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01222001655 DUNN CITY COUNCIL CITY OF DUNN, NORTH CAROLINA MINUTES THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUNN HELD A SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON JANUARY 23, 2001 AT 7:00 P.M IN THE DUNN MUNICIPAL BUILDING. PRESENT WAS MAYOR ABRAHAM OUDEH, MAYOR PRO -TEM MHO✓ WOMBLE AND COUNCILMEMBERS PAUL BASS, CAROLYN MCDOUGAL, GEORGE ROBINSON, TOBY SUMNER AND JOEY TART. ALSO PRESENT WERE CITY MANAGER CARL DEAN, CITY CLERK JOYCE VALLEY, CHIEF BUILDING INSPECTOR RICKY PARSON, CITY ENGINEER ED POWELL, RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY HUDSON, AND CITY ATTORNEY BILLY GODWIN. INVOCATION MAYOR OUDEH ASKED COUNCILMEMBER TART TO GIVE THE INVOCATION. AFTERWARD, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS REPEATED. PARTF GRANT APPLICATION MAYOR OUDEH YIELDED TO CITY MANAGER DEAN WHO STATED THAT THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING WAS TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNING THE CITY'S INTENT TO APPLY FOR A PARTF GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 TO CONSTRUCT A NEW GYMNASIUM AT A TOTAL COST OF $820,000.00. HE YIELDED TO PERRY HUDSON TO EXPLAIN THE PROPOSAL. RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY HUDSON DIRECTED THE AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION TO THE PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED GYMNASIUM AND STATED THAT ALONG WITH THE RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AND CITIZEN INPUT, THE PLANS FOR THE GYMNASIUM WERE DEVELOPED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE NEED FOR A NEW FACILITY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILT THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER IN THE 1930'S AND TURNED IT OVER TO THE CITY IN THE 1970'S WHEN THEY BUILT A NEW ARMORY. HE STATED THAT THE PROPOSAL IS TO BUILD A 12,625 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AT A COST OF $820,000.00. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING FANCY ABOUT THE PROPOSED FACILITY; HOWEVER, THERE ARE PLANS FOR IT TO INCLUDE A MULTI - PURPOSE ROOM FOR THE CITIZENS TO RENT FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES, ETC., A GYMNASTICS AREA, A 7,125 SQUARE FOOT GYMNASIUM AREA, A MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE AREA FOR EQUIPMENT AND CONCESSION AND BATHROOM FACILITIES. RECREATION DIRECTOR HUDSON STATED THAT ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN TO THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE NEED FOR A NEW GYMNASIUM. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AND THE TIME HAS COME TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PLANS TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY. HE YIELDED TO CITY ENGINEER ED POWELL TO DISCUSS THE PARTF GRANT IN DETAIL. CITY ENGINEER ED POWELL STATED THAT THE CITY OF DUNN HAS BEEN OPERATING UNDER A RECREATION MASTER PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN 1990 AND RE- DEVELOPED IN 1995 BY BALLARD & KING AND ASSOCIATES AND THE HUGHES GROUP, ARCHITECTS AND RECREATIONAL PLANNERS, TO DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION OF TART PARK. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IN 1998, THE CITY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING A PARTF GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 TO DO THE EXPANSION AT TART PARK TO INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER FACILITY, LIGHTED FOOTBALL AND SOCCER FIELDS, ACCESS TO PAVED WALKING AREAS, SOME PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND WALKING TRAILS. 