12092014104
MINUTES
CITY OF DUNN
DUNN, NORTH CAROLINA
The City Council of the City of Dunn held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at 7:00
p.m. in the Dunn Municipal Building. Present was Mayor Oscar N. Harris, Mayor Pro Tern Buddy
Maness, Council Members N. Carnell Robinson, Frank McLean, Billy Tart, Chuck Turnage and
Billy Barfield. Also present was City Manager Ronnie Autry, Assistant City Manager Steven
Neuschafer, Finance Director Drew Holland, Public Works Director Billy Addison, Public Utilities
Director Dean Gaster, Chief Building Inspector Steven King, Planning Director Samantha
Wullenwaber, Police Chief Jimmy Pope, Human Resources Director Anne Thompson, City Attorney
P. Tilghman Pope, City Clerk Debra West, Administrative Support Specialist Melissa Dudley, and
Daily Record Reporter Keilah Goff.
INVOCATION
Mayor Harris opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and asked Police Chaplain Reverend Dennis Manuel, Pastor
of East Granville Street Church and A Sound of Abundance Ministries, to give the invocation. Afterwards,
the Pledge of Allegiance was repeated.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENT AND APPROVAL
Motion by Council Member Robinson and seconded by Council Member Barfield to adopt the December 9,
2014 meeting agenda with changes, if any, as listed below.
Agenda Items Added.
• none
Agenda Items Removed.
• none
Motion unanimously approved.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Mayor Harris opened the floor for a (30) minute public comment period
Mr. Willie Suggs, 713 W. Morris Circle, Dunn, NC spoke about his concerns with the Downtown
Revitalized District. The City implemented a sidewalk ordinance last year, and the Downtown Dunn
Development Corporation (DDDC), a 501(c) (3) corporation, was supposed to report back to the Council
after one year on how well this ordinance is working; that has not been done. The DDDC is directly
connected to the City. He reported that the last meeting of the DDDC was March 5, 2013. Mayor Hams
asked Mr. Suggs if he would yield to Assistant Manager Neuschafer, who sits on this board, about his
concerns. Mr. Suggs agreed.
Hearing no further comments, Mayor Harris closed the public comment period
CONSENT ITEMS
Minutes — Council considered approval of minutes of the November 13, 2014 City Council meeting
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Maness and seconded by Council Member Barfield to approve all consent
items. Motion unanimously approved.
ITEMS FOR DECISION
Audit Report
Fiscal Year 2013 -2014
Auditor Phyllis Pearson of Petway, Mills & Pearson, PA gave a short summary of the FY 2013 -2014 audit
for the City of Dunn:
Governmental Activities
• Total assets - $13M
• Total Liabilities - $7.7M
• Total net position - $5.5M
Business -Type Activities (Water and Sewer Fund)
• Total assets - $28M
• Total liabilities - $8.5M
• Total net position - $19M
General Fund
• Total assets - $4M
• Total liabilities - $324,129
• Total fund balances - $3.5M
• Total revenues - $8.7M
• Total expenditures - $8.8M
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Unassigned Fund Balance
• As of June 30, 2014 - $2M (well above the statutory requirement)
• Statutory recommendation — 8% of prior year expenditures
• Required amount - $760,000
City meets and exceeds requirements
Motion by Council Member Tart and seconded by Council Member McLean to approve the audit report.
Motion unanimously approved.
Ordinance Amendment OA -07 -14
Chapter 22; Article I, III, & IX
Amend the Permitted and Conditional Uses to
Include but not be limited to: Private meeting halls,
Fraternal organizations and Banquet halls
Mayor Harris explained that the Council held a public hearing on OA -07 -14 at their November 13, 2014
meeting. The Planning Board, after tabling this matter at their October meeting, met on November 20,
2014 and voted unanimously to recommend approval of this ordinance amendment.
This is a request to amend Article I, Ill & Article IX, text changes to amend the permitted and conditional
uses to include but not be limited to: private meeting halls, fraternal organizations and banquet halls.
This ordinance amendment adds banquet halls and event venues as a conditional use. Previously they had
to be included in the private clubs, sports bar, dance clubs category and these are different types of uses and
needed to be separate. It also added private meeting halls and fraternal organizations as a conditional use if
their occupancy will be over (50) people. If the occupancy is less than (50) people, it will be a permitted
use. The (50) person threshold was established using the building code; above a (50) person occupancy
would follow the regulations for an assembly.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Maness and seconded by Council Member Turnage to approve OA- 07 -14.
Motion unanimously approved. A copy of Ordinance (02014 -17) is incorporated into these minutes as
Attachment #1.
Consideration of Resolution
Adopting the 2015 Regular Meeting
Schedule for the City of Dunn
City Council
A resolution establishing the City Council meeting dates for 2015 was considered by the Council.
Motion by Council Member McLean and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Maness to adopt a Resolution
Establishing the 2015 Regular Meeting Schedule for the Dunn City Council. Motion unanimously
approved. A copy of Resolution (R2014 -23) Establishing the 2015 regular meeting schedule is
incorporated into these minutes as Attachment #2.
Consideration to
Appoint Mayor Pro Tem
Mayor Pro Tem Maness thanked the Council for giving him the opportunity to serve in the capacity of
Mayor Pro Tem. Since the Council decided to rotate this position on an annual basis, it has provided an
opportunity for the members to expand their leadership experience.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Maness and seconded by Council Member Barfield to appoint Chuck Turnage
as Mayor Pro Tem. Motion unanimously approved.
