Lou’s Views
“Unofficial” Minutes & Comments
Pier Property Public Input Session 02/29/24
THB Newsletter (02/16/24)
Public Input Session – Holden Beach Pier
The Town of Holden Beach is seeking input on the Holden Beach Pier Property. Bowman Murray Hemingway Architects will hold a public input session on Thursday, February 29th, starting at 5:00 p.m. The public will have the opportunity to drop by, review the proposed project with the architect and submit written comments. The public input session is not intended to be a meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
Previously reported – February 2024
The Board provided information on the Pier Public Input Session scheduled for February 29th. The public will have an opportunity to review the current plans for the pier project. No presentations will be made at the meeting. There also will be no public comments allowed, however the architect will be there and available to answer any questions. However, the public will be able to submit written comments. The intent is to make it very similar to the input session that was held for the Sailfish Site Plan.
Facebook – Mayor Pro Tempore Tom Myers
PIER PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
The pier was purchased based on assumptions and estimates that are proving to be unrealistic. It is no longer clear if the total cost of repairing and maintaining the current structure will be less than the cost of building a new one. In either case, the financial burden on the Town will be excessive unless significant external funding can be obtained.
Notice is hereby given that a quorum of the Holden Beach Board of Commissioners may be present at the Public Input Session for the Holden Beach Pier on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Town of Holden Beach hosts public input meeting for fishing pier
Many people in Holden Beach want to see the town fishing pier preserved however, neighbors are worried about the financial impact. The town of Holden Beach hosted a public input meeting on Thursday for people to ask questions and share opinions about the fishing pier. ” I love this place, I have been coming here since 1955, I was three,” said Joe Utley a Holden Beach resident. The town purchased the pier in 2022, expecting the cost of repairs to be much lower than they are. In recent years, the pier has been closed down because of safety concerns. More information on people’s feelings on the pier and budget costs can be found here. Chip Hemingway the project architect who drew up a master plan of the pier for the town, says current plans include restoring the existing pier. He says the drawn-up plans to restore the pier are over budget. Right now, town officials say it is unclear what the final cost of the potential pier could be. “We did a master plan and a design for construction; they came in over budget. And we are hoping to adjust the drawing slightly to get within the budget. However, the new Town Council decided they wanted to look at the overall plan again and offer to allow the town to have more input into the planning process,” said Hemingway. He and town officials say they want to hear the public’s opinion before any final decision or vote is made. If you were not able to attend the Thursday meeting, a link to submit a public comment can be found here. ” I hope that everyone that sees this will join us in funding this so all of us can enjoy it, we want to keep the pier,” said Utley. Maria Surprise another Holden Beach resident says she does not want to see the pier torn down however, does not want taxpayers to pay the bill to restore it. She says she was against the town purchasing the pier in the first place. “What we’re trying to do now is get a handle on what this is going to cost for us going forward. Because it didn’t seem like a lot of the due diligence that should have been done before we purchased it was actually done. And so now we’re finding out that there’s all these extra costs. “And it’s a pretty penny and only the people here in Holden Beach, pay for it right now,” said Surprise. “It’s a lot of gray areas about money and financing, that’s why I would like to appeal to all the citizens that love this coastline, let’s fund this thing we want to keep this pier,” said Utley.
Read more » click here
Update –
The BOC’s had decided that a public input session was needed and that they will handle the discussions. The format is similar to the Sailfish Site Plan input session that was held recently.
Block Q Property Public Input Session 03/07/24
THB Newsletter (02/16/24)
Public Input – Block Q
The Board of Commissioners tasked the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) with developing a new site plan for Block Q that includes a concert space with dance floor, ADA compliant bathrooms and greenspace. Other potential amenities to be examined by the PRAB include playground equipment, shaded areas, benches, picnic tables, informational panels, areas for food trucks and usage during festivals. The PRAB held an initial scoping session with the architect to organize the effort and will have future working sessions in which public input is encouraged. The first session to provide public input is Thursday, March 7th at 2:00 p.m. Comments may be provided by attending the session or sending them to the town clerk at [email protected] by Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. The purpose of this particular session is to obtain feedback from those property owners and businesses directly adjacent to Block Q and who might be impacted by any changes to the site. These property owners will also receive a letter from the town in the next few days.
Previously reported – February 2024
The motion made was to task the Parks and Recreation Board to work with the current architect to develop a new site plan for Block Q. It seems to me that we should just start with only the most essential elements like the restrooms, vehicle, and boat parking. In addition to Block Q the committee should consider integrating Jordan Boulevard into those plans. The Town had plans to develop a promenade on Jordan Boulevard. The Town owns the land that the commercial properties are utilizing for private parking for their businesses. We already own the property there, by utilizing it for vehicle parking it may give us more flexibility on what we can do in Block Q. Diagonal parking on both sides of the road and down the center would add a significant number of parking spaces. Plus, vehicles parked there would be closer to the beach access then parking in Block Q. In addition, not having to have vehicle parking in Block Q would allow other things to be there like the Pavilion. In my humble opinion we should develop plans for Block Q that includes a promenade on Jordan Boulevard.
Holden Beach seeking public input for Block Q development with concert space
The public is invited to provide input concerning the development of Block Q, according to the Town of Holden Beach. “The Board of Commissioners tasked the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) with developing a new site plan for Block Q that includes a concert space with dance floor, ADA compliant bathrooms, and greenspace. Other potential amenities to be examined by the board include playground equipment, shaded areas, benches, picnic tables, informational panels, areas for food trucks and usage during festivals,” the announcement states. According to the town, the first public input session is set for Thursday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at the town hall public assembly at 110 Rothschild Street in Holden Beach. Comments also can be sent by email to the town clerk at [email protected]. Emails must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6. “The purpose of this particular session is to obtain feedback from those property owners and businesses directly adjacent to Block Q and who might be impacted by any changes to the site. These property owners will also receive a letter from the town in the next few days,” the town adds. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality‘s Division of Coastal Management has awarded $420,000 for the project.
