That's okay. It's not My son was there. I'm sure I have no idea what he Oh, thank you. James, good evening. Did it work? Yes. Yeah. Don't Don't push Thank you, sir. >> Good evening, everyone. I'm Alan Joins, mayor of Winston Salem. It's my honor to call to order this meeting of the Winston Salem City Council here on January the 20th and ask the city clerk to call the role, please. >> Council member Joiner, >> present. >> Council member Clark, >> here. >> Council member Andrew Bowen, >> here. Council member Cypio >> present. >> Mayor Prom Adams >> here. >> Council member Taylor >> present. >> Council member Hall >> present. >> And council member Burke >> here. >> Thank you very much. Would you please join the city council with me in a moment of silence? Thank you. Would you please join the city council and me in the pledge of allegiance? I >> pledge allegiance 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 so much. Our sergeant-at-arms tonight is Lieutenant AR and our fire for fire marshal is Micah Bodford. Gentlemen and ladies, thank you for being with us uh tonight and keeping us well protected here. Um tonight's meeting, of course, is being televised live on TV 13. It will be replayed uh Wednesday morning, which is tomorrow obviously at 9:00 a.m. and again tomorrow night at 900 pm. Copies of our agenda as well as videos of previous meetings are always available online on the city's website. You all have to do is click watch meetings online option. Recognize our city manager for his uh update. >> Uh thank you, mayor. First, let me uh thank council for um attending the retreat. uh last week. Uh I think most people don't realize how many again how many hours and that that you put into fulfilling your obligation as council members, but I think we had two days of very good discussions with a lot of uh positive outcomes. And so I appreciate everybody's uh attendance and and their attention to to the key issues that are facing uh this community. In terms of um upcoming uh some city business, the National Weather Service or we're working following the National Weather Service and monitoring the winter system that may bring significant snow and ice to the city beginning as early as late Friday this week and continuing through Sunday, January 25th. The weather forecasts are showing temperatures in the low near 12 to 15 degrees and highs uh 25 to 28. sustaining below freezing. Uh we think the the forecasts are very different right now. So, we're still monitoring that and we'll need to wait till we're probably 24 to 48 hours from the event to have a really good impact or good knowledge of what the impact will be on us. But right now, they are projecting a wide variety, but it could be several inches of precipitation. >> It is on the weekend though, so that's maybe a good thing. So the while the remounts remain uncertain, the uh again the temperatures will be below freezing uh creating also the potential for black ice on roadways if there's moisture present. So just to give you and the community uh some background, we are in a state of readiness and have are preparing our Brian and salt trucks so they'll be ready for deployment if it's if it right now they're calling for rain first before the snow. So that means that our response has to change because if you put down chemicals that the rain just washes off, it doesn't do any good. So we're again having to monitor all of those issues. The bridges and the overpasses would typically be treated with brine and road salt and crews will remain on call for icy conditions as long as needed. Emergency officials are reminding motors to use extreme caution when traveling during winter weather. Our employees will know our inclement weather policy and will be prepared to follow that. And drivers should leave additional space between vehicles and reduce speed on snow or ice covered roadways. So if you want to follow along or or the public wants to follow along, we encourage them to look at our emergency preparedness at readyfors.org or readyn.org. You can follow those on social media by liking their page on Facebook or following them on um X or Twitter, whatever it is now. So, we encourage people to to just to stay informed and we'll communicate information as we have it available. A couple of other uh items. Nominations are being accepted through February 27th for the Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame. Nominees must have sustained excellence in their artistic field, be deceased, and former residents of Winston Salem. Information is available and the nomine including the nomination form on our website at city of winstonalem.org backwalkofame. Our leaf collection, uh, solid waste leaf collection, they're in round two. collections have moved to quadrants three and four which are in the west and northwest sections of the of town. And so once these areas have been completed, round three and the final rounds will be quadrants one and two. If it snows, we will not be doing leaf collection during the snow event. As has been widely reported, we are experiencing a shortage of pennies due to the stopping of minting of those. So there are a variety of process we put in place to deal with that. We'll allow people to use pennies for exact change if they have them. And if they can't, then we'll do a rounding as we typically have done. Customers who do not want their change rounded