Meeting Reminder and
Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Follow Up – March 2024
Reminder: HBPOA Easter Meeting
HBPOA Easter Membership Meeting
Saturday, March 30, 2024 at
10:00 AM at Town Hall
Hope to see you there!
TOWN OF HOLDEN BEACH
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ REGULAR MEETING
HOLDEN BEACH TOWN HALL – PUBLIC ASSEMBLY TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024 – 5:00 P.M.
Click here for the Meeting Packet.
Click here for the written Public Comments.
Click here to listen to the audio of the meeting.
1. Invocation
2. Call to Order/ Welcome
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Agenda Approval Amended agenda to add item 5A.
5. Conflict of Interest Check Rick Smith and Page Dyer proposed Tom Myers and Tracey Thomas have a conflict of interest by serving as both HB Commissioners and as Directors of HBPOA. Town Attorney Moore reported that this situation is not a conflict of interest.
5A. Motion to move April 16th Meeting to April 30. Passed 3-2 with Smith and Dyer voting no. The Budget meeting scheduled for that day is canceled and budget items will be discussed at the previously scheduled budget meeting May 2.
6. Approval of Minutes All approved.
a. Minutes of the Special Meeting of February 7, 2024
b. Minutes of the Special Meeting of February 9, 2024 (Recessed from February 7th)
c. Minutes of the Special Meeting of February 14, 2024
d. Minutes of the Public Hearing/Regular Meeting of February 20, 20247.
7. Public Comments on Agenda Items
- Tracy Burger, 781 OBW, representing “Neighbors of 796”. Supports selling 796 OBW. Also submitting letters from others.
- Sylvia Pate, 111 Charlotte St., read the engineering report and agrees the pavilion needs to be demolished.
- Marti Arrowwood, 114 Shrimp St., does not support free passes for residents, doesn’t recommend selling 796.
- Cindy Ridenhour lost her business to fire and did not like comments at budget meeting.
- Jim Bauer, 329 OBW. Thinks the remaining sewer lift station should be the top priority. He is appreciative that there is no money for the pier being proposed in the draft budget. Would like to see 796 OBW sold. Likes the Owl system for broadcasting meetings.
- Lisa Raglan – sent comments. Wants the concerts to continue. Not in favor of giving a free parking pass for residents. Wants to have the pier bid.
- Will Carter, 108 Starfish, wants a concrete pier. He said Brian Murdock called him and said he had Greg Shue draw up a plan. He wants the commissioners to develop a plan for a new pier.
- Commissioner Rick Paarfus apologized for a comment he made about the Trolley Stop at the budget meeting.
8. Discussion and Possible Award of Contract for Roadway Work (High Point Street) – Public Works Director Clemmons See the information here. Approved unanimously.
9. Discussion and Possible Action on Evaluation of Holden Beach Pavilion – Town Manager Hewett, Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas Motion to solicit bids to remove the pavilion; passed unanimously.
10. Discussion and Possible Action on Ordinance 24-02, An Ordinance Amending Holden Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 72: Parking Regulations – Town Manager Hewett Parking spots along McCray have been made unusable due to the bike lanes. Approved unanimously.
11. Discussion and Possible Action on Holden Beach Paid Parking Fees and Schedule – Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas Commissioner Thomas handled these individually.
· Motion to extend the season to charge for parking year-round. Passed 3-2 with Smith and Dyer voting no.
· Amend Otto Contract to charge $5/hr and the day and weekly rates to stay the same. A season pass to would go to $175 starting April 1. Passed 3-2 with Smith and Dyer voting no.
· Parking during Festivals – motion to not enforce parking in the area of the festival. Motion failed with Myers and Thomas voting yes.
· Motion to amend the contract to allow one $20 parking permit per household if vehicle is registered at Holden Beach. Motion withdrawn.
12. Police Report – Chief Dixon Typical for February. There was confusion about people parking in front of their residence in off-season which has been corrected.
13. Discussion and Possible Action on Resolution 24-03, Resolution Declaring Law Enforcement Participation in the Federal 1033 Program – Chief Dixon Passed unanimously.
