Regular Meeting
Aug. 5, 2008
MINUTES
The
Staff Members Present:
2 and 3.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the meeting opened with an
invocation by Bishop Mark Sivoldi of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
4.
Agenda Adjustment: The
Motion
By: Dickson
Second
By: VanFossen
Vote: Unanimous
Items
Added to the Agenda: Add to Request and
Communications as item 6b. Consideration of Resolution 08-42 supporting the
Items
Removed from the Agenda: None.
Consent
Agenda Items Moved to New Business:
None.
Other
Changes: None.
5.
Public Comment: At this time, an opportunity was provided for members of the audience
who had registered to speak to address the Council on any variety of topics not
listed on the night’s agenda. The
following input was recorded: None.
6a.
Mr. Briscar reported to the Council that the performance series
are being sponsored by Holiday Inn Express, which will provide free lodging for
the performers.
Action: None.
6b.
The CON
application, Mr. Elmore said, would be submitted on Aug. 15, together with
letters of support collected from the communities of
Novant, he added, works with all
people of the community, regardless of insurance and or ability to pay. Novant Health is ranked in the 10 best
healthcare systems nationally and has a strong history of building community
hospitals in underserved areas.
If Novant is successful in obtaining
the Certificate of Need from the State, the group would break ground on the
hospital on a site located at Hwy. 55 and
Action: The
Council approved a motion to adopt Resolution 08-42 supporting the
Motion
By: VanFossen
Second
By: Dickson, DeBenedetto and Womble
Vote:
Unanimous.
A copy of
Resolution 08-42 is incorporated into these pages as an addendum page.
At
this time, Mayor Sears called the Council’s attention to an amortization
schedule provided to them for reference when adopting Bond Order 2008-01 on the
Consent Agenda.
7. Consent Agenda: The Council approved all items on the Consent
Agenda following a motion by Councilman Dickson, a
second by
7a. Minutes - The Council approved minutes
of the Council’s budget workshop held
7b. Resolution
08-37 – The Council
adopted Resolution 08-37 directing the town clerk to investigate the
sufficiency of annexation petition A08-07 and setting a public hearing on the
question of annexation for
7c. Resolution 08-38
– The Council adopted Resolution 08-38 declaring
certain personal property to be surplus to the needs of the town. A copy
of Resolution 08-38 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
7d. Resolution
08-39 - The Council adopted Resolution
08-39 directing the town clerk to investigate the sufficiency of annexation
petition A08-08 and setting a public hearing on the question of annexation for
7e.
7f. Resolution 08-40– The Council
adopted Resolution 08-40 amending the Parks and Recreation Policy Manual. A copy
of Resolution 08-40 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
7g. Budget Amendment, $5,000 – The
Council adopted an amendment to the FY 2008-09 budget in the amount of $5,000
to receive a donation from
7h. Longevity Pay – The Council authorized
payment to employees of longevity pay that inadvertently would be eliminated in
the transition to a new payment schedule.
7i.
Green Oaks Parkway Budget Amendment – The Council adopted amendments
to the Green Oaks Parkway project budget in the amount of $130,700 to provide
funding to complete right of way acquisition.
A copy of the budget amendment is
incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
7j. Resolution 08-41 – The Council
adopted Resolution 08-41 requesting that the North Carolina Department of
Transportation release
7k. Bond Order 2008-1 – Having
referenced the accompanying amortization schedule, the Council adopted Bond
Order 2008-01 ordering the issuance of
8a. 99-COM-04-A01, Sonic
Drive-In Amendment – Mr.
Zawadski said the Town has received a request for an amendment to the existing Sonic
Drive-In site preliminary plan. The
original plans were approved on
1.
Add
brick and EIFS tower element for new drive-through pick-up window.
2.
Remove
decorative parapet surround along the roofline.
3.
Reface
drive-in order stall canopies fascia and paint columns green.
4.
Replace
seating area canopy with a new arched fabric and steel canopy and replace
lighting.
5.
Replace
existing Neon lighting with new LED lighting on the drive-in order stall
canopies, drive-through window awning, arced tower roof, and seating area
canopy.
