Minutes 10-25-2021192
Dunn City Council
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 25, 2021
7:00 p.m., Dunn Municipal Building
Minutes
PRESENT: Mayor William P. Elmore Jr., Mayor Pro Tem Dr. David L. Bradham, Council Members J
Wesley Sills, April Gaulden, Frank McLean, Billy N. Tart, and Chuck Turnage.
Also present: City Manager Steven Neuschafer, Assistant City Manager Mathew Boone, Finance Director Jim
Roberts, Public Utilities Director Heather Adams, Planning Director George Adler, Chief of Police Clark White,
Librarian Mike Williams, Communications Coordinator Kaitlin Adkins, City Attorney Tilghman Pope, and City
Clerk Tammy Williams.
CALL TO ORDER AND INVOCATION
Mayor Elmore opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and Council Member Gaulden gave the invocation.
Afterwards, Mayor Pro Tem Bradham led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENT AND APPROVAL
Motion by Council Member Sills and second by Mayor Pro Tem Bradham to adopt the October 25, 2021
meeting agenda as presented with changes as listed below:
Agenda Items Added:
- Discussion concerning violation letters regarding debris carts
Motion unanimously approved.
CONSENT ITEMS
• Budget Amendment - Waterline Replacement - E Bay St and S Elm Ave. A copy of Budget Amendment
(BA2022-17) is incorporated into these minutes asAttachment#1
• Temporary Blocking of Alley - Dunn Public Library
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bradham and second by Council Member Gaulden to approve all consent items.
Motion unanimously approved.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR DECISION
Imagine Dunn Strategic Vision Plan Update and Priorities - Dunn Vision Group (DVG)
Heather Lawson, Executive Vice President for the Dunn Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the top ten
priorities as narrowed down by DVG. They also identified those strategies already in progress. She added that
DVG met collectively 27 times to get us to this point on the Plan. These priorities have also been shared with
our partners (DDDC, Chamber and Tourism), with no objections.
DVG Members currently include: Dunn Chamber - Executive Vice President Lawson, President Rodney
Stewart, and Vice Presidents Renee Jackson, and Matthew Smith; Downtown Development - Coordinator
Kaitlin Adkins and Lynn Godwin; Dunn Area Tourism Authority - Sharon Stevens, Executive Director and
from the City of Dunn; Mayor Pro Tem Bradham, City Manager Neuschafer, Assistant City Manager Boone,
Planning Director Adler and City Clerk Williams.
Assistant City Manager Boone shared that staff, working along with DVG, will research and attain estimates to
bring back to council at the retreat and future meetings to move these projects forward.
After comments from Mayor Pro Tem Bradham and Council Members Gaulden and Turnage, motion by Mayor
Pro Tem Bradham and second by Council Member Gaulden to direct staff to work with DVG in developing
strategies for moving forward with those top priorities as selected. Motion unanimously approved. A copy
of the Top Priorities are incorporated into these minutes as Attachment #2.
New City of Dunn Logo Adoption
Assistant City Manager Boone presented the new City of Dunn logo as part of the rebranding recommended
through the Imagine Dunn Strategic Vision Plan. The presentation included: the main logo, logos to be used
on vehicles, promotional and wayfinding logos, along with sample letterheads. A staff committee was
established consisting of Assistant City Manager Boone, Planning Director Adler, Finance Director Roberts,
Communications Coordinator Adkins, Parks and Recreation Administrative Support Assistant Nyda Byrd and
City Clerk Williams. The Dunn Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Dunn Development
Corporation have already moved forward with their new logos.
Concerns were expressed by Council Members about leaving the All -America City emblem off the letterhead.
Motion by Council Member Gaulden and second by Council Member McLean to adopt the new City of Dunn
logos as presented. Motion approved with Mayor Elmore, Mayor Pro Tem Bradham, and Council
Members Gaulden and McLean voting in the affirmative and Council Members Tart, Turnage and Sills
opposed.A copy of the logos are incorporated into these minutes as Attachment #3.
