3/31/25, 11:07 AM City Council Special Meeting - 1833 MINUTES City Council Special Meeting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2025 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472 The City Council Special Meeting of the City of Whiteville was called to order on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., at 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472. 1) ROLL CALL PRESENT: Terry Mann, Kevin Williamson, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Joshua Harris, Helen B Holden, and Vickie Pait ABSENT: None. OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Darren Currie, City Manager; Heather Dowless, City Clerk; Colburn Brown, Finance Director; Robert Lewis, Planning Director; Hal Lowder, Emergency Services Director; Rachel Rivenbark, Human Resources Director; Blake Spivey, Parks and Recreation Director; Madison Ward, Economic Development Director; Joseph Williams (The News Reporter) 2) CALL TO ORDER Call to Order by Mayor Mann at 5:30 p.m. 3) BUDGET WORKSHOP 3.1) Parks and Recreation Budget Presentation (Blake Spivey, Parks and Recreation Director) Blake Spivey, Parks and Recreation Director, presented Council with the Parks and Recreation Budget Presentation for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Council was provided with a review of the Parks and Recreation programs for 2024-2025, including T-Ball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Summer Basketball, Youth Football, Youth Football Camp, Winter Basketball, Dixie Boys Baseball, Volleyball Camp, and Pickleball Camp. Council was also provided with a review of the 2025 Travel Ball, Tournament, Game Schedule. Currently, the Parks and Recreation Department has 10 Travel Ball tournaments scheduled for 2025. The department hosts Columbus Christian Academy's home softball games. The department prepares fields for approximately 160+ games for Dixie Youth Baseball, Dixie Boys Baseball, Dixie Softball, T-Ball, and Central Middle School. The department, along with Wolfpack Optimist, will be hosting this year's AA District Tournament at Optimist Park. Mr. Spivey provided Council with a review of the parks and facilities that are maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department. There are 10 total parks/green spaces, including Recreation Center Complex, Nolan Park, Felix Smith Park, West Whiteville Park, Optimist Park, Doc Currie Park, Oliver Square, Lewis Smith, Mollies Branch Greenway, and Susan Smith Greenway. There are approximately 60+ acres and 1.5 miles of greenways. The Parks and Recreation Department also maintains the Recreation Center and Vineland Station Depot. The department assists with decorating the City of Whiteville for the Holiday Season. The department also is responsible for watering the plants in the downtown area. https/whiteville. aranicus. com/MinutesViewer: pho?clio id=296&doc -b700178085a-0a056a946 1/4 3/31/25, 11:07 AM City Council Special Meeting The Parks and Recreation Department assists with events organized by the City's Economic Development Department. These events include the Christmas Extravaganza, Music on Madison, and the Pecan Harvest Music Festival. Mr. Spivey presented Council with the Budget Requests for the Parks and Recreation Department. This was presented as a 5-Year Plan. During Year 1 (FY 2026), the department is requesting funds for: -Fencing at the Recreation Center -Parking Lot Reseal -Concrete and Turf for Batting Cages -Water Fountains at Parks -Ice Machine The requests for Year 1 total $103,000. During Year 2 (FY 2027), the department is requesting funds for: -Skatepark Design -Sound System for Press Box -West Whiteville Park Expansion -Staff (1 Additional) -Commercial Mowers -Nolan Park Playground -Truck The requests for Year 2 total $183,000. During Year 3 (FY 2028), the department is requesting funds for: FootballSoccer Field Lights -Playground at Recreation Center Pickleball Courts -West Whiteville Park Playground -PARTF Grant The requests for Year 3 total $1,060,000. During Year 4 (FY 2029), the department is requesting funds for: -Commercial Mowers -Felix Smith Park Playground The requests for Year 4 total $56,000. During Year 5 (FY 2030), the department is requesting funds for: -Nolan Park Ballfield Lights -Doc Currie Park Playground -ABI Force Grant The requests for Year 51 total $370,000. Mr. Spivey noted there were some of these items that could be grant eligible, including: -FootballSoccer Field Lights Playground at Recreation Center -Pickleball Courts -PARTF Grant 3.2) Economic Development Budget Presentation (Madison Ward, Economic Development Director) Madison Ward, Economic Development Director, presented Council with the Economic DevabpmenwopcAmeland Budget Presentation for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Council was provided with a review of the Economic DavabpmenwoDcWmeand programs for 2024-2025, including the Annual Community Meeting, the Summer Concert Series, the North Carolina Main Street Workshop, Dancing with the Vineland Stars, the Halloween Costume Party, the North Carolina Pecan Music Festival, and the Christmas Extravaganza. Renovations are underway at Vineland Station. The roundabout at the intersection of Madisonl.eelFrankin Streets has been approved for funding by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Carbon Reduction funds. The roundabout at the Columbus/Madison intersection has been applied for funding with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The Provalus project is moving forward in the former httos: llwhiteville. aranicus. com/MinutesVlewer. pho?clio id=296&doc