Read more » click here
Holden Beach talks turning Block Q to Block P-arty
The Holden Beach Board of Commissioners during its Jan. 23 meeting expressed safety concerns about the existing pavilion and discussed moving town concerts across the street to the Block Q property. Two motions were passed 3-2, with Commissioners Page Dyer and Rick Smith opposition each. One motion called for having engineers reassess the condition of the pavilion, located at 131 Jordan Blvd., and avoid using it until reassessed; the other motion put Block Q site plans back on the chopping block. The board’s discussion and actions are in response to the February 2023 Right Angle Engineering pavilion condition assessment, which reported needed repairs, improvements or replacement. The report called for the town to make a plan within 12 months of the assessment and implementation of the plan or demolition within the 12 subsequent months. “That first 12 months is up, I think we need to do something,” Mayor Pro-Tem Myers said, noting that the town needs to figure out how safe the structure is and come up with a plan before any town events are hosted there. The passed motion supports staff to engage with Right Angle to do a reassessment and bring that report back to the board. Myers also urged staff not to use it until the report was done due to safety concerns. Though the original pavilion was built in 2009, an engineer designed a temporary bracing system and column repair plan in 2010 to fix the structure. The report stated the column repairs were never implemented. “We have determined that failure of the existing structure is not immediately impending, but significant repairs and/or improvements are required in the short term,” the report states. Inspections Director Tim Evans told commissioners that the pavilion was poorly built from the start and repairs to temporarily brace the structure are starting to fail. “I am the one that’s supposed to really look out for the life, safety, health and welfare of the citizens of this town and it puts me in a bad position,” he said. “But it doesn’t make me sleep good at night knowing I got this engineer report and knowing the condition of that structure up there.” Evans explained that he condemned the original structure because it did not meet the minimum inspection requirements, nor did the pier that was connected to the pavilion. Despite bracing and monthly assessment, he said the whole structure continues to rack and deteriorate. When a structure racks, he noted, they either bring the structure back to where it needs to be, or they take action to keep it from racking anymore because it will eventually reach a point of failure when it moves like that. He told the board that he will soon condemn the pavilion, as he did in 2010, if the board does not take action due to how dangerous the structure is becoming. “I felt comfortable we weren’t going to hurt somebody, I don’t feel that comfortable [now],” he said. The roof, Evans said, is the main concern but the stage itself is perfectly fine for town events. He said the permanent fix would be costly but taking the roof off could be a temporary quick fix to keep the town from losing its summer concert space. Commissioners Dyer and Smith favored Evans’ recommendation. Dyer said she wants a reassessment done but wants to make the pavilion safe enough for concerts to go on, as well. Asked if the reassessment report could be completed before the concerts begin, Assistant Town Manager Christy Ferguson said probably not. She said there are steps to take before doing the reassessment, which may not be completed prior to the summer concert series. Myers said he wants the pavilion to be permanently fixed and suggested relocating concerns at least temporarily. “If we have a problem of where to hold the concerts, we do have Block Q,” Myers said as the board transitioned to discussing Block Q. In a January special meeting, the board voted to halt the Phase 1 stormwater work for the new Block Q parking area. The first project sketch displayed paid parking spots, boat trailer spaces, a dog park area and public restrooms on the block enclosed by South Shore Drive, Quinton Street and Brunswick Avenue. The motion passed on Jan. 23 supported the Parks and Recreation Board to work with Pinnacle Architecture Professional Association to develop a new site plan for Block Q. The plan is to include a concert space, dance floor, already planned Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bathrooms, greenspace, boat and trailer parking spaces, car parking spaces and other potential amenities. Assuming the pavilion is going away, Myers said he wants to use the grassy Block Q land as a new space for the concerts. Smith said he feels it is a waste of time and money to start the Block Q plans all over again. He said the previous plan was good and that the designated pull-through boat and trailer parking was a necessity. “The plan we had was a good plan and it was a good start to the plan and would still give ample greenspace for a pavilion and a place to have the amenities,” he added. Like Smith, Dyer said the Block Q plan pull-through parking spots for boats and trailers and the ADA bathrooms were the most important aspects of the previous plan. She said the board previously discussed putting the pavilion on the Block Q property but decided to emphasize boat parking and bathrooms first. The prior plans, she added, left space for a pavilion so the town could add it later. “The problem with putting a pavilion over there is, you’re going to be facing residential homes,” she said. She added that some people, such as nearby residents, may not want the pavilion to change locations and those residents should have a say before making any decision. “We will have public input,” Myers said in response. Prior Block Q coverage can be viewed on The Brunswick Beacon website by searching “Block Q” in the search bar.
Read more » click here
Update –
The BOC’s had delegated to the Parks and Recreation Board through a tasker for them to propose a Block Q site plan. They also decided that a public input session was needed. Parks & Recreation Committee ran the meeting and handled the discussions.
BOC’s Special Meeting 03/08/24
Board of Commissioners’ Agenda Packet » click here
Audio Recording » click here
1. Budget Workshop
Facebook – Mayor Pro Tempore Tom Myers
At yesterday’s budget meeting we got our first look at proposed BPART spending for next year. The total was $5M with no money allocated for the pier or the pavilion, and spending for only the bathrooms & associated stormwater work at Block Q. Almost 40% of the spending will go to paying our debt; 16% for contracted services; 10% for beach access and ADA improvements; and 7% for staff salaries and benefits. About 14% has to be paid to the County. It is obvious we have a lot of work to do to achieve our goals of funding priority items while balancing the budget, not raising taxes, and maintaining our fund balance reserves.
BOC’s Special Meeting 03/18/24
Board of Commissioners’ Agenda Packet » click here
Audio Recording » click here
1. Budget Workshop
. a. Proposed Objectives for Fiscal Year 2024/2025
. b. Governing Body & Administration
. c. Inspections Department
. d. Police Department
. 4. Canal Funds, Capital Improvement Plan and Projects
BOC’s Regular Meeting 03/19/24
Board of Commissioners’ Agenda Packet » click here
Audio Recording » click here
1. Conflict of Interest Check
2024 Rules of Procedure for the Holden Beach Board of Commissioners
(e) Conflict Check. Immediately after the approval of the agenda, the Presiding Officer shall poll each member to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. In the event that a potential conflict is disclosed, the members will vote on a motion to allow or excuse that member with respect to the agenda item. If excused, the member may not participate in any discussion, debate, or vote with respect to the agenda item.
The Board was polled by Mayor Holden. All of them declared that there was no conflict of interest with any agenda item at this meeting.
Both Commissioners Smith and Dyer claimed that Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas have a conflict since they are on the Board of the HBPOA. They sprung this without consulting Sydnee Moore the Town Attorney who has previously ruled that being on HBPOA Board is not a conflict of interest. Sydnee stated unless they can show specifics why they think there is a conflict they can proceed.
