MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA  The City Council met at the Sanford Municipal Center, 225 E. Weatherspoon Street, on' Tuesday,  February 20, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., in Council Chambers. The following people were present:  Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon Council Member. Jean Dabbs Council Member Linda Rhodes City Manager Hal Hegwer Absent: City Attorney Susan Patterson Council Member Byron Buckels Council Member Walter Ferguson  Mayor Pro Tem Mark Akinosho Deputy City Clerk Vicki Cannady Council Member James Williams City Clerk Bonnie Davis  CALL TOORDER Pledge of Allegiance was recited. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Salmon called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Akinosho led the invocation and the  Council Member Dabbs made a motion to approve the agenda. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem  Akinosho, the motion carried unanimously.  CONSENT AGENDA Minute Book) Book) Book) Book) (ExhibitA A)  City Council Closed Session) Minutes Dated September 13,2023 - Item #4 (Filed in 2023 Closed Session City Council Closed Session Minutes Dated October 3. 2023 - Item #2 (Filed in 2023 Closed Minute City Council Closed Session Minutes Dated October 10. 2023 - Item #1 (Filed in 2023 Closed Minute City Council Closed Session Minutes Dated October 31,2023 - Item #2 (Filed in 2023 Closed Minute Ordinance Amending the Annual Operating Budget for FY 2023-2024 - Community Development Amendment to Agreement for Services - Bread ofLife Ministries of Sanford, Inc. (Exhibit B) Ordinance Amending the Annual Operating Budget for FY 2023-2024 - Community Development Ordinance Amending the Annual Operating Budget for FY 2023-2024 - Sesquicentennial (ExhibitI D) Resolution Authorizing Submittal of a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant City ofs Sanford Capital Reserve Resolution Amendment for Future Parks and Recreation Improvements  (Exhibit C)  Application for Improvements to Walter McNeil, Jr. Park (Exhibit E)  (Exhibit F)        City Council Meeting February 20, 2024  Ordinance Amending the Annual Operating Budget for FY 2023-2024 - Parks (Exhibit G) Ordinance Amending the Annual Operating Budget for FY 2023-2024 - Utility Merger (Exhibit H) Ordinance Establishing Speed Limit in Autumnwood Subdivision in the City of Sanford (Exhibit D)  Council Member Rhodes made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Seconded by Council  Member Dabbs, the motion carried unanimously.  SPECIAL, AGENDA  Presentation of Sanford's Black History Podcast (Exhibit. J)  Carol Chalmers Deese stated that she will host a podcast Sunday, February 25, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., with an alternate date of Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., showcasing Sylvester "Jap" Lee Turner among other black leaders from our community, and invited everyone to attend. She exhibited a slide presentation ofMrs. Lynn McNeill and husband, Rev. John McNeill, along with others who shared memories of Mr. Turner, as shown in Exhibit J. She explained that the podcast can be found at  sanfordnorthcarolinatheblackwallstreet.com."  REGULAR AGENDA NEW BUSINESS Project (Exhibit K)  There were no items on the regular agenda.  Consider Additional Services for NCHFA - 2021 NCHFA Single-Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool Community Development Manager Karen Kennedy reminded Council that she previously presented a budget ordinance amendment to add a sixth home to the 2021 Essentials Single-family Rehabilitation program, which included the allocation of funds for the additional home. Mrs. Kennedy added that the contract with Central Pines must be amended in order for them to complete the administration for the rehabilitation of the sixth house. This will create an additional $10,000 in this  program, which is the allowed per-house-cost within the Essentials program.  Council Member Rhodes made the motion to approve the Additional Services for NCHFA - 2021 NCHFA Single-Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool Project. Seconded by Mayor Pro' Tem Akinosho,  the motion carried unanimously.  Karen Kennedy reminded everyone that applications are being taken now for the 2023 Urgent Repair Program (URP) and will continue through the end of March 2024. The 2022 project year has  recently been closed and twelve homes were repaired through this project.  CLOSED SESSION  Council Member Rhodes made a motion to go into closed session in accordance with N.C.G.S. 143.318-11(a)(5), to establish, or to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agent concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf oft the public body in negotiating the price and other material terms ofa contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange, or  lease. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Akinosho, the motion carried unanimously.  Council returned to regular session.  2        City Council Meeting February 20, 2024  CASES FOR PUBLICHEARING  The City of Sanford is requesting that 1.67+/- acres of vacant land, composed offive parçels loçated at thei northwesti ntersectionorCharote Ave.and First Street (further identified asl Lee County Tax Parcels 9643-70-6685-00. 9643-70-7727-00. 9643-70-7673-00. 