HITEL  1833  MINUTES  City Council Special Meeting 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2021 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472  The City Council Special Meeting of the City of Whiteville was called to order on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 5:00 p.m., at 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, Advisement of Virtual Meeting. This meeting was made available in a virtual  28472. environment. 1) ROLL CALL PRESENT: ABSENT:  Terry Mann, Justin Smith, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Vickie  Pait, and Kevin' Williamson Tim Blackmon  Others in Attendance: Darren Currie, City Manager; Bonnie Williams, City Clerk; Colburn Brown, Finance Director; Robert Lewis, Planning Director; Madison Ward, Economic Development Planner; Roger Lee, Building Inspector; Hal Lowder, Emergency Services Director; Doug Ipock, Police Chief; David Yergeau, Fire Chief; Blake Spivey, Parks & Recreation Director; Ivey  Schoffield (The News Reporter) 2) CALL TO ORDER by Mayor Mann at 5:00 pm. 3) PURPOSE OF MEETING Recreation  FY21-22 Budget Workshop Meeting: Vineland DepotWDDC/Parks and Mr. Currie briefly reviewed the agenda for the meeting with Council. He explained that presentations would be made by Mr. Lewis and Ms. Ward relating to the WDDC, Economic Development and a new venture for Christmas decorations. He explained that staff would brief the Council on the Vineland Depot transition, COVID-19 effects on revenues and capital outlay items in building maintenance. He stated that Mr. Spivey would address Council regarding staffing issues, capital outlay (concession building and tournament revenues), and the relationship between Parks and Recreation and Economic Development. Mr. Currie briefly discussed with Council the funding for these three departments. Mr. Lewis discussed with Council the direct link between Parks and Recreation, leisure, sporting events, and economic development. He stated that restaurants, hotels, and stores see a direct impact from sporting events and parks and recreation. Mr. Lewis advised that going forward, staff would like to market' Vineland Depot as a full service event center. Mr. Lewis addressed the Planning department stating that the City is starting a more comprehensive review with site plans and such. He advised that the Technical Review Committee (TRC) is beginning to meet monthly and that staff has seen an increase in the volume of businesses, site plans, and permits for commercial businesses in the past year. He advised that staff is anticipating an increase in residential home building, subdivisions, and such in the upcoming fiscal years. Mr. Lewis reported that the Downtown Streetscape Plan is now completed and that businesses are continuing to locate downtown. He advised that housing opportunities have increased downtown. He stated that the City    needs to continue investing in downtown with the BIG program, incentives, and other types of financial endeavors. He advised that the US701/JK Powell Blvd widening project is progressing and the City can expect to see much growth ine economic development due to the project. He reported that staffi is looking to increase code enforcement efforts by Mr. Brown provided al brief review of the FYE21 budget departmental sheets, for their reference, and advised that new document for FY2021-22 Ms. Ward presented to Council a new venture for their consideration pertaining to Christmas lights and decoration. She advised that she had talked with Mosca Designs and they were willing to visit Whiteville, do a survey, and make suggestions for a plan fort the City. Brief discussion ensued with Ms. Ward, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Currie and Council. She playeda short video showing the Christmas designs for Tabor City. She reported that cost could run as high as $100,000 for design(s). She stated that Mosca Designs briefly discussed with her a payment plan that the City could consider. Consensus of Council was for her to continue her Mr. Spivey provided a review of activities, successes, and challenges of FY2020-21 relating to the Parks and Recreation department. He reported that currently the City's Parks and Recreation department has 301 travel ball tournments scheduled for 2021, 17 dates reserved for Columbus County Slow-Pitch softball, and is preparing fields for approximately 140 games for Dixie Youth baseball, Dixie Boys baseball, Dixie softball, T- ball, and Central Middle School. He reported that the recreation department is maintaining 11 parks/greenspaces, approximately 5 (more orl less) acres and 1.5 miles of greenways, and maintaining the recreation center and' Vineland Depot facilities. He advised that the rentals were Vineland Depot were suspended the majority of 2020 due to COVID-19. He reported that staff is meeting with the Vineland Depot board about upcoming rentals, needed repairs, and marketing going forward. He reported that the Vineland Depot board is willing to help with some expenses for repairs and upgrades to the facility. Mr. Spivey advised that he is requesting in the FY2021-22 budget funding for the concessionlbathroom building at the Recreation Center fields and additional staffing (a crew leader for maintenance). Discussion ensued between Council, Mr. Spivey, and Mr. Currie. Kevin Williamson MOVED to approve the adjournment of the Special meeting held on April 13, 2021 at 6:18 pm. Vickie Pait SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Pait, Kevin Williamson) Nays: 0 Absent: 1( (Tim Blackmon)  possibly contracting with N-Focus.  will be presented to Council in a few weeks.  discussions with Mosca Designs.  4) ADJOURNMENT  Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Justin Smith, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Vickie  Tya Terryl L. Mann, MAYOR Bonnie T. Willams, Ake  IITEVT