City Council Minutes Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Morehead City, North Carolina The Honorable Council ofMorehead City held its Regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in the Council Chambers at City Hall located at 1100 Bridges Street, Morehead City, North Carolina. COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Gerald A. Jones, Jr.; Councilmembers Richard Abell, George Ballou, Lee Stiles, and William Taylor. Councilmember Harvey Walker was absent due to illness. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Chris Turner, City Attorney Derek Taylor, Finance Director/Assistant City Manager Jewel Lasater, Public Services Director/Assistant City Manager Daniel Williams, Police Chief Bryan Dixon, Fire-EMS Chief Courtney Wade, Deputy Fire-EMS Chief Kane Johnson, Assistant Chief/EMS Coordinator Kelly Howey, Fire Marshal/Assistant Chief Jason Baker, Captain/Assistant Fire Marshal Bobby Stephens, Human Resources Director Kristen Flexer, Information Technology Director Matthew Goodwin, Public Information Officer Anna Smith, Assistant Finance Director Leeann Vinson, Revenue Officer Tiffany Riggs, Special Events Officer Victoria Veith, Grants Manager Kelli Jones, Administrative Support Manager Morgan Gilbert, Library Manager Danijela Mitchell, Revenue Collections Tech Sandy Judy, Public Services GIS Specialist Nick Cunningham, Police Officer Ashton Braswell, City Clerk Cathy Campbell, and several other members oft the Morehead City Fire- EMS Department. OTHERS PRESENT: Todd Wetherington of the Carteret County News-Times, Abby Weiser of Downtown Morehead City, Inc., Elena, Sasha, & Kiera Baker, Holly Fletcher, Rick Goff, and Sophia Smith. Mayor Jones called the Regular meeting of the Morehead City 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. PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITIONS Administering the Oath ofOffice for Fire Marshal Jason Baker Morehead City Regular Council Meeting March 11, 2025 1 Mayor Jones administered the oath of office for Fire Marshal Jason Baker with his wife, Elena, holding the Bible and his daughters, Sasha and Kiera, by his side. Mayor Jones stated that Fire Marshal Baker started his career in Morehead City and has returned home. 2025 General Reappraisal Presentation by the Carteret County Tax Department City Manager Chris Turner introduced Carteret County's Process Improvement Consultant Kim Simpson, who served as the former Tax Administrator for Durham County and a professor for the University of North Carolina School of Government. He advised the City Council that Staff has not received value files from the County, therefore, they will not be able to report on the reappraisal's impact to the City. Ms. Simpson added that she began her career in Beaufort, N.C. and worked in Morehead City for three (3) years before moving to Durham County. She explained that the delay in reporting values is due to the County's thorough review to ensure accuracy following a software conversion. The County is very close to finalizing the numbers and are committed to providing them next week. The reappraisal became effective January 1, 2025. Notices usually lag a bit past this date to allow time for all end of year deeds to be processed. Ms. Simpson stated that the County has invested a lot of time and money into improving the process, including customer service. Notices will be mailed to the public no later than March 26, 2025. However, invoices will not be mailed until August 2025, after municipalities have had the opportunity to set their current tax rate based upon the appraisal values. Ms. Simpson explained the reappraisal process stating that the County is on a four (4) year cycle but was delayed one year due to the software conversion. Property is appraised at the current market value, which is based on sales in the marketplace, taking improvements into consideration. Itis understood that Carteret County had not previously visited all 62,000+ parcels for over 20 years. This has now been accomplished, and such will cause the values to change not only for the market value, but also because of the addition of components that have been added to properties that were: not previously taxed. Typically, this is due to structures being built without a permit. Ms. Simpson reported that a reappraisal distributes the tax burden across all jurisdictions within the county, and Carteret County is currently valued at the 2020 appraisal rate. The County has also examined every real estate deed to determine if they are qualified or unqualified as specified by the State. Unqualified deeds include foreclosures, short-sales, and sales between family members. Carteret County's market is "hot" with no property values diminishing. Ms. Simpson advised that there are some relief programs available for seniors, veterans, and the disabled and she provided brochures to be distributed. She stated that property owners are the auditors ofthe process and should not be afraid to submit an appeal. She then provided a three (3)-step process for reviewing aj property's value: 1) go to the website provided on the valuation mailing, pull up the property card and review the characteristics to ensure they are correct, 2) review the Morehead City Regular Council Meeting March 11, 2025 2 comparable sales used to determine the property's value, and 3) if not happy, file an appeal. Ms. Simpson explained that appraisals are conducted from the exterior of the home and what may appear to be heated, livable space from the outside may be a windowed attic or extended garage space. When appealing, share any resent appraisals that may have been obtained for a refinance or other purpose. She cautioned against becoming overly concerned about the tax base percentage, as property values will change based on location; the overall percentage will not be applied directly to every property within the county. Mr. Turner repeated the key dates provided during the presentation as: January 1, 2025, Effective date of reappraisal March 26, 2025, Notice of values mailed to property owners April 7, 2025, Board of Equalization & Review convenes May 2, 2025, Board of Equalization & Review concludes at 5:00 p.m. August 2025, Invoices are mailed to property owners Mayor Jones thanked Ms. Simpson for coming and sharing information with the Council. 