[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Hey, well you [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. N. Hey hey hey. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] First meeting since our break. So, welcome back to everyone. Really glad to see everyone. So, I want to call the um August 11th, 2025th um meeting of the Charlotte City Council to order. Um I just want to do a little bit of reminder before we get started today. I want to remind council as well as our public um people that are watching us that we're going to do our meeting a little differently today. We're going to Fargo. the forgo I can't even say read these days the action review that we usually have upstairs for the next two meetings of the council and we will use this time at the end of this um time that we've done together is to um try to figure out if this is something that we want to do long term or with in another way. So my understanding is that I hope that we'll be able to for we're going to forego the action review as I said for two meetings and we're going to use that time for mayor and council topics. This time can be used by any council member to address any item or issue that they would like and I'd like to try and keep that time under an hour. Um, that was some of the feedback that we got and plan for each council member to speak around three minutes. I think we should give this try for the next two meetings and we'll revisit it September the second and determine if further changes for the framework structure of our meetings may be needed. If it works, we'll keep it and if not, we'll try something new. So, now let's start with introductions of the city council members. Um, why don't we start with our city clerk? >> Stephanie Kelly, city clerk. >> Anthony Fox, interim city attorney. >> Good evening. Marjorie Molino, district 5. >> Marcus Jones, city manager. >> Biles, mayor. Dante Anderson, mayor prom, district 1. >> Malcolm Graham, District 2. Edges, District 7. Edwin Peacock, District 6. >> Good evening, Lana Mayfield, council member at large. >> Good evening. I'm Victoria Watlington, and I have the pleasure of serving you at large. Good evening. Dimple arm at large. >> Renee Johnson, District 4. Um, we begin our meeting with an invocation, the expressions of inspiration, followed by the pledge of allegiance. The invocation by the council members intended to solemnize our proceedings. We celebrate the religious diversity in our community, including those without a religious faith. Tonight we're going to have Council Member Molina give us our invocation. And following our invocation, please stand and join us in our pledge of allegiance. Miss Molina. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. And it's not really a formal prayer. I just want to say that as we gather here this evening, um let us take a moment to center ourselves in the spirit of connection and understanding. We're not just here as individuals, but part of a larger community, bridging different experiences and perspectives. Let this moment be one of shared intention where we invite a sense of purpose, hope, and unity into this room. May we approach our conversations and decisions tonight with wisdom, and empathy. And may the and may the time we share guide us toward a deeper sense of community and progress. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Molina. Please stand and join us if you choose in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. We will now um begin with our consent agenda and I believe that the mayor and the consent items have been sent out to the council. Um is there any consent item for a separate vote? Miss Mayfield. >> So one may I would like to thank Marie for responding to all my questions, but I would like to pull out number 31 to speak to it. >> All right. So we will now have um the item number 31 which is interpretation and translation and transcript trans it's been a day guys transcription services and it's authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute contracts for the things that we've just spoken with and so um I believe we have a speaker missfield to to this item. >> Thank you madame mayor. So again item 31 interpretation translation and transcription services. For this particular item what we are asking what what is being asked of council is to authorize the city manager to negotiate with a number of different businesses. So I asked to Marie what languages are being represented through these services outside of Spanish also in regards to our sign language and diversity. And I was pleasantly surprised that what Marie shared with me is in addition to Spanish, these contracts will provide the city with access to interpretation, translation, and transcription services associated with the American Sign Language, German, Russian, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Somali, Cambodian Korean Thai Telugu Chinese Mandarin Hindi Ukrainian Thai Filipino Loatian Ukrainian French African Nepali and Vietnamese. I don't think that a lot of our community know just how diverse our sign language and also when we have community events community you're able to reach out and request for staff to come out that is representing one of these multiple nationalities cuz we are part of the African diaspora. But I just thought it was really powerful to know that we have multiple cultures that are represented through our interpretation and translation. And with that, I will move to approve. >> Second. >> Thank you very much, Miss Mayfield, for that recognition. Um, so we have a motion and a second on the floor. Is there any further discussion? >> That motion just for item 31. >> Just for item 31. >> So we'll start with that one. Okay. All right. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hands. Anyone opposed? So the the majority carries that one. So now we will go back to the remaining consent agenda items. And I believe are there any other questions about it? If not, we will have um a motion. May I have a a motion to approve the consent agenda items 25 through 39 with the exception of 31, which has been already approved. Move >> to oppose. So, we have a motion and a second. Did I hear and a second? Um, any discussion? Hearing no discussion. All in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone opposed? I don't see anyone with in opposition. And so, thank you. We've approved our consent agenda now. So the next item that we have, >> I believe we have a public hearing for asset mark financial holdings business investment grant. >> We're going to open that up for a public hearing. Do we have any speakers? Madame clerk, >> without any speakers, I >> move to close the hearing. >> We have a motion to close the public hearing. >> Second. >> We have a second. Anyone oppose? Um all the fa all in favor raise your hand. Anyone opposed? We have no opposition. So we'll move on. >> Madame mayor to approve the uh I'm sorry item item now. >> I know we have to I know we need to approve the item now. So um we're going to Oh, mayor. My apologies. Move to app adopt A and B. >> A and B >> should have been my motion. Apologies. >> All right. We have a motion and a second for the approve the city's investment grant to asset March financial holdings for a total of not exceed more than approximately 87,000 over the next 5 years. Um any other discussion hearing? None. All in favor? Anyone opposed? All right. So we are ready to move on. We're now going to talk about another um business investment grant for the AVL USA Inc. business investment grant. Do we have any speakers? >> Ma'am. >> All right. We do not have any speakers. Do I have a any a motion? Please >> move to close the hearing and approve B. >> Second. >> We have a motion to close the public hearing as well as approve the city's investment grant. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hands. Anyone opposed? So, the motion carries. All right. Now, we're going to open the public hearing for City Group Business Investment Grant. Madame Clerk, any speakers? >> No, ma'am. >> We don't have any speakers. Do I have a motion to close the public hearing? >> Motion to close the public hearing. Uh, Madame Mayor, and approve item B. >> Second. >> Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion hearing? No discussion. All in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone opposed? With no opposition. That is item six. And so we are ready to move on to the next one. Now we're going to open the public hearing on a resolution to close portions of Right ofway adjacent to Pearl Park Way. Madame Clerk, any speakers? Um, no ma'am, but >> that's the six >> number item item. Oh, I missed over Oh, missed the grant. >> We're getting way too much information here. So, let's go to six. Um, so we have a motion to have a public hearing for S HSPUS LLC business investment grant. Do we have any speakers? >> No, ma'am. >> We have no speakers. Any um >> move to close the hearing and approve B. Do we have a motion? >> Second. >> We have a motion to close the hearing and approve the approval of the item. So all in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone in opposition? I believe that's unanimous. So now we can go to the approve the city's business investment grant to HSPUS LLC for a total of not >> number seven. >> How am I How come I don't have seven on here? Another >> That's what I had. Seven over here. Okay. But we did this one already. >> No, we do seven. Seven. >> Okay. Yeah, I have. Approve the city's public hearing on designing a resolution to close portions of the right of way. >> They gave you the wrong >> They gave me the wrong one. >> Yeah. This is great. >> All right. So, I am now on item seven. >> This right here, the seven. >> The seven item agenda seven. A public hearing and a decision on a resolution to close portions of rightway adjacent to Pearl Parkway. Conduct a public hearing and adopt a resolution to close portions. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. Second. >> A motion and a second. Any discussion? >> We need to move. We need to close the >> No speakers. Right. >> No speakers. Close the >> So we have a motion to close the public hearing and approve the item. So >> I'm sorry, Madame Mayor. Do you want to do a friendly amendment? Mayor protend to yours to close the public hearing and adopt B. >> Yes. Yes. I'd like to make an amendment to uh close the public hearing and adopt A and B for number seven. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. All right. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone in opposition? So now that closes us up on item number seven. Okay. I know that's wrong. >> That's wrong. Somebody gave me that. >> It's another public hearing. >> I know we have another. All right. So, we're now going to open the public hearing for the QTR phase one area voluntary annexation. Do we have any speakers? May >> move to close the hearing and approve B. >> All right. We have a >> I just have one question, Madame Mayor. >> Yes. >> What does QTR stand for? >> Q. Well, we got to second it first to open. >> I've got a question first, though. We got a second. >> We got a second to open a second. So, we have a second. And so, now we have a question from Mr. Peacock about what is the um QTR? What does it stand for? >> Anybody know that? >> Sorry. >> It just sounds like quarter to me, but you know, like I'm I'm not sure. >> Yeah, I'm just I I didn't know if we had a new local acronym. >> She's coming. >> Thank you. There isn't a significant hidden meaning behind QTR. We asked the petitioners to choose a unique identifier for their annexation area name for recordation purposes. I can get a follow-up from the petitioner for for you. >> It's okay. I just I thought it was a city term. I didn't know. >> No, no, no. It probably just a term that's an abbreviation for their subdivision. >> Very good. Thank you. No further questions, Madam Mayor. No further questions. Okay. Now we have a motion >> and a second. >> And a second. All in favor, please raise your hand. Anyone in opposition. All right. That carries us through on item number eight. All right. So, the next item is item number nine. We're going to open a public hearing for Sunset Metals Area's voluntary voluntary annexation. Do we have any speakers, Madam Clerk? >> Come in. >> With no speakers. Um, do we have a recom motion? >> Move to close the hearing. Adopt B annexation. >> We have a motion to close the public hearing and adopt. Is there any discussion? >> Hearing no discussion. >> We have a second on that one. Second. >> That's right. We needed a second. Thank you. We have a second. Is there any >> Sorry, did I wasn't sure. Miss you saying something? Okay, we're good. >> We had a second. So, okay. I just wondered. So, we're now going to um have a motion and a second. So, all in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone in opposition? Miss >> I'm raising my hand in favor. >> Okay. Thank you very much. All right. So, the next item is item. We have a motion to close the public hearing and adopt an ordinance with an effect. >> Thank you. >> 10. >> No, I know it's 10, but I'm just vote. Okay. So, we're on item 10. We're now going to open the public hearing for the retreat at Tilly Manor voluntary annexation. Madame clerk again. >> No, ma'am. No speakers. >> We have no speakers. Do we have a motion? >> Close and approve. B. >> Second. >> We have a second. Any discussion? Hearing no discussion. All in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone oppose. So, we're ready to move forward to the next one. So, the next item is we'll move to the policy section of our agenda. City manager, do you have any updates for the council this evening? >> Absolutely, Mayor and members of council. I'd like to uh formally introduce you to our newest deputy city manager, uh Donnie Hamilton, Jr. Donnie. And so, Donnie, uh today is uh Donny's first day. He went through orientation and uh he is going to help us manage the transition of cats to the transit authority um with the with the passage of the um legislation. He'll work with the other deputies cats uh C dot HR IT and other department. um this transition is going to take a heavy heavy lift and having someone like Donnie on the team is extremely important. So Donnie is a nationally recognized expert and transportation finance. He has extensive experience leading complex infrastructure projects. He has 20 years of experience working with roadway, rail, and public transit industries. His expertise in uh transportation combined with his passion for building resilient uh people centered cities makes him an ideal fit as we navigate this transformational um period. I'm confident in his leadership and I believe he's going to fit very nicely into the organization. So welcome welcome home Donnie. >> Welcome. [Applause] >> All right. So, the next item that we have is item number 12, a municipal agreement for traffic signal installations at South Triion Street in Tyola Center Drive. Um, is there a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the manager to execute the municipal agreement with NC DOT and in the amount of $91,000 and adopt a budget ordinance appropriating the $91,000 to the Cap Carol to the North Carolina Department of Transportation and to the general capital projects. >> Move to approve A and B. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing no discussion. All in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone in opposition? Thank you very much. The next item is item um general obligation refunding bonds. For item 13, there is there a motion to introduce a bond order authorizing the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds not to exceed over two $20 million. um and adopt a resolution making certain statements of fact concerning the proposed bond issuance and setting public hearing for the August 25th, 2025 and authorize the city officials to take the necessary actions to complete the financing including making application to the local government commission. >> Move to approve A, B, and C. We need to clarify the amount. I'm just noting that the amount should be 201,510,000. Right. >> All right. So, second. That's the motion. 