SANFORD CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Tuesday, March 12, 2024 West End Conference Room 225 East Weatherspoon Street, Sanford, NC  The City Council held a work session on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in the West End  Conference Room at City Hall. The following people were present:  Mayor Rebecca Salmon Council Member Byron Buckels Council Member Walter Ferguson Council Member Charles Taylor City Manager Hal Hegwer City Clerk Bonnie Davis Call to Order  Mayor Pro Tem Mark Akinosho Council Member. Jean Dabbs Council Member Linda Rhodes Council Member. James Williams City Attorney Susan Patterson Deputy City Clerk Vicki Cannady  Mayor Salmon called the meeting to order.  Parks Master Plan Update (Exhibit A)  Parks Administrator Nick Fortune explained that staff is working to finalize the City of Sanford 2024 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan. Mr. Fortune reviewed why the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan was needed; highlights of the six segments of the ten-year plan, including the fact that it helps us qualify for State and Federal funding opportunities; trends; inventory analysis; maintenance and operations and the level of service analysis. He reviewed the summary of findings and noted that many of our citizens' demands for parks and related services are not being fulfilled. He reviewed the contents of the plan, the comprehensive park planning purpose context, community context, the previous plan assessment, demographics and trends as described in Exhibit A. He explained that this comprehensive parks and recreation master plan will define the role that the park and recreation system will play in the future of the City of Sanford, while evolving to meet emerging recreation trends. He explained that the master plan will also serve as a resource for officials, as well as the public, to understand the current state oft the parks and recreation system and goals outlined in the plan to strengthen existing assets and make improvements. The plan will present city-wide demographic analysis to draw conclusions about current and future recreation trends and participation levels. Mr. Fortune noted that Sanford provides several neighborhood parks with plentiful open space for recreation, which exists primarily at Kiwanis Family Park and Depot Park. He reviewed survey findings on what amenities our citizens want from our parks, greenways and trails. As Sanford continues to growa and evolve, its dedication to providing accessible and high-quality parks and recreation opportunities continues to be a core element ofc community growth and well-being. Mr. Fortune noted that the Sanford community supports the City's existing parks and recreational activities and new residents may expect more from Sanford than it currently provides. He reviewed recommendations and guiding principles, including improvement of our existing parks and a recommendation to implement design standards by working with the Planning Department  throughout the process, particularly with: new developments.  Parks Advisory Committee members who attended the meeting included Chad Spivey (Committee Chair), John Dean, and Bob Bridwell. Mr. Spivey pointed out that many young people who move away see amenities in other areas and want them to be available in Sanford. He encouraged Council to support the parks, expand the greenway system and green spaces, and provide the funding needed to do SO, and thanked Council members for the support they have provided in the past. John Dean noted that economic development site selection is often connected to park services and amenities and we: are falling behind many nearby communities and encouraged Council to implement some oft the recommendations in the Parks and    Sanford City Council Work Session March 12, 2024  Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan, even if they are done incrementally. Bob Bridwell commented that executing a plan, not just developing one, is critical to success, which certainly applies to the parks system. He suggested that we will soon see exponential growth and we should plan for it and provide  amenities to serve it.  Council Member Taylor commented that some towns have implemented ai fee per household tol help fund parks and suggested that new developments could help fund newj park amenities. Mayor Salmon asked if new developments that have greenways would be incorporated into the City system. Community Development Director Marshall Downey replied that this would entail a more complex issue. The new  Unified Development Ordinance will address greenway plans.  Council Member Buckels mentioned that Horton Park doesn't have good connectivity nor sidewalks. He also mentioned that we should collaborate to have more amenities at one oft them to be more  efficient.  Mayor Salmon called for ai recess at 2:25 p.m.; the meeting reconvened at 2:30 p.m.  Raleigh Executive Airport Update (Exhibit B)  Airport Director Bob Heuts presented an update of the recent infrastructure development and noted that the new hangers are occupied. Mr. Heuts described how Raleigh Executive airport has developed in recent years and how they are preparing to serve the Triangle Region for decades to come. He explained that based on data released earlier this year by the State of Aviation, Raleigh Exec was credited with $52.8 million in economic output annually and supported 430 jobs. These figures were based on data from 2021. Mr. Heuts noted that with the regional economy and local aviation only accelerating, he expects that Raleigh Exec will be developing constantly in order to accommodate current and future growth, while keeping an eye on safety. Future projects will include expanding the size of the airport to meet projected demands, while protecting the safety of future developments around the airport. He added that Raleigh Execis a first- class airport and it will be critical tot the economic success oft the region and our entire state. Itisi in an ideal location to expand and additional