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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-04 Regular Meeting NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 37 MAY 4,2026 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 6 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met on May 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in Regular Session in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street,Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present:Chair LeAnn Pierce;Vice Chair Dane Scalise;Commissioner Bill Rivenbark;Commissioner Stephanie A.C.Walker;and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; Clerk to the Board Kymberleigh G. Crowell; and County Attorney K.Jordan Smith. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Reverend Dr. Charlrean Mapson, Price Cathedral AME Zion Church, provided the invocation, and Commissioner Zapple led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Chair Pierce requested a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. MOTION:Commissioner Walker MOVED,SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple to approve the Consent Agenda items as presented. Upon vote,the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Minutes—Governing Body The Board approved the minutes of the April 16, 2026 Agenda Review and the April 20, 2026 Regular Meeting. Approval of the Order of Approval for Special Use Permit(526-01)—County Attorney The Board approved the order for Special Use Permit (S26-01) in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 160D-406.The quasi-judicial hearing was conducted and voted on April 6, 2026. The order approving Special Use Permit (S26-01) is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and the listing of the findings of fact is contained in SUP Book V, Page 3. Adoption of Foster Care Awareness Month Proclamation—Health and Human Services—Social Services The Board adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as "Foster Care Awareness Month" in New Hanover County. The proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.1. Adoption of Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation—Health and Human Services The Board adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in New Hanover County. The proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.2. Adoption of Older Americans Month Proclamation—Senior Resource Center The Board adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as "Older Americans Month" in New Hanover County. The proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.3. Approval of the March 2026 Tax Collection Reports—Tax The Board approved the March 2026 tax collection reports for New Hanover County, New Hanover County Debt Service, and New Hanover County Fire District. The tax collection reports are hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.4. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS OF BUSINESS CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON Chair Pierce read the resolution into the record and asked for a motion to adopt the resolution. MOTION: Commissioner Rivenbark MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Walker to adopt the resolution as presented. Upon vote,the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 37 MAY 4,2026 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 7 Chair Pierce invited UNCW Chancellor Volety to make remarks. Chancellor Volety thanked the Board for its continued collaboration with UNCW and stated that the region faces a severe healthcare shortage. He stated that the proposed medical school builds on UNCW's long-standing healthcare programs and would include both a traditional four-year pathway and an accelerated three-year option to reduce debt and move physicians into practice more quickly.He also stated that UNCW would rely on partnerships with hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and clinics for clinical placements and residencies, with an initial focus on primary care specialties. He further stated that training and residency in the same region significantly improve physician retention and expressed confidence that UNCW could attract strong applicants. He also emphasized that the proposed medical school would provide substantial economic benefit in addition to helping address the region's healthcare shortage. The Board expressed support for the proposed medical school and thanked Chancellor Volety and the partners involved in advancing the initiative.In response to questions about the potential location,Chancellor Volety stated that the medical school would be located on UNCW's campus, with the clinical practice portions located nearby. The resolution is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.5. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF GREATER WILMINGTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME WEEKEND PROCLAMATION Commissioner Rivenbark read the proclamation into the record recognizing May 15-17, 2026, as "Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame Weekend"in New Hanover County. Louise McColl,Chair of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, and Coach Fred Lunch were invited to make remarks. Ms. McColl, on behalf of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, expressed appreciation for the proclamation and provided an overview of the schedule of events for May 15-17, 2026. She also stated that the organization has awarded 64 scholarships and explained that each inductee selects a high school,which then selects a student to receive a$2,500 scholarship to the college of the student's choice in that inductee's honor.Coach Fred Lynch stated his appreciation for being selected as one of the inductees. The Board commended Ms. McColl and the organization for their work. Hearing no further discussion, Chair Pierce asked for Board direction. MOTION: Chair Pierce MOVED,SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple to adopt the proclamation as presented. Upon vote,the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.6. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF NATIONAL TREATMENT COURT MONTH PROCLAMATION Commissioner Walker read the proclamation into the record,recognizing May 2026 as"National Treatment Court Month" in New Hanover County. She then invited The Honorable James H. Faison, III, District Court Judge,to make remarks. Judge Faison,on behalf of the District Court Judges of Judicial District 6,thanked the Board for considering the proclamation and stated that treatment courts save lives and tax dollars. He expressed appreciation for the County's continued support and noted that the County stepped in to fund the program after the state defunded treatment courts in 2011.The Community Recovery Court, which has operated in New Hanover County for nearly 30 years,served 53 individuals last year,while Community Empowerment Court and Veterans Treatment Court each served 13.Judge Faison also stated that, from his perspective as chair of North Carolina's Managed Accountability and Recovery Courts, New Hanover County has one of the strongest treatment court programs in the state because it provides both core services and wraparound support. The Board thanked Judge Faison and the District Court Judges for their work. Hearing no further discussion, Chair Pierce asked for Board direction. MOTION: Chair Piece MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Walker to adopt the proclamation as presented. Upon vote,the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.7. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK AND 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF CAPE FEAR SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON PROCLAMATION Commissioner Zapple read the proclamation into the record, recognizing May 16-22, 2026, as "National Safe Boating Week" and June 6, 2026, as "Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron Day" in honor of the organization's 75th anniversary. He then invited David Parker,Safety Officer,Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron to make remarks. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 37 MAY 4,2026 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 8 Mr. Parker expressed appreciation to the Board for considering the proclamation. He reported that North Carolina has approximately 346,000 boats, many of them in the coastal region, and that there were 142 boating accidents and 13 deaths statewide last year. He noted that 65%of those deaths involved operators with no boating education or training and that 90% of those who drowned in those accidents were not wearing life jackets. He compared life jackets to seatbelts and stated that boaters should wear them before an accident occurs.He concluded by thanking the Board for again recognizing the organization and its longstanding boating safety efforts. The Board thanked Mr. Parker and the organization for their continued dedication and work to teach boating safety. Hearing no further discussion, Chair Pierce asked for Board direction. MOTION: Commissioner Walker MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple to adopt the proclamation as presented. Upon vote,the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.8. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF NATIONAL BIKE MONTH PROCLAMATION Vice Chair Scalise read the proclamation into the record, recognizing May 2026 as "National Bike Month" in New Hanover County. He then invited Carolyn Caggia,Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization Associate Transportation Planner/TDM Coordinator to make remarks. Ms. Caggia thanked the Board for considering the proclamation and stated that bicycling is a legitimate form of transportation. The recognition also underscores the importance of safety for all roadway users. She reported that Friday, May 151", is National Bike to Work Day and local events include two morning pit stops for commuters from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., one at Bijou Park in downtown Wilmington and the other at UNCW at College Road and Randall Parkway. The Board thanked Ms.Caggia and the organization for expanding the bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the County. Hearing no further discussion, Chair Pierce asked for Board direction. MOTION: Commissioner Zapple MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Walker to adopt the proclamation as presented. Upon vote,the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and contained in Exhibit Book XLVII, Page 6.9. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL FUNDING RECOMMENDATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 The Honorable Judge H.Corpening,11,stated that he serves as the chair of the New Hanover County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC)and presented an overview of the JCPC funding plan.The request is that the Board approve the allocation of$547,770 for Fiscal Year(FY) 2026-2027, as follows: • JCPC Administration: $9,900 • Youth Empowerment Services (Psychological Assessments, Counseling, and Community Service programs):$406,345 • Coastal Horizons(Systematic Training for Effective Parenting[STEP]):$39,180 • Communities in Schools(Teen Court and Mediation programs): $92,345 Judge Corpening stated that the recommendation follows the Board's April 21, 2025 approval of the same funding level for a two-year period (FY 2025-2026 and FY 2026-2027) to support community-based programs aligned with JCPC priorities, including psychological assessments, counseling, community