TOWN OF DUCK TOWN COUNCIL MID-MONTH MEETING January 15, 2025 The Town Council for the Town of Duck convened at the Paul F. Keller Meeting Hall at COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Don Kingston; Mayor Pro Tempore Monica Thibodeau; Councilor Sandy Whitman; Councilor Brenda Chasen; and Councilor Kevin 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Lingard. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None. OTHERS PRESENT: Town Manager Drew Havens, Town Attorney Robert Hobbs; Director of Community Development Joseph Heard; Police Sergeant Joseph Knight; Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Dudek; Public Information and Events Director Kristiana Nickens; Finance. Administrator Lauren Creech; and Deputy Town Clerk Christy Hanks. OTHERS ABSENT: Police Chief Jeffrey Ackerman and Town Clerk Lori Ackerman. Mayor Kingston called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. VISION 2032 PROGRESS REPORT Public Information and Events Director Kristiana Nickens was recognized to speak. Director Nickens gave a short presentation on the progress of the Town's Vision 2023 to Council and the audience. Mayor Kingston thanked Director Nickens for her presentation. GOALSI PLANNING SESSION Town Manager Drew Havens was recognized to speak. Town Manager Havens stated that this meeting was Council's 2025/2026, looking into 2027 priority setting session, as well as starting on the Fiscal 2026 budget season. He noted that this would be the first interaction that staff have with Council as they begin to think about preparing the annual Town Manager Havens stated that Vision 2032 had six unifying principles in order to frame where Council currently was. He stated that this meeting was primarily for staff to hear from Council what they want to accomplish in the coming year. He stated that Council would be discussing goals, how they set them, and what they do with them. Town Manager Havens stated that Council would be discussing some next level goals as well as thinking about where they would fall under the six unifying principles. He noted budget. 1 that each principle has goals assigned to it and hoped that Council was thinking about the goals they wanted to bring forward that would reflect not only the three-to-five-year goals, but what they wanted staff to focus on in the coming year. He noted that it was important for staff to know that as the draft budget is prepared SO that they are doing things that are responsive to what Council believes to be the most important with the understanding that staff could do just about anything Council wanted but they could not Town Manager Havens stated that the six unifying principles were as follows: do everything because the Town is resource limited. 1. Duck and Our Village 2. Enhanced Movability 3. Environmental Stewardship 4. Active, Engaged Community 5. Vibrant, Thriving Business Community 6. Responsive and Responsible Leadership Town Manager Havens asked Council if they had any questions about the six unifying principles. There being none, he stated that each Council member would state and explain one idea for the six unifying principles and then move onto the next for three rounds. After that, Council would be discussing things and then vote on what they thought were Councilor Lingard stated that, even though it wasn't new, it was something that a lot of people have been talking about, which was the west side Duck Trail. He understood that ith had been shelved last year, but he thought Council should prioritize that, particularly since there would be a lot of demands on the capital expenditures because of the recent Herron property purchase. He pointed out that he would like to push that aside for now, adding that people have told him that the west side trail will be ai fantastic thing to do. He thought it should go under Enhanced Movability. Town Manager Havens clarified that Councilor Lingard wanted to prioritize the design and construction of the west side trail. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that she wanted to start with working to get some plans for the new property; something that was simple but meaningful in order to take advantage of the property in the short-term. She thought it would go under Environmental Stewardship or Responsive and Responsible Leadership. Town Manager Havens suggested that it go under Duck and Our Village. Mayor Kingston agreed. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau suggested that it be worded as such: Plan simple but meaningful improvement for the new property. Town Manager Havens suggested that it be: Plan simple and meaningful improvements to the Herron property. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that she was fine with the suggested bullet point. Mayor Kingston stated that he wanted to start with maintain or grow the Fund Balance with no or minimal tax increase for fiscal responsibility. Town Manager Havens thought the most important. Councilor Lingard stated he was correct. 2 itw would go under Responsive and Responsible Leadership. He suggested the bullet point Councilor Whitman stated that he wanted to start with pursuing the construction of the Public Safety Building. Town Manager Havens thought it should go under Responsive and Responsible Leadership and should be worded as follows: Aggressively pursue the Councilor Chasen asked if coverage needed tol be increased with regard to the cameras in Town. She thought there was an incident where there was vandalism and the Town did not have enough coverage. She stated that she would like to see the coverage area increased for Public Safety. Town Manager Havens clarified that it should be as follows: Expand the Public Safety and street camera network. Councilor Chasen stated that it was fine. Town Manager Havens asked where it should go. Councilor Chasen thought it Councilor Lingard stated that Council looked last year at a Code Enforcement Officer, but because of budget constraints, it did not come to fruition. He wondered if it could be looked at more creatively and maybe aj position could be created which could be filled by off-duty police officers or fire personnel who know the Town and could do it on a flexible voter basis rather than having a fixed person who would have to be paid by the Town all year. He thought code enforcement varied throughout the year, adding that a position could be created which could be filled by several people within the existing organization. Town Manager Havens suggested it be worded as follows: Explore creative solutions for code enforcement duties. He thought it would be under Responsive and Responsible Leadership. He asked if Councilor Lingard wanted it put somewhere else. Councilor Lingard stated that Responsive and Responsible Leadership would be fine. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau clarified that it was a governance thing. Town Manager Havens stated that it was as it would be for the entire community and not just Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that she was in favor of shoreline stabilization and thought it would go under Environmental Stewardship. She explained that it was Town project updates and ways to educate the public to understand the challenges. She asked if this was listed last year. Town Manager Havens suggested it be advance shoreline work to protect the park and serve as an example for owners. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau pointed out that the Town did have a project that will commence in this fiscal year, but moving forward to continually completing the projects and having that example piece would be meaningful for a lot of residents and owners. Town Manager Havens asked if the same. language could be used for this year. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that Mayor Kingston stated he wanted a repeat of last year in that he thought there needed to be a continued investigation and plan of more parking and restrooms in the park. He noted that the restrooms should not be in the parking lot but near the green, which could overlap with what Council decides to develop with the Herron property. He reiterated read: Maintain or grow the Fund Balance with little or no tax increase. Public Safety building solutions. could go under Duck and Our Village. the Village area. itc could, adding that it serves as an example for the owners in Town. 3 that Council needed to address the issue of parking and restrooms. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau clarified that Mayor Kingston was talking about the park property. Mayor Kingston stated she was correct. Town Manager Havens suggested using the same wording as last year - investigate more parking and restrooms in the park = and have it Councilor Whitman stated he wanted to maintain the infrastructure and keep up with the maintenance of the buildings and the park. Town Manager Havens suggested the following: maintain the Town facilities and infrastructure. Councilor Whitman thought it Councilor Chasen stated that Council discussed it before, but she wanted to add the ferry through Harbourtown Cruises. She asked if there was anything that could be looked into to see if that was a viable option to get traffic from Manteo to Duck and back via the water. Town Manager Havens noted that the provider has had issues, adding that it was something worth exploring if Councilor Chasen wanted to add it. Councilor Chasen thought it was worth looking into because it was another way to get the traffic off Duck Road. She added that she had had several conversations with residents and visitors, both in Duck and in Manteo, and there seemed to be a great deal of interest in the ferry, but she wasn't sure how to implement a solution. Town Manager Havens thought the Visitors Bureau would fund something like this. Councilor Lingard asked if it could be less specific. He thought that rather than it being Duck to Manteo, have it as a ferry service in general. He added that if someone could run a ferry from Powell's Point to Duck on a weekend, it would solve a lot of staffing issues for the restaurants. Councilor Chasen agreed. Councilor Lingard thought Councilor Chasen's suggestion should be changed to just ferry services and not be sO specific. Town Manager Havens clarified that it would go under Enhanced Movability. Councilor Chasen stated he was correct. Town Manager Havens suggested it be worded as follows: explore passenger ferry Councilor Lingard stated that he wanted to defer his final choice until after he heard Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that she was in favor of improving and encouraging participation and engagement with the business community, which was an item from last year. Councilor Lingard stated that he would have chosen that item. Town Manager Havens noted that it was under Thriving Business Community. Councilor Lingard thought Duck the Halls was an initiative of the business community Mayor Kingston stated that he was favor of continuing the stormwater management program. Town Manager Havens clarified that it was continue the stormwater management program, further clarifying that it should be under Environmental under Duck and Our Village. should go under Responsive and Responsible Leadership. options. Councilor Chasen stated that it was fine. Mayor Pro Tempore's choice. and was great. He thought that kind of thing should be encouraged. Stewardship. Mayor Kingston stated he was correct. 