City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Fuqua Arena Board of Commissioners meeting. Uh it's good to have everyone here. Uh the weather today was exceptional. So I'm I hope you're in a good mood as I am in a good mood. Welcome. Welcome. We're going to open our meeting by having our invocation by Commissioner Charlie Adcock and our pledge by Commissioner Brian Haynes. Would you please stand? Let us pray. Heavenly Father, I just thank you for all the blessings that you have given us. I thank you for uh allowing us to live in a special place in in a special town. Lord, I I thank you for this board. I thank you for the uh camarad camaraderie that we have together that we are able to um work for the benefit of this town. Lord, I ask for your blessings on everyone here tonight. Uh, and I think we all appreciate the beautiful weather that we're having. And I just thank you again for all of the good things that we have. And Lord, it's in your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Thank you. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You may be seated. Thank you so much. At this time, I will ask the town manager, Adam Mitchell, to review the meeting protocol for public participation as it relates to this meeting. Town manager Mitchell.

Good evening. Thank you, mayor, and thank you board members. It's good to be with you tonight. Tonight's town board meeting is both in person and livereamed on the town's YouTube channel and Facebook page. Tonight's meeting contains a public comment period and one scheduled public hearing. The public is invited to comment in person. When it is the appropriate time, Mayor Harris will call on those wishing to address the town board. All attendees that have appeared in person to address the town board during the public comment period should provide your name and address on the green registration sheet by the podium prior to the public comment period beginning. All attendees that have appeared in person to address the town board during a scheduled public hearing should provide your name and address on the white registration sheet by the podium. We ask all those wishing to address the town board either during the public comment period or a scheduled public hearing to begin their comments by clearly stating their name and address for the public record. The public is asked to keep all comments to three minutes so that all that wish to speak may be heard in a timely manner. To be respectful of those that may have different views on matters addressed by the town board. We ask that all in attendance respect the decorum of the meeting by refraining from clapping, making loud noises, and generally showing support or displeasure for comments made during the public comment period or public hearings. Please, Chief Smith will be asked to escort from the boardroom anyone not respecting this process and it is the discretion of the mayor as presiding officer to continue the public meeting, public comment, and or public hearing period if the meeting protocol is not followed. And this concludes the protocol for tonight's meeting. Thank you very much. The next item is the approval of the minutes of the February 2nd, 2026 Town Board of Commissioners regular schedule meeting. Do I hear a motion to approve those minutes?

So moved. Second. It's moved and second that the minutes of the February 2nd meeting be approved. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Eyes have it. The next item is a presentation. This is a proclamation for National Engineers Week, which is February 22nd through February 28th, 2026. And it is an exciting time to acknowledge our engineers. Engineers turn ideas into reality and sometimes they go unnoticed. But this particular uh week, we're going to acknowledge what engineers do and how valuable they are to our community. So I'd like to read a proclamation. Whereas engineers are the innovative problem solvers who build, design, and improve the world around us, enhancing the quality of life for all. And whereas engineers are essential to the development and maintenance of our critical infrastructure from transportation networks to essential utilities, ensuring the connectivity and prosperity of our community. And whereas engineers are at the forefront of addressing pressing challenging challenges facing our society, including sustainable development, environmental protection, and the creation of innovative technologies. And whereas the dedication of engineers fosters economic growth, creates opportunities for our citizens and strengthens the well-being of the town of Fugquway Verina. And whereas National Engineers Week established in 1951 recognizes the vital contribution of engineers and inspires and inspires the next generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, William H. Harris do hereby proclaim February 22nd through the 28th, 2026 as Engineers Week in the town of Fugquway Verina and commend the talented engineers who contribute their expertise to our town and enrich the lives of all of our citizens. Thank you very much. Will our engineers on staff would you please stand if you're here? Oh boy. Okay, let's give them a hand. Well, as as it said in the resol in the proclamation, your work strengthens our communities and the acknowledgement is long overdue. We certainly appreciate all that you do. You know, it it's almost like I'm a musician and when I improvise, I'm creating ideas and I know that part of being an engineer that creativity, the visions that you make come reality become reality is so unique. So, we say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And we certainly appreciate all that you do. Thank you again. You may be seated. Thank you. We'll have a presentation uh now by Assistant Planning Director Elliot Ward.

More information by planning director Davidson. Thank you. Good evening. I am thrilled to introduce you all to our new assistant planning director, Elliot Ward. Um he joins us. He's coming as he was served as planning manager for the town of Morrisville for several years. So he brings some great experience here in the triangle. Um and we are he is quickly integrating into um kind of our our methods and madness over in the planning department. So I just wanted to put a face to a name and introduce you and let you all say hello. Well, welcome Elliot. Welcome.

Um yeah, thank you. It was nice to meet you all. Um just want to thank Pam and the town for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to working with all of you in the coming years. So thank you. Thank you. We certainly look forward to working with you as well and and bringing that talent. U Marsville is growing and growing exceedingly well and we know that that expertise that you bring will benefit us as the same. So welcome. Thank you.

Thank you ma'am. Thank you so much. Item C is presentation of conceptual conceptual design selection library park site collaborative. More information about this agenda item will be presented by parks and recreation director Cox and Graham Smith site collaborative.

Good evening board. Hope everyone is well. The purpose of this agenda item is to receive a presentation from Site Collaborative and consider selection of preferred conceptual design for Library Park. Town staff in collaboration with Site Collaborative have developed concept renderings for a potential improvements to Library Park located at 116 South Aken Street. The town began the design process in March of 2025 and received the first conceptual drafts last May. The drafts were presented to the Parks America Advisory Board on June 9th. On September 2nd, the town board received a presentation on two initial concepts which were subsequently shared on Let's Talk FE for public review and comment. A total of 240 responses were collected with approximately 45% favoring preserving the park's passive, primarily open and unprogrammed character with recommending enhancements including landscaping, restroom facilities, accessible pathways, picnic areas, seating, updated play equipment, improving lighting, and security cameras. Approximately 25% supported the park plaza concept. 15 supported the mini golf concept and 15 expressed neutral options. In response to this feedback, town staff have worked with site collaborative to develop a third concept that reflects community input. Tonight's se uh site collaborative will provide an overview of the original two concepts and present a third concept for consideration. At this time, I'd like to introduce Graham Graham Smith with Site Collaborative. Good evening.

Hello. How you doing? Great. Nice to nice to meet you guys and be here. Welcome. Um and talk about some fun stuff creating creating public spaces for people.

Um and Jonathan talked a bit about the process that we've been through. Going to talk about a little more of the physical challenges and things. Current site conditions as you know Raleigh Street and Aken Street kind of board this site. It's a 3/4 acre site. So, it is a small site. It's on the corner of downtown. Um, it does see some activity though. It's also um a spot where you'll see some people hanging out um under the trees. You'll you'll see some activity coming over from kind of the business district and some activity um some people coming coming over there. So, in a lot of ways there's there's an access point on Raleigh Street and then there's an access a natural access through the parking lot of the shared government buildings there um up on the northwest corner. So, but there's a lot of slope from west to east. There's a good 10 12 feet of slope. So, on a small site, a lot of topography to deal with and you will notice the library uh restaurant is there and then its uh service area is adjacent to the park as well. So, it does it does create some challenges, but it also allows us to have an edge to work to. Um, one of the concepts we did work out um was a mini golf concept. Um, and you see it here. This was put in so that the restrooms and check-ins were up at the top, kind of the the high side, but also where some of the commercial activity was. And and that's the challenge with the mini golf. It needed to be a secure site, right? You needed to check people in and secure it. You also needed a relatively flat site. Um, and so that challenged it with some grading and topography issues and and obviously there's just some some weather concerns and some staffing concerns, but but some of the physical challenges did drive the cost up there as we looked at it. Also, it was only nine holes, so we couldn't get 18 holes in. So, that was that was a challenge. Um, some of the precedent images we studied there. Um, you'll see that the costs were a little over 2.5 um million dollars. And so this this ended up kind of the the highest of the three

