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Saturday, February 7, 2015

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of February 3, 2015

 I began video recording the City Council in 2012, because of my desire that the City do it on their own as any modern 21st century community began doing long ago. I had people tell me that they couldn't make it to the meetings, but they would like to see what is going on. I was also told by some council members that my summaries did not truly reflect the record, so having a video/audio recording cannot be misinterpreted.

So below is the City Council meeting. With each agenda item, you can click on the links and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can always drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.

Agenda about the City Council meeting of February 3, 2015


Hound notes: Once again a fairly short meeting. The main issue of the night was the naming of the Newly formed Bond Commission. You can also see Assistant City Manager Warren Woods Quarterly Financial Report for the second quarter of 2014-15.

Alderman Lail recused himself from voting on item A in the consent Agenda, because he was privately involved in the project. Kudos to Alderman Lail for proactively recusing himself here. We have been told in the past of Council people's obligation to vote. These items are going to pass any way, why allow for a perception of conflict. This is the right thing to do.

 



Invocation by Rev. Karla Woggon, Rector, Episcopal Church of the Ascension

Consent Agenda:

Alderman Lail moved to have Item A removed from the Consent Agenda for his recusal.

A. Approval of a Resolution for Acceptance of an Offer of Dedication of Street Right-of-Way, being a Portion of 17th Street Drive SE. - In 2014 construction began on a commercial development north of US 70 SE adjacent to the Hickory Metro Convention Center. This development consisted of four new parcels of property, as well as a new roadway to provide access. Currently one of the parcels has been developed, and is home to the new Hilton Garden Inn hotel. The City has been presented with an offer of dedication for a portion of 17th Street Drive SE, which is shown as a 50 foot right-of-way on a Plat recorded in Book 73, at Pages 59 and 60, of the Catawba County Registry. The roadway was constructed and inspected by the City’s Public Services Department to ensure the roadway was constructed to proper specifications. Staff recommends approval of the Resolution accepting the offer of dedication for the segment of 17th Street Drive SE, as shown on Plat Book 73, Pages 59 and 60 of the Catawba County Registry.

City Manager Berry asked that Item f be removed for discussion. For clarification, the time that Oktoberfest will alcohol will atop being served at 10:30pm and the event will end at 11pm on Friday and saturday. In the Agenda packet
F. Special Events Activities Application for Hickory Oktoberfest 2015, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director, Hickory Downtown Development Association, Friday, October 9, 2015 through Sunday, October 11, 2015. Set up will begin 6:00 a.m. on October 9th, and clean-up ends at 11:00 p.m. on October 11th. Event time: October 9, 12:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., October 10, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and October 11, 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Event location: Blocks with boundaries of 3rd Street NW (W), Government Avenue SW (S), 2nd Avenue NW (N), and Center Street (E). Alcohol sales should cease at 10:30 p.m. on October 9th and 10th.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Approval of a Municipal Agreement between the City of Hickory and North Carolina Department of Transportation for Intersection Improvements for Sandy Ridge Road. Chuck Hanson Presentation. Congestion, Mitigation, and air Quality money (Federal dollars). This is a traffic congestion issue. There would be 4 12-foot lanes. No turn lane. Sidewalks on both sides.


Alderman Guess asks about the utilities being placed underground.
Alderman Lail asks about bike lanes for this section of road.


2. Consideration of the Request to Amend the Vacant Building Grant Agreement from Shuford Mills, LLC. -(Dave Leonetti presentation) - Extension granted.

3. Quarterly Finance Report  - Warren painted a picture that things are better than they have been since the recession began.

4. Bond Commission 
Hickory City Council Bond Commission Appointees

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