200. >> That is the motion. All right. All in favor? >> Please raise your hand. Anyone in opposition? All right. So, that passes. Item 14 is the Metropolitan Planning Ro program grant municipal agreement. For item 14, is there a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute a municipal agreement with NC DOT? >> Motion to approve A, B, and C. Madam second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. >> Do we need to read discussion? >> City attorney, do we need to read them? >> Sorry. >> Do we need to read them? Do we need to hear them read? >> No, because it's >> fine. Thank you. Just >> reference agenda item A, B, and C of the agenda item 14. >> Okay. All right. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand. Anyone in opposition? So that me that passes. So the next item is there a motion to sign a memorandum of understanding with Meckllinmberg County regarding the establishment of a voluntary agricultural district program within the city of Charlotte and the city's extr territorial res jurisdiction. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Miss >> Miss Molina. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just got a quick piece of clarification. There was a lot of information sent home in the packets this weekend um about this. Can we just get a little bit more information around what this is and and why just for better understanding? I mean, I I read a lot of it, but I just want to understand, you know, um I guess where does this fit into the greater plan or I love that it's, you know, um involved with sustainability, but maybe you can give more information around that. >> Sure. Monica Holmes. I'm the interim planning director for the city of Charlotte and I have with me >> Erin Stanford sustainable devel county. >> And uh we Erin can give a brief overview of the purpose of the program and I can answer any questions specifically about the city and our role with it. >> So essentially this is a program that's operating in 93 other counties within the state of North Carolina. It gives farmers the opportunity for recognition around their agricultural achievements in the county while also not having any sort of tax obligations to them. >> Yeah, that that's actually that's not something that you would think about in our city like you know protecting the farmers and stuff like that. I thought it was really neat. I read the memorandum, but I, you know, like I said, for public consumption, I just to to say that we're taking that step to join some of our rural partners here in, you know, in the city of Charlotte and, you know, in our extr territorial jurisdiction, I think it's a good move. So, I'm definitely willing to support it. It It's just really making sure that, like I said, for public consumption, um, that information, we do have a lot of information. So, if anybody has any questions, they could reach out to us. So, thank you for your work and I and I love the collaboration. And it's really good, >> Miss Ameira, followed by Mr. Peacock. >> Yes. Thank you, Madame Mayor, and thank you, Council Member Molina, for highlighting this. Uh, this is something that Nancy Carter and Barbara Bllywise. They've been working on this for many years to preserve our farmland. As you know, as we are seeing development happening at such a high pace, we are seeing more and more farmland that is um that is going away. And as we are working towards uh really preserving our ecosystem, this will play an important role. I have had conversations with Barbara about this. They've been waiting on this for a long time. So I'm glad to see this on the agenda because this will help us work with the county, the soil and water board, which Barbara is the chair of along with Nancy Carter and other board members to help urban farmers. uh we I did attend one of the events with urban farmers and this issue had come up where uh with growth a lot of farmers are feeling pre pressure uh so I'm excited to see this and hopefully we will see more urban farming um at least preserving what we have at the end of the day that's all I thank you >> Mr. Peacock >> staff presentation indicates benefits any challenges by doing a voluntary agricultural district ordinance and proceeding forward. >> Not really. >> I will say it's a state program and it does not supersede any sort of local zoning ordinances. Just to make that really clear. >> Yeah. So we don't see I mean that hence why we're here. We don't see any issues. It is one of the goals in the 2040 plan to have healthy, safe, and active communities. And there are several goals around urban farming and agriculture. So, we see it as an opportunity to align um and why we're bringing it to you is we don't really see any particular drawbacks or reason why we should not participate um in the program. >> Mr. Driggs, >> uh just briefly based on earlier conversations, all the other towns in Meckllinmberg County have already approve this. What we're being asked to do is agree to a memorandum of understanding with the county to allow them to move ahead. I like the idea of having local produce available in the farmers market. It's about 1% of the land area of Charlotte. So, I hope we can all get together around this one. >> There is just one one um slight tweak to that statement. So, Mint Hill is the only one aside from Charlotte has not approved this. We are on the agenda for this coming Thursday. So, we have from everybody else less Charlotte and Mint Hill. I got tripped up. Okay. >> Close. We're very close. >> All right. Good. >> Okay. So, we'll take a tour of urban farm. >> Yeah. >> I I I actually have a picture of an urban farm in my office. It's got a guy that's um he's got a plow. >> It's I mean, there used to be places around the city that you could see that was just like that, right? >> Yeah. A while ago. A Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Go. Okay. All right. So, >> thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. >> We still have to vote for this after all of those speeches. >> Do we move Did we get a motion motion to adopt? >> We have We believe we have a motion. We already have a motion in a second. So, all in favor, please raise your hands. >> Is anyone opposed? So, we are not opposed. So now, so let's go to our um >> next item which is a conversation nominations for the city council will also consider nominations to various boards and commissions tonight. The council members have submitted their nominations earlier to the clerk via email or in just um handing them to you. Names of nominees will not be read at the dis tomorrow. The clerk will email the city council and the names of applicants that have received at least two nominations. These candidates may be considered for appointment at the next business meeting. Any applicant receiving six or more nominations can be considered for appointment tonight upon upon a motion second and majority vote of the council. The names of all nominees will be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. The clerk will now proceed in announcing the results of the nominations. Madame clerk, >> um, mayor, I have just received two ballots that I have not had an opportunity to tally, but I will share with you what nominations I do have that have more than six nominations. um for the uh business advisory committee, there were no um no applicant that received more than six or six or greater. So that will come back to you at your next meeting for the um the one vacancy for the recommendation from the Hispanic Contractors Association. Regginal Bean and Jack Osa both received um greater than six it looks like nine um nominations. Uh, Fernando Ramirez representing the Latin American Chamber of Commerce has received in excess of six nominations. Um, for the Citizens Review Board, um, Deborah Ford received six nominations. Uh and for that position for the domestic violence advisory board, um Angela Buford Hayes, the incumbent and Urba Diaz received both seven nominations for the firefighters relief fund board of trustees. We will bring that back to you at your next meeting. And those are all that I have. Move to approve by acclamation. >> Second. >> All