City of Claremont Minutes of Regular Session August 5, 2024  The regular City Council meeting of the City of Claremont was held in the council chambers at 6:00 p.m. on  Monday, August 5, 2024.  The following members of the Claremont City Council were present: Mayor Shawn Brown, Mayor Pro Tempore Dale Sherrill, Councilmember Gary Sigmon, Councilmember Brittany Brown, and Councilmember  Dayne Miller.  Councilmember Les Morrow was absent from the meeting.  The following personnel oft the City of Claremont were present: City Manager Jason Brown, City Attorney Bob Grant, City Clerk Wendy Helms, Finance Director Valerie McKenna, Fire ChiefDarrell Hamby, City Planner Bryce Carter, Public Services Director Tom Healey, Police Chief John Thomas, Police Captain Scott Goff,  Officer Michael Dyson, Corporal Daniel Kirby, and Events Coordinator Heather Powell.  CALLTOORDER  Mayor Shawn R. Brown called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was present.  INVOCATION & PLEDGE OFALLEGIANCE  Councilmember Brittany Brown gave the invocation, and Councilmember Gary Sigmon the Pledge of  Allegiance.  REGULAR. & CONSENTAGEND4  A.Consent to Recommended Agenda - August 5, 2024 B. Regular Session Meeting Minutes - July 1,2024 C.F Resolution 03-25, Surplus Property  D. Article XVI - Travel and Training Policy Update  E. Line-Item Transfers    Councilmember Dale Sherrill made a motion to approve the consent agenda for August 5, 2024, and the other  consent items. Councilmember Gary Sigmon made the second. The motion carried 4-0.  ELECTED OFFICIALS' REPORTS  Mayor Shawn R. Brown announced the City would be giving Claremont Elementary PTO a donation to help fund projects needed for the school. He also informed those in attendance about his guest appearance on the Hal  Rowe show, First Talk.  CITIZENG CONCERNS & COMMENTS  Bob Busbee approached the podium to discuss his concerns about golfcarts being able to drive on North Oxford Street. He owns a business on that street and spoke about the amount of traffic and accidents they witness. Mr. Busbee also presented a petition from those who work at the Health Smart Pharmacy, asking not to allow golf  carts on North Oxford Street. PUBLICHEARING  A. Claremont Code of Ordinances, Title 9, Planning and Community Development  Councilmember Dayne Miller made the motion to enter a public hearing concerning amendments to the Claremont Code of Ordinances, Title 9, Planning and Community Development, at 6:15 p.m.  Councilmember Brittany Brown made the second. The motion carried 4-0.  The public hearing was recessed until the September 9, 2024 meeting, giving the City Attorney time to  review the document.  Councilmember Brittany Brown: madeamotion,: at 6:15p.m., toi recess thej public hearing until the September 9,2024, regular City Council meeting. Councilmember Gary Sigmon made the second. The motion carried  4-0.  B. Close a Street Dedication on Montclair Drive  Councilmember Dale Sherrill made a motion to enter aj public hearing on a proposed closing ofa street  Monday, August 5, 2024  Regular Session    dedication on Montclair Drive, at 6:16 p.m. Councilmember Dayne Miller made a second. The motion carried  4-0.  City Manager Jason Brown presented information that a petition had been filed to close an unopened and unnamed street running north of! Montclair Drive, by the adjoining property owners. The Petition was duly filed with the City Clerk on the 12th day of. June 2024. Per General Statute, the City advertised the public hearing  weekly for four weeks and sent certified notices to the three adjoining property owners. Ifapproved the property will: revert to the owners on each side oft the undedicated street.  Councilmember Dale Sherrill made a motion to close the Public Hearing at 6:19 p.m. Councilmember Dayne  Millermade the second. The motion carried 4-0.  PRESENTATIONS  A. PJ Stanley Scholarship Award = Clifton Scott Walker was presented with the Fall 2024 PJ Stanley B. Swear in Police Officer Michael Dyson - Mayor Brown gave the Oath of Office to new Police Officer  scholarship.  Michael Dyson and welcomed him to the Claremont family.  BUSINESS ITEMS  A. Call foral Public Hearing - Annexation of Multiple Parcels, Bandy Farms,LLC.  The City Council was requested to call for a public hearing at the September 9, 2024, regular City Council meeting concerning the annexation request by Bandy Farms LLC of the below listed parcels into the City of  Claremont: Parcel-375212951578 Parcel-375212852742 Parcel -375212758095.  Monday, August 5, 2024  Regular Session    Councilmember. Dayne Miller made a motion to call for aj public hearing at the September 9,2 2024, City Council meeting concerning an annexation oft the three parcels belonging to Bandy Farms, LLC. The second was made  by Councilmember Brittany Brown. The motion carried 4-0. B.Call for a Public Hearing -] Rezoning, Bandy Farms, LLC  The City Council was requested to call for a public hearing at the September 9, 2024, regular City Council meeting concerning a rezoning request by Bandy Farms LLCoft the below listed parcels requesting annexation  into the City ofClaremont:  Parcel -375212852742 - Rezoning from B-3 to R-1 Pareel-375212758095 - Rezoning from B-3 to R-I  Councilmember Dale Sherrill made ar motion to call fora a public hearing at the September 9, 2024, City Council meeting concerning the rezoning oft multiple parcels owned by Bandy Farms, LLC. Councilmember Brittany  Brown made the second. The motion carried 4-0.  C. Resolution 02-25-C Order to Close a Street Dedication on Montclair Drive  Based on the public hearing held earlier in the meeting, the City Council was requested to approve a resolution ordering the closing ofas street dedication madei int the original subdivision plat foraneighborhood on Montclair Drive that has never been accepted by the City. This request is made by at least one oft the neighboring parcel owners to this dedication area. The adjoining parcel owners were contacted via certified mail, the property location was posted, and the resolution and notice of public hearing were run in the paper of record for four  consecutive weeks before this action.  