2. Public Comments on Agenda Items
There were comments made by eight (8) members of the public at the meeting and additional comments were posted on the Town’s website
For more information » click here
3. Discussion and Possible Award of Contract for Roadway Work (High Point Street) – Public Works Director Clemmons
Agenda Packet – pages 23 – 24
Supplement Agenda Packet » click here
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discussion and Possible Award of Contract for Roadway Work (High Point Street)
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Right Angle Engineering has released an invitation to bid for the paving overlay of High Point Street. The bids are due on March 18th so they will not be received in time to be included in the packets. Staff’s intent is to send a supplement with the information before the meeting. Due to timing issues, staff is requesting the Board delegate contract authority to the town manager if the engineer makes a recommendation for award that is within the budgeted amount.
Update –
Staff recommendation is to award the bid to Highland Paving who is currently doing the DOT Ocean Boulevard repaving project. The Board approved awarding the contract to Highland Paving.
A decision was made – Approved unanimously
4. Discussion and Possible Action on Evaluation of Holden Beach Pavilion – Town Manager Hewett, Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas
Agenda Packet – pages 25 – 34
ISSUE/ ACTION REQUESTED:
Board receive evaluation on Holden Beach Pavilion.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Right Angle Engineering has completed the requested updated structural condition evaluation on the HB Pavilion.
As requested, representatives of Right Angle Engineering visited the referenced site in January of 2024 to investigate the existing framing condition as compared to the previous year’s investigation . Since the prior year’s investigation, we were informed that there had been temporary work done on the structure. There were no engineered design plans provided to us for review of this work. The main purpose of this report is to re-evaluate if the previously designed repairs are functioning as intended since installation in 2010.
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discussion and possible action on the Pavilion.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Right Angle Engineering Report dated March 4, 2024:
SUMMARY
Based on our investigation, no significant repairs and/or improvements were conducted that would prolong the life of the structure or address the main issues that have been raised by our investigations and prior repair plans. Due to lack of significant improvements to the structure and continued deterioration, we recommend the Pavilion be closed. When coupling the pile repair work with roof truss repairs, framing repairs, soon to be needed decking restoration, likely roofing replacement, and other aesthetic improvements, these costs likely approach or exceed the current value and/or replacement cost of the 15-year-old structure. Based on our two investigations and evaluations, the pavilion has not been constructed, repaired, or improved in accordance with any engineered plans. As the structure continues to deteriorate it becomes more plausible that a wind event and/or gravity alone will result in significant damage and/or collapse of this structure.
Possible Action:
- Instruct staff to rope off entry to pavilion stage and post signs that say, ‘Keep Off’ or ‘Danger.’
- Request that staff send out an RFP to tear down the current pavilion
Update –
Based on two (2) evaluations the engineers recommendation is to tear it down. Discussion was whether we just remove the roof or tear down the entire structure. Town Manager Hewett stated that the pavilion wasn’t built in accordance with an engineered plan. Building Inspector Evans stated that based on the engineers evaluation, the entire structure needs to be torn down. Timbo basically spelled it out for them, they really do not have an option other then to move forward with demolition of the pavilion. The Board authorized the Town staff to send out a request for proposal to tear down the structure.
A decision was made – Approved unanimously
A request for proposal (RFP) is a solicitation, often made through a bidding process, by an agency or company interested in procurement of a commodity, service or valuable asset, to potential suppliers to submit business proposals.
Holden Beach town leaders vote to demolish pavilion ahead of a busy summer concert season
The Holden Beach Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to tear down the pavilion in town after years of structural and safety issues. “It was poorly, poorly built. That’s why I condemned it the first day I got here,” Timothy Evans, the town’s planning and inspections director, said. There was a lengthy discussion during Tuesday night’s meeting. Some leaders weighed the options of repairing parts of the pavilion, while others pointed out that it would cost more than just demolishing the structure altogether. “I would have to, whether y’all did or not, go down there and post this building as a condemnation. Just like I did the first time. I would have to close it. If y’all decide not to tear it down, then you’re going to put me in an adversary position with the board to have a hearing with you and give you an order to remove it and then you’re going to be in another adversary position because it’s going to have to go to an administrative board somewhere if y’all fail to act. So, I think this report is pretty precise, it’s pretty clear, it’s very professionally done. I’ve read it three or four times. It needs to be taken down,” Evans said to the board. Ultimately, the board decided to follow the recommendation of the engineering firm and tear down the pavilion. There are currently structural reinforcements essentially holding it all together. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Myers sent WECT the 2023 report from the same engineering firm which said, “the structure is not immediately impending, but significant repairs and/or improvements are required in the short term.” Now, about a year later, their recommendation is to tear it down. In a report this month, the engineering firm found that the venue was not built, repaired, or improved properly. It warned that the Pavilion could collapse from wind – or even its own gravity. Evans commented and said that in years past the pavilion likely could have been repaired, but the project was put off too long, leaving them with the only option of tearing the structure down. “What jumped out to me is that they were reevaluating some of the previous designated repairs that they suggested back in 2010. My question is, why weren’t any of those done?” Commissioner Rick Smith asked. Town Manager David Hewett replied saying, “They weren’t funded by the board of commissioners.” Right now, there is no set timeline for when the pavilion will be torn down, but leaders hope it’s done sooner rather than later. Commissioner Dr. Page Dyer asked about getting a bid to rebuild the pavilion immediately, but other leaders pointed out that it’s not as easy as putting pen to paper. Hewett mentioned that it could be a 9-12 month process of getting a new design and figuring out the next steps from engineers for a new pavilion. There will be a discussion at a later date for where a new pavilion could be built. It was also mentioned that the current pavilion sits on part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers right of way, but there is an encroachment agreement in place. Myers told WECT that they have secured a temporary location at the picnic pavilion for the summer concerts, but there are still some details to be ironed out.
Read more » click here
With concert series approaching, Holden Beach votes to demolish its pavilion. Here’s why.
