Board of Commissioners

TOWN OF FUQUAY-VARINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING NOVMEBER 17, 2020 CALL TO ORDER Mayor John W. Byrne (physically present) called the regular meeting of the Fuquay-Varina Board of Commissioners to order on November 17, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. This meeting was conducted using the Zoom media platform due to state mandates for social distancing and mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Commissioners Physically Present: Blake Massengill (Mayor Pro-Tem) Bill Harris Jason Wunsch Marilyn Gardner Commissioners Remotely Present: Larry Smith Others Physically Present: Town Manager Adam Mitchell IT Director Scott Clark Others Remotely Present: Assistant Town Manager Mark Matthews Assistant Town Manager Jim Seymour Town Clerk Rose Rich Town Attorney James Adcock ****************************** INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Larry Smith provided the invocation and Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill led the Pledge of Allegiance. ****************************** VIRTUAL MEETING PROTOCOL AND INSTRUCTIONS Mayor Byrne asked Town Manager Mitchell to review the meeting protocol for public participation as it relates to this virtual meeting. Town Manager Mitchell stated that all attendees that have joined the meeting tonight, have joined muted. There is both public comment period near the beginning of the meeting and a continued public hearing from a previous meeting; therefore, there will be multiple times for the pubic to address the Town Board. If the public does wish to address the Town Board related to the continued public hearing, they should wait for that portion of the meeting. If the public wishes to address the Town Board they will need to notify the Town host (IT Director Scott Clark) that they wish to speak. Town Manager Mitchell advised that if someone from the public is joining the meeting online and wishes to speak, they will need to press the “raise hand” button in the Zoom application. If they are joining the meeting via telephone, they will need to press star 9 (*9) to raise their hand. After an individual has raised their hand, they will enter a queue. When the public comment period begins Mayor Byrne will ask the Town host to recognize individuals to speak by calling out their name or the last four digits of their telephone number. Individuals will be unmuted at that time and allowed to address the Town Board at that time. Town Manager Mitchell stated that those speaking should begin their comments by stating their name and address for the public record. The public is asked to keep all comments to three minutes so that all who wish to speak can be heard in a timely manner. Once an individual has finished addressing the Town Board they will be muted for the remainder of the meeting. ****************************** APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES The November 2, 2020 minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of Town Board of Commissioners was approved with a correction of the vote count on motions, which should be 4-0 (instead of 5-0) as recommended by Commissioner Smith who was absent at the November 2, 2020 meeting. MOTION: Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill SECOND: Commissioner Gardner MOTION RESULT: Passed Unanimously (5-0) ****************************** PRESENTATIONS Agenda Item No. 4.A There were no presentations for the November 17, 2020 Town Board Meeting. ****************************** PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments for the November 17, 2020 Town Board meeting. ****************************** ITEMS TABLED FROM PREVIOUS MEETING: Agenda Item No. 6.A: Zoning Map Amendment & Land Use Plan Amendment - Carolina Land Group, LLC - 1408, 1409, 1420, 1501, 1520, 1524, 0, & 0 Rogers Road - PINs 0665245656, 0665341690, 0665144948, 0665148249, 0665142122, 0665258696, 0665340146, and a portion of 0665049250 - REZ-2020-14 Purpose – To consider a requested zoning map amendment for a total of 105.41 acres, located at 1408, 1409, 1420, 1501, 1520, 1524, 0, & 0 Rogers Road, from the Residential Agricultural (RA) Zoning District to the Residential Medium Density Conditional Zoning District (RMD-CZD), and the corresponding land use plan amendment from Small-Lot Residential (SLR), Large-Lot Residential (LLR), and Mixed Density Residential (MDR) to Small-Lot Residential (SLR) and Mixed Density Residential (MDR). Staff Comments – Town Manager Mitchell entered the agenda abstract and supporting documents for this agenda item into the official record of the Town. He then made the following remarks. The subject properties total 105.41 acres and are located in the Town’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The properties are subject to annexation. An annexation petition has not been submitted at this time. These properties are currently a mix of uses, primarily farmland, forested, and a few single-family homes with their associated buildings. The petitioner has requested the following permitted use conditions be made applicable to the subject properties: 1. Vinyl siding is not permitted. Vinyl windows, decorative elements, and trim are permitted. 2. Anti-monotony: No unit shall be constructed with an exterior elevation or color palette that is identical to the unit on either side or directly across the street. 