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 Abell made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as presented. Councilmember Ballou seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. (4-0) Included within the Consent Agenda were the following approvals: A. Approve the minutes of the February 11, 2025, Regular Council meeting as presented. B. Accept the Finance Director and Tax Collection Reports as presented. C. Accept the Estimated Fund Balance Report as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. D. Accept the February 2025 Grant report as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. E. Adopt Budget Ordinance Amendment 2025-05 as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. F. Adopt Governmental Capital Project Budget Ordinance Amendment 2025-06 as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. Morehead City Regular Council Meeting March 11, 2025 3 G. Accept the Summary Financial Statements 07/01/24 to 12/31/2024 as of February 28, 2025, as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. H. Approve the Personnel Table amendment within Facilities & Grounds Management by converting three (3) part-time Parks Maintenance Worker positions to one (1) full-time Parks Maintenance Supervisor position as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. I. Adopt Resolution 2025-R-10 endorsing the Reelin' for Research, Inc. Fishing Tournament and authorizing action necessary for the event to be held May 1-4, 2025, as presented and recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee. J. Adopt Resolution 2025-R-11 endorsing the "Alive at Five" events and authorizing action necessary for the events to be held June 27, July 25, August 15, September 18, and October 23, 2025, with alternate dates of August 1, August 29, and October 16, 2025, as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee and the Public Services Committee. K. Adopt Resolution 2025-R-12 Endorsing the Big Rock Kids Billfish Fishing Tournament and authorizing action necessary for the event to be held July 9-12, 2025, on the Morehead City waterfront as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee and the Public Services Committee. L. Adopt Resolution 2025-R-13 endorsing the Big Rock/Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament and authorizing action necessary for the event to be held June 6-15, 2025, on the Morehead City waterfront as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee and the Public Services Committee. M. Adopt Resolution 2025-R-14 approving application to the NC. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant program in support ofthe purchase of23 acres of riparian shoreline along the Spooners Creek's shoreline that will reserve the property for passive recreation as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. N. Adopt Resolution 2025-R-15 approving application to the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament grant program to purchase protective Modular Vehicle Barrier (MVB) 3X equipment for the Police Department as presented and recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee. The above ordinances are filed in Ordinance Book #10; Resolutions are attached to and made a part ofthe minutes herein. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Morehead City Regular Council Meeting March 11, 2025 4 Mr. Turner had nothing new to report at this time. CITIZEN REQUESTS/COMMENTS (3 Minute Time Limit) Rick Goff, no address given: Mr. Goff shared that he has been observing the areas where walkways are damaged along the waterfront and discovered that the damage is being caused by heavy forklifts that are used to unload bluefish from the fishing boats. He proposed that the businesses operating the boats and forklifts should be made to pay for the damage they are causing SO that repairs can be made quickly, returning the sidewalks to safe passageways for pedestrians. He also questioned why Council meetings are not being uploaded to the City's website, meeting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirement making them accessible to all citizens, including those unable to physically attend meetings. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Abell extended congratulations to Fire Marshal Jason Baker and extended appreciation to Ms. Simpson for her presentation. Councilmember Taylor reiterated Councilmember Abell's comments. Councilmember Stiles agreed with the former comments and thanked Mr. Goff for coming forward, adding that he had been advocating for electronically shared Council meetings since his election. Councilmember Ballou also extended congratulations to Fire Marshal Jason Baker and extended appreciation to Ms. Simpson for her presentation. APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 11, 2025, CLOSED SESSION MINUTES AS PRESENTED After a silent review of the minutes, Councilmember Stiles made a motion to approve the February 11, 2025, Closed Session minutes as presented. Councilmember Taylor seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. (4-0) ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to discuss, Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m. Gerald) Jones,Jr, Mayor Attest: - à CIT Daclus Canpbul Cathy Campbelt,City Clerk Morehead City Regular Council Meeting March 11, 2025 5 4