Davidson’s Town Board meets Tuesday for a monthly meeting that will include the unveiling of plans for a proposed parking deck downtown next to Town Hall. The meeting also includes a vote on a new town ordinance that would bar registered sex offenders from town parks and recreation facilities.

The board also will vote on a proposed paving contract with Blythe Construction for a series of road resurfacing projects to begin later this summer. Both the sex offender policy and the paving contract are on the “consent agenda,” which includes items up for a vote without additional discussion.

Kris Krider, the town’s planning director, will present drawings by architect Tom Goodwin for a proposed multi-story parking deck that could be built on town-owned land off Jackson Street, between Town Hall and the Knox Building. Although the project may take several years and is currently not funded, it marks an important first step toward solving a longtime need for more parking downtown.

The drawings Mr. Krider will show Tuesday are preliminary but envision a 300-space parking deck with four levels, including rooftop parking. The project could include a multistory office/retail building at one end, which Mr. Krider said could help generate revenue and save the town money. It could include solar panels.

Mr. Krider said one idea being floated would be to relocate the Davidson Farmer’s Market to the rooftop level on weekends. Davidson Farmers Market supporters were planning to be at Tuesday’s meeting to see the proposal.

SEX OFFENDER RULES

Meanwhile, town board members will vote on a proposed new policy that would formally prohibit registered sex offenders from town parks and recreation facilities, including athletic fields, the Southeast Greenway and other recreation areas. Exceptions would be made for voting in elections and for community service projects by prisoners.

Chief Jeanne Miller said the town decided to adopt the ordinance as a precaution, and it was not prompted by any specific criminal incidents. However, the town has had a handful of registered sex offenders living within its borders from time-to-time in recent years. At the moment, Chief Miller said one registered offender lives in town, near the Twin Oaks neighborhood off South Main Street.

Current laws prohibit offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools. The lone offender here now is beyond that distance from Davidson Elementary School, though Chief Miller said she checked to make sure he was following the law. The town currently has no rules regarding parks, so Chief Miller and parks director Steve Fraher came up with the new ordinance, she said.

Violators would be subject to fines of up to $500 and arrest. Signs will be posted in town parks to note the rules.

OPPOSING ANNEXATION BILL

Also Tuesday, the board will vote on a resolution that would put commissioners on record opposing HB524, a state legislative bill that would reform annexation rules. The board’s proposed resolution says it supports the idea of reform in principal, but opposes allowing referendums on annexations.

The board also plans a closed session after the public meeting to discuss an undisclosed property purchase.

Here’s the full agenda below (also on the Town website).

DAVIDSON BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Town Hall Board Room – 216 South Main Street
June 10, 2009, 6 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. CITIZEN COMMENT

4. CHANGES TO AGENDA

5. PUBLIC HEARINGS (None)

6. PRESENTATIONS: Visit Lake Norman Update, Downtown Parking Deck Concept (Kris Krider, Tom Goodwin)

7. CONSENT AGENDA

Approve Minutes of June 9th.

Approve Personnel Policy Amendments. Exhibit VII (b,b-1)

Approve Sex Offender Ordinance Exhibit VII (c)

Adopt Resolution Directing Clerk to Investigate Petition Received Under G.S. 160A-31 for Tax Parcels 003-28-311 and 003-28-312 (Brown/Johnson Property) located at the end of Shearer Street.
Exhibit VII (d, d1)

Approve Certificate of Sufficiency for Annexation of Tax Parcels 003-28-311 and 003-28-312 (Brown/Johnson) located at the end of Shearer Street. Exhibit VII (e)

Adopt Resolution Fixing date of Public Hearing on Question of Annexation for Brown/Johnson Property located at the end of Shearer Street. Exhibit VII (f)

Adopt a Resolution Opposing HB 524 With Referendum Provision Exhibit VII (g)

Adopt a Declaration of Official Intent to Reimburse Resolution for Fire Station #2 Exhibit VII (h)

Adopt a Resolution Accepting Street Maintenance for portion of Northeast Drive. Exhibit VII (i)

Approve Resurfacing Contract with Blythe Construction for Local Streets. Exhibit VII (j)

8. OLD BUSINESS (None)

9. NEW BUSINESS (None)

10. CLOSED SESSION – To discuss property purchase

11. ADJOURN