options we ended up looking at due to some of those challenges with fencing and grading. Um the second concept that what was alluded to in the public opinion the park plaza concept and this was this allows the grade to work a little better down the hill so we can make things happen in a stairstepped way in a in a ramped way as we come down the hill towards the east towards Aken Street. It allowed for several rooms to be created too. So you'll see the purple at the top which is a playground zone, the green at the east side which is more of a hangout front yard zone but also a gathering space for community for community events. You'll see the restroom item 10 is over kind of tucked up against the library service area. So kind of using some of the area over on the edge there less for people space but more for for um service elements. And then right in the middle you'll see that there is a a proposed water element undefined but a water element that also allowed grade to to break there. Um some of the precedents that we explored for that and it was more of a water wall and a pool area. Um cost came in 250,000 below the other option and so that started to appeal um you know how could we make this a little better. Um, and then the idea Jonathan and the team came back with, hey, well, we're getting some some feedback in the community about uh memorializing the the service of veterans in the community. Is there a way we can kind of blend this plaza component to a memorial spot that really is a center for the community, a spot for community events, can really uh be a cohesive spot for gathering and community sense of community pride. So you'll notice that this is this is the basically the park plaza concept. Um and we've swapped out the water feature in the middle with um the notion of a veterans memorial. Now these are still very high level. All three of these concepts are in this what

we call schematic design phase. Um so um we've worked them out so the grading we know would work and topography and things like that. We've worked it out enough where we kind of have a pretty good idea on ballpark cost, but at the same time there's a lot of refinement than any of these options would go through as we work through um design and permitting. This uh some other some precedents here as we started to look at some some ideas of veterans memorials. Um and then this cost uh moved a little bit. So about 2.35 million. So, um, not all the way back to, um, where the original idea was, but, um, also what we're showing you, hopefully we come in a little lower at bid time. So, we don't want to be, we don't want to be low now and high later. We'd rather be high now and low later. So, um, hopefully we can refine that as we work through design cost uh, design um, exploration as well. with that. Um, the three concepts you've seen, the mini golf is is definitely unique, yet as noted, the fencing and gating and the grading kind of drove up some of the construction costs. There's seasonal operations, um, weather dependent. Also, on the staffing side, it's it's a staffed facility. The plaza does activate the space year round, so it allows for community events to happen a lot of times. Um, allows for informal gatherings, but allows for structured gathering. So that's the the benefit of the plaza and the veterans memorial option. Um veterans memorial pulls that community community aspect in that community pride aspect in. So it allows for all those flexible all those program spaces but also has that that resonance with um with with folks here in the community. So um those are the three options and those are um some of the higher level considerations to to think through and happy to answer any questions as well. I I do have a question and it it's in regards to the veterans memorial.

Uh the dimensions how how large is that uh proposed to be? Is it it is roughly um about 15 by uh 25 there. somewhere in the 12 12 probably 12 by 25 somewhere at least as shown in the center of the of the space there. Okay. Um okay. So it's probably from me to you, you know, in this width here kind of thing. Okay.

Um the idea is that it's some wall element and and the ground plane element. Haven't fully gotten into the design, but the way it works with the topography is it it would allow for a wall element. So there is a vertical component to be kind of a moment of remembrance in that regard. Um and and it allows for the grade to break around it. Okay. I see. Okay. Great. And it and was there not a picture that was conceptually kind of that thing? There wasn't one. We didn't get into full design on that. So there wasn't a good one that we found. I thought just there. There it is.

There's there's the one with the water. Yeah. Yeah. if you could um it could have water but to keep um the idea that more interaction may happen um we may remove the water in this situation. Also the water becomes a maintenance challenge and that was one of the challenges with with option two was the idea of incorporating water and then letting it be unmanaged in a way in a park public downtown park. Um, so yeah, you could you could imagine that with maybe no water, but these are all things that would be uh work through as Yeah, it's just in full design. This is so it it's just easier when you've got a little bit of a visual. It is. Yes. Okay. Definitely to picture that concept.

Yep. Commissioner Edok, you had a comment that I We've talked about trying to do something for the veterans for a long time. Yes. And I think that is good. Um I guess I'm wondering uh I don't know if I'm sold that this is the spot in town for it. Um I'm not necessarily opposed to it, but I'm just Have we considered other locations for veterans um at all? Do we know? We Yeah. Town Manager Mitchell.

We have I mean we have we have considered the Hilltop Nemore Town Park as a potential uh option for uh an arms services or veterans memorial. Um, we have even had some internal discussions around other town parks like Fleming Loop Park as as an example, but it's such an active recreation park that it may not lend itself to uh sort of the the peace and serenity around um observing uh uh the services of veterans and and the armed services. Um, one of the uh logics around logical thinking around uh this location is it is in a downtown setting where we have a lot of foot traffic.

And so u given that uh it's a an area where we have foot traffic and we hope to have more foot traffic. Um it might be it might lend itself more to uh being conducive. Plus, our history museum is next door to it and and so we thought that that might also be a complement to um to that element as well. Are you looking for commitment from the board tonight on the veterans aspect of the of this plan?

Well, yes. Our recommendation is to approve this concept. We've we've now had uh you know now three concepts that have been out there for uh consideration for time now as well as for public input and uh you know the next step is moving forward in design and if we don't know that the board is committed to a particular concept or not it's difficult to design around that and so okay

I think also this is the this is excuse me commissioner this is the um uh 250th year anniversary of of our country and so being able to perhaps uh build in some sort of u link to that as well could uh could have some relevance.

Okay. Um I'm going to switch gears a little bit. In the concept plan, it shows um trees in this park. Can you tell me about that? Yeah. So, um those most of those are basically shown to be those are new trees. Now, a lot of the existing trees happen over on Aken Street and those are pine trees. Um we have talked with staff about the possibility of trying to save some of those as we kind of work through the budgeting and stuff like that. Um, pine trees are kind of used to being disturbed, but those have been in that park for a good long time, and we are very concerned about how long they've been there because they're good-sized trees. Um, but at the same time, there's a lot of trees shown, and I don't know how I can show, but the trees kind of arcing back by the restroom by 11, the larger shade trees kind of shown in the concept. The thought process is there that they're on the southwest side and then over time those would be like oaks and larger trees. They would start to shade the park a bit. So they would add a different level. So there's a mix of trees proposed here versus currently there's only pine trees on that section of you know in that 3/4 acre essentially. Um but it will be a challenge to save those trees given

any of these plants. Do you anticipate being able to save any of the existing trees?

Maybe a few down by Aken Street. Yeah. I mean, down in that that lower right corner. Yeah. Um that that pathway down through there is kind of conceptual just imagined as a walk through the trees. It's imagined as being an earthn pathway or a mulch pathway. So, it's not um significantly graded or anything like that. So there is an opportunity to possibly along Aken Street um work with those existing trees there. Um we have not done a full final grading plan and looked at all the root zones but that's we would try definitely. It is a tight site unfortunately and it's urban you know it's um we also do show I forgot to point out we do show some shade structures over those picnic tables those square um items number eight are basically imagine to be shaded areas for parents to gather. So shade is definitely a feedback comment we hear in our parks design park designs all the time. You're hearing it in the parks and recreation space. Um, and so the idea at least with the new planting being planted on the southwest side to to provide that long-term shade is definitely a effort we've put into the plan.

But questions or comments? the the use of the the plaza as exp as aspect of this would provide se seating and area for picnic and that kind of thing. Some more passive uses but places where people could gather.

Exactly. Yes. So small groups, large groups, um students studying in small groups, families having small picnics. um the idea that it would um hopefully I mean there there's a picture down in the lower right that that's kind of the thought process behind the large community lawn the green space on the right hand side of the of the plaza is that there could be some movable furniture essentially and the idea that people could kind of create different gathering zones and game zones. um the playground which is the kind of the purple area in the plan. Um we did want to explore the idea of non-traditional playgrounds and that's why you see there's mounds there and some hiding spots and things like that. Working with Jonathan and his team and trying to explore the idea of some alternative climbing. um not creating unsafe places for hiding and security and stuff like that, but trying to think about play in a little more urban setting, a little more plaza setting where it's also just a hangout zone for teenagers, too, because teens are left out of all of this idea of where do they go? And then there's a lot of conversation about that and so can there be a couple little respit spots and some high spots and stuff like that. So, um, so trying to do a little bit of everything, but also take a new approach to some of the some of the traditional thoughts about play

and and it would be something that would transition into the um museum history park. Yes. And and and provide more seating and passive use there. That would maybe be Yeah. an asset to that park, too. It should definitely be. Um, we haven't talked about really going across that line yet and what that but is there a conversation about maybe some of the furniture pushing into that or there's some different zones or the different trees and shade we want to take advantage of. Um, I I don't think it becomes a hard f I mean in construction of the edge of like where the playground may be.

