Board of Commissioners (boc) - Regular Meeting

and baseball. What are we? Good evening. I'll welcome you to the Pittsburgh Board of Commissioners meeting for March 9, 2026. And call it to order. And we'll start with a moment of silence. Please join me. Thank you,

Mayor Pro Tim. Ferrell, would you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? Would everyone rise for the pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Um, we have the agenda and the consent agenda in front of us. Are there any changes or additions to either? If not, I'll take a motion to approve the agenda.

Move Frell. Second, Commissioner Foley. All those in favor say I. I. I'll take a motion to approve the consent agenda. So move. Thank you, Commissioner Ferrell. Second. A second. Thank you. Uh all those in favor say I. I. I. Thank you. Um up first we have information items. A report financials. Uh, Sheriff Foka.

Hi folks. Uh, thanks for having me, allowing me to just give you an update. Um, we try to do this quarterly for the newer board members and, um, we're at any time. I'm open to questions about what is going on with the Pittsburgh ABC. Um, I sent some information for your packet. You'll notice that, um, our sales are up, our revenues are up. Um, do remember that the new store, the second store, didn't open up until May of 2025. So, we won't have comparable sales and expenses until that point in time. But the trends are great. Um, already we're um one of the top producing uh boards in the state and the region, which we're very proud of. Um, all due to the expansion of Pittsburgh. So, anything that that you do to um to improve and develop Pittsburgh, uh we can make you money with that. So, um that's the general idea. Um I will note that the general national trend and regional trend is for mixed beverage sales to be going down and you'll see that in the financials ending December 31st that our our bar and restaurant revenue is down. That's across the country. uh people are drinking less or economic pressures are causing them to drink less and um people are also uh just drinking um less alcohol. Uh but despite that, we still had higher sales and that's because of the walk-in traffic. Um the last thing I wanted to say is I' I've listed the distributions until the end of the year. uh the distributions are a long piece. So you'll see some go up and some go down, but um by the end of the year, we usually have a nice nice uh chunk of change that we send your way. Um I will last thing I'll say is a reminder that in our budget in as you enter into the new budget, we will be asking again for 40% retention of our excess working capital was about $53,000

last year. We put that into our capital fund which is restricted and that allows us to build further um stores. So, the idea is we hold that money back. Um, give you 60%, we keep 40, and then we are able to open up yet another store, which we're already starting to think about. Nothing firm, but that I'd like to think that is money well spent with us that we hold and make money more money for you later. Anyway, that was not the most um the best explanation of it, but just a heads up as you start the budgeting process. We'll be asking to retain some excess working capital. Are there any questions?

Any questions on ABC? Keep up the good work. Good work. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. And and Jay, uh, Commissioner Frell is been a great asset. So, um, again, you have my information, my contact information. I'm always open to questions. Thank you. Thank you. We'll just mention that we're very fortunate to have such a strong board and employees. Yes. Yes.

They really are. Thank you. Up next, we have a proclamation recognizing Arbor Day. So, whereas Arbor Day is observed throughout the United States to recognize the importance of trees and to promote environmental stewardship. And whereas trees are a vital component of the town of Pittsburgh's natural and built environment, providing significant benefits including improved air quality, reduced storm water runoff, energy conservation, urban heat reduction, carbon sequestration, and enhanced community character. And whereas the town of Pittsburgh's climate action plan recognizes the importance of tree preservation and planting, including recommendations to to create a tree town tree planting program. And whereas protecting and expanding the town's tree canopy contributes to the environmental health, community well-being, and overall quality of life in Pittsburgh. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, the mayor, on behalf of the board of commissioners of the town of Pittsburgh, formerly do hereby proclaim March 21, 2026 as Arbor Day in the town of Pittsburgh. I encourage all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day by planting, preserving, and caring for trees and by recognizing the many benefits trees provide our community. Uh, and I'll say uh March 21st this year, we're going to be planting some trees in front of the courthouse in the in the traffic circle. So, uh, 10 o'clock, I think. Yeah, 10 o'clock courthouse, planting trees on Arbor Day, March 21. So, hope to see you all there.

Up next, we have Citizens Matters and we will start update.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, just a couple quick things. A lot of us will be heading down to Newburn for the main street conference in the next couple of days. We look forward to the great things that we're going to see and learn here while we're down there. Um, and I think the town is the recipient of another Main Street award this year for the pop-up park. And so more to come on that uh once we receive that award. Um, staff are working on a grant initiative at the moment for invasive species removal. It's a climate smart communities initiative that the COG is helping us with. So our focus on that is going to be invasive species removal uh in our parks and greenways. Uh, Rafy building is looking great. Uh we did a took a tour today and we were hoping to have it far enough along so we can have the spring edition of PBO 101 in the engagement ring uh wing of the Rafy building. So more to come there. Uh budget prep is going well. Um y'all will see more of that at your uh budget retreat here in a couple weeks. And I've gotten a few calls and questions about the ADA ramps that are getting worked on. That is a DOT project. Um we were given very little notice, if any. Um, but that project should be wrapped up in the next two weeks. And so hopefully any of the traffic uh issues that's causing or or loss of internet issues that's causing will be all uh solved in the next couple weeks once they're out of here. So any other issues that come from that, just call me.

Thank you.

Thank you. Those improvements are appreciated to the pedestrian infrastructure, but u working with our partners at DOT. So um for my updates, Jonathan mentioned PBO 101 is coming up. So again, so those uh applications are open. Please uh please apply if you're interested. Highly recommend it. Uh we had the Riot Foundations program in town put on by uh Riot which is part of NC IDEA now. Um focused on entrepreneurship. I was able to uh participate in that program and then we're continuing to work with them um as we work on entrepreneurship and just economic development in Pittsburgh. So pretty excited about what's to come there. Uh we had the Lewis Freeman Park groundbreaking and uh so great to hit that milestone. I think the contractor is is working already on it and we hope to be complete by uh this spring. So no not spring summer. Yes. Uh in the summer it will be complete. So uh great great to have that underway and uh it was delayed and then we had beautiful weather so that worked out. Um, tomorrow I'll be attending the smart cities conference in Raleigh and speaking on a panel um about how small towns do innovation and then headed down to the main street conference with with a lot of other people. So looking forward to those things. Question Huner.

Okay. Um, so I attended the Ahack meeting um last Thursday where new officers were um elected and there are a lot of open positions. So, if anybody's interested in volunteering for affordable housing um advisory committee, that would be wonderful. Um also, I held a coffee with commissioners meeting with uh Commissioner Foley. Uh we came prepared to talk about the Hillsboro street widening and everything else. And um the topic except for one person who came to talk about um lighting over by um ABC store and former Havoc, it was all about block. Um I think we had about eight or nine people there and it was a really good conversation. Um since then um let's see last Saturday I did attend the flock um meeting that was held with a I would say an expert of 10 years. Um there were 33 people there and there were a lot of questions that were brought up. There were some really good questions, a lot of things I didn't know. Um and I did try to write down every single question that uh the people asked. Um, what I'd like to do is turn that over to the town and to the um, police and maybe they could answer those questions and any questions that we may have as well. And I see there are a lot of people signed up who are here who attended that meeting. So, if it's all right, we could um, maybe have a presentation and answer some of those questions. Um and then the most exciting thing is um as you know from the last meeting we had an invasive species eradication uh program over um the beginning of the 72 acres of Robertson Creek Park. Uh since then it has kind of developed into a coalition. Um we've got a nonprofit. We've got Reing um within.