A notable town structure in Holden Beach will be torn down following concerns of structural and safety issues. After receiving a second evaluation from an engineer, the Holden Beach Board of Commissioners voted at its March meeting to follow the recommendation to close the pavilion. “The findings are very clear,” Mayor Pro Tem Tom Myers said. “It needs to be closed and the cost to repair it would likely exceed the cost of replacing it.” The pavilion was installed under the Holden Beach bridge in 2010, and it’s been cause for concern ever since. In 2011, the structure and the building inspector who signed off on the project were the center of an investigation by the N.C. Code Officials Qualification Board. The project was slated to cost $160,000 but eventually cost the town closer to $200,000 and thousands more in structural repairs. “It was poorly, poorly built. That’s why I condemned it the first day I got here,” Timothy Evans, the town’s current planning and inspections director, said. Evans condemned the pavilion in April 2010 and filed a complaint with the N.C. Code Officials Qualification Board, alleging that the former inspector had “defrauded the public or attempted to do so” and was “guilty of willful misconduct, gross negligence or gross incompetence,” according to past StarNews reporting. The investigation report eventually ruled that the past inspector did not have a conflict of interest in inspecting the project, but subsequently affirmed that the project did have numerous code violations. In 2010, some structural repair designs were completed by an engineer, but, the recent report states, they were never implemented. This resulted in the sagging of the roof framing and other damage to the structure. Town manager David Hewett said those recommended improvements were not executed because they were not funded by the board of commissioners at the time. Ultimately, the recent report concluded the cost to repair the structure to be suitable for use would exceed the cost of replacing the 15-year-old structure. “Based on our two investigations and evaluations, the pavilion has not been constructed, repaired or improved in accordance with any engineered plans,” the report reads. “As the structure continues to deteriorate it becomes more plausible that a wind event and/or gravity alone will result in significant damage and/or collapse of the structure.” Concerns were raised by some board members regarding the town’s 2024 summer concert series. The town has already announced headliners for the upcoming concert series, which will begin in late May and continue each Sunday through Sept. 1. While the series has previously been held at the pavilion, the concert location for 2024 is yet to be determined, according to the town’s website, but could be moved to Bridgeview Park. The vote to demolish the current structure was passed by the board unanimously.
Read more » click here
5. Discussion and Possible Action on Ordinance 24-02, An Ordinance Amending Holden Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 72: Parking Regulations – Town Manager Hewett
Agenda Packet – pages 35 – 39
Ordinance 24-02 » click here
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discussion and Possible Action on Ordinance 24-02, An Ordinance Amending the Holden Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 72: Parking Regulations
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Recent repaving and the addition of the bike lane by DOT has encroached into the ROW to such an extent that 50 spaces along McCray between Avenue A and Dunescape on the north side of the street are compromised to the extent they can’t be used for parking. While it appears, there is still 10 feet of ROW, its use would require removal of brush and fill added to bring the ROW up to the grade of the new road surface. It is believed this would not be a prudent measure as this action would require significant permitting, an encroachment agreement and would result in fill adjacent to documented wetlands.
ORDINANCE 24-02
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE HOLDEN BEACH CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 72: PARKING REGULATIONS
BE IT ORDAINED BY the Mayor and Board of Commissioners of the Town of Holden Beach, North Carolina, that Holden Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 72: Parking Regulations be amended as follows.
Section One: Amend the Parking Zone and Area Table in Section 72.03 Parking Authorized by Permit Only as follows (changes are highlighted):
Town of Holden Beach Parking Zone and Area Table
The following table indicate the specific areas within the corporate limits of the Town of Holden Beach where parking is specifically authorized pursuant to Ordinance 72 and its counterparts and references. Changes and/or modifications to this table are restricted to actions by the Board of Commissioners.
McCray Street Avenue A to Dunescape Drive
All Vehicles / Northside only / 40 spaces / Zone H63
Update –
The recent repaving and addition of the bike lane by DOT has encroached into the rights-of-way to such an extent that the spaces can no longer be used for parking. Town Manager Hewett stated that in order to utilize this area for parking would require significant permitting, an encroachment agreement from the DOT and require fill adjacent to documented wetlands. Motion was made to amend the parking ordinance as submitted, eliminating parking on McCray Street.
A decision was made – Approved unanimously
Since we are going to lose the parking spaces on McCray, now might be a good time to revisit parking on the properties we own in the 800 block. The Town owns ten (10) parcels in the 800 block which we obtained in April 2013 ostensibly to be used for parking. In March of 2021, they wanted to start the process now because we need to get the ball rolling and do what needs to be done. They agreed to send plans to the DOT for their approval. Also, they agreed to hire a civil engineer to delineate the wetland area and do any required permitting. We delineated all town property bordering marsh areas that is included in the parking plan. The following year, once we had the results of the wetlands determination, the discussion was about adding parking on the 800 block lots. Now it’s just another Loose End.
6. Discussion and Possible Action on Holden Beach Paid Parking Fees and Schedule – Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas
Agenda Packet – page – 40
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discuss and possible action on Holden Beach Paid Parking fees and schedule
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Oak Island
Paid Parking: $5/hour; $20/day; $80/week; $175/year (Resident Season Permit $10)
Topsail Beach
Paid Parking: $5/hour; $25/day; No weekly or season pass
Kure Beach
Paid Parking: $5/hour; $20 /day; $100/week; $225/year (Resident Season Permit $20)
Carolina Beach
Paid Parking: $6/hour; $25/day; $100 /week; No season pass
Holden Beach
Paid Parking: $4/hour; $20/day; $80/week; $150/year (No resident permits)
Possible action:
- Increase Holden Beach fees to be in line with other local beaches
- Charge for parking during festivals at Pier and East-end
- Extend the season or charge for parking year-round
Update –
The proposed actions were presented as separate motions as follows:
The first motion made was to extend the season and charge for parking year-round. The justification used was that the expenses that we incur are not seasonal. The counter argument made is that we have not provided the services we committed to yet and we should wait to do this until we provide these services.
A decision was made – Approved (3-2)
Commissioners Smith and Dyer opposed the motion
The second motion made was to change the rates as follows to $5/hour; $20/day; $80/week; $175/year. Anyone that already has purchased a yearly pass are grandfathered in and basically got an early bird special. They clarified that a yearly pass are only valid within the calendar year purchased., so you would need a new pass January 1st. . Also, the transaction fee the town is charged will come down.
A decision was made – Approved (3-2)
Commissioners Smith and Dyer opposed the motion
The action required is the same as last year, the Board approved both motions with the instructions to have the Town Manager execute an amendment to the contract to support whatever is necessary to implement the two (2) approved motions.
The third motion made was to charge for parking during festivals. Currently just do not enforce paid parking regulations anywhere on the island when there are festivals. The motion made is to not enforce regulations in the festival area only.
No decision was made – No action taken
The fourth motion made was to provide full-time residents an annual pass for $20 that is restricted to one per household only for vehicles that are registered on the island. The Town Attorney Moore requested that the motion be tabled until she could do some research regarding the legality of the proposed resident permit.
No decision was made – No action taken
We just lost approximately 40 to 50 parking spaces on the north side of McCray Street do to the road work/bike lane project which is a loss of revenue for the Town. I believe that raising the parking fees will provide us with much needed revenue for a long list of projects that we don’t appear to have adequate funds for at this time.
Last year we ended paid parking early to allow free parking island wide for festival weekend. The thinking was that in order to promote the festival it would be advantageous to suspend paid parking. The Board agreed to suspend the paid parking early. Frankly, I did not agree with that decision. It’s a zoo out there during the festival weekend. With all the parking problems that happen during the festivals you would think we would want to continue enforcing parking in designated areas only. By suspending enforcement, people can and will park anywhere they want. Paid parking should be enforced during festivals.