I think it becomes you know we can manipulate that line as a hard line constructed line but I think there's a soft space about you know do we push a pathway into there? Do we do we even build an accessible route into there? Do we do something different? We haven't really explored that much. Um well, it would sort of provide alternative playground space. Some of the interpretive museum buildings that that they have don't lend themselves very much to being part of a playground. So it might that might, you know, satisfy having some playground space in that area that would supplement what what is in the the history park now because it's some of it

fits well in the history park and and and I I think when it's you know and it's uh adjacent or part of the the um park that has interpretive history museums in it um you have to be you have to be mindful of that I think you know so that it's anyway I think this might help with that some yeah and I think I think you hit a little bit also the idea that this is built to be flexible and for all ages and that and the two parks that adjacent to each other there would be place for all ages

right you know and that does have a character to it that um has the larger that has some oak trees in it doesn't just have pines and it has a different character. The the lawns there are different. Um so the idea that they would kind of work together with each other, but also this is an urban corner. You know, it's it's an entry point into town from the south and there's kind of you're getting some commercial activity. So it is it is a way to try to build a more flexible uh urban space, smaller space.

Mr. Mayor, uh, can I ask either, uh, town manager or director Cox to speak more to, uh, um, the the Veterans Memorial site on, uh, the issues or the the things that wouldn't work in some of the other parks. I I know that was a lot of discussion because I've heard a few of them about some of the sites where people actually have requested, some of the citizens have requested over the years like I know Flem and Loop, I I know they can speak to that because I know uh, Flem and Loop was one that people really wanted at and um, some of those things like that too. I I'll speak to Fleming Loop directly. Uh just to kind of reinforce what uh Manager Mitchell said earlier, Fleming Loop is a very active park. Um you know, pretty soon we're going to have some additional amenities and components added there, which is only going to add to the foot traffic and the users in that park. Uh typically when it comes to Veterans Memorial, they're more in a passive park. Uh I think it'd be very difficult uh say if someone wanted to come and visit uh the Veterans Memorial if it was located at Fleming Park on a crowded Saturday when we have thousands of youth going through that facility. I think parking could be challenging and having that serene moment uh to memorialize somebody could be could be challenging. We additionally looked at, like I mentioned, the Hilltop need more town park and that was met with a tremendous amount of opposition by surrounding property owners, especially given the fact that it would require the uh installation of additional parking uh to accommodate that and that was that was not viewed as as being favorable. We also looked at some non-town park properties over the years and and those just were not able to be u advanced for one reason or another, but we did explore those those options as well.

You ever explore the police station by any chance? No, we've we've been more focused on town parks rather than public facilities like a police station or a town hall. So, no, we have not. Now what we are exploring the police station land for is expanding the police facility at some point in the future and um you know I think preserving the flexibility of property there for for that is a priority.

Any other questions or comments concerns? And again, we we we have not um I mean, when I think about other town parks, we did not necessarily, you know, give South Park, for example, uh any focus because again, it's predominantly a very active recreation type facility rather than a passive space. And I think again, you know, as we have also evaluated what some other peers have done, downtown settings tend to be a u, you know, a location where Veterans Memorial has been utilized and makes sense because of the foot traffic.

Mr. Mayor, I don't um I don't like to hold things up, but um I feel like I need to sleep on it. Um, you know, I' I'd probably lean toward trying to table it or not make a decision tonight and uh try to make a decision at the next meeting. All right. Uh, do I hear a motion to that effect, Commissioner? Yes, sir. I'll make a motion to table um the u approval of a conceptual plan for Library Park um with the intention of revisiting at our next uh town board meeting. Do I hear a second? Second.

It's been moved and properly second that we will continue this discussion and consideration until our next town board meeting. Um all is there any discussion? Mr. Mayor, I just uh if if there is some additional information that the board is looking for management or staff to provide, we would just need that guidance so that we can make sure we have that information for the board for their your discussion at the next meeting. Okay. Or it might just simply be that you want more time to think about it. That's fine, too. Yes. Yes. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I.

I. Opposed. eyes have it. So, we will continue to in our future meeting. Thank you very much. Appreciate your work on this. It's it's the beginning of a great design and uh personally, I like the idea of a passive park. I think it's going to be a plus for the the members of our community who have served this country. So, thank you so much. Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity. At this time, the town clerk will call on individuals that are in attendance and have registered to address the town board prior to the meeting. The public comment period is a time for the public to address the town board about any matter matter that is not the subject of a scheduled public hearing. Those speaking are asked to begin by clearly stating your name and address for the public record. Please limit your comments to three minutes in order that all who wish to speak may be heard in a timely manner. Town clerk Wilder, do we have anyone signed up for public comments?

4 D. Miss 4D. Yes, sir. I probably threw you off on that last one.

Yep. All right, we'll go back to 4D. My apologies, Jonathan. We'll go back to 4D. Thank you. Pres, that's the presentation of South Park Community Center design concept, HH Architecture.

Thank you, mayor. The purpose of this agenda item is to receive a presentation from HH Architecture on the South Park Community Center renovation concepts. Tonight's presentation is forformational purposes only. No action is required. At the conclusion of tonight's presentation, we will post both concepts on Let's Talk FV for public input. The South Park Community Center design and renovation initiative is identified in the 2024 comprehensive systemwide parks, recreation, and cultural resources master plan with design funding in FY26 operating budget and construction funding planned for FY27. South Lake, sorry. The South Park Community Center was originally constructed as a CPNL office in 1984 and the town took ownership in 1994. The original building was approximately 5,000 square ft. In 2007, the town completed a 24,000t addition to the existing structure, leveraging a full-size gymnasium, offices, restroom, and a large multi-purpose room. The teaching kitchen was later added in 2016 through a grant through John Rex endowment. Town staff partnered with HH Architecture in late 2025 to complete an existing building assessment and develop two conceptual plans for improvements to the facility located at 820 South Main Street. These concepts are designed to enhance aesthetics, improve circulation throughout the building, upgrade acoustics, elevate user experience, provide additional program space, expand the fitness area, and establish a clearly defined main entrance. At this time, I'd like to introduce uh Paige Cough with HH Architecture to present the two concepts.

Okay. Thank you, Jonathan. Thank you for having me here tonight and happy to be here.

So, as Jonathan mentioned, HH Architecture provided um on-site assessments and field verification of the South Park Community Center, and we noticed a lot of the same issues that Jonathan and team initially presented to us, as well as opportunities for improvement. Jonathan hit on a couple of those, but at a high level, updating aesthetics for more modern finishes, expanding the existing fitness room, improving the sequencing and flow throughout the building, clearly identifying and calling hierarchy to the main entrance, approving acoustics at the front desk, and also enhancing the user experience. This could be through um better lighting, added natural lighting, daylighting, and improved in acoustics. also providing additional program space. And I did want to note that there are some short to midterm uh life cycle replacement uh projects that would be um very cost-effective and um efficient with time and less disrupted for the program if they were to occur at the same time as this renovation. And that would include include replacement of the roof of the 2007 edition as well as replacement of uh rooftop air conditioning units RTU1 and RTU2 which are also above the 2007 edition. So we would recommend that that that replacement takes place at the same time as the renovation. So what you've got in front of you now is the existing floor plan. Um, so just to to orient you a little a little bit, the top right of the plan is the original building footprint in the from the 1980s. The top left you see your gymnasium and in between that is uh your multi-stall restroom and where the the water fountains are. And then the wing below that is also a part of the 2007 edition and that houses your main entry, your office areas, as well as the Jimmy Johnson multi-purpose room. So as Jonathan mentioned, we've worked on two options uh for this. The first option is a renovation. So, it's largely uh renovating your existing square footage

with a small exception. And option two is also renovating the same square footage with a larger addition at the main entry. And we'll walk through those now. So, this is option one. Like I said, it's it's u pretty much the same square footage as you have with the exception of uh a 250 square foot um added vestibule in the front. Um, we're going to look at two areas of the plan a little more closely. The first being again the existing original footprint of the building and this is what we'll call the activity area. And so what we're doing here is reconfiguring the space slightly to provide uh more usable programmatic elements. We're um proposing four new multi-purpose rooms as well as additional storage. The teaching kitchen remains the same. the current exercise fitness room um that has all the equipment will become an exercise studio and we've also cleaned up the circulation which helps uh improve the flow of users throughout the building. Um and lastly thing to point out in this area is um on the right side of the plan here is where you have an existing building entrance and there's some confusion around um which is the main entry of the building. So, we're trying to eliminate some of that confusion by taking attention away from that and removing it as an exterior entrance into the building. And we would propose new uh finishes throughout this area as well. And this area is back to your excuse me, there we go. This area is uh your uh main entrance and office area. So, you'll see the new 250 foot vestibule. This just steps out um from the existing footprint of the building a little bit and that allows us to call a little bit more attention to that main entry um from the parking lot. It also helps um prevent some uh temperature issues from the front desk staff that are currently