id-bf70017e-0e3a-10-9554-005056289546 214 3/31/25, 11:07 AM City Council Special Meeting The News Reporter building, which is currently under construction. The City is moving forward with the new downtown park as well. This project should go out to bid soon. Council was presented with the Plans for 2025-2026. These plans include the continuation of Music in the Alley, Music on Madison, Halloween in Downtown at Vineland Station, and the Downtown Christmas Extravaganza. Ms. Ward stated the department plans to host its own wedding expo at the Vineland Station Depot. There are plans for a fundraiser for Vineland Station Depot and an enhancement project for the west end of the Depot. Ms. Ward noted fundraisers, sponsorships, vendor fees, parade application fees, etc. will help offset these costs. Ms. Ward presented Council with the Budget Requests for the Economic Devecpmenwoocmeand Department. This was presented as a 5- Year Plan. During Year 1 (FY 2026), the department is requesting funds for: -New Holiday Decorations for Downtown -Putting Up and Taking Down Decorations and Maintenance of Lighting -Music in the Alley Concerts and Music on Madison landscapngMantenane for Flower Pots Downtown -Downtown WiFi (Under Contract) -Downtown Façade Grants -Refurbish the Madison Man Mural near the Arts Council (and possibly discuss other murals in town) The requests for Year 1 total $79,500. During Year 2 (FY 2027), the department is requesting funds for: -New Holiday Decorations for Downtown -Putting Up and Taking Down Decorations and Maintenance of Lighting -Music in the Alley Concerts and Music on Madison LandscapngMantenance for Flower Pots Downtown -Downtown WiFi (Under Contract) -Downtown Façade Grants -Painted Decorative Crosswalks Downtown -New Black Skirt for Portable Stage, Stage Dolly for Transportation, Steps with Railing -Apply for PARTF Grant for the New Downtown Park (50/50 Match) The requests for Year 2 total $582,000. During Year 3 (FY 2028), the department is requesting funds for: -New Holiday Decorations for Downtown -Putting Up and Taking Down Decorations and Maintenance of Lighting -Music in the Alley Concerts and Music on Madison landscapngManenance for Flower Pots Downtown -Downtown WiFi (Under Contract) -Downtown Façade Grants -New Downtown Terrace Benches and New Downtown Trash Cans -New Wayfinding Signage throughout Downtown -Installed Heaters and Flame Retardant Tarps -New Commercial RefrigeratorfFreezer: in Kitchen at Depot -Edison Lights, Planted Pots, and Picnic Tables at West End of Depot The requests for Year 3 total $149,500. During Year 4 (FY 2029), the department is requesting funds for: -New Holiday Decorations for Downtown -Putting Up and Taking Down Decorations and Maintenance of Lighting -Music in the Alley Concerts and Music on Madison landscapnglMantenance for Flower Pots Downtown -Downtown WiFi (Under Contract) -Downtown Façade Grants -Banners to go on Light Poles Downtown (Seasonal) The requests for Year 4 total $84,500. During Year 5 (FY 2030), the department is requesting funds for: -New Holiday Decorations for Downtown -Putting Up and Taking Down Decorations and Maintenance of Lighting -Music in the Alley Concerts and Music on Madison https:/whiteville. aranicus. com/MinutesViewer: pho?clio id=296&doc 6-670017e0a3m-110.9554.005055489546 3/4 3/31/25, 11:07/ AM City Council Special Meeting LandscapnglMantenance for Flower Pots Downtown -Downtown WiFi (Under Contract) -Downtown Façade Grants -Downtown Master Plan Streetscape Project Phase I The requests for Year 51 total $3,073,000. Ms. Ward noted there were some of these items that could be grant eligible, including: -New Downtown Terrace Benches and New Downtown Trash Cans -New Wayfinding Signage throughout Downtown -Banners to go on Light Poles Downtown (Seasonal) -Downtown Master Plan Streetscape Project Phase I -Apply for PARTF Grant for the new Downtown Park (50/50 Match) Ms. Ward provided Council with information regarding the Downtown WiFi usage and the Downtown enhancements. In addition, Ms. Ward also provided Council with the following information regarding Vineland Station Depot: -Completed Phase I of the improvement project on the west end of the Depot to create a more urban feel -Completed a Thompson's water seal to the new decking out front -Replaced all rotted fascia boards on Depot and working on fixing windows now. The next phase will be new paint and new gutters -Working on hosting a Bridal Expo -The next Dancing with the Vineland Stars will be held in February 2026 -The Depot has $41,950 in signed contracts on the books already from April 2025-April 2026. This is roughly $12,000 more than this time last year. Ms. Ward stated there are suggested rental rate increases for Vineland Station Depot. These suggested rate increases are as follows: -Weekend Rate (Friday-Sunday) - From $1,495 per day to $1,695 per day -Weekend Package (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) - From $2,995 to $3,195 Weekend Half Day Rate (Up to 6 hours) - From $495 to $595 -Weekday Rate Monday-Thursday) - From $795 per day to $895 per day -Non-Profit Weekday Rate Monday-Thursday) - From $495 per day to $595 per day 3.3) Planning/nspections Budget Presentation (Robert Lewis, Planning Director) To provide more time for the Planning and Inspections Department Budget Presentation, this presentation was rescheduled to the next Budget Workshop on April 8, 2025. 4) ADJOURNMENT Mayor Mann adjourned the Budget Workshop. Terry L. Mann/MAYOR 5 Vanbur CDaulon Heather Dowless, CITY CLERK ittos/whteville. orambauscomanuwVeer. pho?clip id=296&doc 6-070017e083a-109554.005056489546 4/4