Town Council Minutes Morehead City, North Carolina  Tuesday, September 10, 2024  Thel Honorable Council ofthe' Town ofMorehead City held its Regular monthly meeting on' Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in the Council Chambers at City Hall located at 1100 Bridges  Street, Morehead City, North Carolina. COUNCIL PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT:  Mayor Gerald A. Jones, Jr.; Councilmembers Richard Abell, George Ballou, Lee Stiles, William Taylor, and Harvey Walker. City Manager Chris Turner, City Attorney Derek Taylor, Finance Director/Assistant City Manager Jewell Lasater, Assistant Finance Director Leeann Vinson, Public Services Director/Assistant City Manager Daniel Williams, Police Chief Bryan Dixon, Planning and Inspections Director Sandi Watkins, Fire-EMS Chief Courtney Wade, Deputy Fire-EMS Chief Kane Johnson, Parks and Recreation Director.Jessica Mayo, Human Resources Director Leesa Jensen, Acting Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Bobby Stephens, Assistant Chief/EMS Coordinator Kelly Howey, Grant Manager Kelli Jones, Chief Building Inspector Robert Davis, Police Lieutenant Zach Leach, Police Sergeant Chris Conger, Lead: for North Carolina (LFNC) Fellow Ariella Gerrig, City Clerk Cathy Campbell, and a large contingent of] Fire-EMS Department Maceo Donald of the Carteret County News-Times, Assistant Fire-Chief/Fire Inspector Dykeman Baily (Ret) and Loretta Baily, Administrative Support Manager Amy Thompson (Ret), Kathryn Metts and Leah Hardesty of Downtown Morehead City Inc., Virginia Yopp of the North Carolina Seafood Festival, Jane Domer, Holly Fletcher, James Gaskill, Robert Purifoy, Larry  personnel.  OTHERS PRESENT:  Shovar, and Diana Tootle.  MayorJones called the Regular meeting of the Morehead City Town Council to order at 5:30 p.m. with a quorum present. Councilmember Ballou gave the invocation and Mayor Jones led the pledge of allegiance. Mayor Jones asked those present to please silence their phones.  RECOGNITIONIPRESENTATIONS  Mayor Jones began by sharing that the recognitions represented at this meeting represent more than 75 years of combined service to the Town of Morehead City, which speaks to the  stability oft the City.  Presentation of Resolution 2024-R-47 In Appreciation to Amy Thompson  Morehead City Town Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2024  1    Mayor. Jones presented Resolution 2024-R-47t to Amy Thompson ini recognition ofher retirement from the Town of Morehead City on August 1, 2024. Ms. Thompson began her career with the Town of Morehead City on August 24, 1995, and faithfully devoted her entire government career to the Town. She retires after twenty-nine years of service. During her tenure with the Department, Ms. Thompson served as the Police Department's Administrative Support Manager, Records Division Supervisor, Telecommunications Operator, Accreditation Manager, Animal Control Supervisor, Teen Court Supervisor, Police Planning Analyst, Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) Operator, and Network Administrator.  MayorJ Jones stated that Ms. Thompson has been the face oft the Morehead City Police Department since 1995. He noted that her friendly demeanor with the public has created a welcoming atmosphere that makes guests feel comfortable, and her skills and contributions have played a significant part in the improvement of the Department over the last 29 years. ChiefI Dixon stated that Ms. Thompson is one oft the unsung heroes (non-officers) that hold the Police Department together. He expressed great appreciation for all she has done. He then presented. Amy Thompson with the State's highest honor, the prestigious Long Leaf Pine  Award issued by Governor Roy Cooper.  Ms. Thompson expressed her appreciation to the City leaders and staff for providing an environment in which she could thrive and be proud to serve, and to her family, friends, and Police Department family she expressed appreciation for their support. She closed saying that she has worked for five (5) different chiefs and commended Chief Dixon for his leadership, saying that she could not be prouder to be a member of the Morehead City Police Presentation of] Resolution 2024-R-48 In Appreciation to Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal  Department. Dykeman Baily  Mayor Jones present Resolution 2024-R-48 to Dykeman Baily in recognition of his retirement from the Morehead City Fire-EMS Department on September 1, 2024. He retires with more than 46 years of faithful service to the Town of Morehead City. Assistant Chief Baily began his career with the Morehead City Fire Department as a volunteer fireman on April 1, 1978, and rose to the position of Captain on July 1, 1985. After serving as Interim Chief for a short term in 1985, he was promoted to Assistant Chief in 1988, a position he continued tol hold until his retirement. OnJuly 1, 2007, Assistant ChiefBaily became aj part- time employee, when the Department transitioned from a volunteer department to a combined volunteer-paid department and he accepted the full-time position of Fire Marshal on April 7, 2011. Thereafter, he served as the Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal until his retirement. He retires  with more than 46 years of faithful service to the City.  