Let's see who else. Uh the tree museum of course. And I cannot put into words how amazing the past three weekends are and what was accomplished. So I did a little uh before and after video to kind of show you what they walked into and uh what it looks like now. So, um there's some great music you can see on Facebook, but the privet was incredibly thick. We wanted to target this black walnut tree. Um there was a huge maze of privet that kept us from getting to that uh tree. We had some weed wrench um instruction and safety instruction. And we spent the last three Saturdays or actually two Saturdays and a Sunday pulling privet. And what you'll see is um in a minute there are huge piles of these invasives that had been cleared. And we did reach the tree. We also cleared the southwestern fence line. And here you can see it again. And that tree ended up not just being a black walnut, but it is a black walnut honeyloust and packberry. And uh we made it to the old pond where the beaver was and I it was just amazing. So I'm really excited to see how this park develops and how the eradication continues.

Good. Thank you. Thanks, Commissioner Frell. Um I attended the joint county and managers and mayors meeting. You also did too. Yeah. Um, as we heard from the ABC Jamie Fioco that the ABC board is is doing well. The stores are doing fine. We should have some numbers in June for the uh store number two. Thank you, Commissioner Foley.

I I played with Commissioner Huntinger uh along the new park. That was that was fun. There's some incredible trees in that park. Profound trees, breathtaking. Uh there is a photograph on your on your display that we just witnessed of the pond with the sun setting and I can imagine the the the people of Pittsburgh and outside of Pittsburgh actually enjoying that park. It's just a beautiful spot and it's a it's a welcome gift. So, thank you for your efforts and uh I'm looking forward to how we uh participate in the future with this the nonprofit etc. with this group. I also attended the Pittsburgh, excuse me, the Chattam County affordable housing advisory committee as a guest for the first time and I look forward to working with Commissioner Huninger in in that in that aspect. the uh I am now a member of the uh Chattam County Economic Development Corporation and uh is my responsibility to represent Pittsboro in a manner that uh provides uh corporate stimulus into this area. So my my main goal is to relieve the tax burden that we all have have felt in the last year year or two. Uh that's it for me.

Thank you, Commissioner Thurber.

Um so last month I attended with Mr. Foley uh the Chattam Chamber of Commerce the 79th annual meeting an economic um event. It was great and uh one of the things that really stood out to me was the survey results from the community and the chamber members. Um, many expressed like the number one thing was they wanted to see more events happening in downtown Pittsburgh. They wanted to have a reason to shop downtown and come downtown. So, I think that's really cool that so many people are interested in the vitality of our downtown area. Um, the same level of community engagement is also showing up in the Pittsboro downtown advisory board. um they are they have two chairs available right now and over 60 applicants um to fill those chairs. So they are going through the interview process. Um but I'm incredibly impressed with our community and the willingness that people have to step up and get involved. Thank you.

Okay, up next we have public comment. So, when you come up, please state your name and address at the start of your comments. There's a time limit of three minutes, which will be displayed on the screen. In the interest of time and fairness, it's the board's policy not to respond directly to comments during this period. Staff will follow up as appropriate. Any speaker with handouts will give them to the town clerk. They'll be distributed to the board at the conclusion of this meeting. I will do my best with all the names. And we have 17 people signed up tonight, so we're going to keep the time as tight as possible. Up first is Susie Crate, followed by Tyler Patterson.

Hello, my name is Susie Crate. I live at 235 Binham Church Road in Binham. This is Pittsburgh, but I live in Binham. Um, mayor, commissioners, staff, law enforcement representatives, uh, I'm speaking to you tonight as a concerned citizen who asks that you end your contract with luck. I come into Pittsburgh for most of my needs, including shopping for food, hardware, lawn, and garden supplies, taking woodworking, yoga, and other classes, volunteering as a master gardener, delivering trash, recycling, and swap shop donations, mailing items at the post office, and etc. Several months ago, I learned that regardless of how I enter Pittsburgh, I was being traced as part of the town's contract with Flock. I think it is safe to say that as residents of Pittsburgh and Chattam County overall, we pride ourselves in our community and how it is evolving and developing with the times, finding that general place where we work together to preserve our historic values and also move to ad adapt to contemporary change. However, the surveillance intentions of Flock and their potential self-interest in selling out our data for reasons far beyond the intention to protect and surveil for local crime is a threat to our community. In fact, it is a fourth amendment violation. Therefore, I ask you to break the contract with Thank you. Thank you.

Up next is Tyler Patterson, followed by Ryan Powell. Good evening. My name is Tyler Patterson. I'm at 118 Binham Hill, also in Binham. I'm a local electrician. I'm a husband, father, and a NCP native. And I'm here tonight to voice my enthusiastic support for these block cameras throughout the town. Far too long, people in this community have been driving around with the outdated expectation that their daily movements are not automatically recorded somewhere. These cameras can finally bring us into the modern era by ensuring that every time we pass the right pole, our license plate, time, and location are logged in a searchable database. The best part is that no one has to consent. You don't opt in, you can't opt out. If you drive on a public road, you're on record. This kind of frictionless compliance is exactly what modern surveillance infrastructure needs. And the benefits go well beyond solving crimes. Over time, we'll build a really useful data set showing where people live, work, worship, visit friends, and when they leave town. It could quietly reveal things like who regularly visits particular house of worship, who goes to Planned Parenthood or clinic, and which homes appear empty for several days. I'm sure that kind of location data could never be misused, accessed improperly, or leaked. It could even open the door to exciting possibilities like analyzing driving patterns for insurance purposes, mapping movement trends across the town, or identifying exactly when someone tends to leave their house unattended for a few days. That also helps shift public safely away from messy things like community trust and human judgment and toward automated monitoring systems sold by venture funded firms in the Silicon Valley which is obviously where small

