Town of Hertford  Work Session Meeting (In Person/Facebook) Monday, January 22, 2024 - 6:00PM Horace Reid Community Center, 305 W Grubb Street  The Council of the Town of Hertford held a Work Session Meeting at the Horace Reid Community Center (also by Facebook) on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM.  COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT Ashley Hodges, Mayor Rhonda Waters  Sandra Anderson, Mayor Pro Tem  Keith Rouse  COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT Connie Brothers STAFF PRESENT  Janice McKenzie Cole, Town Manager Doris Walton, Assistant to the Town Manager David Forsythe, Public Works Director Gina Durante, Town Clerk A quorum was present. CALL TO ORDER  Mayor Hodges called the meeting to order. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  The invocation was given by Councilman Rouse, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Ar motion was made by Counciwoman Waters to approve the agenda. Mayor Pro Tem  Anderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 4-0.  SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT  Eric Thomas, Assistant Director for Design & Revitalization Development Finance Initiative, and Rebecca Nixon, Data Analyst, both from the UNC School of Government.  January 22, 2024 Work: Session Minutes    Manager Cole noted that Council had previously authorized and approved the Town to work with the UCSOG Development Finance Initiative to do a financial feasibility study for development at the West Grubb Street spray field. Manager Cole, Public Works Director David Forsythe, and Assistant Doris Walton have met regularly with Eric, Rebecca, and Maggie of the SOG regarding this study for 5-6 months. Mr. Thomas explained that the assessment he is presenting is based on market analysis, financial project feasibility from a private developer perspective, public interest, capital market lending conditions, conversations with Council and stakeholders, reviewing Hertford's Strategic Plan, and Town's considerations of development of this  property.  Some of the presentation highlights include:  There is limited space in Town boundaries for development of single Median housing prices have increased 41% from 2016-2021. Int the last five years, home ownership has increased.  family housing.  Projected demand for more single family housing in Hertford over the next The spray field is owned by the Town even though parts ofi it are outside Based on the DFI assessment, single family housing and open space is There are no contamination concerns for the redevelopment of the spray Aconnection to the Town infrastructure is necessary to attract developers. Various formulas for development costs, profit margins, and price points Affordable Housing for this site will require significant gap funding.  five years. Town boundaries.  best opportunity for the use of the spray field.  field.  were presented.  Council and Manager Cole discussed the need and their support for new housing in Town to grow the tax base. The spray field may not be the right location to build Affordable Housing, but development of the West Grubb Street location is still desirable for the Town. The 300 block of Market Street may be a better option for Affordable Housing and the infrastructure is already in place. There is a need to manage growth and recruit developers. Current Town grants do not include expanding our infrastructure, but we can look for grants for that purpose.  Mr. Thomas closed by informing Council that the SOG will answer any further questions that might arise, including legal questions, free of charge. Mayor Hodges thanked Mr. Thomas and Ms. Nixon for the informative presentation and all the number crunching  that went into it.  CONTINUED BUSINESS  January 22, 2024 Work: Session Minutes  2    None  MANAGER'S UPDATE  Manager Cole stated that there was a meeting with Habitat for Humanity, but Manager Cole discussed murals around town promoting our brand Cultivating the Arts." Electric Cities has awarded Hertford a grant to be used for a mural on the Gunther building and a sculpture at the Chamber of Commerce. The Perquimans Art League has also received grants. PAL approached Seeds of Success to contribute to a mural at the Community Center. The PAL grants require a match and minority input. A retired teacher from Elizabeth City will assist them with the drawing for that mural. With Council's approval, Manager Cole will oversee what is put on the Community Center as it is owned by the Town. Council came to a consensus to approve Seeds of Success to proceed The Board of Elections is open at their new location. Early voting for the statewide primary election begins February 15, 2024, at: 333 Winfall Blvd. IDs are required. Manager Cole will be providing more information in the next utility  nothing notable to report.  with their grant application.  newsletter.  COUNCIL'SREPORISICONCERNS Councilwoman Waters had no report.  Mayor Pro Tem Anderson announced that on February 10, 2024, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will be celebrating their Founder's Day in Hertford. Lillie and Beulah Burke, sisters born in Hertford, were two of the nine founding members of the original Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1908. The event will take place from 12 PM-2F PM. A heated tent will be set up at King Street and Edenton Road Street at the historical markers commemorating the Burke sisters where the sorority will convene, and lunch will be served. Mayor Hodges will welcome AKA to Hertford. Business owners will be  encouraged to stay open following the event. Councilman Rouse had no report.  Mayor Hodges reported that on January 19th, Withers Ravenel, our infrastructure engineering contractor, prepared a BBQ lunch for the Town of Hertford staff because we are one of their top three clients in North Carolina. Also on January 19th, Mayor Hodges and Manager Cole met with Chris Hardy, our Regional Representative from Congressman Don Davis's office. Mr. Hardy was available to speak with Hertford residents and did meet with some. He and Manager Cole spoke with Mr. Hardy about Representative Davis's legislative priorities and the process for requesting funding  January 22, 2024 Work Session Minutes  3    through Congressionally directed funding requests. It was a positive conversation with Mr. Hardy and Mayor Hodges looks forward to a future visit with Representative Davis. Also, Mayor Hodges and Manager Cole visited the Marine Park construction site, and he noted that there has been a great deal of progress. Mayor Hodges and Manager Cole were present when County Manager Heath discussed the number of commercial business sites to be developed there with representatives from Senator Tillis's and Senator Budd's offices. Lastly, Mayor Hodges thanked Perquimans NAACP and First Baptist Church and Congregation for welcoming Council to their services honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 15th. It was a wonderful  celebration.  ANNOUNCEMENTS None ADJOURNMENT  Councilman Rouse made a motion to adjourn, and Mayor Pro Tem Anderson seconded.  The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.  January 22, 2024 Work Session Minutes  4