capacity will be desperately needed over the years and decades to come. Itisi important to economic development through the' Triangle, and will become: more essential int the coming years. Mr. Heuts pointed out that Raleigh Exec is designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as a reliever airport tol help reduce congestion at the larger commercial airports. Mr. Heuts noted that they have recently tied into the City sewer system, which has enabled them to have a greater ability to add more hangers and to grow. He added that Raleigh Exec currently has 216 based aircraft and they are number one in North Carolina in based aircraft. They are continuously receiving calls from people who want to move from area airports to Raleigh Exec Jetport, as well as people moving into this area. Raleigh Exec is a premier corporate gateway to the Research Triangle and it serves corporate and recreational flights in a region of central North Carolina that includes Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Sanford and Research Triangle Park. He noted that approximate 600 acres are now being added to Raleigh Exec's original 700- acre site, which will provide more space for airport development and will maintain safety in and around the airport. Mr. Heuts reviewed a site map and a site plan of the Raleigh Exec Airport, and other pertinent information included in Exhibit B. He thanked Council and other community leaders for their support of Brick Capital Community Development Corporation Housing Counseling Update (Exhibit C) Kerry Bashaw explained that Brick Capital entered into a services agreement last year to provide the City of Sanford with an affordable housing program, consisting of education, housing assistance, housing development and supportive services to persons oflow-to-moderate income to achieve the goal of  the airport.  2    Sanford City Council Work Session March 12,2024  home ownership. Brick Capital works to identify and counsel eligible persons on financial and credit matters and applying for bank financing and down payment assistance. Mr. Bashaw reviewed the report that they submitted to U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Development as described inl Exhibit C. He also noted that Brick Capital is looking for additional lots to purchase sO they can build more homes to assist with affordable housing in our community as described in Exhibit C. Mr. Bashaw thanked Council  for the partnership they have with Brick Capital. Brick Capital Purchase ofl Redevelopment Lots This item was removed from the agenda. This item was removed from the agenda.  System Development Fee and Utility Tap Connection Fee Grant Policy Application for Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant  Assistant to the City Manager Holly Marosites reported that staff has been made aware ofanother grant opportunity for the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace, which is the Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant that is through the Rural Economic Development Division of North Carolina Department of Commerce. This grant is due April 1, 2024 sO if Council is interested, staff will quickly move toward submitting the application. The purpose of the grant is to support downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives. Staffisi interested inj pursuing this grant as a way to address funding gaps. She informed Council that this would tie into jobs and the amount per job is $12,500. She and Lee County Cooperative Extension Director Bill Stone are working with Lindsey at the Central Pines Regional Council to explore this opportunity and they should have some questions answered later this week on how the Department of Commerce will viewj job creation or retention related to the. jobs we need. She said the  maximum they could apply fori is $850,000  Consensus of Council was for staff to move forward with pursuing this grant opportunity. Ms. Marosites informed Council that this action will require a Resolution of Support which will be on the next  City Council agenda.  Holly Marosites added that staff applied for another grant last week with the assistance of Central Pines Regional Council on Governments, which is through North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund, in the amount of approximately $400,000 to expand the Farmers Market project to allow an additional eleven to twelve vendor spaces. Council Member Taylor asked Ms. Marosites ifstaffhad considered using Lexipol, as software service for grants opportunities. Holly Marosites noted that they would explore this program; however, Central Pines Regional Council also sends information on grant opportunities and that they met  quarterly to discuss ongoing projects.  Other Business  Community Development Director Karen Kennedy gave an update ont the Outreach Mission Shelter. They have rebid the project and have received three bids which were lower than the previous bids and they will soon award the bid to a contractor and they are projecting a groundbreaking on May 1, 2024. The committed funding they have inj place right nowi is $4.41 million. Assistant City Manager Beth Kelly stated that the City's commitment is $315,000 for operational purposes. Our commitment along with Lee County'sc commitment, are from ARPA enabled funding. Mayor Salmon added that there had been lots of  private donations.  3    Sanford City Council Work Session March 12,2024 Closed Session  Council Member Rhodes made a motion to go into closed session in accordance withl N.C.G.S.143- 318.11(a)(3), to consult with an attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege. Seconded by  Council Member Taylor, the motion carried unanimously. Return to Regular Session and Adjournment  Council Member Dabbs made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Akinosho, the  motion carried unanimously.  ALL EXHIBITS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE  AND MADE. A PART OF THESE MINUTES.  Rebecca WyhoffS.lmd/Mayor  CR  Attest:  aiDais Bonriel Davis, City Clerk  4