service and restitution, teen court,substance use disorder services, and skill building. The Board thanked Judge Corpening for his work with the JCPC. Hearing no further discussion, Chair Pierce requested Board direction. MOTION: Commissioner Walker MOVED,SECONDED by Chair Pierce,to approve the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Juvenile Crime Prevention Council's funding recommendations. Upon vote,the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW HANOVER COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT PRESENTATION New Hanover Community Endowment(NHCE)Board Chair Shannon Winslow and President and CEO Sophie Dagenais provided an overview of the following information: • NHCE May 2026 report: • Our mission: Improve the health, education, safety, and economic opportunity of every person in our community NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 37 MAY 4,2026 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 9 • The stewardship of our corpus: $1.4 billion is now$1.7 billion • 2025 Grant Awards: • 2025 new grants awarded: 169 • $59.4 million (for disbursement in 2025-2027) • Historical and cumulative totals(through December 31, 2025): • Cumulative grants: 363 • Cumulative awards: $177.2 million • 2025 Annual Grants awarded by pillar: • Community Development: $15,099,795(34) • Community Safety:$14,022,281(28) • Education: $13,383,268(48) • Social and Health Equity: $16,925,749 (59) • 2026 grants financial snapshot: • As of May 1, 2026: • 2026 Grant Budget:$58 million • Prior year and 2026 year to date payment commitments: $37.4 million • 2026 Grant Budget remaining balance: $20.6 million • 2026 year to date: 54 new grant awards($16.3 million) • Community Grants program at work: • 2026 Spring cycle: • 41 organizations-$500,000 awarded: • Community Development: $133,000(10) • Community Safety:$116,600(9) • Education: $112,900(9) • Social and Health Equity: $137,500(13) • Learning to measure impact: • Measuring impact at three levels: • Grantee: Are the initiatives, programs, or strategies we fund achieving their intended goals?Using data and learnings reported by grantees to understand how investments are shaping outcomes for people, organizations, and systems they touch — who is reached, what is delivered,and what changes as a result. • Portfolio: Is our collection of investments in a specific area working together to maximize impact? Using grantee-level data and learnings to understand whether and how the mix of grants in a specific area is collectively contributing to the outcomes we are targeting. • Community: Are conditions improving for residents? Using population-level indicators, primarily drawn from county or state-level data sets, to track progress on the core community challenges the Endowment's strategy is designed to address. • Dashboard launched to track population level outcomes • Learning to inform grantmaking: • Community engagement: • Behavioral Health landscape analysis: • 60+ Stakeholder interviews across: providers, government, law enforcement, schools,and faith leaders • 6 Community listening sessions: high school students, postpartum women, caregivers,school support teams, reentry participants,and employers • 95+ Provider organizations: inventory mapped by service type, zip, and insurance acceptance • What we heard: Insights from youth and youth-serving organizations: • 43+youth-serving nonprofit organizations • 25+ government and education agencies representatives from law enforcement, schools,and county agencies • 28 youth leaders from across New Hanover County • Early childhood landscape and needs assessment for New Hanover County: • 21-60 parents/caregivers in focus groups • 7—12 interviews with direct service providers in New Hanover County • 5 interviews with direct service providers • Comprehensive assessment of recreational opportunities in New Hanover County: • 75+ongoing consultations • 1,000+during May engagement activities • Cross-cutting strategies: health, education,community safety, and community development • Expanding education-to-career pathways • Transportation • Food access: NC Department of Health and Human Services Sun Bucks Program unlocked $1.85 million in food benefits • Food delivery program coming soon to serve all eight food deserts in New Hanover County • Partnerships with the state, local governments,community organizations,and funders • Public Meeting and Board listening session: • When:Wednesday,June 3,2026, 5:30-7:30 PM (doors open at 5 PM) NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 37 MAY 4,2026 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 10 • Where: Minnie Evans Performing Arts Center • Stay connected: • Check out the latest Snapshot • Follow @theendowment social media • Subscribe to the Newsletter • www.theendowment.org • Questions? Email:communications@theendowment.org In response to questions, Ms. Dagenais stated that the NHCE is addressing capacity building by incorporating it into some grants, assessing organizational needs during grantmaking, and developing additional capacity-building opportunities. She cited current examples, including support for nonprofit membership in the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits and a partnership with Cape Fear Collective to strengthen grantees' data and reporting capacity. Hearing no further discussion, Chair Pierce thanked Ms.Winslow and Ms. Dagenais for the update. PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Pierce stated that there were no public comment speakers. ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS OF BUSINESS There were no additional items of business. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business,Chair Pierce adjourned the meeting at 5:20 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.