I do not feel extending the paid parking program year-round is the right thing to do. The public should have access to the beach strand without any fees for at least a portion of the year. That said, certainly starting the program one month earlier in March makes a lot of sense to me.
As for any other ordinance considerations, it is important that any definitions and conditions are clear to help the public avoid inadvertent errors and enable enforcement. In other words, it needs to be standardized, and easily understood. Parking should only be in designated parking spaces whether its paid parking or not, plain and simple. I personally object to parking in the rights-of-way, but I understand why some property owners want to be able to park there on their property. A potential accommodation would be to issue a day specific one-time permit for any homeowners that have an activity at their property that requires them to occasionally park in the rights-of-way.
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid!
7. Police Report – Chief Jeremy Dixon
Agenda Packet – pages 41 – 48
Police Report » click here
Business as usual, normal amount and type of activity for this time of year.
The police department currently has only nine (9) officers of the ten (10) they are budgeted to have.
- Justin Hewett is our new Officer in the Police Department
- Recruiting to fill Police Officer vacancy
Having the full complement of ten (10) police officers seems to be an elusive goal.
Public Service Announcement –
Scams – be on guard, you need to protect yourself from scammers
Please do not send money when contacted via phone calls
NC residents lose millions to scammers: Report reveals top 10 scam categories
The 41-page report from the North Carolina Department of Justice examines artificial intelligence, the opioid crisis and its scam report.
People in North Carolina are losing millions of dollars each year to scammers, according to a report from the state Department of Justice. This 41-page report looks at everything from artificial intelligence to the opioid crisis – showing that just about any news event and spur scammers into action. The report breaks down the 10 scam categories you’re most likely to fall victim to, and some of the topics are not easy to avoid. The most common types of scams include telemarketing and robocalls, motor vehicles, credit, utilities, home improvement, the internet, landlord-tenant issues, insurance, personal service and real estate. In 2023, the North Carolina Department of Justice received hundreds and in many cases thousands of reports of scams in these arenas. Telemarketing and robocall scams were the most common, with 3,281 reports. Never give anyone your personal information and trust your gut if something feels off. Anyone who thinks they’ve been scammed in North Carolina can call 1-877-566-7226 or file a complaint on the Department of Justice’s website.
What he did not say –
Paid Parking will become effective April 1st
They are getting ready for Days at the Dock
If you know something, hear something, or see something –
call 911 and let the police deal with it.
8. Discussion and Possible Action on Resolution 24-03, Resolution Declaring Law Enforcement Participation in the Federal 1033 Program – Chief Dixon
Agenda Packet – pages 49 – 50
Resolution 24-03 » click here
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Adopt resolution to allow police department to participate in federal 1033 program.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Federal 1033 program requires Civilian Governing Board written support for participation.
The LESO/1033 Program is just one way for law enforcement agencies to obtain military sourced equipment. The LESO/1033 Program handles excess military property for use by law enforcement agencies, but prohibits transfer of military uniforms, body armor, Kevlar helmets and the other items.
Update –
After we acquired two (2) Humvees they found out that we are not in compliance without participating in the program. We need this resolution approved in order for us to be in compliance. Motion was made to pass the resolution as submitted.
A decision was made – Approved unanimously
9. Inspections Department Report – Inspections Director Evans
Agenda Packet – pages 51 – 53
Inspections Report » click here
ACTIVE NEW HOME PERMITS = 46
OTHER ACTIVE PERMITS = 281
PERMITS ISSUED OVER $30,000 = 44
* AMOUNT INCLUDED IN ACTIVE TOTAL
PERMITS ISSUED OVER $100,000 = 3
* AMOUNT INCLUDED IN ACTIVE TOTAL
PERMITS ISSUED WAITING PICK UP = 17
TOTAL PERMITS = 344
PERMITS IN REVIEW = 5
CAMA ISSUED = 2
ZONING ISSUED = 9
PERMITS SERVICED FOR INSPECTIONS FROM 12/12-1/11 = 104
TOTAL INSPECTIONS MADE = 487
Update –
Timbo briefly reviewed department activity last month, it was the busiest month that they ever had. Timbo requested that the Board charge the Planning & Zoning Board to review both our frontal dune policies and regulations ordinance and our lighting ordinance. The Board tasked P&Z to address the issues Timbo has with these ordinances.
Same As It Ever Was
10. Finance Department Report – Finance Officer McRainey
Agenda Packet – pages 54 – 56
Finance Report » click here
Three graphs were presented, that the Board previously requested, with monthly comparisons of the following funds:
- General Fund
- Water/Sewer Fund
- BPART Fund
BPART Fund – Beach Preservation / Access & Recreation / Tourism
BPART is a Special Revenue Fund authorized by act of the General Assembly which allows the Town to collect six cents of an Accommodations Tax for the purposes of funding beach preservation and tourism related expenses.
11. Discussion and Possible Acceptance of a Grant from the NC Department of Environmental Quality for Bathrooms, Associated Parking, Site Prep and Landscaping on Block Q – Assistant Town Manager Ferguson
a. Ordinance 24-03, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 23-11, The Revenues and
Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 (Amendment No. 3)
Agenda Packet – pages 57 – 95 which is too large to include here
Ordinance 24-03 » click here
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discussion and possible action in accepting a grant from NC Department of Environmental Quality for bathrooms, associated parking, site prep, and landscaping on Block Q (see memo for more details).
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
The BOC’s directed the staff to submit the grant in both a pre-application and final application process. The grant has been awarded and current action rests with the BOC.
Block Q Access Development (Bathrooms /Associated Parking)
The town applied for and has received a grant from DEQ through the NC Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program. The total of the grant is $560,000 of which the town’s obligation will be$140,000 to construct a restroom facility, associated parking, site prep and landscaping. There is a contractual obligation that we must maintain the facilities built using grant funds for 25 years. If the board accepts /approves the contract, a budget amendment would need to be adopted so that the funds can be recognized in this year’s budget. Since we will not be executing the project this fiscal year, they will be reappropriated in next fiscal year’s budget. Accepting the grant includes authorizing the manager to execute the grant paperwork.
Update –
The Board discussed whether or not to accept the grant at this time. The bottom-line is that we can’t put bathrooms on the site without doing stormwater work, an additional $300,000 expense, for the entire site. Motion was made to accept the grant and pass the associated budget amendment. They decided it was in our best interest to accept the grant now, so they can move forward with this project, and then work on modifying the stormwater plan.
