-15 children/families
All-Inclusive Service:
No cost, no insurance billed, transportation provided, and available 24/7
Wraparound Services:
Academic goal: schools
Family goal: homes
Criminal goals: Department of Juvenile Justice, court, community service
Social goal: community
Individual goals: direct care, therapy, extracurricular activities
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, DECEMBER 2, 2021 PAGE 277
System of Care Within the Agency:
Team of intervention specialists
Latino victim advocate
Therapy dog focused on victims and juveniles
School resource officers
School juvenile detectives
Crimes against children detectives
School gang detectives
2019 ELEMENTS Year-End Report:
During the calendar year of 2019, 225 youth were served by the Elements program. Of that
total number, 82 youth received intensive case management. Of the youth that received
intensive services, 68% successfully completed the program. Of youth terminated
unsuccessfully, 40% were discharged due to relocation for either long term hospitalization
stemming from mental health disabilities, placement into a group or foster care home, or a
family relocation. Only 22% of youth who received intensive case management were
terminated and deemed unsuccessful from the program.
2019 Referral Information:
A total of 93 referrals were received throughout the year, 65% of which came from
professionals inside of the school to include school resource officers.
YTD for 2021: 85 Referrals Received - 58% are from inside the schools:
Highlights:
60% of youth served have at least one mental health diagnosis
79% of youth served do not have a father in the home
72% of youth served have a parent currently in the home with a criminal history
Number of 1:1 behavior focused appointments: 1,065
Home visits: 927
School visits: 1,062
Youth Intervention Specialists conducted the following in 2019 for youth receiving case
management services:
82% of youth enrolled in Elements worked on their individual goals set while they
were enrolled in the program
73% of youth enrolled in Elements showed improvements in social skills and in
making positive peer choices
82% of youth enrolled in Elements continued without charges and/or did not receive
additional charges while enrolled in the program
52% of parents of youth enrolled, reported progress shown while youth was enrolled
in the program
73% of youth enrolled in Elements either improved their school behavior or
maintained their already good behavior in school
27% of youth enrolled continued to display negative behaviors in school
34% of youth enrolled in Elements improved their grades while enrolled in the
program
61% of youth enrolled, maintained their current grades
5% of youth enrolled in Elements showed a decrease in their grades from the time of
enrollment
In response to Board questions, Ms. Williams explained that the program overlaps on an as needed basis
with TGFV and other services and there is always a waitlist for the program. Being able to expand the program would
help get rid of the waitlist. Juvenile Justice sends students over and a lot of those students are high schoolers. These
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issues need to be addressed at an earlier age because students fall through the cracks around 10 grade. A high
school program would also look a little bit different as it will be to prepare high school students for the next stage in
life so that they do not fall to the streets. Deputy County Manager Burgess stated that this will be part of the package
that comes to the Board in January to address community violence.
Chair Olson-Boseman thanked Ms. Williams for the presentation.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, DECEMBER 2, 2021 PAGE 278
Oak Grove Cemetery Trail Update by Tara Duckworth. Parks and Gardens Director Tara Duckworth
presented the following information:
Oak Grove Cemetery Trail:
History of Parcel:
Located along east side of South 17th Street from Marsteller to Martin Street
Oak Grove Cemetery was used between 1870 and the early 1960s as a burial ground
New South Associates, Inc. completed a systematic surface and subsurface survey of the
project area to determine if this area contained unmarked graves:
Lighting and Surfacing:
MOU with City of Wilmington (City):
City Responsibilities:
Installation, maintenance, and repairs to sidewalk and pavement
Installation, maintenance, and repairs to all lighting components
NHC Responsibilities:
Grounds maintenance and general upkeep of parcel
Design, installation, and maintenance of historical signage
In response to Board questions, Ms. Duckworth stated that the city will be responsible for the crosswalks
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and believes those will be signalized crossings which will be part of the 17 Street Project. Regarding the homeless
population, Ms. Duckworth stated that her department is starting to make cohesive connections with other
departments and are really trying to make some positive change to help homeless people staff finds on the property
the department manages. The sidewalk itself will be traditional in size and Ms. Duckworth provided an overview of
where it will be located on the parcel.
Chair Olson-Boseman thanked Ms. Duckworth for the presentation.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chair Olson-Boseman adjourned the meeting at 4:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kymberleigh G. Crowell
Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting.