2023-04-27 Budget Work Session & Agenda Review
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
BUDGET WORK SESSION AND AGENDA REVIEW, APRIL 27, 2023 PAGE 733
Roof replacements
HVAC chiller/boiler needs, exterior waterproofing, gas, and electronic control
replacements
In response to Board questions about salary increases for CFCC, County Manager Coudriet stated there is
an increase at the administrative level, but the County does not fund salary increases at the instructional level. He
believes there is an increase in supplemental funding for the instructional level, but not specifically for instructor
salaries. As to the debt service on the Bank of America building, there may only be an interest payment in FY24
depending on when the bonds are issued. The actual cost of the debt service will be budgeted starting in FY25.
Escrows:
Mental Health and Substance Use fund FY24 estimated spending plan:
Total FY24 estimated spending = $5.3 million ($3.7 million on Robin Hood property and $1.6
million on programs)
Mental Health and Substance Use fund projections:
In response to Board questions regarding funding for the Robin Hood property, Mr. Credle stated that the
total project cost is $6.1 million with funding coming from RHA Health and Leading Into New Communities (LINC), as
well as funding coming from the escrow that was set up specifically for mental health and substance use purposes.
Chief Facilities Officer Sara Warmuth confirmed that the facility is approximately 13,000 square feet.
Revenue Stabilization Fund projections:
Community Building:
FY24 Community Building funding plan:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
BUDGET WORK SESSION AND AGENDA REVIEW, APRIL 27, 2023 PAGE 734
FY24 Community Building expenditures = $20.5 million
Discussion ensued regarding the various Community Building expenditures. Regarding Port City United
(PCU) Connect, the funding comes from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through June 2024. The County will
then need to absorb the cost of the program if it is the will of the Board. Regarding the Northside Grocery Store, the
total cost of the project is $7.3 million. Staff is hopeful that the County can offset the debt issuance based on its
ability to encourage other parties to participate in the funding. The plan is to construct a 6,000 to 8,000 square foot
building. Seven Roots Group is working on the schematic design for the grocery store which should be received
within the next quarter. Due to the timing being before the budget is adopted, the County has assumed the full
amount of debt for the grocery store. As the County will not be issuing debt until around this time next year, the
Board will be asked to modify the debt issuance based on how much private money is raised. Ms. Warmuth gave a
brief update on the status of the project, specifically regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and
schematic design. The MOU and schematic design will be available for review by July 2023.
Discussion ensued regarding the nonprofit capacity building which is a $1.2 million annual investment for
the nonprofits to work in the space of at-risk youth and trying to help solve the problems that are there. Assuming
the Board remains committed, the $1.2 million will be in the FY24 budget. Assistant County Manager Tufanna Bradley
provided examples of how the funds go back into the community through organizations such as Voyage,
Communities in Schools, and PCU Connect. The County partnered with the United Way to score and approve the
grants. Although the United Way scored and approved the grants, the County signed off on the grants. A brief
discussion ensued as to whether the County should have a seat at the table when making the grant determinations.
ARP Planning:
American Rescue Plan- sunsetting – summary:
American Rescue Plan – sunsetting:
Summary:
General Fund: $461 million spending plan, no tax rate change recommended
New Hanover County Schools: No change in ADM rate, capital increase
Recycling and Solid Waste: No change in tip fee
Fire Rescue: No change in the 7.25 cents tax rate
Stormwater Services: No change in $5.65 per ERU per month
American Rescue Plan Act: $1.6 million in programs sunsetting FY23
Community Building: $7.5 million in escrow planned for FY24
Mental Health and Substance Use: $5.3 million year 1 estimate
Next steps:
Manager’s recommendation – May 15, 2023:
Includes Non-County Agency Funding Committee recommendation
Public Hearing: June 5, 2023
Budget adoption: June 5 or June 19, 2023
DISCUSSION OF MAY 1, 2023 AGENDA ITEMS
The Board reviewed and discussed the agenda items for the May 1, 2023 Regular Meeting as noted:
Consent Agenda Items. No items were discussed.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
BUDGET WORK SESSION AND AGENDA REVIEW, APRIL 27, 2023 PAGE 735
Regular Item #9: Rezoning Request (Z23-03) – Request by James Yopp with River Road Construction, LLC
and Hoosier Daddy, LLC, applicant and property owner, to rezone 29 parcels totaling approximately 42.10 acres
of land, including 5741 Carolina Beach Road and 18 unaddressed parcels on Shiloh Drive north of Manassas Drive,
from R-15, Residential to (CZD) R-5, Residential Moderate High Density for 10 single-family residential lots and
327 residential townhomes with associated open space and amenity center. County Manager Coudriet stated that
the applicant has requested a second continuance of the matter. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the initial
continuance request. Planning and Land Use Director Rebekah Roth confirmed that the second request to continue
came before Commissioner Scalise was appointed. It is her understanding that Mr. Yopp is considering the possibility
of providing additional information regarding bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in the area. The proposed roadway
would not trigger the need for a new application. There is no awareness of whether Mr. Yopp is planning to change
the plan, but what the staff has heard is that there may be things Mr. Yopp would be willing to offer as conditions
of approval if the Board would like to entertain those things. Staff did speak with Mr. Yopp the day prior to
Commissioner Scalise being identified as the potential appointee, at which time he was about to go out of town, and
he knew he would not have an opportunity to reach out to Commissioner Scalise if he were appointed the next
week. A brief discussion ensued regarding how to better serve the citizens to avoid them wasting a trip only for the
case to be continued again. Senior Planner Robert Farrell confirmed that no changes have been submitted since the
initial application was made. After further discussion, the consensus of the Board was to not grant the continuance
and proceed with hearing the matter on Monday.
Regular Item #12: Rezoning Request (Z23-06) – Request by Cindee Wolf with Design Solutions, applicant,
on behalf of Giovanni Ippolito and Tanya Vlacancich, property owners, to rezone approximately 4.65 acres of land
located at 6634 Carolina Beach Road from R-15, Residential to (CZD) RMF-M, Residential Multi-Family – Moderate
Density for a maximum 64-unit multi-family development. In response to Board questions regarding the different
traffic counts provided in the staff report, Mr. Farrell stated that both counts are correct. The area in the apartment
project is from a stretch of road that is in the Myrtle Grove intersection area. Traveling further north towards the
other uses is a different segment of roads which was measured by the North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) and the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO). Staff can go back and find what those
average links tend to be and if there is an average standard length of segments. The number of units for the
application has been reduced from the previous application. A traffic impact analysis (TIA) was not required as there
are less than 100 peak hour trips. Ms. Roth explained the traffic counts, as explained to her by the WMPO, and how
the estimated traffic generation numbers cannot be added to an annual average daily traffic number to produce an
actual number that makes sense. Part of what is provided as the average annual daily traffic is an aggregate number
that is taken to show what is the typical traffic. The WMPO and NCDOT believe that number is not intentionally
representative of peak summer trips, which is what the residents tend to be most concerned about. Part of the
reason they do this is because of how the numbers are used to inform their decisions about when roadways need
to be improved. The data being provided was compiled for other purposes while trying to maneuver it into
something that answers questions from a planning perspective. The WMPO has agreed to take summer counts, but
that information is not currently available.
In response to Board questions about the project, Mr. Farrell stated that there are 128 proposed parking
spaces, which is two spaces per unit. The buildings have been reduced in height to two stories. The 2016
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Comprehensive Plan) classifies the proposed rezoning as medium density. The
Planning Board shared some of the same concerns as the Board about the project but unanimously recommended
approval after the applicant added conditions which reduced the number of units. A brief discussion ensued
regarding the conditions for approval. County Manager Coudriet stated that the Board will be in this position with
projects like this until a new Comprehensive Plan is adopted. A brief discussion ensued regarding how the
Comprehensive Plan factors into rezoning requests.
Regular Item #15: Consideration of Revised Appointments of County Commissioners to Various Boards
and Committees for 2023. The consensus of the Board was to appoint Commissioner Scalise to fill the vacancies on
the various boards and committees created by the passing of Deb Hays. Clerk Crowell will update the list and place
it on the consent agenda for the regular meeting.
STAFF UPDATES
Strategic Plan Update. Chief Strategy Officer Jennifer Rigby provided the following update:
Context map: Workforce and Economic Development:
Themes: Developing people and workers, supporting businesses to grow (and lead?), and
meeting infrastructure needs (water, sewer, fiber, optic, airport, port, etc.)
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
BUDGET WORK SESSION AND AGENDA REVIEW, APRIL 27, 2023 PAGE 736
Desired outcomes:
Residents are provided equitable opportunities to connect to education and high skilled
employment
The needs of businesses are met at the speed of business
Infrastructure drives regional economic growth
Context map: Growth, Development, and Environmental Stewardship:
Themes: Deliberately planned urban community, quality of life amenities – rich in cultural
resources, and recognizing and respecting environmental features
Desired outcomes:
Through organized growth, residents have access to their immediate needs
Cultural amenities that make us unique are safeguarded
Critical and sensitive environmental features are protected
Context map: Community Safety and Wellbeing:
Themes: Individuals physical healthy outcomes, built environment’s impact on health and
wellbeing, and mental wellbeing through connections, sense of community and relationships
Desired outcomes:
Residents have access to services that support their physical health and mental well-being
Our developed environment supports a life that mitigates health risk
Residents feel safe, supported, and connected to their community through diverse
services
Next steps:
Clarify and confirm: Board of Commissioners Agenda Review on April 27, 2023
Strategic objectives: Board of Commissioners Agenda Review on May 11, 2023
Measures and targets: Board of Commissioners Agenda Review on June 1, 2023
Final plan: Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting on July 17, 2023
In response to Board questions regarding meetings to build the strategic plan, Ms. Rigby provided an update
on the timeline for staff to conduct meetings with both the department heads and community partners.
Commissioners expressed their desire that the plan reflect the organization.
Chair Rivenbark thanked Ms. Rigby for the update.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Chair Rivenbark adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kymberleigh G. Crowell
Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting. The entire proceedings
are available online at www.nhcgov.com.