Board of Commissioners — Cornelius, NC
Date: 2024-02-05

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
 February 5, 2024
 MINUTES


PRE-MEETING - 4:30PM
 Agenda Review
 Manager Grant gave an overview of the 6PM agenda items.

 FY25 Budget Departmental Background Presentation - Fire and Human Resources
 HR Director Andrea Clemmer gave a presentation on recruitment and retention, the 2023 labor
 market, market studies, work cultures, and incentives/benefits that have significantly improved
 recruitment and retention.

 Chief Barbee gave an overview of the 2023 metrics report that included incident statistics
 (emergency call and property loss data), staffing data (overlapping calls/mutual aid data, staffing
 shortages/fatigue) and town population (age restricted development data).

REGULAR MEETING - 6:00PM

1. CALL TO ORDER
 Mayor Washam called the meeting to order at 06:11PM.

2. DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
 All commissioners were present at the meeting.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner
 Johnson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

4. MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
 Mayor Washam led the pledge after a moment of silence was observed.

5. CITIZEN CONCERNS/COMMENTS
 Mayor Washam invited the public to speak.

 Bill Fountain – 20524 Deep Cove Court, expressed his concerns with CMS scholastics.

 Dee Rogers – 9233 Magnolia Estates Drive, expressed her concerns with the process for
 developments that are approved but do not get built for decades. She asked for additional
 information on the Nest Homes Villas currently being developed behind her neighborhood.




 02/05/24 Regular Meeting
 Page 1
6. MAYOR/COMMISSIONERS/MANAGER REPORTS
 Commissioner Higgins reported on the following:
 • Attended the LDCAB meeting.
 • Attended the Chamber meeting featuring Senator Sawyer and Representative John
 Bradford discussions on legislation activity.
 • Met with Mayor Washam to discuss town priorities and projects.
 • Met with Fire Chief Barbee and Police Chief Baucom to learn about their operations and
 budget needs.
 • Met with Carroll Gray to discuss transportation funding options.
 • Welcomed a group during the Chamber networking at the 5th/3rd Bank.
 • Met with the Ada Jenkins Board and attended their fundraiser held at Peninsula Prime.
 • Met with the Cornelius Youth Orchestra group regarding their needs.
 • Attended the Coffee with the Cops event.
 • Held four citizen group meetings.
 • Attended the Legacy Art Center reception at the Cain Center.
 • Attended both meetings held at the Peninsula to discuss the lake algae problem.
 • Thanked Asst. Manager Beardsley and Katie DeMatthew for getting the sharrows done
 along Hwy. 115 and Catawba Avenue for cycling safety.

 Commissioner Carney reported on the following:
 • Met with Fire Chief Barbee and Police Chief Baucom to learn about their operations and
 budget needs.
 • Working on building and establishing a program of work for the Transportation Advisory
 Board to ensure that it works well with both LDCAB and Planning Board.

 Commissioner Osborne reported on the following:
 • Attended the CRTPO meeting on Jan. 17th and congratulated the new chairperson, Lisa
 Qualls from Mooresville.
 • Looking forward to streamlining the TAB process as it relates to other advisory boards and
 increasing citizen participation.
 • Chamber updates – Jeff Tarte will be the new Chamber chairperson; Diversity Luncheon-
 Black History Month will be held on Feb. 8th at the Ada Jenkins Center (12PM); WINS
 Women’s networking meeting will be held on Feb. 13th at H2 Public House (8AM);
 Business AfterHours-Cornerstone Caregiving will be held on Feb. 15th (5:30PM); Focus
 Friday-Focus on Town Hall will be held on Feb. 16th via Zoom (8:30AM); and the
 Chamber Annual Gala will be held on Mar. 21st at the Peninsula Club (6PM).

 Commissioner Sansbury reported on the following:
 • Parks update – Black History Month celebration will be held on Feb. 24th at the Cain
 Center (5:30PM).
 • Looking forward to the next Coffee Chat event featuring Deputy Manager Herron’s update
 on NCDOT road projects.
 • Encouraged participation in Part 2 of the budget survey.
 • Encouraged citizens to visit the Town’s new website.