sitting right up next to that front door. Um, another thing to point out is that part of the existing lobby becomes a gym lobby space. And the idea of the gym lobby is to help isolate some of the um congestion from folks in the in the lobby, for example, queuing outside of a basketball game, uh, the gymnasiums for a basketball tournament. So, there's a lot of activity that happens there. And if we can kind of siphon some of the folks that are waiting um for the gymnasium program from the people who are are using the building for other needs, that's that's one of the goals of the gym lobby as well as isolating some of the noise. But we would also propose visual connections between the two. The receptionist um front desk staff could see into the gym lobby and and manage what's going on there. And then there's also a physical connection with the door. Um, in addition to this, the Jimmy Johnson multi-purpose room becomes the fitness studio with equipment. We've also proposed um some minor reconfiguration of the office spaces to help accommodate some of the needs of the staff with additional office space, additional uh storage space and staff support. Um and while this option we feel does improve some of the issues that we walked through with Jonathan and team, we do feel like uh option two addresses some of those issues um with more resolve and addition to that helps solve more issues than option one uh does. And so I want to to walk through a couple of those um uh issues here with this with this option one as well. If you look at the gym lobby, which is in the top in orange, there's a little bit of a pinch point between the corner of the existing gymnasium and right above where the text does lobby. Um, so it's the flow of space between there may be a little bit congested. Additionally, the gym lobby takes over some of that um central space where the rest the multi-stall restrooms are, which you cannot see in the top of this plan, but it would mean that anyone who is trying to access the multi-stall

restrooms would have to walk through the gym lobby. And we've tried to mediate that by the addition of two single-user restrooms that are below sort of the snip of the yellow square that you see at the top. You'll see two single restrooms. And that is our attempt to kind of give back some of that public restroom space knowing that it may cause um it's not an ideal path to walk in and out of the gym lobby to get to those restrooms. And also right now there's a pretty wide generous feel in the lobby. And so since we're not adding square footage and we're taking that same square footage and and making it two lobbies, you're not going to have as generous of a feel of space as you do now. Um we've we feel like it is ample space for for programming, but certainly doesn't have that that it may feel a bit tighter than what we're used to now. And lastly, the the the biggest drawback we feel is that we're not calling as much attention to the main entry as we like. that is that is a huge issue and and helping people know where they're supposed to go when they arrive um to the building. Next, I'll show you just just a quick visual of what this could look like. There's no material selected and the design is not finalized, but what you're seeing here sort of in the faded portion is what the existing uh building is. And then where the color is is more prominent and drawn more clearly is an idea of what the new work could be. So just an attempt to kind of step out that entry a little bit more and and maybe signage can help us more clearly identify that. We've also put together for both options an opinion of probable cost. And the way we did this is we broke out u the programs of the activity area that we looked at first and then also the cost of the entrance and office area renovation. And as I mentioned, because materials are not picked the way we uh at this point in time, the way we did this was provide a range of what a lower-end to higherend material could cost to give us a rough idea. Um, additionally, there is buffer included

in the estimate to help protect the town. Uh, one being escalation. Since construction is not starting tomorrow, we need um to cover the gap between now and when uh bidding and construction does start. In addition, we carry a design contingency at 10% of the uh estimated construction costs and that helps us um just cover any of the unforeseen design development um as we go and throughout the process throughout the subsequent design phases. As design becomes more zeroed in on more more accurate and materials are selected, that design contingency percentage does drop off. And lastly, we're also carrying construction contingency. So, um, with that being said, putting together the activity area and the entrance office area, we felt that the the estimate for the range for option one could be, um, approximately 2.98 million to 3.49 million. So, now we'll look at um, option two. Again, this is the same areas that we're going to look at would be the same proposed areas of renovation with the addition of a 2800 foot addition addition at the main entry. And we are provi proposing um new finishes in the same areas as well. Again, we're going to move um to more zoomed in view. And this for this portion, this activity area is the same proposal as option number one. Um so again, just quickly, four activity rooms um storage space, your uh fitness equipment studio becomes an exercise studio without equipment. Teaching kitchen stays the same. improved flow and drawing attention away from what is currently now um an exterior building entry facing Main Street. And for um the entrance office area of this option two, we uh you'll see the main entry is actually starting to step out towards the parking lot. In addition to that, the new front doors are facing the main parking lot. So, it is a much more visible indicator of where you're

supposed to enter the building and where you're supposed to go and how to get there. the gener uh the vestibial is a lot more generous and helps provide more pockets of space for people to queue when they're waiting to get to their program and and that is a more similar feel. The size of space is more similar to feel to what um you're used to in the current um community center. There's just more breathing room um which is great. Um we have a more clearly designed gym lobby. It's the same concept as before, but it's more um isolated in function, but it still um serves the same purpose. uh there's still visual connectivity, there's still physical connectivity, but it doesn't interrupt the program of the rest of the space. So, if you're coming for a basketball game or or a tournament or things like that, you can be isolated from the rest of of the program, still walking through the main doors and funneling from there. Um, but the noise is more isolated. In addition to that, because the gym lobby is longer and has a more opportunity for connection to the existing gym, we can punch more openings at the gymnasium and provide other other um opportunities to go in and out of the gym, which helps improve the flow of the gym itself. Um, we've also similarly to the option one added a couple single user restrooms and we're adding those right outside of the multi-stall restrooms that are there now. So you have different options for using the restroom all in one central location. Very accessible for all programmatic elements throughout the building. We have a um clearer reconfiguration of the office spaces which provides more storage for staff, additional offices, additional support and gathering spaces for staff as well. The Jimmy Johnson room, similarly as before, becomes the fitness equipment room with more storage, opportunity for better acoustics, improved flow for users, and again proposing new finishes in this area as well.

And this is also a visualization of what that could look like. Um, so really what is most prominent about this is that we can tell what the main entry is. There's hierarchy here, um, which is really great and and visual connectivity from where people are leaving the main parking lot and entering the building. There's also more opportunity for introducing natural light into the building, which is something that we've heard as a desire of the town as well. And there's just more aesthetic opportunity for larger architectural moves, um, sun shading elements and application of of more materials on the exterior. And this is our opinion of probable costs for option two. Similar setup as before um with the same level of protection through design contingency, construction contingency as well as es escalation. So it's the the exact same setup with the exception of the added square footage, the added uh engineering that takes to condition the space, for example, added roof cost and things like that and plus the the more exterior materials. So the range proposed for the opinion of probably Probable costs for option two would be on the low end 4.65 million to on the higher end 5.86 million. All right, I am about to turn it over to Jonathan but also available for comments as well. Thank you.

Okay. Are there any questions from the board on either concepts that were presented this evening? I have just a quick question. Commissioner Smith, on option one, I missed what the cost range was on that. I just caught it on option two. What was that?

That would be a low on the low end of 2.9 898 million to 3.49 million. Okay. Thank you very much. Any other questions?

I don't, Mr. Mayor, I don't have any questions. I just um um option two, I think um just from hearing comments from uh citizens and people playing basketball, just having that gym lobby has been uh a big added feature to keep down on the noise when it comes to reception as they're trying to handle other things going on in the community center. that lobby that's dividing basketball gym or volleyball and everybody else where they can have and also that was a place where people can actually sit there and have their uh concessions as well has been a great amenity to our new community center. So I I'm glad that that y'all incorporated that into the uh this uh option too. I know we're not picking which one, but you probably hear which one I'm leaning towards. Okay. But

um but even on that, it's interesting. I was helping my mom do something day and I was actually going through some paperwork and actually opened up an independent article. Ironically, it was uh from 1994 and on the front page it had where the town of FA Arena purchased the CPN CPNL building. That was interesting to have this uh done today. Um but u that lobby um also just that flow with both options technically but definitely option two for our receptionist desk. Um, I've seen so many people when I'm standing over there who their kids have ran to the back of the offices while while the parents are talking and stuff. So, having that more security added feature in that aspect as well, especially for our staff, uh, you can see it works really good at the new community center. And then the main thing is we know where the entrance is because all of us have been over there many times and everybody like, well, how do you get in this place? So, just having that added feature is uh, great. So, yes, those are my comments. Thank you. Any other comments? Uh

I just have a a mayor a thought I a question that if there was any way we could consider something like this.

