HITEV E 1833  MINUTES  City Council Special Meeting 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, 2023 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472  The City Council Special Meeting of the City of Whiteville was called to order on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 4:30 p.m., at 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472.  1) ROLL CALL PRESENT: ABSENT:  Terry Mann, Jimmy Clarida, Helen B Holden, Vickie Pait, Kevin' Williamson, and Emory Worley  Tim Collier  Council Member Helen Holden arrived at 4:34 pm.  OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Darren Currie, City Manager; Bonnie Williams, City Clerk; Colburn Brown, Finance Director; David Yergeau, Fire Chief; Doug Ipock, Police Chief; Hall Lowder, Emergency Services Director; Joseph Williams Mayor Mann called the meeting to Order at 4:31 pm. He deferred the meeting 3) PURPOSE OF MEETING: Tor review the finalproposed recommended Mr. Currie explained that the purpose of the meeting was for Council to discuss with staff the contents for the upcoming FY2023-24 budget. He advised that up until the time that Council holds the Public Hearing and the business of adopting the budget, the draft document can be edited. He explained that the FY2023-24 budget is heavily built upon salary adjustments based upon a market salary study completed earlier in the current budget year. He also advised that in addition to the proposed salary adjustments, capital outlay and the organization of Vineland Depot is addressed. He explained that he is proposing that the position of Economic Development Planner be elevated to a department head level and that the Events Coordinator report to that supervisor, rather than continue to report to the Parks and Recreation Director. He reported that as a result of the salary market study, the MAPS Group recommended some changes to the City's Personnel Policy, the recommended changes will enhance the City's current policy. Mr. Currie advised that more information regarding the development of the upcoming budget will be addressed in his budget message. Mr. Currie deferred to Mr. Brown for a Mr. Brown began his presentation with a review of a summary for the proposed budget. He reviewed the following operating funds: General Fund, Sewer, Sanitation, Water, Storm Water, Powell Bill, WDDC, Vineland, and the Parks Fund. He explained the proposed salary market adjustment depicted in the  (The News Reporter); AC Cutler 2) CALLTOORDER to Mr. Currie. FY2023-24 Budget  review of the first draft oft the FY2023-24 budget.  table below: Salary Range $50K & Up $40K $30K $20K Discussion ensued.  Market Adjustment $1,500 $3,000 $5,000 $6,500  Total Cost for the Proposed Market. Adjustment 4 $290K    Mr. Brown continued with a discussion regarding the City's debt schedule. He stated that some debt is rolling off soon and can be replaced with new debt for items such as a new Public Safety building. Discussion ensued with Council Member Williamson asking if the BB&T loan for the FlexNet Smart Utility system could be paid off early. Mr. Brown advised that he would look into itb but thought there is a clause in the contract for an early pay-off penalty. Mr. Brown led the discussion into the proposed CapEx items: Site Prep & Design for new Public! Safety Bldg  Recommened CapEx POLICE Speed Trailor Vehicles Radar Units FIRE SCBA Replacement Shoreline for Apparatus Hydraulic Extraction Tools GARAGE Pressure Steam Cleaner forr new Paving department PARKS Playground equipment for West Whiteville Park Concrete for Batting Cages Signage for Recreation Center SAFETY DJI Mavic 3 Thermal Drone PUBLIC WORKS Tractor/Mower, Trailer and Truck 61" Replacement Lawn Mower WDDC Concert Series  Associated Cost $10,000 $35,000 $240,000 $17,500 $30,000 $3,500 $22,000 $6,500 $25,000 $40,000 $5,000 $6,500 $125,000 $12,750 $11,000 $20,000  Replace gate valves on Chlorine Contact Chamber  Discussion ensued led by Council Member Williamson stating that he felti it was very importment to fund the requested "Flock Safety LPR-Raven Shots Fired Technology" at the cost of $59,000 rather than spend $35,000 for a needs study for "Site Prep & Design for new Public Safety Bldg". Council Member Worley concurred. Mr. Currie and Mr. Brown stated that ift the Council wanted to fund the Shots Fired system instead of the needs study, they would make the changes on the draft document. Mayor Mann, Mayor Pro Tem Clarida, and Council Members Holden and Pait advised they would first support the recommendation of the needs study before the Shots Fired technology. More discussion ensued with Council Member Williamson asking if instead of purchasing the Shots Fired technology could it be financed. Mr. Brown said yes, that the City could do that and keep the requested needs study as recommended in the draft document. Mayor Pro Tem Clarida agreed that he Mr. Brown reviewed the proposed FY2023-24 budget as compared to the FY2021 and FY2022 actual budgets, the appropriations for the FY2023 budget, requested and recommended for revenues and expeditures, sewer budget, sanitation budget, water budget, storm water budget, Vineland Depot budget, Powell Bill budget, and the WDDC budget. Discussion ensued, led by Council Member Williamson, regarding the Vineland Depot budget and the proposed organizational changes. Discussion consisted of the viability of the fund and how funds are booked to the budget because reservations are made so far in Council Member Worley led discussion pertaining to the City's street sweeper. He cited concerns with its availabilty regarding the amount of repairs needed. He asked if there might be another way to keep the streets clean. Mr. Currie and Mr. Brown explained some of the nuances associated with the street sweeper machine, such as the contribution to leaf and limb debris on the road between times that the machine is operable as well as the schedule for cleaning streets in different sections of the City. Mr. Currie advised that not all streets in the City are swept in one day, it takes several days to sweep all Council Member Worley asked if funds could be allocated in the budget for marketing the City. Discussion ensued pertaining to the purpose of the newly  could support that solution.  advance of actually receiving payment for events.  streets. Brief discussion ensued with Council.    added position for an Events Coordinator in last year's fiscal budget and what the Economic Development Planner is doing regarding marketing. Mr. Currie and Mr. Brown offered to take additional questions from Council, hearing none, Mayor Mann offered some closing comments. Mayor Mann and other members of Council thanked Mr. Currie and Mr. Brown for aj job well done  on the proposed draft FY2023-24 budget.  4) ADJOURNMENT May 9, 2023 at6:57 pm. VOTE: 0-0 (Unanimous) Yeas: 0 Nays: 0 Absent: 0  Terry Mann MOVED to approve the adjournment of the Special meeting on  fotke Girihllaf Bonnie T. Williams, CITY CLERK  TerryL. Mann, MAYOR  1)