 02/05/24 Regular Meeting
 Page 2
 Commissioner Johnson reported on the following:
 • Attended the LDCAB meeting held on Jan. 22nd. Staff gave presentations on underground
 utilities for new development, parking requirements for hospitality-related businesses, and
 sign lighting related to recent complaints.
 • VLN updates – attended the VLN Board meeting on Jan. 29th; the Court XIV Classic was
 held on Feb. 3rd at Hough High School; and the North Carolina Tennis State
 Championship is returning to the area and will be held June 13-16.
 • Attended the PDRC meeting to review Lightbridge Academy’s playground/fencing
 location, building placement/design, and traffic flow.
 • Centralina Council of Government orientation will be held on Feb. 6th and the first board
 meeting will be held on Feb. 21st.
 • Attended the Ada Jenkins Center fundraiser at Peninsula Prime.

 Manager Grant reported on the following:
 • FY25 Citizen Budget Survey is open until the end of February. The survey is available at
 www.cornelius.org. Preliminary results from Round 1 will be provided on Feb. 8th during
 the budget planning session.
 • County Career Expo will be held on Feb. 21st at the Harris Conference Center (10AM).

 Asst. Manager Beardsley reported on the following:
 • Leaf collection – Public Works have collected a total of 437 loads of leaves this season.
 • Bike and Ped Safety – added Sharrows on Main Street and Catawba Avenue and restriped
 the crosswalk at Westmoreland and Washam Potts.

 Mayor Washam reported on the following:
 • Attended the Mecklenburg County breakfast event with Commissioner Johnson on Jan.
 25th.
 • Attended the reopening of Bin110 on Jan. 26th.
 • Attended the Cheers for Community fundraiser for Ada Jenkins on Feb. 1st.
 • Appointed to the Advance the Plan Committee for MTC. The first meeting will be held on
 Feb. 9th.
 • Cornelius Today Newsmakers breakfast will be held on Feb. 15th at the Peninsula Club
 featuring Downtown Redevelopment.
 • Chamber Focus Friday will be held on Feb. 16th and will feature the north Mecklenburg
 mayors.
 • The growth of blue-green algae in Lake Norman is raising concerns about its toxicity.
 Donations to treat the algae in April are being accepted.
 • Held one-on-one meetings with the Board and have enjoyed getting to know each of them
 better and discuss town priorities.

7. EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
 A. Employee Retirement Recognition
 Chief Baucom recognized Records Clerk Maribel Martinez for her 20 years of service with
 the police department and congratulated her on her recent retirement on December 28, 2023.
 The Board congratulated Ms. Martinez on her retirement.




 02/05/24 Regular Meeting
 Page 3
8. MAYORAL PROCLAMATIONS
 A. Black History Month
 In recognition of Black History Month, Mayor Washam read a Proclamation proclaiming
 February as Black History Month in Cornelius and presented it to members of the Smithville
 Community Coalition.

9. PUBLIC COMMENT
 A. FY25 Operating Budget
 Manager Grant explained that the FY25 budget preparation process has begun and as part of
 the process, citizens are given a formal opportunity to give their feedback at the beginning of
 the process prior to the development of the draft budget.

 Mayor Washam invited the public to speak.

 Lin Snowa – 9133 Robbins Preserve Road, read his feedback regarding the FY25 budget for
 the Board to consider during their deliberations (Attachment 1).

10. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL
 A. Architecture Review Board (ARB) Appointments
 Planning Director Burhans gave an overview of the new ARB appointments for consideration
 and the recommendation to appoint Rick Kamakaris as the ARB chairperson for 2024.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve the appointment of Rick Kamakaris as
 ARB chairperson and the appointments of Mary Phelan and Alan Goodwin. Commissioner
 Osborne seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 B. In-car and Body Worn Cameras - AXON Contracts
 Chief Baucom gave an overview of the contracts with AXON for in-car and body worn
 cameras that are in-line with other agencies in the county and will aid in the prosecutorial
 processes. Each 5-year contract will be for 14 in-car cameras ($20,003/year) and 14 body
 worn cameras ($43,591/year). Additional contracts will be presented each year until the
 transition is fully completed for the entire department. The cost of the two contracts are
 covered by the FY24 budget.

 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to approve two contracts with AXON as presented
 and authorize the Town Manager and Attorney to finalize the terms of the contract and
 execute it. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

11. CONSENT AGENDA
 A. Approve Regular Meeting Minutes – January 16th (Approved 5-0)
 B. Tax Refunds – totaling $659.56 (Approved 5-0)

 Commissioner Osborne made a motion to approve the Consent Agendas as presented.
 Commissioner Carney seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 5-0.