have a couple of other options. They can use check, credit, or debit cards. Again, you can bring the exact ch exact cha cash cash or change for payments. And if they have questions, they can call our city link at 311 or check on our website. The office of sustainability is accepting nominations for people who lead the way in making Winston Salem more sustainable. So they have awards for young leader of the year for someone 18 and under, resident of the year, green initiative of the year, and organization of the year. And there's a variety of categories that they're looking for. energy reduction, renewable, wildlife preservation, native plants, waste reduction or management, quality of life improvement, water conservation, and mitigating pollution. Nomination forms can be found on the website, and the winners will be honored at the Pedmont Environmental Alliance Fair on April 18th this year. you you received a report on the on the grounds and just one one bit of good news through this quarter. They're showing that they've spent um about 90% of the project budget that has been allocated to them on that project. So they're making uh good progress on all of the infrastructure that is the money that came from the state through the city to them. In terms of a couple of events that are coming up, just as a reminder, January 30th through February 1st, the Cookout Clash returns to Bowman Grace Stadium. And so we're hoping for much better weather next weekend than we might have this weekend. Recreation and Parks is excited to formally invite the public to visit Belleview Community Center on Tuesday, February 17th from 5:30 to 7:30 for an open house and they will have some light refreshments if that encourages you. There is uh Pace of the Triad is doing a ribbon cutting on Friday, February 23rd at 11:00 a.m. And we will be doing um coffee with the city on Tuesday, January 27th, uh weather permitting, 10 to 2 at Miller Park Community Center. And then finally, there's a Northeast Suburban Area Plan public input meeting on Wednesday, June 28th at 5:30 p.m., which will be at the Foresight Tech Transportation Technology Center at 4255 Patterson Avenue. And with that, I'll stand ready to >> Any questions for Mr. P? Customer Hall. >> Thank you, Mayor Joins. Manager Pay for the open house on February the 17th for Belleview Recreation Center. Did you say that was at 2:00? >> From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. >> Oh, okay. I was way off. 5:30 to 7:30. Thank you. >> To 7:30. >> Okay. >> That's why we do these. We make sure everybody's informed. >> Other questions? All right. Thank you very much, Mr. P. >> We do have a couple of honorariums and recognize city clerk to read those. >> Item H1, honoring 2026 D Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award recipients Victor Aparicio and Corey McCann. Whereas the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award was established by the Winston Salem Human Relations Commission in 2009. And whereas the purpose of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award is to recognize two outstanding emerging or proven young adult leaders who reside in the city of Winston Salem and have produced a meaningful result in community inclusiveness and race relations. And whereas the goal of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award is to encourage young adults to participate in philanthropic altruistic altruistic community involvement reflecting the spirit in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived and encouraged others to live. And whereas the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers must be 18 to 40 years of age on or before January 17th, 2026. And whereas the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young dreamers are re residents of Winston Salem who have demonstrated outstanding work and dedication in the Winston Salem community and can neither hold an executive leadership position within his or her her organization nor be an elected government official. And whereas the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young dreamers have made a tangible difference in the lives of others who may have otherwise been overlooked, ignored, or disadvantaged. Specific examples include fostering positive race relations, vocalizing or acting against an injustice, leading inclusiveness among all individuals, embracing those who are perceived as being different, and celebrating religious diversity. The Young Dreamers civic and/or community oriented work has resulted in tangible results benefiting disenfranchised persons in the community. Now therefore, be it resolved that Victor Aparicio and Corey McCann are recognized and honored as the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers in the city of Winston Salem, dated the 20th day of January, 2026. There's uh I believe a video that you're going to show. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award recognizes individuals who serve their communities and create real opportunity. One of this year's recipients is Victor Aparicio. Victor is a community leader and social entrepreneur expanding economic opportunities for the Latino community in Winston Salem. He has mentored over 350 Latino entrepreneurs, helping them access training, funding, and support through the exponde business program and a multicultural community center he co-founded. Victor helps families start businesses, build stability, and feel supported. Victor Aparitio embodies Dr. King's vision by creating pathways for opportunities and empowering others to rise. The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lives on through those who choose service, unity, and action. >> Good. Good. >> Cory McCann is one of those leaders. Through his commitment to youth empowerment and peace, he works to create safer pathways and brighter futures for young people by offering guidance, mentorship, and hope where it's needed most. Cory leads with compassion and purpose. Having been featured on local news, he brings people together and shows what it means to turn belief into action. His work reflects the heart of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award, honoring those who carry the dream forward by building it into reality every day. Is there a motion to approve both of these resolutions? >> So move second. >> Motion by council member Taylor, second by councelor Cypio. All those in favor the motion, please say I. I >> anyone oppose? No. And that is unanimous. Mayor Pro Tim Adams is going to present those. If the two recipients would please come up to the podium, please >> right on that side. >> Don't come up here. >> Good evening. >> Evening >> again. Thank you so much on behalf of the city of Winston Salem and our residents and community. It's always good when we have folks that are stepping up to engage, but to own stock in their community and engaging their neighbors and young folks and others. Uh I'm very impressed. I congratulate both of you and and I just know that continue to do what you do. It won't always be easy. It won't always be that someone will listen to what you're doing or trying to do, but you got to believe and you got to have faith and you got to have courage. So again, congratulations to both of you for being our dreamers for 2026. And I'm going to present if Chris, if you'll hold this, I'm going to present this and then I'm gonna let you guys say something. Okay. Victor, congratulations. Congratulations. It's your moment in the sun. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Uh to all council members and all attendees here today and to my family, uh to my beautiful little daughter Kimmy, my son Chase, my fiance Adilia. Um giving all honor and glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ first and foremost. Um, per usual, I have a whole lot to say, but I'll just leave it at this one quote um by the great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who once stated that if a man is called to be a street sweeper, let him sweep the streets as Beethoven composed music, as Picasso painted portraits, and as Shakespeare wrote poetry, so that when that same street sweeper lays down, the heavenly host can say, "Here laid a great street sweeper who did his job well." So I would encourage any and all future leaders and recipients um you know just continue to do the work. Your your work matters. Uh it doesn't matter how luxurious it looks. It doesn't matter how you know uh how great it may look or how great it may not look into the human eye. Just do the work because it matters. And so uh I just want to say thank you all for this award. I'm honored. I'm humbled. Um and I'm blessed to be here and to be a recipient. So thank you all. Appreciate you all. Thank you. >> Wow. Uh first of all, thank you so much for this uh recognition. This honor for me be here representing the Latino community mostly in these uh challenging times. So, I'm so grateful for be able to do this work and being here with you guys is like a show of love from you to the community. And this I received this in honor of each family that come to our training. Each family that we serve that they see hope is starting a business to provide for their family. So, thank you so much. Thank you for my family, Rebecca, Julia, and David. they're working with me uh in and together and every member of our community that has embraced this vision. The mobile business center for Scitec uh the Walen Foundation and so many other people the central library uh so many people that we that we're doing this work together. So thank you so much and I hope counting with you guys keeping all this work together in the city. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh we have some members of the human relations commission that are with us tonight. If you're with us, if you'd like to say a word, you you may sing it if you'd like. >> Thank you, Mayor Joy and members of this council. Thank you very much. Good evening. My name is Jace McKini. I serve as chair of the human relations commission here in Winston Salem. Uh the commission is proud to present the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Relations Award. This award honors individuals who reflect Dr. King's legacy through service and action that advance fairness, opportunity, and community connection here in Winston Salem. Our recipients, as you have mentioned, are Victor Aparicio and Corey McCann. They were also recognized at the Winston Salem Chronicles MLK breakfast. And Victor Opario is a community leader and a social entrepreneur expanding economic opportunity for Latino entrepreneurs through mentorship, education, and access to resources. Cory McCann, as you mentioned, founder of Rally Up, Winston Salem, is dedicated to youth empowerment and violence prevention, creating positive pathways, and strengthening community trust. Because of these reasons, the Human Relations Commission of Winston Salem is proud to award this award for the Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award to Corey McCann and Victor Aparicio. >> Right, >> that's all I have. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh speaking of Martin Luther King, u I wanted a day and weekend I wanted to recognize we had over a hundred city employees who volunteered for the day of giving work all across the city of Winston Salem went by and city manager Pate and others were there. All of our ACMS were serving pizza that day. So I appreciate all their hard work there. And then I certainly want to recognize the fact that our own council member Scott Andre Bowen was recognized by the minister's conference of Winston Salem vicinity on uh Sunday afternoon for his work as a community leader. So Scott, congratulations to you for that that award. Okay, we'll now go to the consent agenda. Of course, as you know in our regular agenda, consent agenda is considered first. Items on this agenda have been unanimously approved by committee of the city council or are being submitted in accordance with established city procedure. There'll be no discussion on the items on this agenda unless a council member so request in which event we will remove it from the consent agenda and consider that item individually. Items not removed will be enacted as one motion. Council members, are there any items you wish to remove from the consent agenda? >> I move for approval of the consent agenda. Second >> motion by Mayor Pro Tim Adams, second by council member Hall. All those we'll do a voice vote. All those in favor of the motion, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? No. And that is unanimous. We now go to the general agenda which is comprised of two public hearings relative to zoning petitions. When these public hearings were called, persons in the council chamber will be given an opportunity to speak. If there's opposition to the public hearing item, the proponents and the opponents will be each given 15 minutes for presentation and then three minutes for rebuttal. If no one wishes to speak, I'll close the public hearing and the city council will consider the item. By the way, we'll be voting electronically on those items. City council, uh, may we have item G1, please? Item G1, public hearing and consideration of zoning petition of Parks Family Holdings LLC from LB to PBS properties located at the southwest intersection of West Walnut Street and South Broad Street located in the south ward. >> Is there anyone council chair who is opposed to this reszoning? Not proponents. Mr. Dicki is here. If there any any question you're opposed to it, sir. >> I'm hearing here. Uh I'm not sure if I'm allowed to speak. >> Are you opposed to this resoning? >> Sorry, I'm extremely >> Are you opposed to the reszoning that they're doing on that one? >> I just I have a comment on the resoning. Um I own the building across the street, the blue building at the intersection of Broad and Walnut. >> State your name and address for the record. >> Sorry. Uh Jeremiah Smith um 838 South Broad Street. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And forgive me if I'm talking too loud too. I can't hear myself. >> That's all right. >> Um my only concern is that that intersection has become a de facto entertainment district. Um at the very least a commercial district where we have restaurants, we have bars and we have um coffee shops and things like that. And while I'm not 100% opposed to the resoning, I'm concerned about having things like town homes directly across the street from that because I've lived in other areas where that happened and that caused conflict. You know, people calling about music coming from the restaurants. Um, so that's pretty much the concern I wanted to voice. >> All right. >> And make sure that it was known. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Someone closer to me will have to turn. Thank you. >> Thank you. Would the proponents like to comment on on that? Mr. Dicki, if you would state your name and address for the record, too. Mr. Dicki. >> Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, council members. Luke Dicki with Stimmel Associates 601 North of Trade Street, sweet 200 Winston Salem, North Carolina. Here representing the parks family in regards to this zoning request. Uh so what is happening with this is there's an existing single family residence that is located on this parcel right now. Um it is zoned business um that was converted over from that standpoint. Uh so they're just looking at trying to maximize their ability to develop this and add additional density and housing into the area uh for the particular reason because of the fact that this is kind of an area that is growing and has the the restaurants. It has the office. It's sort of more of a mixed use. So they see that this density would be a good thing to to be able to add. So really, it's going from really one residential unit right now to three is what's being proposed. And I'd be happy to answer any questions that you have in regards to it. >> Any questions, Mr. Dicki? >> Thank you, Mr. Dicki. >> Thank you. >> Uh, Mr. Smith, do you have anything else you would like to say in rebuttal? >> It's taking his thing a minute to load what you're saying. So, >> it's a bit difficult for me to um follow along. of using a transcription service, but it doesn't work that well. Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but has that corner not been vacant for uh more than several years, long before the restaurants and coffee shops and bars began to open. So, I didn't think anyone had been in that house, the house that's currently there for about 10 years. Um, and I do apologize. This isn't the best way for me to interact with people. >> Take your time. >> That's I've got about 20% of my hearing. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. Uh, Mr. Dicki, you want to add anything else for rebuttal? Okay. Thank you. I'll declare a public hearing closed and asked Mr. Murphy to give us the report of the planning board. Good evening, mayor, mayor prom, members of council. Yeah, this is a reszoning request to reszone a 23 acre tract at the corner of uh West Walnut and uh South Broad from LB to PBS. Uh and it is to uh have uh a three-unit town home building. Uh this is the subject property shown on the uh Ford 2045 growth management area plan. It is located within GMA2 urban neighborhoods and it is at an intersection that does have uh a lot of different uses. You've got uh the the property that Mr. Smith owns which is across Walnut Street which is actually a legally nonconforming commercial business is actually owned RS9. But you do have um some PBL uh within the area and a number of retail establishments that have opened over the last several years. But you do have uh this is a walkable area. You do have a lot of residential both to the uh west and to the north northeast. Um so you know we we see this as a mixeduse area. It in it is going from LB to PBS and they are limiting their uses to the residential type uses. Uh and so we see this as being compatible with the area plan. We see this as being a nice walkable infill area uh for some additional density. Again, subject property shown on the aerial imagery. Again, uh there is a house there. Um and but it is zoned LB, but LB does allow the use single family residential. So I can't speak to whether or not it is has been vacant or not that Mr. Smith brought up. Uh this is a subject property. It actually recognizes the single family residential use of the property. Uh so it actually the recommendation is for uh single family residential but again it is existing LB. They are looking to uh turn this into a town home project. Uh it is an area that as we move forward with our next set of area plans, this is an area that I'm sure we'll be looking at for more uh mixeduse infill um both commercial and residential. We've actually encouraged Mr. Smith and his brother that own the property across the street to bring their property in to reszone it to commercial zoning to allow uh it to be easier for them to um switch users in and out of their building. Uh this is uh the zoning map. This is looking in excuse me the zoning sign. This is looking into the subject property. That is the single family house that's on that on the south side of Walnut Street. This is taken from Walnut Street. So Mr. Smith and his brother's business building would be or would be behind us behind the this viewpoint. That's looking down South Broad. Uh this is the existing single family home on the site. Again, another image looking more uh down south broad. This is from the intersection of Walnut and South Broad Street. You see some of the commercial businesses on the other side of Broad Street. Again, you see the single family house in the um image there on the right hand side of the street. This is looking at the intersection of Broad and Walnut. And this is looking at Mr. Smith's building across the street. And this is also looking east across broad at some of the commercial businesses that have uh redeveloped over the last several years. This is the site plan. It is a three-unit building uh three town home buildings with a parking lot to the south. Uh the request is consistent with the general recommendations of ford 2485 to provide additional housing units in a walkable uh area close to commercial uses and transit. Uh the request would encourage development of an underutilized site with access to existing infrastructure. Uh the south central area plan update recommends this parcel for single family development which is a recognition of what was there but there has been significant mixeduse development and redevelopment in that area since the plan adoption. So we feel that this is appropriate to increase the density here um on this uh subject property to three units. This was heard by the planning board in December. There were no uh speakers in opposition and following the public hearing, the planning board did vote unanimously to recommend approval of this to the council. >> Thank you, Mr. Able to answer any question. >> Any questions of Mr. Murphy? Um, council member Jer. >> Thank you, Mr. Murphy. Are there any other residential um spaces on that block of um Broad Street as it comes to Walnut? If you go back a couple, there is at least one existing house on the west side. It's zoned LI, but I believe it is currently used as a house. Whenever you look across on the east side of South Broad Street, there are one, two, there are three homes and two duplexes on the east side of South