3. ROW Visibility: Any side or rear façade visible from an existing or proposed public ROW shall have covered or enclosed porch, and/or decorative trim or shutters around all windows. 4. Façade Treatment: Minimum of 24” of masonry material at base along from façade and surrounding entry way. Townhomes will have a minimum of 35% of brick or stone on the front façade. 5. Garage Doors: Garage doors shall contain windows, decorative details and/or carriage still adornments. 6. Glazing: Each unit shall have a front door with a minimum of 25% glazing, transom, and/or door sidelights. 7. Conditions 1 – 6 apply to both townhomes and single-family homes. Only townhomes will have the minimum 35% brick or stone on the front façade. 8. Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quadplexes are not permitted. 9. Townhomes shall be limited to the parcel identified as PIN: 0665-25-8696. Townhomes will have a variation of covered entry. Additionally, front facades will include shutters. Each unit, within a building, will have a variation in siding and masonry color. A front gable will be required for each unit, within a building. Additionally, each building will have a minimum of one roof line break and minimum of a 2’ horizontal offset. 10. Townhomes shall have a minimum lot width of 22’. Additionally, the front façade of the townhome shall have a minimum of 35% brick or stone.  11. A 20’ Type B perimeter buffer shall be provided for the entire development. Developer will strive to maintain the existing vegetation in the open space. 12. Three Single-Family lot sizes will be provided: 6,000, 7,500, and 9,000 square feet. 13. No one lot size shall comprise less than 15% of the total platted lot count. No one lot size shall comprise more than 50% of the total platted lot count. This shall apply to Single-Family and Townhouse lots. 14. Maximum density for the overall development shall not exceed 3.5 units per acre. 15. Single family areas of the development shall provide a minimum of 25% Open Space, and Townhome areas of the development shall provide a minimum of 15% Open Space. 16. Perimeter buffers shall be in common open space and maintained by the Homeowner’s Association (Townhomes and Single-Family Lots). 17. The development shall provide a minimum of three pocket parks. 18. The development shall provide a minimum 5’ wide trail around the large pond on the parcel identified as PIN 0665-14-8249 which shall be maintained by the Homeowner’s Association. 19. The development shall have an amenity package that will include at least the following: pool, pool house, tot lot, and dog park. 20. Rogers Road shall be paved, to Town standards, from the intersection of Angier Road and then west and south to the Harnett County line. Since the September 21, 2020 Planning Board Meeting, the petitioner has worked with staff and management to establish conditions 7 through 20 as additional voluntary site conditions. Surrounding properties are a mix of residential, agricultural, and forested. The 2035 Community Vision Land Use Plan (LUP) calls for the Small-Lot Residential (SLR), Large- Lot Residential (LLR), and Mixed-Density Residential (MDR) Classifications at the subject properties. Although the requested zoning district is not consistent with one (1) of the three (3) 2035 LUP classifications, the petitioner has included a Land Use Plan amendment and this zoning map petition, which will be described later in this report. Public utilities will be installed by the developer in conjunction with future development. The subject properties have access to Rogers Road. Rogers Road is classified by the 2035 Community Transportation Plan (CTP) as a portion of future Fuquay-Varina Parkway and therefore is designated as a 150-foot right-of-way. The future Fuquay-Varina Parkway is identified as a four (4) lane, median-divided road with sidepaths, with a carrying capacity of 51,000 average daily trips (ADT). Rogers Road is currently a two (2) lane unimproved roadway. NCDOT traffic counts are not available at this time. The CTP indicates that this portion of the future Fuquay-Varina Parkway crosses four (4) of the subject properties and totals approximately 2,621 feet in length across the subject properties. Future development of the subject properties will require the dedication of 150’ of right-of-way and construction of two (2) lanes and a sidepath of this section of the Fuquay-Varina Parkway. Additionally, the CTP shows a future collector street on the subject properties from Andersonwood Drive to the future Fuquay-Varina Parkway. The petitioner held the neighborhood meeting on August 17, 2020, via the online conferencing application Zoom. The meeting report was provided to the Town Board in their agenda materials, and the Town staff takes no position as to its content. The 2035 Community Vision Land Use Plan (LUP) calls for the Large-Lot Residential (LLR), Small- Lot Residential (SLR), and Mixed-Density Residential (MDR) Classifications at the subject properties. The Land Use Plan classifications SLR and MDR are compatible with the proposed zoning district, but LLR is not, due to its density requirements. Therefore, the petitioner has proposed a Land Use Plan amendment to amend a small portion of the LLR to SLR on PIN 0665245656. This