right. Miss Johnson, do you want to be recognized? >> Yes. Thank you. Um, if the clerk needs more time, if will more time allow you to have more results? >> Yes. >> Can we Can we move the results to the end of the meeting >> because it is pretty early for her. >> Well, I I don't know what the process I think that she >> motion on the floor. >> We have a motion on the floor for this one. Mayor, can we make an amendment? Make an amendment to the motion so that our clerk, since we are supposed to have them in by noon or earlier in the day, if someone wasn't able to get in until right now, we want to give the clerk enough time to calculate because it very well could change one of the nominations. >> Okay, madame clerk, you have some time to work through this and we will try to include this. Come back on. We have a motion on the floor, but we're just going to go back and >> unless >> we can approve the people who got six person amended the motion. >> Well, she usually doesn't do that until the next meeting. And so, but now she's being asked to look at all of the names. >> So, I I know, let me put it this way. I know that the clerk has a process and I want to make sure that she has the ability to maintain that process. >> Right. And we want to make sure the record's correct. I mean, some people who have six might actually have more. So, >> Right. >> Right. Doesn't hurt. Thank you. >> So it's a motion to >> to you the maker of the motion is going to amend the motion >> to defer this item to later in this meeting. >> Right. So we have a request for the makers of the motion to um withdraw that motion so that we can come back at the end of the meeting. >> I formally withdraw my motion. >> Okay. >> Second. >> All right. And Mr. Driggs. Okay. Thank you. So we'll come back at the end of the meeting. >> Okay. Yeah, we are moving. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> Okay. >> Okay. The next item, actually, this concludes our business items for the voting this evening. Um, next, in accordance with our previous discussions and your input, having additional time for discussion, I'll now open the floor for council topics. In order to ensure that all council members have the opportunity to speak, I propose that we go around the dis one by one. And I would ask that each council member confine their me comments or questions to three minutes, especially since we will have a closed session following this meeting um tonight. Um and we'll use the council's current rules of procedure to guide us. As I put in the memo, I believe the rules of procedure address many of the issues that have come up, including how to add items to the agenda. As a reminder, I'd like to ask the city attorney to explain how council members can request to put items on an agenda. Mr. Fox. >> Yeah. Uh, good evening. The ability for council to add items on the agenda is governed by rule four of your rules for procedure. Uh it that rule imposes the uh obligation for the preparation of the agenda uh on the city manager. Um and the mayor and the manager can place uh any item on the agenda. Uh the only uh caveat is that the uh the council shall receive a copy of the of that agenda and the agenda will be made available for public inspection. That's under rule 4 A. Rule 4 B deals with consideration of the agenda and it's it provides that you as a council need to and should confine your discussion to those items that are um only those items that are on your agenda. uh on if there's an issue raised during a citizen forum um that item uh can be considered uh and discussed but no action can be taken on on that item at that meeting. Um then rule 4C deals with items that are not on the agenda and it simply provides that if if an item is uh matters not on the agenda may be discussed at the completion of the agenda. So at the end of your meeting, you could bring forth and discuss items that are not on the agenda, but no formal action can be taken by an item that's not on your agenda unless all of your council members uh vote to add the matter to the agenda. That requires a unanimous vote. Um and um and the next item is 4 D which deals with the placement of items on your agenda and that simply provides that any member of the council may request the city manager to place an item on a future agenda and that can be during the course of the meeting. Um if there's no objection then the item is going to be uh included on future agenda. If there is objection by any member of the council or by the manager, then it must go to a vote and at that point it requires a a majority vote of at least six uh members of the council is required to include the item on the future agenda and that's what the rule provides. >> All right. Thank you very much for that. Finally, I think that Mr. Fox has said that you I want to make the point that something does not have to be on an agenda for council members to ask questions or to get additional information. Actually, any member can request information from the manager or the city um or have opportunity to work with Alexis to assist with those questions that they want to have and have that research. And there's so what we're trying to do is increase pathways for people to get more information and questions answered that are not a council meeting agenda. I also asked the manager to provide a written update on key topics that I believe everyone got in the packet. Council received those in your Thursday packet. This structure will provide the opportunity for council additions to proceed without objections while also allowing time for the body to weigh in on future agenda items. If a new item is added, it can be placed on a future strategy session agenda for discussion. The intent of all of this is to be responsive to the council's request and to manage a meeting efficiently and orderly. So unless there are additional questions, if there are there additional questions, Mr. Driggs, >> we used to have a rule that said that a request that required more than four hours of staff time to accommodate called for a vote. Are we going to still play by that rule? I think that that's one of the things that the council will have to decide. Um I think that rule has been successful in many ways, but because it really requires the commitment by the council to say this is what we want to have done but >> it's not in our >> It is not in our existing Mr. Fox, is it in our >> I don't I don't think it's in your current rules of procedure. Maybe in your policy of the council policy. It was more of a policy than it was. So why don't we um recognize that and have that as something to discuss at the next >> meeting was that we did. >> Yeah, we definitely did. >> Yeah. >> I don't It could be a legacy. >> Okay. We're we're having a research project here. We're going to check the um rules of >> Sounds like a good rule to find out. You can't have one person. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> That's great. Let's >> Well, if why don't we why don't we send out tomorrow on that and then we can decide whether or not you want to have that placed on an agenda or not. Okay. >> I do recall how it was done just because we wanted to make sure that the time spent was appropriate. So all right so I believe now it is time for us to actually begin our discussion and I want to start with our um >> start with Miss Azir. >> Oh I wasn't ready >> any question comments or >> can can you come back to me? I'm still processing my thoughts. >> Okay. >> All right. All right. So now we'll go to who's going to be who wants to start off this? Mr. Driggs will start and then we'll come around that way. Okay, Mr. Driggs. >> So I just wanted to share with the council that on August 6, the board of county commissioners had a meeting to consider the question of putting on the ballot for November the 1cent sales tax. Uh and I will note for anybody who didn't see it, this place was absolutely packed. >> Um there was a lot of lively discussion. I think I can fairly report that the uh preponderance of the public comments were favorable coming from a diversity of constituencies including disabled people, business leaders, writers and so on. Um there there was certainly some distent dissent and I think we're aware that some people have raised questions about some of the particulars of the plan but in any case the outcome was that the commissioners voted 8 to1 to place the uh the item on the the referendum on the ballot in November and I personally would just like to appreciate express my appreciation to the commissioners for their cooperation with us in the pursuit of these goals. Uh I think we've worked together for a long time. Uh Miss Alman has been a leader on the transportation matters for them and it was just a good moment for the county and the city. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Driggs. >> All right, Mr. Peacock. >> No comments. >> Miss Mayfield. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. I would like for consideration for the manager to allow through housing and neighborhood services and public safety for us to get an update. And I think it will be helpful if we reach out to a couple of our partners like Dream Key and a couple of others so that we can get an idea of what the potential financial impacts would be under the current administration. Specifically around subsidies, we have a number of projects that we have funded where we have members of our community that will receive $1,000 or more in subsidy if we're already hearing that some of our nonprofit partners are having to shutter. So, what would the potential impact for that be? one for that individual because we don't want to be the one that caused an eviction on someone's record, but also for that building. If that building has a high percentage of individuals that are 30% and below or receiving a substantial subsidy and there's not a conversation regarding how do we plug that particular gap, what can happen to that building? We have a little over 58 million left in trust fund dollars. I would like for full council to have that presentation so that we can have transparent conversation versus just approving more potential multif family. Let's look at the potential financial impact going into the next year or so if that were to happen. And I think our partners would be the ones that's seeing the direct impact whether a combination of our development partners and our nonprofit partners that provide that additional financial assistance would be helpful. >> Miss Mayfield, I one I want to appreciate you've been on this issue. You've always had this kind of like let's get ahead of what we need to do. I wonder if we should invite Enlivian to come over in that group as well because that will be something that I think will be easier that you know you don't know what's going to happen but I would like I think that expertise would be very helpful and madame mayor I think that would be helpful. We all did receive an email earlier this morning from Mr. Mechum that identified some funding and budgets have not been approved that actually lets us know where we stand. But between the work they do as well as Dream Key and another, I think it would be helpful for us to just again stay ahead of the conversation. >> Yeah. And and for our developers that are doing this home, this kind of work. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Miss I was going to go with Miss Watlington. Miss Watlington. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, so firstly, um, I wanted to say that I'm very glad to see some of these adjustments. I'm glad to see council topics uh, come back to the agenda. I know there's been a good bit of conversation, um, back and forth about process improvements and so I'm happy to see that it's starting to come to fruition. Um, so looking forward to continuing um, that process. I wanted to add to what Council Member Mayfield was just talking about. I think in addition to what she's brought up, which I think she's spot on, um is I've requested for housing staff to bring us back an update on the current state of housing in terms of unit production and vacancy rate. Uh I recall we had a conversation some years ago where we talked about whether or not we truly had a unit gap or if it was just a unit at the wrong price point gap for the needs of the community. And I think that that will inform our our focus areas in terms of how we need to be working with our existing um property owners to hopefully better utilize what's already in the market. Uh and then the second thing that I wanted to bring up was in relation to what Council Member Jurg brought up as far as the transportation uh tax work. There have been a number of conversations that I know many of us have had with constituencies and there are a couple of items that I know folks are hoping that we are able to get in front of and do some work around ahead of November's decision. Uh several of the items certainly are outside of our purview, but there were two that came to mind that I hope that we can get on our agenda uh to discuss and do some work around. The first one being a stronger um me a stronger set of language for theou between Meckllinburg County and ourselves on orphan roads. We want to make sure that our folks in the ETJ feel comfortable that the work that we're going to do is going to in that they're going to be invested in in regards to that. And then the second piece is as we talk about small business participation, there's been a very very strong desire to understand what that plan looks like. Um especially u as it relates to participation goals versus the blue line. So I want to make sure I know we've been doing a ton of work with that. I see Monica here. I want to make sure that we're all aware of what that looks like so that we can help communicate that plan. Thank you, >> Miss Asher. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh I also agree with council member Watlington on the request that she made around small businesses and our overall plan. Uh but I have one specific request and that is for our help protect our urban uh nature. So I'm sure many of you received an email about our current ordinance that discourages home and business owners from practicing land stewardship uh and pollinator conservation on their properties. So, I would like us to visit their ordinance. Um, Winston Salem has this updated ordinance that allows um exemption for naturalistic landscape, right? Because we want to support pollinators wildlife sustainability and that actually aligns with our overall SEAP goals. Uh, so I would like us to visit that. Uh there was an email request that we all received from our wildlife federation and I know some of them I have had a meeting with them earlier today. Uh and this federation and coalition is very committed to helping us um learn more about this what other cities have done. Uh but I would like uh city to look into this and see if we can update our ordinance um to align with our sustainability goals. >> That's all I have. Thank you. >> Okay. So, um, Mayor Prom. >> Yes. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, two points. One is I just wanted to remind council we celebrated, uh, Pride Month in June before the city of Charlotte, our pride month is this month, and we have our celebration coming up this weekend. And, um, the entire pride festival will be in First Ward Park, which is in District 1. Um, I'm really happy and proud about our Pride celebration. We actually have the third largest Pride celebration in the United States. So, we'll have a ton of visitors who will be visiting the Queen City and eating in our restaurants, staying in our hotels, spending lots of money. So, I just wanted to underscore that and celebrate this weekend. The second piece I wanted to um just highlight is, you know, um council did some really great work around the street vending pilot before we went on holiday and um I've been hearing really really good feedback from the community around that. Small businesses and neighborhood uh residents are very happy that we took action. So, I want to thank the committee for taking the action that they've taken and the entire council for voting for that. Um, however, outside of NODI, NOAI is the location of the pilot over the next six months as you all know. Um, but outside of NODA, in particular in Uptown and South End, we're having a very serious problem with street vendors, in particular, food street vendors. um that continue to have open flame and unregulated activities late in the evening. And there has been some correlation with those particular vendors late in the evening that are open when the bars close that uh promote congregation continuence of congregation uptown and in South End. um that could potentially lead to um unsafe situations and and criminal activity. So, I just wanted to highlight that for, you know, our our CMP CMPD officers and um code enforcements and others. We really need to make sure that we're getting into Uptown and South End late at night to uh make sure that any vendors that are are out there are out there legally and that they are abiding by the food and beverage laws um and making sure that they have uh a permit to do so. Thank you, Madame Mayor. >> Mr. Graham. >> Uh thank you, Madame Mayor. I just want to express to the council that amateur sports and entertainment continues to be a major um economic driver for the city and the military games which is the second largest international games will be played in Charlotte in 27 and 31 is huge uh in terms of its impact for not only the city but as well as the the county uh and the region right uh all the talk in reference to transportation is really about regionalism uh and um the military games certainly have an impact in the region and throughout the state of North Carolina. So we look forward to hosting them. Uh u Marjorie and the good folks at District 5 continues to move forward with Eastland Yard Yards and the amateur sports complex uh is coming along great. Right. We had an update at the uh economic development committee last week and uh we're really getting close to a groundbreaking over there sooner than later. Um staff is starting eyes crossing tees uh in terms of um that uh and uh football season is back and that means a lot of activities in uptown Charlotte uh following the Carolina Panthers. Uh and um uh again that's a shot in the arm for travel and tourism for sure. Uh, and then a shameless plug, um, I'll be hosting play at four sites, uh, throughout the city. Um, uh, Jeff Adams Tennis Center, Marandelle Tennis Center, Park Road Park, and Myers Park High School for juniors from 10 to 18, uh, to uh, uh, amateur players in the city, LT6 level, and for club pros. And again, we're expecting about 450 players um, to play in the in the tournament. So that's huge. And then lastly and changing the conver conversation significantly, right? Um crime and public safety continues to be a u a thorn in the side of many of the residents notwithstanding the the crimes. That's what we got that are really really good, right? All moving in the right direction. But we're still dealing with the real problem of perception. Uh, and it's really not perception because three people were killed on three consecutive weekends in Uptown Charlotte. That's not perception. That's reality. Uh, we continue to struggle on Katherine Simmons uh, in reference to lotterying and business ownership allowing the bad habits to continue. I think I have a meeting tomorrow with Attorney Fox and others to discuss that. Uh and certainly the good work that um Council Member Anderson is doing on I 85 in Sugar Creek. I mean those continue to be a thorn in our side and um and some of it is possession but others are real and so we have to find a way uh to be compassionate about what's happening in our community. But Mr. manager. If we if we don't um measure um crime stats and quarters of opportunities, then I think we're kind of not looking after the investment that we're making. Thank you. >> I'll start down here. Miss Brown, >> I don't have nothing to say. >> Okay, Miss Molina. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, and I I just want to start with um um recently we actually went and had a shindig to celebrate the Harrisburg Road Strategic Investment Area. Um and I first of all I tell people a lot of the times it's in district 5 but it is the work of this council um working together um for the greater good of not only East Charlotte but for our entire city um and but for the relationships that we have around the state as we could not do that work. It is always we um and so for me I I value that so very much. Um, and you know, I can only show you in pictures, but I' I'd like to share with you um, and the public some of what we've accomplished on the east side. Uh, the strategic investment areas, I I know that you all are aware, we have 22 of them around the city. Um, and then what we discussed in June of 2024 was, you know, what we would actually pass as what would become the bonds that were approved by the voters in November of 2024, which were $50 million total. You guys remember that? And so what we've done is we've actually invested $20 million of that particular allocation into the Far East along Harrisburg Road. um and what that means for those community members. I just want to give some stats. Um because basically Harrisburg Road is kind of a highway corridor. It connects. It's a throughway. We all know that cuz we live here between Albamar Road and 485 and it's pretty narrow. There are currently no sidewalks for most of the corridor. There's no lighting. Um, but what it's going to mean for uh the 6,300 existing households that actually surround uh Harrisburg Road, it's going to mean 2.2 miles of new sidewalk, um 919 planned housing units, uh three signal pedestrian crossings, uh four bus mobility hub improvements, uh 5.7 miles of street lighting. That's that's significant along what is now a very very dark corridor. Um four miles of traffic signal fiber optics for that particular network. Um new traffic signals and um intersection upgrades along uh pedestrian upgrades, four of them along that corridor as well. And and that this has nothing to do with the 1 cent sales tax. This is literally actions that we have taken as this council um in one of the two um strategic investment areas that are piloted. I think the next one, Mr. Manager, is Arowwood Road. Am I wrong? >> That's right. Somewhere in district three. >> It's in district three. It's in your district. uh and you know, so we're going to take all of our lessons learned from these two particular implementations and we're going to carry that across all 22 strategic investment areas across our city. So, you know, just lifting that up. Um, with so much more of the work that we've done, I I think we have a lot of things that we can be proud of across the city, and this is just um one of many in District 5 that we've been able to accomplish. So, that's all I have. Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> Miss Johnson. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you, Council Member Molina, for saying that. It's you said it. We work as a team and I know that our our districts are adjacent. So some so some of that might you know district four. I was in Old Stone Crossing yesterday and I was at an address that was actually in district 5. >> So we work very closely. So thank you for saying that. Another thing um council member um Graham mentioned the military gains and I want to congratulate Daryl Bonapart. He's a local resident. He reached out to me. he reached out to me and told me about it and I was able to connect him with the organizer. So, um I hope that he's going to be a part of that. So, that's exciting. >> He called everybody. He called me too. >> Yeah. So, that was he's a different resident, I think. But, yeah. Um >> Mr. Fox, you mentioned the citizen forum. Um and you said items from the citizen forum can be discussed and I just want to lift that up and thank you for saying that because that's one of the things that we're not currently doing. um when citizens come down and they they come down with care and practice, you know, they'll present to us and currently we don't we're not in the practice of interacting or asking questions. So, I think that that's something since it is in the rule and we're making changes to be more transparent and and um and interactive. I think that this is a time that we might consider that um if if council members do have questions, I think that it makes the citizens feel more heard. Um lastly, I would like to talk about the procurement policies. I think that there's an opportunity to to talk about procurement policies um in future meetings if if that's there's an opportunity to send that to the um um committee. Mr. Jones, you you talked you mentioned before recently that there was an update and the CBI and procurement department were now are they a standalone department or can you give us an update? Yes, one of the um I guess three moves we made in this budget uh was to merge uh procurement with CBI. And so we are in the uh process of recruiting a director >> and with the whole goal of of being a bit more seamless between the two um offices, >> right? So I really think this is a great time to to lift up our procurement policies. Recently, um, I learned that there was a minority contractor that was the lowest bidder. And when I did some research, I talked to Thomas Power, one of our city attorneys, and one of the statutes allows council to negotiate with the lowest bidder if they're over budget, right? If they're over budget and and we need to negotiate, there's a statute 143129 that allows that. But then there's another separate authority 1987151 that allows the city manager to reject all bids without coming to council. So if we can get some information about that, Mr. Fox, um I think I don't know if those are conflicting laws. When I asked Thomas about it, it was my understanding that that one did not supersede the other. It sounded like there was a choice of when one was applied. So, I would like to take a look at that. Um, anything from 1987, we know that that was part of the processes back then that might have led to displacements and us being 50 out of 50. So, I think this this is a fair time to take a look at our procurement policies and see if there's anything that can be done and improved. So, that's all I have. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Madam Mayor, quick question. So now that we've instituted this, is this a time where we get to share with the manager things that we would like him to look into and bring back and speak to the community for upcoming events? Years ago, >> we had something very similar. So this was the time for both sharing what we would like to have addressed by the manager and speaking to the community. I think that what the plan I mean of course you have the options to do this but what it was was to have people um address these um comments or the kinds of things that we were talking about. I think that the manager still has meetings with every council member and I don't think that we were thinking that big but it's up to you guys. Let's just put it on and say how it works. I I think to council member Mayfield's question, we saw that tonight, >> right? >> Some were questions, some were events. >> I thought it went well. >> So, I appreciate us having to do this. So, I'm going to ask for forgiveness because there was a piece that I forgot and it ties in with my colleague. The other piece is for the community specifically as you come down to enjoy Charlotte Pride. Just want to highlight Cats because Cats has instituted a all day pass for only $10. It's actually a two-day pass or a weekend pass for only $10 so that you don't have to drive and try to figure out parking. You can use our light rail system and or our bus system during Charlotte Pride weekend. So, I thought that was a really good opportunity and just further commitment of cats doing its part to move people around. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I I would like to take this opportunity to follow up on um Mr. Graham's um >> comments about safety. Yesterday >> um after church I went to >> look at Katherine Simmons >> as well as the Flute Lions. >> Um >> in right across the street >> um it was really very difficult because I think that this is so much more about mental health. There were two security guards outside the store >> keeping this person that obviously was having a mental health episode and it was very very difficult for anyone to come into that store or be a part of you know this. So this is more than it's more than I can imagine right now. Um, and I know that there's also been a discussion with the TD Bank all the way down to the people that we we so hard put out all of those opportunities for people to have ways that they want to do business. So I had the opportunity to be with the Macken girls who have the bridal shop >> and basically we really need to have a discussion about mental health because of the things that are going on in that area and I think that I rem and I would see it as when we had the library a lot of people went to the library that's where their safe space was and all of that and we do not have those spaces. now and I think it's becoming very difficult to integrate commerce with the idea of mental health >> and the people that really need a lot more association with doctors and places to go. So, at some point, I know that we're all working on what needs we need to have to be safe, but I think that we are limited in some of the resources that we need to have people that perhaps can't stay in their home. >> Thank you. >> Because they are not healthy or wealthy or or have people to help them be in their homes. So, I I really hope that as we continue this discussion that we don't always frame it as um something that's really around guns or or fighting and all of that because I think sometimes it's just people don't have a place to go and that is very very difficult right now in this community. And so if we can start to think about how this works or how do we bite off something um even when we have the a way I mean the the shelters that we have that's not enough because the shelters can't do all the mental health work that's being done. So I know that the manager is doing a lot of work around how do we get more ideas and access for people and I think that when we start having these conversations broader that we need to have a conversation that really addresses mental health and the ability for people to have a decent place to live. So, >> can I can I make a comment and and I think you're you're you're absolutely right, but many of the district rest has been talking about this for years >> uh in terms of better collaboration between the county and the city on issues related to mental health and substance abuse. We're seeing it on I 85 in Sugar Creek. We're seeing it on uh on Bazfort Road. We're seeing it on Wilson Boulevard. And so, it's not a old topic. It's it's a continuing topic of we can't as a community get our hands around it. Add to it where you have business owners that take advantage of these individuals by continuing to sell them fortified beer liquor and wine and allow them to consume it on their property. Uh and then you got a mess. And I think again notwithstanding the the strides that we're making throughout the city crimewise, there are still these pockets that are on our corridors that despite our cures team and others that are working collectively together. Um, we have to I I don't want to use the I'll use it. We have to crack down on business owners who are allowing this behavior to continue, right? And we've been nice. We've been passive. We've been um provide resources and services. Um but people are hurting. Uh and we have to provide answers. And part of the answer is, you know, working with some of these business owners who are supporting our efforts and then really having a hard conversation with those who aren't uh who are taking advantage of these individuals. >> Right, Mr. Driggs and then Mayor Pro Tim, >> uh just comment briefly. The difficulty here is often the fact that people with those illnesses don't want to be helped and therefore you end up in a somewhat coercive situation where you're trying to impose the treatment or whatever. Some people get put into a shelter and