14. Inspections Department Report – Inspections Director Evans This was the busiest month the department has ever had. Would like Ordinance 94.03, the dune ordinance to be sent to P&Z for review. He would also like P&Z to review the lighting ordinance. Approved by consensus to send 94.03 and the lighting ordinance to P&Z.
15. Finance Department Report – Finance Officer McRainey Discussed new graphics in the Meeting Packet requested by Commissioners.
- Discussion and Possible Acceptance of a Grant from the NC Department of Environmental Quality for Bathrooms, Associated Parking, Site Prep and Landscaping on Block Q – Assistant Town Manager Ferguson Motion to find out when the final answer needs to be given to state. Failed. Motion to accept the grant and budget amendment. Passed unanimous.
a. Ordinance 24-03, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 23-11, The Revenues and Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 (Amendment No. 3)
17. Discussion and Possible Approval of Ordinance 24-04, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2311, The Revenues and Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 (Amendment No. 4) – Finance Officer McRainey Approved unanimously.
18. Discussion and Possible Approval of Contract Between the Town and Martin Starnes and Associates for Audit Services for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 – Mayor Pro Tem Myers, Finance Officer McRainey Approved unanimously.
19. Discussion and Possible Action to Direct Staff to Develop and Issue a Request for Proposals to Upfit the Pier and Pier House – Commissioners Smith and Dyer Motion failed 3-2.
20. Discussion and Possible Action on 796 Ocean Boulevard West – Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas Motion to sell 796 OBW passed 3-2 with Dyer and Smith voting no.
21. Discussion and Possible Action on Audio/Video Broadcasting of Town Meetings – Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas Motion to direct Staff to investigate improved methods of broadcasting meetings – passed 4-1.
22. Public Comments on General Items
· Brent Shaw 911 OBW, discussed ordinance 94.03 and his beach walkway. There is no appeal process.
· Lisa Ragland, Salisbury Street, thinks there is a conflict of interest for Commissioner Myers and Thomas regarding HBPOA.
· Keith Smith – the sound system needs improvement. He thinks that the parking fee increase could be viewed as a money grab. He also had comments about the grants.
· Marti Arrowood, Shrimp Street, had complaints about the emails she had read.
· Gina Martin, 1032 OBW, wants an RFP to run the pier.
23. Town Manager’s Report: They are still recruiting to fill a PD vacancy and have a new officer, Justin Hewett. The front desk vacancy was filled. The Corps study matching funds are in place but will still need to be watched by the lobbyist. He is waiting for a draft of the storm water PPA (Project Partnership Agreement) with the Corps. He expects 5-6 projects at ~$2M. Lockwood Folly Inlet Crossing dredging is finishing up. Over 100,000 cubic yards of sand were placed on the east end. Rock raking from the last nourishment violation appears to be completed. Sand Fence repairs underway and vegetation planting will be underway soon. He is wrapping up the congressionally directed funding requests. They are funding for the Corps’ portion of the CSDR study, stormwater project funding and Lockwood Folly dredging. Lift Station 2 will be coming back to BOC soon pending clearing the backlog at the state. The canal dredging underway. April 1st starts this year’s paid parking. April’s water bill will contain the 2024 hurricane stickers. Public Works will be placing blue mats at the Pier access ramp. He is ready to do a bid solicitation for bathrooms at Quinton St. and OBE Beach Access. The bike lanes are on schedule for a Memorial Day completion. The Easter Egg hunt on April 5 requires preregistration.
24. Mayor’s Comments The Chapel will sponsor Sunrise Service plus three other services at the Chapel on Easter Sunday.
25. Board of Commissioners’ Comments
· Myers – Hopefully he made his positions clear on a very long agenda.
· Smith – Sad about loss of Trolley Stop. He is disappointed in the increase in paid parking.
· Thomas – Thanked everyone for coming out.
· Dyer – Extended sympathy to the Trolley Stop family. Thanks to first responders.
· Paarfus – Thanked all for attending and thanked Town Staff.
- Adjournment