amendment supports the LUP’s Recommendation, CF.1 - Invest in Existing Growth Areas, which encourages the extension of utilities and growth of development in areas that are already in the growth process to maximize effectiveness. Additionally, the amendment supports H.1 - Provide Mixed Housing & Diversity, which encourages a mix of housing types in development projects. As such, the requested Land Use Plan amendment is consistent with the 2035 LUP and its vision. The Land Use Plan amendment, if approved, would allow for the site to be developed more consistently and appropriately as it relates to the proposed use and surrounding area. Management and staff recommend approval of the proposed zoning map amendment with the corresponding land use plan amendment and is reasonable and in the public’s best interest for the following reasons: 1. Although the requested zoning map amendment is not consistent with the 2035 Community Vision Land Use Plan classification of Large-Lot Residential on PIN 0665245656, the petitioner has opted to request a change of the Land Use Plan to Small-Lot Residential (SLR) for that parcel, which is more appropriate to the surrounding use, proposed use, and location. 2. The requested zoning map amendment is consistent with the 2035 Community Vision Land Use Plan’s recommendations CF.1 - Invest in Existing Growth Areas and H.1 - Provide Mixed Housing & Diversity. 3. The requested zoning map amendment would better conform to the surrounding uses and provide the ability to develop the property for its proposed use. At the September 21, 2020, regular meeting, the Planning Board voted 6-1 in favor to recommend approval, finding it reasonable and in the best interest of the public for reasons identified by staff. Since the September 21, 2020 Planning Board meeting, the petitioner requested to table the zoning map and land use plan amendments to the October 20, 2020 Town Board meeting in order to further evaluate matters related to future development of the property. The recommendation; since this is an item tabled from a previous meeting, is to continue the public hearing followed by a motion to approve REZ-2020-14 a zoning map amendment at 1408, 1409, 1420, 1501, 1520, 1524, 0, & 0 Rogers Road, from Residential Agricultural (RA) Zoning District to the Residential Medium Density Conditional Zoning District (RMD-CZD), and the corresponding land us plan amendment from Small-Lot Residential (SLR), Large-Lot Residential (LLR), and Mixed Density Residential(MDR) to all Small-Lot Residential (SLR) and Mixed Density Residential (MDR). Public Hearing – The public hearing was continued. Jake Shakle, resident at 1601 Rogers Road, stated that he appreciates working with the developers and Town staff to answer concerns that he had. He stated that based on those conversations, it appears that traffic will be addressed appropriately, and he appreciates that the development will have high architectural standards. Peter Cnossen, P.E. of Jones & Cnossen Engineering spoke in favor of the petition on behalf of the developer. He reviewed some of the conditions as previously reviewed by the town manager and stated that he believes the rezoning provides a quality development in this part of Town. No one chose to speak in opposition to the proposed petition. The hearing was closed. Discussion – Commissioner Wunsch asked about the impact of traffic resulting from the proposed development. Town Manager Mitchell stated that there would be an impact to the road network likely on Angier Road and on other arteries into our community from the south. He stated that the developers have addressed traffic in several ways for this development and road improvements will be made along the corridor as other developments occur. Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill asked if garages are required for townhomes for this development. Planning Director Pam Davison stated that it is not a requirement. He stated that he does not feel that townhomes are compatible with dwellings in the surrounding area. Mayor Byrne offered that Town Board could revisit the matter with the developers to come up with a plan that is more consistent with the surrounding area. Commissioner Gardner, Commissioner Harris and Commissioner Smith agreed. Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill specifically stated that he would like to see townhomes removed as an option, architectural standards applied consistently to single family dwellings, and better definition provided for utilization of pocket parks. Recommendation – Approve REZ-2020-14 a zoning map amendment at 1408, 1409, 1420, 1501, 1520, 1524, 0, & 0 Rogers Road, from the Residential Agricultural (RA) Zoning District to the Residential Medium Density Conditional Zoning District (RMD-CZD), and the corresponding land use plan amendment from Small-Lot Residential (SLR), Large-Lot Residential (LLR), and Mixed Density Residential (MDR) to Small-Lot Residential (SLR) and Mixed Density Residential (MDR). Motion – Table REZ-2020-14 Zoning Map Amendment and the corresponding Land Use Plan Amendment to the December 7, 2020 Town Board meeting and instruct Town staff to have further dialogue with the petitioner with regards to the form of development and conditions connected to the petition. MOTION: Mayor-Pro Tem Massengill SECOND: Commissioner Wunsch MOTION RESULTS: Passed Unanimously (5-0) ****************************** PUBLIC HEARINGS: Agenda Item No. 7.A: There were no Public Hearings for the November 17, 2020 Town Board meeting. ****************************** CONSENT AGENDA Agenda Item No. 8.A: Budget Amendment - Recognizing Funds - Police Department - Walmart Donation - Public Safety/Police Cadet Program - $1,000 - BA-21-13 Purpose – To consider adoption of a budget amendment that recognizes funds in the amount of $1,000 as awarded by Walmart for the Public Safety/Police Cadet Program. Recommendation – Approve Budget Amendment (BA-21-13) as presented and recommended. Agenda Item No. 8B: Budget Amendment - Recognizing Insurance Proceeds - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department - Unit #51 - BA- 21-14 - $827 Purpose – To consider a budget amendment in the amount of $827 that recognizes insurance proceeds from the NC League of Municipalities Interlocal Risk Financing Fund for repairs of a Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Maintenance Truck (Unit #51). Recommendation – Approve Budget Amendment BA-21-14 as presented and recommended. Agenda Item No. 8C: Project Closure Ordinances and Amendments Purpose – To adopt Project Closure Ordinances for Bridge Street Pedestrian Improvements, Pedestrian Connectivity, FV Arts Center Projects, and approve the Project Ordinance Amendment for the completed grant portion of the Sunset/Purfoy/Main Intersection. Recommendation – Approve project closure ordinances for the Bridge Street Pedestrian Improvements, Pedestrian Connectivity, the FV Arts Center Project and Project Ordinance Amendment (POA) for Sunset/Purfoy/Main Intersection as presented and recommended. POA-21-02 Sunset/Purfoy/Main Intersection Project Ordinance No. N-20-28 Arts Center Project Closing Ordinance No. N-20-29 Pedestrian Connectivity Project Ordinance No. N-20-30 Bridge Street Pedestrian Project Ordinance No. N-20-31 Note: This item (Item 8C) was removed from the Consent Agenda for clarification of the project ordinance closure process as requested by Commissioner Harris, and then approved. (See Item 9) Agenda Item No. 8D: Contract Extension Amendment - Aviator Brewing Company Relocation/Expansion Project Incentive Agreement Purpose – To consider a request by Aviator Brewing Company, Inc. to amend its Local Incentive Agreement that would allow for a project completion extension to April 30, 2022. Recommendation – Approval of the second amendment to Aviator Brewing Company's Local Incentive Agreement as presented and recommended. Agenda Item No. 8E: Employee Christmas Bonus Purpose – To consider modifying the manner in which employee Christmas bonuses are distributed. Recommendation – Approve all full-time employees employed as of October 30th of each year be given a Christmas Bonus in the amount of $200 (net). A motion was made to approve items (A, B, D and E) on the Consent Agenda. MOTION: Commissioner Wunsch SECOND: Mayor Pro-Tem Wunsch MOTION RESULT: Passed Unanimously (5-0) ****************************** ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA Agenda Item No. 9A: Consent Agenda Item No. 8C: Project Closure Ordinances and Amendments Purpose – To adopt Project Closure Ordinances for Bridge Street Pedestrian Improvements, Pedestrian Connectivity, FV Arts Center Projects, and approve the Project Ordinance Amendment for the completed grant portion of the Sunset/Purfoy/Main Intersection. Discussion: Commissioner Harris asked about where the unspent grant funds for projects would go once the Project Ordinance Amendment is approved. Town Manager Mitchell stated that unspent budget funds for completed projects would be de-obligated. He further advised that the Town never actually received these funds and that they are reimbursements as the town requests following payment to contractors for work completed. He stated that the Town was able to complete those projects under budget, so the Town is not entitled to the balance of funds. Recommendation – Approve project closure ordinances for the Bridge Street Pedestrian Improvements, Pedestrian Connectivity, the FV Arts Center Project and Project Ordinance Amendment (POA) for Sunset/Purfoy/Main Intersection as presented and recommended. POA-21-02 Sunset/Purfoy/Main Intersection Project Ordinance No. N-20-28 Arts Center Project Closing Ordinance No. N-20-29 Pedestrian Connectivity Project Ordinance No. N-20-30 Bridge Street Pedestrian Project Ordinance No. N-20-31 MOTION: Commissioner Harris SECOND: Commissioner Wunsch MOTION RESULT: Passed Unanimously (5-0) ****************************** ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Agenda Item No. 10.A: Consultant Selection - Water Conveyance System from City of Sanford Purpose – To approve consultant selection for engineering services for the Water Conveyance System from the City of Sanford Water Treatment Plant Staff Comments – Town Manager Mitchell entered the agenda abstract and supporting documents for this agenda item into the official record of the Town. He then provided general information regarding the agenda item and made the following remarks. Town Staff solicited Statement of Qualifications (SOQs) for engineering consultants for the City of Sanford water treatment plant's conveyance water system. A copy of the Request of