Newsletter about the City Council meeting of June 18, 2013

This newsletter is about the Hickory City Council meeting that I attended this past week. 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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You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date.

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 Action Agenda - June 18 2013


Invocation by Rev. Whit Malone, First Presbyterian Church



Special Presentations
A. (2:00) Presentation of Business Well Crafted Award to Mr. Dock Lynn and Ms. Sherry Mull of Canipe & Lynn Electric - Mr. Mark Huckabee of the Business Development Committee presented Mr. Dock Lynn and Ms. Sherry Mull of Canipe & Lynn Electric with the Business Well Crafted Award.

Persons Requesting to Be Heard
(5:30) Mr. Cliff Moone, 2925 8th St Ct NE, Hickory spoke to Council regarding video taping and televising City Council meetings.

Consent Agenda: (8:30)
A. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Dale K. Cline, Executor of the Estate of Oren L. Cline, Joyce Patterson and husband Larry B. Patterson, Dale K. Cline and wife, Brenda K. Cline and Jeffrey M. Cline and wife, Joyce Baugess Cline to Jeffrey M. Cline and wife, Joyce Baugess Cline in Oakwood Cemetery

B. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Naomi Florence Mitchell Ball to Charles M. Lail and wife, Linda H. Lail in Oakwood Cemetery

C. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from City of Hickory to Rosetta Tucker in Southside Cemetery

D. Special Event/Activities Application for Catawba Valley Pride Celebration, Edwin G. Farthing, Board Member of Catawba Valley Pride Inc., September 28, 2013 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the City Parking Lot at the corner of North Center Street and 1st Avenue NW.

E. Special Event/Activities Application for Symphony Under the Sails “A Patriotic Celebration”, Reggie Helton, Western Piedmont Symphony, for June 30, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Sails on the Square in Downtown Hickory.

F. Approve Catawba County Fire Protection Service Agreement with Catawba County. - The City of Hickory Fire Department requests the approval of the Fire Protection Service District Agreement with Catawba County. The agreement is to provide fire service protection to the rural fire districts absorbed by the City of Hickory Fire Department. The City and the County are currently in an agreement whereas the City of Hickory Fire Department will dispatch firefighting and/or protection services upon any call indicating a need for firefighting or fire protection services within the Fire Protection District. The County agrees to annually levy and collect upon all taxable property lying within the boundaries of the Fire Protection District and ensure these taxes are used for the purpose of fire protection in the Fire Protection District where it originated. This contract automatically renews for successive one year terms until terminated. To meet compliance with NCGS 153A-301(a)(2), the term “Fire Protection District” will be changed to “Fire Protection Service District.”

G. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance Through the City of Hickory’s Housing Programs. - The following request was considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on June 6, 2013:
Kae & Sang See were approved for recommendation to City Council for first-time homebuyer’s assistance to purchase a house located at 832 5th Avenue SW, Hickory. They have requested $7,500 for assistance with down payment and  closing costs. The First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Loan is zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage. Funds are budgeted for these items through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY 2012 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

H. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with City of Refuge for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $3,265. -  On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City of Refuge provides after school enrichment programs for school-aged children in grades one through five. The afterschool sessions provide a structured learning and development environment with instruction and activity based on the North Carolina course of study and year-end testing activities. City of Refuge requested and has been approved for funding in the amount of $3,265 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.

I. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000.  -  On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. The Hickory Soup Kitchen provides meals to the City’s homeless and/or low income population. The Hickory Soup Kitchen has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.

J. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. -  On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Exodus Homes is a neighborhood based nonprofit organization engaged in providing shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services to chronically dependent and homeless men and women, and part of their process ismoving clients toward self-sufficiency. Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.

K. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. -  On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc., provides quality services to people living with HIV/AIDS and offers HIV prevention education programs to the community at large. Aids Leadership Foothills Alliance, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.

L. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Great Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. provides a Free Clinic, including dental, medical and pharmacy services. Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.