656 CITY ENGINEER POWELL EXPLAINED THAT IN LOOKING BACK AT THE OLD STUDIES AND CONSIDERING THE DETERIORATED CONDITION OF THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BEST PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO BUILD A NEW GYMNASIUM FACILITY AT TART PARK. HE STATED THAT THIS FACILITY WOULD REPLACE THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER WHICH WAS NOTED AS BEING DETERIORATED IN 1995. HE FURTHER STATED THAT TART PARK HAS THE SPACE AVAILABLE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PARKING AND UTILITIES TO SERVE THIS TYPE OF BUILDING. HE ADDED THAT THEY WOULD PROPOSE THAT ULTIMATELY, THE CIVIC CENTER AT TYLER PARK WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND A PARKING AREA BE PUT IN PLACE. l CITY ENGINEER POWELL STATED THAT THE CURRENT PLAYGROUND FACILITIES AT ALL THREE PARKS WOULD BE UPGRADED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE LIGHTING AT TART PARK WILL BE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE DUE TO SOME OF THE LIGHTING BEING THIRTY YEARS OLD. HE ADDED THAT SPACE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THIS BUILDING TO HOUSE THE CURRENT RECREATION OFFICES. CITY ENGINEER POWELL STATED THAT THE CITY HAS PREPARED A PARTF GRANT APPLICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 TO CONSTRUCT A NEW GYNASIUM AT A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $820,000.00 WHICH WILL BE FILED NEXT WEEK AS A RESULT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD TONIGHT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THESE GRANTS COME ANNUALLY AND THE LAST GRANT WAS USED TO EXPAND TART PARK. MAYOR OUDEH CLOSED THE MEETING AND OPENED A PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:09 P.M. HE ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYONE PRESENT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE CITY'S INTENT TO APPLY FOR A PARTF GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 TO CONSTRUCT A NEW GYMNASIUM AT A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $820,000.00. PUBLIC HEARING PARTF GRANT APPLICATION DAL SNIPES, A RESIDENT OF 905 WEST POPE STREET, STATED THAT HE WAS REPRESENTING THE DUNN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT AT A RECENT JOINT MEETING, A COUPLE OF COUNCIL'S AGENDA ITEMS WERE NEAR AND DEAR TO THEM, ONE OF THEM BEING THE CITY'S LONG -RANGE PLAN AND THE OTHER BEING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GYMNASIUM AT TART PARK. HE ADDED THAT AS A RESULT OF THAT MEETING, AN ARTICLE APPEARING IN LAST NIGHT'S NEWSPAPER AND A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CHAMBER POLLED ITS CHAMBER OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS TODAY. HE SAID THERE WAS NO TIME TO MAKE THIS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THE CHAMBER THIS MONTH; HOWEVER, THE POLL AS TO WHETHER THE NEW GYMNASIUM IS NEEDED RESULTED IN A UNANIMOUS OFFER OF SUPPORT FROM THE DUNN AREA CHAMBER OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. MR. SNIPES STATED THAT HE PLAYED IN THE CURRENT FACILITY MORE THAN THIRTY AND LESS THAN FORTY YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS OLD, OUTDATED AND DREARY THEN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A CITY LIKE DUNN WOULD HAVE A FACILITY SUCH AS THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER. HE ADDED THAT HE FELT THAT THE CITY OF DUNN STAFF HAS GONE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY IN HAVING TO WORK AT SUCH A FACILITY. 657 MR. SNIPES STATED THAT AT THE CHAMBER'S PLANNING RETREAT, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND HELPING DUNN MOVE FORWARD ON A GROWTH TRACK AND HE CERTAINLY THINKS THAT IF HE WERE A BUSINESS COMING TO DUNN OR IF HIS JOB TRANSFERRED HIM TO DUNN, AND WAS LOOKING AT CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT IN MAKING A DECISION TO MOVE TO DUNN, THE CIVIC CENTER WOULD CERTAINLY BE A MAJOR DETERRENT TO HIS COMING TO LIVE IN DUNN IF HE HAD KIDS WHO WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE RECREATION PROGRAM. MR. SNIPES SAID THAT HE BELIEVES WITH THE NEW INDUSTRY THAT IS DESIRED IN DUNN AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE HAPPEN IN DUNN, THIS IS JUST ONE SMALL PIECE AND IT TAKES ALL OF THESE PIECES TO MAKE THESE THINGS WORK. HE ASKED THAT COUNCIL MAKE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD. HE