Agenda about the City Council meeting of September 15, 2015

 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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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. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.

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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Hound Notes:  Another routine City Council meeting. We will see if anything interesting happens, but nothing stands out.

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Invocation

Special Presentations
A. Alan Barnhardt – Update on Catawba Science Center Projects

Persons Requesting to Be Heard

Consent Agenda

A. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-residential Property Owned by First Lawyers, LLC, Located at 858 2nd Street NE in the Amount of $2,500. - City Council created the Landscape Grant program in 1999 to provide economic incentives for property owners to improve the general appearance of their property. The Community Appearance Commission reviews applications for the grant program and forwards a recommendation of approval or denial to City Council. The grants are designed as a reimbursement grant in which the City of Hickory will match the applicant on a 50/50 basis. The maximum grant amount from the City of Hickory is $2,500. The applicant, First Lawyers, LLC has provided two bids for the removal of two existing hard surfaced areas, which are to be replaced by brick sidewalks and landscaping beds. Both estimates exceed $5,000, and qualifies for the full $2,500 grant. The Community Appearance Commission voted unanimously (7-0), at their August 24, 2015 meeting, to recommend funding of the requested grant in the amount of $2,500.

B. Approval of a Community Appearance Grant for Non-residential Property Owned by Phillip McCluney Located at 903 10th Street NE, in the Amount of $5,000. - City Council created the Community Appearance Grant program in 1999 to provide economic incentives for property owners to improve the general appearance of properties located within the City’s designated Urban Revitalization Area. The Community Appearance Commission reviews applications for the grant program and forwards a recommendation of approval or denial to City Council. The grants are designed as a reimbursement grant in which the City of Hickory will match the applicant on a 50/50 basis. The maximum grant amount from the City of Hickory is $5,000. The applicant, Phillip McCluney has provided two bids for the renovation of an existing commercial building. Both estimates exceed $10,000, and qualifies for the full $5,000 grant. The Community Appearance Commission voted unanimously (7-0) at their August 24, 2015 meeting, to recommend funding of the requested grant in the amount of $5,000.

C. Approval of a Community Appearance Grant for Non-residential Property Owned by
Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM) Located at 31 1st Avenue NE, in the Amount of $5,000. - City Council created the Community Appearance Grant program in 1999 to provide economic incentives for property owners to improve the general appearance of properties located within the City’s designated Urban Revitalization Area. The Community Appearance Commission reviews applications for the grant program and forwards a recommendation of approval or denial to City Council. The grants are designed as a reimbursement grant in which the City of Hickory will match the applicant on a 50/50 basis. The maximum grant amount from the City of Hickory is $5,000. The applicant,Cooperative Christian Ministry has provided two bids for the renovation of the exterior of
their facility. Both estimates exceed $10,000, and qualifies for the full $5,000 grant. The Community Appearance Commission voted unanimously (7-0) at their August 24, 2015 meeting, to recommend funding of the requested grant in the amount of $5,000.

D. Special Events Activities Application for Rodney Atkins Concert, Megan Meade, Director
of Community Relations and Events, Hickory Crawdads, October 17, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. at 2500 Clement Boulevard NW.

E. Special Events Activities Application for Symphony Under the Sails, Mandy Pitts,
Communications Director/Brand Manager, City of Hickory, September 20, 2015 from 1:00p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sails on the Square Stage in Downtown Hickory.

F. Special Events Activities Application for Time of My Life Tour, Megan Meade, Director of
Community Relations and Events, Hickory Crawdads, October 16, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to
1:00 a.m. at 2500 Clement Boulevard NW.

G. Approval of a Cemetery Deed from City of Hickory to Charlie Crews (Southside Cemetery) (Prepared by Deputy City Attorney Arnita Dula).

H. Approve the Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Austra B. Friday, by and through her Attorney-in-Fact, Paul Marshall Friday to Betty Beshears, (Oakwood Cemetery) (Prepared by Attorney John G. Fuller).

I. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance through the City of
Hickory’s Housing Programs. The following requests were considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on September 3, 2015:
Each of the following applicants are being
recommended for approval for assistance under the City of Hickory’s 2015 Urgent Repair
Program. This program provides qualified low income citizens with assistance for
emergency related repairs not to exceed $7,200.
 Cassell (Cassie) Deal, 1609 17th Street NE, Hickory
 Rosalyn Reinhardt, 721 7th Avenue Court SE, Hickory
 Doris Sanders, 410 2nd Street SE, Hickory
The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval of the aforementioned requests for assistance through the City of Hickory’s housing assistance programs.

J. Acceptance of the Bid and Award of the Construction Contract to Hickory Sand Company, Inc. for the Construction of the Sherwood Forest Sewer Project in the amount of $748,924.50. - In 1998 Sherwood Forest was identified as a part of the future service areas for the City of Hickory sanitary sewer system. Staff applied for State Revolving Grant funds for completion of this project on April 1, 1999. Staff resubmitted an updated Preliminary Engineers Report in 2009. NCDENR Division of Water Quality and NC Construction Grants and Loans issued final approval on May 10, 2010. The project was approved for a grant to fund construction of necessary sanitary sewer infrastructure to provide public sewer to the homes in this subdivision. City Council approved the Resolution accepting the application for grant funds in July 2010. The project was advertised for bids and found Hickory Sand Company, Inc. to be the lowest responsible bidder. Staff recommends Council accept the bid and award of construction contract with Hickory Sand Company, Inc. in the amount of $713,261.50, and a contingency of $35,663 for a total of $748,924.50 for the Sherwood Forest sewer project.