A decision was made – Approved unanimously
12. Discussion and Possible Approval of Ordinance 24-04, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 23-11, The Revenues and Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 (Amendment No. 4) – Finance Officer McRainey
Agenda Packet – pages 96 – 97
Ordinance 24-04 » click here
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of Budget amendment.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
To transfer unassigned General fund balance over 70% lo Beach and Inlet Capital Reserve Fund and to transfer appropriate funds to FEMA fund to cover the cost of the project that was not captured in the disbursements from FEMA.
Update –
A housekeeping item, they adopted budget amendment as submitted.
A decision was made – Approved unanimously
It shall be the Fund Balance Policy of the Town of Holden Beach to maintain a minimum of 40% and a maximum of 70% of unassigned fund balance in the General Fund.
13. Discussion and Possible Approval of Contract Between the Town and Martin Starnes and Associates for Audit Services for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 – Mayor Pro Tem Myers, Finance Officer McRainey
Agenda Packet – pages 98 – 119
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discussion and possible action on the annual audit contact
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
- The current audit firm has submitted an engagement letter and proposed
- This would be the second year of the three-year proposal presented in FY 2023.
- The Audit Committee met on February 28th and voted unanimously to move forward with the current auditor for the 2023/24 annual
Possible Actions:
- Instruct staff to execute the contract for the 2023/24
Previously reported – February 2024
Discussion and Possible Approval of Contract Between the Town and Martin Starnes and Associates for Audit Services for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 – Finance Officer McRainey
Agenda Packet – pages 34 – 54
Item was removed from the agenda
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of Audit Contract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
To ensure a timely audit conducted by a reputable firm we have previously contracted
FINANCE RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend approving contract to ensure another timely audit. This would be year two of the three year proposal of audit services presented in FY 2023
FEES:
Audit Fee $35,125
Financial Statement Drafting $3,900
Single Audit Fees (up to 2 programs) $3,750
TOTAL $42,775
Previously reported – February 2023
Two (2) firms were evaluated by the THB Audit Committee for their suitability to be contracted to perform external audits of the Town’s financial statements for Fiscal Years 22/23, 23/24 and 24/25. The qualifications of Martin Starnes & Associates and Sharpe Patel were measured using the RFP scoring tool developed by a previous Audit Committee.
Based upon the scoring tool evaluations, the Audit Committee recommends that the BOC’s authorize the Town Manager to contract with Sharpe Patel.
Based upon the scoring tool evaluations, the Audit Committee recommended that we contract with Sharpe Patel. However, David recommended that we do not change the auditor. After some discussion, the Board chose to ignore the Audit Committee recommendation despite a 147% fee increase and a $12,000 price difference (Sharpe Patel proposed fee was $25,032 vs. Martin Starnes proposed fee $36,975). The North Carolina Local Government Commission requires the Town to have an annual audit performed. The Town has used Martin Starnes for the past three (3) years to perform this service. They have experience working with the town and the Town is happy with the incumbent. Approval of the contract means that Martin Starnes has been selected for their fourth consecutive year, to handle our audit for the fiscal year that ends June 30th 2023. The motion was made to continue working with Martin Starnes for another year.
A decision was made – Approved (4-1)
Commissioner Kwiatkowski opposed the motion
Update –
Mayor Pro Tem Tom Myers asked to have this agenda item removed so that the Audit Committee will have an opportunity to discuss and do their job. Town Manager Hewett objected because he said it would compromise getting the audit done in a timely manner.
A decision was made – Approved (3-2)
Commissioners Smith and Dyer opposed the motion
The protocol is to change firms every few years, traditionally we have done that after vendor has audited us for three (3) years, this would be the fifth consecutive year we have contracted with them.
Update –
The Audit Committee met on February 28th and voted unanimously to move forward with the current auditor for the 2023/24 annual audit. The motion made was to retain the audit firm Martin Starnes for another year and accept the proposed contract. Martin Starnes was awarded the $42,775 contract for the fifth consecutive year.
A decision was made – Approved unanimously
14. Discussion and Possible Action to Direct Staff to Develop and Issue a Request for Proposals to Upfit the Pier and Pier House – Commissioners Smith and Dyer
Agenda Packet – page – 120
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Direct staff to request RFP to upfit the pier and pier house.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
Have private builder upfit/repair pier house and pier and lease from town. The parking and campground remain in control by the town.
Update –
Commissioners Smith and Dyer are now proposing a public/private partnership. This step is simply a request to get proposals to see if there is any interest in privately doing this project. They say that there is, including one from previous Commissioner Murdock. Commissioner Paarfus said that an RFP is premature, in his opinion we need to wait until its decided what we want to do there, so we know what we are asking for. Mayor Pro Tem Myers said that they have asked for and have gotten a lot of input and we should look at what the public said before we head down this path. Although a public/private partnership could be a viable option we are not at the point of putting out a formal request for services yet.
No decision was made – No action taken
Frankly, this is not a viable location for a year-round business and does not have adequate parking for a seasonal business. The parking lot there has been full throughout the fall and winter regardless of the weather. That is without either the pier being available for use or any business running out of the building. There just is not adequate parking there to support beachgoers, fisherman, and whatever else we plan to do with the building. I just don’t see how they think that it could be profitable.
15. Discussion and Possible Action on 796 Ocean Boulevard West – Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas
Agenda Packet – pages 121 – 125
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discussion and possible action on 796 OBW
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
- Town purchased the property in September 2019 for $342,500 because of possible noise issues when the adjacent sewer system was upgraded. The noise seems to be a non-issue
- Town leased the property for a while to a town employee at below market rates. The property now sits vacant, and the Town has no current plans for its
- The property is a second-row 3,316 square foot 3-bedroom / 2-bathroom residential house that cannot be easily converted into something different. The neighborhood is zoned Single Family
- After receiving complaints from neighbors, the Town completed a significant renovation to repair several items and improve the appearance of the structure ($52,670).
- The 2024 loan payment is $68,120 (principal & interest) and continues thru 2037 (which at 2.29 % for 15 years is ~$850k loan)
- The town should not be in the property management business or competing in the rental home market against its property owners who pay BPART
- The funds from the sale of the property and savings from ongoing maintenance & loan payments can be put to better
Possible Actions:
Instruct staff to get bids from local realtors to sell 796 OBW
Update –
We purchased the property in 2019 and still have no viable plan for what to do with it. The motion was made to sell the property. Town Manager Hewett suggested how the sale of Town property might be handled. He also recommended that he meet with our Town Attorney to decide the best method to sell it. They decided to sell it and Town Manager and Town Attorney can figure out the best way on how to sell it.