Broad. >> Thank you, >> Council Randre Bowen. >> The parking lot you're you're speaking of, is that already there? And is like, it was kind of hard for me to see in the pictures. Is there already a parking lot there? >> There is not a parking lot, but there is a driveway that does come in. I believe there was an accessory structure and you have the house. If you I can't really zoom in, but if you look, there is a driveway in that area. Um, see if there's anything that shows you you can see from that image right there, there is a driveway on the south side of that house, but it's not a parking lot. But again, this is only going to have six spaces in it. >> Okay. They're not are they going to have to come back for any kind of reasoning for the parking lot or is this all kind of lumped in there? >> It's all inclusive. Correct. May >> approach Tim Adams. >> Yes. And maybe Mr. Murphy, I missed it. Uh the house is going to remain or it's going to be demolished. >> This house will be demolished and they will build a new three-story building pulled up closer to this corner. >> Okay. I do know that a lot of those houses are older houses, historical type, and I'm thinking that one is too, but I know the owner has the right to do what they want. But I was just thinking uh and and Mr. Dicki, I'm just thinking, was there no attempt to try to allow the community to buy the house or a nonprofit to move it? Because I got a friend that lives on Broad. As a matter of fact, you sent her a letter. She called me But I was just wondering because when you see houses like this, these are the types of houses that were in the community at that time. And again, I'm just, you know, you notice every time sometimes uh these properties come to us and if they have historical uh you know, presence, uh we try to hold on to them. But that's the only reason. Mr. Murphy, >> a couple things. Uh obviously if this were in if this were a local historic landmark or or was in a local historic district, uh there would be a 365day period on a demolition for a house in order to try to facilitate someone moving it. In this context, since it's not in a historic district and it's not a local historic landmark, that's not a tool that we have in our toolbox. Now, that would not preclude the owner from putting out an advertisement and say, "Hey, if you want if you want this house, you can have it. Come get it." to address the concerns of losing history. We actually if you look at the conditions of approval under the prior to issuance of demolition permits, we actually are requesting that they document the structure uh in accordance with and with they would have to get in touch with with our historic resources staff and we would get documentation that then we would have in a file so that you know if this is torn down and not moved we would have some historical information related to the house. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'll recognize council member Joiner for a motion if she's ready. >> Thank you, mayor. I make a motion to approve the statement of consistency for the approval of this item and W3672. >> Second. >> Second by council recipio. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor of the motion, please indicate by voting yes. Anyone opposed, vote no. Oh, >> and that motion is unanimous. Thank you, Council Member Joiner. Item G2. >> Item G2, public hearing and consideration of zoning petition of southern properties of the Triad LLC from go to LO properties located at northeast intersection of Bringham Street and South Hawthorne Street located in the southwest ward. >> Thank you. Is there anyone in the council chamber who is opposed to this resoning? Seeing no one, I'll declare the public hearing closed. Council member Bowen, do you need a staff report or are you ready to move? >> Unless anybody else wants to hear it? No, I don't. >> Okay, go ahead. >> All right you then. >> Thank you, sir. Uh, I move for approval of one, the statement of consistency for the approval of this item and two, W-3673. >> Second. Second by council recipio. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please vote yes. Anyone opposed, vote no. That motion is unanimous. Thank you, Council Member Andy Bowen. All right, we'll now go to the public comment period, which is a time once per month that the city council and I invite citizens to address us on matters that are germanine to city government. When each uh comment period or each speaker is called, each speaker will be given three minutes for a presentation. We'd ask that you give your name and address for the record and ask that you keep your remarks u courteous and we will um enforce that uh if if need be. But tonight we have three individuals who have signed up to speak. Uh first person is Tara Brown. Hello, my name is Tara Brown. My address is 3612 Wicker Shamlane, 27106. Um, good evening. I'm so glad to be here and have the opportunity to share some thoughts with you all. Um, I want to speak today and ask you all to prioritize energy management for the city of Winston Salem. um as part of our city's facilities management plan. And I say this because improving our how our city manages energy not only is good for the environment, but it is a cost savings opportunity. In fact, estimates show up to $40,000 of cost savings per year. And that's before we account for additional savings from straightforward