STATED THAT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED FROM THE POLL TODAY WERE "LETS DON'T SKIMP AND LET'S MAKE THIS A FIRST CLASS FACILITY" AND "LET'S MAKE SURE IT IS EXPANDABLE AND WILL HANDLE THE GROWTH NEEDS IN THE FUTURE ". HE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO THE RECREATION STAFF, CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL THEIR PROGRESSIVE THINKING AND SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT STEP THAT THE CITY IS TAKING AT THIS TIME. HE SAID AS A PARENT, HE THINKS THIS FACILITY IS SO IMPORTANT THAT HIS BELIEF IS THAT THE CITY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE GRANT IS RECEIVED; ALTHOUGH, HE CERTAINLY HOPES THE GRANT IS RECEIVED TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS. MR. CECIL "BO" JONES, 1004 WEST POPE STREET, STATED THAT HE HAS ADDRESSED COUNCIL IN THE PAST CONCERNING THE NEEDS OF THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. HE FURTHER STATED THAT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE DUNN RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, THEY HAVE UNANIMOUSLY GONE ON RECORD AS BEING IN SUPPORT OF A NEW GYMNASIUM. HE SAID THAT ONCE THE BUILDING IS IN PLACE, IT WILL BE A SHOWPLACE. HE COMMENDED COUNCIL FOR THEIR HELP IN EXPANDING TART PARK AND THEY ARE NOW IN A POSITION WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE CAN COME IN TO LEARN WHAT DUNN RECREATION HAS TO OFFER THEM. MR. JONES STATED THAT HE WAS ONCE EMPLOYED BY THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND WORKED AT THE CIVIC CENTER WHICH IS OUT - DATED. HE SAID THAT THE CHILDREN DESERVE A BETTER FACILITY. HE ADDED THAT WHEN THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE, AND HE FEELS CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL, BE DONE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CHILDREN, THAT THE BUILDING BE KEPT MAINTAINED. CARLIE C. "MACK" MCLAMB, 101 CANTERBURY DRIVE, STATED THAT HE PLAYED IN THE CIVIC CENTER WHEN HE WAS A CHILD AND IT IS AN OLD, WORN -OUT FACILITY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT AS A PARENT, IT IS EVEN WORSE. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO WATCH HIS KIDS PLAY AND SOMETIMES SNEAKS DOWNSTAIRS SO HE CAN SEE THEM PLAY BECAUSE HE IS ONE OF THE FEW WHO IS TALL ENOUGH TO SEE ABOVE THE CROWD. HE SAID THAT MOST OF THE PARENTS SIT AND STAND AROUND THE GYM FLOOR. HE SAID THAT THE UPKEEP OF THE CURRENT GYM IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE. MR. MCLAMB STATED THAT HE HAS NOT SPOKEN WITH ANYONE WHO HAD OPPOSITION TO THE GYM. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IF HE HAD ANY DRAWBACK, IT WAS THAT HE QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS BIG ENOUGH AND HE FELT LIKE THE BUILDING SHOULD BE LARGER. HE ADDED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD BUDGET CONSTRAINTS; HOWEVER, IF IT WAS BUILT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT COULD BE EXPANDED IN THE FUTURE MAYBE THAT WOULD SUFFICE. m MR. MCLAMB STATED THAT THIS YEAR WHEN HE WAS COACHING LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, HE HEARD A CHILD FROM ANOTHER TOWN SAY TO THEIR DAD "DO WE GET TO PLAY ON THIS FIELD" BUT HE DARED SAY THAT IF ANOTHER CHILD CAME TO PLAY IN OUR GYM THAT THEY WOULD SAY "DAD, DO WE GET TO PLAY IN THIS GYM?" HE SAID THAT IT WAS JUST THAT DIVERSE AND IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON AND HE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT. MAYOR OUDEH STATED THAT THE REASON THE PLANS ARE 13,000 SQUARE FEET IS BECAUSE THE COUNCIL AND CHAMBER ARE WORKING TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF A CONVENTION CENTER. EDDY LANGSTON, 1103 W. VANCE STREET, STATED THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE PARENTS WHO CANNOT SEE OVER THE WIRE IN THE CURRENT GYMNASIUM. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE IS REPRESENTING THE RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, AND AT THEIR LAST MEETING, HE READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER WITH COMMENTS SUPPOSEDLY MADE BY DAL SNIPES WHICH UPSET HIM, BUT THANKED MR. SNIPES FOR HIS EARLIER COMMENTS BECAUSE HE NOW KNOWS WHERE MR. SNIPES STANDS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GYMNASIUM. MR. LANGSTON STATED THAT HE HAS WORKED AND PLAYED AT THE CIVIC CENTER MANY YEARS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN A NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER FOR TWENTY YEARS, ALTHOUGH NEVER SERVED AT THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER WHICH WAS THE ARMORY BECAUSE THE NATIONAL GUARD BUILT A NEW FACILITY IN DUNN BECAUSE THE FACILITY ,WHICH WAS TURNED OVER TO THE CITY, WAS WORN OUT. SHIRLEY WHITE, 100 FOUNTAIN CIRCLE, STATED THAT SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE DUNN RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH THE YOUTH SERVICES FOR HARNETT COUNTY. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT SHE SUPPORTS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GYMNASIUM BECAUSE OF THE NEED AND HER SON, CLAYTON WHITE, (✓ GREW UP IN THE CURRENT GYM. SHE ADDED THAT THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED FOR A NEW GYM. ROB JONES, 1201 W. DIVINE STREET, STATED THAT HIS FAMILY MOVED TO DUNN IN 1973 FROM FAYETTEVILLE WHERE HE PLAYED IN THE RECREATION PROGRAM. HE SAID THAT WHEN MOVING TO DUNN, THERE WAS SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE, IT WAS LIKE MR. MCLAMB SAID- - "WE'RE COMING TO THIS ". HE STATED THAT THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE CIVIC CENTER MAKES IT NOT FEASIBLE TO USE. HE SAID THAT IF SOMEONE WAS MOVING TO TOWN, THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND A NEW FACILITY IS BADLY NEEDED. HE ADDED THAT TO CONTINUE PUTTING MONEY IN THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER IS LIKE WASHING MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN. HE STATED THAT A NEW ROOF WOULD BE NEEDED IN A FEW YEARS BECAUSE IT IS A FLAT ROOF AND NOW IS THE TIME, WHETHER GRANT MONEY IS AVAILABLE OR NOT, TO CONSTRUCT A NEW FACILITY. MIKE WHITMAN, 110 BYRD DRIVE, STATED THAT HE IS A RECREATION COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT DUNN MIDDLE SCHOOL. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE JUST LEFT THE CIVIC CENTER AFTER COACHING A GAME, AND THERE WERE 200 TO 300 PEOPLE IN THE CIVIC CENTER TONIGHT, ENJOYING WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN PLAY. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER HIS SUPPORT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A, NEW GYMNASIUM. I� MR. WHITMAN STATED THAT HE WORKS PART -TIME FOR THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND ONE OF HIS JOBS IN THE SUMMER IS COORDINATING SUMMER CAMPS. HE INFORMED COUNCIL THAT THE BUILDING WOULD NOT GO UNUSED BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A PARTICIPATION PROBLEM; THERE IS A FACILITY PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT IN THE SUMMERTIME, SEVERAL CAMPS WOULD USE THE BUILDING. 659 MR. WHITMAN SAID THAT THIS YEAR, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THE CIVIC CENTER TO HOLD THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE AND IT HAD TO BE MOVED TO DUNN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH ABOUT EIGHTY PARTICIPANTS. HE STATED THAT THERE ARE FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN YEAR OLD KIDS PLAYING BASKETBALL AND THEY ALL BRING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WITH A TOTAL OF ABOUT 300 PEOPLE. HE SAID THAT YEAR, THEY COULD NOT SECURE DUNN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SEATING AND HEAT IN THE CIVIC CENTER. HE ADDED THAT THERE ARE A MINIMUM OF 1,000 PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THE CIVIC CENTER EACH WEEK AND THERE ARE 35 BASKETBALL TEAMS PLAYING RIGHT NOW, ALONG WITH THE GYMNASTICS PROGRAM AND SENIOR CITIZENS WHO WALK IN THE MORNING. MR. WHITMAN GAVE HIS SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED GYMNASIUM AND ADDED THAT THIS BUILDING WILL BE USED FOR THE NEXT THIRTY OR FORTY YEARS AND HE WOULD LIKE IT DONE RIGHT. GARY JOHNSON, 108 JACKSON ROAD, STATED THAT FROM WHAT HAS BEEN SAID TONIGHT AND HIS BELIEF AS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DUNN AND A PARENT OF CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECREATION PROGRAM, THE CITY IS IN NEED OF A NEW CIVIC CENTER. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE PLAYED IN THE CIVIC CENTER WHILE IN SCHOOL AND IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE AT THAT TIME. HE ADDED THAT OUR RECREATION FACILITIES REFLECT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND HE IS BEHIND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FACILITY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. MR. JOHNSON STATED THAT AS A RESIDENT IN THE AREA, HE IS A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THE PROPOSED FACILITY IS BEING CONSTRUCTED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AS FAR AS POLICING, SECURITY AND PROPERTY VALUES. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS A RESIDENT OF JACKSON ROAD AND THE AREA WILL BE INFLUXED WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A NEW CIVIC CENTER, BUT ASKED THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER THE HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA AND HE WANTED ASSURANCES AS FAR AS ROAD ACCESS, SECURITY AND POLICING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. REVEREND CARL MINOR, 105 CARRIAGE COURT, STATED THAT HE WAS A LOCAL PASTOR IN THE AREA AND AS INVOLVED AS ANYONE IN TOWN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN COACHING BASKETBALL AND SOCCER TEAMS AND JUST RETURNED FROM COACHING A BASKETBALL GAME. HE STATED THAT HAVING LIVED IN MANY AREAS AS A PASTOR, HE HAS SEEN THE GREAT BENEFIT OF WHAT RECREATION DOES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY. HE ADDED THAT HE IS THANKFUL THAT DUNN HAS A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY BASKETBALL BUT FRANKLY, COMPARED TO ANYWHERE HE HAS EVER LIVED, THE CURRENT FACILITY IS ABOUT THE POOREST. REVEREND MINOR ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO BUILD A NEW GYMNASIUM. HE STATED THAT IT DOES WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY. HE SAID THAT THIS PAST YEAR, HE HAS HAD WHITE BOYS, BLACK BOYS AND HISPANIC BOYS ON HIS TEAM. HE SAID THAT IT IS THE ONLY TIME HE SEES THEM AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES PLAYING TOGETHER, SITTING TOGETHER ,TALKING AND CHEERING TOGETHER. HE SAID THAT SADLY, THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE PARENTS TO SIT WHERE BASKETBALL IS BEING PLAYED NOW. HE SAID THAT THEY SIT ALONG THE SIDELINES, DODGING THE BOUNCING BALLS. HE SAID IF POSSIBLE, HE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO BUILD THIS GYMNASIUM. MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. EDDIE CRABTREE, 1609 CURRITUCK STREET, STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBER'S IDEAS SO THE AUDIENCE CAN GRASP COUNCIL'S THOUGHTS AND IDEAS CONCERNING THE PROJECT. M u COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED THAT HE WAS IN FAVOR OF THE GYMNASIUM. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE GYMNASIUM AND ASKED CITY ENGINEER POWELL IF HE THOUGHT THE 30 X 20 FOOT MULTI - PURPOSE AREA WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. CITY ENGINEER POWELL STATED THAT THE MULTI - PURPOSE AREA AND THE GYMNASIUM AREA WAS DEVELOPED BY THE STAFF AS BEING THE AMOUNT OF SPACE NEEDED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THEY TEMPERED THE PLANS WITH THE FINANCIAL COST OF THE BUILDING; HOWEVER, THE i BUILDING WILL BE READILY EXPANDABLE FOR FUTURE NEEDS. CITY ENGINEER POWELL STATED THAT A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN PLACED UPON THE CITY'S PLATE IN THE LAST YEAR AND WILL BE ON IT IN THE NEXT YEAR, SO THEY HAVE TRIED TO BALANCE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AND