6.
Replace
menu board and add new pivoting order canopy.
Mr.
Zawadski said all other existing structures, landscaping, utilities, etc. are
proposed to remain unchanged. He
reported that the Planning Board had reviewed the proposed amendment and
recommends approval with conditions.
Councilman
Dickson said he felt former management of Sonic had not provided or maintained
proper plantings. He said the original
plan called for screening Leland Cypress for the detention pond, but none are
there. He asked that the new management
provide the required plantings.
Action: The
Council approved a motion to approve development plan amendment
#99-COM-04-A01 for Sonic Drive-In as submitted by National Restaurant
Designers, project number 003975-SD1, dated revised
a.
Provide
an Operations and Maintenance agreement for the existing pond onsite.
Motion
By: Dickson
Second
By: Womble
The Council considered an amended
version of the motion to include the addition of text highlighted in italics
above.
Motion
to Amend By: Dickson
Second
to Amended Motion By: Womble
Vote:
Unanimous.
8b.
02-PUD-01-A03 Morgan Park Planned Unit Development Amendment – Mr.
Zawadski said the Town
has received a request for a third amendment to the Morgan Park Planned Unit
Development to reduce the minimum lot size for Parcel B (Village House/Patio
Homes) from 5,000 square feet to 3,958 square feet. This same area included townhouses when the
plan originally was approved and was later changed to single-family homes with
a 5,000 square feet minimum lot size with the second amendment.
He said Morgan Park PUD (previously
Trotter’s Village PUD) was approved as a neo-traditional development that
included both single-family and townhomes as well as a commercial
component. An amendment to the original
plan was approved
*
Name
Change to Morgan Park
*
Addition
of 7 acres of open space
*
Parcel
layout – including acreage, lots,
streets, utilities, and storm drainage/ponds.
*
*
Creating
single-family and townhome lots without Public Street Frontage
*
Commercial
parcel acreage was adjusted
*
*
Tree
protection fencing was adjusted to match parcel layout
*
Street
cross sections were changed to match Town regulations, including sidewalks
locations.
*
Included
a Village House and Patio Home Detail with 0’ lot lines
Mr. Zawadski said a second amendment
was approved
*
Reduction
in landscape buffers along the western property line and the addition of
landscape buffers along the northeastern property line
*
An
overall reduction of approximately 5 acres of open space.
*
Minimum
lot size reduced to 16,000 SF from 20,000 SF in District A1
*
Minimum
lot size reduced to 7,500 SF from 12,000 SF in District D1
*
Parcel
B Townhomes changed to Parcel B Village House/Patio Homes
Mr. Zawadski explained that, as specified in UDO Section 5,
in its determination of the appropriateness of the proposed PUD and whether to
recommend approval or disapproval of the PUD District zoning map change and PUD
Master Plan the Town Council and the Planning Board shall be guided by the
extent to which the proposal:
11. Extent to which the development
proposed by the PUD can be developed under the general use districts of this
UDO, other than the PUD District, as a matter of right.
Mr. Zawadski reported
that the Planning Board had reviewed the application and recommends approval
with conditions.
Action: The
1.
All
previously approved conditions of the Morgan Park PUD shall apply.
2.
Submit
revised sheets to correct the total number of residential units listed in the
site data table on sheet 2 and the sewer flow calculations on the coversheet to
match the sum of residential units approved for all parcels within 10 days of
Town Council approval
3.
Construction
drawings will need to be revised for the addition of the single family lots and
utility services
4.
The
schedule for offsite sewer has been submitted and approved with this plan, the approved design has been attached to the
construction drawings. The schedule submitted indicates that the construction
will be completed prior to platting and building permits. In case of unforeseen
problems and scheduling changes, a maximum of 10% of permits for this project
may be allowed prior to completion of the sewer line.
Motion By:
VanFossen
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous.
8c. Morgan Park, 06-
Mr.
Zawadski explained the Morgan Park preliminary plans originally were approved
on
Councilman DeBenedetto asked if
there were any concerns from neighboring property owners.