Mayor Jones shared that he and Assistant Chief Baily joined the Morehead City Fire Department at the same time when the Fire Department was more ofa social club. However,  Morehead City" Town Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2024  2    Assistant Chief Baily's leadership raised the bar, playing a significant role in growing the  Department into the professional department that it ist today.  Fire ChiefCourtney Wade presented Assistant ChiefBaily with his helmet, badge, and a plaque of appreciation stating that every citizen, business. owner, and peer would acknowledge that the Town of Morehead City is a much better place to live, work, and play  because ofhis service.  Assistant ChiefBaily thanked Mayor Jones and Councilmember Abell: for leading him into the fire service, and he thanked the Town Council, City Manager, and Fire Chief for offering him the opportunity to participate in the greatest adventure ofhis life. He stated that  Morehead City has the greatest department ini the State.  CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS  Mayor Jones asked if the Council desired to make any changes to the Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda generally consists of housekeeping items that have been previously discussed and recommended by the Council Committees for Council consideration.  Councilmember Stiles asked for confirmation that Budget Ordinance 2024-24 includes the contribution for Downtown Morehead City, Inc. City Manager Chris Turner confirmed that  itdid.  Councimember Abell made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as presented.  Councilmember Stiles seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. (5-0) Included within the Consent Agenda were the following approvals:  A. Approve the minutes of the August 13, 2024, Regular Town Council Meeting as B. Approve the minutes of the August 20, 2024, Special Town Council Meeting as  presented. presented.  C. Accept the Finance Director and Tax Collection Reports as Presented.  D. Accept the Estimated Fund Balance Report as presented and recommended by the E. Accept the August 2024, Grant Report as presented and recommended by the Finance  Finance and Administration Committee. and Administration Committee.  F.  Adopt Budget Ordinance Amendment 2024-24 as presented and recommended by the  Finance and Administration Committee. Morehead City" Town Council Regular Meeting September 10,2024  3    G. Adopt Governmental Capital Project Budget Ordinance Amendment 2024-25 as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. H. Approve Settlement Agreement and Release made and entered into with Woodrow Bryan Sandlin, Jr. in the amount of $2,500.00 to settle thej judgment compelling him to comply with the relevant fire codes and for collection of accrued fines as presented. Adopt Resolution 2024-R-47 in appreciation to Amy Thompson upon her retirement Adopt Resolution 2024-R-48 in appreciation to Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Dykeman W. Baily, IV upon his retirement from the Morehead City Fire-EMS Department. K. Adopt Resolution 2024-R-50, endorsing the North Carolina Seafood Festival and authorizing action necessary for the event to be held October 4-6, 2024, on the Morehead City waterfront as presented and recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee, Finance and Administration Committee, and the Public Services  I. J.  from the Town ofN Morehead City.  Committee.  L. Approve the amended lease agreement with Trade Land Company, LLC. fori the property located at 800 Shepard Street for a 15 month term in the amount of $42,000 plus ad valorem taxes charged in 2024 by Carteret County and the Town of Morehead City and with an option to renew with a three percent (3%) annual increase until lease is terminated. Approval of the lease is recommended by the Public Services Committee. M. Adopt Ordinance 2024-0-15, declaring a temporary closure of Arendell Street for the N. Adopt Ordinance 2024-0-16, declaring a temporary closure of Arendell Street for the The above ordinances are. filed in Ordinance Book #9; Resolutions are attached to and made a part ofthe minutes herein. The settlement. statement and lease agreement are onj file in the City  annual Veterans Day Parade. annual Christmas Parade.  