town should be taking cues on freedom and civic life. The investor backing behind flock should reassure everyone as well. Like Founders Fund, the venture capital firm founded by Peter Teal, co-founder of Palunteer and Anderil, who develops AI enabled surveillance systems and autonomous military drones. When you zoom out, this isn't just a camera program. It's an opportunity for this town to participate in a growing technological ecosystem dedicated to collecting and analyzing human behavior at scale. The beauty of systems like this is that once they are implemented, they rarely stay small. Once the cameras are installed, it becomes easier to add more. Once the data exists, it becomes easier to analyze it. After all, nothing says freedom like having routine daily movement monitored, logged, and stored, preferably by companies whose business model depends on making surveillance feel normal. For the record, this was sarcasm and I am 100% opposed to flock cameras or any other form of mass surveillance by government or private companies. Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Ryan Powell and I live at 287 East Hallfield Drive. I have been living in Pittsboro for almost six years. Since I have been living in Pittsburgh, I have enjoyed freedom of travel, freedom from surveillance, and freedom from digital policing. That is until I learned about the recent installation of flot cameras in Pittsboro. I have come to be aware of the dangers of flot cameras through videos on YouTube. In those videos, I have seen multiple instances of innocent individuals and families with children being pulled over at gunpoint in what is referred to as felony traffic stops when flock cameras falsely identified their cars as stolen. Unfortunately for those families, there is little to no legal recourse as it can be argued that the officers involved were operating under legitimate and valid probable cause. That probable cause of course was falsely given to them by the network of flock cameras and the artificial intelligence that controls them. I am new I am no lite and I am wellversed in both the strengths and vulnerabilities of artificial intelligence which flock cameras rely on. I received my bachelor's degree in computer science and I am currently enrolled in the artificial intelligence track of the master's in computer science program at North Carolina State University. I have also studied digital security in as one of my many hobbies and passions and I used to work as a software developer in the digital security field. I am well aware that AI is one of the strongest and most powerful tool belt in a hacker tools in a hacker's tool belt today. Therefore, it is not mere conjecture nor is it fantasy that makes me fear for the safety of myself, my family and my community when AI and digital surveillance is deployed against us. I am a legal concealed weapons carrier and an avid shooter and hunter. I often travel with firearms on my person or in my vehicle, a right that is granted to

me by my creator and is enshrined in our great country's constitution. My wife is an immigrant and she is still learning the rules, laws, and procedures of our country, state, and county. The two of us together have a daughter that will soon turn two years old. It is for all of these reasons that I fear for the safety of myself and my family if, god forbid, any of us were to be falsely identified by the network of flot cameras in Pittsburgh as felony perpetrators. If I or my wife were to be pulled over in a felony traffic stop, there is a nonzero possibility that a misunderstanding could occur and violent action could be taken against us. As I stated previously, in such a case, legal recourse would be limited at best and impossible at worst. The dangers of flock cameras, digital surveillance, and policing by artificial intelligence far outweigh any perceived benefits. For that reason, among many other reasons that I do not have the time to cover, I am completely and wholly opposed to digital surveillance and policing in any regard, context, or facet. Thank you. Up next, up next is Yon Berger, followed by Amy Allen. I'm Yon Ber. I live on 726 Binham Road. Um, and I'm coming here to speak again. I'm not so concerned about the Pittsburgh police um being able to find stolen cars. I am concerned about living in a country where everyone is being tracked all the time. Uh new technologies get introduced every day. But this technology isn't just about fighting crime and it's not just about Pittsboro. It put puts power into the hands of anyone with access to the data. And once this technology is out there, we won't

know who gets access to it um now or in the future. So what if someone decides we don't like these people? Remember when the Germans and the Irish and the Japanese people were targets in this country today? So many people are targets of racist and sexist and homophobic abuse in the US. Much of it perpetrated by our own government. Again, what if someone just decides we don't like these people? What would happen? What would have happened during the civil rights movement if local sheriffs had continuous surveillance of people trying to help others register to vote? I don't know if we can stop this technology from spreading across our country, but we can stop it here in Pittsburgh. You're the ones who can do it, and I'm asking you to help keep us safe. Thank you.

Thank you. Up next is Amy Allen followed by Alan Cath.

Hello, my name is Amy Allen. I live at 532 May Farm Road and I recently moved here four months ago from Colorado. My organization is with Wild Within and I'm just here to put a name with a face and introduce myself. My background is in ecological restoration with volunteers, communitydriven restoration to help heal the land and give back to it. I have expertise in invasive weed eradication, native seed collections as well as tree plantings. I am thrilled to see the the the the the drive of this town and giving back to the land to have the ecology all intact the way it once was. I've been working alongside some amazing pe people, Candace, Don, Lyall, my husband, the tree museum, and as well as the Grand Trees of Shadow County. I've been talking with the new hope of bird alliance with Py and many others are all coming together to build this incredible coalition. I am learning about the uh the uh the climate change uh grant that is going on and I've been starting to collaborate with with that Jenna Peterson. So here I am. Let me support you. Thousands of volunteers of Colorado help heal the land. Let me come to you. Help support this town. Thanks so much.

Next is Alan Cat followed by Shante Smith.

Alan Cat 180 Woolly Worm Drive. I was here last month talking about flock cameras and how they were fourth amendment violation. This month I'm not going to complain about that because uh my bone pick today is actually about flock safety systems as a company. The county spends a lot of money and that money comes from taxpayers. And as Commissioner Foley pointed out, reducing tax burden on our citizens is a priority. We currently pay Flock Safety Systems $500 per camera installed, $2500 per year that we utilize their systems. So, we'd expect a premium product for a premium price, right? Uh, unfortunately, of the nine cameras currently run by Pittsburgh PD's section of the Flock Safety Systems contract, all of them have external facing USBC ports, the same exact port on every phone in the United States and Europe at this point. Um, you can pull right into those, access all of the firmware and software on board those cameras, all of their onboard memory, uh, using publicly accessible software, which is not necessarily legal or legitimate. I'm not recommending anyone do that. But my point is that Flock has not addressed safety concerns. Um, their number one priority right now is to make good on the fact that they've had $985 million sunk into them by investors. They need to produce a profit sometime soon. Unfortunately, we are the product from which they are going to produce that product. Um, they can sell our data to other entities. They make money off of the contract with the county. We also outsource other elements of our public safety to private corporations. In 2020, we paid First Health of the Carolinas 3.1 million base fee for EMS services. Suddenly, magically, in 2025, that turned into $4.6 million. My question is, we're starting off at $3,000 this year for each of the nine block cameras we currently have. In 5 years, are we going to be wisely spending the taxpayer a dollar? And will that fee still be the same? Is this product going to be worth the money we spend on it? Can the company prove that they will treat us with respect and

follow the contracts we have with them? Or is it going to be like Hillsboro, North Carolina, where the commissioners found that after spending $81,000 on the same exact product we have purchased, that their attempt to cease using flock safety cameras was met with resistance uh and that they actually had to install manual physical barriers in front of these cameras because the company did not respect the authority of the local municipality. I am afraid that both from a fiscal and privacy standpoint, the company will not respect our contract in turn. I highly recommend the commission consider looking at alternative companies, consider an in-house solution for CCTV, consider bringing it to a vote for the general public uh as to how to spend our funds uh and whether or not we allow this technology in general. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Next is Shante Smith by Robert. Good afternoon. Um, Shante Smith, 135 Balentree Court, Apartment One. I'm also the pastor of Mount Si AMU Church located at 176 Chattam Street. Um, I have a few of my members here. I'm sure they're here. And um, to also state that we are in opposition to these cameras continuing to be um, in the town of Pittsboro. I don't have much more to add than what has already been said, but I do want to say that that is not the type of innovation that we need in Chattam County. It doesn't help with community building. Um, and it doesn't make us feel safer. Thanks.