Mr. Zawadski reported that the
Planning & Zoning Department had not received any input from neighboring
property owners.
Action: The
Motion By:
Womble
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous.
8d.
Employee Opinion Survey – Mr. Dean
said at the
He said the Town received contact
information for three high-quality firms, which were contacted for further
information.
He said Town staff met with both
Bear Strategies of Cary and Insight Research of Greensboro at Town Hall to
discuss the project in more detail. Town
Staff discussed the same information with the NC State University Center for
Urban Affairs and Community Services in
Mr. Dean said that after reviewing
the proposals, the recommendation from town staff is to contract with Bear
Strategies for the survey project.
He said Bear Strategies displayed
impressive professionalism and a comprehensive knowledge of survey techniques
during the interview. Company staff is
comprised of former local government managers and elected officials, so the
company is uniquely suited to survey a municipal organization. Furthermore, Bear Strategies was the low
bidder at $3,300, Mr. Dean added.
Bear Strategies would accomplish the
following objectives, which were taken from their proposal:
A)
Assessment
of the workplace as it pertains to relationships between the employee and their
supervisor, senior staff, Mayor and Town Council. This assessment would include a comparison of
current conditions versus perceived “ideal” conditions with respect to
leadership and communication.
Additionally, employees will be polled regarding their workplace
satisfaction with respect to compensation, training, and supervisory relationships.
B)
Assessment
of perceived roles, responsibilities and expectations of the senior staff to
the Mayor and Town Council and, conversely, of the Mayor and Town Council to
staff.
C)
Assessment
of the Mayor and Town Council’s relationships with each other individually and
collectively and the perceived roles and responsibilities therein.
Councilman
DeBenedetto asked what the output of the survey would do and what would the
town do with the information.
Mr. Dean said,
from his perspective, the survey would serve as an examination of existing conditions
and provide insight into changes, such as improvements in communications, that
could be implemented.
He added that
the Council directed that the survey be done, and the Council also can do with
the information as it feels appropriate.
Councilman
Dickson said he feels the survey will provide information that will make the
organization stronger.
Action: The
Motion By:
VanFossen
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous.
9.
Other Business: Councilmen brought up a number of areas with
vegetation overgrowth and leaning trees on roadsides that need attention. All of the roadways mentioned are under state
maintenance; however, Mr. McNeil said he would see what he could do to get the
roadways cleared to increase safety.
Areas that were mentioned were: on both sides of
Councilman Womble repeated his
request that a barrier be placed at the detention pond on
Councilman Womble asked about the
potential annexation of properties in
Mr. Dean said he had met with some of
the residents and had told them that if they want to annex, they can come in to
Town Hall to sign voluntary annexation petitions. He said he knew of one
resident who does not want to be annexed, but the others can do so through the
ordinary voluntary annexation process.
Councilman Dickson reported that he
had received information from Progress Energy that it is hosting a Community
Day in September at Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant to
explain to residents about the existing facility and to introduce plans for its
proposed expansion. Councilman Dickson
pointed this out because Councilman DeBenedetto had
commented at an earlier meeting that the Town should host such an event.
Mayor Sears reported that he had
been assured by Marty Clayton of Progress Energy that the town’s concerns about
the raising of the lake level would be addressed. Mr. Clayton said the bridges and roads will
be raised, and the park that will be displaced will be replaced.
Councilmen agreed that the Council’s
direction from the winter retreat in February was for the town to initiate
talks with Progress Energy officials who are further “up the ladder” than Mr.
Clayton. The town has concerns and
issues that some officials feel need to be addressed by Progress Energy.
The Council directed Mr. Dean to coordinate a meeting with
Progress Energy officials and town officials.
10.
Manager’s Report: Mr. Dean noted that the town’s credit
card policies had been included in agenda packets; he said staff has worked
very hard with Novant Health hospital officials to
garner support for the facility’s application for a Certificate of Need.
11. Closed Session:
None.
12.
Adjournment: There being no further business for
the evening, the
Respectfully Submitted on
_________________________________
Addendum pages as referenced in these
minutes follow and are a part of the official record.