4 Councilor Whitman stated that his last choice was to enforce the SUPS and ordinances in Town. He pointed out that Council had discussed a temporary ordinance officer, but he didn't see it on the list. Mayor Kingston asked if it was part of the looking at new solutions for enforcement. Deputy Town Clerk Christy Hanks was recognized to speak. Deputy Town Clerk Hanks pointed out that it was under Duck and Our Village. Town Manager Havens noted that there was one for exploring creative solutions for code enforcement. He suggested the following addition: support creative solutions for code enforcement and continue efforts to enforce SUPS. Mayor Kingston suggested adding "and ordinances" to the code enforcement point. Town Manager Havens suggested the following language: continued enforcement of SUPS and ordinances to the code Councilor Whitman stated that his last choice would be to understand the changes in demographics in Duck. Town Manager Havens asked where it should go. Councilor Whitman thought it should go under Responsive and Responsible Leadership. Town Manager Havens pointed out that last year it was monitor and understand the changes in demographics in Duck, which was under Responsive and Responsible Leadership. Councilor Chasen stated that her last choice was to share the history of the Town. She explained that it had already started with the horse, which put the Town in a good position, adding that Public Information and Events Director Kristiana Nickens has obtained some grants in order to tell some of the video stories. She thought last year there was something in the budget to erect signs/historical markers, adding that she wanted to push that in order to share and communicate with the public more. She noted that it was on the list last year under Active Engaged Community. Town Manager Havens suggested Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that her last choice was housing, adding that she wanted to support the efforts of the Dare Housing Taskforce. She pointed out that people have said that there was no such thing as affordable housing, adding that Duck has the highest mean value of any town, but she thought there were more creative ways. She noted that the Town got ahead ofi it way before other towns did with the ADU ordinance and thought it could be revisited again if it was more doable on existing properties. She stated that she wanted to word it as such: supporting the Dare Housing Taskforce and actively look for solutions in Duck. Town Manager Havens thought it would be under Responsive and Responsible Leadership. He thought it should read as follows: support the work of the Dare Housing Taskforce and explore creative solutions for workforce housing in Duck. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that it was fine. Mayor Kingston stated that he wanted to add another item, adding that he thought the Town needed to continue to address the traffic issues and support the Mid-Currituck Bridge. Town Manager Havens asked if it was on the list last year. Mayor Kingston stated that last year it was a multi-jurisdictional task force on traffic issues. He thought the Town needed to continue to address traffic issues. Town Manager Havens suggested it be worded as follows: continue to address traffic issues and support the construction of enforcement point. Councilor Whitman stated that was fine. itb be worded as share the history of the Town. the Mid-Currituck Bridge. 5 Councilor Whitman asked if he could add the pedestrian plan to Mayor Kingston's 's item. Mayor Kingston thought it was already on the list. Councilor Whitman stated that it wasn't on any of the lists. Town Manager Havens stated that Council had added prioritizing construction of the sidewalk. Councilor Whitman stated that he meant the entire Town and not one section. Mayor Kingston thought it should be added to the existing point. Town Manager Havens stated that it could be added to the existing point. Councilor Whitman pointed out that on the goals of the Vision, it listed safety of crosswalk improvements. Town Manager Havens stated it was part of the pedestrian plan. Councilor Whitman agreed and wanted to know where it was discussed. Town Manager Havens explained that there were two projects that were coming up one by Wee Winks and the other by Towne Bank. Director of Community Development Joseph Heard was recognized to speak. Director Heard stated there were different crosswalks = one by Scarborough and staff was waiting on approval from NCDOT. Town Manager Havens noted that those projects were listed as ready to go and were part of the work that VHB did for the Town a couple of years ago. He added that, as Director Heard had noted, the Town is waiting on NCDOT to give the approval. He clarified that the wording for the point should be as follows: prioritize the design and construction of the west side trail Councilor Chasen stated that Council had discussed putting up signs on the boardwalk that were unique to a geographic location sO that if something happens, a person could call and say what sign they were near. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau thought it was already in the plan from last year. She asked ifi it was in addition to the historic signage. Councilor Chasen stated that it was, adding that it was more for safety SO Public Safety personnel could find people. Town Manager Havens suggested that he work with staff on that, adding that existing signs were labeled geographically but staff did not have the graphics. He added that it was something that was brought up to former Public Information and Events Director Christian Legner, but nothing ever came ofit. He noted that there were some challenges to it in terms of communication with the first responders, Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau thought it may be good to hear from Public Safety on the signage with regard to people calling and stating that they did not know where they were in Town. Town Manager Havens stated that there were big signs with landmarks to let people know where they are. He thought it may be a matter of making them a little more prominent and visible as well as having some interim signs for in between places where one can't see the existing signs to have some sort of communication. He noted that staff will work on it. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau suggested putting a red 911 sign next to the signs for people to identify where they are. Councilor Whitman pointed out that this Town Manager Havens suggested that Council discuss the items they had chosen as and implementation oft the pedestrian plan under Enhanced Movability. adding that he would put it on his list to discuss with staff. would be ai moot point if the Town obtains the rest of the cameras. priorities. 