Agenda about the City Council meeting of December 17, 2013

This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that took 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 Agenda - December 17, 2013
 
Invocation by Rev. Whit Malone, Pastor First Presbyterian Church


Special Presentations
A. The Viewmont Animal Hospital will be making a special presentation for the Hickory Police Department’s Canine program. The Viewmont Animal Hospital has provided veterinarian care for Hickory Police Department’s canines since the unit began in 1993 and is now collecting funds to purchase ballistic vests for Hickory Police Department’s canines.

B. Presentation of the Business Well Crafted Award by Dave Paist to Mr. Billy Ray Teague, Carolina Theatre

Persons Requesting to Be Heard

Consent Agenda:
A. Transfer of a Cemetery Deed from B. Stuart Terry and wife, Frances B. Terry to Connie Dale Reese in Oakwood Cemetery

B. Transfer of a Cemetery Deed from B. Stuart Terry and wife, Frances B. Terry to Robert W. Williams and wife, Gaye B. Williams in Oakwood Cemetery

C. Accept and Enter Into the Minutes Certification of Votes from November 5, 2013 Election from the Catawba County Board of Elections.

D. 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 December 5, 2013:
The following applicant is being recommended for approval for assistance under the City of Hickory’s 2012-2013 Urgent Repair Program. This program provides qualified low income citizens with assistance for emergency-related repairs not to exceed $5,400.
 Luke Crutchfield, 383 17th Avenue NE, Hickory

E. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-13 for Property Located at 730 5th Ave NE, Hickory. (Authorize Public Hearing for January 7, 2014)


F. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-14 for Property Located at 32 22nd Avenue NE, Hickory. (Authorize Public Hearing for January 7, 2014)

G. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 11.
1. To budget a $100 Hickory Woman’s Club donation in the children’s books line item.
2. To budget a total of $95 in memorial donations for Elizabeth Birrell in the non-fiction books line item.
3. To budget $27,500 of North Carolina Department of Commerce revenue in the Economic and Community Development Incentives line item. A grant was approved by the Department of Commerce One North Carolina Fund in the amount of $110,000. This amendment represents the second partial grant disbursement to Turbocoating Corp.


New Business - Public Hearings
1. Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-15 for Property Located at the Northeast Corner of Cloninger Mill Road and North Center Street (NC 127 North). - The City of Hickory has submitted a petition to rezone 10.1 acres of property located at the northeast corner of Cloninger Mill Road NE and North Center Street (NC 127 North) from Neighborhood Center Commercial (NC) to Neighborhood Center Commercial – Conditional Zoning (NC-CZ). The conditional zoning district will place additional standards on the district that go above and beyond the standards contained in the NC district. All standard applicable to the base zoning district will remain in effect. This public hearing was advertised on December 6, 2013 and December 13, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.

2. Consideration of Amending Chapter 16 of the Hickory Code of Ordinances of the City of Hickory by Amending Section 16-43.- Chapter 16 of the Hickory Code of Ordinances regulates secondhand precious metal dealers in the City of Hickory. The provisions of the chapter are based on applicable North Carolina General Statutes. After review of Chapter 16, Section 16-43 of the Hickory Code of Ordinances, it was determined that an amendment was needed to revise Section 16-43 to comply with the statute.

3. Consideration of the Proposed Name Change of Carolina Park Located at 125 3rd Street NE, Hickory, to the Sally M. Fox Park. - City Council desires to rename Carolina Park to Sally M. Fox Park. Sally Fox served as Ward 5 Alderwoman for the City of Hickory for 20 years, and was an
environmental advocate and a supporter of activities that sought to strengthen the urban fabric and beautify Hickory.

New Business - Departmental Reports
1. Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant Agreement with Shuford Mills, Inc. - Shuford Mills, Inc. has applied for the Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant in the amount of $20,000 to assist in the demolition of the former AA Shuford Mill located at 1360 Highland Avenue NE. After demolition, the applicant plans to re-grade the site and market it for future development. The applicant plans to spend $215,000 to demolish the former mill building. The
grant program can reimburse up to $20,000 or 35% of eligible project costs, whichever is less, for demolition projects. This project would be eligible for a grant in the amount of $20,000.

2. Resolution to Create the University City Commission. - City Council and Lenoir-Rhyne University officials have long desired to deepen the relationship between the two entities. Recent discussions have centered on finding ways to increase the student body’s presence in the community and the young adult population in Hickory while enhancing the collegiate atmosphere and promoting school pride. These discussions led to the mutual desire to create a joint city-university commission that would work to achieve these goals.

3. Overview of Concept Plan: Main Av - At the December 3rd Council meeting update on Inspiring Spaces, staff mentioned that the conceptual master plan for Main Avenue (Main Av) would be highlighted at the December 17th Council meeting. The project stems from the citizen-based Inspiring Spaces planning process. Main Av is Phase 1 of a multi year project which will eventually connect LRU to the LP Frans Baseball Stadium/Riverfront (Pier 321), Geitner Park and the improvements funded by the Lackey Family. Cost estimates for Main Av are being developed and the full plan will be presented to the Inspiring Spaces Steering Committee and City Council in
a joint meeting scheduled for January 28th.