Councilmember Brittany Brown made the motion to approve Resolution 02-25, as presented. Councilmember  Dale Sherrill made a second. The motion carried 4-0.  Monday, August 5, 2024  Regular Session    D. Ordinance 03-25- - Amendments to the City of Claremont Golf Cart Ordinance, Title 7.Chapter1 1,  Article Q.  Based upon discussions at the last regular City Council meeting, staff presented two possible options for amendments to the City of Claremont's Golf Cart Ordinance, Title 7, Chapter 1, Article Q. Option 1 opens all streets posted at under 35 mph in the City of Claremont to golf cart usage based on the regulations present ini the current ordinance. Option 2 opens all streets posted under 35 mph, except for North Oxford Street to golf cart usage, with the ability to amend once NCDOT responds to the request by the City for reduction of Centennial  Boulevard to 35 mph. That request packet was formally submitted on July 18, 2024.  Councilmember Dale Sherrill began the conversation by re-stating his concerns about allowing golf carts on North Oxford Street. Since the last council meeting, he has spoken with business owners on North Oxford and discovered they are also not in favor of golfcarts on that section ofroad. Councilmember Sherrill stated he would bei in favorofOption: 2. Councilmember Sigmon also stated he would be in favor of Option 2, with the option to amend the ordinance once NCDOT responds to the request by the City for a reduction of Centennial Boulevard to3 35 mph. Councilmember Sigmon would also like to change all golfcart fees to twenty dollars.  Councilmember Gary Sigmon made a motion to approve Ordinance 03-25, option 2, and to amend the fee schedule for golf cart fees to twenty dollars. Councilmember Dale Sherrill made the second. Motion carried 4-0.  E. Ordinance 04-25-1 Recognizing Catawba County Revenues in the Rail Park Project.  Ordinançe 04-25 is a budget amendment recognizing Catawba County's commitment to a 50%-50% cost sharing model within the Rail Park Project (Fund 701) for more transparent accounting. Future amendments will separate the Rail Park Project from the Economic Development Fund as a standalone project.  Councilmember Dayne Miller made a motion to approve Ordinance 04-25, as resented. Councilmember Gary  Sigmon made the second. The motion carried 4-0.  F.Ordinances 05-25a and 06-25-E BudgetA Amendment, Emergency Sewer Line Repair.  City staffhave located ai failing encased sewer line that currently runs under I-401 to the Catawba Pump Station.  Monday, August 5, 2024  Regular Session    This line is not currently leaking into surrounding areas because the break runs along the top of the line, however, further failure is expected. These amendments appropriate monies from the Water and Sewer Capital  Reserve Fund for repair of over: 500' of ductile iron line.  Councilmember Gary Sigmon made a motion to approve Ordinances 05-25 and 06-25, as presented.  Councilmember Brittany Brown made the second. The motion carried 4-0.  G.Results of Oualification Based Selection and Award of Contract with WK Dickson for Claremont  International Rail Park Road Design.  The City Council is requested toa approve a contract with WK Dickson for $304,5001 forroadway survey, design, and permitting for a roadway into the Claremont International Rail Park site. This project is shared with Catawba County sO the City of Claremont will bill the County for one half($152,250) oft the total. At the same time, Catawba County is engaging in survey, easement, engineering, and permitting of a waterline onto the site. An NC Railroad Company grant is funding that part of the project. The City of Claremont conducted a  quality based selection for this contract and selected this firm.  Councilmember Dale Sherrill made a motion to approve the contract with W.K. Dickson for Rail Park road  design. Councilmember Dayne Miller made the second. The motion carried 4-0. H.Resolution 04-25 - Approval of Gov Deals Bids for Surplus Property.  Resolution 04-25 will accept bids for surplus property that was auctioned on GovDeals.com. This property was declared surplus in April of2024. Itconsists ofeighti residential lotson Lawrence Drive: and three manufacturing  lots on BGA Drive.  Councilmember Dayne Miller made a motion to approve. Resolution 04-25, as presented. Councilmember Gary  Sigmon made the second. Motion carried 4-0. APPOINTED OFFICIALS' REPORTS City Attorney No Report.  Monday, August 5, 2024  Regular Session    City Manager Brown - City Manager Brown informed the Council that the WPCOG has taken the lead in the regional response to the City of Charlotte'sr request to transfer more water from the Catawba River. Each county  and municipality will contribute to the defense.  The NC Legislative directed the Economic Development Partnership ofl NC to have an outside entity conduct as site readiness analysis of potential industrial sites in NC to! better inform thel NCI Legislature's future economic development appropriations. The Claremont International Rail Park site was submitted and has been selected  as one of the 15 top sites in the "NC Select Site Readiness Program" inl NC.  Auditors from Martin Starnes and Associates were present on site for the FY2023-2024 audit the third week of July. Scheduled to stay for four days, they wrapped up their onsite in two and are beginning to draft the audit  documents.  City Manager Brown also informed the Council of a restructuring at the Claremont Police Department. With no other business of the board, Councilmember Dayne Miller made a motion to adjourn the meeting at  7:10 p.m. Councilmember Gary Sigmon made the second. Motion carried 4-0.  Respectfully submitted, Wendy L.J Helms City Clerk  Acke Buiee M. Dale Sherrill,Mayor Pro Tem  Attested:  Wunypsl Wendy L. Helms, City Clerk  Monday, August 5, 2024  Regular Session