6 Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau thought with the shoreline stabilization, Council needed to effect it, make it happen, and learn from it. She stated that she saw that happening with Director Heard, Senior Planner Sandy Cross and VHB going out and talking to other communities about their successes and the recognition the Town has received from the State planning group. She pointed out that it was a tangible example of what the Town has been able to do. She added that she wanted tol be able to translate that into things that citizens could and could not do. She thought being able to share what the Town was learning, understanding the challenges, and receiving updates was important. She stated that it was her reason for wanting the shoreline stabilization because it goes with helping Mayor Kingston thought everyone needed to continue to understand that the role of Council was to put the strategic objectives in place and not to get tactical on their discussions. He pointed out that this meeting was really to give Town Manager Havens direction to put together the tactical plans within the organization and then have further discussion. He thought Council needed to keep that in mind as they look at these goals moving forward because they needed to be strategic to give direction and not necessarily Councilor Whitman stated that he would like the rest of Council to vote for maintaining and growing the Fund Balance SO if an emergency arose, the Town would have the funds Councilor Chasen stated that she wanted to support aggressively finding a solution for Councilor Lingard thought there was an item that did not receive any votes last year that could be done with little or no cost to the Town, especially if the Town could receive sponsorships, which was the shared history of the Town. He thought people would be happy to sponsor the boards, especially if it was about the building they were in. He reiterated that it was something that could be easily done with little or no cost to the Town. He added that he didn'tthink: it would get any votes this year but it was something he was in favor of. Councilor Chasen pointed out that there has been a lot ofi information received already, adding that it would be a matter of making it happen. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau thought there were some restrictions on that in that the Town ran into it when it wanted to get the banners for the power poles, adding that businesses contributed their names under the banners. She stated that it was found out that advertising was not allowed on the banners. She wasn'tsure what the signs would be but reiterated that the Town had trouble doing it before. She added that if it was on private Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau stated that she wanted to support the housing issues. She thought Council needed to be thinking outside the box because the Town was not making any more land and thought some innovative things could be accomplished in Duck while carry the citizens along with the educational piece. solutions. to take care ofit. Public Safety, adding that she understood she was beating a dead horse. property, it would be a great idea to do it that way. maintaining the character with al little creativity. 7 Council went on to vote on what priorities they felt were the most important. Town Manager Havens explained that he did not have a tally to project, but wanted to give Council what they voted on: Tied for first place were the goals: Maintain and grow the fund balance with little or no tax increase and Aggressively pursue Public Safety building solutions, each The second highest goal was Prioritize the design and construction of the west side pedestrian trail and implementation of the pedestrian plan with a score of5. The third highest goal was to Maintain Town facilities and infrastructure with a The fourth highest goal was to Plan simple and meaningful improvements to the with a score of7. score of5. Herron property with a score of4. Town Manager Havens stated that he would have the full tally in order to Council by Mayor Kingston stated that there was one more item of business. He turned the meeting Town Attorney Robert Hobbs was recognized to speak. Town Attorney Hobbs stated that at Council's last meeting, they voted to schedule a public hearing for February 5, 2025 for proposed Ordinance 24-06, which has to do with amusement arcades. He stated that it has become known that there may be some Council member absences for the February 5, 2025 and March 5, 2025 meetings. He pointed that there seemed to be some interest in potentially rescheduling the public hearing in order to have all five Council members present during the meeting where the public hearing would be held. He understood that staff had checked with the applicant who submitted the amendment and he was okay with postponing the hearing in order to allow proposed all five Council members to be present for it. He suggested that Council make a motion to Mayor Kingston asked if this was at the request of the applicant. Town Manager Havens Councilor Chasen moved to reschedule the public hearing on proposed Ordinance 24-06 January 16,2025. He thanked Council for their work on the goals. over to Town Attorney Robert Hobbs. reschedule the public hearing to their. April 2, 2025 meeting. stated that it was. from February 5, 2025 to. April 2, 2025. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Kingston thanked Town Manager Havens for the exercise. He noted that the next meeting would be the Regular Meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. 8 ADJOURNMENT Councilor Whitman moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The time was 2:22 p.m. Town Clerk chk Don Kingston, Mayor ES TOWNZ DUCK NOKTIICAROLINA 9