they leave again and they're back under the bridge. So I I just want us not to underestimate the difficulty. I agree that we need to cooperate with the county. This is a DSS and a city problem. Uh, and they certainly deserve our sympathy, but it gets hard when you go to them and they say, "Leave me alone." >> Um, I at Mr. Drags, I I do think that it's um it's really not just the people under the bridge. These some of these folks actually have homes to live in. They if you go there, it's not there at night, but the problem is that they can't be in their homes. other people have to go to work and have to make sure and and they have to be very careful about this. So I I do agree that this is going to be the one of the hardest things to do is to deal with people that have just difficulty and but I think we've got to figure out some ability to address this and so I know that the manager has been working towards this so I don't know if you have anything to add. >> Sure. I I just want to add one thing. Um I've been working with the county manager, Michael Bryant. We're pulling our teams together. We're talking about housing. We're talking about workforce development, economic development, small business. I've been here over eight years. We've never done this before. So, I think it's a great opportunity for us to look at all the tools in the toolbox and just be more collaborative. >> Mayor Pro. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Mayor. And I I just want to underscore this topic because I think it is our biggest opportunity currently in the city. And if we are able to address it properly, it will have the the biggest impact on uh quality of life um within the city and some of the other issues as it relates to crime. this this mental health um issue that we have is alive and well on Reagan and Sugar Creek. It's alive and well here uptown. You know, we just we have a wonderful play, immediate family, that um that is here at the Bloomingthal. And I went to it the other night and I watched people come out of this play and begin to really be accosted by unhoused who were clearly having mental challenges and and to watch them move from this theater where they had this wonderful experience in their laughing and talking and then to have this interaction and energy right there. Um that began to get hostile. It happened to to more than one party. We have to figure out and I know u Mr. Manager that you know the city of Charlotte can't fix every single thing, >> but we have to have a partnership. Um we have two fantastic hospital systems that are here that can help us with this issue, but we need street psychiatry. Um, we need the CARES program which we piloted uptown is a wonderful program. I can tell you those individuals in the CARES program, they are being administered out on Reagan Drive right now in Sugar Creek and they are up to here with all of the work that they have just for that one area. So then if you multiply that by all the rest of the areas and neighborhoods, it is a it's our biggest biggest opportunity as a community to come together intergovernmentally um with some of our private partners to come up with a unique way to address this in a sustainable fashion. And I know we're doing good things. The the county manager is agreeing for the non- congregate shelter which will help some. We have some wraparound c we've done things but we really need a when I when we talk about you know b when I talk about boulders rocks and sand and we've all kind of talked about that this is one of the biggest boulders that we have um in front of us as a community and as we go through this growth spurt that we're having is only going to be exacerbated >> um and I just think this is our biggest opportunity and I'm I'll raise my hand to do be on any committee or anything you need me to do for this cuz a lot of it is district one is impacted by a lot of this but this is a big deal for us. >> All right. I think that I probably opened a a box that we probably could talk about for a very long time. So I'm going to um ask Miss Renee Johnson to close this out for us so that we can um go ahead. I think we still have a report from the clerk and we also have a closed session. So, >> let's I don't I'm my apologies and I'll be more um prudent the next time. >> It's a good topic. >> I will you opened it up. I was sitting over here, but since you mentioned it, um, >> in March of every year, we we like the skyline and we have a proclamation for brain inj brain injury awareness. And I just want to say that, uh, statistics show that one and two individuals who are homeless have a history of a head injury. >> Yep. >> So, as if we're looking at solving this problem, I really I would love to be a leading city in in understanding the impact of brain injury. the cookie cutter approach doesn't work. So, if we're asking the right questions and and the right assessments, I think that we should seek to do that. Especially being a sports uh city, we have football, we have basketball, we have soccer, and all of those sports um you know, do lead to head injuries for a lot of individuals, concussions, and those can have a lifelong effect. So, I would love if you're working with the county manager to start doing that that research. If you research right now, I just showed Miss Molina, 53% of individuals who are homeless have history of head injury. It's very prevalent in the criminal justice system. So, as a city, let's be a leader in that area and really start asking those questions. You you talk about atrium. They've got a dynamic neurosych department. There's a a leader, a doctor who's renowned. So, I I think asking the right question and the right treatment, I think that we could really start to have impact on on this problem. Thank you. >> Thank you. And so now I'm going to ask the clerk to um provide her report to us, the finishing up of that, and then we'll ask our city attorney to give us a motion for a close session. >> For the business advisory committee, the following persons receive 10 nominations and can be uh appointed upon uh a motion, second, and a vote if you so choose. for the Hispanic Contractors Association. Regginald Bean and Jack Osa um received 10 nominations for the Latin American Chamber of Commerce. Fernando Ramirez received 10 nominations for the Citizens Review Board. Car Deborah Ford did receive six nominations for the Domestic Violence Advisory Board. Angela Buford Hayes, the incumbent, received eight nominations, as did Ber Diaz, the incumbent, both received eight nominations. We will bring the firefighters relief fund board of trustees back to you at the next meeting as well as the um regular seat of the business advisory committee. >> Do we have a >> move by acclamation? Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor of the report that was provided by the clerk. Um we'll move forward with it. Thank you very much. All right, Mr. >> Madame Mayor, I do have a motion for you, but before the motion uh with regards to council member Driggs uh question regarding staff time that I did find it. It is a part of your rules of procedure. Thanks to your clerk and to Lena for bringing it to my attention. It's under rule 25 and it provides uh simply that the city manager will refer request which require more than four hours of staff time to the city council for approval. So if it's more than four hours then the manager will refer that back to you and the council makes the decision about whether to go forward with that. >> Thank you. Now, with regards to the motion that this council may want to entertain, it's a motion to go into close session pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143- 3181186 to consider the qualifications, competence performance character fitness, conditions of appointment or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. >> So moved. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion hearing? None. All in favor, raise your hands. >> All right, let's try to get back as quickly as we can so that we can get this done. >> We're going into the back room. >> Um, yes. Are we coming back here? [Music]