9643-70-7596-00. and 9643-70-8501-00) be rezoned from Residential Single Family (R-6) and Light Industrial (LI) to Central Business District (CBD). The applicant is applying for the rezoning request in order to allow for the development of the  proposed Sanford Agricultural Marketplace. (Exhibit L) Mayor Salmon opened the public hearing at 6:00 p.m.  Senior Long-Range Planner David Montgomery explained that this request was made in order to develop the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace, using the same development pattern as the existing downtown property that is currently zoned Central Business District (CBD). This is a General Use rezoning request, as opposed to a Conditional Zoning request; therefore, there is no site plan, subdivision plan or building plans required. Mr. Montgomery reviewed the information included in the attached Exhibit L. He noted that the structure formally known as King Roofing has been removed. He clarified that while this property is not subject to a historic district or a watershed conservation overlay district, there is an established flood plain area on aj portion oft the site. All future development must comply with the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO): standards for flood hazard area floodplain development. Mr. Montgomery explained that this rezoning request complies with the Plan SanLee Long Range Plan designation ofDowntown and Central Business Districtis a desired land use: fori this place type. Hea added  that staff recommends approval oft this rezoning request.  Public Works Director) Fedd Walker, 2251 E. Weatherspoon Street, Sanford, North Carolina, stated that hel has spoken with the architects in connection with this request. The proposed site allows for a: zero front-setback, which better aligns with other businesses on this street. Because there is no required side- setback, it will allow us to locate the building as far away from the flood way as possible. The required front setback will provide enough roomi to allowas single-lane drive forasmoother circulation path around  the marketplace, as well as more space for vendors and farmers.  With no additional speakers, Mayor Salmon closed the public hearing. The Planning Board retired to the West End Conference Room.  Public Hearing on Economic Development Incentive - Project Biobloom (Exhibit M)  Mayor Salmon opened the public hearing.  Sanford Area Growth Alliance Executive Director Jimmy Randolph, 3405 Windmere Drive, Sanford, North Carolina, stated that the City proposes to participate in this project, referred to as Project Biobloom, aj pharmaceutical research and product manufacturing company. He explained that Biobloom will create more than 100 new, full-time jobs, with an average annual wage of $91,496, over the seven- year length oft the project on aj phased basis. The project will invest at least $190 million in net taxable investment (more or less, depending on the actual costs) in Sanford over aj period ofa approximately seven years on a phased basis. Mr. Randolph added that he believes this project will stimulate the local economy, add to the tax base, create jobs and increase payroll in Sanford and Lee County. Hei noted that  ap public hearing notice ran ini the Sanford Herald on February 8, 2024.  Mayor Salmon commented that we have worked as an economic development team in our  community for some time and it is exciting to be able to make this incentive offer. With no additional speakers, Mayor Salmon closed the public hearing.  3        City Council Meeting February 20, 2024  Consider Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Expenditure of Funds for an Economic Development Project and Approving an Agreement with Project Biobloom (ExhibitN) Council Member Rhodes made the motion to adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Expenditure of Funds for an Economic Development Project and Approving an Agreement with Project Biobloom. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Akinosho, the motion carried  unanimously.  OTHER BUSINESS  Council Member Dabbs thanked everyone who supported the dinner at the Stevens Center, which Mayor Pro Tem Akinosho stated he was excited to see. high-wagej jobs coming to our community. Council Member Taylor thanked staff for organizing information that was shared in the homeowners' associations meetings in Ward 2. Mr. Taylor congratulated Fedd Walker on his recent promotion to Public Works Director. Mr. Taylor added that 251 mph speed limits arel becoming the normal standard in many residential areas of the City, especially in neighborhoods with homeowners' associations and he raised the question ift this speed limit should be applied citywide. He thanked Ms. Deese for her presentation and noted that they worked together last year in connection with a Juneteenth  will benefit many individuals in the community.  project.  Mayor Salmon thanked Ms. Deese for her work on sharing information on our community's history. Mrs. Salmon added that companies are considering Sanford as aj place to make their investments,  which presents an opportunity for our residents tol have great jobs.  ADJOURNMENT  Council Member Rhodes made the motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Council Member  Dabbs the motion carried unanimously.  ALL EXHIBITS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE  AND MADE A PART OF THESE MINUTES.  Respectfully Submitted,  REBECCA  Kpel  ATTEST:  mni Davis BONNIE DAVIS, CITY CLERK  4