efficiency upgrades like LED lighting, HVAC, lighting timers, and better insulation and windows. Wasteful energy spending is not prudent. Um, it's not a prudent use of our taxpayer dollars. As a homeowner, I've learned that when you actively track and manage our energy use, you spot problems earlier. Systems running when buildings are empty, aging equipment, or inefficiencies that quietly drive up costs. Proactive management prevents small issues from becoming expensive emergencies. And the same principle applies to our city's facilities. Better energy management also strengthens our city's resilience. Efficient, well-maintained buildings are more reliable during heat waves and extreme weather like the weather we're expecting this weekend. And they can serve as cooling centers when our most vulnerable neighbors need them the most, particularly in the summer months. This kind of preparedness is becoming increasingly important as storms and heat events become more frequent, and Winston Salem is especially vulnerable to heat events. There's also a financial and leadership case to be made for this. Cities that address climate and infrastructure risk are viewed as more favorable by credit rating agencies and are better positioned to compete for state and federal grants. They're also more attractive to employers. Prioritizing energy management demonstrates long-term fiscal responsibility and builds public trust. Finally, this is about the f future that we are signaling. Taking real steps toward the city's net zero goals that we've publicly stated show that Winston Salem values smart governance, public health, and economic opportunity, and that we're ready to lead by example. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Miss Brown. Matthew Mayers. My name is Matthew Mayers. I live at 2844 Wesley and Lane. Good evening and thank you for having me this evening. Um I'm also here to cheer you on uh to save taxpayer money through energy efficiency. Um, and also to thank staff. I understand that at least some baby steps have been taken to look into opportunities through a Duke Energy program, the Smarts Saver program for at least one rec center um to see how some money might be saved in that way, which is terrific news to hear and I hope that that can continue and expand and accelerate. Um, just as a reminder to you all about what this program does. Um, well, actually, as a reminder to you all, if you look at your own power bill, you'll see on there a series of riders. Those are just things they add on top of how much electricity you actually use. Those pay for things like this, this energy efficiency programming, we're paying for it anyway, so we may as well use it. Um, some of your facilities will not be eligible because they'll be considered large load customers who can opt out of paying that rider and therefore can't use the programs. But some a lot of your facilities like every rec center, every fire station and so on smaller buildings will be eligible. And what they can do with that is get up to an 80% subsidy from Duke Energy to change out to efficient lighting like LEDs. There's some other parts of it as well, some thermostat programs, etc. Um, I think you all know, many of you were on the council when you voted to change out to new LED street lights. So, you all know it's a good investment whether you have a subsidy or not. It pays back quickly. When you have an 80% subsidy, that's just money on the table. And I hope that we can all agree that we should be grabbing that money and making better use of our taxpayer dollars. Um, as Miss Brown pointed out, there's a host of reasons to do this from environmental to uh to desiraability as a place to live to financial and and fiscal and to burnish your own to burnish your own reputations as leaders of this great city. So, thanks so much for your time and let's go LEDs. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayors. Cynthia Herson. >> Hi, Cynthia Herson, 1200 Willie Davis Drive. Good evening, mayor and council members. My name here on behalf of Christina Handy and her four kids. I sent y'all an email. I'm pretty sure y'all got it. Thanks for responding, Scott. Winston Salem has city-owned lots, abandoned properties, and housing authority partnership. Yet, families are still being told their only options is a shelter. The city has the ability to coordinate emergency housing placement, use city owned property for interimm housing, intervene with housing partners to prevent displacement. I need y'all to stop the criminalization of homelessness before it happened. In regards to Christina Handy, a court has already found that equity requires protection. The question tonight is whether the city will act before displacement becomes permanent. The city of Win Salem should not be in the business of reacting to homelessness after the homeless harm is done. We ask you would act now while intervention is still possible. Male protein, you say you are passionate for housing. Can we get some of that passion for the people that belongs in those housing so that they won't become homeless? Barbara Burke, she's in your district. We ask that followup happens before the court stay expires so our kids don't become homeless. Shelters are not housing solution for families when the city has other tools available. I need y'all to make some of that available now. Please, I'm asking