Loading...
2022-02-17 Agenda Review NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 2022 PAGE 332 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for Agenda Review on Thursday, February 17, 2022 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: County Manager Chris Coudriet; 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 February 21, 2022 Regular Meeting with discussions as noted: Consent Agenda Item #2: Approval to Apply for an LSTA EZ Planning Grant to Hire an Archival Management Consultant. In response to Board questions, Library Director Paige Owens stated at this point it is not conceivable to digitize before moving into the new space. Part of why the assessment is needed is due to the time and expense involved with digitization. An archival management consultant will be able to assist in prioritizing what needs to be digitized first, then for the future, and then help decide on the amount of physical space needed for the archival materials on hand. Consent Agenda Item #4: Adoption of Budget Amendments. In response to Board questions, Health and Human Services Director Donna Fayko stated that budget amendment 22-053 is to allow for capacity building funds. Once the Healthy Opportunities programs are up and running, staff will be working with billing Medicaid directly. It is believed that the revenues for the programs should support the direct expenses and at this time the billing should cover the cost of staff. County Manager Coudriet added that these are eligible expenses as part of Medicaid transformation. Medicaid transformation is approved for five years, of which Healthy Opportunities is one piece, so there will be eligible drawdowns off Medicaid for the course of the waiver. Regular Item #6: Public Hearing and Consideration of Economic Development Grant Pursuant to G.S. 158- 7.1. In response to Board questions, County Manager Coudriet confirmed the request is for approximately $1.9 million over five years which will generate approximately $85.2 million in investment, and a minimum of 1,000 new jobs, some with an average annual salary of $131,000. All the grants are performance based, so no funds are paid out until after performance is validated. Each grant is in consideration by the State of North Carolina for economic incentives and it reserves the right to make the public announcements of the companies being considered. For the public hearing, all will need to remain silent and refer to the grants as listed in the agenda package. Regular Item #7: Consideration of Board of Education Budget Amendment (#3). In response to Board questions, New Hanover County School Assistant Superintendent for Operations Eddie Anderson stated there was a savings in the technology project which will be put towards the Codington Elementary site improvements. The technology project included installing interactive boards throughout the schools. An interactive board was found that was less expensive but equal in quality. The Codington Elementary School project will help alleviate the vehicle stacking on Carolina Beach Road as well as improved access to the school, especially for parent pickup and drop-off through improvements to parking and vehicular circulation. The improvements will align drives with recent development of the property adjacent to the school, increase parking, and improve the overall efficiency of vehicular circulation on site. Regular Item #8: Presentation of School Design by New Hanover County Schools and Consideration of Grant Applications. In response to Board questions, Mr. Anderson stated that during the last agenda review he reported that this matter would be coming back to the Board with an update on the design. New Hanover County Schools Director of Facility Planning and Construction Leanne Lawrence will be making a presentation and there is also a request to approve the submission of a Needs-Based Public School Capital Funds grants for each project. The Board of Education has approved the submission of the grant applications. Ms. Lawrence confirmed that the County’s portion is approximately $33.3 million for all three projects. As to student population, Mr. Anderson stated that the daily attendance is known and the number from the preliminary projections was received from student support services, but as they are very preliminary, they will continue to be updated. There is some growth, but he will be asking for some funds in the budget to update the long-range enrollment projects as it was postponed due to the pandemic. He is also waiting to get the 2020 Census numbers. Commissioner Zapple commented that he wants to see what the actual student population numbers are before moving ahead with all three projects. He thinks there needs to be a demonstrated need in the overall student body before building new facilities. In response to Board questions, Mr. Anderson stated that the biggest need he sees in terms of facilities is updating and modernizing existing facilities. Pine Valley and Mary C. Williams need a lot of work. He thinks the student population is growing at a slower rate and staff is actually looking at where to add on and provide extra capacity. The land for RiverLights is being donated. The goal with these projects is to really look at Pre-K and not to build new schools but be more efficient in how the existing schools and sites are being used. The rate of growth the district is at now is not what it was 15 to 20 years ago. It allows for the ability to be a little more strategic in planning and again, maximize the use of existing schools and sites. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 2022 PAGE 333 In response to Board questions, County Manager Coudriet stated that if the Board approves the school district to move forward with applying for the grants it does not necessarily commit the County to $33.3 million. It would still have to be part of the Board’s budget analysis. It if is going to be capital related, he feels certain that Chief Financial Officer Lisa Wurtzbacher could borrow the funds and then it would be an annual debt. Mr. Anderson confirmed that it does not commit the Board to the obligation and if the school district is awarded the grants the County Commissioners have 60 days to accept or reject the funds. Notifications should be received about mid-April. By that time, he will also be able to provide an update on the student population. If the grants are not awarded, the school district staff will work with County staff to reassess and develop next steps. Regular Agenda Item #9: Consideration of Agreement to Purchase Property for Castle Hayne Fire Station. Fire Chief Donnie Hall stated that the property owners of the current site of the