 02/05/24 Regular Meeting
 Page 4
12. COMMISSIONER CONCERNS
 A. Development Process
 Commissioner Osborne thanked citizen Dee Rogers for expressing her concerns about the
 project that was approved so long ago. It’s worth a conversation on what can and cannot be
 done for requiring things to be built in a certain timeframe. Manager Grant stated that staff
 can certainly consider different options; however, it would only apply to future projects
 during the consideration of approval process. Attorney Wolter stated that the town has
 flexibility when working with developers through the Conditional Zoning process, but
 developers will need to agree to any conditions applied to a development.

 B. Bailey Road Traffic Study
 Commissioner Sansbury inquired on the status of the study completion. Manager Grant
 stated that the study is underway and draft results are anticipated to be available in the next
 30 days.

 C. Downtown Redevelopment
 Mayor Washam asked if there was a timeframe for the plan. Planning Director Burhans
 stated that the RFP went out at the end of January for the Downtown Master Plan. The
 proposals are due back on Mar. 1st. The scope of the work is to have the project completed
 within one year.

 D. Pedestrian Safety
 Commissioner Higgins stated that the Town needs to continue restriping crosswalks and
 installing pedestrian crossing beacons as identified and discussed for pedestrian safety.

13. ADJOURNMENT
 There being no further business to discuss, Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to adjourn the
 meeting at 7:11PM. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

  Approved this 19th day of February 2024.


 Woody Washam, Jr., Mayor
  ATTEST:


  Lori A Harrell, Town Clerk




 02/05/24 Regular Meeting
 Page 5
 Attachment 1

February 5, 2024, Cornelius Town Board Meeting
Lin Snowa, 9133 Robbins Preserve Road, Cornelius, NC
Thank you for this opportunity to speak regarding the budget.
The Town of Cornelius:
 1. IS One of the largest towns and cities by population in North Carolina at # 32
 out of 773.yy
 2. IT Has the lowest tax rate of any town in Mecklenburg County. Thus
 providing a smaller revenue source to fund expected services of its residents.
 3. How much lower? The Cornelius tax rate is 5 cents below the average of
 Mecklenburg County towns tax rates.
 4. This represents 5 MILLION dollars of lost revenue per year.
 5. The question is, HOW DOES CORNELIUS operate with low tax revenues
 and a high debt service of comparable towns? Where do the 5 MILLION
 dollars of cuts take place?
 a. Is it reduced STAFFING in Cornelius departments?
 b. Is it reduced COMPENSATION to town employees?
 c. Is it reduced or eliminated MAINTENANCE OF STREETS, PARKS,
 ETC.?
 d. Is it reduced IN SIZE and delays of actual CONSTUCTION
 PROJECTS, INCLUDING ROAD IMPROVEMENTS?
 e. Is it reduced saving of funds for future town needs?
 6. Cornelius does many great things, but very clearly has many opportunities
 for improvement of the quality and quantity of services to Cornelius Citizens
 with an average tax rate.
 7. What are just some of the signs of the lack of funds?
 a. There is NO road that goes across the town that has 4 lanes to handle
 traffic volumes.
 b. There is NO road that goes across the town that has curbs and gutters
 along the entire length.
 c. Road and Crosswalk markings are generally worn out and thus less
 effective.
 d. A number Street lights on main roads like Catawba Avenue and Main
 Street, as well as other areas, are not working to provide pedestrian,
 bike, and driver safety, as well as to deter criminal activity.




 02/05/24 Regular Meeting
 Page 6
 e. Road intersections are marked by debris and dirt ruts in the turn areas
 at the edges of the paved areas and along some narrow roads that lack
 shoulders.
 f. Cornelius has over 108 miles of non-system roads that the state
 provides $958,229.89 for their maintenance and construction (including
 sidewalks). Cornelius plans on averaging repaving 5 miles every 2
 years. OR any given road ONCE EVERY 43.2 YEARS, unless local tax
 revenues are also used. No surprise of the road conditions.
 g. Years ago, Cornelius, following a study, decided to STAFF and
 CONVERT THE current volunteer, highly experienced FIRE
 DEPARTMENT to a paid full-time town employee department to meet
 the growing town requirements. What year is the goal to accomplish
 this staffing to a level to respond to a small house fire? What do the
 reports show about the progress to date?
 h. According to published reports, A recent house basement fire required
 alerting: BOTH Cornelius Fire Stations, plus the Davidson Fire
 Department, plus the Huntersville Fire Department, plus an Iredell
 County Fire Department, plus a Lincoln County Fire Department, for
 staffing. Clearly Cornelius, along with other fire area departments
 have a hiring need for more firefighters on duty 24/7.
8. I could go on and on, but I’m out of time. Thank you for your attention.




 02/05/24 Regular Meeting
 Page 7