Is there a Robert Pop pop here? Good evening everyone. I had the opportunity to speak to a few of our commissioners at two other meetings uh concerning flock. I want to give you a little bit of background on myself and I'll do as fast as possible. I was special warfare United States Navy submarines for 20 years, eight months and 13 days. After that I was a specialist in foreign service for 25 years. I've worked in countries, very corrupt countries, countries where people were mistaken due to surveillance. I've been surveyed, surveiled. I have been shot at. I've been blown off my feet. Surveillance is not good. How was this ever approved? The American people have to understand, the people of Pittsburgh have to understand this can go into the wrong hands. you have to be careful with what we're doing. And we just I don't think there's any metrics that these cameras have proven uh safety. They're there and they could be misused. That's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. What's your last name? Sir, what's your last name? Pop check. Pop check. Pop check. O P C A K. It's the way it sounds. Okay, thanks. Uh, up next is Philip Crawford followed by Tabitha Joy.

Hello, my name is Philip Crawford. I live at 108 Hawk Spiral Way. I am here to venomately oppose the use of the flock cameras in Pittsburgh. The cameras are a manifestation of our country's continued descent into an Orwellian surveillance state. They represent a violation of our Fourth Amendment rights. Our tax dollars should not be used to line the pockets of companies engaged in indiscriminately collecting and carelessly handling aspects of Pittsburgh's residents lives. If this continues, it is only a matter of time before the information is used in an illegal abusive manner. Please turn off the cameras, delete the data, and use our tax dollars to fund public assistance and community community improvement programs instead of mass surveillance of residents. Thank you very much.

Aaron Shanker

staying at 2695 NC92. Um there's a statement that I hear repeated far too often that if you have nothing to hide, then you should have nothing to worry about. Flock and other providers um similar like Motorola are making contracts with our police that give them access to the location of our people. And in several Sorry, I'm nervous. Um, in several states so far, uh, the police have been, um, found to have misused this data in order for personal reasons to track exes, um, family members to track their whereabouts against their will. So, these are people who have not committed crimes. These are people who are being tracked against their will for personal reasons. And that is that is a real fear that a lot of people can have. But larger than that, we are being tracked in a lot of different places. A lot of these cameras are fixated at places that should be innocuous. You know, why do we need to be tracked every time that we go to the grocery store? If we go to McDonald's, there are cameras in and out of places. Like, you can't even leave some neighborhoods without being on camera. That is excessive. And um although this is a small community um what we do here shows a precedent for a lot of other communities and big cities to follow suit and we have the potential to succeed here. There's only a few cameras here. In other cities there are hundreds. But here we have the ability to actually do something about it and I think that we need to do that. Um also I have a question for the police. Um, since getting these cameras, what crimes have been solved with flock that could not have been solved otherwise? Because for decades, centuries, the

police have been solving crimes with good oldfashioned police work. And I think that they're selling themselves short by buying into a program that's supposed to help them, but still contains a lot of flaws and poses security risks. Um, that's all. Thank you. by Paul Quadras.

Hello, I'm Martin Shunker. I reside at 2695NC92. I don't have any statement prepared for you guys today. I just want to speak to you, ask you a couple questions. These automatic license plate readers as they're marketed, they're supposed to read license plates, right? I don't have a license plate. I don't have a car. I ride a bicycle. Every time I leave my house and if I go to the grocery store, I pass a camera. If I go to the park, I hit at least two cameras. Round trip, that's four. Four sightings. Do you need that information, Chief Johnson? Do you need to see me on a bicycle four times? If I go to the park just to enjoy my day, if I go to the grocery store to get bread, do you need to see me? These cameras, they're they're not really police officers doing steakouts. It's more like a creepy robot librarian that just sees you all the time running 24/7 no matter what and identifying patterns using what? Some god knows what algorithm. You guys don't know flock notes. It's their it's their computer scientist doing that. I don't understand why you need that information. If you want to be so watchful and write down these patterns, may as well send a detective into my home. See the way I butter that bread that I bought. Maybe I hold my toast in the wrong hand. Some people say that left-handed people are more likely to commit serial murders. I don't know if that's true. Flock might think it's true. The cops might think it's true. So, if I butter my toast strong, what? I get locked up someday. It just it's a it's absurd. It makes no sense. It's a weird example, but that's that's it's a strange thing that's happening here. I don't understand why I need to be watched constantly. I don't think anybody likes being watched constantly. It doesn't feel good. There used to be a song. I feel like somebody's watching me. Paranoid paranoid person sang that song. It's not paranoid anymore. It's normal. We're being watched. I don't It makes me uncomfortable to be outside. I want to be I want to be at ease when I

go on a bike to the park. Not feeling paranoid. That's all. I I want these cameras taken down. I would appreciate if all the data was erased. Any contracts flocked, end them. There's no need for it. Nobody wants it. People being watched do not want to be watched. No one feels safer. No one is advocating for it. Just take them down. Thank you.

Next is Paul by David Patterson. Paul Quadras 258 Belmont Road. Uh I don't have much to add than what people have already said. I'm opposed to the fly cameras and I'm opposed my own personal sense of security and my own civil liberties as well as my Hispanic immigrant friends and family who are also opposed to this. And I just want to leave you with a quote you probably already know hopefully. It is those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin, founding father. This goes way back. The idea that we should be secure and safe in our doiciles and in our community is at the heart of the founding of our country. And this is where this springs forth. What you're hearing from my fellow citizens is fear. They are afraid because of these cameras and because of this surveillance. Be careful. Be weary. What we do now is only going to proliferate and grow tomorrow. And what we give up for our safety might be everything. Thank you. Thank you. Next is David Patterson by Lyall. Uh, good evening. Uh, longtime listener, first time caller. Uh, my name is Dave Patterson and I live here in Pittsboro. I live at 8:30 Milbrook Drive. Um, I'm actually in the Pow Place neighborhood, one of the neighborhoods that has the

cameras installed uh, at both entrances. So, I know the feeling of having a license plate uh, scanned each and every time we come in. Um, you've heard a lot of comments about the flot cameras. I just look at this as a deeper issue. Uh, I moved to Pittsboro 10 years and two days ago into the Pow Place neighborhood. One thing that always impressed me was just the amazing community, the feel of a small town um, with progressive uh, values and was still moving forward. I've always appreciated uh, how well our law enforcement has worked with the community. I trust them. I trust the job they're doing. I see them active. I see them at events. I see them working with our schools. And I want to respect that because ultimately what it comes down to with technology is a trust of who's using it. And what I'd ask is that maybe this is an opportunity uh to work more closely with both the town, the residents, and our law enforcement who's done a good job of keeping this town safe while still growing and examine is there a wider issue here? Does do our law enforcement officials feel like they need more tools? Is there something we're not seeing? Can we ask how we can better work uh together with more transparency? Um I detect a lot of fear and a lack of trust in this room which is a result of potentially decisions being made, technologies being introduced, potentially rights uh being violated without uh a conversation. And so I would all I would ask for uh this group uh tonight to to think about that to think about the amazing community that we have to think about a community that is growing and will experience a lot of challenges and the only way we're going to uh overcome these challenges is continuing to work together as a community to protect what we have yet make room for growth in the future. And so, um, I hope you guys, uh, honor that, respect that, and use this as an opportunity to ask more questions,

investigate the needs of the community as well as our law enforcement to make sure we can keep Pittsburgh, uh, the place that I think we all know and love. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh, Lyall, you you turn in the lights. I leaned against it.

My name is Li Estto and I work down at 220 Lorax Lane in Pittsburgh. I live in Monure and um I just wanted to thank you guys for enabling the citizenpowered energy that has broken out around the proposed new park. Jonathan got us a 72 acre track down there by the plant and um thank you for your help Candace and John Bonnets and and John's visit us. John Pulley's business. Come see us. We've got a group of volunteers. Uh we're learning how to weed wrench. We're learning how to eradicate and we are um getting ground. We've created some interesting scenes and things are taking shape remarkably. So I I really just wanted to thank you guys for doing that. I also think we need to give a shout out to Reginald for that proclamation that you did mayor on Arbor Day and also uh the work that he's done on trying to get us a tree city designation which I think means we need a tree ordinance, we need a tree board, we need to keep pushing on. If we don't pay attention to our trees, I'm here on behalf of the tree museum. Then we're going to end up hot, dry, and flooded. Let's not let that happen. Thank you Bradley Garcia.

Uh Bradley Pierce.

Hi. I'm Bradley Pierce 160 Xline Williams Drive. Um I'm going to talk about opposing flock cameras. However, I'm going to look at it from a little bit different perspective. You've all heard everything. Um, one of the serious li uh financial liability issues with Flock is that if the town keeps these cameras in place and residents believe their rights have been violated, the financial consequences of lawsuits could be substantial. Even if the town were ultimately prevail, legal defense is expensive and the risk falls on Pittsburgh's taxpayers. Recent analysis of Flock's updated terms warns that the uh company moved disputes into Georgia law in mandatory arbitration, expanded its license to use customer data. You um and capped its own liability even in situations involving gross negligence or willful misconduct. In plain terms, this means Pittsburgh could face serious risk while the vendor protects itself. Um, further commissioners should think about the public image and e economic impact. Pittsboro has worked hard to build a reputation as a warming, thoughtful, independent community. But there are many who do not want to shop, dine, attend events, or invest their time in a town that is known for promoting a surveillance network. Whether that takes the form of organized boycots or simply people choosing to go elsewhere, the reputational damage is real. Once a town becomes associated with invasive surveillance, rebuilding public trust is much harder than preserving it in the first place. I've lived in the Pittsburgh area for 17

years. Um, a lot has changed in 17 years. I'm off script now. Um, and I am blown away that these cameras were ever improve approved in the first place because that is just doesn't jive with Pittsburgh. Um, it I mean that's something I might see in Raleigh where there's red light cameras, dense population, but then you come to Pittsburgh. Pit it's Pittsburgh. It's not It's not some crazy place. We're not We're not There's no meth lab a block away. It's It's Pittsburgh. It's a quiet loving community. And surveillance like this does not reflect that that idea. I'm gonna save you the rest of this back in.

Hi everyone. My name is Tanya Garcia. I live at 47 Lockville Street. And I'll give a little bit of my background as others have. Um, I hold a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and professionally I work as an owner of a time tracking and data management system within my company. My work focus is mostly on largecale data systems including data integrity, retention, archival processes and government. Um, regularly work with questions around how data is being collected, stored, accessed, and protected over time. I'm here today to ask that commissioners take action to remove block systems from our county, not simply pause or adjust. When systems like this are deployed, they tend to become permanent unless there's a clear and deliberate effort to reverse course and experiences in other communities show that fully turning them off is not always as simple or as immediate as people expect. I want to focus on the structure of the technology and not the individual intent or day-to-day use. There's been a claim that the system only pulls license plates. That description is incomplete. The system captures images of vehicles and license plates numbers are extracted from those images um using software. So these same images allow vehicles to be identified by characteristics like make, model, color, body type, other distinguishing features. The vehicles can still be searched even when plate is missing or unreadable. And a broader capability matters when we assess impact. This is not continuous video but it is automated and scalable vehicle surveillance and it becomes more powerful as more cameras integrations and analytics are added. My concern is that this kind of technology is designed to expand. More cameras can be added. Software changes over time. Analytics become more advanced. Once the infrastructure exists is extremely difficult and uh to meaningfully limit its scope even if policies say otherwise. There are also unresolved questions about data control. And in

modern systems, data does not live in just one place. It's stored in cloud-based services. Information process, stored, and archived elsewhere to support the platform. Um, these local policies govern how searches are performed, but contract and vendor terms govern where the data exists and who has access to it um long term. And from public standpoint, there's very little visibility. And these systems, we know that they collect data on nearly everyone who drives through the county, regardless of suspicion or wrongdoing. Over time, that changes how people experience public space and raises long-term risk that are difficult to undo. I'm asking commissioners to require deeper review to seriously consider removal. That means examining contracts, updated vendor terms, data storage practices, access rights, and exit options, and deciding whether keeping this system aligns with the county's values. Removing a technology that carries permanent consequences is not anti-public safety. It is responsible governance. Thank you.

Next, we have a public hearing on hotel incentives. So, I'll take a motion to enter the public hearing. So, moved. Thank you, Commissioner Foley. Second. A second. Commissioner Thurber. Thank you. All those in favor say I. I. I. Thank you, Mr. Messi.

Mr. Mayor, me and members of the board. Um, in your agenda package, you have a a summary of various commitments and incentives that were discussed by the town board in 2018. Uh, when um the developer of Mosaic, uh, the commercial area came to the town along with representatives of the economic development corporation and were talking about possible uh, hotel in the mosaic area. In 2018, the town board discussed those uh commitments and made the list that you see attached in your agenda package. Um, and in consideration of those commitments, the town board back then was willing to offer the incentives that were listed there, which was a payment of of a grant each year of a percentage of the advoran property taxes paid by the hotel. Um, no contract was ever entered into between the town and the hotel developer before the hotel was actually constructed. But now, Mosaic Hospitality LLC, which is the developer of a hotel, uh, has asked that the town honor its commitments back in 2018. Uh such a an economic incentive requires a public hearing, which is uh here tonight uh for you to listen to any input that the public may offer about whether or not this is a valid public purpose that would promote economic development, job creation or retention, increasing the tax base, tourism, downtown activation, or other kinds of public benefits. Uh after you have heard any comments from the public, um I hope you will consider the attached resolution that's also in your agenda package. Uh and if you so find that this is a public benefit, then u adopt the resolution and authorize the mayor the manager to negotiate and sign

an incentive agreement with Mosaic Hospitality LLC. Thank you. If you have any questions, I'd be glad to try to answer. Uh, one one question, Paul, the the schedule now that we're sort of off schedule of it opening, is that starting? So, like the first year incentive payment, that would be after there's a contract. Correct. It's not retroactive. Yes, sir. But I think it would be in the fiscal this current fiscal year. Um, it's in your budget anticipation of doing this. Okay. Are there any questions for Mr. Mesik?

I had just wanted to regarding the uh one-third of all full-time employees, but EDC did a very good job in following through with that. And the uh hotel operator for transportation. Don't see anything I've overlooked it regarding that. In the summary from the EDC, uh Mr. Frell, number five on the second page on the back page, EDC has confirmed that it's available.

Okay. There other questions? No one from the public will sign up to speak for the public hearing. Take a motion to close the public hearing. I close the public hearing. Thank you, Commissioner Thurber. Second, Commissioner Huniker. Um, all those in favor say I. I. I. Thank you. Is there any other discussion? Okay. I'll take a motion to adopt the resolution approving an economic development incentive agreement with Mosaic Hospitality LLC.

If you could Did you read the one from the agenda? Yes. Sorry. Just want to make sure. What was your question? I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. All right. Uh, I'll take a motion to adopt the resolution approving an economic development incentive agreement with Mosaic Hospitality LLC. Move. So moved. Thank you, Commissioner Foley. Second, Commissioner Huniker. All those in favor say I. I.

Thank you. Up next, we have a request for a major subdivision preliminary plat for the Corvington major subdivision, PB25548. speak.

Good evening. Um, before staff gets started, I wanted to point out for the record, there's an updated plan set in front of you that is correctly reflecting the plan set that was included for the um, planning board recommendations that were made. Second item is we have a new planning staff member. She's our senior planner, Miss Lauren Stodder. I say that name correctly. All right. Could you real quick what are the differences between the set that was provided and the set that you you provided to this? That was the one of the next. Okay. Yeah. So, I'm just going to sit over here and be

All right. Um the plan sets on your desk. Actually, if you look at sheet three, there's some highlights on that sheet. The three items that were requested were to add the fence around the storm water control, the um easement for the storm water control, and the easement for the wall located on lot 86. And that's why they're all they're highlighted on there. So, that's the version that's on the website. Now, do we update? We will update it after the the meeting. It will get up on there. It's not on there at the moment. Unless it's Is it on there? It's sideways. I'm trying to

I looked at it and I didn't see it, which is why I reprinted it. It is there most of it.

Maybe not. I'll believe you. I can't. We'll

update it again to make sure. All right. All right. So, the site for Corbington is under PB25548. It was originally annexed in July 14th of 2025 and the zoning um was done on 6925. So that and zone reszoning was to an MRCZ from originally being a um was a traditional piece and then it did match the future land use from that traditional as well when it was updated. So we've got 98 plots. The maximum it could be was 99 for the actual density of 2.99 dwelling units an acre. for this plan sheet. You can see that there's a five- foot sidewalk if you see it there um along Old Graham Road and then the before the right as the 50 50th um CO is issued, they're expected to have majority of sidewalk in place. um public recreation. There's also an a greenway along the eastern portion of the site. These were items that were included in the additional zone resoning and it does meet all the requirements um for the zoning district itself. These are the additional outline items that was in there. And there's an actual staff analysis report that goes goes

with this. And then um I don't have any additional items. It does meet all the plans. So if you have any questions, I can go through that, but there's really nothing additional per requirements. I do have a question regarding the second exit for entrance into the community. It's a temporary, not temporary, but gravel driveway gated. Correct. But the the part that's actually connects with the outer road is actually stable. It is per NC DOT style entrance. The other section is gated also. No one would go across

and the the fencing around the the storm water pond. Looking at it, I'm seeing 75% surrounded. Can you describe the I guess that would be the southernmost side of it. Why is there fencing there or not?

Um that fencing is not noted on the plans on that side. It is on the side where the wall is and that's usually where that fencing portion is where the other would need to grade from that back side. Right now this is actually preliminary. They haven't finished the design so they would need to redo it when they get to the CDs. This is just the graphic. All right. And then are there any more questions on the plans or any of the documentation? you update us on I think there was discussion about a bar owl nesting an owl nesting site.

Yeah. was teach that on the sheet who was who there was additional information provided that he's the man just maybe before that. So, the only the only change from what the planning board saw to what we have tonight is the easement, the storm water drainage easement, the retaining wall easement. Retaining wall easement, um, storm water easement and the fence around the the wall of the storm water

fence. Those three items are here help and explain things additionally. Mr. Mayor, the board. I'm Mick Robinson from Bradshaw Robinson Slaughter, uh, practicing law here in Pittsburgh. Paul can tell you that last Monday marked my 30th year of practicing here in Pittsburgh. So, I'm glad to get to be before you all tonight. Um, and I have a little presentation to make. I guess I can get to that a little later. It's very, very brief. But with regard um to the b owl uh question that was asked um the uh what we have determined is that we we don't know if there's any b owls on this site but we know when the nesting period is which is from March to August there are significant amount of tree save area in on this site in the riparian buffers and whether or not we see any bard owls or not we're going to put up the houses for the b owls for nesting um in the tree safe area just in case Um, and that was satisfactory to the the folks that were talking about it.

Thank you. Thanks. Congratulations, by the way. Thank you. Any questions for staff? Yeah, I have just a couple of comments. Um, I know this was a conditional zoning and uh I believe uh Alan Wilson brought this up in the planning meeting regarding the 990 new vehicle trips per day and anything more than a thousand needed a TIA. Correct. Yes.

Um, how did they get just 10 less trips to not have a TIA? number of lots was less than 99 to 100 that would have triggered it. They would have got that number of trips based on the number of lots and that trip base. That's the statute, right? Um okay. It says in in the traffic impacts that there would be more than 55 peak hour trips per day may require roadway improvements specific by DOT. There's a possibility that we could get a left turn and right turn there.

That should be in the list in the letter from the NCOT. That package piece was attached, I think. Lauren, is that one attached on there? Does the head do have a list in that document? This right here is a S curve.

Yeah, that's bad. So the letter from SD has a requirement and I do not see it in that list but that is available and we will get that out as well. I'm sorry the requirement list out by SD but they would make the final list of what can be required um based on the findings.