Clerk's office. NEW BUSINESS  Governing Body Appointments: Planning Board  Planning Director Sandi Watkins appeared before the Town Council to request that appointments be made to fill the three (3) Planning Board In-City terms held by Sally Lumpkin, Nathan Chambers, and Glenn Curtis that expired on August 15, 2024. Nathan Chambers is eligible and wishes to continue serving. Ms. Lumpkin has agreed to serve until the end of the  Morehead City Town Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2024  4    year when the new Planning Board chair will be appointed. Mr. Curtis no longer wishes to  continue serving.  On August 15, 2024, the Planning Committee recommended that Ms. Lumpkin and Nathan Chambers be reappointed, and another candidate be appointed to three (3) year terms to begin August 15, ,2024, and end August 15,2027. The' Town Council will need to appoint another  candidate, before year end, to fulfill Ms. Lumpkin's unexpired term.  The City has received eight (8) applications from individuals seeking appointment to an  In-City seat:  Melanie Reeder, 5206 Holly Court Jane Domer, 3200 Evans Street Dawn Rae, 2411 Arendell Street Luke Costanza, 2307 Avery Street Caylon Vielehr, 10231 N. Yaupon Terrace Robert Sherwell, 1905 Evans Street Robert Deans, 205N. gth Street  L.J. (Jean) Palmer-Moloney, 5002 Midyette Avenue  Following a silent vote, Councilmember Ballou made ai motion to reappointment Sally Lumpkin and Nathan Chambers, and to appoint Robert Sherwell to fill the expired seats for three (3) year terms to begin August 15, 2024 and expire on August 15, 2027. Councilmember Taylor seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. (5-0)  CITYI MANAGERS REPORT  Mr. Turner was pleased to announce that the Local Government Commission approved the issuance of debt with Webster Bank for financing ofboth, the new Fire Station #3 and the 2022 Pierce Aerial Tower Truck. Both were placed upon the Commission's consent agenda for approval. Finance Director/Assistant City Manager. Jewel Lasater and. Assistant Finance Director Leeann Vinson attended remotely. The loan closings are scheduled for September 19, 2024. City Attorney, Derek Taylor and Ms. Lasater are working to complete the required  documentation.  Mr. Turner was also pleased to announce that Morehead City has been awarded the 2023- 2024 Public Beach and Waterfront Access grant provided by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) in the amount of$205,084. The total project cost is $273,445. He commended Grant Manager Kelli Jones' for successfully securing a commitment from the NC Coastal Federation to pay $27,000 of the City's $68,361 match requirement. Senator Norman Sanderson and Representative Celeste Cairns have been notified and thanked for their assistance in this endeavor. This project will focus on a full dock rebuild at 10th Street public access site combined with the installation ofliving shoreline. Mr. Turner stated that although the  City is grant saturated, the City could not turn down this opportunity. Morehead City" Town Council Regular Meeting September 10,2024  5    A report from the City Clerk summarizing our year-to-date public information requests shows that 324 public records havel been received since. January 2024, that spans all departments. A: sizeable request was received on August 13, 2024, requesting copies of all receipts, invoices, bills and payments relating to published legal notices for years 2021, 2022, and 2023. This substantial public records request was from Maynard Nexsen a national law firm registered to practice in North Carolina and conducting research on the use ofl legal notices.  Mr. Turner advised that the Council's strategic workshops will be held in November or December, 2024. These will consist oft two (2) half day sessions. The dates for these sessions  will be determined and shared with the Town Council ini the coming weeks.  Mr. Turner provided an update on VC3'sservice, stating that the City'ss senior leadership met with the ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) ofVC3, the City Information Technology provider, to express the City's displeasure with their storm response. As a result, a plan was set in place  to: mitigate their scope ofwork failures.  Mr. Turner asked Police Chief Bryan Dixon to provide an update on the alleged armed robbery that occurred on Friday, September 6, 2024, stating that he supports the public's right to know when appropriate. Chief Dixon stated that there is a fine line between providing transparency and causing hysteria, and often administration errs on1 the side oft transparency. He advised that the call regarding an alleged stabbing in the vicinity of Happy Cakes was received around 3:00 p.m. to which the Police Department responded in less than three (3): minutes with multiple assets. They arrived tol learn that there were no witnesses despite the fact that the alleged attack took place in al busy commercial area. ChiefDixon advised that there was no threat to the general public, and that the alleged perpetrator did not exist and the alleged victim has been  charged with: filing a false police report.  