193
NC Department of Environmental Quality Merger Regionalization Feasibility Study Presentation
Ken Orie, PE with WithersRavenel presented the findings of the Water Merger Regionalization Feasibility
grant, which provided the opportunity to look at the regional needs and determine if the City of Dunn could
incorporate these needs in future water plant improvements. The study looked at the anticipated regional
needs - Dunn, Johnston County, Smithfield, Harnett County and Fayetteville/Cumberland County PWC. By
2040, the region is projected to have a 6.6 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity storage with existing 2019
treatment plant capacity. Dunn's potential withdrawal capacity from the Cape Fear River gives it the ability to
become a larger regional provider to future businesses and growing communities. By 2040, this region will be
short approximately 7.21 MGD. They met with various communities, Mayors, Public Work Directors and all
said they needed more water. He did add that Harnett County chose not to participate and was not interested
in the regional partnership. It was determined the focus should be the I-95 regional area. To sustain the needs
of the region until 2040, it would take the needed capacity of 18.35 MGD. The existing plant is going to need
some work in the near future, so future discussion will need to determine if the needs of the region will be
included in the project If so, it should be done as a phased approach.
Speed Reduction in Residential and Downtown Areas
Chief White presented information on reducing the speed limit on Broad Street in downtown to 20 miles per
hour and in all residential areas to 25 miles per hour. Approximately 175 signs will be needed to comply with
the signage required by State, NCGS§ 20-141.Speed restrictions. If the Council decides to proceed, an
ordinance with the streets and locations will be prepared for consideration.
He shared that reaction times and stopping distance are the main concerns when traveling in residential
areas. Studies show that reducing the speed limit by 5 mph reduces the risk of injury and death. You get a lot
of voluntary compliance just by putting up signs. The higher the speed, the more likely there will be a fatality.
Mayor Pro Tern Bradham asked about enforcement and added the need for education. The Chief said that
warnings would be distributed first to bring about volunteer compliance prior to giving out tickets. Council
Member Turnage asked if traffic calming devices could be researched as option. City Manager Neuschafer
added the signs would cost approximately $100 each. Council Member Turnage felt that neighborhood
meetings or educational meetings along with publicizing would be helpful. After additional comments,
consensus was to bring additional information to Council for consideration
Ordinance Amendment OA-06-21: Amendments to Chapter 22 Zoning, Section 20-60: Regulation of
Unattended Donation Boxes
Planning Director Adler presented proposed updated amendment for Regulation of Unattended Donation
Boxes. The Ordinance was presented at the August meeting and was denied due to Council directing staff to
amend the Ordinance to ban the donation bins. However, after consulting with City Attorney Pope, staff
discovered this is not an option and has worked with Pope to amend the ordinance for future presentation to
Council.
The regulations were enhanced and the changes were made more restrictive to include the location of the
boxes and the number of boxes per parcel. He added that within 60 days of the ordinance being approved,
bins must be brought to compliance with permit or be removed. Council was in consensus to bring the
ordinance back to council for consideration.
I95 Widening Update
City Manager Neuschafer updated Council that work has started with clearing and grubbing of areas
preparing for future construction. Access roads have to be in place before they can shut off the existing
roadway. Power lines are also beginning to be moved back Contract has been awarded and estimates are that
the project will take between 4 to 6 years. A definite schedule has not been received after several requests. He
added that information will be shared as soon as we are able to acquire the updated schedule.
Violation Letters Concerning Debris Cart
Council Member Sills requested discussion on letters concerning debris carts being sent out certified at over
$7 each. "If people do yard work, we need to send a thank you letter not violation letter." City Manager
Neuschafer said that a first class letter and certified letter are standard practice for nuisance abatement and
violations. Vegetated debris placed in the streets instead of yard carts, can flow into the storm drains. By
ordinance, the debris should be placed on the edge of the lawn, even if scheduled for pick up. He reminded
Council that the contract for yard debris carts was just extended for 4 more years. We have tried to get
voluntary compliance through door hangers. There was very little compliance with door hangers, so staff
moved forward with violation letters which gives the property owner so many days to handle. Violation
letters were sent because the yard waste was on the streets or blocking sidewalks.
Council Member Sills asks why staff doesn't just knock on the door. Assistant City Manager Boone added that
knocking on the door doesn't typically work due to people not being at home, or those at home getting notice
but those at work not The letters also create a database and tracking of who has been informed in case of
complaints. City Manager Neuschafer added that the information has been placed in the water bills, videos
and information on Facebook and government channel in the past for educational purposes. If they clean up
the debris, nothing else will be done. The letter notice is in the ordinance and is proof that the city is doing its
due diligence. Council Member Sills added that he regrets his vote for the yard debris can.
Announcements/Information
Mayor Elmore announced upcoming events and activities.
194
With no further business to discuss, motion by Council Member McLean and second by Council Member Tart
to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. Motion unanimously approved.
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Attest: — °®
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Tammy Williams MC, NCCMC
City Clerk
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William P. Elmore Jr.
Mayor