M. Approval of a Proclamation for National HIV Testing Day.

N. Approval to Change the Date of the Public Hearing for the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-09 for the Property Located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory. Council called for the Public Hearing of a rezoning petition 13-09, for property located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory, at the June 4, 2013 Council Meeting. The Public Hearing date was scheduled for June 18, 2013, however, an error was made in the Notice of Public Hearing, published in the Hickory Daily Record and will therefore need to be published again. Staff request new Public Hearing d ate of July 16, 2013.

O. Renewal of Taxicab and Other Passenger Vehicles for Hire Franchises.
Company - Taxicabs Passenger / Vehicle for Hire
Mile High Enterprises dba  Hickory Hop - 0/5
Yellow Cab - 10/4
Diamond Cab of Hickory - 3/0
Select Car Service - 0/1
Hickory Limousine - 0/3
Lake Hickory Limousine-  0/1
Total - 13/ 14
Annually, these companies apply for a renewal of their Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the operation of taxicabs and other vehicles for hire.


New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. (9:00) Approval of an Amendment to the Joint Economic Development Agreement with Turbotec Products, Inc.  - In April 2010, the City of Hickory entered in to an economic development agreement with Turbotec Products, Inc. Under the agreement, Turbotec, a manufacturer of coaxial heat exchangers and heat transfer tubing, was to relocate their company to an existing vacant building at 2042 Fairgrove Church Road SE, Hickory. Turbotec Products, Inc. requested to receive economic development incentives in the amount of 75% of the real and business personal property taxes for three (3) years with a maximum total grant of $33,750. In Year one (1) the incentive would be a maximum of $7,500. In Year two (2) the maximum would be $13,125. In Year three (3) the maximum will be $13,125. In return for the incentives, the company agreed to invest a total of $3.5 Million including $1 M in building up-fit and renovations and $2.5 in machinery and equipment by December 31, 2011. In addition, Turbotec was to create 73 new jobs, in addition to the 15 jobs they already had in Hickory, by December 31, 2012. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Turbotec failed to meet these annual milestones. However, they did meet and even exceeded the investment and job creation aggregate goals by February 2013 ($5,000,000 in investments and 74 new jobs). Turbotec has requested the City to waive its failure to meet the annual goals established and to amend the Agreement so they may receive the incentives. Paragraph 13 of the Agreement permits the parties to amend the Agreement in writing. The proposed amendment meets with this provision. The proposed amendment modifies the improvement period during by which Turbotech was to make the $3.5 million investment from March 15, 2010 to December 31, 2012. The amendment now extends the date that Turbotec must maintain the $5 million investment to December 31, 2019. The proposed new date forTurbotec to meet job creation goal is February 28, 2013. The amendment also stipulates Turbotec must maintain the 74 jobs through December 31, 2019. If the City does not grant the requested waiver and amend the Agreement to permit Turbotec to receive the incentives, the incentives they are to receive from the State will also be endangered as there were matching requirements.

2. (16:40) Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant for 74 8th Street SE. - City Council established the Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant program on September 16, 2008. The program provides grant funding up to $30,000 for projects to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings within the Urban Revitalization Area and targeted industrial buildings in other areas of the city. Moretz Mills LLC has applied for a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $30,000 to assist in the renovation of the former Moretz Hosiery Mill located at 74 8th Street SE. The applicant plans to renovate the facility for use as office and retail space. The applicant plans to invest approximately $5.9 million in real property improvements to rehabilitate the mill building.

The Hound: This meeting was very routine. With the addition of video, I am changing the format of the presentation of these meetings. I will present the Agenda when it comes out and may provide commentary on issues of relevance. I am going to produce the meetings as a Newsletter as soon as possible. This is streamline the Newsletter and reduce clutter and redundancy. By producing the agenda first I see a couple of advantages. You get the info earlier and there will be a permanent record of it on the web in a more user friendly format. We have also seen information arbitrarily pulled from the city's website before. If you have any questions about this shoot me an e-mail.