They grow up way too fast for you to waste even a single precious moment. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Men's flames don't work. That's the minute. >> I don't see any numbers in here. There we go. See where it does. >> We're ready. >> Good afternoon everyone. Good morning and good afternoon everyone. Thank you for being here. Good evening. I think it's evening, but you never can tell in this weather. Um, so I want to say thank you for joining us here in person and we also want to recognize those that are watching online for our April 27th business meeting. So now let's begin with introductions at the dis and we will start with our city working city clerk. >> Clerk okay Billy Tons, deputy city clerk. >> Andrea Leslie fight city attorney. Good evening, Dimple Edge Mara at large. >> Good evening. >> I'm Victoria Watlington and I have the pleasure of serving you as a member at large. >> I'm Joy Mayo. I represent district 3. >> Marcus Jones, city manager. >> I'm Val Charlotte Mayor, but I would also like to take a moment that we continue to recognize council member Johnson who is working and very hard to keep her husband healthy and I hope she's watching us tonight. Thank you very much. M. >> Okay. Good evening everyone. James Mitchell, mayor pro tip. >> Good evening. Kimberly Owens representing district six. >> Jonathan Grim, District 2, >> Ed Drake, District 7. >> Good evening. Lana Mayfield, council member at large. And I would like to acknowledge our judge Charlotte Brown is in the house with us tonight. >> Good evening. JD Masera Aas proudly representing the East Side District 5. Good evening. Dante Anderson, District 1. >> All right. Thank you very much for all of you and and we'll continue our meeting. We begin our meeting with an invocation and expression or of inspiration followed by the pledge of allegiance. This fa this this information is intended to solemnize what we're doing and the work that we do. We expect that we would like to have all of you participate and follow us, but we want to do this and know let us know that we celebrate the religious diversity in our community, including those without a religious faith. Tonight, I'm going to ask Council Member Asher to give us our invocation. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Good evening. Please bow. Go ahead. We gather tonight in service to our community, guided by a shared responsibility to listen with openness, lead with integrity, and act with purpose. As we recognize Earth Day and Arbor Day this past week, let us be reminded of our deep connection to the world around us, to the trees we plant, the water we protect, and the neighborhoods we are called to serve. Charlotte Water has asked residents to practice voluntary conservation as our region manages dry conditions, reminding us that our natural resources are not unlimited. That reality should guide every decision we make from how we grow to how we build to how we protect the people who call this city home. May our decisions reflect not not only the needs of today but the hopes of generations to come. Whether we are discussing transportation projects like I77, the placement of data centers or the preservation of green space and clean air. May we remember that progress must never come at the expense of people. Let us have the wisdom to balance growth with stewardship. Innovation with responsibility and urgency with fairness. The trees we plant and the environment we protect are lasting investments in Charlotte's future. Symbols of resilience, sustainability, and care. May we carry that same spirit into our work here, nurturing a city that is inclusive, thriving, and worthy of those who who will inherit it after us. We are thankful for this day, its opportunities and its challenges. May we be inspired to give our best and be assured of your presence with us. Let us move forward together. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> So, please join us if you would like to for 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. >> Mayor. >> Yes, sir. Mr. >> I would like to just take this opportunity to point out that we have the uh Charlotte Catholic School Political Science class in the chamber with us. Would you guys stand up? >> All right. >> All right. >> Welcome. Let's put on a good show for them so that one day they may want to come down and be in these seats. >> Thanks, guys. >> So, I think he was just making an offer for you guys to come down after you take out all of your college and everything else that you're going to do. All right. So, thank you very much for being here with us tonight. So let's continue. Um we'll start with our consent agenda items questions and answers um placed for the council that have opportunity. So I have a for me for before me the agenda items 23 and 43 may be considered in one motion except for those items removed by council. Are there any items to be removed by council? Um Excuse me, mayor. Just sorry. Logistically, there's also two that have been pulled. Item number 41 and 43 are settled. They're property transactions, so they're removed from the >> That's a good plan that we get something accomplished in that. So, thank you very much. Um, and so I did >> 31, please, >> Miss Lington. >> 31, please. >> I couldn't hear you. 31. >> 31. So, item 31 will be on this. So, All right. Anyone else that has anything that they wanted to rec pull or change? Hearing none of that, let's go to item 31. Okay. And who who presented that item? >> Oh, I thought had some >> I don't know. Um, >> let's go. Go first. Okay. Uh, I just I didn't want Council Member Mayfield to miss her numbers. So, if um we're going to jump to 31 then. >> All right. Thank you. I had a couple of questions for staff. Thank you all for pulling some of these answers. I just want to um enter them into the record for the public. Uh firstly, as it relates to the cat's capital program management services, are the consultants going to be assigned the tasks for the CBI firms listed in the staff report? >> So, those are the ones that they've put forward. Now, it depends. This is task order, so it's not already predetermined. And depending on the task order, yes, they will negotiate with the CBI firms with the ones they've listed and potentially others too. Okay. So, what's important to me is that in particular for the um for the CBI related uh businesses that they are included on some of the things, right? Because what I would hate to see happen is our um our team that was brought together end up not being able to utilize their CBI businesses because those tasks don't fall within their scope. So what role do do we play in ensuring that? >> So we do work with them and negotiate based on the task and based on the general task they've already identified some people that they would use. But to your point too about following up anytime they submit an invoice they have to submit their utilization to. So we do monitor that >> for sure >> for payment. >> Okay. So that one's pretty important to me on a from a proactive stance. I understand certainly they'll they'll send over the appendix with with the payout, but I want to make sure that we're helping to guide those discussions to ensure that there's um sufficient utilization on tasks that make sense. Yes. >> Does that make sense? Whether it's risk management or anything, >> right? And this is more project management. So they've already got some partners lined up for those. Yes. Um, so then I'm sorry, last thing on that one. I just want to be clear, the partners are there, but when it actually comes to executing the work, >> how do we know that those partners will be utilized for the specific scope that they >> So, so in general, they're just based on the types of work they're doing. They already know I'm going to do this project management, so I've got these partners whenever I get. So, there's two firms and depending on which one aligns better with the task, it it's more so about which firm versus the specific um because they've already designated who CBI partners they're going to use. >> Okay. So, if you sorry and maybe I'm not being clear, but if you look at the bottom, so if I'm one of these and I get a job, I know I'm going to use this person for risk management. I've already defined who I'm going to use cuz that's going to be kind of standard or no matter even though the scope might be different, it's going to be standard for the project management work. So what you're saying is if firm A has a risk manager and firm B has a risk manager, they've already determined which group which firm is going to take that piece of the scope. I could see if only one firm has a particular type of service. But if two firms have the same service within their team, how are we ensuring that CBI firms are actually getting part of that? >> So when the task is done, we we city staff and CBI and cats work with them to make sure they have participation or they wouldn't move forward with a um task unless to your point unless it's something unique extenduating circumstance where they weren't just consulting and not doing something. >> Gotcha. Thank you for that. Um my second question there on 31 again is is there a mechanism for cats to report back to council how CBI utilization is being tracked on a monthly basis? I know we talked about the the pays and the invoice appendix that comes with it, but >> so there's a couple options, you know, if council um it's up to council's pleasure if they would like to receive like a report out. Currently they don't but they are included in the it's not as um robust as what you mean but annually from the CBI report but and we do get it on invoice basis but to your point if council's preference is to receive it more often we could provide that. >> I certainly would like to see it more often just because this is going to be a substantial one going forward. Um then thirdly after contract execution would cats be open to the consultants bringing in other local firms? >> Yes for sure. I mean, of course, we always want more participation. Now, it depends. We'd have to work with procurement to make sure and CI to get them make sure they're registered and make sure whatever um requirements or legal pieces are in place. But yes, awesome. And then lastly, um I just wanted to comment that it's important that as we think about all of the infrastructure and transportation work that's going on in these CAT specific projects that that coordination is there with NC DOT uh going forward because there's going to be a lot of decisions to be made and as we'll hear more about later on today thinking about the projects as a part of that broader network. So thank you for following up on these. >> All right. All right, Mr. Graham. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, and I'm tracking 100% with Council Member Wallington. Uh, this is the largest transit project in the city's history. >> These firms identify small and minority owned firms as the part of their package. Uh, and I want some assurance that they these guys going to be utilized and that they just they were just not inserted to get the contract. And so can they come back in 6 months and tell us where they are with the utilization of those firms that they have identified. >> Yes. Because we wouldn't be paying them. So and we could tell you two things. What what contractually was negotiated and also report out on utilization >> utilization with those firms that they identified that will be a part of their team. >> Correct. And it's task order. So you know how many ever. So it's each one. So it's individual ones. when you said a big project. Yes, sir. For sure. But these are task orders on individual pieces of a project. But yes, >> I think I think that's extremely important. And you said the word the second one is payout. Making sure that when these firms are paid that the invoices are timely paid. That seems to be historically an issue. And so small business owners can't wait as long as some of the other big boys that are getting paid. So if there can be some u again a six-month comeback to this council in terms of all those firms are being utilized and making sure that they are timely paid uh for the services that they rendered. They can't wait 60 90 120 days like our general is 30-day turnaround and we try to beat that. So if you are hearing about the ones that aren't Yeah. We definitely will look into that. >> There's there's a there's a reputation out there that we don't pay out bills timely. up >> timely, right? And so >> as we move forward with this, especially towards small businesses, I mean, they just cannot wait, >> right? Uh so I'm tracking with Council Member Wallington on that for sure. Uh and um yes, I'll just leave it there. And um I I would love for this to come back in six months and we can find out who's on first and who's on second and and who's participating. >> Yes, sir. Thank you very much. Um, I do want to know that we have the opportunity for us to have additional information. So, I'm going to move the consideration to Miss Mayfield on item 31. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Along with Dr. Watlington and council member DR ground's comments. I want to make sure that it's very clear where I think we have an opportunity when our subcontractors contract with the prime that is a separate contract that the city is not a part of. One of the challenges that has been shared with council member Mitchell and other members of council is it is our subs that do not receive necessarily 30 45day pay. They may receive pay 60 90 days or even up to 120. and the way that the contracts are written, they do not have the ability to come to council >> and to go back to help >> ensure that their payment is within a timely manner. I believe that the city pays the prime >> in a relative quick manner. that prime is not always making sure that our subs who are in much different financial positions. We have a couple of million-dollar projects here, more than multi-million dollar projects where we have a participation where one prime is getting $5,000 or another is getting under $50,000. Well, that $50,000 could be the turnaround of whether or not they're able to pay their employees. And although under council member leadership and other council's council members leadership, we created a partnership with CLIM. Climb is not there to be a enforcer of payment. They're not a payment collection agency. That is not why we created that partnership. They're to help with the contracts. So we've already identified this. Staff has been working on it. We just I believe for my colleagues we want to ensure on the front end because I have asked this question at previous meeting. How do we track when we identify multiple subcontractors to be a part of a major contract? How are we tracking because we have some that I've met where we award they were listed to be awarded a year ago >> but yet they have not actually been able to participate in work. So I think we have an opportunity with you utilizing modern technology and other ways to actually track to ensure that if we're going to identify you as being rewarded, we should have some type of mechanism where we're saying within a certain window either a quarter or by the second quarter, we have clearly identified that sub being able to participate or have a window of expectation of when they will be able to participate. Of course, this does not fall all on you, but I'm hoping that staff as mainly our manager hears where we have an opportunity to really ensure that we are supporting and growing our small businesses in the city. Thank you, Madame Mayor. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else that has a remark or not an issue? Um, so let's go ahead and say that um we is there are we prepared to take a vote for any additional items? All right. Item 33. >> Excuse me, ma madam mayor. So it' be a motion for consent items 23 through 43 with the exception of actually 41 and 43. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Oh, second over there. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor, please raise your hands. I believe that's unanimous. Thank you. So, like now comes the fun. >> All right. So, let's go ahead and continue. And I want to recognize um Council Member Owen Kimberly. >> Would you take We didn't >> We need We need to take action on item 31. >> Did we take action on item 31? We need a >> We just talked about it. >> Thank you, Miss Watlington. >> I move to >> Okay, >> approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any other comments? All in favor. >> All right. I believe that's unanimous. Thank you very much for that. All right. So, um, Council Member, >> um, >> am I just reading the proclamation? >> Yes, please. >> Sure. >> Thank you. Um I have a proclamation to read. Uh whereas am myotrophic lateral scerosis also commonly known as Lou Garri's disease is a progressive fatal neurogenerative disease in which a person's brain loses connection with their muscles slowly reducing a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe. And thousands of new ALS cases are reported every year. Estimates show that every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes away from ALS. Whereas on average patients diagnosed with ALS survive only 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis and the exact causes of ALS are unknown and there is no known cure for ALS. And whereas people who have served in the military are more likely to develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service. And whereas securing access to new therapies, durable medical equipment, and communication technologies is of vital importance to people living with ALS. >> And whereas clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new treatments, enhancing quality of life, and fostering assisted technologies for those living with ALS. The ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funer of ALS research globally and has committed more than 154 million to support more than 550 projects across the United States and 18 other countries. The ALS Association is committed to make ALS livable and cure it for everyone everywhere. And whereas ALS awareness month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the dire circumstances of people living with ALS acknowledge the terrible impact this disease has had on individuals and their families and support research to eradicate the disease. Now therefore, our mayor via Alexander Lyles does hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as ALS awareness month in Charlotte and commend its observance to all of our residents. witness her hand and seal the city of Charlotte by Liles. >> Is Is there anyone in chamber to whom I can present the proclamation? >> Okay, we will follow up with the person who proposed it. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Great job, Kim. >> And so now we will go to our public forum. I would like to thank all of you for joining us and on behalf of the entire city council, I ask that all speakers and audience members be civil and courteous in their use of language. Speakers are encouraged to address council and should refrain from responding to audience members. Likewise, audience members should be courteous of each speaker and not yell out or interrupt their that person. We want to ensure that everyone has the chance to be heard. And since there are more than 10 speakers um today um each speaker will have two minutes to address the council. And we will start with Gary Marian. Mr. Marian, do we have anyone in overflow? Is there anyone in overflow? >> Is someone in overflow? >> I I'm not aware. >> Okay. >> If Gary can hear us, then uh he can come in. >> All right. And then our next speaker is John Chin. >> Mr. Chin. Thank you. If you would come down and >> get a microphone up there on that D up there. >> Thank you. Will this one work? >> Yes, this one will work. >> You have two minutes. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> My name is John Chen. I'm with the Carolina Asian-American Chamber of Commerce and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you in 2022 in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic and the rise in anti-Asian violence. Our team make a commitment. We have a vision to transform our diverse and often insular community with a significant income disparity in recent decades into one that's more connected and mutually supportive entity especially for those who are underserved. I'm pleased to report to you that we've been making meaningful progress. In 2023, we launched a journey of hope deposit. H I'm sorry, exhibit with a three months event that brought together over 20 ethnic groups to share their stories. It's not just an exhibit, it's a bridge connecting 20 communities who rarely work together in the past. And with the city council's support, with the eco partner and later on the financial partner grants, we're able to expand our programs for workshops to support the small Asian-owned businesses as well as skill trade training for the young adults in our refugee communities. This year over 50 participants will work and get completed get a certificate in areas like HVAC, electrical works, EMS, computer literacy, all pathways leading to solid jobs and better future. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Two minutes there fast. Okay, >> it does go very quickly. >> We are deeply grateful >> well I >> for your support and partnership. >> We're not just building programs. We're building lives, >> strengthening our community and creating opportunity for everyone to succeed. >> Thank you very much. And also I want to acknowledge the people coming to support us. And thank you the Cambodian and Montya communities. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> Our next speaker is Jeremy Lamb. >> Oh, that was >> I'm sorry. Angelica Crawford. >> Crawford. >> Yep. Double up. >> Good evening, mayors, um, city council members, and community leaders. My name is Angelica Crawford. I am the executive director of Jumping Dreams. a world champion Charlottebased nonprofit double dutch program. For the past eight years, Jumping Dreams has served over 7,000 youth across our city. We provided summer camps, after school programming, summer feeding initiatives, and consistent youth engagement, even during COVID when kids needed the most. Through the art and sport of double dutch, our athletes have represented Charlotte nationally and internationally, bringing home first place titles, but more importantly, demonstrating discipline, leadership, and strong character wherever they go. Tonight, I'm not here just to share the story, but to ask for your support. In June 2026, our do program will represent the city of Charlotte in a world tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio. These are talented, hardworking young people who have earned this place on stage. We're seeking financial support to help cover their essential needs to get there. It could be travel, lodging, mills, anything. The kids work really, really hard to represent our city for the positive that Charlotte has to give. And we don't want the financial barriers of the families to prevent them from going. um if you need numbers of how you guys can support, I'm happy to send the email to get the support, but it's bigger than that. So, we've been here for eight years and we've gone from churches to schools to community spaces, whatever we could do to provide programming. What I'm looking for is a home for our kids. If you think about a kid going from foster home or family homes, they're not going to grow effectively until we have a home. So, I'm looking for a home for jumping dreams. if the city could help us get a home so we can sustain, grow, and continue to make an impact. I'm a product of what I started along with all of our coaches who are volunteers coming from Hartford, Connecticut, Boston, New York, everywhere. And now we're here at a poor back into the kids. I'm just a product of what we do and I need help. That's it. Thank you for your time. >> No, thank you for what you do. I mean, that's an important thing. And to have double Dutch winners, this is like really cool, right? So, um, let's let's just see how the community can help as well as we can help and we'll just keep on going. Thank you so very much for what you're doing. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I I wish I brought the um the bag for it so we could just put everybody's money in right now. But we'll figure it out. We'll work on it. Okay. So, um, now we're going to hear from Dr. Donald Jason. I really get this one. >> Jeremy Lamb. >> Hello. Hello, >> Mr. Lamb. >> Hey. >> Hi. My name is Jeremy Lamb. I play cello in the Charlotte Symphony and um I'm here for Thank you. for the second time in six months to talk about um all the cars that drive around that have either no mufflers or they have illegally modified muffler cutouts. So, um they you know they make they do that to make a a hellacious noise. Um, and last time in October when I spoke here, you you put me in touch with Sean Heath, the deputy city manager. But he honestly didn't even know what a muffler cutout was. And so he said he would talk to the police and I don't think he really knew what to do. So I just in the last couple months just walking around the streets of Charlotte where, you know, I'm dining and sleeping and, you know, whatever. I I made a video for you guys and I'm turning the the volume up so you can hear what cars sound like with with modified muffler cutouts. Okay. >> Oh, thank you. >> Oh, I know. >> Wait. No, no, no, no. >> Don't pull up the wrong video. Heat. Heat. time. >> Okay, thank you. I think that we we we got it. We really did get Thank you. It would be great if you guys could do something about it. Thank you. >> Thank you for your music. >> I mean, seriously, thank you for playing in the orchestra. >> I think he really meant the um symphony part, not the music I was listening to. Right. Thank you, Mr. Driggs. All right. So, um, we'll continue on and we're going to hear from, uh, >> Barbara Wine, >> Donald Ellington Drive, >> doc Dr. Johnson Jason. That's Jason. >> Donald Jason. Donald >> Jason. Yeah. >> Is he here? >> Mr. Donald Jason. >> Oh, okay. So, I'm so sorry. Mr. Donald Jason. Donald Jason. >> Okay. >> Barbara Wine. >> All right. Now we'll go to Barbara Wine. Miss Wine. Barbara Wine. >> Okay. Um and then our next one is John Abraham. Abraham. I'm speaking but yeah. >> So Mike Wine, Mr. White, Mr. >> Mike Wine, >> got the whole family. >> I think we got Abram. We got Anthony Abram. We're just going down this list here. Anthony Abram, just to make sure. >> Um Chris Connelly. >> There he is. All right. >> Okay. Here we are. Thank you. I think these videos everybody. >> Good evening. My name is Chris Connelly and I have lived in Charlotte since 1993. My family moved to the downtown neighborhood as pioneers in 1998. Back then, our downtown was just starting to populate with homes and learning how to come alive after 5:00 p. p.m. As true believers in our city's promise, our neighbors wholeheartedly supported our leaders efforts to make this happen. In time, our city attracted tourists, diners, sports fans, music goers, music lovers from across the region. We even brought leaders here from across the nation to see President Obama accept this historic renomination in 2012. And for a while, we were so proud and with good reason. But every bit of that progress to attract and keep residents and visitors is now in jeopardy. Is jeopardy is jeopardized by lawless street takeovers. Is jeopardized by bicycle mobs that endanger themselves and everyone around them. Is jeopardized by grown men acting like adolesccents showing off trying to prove something by blasting their car sound systems and revving their engines like they're at NASCAR or cutting out their muffles like we just heard. All of which is illegal, but none of which is enforced or penalized. This is because our police department is grossly underststaffed and must therefore triage and respond only to to the crisis of the minute. It does not have the necessary resources to proactively tackle the offenses that destroy the attractiveness, the livability, and the vibrancy of our community. I think we would be embarrassed right now on the national stage if we were to bring back the DNC here with what we've allowed our center city to become. Sad sad sad to say. Last year, this council passed a substantial vibrancy tax just on the Trian Street business and residential community. That money has not yet been applied in ways that can significantly address these very traffic related issues on this Tryan corridor, which is literally and fig literally and figuratively the backbone of our city. We ask that you use these resources and other resources, our tax dollars for effective reinforcement of these traffic and noise related laws that will make our city enjoyable and safe. Thank you for our service to our community. >> Thank you very much. >> Our next speaker is Matt Wesler. Thank you. Come on down. Good evening, city council. My name is Matt Wesler and I serve as one of your adviserss on the Charlotte Bike Advisory Committee. I'm also the father of a 19-month-old toddler who rides on the back of my bike as I commute with him from the West End to daycare in Uptown, which I've been told is very cute. A In my role on the BAC, I regularly hear from charlatans who would also like to bike with their children, but choose not to because they feel our streets are unsafe. That perception is grounded in reality. In Charlotte, pedestrian and bicycle crashes make up just 1.5% of all crashes, yet account for 29% of all serious and fatal injuries, a disparity well above the national average. When streets feel dangerous, people don't bike. As a result, Charlotte lags behind peer cities like Minneapolis, where the average worker is 10 times more likely to commute by bike. That difference is not accidental. Minneapolis has made sustained investments in building a safe, connected bike network, funding its bicycle program at roughly $14 per person per year, compared to about $3 per person per year in Charlotte. That funding gap translates directly what we can and cannot build. Charlotte's bike program is a lowcost, high impact safety tool. It allows people to avoid our high injury corridors by building connections between existing low stress neighborhood streets, turning dead ends into living ends while linking strategic investment areas into a coherent citywide network. For that reason, the BAC recommends increasing the bike program budget from its current $8 million every two years to $20 million every two years. If new sales tax revenues are programmed as anticipated, that would scale the bike program proportionally with overall C dot funding while significantly expanding its impact. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, so our next speaker is Hugh Templeton. Temple book. Temple temple. >> Long way down. >> Take your time. >> Please take your time. >> Mayor Lyles. Pro Mitchell. Good to see you. >> Nice seeing you, sir. >> My name is Hugh Champleman. I'm the general manager of the Grand Bohemian here in Charlotte. >> I was the opening general manager and been here for seven years and I'm a proud resident. >> Thank you. >> My history is that I've worked and lived on four continents doing luxury hotels um for over 38 years. I'm representing a community in this town with me in the in the audience um that is very concerned. The market is down 4% of travelers coming into Charlotte over the last 12 months. Part of that problem is amazingly attached to the video we heard earlier, noise in the city. One needs to understand that perception is reality. Not only is the noise an issue, it is also the perception of safety as an issue in a location that has got a convention center, more than 212 hotels, more than 2,500 restaurants. I have examples which I'd like to share with the uh with the council which I'll pass out of all of the complaints not all many complaints that exist in our in our world. I'm going to give you an example. My hotel, 70 complaints in 2025. Now 70, not so big deal. There's a thing called intent to recommend. That's when a guest tells tells you either online or through a survey or what have you, how well are you doing? My hotel does 78% positive process versus 22% negative. Not so bad. >> If you take that number out, it moves to 83%. If you take the noise complaints out, that puts you in elite status. Right. That that mentions you in into premier process. We're talking about how do we do this and make this better. You know, we're losing business as a city. I'm losing business as a hotel. How much of a problem? $140,000 I spent to put third glazing into my hotel. >> My investment into a noise problem. That's our problem. It is very important that we as an organization or as a city address this issue not only for its for its safety issues but its long-term negative impact on the potential business outliers that exist for us as a city. >> But I'm coming here with a solution. We have an idea. There are there are places around the world that do this very well. >> Even in our own country in Philadelphia where they come up with a situation of sound activated street cameras. So you'll get fined if your car is too loud. >> You may like good. >> No, I I just wanted to make sure that um we're being recognized in this and so we've have your remarks, additional remarks as well. I I we've heard this this is an issue and I think that we've got to pay somewhere in a place to figure out how this works better. So thank you very much for the comments and bringing it a reality. Thank you. >> No problem. I'll leave this here. >> Give it to the clerk >> at the end there. Perfect. >> Next, our next speaker is Kathleen Mundle. Good evening, mayor and members of the council. Um, I pretty much have nothing left to say >> because I am also here to talk about the noise in this city as a neighbor who lives here. And I would like but still quickly to make a couple of points. Um, one is that we who live in the city understand that cities are noisy. Um, noisier places certainly than suburban neighborhoods and rural neighborhoods. I would like you to understand that we living in the city are neighborhoods too. We we live in a neighborhood. I have spent 23 years at the corner of 7th and Church Streets um a block away from the Discovery Place. That's my neighborhood. We have families. We have houses. We have children. We have buildings. We We in the city are are are being subjected to noise levels and safety issues that would not be tolerated in other parts of the county. Where did you get that? Excessive noise levels lead to safety issues. Noise and safety issues lead to business issues as you've just heard. And they discourage people from coming into the city. And I mean, I can I can tell you about my brother and sister-in-law who with a group of six other people came into the city all the time. They were in the city when I first moved here more than I went to restaurants in the city. I can't get them to come to dinner anymore, you know. Um, you walk down the street at night and it's just it's noise. It's aggravating. We live in a those of us who live in the city live in literally a canyon where that noise that that Jeremy talked to you show listened to you that reverberates forever at 2 or 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning and sometimes on Sunday afternoons. I would like to say that Charlotte aspires to be a worldclass city. But while several worldclass cities and other cities of our size have instituted creative pilot programs to deal with these issues, we have not. And you just heard one of them which is a very popular one and that's the cameras. So I want to tell you that we want to be a worldclass city and we are asking you and our elect our elected officials and public leaders to find it in yourselves to tackle this problem that other cities are addressing while I'm sitting in here speaking. I know we can do this. I know we can be a city with a truly enviable reputation, but right now we're coming up short. >> Thank you. Thank you so very much. >> Our next speaker is Charles McDow. This is interesting. >> Oh, what's in the packet? >> Good evening, mayor, council members. My name is Charles McDonald Medino and I have been working at Charlotte airport for over a year. I earn 1250 an hour helping American Airlines passengers who need wheelchairs assistant navigate the airport safely. The passengers I assist can be elderly, disabled, or visually impaired. I help them with their luggage, assist them getting to to the bathroom and make sure they are able to get something to eat before they get to their flight. I try to make passengers day better and help them travel with less stress. But every day I face stress due to my poor working conditions. The weight of being the sole provider of my family sits heavy on my shoulders. I take care of my young nephew and help my sister out. If I have to miss a couple days of work because I'm sick, it disrupts our entire cash flow. I don't get paid sick leave and I can't afford health insurance. If I don't go to work, I won't be able to pay for basic necessities. These are a pair of my work shoes. As you can see, I walk 10 to 14 miles every shift and I'm now on my third pair. The reality for us workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is that we are we're underst staffed and don't have enough workers. Some of us are even asked by management to double push, meaning pushing two wheelchairs at the same time. Imagine walking through a crowded airport, pushing two wheelchairs at once while trying to navigate around people. Now add a tight connection and your luggage to the situation. It's stressful and can be dangerous for both me and the passengers. When it's really busy, I've seen passengers left behind waiting more than 30 minutes because there simply aren't enough of us. My job is to make sure these passengers are comfortable and safe. But how can I do that if I'm being rushed by management? They rush us while doing aisle chairs. These are narrow wheelchairs we use to transport passengers. We're helping them to get uh to and from their seats on the aircraft. But some of these chairs are maintained and falling apart. We can do our best for customers, but management tells us that they can get fined if passengers stay on the plane too long. >> Passengers deserve better, and so do we, the workers. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Darthy Griffin. on Miss Griffin. still. >> She's not here. >> Is Miss Griffin here? >> She's up there. She's >> Oh, she's objective. >> She's at the very top. Thank you so much for Yes. opportunity to for her to be here. So, thank you very much. Um, go ahead and begin. >> No. >> Hello. My name is Dorothy Griffin and I've been working for the airport for eight years. I've worked as a terminal cleaner, a cabin cleaner, and now I'm inside the pro shop at ABM. And my job is to give out the equipment to the workers that clean the planes and search the planes for foreign objects. So their the equipment so they can do their work. We play an important part in the travel in travel safety of the passengers. But we work hard to to make sure that they have safe travels, but we're underpaid. We're tired. We if we don't excuse me I'm tired. My co-workers sometime they don't have the right equipment to work with and we get blamed for that. We don't get no overtime. We always have to do this. If they don't find an object on the plane, they get fired. They're always I'm tired. I'm tired. >> Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm I'm just tired of not of making poverty wages. We have to do all of this and they want us to give them our best. And we do give them our best because we love our job. But we most of our work some half of our workers are homeless. We don't make enough money to feed our families. We don't make enough money for this. I'm 68 years old. Last year I had to let my car go because it was either drive to work or have somewhere to stay. And I chose to have a place to stay. I don't we don't get PTO's. We don't have time off. I am a grandmother, a great grandmother. I have 17 grandkids, 14 great grand kids. I had to take a PTO, a unpaid day off to to see the birth of my great grandbaby. It's not fair. All we're asking for is livable wages. We do the we do Charlotte Douglas Airport. We give them our all. And as everybody know, American Airlines is one of the biggest airlines out there. It's not it's no way that we should be making poverty wages and they're raking in all the money. It's just all we're come here wanting is to pay us what we do because we give you what you're due. Make sure you're safe when you travel. >> Thank Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Miss Corley. Miss Corley. >> Good evening, mayor and council members. Thank you for your time. I'm here to ask that you install a noise camera on Church Street to address the persistent problem of excessively loud cars and motorcycles. This is not just an annoyance. Chronic noise affects sleep, stress, and well-being. It's a safety issue as well. Since uptown is densely populated with crosswalks, jaywalkers, dog walkers, workers, and children, cities from New York to California have already implemented noise camera systems. In 2023, Knoxville's noise camera pilot program caught over 1,300 noise violations in only a few months. Their noise camera data demonstrated that these loud cars often drive with quick dangerous acceleration in heavy pedestrian areas. Their threshold for enforce enforcement is 82 dB, about the sound of a blender. Many altered cars far exceed 100 dB, comparable to a jackhammer or being on a construction site. More specifically, Knoxville signed a contract with the company Blue Line Solutions out of Chattanooga for red light speeding cameras. Blue Line Solutions company subcontracts noise cameras using intelligent instruments company noise cameras out of New York City. Again, or this is at no additional cost. Knoxville has gotten the red light cameras and at no additional cost, they get the noise cameras. They are moving forward with two permanent noise cameras in their downtown. We all want Charlotte to remain a lively, welcoming city that looks after residents and visitors by handling noise violations objectively without traffic stops or extra police resources. We can protect our quality of life and keep Uptown safe, vibrant, and fun for all. I strongly urge the city to implement a camera on Church Street. If other cities are successfully solving this problem, why can't Charlotte? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Tom Hatchet. Where are you? Where is he? >> Our writer Dr. H. >> Yeah, Dr. Hard. >> Is he the is is Dr. Hanchard in? >> If not, we'll go on. And our next speaker is Connie Proctor. >> Good evening. My name is Connie Proctor and I'm currently serving as chair of the bicycle advisory committee. The last time I was here, I shared with you a vision of a calm but vibrant treeline street where people of all ages and abilities could move freely. I come back tonight to remind you of that vision and ask for your action to help make it a reality. Dr. Watlington sent a message yesterday acknowledging that the way we have been approaching transportation planning is wrong. I am here to strongly agree. Community needs and concerns should not be considered at the end of the process. They should be considered at the beginning. Important work has been done as part of the strategic mobility plan. The community was asked what they wanted. The answer was clear. More choices. People in Charlotte want to be able to choose something other than a car for every trip. They reiterated that desire when they voted for the 1-cent sales tax. It is time to listen. It is time to shape the budget to reflect those needs and desires. It is time to build public spaces that serve children, the elderly, and everyone in between. I am therefore asking you to increase the bicycle program budget from 4 million annually to 10 million annually. The work uh and work with us to find ways to deliver better bicycle projects quicker. The only way to solve traffic is by providing viable alternatives to driving. >> So, let's fund those viable alternatives. Let's build a Charlotte where we can meet face to face, not windshield to windshield. Thank you. Our next speaker is Phoenix Emmanuel. Let's see. Mr. Emanuel. >> All right. I'm going to um go to the firefighters budget request for men me Mendez. >> Melendez. >> Melendez. >> Okay. So, when am I going to talk about that? >> Anytime. >> Good evening. Let's play a game where it was my husband. February 2026, during the first two days of a back injury, when I could hardly walk to get myself food, use the bathroom, or tend to our dogs. January 2025 when I frantically called my husband that our power was flashing in and out quickly followed by the smell of burning within 60 seconds. The dogs and I were home with no heat and freezing temperature for days without him. September 2024, I was in our home with no power for 15 days. I received one last call the morning of September 27th. my husband asking if we were okay as Hurricane Helen unexpectedly stood over our county in South Carolina before he went radio silent for days. He left on deployment to the mountains of North Carolina with other fire departments to help. Here's the truth. Where was my husband is our everyday reality in our household. During Signis, our region's famous snowstorms, and other weather related incidents, holidays and birthdays, dishes for phone calls are only a few minutes long, and much more. Can I share the hard reality of our household? My husband has always had a second job, as many firemen do. Our friends often ask, "So, what is your husband's side hustle?" Every fireman we meet has a second job. Firefighters work 52-hour work weeks, 12 more than other departments. Meanwhile, we cannot afford to live within a reasonable distance from the city which employs my husband. We currently face an even larger economic stress as we experience a one income household for the first time after I was laid off in December of 2025. My husband loves his job, but I see all this risk and sacrifice, training and dedication, passion for serving the citizens of this city. While we cannot sustain even the basics of living where he serves, we are falling behind on sleep, quality time, and bills while he's risking his life running into burning buildings. I watch my husband sacrifice his mental and physical health with long-term emotional and sleep issues. I am the wife of fireman Travis Cash, who serves in the special ops team of Charlotte Fire Department Rescue 11, while maintaining a second job. We demand a livable wage to provide for our family. Where is Travis Cash tonight? his second job. Thank you. Our next our next speaker is Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez, I do not. >> All right, we'll come back. Um, in >> All right, m our next speaker and our last speaker for this evening is Mr. Lockheart. Yeah, I don't see James a lot. >> I don't I don't see any. >> So, this concludes our um opportunities for our public hearing and and having that. Thank you all for being so patient and being so ex I just really have to say it's a good way of getting to know what's going on and you guys have done a great job to help us tonight. Thank you very much. All right. I have we have Mr. >> Hold the record mayor counsel I just want to recognize a colleague a former colleague who served on the dis actually serving this seat as mayor pro Tim he's here tonight Mr. Braxton Winston Braxton glad to see you here sir. All right. So, let's go on to item number, a public hearing and a decision on a resolution to close a portion of an unopen right of way off Port Henson Road. Thank you. All right. Who's a public hearing? Nobody No one signed up. So, um is there a motion? Move to approve A and B. >> Second. >> We have a motion for A and B and a second. Um any other comments? All in favor, please raise your hand. Anyone oppose? All right, that's unanimous. All right, the next one is a landmark designation. Close the public. >> So, let's see who's is this the one for Dante's area? Opening a public hearing on the fairies farm silos historic landmark designation. Madame clerk, do we have any speakers? We have no speakers. Anyone on the council for comment? >> All right. All in favor to conduct the public hearing to close portion of an open rightway A and B adopt a resolution to close. Second. >> Thank you very much, Miss Mayfield. All in favor, please raise your hand. Anyone opposed? There's no Opposition. So, let's see. So, now we're going to go to a public hearing on a resolution to close a portion of at adjacent adjacent to Raleigh Street. Madame Clerk, do we have any speakers? >> We don't have any speakers. Is there any one from the council >> to approve A and B? >> Second. >> B. All right, we have a second. All in favor, please raise your hand. Anyone opposed? It's unanimous. And now we're going to open the public hearing on a resolution to close a portion of an alleyway off Wadssworth Wattssworth Place. Madame clerk, do we have any speakers? >> All right. >> Move to approve A and B. >> Thank you, Mr. Driggs. Um, our next pick, we're now going to open the public hearing on a resolution to close a portion of Right ofway. >> May we have to have Do we have a second? >> Get a vote. We have a motion. Second, a second. We need to vote. All in favor? >> There we go. >> All right. Thank you. Let's go ahead and do that again. All over again. Here we go. Do we have anyone that would like to comment on this? >> I'm speak Okay. All in spa. All in. Do we have a motion >> or nine? >> We're on item nine. >> Or nine. Yes. Yes. For >> move to approve B&B. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. And so all in favor, please raise your hand. All right. We're now going to open public hearing on 2026 general airport revenue bonds and construction period financing. Madame clerk, do we have any speakers? >> We have two speakers. Um, can you provide me that information? Patrick Waterman and Tracy Montro. >> All right. Patrick Waterman. Mr. Waterman. >> Good evening, Mayor LS, Mayor Prom Mitchell, and members of the Charlotte City Council. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight in support of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport and the thousands of jobs, many held by your constituents that depend on continued airport investment. My name is Patrick Waterman. I serve as the incoming president of the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina. It's an association representing more than 200 engineering firms across the state engaged in projects that drive economic growth, ensure public safety, and protect our quality of life. Approval of these general airport revenue bonds help provide capital program that delivers not only essential infrastructure but sustained employment for engineers, designers surveyors environmental specialists, construction managers, and skilled trades from across the Charlotte region. While tonight's vote may not be controversial, it is consequential. These bonds fund projects that put people to work on the airport campus well beyond the fence line. CLT's capital program depends on the depth and expertise of North Carolina based engineering construction firms that strengthen the state's national reputation and keeping this work and these paychecks local. ACE strongly supports policies that advance infrastructure investment while promoting quality, innovation, and professional excellence. We believe this bond request is a result of strong collaboration among the city, airport leadership, airline partners, and the private engineering sector. That collaboration translate directly into employment for local residents. Thank you for your consideration of the broader impact that CLT airport has on our region and its workforce. Thank you again. >> I don't know if we need to say who you are, but if you'd like to be >> happy introduce myself and good evening everyone. My name is Tracy Montros. managing director of government affairs for American Airlines and very pleased to be with you, mayor and members of council. This month, American Airlines proudly celebrated its centennial anniversary, a 100red years of connecting people, communities, and economies. And few places reflect that better than the legacy here in Charlotte. For more than 40 years, American has invested steadily, not speculatively, in Charlotte Douglas International Airport, aligning infrastructure growth with demand, operational needs, and the long-term success of the hub. City Council's approval of the 2026 general airport revenue bonds reinforces that same long-term vision, supporting CLT as one of the region's most powerful economic engines with an airline hub that supports 150,000 jobs statewide and $30 billion in economic impact. Importantly, airport revenue bonds are not backed by local taxpayers. They are repaid through airline rates and charges and airport generated revenues. As the largest airline at CLT, American assumes the majority airline share of these costs, reinvesting in the infrastructure necessary to sustain long-term operations. In other words, airline commitment enables largecale investment in your airport. Over the past decade alone, American has supported more than $3 billion in capital through the destination CLT program with an expanded terminal lobby, fourth parallel runway, new concourses, and significant airfield and terminal improvements. These multi-year investments depend on predictable airline revenue, stable policy, and growing passenger demand. A strong primary airline partner enables an airport to finance infrastructure at investment grade terms. And that financing depends on an anchor airlines willingness to assume long-term financial responsibility. Coupled with restraint in future expansion and approach American has demonstrated throughout its century of service. In conclusion, American Airlines investment is a great deal for the city of Charlotte. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. All right. >> Move to approve A, B, and C. >> Second. >> Okay. We have a motion to close A, B, and C. Do you have it in front of you or is everybody has that? So, any um any comments? All in favor? >> All right, Mr. F. All in favor. Thank you very much. And so we have unanimous support. All any other questions before we go into that. So all in favor? >> Oh, we've done it. We're good. >> We just done. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Any oppose? >> Any Oh, you haven't I'm sorry. I did I looked and I thought I had >> Okay. >> Is there Is there anyone that is in opposition? >> Okay. >> Sorry. You said unanimous, right? Thank you very much. So, thank you very much, guys. Thank you for that and we really appropriate on this one. So now let's go on to the next item which is we'll now move into the business section that includes um adopt a resolution authorizing the donation of 139 report manager report. >> You have a report >> you have an outstanding report don't you? I think it's called out or at least there. So, >> uh thank you mayor, members of council. Earlier today, you received I believe in your offices the uh impact report as it relates to the mobility plus and uh what's uh so important about this is that the team has been working for the better part of nine months for us to get a better understanding of what are the gaps that are out there. So we have this $25 billion um opportunity for our region over the network the entire state over the next um uh 30 years but we need to get a better understanding of do we have the workforce that's available to meet the demand and do we have the businesses that are locally available to meet the demand. So in both cases we don't. But that's doesn't mean that um we haven't already begun to look at programs that can scale up the workforce and scale up businesses. This will be in the jobs and economic development committee next Monday. Um, what I wanted to do again is to basically one get it to you first because we have the towns, the county, the CLC, the alliance, um, the MPTA that's all waiting for this report. So, I'll take one step back. As as you recall, um, 40% of the 1% sales tax is for transit, >> 20% is for bus. That's going to make its way to the MPTA. There was a question earlier today. Um, beginning July 1, the MPTA is receiving uh the sales tax, both the half cent and the and the 1% sales tax, but they won't be ready to take on our staff until January 1, 2027. So, we have this great opportunity to use this report to see how we can make sure that not just in many of the questions that happened earlier tonight about CBI, how do we have different um businesses that can take participate in this? That's why this gap analysis is so important. And again, it starts with the council, but I'm very proud of the team and how you've worked so diligently to pull this all together. It's a lot of data. It's a lot of data. It's a lot of data, but it's going to be useful as we tackle this opportunity. So, that's the end of my report. >> All right. Any questions about the report? Yes, Miss Mayo, >> I had a quick question. Um, just based on some of the comments we received today about um noise in Uptown and I saw um a referral for that. Do we know when that's coming through? Would that be part of this mobility plan? as we're thinking about red light cameras, can that be have instituted at the same time with mobility dollars with the payback? >> So, I I'll start by saying the red light cameras, they've already been already been referred to committee. >> Yeah, but can we refer this other one for next Monday and I believe later tonight there's going to be a discussion about the noise. >> Okay. Thank you. I saw the the memo. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. So, you got a cheerleading squad up here. So, >> thank you. >> All right. So now we will move into >> mayor >> 12 question. >> Oh yes, Miss Anderson. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Before we move on from the the manager's report, I just want to ask a question around um process and execution. So beginning July 1, the MPTA will receive the penny sales tax, >> the 60% and the half penny sales tax. But they won't be in operation mode for another six months. Right. >> Right. >> Okay. So during that time, do we have insight as to the activities that they will be working on and investing in between July 1 and January 1 where I'm assuming their readiness level will be 100% for for receipt of our city assets. Do we know what they're working on over the next six months? So, uh, this is a great question and, um, city attorney, if I fumble, help me out, please. Okay. So, um, there are certain requirements in the payback that must be met by July 1. That's exactly what the authority is working on now. I would say hand in hand >> um with the the city and the authority. We feel comfortable that they will meet those targets. Okay. Um, in a perfect world, they would have assumed the staff >> and uh the article 43 and article 34 on July 1. We all know that we won't be ready for those other components of and we've always said employees first, >> right? And so there's certain things just from an employee perspective like healthcare that it's much better to be on a calendar year than on a fiscal year. So a lot of the thought process with employees first is let's make sure that we have this transition in such a way that helps them but also let's make sure we set the authority up for success as we also protect um the city. Thank you for that update. And u you know my my interest in this is um just professionally having done a lot of cut overs for systems and large system integrations throughout my career to be able to take on these assets as well as the systems and the backbone effectively that's going to run the MPTA operationally. It's a huge and ownorous task to um level up your readiness. So I just would love for us you know for our responsibility for our appointment to the trustees and in a good faith measure of just being um good intergovernmental partners. Um if there is a way that in which we the council can get a steady cadence of an update of the readiness between July 1 and um January 1. I think that will be very helpful for us uh to understand what's in front of us and if we have to pivot in any way, shape or form. So a regular cadence of an update whether it manifests through a written report or perhaps having the chair or one of the trustees come and provide an update. But I think that level of communication will be very helpful to us and to our residents. >> And I and I totally agree. I think and we will do that. One thing is really important. This is not a July 1, 2026 we're finished or January 1, 2027 we're finished. This will be decades because there there are assets that still have debt associated with them. So, we're going to have to be in lock step for a very long time. >> Thank you. >> But I uh want to mention as well, we do have a working group consisting of myself and council member Owens and Dr. Watlington. And our job is to be briefed on the meetings for example that are taking place between the staff and the MPTA board uh and preview like look at far into the future as possible and keep council up to speed on uh what is being discussed and what might be headed our way in terms of a decision so we're never in a position of being asked to vote on something without having had a long runway to think about it. >> Thank you Mr. Driggs. I I appreciate that and perhaps this working group could be the conduit of that level of transparency. I'm not sure if you want to take on the responsibility of updating council on MPTA's work activity, but I'll leave that to your working group. But I do think nevertheless whe whatever vehicle it is whether it's the working group or whether it's the trustees a trustee of the MPTA um I believe we need to have a level of transparency and a regular cadence of update as it relates to organization and operational readiness to take on our assets come January 1. >> Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Graham. I I concur with that and and I think the update should come from the authority itself, >> right? Not the working group. So, we want to talk directly to the authority, the chairman, the vice chairman, and members of the trustees in terms of what they're doing, when they're doing it, why they're doing it, so we all can have the same information at the same time. >> Okay. >> All right. Yes, Miss Mayor. Um, just to kind of piggyback off that, um, can we create a cadence or some kind of expectation? So, once a month, you know, they join us at, you know, whatever type of meeting, maybe the transportation and planning committee meeting and do a report out. But I think it's imperative that we actually set in stone when that's going to happen so that it's not, you know, suggestion. I think it needs to be um yeah a direct ask um and not so broad. >> I think >> is that something we can do? Can we make a motion on that or I don't know. >> If my colleagues my uh group colleagues agree, we can make a recommendation based on what we've been told tonight and that would be part of what we're trying to accomplish is make sure that communication is as the council wants. So we'll work on that. >> Yeah. So, >> Madame Mayor, may I make a motion on that? >> Yes. I'd like to make a motion that we ask MPTA to brief um do a briefing at the transportation and planning committee meeting once a month uh for council members regarding, you know, how how things are going, how we're collaborating. >> Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? I would just say uh do you intend for that to be a board member, a representative or uh do you want is it okay if we just have somebody who knows who works there and uh knows what's going on to come or >> it should be a board member. >> It should be >> a board member, right? >> Madame Mayor >> and see the if the chair will do it. Yeah. >> I I we have another comment down here. I don't know if Mr. Graham was first or if you were Miss >> Anderson. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I would suggest that it's actually either the chair or the the vice chair or one of our appointed trustees again to create stickiness and a transparent horizontal relationship between the MPTA and the council. >> So we need to communicate to that board the desire of this council. We don't have the authority to direct them to do that but we will uh we will communicate to them that we would like to have that update and uh >> Mr. Graham >> and I think we we should stay in constant contact uh with our appointees >> right and so there needs to be a regular cadence with them whether it's quarterly or or by yearly where we meet with them and share with them our expectations. For an example, we had a presentation talking about the um the bus stops >> and whether or not they're going to be sheltered or not. >> That's something we need to tell our trustees. There is an expectation that there's uniformity um throughout the system in reference to bus stops and being protected from the sun, the rain, etc. So, >> cadence with our trustees, I think is extremely important. um in addition to uh council member Anderson the chair or the vice chairman um uh so they can have that type of relationship which is intergovernmental. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Oh so should it be going into intergovernmental? >> I don't it's already on another track. >> So do you want to do you want to amend the motion? >> No. No. >> Yeah. I wanted to know if there is an amendment to the motion. Is there one? >> All right. Thank you. All in favor of the motion please raise your hands. Anyone opposed? I think that was unanimous. >> I had that debate. That's right. >> Okay. So, now we're at Charlotte Fire Department protective vest donation. We'll move to the business section of our agenda for item 12. Is there a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the donation of 139 and I don't know how to say this. Fan flanex defense systems plate carriers to the following entities guys. Oh, they've gone. So just sorry. Oh, there you go. So, someone knows how to say it well for me. So, thank you very much. So, um for the following entities, Carolina Fair Fire Department, Dallas, Huntersville, Pineville, Steel Creek, West Meckllinmberg, and Meckllinmberg County. Second. >> Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? >> No. >> Hearing no discussion? All in favor? Anyone opposed? All right. Next, our next one is 13. A grant and donation for the rail trail bridge project. For item 13, is there a motion to authorize the manager or his designate to accept a grant in the amount of two $2,549 from the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, which was just being spoken about um organization for the Interstate 277 Rail Trail Bridge Project, authorizing the city manager or his designate to accept a donation and that amount for 511,000 and from the Queen's table for the Interstate Rail 2 277 rail trail bridge project and adopting a budget ordinance appropriating the appropriate amount of 20549 and $395 from the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization and $511 and you can all read that move. So move. >> All right. All in. >> We have move to approve of AB and C. >> I'm sorry. Did someone over here say A, B, and C? >> We have We have an AB and C recommendation. We have a second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Madam Mayor, can I make a comment? >> Comments. Yes. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I just wanted to make a very quick comment about this project because uh, this project has been in the works for many, many years and it's actually reconnecting neighborhoods that were divided by an interstate some years ago. U, we say Southoun and Uptown, but really and truly, it was the historical African-American neighborhood of Brooklyn um, that was really separated from uh, the other part of our city. And I had the pleasure of going to an event last year, last October, um, where we kicked off the pro this project and worked with other partners who community partners who are investing in it. But it it's a really lovely bridge. It's a a multi-use pedestrian crossing uh for families uh to walk and bike and and use other u mechanical uh pedestrian um devices as well. It connects over 40 miles of bikeways into the center city. And so it's a very safe way for cyclists to get into the center city. Um, and it's going to be a very beautiful design with the double arches reaching over 40 ft and it will be the widest part of the rail trail. So it'll be able to deal with the capacity of the rail trail in addition to pedestrians trying to connect with both neighborhoods. So very happy to see this project advance. Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> All right. Thank you. Are there any other comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand. All right. Is there anyone who objects? No. And it objects. So then let's go to um our next item which is accept a grant in the amount of $1,200 from the North Carolina Forest Service for tree maintenance and planting and adopt a budget ordinance appropriating that same amount in grant funds from the North Carolina Forest Service to the Neighborhood Development Grants Fund. Do we have a motion? >> Move to approve A and B second. That's what I'm doing. >> We have a motion and a second. any any conversation or any questions? >> I do. >> All right. May Oh, >> yeah. Very true. Um I just had a quick question for this. Is this going to be uh street trees with this maintenance or are they planning to do um on public private public um property as well? Oh, I know at one point we had received some funding um from the federal government, but because of our current administration, you know, things did not go as planned. So, just wanting a little bit more clarity on is this going to be on street trees, which are owned by the city of Charlotte, or is this going to be on private property? >> All right, Phil, you want to >> Good evening. Phil Rager, Department of General Services Director. This particular grant is designated for city-owned city owned trees in the ride ofway. All right. >> So, we will be working in underutilized areas that need street tree maintenance in the right way. >> Yes. So, when you say underserved communities, are you are you looking at data for that? Being thoughtful of equity, but are are you also doing under canopied um regions as well? So, I guess I'm wanting to know how you're designating some of those because I think we should also think through not only underserved, but also areas that have historical historically lower canopy and some of their more affluent peers. Um, so just wanting to think through both of those um because that can be a huge barrier for some of our most vulnerable residents. um you know taking care of trees even though you know they are the city's trees that you're you're talking about uh many of our residents are still having are burdened by those. >> It's a great question. The the map of underserved areas is defined by the state >> and so we're using that map uh that they uh use to define those areas in the city. >> Are are you also taking into consideration based on which areas historically have a lower tree canopy? So are you doing both? Are you doing underserved and under canopied? >> This is really about the canopy that we have today to ensure that we have quality maintenance in those areas. Again, those areas are defined uh by the state forest service. Um and so in the event that we have to remove a tree, you'll notice that part of this funding is to uh replant trees. >> I can just talk to you later. Um yeah, no worries. Yeah, I'll just follow up. um a little later. Thank you. >> All right. So, is there any other question? Any other comments? All in favor of a motion? >> Sorry. Can I ask one more question? >> Yes, you certainly can. >> Sorry. Um >> Sorry. When you talked about um replacing trees, are you planning to water those new trees at all? >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, that's going to be in y'all's budget to water the trees. >> Yeah, that's a part that's a part of our planting program. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand. Anyone opposed? I don't see anyone. So, we'll keep going and go to the next item, which is item 16, an interlocal agreement for Smith. >> I'm sorry. 15. >> Smith bill. >> I'm trying to get us going. All right. Item 15, there's a motion to a resolution ratifying the urban cost share program agreement with Meckllinburgg soil and water conservation district. >> Move to approve. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing no discussion. All in favor, raise your hands. Anyone opposed? Okay, so that passes. So, next item is 16 and adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager or his designated to negotiate and execute an in local agreement with the town of Cornelius to execute the Smithfield water system improvements project. Authorize the city manager to approve the reimbursements request for the actual cost of the utility construction. >> Move to approve A and B. >> We have a motion for AB A and B and we have a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing no further discussion. All in favor, please say I or >> I. >> And so that passes. So let's go to the next item. >> So item 17. Is there a motion to adopt the housing and community development proposed fiscal year 2027 annual action plan? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing no discussion. All in favor, please raise your hand. Anyone oppose? Let's see. No, we don't have any opposition. >> Sorry, was bad attention. >> Okay, so on the next item is item 18 and I want to recognize Miss Mayfield. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I am motioning to a approve up to 20,617,000 in housing trust fund allocations for the following affordable housing developments contingent upon their receiving a lowincome housing tax credit award from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency where applicable the village at Greer Heights for 2,763,000 which is a 9% lowincome tax credit in council district one Oak Valley family for 1,500 which is a 4% low-income housing tax credit. Also in council district 1, Mineral Springs Commons 2, which for 1,100, which is a 9% low-income tax housing credit in council district 4. River District 2 for 5,600, which is a 4% low-income housing tax credit in council district 3. Billingsley home ownership 1,50,000 which is a home ownership in council district 1. Oakdale Road for 2,930,000 which is also a home ownership which is in council district 2. Legacy at Park Creek 1,34,000 home ownership in council district 2. Hovus Road, $780,000 home in ownership in council district 2. South Krigler Duets, $360,000 home ownership also in council district 2. Avalene at Prosperity Church, $800,000 home ownership in council district 1. Zion Hills, 1 million home ownership in council district 5. Wisteria Drive 1,400,000 home ownership in council district 6 as well as B approve up to 300,000 in federal fund allocations for the village at Greer Heights 9% lowincome housing tax credit multifamily affordable housing development which is in council district 1 and c authorize the city manager or his designate to execute amend modify and renew new contracts and other required documents to complete the transactions. >> Second. >> We have a motion on the floor and Miss Mayfield has given you the information and if everybody has it. So, um let's see how all Miss >> We have a motion and second. >> Miss Anderson, I know Miss Anderson. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm just trying to >> do an alignment here of what's in front of us and what's on our RCA. It it appears that the Evoke Living at Walora Lake um has been was not a part of your motion. >> Correct. >> Um but it is a part of our RCA here. Correct. And it also it also appears that uh River District 2, which was um which was was not brought forward the last time we discussed this as a being an approved project, but now it's on you are motioning that it be on the approved list. >> Okay. Can we have some further discussion about that? Because it sounds like we have scratched one and brought in another. And I've had some I've had some some conversations with some of my colleagues. I was of the understanding that if we were going to advance something that we would advance both. So I' I'd like >> So that was another So for clarification, M if it's a question sent to my motion of which I sent out a very detailed email to all of council last week. So for clarification, the committee has not had a conversation regarding any reallocation of particular funds yet for one of the projects. It was mentioned on more than one occasion as presentations were made that they will attempt two rounds of funding through our housing trust fund. This is one of two. they are it will feasibly be accessible for them to be a part of that second round committee did have an additional conversation last week but we are also working towards our ad hoc instead of creating a whole separate committee for ad hoc we are going to utilize the membership of the committee and add additional meetings so that we can actually drill down what funding do we have still available in our housing trust fund under what lineup item as well as if there are any considerations for reallocation of funds as a committee we will be able to have that discussion. The reason my recommendation and the reason that I sent an extremely detailed email to all of council last week is because with the opportunity of the river district with all the development and growth that is happening throughout the city as well as the investments that are happening at the river district. This is an opportunity to ensure that we have two projects that come out very close to each other as well as the potential impact of river district not going towards the initial goals from 2017 where the expectation was to create and support a an entire new community that would have true diverse price point housing in it both in multif family and in single family. right now this project out of for my recommendation and I have talked to a number of our council colleagues as well which is why what is presented tonight is the clear it is not it basically is not trying to allocate additional funds because we had three other projects that were recommended for a deferral. This is versus a swap at the end of the day. This is a pretty much a swap of versus recommending one to be deferred to the second round. One that representatives acknowledge that we will attempt up to two rounds making a recommendation that they are then brought forward in the second round. So we have a motion and a second on it. The river district is a project that will address a lot of the concerns in a part of the city that is being developed that is already seeing incredible growth and already seeing price ranges that are above market or at the current market rate. Whereas this will help us to ensure that we have some diversity in our product for our workers that live out in the area and aligns with the city's goals and commitments and the infrastructure investments that we have made into that project going back to 2017. >> I want to recognize Mr. Graham followed by Miss Ashmeir. Uh thank you ma madame mayor and and thank you council member Mayfield uh for the email and the conversation that we had earlier today. Um but but I see it a little different. Um um certainly I I clearly understand why we need to support um what's happening in the river district and I support that wholeheartedly. um but it shouldn't be at the expense of um um evoke living and is there a way for us to do both right and >> there is >> uh and I think we should >> uh and even if it's a re reallocation of some of the buckets uh I think one of the things that the council has to maintain is a level of flexibility uh in reference to how we utilize the dollars also we're getting ready to get really deep in our budget uh in May uh and approval in June soon and hopefully there'll be a bond referendum in November >> which will replenish all three buckets um for the community. So I I hope and I'll be willing to second a motion, make a motion that we find a way tonight uh to fund both projects uh and then I think >> so is that a substitute motion? >> That would be a substitute motion. >> All right, we have a substitute motion on the floor. >> Second. We have a second for that motion, but we have several people that want to address this issue. So, I'm going to start off with um Miss Asher, followed by Miss Watlington, and then Miss Mayo. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh first of all, thank you to the committee chair, Council Member Mayfield, for that detailed email where she explains what they are saying. They're not saying no to I just want to be make I just want to make sure. So the committee did not say no to the evoke living at Wora Lake. All they are saying is defer it to the next round. So they the committee gets to do the work. We talk about the process and process and process. Well, this is the process that committee is recommending because they came up with the allocation. So let's not talk about the process if you're not going to stick with the process. Uh because the committee came up with the allocation from what I understood based on your email and and having this proposal be part of the second round of discussion that the committee will further discuss. So correct me if I'm wrong there. >> Yes, >> that's correct. Okay. And then also I want to speak in favor of the river district proposal. I did we all got an email from one MAC and they're making solid arguments about solid point about why we need to ensure that we include river district in our in our decision tonight because um we don't want river district to end up like what we are seeing in Valentine so >> we love Valentine So I will support the committee's work and I will support the motion that uh the chair has made. >> That's all I have. >> All right, Miss Watlington. >> Thank you. Um listening to this and in discussions previously with my colleagues, um I definitely see a couple of different sides. Having served as the chair of the housing safety and community committee and a part of the subgroup with council members Mayfield and Driggs on uh allocating the hund00 million it was very intentional the allocations that we set up to drive particular behaviors in our development community. Um the innovation fund in particular was set aside specifically to try to drive new um ideas and I do think that that is still important. Um I do think given the um the rigor with which we set those targets that if we're going to make adjustments which we did say that we would we would maintain that flexibility. If we're going to make those adjustments I think we need to give that conversation it's just due rather than making the adjustments here at the dis um because as I understand it there may be a couple of other strategic um uh projects that we feel like are still adding value. So I'm absolutely supportive of the river district and do want to see that move forward uh at this in this round. Um just listening to the comments at the dis. I'm wondering if there is an appetite at all since committee meeting is next week to have the policy discussion there and then come back May 11th to actually vote on the updated list of projects. I just don't want us to be making project decisions here without considering the how that impacts the overall policy. And I I'd love to hear from the chair or others as to how they feel about that. >> I can I don't want to make a commitment on that with how soon it'll come back cuz I do know that we have one we all got an email earlier that we're getting ready to have some changes within the housing and neighborhood services. So also want to make sure that what we have on the calendar is in alignment. Yet at the same time we are prepared to have the detailed conversation with the ad hoc and identifying specific meetings to add for that. But I would double check with Mike and the team while y'all continue discussing. >> Okay. So then depending the answers to those questions, I would ask if you would accept a friendly amendment to defer since the substitute motion is already on the floor. But we can wait until the answers. It may not be. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and probably not. Um right. I I think we uh even more reason if there's going to be leadership change that we make a decision sooner than later. And it's really whether or not we're going to >> utilize additional resources from one bucket to the next. Right. And one of the things that you said when you established the three buckets was a level of flexibility, right? And so I think this demonstrates some flexibility. Okay. Kind of going where the shovel ready projects are >> uh and and letting the dollars follow that notwithstanding the good work you and the committee did in terms of setting the the three priorities. Right. And so I I just think you know we should move forward with it. But I'll I'll listen to more members and comments. >> All right. So she has an update. Miss Mayo. >> Miss Mayo is next. >> Yeah. I mean, I would I would support Victoria's um amendment. >> So, that's an amendment to the amendment. >> Yeah. To potentially defer and we have that conversation in our in our committee potentially. >> Substitute motion. >> Oh, substitute. >> We have a substitute substitute motion on the floor. >> It has to be voted. >> Oh, well, point of order. Council member was council member the second. >> I just want to make sure Andrea, would you help us? We were just happy to see >> we we have an motion on the floor. >> Substitute >> substitute motion. >> Substitute motion made by Mr. Graham. >> Mr. Graham Graham and seconded by Miss Anderson. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Correct. They won't accept. >> So that's what we're we're discussing right now is the substitute motion >> that we haven't voted on. >> That's right. >> Oh, I thought she was saying that. >> All right. I think Miss Mayo was Miss Watlington. But we would vote on the substitute motion as is because the amendment was not acceptable. >> So there's discussion on the sec. I'm sorry. So there's discussion on the substitute motion at this point around the dis and then there needs to be a mo vote on the substitute motion and then after that depending on how how that vote turns out we'll revert back to the original motion and then we could >> so where we are still in the substitute motion we're going to have the substitute motion and now >> she shows me not >> no no no that's not true that is not true so >> so uh mayor council thank you Rebecca if if you don't mind. Um cuz cuz I I do think one issue for all of us is uh the funding level. How much do we have remaining? Um >> yes, Rebecca, come up. >> So, mayor, >> I'm sorry to >> Is this a is this reference to motion to the substitute motion? cuz cuz council Graham is trying to do both. And so I I think for a lot of us around the table who not on the housing committee is how much funding uh could be rem uh remain in that bucket cuz I and I'm like him. I wish we can vote tonight. >> Uh since since we got worried about your new opportunity can can I jump in >> what you expected me to say under my manager's report. I was waiting till the end. Okay. So, um before uh Rebecca addresses the uh the question. Yeah. >> Um I I'd like to just announce three things. >> One, it should have been a manager. >> Excuse me, sir. >> Is this in reference to the amendment? >> I'm just saying. Okay. >> They're talking about her people. Oh, I can't bring it up. >> Yeah, they don't want you to. >> Oh, no. Yes, you send. We'll come back. >> Let's close out this vote. We still have to have this motion to decide make a determination on it. >> So Becca, if you don't mind the sharing the balance and then if we include River District with the committee and staff recommendation, where would that leave us? >> Sure. >> Let's be clear. The motion that I what I motion was very specific. >> Yes. The amended motion was adding in what I did not say. So that dollar amount has to be added in. So that would that motion will have to be clarified just a little bit to say to add additional 5,850,000. So from there, Rebecca, >> yeah, I'm I'm doing some quick math up here. Um good evening, Rebecca Hefner, director of housing and neighborhood services. So um I think the there's two balances to discuss. One is the uh balance as um or three a as written on the agenda the balance remaining would be 14 million281,000 and some change. Um the balance remaining after the uh motion that council member Mayfield made would be 14.5 million. And if you if you made the third motion with both River District and with Laura Lake, the balance would be 8.68 million. And that's over overall across all the categories in the housing trust fund. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any further discussion? Miss Mayfield. >> So for clarification, out of if we were to do both, that total of 8.68 million, 5 million of that is what we currently have. So this will be >> if we were to move forward just looking at rental opportunity >> right here. >> I want to make sure that everyone's clear where that potential 8.68 million lies. So the >> and I want to make sure that I'm not inaccurate as far as having to potentially have a conversation of reallocating a line item that we have not had a discussion about. >> Sure. So if you're following the um the action as written in the agenda. So I'm going back now to the action preview presentation. The housing trust fund forecast. That's the balance would be 14.28 million. The places where funding would remain are home ownership category 2.7 supportive housing and shelter 2.75. There would be a million dollars remaining in housing rehab, >> 5 million in the innovation pilot fund and 2.6 6 million in site acquisition and just a little bit of change about 200k in administration and evaluation. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Six. >> All right. So, um, >> did y'all y >> are we reloing votes? >> So, Rebecca, you gave us 8.6 million. That would be the balance if we approved if we approve the motion made by council member Graham. Correct. >> Correct. >> Totality. >> Huh? >> In totality. >> Yeah. In in totality. Are there any projects in the pipeline right now? >> So So there are >> you mean for those c for those other categories >> for that $8.6 million balance? So >> because it's in totality. So what I'm trying to get to is how many projects are in the pipeline because we are not looking at it holistically by trying to make a decision here. Correct. Right. Because the committee is not >> is not able to do the work. Uh so I'm trying to figure out if you're going to have to make a decision what are the projects that are in the pipeline that we should be looking at from the holistic perspective. Well, you you have several other uh projects in the rental housing production category that were recommended for deferral. Um so that being make sure let me make sure I'm giving you all of the right names. um Nevin Trace uh and the Greer Reserves and um in addition to River District which were recommended for uh deferral, the um modular home and ADU development under the innovation category that was also recommended for deferral and you have received two applications in your rental housing preservation category. to Noah developments that are going to be discussed by U council committee on May 4th. You have um you have already exhausted funding in that category. Um but those submissions came in before um those funds were exhausted. So those those will be discussed in housing committee on May 4th. >> Thank you. Personally, I'm not in position to decide now because considering that there are multiple projects in the pipeline and uh in what happens if we were to approve this and then one of the other projects that might be higher on the priority list >> uh we would be doing in service to that. So I I would prefer us sending it back to the committee so they can look at it holistically and provide recommendations uh for the council. That's all I have. >> Thank you. >> And oh actually before I know that we asked council member Mayfield to check in with the staff on the May 11th timeline. If you can just get a response to that. >> The answer to that question Rebecca did respond to. Rebecca, if you would like. >> So, so part uh so if these decisions were deferred until May 11th, um we all of the developments would still be able to move forward on their timelines. Um the the important date that drives the spring RFP schedule is the uh deadline for tax credit applications with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, which is May 15th. And so you would have an opportunity on May 11th, but that would be the deadline for a decision in order to support the applications to the state. >> Thank you. >> And mayor, for clarification, >> can speak. As the chair, I'm following up on what my director just said. >> Your turn to speak, please. >> Hey guys, over here. Mr. Driggs and what's next on the >> guys? I haven't said anything yet. You've been at it the whole time. >> Go ahead. >> I just want to know, do we have anything in the pipeline for the innovation $5 million? Are we going to arrive at the end of the year not having actually invested that as intended and therefore should we be thinking about the fact that it can be available because it's not likely to be used? We got the innovation summit. >> So staff have been in conversation with a couple of developers who have ideas and concepts for that innovation pilot fund but have not provided any date at uh on which they might be able to put in an application. >> So not this year. >> All right, Miss Watlington. >> Um thank you. Just a couple of things just on the innovation. I know that I know we've had a little bit of a connection as it relates to some of the project or at least one of the projects that is in the innovation fund. Um >> I want us to be careful to remember that we we don't we don't see the future. We're we're in April of 2026. Um and the innovation fund's intent was to do something a little bit different. So, I don't expect that it's going that whatever comes through at this point has the level of rigor to know what their schedule's going to be by the end of the year. Um, so that is less uh concerning for me because we plan to do another round. I think by then we would know whether or not we would want to pivot. Um, and I certainly think that if we have this discussion in a week, we can we can have these discussions in a better way. I think this right here is an exact example of what we're seeing play out in broader discussions at transportation and other things where we are um we are making decisions before we really have a robust discussion around our values and how that shows up in policy. So I would implore us rather than rushing a decision today now that we've learned that we have two weeks and we can take this to committee and have a responsible discussion about this considering the projects that are in the pipeline. I I would just ask again to please consider to amend the motion so that we can do right by our people. Like I get it. You got your six and you can go there, but let's let's do better if possible. >> All right. Hope you get that right. >> Mr. Mitchell, >> no. I was just saying may I think everyone has talked. We're ready for the vote. Call for the Oh, I'm sorry. >> Thanks, Mayfield. Clarification. Thank you, Mayor. So I also want to make sure that everyone remembers that we have an innovation summit that the city is one of the partners of that has that is identified and bringing people all across the nation. So that's one of the triggers for that particular bucket of which we were made aware of that when we first had our conversation regarding our innovation bucket that we were going to win and that that summit was going to be hosted in Charlotte because it moves around. The other thing, the other piece that I want us to keep in mind is, as Director Hefner just mentioned, that will be a three-day window. So, between when we have our meeting on the 11th and the closing being on the 15th. The recommendation that I propose is the recommendation that I stand by. So, we do have another round that's coming, but I do believe that committee should have the opportunity to have a deeper conversation about the possible reallocation of funds because, as was heard, if we move forward with the amended recommendation tonight, that potentially will give us 8.68 million in totality, which is really 3 million and some change because 5 million of it is already identified. really less than that because 2.6 million is allocated for site acquisition. The 5 million is in the innovation bucket and we have what what do we say about 200 200,000 or so that's still in administrative. So it's not really 8 million that potentially would be accessible and we do know that there's more projects that are coming forward. That is why I read it the way that I read it. So, I'm still even though we're on the amendment that we need to vote on, I am going to ask the votes are going to land the way that they land. We either going to get the votes on the amended version, but what I am standing by is the recommendation that I read and that we got a second off >> with the addition. Right. I want to make sure that we have the right um which well I I believe Miss Mayfield's program that was sent around and um and then it was a question of an additional for the um for the >> substitute >> the substitute for to go into the um Mr. Graham. So we have two items on the on our list and so help me >> substitute motion should be voted upon first. Council member as my honor, >> we need to vote on the substitute motion. >> Yes, we need to vote on the substitute motion first >> and that's what he was speaking to. Mayor, >> he was saying >> we we didn't identify that. >> I would like to speak. >> We had another council. >> You have not spoken. >> I have not spoken. >> All right. Please. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I think I agree with my colleague, Council Member Ishmeir, that if we're going to respect the process, let's respect the process, but also understanding where Dr. Wington is coming from. I mean, I think to surpass committee um and and go against what the recommendation of what the chair is saying uh goes against the process of us having our committees. Um additionally, I think if we're going to support both projects as council member Graham has motioned for, then we supposed we should support the other two three projects that were deferred because then we're giving preference to one project over the other. Um, and so I I would I would pump the brakes and think about what we're doing very wisely right here. Um, and and what precedent it puts forward when it comes to the role of committees and committee leadership um, in the future. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. So, we have um, everyone has got the information. We're going to um, look at this and see which one we're going to go for the substitute motion. So, everyone that would support the substitute motion submitted by Mr. Graham, please raise your hands. One, two, three, four, five, six. You meant six. >> I'm not done. >> I'm sorry. Did I Did I get a good count? >> That's crazy. >> Six. >> Six. >> Six. >> See, it's approved. All opposed. One, two, three, four. So this new a new motion is >> approved. It's approved. >> Substitute motion is approved. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. I was saying substitute motion. >> Yeah, the substitute motion has been approved. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Item 19. Is there a motion to adopt a resolution approving the sale of the following city owned properties to Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte region for $1 for the development of affordable for sale housing units and these are the locations seven >> move to approve and adopt A and B >> second. All right. >> We have a motion to approve and adopt item 19. All in favor? Is there any discussion? All in favor, please raise your hand. >> All right, that passes. >> Mayor, may I uh pastor Moss? >> Yes. >> And Chappelle, thank you all for being here and for your project. >> Thank you. Good deal. >> All right. So item 20 is adopt a motion to approve the termination agreement with the transit governance interlocal agreement and authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute all documents necessary to complete the termination agreement for the transit governance interlocal agreement. >> Do we have a motion to >> approve of AMB? >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor please raise your hands. Okay. All right. That passes. Okay. Thank you. Um, wait a minute. >> Mayor Council T, can >> I move that we let the the manager >> go into close session first, please? >> Would the manager please resume his report and perhaps address an important topic? >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Dr. Stewart, don't go anywhere. >> Go back. >> Okay. >> So, uh, uh, mayor and council, >> um, I do have three announcements. uh today and I'm going going to start with the toughest one is that after 30 plus years of service for the city of Charlotte, our deputy city manager Liz Babson is retiring. this authority. >> I I think uh I think uh Leas represents I guess what I would call grit. Um she could have left a couple of years ago, >> but um there were some really special things going on like buying a railroad, right, and mobility plus. And so Liz, thank you for that extra time with us. I don't think we could have uh done it without you. We appreciate you and the uh pipeline is so strong with the city and so um we're going to have a little bit of an overlap and so um for the listening public folks were um wondering um with um Rebecca Hefner about her future role which would be uh deputy city manager. But but she wore her um housing director hat tonight. She didn't wor well. >> So we we appreciate uh Rebecca. But then Rebecca did such a good job with housing and neighborhood services that uh Dr. Rishela Stewart >> will now be the new director of housing and neighborhood services. >> And they've done such a great job in that pipeline. And I'm I'm sure that you'll hear more announcements uh soon. And so that's uh a lot going on. Uh but very proud of the team. A lot to do, but again, it's um really refreshing that when you can go in house with this level of talent. So, thank you. >> Thank you. It's very nice to have this kind of changes. Miss Mayfield, did you >> Mayor, are we going to go to council topics before we go into close session? >> Well, let's see. I think that >> someone suggested going into close session >> then we never get the council topics if we go after. >> So we'll do this. So let's um >> let's go ahead and get this. Um before we start with council topics, I want to address two topics that are being discussed among the council and in the public. Data centers for being one and I77 South being another. There's been a lot of discussion about data centers. I think Miss Azmeir had put this in front of this and um we I think we do not have the information right now to say what is their impact that she's raised um what should council do about them she's raised and all of these issues have come up and we know that this is an important discussion not just in our community but across the country. You cannot turn on the TV without seeing some of that around. But we were told at our last business meeting, staff was researching the data center impacts, including meeting with other municipalities to see what they've done. Staff will have additional information to share with the council in the next three to six months. council could potentially address land use changes through the UDO text amendment process. And I know that several council members want to have a discussion sooner than later and I've talked to the manager and we will be placing data centers on the May 11 council meeting agenda as a discussion topic. All right, does that cover that? So, thank you very much for bringing that up, Miss Asher. Another important topic is the I77 South expansion. There's a lot of passion about this topic. We know council members have had a lot of conversations about how to move forward. Personally, I believe issuing the RFP is the right thing to do. But I also know that many council members want to have a resolution to provide protection for our residents. I would like council to work together so we can work on a resolution at our May 11 council meeting and I'm prepared to add that on the May agenda should council want to take up a resolution at that time. So, we'd I'd like to start with that information for you and what I know that many of us have been around each of these issues or both of these issues and that we want to do it well and we want to get it right. And so, by doing this, I do believe that if we continue to work together and build this up that we will be able to do that and make that s make that possible for all of us. So with that, um, council topics, all of you who are still with us today, um, we appreciate you so very much, um, coming in and being a part of what I think is building community. And so as we're doing this, um, we are going to, um, begin to think about um, another part of our meeting which where we have a closed session and we are glad that you are here, but you may want to go home at some point. Yeah. So, with that, >> I still have a council topic, Matt. >> I know we're going to go back, but we're going to have council topics right away. Um, and so we're going to do that, but don't we do those in We're going to do them here. All right. This is where you explained all of the ironies that we have in our life. So, okay, let's start off. Let's see. Um, we'll go around the dis. >> Who would like to start? >> I think this is Miss >> We go around the dis like this, Miss Amira. Yes. Thank you, Madame Mayor. First, let me say thank you for elevating data centers issue to our May 11th council agenda. Um, first I want to thank council member Mayfield Johnson and Masura Aras for their strong advocacy on this issue. I remember council member Mayfield back in 2023. She did sound an alarm. We were just a little late to the party, >> but here we are. Um, and I over the past several weeks, I've had I have had an opportunity to speak with most of you about data centers and the concerns we are hearing from residents. So, I know that it's going to be on our agenda on May 11th, but my motion is specific to ensuring that we have the hearing. So, I'm going to pass this on. It's pretty much if you read the attorney's memo and if you looked at the email that I had sent, a follow-up email, I talked about this issue being it requires our urgent and immediate attention. Currently, data centers are allowed by right in multiple zoning districts and thanks to attorney uh for sending out that memo because under our current UTO commercial districts, industrial districts, research campuses, mixed use areas and even uptown core this so data centers are allowed by right and that means this projects can currently move forward. quickly without our approval. So, we have a full opportunity to evaluate the long-term impact um on our water supply, on our electricity grid, on our neighborhoods, our environment, and our taxpayers. So, currently this feels like wild west right now, and we need some guardrails in place. So May 11th, we need to it's great that we need we can have a discussion, but what I would like to see is an action because other municipalities, especially across the state, and I think council member Mayfield raised that issue in her email, have already passed ordinances and guard drills around data centers. We have one of the best planning staff not just in the state but in the nation and I feel like we are not leading on this issue. Um we need to take an action now where taking action means even considering a temporary moratorum so we can study the impacts and ensure that we have guard drills in place to protect our communities. So in order to stop the bleeding now because there is already 2.5 million square ft data center going up in the university area and so many of us have already gotten emails. There is one being proposed in East Charlotte and I'm sure there are more that's coming up by right. So, in order to stop the bleeding, we need to consider a pause and make sure that we have protection in place, especially for our water and our electricity. Great. So with that, I move to place a public hearing on the city council's May 11th business agenda to consider whether a temporary moratorum on new data center approvals is necessary while we fully evaluate their impacts. So you'll see there are four items that I'm looking at. Assessing impacts on water supply because we know that there is already an advisory out there to conserve water. So if you don't have guardrails around conserving water for these facilities that can use millions of gallons a day um we are going to be behind in protecting our natural resources. Uh also energy demand we know that these facilities can use tens of thousands of homes electricity. So, we need to make sure that there are guard guard rails in place around generating their own power or having some sort of solar systems in place. And I know council member Owens and I have had that conversation uh where there can be innovative solutions in place to address that high energy use. Also, we have seen concerns around the noise, environmental quality and just the quality of life impact. So assessing those impacts and then second determining whether we have existing infrastructure constraints because Charlotte water cons we have conservation measures and we need to ensure that there there is capacity in place uh to support a legally defensible temporary moratorum. So what and number three we also need to ensure that we are not just putting suggestions we are putting enforcable mitigation measures uh that translates into water conservation cooling systems reclaimed water use and so on. And number four uh guidance from our attorney and exemption and analysis for council consideration. And this was based on our attorney's uh feedback on the legal language that I've come up with this language. So, so that is my motion on the floor. >> Thank you. >> All right. You've heard the conversation and the discussion. Any further discussion? >> We need a second motion. >> We need a second. >> We have a second to the motion. >> No, but this is I'm asking both discussion. Any discussion for the second? >> So, Mr. >> Okay. >> Ed Driggs. Mr. Driggs, >> I think this is a conversation we need to have. I appreciate the initiative. uh we can have a hearing in the near term but it would I think it will take a little time for us to get come to grips with all of the issues here the public need the actual impacts the noise the water and therefore uh my concern is how long a moratorium are we talking about because we do have existing policies that permit these and um if we don't yet have a replacement for those policies and we just shut it down I I would be concerned about how long we do that. >> So, may I uh currently we've been told that >> I think Miss Anderson was >> that was actually a question for Miss Azimir if you'll allow it. >> Oh, absolutely. >> So, currently we are being told by the planning team that it's going to take 3 to six months >> for to develop regulations. So, here is an example. If staff says go ahead and use cooling systems but there are no enforcement standards in place they it's a suggestion. So what we are saying is that till we have guard drills in place is that we put a temporary moratorium for 90 days so that it gives staff an opportunity to develop regulations and some guard drills to conserve our natural resources especially our water. >> So if I may follow up mayor. >> Yes Mr. um when we change our policies otherwise we do so prospectively and so to slam on the brakes like this uh again I think it's the right thing I have more of a process concern that we don't know the implications of imposing that moratorum we don't know what projects are in the pipeline and and what availability of those computer resources uh so I would just like to be sure I understand uh all the dimensions of this problem before shutting down uh data centers for months. Thank you. >> All right, Miss Anderson. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um and thank you, Miss Azmeir, for bringing up the topic. Um and thank you, mayor, for already putting it on the agenda. So, we do have a space to talk about this. I firmly believe we need to have a robust holistic conversations about data centers. data centers already exist in our community in places that we don't even know about. Right. And as we've h heard this topic sort of gain momentum over the last several weeks, there's a lot of um there's a lot of misinformation and disinformation out there that I think we need to have a holistic macro conversations. Yes. About impact to neighborhoods. Yes. about uh long-term health impacts, but also um impacts to our community, impacts to um our long runway as the 14th largest city. You know, we just invested and and brought up online the Pearl, which is our first medical center, but also a a generator for health tech, and there will be a lot of innovation around that. And we are the second largest banking capital in the nation. And so and right wrong or indifferent uh many of us like to uh use AI, chat GBT, play games, make little character pictures on these supercomputers that we hold that generate a lot of data use. And so, um, I would just like for us to before we advance anything as in terms of policy, let's have a robust conversation. I'd also like to invite some of our partners into that conversation. Duke Energy has a tremendous amount of information on data centers um because they support data centers throughout the state. And so having a some experts, some subject matter experts come in and give the truth around what we're dealing with and then think about how it will impact our future and our long runway as a city. So I I welcome the conversation. I think it should be an S on the end conversations um before we begin to impact our standup policy. Thank you, Madame Mayor. >> Thank you that. >> So um mayo miss. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. Um I agree with uh council member Driggs. Just wondering if if this is something that should be referred to transportation and planning committee if this is going to be a three to sixmonth process with maybe having more conversations about this and kind of coming up with policy regarding it. Is that something that I guess there's an appetite for among >> I think there's certainly an appetite for that. But I also want to say that I think what Miss Anderson said about this is not just something that's one person or one person in a box. This is like going all over. And I really do believe to have some kind of um some kind of practice that we have before we go into it dive into it really deeply. We need to get some more information and be really careful about what we are able to accomplish and do. I think that's why moving it up on May is helpful and I think that makes it a little bit easier because we have some time to look and see who's talking about what and where is it going and so um hopefully I would I would hope that we could do something just like this in a way that's very much open to the public as well because I don't think that the public knows it and we and and we have so many great um places all of our people that are in our colleges and our where we're talking about things like that. I think there's some a lot of more information a lot of more that was a very bad thing to say but just think about what we could do if we get UNC Charlotte in here and do some of the things that are important to get it on a really solid ground foundation. That's that that's what I'm really saying. Thank you Dante for doing that. And um >> I've been asked to >> Graham and JD >> speak with Graham and J D. But I've also got Miss Watlington on the floor. >> So we'll just we'll just why don't we just do that? Um Miss Quatling was next. >> Okay. Um so first of all, >> where was this holistic energy a couple of motions ago? But it's fine. >> We can talk about that later. No, but on a serious note, I do think we're talking about two different things or two adjacent things, right? I think there's the figuring out what the right policy is for the long term, which we absolutely have to do. What I'm hearing from this is in the meantime, >> temporary protection. >> And so, to me, that's kind of too Yeah. in the sense of we want to stop the potential harm while we figure out what the right thing to do is. Um, so I'm willing to entertain that. Um I do I do wonder if that's something that needs to go to committee though to have that conversation. Um one that happens a lot earlier like I mean next week is our committee meeting. So that's a question of do we want to recommend to council that we do hold off >> um and do a moratorium and I we need to be clear about if that means on the request or if that means on the approvals um to your earlier point Mr. Driggs, who's already in the pipeline, what does that mean for them? Because I do think there needs to be an off-ramp or some some un um understanding for folks who are already in the pipeline. Um but yeah, so I'm supportive. I'll say that to say that I'm supportive of both as long as we do it with surgical precision um in regards to where we believe the most harm may be um may be uh happening and how long we're going to do one for. Um, and then in the meantime, I'm absolutely supportive of continuing these conversations to get to the right ultimate policy place. >> I think you may. >> All right. So, I've got a a few other people that want to um have some comments here. And so, our first one is um Mr. Graham. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. And I won't be long because I think council member Anderson really articulated the the where we need to go and the mayor has set the table for us on May 11th. And so I don't I think >> I understand the the um maybe I don't understand um understand why we're moving so fast, right? I I think we ought to do our homework >> and make sure that we all collectively have the same understanding, the same information and and even have some conversations among ourselves. Um, but I think Miss Anderson kind of clearly laid it out. Uh, and the mayor's already teed it up, so I so I'll probably vote against it, but certainly very interested in the conversation and and the policy direction that we have to go. >> All right. Okay. Um, and Miss Owens, >> I think there was somebody before me. >> JD, >> JD, Mr. JD, >> thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I I want to be clear about what the motion is. It is to not place a a moratorum, but to place a public hearing. Am I >> So, I'll let attorney answer the >> Yes. >> Thank you, council member Masetta Aas and Council Member Aira. The >> best you can do. The >> the motion is for a public hearing on the 11th. >> The public hearing is required for any moratorum consideration that will be longer than 61 days. >> And if for any moratorum that would be considered 61 days or more, >> there is a requirement that there be notice at least 10 days ahead of the hearing. And so we have to council will need to factor in >> that number of days for any potential moratorum right any hearing on that because we don't want there to be a failure on the process piece of of a concern. >> The public hearing would allow to invite all stakeholders to the table. Those that >> that was smart >> know the real harmful impacts of data centers and residential areas as well corporations that profit from building data centers. 10 days. >> Correct. M council member Mazetta Aas. What the other thing I would add too part of the moratorum requirements. One of the legislative findings is that there has to be a study, right? A study of the unique pieces that would would even necessitate >> the need for a moratorum. And per statute, there has to be you council would need to find the least restrictive amount of time possible. And then if let's say you get into the process and learn more information then there would need to be another period of time consider and there's another opportunity for a public hearing to consider that as well. >> Not tonight. >> So this public hearing would not in consequence place a moratorium that day. >> No a vote would be would be required to to actually enter the moratorum. Placing it on the calendar does not it in and of itself enter the moratorum. >> May I get an understanding of the difference between what the mayor did >> and what is being motioned. >> Exactly. >> Sure. So, as I understand it, um the mayor's referral item would would be for discussion on on this topic and and exploration of of data centers more generally. >> Yeah. as opposed to the motion um that council member Ashmeara made, it would place a public hearing on for discussion and if council at the conclusion of that public hearing decided it wanted to enter a moratorum, it could do so on the 11th. Without that, without the public hearing on the 11th, council could not enter a moratorum on the 11th and that's not even including the notice issues that I was discussing just. >> Thank you, madam attorney. I think is of essence to also put the public hearing on the same date. I think we can do both options. Uh yes and I think we can have a discussion. Uh but I also think it time is of the essence as data centers particularly specifically in my district are being proposed across the city. There's one that's going to be built right if I'm not correct in district 4 Renee Johnson's district. And so I don't know how much more discussions we can do as a council uh without also placing a public hearing on on the date. Um I think we can be proactive and and do both things. Um and it is something that I've been speaking to the attorney on since December when I first learned about this resoning happened. Um something that council member Mayfield, you sounded the alarm two years ago on it. Um so I don't know how many much more discussions we have to do to really understand the impacts. I mean the public research is there and I don't know what benefit it will do to see the quote unquote benefits of data centers um or even the harms. I think we should approach it proactively and do both things. >> All right. So our next speaker is Kimberly Owen. >> Yeah, I appreciate that, Mayor. Thank you and thank you colleagues. I um I think I've I've spoken to this issue with with several of you uh before tonight and I believe I've also put into the room when we've had discussions of data centers that I still have additional learnings that I need to um undertake. I have um also expressed a concern that a moratorum um is is something that um really sends a message and I don't know if that's where we need to be on this issue because I quite honestly don't know enough about it. I have expressed a concern that pushing these offshore is a greater risk to our citizens than having them welllo and I'm not saying within our residential areas. I'm not saying that at all. But I want to understand and put in context the variety of places who have done these moratoriums, how that has been received and how we may or may not be hurting our residents by rushing to judgment on a moratorum. So, I personally would like to understand more on May 11th, but I do appreciate the leadership that's been expressed by Council Member Ashira, but I personally need more information before I would be comfortable even hearing from an entire packed room full of people because I feel as though there are some folks who are anti-AI, who are using data centers as a as a means to try to shut down AI. And I don't think that we're there. But I also do agree that we need to be good stewards of our resources, particularly our water, while we're in the middle of a drought. So, I've got a whole lot of thoughts swirling that do not put me in a situation, regardless of what I hear on the 11th, that I'm going to be comfortable voting on a moratorum. Thank you. >> All right, Miss Mayfield, so many. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Manager Jones, >> if this calendar that I'm looking at is correct, on the 4th is when we're going to have the budget discussion, which means on the council action review on the 11th. Isn't that when we're supposed to have our budget hearing? >> Yes. >> Okay. There is no possible way that with the budget hearing discussion the way that goes that we're going to have these major conversations >> on the same date. >> So I just want to make sure that there that we remember the calendar >> and that community knows May 11th is our budget hearing. >> That is not a 30-minute conversation. This is not a 30-minut conversation. So, as we're having, even though I support council member Ashmeir's recommendation, mainly because we have received notice from Charlotte Water to reduce our water intake, we are seeing the impacts of the environment and we don't have very specific language regarding cooling internal cooling on data centers as well as a return internal recycling system on data centers and the impact that that would have when we just signed a contract with our neighbors in Gastonia to expand our water. >> Yeah, >> we just recently signed a contract with our neighboring towns to have access to the water. >> We need to have the opportunity to have a real conversation of what this looks like. So, if there's support for a moratorum, that would at least give us enough of a pause. So that we don't have a lot of applications coming in to identify industrial manufacturing space not anywhere near residential because there are physical impacts. There are challenges within our SEAP program. There are other challenges that have been identified through science data and science magazines regarding the impact of data centers, but we need the opportunity to have that conversation. And as council member Azmeir mentioned, this isn't a new conversation. We started I mentioned this back in 2023. >> Us slow walking >> is what now is putting us in a position where we feel like we need to do something now or it never happens. That was a year and a half plus where we had the opportunity to put energy into this conversation that we chose to kick the ball down the road. But if we're talking about May 11th, I want us to be very realistic. We're doing budget review. That is not fair to the community. It's not fair to this council. Thank you, Madame Mayor. >> Well, I certainly would hope that we would be able to take another >> miss. Thank you, Council Member Mayfield. That's a great catch. I uh you're right. Uh I don't want us to have this conversation and still the manager's thunder uh after he presents his budget. So, Madame Attorney, would 18th the zoning be something that we could add it to the agenda? >> Could. >> Okay. >> You could. So I here is I I hear what council member Owen's concerns are around getting additional information. This gives us an opportunity to have it at the committee because there is a committee meeting >> um >> May 4 May 4, >> right? And then that gives us two weeks >> you >> um which is May 18th to Council Member Drake's concern. This gives the committee some time to review it before it comes up in front of us on May 18th for a hearing. >> And that also satisfies the legal requirement that the attorney had mentioned earlier. So I >> So uh I want to understand what you're suggesting. Are you proposing for May 4th? that uh >> No, I'm saying May 18th, but that gives your committee an opportunity to discuss it uh on May 4th. >> That's what I'm saying. Right. >> We have a hugely overloaded agenda already for May 4th, which will include addressing I77 issues. Uh so, as a practical matter, it' be very hard to make room for another topic >> on May 4th. >> Right. >> On May 4th, >> next week. I mean, we've already scheduled that overscheduled that meeting and some new things have come into the conversation. It's going to be very hard for us to do that the work that we already have ahead of us that day. >> Yeah. I don't want to take >> you know this work is very important and it requires a sense of urgency. Uh I just talked about how our current UDO allows by right in so many of our zoning unlike other cities and municipalities. With our unified development ordinance, we allowed by ride data centers in so many zoning districts that other municipalities does not. So this does require that council take an action and at least prioritize it at the transportation committee meeting. uh not over I77 discussion, but it could be a second item on the agenda. >> There's already items. >> It's an important topic. There's no way we can do justice on this short notice uh at a committee meeting on the 4th. It does take uh advanced work. It takes staff work in order to position that meeting. And and frankly, I agree with you entirely on the importance. The urgency is something that I have a harder time with. I agree with Miss Mayfield. This has been out there for a long time. uh is critical that we do something. It's not critical that we do something in in the next couple of weeks. I think we can give ourselves a little more time than that and be deliberate. There are a lot of things as Miss Anderson pointed out that need to be uh we all need to learn and I wouldn't want to sit in a hearing and not have educated myself and be listening to people talking on this subject. >> There's no vote. Is there >> absolutely important? I appreciate the initiative. I just think that that particular level of urgency is not called for. >> I think all of us appreciate this. So, Mr. Jones, do you have >> I I'll try to be helpful about the 11th. >> So, what we do is on the second Monday, we have the agenda preview which really tries to set us up for success for the fourth Monday. A lot of action items. So, and then the last meeting when we put too much on the agenda, it wasn't a great result. >> So, we would start at 5 typically and that would be the agenda preview and whatever time is allotted there could be for whatever topic you want. 6:30 we come here and the budget hearing is just like any other hearing you would have. it would be on the agenda, but it would be after you convene here at 6:30. So, I just want to lay out what the 11th looks like and whether or not you would like to come in earlier or things like that, but I don't think we have anything populated for agenda preview that could not be altered. >> I'm sorry. >> MTA update. >> MTA updates. What we have? >> Okay. No, let's see. Kenbery. >> Sure. Thank you, Mayor. I I just I I want to um just speak very intentionally because I had been one of the people that complained probably the most vostrously with respect to the long meeting that we had and part of that was not so much born of me not wanting to be in a meeting. It was us showing up hours late for the people who were sitting in this chamber. So I just want to be very intentional that I'm not trying to say I don't like long meetings. I'm not trying to say I don't want to do the work. What I'm trying to say is that our action preview needs to be very thoughtfully limited to the amount of time that we've told people because we cannot have people sitting here for two hours waiting for us. So, however you use that time, I personally on the data center issue would very much prefer that this be heard by committee first be that committee in May. If that can happen, if it can't then in June and then that it come to us so that we're more fully informed for a public hearing. So so right. >> Yeah, and I'll speak very I agree wholeheartedly committee council and then maybe a public hearing. I think those are are the action steps for it. >> Um because I too and I I'm very supportive of what you're trying to do, >> but I I I don't see as council member Dre said, >> the need to um not follow the mayor's lead, which is have that initial conversation on the on the 11 to kick this thing, get get started. >> So, okay, question. Yeah, >> question. I have a >> I think that this just >> we've got I want No, you're talking about times and all of that. We still have a >> got 11 more to go. >> All of us got to go around. I just wanted to my motion. I I wanted to amend my motion. >> The potential is three minutes when we do the >> Is it three minutes? >> That's not in the policy. We've been talking about vote forever. >> But yeah, we never did. >> Set the timer. >> Sorry. Okay. So, I just wanted to make sure based on council member Owen's feedback and attorney's >> timeline. I think the June 8th would be the next one. >> So, that aligns with the timeline that council member Owens just suggested. >> That's if we want to do a hearing, right? >> Right. We have to get to that point. But that >> that we want to actually do it. >> Can we talk on the 11th? >> We should talk on the 11th. >> Yeah, that gives that gives public an opportunity to come down and speak. >> Can we So So, Madame Mayor, I'm sorry. Just point of information. We have a um I thought this was a council topic, right? >> This is an important conversation, but we've spent well over 20 minutes on it. Sure. >> And we have a motion on the floor. >> Let's call the question. All of us question. >> Yes. All right. So, we're going to call the question from >> So, we change it to June 8th, right? >> Yeah. So, just to change it to June 8th. >> I'm sorry. >> So, >> I couldn't hear what was going on down there. >> Um, Andrea, did you >> I was just stating I believe the motion is being amended. Uh, uh, Council Member Amir is changing it from May 11th to June 8th. >> Business. >> Next business meeting. >> Okay. >> So, that allows more time to council member Owen's concern. So, what is the time? Eight. >> June 8th. >> June 8th. >> Okay. >> And this is a public hearing and a staff review. >> No, the staff >> can schedule it later. >> All right. We have a motion on the floor for a June 8th meeting that would be dis >> would have the actual work for talking about um data data center. So, >> I'm sorry. There's a point of clarity. She This is for a public hearing. >> Public hearing. >> We're about to vote on it. That was the motion. >> Public hearing. >> Wow. I This >> You've already put it on the agenda for >> discussion. >> I think this motion is for a public hearing to be held on data centers. >> June 11th. >> Sorry, we have a motion on the floor >> and so we need to go ahead and make the motion. All in favor of the motion on the floor. I wanted to clarify it. >> Can you clarify exactly what it is? >> Uh, I second >> um Council Member Ashmeir's initial motion. >> Mayfield second it. >> All right, you have a second. >> Okay, we have a first and a second. So, let's try. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand. >> You want me to address the legal process? I think there's a question about the legal process. >> No. No. Okay. >> We got it. >> I think we're okay. Keep us in 10 days. We'll keep you in the >> All in favor. We're voting on the motion that council member Esmeir made with the amendment >> for today. >> Yes. >> To the day. Okay. >> All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. >> One, two, three, four, five. >> That doesn't pass. >> All those. >> Well, it's only 10 of us here. >> All Anyone else? >> Any oppose? >> We need six. >> Any opposed? >> You do. One. I have to call for the opposition. And so >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. Mayor, you was asking for the opposition. >> Yes, the opposition. >> One, two, three, four, five. >> So, it's tied. >> So, mayor, that's a tie. Madam Mayor, you need to tie. >> It's a tie. >> Oh, >> I'm going to vote. I know. This is so funny. Um, I am going to support the idea that we continue as it is. And so I I really do believe that this is important, but I don't believe that we ought to have a a p a public >> um >> hearing >> hearing >> and to do something without more actually understanding. For me, I'm a little bit like council member um as we would say, I just don't feel comfortable talking about something without having some research and some information around it. So >> So you're a no. >> I am a no. Okay. >> All right. Let's move on. All right. >> But it's still on the agenda on May 11th. >> That hasn't changed. >> Yeah, that hasn't changed. So, we'll still have a discussion. >> I hope honestly I hope that we'll utilize the people in this community to do this and do it well. So, because that's who's going to live with it. >> So, we ought to be doing our very best and getting some information about it. >> Okay. I think >> so. Mayor, we're we're here with council >> first council topics. >> Now it's topics time. >> Thank you. Um >> we got a close session. >> So I think this past this last conversation we just had is >> a good example um I think that data centers is one arm. I think the overarching theme which is probably the most important topic of the our generation really is smart growth and how we're going to grow as a city whether it's housing whether it's data centers whether it's um economic development >> whether it's transportation um we've got to grapple with this and I do I agree that there is a sense of urgency and I I think that people generally understand that. Um, I think where we end up with the gap is that we always seem to allow our process to be the hindrance. And I I feel like we've got to we've got to develop better ways of working such that our own internal processes are not shortch changing the outcomes for the people. There's there's no way we should be talking about data centers for a year and a half and then be nickel and diamond a week or this week or how many minutes on an agenda. um at some point we've got to be responsive. Um it's not enough to know, we've got to do. And so I just think about we saw what happened when we waited for 6 months on the UDO when we knew policy 2.1 was going to lead to potential overgrowth and um and overdevelopment in particular areas. And when we got ready to do something about it, it was too late. So, we we we've got to we got to figure out how to accelerate our gains while also doing quality work. >> Um, and and given that we're right here in the budget season, if that means that we need to talk about what our staff needs to look like to deliver better analysis more quickly, >> then we got to have those conversations. But we cannot continue down this path of talking about things >> and not taking action because we don't have enough information. Um, we got to go get it. And so how do we do that in the in the spirit of that? Um as it relates to transportation specifically um many of you know that I I'm working on um a partnership with our um university in regards to how do we execute analysis and how do we update our transportation and our land use modeling so that we can decide based on what's important to our community and understanding the impacts. um we can make choices about what we want to invest in and so we're not having alternatives focused conversations. So anyway, I say that to say more to come, but I just I just caution us in light of the conversation that we just had. Inaction is action. >> Um and so we got to we got to steward that differently. That's all for me. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Yes. >> Uh thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, just kind of echoing what Victoria and Dimple just really talked about. Um, excited to share that we've been working hard on a resolution regarding 77 South expansion. Um, so we have been working on a draft that we've shared with council members, hoping to continue that conversation um either in a committee meeting, but I know you also have referred that to May 11th. Um I think you know as a whole we need to really come up with how do we um think about you know smart growth but how do we also protect community as well. So hoping that this is a good first step as we're thinking through um how do we move people but how do we do so responsibly. Um, so excited to continue to have those conversations with you all. Um, and glad that, you know, so many of us have worked to collaborate on this for quite a few weeks. Um, and hoping that this is something that the community will will back as we're thinking through um, measures to ensure that we're being respectful and responsible um, for our residents. And so, um, thank you all for continuing your patience as I'm new and just kind of figuring things out and thinking through how do I, um, you know, make sure that district three and all of the city is is receiving the support that they need. So, thank you. >> Okay, Miss Sanderson. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madame Mayor, and thank you, Miss Mayo, and the I'm looking forward to the conversations that we'll have on the resolution. Um, however, I just wanted to share two quick things. One is um uh on the 18th we had our fourth annual East Side Intergovernmental Summit and it was at the Eastway Recreation Center, regional recreation center and it was amazing. We had the big five there. We had this gentleman sitting next to me as well as the county manager, the superintendent of CMS, uh the sheriff and the chief of police. and they had the opportunity to answer questions directly from east side residents around what was top of mind and and what they're concerned about. So phenomenal facility, the East uh the Eastway Regional Recreation Center and just thank you. That was a phenomenal discussion. We got really really good feedback. >> Secondly, I just wanted to highlight something going on in the community last last weekend. um the the realtors uh association had a realtor's day and they were in community all throughout the city of Charlotte, but in particular I had the opportunity to go um to an elder who's aging in place in the Hidden Valley community and they did a full day of dedication work u fixing her deck, fixing other things all within one day and it was amazing and u really and truly helped her stay in a house that she received received from her parents and she had already said that she's going to pass it down to her son. So, this would be a third generational asset in a historically African-American community in the city of Charlotte. So, was really proud to see that and happy that that um the realtors association was able to bring that work to her. Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> All right, Mr. Mitchell. >> Uh thank you, mayor and council. You all should have a vanilla folder at your table um at the dis. heard earlier from about several speakers about noise cameras. So, uh, probably since January, I've been meeting with the hotels located in center city and I'm glad they came down here and voice a concern about noise cameras. So, um, madame mayor, I would like if you can refer this to the public safety committee and so we can decide what policy we think would fit uh, having a noise camera uh, for our center city. Oh, are you done? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I'm sorry. And so, now we'll keep moving on around. Let's see. So, if I if I can just very briefly piggyback on what was just said. I would like to expand that, mayor, and ask that that be considered more broadly than just center city. District 6 has had a number of corridors, and that is a repeated question that I get is where is the enforcement with respect to these um these car muffler situations? I haven't heard it from the hotels and so I want to prioritize the hotel district. I think that is exceptionally important but I would hope that we also can look at it more broadly. Um I do want to park just very briefly on um the comments that I had raised or would hope to raise tonight. I'm appreciative of the mayor putting on our May 11th discussion agenda um the resolution that some of us have been working on behind the scenes and I appreciate the good grace that's been given us u by our colleagues as we bring them into the fold. In the month of April, I've been very intentional in doing a listening tour with my residents in District 6 who shared their thoughts about I77 South. Those who have spoken to me have fallen into two buckets. either they they don't trust the I77 South project or they really don't trust the I77 South project. So the first camp has spoke to me that they've looked at the math and they don't have confidence that what we're getting is worth the 50 years of toll revenue that we're going to be paying. They question whether this is worth the exposure to scammers that we're going to be granting with the toll system and pay by mail uncertainties. I think we've already seen that with some of our toll roads. They also query whether the project as it's currently modeled addresses congestion at all. something that still needs to be proven to them. And if it does, how long does it address that congestion? Is it worth the cost? Those who really don't trust it have expressed they have all of those concerns and then layer on the concern that communities, especially historically undervalued communities are going to be displaced again. And I hear most often, quote, didn't we stop doing that in the 1950s and60s? So, I just want to put that into the room that this is the concern that I'm hearing from district 6. I am told repeatedly personally that this is the most expensive project in North Carolina history and that folks have been working on it for decades and for me that motivates me to ensure that we get it right. Um, I want to know how this displacement will cause um, you know, either if it's at grade or elevated, how does it compare to other takings that we've experienced in the state and what levers do we have at our disposal to make sure that these efforts um, are really showing some innovation in design as well as community focused offsets and um, perhaps from the state beyond the hundred million dollar bonus allocation to address displacement. So to my colleagues, I say let us explore how we got here with the knowledge that we've got now. Explore a path that works best. I am not in favor of rescending this until we have done a really deep dive and I'm hopeful that the resolution provides us that opportunity and I appreciate the mayor's leadership in putting on the agenda for the 11th. So thank you, >> Mr. Graham. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I have two items and I'll be very quick. Over the last 30 days, the West Charlotte Bay for rural community has received two major announcement. Uh one, uh Wells Fargo has donated $8 million to various nonprofit organizations that are surveying Badfort Road and the the West Charlotte community. Uh they made an announcement at Johnson C. Smith University about two weeks ago. And about four weeks ago, the CBS Foundation made a similar pledge of $2.5 million to support nonprofit organizations working on the Batties for Road Corridor as well as West Charlotte. Uh this is yet another example of our quarters of opportunity uh working which is a combination of both public and private investment to ensure that uh these quarters that we're working on are adequately funded both from the public perspective and private donations to nonprofit organizations actually doing the work uh um having boots on the ground providing services relating to health care um food deserts and community development. Uh in addition, there was a great reception last week um to help fill the final gaps for the historic accessories club uh in district 2. And so, as you know, the city and the county has combined a $3 million investment. Um they worked last week to close the gap. So, I'm really excited about um uh the club coming online sooner than later, restoring the um uh the tradition uh the legacy um of um uh entrepreneurship. um on the base for road quarter. Lastly, um and and probably more importantly, um there was a great job fair uh over the weekend uh hosted by the um Charlotte Douglas airport. Uh over 1,800 job seekers and 17 employers were at the Bolex um looking for job opportunities at the airport. People want to go work at the airport. Um uh the aviation department also this week will hold a resource fair available to the 22,000 badge individuals who work at the airport for um uh issues relating to housing, finance, um healthc care, etc. Again, outward mobility folks get jobs and try to climb the ladder to get better jobs at the airport and or outside of the airport. So, I'm really excited about that. And that doesn't include all the construction workers who are working at the airport each and every day. And so I just wanted to lift that up because that's great economic development news, job news, workforce development news, and also uh continue to invest from the private um perspective, what's happening on our quarters of opportunity and general and specifically on the Boot Road quarter. West Side is the best side. Colleagues, good evening. Uh, we've all heard about I77 a couple of times already. Um, I think you kind of know where I stand on this. Uh, you have in front of you a document. Uh, it's called facts, myths, and consequences. I hope you'll all read it carefully. I'm not going to recite from it tonight, but it just it reiterates the reason this project is important. It tries to respond to some misconceptions that have fueled a lot of the opposition and uh I know also that there is a lot of pressure from groups uh on all of us frankly me too uh to uh move towards a a recession and uh I want to tell you that we share their concern we all do including me and uh I want to emphasize I'm old enough I remember when Dr. King was assassinated. Uh I remember the civil rights movement. I saw whites only signs. Uh it was a tragedy for our country and a and painful to behold. So we all have that motivation and share the concern of some of the protesters. But that doesn't mean we have to do their bidding. And so what I'm asking is that we read this document and we keep an open mind and we just stay focused on uh getting the best outcome we can. And any action right now that tries to get the CRTPO to intervene or to shut it down uh denies us the opportunity to see what is possible and what we might be able to get. I believe the resolution that I appreciate is a powerful statement of uh our concern for our constituents and our values and it will be a foundation for future conversations. But we must have those conversations and at some point there is still every opportunity that we have now in the future to dis to make a move to shut it down if we really get to the point where we feel that's what we have to do. So rather than take precipitous actions to shut it down right away, um let's roll with this a bit. Let's pass our resolution. Let's make clear where we stand. Uh hold NC DOT accountable. I I know that one of the reasons we're in this predicament is because the NC DOT didn't really handle this very well. They they started this process. They did not recognize the sensitivity of that uh of those neighborhoods and the historical context. And now we're trying to recover from that, frankly. And I've been trying to recover from that. I didn't recognize it either. I have to be honest. Uh no one sort of said, "Hey, you know, be careful over there." But let's see if we can steer towards an outcome that solves the problems on I77 and also is very respectful of those neighborhoods and puts them in a better position than they are now in the future. So that's what I'll say about that. Now, I'm supportive of the resolution. I hope we can work together to get that passed. Thank you. >> Fact that it's not on the agenda. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. One, I would say that I'm happy to hear about the airport job fair this past weekend. I'm hoping that they are continuing what we started when I created the District 3 airport job fair that ran for seven years. One of the commitments that I had even back in 2012 that started is that it was jobs that were ready to hire immediately because they identified the openings and even in 2012 those positions committed to a minimum of $15 an hour back then. So we would think that it would be increased today. It was disheartening to hear from a number of our employees that are both our fire employees and our employees at the airport who are in positions where they're having to make serious choices and are underpaid without access to insurance. So that is something that we need to figure out how to >> identify partners that recognize the value in paying their employees. If you cannot afford to live in our city, which is a concern that I have had for years, which is why earlier's comment regarding housing was disappointing as far as I'm concerned because if our employees cannot afford to live here, we are going to see the mass exodus from Charlotte that we have seen that has migrated to Charlotte >> yet for our employees that for our residents that live here. Mayor, I would like to request a follow-up referral to housing committee to explore the potential of amending our minimum housing code to mandate working air conditioning equipment during the summer months. We've had this conversation for a number of years. as part of the minimum housing code referral to the housing committee. Actually, back in 2025, the committee directed staff to evaluate the viability of amending the minimum housing code to require air conditioning equipment in all dwellings. The city has made tremendous efforts and I want to acknowledge our team because they have done some great work with our 2025 window unit distribution as well as the HVAC pilot program and stakeholder engagement. Well, as we cons continue to see environmental impacts with record heats over 100°, if it's 100° outside, you're looking at 115 plus inside of a home that doesn't have air conditioning. Window units are not necessarily the best or the most efficient type of unit. So, this will be a part of the conversation for our minimum housing code. So either six votes on council if it needs to be in the form of a motion or mayor you have of course the ability to refer it to committee. I would like for to ask for you to f refer it to committee and I have already talked to my outgoing chair which I'm still not happy about but I have talked to my outgoing executive director of housing to have the conversation to see if we can we're probably looking at and attorney Leslie fight correct me or >> if I say this incorrectly we were looking at like September to give enough time because we have enough we have a number of major conversations happening, but would love to get that referral to housing and neighborhood services committee. >> Indeed. >> Do I need to make that in the form of a motion to get to go through the whole vote process or can I just >> Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh thank you, colleagues. I want to invite I want to start off by inviting everyone uh to my first inaugural town hall in District 5 uh this Thursday, April 30th at One Church Charlotte off of Albamar Road from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We'll have Miss Dei's Haitian Caribbean Kitchen catered. >> Um so it'll be a good time. We'll have a lot of our staffing experts here. All right. So, um my topic um and and um I do really like working with all of my colleagues. >> Um and I deeply respect my colleagues. Uh but this council has me deeply deeply frustrated. Um, it seems like we want to quote unquote roll with every problem that faces the working people of this city every single time. And and I and I think we have to show up differently as a council, as elected leaders. I just how many more conversations do we need to have about something >> before >> action is made on it? especially conversations that we've been discussing for years. I mean, we knew I77 was coming >> and is and it hit us uh like a deer in headlights. Uh I think I'm I'm just frustrated of the lack of action on any pressing urgent issue that is facing our community. Um Victoria and and I think I'm I'm also frustrated with the inconsistency that we sometimes show as a council. You know, Victoria Wallington uh Dr. Dr. Victoria Wington, a council member, sug uh suggested earlier this evening to bring the housing trust fund recommended projects back to committee. >> Take my bill. >> Um and and that was not uh approved or or not spoken about. But yet with data centers, we want to bring it back to committee. >> Um there's inconsistency there. And I think sometimes oftent times um we have outside relationships that might influence the way we vote. Um I think the weight of decisions that we have as a council impact our neighborhoods. Uh the weight of expectations from a city of nearly a million people. The weight of knowing that sometimes even when we want to act uh the tools in front of us feel very limited. Um for example whether how how do we come up with a resolution? What are the legal avenues? Uh how do we put something on the agenda? Um I I really do and maybe it's because I'm 27 and impatient. >> Um >> maybe a little bit. >> I'm impatient, too, though. >> But but it's also but but but >> um Council Member Driggs, yes, I'm right. But it's also because we're a generation that have lived through a pandemic, that are facing affordable housing crisis, that have uh are facing uh uh layoffs, uh a healthcare crisis. Um you know, I I really do not think we're here as public elected officials to serve the systems, uh to serve access. I think we're here to serve people. Uh people who don't have lobbyists, uh people who don't have direct lines to uh us, uh and people who trust that when they're not in the room, we're uh lifting their voices up and and so do the voices that are um not always centered in the conversations. Uh the residents uh who wonders that what what these decisions mean for their livelihoods, their commute, their neighborhood. uh the workers uh who show up every day to keep this city running um and still struggles to make ends meet. uh the airport I I think about the airport service workers uh whose labor keeps our city moving yet those working conditions are often remain invisible and and those workers who speak up and when they organize like SEIU 32BJ >> um >> who are helping elevate the voices of those workers um and we should pause to listen to those voices and not pause to question their legitimacy but to listen more closely to that because I I feel like if we begin to doubt the lived experiences of the most uh vulnerable among us, then we risk losing sight of where we are, why we're here in the first place. And I think um our role is to balance. And I'll be honest, as somebody new to this body, as someone that's young, I've had to navigate what it means to hold that balance, to understand the access that we get, who has it, who expects it, and how we as a council engage with it. uh because access to it should never feel like a given. Uh which brings me to something that I hope this council uh can explore together. Uh the hard ask which is asking ourselves whether our processes make it just easy to elevate the concerns of working families as it is to advance the priorities of developers. uh to exp examine whether we have internal barriers, bureaucratic gatekeeping, limitations on agenda setting uh that are preventing us from even having the conversations our constituents are asking us to have >> and to ensure that we uh when a council member wants to bring forward an idea rooted in community need that there is a clear and fair path to do so. And so how do we strengthen our ability as a council to act on behalf of the people? How do we ensure that when a council member sees a need in their district that we listen to what council member Graham tells us about the housing projects that are coming to uh the affordable housing projects that are coming to his district that we listen to uh council member Ishmira when she thinks there's an urgency for data centers. How do we look at our own processes and ask whether they empower us to lead or to unintentionally hold us back from having any action? Um I I think we all have a belief, a purpose, a commitment to serve. And if we can hold on to that, if we can let that guide us, um even in moments where the tools feel limited, our impact does not have to be. Uh because I really do think that ultimately public service at its core is not about what is easiest. It's about what is right to do even when it seems hard. Thank you, Madame Mayor. >> Thank you. I just wanted to >> Okay. Thank you too. So I just wanted to um say that I know many of you know Aisha Doo who is on our delegation. Um her mother passed this weekend. I had an opportunity Ruth um do was someone that um came along and brought people with her. She was particularly um particularly a person that you would go to to create places where children that were brown children or black children had an opportunity to learn art and to learn music and to learn so many other things. So I just wanted to mention that to you as I'm you know um and if you want to see Aisha as I think at home and so that's um my suggestion for the end of this meeting. We do have another meet we have a closed session that go into I'm sorry Mayo may >> um item attorney said that I could still make a motion or or say something. So, I would like to make a motion, kind of echoing what JD is saying, making sure we're being active um and being thoughtful of what our constituents are asking. So, I'd like to make a motion that on May 11th, we vote on the resolution regarding I77 South. >> Second. >> Okay. >> I thought already on the agenda and meeting already on the agenda. >> No, I I'm I'm asking to vote on it on May 11th, not just to discuss it. We could you can make that motion based on the fact that it's on the agenda. It's it's a it's open for you to make the motion on the fine. >> You can do that on the agenda, >> but we can vote. >> Yeah, but we want to take an action. >> It's on the once it's on the agenda, you can vote. >> Okay. >> Doesn't matter. >> Is there a motion to >> um No, there is not a motion to adjourn. There is a motion. >> Mayor, she attorney. So once it's placed on the agenda, the requested action would be to vote on the item. So for clarification sake, that would be the on. >> Okay. So we will be voting on the >> will be >> the requested I just want to be clear with Mr. Manager, the requested action would be to consider voting on the >> not just discussing. >> Okay. >> All right. Just want to make sure. >> Okay. So um we have one close session planned. So, we need to get ready and go into >> Are you a separate room? >> Oh, read, please read the the >> Before we move to the the motion for the close session. Um, there was a motion on the floor um from council member Mayo based on the new information. Council member Mayo, would you like to withdraw your motion? >> Yes, I would like to withdraw. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, so now will you read the motion for our close session? >> Yes, madame mayor. And if one of the council members would adopt this motion. The motion is to go into close session for the following purpose. To discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public body, including agreement on a tentative list of economic development incentives that may be offered by the public body in negotiations pursuant to NCGs 143-318.1184. >> So moved. All right, we have a motion and all in favor second. All in favor? >> I I >> I Okay, let's try to do this as quickly as we can. Huh? Huh?