Qualifications was provided in the agenda item for reference. Town Staff received two SOQ's from highly qualified engineering firms, Hazen & Freese Nichols and The Timmons Group. The SOQ's were reviewed by a selection committee consisting of Jay Meyers, Public Utilities Director, Tracy Stephenson, Engineering Director, Chris Grimes, Utilities Operations Supervisor, Patrick Paine, Utility Engineer, and Vic Czar, Sanford Utilities Director. Based on the scoring criteria established in the request for qualifications, the team Hazen & Freese Nichols received the highest score by the selection committee. A copy of the Hazen & Freese Nichols SOQ is attached to this agenda item for reference. The Hazen & Freese Nichols' SOQ demonstrates similar project experience, a very capable project team, a history of successful, related projects, and displays an exceptional understanding of the project. Hazen is also currently working on designing the City of Sanford Water Plant expansion project and the Town's InterBasin Transfer certificate request. Freese Nichols presently maintains the Town's water model, which will help determine the most efficient way to distribute the future water supply into the Town's water system. Staff and management recommend the approval of consultant selection of the Hazen & Freese Nichols team. If selected by the Town Board, Town staff will work with Hazen & Freese Nichols to develop a work and fee scope and bring that recommendation to the Town Board at its next meeting. Discussion – Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill acknowledged that Hazen Sawyer was the engineering firm that designed and managed construction of the Terrible Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion. He stated that being that the Town had good success with them on that project that he was comfortable with staff’s recommendation for this project. Recommendation – Approve the selection of Hazen & Freese Nichols for the preliminary engineering and design of the water conveyance system from the City of Sanford and to instruct staff to negotiate a scope and fee proposal to be considered at a later meeting. MOTION: Commissioner Wunsch SECOND: Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill MOTION RESULTS: Passed Unanimously (5-0) ****************************** OTHER BUSINESS A. Town Manager’s Report – a brief report on the following was provided: Police Department: The department is interviewing four diverse candidates for six open positions. He commended the department for their recruitment efforts. The department is also working on a holiday action plan to increase presence in shopping areas and in downtown. Fire Department: The department released a Request for Qualifications for the design build of Fire Station #4 and hope to have a preferred design build team at the end of the year. The platform ladder truck order has been completed and the 1945 Antique Mac Fire Truck will be available for viewing by the Town Board at an upcoming meeting. Information Technology: The department is working on the citizen engagement service platform and safe workplace screening technology, and recently implemented server relocations. Parks & Recreation: The department is entering the end of the developmental season for basketball and is moving forward with winter cross country and soccer programs. The department is also decorating for a modified holiday celebration, and additionally the department recently hosted a virtual public meeting along with other Town Departments for the Community North/Senior Center/Wake County Elementary School Master Plan. The meeting went very well, and a report on the meeting will be presented at a future Town Board meeting. The department is also moving forward with the Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve clubhouse design based on the feedback from the Town Board. Arts Center: The department is offering a virtual Makers Market event during the week of Thanksgiving and the department is partnering with the Junior Women’s Club for a gingerbread house competition/fundraiser. The department will soon release a video on the Town’s YouTube Channel that is being sent to us from the North Pole. Additionally, WRAL will feature the Arts Center in their Out and About Series next week. Public Works: The department responded to flooding issues with the heavy rainfall event last week. The department is also in the peak loose leaf collection season.  Finance Department: The department is wrapping up the annual financial report that will be presented at the December 7th Town Board meeting. Inspections Department: The department has had 53 single family permits issued to date in the month of November. Economic Development: The department has started the recertification process for the Town Business Park. Recertification is due every two years to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The Department also continues to work on the Vance Street mural project that should be installed by the first week in December. Additionally, the department continues to work on the downtown kiosk project where all three kiosks should be installed by the first week in December. Town Manager Mitchell further reported that he participated in a Triangle Community Coalition Virtual Zoom meeting last week. The subject was “About the Day of