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On January 27 & 28 Town Council and all of the department heads spent 2 solid days on a budget retreat. (btw… this old boy had to use vacation time to do it.) It’s a time to sort out what our main priorities are for the coming budget. (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) It’s often said that a budget is a moral document… the ultimate statement of values.

The first step is to formalize the basic priorities we agreed upon. We created a draft strategic plan and you can view it here.

I used the time to push for my personal governing philosophy… always be improving. Continuous Improvements and Complete Projects were the Hoffer theme.

Continuous Improvements… lets make sure that every year we get a little bit better. For instance: Canal Drive. I know it floods and I also know that it can’t be fixed overnight. But I think we can fit into the budget a couple improvements that move us in the right direction. We should apply this rule to everything… stormwater, parking, beautification, etc…

Complete Projects… We must make sure that every project we complete considers all of our needs. A bad example is St. Joseph’s Street. It was just re-paved 4 years ago and now here we are working on a bike/ped improvement. (Poor planning.) A good example is Cape Fear Blvd. When we did utility improvements a few years back, we put it back together with a nice multi-use path and landscaping. (Good planning.)

Currently we’re re-building the Hamlet parking area, bathrooms and showers. We’re also doing a stormwater improvement close to the beach access. I will be sorely and bitterly disappointed if we don’t use the opportunity to add golf cart spaces, bike racks and beautification while we’re doing this. (And trust me, I’m bugging staff about it big time!)

You may recall that I ran on a platform of making CB more bike and pedestrian friendly… remember that? So I’m starting with the budget. I spent the two days insisting that we commit resources in every budget. The strategic plan includes these priorities, but it’s just a start. I know that it isn’t worth price of the paper if we don’t actually do these things!

That being said, so far so good.

Two recent committee meetings – Bike & Pedestrian (1/24) and Beautification (2/2)

So far, so good and I’m feeling comfortable in my new role. Ultimately I’m here to help and provide feedback. I speak for the Town Council (somewhat) to help the group understand their role, I provide information about how our government works (when I can) and I will help them gather information going forward. I do not set the agendas, run the meetings or vote.

Here’s the Hoffer Review format:
The topic… What is going on.

[My take.]

Bike & Pedestrian (Monday, January 24, 6:30pm)

New officers… I stepped down as chairman, and Ricky Niec was elected to take my place. Nick Hahn and Yvonne Bailey stayed in their roles as Vice Chair and Secretary.

[I’m quite pleased. Ricky is a long time local who works hard! Nick and Yvonne have been stalwarts since the committee was formed.]

St. Joseph Street Improvements… Our engineering consultant spoke to the group and took feedback about what we think are the most important features. He will put together a very rough draft and then we’ll hold an open house (or two?) for the folks to provide input.

[My take away is that as a group we’re most concerned about providing safe pedestrian access to St. Joseph Street. Simply adding bike lanes won’t do that. A separate path is the best way forward. We also agreed that Lake Park to Otter Road is the most critical part.]

Ocean Boulevard Sidewalk… There may be money coming to Carolina Beach for an Ocean Blvd sidewalk. I was hoping to have more to report, but it’s still in the works.

[This would be amazing… fingers crossed.]

Friends of the Parks and Greenways… A new nonprofit group is forming to support the Parks and Greenways. As a 501C3 group they can solicit donations for specific projects, hold fund raisers and develop a stewardship corps.

[I’m fully in support, mainly because we can form a stewardship corps to maintain our trail system and we can raise money. Let’s go.]

Bicycle Boulevards Phase 2… Marking, enhancing and advertising preferred bike routes is under way. Phase 1 was 8th Street and Harper between the Greenway and the State Park. Phase 2 is Greenville Ave and 4th Street between the Greenway and the Elementary School. Volunteers will run this project. If you’re interested in helping call me at 910-612-1909.

[I like it when volunteers can do the projects. It frees town staff to do other things and keeps the folks engaged.]

Beautification (Wednesday, February 2)

2 New members… Rachel Nadeau and Chris Bartosik joined the team

[Glad to have you!]

Feedback on Mission, Vision and 2022 Goals… In the interest of keeping our committees focused, Town Council asked each committee to present their Mission and Vision Statements as well as their 2022 Goals. Their goals included improving our appearance, pursuing a Tree City designation, beautifying our public beach accesses, hosting clean up events, enhancing our welcome sign, pointing out clear code violations and creating an awards program to highlight local businesses that are improving their look. Starting the process of creating a Beautification Master Plan is also a 2022 goal.

[I personally think the Beautification Committee has an excellent take on their role. They’re setting clear and attainable goals. Good stuff.]

Update on wildflower garden… the team is starting a wildflower garden along the bike trail behind Food Lion.

Update on Beach Access beautification… Businesses or individuals can adopt a beach access and enhance it with landscaping of their choice. Call me at 910-612-1909 for more information.

[This is going well. You’ll see quite a few improvements this year.]

Tree City USA… This designation is through the Arbor Day Foundation. To be designated as such, a town must have a tree ordinance, be committed to spending money on trees, have a tree board and an arborist. The committee will make a presentation to Town Council at our February 25 workshop (9am.)

[Yes, I support this! I’d like to see Carolina Beach plant 100 trees next winter. It’s doable.]

The January 11 Town Council meeting had alot on the agenda. Nothing too controversial, but still alot. I promised to publish and explain every vote I make, so here goes…(not everything was a vote, but still worth relaying to you.)

The topic… What is going on.
[My take.]

Hamlet Avenue bath house / ocean rescue building… it’s under construction as we speak and slated for completion in late March. Plans are also being made to address the flooding. If you’ve never been there after it rains, there is a huge and deep puddle.
[I have been advocating for golf cart parking in the lot, preferably closest to the beach. It’s good for the locals, and a better use of space. I’d also like to see the actual access point (by the hatteras ramp) cleaned up to look more attractive. We should also add bike racks up there. This is our main beach access, let’s do it right!]

