Agenda about the City Council meeting of July 16, 2013

This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that will take place on the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

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Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

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 City Council Meeting Agenda - July 16, 2013 (16MB)

Invocation by Rev. David E. Roberts II, Pastor, Morning Star First Baptist Church

Special Presentations
A. Presentation of Business Well Crafted Award to Johnson Piano Exchange
B. Presentation of Retiring Members of Volunteer Boards and Commissions
C. Presentation of the 17th Consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Hickory by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
D. Presentation from Business Development Committee Member, Ryan Lovern, Update of the Meeting held with Hickory Area Commercial Realtors

Consent Agenda:
A. Request Approval to Apply for Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $23,860. - City of Hickory Police department has received notification of pre-approval to receive $23,860 under the 2013 Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). The JAG program is a formula-based grant through the Office of Justice Programs/Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) that utilizes Uniform Crime Reporting statistics of all law enforcement agencies to determine eligibility for direct federal grant awards. There is no match required. Hickory Police Department recommends using grant funds from the Justice Assistance Grant to purchase in-car cameras.

B. Request Approval to Accept a Grant in the amount of $60,000 from Governor’s Highway Safety Program Grant for the Purchase of Twenty (20) in-car Digital Cameras. -  A standard marked Hickory Police Vehicle is equipped with a specialized Mobile Video In-Car Camera for all new police vehicles. Life expectancy will be five to ten years on the in-car cameras. These cameras can be reinstalled in new vehicles as required. The digital video recording system is to be installed in police vehicles at an estimated cost of $6,000 per in-car camera. The grant will consist of twenty (20) digital video in car cameras at a cost of $120,000 the portion Governor’s Highway Safety Grant would match is $60,000 and the City’s portion would be $60,000. Along with installing in-car cameras in new police vehicles, these cameras will replace any camera no longer working or supported by a vendor. The City’s match is budgeted in the annual budget for FY13-14.

C. Request Approval of the 2013 Urgent Repair Program Grant, Assistance Policy and Procurement Policy for Submission to the NC Housing Finance Agency. -  In January 2013, the City of Hickory Community Development Department applied for funding through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency’s Urgent Repair Program. The City of Hickory has been award $37,500 through this program in order to assist approximately eight (8) eligible homes with urgently needed repairs in an amount not to exceed $5,400 per housing unit. The City of Hickory will provide $3,750 in matching funds, available from Rental Rehabilitation program income. NC Housing Finance Agency requires the City of Hickory to prepare an Assistance Policy and Procurement Policies to be readily available to the public explaining the guidelines of the URP13.

D. Special Event/Activities Application for Patriots Day, Steve Moore and Fred Hollar, Hickory Fire Department, for September 11, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Union Square.

E. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Howard R. Craig and wife, Beverly F. Craig to Andrea Whitener Teeter and husband James Lee Teeter in Oakwood Cemetery

F. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Joyce Ann Simpson, Executrix under the Will of William Grant Simpson, and Joyce Ann Simpson, individually to Linda L. Simpson in Fairview Cemetery

G. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-10 for the Property Located on 28th Street SE, Hickory, containing 3.32 acres. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 6, 2013)

H. Request Approval of an Updated Billing & Collection Agreement with Catawba County Relating to New Tag & Tax Together Program for Vehicle Property Taxes. - House Bill 1779 was passed by the General Assembly which created the Tag & Tax Together Program. The new program was designed to provide a convenient payment method for vehicle owners to be billed and pay both the tag registration fee and vehicle tax at the same time. Under the new agreement, City of Hickory agrees to pay Catawba County for any new fees associated with this change a percentage share of Hickory’s total tax amount. Deducted fees will be based on overall costs of billing and debit/credit card fees and any refunds, exemptions, and appeals. An annual statement will be generated by the County after December 1st of each tax year and due within 30 days of receipt. Any motor vehicle taxes with renewal dates prior to September 1, 2013 will require the City to pay Catawba County 1 ½ % of the total motor vehicle taxes and gross receipts taxes collected. Renewal dates on or after September 1, 2013 will allocate the motor vehicle tax payments directly to Catawba County. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will deduct the per statement billing cost and debit/credit card transaction fees from the County’s payment. The anticipated per statement billing cost is $1.69 per notice.

I. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Safe Harbor Rescue Mission, Inc., for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - City Council approved the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Budget and Action Plan on April 16, 2013. As a result thereof, agreements need to be executed. Per Federal requirements, on February 7, and February 13, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at the Ridgeview Library and City Hall. At these meetings non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year.
After the meetings were held, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Safe Harbor Rescue Mission, Inc. is a neighborhood based non-profit organization engaged in providing shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services to chronically dependent and homeless women.

J. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley, Inc., for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $60,000 for a Deferred Loan.  -  City Council approved the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Budget and Action Plan on April 16, 2013. As a result thereof, agreements need to be executed. Per Federal requirements, on February 7, and February 13, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at the Ridgeview Library and City Hall. At these meetings non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. After the meetings were held, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley Inc. is a non-profit organization engaged in providing affordable home ownership opportunities to low and moderate income families.

K. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Inter-Faith Housing Development Corporation for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $10,000. - City Council approved the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Budget and Action Plan on April 16, 2013. As a result thereof, agreements need to be executed. Per Federal requirements, on February 7, and February 13, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development held two neighborhood  meetings. The meetings were held at the Ridgeview Library and City Hall. At these meetings non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. After the meetings were held, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Inter-Faith Housing Development Corporation is a non-profit organization engaged in providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low and moderate income families. They are also the owners of the former Ridgeview Public Library, which they are planning to rehabilitate for use as a community center.

L. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 1.
1. To transfer $400 from the Police Departments Uniform line item to the 2012 Bulletproof Vest Partnership multi-year grant project. The 2012 Federal grant awarded to the Hickory Police Department from the United States Department of Justice pays up to 50% of the cost of National Institute of Justice approved vests. Grant funds are budgeted for the vest purchases; however the grant does not cover shipping and handling costs of the vest purchases. Therefore a transfer of
$400 to the grant projects uniform line item is necessary.

M. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment Number 1.
1. To accept a $400 transfer from the Police Departments Uniform line item to the 2012 Bulletproof Vest Partnership multi-year grant project. Grant funds are budgeted for the vest purchases; however the grant does not cover shipping and handling costs of the vest purchases. Therefore a transfer of $400 to the grant projects uniform line item is necessary.
2. To budget $28,568 of Restricted Government Revenue in the 2013 Entitlement Block Grant Budget and to increase expenditure line items by $28,568. The proposed FY13-14 Community Development Block Grant budget was $432,974 however, the revised revenue is $461,542 thereby increasing the budget by an additional $28,568. A budget amendment is necessary to recognize the
additional revenue and to increase the expenditures so that the budget remains in balance.

New Business - Public Hearings
1. Rezoning Petition 13-09 for the Property Located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory. - The City of Hickory requests the rezoning of property located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South. The area of rezoning was recently annexed into the city limits and currently developed as a Dollar General Retail Store. The request is to rezone the property from Catawba County Highway Commercial (HC) to Commercial Corridor (CC-2). The Hickory by Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan classifies the vicinity as Commercial Corridor. The particular rezoning request is to update the zoning designation on the recently annexed property to be consistent with Hickory by Choice 2030. The Business Development Committee reviewed the application and voted to recommend approval at their June 21st meeting. This public hearing was advertised on July 5 and July 12, 2013 in a newspaper
having general circulation in the Hickory area.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant Agreement for Agile Specialty Inc., dba Dennison Precision Machine Co. - (Mr. Ivester is requesting two readings due to the lack of two meetings in July.) - Agile Specialty Inc., dba Dennison Precision Machine Co. has applied for a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $12,142 to assist in the demolition of the former machine shop located at 417 11th Street NW. They plan to spend up to $34,690 to demolish the industrial building on the site. The grant program can reimburse up to $20,000 or 35 percent of eligible project cost, whichever is less, for demolition projects. This project would be eligible for a
grant in the amount of $12,142. After demolition, the applicant will market the property for future development or use as a parking lot by an adjacent property owner.

2. Catawba County Gang Initiative Hickory Police Department will update Council on the Catawba County Gang Initiative.

3. Legal Counsel Advisory Opinion on Conflict of Interest Policy. 
Conflict of Interest Documents from the HDR article of July 7, 2013