Um I know we have provided a wonderful place for seniors at the Hilltop Park that you know I know that now but um I would assume that there would be some senior activity at this park as well. And I wish we could do something. I I just I just went by um a church in town today to pick something up and and um I I know I have friends in my own church. The handicap parking is so far from where they have to come into the building. and they have to go up a long ramp and um it it's just not practical for anybody even if they're using a walker or if they just walk slowly or if they have a wheelchair if there's any kind of inclement weather and besides the fact that it is just a long way if you're not a strong person to to travel to get into the building. Um they had an area uh where they of course they have an elevator also that can they can use after they get in the building. But they had an area where there was some handicap parking, not a lot but some and and a canopy like area that you could drive through

and and let somebody out right at the door. Um, and then there was handicap parking, maybe six or eight spaces within that general area, and it's not the main entrance, but it's it's like adjacent to the it it is adjacent to the main entrance of the church, which is on an entirely different level. But that made so much sense to me that I I have friends that um at at our own church that are older now and just choose not to come to church because it is just so hard for them to get from where they can park into the church. They just don't come anymore. So, I I I wish there could be some way that that um anyone with a little bit of an infirmity could get over these long expanses of concrete to the door. I I don't know how we address that, but it's just a thought.

No, that's good. That's a great point. Who? He's got he's got rank commission. Well, well, so I guess from looking at option two, would option two would that the newer entrance bring that would pretty much get rid of that what you call that cement slab and it would pretty much come closer to the right there at the ent right where you first getting out of the parking lot. Would that correct? You think that would be a good option for it? Yeah. Well, I you know, I'm not a planner or designer, but I I'm telling you what the problem is, what I see as a problem or a or uh not a problem, but a something that needs addressing,

opportunity. So, option two does bring in addition to the building, which goes to the west towards the bus parking lot where handicapped parking is available and also comes south closer to handicap parking. So, it is going to reduce the the distance from those parking spaces.

I I did I did notice that, but I think that's something that we've been missing planning for generally in town here. You know, not necessarily the town buildings because I'm talking about two different churches that I've, you know, I I have a lot of friends that I carry places and, you know, and I see where they they have difficulties and they just end up. And of course this new microtransit's a a lifecher I mean a gamecher for our um um yeah our people who are challenged in this way. So and I just want us to be mindful when we redo buildings and and you redesign them and when we build new buildings that we try to make it so we're we're allowing those people to still come.

Mr. Great point Mr. Mayor. May I manager Mitchell?

Yes, sir. Uh, thank you. I I was just going to just add to what Jonathan said, much like what we just showed you with uh Library Park. These are con concept concepts, conceptual renderings. No design, you know, substantial design has been done. This is good feedback for us to to hear at this stage in the discussion. Uh we're going to put these concepts out for uh public feedback. We're also going to get some feedback from our parks and recreation advisory board before coming back with a recommendation. So, I think we're at a good stage having heard this feedback to make sure that we uh give further analysis to it and how we can better incorporate um conditions for uh making sure that we're addressing those concerns, those opportunities to to address.

I like these. That's all I was going to say is we we are in a good we're in a good place to have these conversations and be able to make sure that we're factoring those in once we land on a final concept to design with. Well, well, one thing, one of our buildings that's newer, you know, as it is newer, um, the art center is very accommodating. We I can get my friends close enough that they can get in there, right? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Any other comments? Great discussion. Just a quick question. Yes, sir. Uh, Commissioner Warren,

just looking at the the um kind of the wiggle room and the cost uh on plan one versus plan two, it looks like plan two was about double the amount of wiggle room. Is that just because it's a higher cost overall for plan two? Yes. Uh the wiggle room is based on a percentage of the the total construction cost and so that's where that comes from. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions or comments? Director Cox, you you have

There are no other questions. We're going to put this on let's talk FV for a period of time to allow uh the community to provide feedback and we will come back uh to the town board with a recommendation at a future town board meeting. Well, thank you. This is a great start. Thank you so much. Thank you so much your presentation. Thank you very I love knowing where the front door is. That's very important. Get our slides back into shape. First time. Thank you again. You're quite welcome.

All around the building. Well, for the sake of time, I'm not going to read what I just so eloquently read before about public comments, but uh if you have any comments, um now would you please come before uh the board and and state your name and address and uh please come forward if you have any public comments. This is the public comment period. No public comments. No one is registered. Okay. Okay. Item make sure I can get this correct this time. Okay. Item 6A. There are no items tabled from previous meetings for the February 17th town board meeting. So now we go to public hearings. Public hearings are a time for the petitioner to present his or her request and for the public to give input and voice their favor or opposition to the request. If you wish to speak and are physically in attendance, please step forward to the podium one at a time. Provide your name and address on the registration log at the podium and clearly state your name and address for the public record. We ask all those addressing the town board to please limit your comments to three minutes in order that all who wish to speak may be heard in a timely manner. Under the public uh public hearing, we have item 7A, the fiscal year 2026 27 budget pre-budget public input hearing. More information about this agenda item will be presented by finance director Stevens.

Hello. Hello. Good evening, Mayor Town Board. Um evening.

Tonight before you, we have the um pre-budget public input hearing. Um the purpose of this public hearing is to solicit community input for the development of the FY 2627 budget. The state statutes only require us to have one public hearing after the town manager has presented the budget to you. But Fugquway has traditionally gone the extra step of allowing a pre-budget um development public input hearing and this is an opportunity again for citizens to provide input on u priorities, service provision, fees, proposed projects and more. this um and with that comments tonight uh also on the town's website let's talk FV u through tonight have been it's been open since January to uh solicit feedback from the community on our um development of our budgets. So, uh, tonight we are just holding a public hearing, um, to receive any public comment in advance of developing the FY 2026 2027 budget. Thank you. The hearing is now open. Does anyone wish to provide input to the town board pertaining to the fiscal year 2627 budget? No one. The hearing is now closed. There is no action requested of the town board related to this public hearing. This was for public input purposes only.

Mr. Mayor. Yes. Uh just for your and the board's uh awareness, we did promote this public hearing, pre-budget public hearing on the town's website, our social media, and in our weekly email to to residents. So, this uh this was uh it was not a secret that this pre-budget public hearing was available to the public this evening. Mr. Mayor, just as a reminder or for me, um will citizens be able to go like on to let's talk FV and still provide input um during this phase or how how is that?

So, so they have been able we opened that up in January. We we have historically closed the pre-budget public hearing and public input process at the same night as the the public hearing. Um that portion which again is a a courtesy extended by this board to the public uh not uh which is required by p by general statute is is closed uh once the public hearing uh evening happens. Uh it's intended to give us and you primarily um uh information to be thinking about as you guide staff on the development of the of the budget. We're now going to take any feedback that we received off Let's Talk FV and we did receive some and I'll make sure that the board has access to that um no big surprise some of the main culprits of transportation and um uh and growth and things of which you've you would expect or have heard in the past. We'll share that with the board and that will be evaluated and incorporated in in the budget that I prepare for your consideration. Once we have the budget workshop, any uh modifications that the board might wish for for me uh to consider in the in the budget that I'll present to you in May will be factored in. I'll present the official budget in May uh per the budget calendar and then there will be another opportunity another public hearing opportunity for the public to come in and weigh on the budget as it has been presented to the board at that time. So if there's something in the budget that the public doesn't like they'll have an opportunity to tell you. If there's something in the budget that that or there's something missing that the public is is wanting they'll have another opportunity to tell you. Ideally, we'd like for the public to give us that input now so that we can have more time to plan for it and

research and and evaluate how we're going to be able to financially address those wishes and desires. But given that nothing was presented tonight, all we have to go off of is what we've received for the last month or so from Let's Talk Fe. If just Mr. town manager. If the public wanted to make comments after the night, how would how would they do that? Would they still do it on FV?

No, the uh the portal for Let's Talk FV will be will be off after tonight. So, if they're wanting to give you as the elected officials any input or management for that matter, any input on the budget process, they can still email or call um or send a written letter if they'd like to as well and provide that input. Uh that would be the the avenue to to go down it from this point through the budget workshop. All right. Thank you.