Here’s the Hoffer Review format:

Beach renourishment… scheduled to begin sometime in February or March.
[I’m not opposed to that!]

Florida Avenue road improvements… we’re getting quotes.
[This will help the storm water issue at Florida and Canal, fix the road and be the first step in improving Canal Drive flooding. There’s much more to do, but this is a first step.]

Spartanburg & 2nd Street stormwater improvement to the ditch… I’m not exactly sure what this entails. Our Operations Director was out sick and couldn’t explain.
[Continuous improvements is the name of the game, so I’m in support.]

The Marina project… this is a major re-build of the east side of the marina. Sorry, but it will be a costly and long project. Although not too costly because our town manager found some nice grant funding. It will interrupt Canal Drive next year, which will be a bummer, but it needs to be done.
[My take on this one is to keep the boating experts in the loop. Regular updates to the Carolina Beach Inlet Association are a must.]

Dredging the Intracoastal Waterway… it’s starting any day now. Look east from the bridge and you can see the equipment setting up.

Stoplight at Hamlet Ave and Lake Park… we voted to allow the DOT the necessary easement to get this done. And the DOT is footing the bill!
[I pushed for this 2 years ago, because it will make crossing Lake Park much safer. My question was this: will we get the full monty with 4 crosswalks, push buttons, etc… or just a light? What happens to the flasher that’s already there? (Pretty sure we own it.) Staff wasn’t sure. Personally, I don’t think we should alter the traffic flow. Right around there is where cars start merging into one lane… a change would cause too many headaches.]

Turn lane on northbound Dow Road at the entrance to the State Park… we voted for a resolution of support stating that we want this. DOT is going to do it, and pay for it, we just don’t know when.
[I voted for this with no hesitation. It will be a big improvement.]

Taking over the stormwater system in Oceanna… apparently the town has been in discussion about this for a few years. We did not vote and asked for more information.
[I’m skeptical about this. Caution is the name of the game to me. Every decision we make must have the long-term financial health of our town in mind. By doing this we take on expenses and liabilities. We should be very, very careful here. There may be good cause to do it, but I need more information.]

Townhouse projects on Basin Road (8 units) and Canal Drive (9 units)… we voted to approve.
[Projects like these require a vote, but they really aren’t very controversial. If they meet our density, height, stormwater and general zoning requirements we really don’t have cause to vote them down. Both projects were unanimously approved by P&Z. That’s important to me. The Canal Drive project will utilize just one driveway, and I like that. It’s safer.]

Well, it’s official, I’m on the Carolina Beach Town Council. I have promised to explain my positions regularly, so here goes…

Town Council meeting December, 14 2021

…My opening remarks… I wasn’t elected because I’m an insider, a big money guy or particularly popular. I was elected because I spoke about a vision for Carolina Beach that resonated. I was more clear about my goals than any candidate I can remember. And it got me elected. So I’m laying down the gauntlet. I will do everything in my power to make CB a biking, walking, living paradise. That’s why people voted for me, so that’s what I’ll do.

It starts with the budget. Every year I’m in office I’ll push to get livability items in the budget.

I’ll also rally up volunteer projects to make these things happen. For instance, some friends and I just cleaned up the Lake Avenue beach access. Still a work in progress, but it will accommodate more bikes and look nicer in 2022.

…Committee assignments… I’ll be the liaison to the Bike/Ped Committee (no surprise there) and the Beautification Committee. I talked a lot about planting trees during the campaign, so I’ll encourage the Beautification Committee to be a part of that.

…Deb LeCompte being appointed to Town Council… it was a no-brainer for me. I think there are 3 basic prerequisites for being given the job. 1) Character, 2) Qualifications, and 3) Commitment. Yes, there are many people in CB who meet the first 2 prerequisites (and Deb is certainly one of them!) but who really has the third? We just had an election, and I can tell you that nothing proves your commitment like running for office. If you really want to serve, then you run. She did.

If Deb had declined, I would have asked Matt Dunn.

What’s next?

I’m working on my personal 5-year plan to improve the bike/ped experience in CB. (Coming soon.) I’m listening to business owners and citizens about the new parking policy. I’m bugging staff about maintenance projects. The St. Joseph Street multi-use path project will be open for public comment in early February. And I’m trying to have a Christmas here at Hofferville.

Till next time,

Mike

Hello CB Fam,

Welcome to the Hoffer Town Council Blog… or the Hofflog for short. I have said before that I admire Lynn Barbee for regularly posting his whereabouts on Facebook and this will be my way of emulating him.

Of course, we all have our own style and I’ll use mine. Sometimes I’ll discuss things I’m advocating for, other times I’ll discuss upcoming events and still other times I’ll discuss what we passed as a Council (capital C) and how I voted as a councilman (lowercase c.)

I have said that you’ll never have to wonder where I stand, and I mean it!

Some ground rules… I’ll post a minimum of twice a month… on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Coincidentally, those are the Thursdays that follow our Town Council meetings and our Town Council workshops. Wait a minute… that’s not a coincidence at all!

I’ll share to Facebook, but since not everyone likes Facebook, I’ll always start here. Sometimes I’m wordy, sometimes I’m not. It depends on my mood.

Not everyone appreciates the written word, so sometimes I’ll post videos… here on the website, at my YouTube channel, CBTV, on Facebook, or all of the above.

Here’s another ground rule… while I’m happy to share my thoughts, and answer questions, I reserve the right to end the social media debate. You can go down into the rabbit hole and never get out.

So the Hofflog will officially start on December 16. But until then I may be posting away… we’ll see.