Okay. Um, I frequent that road quite a bit and just the drawing to scale here leaves out that large Scurve where this opening for the fire access is and and it's one/tenth of a mile. I measured it one/tenth of a mile from this opening to Miss Dunlap's house. And uh that's a very very curvy, constricted road and we're getting more traffic on that 087. There's been numerous wrecks that's been in that curve that have ended up in the dentist offic's yard and front yard there. That is in that hard S curve. I'm just saying about the safety for the uh residents and people coming east and I mean north and south on 087.

We can look specifically at the signs in those sections and the impacts here in this construction drawings for that as well. Make sure that they are taking that into account. So would those dot recommendations actual recommendations come at this phase or at the subdivision phase?

Um the rest of them can come at CDs because it would be one section revision if there's anything additional. I don't see any list correspondence CD does not require the TIA one access point minimum site distance met are are met and generate over 55. It's just that they may requirements we get to that point. So they'll have to review it at that point and see what we look like. I'm not I mean I I'm just thinking about the safety of people on that road. Um the contractor done a great job with this. I don't know what DOT would allow for stacking. I don't know if it would could be something as small as what we had put in on Springdale Drive 10 years ago. Yeah. Like I'd say that's a two or three car stacking. Just something to get people off the road and keep traffic flowing. We'll have to um speak directly with NC DOT. I think we're looking at um Jen Britt. She has the most recent documentation on it, so she would have it. Okay.

Request that. Thanks for asking. It's a very busy road and I've had the same thoughts. Um plus we're going to have a new sidewalk there.

Pedestrians on it. Will the sidewalk have a bike lane or will there be a bike lane? It is a 5ft sidewalk from according to the initial zoning and a 10ft mil use path um is the greenway portion on the back side. So 5 foot on both sides of the internal subdivision streets as it then when it gets to old Graham for that boundary. So yes both sides 5T And then the traffic circles built section as well. Correct. The traffic circle from that goes right into

Yeah. Cambridge. Yeah. So it's a it's a five foot sidewalk. No bike lane on on the road or anything. It's just the two five foot sidewalks. There are a lot of bicycles that travel that road. Um that's why I asked think it would make it tricky if we put sidewalks in for them.

So m can you talk about the timing of this because I it was kind of just make it clear. So uh uh the way the process will proceed won't be delayed. Correct. Nothing unless the DOT says something. Is that correct? That's correct. And uh is there a doubt that the DOT will uh take their time doing that? Well, their average is 45 days for final comments and that they usually try to meet our schedule with the TRC and the pieces when they they come to those meetings. So, it will depend on their schedule, but it is 45 days. Okay.

If we call them tomorrow, it'll be well hopefully if we call them, they'll give us a simple answer first and then they'll go back through and it'll take long and get a real full answer. Thank you. Any other questions? I got one just out of curiosity, mate. Um, you said the trips related to how many houses was in a development.

That's part of it. Yes, there is an actual breakdown. Um, and part of the traffic letter and that when it's according to the process was looked at for the size of the development and the con traffic conditions along the road per district one of division 8. The determination is based on use of trying lost my place. It's very long document. Yeah, the size of the development and the the basic cons considerations. Do you have additional items that you discuss with NCD?

What I have confusion, but I just assume by some simple math that 990 trips in 98 hours is somewhere around 10 trips a day. Is that how it goes?

So, Mark Ashes with LJ. Good evening, uh, board members and staff. So we were we were fully transparent with this through the conditional zoning process. We hired a traffic engineer from Dubberry and Davis. They presented the data to NC DOT and actually the data we used is based on any a normal house. As you may know the Corbinton project is planned to be an age targeted community but there are uh specific tripation. It's similar to storm drainage. You you have calculations that have been accepted everywhere. So that this isn't a number that we just pick out. The traffic consultant says, "Okay, for standard single family residents," and this was not an age target of residence, but the single family, which would be a higher trip count, this is what it is. And then we forwarded that information to both the town and NC DOT. And that's when Jen Britt with NC DOT said, "You don't have enough traffic in the peak hour to justify turn lanes." Uh we're happy to discuss that with them as we do the construction drawings. We also recognize that that sharp curve there and we'll make sure that we take enough trees down from a sighteline standpoint that that you can see there's a safe stopping distance and all of that would have to be uh accommodated, you know, to get the final permits that we have to go through at NC DOT and we'll definitely do that.

We also have a slight dive in on the northbound traffic coming out of the circle. There's a slight dive in into the neighborhood there. I was just thinking about the safety for the not just the residents there but the people come north and south on 87. Absolutely not.

A lot of traffic and I'll say this, this has just been my experience. Um when you have a section where there's not a lot of driveways and you're as soon as you pass you're coming southbound, there isn't this entrance yet, but just beyond us there's an entrance, right? You've got a assisted living facility. Intuitively, as other neighborhood driveways show up, people tend to it's it's a calming mechanism, if that makes sense. And when you have a stretch where there isn't anything other than just some driveways scattered, people tend to speed up. I mean, it's just it's intuitive. We probably all do that. So, you know, the fact that this subdivision is coming in should provide some common aspect and and even seeing the sidewalk show up, which will start just north of the project there near Oakwood. That that should also be sort of an indicator to someone when they're when they're driving. Okay, the scale is sort of changing now. I don't have just a ditch on each side and driveways every several hundred feet. It's it's I'm moving into something that's a little more um pedestrian oriented. as you when you get to that full roundabout, you you obviously have that right now. So, these are all good points and and we'll definitely talk with DOT some more about it.

Thank you.

Questions for staff piece before I let them do their portion of the presentation. again Nick Robinson um here on behalf of the uh applicant. I'll be very brief tonight. Um just to always like to mention the legal context of what you're being asked to do. Um glad to be here tonight on behalf of Blue Heel Development LLC and that's Julie Gavagan and Zach Bowenstein here who are from the developer. Um, and as some of you may remember and has been discussed tonight, uh, the the zoning for this project was approved in June of last year. Um, and once that was completed for the purposes of platting lots, we moved from last summer's discretionary conditional zoning decision-making process into this, which is a byite administrative platting process. In other words, so long as the plat meets the requirements of the preliminary plat that are set out explicitly in your UDO, so long as it conforms with those conditions in the reszoning approval, then as a matter of law, the plat will be approved. Um, and as you've heard tonight, the good news is that you have a professional planning staff. Um, has a whole checklist in the staff report that tells you every category on that's required in in the plat. And there's a Y in there, which means yes, it's satisfied or CV, which means it'll be addressed at the construction drawing stage. Um, and so, um, the preliminary plat application was filed September 8th, so that was almost six months ago now. And in the intervening period, um we've been working with the staff to make sure the plat is exactly right. Uh planning board, as you mentioned, Mr. Mayor, um unanimously recommended approval upon review. Um and if there are any other questions about any aspect of it, including um anything,

Commissioner Frell, that you brought up, we're happy to address them. Um hopefully though, we've anticipated your questions and uh um ask that you uh approve the platform. Thanks so much. You have any questions? We're here. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions?