Will we will should we make an end to when that can be accepted? I know you all have to have the information at some point. Yeah, we we typically have not and and to be honest with you, we we we haven't to my knowledge, elected officials nor management have received a tremendous amount of input via email, phone call, or otherwise between this stage in the process and the budget workshop. Um, so I don't know that it's necessarily a problem that we need to try to try to fix with an end date. I would say that if you did get input between now and and the April 23rd, I believe uh budget workshop um that just don't hang on to it. Share share it with me as quickly as you can so that we can at least evaluate it. And and the same thing would flow from our our end to you as well. If we got some sort of request from one or an overwhelming amount of citizens for something that um we haven't discussed, we would certainly bring that to your attention as quickly as possible. Thank you. Thank you.

Any other comment in reference to item 7A? If not, we'll move to item 8, the consent agenda. What is the board's pleasure on the items on the consent agenda? Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to approve 8 A, 8 B, 8 C, 8 D, and 8 E. Second. Second. All those in It has been moved and properly second. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Motion carries. Too fast.

There are no items removed from the consent agenda. Now we're into item 10A, the administrative reports. Contract award Donny Brook Road and Lake Wheeler to Highway 401 waterline extension. Mr. Wagner. Hey Mike. How you doing? Good evening, mayor and commissioners. Good to see you. Good evening.

I'm here to present for you to consider award a constru construction contract to Park Construction of North Carolina for a 12-in waterline extension um which is approximately 4,100 linear feet. The project was uh advertised on January 8th and five responsive sealed bids came in and those were publicly read on February 3rd. Park Construction of North Carolina was a responsible and responsive lowest bidder for the alternate bid with a total cost of $966,726. The alternative bid was a reduction cost in ductal iron pipe, which is our preferred construction material uh versus PVC. The 12-in waterline extension along Ransdale Road will connect into Donny Brook Road and Lake Wheeler Road and it will create a a much needed waterline loop between Lake Wheeler Road and 401. We currently have a three-mile stretch with with no waterline loops between 1010 Road and Hilltop Needmore Road. There is a project ordinance amendment in the amount of $510,420 for the construction contract to be awarded and that funding was budgeted with the FY26 uh capital funds. So staff's management's recommendation is a motion to approve a project ordinance amendment POA 2613 in the amount of $510,420 to award a constru construction contract to Park Construction of North Carolina to undertake the Donny Book Brook Road and Lake Wheeler Road to Highway 401 waterline extension project in the amount of $966,726

as presented and recommended subject to town attorney review as to form. I can answer any questions. Any questions of director Wagner? Thank you. Thank you so much. Do I hear a motion to approve the project ordinance amendment? Mayor so moved. Do I hear a second? Second. It's been moved and properly second that we approve the project ordinance amendment. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. Thank you so much.

The next item is other business. Uh we'll start off with item 11A, the manager's report. Mr. Manager. Thank you, Mayor. A few things to uh brief the board on this evening. First, uh as it pertains to the parks and recreation department, the Hilltop Needmore Town Park Community Center recently celebrated its oneyear anniversary. Since opening the facility, the the center has welcomed 211,780 visitors in the first year, including 83,446 fitness membership check-ins and 10,824 registered program participants. Wow.

So, we're getting a tremendous amount of use out of this facility, which is why we built it and what we expect it. And these are good metrics and good numbers to see for the first year of operation. So, job well done. The parks, recreation, and cultural resources summer camp registration for town residents will open on Saturday, February 21st at 7 a.m. at the Hilltop Needmore Town Park Community Center. Camps will run for 9 weeks, June 15th through August 14th at both community centers. Space will be limited and camps typically fill up within a few hours. So residents are encouraged to register early. Don't don't wait. Don't drag your feet. Get get registered as quickly as possible because those spots will fill up. Registration for the youth sports spring season has now come to an end. As of today, 4,779 children are registered for the program. This is a 5% increase over last year. Yesterday, uh I'm pleased to uh to share with you the Wake County Board of Commissioners officially approved a hospitality tax grant to the town of Fuway Verina for the installation of artificial turf fields at Fleming Loop Park. The project will allow the town to maximize playability and attract more events and tournaments as the fields will no longer require recovery time from wear and tear or significant rain events. As we discussed at the town board retreat, management and staff will be identifying funding for the town's cash match as part of the fiscal year 27 budget. So, more to look on that in the future, but we want to thank our partners at Wake County um and the board of commissioners for approving this hospitality tax grant. Uh it's not every day that a community uh receives uh $4.25 million. And so, it's a it's a big day for for our community. We were the largest grant recipient of all the

applicants for the hospitality tax grant. also should give uh public recognition to to Jonathan, his staff, and the parks and rec department put together a very competitive and uh welljustified grant application and myself and Jonathan and Mark and Anthony attended the um the Wake County uh hospitality tax uh uh review board's um meeting where we gave the sales pitch for why they should grant us our application and uh particularly Jonathan and uh Anthony did a fantastic job presenting this information. So want to recognize those members of our team for for the great work that they did. Um there are a few tickets that remain available for two events this weekend at the art center. Folsome Prison Live at Johnny Cash Tribute will uh and inspiration will be at the um uh art center. Um, and inspiration in Integration, a Black History Month celebration event will be this weekend at the Art Center. So, if you know of anyone that would like to attend, we got a few tickets remaining for both of those events, but not many. It's going to be a sellout, so get them while they last. Next weekend brings the musical Little Women to the stage. Tickets are available Friday through Sunday. The fourth annual Fugquway Film Festival begins accepting submissions on March 1st, just the first of many events and classes in March at the Arts Center. And on April 17th, the United Arts Council will be presenting Wake on Stage at the Arts Center. This event will be opened by our own Mayor Harris and features local celebrities, business leaders, and elected officials showcasing their talents and philanthropy in support of the arts. So, it should be a great event. Encourage uh anyone who's available on the 17th to come out and support the arts and support our local

leaders showing their support of the arts. Uh Officer Dominic Trump in our police department has advanced through the career ladder and has obtained master officer designation. So, we want to congratulate Officer Trump on this career advancement. Master Officer Patrick Dracola was named Fugquway Verina Police Officer of the Year for his dedication and commitment as a field training officer and member of the special response team. Master Officer Dakola has exemplified the police department's core values of fairness, vigilance, professionalism, and dedication. We want to congratulate uh Officer Dracola on his great work over the past year and his being recognized by his peers as the officer of the year in FQA Vina. The police department is excited to announce a new course, Babysitting Essentials. Uh, this is offered in partnership with AOK Training Center. This course is open to students in grades 8 through 10 and will be held twice between late March and early April during spring break. The classes will cover topics such as preventing unsafe situations, responding to emergencies, managing behavior, and more. And participants will also earn a CPR certification. And more information, if you know of anyone who's interested in this, can be gained or how to register can be gained by visiting our police department's Facebook page or website. And registration will begin soon. So, if you know any eighth graders through 10th graders that want to be better skilled at babysitting, please have them join this uh this course. And the police department is also offering a new free vehicle identification number verification service to help protect residents from vehicle related fraud. This service is especially helpful for individuals considering purchasing a vehicle from a private seller or out of state. VIN verification helps ensure the

authenticity of the vehicle and safeguards against potential scams. And while participation is free, there are specific eligibility criteria and they can get more details about this uh by contacting Corporal Corey Scarboro in our police department. And finally, as it relates to the police department, the North Carolina League of Municipalities Law Enforcement Risk Review renewal will take place this Thursday. So, we'll provide more information on that as as that becomes available. Applications for the second annual Citizens Fire Academy closed this week and we have 15 very excited citizen recruits that will begin their seven-week interactive journey into the operations of the fire department on Tuesday, March 10th with a graduation scheduled for Wednesday, April 22nd. And this month, fire department personnel will complete invaluable bianual live burn training at the Central Carolina Community College Emergency Services Training Center in Sanford. By the end of February, the department will have logged more than 100 hours of intensive training focused on advanced tactics, new techniques, teamwork, and communication. All another effort to continue to provide first class service to our citizens daily. reviewing uh all departmental budgets and five-year plan requests is what will be keeping the finance department very busy and management as well. Uh these plans and requests were received last Friday and the finance department is preparing for the various budget meetings that we will have over the next several weeks. and the finance department and town management are reviewing revenue trends, including, as I uh have previously shared, a concerning trend of tax base leakage from taxexempt requests being filed by multif family housing investment corporations that are u identified or

