Minutes - May 20, 2010
RLUAC MINUTES
SPORTS USA, FORT BRAGG
MAY 20, 2010
Voting Members Present: Bob Bell, Laurinburg; John Blanton (Chair), Sampson County; Rora Kellis, Vass; Robert Massey, Fayetteville; Robert McLaughlin, Wagram; Bart Nuchols, Southern Pines; and Jean Powell, Hoke County.
Voting Members Absent: James Armstrong, Richmond County; Molly Boggis, Whispering Pines; Bob Davis, Scotland County; Michelle Frizzell, Robeson County; John H. Jackson, Spring Lake; Joseph Jeffries, Harnett County; Billy King, Cumberland County; Doris Luther (Secretary); Nick Picerno, Moore County; Theresa Thompson, Lillington; Andrew Wilkison, Pinehurst; Mike Wood, Raeford; and Bill Zell, Aberdeen.
Non-Voting Members Present: Perry Benton, Pope AFB; Jury Brown III, Pope AFB; Pete Campbell, US Fish and Wildlife Service; Ethel Clark, Spring Lake; Jim Dougherty, Executive Director RLUAC; Craig Harmon, City of Fayetteville; Mike Lynch, Fort Bragg; David Nash, Fayetteville; Glen Prillaman, Fort Bragg; Kirk Rutkofske, Fort Bragg; and Michael Uskiewicz, Spring Lake.
Guests Present: Miriam Baer, NC Real Estate Commission; Sheri L. Crowe, Fort Bragg PAO; Conrad Garrison, Hoke County; Grace Lawrence, Working Lands Protection Plan; Mark Locklear, Harnett County; Julia Love, Directorate of Public Works; Alan Moore, NC Division of Forest Resources; John Ramsey, Fayetteville Observer; Matt Rooney, Cumberland County; Su Ann Shupp, Directorate of Public Works; Eric Warner, Pope AFB; and Tami Wohlrab Smale, Mid-Carolina Council of Governments.
I. CALL TO ORDER
John A. Blanton, Chairman, called the meeting to order. Robert Massey offered the invocation.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM February 18, 2010 MEETING – Rora Kellis made a motion to approve the minutes with the correction of spelling his last name and Robert Massey seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
III. PRESENTATION: “New Requirement for Disclosure of Military Impacts on Real Estate Near Military Bases” – Miriam Baer, Executive Director, NC Real Estate Commission – Ms. Baer explained that over the years various Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment studies have recommended real estate disclosure as a major local government tool to ensure that development surrounding North Carolina's military bases is compatible with the military mission. Unfortunately, local governments in the state did not have the statutory authority to enact such regulations. On several occasions efforts were made to get the North Carolina General Assembly to enact legislation to grant this authority to local governments, but they were unsuccessful. So in the fall of 2009, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission agreed to examine the issue of whether the Real Estate Disclosure Statement should be modified to require disclosure of military impacts when property is near a military installation. The Commission published a first draft of a rule that closely mirrored a bill initially proposed by Cumberland County's Senator Tony Rand. As originally proposed, the disclosure statement would have established a one-mile boundary around the bases and included a specific question about military impacts. However after much review and public input, the NC Real Estate Commission agreed to amend Question 15 to include the phrase "or military". Question 15 now reads: "Regarding the property identified above…. Do you know of any: Commercial, Industrial, or Military noise, odor, smoke, etc. affecting the property?" Ms. Baer reported that the new rule change will become effective on July 1st of this year.
This rule change accomplishes one of RLUAC's goals that dates back to 1991.
ACTION: Information
IV. PRESENTATION: “Importance of Urban Forests in the Fort Bragg Region” – Alan Moore, NC Division of Forestry Resources – Mr. Moore reported that the benefits of urban trees include economic, environmental, and positive social and behavioral impacts.
Measurable economic impacts of urban trees include increased retail sales in commercial areas that are enhanced by trees, increased commercial property occupancy rates where trees and landscaping are included, and increased residential property values in neighborhoods containing mature trees.
The environmental benefits of urban trees include shade, reduction of the urban heat-island effect on outside temperatures, reduction of cooling costs, improved air quality, improved water quality, and increased wildlife habitat.
The impact of urban trees on social and behavioral patterns include better neighborhoods / friendlier people, improved public health, absorption and deflection of sound energy, buffering of unwanted views, glare reduction, separation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and the development of a sense of community pride.
Mr. Moore encouraged local governments to take steps, through their zoning regulations, to require a) the planting of urban trees in new parking lots, b) the retrofitting of old parking lots with trees, c) the inclusion of flexible set-back requirements for older suburbs to protect existing trees, and d) the requirement of street trees and trees in freeway on and off ramp islands.
ACTION: Information
V. BUSINESS ITEMS – Jim Dougherty
Financial Report – Jim reported that RLUAC had $0 in receipts and $2,992.40 in expenses for April 2010 – leaving a cash balance of $24,473.37 as of April 30, 2010. RLUAC also has $9,100.00 in projected additional income from local government dues and the Parsons contract through the end of the fiscal year. Robert Massey made a motion to approve the financial report, while Robert McLaughlin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
FY 2010-11 Dues Structure – Jim reported that the RLUAC Board of Directors recommends no change to the dues from last fiscal year. Robert Massey made a motion to approve the Board of Director's recommendation concerning the dues structure, while Jean Powell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
FY 2010-11 Budget – Jim reported that the RLUAC Board of Directors recommends no change to the budget from last fiscal year. Bob Bell made a motion to approve the Board of Directors recommendation concerning the proposed budget, while Jean Powell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
VIII. Adjourn
There being no further business John Blanton entertained a motion to adjourn. Robert McLaughlin made a motion to adjourn; Jean Powell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.