a Town Manager”, which provided an opportunity for the development community to get a glimpse into the day in the life and duties of a Town Manager. He also participated in a series of meetings with the League of Municipalities Legislative Policy Committee meeting, where the committee is making recommendations for prioritizing advocacy goals. He then recognized Commissioner Harris who has been named as the co-chair of the Racial Equity Task Force that the League of Municipalities put together to talk about how to identify ways that member communities can do more to address racial equity. Additionally, he reported that he along with the Mayor, had lunch with new NC House Representative for District 37, Erin Pare, and he reported that they both participated in an event at a home in Fuquay-Varina to celebrate Dominion Energy’s 600,000th customer. B. 2020 Census Update Town Manager Mitchell reported that the Town of Fuquay-Varina had a 78.2 self- response rate (the 4th highest in Wake County) for the 2020 Census which is 10% higher than the 2010 response. The remaining 21.8% population was covered in the Census Bureau’s non-response follow-up operation. The 2020 Census was completed on October 15, 2020, with all states in the country reflecting a 99.9% response rate. He recognized and commended each member of the Town’s Complete County Committee and Town staff that worked diligently on a successful project. Committee members were: John Adcock Bryan Haynes Tania Fabian Katie Dies Tracy Watson Carlos Manriquez Derric Grimes Heather Massengill Pastor Nathaniel Wood Sharon Peterson – Wake County Planning Pam Davison – Fuquay-Varina Planning Director  Allyssa Stafford – Fuquay-Varina Planning Jessica Crenshaw - Fuquay-Varina Planning Allison Wright - Fuquay-Varina Planning C. Thanksgiving Trash and Debris Removal - Thursday, November 26, 2020 (No Pickup) - Friday, November 27, 2020 will Pick-up for Thursday and Friday Garbage D. Town Code Amendment - Town of Fuquay-Varina - Land Development Ordinance (LDO) Amendment #12 - CTA-2020-06 - (FIRST READING) - (Mitchell/Seymour/Davison) E. Zoning Map Amendment & Land Use Plan Amendment - Mauldin-Watkins Surveying, PA - 9721 & 9739 Fayetteville Road - PINs 0688575694 & 0688573113 - REZ-2020-16 - (FIRST READING) - (Mitchell/Seymour/Davison) ***************************** TOWN BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill stated that he was impressed with the ability of our Parks & Recreation Department to continue to host youth programs. Commissioner Smith stated that it was his first day getting out and about after surgery and he was able to see the beautiful Christmas décor. He thanked the Town Board and IT Director Clark for helping him to attend tonight’s meeting virtually. Commissioner Harris stated that COVID-19 has highlighted our greatest physical asset, which is our parks. He commended the Parks & Recreation Department for keeping up the parks that are being utilized more by our citizens in an effort to counter the isolation caused by the pandemic. He also reported that the North Carolina League of Municipalities created a Racial Equity Task Force, of which he serves as co-chairman. He stated that the goal of the Task Force is to present practical tools that can be used in municipalities throughout the state to address racial equity. Commissioner Wunsch thanked Commissioner Harris for his work with the League of Municipalities. He stated that he enjoyed walking at the improved South Lakes greenway. He expressed his gratitude to the Parks & Recreation Department for providing programs that help to develop his daughter’s soccer skills now that she is seeking a college to attend. Commissioner Gardner congratulated Commissioner Harris for being named as co-chair of the Racial Equity Task Force and stated that she looks forward to the information that he will bring back to the Town on racial equity. She also commended the 2020 Complete Count Committee for their work on the 2020 Census in these unprecedented times. She congratulated Commissioner Smith on his recovery. She also stated that the beautiful pictures that are in both printed materials as well as the Town’s website of our parks are breath taking. She wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Mayor Byrne reported that at the Mayor’s Association meeting he learned that there are many Town Halls and public buildings that are not open to the public throughout Wake County. He then reviewed other meetings that he attended in the previous week as well as upcoming events as follows: Past Events 11/5 – FAA Zoom Call – RDU Airport Changes 11/10 – Dominion Energy Event 11/14 - Alnoor Islamic Center Open House 11/16 – Wake County Mayor’s Association Meeting Upcoming Events 11/18 – CAMPO Meeting 11/19 – Groundbreaking – Serenity (A Greenfield Community) 11/28 – Small Business Saturday 12/3 – Centennial Authority Meeting ****************************** ADJOURN A motion was then made to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. MOTION: Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill SECOND: Commissioner Wunsch MOTION RESULT: Passed Unanimously (5-0) Adopted this the 7th day of December 2020 in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. FUQUAY-VARINA, NORTH CAROLINA John W. Byrne, Mayor ATTEST: (TOWN SEAL) Rose H. Rich, Town Clerk