Board of Commissioners

TOWN OF FUQUAY-VARINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 19, 2021 CALL TO ORDER Mayor John W. Byrne (physically present) called the regular meeting of the Fuquay-Varina Board of Commissioners to order on January 19, 2021 at 7:02 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 Larry Smith Commissioners Remotely Present: None 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 Smith provided the invocation and Commissioner Wunsch 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, have joined muted. He advised that there is a public comment period at the beginning of the meeting and that there are no public hearings scheduled for the January 19, 2021 meeting, therefore the only time to address the Town Board is during the public comment section of the meeting. Town Manager Mitchell advised that if the public wishes to address the Town Board during the public comment period, they will need to notify the Town host that they wish to speak. He then added that for the public’s benefit, if they are joining the meeting online and wish 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 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. He then advised that 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 January 04, 2021 minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of Town Board of Commissioners were presented and recommended for approval. MOTION: Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill SECOND: Commissioner Gardner MOTION RESULT: Passed Unanimously (5-0) ****************************** PRESENTATIONS Agenda Item No. 4.A There were no presentations scheduled for the January 19, 2021 Town Board meeting. ****************************** PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments for the January 19, 2021 Town Board meeting. ****************************** ITEMS TABLED FROM PREVIOUS MEETING: Agenda Item No. 6.A: There were no items tabled from a previous meeting for the January 19, 2021 Town Board meeting. ****************************** PUBLIC HEARINGS: Agenda Item No. 7.A: There were no public hearings scheduled for the January 19, 2021 Town Board meeting. ****************************** CONSENT AGENDA Agenda Item No. 8.A: Voluntary Annexation Petition - Charles and April Whittaker - PIN 0689349832, located at 8736 Lake Wheeler Road - ANX-2020-14 Purpose – To consider the adoption of a resolution instructing the Town Clerk to investigate an annexation petition and to adopt a resolution setting a public hearing for February 1, 2021, following the receipt of a petition for voluntary annexation of property owned by Charles and April Whittaker containing a total of approximately 1.63 acres. Recommendation – Adopt the resolution instructing the Town Clerk to investigate the voluntary annexation petition, and adopt the resolution setting the public hearing for a voluntary annexation petition on February 1, 2021, for property owned by Charles and April Whittaker - ANX-2020-14 as presented and recommended. Resolution No. 21-1685 Resolution No. 21-1686 Agenda Item No. 8.B: Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget Development Schedule Purpose – To consider approval of a budget development schedule for the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget process. Recommendation – Approve the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget Development Schedule as presented and recommended. A motion was made to approve all items (Items 8A and 8B) on the Consent Agenda. MOTION: Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill SECOND: Commissioner Smith MOTION RESULT: Passed Unanimously (5-0)  ****************************** ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA Agenda Item No. 9A: There were no items removed from the consent agenda for consideration. ****************************** ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Agenda Item No. 10.A: There were no administrative reports for the January 19, 2021 Town Board meeting. ****************************** OTHER BUSINESS A. Town Manager’s Report – a brief report on the following was provided: • Town Manager Mitchell stated that there would be a pre-budget public hearing scheduled for February 16, 2021Town Board meeting. • Police Department Town Manager Mitchell reported that the Police Department received a memorandum of compliance from the United States Department of Justice, indicating that the department has satisfactorily complied with the requirements of Presidential Executive Order #13929, “Safe Policing for Safe Communities”. The executive order, which was issued on June 16, 2020, mandates law enforcement agencies to adhere to the executive order by their use- of-force policies, adhering to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Police Chief Laura Fahnestock stated that the memorandum basically states that the department’s use-of-force policies are in compliance with federal and state requirements and as such will qualify the Town for federal and state grant requests. She stated that it impacts; not just law enforcement, but it impacts all facets of Town operations when applying for funding. Town Manager Mitchell also reported that MoneyGeek.com recently ranked Fuquay-Varina as the #1 safest city in North Carolina and #76 safest city in the United States for cities with a population of 30,000 – 100,000. Their ranking was based on crime data obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Police Chief Fahnestock stated that this ranking was obtained by having community-oriented policing and partnerships with the business community as well as residents. She encouraged everyone to continue to lock car doors and remove valuables from their cars to help prevent crime.  Mayor Byrne and each member of the Town Board commended Police Chief Fahnestock and the Police Department for receiving such great recognition. • Fire Department Town Manager Mitchell reported that the department is working on finalizing its budget request to Wake County to submit within the next week. He advised that a recommendation would also be forthcoming regarding the design/build team for Fire Station No. 4. • Finance Department Town Manager Mitchell reported that the department is preparing for the FY 22 budget process. • Parks and Recreation Town Manager Mitchell reported that the Park-Depot Greenway, from the Old Honeycutt Road Park to South Lakes, will be open to public next week, and the Mayor and staff are planning a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony on next Tuesday via FaceBook Live. He also reported that the Town is under contract with HH Architecture for the design of the Community Center North/Senior Center project at the Hilltop Needmore Road Town Park & Preserve, as previously authorized by the Town Board. • Arts Center Town Manager Mitchell reported that Arts Center staff is working on new virtual showcases for the spring season. • Public Works Department Town Manager Mitchell reported that the Public Works department prepared for inclement weather on January 8th that turned out to be a non-event. • IT Department Town Manager Mitchell reported that the IT department continues to advance multiple projects that have previously been reported on. • Economic Development (Downtown) Town Manager Mitchell reported that the Vance Street mural project is complete, and new awnings will be placed on the building by the property owner. Mayor Byrne commended the property owner for making improvements to the building on Vance Street, as well as the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association and Downtown Manager Dawn Russell for working with property owners on the project. Commissioner Gardner also commended the NC Main Street Program for helping provide technical support with the project, and she thanked UNC Greensboro for providing free design work for the project.  • Inspections Department Town Manager Mitchell reported that the Inspections department has issued 88 single family permits so far for the month of January and it was reported that a record breaking 1,031 single-family permits were issued for 2020. • Communications Department Town Manager Mitchell reported that Communications Director Weis is working with the Mayor and management on producing the State of Town Address for 2021. Mayor Byrne will give the address on March 1, 2021 at 6:30 pm, before the regularly scheduled Town Board meeting. • Town Manager Mitchell reminded members of the Town Board to submit any additional topics for discussion for the Strategic Planning Retreat, which is scheduled for January 29- 31, 2021. B. Quarterly Report – 2nd Quarter FY 2020 C. Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative Award - NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division - (Mitchell/Seymour/Davison) Town Manager Mitchell advised that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative is a matching grant program that encourages municipalities to develop comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plans. The Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation (DPBT) and the Transportation Planning Branch (TPB) of the North Carolina Department of Transportation funds this grant. To encourage the development of comprehensive local bicycle and pedestrian plans, the NCDOT Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation (DBPT) and the Transportation Planning Branch (TPB) have created a matching grant program to fund the development of local bike and pedestrian plans. This program was initiated through a special allocation of funding approved by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2003 and federal funds earmarked specifically for bicycle and pedestrian planning. Town Manager Mitchell reminded the Board that the Town applied for grant funding in June, expecting a September decision, but the NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division was not given the authorization to submit projects until their December Board meeting. The Town was notified of its award on January 6, 2021. The next steps will be executing a Municipal Reimbursement Agreement and selecting a consultant firm. The current Community Pedestrian Master Plan was adopted in 2014, so the Planning Department is excited to have an opportunity to update and modernize this plan to incorporate developments that have occurred since 2014 that include the Town's ETJ Expansion coupled with substantial Town growth. The Town Board received information on the Town's award of the Pedestrian Planning Grant Award by the NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division. D. Zoning Map Amendment & Land Use Plan Amendment - Preserve at Holland, LLC - 804, 806, 808, 820, 0, & 0 Holland Road - PINs 0666422289, 0666428465, 0666428912, 0666439015, 0666523374, & 0666523886 - REZ-2020-18 - (Mitchell/Seymour/Davison) - (FIRST READING) E. Zoning Map Amendment - Mauldin-Watkins Surveying, PA - 710 S Main Street - PIN 0656942505 - REZ-2020-19 - (Mitchell/Seymour/Davison) - (FIRST READING) ***************************** TOWN BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill stated that he has enjoyed helping coach the 4–5-year-old basketball team this season through the Town’s Parks and Rec department and that he appreciated that the Town was doing its best to offer programs for the youth in the community. Commissioner Smith congratulated everyone that helped put together the 17th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration. He commended the Fuquay-Varina Arts staff and the Cultural Arts Society of FV, Inc. for hosting a virtual celebration this year. Commissioner Harris congratulated the Fuquay-Varina Arts staff and the Cultural Arts Society of FV, Inc. for the virtual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration; he stated that they did an excellent job despite the challenges. He then reported that the North Carolina League of Municipalities Board discussed some of the proposed advocacy goals that were submitted, and they talked about the use of dark fiber to enhance broadband internet services for rural areas. He also reported that the Task Force for Racial Equity met, and they are in continued discussions to produce a plan that would offer solutions to member cities and towns that desire to develop or maintain racial equity policies and programs. They are hoping to have a plan that will benefit everyone by the end of 2021. Commissioner Wunsch stated that the FVHS basketball team are having a great season, and they are ranked #16. He also mentioned that Fuquay-Varina Middle School was ranked by WRAL as being the best middle school in the triangle. He further mentioned that Georgina Consolo, a teacher at F-V High School, was selected as WRAL’s first runner up for Best Educator in the Triangle. He further reported that KnB Marketplace won second place overall in WRAL’s best thrift shop/antique store in the Triangle. He then offered his condolences to Town Attorney James Adcock for the passing of his grandfather James Stewart Adcock. Commissioner Gardner stated that she had the privilege of speaking to the Fuquay-Varina Woman’s Club and gave them an update with what is going on in the Town. She also enjoyed the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration and commended the Cultural Arts Society of FV, Inc for organizing the event. She also commended the keynote speaker for the event, Rev. Dr. Floyd Wicker, II, for doing a great job. She then commended Town staff for being prepared to take advantage of grant opportunities prior to the application process. Mayor Byrne stated that the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration, hosted by the Fuquay- Varina Arts Center and the Cultural Arts Society of FV, Inc., was very good and well planned. He also expressed his condolences for the passing of James Stewart Adcock who had a tremendous impact on Fuquay-Varina and the surrounding area. He stated that Mr. Adcock was a former Wake County Commissioner who served as Chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, and he was instrumental in getting the Southern Regional Center here in Fuquay-Varina. Mayor Byrne then reviewed other meetings that he attended in the previous week as well as upcoming events as follows:  Past Events 1/18 – Wake County Mayor’s Association Meeting Upcoming Events 1/20 – CAMPO Meeting 1/22 – Metro Mayors Weekly Legislative Update Call 1/26 – Wake County Joint CAC Meeting 1/26 – Ribbon Cutting – Park Depot Trail 1/29 – Metro Mayors Weekly Legislative Update Call ****************************** ADJOURN A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m. MOTION: Mayor Pro-Tem Massengill SECOND: Commissioner Wunsch MOTION RESULT: Passed Unanimously (5-0) Adopted this the 1st day of February 2021 in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. FUQUAY-VARINA, NORTH CAROLINA John W. Byrne, Mayor ATTEST: (TOWN SEAL) Rose H. Rich, Town Clerk