Castle Hayne Fire Station would not be extending the current lease after June 30, 2022. The County was given the option to purchase the property. Fire Services staff reassessed the efficiency of the current location to provide services and created a model of where future fire stations need to be located to provide effective service for the community. It has been determined that the current location of the Castle Hayne station is not ideal to provide effective service and the desire is to move the station further south to 4860 Castle Hayne Road. Regular Agenda Item #10: Fiscal Year 2022 Second Quarter Financial Results. Ms. Wurtzbacher reported that she will be presenting the results for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2022. Discussion of Funding Request from North Carolina Azalea Festival. A brief discussion was held about the North Carolina Azalea Festival (NCAF) funding request of $35,000 to help fund a concert for the NCAF Queen’s Coronation event. The same request was made of the Wilmington City Council. After a brief question and answer period, the Board requested that the matter be placed as an additional item on the February 21, 2022 agenda if the NCAF President and Executive Director are able to attend to present the request. GENERAL DISCUSSION Chair Olson-Boseman stated that she appreciates everyone’s work during the first budget work session and looks forward to the next one. During the next budget work session, there are members of the Board who would like to see what a five-cent property tax decrease, back to revenue neutral, looks like utilizing the funds and interest from the escrow accounts. The information is needed in order to give County Manager Coudriet and staff a more refined direction on the budget. In response to Board questions, County Manager Coudriet stated that five cents equate to approximately $24 million. STAFF UPDATE – CHEMOURS RESPONSE LETTER Chief Communications Officer Jessica Loeper reported on the Chemours response letter that was sent to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). There are several concerns about Chemours’ sampling plan for this area. It is quite different from what is in the consent order for the residents that are closer to the plant. For this area, the sampling would not take place until six months from the date that the plan is approved by DEQ. As of now, DEQ has not approved the plan for Chemours to move forward and is still under review by DEQ. As such, staff feels it is important to share feedback with DEQ during this review period. The identification of wells is quite different under the consent order versus what Chemours has proposed for this area. When they identify PFAS in a well that is north of here, they sample all the wells within a quarter mile. Chemours is going test only 200 wells even though there are approximately 20,000 permitted wells in this community. Chemours is also limiting where those wells can be by saying that if a well is further than half mile from the Cape Fear River, it does not qualify. Chemours is not considering wells more than a half mile from the Cape Fear River, saying it is based on what they know and their data, feeling that is the parameter they should provide. Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) Executive Director Ken Waldroup stated that CFPUA staff has been working with County staff to analyze the plan and in CFPUA’s opinion it is insufficient for the needs of the community. The staffs have collectively suggested a few responses on behalf of the community, including making it clear that the sampling needs to occur where known PFAS exist so it is correctly known if the water service needs to be converted to municipal water or individual treatment added. CFPUA staff is in support of County staff’s recommendations. Ms. Loeper further stated that in addition to being different in terms of how Chemours samples the wells, they are requiring this community’s residents to call to request well sampling versus what the consent order states, which is going to residents and telling them that they are going to sample their well because it is within the quarter mile radius. The burden is placed on residents to know that they potentially qualify and then call a number. Even with doing all the messaging that can be done to inform community, there is an equity gap. Chemours is also proposing to test only private wells in this community and there is no mention of public wells. The consent order is framed so that it is clear that public wells would also be included. She concluded the update by stating that it is felt that the Chemours plan is not fair nor provides what is deserved in this community. The plan is for Public Health Director David Howard to send a letter to DEQ identifying some of the key areas that are felt DEQ needs to focus on in the review of the proposal. Staff also recommends that the County Commissioners also send a letter to DEQ sharing these concerns. After a brief discussion and question and answer period, the general consensus of the Board was to have staff draft a letter to send to DEQ for Board signature during the February 21, 2022 meeting. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 2022 PAGE 334 CLOSED SESSION Chair Olson-Boseman announced a Closed Session pursuant to North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 143- 318.11(5) to instruct the public body’s staff concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in a real property matter and NCGS 143-318.11(3) to consult with attorney on a matter of potential litigation. She asked for direction from the Board. Motion: Vice-Chair Hays MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple to enter into a Closed Session pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(5) to instruct the public body’s staff concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in a real property matter and NCGS 143-318.11(3) to consult with attorney on a matter of potential litigation. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chair Olson-Boseman convened to Closed Session at 4:50 p.m. and stated that all persons not Board members or specifically designated staff are asked to leave the room. CONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION Chair Olson-Boseman called the meeting back to order at 5:09 p.m. and reported that pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(5) and 143-318.11(3) the Board has given instructions to staff concerning the real estate and potential litigation matter. No action was taken. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chair Olson-Boseman adjourned the meeting at 5:10 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.