you, begging you, coming at you with consideration, at least to think about it long and hard cuz it can be done. We can all work together. I'm trying hard. What about y'all? You too, mayor. I'm speaking as a constituent asking the city to use his own resource to stop preventable harm. I mean, can you think about a child being left on the street? But look at that child back there sleeping. Is that going to be his only place where he go and find shelter at some place where he can go to sleep at just for a minute just to get out the cold that's coming that's happening? Just asking. I'm asking y'all to respond to my answer too. answer the email if not for me. But at least think about Christine and her four kids. She's been trying hard and she don't she shouldn't have this to happen to her. And there should be some kind of availability something and it any of y'all can get anybody consideration help resources for this woman. Please, I'm begging you out of consideration, out of empathy, out of something that should be done anyway. again, please answer this woman complaint. Help this woman because she is in a position that she didn't put herself in and the city did. Thank you. U might ask our assistant city manager, Miss Dr. Wright Laneir, if you can maybe follow up with them to see if there's anything we can do to make sure getting all the resources available. That's all the individuals who signed up for our public comment period. Are there else who would like to speak during our public Yes. Olivia Doyle, 215 North Peace Haven. I'm just following up with what Cynthia brought up. Um, I also sent uh an email akin to hers and Scott, you also responded. Um, just to give you an update on the things that you specifically asked about, whether we had reached out to Aspire and whether we had reached out to legal aid. Legal aid has been contacted. Legal Aid did assist on um I believe one of the court dates, but did not uh thoroughly advocate for um the courts to fully look into uh the charges that had been brought against Christina as the basis of her eviction. Those charges have since been cleared, but the eviction is still standing. And that's the the problem that we're facing right now is we're trying to get some sort of stay on that eviction um basically to make sure that she's not pushed out of public housing with her children um before she has the opportunity to find and secure an alternative housing. Of course, with her current public housing status um if she's got an eviction that's on her record, it makes it infinitely harder for her to get into other public housing, right? Which are options that we've looked into and we've gotten some responses on. Um but we need that eviction to be cleared, right? Um as for Aspire, of course, Aspire being the uh the city entity that manages these public housing properties and having the eviction put forth, um they are not being extremely cooperative in terms of um negotiating with her and helping uh get this sorted out. So basically, we're coming to the city to ask, can you help um communicate with Aspire? Maybe push Aspire a little bit um to make sure that within this court case, she gets at least a month more um time to get into alternative public housing. That would be great. Thanks. >> Thank you. I'm happy to reach out to them after I'm uh right Lir and I talk on on what she finds out. I'm happy to reach out to um Ted over at the housing authority. Anyone else? All right. Seeing no one, I'll declare a public comment period closed and would enter. Oh, was there someone else? >> Oh, yes, ma'am. >> I don't know what um I don't know what I'm allowed to say and not to say, but I would like to um I'm Christina Handy. I would like for you all to understand that Aspire has been known for bullying their tenants. They have been known for allowing criminal activity to go on. Um they have been known for just doing things that are not right. And I know somebody should know about this or should see what they're doing to the people in their community, especially people like me. People who don't deserve this. I don't lay around or sit around and do nothing all day. I've actually been working towards doing a lot. And I have urban strategies, the people that the organization that was placed there um to help us with relocation services, to help us with job training, which they've done none of that, by the way. A lot of the stuff that I've gotten done, I presented to them myself. Um and they they can they can attest to all of this. They can attest to who I am, who my family is. The fact that we've never caused a problem in the 8 years that we were there. And for Aspire to do what they did to me, it's I feel like it should be unlawful. It's not right. It's wrongful. And nobody is doing anything about them. And they so many people have died there. So many people have lost their lives. So many mothers have lost their children. Nobody is doing anything about this situation. There's so much drug activity there. That's all I want to say. So, I don't know if I was supposed to say any of that. Thank you, Miss Handy. Appreciate it. All right. Anyone else? All right. Well, I'll declare the public comment period closed and would recognize a motion for adjournment. >> So, move. >> Motion by Mayor Pro Tim, second by Council Member Hall. All those in favor of journing, please say I. >> I. When opposed? No. We're adjourned.