Minutes - November 18, 2010
RLUAC MINUTES
SPORTS USA, FORT BRAGG
November 18, 2010
Voting Members Present: John Blanton, Sampson County; (Chair), Ethel Clark, Spring Lake (Proxy for John Jackson): Bob Davis, Scotland County; Michelle Frizzell, Robeson County; Joseph Jeffries, Harnett County; Rora Kellis, Vass; Doris Luther (Secretary), Hope Mills; Robert Massey, Fayetteville; Bart Nuchols, Southern Pines; and Jean Powell, Hoke County.
Voting Members Absent: James Armstrong, Richmond County; Bob Bell, Laurinburg; Sharyl Carter, Whispering Pines; John Jackson, Spring Lake; Billy King, Cumberland County; Robert McLaughlin, Wagram; Nick Picerno, Moore County; Theresa Thompson, Lillington; Andrew Wilkison, Pinehurst; Mike Wood, Raeford; and Bill Zell, Aberdeen.
Non-Voting Members Present: Randy Beeman, Hope Mills; Perry Benton, Pope AFB; Jim Dougherty, Executive Director RLUAC; Conrad Garrison, Hoke County; Craig Harmon, Fayetteville; Mike Larson, Fort Bragg,; Tom Lloyd, Cumberland County; Mark Locklear, Harnett County; Mike Lynch, Fort Bragg; Monita McLaurin, NC Division of Community Assistance, David Nash, Fayetteville; and Glen Prillaman, Fort Bragg.
Guests Present: Don Belk, BRAC RTS; John Berndt; Jeffrey Burdick, NC Division of Community Assistance Jim Caldwell, Mid-Carolina Council of Governments; Henry Cunningham, Fayetteville Observer; Will Denning, Cumberland County; Mrs. Davis; Samantha Frisco, Harnett County; Brenda Johnson, Sustainable Sandhills; Doug Phelps; Joe Ramirez, Camp Lejune; Matt Rooney, Cumberland County; Rayshawn Smith, Pope AFB; Patti Speichter, Cumberland County; and Joel Strickland, Mid-Carolina RPO; Jackie Thomas, Fort Bragg
I. CALL TO ORDER
John A. Blanton, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 12:03 PM.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 19, 2010 MEETING – Correction: Monita McLaurin indicated that her name was accidentally omitted from the list of Non-Voting Members present at the meeting. Jean Powell made a motion to correct the minutes by adding Monita's name to the list. Robert Massey seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Rora Kellis made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected and Robert Massey seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
III. PRESENTATION: "NC Advisory Commission on Military Affairs (ACMA) - Purpose, History, and Military Friendly Legislative Agenda" - Doug Phelps, Vice Chief - State Operations for NC National Guard and Military Advisor to NCACMA - Doug reported that the Commission was officially created in 2001 by State Statute. However, the commission has been around informally for about twenty years. The Commission assures that base and community perspectives are aired and discussed through citizen appointments from areas around the bases in North Carolina. It provides for communication with installations through ex-officio representation by military officers. Since its formal creation in 2001, the Commission has prepared a strategic plan and supported several important legislative bills to assist the military communities, active duty soldiers, and their families. The General Assembly recently passed a bill to employ a full-time Military Advisor to the Governor and ACMA. However, the position is currently vacant. The Commission intends to continue to support new legislation that would ease licensing requirements for spouses of active duty military personnel for teachers, lawyers, and other professions. It also supports suspending residency requirements for children of active duty military personnel who want to attend NC universities. The Commission also intends to conduct a new economic impact analysis once the BRAC changes are complete.
ACTION: Information
IV. PRESENTATION: "Status of Camp Lejune BRAC Implementation Efforts" - Joe Ramirez, Director, Marine Corps Liaisons for Government and External Relations - Joe reported that the Camp Lejune region has recently created the Military Growth Task Force Community Committee. It is an organization like RLUAC and is designed to help the Camp and surrounding local governments to better coordinate planning and land use issues. Camp Lejune has been impacted by BRAC changes maybe even more than Fort Bragg. Over 13,000 troops have already arrived at the Camp and over $3.5 billion has been allocated for the construction of new barracks, mess halls, a water treatment plant, eight miles of new roads, and a new entrance gate. Unfortunately for the Camp and surrounding communities, the troops have arrived prior to the completion of the infrastructure and facilities projects -- overloading the highways and available housing stock.
ACTION: Information
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
- Financial Report – Jim Dougherty - Jim reported that in September RLUAC had $0 in receipts and $4,644.84 in expenses – leaving a cash balance of $27,098.97 as of September 30, 2010. Local government dues have been collected from 19 of its 20 member governments. An invoice for the 4th quarter of the RLUAC contract in the amount of $8,000. was recently mailed to Parsons, Inc. Payment is pending. Robert Massey made a motion to approve the financial report, while Jean Powell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
- Executive Director Report - Jim Dougherty - Jim reported that in November 2009 RLUAC was able to execute a new three-year contract with Parsons, Inc. to conduct land use reviews within the 5-mile boundary surrounding Fort Bragg, Pope AFB, and Camp Mackall. Since executing the contract last November, RLUAC's Board of Directors have reviewed 118 cases (approximately 10 per month). The reviews included 28 cases for Cumberland County; 23 cases for Harnett County; 3 cases for Hoke County; 1 case for Moore County; 50 cases for Fayetteville; 2 cases for Aberdeen; 9 cases for Southern Pines; 1 case for Vass, and 1 case for Whispering Pines.
Jim also reported that the grant application that was developed by RLUAC on behalf of itself, Mid-Carolina COG, Sustainable Sandhills, and US Fish and Wildlife Service, to support our GIS database, was denied by the Department of Defense's Office of Economic Adjustment.
ACTION: Information
- Election of New RLUAC Officers for 2011-2012 - Doris Luther - Doris reported that a nominating committee consisting of herself, Pete Campbell, and Jim Dougherty met on October 21st and developed the following slate of nominees for office:
Chairperson - Jean Powell, Commissioner from Hoke County
Vice-Chairperson - Robert McLaughlin, Commissioner from Wagram
Secretary - Sharyl Carter, Planner from Whispering Pines
Robert Massey made a motion to accept the slate of officers by acclamation. Ethel Clark seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
- Endorsement of Resolution to Endorse the "Green Growth Tool Box" - Brenda Johnson - Brenda explained the importance of the "Green Growth Tool Box" in assisting private property owners with land development proposals. She urged RLUAC to adopt the attached resolution of support. Jim Dougherty reported that the RLUAC Board of Directors recommended approval of the resolution at its meeting on October 21st. Ethel Clark made a motion to approve the resolution. Doris Luther seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
- Endorsement of Conducting a 20th Anniversary Celebration for RLUAC - Jim Dougherty - Jim reported that 2011 will mark the 20th Anniversary of RLUAC. He reported that the RLUAC Board of Directors recommends the development of a major event sometime in April or March of 2011. He urged the Commission to approve a resolution to develop such an event. Doris Luther made a motion for RLUAC to conduct a 20th Anniversary Celebration event in 2011. Ether Clark seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
VIII. Adjourn
There being no further business John Blanton entertained a motion to adjourn. Robert Massey made a motion to adjourn; Jean Powell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.