Mid -Year COLA
Manager Autry explained that before the City Council is a proposal to implement a 2.25% COLA mid -year
increase for City employees.
During FY 2014 -15 budget discussions, there was a proposal on the table requesting a 2.25% COLA
increase. It was decided that the City Council would wait to look at mid -year finances and make a decision
at that time.
Following is a history of adjustments that the Council has given to the employees:
FY2007 -08
2.5%
FY2008 -09
3%
FY2009 -10
Bonus
FY2010 -11
1.5%
FY2011 -12
Bonus
FY2012 -13
3.5%
FY2013 -14
Bonus
FY2014 -15
2.25% proposed mid -year COLA
Budget impact for mid -year increase:
$47,000 General Fund Contingency - $65,000
$14,000 Water Fund Contingency - $50,673
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At the present time, state revenues are $30,000+ above budget projections. As a result, the General Fund is
in better shape than compared to the last four (4) years. Also, the Water Fund revenues are $100,000+
above budget projections due to unexpected bulk water usage by Sampson County and their 50%
commitment.
Manager Autry stated that three (3) municipalities in Harnett County received a COLA in FY 2014 -15
ranging from 2% — 2.5 %.
Mayor Hams stated that in his research, the pay increases for City employees over the past eight (8) years
have not equated to the consumer price index (CPI). Although the Council has done their best with regard
to employee raises, they have not kept up with the CPI.
Motion by Council Member Turnage and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Maness to approve a 2.25% mid-
year COLA effective January 1, 2015. Motion unanimously approved.
Consideration of Municipal Agreement between
NCDOT and the City of Dunn for Pedestrian
Improvements along US Hwy 421(E. Cumberland Street)
From US 301 (Clinton Avenue) to Magnolia Avenue
Mayor Harris explained that the Council is being asked to authorize the Municipal Agreement between
NCDOT and the City of Dunn for the construction of sidewalk along the north side of US Hwy 421 (E.
Cumberland Street) from US 301 (Clinton Avenue) to Magnolia Avenue. These improvements will
provide for safe pedestrian access along E. Cumberland Street.
This project was included in the Dunn Pedestrian Plan and is eligible for funding from the Division
Engineers Office. In the agreement, DOT has agreed to approve $35,000 towards the project.
This project can be budgeted and constructed in FY2014 -15 and 2015 -16 with preliminary study work and
bidding completed during the first quarter of calendar year 2015. Total cost to the City (including force
account and engineering) should not exceed $25,000.
Motion by Council Member Tart and seconded by Council Member Barfield to accept and authorize the
NCDOT Municipal Agreement for Pedestrian Improvements along US Hwy 421 upon concurrence by the
City Attorney. Motion unanimously approved. A copy ofthe NCDOT Municipal Agreement is
incorporated into these minutes as Attachment #3.
ITEM FOR DISCUSSION
AND /OR DECISION
Financial Report
Finance Director Drew Holland provided the following financial report for the period ending October 31,
2014:
• As of October 31, 2014, the City had $1,063,845 cash in the General Fund and $2,110,603 in the
Water -Sewer Fund. In October of 2013 the City had $1,749,792 in the General Fund and
$2,049,145 in the Water -Sewer Fund.
• Investment earnings are in the .10 % -.08% range.
• Building permit fees were $44,760 or 66.81% of budget. Benchmark for this month is 33.33% of
budget.
• Water and sewer revenues were $1,607,657 or 36.41% of budget. Benchmark for this month is
33.33% of budget.
• Average fuel cost for unleaded was $2.25 per gallon and diesel was $2.65 per gallon. The City
budgeted $3.15 per gallon.
• Sales tax revenue through September, 2014 was $383,154 or 27.27% of budget. Benchmark for
September was 25% of budget. The October, 2014 Sales Tax Revenue will be received by
December 15, 2014.
• Expenditures were 38.17% of budget in the General Fund and 23.82% of budget in the Water and
Sewer fund. The benchmark for this period is 33.33% of budget.
Motion by Council Member McLean and seconded by Council Member Tart to accept the Financial
Report. Motion unanimously approved.
Consideration of a Resolution for
General William C. Lee Memorial Avenue
In an effort to honor General William C. Lee and bring attention to the soon to be constructed "Veterans
Memorial ", it is proposed to Memorial Name that section of General Lee Avenue from W. Cumberland
Street to W. Harnett Street to "General William C. Lee Memorial Avenue ".
By naming a Memorial street, it is not necessary to change any addresses along the Memorial Avenue
unless so desired.
New title signs and posts for the street will be ordered for each end of the naming
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Motion by Council Member Turnage and seconded by Council Member Barfield to table this issue for
further review and recommendation to include the entire length of the current General Lee Avenue from
Bay Street to Barrington Street. Motion unanimously approved.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Motion by Council Member Barfield and seconded by Council Member McLean to accept the
Administrative Reports. Motion unanimously approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The following announcements and/or comments were made.
Mayor Harris:
➢ City of Dunn Offices will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 24 11i , 251b, & 26 th
for Christmas and on Thursday, January I" for New Year's Day.
➢ The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm.
➢ Employee Christmas Luncheon will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014 beginning at 11:30 am
in the Dunn Community Center.
➢ Wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
With no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Council Member Barfield and seconded by
Council Member McLean to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 pm. Motion unanimously approved.
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Debra G. West
City Clerk
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