A decision was made – Approved (3-2)
Commissioners Smith and Dyer opposed the motion
16. Discussion and Possible Action on Audio/Video Broadcasting of Town Meetings – Mayor Pro Tem Myers and Commissioner Thomas
Agenda Packet – page – 126
ISSUE/ACTION REQUESTED:
Discussion and possible action on audio video broadcasting of Town meetings.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF REQUEST:
The audio video broadcasting of Town meetings is inadequate. While the new cameras and microphones are an improvement, additional enhancements are still needed (e.g., improved audio and the ability to broadcast the presentations that are displayed on the meeting room television screens).
Possible Actions:
Task Town Staff to review and assess what other towns are doing and make recommendations for improvement.
Update –
The motion was made to direct the Town Staff the task to review and assess what other towns are doing and make recommendations for audio/video improvement. In other words, benchmark what other towns are doing and determine what are the costs associated with providing this service. Commissioner Paarfus specifically requested various price point options.
A decision was made – Approved (4-1)
Commissioner Smith opposed the motion
17. Town Manager’s Report
Personnel
Kimberly Bowman is our new Permit Specialist in the Inspections Department
Penny King is our new Receptionist in the Administration Department
Justin Hewett is our new Officer in the Police Department
The Police Department is still not fully staffed, recruiting to fill Officer vacancy
Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Study
The Town has made application to NC Department Wildlife Resources for $750k state budget appropriation for the Town’s CSRM Study contribution match. It is anticipated that the $750k appropriation and pending federal Disaster Relief Act funding that probably will negate the need for any further Town expenditures. All matching funds for the CSRM study are now in place.
Stormwater Project Partnership Agreement (PPA)
Town staff met with USACE Program Manager in February to develop a draft PPA. Awaiting draft PPA for about a half dozen projects for an estimated cost of two (2) million dollars. The intent is to position the Town to receive federal stormwater funding for these projects.
Beach Strand
Lockwood Folly Maintenance Crossing (LWFMX) project is wrapping up and will be completed by the end of this month. The dredge boat Lexington placed approximately 100,000cy of beach compatible sand on the beach strand from Amazing Grace to around Blockade.
Documentation of rock raking was provided to the Division of Coastal Management.
They anticipate that the Notice of Violation will be lifted now that the work has been completed. We still have a three (3) year tilling requirement to comply with.
Sand fence repairs are underway with vegetation planting to start soon after.
Federal Funding
Staff is preparing funding priorities for Congressionally directed spending projects. Currently the three (3) elements are Coastal Storm Damage reduction Project, Stormwater Project, and Lockwood Folly Inlet dredging.
Sewer Lift Station #2
Sewer Lift Station #2 » click here
EPA Grant Component – $2,669.867
State Funding – $1,940,000
Remaining Financing – forecast a possible need for short-term borrowing
Preliminary paperwork has been submitted to NC Department of Environmental Quality
Waiting to receive offer to fund which will require BOC’s action
Canal Dredging
Maintenance dredging bid from T.D Eure was the low bidder at $189,000
Dredge boat on site and has been dredging the entrance canals
So far, so good …
Previously reported – January 2024
$343,800 Department Wildlife Resources grant awarded for Harbor Acres dredging. $257,850 state and $85,950 local which is from the Harbor Acres Canal Special Revenue Fund. Waiting for NC Department Water Quality certification for USACE permit approval. Current Request for Proposal (RFP) is out for a 2,700 cyds bucket to barge project in Harbor Acres. Bids are due back by February 6th. Staff is preparing for BOC consideration of grant acceptance and dredger award in Special Meetings that are scheduled in February.
Paid Parking
Annual parking passes are now available for purchase
Paid parking begins and will be enforced starting April 1st
THB Newsletter (02/09/24)
Annual Parking Passes Now Available
Annual parking passes are now available for purchase. The Town uses SurfCast by Otto Connect Mobile Solution. This is a mobile app downloadable for Apple and Android devices. You can also visit https://surfcast.ottoconnect.us/pay to purchase a pass. Paid parking is enforced April 1st – October 31st, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Click here for more information on the paid parking program.
Hurricane Vehicle Decals
Property owners will be provided with four (4) decals which will be included in their April water bills. It is important that you place your decals in your vehicle or in a safe place. A $10 fee will be assessed to anyone who needs to obtain either additional or replacement decals. Decals will not be issued in the 24-hour period before an anticipated order of evacuation.
The decals are your passes to get back onto the island to check your property in the event that an emergency would necessitate restricting access to the island. Decals must be displayed in the driver side lower left-hand corner of the windshield, where they are not obstructed by any other items. Officials must be able to clearly read the decal from outside the vehicle.
Property owners without a valid decal will not be allowed on the island during restricted access. No other method of identification is accepted in an emergency situation. Click here to visit the Town website to find out more information regarding decals and emergency situations. https://hbtownhall.com/evacuation-decals
Pier Beach Access
441 OBW walkway, emergency access ramp, and blue matting placement will be completed by the Public Works Department shortly
Quinton Street Beach Access
114 OBE staff is still working on having bathrooms there
Ocean Boulevard Resurfacing and Bike Lane Project
Contractor is proceeding and is on schedule to complete by Memorial Day
David is hopeful it will be completed way before that
In Case You Missed It –
National Flood Insurance Program: Reauthorization
Congress must periodically renew the NFIP’s statutory authority to operate. On March 22, 2024, the president signed legislation passed by Congress that extends the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) authorization to September 30, 2024.
News from Town of Holden Beach
The town sends out emails of events, news, agendas, notifications and emergency information. If you would like to be added to their mailing list, please go to their web site to complete your subscription to the Holden Beach E-Newsletter.
For more information » click here
Upcoming Events –
Easter Sunrise Service
Holden Beach Chapel and the Brunswick Islands Baptist Church and are sponsoring an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. Easter Sunday March 31st at the Holden Beach Pier.
Family Nighttime Easter Egg Hunt
The Town will hold its annual nighttime Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 5th beginning at 7:00 p.m. Teams of four will compete against each other. Participants will need to bring their own flashlights to the event and something to place their eggs in.
Concerts on the Coast Series
The Town’s summer concert series calendar has been released! Live performances featuring local musical groups are held at the pavilion on Sunday evenings from late May to early September. The concerts are free of charge.
