Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Minutes of the February 9, Board of Commissioners Workshop

Key to the City Presentation: Colonel Brendan C. Burks

Mayor Lewis shall officially present Havelock’s Key to the City to Colonel Brendan C. Burks, former Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point. Colonel Burks served as Cherry Point’s Commanding Officer since 2022. During his command, the organization won the Commander in Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence in 2024 and was twice named the Marine Corps Air Station of the Year for two consecutive years, in 2024 and 2025. He led the installation in major transformation to become a home base for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadrons, welcoming the first unit in 2024. He also was at the helm overseeing 409 contract actions totaling $206 million, advancing key initiatives such as a $53 million F-35 simulator facility, a $208 million F-35 maintenance hangar, and a $57.8 million fitness center. Major modernization efforts, including the $1.1 billion F-35 Transition Program and the $600 million Hurricane Florence Recovery Program, led to the repair of 185 buildings and the construction of critical new facilities, including two purpose-built fire stations and a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower.

January 2026 Report

Finance Director Kimberly Walters shall appear before the Board of Commissioners this evening to present the January 2026 monthly financial report (Exhibit #2A). The Finance Director as of this writing does not have any items on the watch list. The Board's questions and comments on the report are solicited and welcomed.

Additional ARPA Grant Funding and Contract Amendment

The McCotter Canal Bank Stabilization Project is a critical infrastructure and resiliency initiative designed to address ongoing erosion and improve long-term system stability along McCotter Canal. The original project funding totaled $3,115,500; however, this amount was insufficient to cover full construction costs, including stabilization work within the bid documents; therefore, Area 6 was removed from the original project scope. Recognizing the importance of completing all identified stabilization areas, the City, in partnership with Hazen and Sawyer, submitted an application for additional ARPA funding. The City was subsequently awarded $1,347,087 in additional ARPA grant funds, which has been approved by NCDEQ. Trader Construction Company has agreed to amend its subtotal to include all project areas, including Area 6, for a revised construction subtotal of $4,092,940. With the inclusion of a 5% contingency, the total construction cost is $4,297,587. The completion of Area 6 ensures full implementation of the originally engineered stabilization plan and strengthens the City's long-term resiliency strategy (Exhibit #3A-PPT).

Replacement of City Park Christmas Tree

As discussed during this fiscal year's budget meetings, the City's existing Christmas tree display at City Park has reached the end of its useful life and no longer reflects the quality and visual impact desired for our annual holiday programming (Exhibit #4A). As a result of its condition, the Board proactively allocated $25,000 in the CIP for its replacement. During staff's research of commercial-grade options designed for municipal and large-scale public event use, it was identified that post-holiday pricing is currently available, resulting in an estimated $10,000–$15,000 in immediate savings compared to regular pricing, which begins around $40,000 depending on the package selected. The proposed replacement is intended to enhance holiday events, improve the overall aesthetics of City Park, reduce staff time associated with installation and breakdown, and provide a durable, long-term solution with an anticipated lifecycle of 10+ years.

Reports/Comments from Elected and Appointed Officials

a. Interim City Manager: At this time, Interim City Manager Randy Martin submits a manager's report as referenced in the agenda packet (Exhibits #5A) and at this evening's meeting may offer other comments. b. City Attorney: At this time, City Attorney Troy Smith is provided an opportunity to report on any related City business matters. c. Commissioners: At this time, Commissioners are provided an opportunity to report on any related City business matters. d. Mayor: At this time, Mayor Will Lewis is provided an opportunity to report on any related City business matters.