Mr. Turner shared that he and Planning Director Sandi Watkins met with 21CS' CEO, Eddy Ciliendo, regarding 21CS' relocation to Morehead City. 21CSisal Boston based software technology company. Their Morehead City location will initially hire and relocate 20 plus software engineers and their support personnel to Morehead City. Mr. Ciliendo cited cost of living, the local school system, and high-speed network infrastructure (fiber availability) as the reasons for their relocation, and he has advised that they are in final stages ofs securing a location within the city. Itis Mr. Ciliendo's goal to begin placing personnel in the city by mid to late  September, 2024.  CITIZEN REQUESTS/COMMENTS (3 Minute Time Limit)  Robert Purifoy, 3403 Old Gate Road: Mr. Purifoy thanked Mr. Turner and Public Services Director/Assistant City Manager Daniel Williams for working with him and for following through on the SugarloafIsland Wave Attenuation Device project, which, he said, had had aj positive impact on1 their docks. He then provided an update on the comments he made at the June 11, 2024, Town Council meeting regarding the closing of streets for the more than 10 tournaments held annually on the Morehead City waterfront. Hei noted that two (2) tournaments  Morehead City Town Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2024  6    were held last weekend involving 84 boats which had no impact on his business because the tournament organizers only closed the streets as needed and then opened them back up. But, a prior tournament involving only 18 boats closed the streets for five (5) days resulting in a significant impact. He also noted that one tournament that is held on the waterfront closed the streets for 12 straight days forcing him to cancel six (6) half-day charters, Additionally, people took overl his dock and: refused tol leave even with police assistance. His advance communication with everyone involved in coordinating the tournament and city leadership afforded him six (6) designated parking spaces, which allowed him to keep his retail business open. However, he still took a $16,619 loss in his retail store and a $6,000 - $8,000 loss to his charters during this time period. He shared a letter from one ofhis customers that explained howl he made several attempts during that week to visit his store and was unable to do sO until the last evening ofthe tournament when he was finally able to reach the store and spent $2,800 during his visit. Mr. Purifoy questioned how many customers experienced the same difficulties and were not as persistent. He called upon the Town Council and Staff to find a way forward that will meet the needs oft the tournaments while allowing the waterfront businesses to thrive. He stated that he would follow-up with an email including photographs taken during these events.  COUNCIL COMMENTS  Councimember Abell congratulated Assistant Chief Baily and Ms. Thompson on their retirements and thanked them fort their service. He also thanked staff for the service they provide  to the residents and guests ofl Morehead City.  Councilmember Taylor also congratulated the retirees who provided a combined 75 years Councilmember Stiles likewise congratulated Assistant Chief Baily and Ms. Thompson and expressed appreciation to Parks and Recreation Director Jessica Mayo and her stafff for their management oft the flag football league, stating that the parents are very satisfied.  ofservice.  Councilmember Ballou recognized the anniversary oft the September 11, 2001, attack on America when 3,263 individuals lost their lives, and encouraged everyone to take extra care in expressing their love for family and friends, and to never take life for granted.  Councilmember Walker joined in congratulating the retirees and thanked everyone for Mayor Jones expressed his appreciation for all that Assistant Chief Baily and Ms.  coming to the meeting.  Thompson did for our community.  APPROVE THE AUGUST13.2024. CLOSED SESSION MINUTES AS PRESENTED  Morehead City" Town Council Regular Meeting September 10,2024  7    After as silent review oft the minutes, Councilmember Walker made a motion to approve the August 13,2024. Closed Session minutes as presented. Councilmember Taylor seconded  and the motion was carried unanimously. (5-0)  CLOSED SESSION  Councilmember Abell moved to enter into Closed Session at 6:23 p.m. per N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(A)5 to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange, or lease. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the motion was  carried unanimously. (5-0)  Councilmember Walker moved to return to Open Session at 6:34 p.m. Councilmember  Taylor seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. (5-0)  ADJOURNMENT  There being no other business to discuss, Mayor. Jonesa adjourned the meeting at 6:35  p.m.  GeraldAJoner, Mayor  E  Attest:  Casylanphur Cathy Campbell, City Cletk  DCITV  185  Morehead City Town Council Regular Meeting September 10, 2024  8