TOWN OF HOLDEN BEACH

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ REGULAR MEETING

HOLDEN BEACH TOWN HALL – PUBLIC ASSEMBLY

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 – 5:00 P.M.

1. Invocation

2. Call to Order/ Welcome

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Agenda Approval Approved unanimously.

5. Approval of Minutes

a. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 8, 2022 Approved unanimously.
b. Minutes of the Special Meeting of March 21, 2022 Approved unanimously.

6. Public Comments on Agenda Items James Bauer asked about insurance for the Pier. (No response given.)

7. Police Report – Chief Dixon Not anything out of the ordinary. Festival is this weekend. Rick Smith asked about Golf Cart safety.

8. Discussion and Possible Action on Items Necessary to Update the Paid Parking Program – Town Manager Hewett

a. Ordinance 22-07, An Ordinance Amending the Holden Beach Code of Ordinances, Title VII: Traffic Code Adds the Pier to Parking Table. Makes parking exemption for when people are participating in Town programs at Pavilion. Removed Marsh streets from table until their wetlands have been delineated. Few other minor changes. Passed unanimously.

b. Ordinance 22-08, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 21-13, The Revenues and Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022 (Amendment No. 13) Reduced expected revenue since Paid Parking is starting in May instead of April and adds Pier lot. Passed unanimously.

9. Discussion and Possible Approval of Ordinance 22-09, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2113, The Revenues and Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022 (Amendment No. 14) – Town Manager Hewett Closing costs for Pier were $57,150 which was added to loan proceeds. Passed unanimously.

10. Discussion and Possible Action on Parks & Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Project Grant Application Submission – Assistant Town Manager Ferguson Reviewed PARTF grant proposal, which was a $500,000 grant for land acquisition. Concerns about “strings” that would require the Town to hold the property in perpetuity for recreational use only. Motion to apply for grant failed with Commissioners Brown and Dyer voting in favor and Commissioners Kwiatkowski, Murdock and Smith voting opposed. Concerns were also expressed because the report on the Pier condition has not been completed. Town could apply next year.

11. Discussion and Possible Action on Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Grant 22-23 Preapplication Submission – Assistant Town Manager Ferguson This grant would be for a Hatteras Ramp and an ADA handicap ramp for beach access at the Pier. Passed unanimously.

12. Discussion and Possible Action on Letters of Support from Commissioners for Congressional Spending Funding Request to Congressional Delegation – Assistant Town Manager Ferguson Approved unanimously to have our federal Congressional Delegation “earmark” funds to cover the Town’s portion of the Corps Study, funding for a storm water project, and funding for upgrading Sewer Lift Station #2.

13. Discussion and Possible Approval of Contract between the Town and Holden Beach Enterprises for the Purchase of Block Q – Attorney Green The Town will purchase nine parcels bounded by Jordan Blvd., South Shore Dr., Quinton Street, and Brunswick Ave. East, pending a title search with closing on May 2. The cost will be $2,200,000 with a gift from the seller for $200,000. The Town will pay $1,000,000 at closing. The remaining balance of $1,000,000 will be financed by the seller for three years and paid by the Town in equal annual payments at an interest rate of 3.18%. The seller will be responsible for paying the back taxes from the sale proceeds.

a. Ordinance 22-10, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 21-13, The Revenues and Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022 (Amendment No. 15) – Town Manager Hewett This is for $1,000,000 for the initial payment. Approved 4-1 with Commissioner Brown opposed.

14. Discussion and Possible Approval of Resolution 22-06, A Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Holden Beach (Requesting State Assistance to Construct a New Wastewater Vacuum Pumping Station to Replace Existing Station) – Public Works Director Clemmons Application for a state interest-free loan to fund sewer lift station #2.

a. Water & Sewer Capital Improvement Plan Unanimously passed.

15. Discussion and Possible Approval of Ordinance 22-11, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 21-13, The Revenues and Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022 (Amendment No. 16) – Town Manager Hewett Purchase of water meters. Passed unanimously.

16. Discussion and Possible Action/Decision on the Prioritization of Board Objectives – Commissioner Kwiatkowski Everything with a score of 14 or higher would be priorities in the upcoming year. Passed unanimously. Ranked priorities are available here.

17. Public Comments on General Items Three people had comments.

18. Town Manager’s Report

• The FEMA sand nourishment is complete. 1.51 million cubic yards was placed. The full planned area was not nourished, but he expects the sand to fill in to the west over the next month or two. Beach tilling and demobilization is underway. Sand fencing and vegetation planting is now underway. The Town received the first large reimbursement, $7.6M, for the nourishment. The final payment will wait on FEMA’s inspection.
• The Lockwood Folly dredging and sand placement work was completed. 200,000 cubic yards of sand was placed.
• The wetlands delineations on the marsh areas (marsh streets and 800 block) is pending the input from the Corps.
• Solicitations are out for Food Trucks for this summer at the pier.
• Seagull paving should be complete by Memorial Day. Assessments to be sent after project completes.
• Property owners along Ocean Blvd should have received a certified mail packet 10 days ago on adding Bike Lanes. In most areas, the project will take 7’ from the south side of the Ocean Blvd. and 3’ from the north side creating two 5’ bike lanes – one on each side of the road. Contact the Town if you did not receive a packet. Cost increases are expected.
• The annual Audit is underway.
• The first Budget Meeting will be April 21 at 1:00pm.

19. Mayor’s Comments Had a big crowd for Easter services at the Pier. Harbor Acres survey discrepancies at the street is causing problems and he asked the staff to address the issue.

20. Board of Commissioners’ Comments

• Commissioner Smith thanked the staff for their work. Looking forward to the festival this weekend.
• Commissioner Brown – no comments.
• Commissioner Murdock thanked the staff and hopes for a successful roll out of Paid Parking which is needed to pay for the Pier. Block Q allows for more boat trailer parking.
• Commissioner Dyer thanked the staff for their work. Tourist season is beginning.
• Commissioner Kwiatkowski thanked the staff and the Town Attorney. The Beautification Club’s Plant Sale is Friday and Saturday and they use the funds to buy plants for areas of the island.

21. Executive Session Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(A)(6), To Discuss Qualifications, Competence, Performance of a Public Employee No action was taken.

22. Adjournment