Greenville City Council Meeting – September 9, 2024

The Greenville City Council met on September 9, 2024, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included special recognitions, approval of a consent agenda, discussion and votes on several major items including the Town Common Bulkhead project, the sale of city-owned property on East Tenth Street, and a grant application for affordable senior housing. Council also approved a budget amendment and heard a report on the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Floyd.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution of Support for NCDOT Improvements to the NC-43 and US-264 interchange ramps.
• Ordinance to Revise Speed Limit on NC 33 (East 10th Street) from 50 to 45 mph, concurring with NCDOT.
• 2024-25 Downtown Greenville Partnership Contract for Services.
• Lease Agreement with Magnolia Arts Center, Inc. for the Perkins Complex Building.
• Conveyance of Real Property at 1007 Douglas Avenue to Habitat for Humanity of Pitt County.
• Ordinances and Reimbursement Resolution for Greenville Utilities Commission's Electric Capital Project Budgets related to the Boviet Solar Technology project.
• Authorization to Accept U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant to install a fire alarm system at Fire/Rescue Station 3 and vehicle-mounted exhaust treatment systems.
• Authorization for IT Department to Migrate Tyler Technologies Products (Munis and Energov) to Tyler's Cloud Platform.
• Resolution Declaring 4 Vehicles as Surplus and authorizing purchase of 4 replacement vehicles and 1 additional piece of equipment for Public Works Sanitation Division.
• Approval of Proposed 2025 Schedule of City Council Meetings (removed from consent for separate comment, then approved).
• Budget Schedule for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
• Various Tax Refunds Greater Than $100.

Item 1 under Special Recognitions (Greenville Tar Heel 11U All-Star Baseball Team) was removed from the agenda as the team could not attend. Item 12 (2025 schedule) was removed from the consent agenda for a separate comment; Councilmember Foreman noted that based on citizen feedback, the 2025 schedule minimizes conflicts with Pitt County Commissioners and School Board meetings, with only three occasions of overlap. The consent agenda as amended was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No registered speakers. The public comment period was opened and closed with no one coming forward.

Discussion Items

• Town Common Bulkhead and Esplanade Project Update (Item 15): Executive Director of Recreation and Parks Don Octagon, along with Moffatt & Nichol Senior Engineer Mark Parello, presented an update. The project replaces over 1,500 feet of 57-year-old steel bulkhead, which is overstressed (48% by vehicle load, 30% by pedestrian load). The design, selected via community survey (over 440 participants), includes a boardwalk, plazas, shade structures, swings, a multi-use trail, and a 150-foot floating dock. The estimated cost has increased from $19 million to $22 million. The project is at 60% construction documents; final design is expected in October 2024, permits by January 2025, with advertisement for bids in February 2025 and construction starting summer 2025. Work in the river is restricted to certain months; missing the summer 2025 window could delay the project by a year. Funding includes $5 million in state appropriations, city fund balance, and debt financing. Council discussed the timeline and the importance of staying on schedule.

• Resolution to Enter into Interlocal Agreement with Pitt County for Sale of Property at 2815 E. Tenth Street and 0 E. Fifth Street (Items 16 & 17): Assistant City Manager Renee Alexander presented a detailed analysis. The 2-acre site, jointly owned by the city (83%) and county (17%), was previously leased to the state for Highway Patrol operations (abandoned three years ago). The appraisal valued the land at $2.8 million, but the buildings are at the end of their useful life and environmental remediation (asbestos, lead, underground gas tanks) is estimated at $1 million. Staff evaluated multiple city uses (public works, police substation, park) and found them cost-prohibitive or infeasible. The proposed starting bid for the upset bid process is $1,923,635 (average of appraised and tax values less demolition costs). Councilmember Blackburn suggested retaining a small triangular parcel (0 E. Fifth Street) as a green buffer, but after discussion, the majority felt the environmental costs and safety concerns (heavy traffic, leaning trees) made retention impractical. Councilmember Robinson noted that spending $3.45 million on cleanup and improvements would be poor stewardship. The motion to approve both resolutions (interlocal agreement and upset bid process) passed 6-0.

• Intent to Apply for Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds Grant for Turnbury Trace (Item 18): Tristan Williams, Vice President of Taft Mills Group, presented a 72-unit, 55+ senior affordable housing development. The project will be a three-story building with rents ranging from 30% to 80% of Area Median Income (starting at $450/month for 30% AMI). The total development cost is $15.8 million; the city is requested to apply for a $1.3 million federal grant (HUD). The site is located off Turnberry Drive near Fire Tower Road, adjacent to grocery stores and restaurants, with public transportation. The project is shovel-ready with approved site plan and environmental review. Council praised the development and the need for affordable senior housing. The motion to approve the application passed 6-0.

• Budget Ordinance Amendment #2 (Item 19): CFO Jacob Joyner presented the amendment, which includes encumbrance carryovers, establishment of a new project management department, recognition of opioid settlement funds ($52,000), police wellness grant ($19,000), NC Triparty grant ($70,000), sanitation fund vehicle purchases ($1.6 million), urban search and rescue grant ($94,000), police donations ($2,000), closing out completed stormwater projects (reducing budget by $47 million), and adding 0.5 FTE to the City Clerk's office with no budget impact. The total operating fund budget becomes $191.2 million. The motion passed 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (as amended) approved unanimously.
• 2025 City Council Meeting Schedule approved after separate comment.
• Town Common Bulkhead and Esplanade Project update received; no vote required.
• Resolution to enter into Interlocal Agreement with Pitt County (Item 16) and Resolution to declare property surplus and authorize upset bid process (Item 17) both approved 6-0. Starting bid set at $1,923,635.
• Intent to apply for CoC Builds Grant for Turnbury Trace (Item 18) approved 6-0.
• Budget Ordinance Amendment #2 (Item 19) approved 6-0.
• Closed Session authorized to consult with attorney on legal matters (motion passed).
• Council recognized the Jackie Robinson Baseball League's 10U and 12U Legacy Tournament winners, observed a moment of silence for September 11 victims, and noted upcoming community events.

City Manager's Report

• City Manager Michael Cowin presented a video commemorating the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Floyd (1999), highlighting the community's resilience and the importance of flood mitigation projects.