have identified a loophole created by the Blige housing court case. This trend is being seen across North Carolina including Wake County and FUA Verina. We will communicate further in the coming weeks on ways to convey the need for state legislation. However, I do believe that state legislature is very aware of this issue uh so that property tax burden is not shifted from corporate apartment investors onto residential homeowners. On February 16th, the town hosted the Stormwater Association of North Carolina membership meeting at the Hilltop Neworetown Park Community Center, highlighting its dedication to storm water management. Many of our engineers were here in the room this evening. Jennifer Mitchell, the town's environmental program coordinator and current association vice president, presented the town's program to over 50 storm water professionals from across the state. The association facilitates crucial collaboration between industry experts, legislators, and regulators, sharing knowledge of evolving storm water trends. This work is further strengthened by guidance from the North Carolina League of Municipalities, ensuring that the association provides informed recommendations on relevant legislation. Good work being done out of the engineering department. Justin Daniel in our inspections department passed his level three plumbing state exam this past week. So, we want to congratulate Justin on on this great achievement and it only serves to uh make our inspections department that much stronger and providing service to the community. So, we want to thank Justin and all of our inspectors for the great work they're doing. Currently, our planning department is in the stage of reviewing 20 projects. 10 of them are new projects in for their first review and 10 of them are commercial developments, which is good. That's something we've been working really hard to try to balance and and uh increase. So, that's a very positive sign for us. And as it pertains to our public

utilities department, collection staff will be performing sewer main cleaning along Main Street from Wake Chapel Road to Academy Street starting at 11:00 p.m. tonight. So, we're going to be doing some night work uh to try to get out of the way of traffic, but this is an a a very important maintenance u work on our behalf to uh make sure that our sewer mains are clean, especially main lines like the one down Main Street. Uh want to mention that uh Jim Seymour, our assistant town manager, presented the town economic development update last week at the Fugquway Verina Chamber of Commerce annual economic development forum and participated in the bus tour that visits new and recently completed project sites throughout town. And uh Jim did a fantastic job of sharing our story and talking about the great work that's being done. Mayor, I believe you made some welcoming remarks as well. And uh as far as I am hearing uh especially from uh our partners at the Chamber of Commerce, this was very well received by the development community that attended that day. So want to recognize Jim for for uh representing us well in that respect. Uh I attended last week the Wake County Municipal Managers by monthly meeting. Uh topics that were discussed at this meeting included farmland preservation throughout the county, homeless services, and this property tax exemption. uh issue that I just previously mentioned. And so it was a veryformational uh goodformational meeting and something that uh uh topics that uh relate directly to Fugquway Verina. Um you know, we are uh certainly uh surrounded by uh some identified farm properties. Um, and so, uh, hearing the discussion on what the county is doing to try to preserve farmland, uh, was an interesting topic and how we can relate

it back to our our planning initiatives as well as, uh, homeless services. Uh, Wake County recognizes that um uh that the county itself is uh serving a a homeless population and how to better serve those was uh uh those individuals was a um a topic that not only is important to the county but is important to the municipalities in the county as well. And so we'll be bringing back some of that information to share with um with our team here as we think more about how we can plan around both of these topics. And then certainly we'll be paying a close attention to the property tax issue as the budget process moves forward. And I'd also just wrap up by saying that u uh at least from management's perspective, we thought that the uh town board annual strategic planning retreat was a great uh use of time uh with the board to uh be strategically planning for our future as as a community. Um, we talked about numerous topics over that uh two-day period of time, including statutory authority, financial overview, and strategic planning around transportation, public safety, public utilities, economic development, downtown planning and land use, housing, facil, town facilities, and parks, recreation, arts. It was information-packed. I'm sure you've all felt that way as well. And at the end, we were able to establish priorities around all of these topic areas in the context of our strategic core values. And we'll spend more time talking about that during the annual budget workshop as well. But I want to thank all of you for having great conversation and giving great guidance to uh management coming out of this retreat. uh it was one of the uh more content heavy ones that uh that I've been on in 12 years and I thought that it was uh just good

dialogue all around. So I want to congratulate you on a job well done and and great work. Uh with that there are a few agenda items to uh draw to your attention under other business some events coming up. The Black History Stakeholders event, Inspiration and Integration. I mentioned that earlier. Sunday, February 22nd at 2 PM at the Art Center. Coffee with the Cop, Bojangles, 1400 North Main Street. Wednesday, March 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Want to congratulate the Bojangles workers and thank them for being open for our staff during the ice and winter weather events. Uh they were they were called upon a number of times and they were open early hours. So, want to thank them for for being there for our team. Uh, the Fugway Arena Downtown Association Beans and Bumpers Chili Cookoff and Car Show, a popular event coming back for year number two, March 7th from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Verina parking lot. Good chili, cool cars. Definitely want to come out and support this event. State of the town address. The mayor will deliver this on March 9th in this room at 6:30 p.m. You're going to want to be there to hear uh the mayor's vision for the future as well as the great successes that we can celebrate from 2025. And there is a first reading in your agenda materials submitted by Malden Watkins surveying for 220 West Academy Street. This is a first reading only and will appear at a future board meeting. With that, Mr. Mayor, that concludes my remarks. I'm happy to answer any questions that you or the town board members may have.

Are there any questions for the town manager? If none, we'll start with town board member comments. Commissioner Haynes.

Uh yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. Uh first, I want to uh just thank our town management, uh town attorney, I know it, and all of our directors for uh putting together a well, uh programmed uh strategic board retreat. It was definitely uh very packed. I think we went over what both nights um uh we also I feel like we all bonded a little bit with a new board all together. We we bonded over numbers a little bit different instead of bonding over food a lot of time. But I think uh all this helped and we really came out um really understanding that you know we all want the the uh the wants but a lot of times right now the need is most important and that's how we're having to strategically plan for the next 5 to 10 years even 20 to 30 50 years from now. So, I think we came out really in a good in a good shape and I think uh you know going into budget season that helped out giving uh direction for management and and they can put down to send down to the directors on uh what we're strategically looking at and how we're trying to make it happen. So, I definitely want to thank each and every one of y'all for all your work. Uh I know y'all were tired of talking and everything else, but y'all did amazing job and our town attorney kept us in line and make sure we didn't get get ourselves in trouble. So, I think it was a great uh strategic board retreat. Uh, also I do want to uh shout out our assistant town manager did a great job at the uh economic development summit. He uh livened up the uh the room. Uh it was great to see so many other businesses that we often don't see because they're homebased or uh smaller business or startup businesses. So, it was great to uh meet a few more new faces and we I even met a few people who just moved to FUA in the last 10 days um and have joined organizations already in the town and they've already start work. So, that was great to meet those new faces um in the town of FA Arena. Um I know I'm excited u next weekend, yeah, the last weekend of the month uh that we

are co-hosting the uh state teen council here. Uh we're co-hosting with the city of Raleigh and I'm excited about that. The uh the teen council advisors are working hard hard hard to make sure this event is great. We're taking over uh uh the Hilltop Need more uh community center for that day all day Saturday and we have um teen councils coming from all over the state as well as their advisors. I think it's up to around 125 to 135 people who will be coming in the town of FAQ Arena. we get to show off our community center as well as all of our teen councils actually running all the programming that day. So all the activities will be done by our teen council. So that is a great um excited about it and uh like I said I definitely want to thank them early. Uh last thing um it kind of brought my attention and it makes sense as well. often times I know we recognize, you know, definitely recognize the great work our town staff and and organizations that we are are are partner with all the times, but um you know, long-term thinking there's so many great civic organizations and other nonprofits in town that do so much great work and actually help keep the town going outside of our town services that I think often sometimes we need to, you know, bring them to town board meetings and kind of recognize them. one of one of the organizations actually brought it up to me and I I hadn't really thought about it but it makes sense that sometime we can recognize these civic organizations do so many great so much great work uh in our community to help you know help take some of the pressure off of us at times. Um, so you know, I don't know how we can kind of incorporate that in some of our town board meetings where we can recognize uh some of those civic organizations and nonprofit organizations in the town do do such great work. As well as u also uh I had some uh citizens come up and talk about um asking u they they enjoyed having the different um uh uh faith-based community uh leaders come and do prayers at the beginning of the

meeting as well. So, some of I've had people reach out to me and ask me is that going to continue or start back or anything like that. So, I just wanted to bring those two things up as well. So, but other than that, that's all I have. Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Adcock, thank you, Commissioner Haynes. Commissioner Adcock.