K. Acceptance of the 2015 Justice Assistance Grant in the Amount of $19,555 and to Serve
as the Lead Agency in the Grant Process for a Combined Amount of $32,455. - Hickory Police Department requests permission to accept funds from the 2015 Justice Assistant Grant (JAG) to purchase 12 additional body-worn cameras, hardware, hardware service/replacement, and digital evidence management storage. City of Hickory and Catawba County received notification of approval to receive a combined allocation of $32,455 under the 2015 Assistance Grant Program. Catawba County is eligible for a direct award of $12,900 and the City of Hickory is eligible for a direct award of $19,555. There is no match required. The City of Hickory has agreed to serve as lead agency in the grant application process. Hickory Police Department recommends acceptance of the JAG grant to purchase the additional body worn cameras, hardware, service and digital evidence management solution in the amount of $19,555 and to serve as lead agency in the grant process for a combined amount of $32,455.

L. Acceptance of the Bulletproof Vest Grant for the Purchase of Bulletproof Vests for Police
Officers. - Hickory Police Department requests permission to accept a grant to assist in funding the purchase of bulletproof vests for police officers. The grant will pay up to 50 percent of the cost of NIJ approved vests purchased by Hickory Police Department. Forty-five vests have been requested at an estimated price of $750 for each vest. Hickory Police Department has a mandatory wear policy for all uniformed officers while on duty. Funds are placed in the police department budget uniform line item annually to purchase vestsfor police officers. Life expectancy of each vest is approximately five years. The Police Department recommends acceptance of this grant to receive up to 50 percent funding to purchase bulletproof vests for police officers.

M. Grant Project Ordinance Number 2.
1. To set up Bulletproof Vest Partnership project to allow for the purchase of 45 vests at ($750) and $400.00 shipping for a total expense of $34,150. The City has received a Federal award from The United States Department of Justice in the amount of $16,672.24 to pay up to 48.82% of the costs of National Institute of Justice approved vests. The required local match in the amount of $17,477.76 will be transferred from the original police department operational budget.

N. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 6.
1. The City has received a Federal award from The United States Department of Justice in the amount of $16,672.24 to pay up to 48.82% of the costs of National Institute of Justice approved vests. The required local match in the amount of $17,477.76 will be transferred from the original police department operational budget via this Budget Ordinance Amendment request.



New Business - Public Hearings
1. Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the City of Hickory, as a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funding recipient, to report on CDBG monies spent within the previous fiscal year. This report, the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
evaluates the effectiveness of the use of resources in addressing identified goals and objectives cited in the Annual Action Plan which is prepared before the fiscal year begins. The CAPER outlines the City’s CDBG expenditures from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. Staff recommends approval of the FY2014-2015 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in
the Hickory area on September 4, 2015 and September 15, 2015.


Departmental Reports
1. Acceptance of the Bid for the Water Treatment Facility Emergency Power Generator Replacement Project with Crowder Construction Company in the amount of $2,699,000. The City of Hickory Water Treatment Facility was last upgraded in 1993. This upgrade included the installation of a new emergency generator that would provide power for the acility in the event of a power failure. The emergency generator is a permit required critical piece of equipment for operations of the facility. The existing generator is approximately 24 years old and has exceeded the mechanical life of the unit. Vendors cannot provide replacement parts to repair the existing unit. In October of 2014 Council approved contracting with HDR Engineering, Inc. to evaluate the existing conditions, and analyze the generator for proper sizing. The project was advertised for bids and found Crowder Construction Company to be the lowest responsible bidder. The bids received are below the Engineer’s Estimate of $3.0 million dollars. Staff recommends Council accept the bid for the Water Treatment Facility emergency power generator replacement project with Crowder Construction Company in the amount of $2,699,000. This project is planned as a component of the FY 2015-2016 Capital Budget to be funded from Capital Reserves.

2. Acceptance of the Southwest Hickory Revitalization Strategy Plan for the Southern Desk and Ivey Weaver Cotton Mill. - The City of Hickory applied for two Community-wide Brownfield Assessment Grants from the US EPA in November 2011. In May 2012, the City received notice that it had been selected to receive two $200,000 grants to assess petroleum and hazardous materials contamination at Brownfield sites. The City’s environmental consultant, AMEC Foster Wheeler, subcontracted with CIII Associates to compete a redevelopment strategy for the former Southern Desk and Ivey Weaver Cotton Mill sites. The City hosted a public workshop in May 2015. After reviewing the existing conditions at the sites, speaking with residents, and conducting market analysis, CIII Associates has presented a mixed use vision to guide future development at the two sites. Staff recommends that City Council accept the Southwest Hickory Revitalization Strategy plan for the Southern Desk and Ivey Weaver Cotton Mill sites.