For more information » click here
General Comments –
BOC’s Meeting
The Board of Commissioners’ next Regular Meeting is scheduled on the third fifth Tuesday of the month, April 30th
The meeting scheduled for April 16th was moved to April 30th
Budget meeting scheduled for April 30th was cancelled
It’s not like they don’t have anything to work on …
The following twenty-four (24) items are what’s In the Works/Loose Ends queue:
796 OBW Project- Accommodation/Occupancy Tax Compliance
- ADA Mediation Agreement
- Attorney
- Beach Mat Plan
- Bike Lanes
- Block Q Project
- Carolina Avenue
- Crosswalks OBW
- Dog Park
- Fire Station Project
- Harbor Acres
- Hatteras Ramp/Coastal Waterfront Access Grant
- ICW/No Wake Zone Enforcement
- Inlet Hazard Areas
- Parking – 800 Block
- Pavilion Replacement
- Pier Properties Project
- Rights-of-Way
- Sewer System/Lift station #2
- Stormwater Management Project
- USACE/Coastal Storm Risk Management Study
- Water System Assessment/Water Tower
- Waste Ordinance Enforcement Policy
- Wetland Delineation/Bulkheading
The definition of loose ends is a fragment of unfinished business or a detail that is not yet settled or explained, which is the current status of these items. All of these items were started and then put on hold, and they were never put back in the queue. This Board needs to continue working on them and move these items to closure.
Hurricane Season
For more information » click here.
Be prepared – have a plan!
Why a hot Atlantic has hurricane forecasters very worried
Hurricane season is still more than three months away, but in parts of the tropical Atlantic, it feels like we might as well already be in the thick of it. Across a strip of ocean where many cyclones are born, February ocean temperatures are closer to what scientists expect in July. The ominous warmth is stirring concerns of yet another hyperactive Atlantic hurricane season. Seven of the last eight seasons have been above normal. Last year, similarly unusual warmth fueled a storm season that was significantly more active than meteorologists might have expected given the presence of the El Niño climate pattern, which emerged last spring and creates conditions that tend to inhibit Atlantic cyclone formation. As meteorologists look ahead to this hurricane season, which begins June 1, they see an increasing likelihood that a La Niña pattern will replace El Niño by late summer or early fall. That is another bad sign for the U.S. coastline — La Niña is associated with active patterns in the tropical Atlantic. It’s still too early to say whether the warmth will persist into hurricane season, or when La Niña might arrive. But, especially together, the trends suggest that an active season could be difficult to avoid, said Michael Lowry, a meteorologist with WPLG-TV in Miami and a former National Hurricane Center scientist. “There’s plenty of time ahead before we get to the meatiest part of the hurricane season,” Lowry said. “But a lot’s going to have to change … for forecasters to feel much more comfortable going into hurricane season.”
A persistent trend of record warmth
Last spring, the strongest climate signal scientists know of — El Niño — gave every indication of a slowdown in Atlantic hurricane activity in the summer and fall. El Niño’s signature is a surge of warm waters and towering clouds in the central and eastern Pacific. It triggers changes in atmospheric circulation that, on the other side of the planet, can make it harder for tropical storms to form and strengthen: Areas of high pressure with sinking air are more common over the Atlantic, and wind shear, when wind speed and direction vary at different altitudes, increases. The expectation of El Niño prompted National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters to predict a mostly typical Atlantic hurricane season, a downgrade from years of increased storm activity. But as El Niño developed, and unusual warmth appeared well beyond the Pacific zones the climate pattern is known for, forecasters warned that a quieter season was far less than certain. By August, it became clearer: The ocean warmth was likely to counteract El Niño’s typical effect in the Atlantic, and NOAA upgraded its forecast. The season ended up with about 20 percent more activity than average, as measured by a statistic known as accumulated cyclone energy. Now, with a new tropical weather season ahead, Atlantic temperatures are perhaps even more remarkable.
Why meteorologists have reason for concern
In a zone of the Atlantic known as the main development region for hurricanes, sea surface temperatures are running well above normal — and 1.1 degree Fahrenheit (0.6 degrees Celsius) higher than in any other year on record, said Philip Klotzbach, a tropical meteorologist at Colorado State University. If that trend persists into hurricane season this summer, it could mean a ripe environment for tropical waves flowing from Africa to develop into cyclones. “Basically, it is the perfect recipe for hurricanes to form and strengthen,” Alejandro Jaramillo, a meteorologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said in an email. “The warmer waters provide extra fuel available for hurricanes, potentially leading to the formation of stronger storms.” One factor behind the Atlantic warmth: weak winds over the ocean, Klotzbach said. That discourages evaporation, which would allow the waters to cool by transferring heat into the air. Models suggest weaker-than-normal winds continuing into March, Klotzbach said. Beyond that, longer-term models predict that surface temperatures will remain elevated, and that by the heart of hurricane season, from August through October, precipitation will be above normal across the tropical Atlantic, something that suggests a strong pattern of waves flowing off Africa, Klotzbach said. If those predictions come to pass, “I’d expect a very busy season in store,” he said in an email. Meanwhile, climate scientists predict that La Niña is more likely than not to develop by August. While El Niño increases wind shear — which acts to disrupt hurricanes’ columns of rotating winds — La Niña tends to discourage it, clearing the way for storms to organize and strengthen. The warm water in the tropical Atlantic is part of a global pattern of record sea-surface temperatures, fueled by both El Niño and human-caused climate change. The planet’s average sea surface temperature reached an all-time record of 70.2 degrees Fahrenheit (21.2 Celsius) on Feb. 9, according to the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute.
Why it’s too soon to panic
Meteorologists stressed that it is far too soon to say how the hurricane season may play out. Official seasonal forecasts from NOAA, Colorado State and other sources won’t arrive for months, and even they carry plenty of uncertainty. And there is still much scientists don’t understand about how the ocean behaves and what triggers longer-term changes in tropical weather. For example, it wasn’t immediately clear what was behind an unusual drought of Atlantic hurricanes in the 1970s and 1980s — until scientists realized that a surge in air pollution from Europe was acting to cool the tropical Atlantic by blocking sunlight, said Kerry Emanuel, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Similarly, it isn’t yet clear why the Atlantic is warming more dramatically than other oceans, or for how long it will continue, he said. Even if scientists could predict an active hurricane season with more certainty, “that’s not what you want,” Emanuel said. “You want the number of destructive landfalling storms.” That is outside meteorologists’ capabilities — it was just last year that NOAA extended its tropical outlooks to seven days. But Lowry said the state of the Atlantic is such that, even if ocean temperatures trend closer to normal, there is still far more heat in the waters that could be available for storms come summer and fall. “This is such an extreme case that it doesn’t bode well,” he said.
Read more » click here
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