WHAT CAN BE AFFORDED BY THE CITY, HE SAID THAT GIVEN THEIR RATHERS, THEY WOULD LIKE THE BUILDING TO BE MUCH LARGER, BUT HE IS AFRAID THAT WOULD HAVE PRICED THE FACILITY OUT OF THE BALLPARK. RECREATION DIRECTOR HUDSON STATED THAT HE WOULD LOVE TO 13UILD A $2M OR $3M FACILITY AND THERE MAY BE SOME TWEAKING OF THE PLANS, BUT THE MULTI - PURPOSE ROOM CAN BE USED FOR GYMNASTICS AND OTHER PROGRAMS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE ROOM BEING USED FOR GYMNASTICS AT THE CURRENT TIME IS DEPLORABLE. HE ADDED THAT THE PLANS CAN BE EXPANDED UPON, BUT IF COUNCIL WANTED TO BUILD A LARGER FACILITY, HE CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BACK AWAY FROM IT. COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THAT AS A GRANDFATHER TO FIFTEEN GRANDCHILDREN, HE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO HAVE A DECENT FACILITY TO COME HOME TO ONE DAY, MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER AND OTHERS HAVE ELUDED TO AND COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS WHO HAVE CALLED HIM, THE QUESTIONS ARISING ARE WHETHER THIS FACILITY WILL BE NICE ENOUGH, LARGE ENOUGH AND WHETHER THE CITY WILL TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY THE PROJECT AND DO IT RIGHT. HE STATED THAT HIS COMMENTS TO THOSE PEOPLE ARE THAT TONIGHT, COUNCIL IS GOING TO CONSIDER A NEW RESOLUTION DEALING WITH ANALYSIS OF THE CITY'S PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM WHICH IS THE BASIS OF A LONG RANGE PLAN DEVELOPED IN THE PAST. HE FURTHER STATED THAT COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TONIGHT. HE SAID THAT A PARTICULAR DESIGN OF THE BUILDING WILL NOT BE DECIDED TONIGHT. HE ADDED THAT AFTER THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED, THE COUNCIL WILL STILL HAVE CONTROL OVER THE APPEARANCE AND SIZE OF THE BUILDING. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT HIS DECISION ON THE GYMNASIUM IS STRICTLY A FINANCIAL DECISION. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WITH THE $820,000.00 COST OF THE PROJECT, SUBTRACTING THE $250,000.000 GRANT WILL BRING THE DIFFERENCE TO $570,000.00 AND A FEW YEARS AGO, THE COUNCIL SPENT $200,00.00 ON A ROOF THAT NOW LEAKS RESULTING IN A BASKETBALL GAME BEING RAINED OUT. HE ADDED THAT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY WILL HAVE TO BE SPENT ON THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER VERY SOON TO j' CONTINUE ITS USE. 661 MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT IF THE CITY COULD PROCEED WITH THE GYM PREVENTING COUNCIL FROM SPENDING THAT EXTRA MONEY ON THE CIVIC CENTER, ALLOWING THE CITY TO PAY THAT AMOUNT AS AN ADDITIONAL DOWNPAYMENT IN ADDITION TO THE GRANT ON THE FACILITY, THAT WOULD PAY FOR AN ESTIMATED ONE - HALF OF THE GYMNASIUM. HE FURTHER STATED THAT COUNCIL MAY PROPOSE TO FINANCE THE BALANCE OF THE GYM OVER A TWELVE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME BASED ON SOME NUMBER DISCUSSED AT THE BUDGET RETREAT THIS WEEKEND. HE ADDED THAT IF SIX YEARS FROM NOW, THE CIVIC CENTER WERE STILL STANDING, THE CITY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO SPEND SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR RENOVATIONS TO KEEP IT SAFE BUT IF THOSE FUNDS COULD BE DIVERTED TO PAY FOR THIS GYM, PROBABLY AT LEAST TWO- THIRDS OF THIS MONEY COULD HELP PAY FOR THE NEW FACILITY. HE SAID THERE COMES A TIME WHEN IT IS MONETARILY FEASIBLE TO KEEP THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER AND IT HAS HIS SUPPORT. HE STRESSED THAT THIS IS A PRELIMINARY PLAN AND ASSURED MR. JOHNSON THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER THE RESIDENTIAL ISSUES WHICH CONCERNED THE CITIZENS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TART PARK. COUNCILMEMBER PAUL BASS STATED THAT HE WAS DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF BUILDING A NEW GYMNASIUM. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO, IT WAS SOMETHING THE CITY HAS TO DO. HE ADDED THAT THE ONLY CONCERNS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE CALLED HIM HAD WERE INVOLVING WHETHER THE FACILITY COULD BE BUILT AT ANOTHER LOCATION. HE SAID THAT NOT ONE PERSON WHO CALLED HIM HAS BEEN NEGATIVE CONCERNING THE NEED FOR A NEW FACILITY, BUT EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY IN THE AREA. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THAT HE APPLAUDS PERRY HUDSON AND HIS STAFF FOR WORKING UNDER THE CONDITIONS THEY HAVE WORKED UNDER THE PAST FEW YEARS AT THE CIVIC CENTER. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CITY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IN CONSTRUCTING A GYM. HE SAID THAT HE HAS SOME CONCERNS THAT THE FACILITY WILL NOT BE LARGE ENOUGH DUE TO INCREASED ENROLLMENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR IN THIS NEW FACILITY. COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE FOR THE NEW FACILITY AND ALL OF THE PARKS TO BE LOCATED AT TYLER PARK, BUT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE AT TYLER PARK. HE AGREED THAT THE NEW FACILITY SHOULD BE A SHOWPLACE AND HE IS IN FAVOR OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GYMNASIUM. COUNCILMEMBER MCDOUGAL STATED THAT SHE SUPPORTS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GYMNASIUM AND HAS HAD QUESTIONS POSED TO HER AS TO THE LIABILITIES OF THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER. SHE STATED THAT HER CONCERN WAS IF IT WOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS BUT REMAIN WITHIN THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE CITY. BILLY BARFIELD, 1304 GUY AVENUE, STATED THAT THE PROPOSED FACILITY WILL BE CONSTRUCTED OF TIN AND TIN ROTS AND /OR RUSTS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CITY RECEIVED $265,000.00 FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL SPENT THAT MONEY ON PAVING PROJECTS AND THAT MONEY COULD BE SPENT ON THE PROPOSED GYMNASIUM. MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT ALL OF THE COUNCIL HAS A DESIRE TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL TAX RATE AND TO KEEP CONTROL OVER SPENDING. HE FURTHER STATED THAT A CONCERN WAS THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FACILITY WOULD CAUSE AN INCREASE IN TAXES AND THEIR COMMITMENT IS TO STREAMLINE WHILE TRYING TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. 662 WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS, MAYOR OUDEH CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:41 P.M. APPROVAL OF RECREATION FACILITIES ANALYSIS STUDY UPDATE RESOLUTION CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THAT AS PART OF THE GRANT PROCESS, COUNCIL MUST APPROVE THE RECREATION FACILITIES ANALYSIS STUDY UPDATE RESOLUTION. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IN FORMULATING THE PLAN, IT IS FLEXIBLE AND NOT SET IN STONE. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TART, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER TO APPROVE THE RECREATION FACILITIES ANALYSIS STUDY UPDATE RESOLUTION. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. (ATTACHMENT #]) APPROVAL OF SUBMISSION OF PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT APPLICATION RESOLUTION CITY MANAGER DEAN STATED THAT THIS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND FILE AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DUNN WITH THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 WITH A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $820,000.00. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND FILE AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DUNN WITH THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 WITH A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $820,000.00. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. (ATTACHMENT 42) WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO DISCUSS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED i AT 7:58 P.M. qxk :: . , geF 3 my �io ec `. +ir .« •, "¢4 /�� � ..• v ;;r ��;, 4 ... OUDEH A'1'TES7 C ^ MAYOR 8 sD4� SEAN- E CLERK