ITEM R2

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

(910) 341-7810
FAX(910)341-5839
TDD (910)341-7873

9/21/2010

City Council
City Hall
Wilmington, North Carolina 28401

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

This Resolution is being brought to you at the request of Mayor Saffo. The Wilmington/New Hanover
County area and the State Ports Authority has received the prestigious honor of being selected by the United
States Navy to hold the commissioning of the Guided Missile Destroyer USS GRAVELY (DDG 107) at the
State Ports on November 20, 2010. A committed set of community leaders have agreed to take on the lion
share of efforts for preparing for a significant and coveted event for our City. This initiative will bring
notoriety to our region and create the most significant military/tourism event to our area for the year.

The USS Gravely Commissioning Committee is asking the City and County to contribute in the costs of
bringing forward the event. The request of the City and County is $25,000 respectively. In addition to the
scheduled commissioning, the weekend of activities will include a 5k race for the crew, golf with a Veteran,
public tours of the vessel and visits by their staff.

The Gravely is being comissioned for Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr, who was the first African
American to command a U.S. navy warship, the destroyer USS Theodore E. Chandler, rise to the rank of
Vice Admiral and command a number of other vessels in the U.S. fleet.

Passage of the attached Resolution is recommended.

Respectfully submitted,

Sterling B. Cheatham,
City Manager

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 City Council
Resolution City of Wilmington
North Carolina

Introduced By: Sterling B. Cheatham, City Manager Date: 9/21/2010

Resolution Approving a transfer from the City Council contingency account in the amount of
$25,000 to support activities related to the commissioning of the USS Gravely Guided Missile
Destroyer at the Wilmington Port on November 20, 2010
LEGISLATIVE INTENT/PURPOSE:

The Wilmington/New Hanover County area has been given the distinction of hosting the
commission of The Guided Missile Destroyer USS GRAVELY (DDG 107) at the Wilmington Port
on November 20, 2010. The event will attract large numbers of citizens, both military and civilian
and be a significant tourism and public relations benefit to our region. A committee of committed
volunteers has stepped forward to coordinate with the U.S. Navy this significant event.

Along with their own fund raising activities, they have requested from both the City and County a
contribution of $25,000. This investment, though unplanned, will generate many benefits to our
City and region and bolster economic development and tourism.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT, the Wilmington City Council hereby appreciates the selection of the Wilmington Port by the
U.S. Navy to hold this commissioning; supports the work of the USS Gravely Commissioning
Committee in making this event a success; and, authorizes the transfer of $25,000 from the City
Council contingency to help pay the costs of conducting this event.

Transfer From: City Council Contingency, Account 010-9300-423.01-00 $25,000

Transfer To: General Government, Account 010-8120-421.66-59 $25,000

Bill Saffo, Mayor

Adopted at a ____________ meeting
on ______________, 2010.

APPROVED AS TO
ATTEST: AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS:

Penelope Spicer-Sidbury, City Clerk Finance Director

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September 10, 2010

Mr. Sterling Cheatham

Manager
City of Wilmington
PO Box 1810
Wilmington, NC 28402

Dear Mr. Cheatham,

As Chair of the USS GRAVELY Commissioning Committee, I request that myself and Captain
Dave Scheu (Co-Chair) appear before Council on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 to provide an
overview of what is planned leading up to the ship’s commissioning ceremony at our State Ports
on Saturday, November 20, 2010 and, further, to request the support of Council in the amount of
$25,000.

The Secretary of the Navy’s selection of Wilmington as the site for commissioning of the guided
missile destroyer GRAVELY is another distinct honor for the City, one made even more
significant in that the ship is named for the late Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely USN. In his
notable Naval career, he was the first African-American to command a U.S. Naval combatant,
the first to be promoted to flag rank and the first to command a U.S. Fleet. It is estimated that
the number of guests at this commissioning will exceed that for the Submarine NORTH
CAROLINA in May 2008.

The schedule after the ship’s arrival on November 12th is ambitious, involving events for the
crew, interaction of the crew in the community, receptions for dignitaries, public tours, and much
more. The funds requested from Council will be directly applied to the costs to carry out those
functions.

Thank you in advance for consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Louise

Louise F. McColl
Chair

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