ROCKINGHAM ACITY LOOKING FORWARD CITY COUNCIL AGENDA May 14, 2019 6:30 p.m.  1. Opening of meeting by Mayor Steve Morris. 2. Invocation by Councilman Willard. 3. Amendments and Changes to Agenda.  4. Consent Agenda:  A. Disposition of Minutes of the April 9, 2019 Regular Meeting &  Closed Session Minutes.  B. Tax Collector's Report. (See Pages 4-13)  Informational Items: 1.) Monthly Collection Report 2.) Uncollected Taxes as of April 30, 2019 1.) Refunds per County Assessor's Office. 2.) Discovery bills added to Tax Scroll. 3.) Releases per County Assessor's Office.  Action Items:  5. Business by Planning Board. A. Set Public Hearing. B. Hold Public Hearing:  1. ETJ Reduction: Hold Public hearing for an ordinance to relinquish portions of the City Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).  (See Pages 14-16 & Map Insert)  C. Minutes from Various Boards.  514 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, NC 28379 * Phone ( 895 9088 . Fax 1910.9976617-wwwgoroctingham.com    City Council Agenda May 14, 2019 Page 2  6. Presentation of Life Saving Award presented to Sergeant Cheyenne 7. Presentation of Accommodation Award presented to Sergeant Ronald 8. Presentation of Accommodation Award presented to Officer Skyler 9. Presentation by Stephanie Powers, Aging Specialist with the Lumber 10. Set Public Hearing on proposed FY 2019/2020 Rockingham City Budget for regular City Council meeting on June 11, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.,  Revels by Police Chief Billy Kelly.  Brigman, Jr. by Police Chief Billy Kelly. Dover by Police Chief Billy Kelly. River Council of Governments.  Rockingham City Hall, 514 Rockingham Road.  11. Business by City Clerk.  A. List of Upcoming June Board Appointments (new and/or reappointments) enclosed for your review & consideration. (List  enclosed separately)  12. Business by Visitors. 13. Business by City Manager. 14. Business by City Attorney. 16. Business by Mayor.  15. Items of discussion by City Council Members.  A. Issue Proclamation recognizing May 5-11, 2019 as "Municipal  Clerks Week". (See Page 17)  17. Adjournment.  2    Rockingham, NC  City Council Agenda  SUPPORT DOCUMENTS  3    0 8  2  a 5I 92 2  3 8 a 5  4    UNCOLLECTED TAXES  YEAR 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014- 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008  AMOUNT 31,355.16 16,135.61 10,625.24 10,392.35 10,265.10 11,257.04 8,821.07 8,478.87 7,546.18 6,902.19 6,293.20  Apr-19  31,355.16 96,716.85 128,072.01  Total Current Year Total Past Years Total All Years  5    0 f C  8 8 8  3 9  E - I 5  0 D  # lB  8    5 00  6 7  00  o  a a B 3 1  La 8 11 4 6 3  3 C 8 A N  i U. 8    8 00 3 13    N 8 55 /  8 3  0  0  6  8 - 8  8 a    -  e  E a   3  a  3 E 8  8 1 E 8 3  3 -    8 8  5  /  -  0  - 0 6 00  8 a  E 8 a  9 8  0    4  3 00  6   B 2 o     1  8  - E a  E  a 1 I a    12    0 0  Ln 8 8 88 8  0  8 %  5  9 9 B  H <    Staff Report tol Planning and Zoning Board  Agenda Item: IV.A April 2, 2019 Issue: Jurisdiction (ETJ). Background:  Proposed ETJ Reduction: Consideration of an ordinance to relinquish portions of the City Extraterritorial  As the Mayor and City Council are aware, the City expends considerable resources annually on code enforcement activities related to public nuisances and abandoned structures. Over the last 20 years, the City's annual budget for code enforcement activities has averaged between $30,000 and $35,000 with average annual expenditures generally staying within that budget. However, since the beginning of fiscal year 2016 (3.5 fiscal years), the City has been more aggressive with code enforcement actions spending ine excess of $191,000. Even with this more aggressive approach, the City is not keeping pace with the ever-growing list of abandoned structures that need to be addressed. Compounding this problem is several of the buildings on the list are large commercial buildings in states of dilapidation that will be very expensive to demolish should the City have to do so - the cost for any one will significantly exceed the total annual budget for code enforcement. Additionally, Richmond County recently began charging the City's nuisance abatement contractor landfill tipping fees (which are billed to the City) to dispose of rubbish, garbage, and other materials cleaned from properties during the nuisance abatement process. These issues have caused City staff to reevaluate the City's code enforcement activities in an effort to  identify needed policy changes and/or more cost effective approaches.  Staff Comments:  1. The most obvious potential policy change relates to the City's jurisdictional boundaries = specifically the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). City staff believes the allocation of code enforcement resources to certain areas in the (ETJ) provides very little benefit to the City; and thus consideration should be given to relinquishing the ETJ in these areas. To understand City staff's perspective, it's important 2. The ETJ is an area outside the city limits where the city enforces its planning and zoning regulations, building codes, and laws pertaining to public nuisances, minimum housing standards, and abandoned structures. North Carolina State law authorizes the City to exercise an ETJ, but does not require the City to do SO. Residents and property owners in the ETJ do not pay city property taxes, do not vote in municipal elections and do not receive any other city services except those pertaining 3. The purpose for the City establishing and maintaining an ETJ is that the areas included are considered future growth areas and will conceivably be annexed into the city limits at some point in the future. The enforcement of the City's various land development regulations prior to annexation ensures that growth and development in the ETJ is consistent with the City's future land use plans and provides for a smoother transition after annexation. Essentially, the ETJ allows the City to 4. The ETJ is not as important as it once was to Rockingham for several reasons. When the local economy was prosperous and thriving (30+ years ago), there was considerable growth and economic development immediately surrounding the city limits; and therefore a need to regulate itin ar manner consistent with City standards. The regulation of this growth by the City was especially important because Richmond County had no zoning or land development regulations until the early  tou understand what the ETJ is and why the City chooses to have it.  to planning, zoning, and code enforcement.  exercise some foresight and plan for future growth.  14    2000's. A declining local economy for the better part of the last 30 years combined with stagnate future growth projections; and changes in State laws that significantly restrict municipal annexations 5. The City's ETJ includes multiple areas with very little, if any, growth potential or annexation value. Such areas contain no raw property suitable for new development and/or redevelopment; and no significant tax base that would make a future annexation financially feasible. These same areas suffer from varying degrees of urban blight that place a large demand on City code enforcement resources. The continued use of City taxpayer resources to maintain an ET3 in these areas with no apparent long-term benefit is questionable at best. In the opinion of City staff, the City needs to 6. To this end, City staff has prepared an ordinance to revise the City's ETJ boundaries and relinquish control in certain areas. Ar map illustrating a comparison of the existing and proposed boundaries is attached for reference. Multiple factors influenced how the revised boundaries were drawn. NCGS 160A-360 requires boundaries to be defined, to the extent feasible, by geographical features identifiable on the ground; thus every reasonable effort was made to do SO. At the same time, anticipated future growth areas including those along major highway corridors; at key highway intersections; and large tracts of undeveloped property are generally proposed to remain in the ETJ. Areas with very little future eveopmenvreleveopment potential and areas where the City has incurred considerable code enforcement expenses are proposed for exclusion from the ETJ. The proposed new ETJ boundaries represent a 12.3 percent reduction from its current size. 7. In an effort to provide some measure of the possible effect of the proposed ETJ reduction on City code enforcement activities, City staff reviewed department data for the last 3.5 years. During the period - in the entire ETJ - the City issued a total of 107 violations. These violations included Notices of Code Violation (public nuisances), Abandoned Structure/Minimum Housing Orders (dilapidated buildings) and Notices of Zoning Violation. Of these 107 violations, 72 (67 percent) are located in the areas proposed to be removed from the ETJ. Of these 72 violations, 22 were abated by the City at a total cost of approximately $27,000. As a point of reference, during the same 3.5 year time period, the total cost of abatement in all other areas of the ETJ (the remaining 87.7 8. As a side note, it is important to understand that the City's code enforcement activities are not as aggressive in the ETJ as they are inside the city limits because of limited resources. Code enforcement in the ETJ is generally complaint driven and directed at more prominent and/or significant public health and safety issues. Numerous violations go unaddressed. By comparison, inside the city limits, code enforcement will periodically canvas an entire neighborhood and address all code violations. With limited resources, prioritization is necessaryi and the taxpayers who fund 9. The process for relinquishing the City's ETJ from certain areas is relatively simple. The City Council adopts an ordinance for such and provides written notice to Richmond County. The effective date  have somewhat diminished the importance of the ETJ for Rockingham.  relinquish its ETJ in these areas.  percent) was approximately $5,100.  the City's code enforcement take priority.  for the ordinance must be a minimum of 60 days from the date of adoption.  Staff Recommendation: being October 1, 2019.  City staff recommends the Board review the proposed boundary changes to the City's ETJ in regards to the above-referenced information. If the Board is in agreement, City staff recommends the Board recommend. the City Council relinquish portions of the City's ETJ as proposed with the effective date  15    Planning Board Recommendation:  The Planning Board reviewed the request on April 2, 2019 and recommended unanimously that the City  Council relinquish the portions of the City's ETJ as proposed.  Updated Staff Recommendation:  City staff recommends the City Council relinquish the portions of the ETJ as proposed, but delay the effective date of the ordinance until January 1, 2020. Richmond County Planning Director, Tracy Parris, requested the delay in the effective date to allow for additional time to implement county zoning in the  areas.  