Yeah. Um, one of the discussions we had at the town board retreat that I always find interesting, you know, we um the citizens are always wanting um or or the um the hope is that we can provide all the infrastructure before the growth gets here and we've tried as a town I think to do a good job to be uh proactive and to kind of stick our necks out and plan for the future. One of the discussions that I thought was interesting, um, we've had a reduction in building permits over the last couple of years. And because we have kind of been proactive and really stuck our necks out in some ways to do some of these projects to uh meet the demand of our citizens, we've got debt that we have to pay. And so then we have discussions about well if our projections on how fast we're going to grow u it may end up making us have to raise uh fees or taxes on the folks that are already here. in that balancing act of uh being careful not to uh overcommit ourselves without having the crystal ball of knowing exactly when and how fast that growth is coming is something that um really makes this position interesting and u challenging and u I just find that uh it it's something that discussion is something I wish more of our community could be involved in and really understand some of the challenges that,

you know, as a town we grapple with. Um, but I I found that um interesting and um you know, it's something that I think we all wrestle with, but uh I thought it was a great retreat and uh enjoyed spending time with everybody here. Thank you very much for those comments. Yes, sir. Commissioner Smith.

Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, coming back on to the board, we've hit the ground running pretty hard over the last few weeks. Obviously, we had the town board retreat, which I have to agree with the others. Was excellent. Hats off to our management staff for all the work they did to get ready for that. It was great. Uh, several the economic development forum was fantastic. Uh, the bus tour tried to do the whole thing just to see what was going on, catch back up. uh been several ribbon cutings which is exciting to see the businesses coming but I had a chance to go to one at the Everbrook Academy out near the Soma Springs subdivision. I they're bringing an amenity to the town that I think out there in that area where there's more residents growing you to have daycare and preschool I think is very much needed. But the thing that struck me is Everbook is part of a a national group and they're not making one investment in Fquaway they're making two. Uh some of you already aware there's a second Everbrook Academy going to be open I think in April uh down in um down on 55 down in that area going toward Andrew in our South Lakes area. So I was just impressed that we've attracted the attention of a national group that's building not one but two of thesemies in our town and I was pretty excited about that. I think it's just a sign of who we've become, that we're a desired place to be, that this company would invest not one time but two times in our community. Great staff there. I really enjoy getting to meet them. So, um it's been busy. My calendar, I'm using colored ink, the market on my desk, and it looks like artwork almost trying to keep up with everything. But, um, it's been pretty great to see the amount of commercial growth, new businesses, startups, uh, and like I think one of the other commissioners, getting to meet some of these folks that we just don't get to see much. It It's just been fantastic to see what they're bringing to our community. So, it's been busy, but I've enjoyed it. It's been a good It's been a good two or three weeks

here. Thank you.

Great. Great. Thank you so much for those comments, Commissioner Vorren. Yeah, I think I just want to reiterate uh the thanks to the management and staff for putting together, you know, uh all the material for the retreat. I mean, you know, as the manager described, it it was a lot and it was a lot for us. So, I'm sure it was a lot for you all. So, you know, just probably the amount of work that went into preparing for that was I'm sure a a fair or decent amount. So, uh thank you. It was a great retreat and thank you to my fellow board members and mayor. Um I you know I there's been a lot of learning you know as one of the other new guys on the board now. Uh so this it was very helpful and and I'm glad I was a you know it was good to get to know everyone better. It's good to get to know more about everything we have going on and the strategic plan and and so I I thought it was a just a great couple of days out there.

Great. Yeah. That's good. Thank you. Thank you so much, Mayor Pro Tim Gardner.

Yes. And I have to add my thanks and admiration to the staff and our our administration here for what you all do to prepare for that retreat and for it to be meaningful and for us to come out of there running to meet the needs of this of this um town. And it it really was wonderful with a different a little bit different makeup of of the board. Um getting to that place where we kind of jailed and I think we did in that time and and finding what different things we each bring to this job and um our new commissioner here, he just kind of is our resident rocket science scientist. We decided because we would be trying trying to understand and discuss something and he would get on his computer and turn it around and he had it in a graph. We can all it was just amazing. So, it's exciting the new the the different things we each bring and the the new things that our um new and returning members bring to that that was a really exciting part of the retreat. Uh, I also, uh, would like to thank the Vqua Verina Police Department for doing the babysitting course. I don't have a lot of babysitters at my house anymore, but I I had I had five that came through there that did some babysitting, and I would have been really exciting excited as a parent to have such a well-trained babysitter. And they make good money these days. I mean, they

these young people really do. So, I'm sure there going to be plenty of them jocking for a place in that class. And thank you all for offering that. Um, also, I had a really interesting experience. Um, some friends of mine from Greenville told me that one of one of this gentleman I know in green have met in Greenville told me that his uh daughter was um working with this uh this organization called Ability. It's a It's a 501c3 charitable nonprofit called Abilities Tennis and and it uses the game of tennis to connect with um a wide range of ages and abilities of individuals who are um you know have have maybe a lower intellect than um you know than what is you know you know we we are usually uh including programming for and this organization provides this uses tent the game of tennis and provides the the uh clinics free to these individuals across the state of North Carolina and they came to Viewqua Arena and to uh one of our large meeting room at South Park to tra to um present um training in how to run one of these programs. And we have one here in Fuqua Verana. I got to meet uh the young woman who is heading that clinic up and they just do such a wonderful service and are able to connect with these individuals uh through tennis in a way that that um they they become more active physically and engaged. Um

we just really engaged up to their abilities. and that they end up for the state of North Carolina taking a group to the US Open uh US Tennis Open every year and just they had just done that and they showed a film about the organization and the the what they do and then um I I got to be there. I just went to speak to her, meet her and and thank and and thank her for coming to Fugquway and bringing this training to this area and there were people from all around that had come for this training and and they didn't have any tennis courts. We didn't have tennis courts at South Park, but they it was a pretty day and they took them out in the parking lot and did a a sample clinic uh to show them what that would be like and to you know kind of teach them the strategies for uh connecting with this special population and in a very substantial way. And I it was just so interesting and such a great um project I thought and such a great organization and and no it's free to everybody who participates. So they raise a lot of money to do what they do and it was just so interesting. Um, I would also especially like to thank Commissioner Haynes for his work with our uh establishing and developing our teen council. The first the first of the only um national league of mi municipalities that uh meetings that I have been to was held in Charlotte a few years ago. Um, Commissioner uh Harris and his wife went and uh Molly Stevenson went with me, but it was uh the opportunity to have that national meeting in Charlotte and to be able to go to one of these national meetings was

a real education for me in in public work and I I just I just enjoyed it so much. But the thing that really struck me was all these kids that were there and how excited and engaged they were to be and they did all different kinds of things. They some of them ran almost like a almost like a a teenage town board. They they had um mentors on their town board and they kind they ran it kind of like a little mini town board on their on a uh senior high school level. And I I thought, well, I'd love to do something like that. Well, I was already doing more than I could manage. But when when Commissioner Haynes was elected, I told him, I said, he told me he was going to the to the uh National League meeting and I said, "I want you to to see what you can do with those young people because we need to have something like that in Fugquway." And he has he has um founded it and nurtured it and now they're going to be co-hosting um the state meeting here. Correct. And it's just so exciting. I can hardly wait till our fewquay kids get to go to that national meeting and see what is done by all these many many cities and towns across our country. I just I think it'll be something so exciting for our young people and I thank you Commissioner Haynes for what you've done to bring that about. Um and I think that's all I have for tonight. I'm excited about everything. Well, that's good to hear. Thank you. Thank each of you for your comments. And I'll keep my comments uh sort of brief. And I I'll just tell you this, you know, um a lot of you don't know, but I'm

going to use this wisdom tonight in my comments. Uh my father uh used to work with Pinehurst Country Club years and years ago, and he was a a caddy u years and years ago. And among the caddies, they had they had a bit of wisdom that they used uh to be good at their job. And uh my dad always told me that as a caddy they they had three things that um they had to focus on. And uh these three things are show up on time, keep up, carry your bag, and shut up. So tonight I'm gonna shut up.

Everything else has been said. Is anything else to come before us before we adjourn? We have a close session. Yes. Yes, sir. Okay. Do I hear a motion that we go into close session? Do you have something else? The recommendation is to go into close session pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143 318 11A3 attorney client privilege A5 property acquisition and A6 personnel. Do I hear a motion to that effect? So move a second. Second. It's moved and second that we go into close session. All those in favor let it be known by saying I. I oppose. All right. That sounds like it's take a while. Take a