U I'll take a motion to approve the major subdivision preliminary plat for Corvington by adopting the resolution approving an application for a preliminary plat major subdivision. So move. Thank you. Commissioner Thurber. Second. Second. Commissioner Foley. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Thank you. Up next, we have appointments to the board of adjustments. We have four applicants.

Any favorites? Currently we have few positions open. Uh the current applicants are all in town which means we have two in town positions regular positions and one in town alternate position to fill. I would like to make a motion to appoint Hillary K. Ray Pace or or she's in town.

There's two different or there's two. So regular ending 27, regular ending 28. Oh, regular and alternate regular ending December 31st, 2028. Okay. Is there a second? Second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed. Okay. One down. I'd like to make a motion to appoint Steven McGregor for the town of Pittsburgh Board of Adjustment in town member term ending December 31st, 2027. Is there a second? A second.

Uh motion by Commissioner Huner. Second by Commissioner Thurber. Any discussion? We have another uh slot right now. Alternative correct. Alternate.

Any discussion?

All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? All right, motion passes. Last motion is for in town alternate member. I would like to make a motion to appoint Andrew Steven Nason for the alternate the term ending December 31st. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Yeah, I'll second that.

Second by Commissioner Huner. Any discussion?

This is in town, correct? They're all all three are in town. So, we do have two ETJ positions open as well, but we didn't get applications or guests. See like nominate Nicholas Sham. We got a motion now. We got a vote on for Andrew Steven Mason for the remaining position part of the discussion. We're still in the discussion stage, right?

Yes. Yes, there are other options available and I I like Nick as well. So I won't be voting for the current nominee on the on the slate. Yeah.

Any other discussion? Just want just want to know from you we've got some in town members that's got one year experience in living in the town. We don't have a regulation for that right now but I sure would like to see some of this changed in the future. That's just my thought. I think you need to be here a little while. That's not the issue now, is it? Nope.

Okay. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? I Right. I will vote in favor. Motion passes. Next is the town hall architect selection. Okay. board and mayor. Good evening. Good evening. My name

is Ben Shiki. I'm the project engineer in the filmment services department here to present an update to the town hall project uh including a recommendation um for an architect. So steps taken to date. Um in July the town purchased the property at 204 JA Ferrell Street with the intent of building town hall there. In September a presentation was given on a preliminary project analysis and then in December we advertised a request for qual qualifi request for qualifications for architectural services. Um so in January we received 13 letters of interest from 13 different firms. A selection committee was formed and um we interviewed and ranked the top four firms and then using the evaluation criteria in the RFQ HH architecture was ranked um as the most qualified firm by the such team. skip that one. So, HH Architecture is a Raleigh based midsize firm. They have a very strong project portfolio and extremely good references. The evaluation committee really appreciated their project approach and experience. there's a uh portfolio project portfolio in your packet of some of their their buildings. So, next steps, we need to um get a

contract with an architect to begin the schematic design. And then using the construction manager at risk project delivery method um we would need to procure the services of a construction manager to get them involved during design um for pre-construction phase services. We will be holding a community input dropin event early on in the design phase. Um we plan to have a presentation by the architect to you all um some point shortly after that for input and then final design um and cost estimate provided by the architect and seam. So I did put together a preliminary budget and schedule. So the budget we currently have a breakout um design, demo, construction, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment and contingency. So, this is based on a 20 to 25,000 square foot building um similar to what you all saw in September, including a a boardroom. Um the furniture fixtures and equipment item is to cover things for the boardroom with AV also security, IT and furniture. So, a preliminary schedule is here. Um, so we have our deadline to move out of the current town hall by the

end of 2028. And so it's pretty tight schedule to meet that goal. Um, but some milestones here would uh show finishing design uh early next year. um bidding out the project, getting the financing all um done in order to begin construction in summer of 2027. And that would allow for a 16month construction duration and a couple months to move in. So, in case you wondered what Pittsburgh, Indiana's town hall looked like scared me.

Yeah, your building will not look like what we can afford. Definitely appreciate your humor in that. You got us all on that one. I say Fitzro on there. So, he got me on it. Any questions? If I could real quick talk about the budget. I think the preliminary engineering study that that you saw previously was for a $16 million budget and that did not include design contingency and furnishings and some other things. So I think to get to this 13 million with with everything included um I think staff have done a really good job putting together uh this approach. Th

this design includes the government side. Yes sir. and the two stories on the staff side and are we using the same design as uh Hobs presented us probably generally but that you know the architect is going to you know give us his own thing you're using it for programming so number of offices things like that okay but the building shape

orientation may change um but we think that's probably going to be the most cost effective approach is you know a box for the boardroom and a rectangle for the offices twotory. It'll likely be a little smaller than what you saw last year. Um certainly be toned down on the exterior materials and interior approach. Um so this is going to be more of a So you showed us that that photograph just to prepare us. Is that it? Compare.

Okay. Something in the middle. Something in the middle. Okay. Or is that yours, Ben? Did you do that? Yeah. Okay. And the approach is a semar and Ben can give more information on this, but this gives us up-to-date cost on the design that's being put together throughout the process. So instead of starting a process, getting to the end of a design that we all like and love and then you put it out for bid and it's $2 million over budget. This will have, you know, touch points throughout the process to know that the design is staying on budget so we don't get surprised. And that is um we're trying to learn from the last town hall approach uh to not do that again.

Did I miss anything? That's right. Training me well. Go ahead. What did we do to reduce the $3 million? Just curiosity. Uh that's a great job though. Thank you.

We just set a number and said here's what we're doing. Um, but also reaching out to private sector builders on what they were seeing and what they were building office buildings for, talking to some of the architects on what they had seen buildings come in at per square foot. Um, obviously talking to an architect that that has more experience with government buildings that have to come in on budget. Um, so that's kind of where we got to this point. That's great. Now we can pay for it. We just need to get it in this budget. Yeah. Any other questions?

Thanks, Ben. Thank you. I'll take a motion to approve the selection of HH Architecture and authorize the town manager to enter into a professional services agreement with HH Architecture not to exceed $887,000. $887900,000. So move. Thank you, Commissioner Ferrell. Second.

Second, Commissioner Thurber. All those in favor say I. I. opposed. Motion passes and the budget ordinance for that item. So, I'll take a motion to uh adopt the capital project ordinance for the town hall field. Move. Thank you, Commissioner Thurber. Second. Second, Commissioner Huner. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. That's it. Meeting adjourned. Thank you. In uh May, you should see any comments after the meeting.

In May, you should see the selection for your Seymar. So, that's going to be the contractor um manager at risk. So, once we have that group on on board, we'll stand ahead. Thank you. Oh, yeah. Uh motion to adjourn. So move fully second. Second.