16    ROCKINGHAM A N CITY LOOKING FORWARD Proclamation  50" ANNIVERSARY OF MUNICIPAL CEERKS WEEK  May 5- 11,2019  Whereas, The Office ofthe MunicipatClerk, a time fomoredandyltalpart of local Whereas, The Office of the MunicipalClerk is the oldest among public servants, and Whereas, The Office of fthe MunicipalClerk, provides the professional Gink between the citizens, the localgoverning bodies and agencies ofgovernment at other levels, Whereas, MunicipalClerks have pledgedto be ever mindfuloftheir? neutrality and Whereas, The MunicipalClerk serves as the information center on functions of local Whereas, MunictpalClerks continually strive to improve the administration oft the affairs of the Office ofthe Municipal Clerk throughparticpation: in education programs, seminars, workshops andthe armualmeetings of their state,provinciat, Whereas, It is most appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments ofthe Office Now, Therefore, I, M. Steven Morris, Mayor ofRockingham, do recognize the week ofMay 5 through May 11, 2019, as MunicipalClerks Week, andfurther extend appreciation to our MunicipatClerk, Sabrina y. McDonaldo andto alMunicipal Clerks for the vitalservices they.perform andtheir exemplary dedication to the  government exists throughout the world, and  and  impartiality, rendering equalservice to all.  government andcommunity.  county amfintematiomapmafasiomafogantsatiom:  ofthe MunicipatClerk.  communities they represent.  Datedthis Mayor  day of  2019  Attest:  M. Steven Morris  Sabrina y. McDonald, CMC  City Clerk  514 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, NC 28379 * Phone 17 895 9088 Fax (910) 997 6617 www.gorockingham.com    DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITY REPORTS  for  COUNCIL'S INFORMATION  18    ROCKINGHAM A cmy LOOKING FORWARD  Rockingham Police Department  W.D. Kelly, Chiefof1 Police To: Monty Crump phon  W. D. Kelly Chief of Police Date: May 2, 2019 Ref: April Activity Report  On behalf of the Rockingham Police Department, Ia am pleased to submit this report for your consideration. The following activities have been undertaken by officers of the Rockingham Police Department.  Total Calls for the Month: Public Service Calls - INCLUDES (Animal Control Calls, Escorts, Alarms, Unlocks and Battery Boosts) Charges Generating Arrest: Felonies: Misdemeanors: Drug Violations: Juvenile: Warrants Served: Citations:  1891 365  61 71 4 14 112 133 38 4 43 118  Accidents eported/Investyated: Property Damage only: Personal Injury: Officer Hours Spent in Court: Officer Training Hours Logged Items of Interest  We hope everyone had a Happy and Blessed Easter Holiday! We want to wish all the students good luck on exams and hope they all have a safe and fun summer! A warm  Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!!  Happys Môthers Day  311E. Franklin Street, Rockingham, N.C. 28379 Phone (919 95-2468. Fax (910) 895-08991 ngorcknphaompicom    GKINGHAM  FIRE CHIEF HAROLDI ISLER ADMIN.ASST. KRISTYPLAYER  FIREI DEPT April-19  We are pleased to submit the monthly fire report on the activities undertaken by the Rockingham  Fire Department during the month of April 2019.  Total Alarms: Turn In Alarms: Wrecks: Service Call: Power line down: 2 Smoke scare: Electrical:  32 1 11 1 0 4  In Town: Silent Alarms: Alarm Malf: Assist Police: Assist Ems: Water rescue: Cooking:  31 31 8 0 0 0 0  Out of Town: Structure fire: Good Intent: Trash/outside fire: 2 Unauthorized burn: 0 Vehicle fire: Mutual Aid:  1 1 2 0 0  Hours Spent on Calls: 10 hours 12 minutes Total Property Exposed to Fire: Total Property Damaged by Fire: Total Property Saved:  $8,500.00 $8,500.00 $0.00  During the month of April members of the fire department averaged 34 training hours per person; part-paid members averaged 7 hours per person for the month.  Public Life & Safety: -Installed 3 car seats  -All city employees completed CPR training at the fire station -Participated in Career Day at Rockingham Middle School  -Sparky visited Mt. Olive Child Care  Respectfully Submitted, MWpt Harold Isler Fire Chief  20  231 S. LAWRENCE ST. ROCKINGHAM, NC 28379 1 910-997-4002    ROCKINGHAM A NOR CITY LOOKING FORWARD  To: From: Date: Subject:  Monty Crump, City Manager Dave Davis, Recreation Director  May 6, 2019 Activity Report  The following is an up-date on various activities involving our Recreation  Department:  Youth Baseball/Softball - We have just over 375 children participating in these two programs for this coming season. The age range is 4-12 and we have six total leagues for boys and girls. League play begins Thursday May 16th.  Summer - Registration for our summer programs of Day Camp and Swimming Lessons began Wednesday, May 1st. Day Camp will be in session Monday,June 10th through Friday, August gth. The cost is $65.00 per week. Swimming Lessons are divided into three sessions each lasting two weeks. The first session begins  Monday,June 17th. The cost is $40.00.  Lifeguard Training - Red Cross Lifeguard, First Aid, and CPR will conducted at  Browder Park May 13th- May 22th.  Browder Park Pool - Depending on the weather and availability of lifeguards we plan to open the first of next month. Also, this will be the forty-first year of operation for our swimming pool. Over the past several months we have done serveral mechanical and cosmetic improvements to improve the over: all experience for our patrons. We will have pictures to submit at a later date.  514 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, NC 28379 Phone (v, 21 895 9088 Fax (910) 997 6617 - "wwgeroctingham.con