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2022-05-12 Agenda Review NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, MAY 12, 2022 PAGE 431 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for Agenda Review on Thursday, May 12, 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 May 16, 2022 Regular Meeting with discussions as noted: Consent Agenda Item #3: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Bid Award and Contract for Recycling Transportation Services. In response to Board questions, Environmental Management Director Joe Suleyman explained that there is no impact to the budget if the Board approves the bid award. Consent Agenda Item #4: Adoption of Resolution - Designation of Applicant's Agent for Annual Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs, Hurricane Florence, Tropical Storm Michael, Hurricane Dorian, Covid-19, Hurricane Isaias, and Tropical Storm Eta. In response to Board questions, Interim Chief Financial Officer Martha Wayne stated that the resolution authorizes the staff who may act on behalf of the County. Due to recent changes in staff, the resolution is needed. Consent Agenda Item #5: Authorization of Family Support Case Manager Positions and Adoption of Budget Amendment. In response to Board questions, County Manager Coudriet stated that the City of Wilmington (City) was not asked to participate as part of the request as the case management is historically a County function. It is a program that is best administered with County oversight. It will help the families who have been displaced, many of which are also customers of the County, but they have more complicated case management needs. Discussion ensued regarding the financial hardships of the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA). County Manager Coudriet stated that he believes that the WHA staff are very aware and appreciative of the County’s assistance over the past several months, including advocacy and support for this recommendation. Consent Agenda Item #7: Adoption of Budget Amendments. In response to Board questions, Ms. Wayne confirmed that budget amendment (BA) 22-047 closes the books on Cape Fear Community College’s $164 million bond project fund. County Manager Coudriet added that payments are still being made on the bonds. Regarding BA 22-073, County Manager Coudriet stated that based on the final rules for stormwater activities, staff feels the better course is to use the funds as replacement for lost revenue. It is an accounting maneuver, not about having been non- compliant with the federal rules. Regular Agenda Item #9: Trillium Health Resources Annual Report. Staff reported that the item has been removed from the agenda at the request of Dennis Williams, Southern Regional Director with Trillium Health Resources. The presentation will be rescheduled for a later date. Regular Agenda Item #11: Presentation of FY22-23 Recommended Budget and FY23-27 Capital Improvement Plan. County Manager Coudriet stated that Assistant County Manager Lisa Wurtzbacher, Budget Officer Michelle Daniels, and he will be able to answer any questions the Board might have during the May 16, 2022 meeting. Ms. Wurtzbacher sent the Board a summary of what is in the proposed budget and includes a recommendation for a two-cent tax rate reduction. Brief discussion ensued about the request from the New Hanover County Board of Education (BOE). County Manager Coudriet stated that staff has made a recommendation of $3,434 per student in operating expense and a capital appropriation of $4.7 million. He advised that the best time for an in-depth discussion about the request from the BOE is during Monday’s presentation. If the Board so desires, staff can also schedule another budget work session and ask the superintendent to attend. In response to Board questions regarding capital funding for Brogden Hall, County Manager Coudriet noted the Board can appropriate capital by project, but the County is meeting the BOE on the ask on capital. Regarding the operating appropriation, County Manager Coudriet stated that the BOE can choose to use the average daily membership (ADM) to pay classified or non-classified employees more as it becomes their money except when the Board appropriates in purpose and function. The BOE has honored the Board’s expectation to have at least a $9,000 average teacher supplement. The County staff recommendation does not include money for an increase in compensation for state employees as their request would have their new employees coming in at a higher salary than the County’s employees. The ADM rate for New Hanover County is still in the top 10% of counties statewide and the teacher supplement is among the highest, if not still the highest in North Carolina. Regular Agenda Item #12: 2022 Third Quarter Financial Results. In response to Board questions, Ms. Wayne stated that the stormwater fee collections are higher than budgeted. For this fiscal year funds will be transferred from the fund balance to stormwater as the program was funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as well as fees for services. Any revenue collected over what is needed will stay with the stormwater fund. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, MAY 12, 2022 PAGE 432 STAFF UPDATE Overview Presentation of the Poverty Reduction Report. Chief Diversity and Equity Officer Linda Thompson provided the following update:  New Hanover County Poverty Reduction Task Force:  The 2020 poverty rate for New Hanover County:  14% across New Hanover County  33% African Americans/Black  23% Hispanic  New Hanover County Poverty Reduction Task Force:  28 members  Met for six months  Task Force creation:  Six New Hanover County residents shared their experiences of living in poverty in this area. The testimonials included information about drug addiction, incarceration, mental illness, homelessness, education, unemployment, and citizenship.  Areas of significant concern: food and nutrition, housing, education, crime, healthcare, transportation, and employment.  Data and strategies:  Throughout the report highlighted are key data points for each focus area obtained from community resource partners, state and federal online data sources and recommended a total of 65 strategies to address poverty in New Hanover County.  Strategies already underway:  Port City United  Pandemic Ops Center  Northside Grocery Store  College Tuition Assistance  Supporting a local boarding school  Expanding Pre-K classrooms  Small business grants  Adopted the Economic Mobility Report  Expanding Transportation services A brief discussion ensued regarding data from the 2020 Census and the lack of confidence in those numbers. In response to Board questions, the task force was made up of a diverse group of community members, including a representative of the Latino community. Chair Olson-Boseman thanked Ms. Thompson for the update. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chair Olson-Boseman adjourned the meeting at 5:07 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.