Wendell News Outlet

Board of Commissioners Friday Update

Friday, August 28, 2009

ITEM 1. UDO COMMITTEE CONTINUED TO MEET THIS WEEK

The UDO Committee continued to meet this week (on Wednesday and Friday) as it reviewed the draft Unified Development Ordinance.

The Planning staff continues to incorporate comments / corrections from the UDO Committee, as well as its own corrections, and preparing copies of the ordinance for distribution at Monday’s joint meeting.

ITEM 2. JOINT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS / PLANNING BOARD / UDO COMMITTEE MEETING – MONDAY, AUGUST 31^ST AT 6:00 P.M.

There will be a joint meeting with the Town Board, Planning Board and UDO Committee on Monday, August 31^st at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be at the Community Center. Craig Lewis, from the Lawrence Group, will be there to lead a discussion on the completed draft UDO.

ITEM 3. TOWN RECEIVES RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANT (RBEG) FROM USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT FOR DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS

The town has received notification (through an “Obligation of Funds” notification) that its application to USDA Rural Development for its Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program for downtown sidewalk improvements has been approved! As suggested by Rhonda Toppings of USDA (at the July 13^th meeting), the amount of the grant was increased from $75,000 to $97,137. At the July 13^th meeting, the Board adopted a resolution to accept the grant (if final approval was given), approve the Letter of Conditions and approve the matching funds in the amount of $52, 863.

The town’s application to the RBEG program was an effort to help fund a portion of the town’s Downtown Enhancement project, which cost was estimated at $328,400.

The next step will be to finalize a draft engineering agreement for the Board to consider.

ITEM 4. APPLICATION / PLAN REVIEW PROCESS FOR ARRA THIRD STREET / BUFFALO STREET SIDEWALK PROJECT CONTINUES

The Planning Department and other staff members have been working EXTREMELY hard to satisfy all of the requirements for plan reviews, revisions, temporary construction easements, etc. required so that the town can meet the September 1^st deadline for the ARRA Buffalo and Third Street sidewalk project. Hopefully, everything will be completed in time, and we will meet NC DOT’s requirements so that the project can move forward.

ITEM 5. PUBLIC SAFETY DAY HELD ON AUGUST 22^ND WAS A SUCCESS

The heavy rain caused the Public Safety Day to be shortened, but the event was a huge success! As a gauge of attendance, the Police Department reported that over 300 hot dogs were served. Thanks to the following agencies / groups who participated with personnel, as well as equipment and/or displays:

Wendell Fire Department

Eastern Wake Emergency Medical Services

Knightdale Police Department

Zebulon Police Department

Wake County Sheriff’s Department

NC Wildlife Commission

Safe Kids

NC National Guard

ABC Commission

Interact (resource for domestic violence victims)

NC Trucking Association

Operation Lifesaver (spoke about railroad safety)

North Carolinians Against Gun Violence (gun safety education)

Boy Scouts

Also, several pieces of equipment were borrowed from the Garner Police Department, and we thank them for their assistance. There were numerous volunteers who gave of their time and businesses which sponsored the event, and we appreciate their contributions.

Additionally, thanks to all of the members of the Wendell Police Department who worked hard to plan, prepare, coordinate and execute the event.

ITEM 6. TRIANGLE TRANSIT BUS SERVICE SCHEDULED TO START SOON

The Zebulon/Wendell-Raleigh Express (ZWX) service will be starting in the very near future. Some of the preliminary site work has begun for the park-n-ride lot. The Public Works staff removed the fence at the Fourth Street / Oakwood Avenue today. The service should begin sometime during the first couple of weeks in October.

One of the next steps is marketing the route. The Triangle Transit marketing team will be working hard to create useful information to present to the public to get the word out about the routes and provide vital information to them (such as the schedule, routing, fare information, etc.). Additionally, Triangle Transit will be planning a kickoff event to coincide with the implementation of the route.

ITEM 7. OCTOBER 17^TH “GOVERNMENT MATTERS” EDUCATION FORUM (SPONSORED BY “KIDS VOTING”)

Kids Voting and the NC Museum of History are co-sponsoring an Educational Forum for Middle and High School Students on Saturday, October 17^th. Information on this event was placed at the elected officials’ seats at the September 24^th Board of Commissioners meeting. The groups are asking each town to set-up an information table in the lobby of the museum from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. that day. They would like for elected officials and other leaders in the town to be present to greet constituents and to answer questions. Please let the manager know if you are interested in participating in this event.

ITEM 8. OTHER

1. Town facilities will be closed on Monday, September 7^th for the Labor Day holiday.

2. The annual Wendell Movie Night will be on Friday, September 18^th. It will be held it in the same place as last year (at the bottom of the new side of the park). The rain site will be the Community Center.

3. The NC League of Municipalities will hold its annual conference in Greenville October 25-27. Registrations must be postmarked by September 18^th. Please contact Town Clerk Jonnie Driver by September 14^th if you are interested in attending the conference.

ITEM 9. UPCOMING EVENTS:

DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION

08/31 6:00 p.m. Joint Town Board / Planning Board Meeting about the draft UDO @ Wendell Community Center

09/07 Town facilities closed for Labor Day holiday

09/14 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

09/21 6:00 p.m. Joint Town Board / Planning Board Meeting for Public Hearing about the draft UDO @ Wendell Community Center (Regular Planning Board Meeting to follow)

09/28 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

10/12 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

10/17 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. “Government Matters” Education Forum @ NC History

10/19 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting Town Hall

10/25 – 10/27 NC League of Municipalities Annual Conference @ Greenville Convention Center

10/26 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall