>>MAYOR: OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, I'M CAL CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER, AND WELCOME TO EVERYONE WHO IS ATTENDING AS WELL AS ANYONE THAT'S WATCHING ON ONE OF OUR PLATFORMS THAT PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. SO LET'S GO AROUND THE ROOM AND BEGIN WITH OUR INTRODUCTIONS, I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL START WITH THE -- I'M NOT SURE, DEPUTY CLERK? >> LEAD CITY CLERK. ARIELLE SMITH, LEAD CITY CLERK. >> DIMPLE AJMERA AT-LARGE. >> GOOD EVENING, MARJORIE MOLINA, DISTRICT 5. >> GOOD EVENING, RENEE JOHNSON, I'M HONORED TO SERVE DISTRICT 4. >> BRAXTON WINSTON, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> VI LYLES, MAYOR. >> MARCUS JONES, CITY MANAGER. >> MALCOLM GRAHAM, DISTRICT 2 AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: I'M HONORED TO SERVE DISTRICT 6, AND I'M TARIQ BOKHARI. [ LAUGHTER ] >> VICTORIA WATLINGTON, DISTRICT 3. >>MAYOR: I BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, IS JOINING US. CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT LENA IS -- IN THE ROOM? THANK YOU. I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY SENT A NOTE TO YOU ON HIS ABSENCE AND THE PRESENCE OF MS. JAMES. SO WE'VE DONE INTRODUCTIONS, ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, WE REALLY TRY TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE COMMITTEE REFERRALS, AND ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY HAVE A MUCH DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE POLICY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE POTENTIAL POLICIES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE. AND SO IN THE EVENING, THIS EVENING AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE REPORT OUTS FROM EACH COMMITTEE. AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE THE FULL COUNCIL A RECOMMENDATION OR A THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE, AND THEN THE COUNCIL CAN ENGAGE AT A DIALOGUE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS, OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO ADD, SOMETHING TO TAKE AWAY, EVEN. AND I THINK THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH OUR HOUSING AND SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WITH THE CHAIR VICTORIA WATLINGTON. I THINK THAT WE'LL BEGIN THERE. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO TODAY, WE COVERED TWO ITEMS AND I THINK A GOOD BIT OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING AROUND THIS DAIS WERE IN THE ROOM. SO I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT BUT WE HAD A CARES TEAM UPDATE, AS WE KNOW THE NONSWORN RESOURCES THAT RESPOND TO NONEMERGENCY CALLS FOR SERVICE SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY REDUCE OUR NEED FOR OUR SWORN OFFICERS TO COME OUT AND ALSO, PROVIDE A BETTER RESPONSE FOR BETTER MEETS THEIR NEEDS. SO FAR, TO DATE, IT SEEMS TO BE RUNNING SPLENDIDLY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS OF THE ONGOING PROGRAM AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN EXPAND AFTER THIS PILOT. ONE OF THE THINGS OF NOTE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS HOW DO WE CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, WE EXPECT THAT THEY HAVE A ROLE IN THIS, GIVEN THE SUPPORT OF OUR -- GIVE N THE SUPPORT WITH MENTL HEALTH SERVICES AND THAT WAS CARES AND WE ALSO INTRODUCED OUR OVERALL UPTOWN STRATEGY, WHICH WE KNOW LEADS INTO OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY, BUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE WORK, AND SPECIFICALLY TO THAT QUALITY OF LIFE WORK, WE FOCUSED IN ON THE MAYOR'S REFERRAL, WHICH WAS SPECIFIC AROUND THE ORDINANCES, THAT WE MAY CONSIDER RECRIMINALIZING. IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO RESTORE SOME OF THE SENSE OF SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE TO OUR RESIDENTS UPTOWN, I DO WANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS I THOUGHT IMPACTFUL DURING THE CONVERSATION TODAY WAS THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, VERY MUCH SO, IN CMPD'S VIEW AND OUR VIEW, FRANKLY OF CRIMINALIZING PROVRTY, VERSUS CRIMINALIZING BEHAVIORS AND WE WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AND ACKNOWLEDGE TO THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING ARE NOT NECESSARILY PART AND PARCEL WITH OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN OUR EFFORTS TO ADVOCATE THAT WE'RE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO A NARRATIVE THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. SO THAT WAS ONE KEY POINT. WE DID END UP VOTING AS A COMMITTEE TO REQUEST CMPD TO DO A FULL REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COME BACK FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION, BUT THE OVERALL SENTIMENT OF THE COMMITTEE IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE RECOMMEND SOMETHING TO THE BROADER BODY, THAT WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING HOLISTICALLY OF WHAT ELSE IS IN THE UNIVERSE. SO WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT REPORT COME BACK TO US IN 30 DAYS. AND THEN WHEN WE RECONVENE IN JANUARY, WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF AND A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF THE DECREASE IN THE CALLS FOR SERVICE AND WHAT THAT MEANS OUT THERE ON THE GROUND. I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, IF I'VE MISSED ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR. >>MAYOR: MS. AJMERA? >>DIMPLE AJMERA: I'M NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. >>MAYOR: UH-HUH. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: OKAY. >>MAYOR: ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT. MS. AJMERA? QUESTIONS. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HEARD THIS CORRECTLY. SO NO ACTION UNTIL JANUARY? UNTIL THE REPORT COMES OUT? >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: NO ACTION FOR THE FULL COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE ACTION THAT THE COMMITTEE VOTED ON WAS SPECIFIC TO DIRECTING STAFF TO COME BACK WITH FURTHER INFORMATION FOR OUR REVIEW WITHIN 30 DAYS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MEETING AS A COMMITTEE IN 30 DAYS I'M SURE IT WILL COME IN THE FORM OF A REPORT OR A WHITE PAPER OF SOME SORT IS TYPICALLY DONE, AVAILABLE TO THE FULL COUNCIL. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: OKAY, SO I KNOW A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM A CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 2. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: UH-HUH. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: COUNCIL MEMBER GRAHAM'S DISTRICT WHERE THEY SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR AN ORDINANCE TO BE WHERE THEY WANTED TO ADDRESS PUBLIC DEFECATION, URINATION AND DRINKING IN PART ANDS THEY WANTED US TO TAKE AN ACTION SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND I KNOW YOU WERE AT THE -- YOU DID TELL US ABOUT THE PUBLIC FORUM THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF -- WELL, LAST WEEK, WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THAT AND WHAT DO WE TELL THOSE RESIDENTS WHO CAME AND SPOKE AT THE PUBLIC FORUM SURE THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS THIS IN A TIMELY FASHION. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: SURE. WELL, WHAT I'LL DO IS BECAUSE WHAT I DID IN THE COMMITTEE IS I MADE SURE THAT I ASKED EACH PERSON ON THE COMMITTEE WHAT THEIR INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE OF IT, AND THE GENERAL SENSE THAT I GOT, NOT ONLY FROM THE COMMITTEE, BUT THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE ROOM, PARTICULARLY THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, I BELIEVE THAT THE FOLKS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE THREE ORDINANCES, THE HESITATION IS WE DIDN'T WANT TO PREMATURELY COME OUT WITH AN ACTION OR A RECOMMENDATION, TO ACTION FOR FULL COUNCIL. WITHOUT CONSIDERING ARE WE PROVIDING A HOLISTICALLY FULLY BAKED SOLUTION, SO WE WOULD ASK FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF PATIENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON IT BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING AS A KNEE JERK REACTION THAT WASN'T COMPLETE, THERE WAS A -- THERE WAS VARYING LEVELS OF HESITATION OR I'LL SAY RENAISSANCE AROUND THE ROOM, AND ULTIMATELY, THERE WASN'T THE -- ENOUGH SUPPORT THERE TO TAKE ACTION ON THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS, BUT CERTAINLY, THERE WAS A VARIE INFORMATION SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT PLACE. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO -- I WOULD LOVE FOR MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO WEIGH IN ON THAT, UH-HUH. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. IF I MAY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT COMMITTEE IS LOOKING AT MORE COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION, WHERE WE ARE NOT DOING -- WE ARE NOT REACTING, RIGHT. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: UH-HUH. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: SO IS ALSO COMMITTEE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF OVERALL AVAILABILITY OF RESTROOMS IN UPTOWN WHILE WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE? >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: YEAH, THAT WAS -- >>DIMPLE AJMERA: GOT TO DO BOTH. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: THAT WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS CALLED OUT HERE SPECIFICALLY, WE KNOW THAT'S ONE THAT, OKAY, THAT ONE IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED, THAT SOMETHING IS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK WE CAN FIGURE OUT PARTICULARLY WITH THE EXISTING PARTNERS, SO ABSOLUTELY, PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME OUT FROM STAFF. WAS THE IDEA OF HOW DO WE MOVE ALONG THE SPECTRUM FROM PREVENTION TO HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES, OPTIONS TO ENFORCEMENT TOOLS, WITH ENFORCEMENT BEING THE TOOL OF LAST RESORT. AS WE GO INTO IT, IT IS WELL-THOUGHT OUT AND THAT WE DON'T END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO BACK PEDAL AND ADDRESS THINGS BECAUSE WE MOVED TO HASTILY. MS. MOLINA? I'M SORRY. MADAM MAYOR. >>MARJORIE MOLINA: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD AGREE WITH OUR CHAIRWOMAN, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS, SO ACTUALLY JUST FOR CONTEXT, THE MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE, MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER GRAHAM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ANDERSON, WE WERE THERE, FLOATING AROUND WITH THE STAFF. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: UH-HUH. >>MARJORIE MOLINA: THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM THE UPTOWN IN THE ROOM, THEY HAD EXPRESSED CONCERNS. BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL. AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE CHAIRWOMAN IS SAYING, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE RELUCTANCE HERE IS TO SAY WE HAD -- THERE WAS A LIST OF ORDINANCES THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, THREE IN PARTICULAR THAT WERE RECOMMENDED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THEN WE PUT OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR PARTNERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION BECAUSE LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WAS THE DISCUSSED TODAY, YOU KNOW, ARRESTING IS NOT THE ANSWER. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE CONNECTED THOSE SOLUTIONS IN ORDER TO SAY THAT THIS IS MANAGE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN FROM A AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE. REALIZING THERE IS A LEVEL OF URGENCY, ACROSS THE CITY, YOU KNOW, IN PARTICULAR, HE DID MENTION HICKORY GROVE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALBEMARLE ROAD, YOU KNOW, THE FAR EAST AREA, YOU KNOW, EVEN WT HARRIS. WE GET CALLS CONSTANTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND IN THOSE AREAS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING PARTICULARLY IN EAST CHARLOTTE, AND HE SAID, ACROSS OUR CITY, SO I DO REALIZE THAT THE EMPHASIS IS IN UPTOWN BECAUSE WE DO PUT A LOT OF STRAIN ON OUR UPTOWN RESIDENTS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT VISIT OUR CITY ACTUALLY ENJOY OUR UPTOWN AND THEY SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT AREA WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT CHOOSE TO ACTUALLY CALL UPTOWN HOME. SO WE DO OWE THEM A, YOU KNOW, AN EMPHASIS BECAUSE THEY DO, YOU KNOW, SHARE A LOT OF THE HOSPITALITY AND ATTRACTION, BUT A POLICY STAND POINT, ME, IN PARTICULAR, LOOKING AT THIS A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE. EVERY TIME I SAY -- REFERRED IT TO THE BODY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE UPTOWN CONVERSATION, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE I SAID, LONG VIEW, UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR DELIVERABLE IS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THOSE CONTROLS IN PLACE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST OUR UNHOUSED, WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE VISITING, PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY OUR RESIDENTS, WHO DON'T DO WHAT THEY SHOULD WHEN THEY VISIT UPTOWN. AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE DISC DISCUSSED WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO TAKE THOSE NEXT STEPS, SO. >>MAYOR: MR. GRAHAM? >>MALCOLM GRAHAM: I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ALLOWING ME TO VISIT WITH THEM. THIS AFTERNOON. AND I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. RESIDENTS OF FOURTH WARD WERE AT THE MEETING TODAY, AND THEY JUST DISAGREE. THEY JUST DISAGREE. ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS COUNCIL MEMBER AJMERA ASKED WAS THE THEMES FROM THE MEETING THAT WE HAD AND IF I CAN READ THEM BRIEFLY, THERE WERE FIVE BASIC THEMES THAT CAME OUT OF THE LISTENING SESSION. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS AT -- SUPPORT THE -- BUT ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS INCLUDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES. NUMBER TWO, GENERAL PERCEPTION THAT SAFETY CONDITIONS ARE WORSENED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THREE, SAFETY CONCERNS AMONG RESIDENTS ARE TYPICALLY VERY SPECIFIC TO GEOGRAPHY AND TIME OF DAY. FOURTH, RECOGNITION OF ILLEGAL AND INDECENT BEHAVIORS COMMITTED BY THE HOUSED AND UNHOUSED RESIDENTS AND LASTLY, BASED ON THE SURVEY, ROOF ABOVE AND OTHERS, 25 UNHOUSED RESIDENTS NEED GREATER ACCESS TO PUBLIC RESTROOMS. SO THOSE WERE OPTIONS -- I'LL SHARE WITH YOU. AGAIN, WE'RE JUST WHISTLING IF THE WIND IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE COUNTY IS NOT AT THE TABLE. RIGHT? WE'RE JUST WHISTLING IN THE WIND, THEY HAVE ALL OF THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND LASTLY, EVERY TIME WE HAVE A PROBLEM, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO START FROM THE BEGINNING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, GOING BACK TO TENT CITY. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK AND ADVANCED A LOT OF MONEY FOR SHELTER, THE MENS SHELTER, AND OTHER TYPE OF HOMELESS INITIATIVES. WE SPEND A YEAR AND A HALF WORKING WITH THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY. THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY. THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. DOING THIS COMPREHENSIVE HOMELESS STUDY, A HOME FOR ALL. WE'VE GIVEN THAT INFORMATION TO UNITED WAY FOR IMPLEMENTATION. SO THE WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. WHAT WE REALLY NEED NOW IS MORE RESOURCES AND ACTION. AND SO I -- I'LL WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT THE OUTCOME I WANTED. NOR THE RESIDENTS WANTED. BUT WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE. THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS SOME TYPE OF ACTION FROM THE COUNCIL SINCE ABOUT MARCH OR APRIL OF THIS YEAR, SO THEY'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT IMPATIENT. >>MAYOR: ALL RIGHT. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: AND I DID WHAT YOU SAID, FULLY RESONATES WITH ME, WHERE WE WERE AT THE POINT WAS IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE COMMITTEE WASN'T PREPARED TO TAKE ANY KIND OF IMMEDIATE ACTION TODAY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN AGGRESSIVE WAY TO GET SOME HOLISTIC WHEELS IN MOTION. WHICH I THINK WE NEED TO DO ANYWAY. BUT I DO THINK IF THERE'S A SCENARIO WHERE WE CAN HUDDLE OFF LINE, IN SMALL GROUPS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, WE GIVE BACK A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF ALL OF THE ORDINANCES, YET, WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME THAT WE CAN JUST MOVE FORWARD ON, IF WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO THAT, BEFORE YEAR END. YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, I WOULD LOVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO PERHAPS WE CAN ALL KIND OF CAUCUS OFF LINE AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO BOTH THINGS AT ONCE. BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT BACK FROM THOSE COUPLE OF ORDINANCES, THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECOMMENDED TO US. SO I THINK THAT'S JUST ABOUT FINDING THE WILL TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA AND VOTED. AND WHILE WE STILL DO THE WORK THAT WE TEED UP TODAY. >>MAYOR: MS. JOHNSON? >>RENEE JOHNSON: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I AM ON THE COMMITTEE, AND I DIDN'T SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SOLUTION TODAY. BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS SOME MORE RESEARCH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD IS I WANTED MORE HISTORY AND MORE INFORMATION ON THE DECIMALIZATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE JUST CHANGED THAT IN 2022. I KNOW THAT IT WAS A STATE MANDATE, BUT WE ALSO AS A COUNCIL MET ON THAT ISSUE A COUPLE OF TIMES. SO I THINK WE NEED SOME HISTORY ON THE ACTION THAT DECRIMINALIZED IT AND ALSO, I ASKED FOR PART OF THAT MOTION, THE HISTORY OR HOW HAS THIS CREATED A BARRIER, ANOTHER THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING DURING THE PRESENTATION, THEY GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE PERSON, WELL, THIS IS THE CARES PRESENTATION, THE CARES IS THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANT RESPONSE ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT TEAM. SO WE GOT PRESENTATIONS ON TWO ISSUES, I THINK THAT THE CARES TEAM IS DOING GREAT WORK, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT PROJECT OR THAT TEAM EXPANDED. AND PERHAPS IF WE EXPAND THAT, THAT MIGHT REDUCE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS IN THE MAKING, AND I THINK WE CAN ENGAGE THAT. ANOTHER SOLUTION MEDICAID IS BEING EXPANDED, I BELIEVE IT'S DECEMBER 1ST. SO FOLKS WILL BE -- HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, SO I THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY IMPORTANT SOLUTIONS THAT ARE PENDING RIGHT NOW THAT MIGHT HELP TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. ONE EXAMPLE, WE HEARD WAS ONE INDIVIDUAL HAD ENGAGED WITH THE CARES TEAM 26 TIMES. SO IMAGINE IF HE WERE ARRESTED, THAT'S JUST 26 MORE CHARGES ON HIS RECORD, YOU KNOW, MAKING IT HARDER TO GET OUT OF THAT CYCLE. SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL, BECAUSE ONCE THEY HAVE THE CRIMINAL RECORD, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET A JOB AND HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S NO ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES FOLKS TO HIRE OR HOUSE THEM. SO I THINK THAT BEFORE WE CREATE MORE PROBLEMS, I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT SOLUTIONS THROUGH THIS CARES TEAM, MEDICAID BEING EXPANDED, WILL HELP, AND I JUST -- I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS AND VERY, VERY -- JUST THOROUGH, BEFORE WE DO WHAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY. AND LAST THING, WE KNOW THAT EVEN IN OUR REZONINGS, YOU KNOW, THE -- EVEN THE HOTELS AND MOTELS WHERE PEOPLE STAY, THOSE ARE BEING REZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY, SO WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO SUPPORT POLICIES AND NONAFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE DISPLACING FOLKS AND CAUSING SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS AND THEN CRIMINALIZE THEM ON THE OTHER END. THANK YOU. >>MAYOR: THANK YOU. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. >>MAYOR: LET ME JUST ADD A FEW THINGS TO IT. [ LAUGHTER ] MS. MOLINA HAD HER HAND UP. >>MALCOLM GRAHAM: I'LL LEAVE IT ALONE. >>MAYOR: MS. MOLINA. >>MARJORIE MOLINA: I WANT TO -- I'M GOING FROM MEMORY HERE. IT WAS -- SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY CAME UP WAS WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE ORDINANCES AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL HERE. MAKE SURE MY MICROPHONE IS ON. IS THAT A FEW OF THE ORDINANCES WERE ACTUALLY -- THEY'RE VERY SPECIFIC. AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, WE CAN'T SAY BASED ON WHAT WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE REALIZED THERE'S URGENCY, WE HEAR THE COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED. BUT THEN, THE FEDERALLY PROTECTED ORDINANCES AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, BEING TIED INTO A FEW OF THESE, WE NEED ABSOLUTE CLARIFICATION ON HOW OUR OFFICERS ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT, BECAUSE THEN WE PUT OURSELVES IN PERIL IF WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT. SO NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE THREE THAT ARE LISTED 15.315.8 AND 15.83 WERE THE RECOMMENDED PIECES THAT WERE GIVEN TO US BY STAFF, I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I CAUTION US AND THAT WAS A PIECE OF MY CAUTION, IN UNDERSTANDING THAT A FEW OF THESE ORDINANCES, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WERE REMOVED AT A STATE LEVEL, THEY WERE ALSO FEDERALLY PROTECTED AND ALIGN WITH WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE OFFENSIVE TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT THEY'VE BEEN ASSIGNED TO FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS. SO I WOULD WANT OUR CHARGE TO BE MAINLY YES, WE HEAR OUR RESIDENTS, YES, WE EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. WE SEE IT, WE HEAR THEM, BUT WE ALSO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT HERE AND PROTECTING OUR, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THEY ENFORCE THAT, WE WON'T HAVE REPERCUSSIONS. >>MALCOLM GRAHAM: ONE MORE COMMENT. >>MAYOR: MR. GRAHAM. >>MALCOLM GRAHAM: I JUST -- TALKING ABOUT PANHANDLING, THAT WAS NOT ONE OF THE THREE THAT WAS RECOMMENDED. BUT I WASN'T -- I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IF YOU'VE NOT READ IT YET TO READ THE AT HOME REPORT. BECAUSE A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN INTO PRODUCING THE REPORT ON HOMELESSNESS. AND IF WE DON'T ATTACK HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND DRUGS, THEN WE'RE JUST WHISTLING IN THE WIND AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I DO WANT TO PROTECT EVERY CITIZEN IN THE CITY, AND I AM OTHER NOT TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE BEING POOR OR HOMELESS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE RESIDENTS TOO RIGHT? AND THEY HAVE RIGHTS, TOO. AND UPTOWN, NOT ONLY THE LIVING ROOM FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO IS SOMEBODY'S HOME. AND SO WE HAVE TO BALANCE BOTH OF THEM. AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. AND I THINK, AGAIN, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR US TO START FROM SCRATCH WHEN WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED SO MUCH TIME IN RESOURCES AND THE YOUNG LADY WHO'S HEADING UP THAT PROGRAM, WAS AT THE MEETING TODAY. AT THE MEETING TODAY FOR UNITED WAY AND A LOT OF THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, THE SUGGESTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, ETCETERA, IS EMBEDDED IN THAT REPORT. COMES DOWN TO WILL. AND RESOURCES AND MONEY. >>MAYOR: MAYOR PRO TEM. >>BRAXTON WINSTON: THANK YOU, MS. JOHNSON MADE SOME GOOD POINTS AND SHE MADE A CONNECTION I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT EARLIER TODAY, WE DISCUSSED THIS IN BUDGET -- IN GOVERNANCE TODAY. MEDICAID IS EXPANDING ON DECEMBER 1ST. THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLNESS. I WOULD SUGGEST WE DIDN'T TALK -- WE DIDN'T GIVE A DIRECTION TO MR. FENTON TO DO THIS, BUT WE SHOULD REALLY DIG INTO THIS, IF THERE ARE ANYMORE TOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE, COME DECEMBER 1ST, TO MUNICIPALITIES OR CITIES OR ANY OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE, SO WE CAN KIND OF GET IN LINE RIGHT AWAY ON DECEMBER 1ST, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE A CLOSE READING FROM POLICY STANDPOINT, FOLKS THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE VERY SMART ABOUT RIGHT NOW, SO. >>MAYOR: MS. WATLINGTON. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THIS POINT AND I THINK THAT MOST OF THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM ARE GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD IN SOME WAY, EVEN IN THE LAST COMMENTS THAT MR. GRAHAM AND MAYOR PRO TEM MADE, I THINK THAT THAT REALLY UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO BROADEN THIS CONVERSATION BEYOND JUST THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU, THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH, AND I DON'T THINK THAT -- I DON'T THINK THAT I'M HEARING THAT FROM THE GROUP NECESSARILY, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE, AS POTENTIAL POLICY, OR PROGRAMMATIC SOLUTIONS, ARE THINGS THAT WE REALLY KNEAD TO BE TALKING ABOUT IN A REAL WAY. AND SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S A PLACE FOR THAT TO BRING THAT CONVERSATION ALONGSIDE THIS ENFORCEMENT ONE, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO SET UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT. >>MAYOR: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ADD TO THIS, WHEN I WAS PUTTING TOGETHER THE CHARGE TO MS. WATLINGTON, I ATTACHED A NUMBER OF CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD, AND I KNOW THAT MR. GRAHAM USED THE WORD BALANCE, AND YES, IT IS A BALANCE. BECAUSE IT'S A BALANCE BETWEEN HOW DOES THE CITY OPERATE AND WHAT THE COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. AND WE'VE NEVER BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK I'M -- THE MANAGER AND I WENT TO AN AGREEMENT, A MERGER WITH CITY AND COUNTY, THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY, I DON'T THINK WE CAN WAIT 30 YEARS TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE, HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO THIS BALANCE IDEA COMES UP, I TALKED TO MICHAEL SMITH ABOUT THE FORUM THAT THEY HAD AND THE CENTER CITY, AND THERE WAS AT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THAT FORUM, IS THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE PROVIDERS THAT ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, THEY WERE AT THAT FORUM. SO I WANT US TO BE REALLY SURE THAT AS WE'RE DOING THE BALANCING AND THE DUE DILIGENCE, THAT'S NECESSARY, IS THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS AND HAVE WORKED IN IT FOR ALL OF THEIR CAREERS, TO ACTUALLY HELP US DO THE RIGHT THING, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE TRYING TO DO. THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I REALLY BELIEVE, I REMEMBER WHEN MAYOR PRO TEM AND SEVERAL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, WELL, WE SHOULD WORK WITH THE COUNTY MORE OFTEN. BASED ON THEIR COMMITTEES, AND I -- IF THERE'S NOT A -- THERE'S REALLY NO OTHER SUBJECT MATTER THAT WOULD BE AS IMPORTANT AS DEALING WITH THE COUNTY AS THIS ONE. AND I -- I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COMMITTEE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO DO THIS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WON'T TO BE ON FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER SAYING THAT WE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING SUFFICIENTLY WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL OWN AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE OWN COMPLETELY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM. IT'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND IN A LOT OF RESPECTS, WE ARE GETTING OUT AHEAD OF SOME THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE LET GO TOO LONG AND TOO FAR. SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE AS MUCH COMMUNICATION AS POSSIBLE WITH THIS, SO WHEN I GO TO THE UNITED WAY, BECAUSE I ASKED -- I HAD A LONG MEETING WITH SHAWN AND THE UNITED WAY, KATHERINE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT AND BASICALLY, WHAT THIS SAID IS WE HAVE A PLAN, WE HAVE NO RESOURCES. IT WASN'T THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN. BUT EVEN THAT PLAN REQUIRES TIME TO IMPLEMENT. SO WHEN MY ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE COMMITTEE IS TO NOT LET THIS JUST BECOME SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T ENGAGE IN PERSONALLY, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING REQUIRE POLITICAL STRENGTH TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE STAFF CAN JUST DO. THE STAFF CAN DEPEND ON THE PEOPLE LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY, LIKE SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES, BUT HOUSTON HAS DONE THIS. HOUSTON HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM. THERE'S A CITY THAT I DON'T RECALL, MS. JOHNSON, IN OHIO, SMALL TOWN, THEY FIXED THIS PROBLEM. NOW, HOW DID THEY DO IT? IT WAS ONE PERSON AT A TIME. IT REMINDS ME YEARS AGO, WE HAD A HUGE VETERANS POPULATION THAT WERE HOMELESS. AND THERE WAS A UNITED EFFORT BY THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND EVENTUALLY IT'S TOOK SOME TIME, BUT WE ACTUALLY GOT TO A PLACE THAT OUR VETERANS HOMELESS WAS ALMOST ZERO. THIS CAN HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK, AND TIME. SO I KNOW MS. WATLINGTON IS UP TO THE TASK. AND SO LET'S KEEP DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT DOING IT WHERE THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY COME ALONG WITH US. AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE, YOU KNOW, I HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PANHANDLING AND I WASN'T SURE IS THAT INCLUDED IN THIS? AS WELL? IT IS INCLUDED? >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: ( INAUDIBLE ). >>MAYOR: THAT IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ISSUE THAN HOUSED AND UNHOUSED AND ALL OF THAT? I THINK THAT -- I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR CMPD WOULD DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT. BEFORE WE MOVE. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO. >>MAYOR: AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. WE AS A CITY HAVE HAD THIS BEFORE COME BEFORE US, AND WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS -- WHEN WE PULLED THE CURTAIN BACK, IT WASN'T AT ALL WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS. SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT CATEGORIES OF CHANGE NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: CAN I MAKE ONE FOLLOW ON COMMENT? >>MAYOR: SURE. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: SO, YOU KNOW, THE OLD RACY CHART, RIGHT, RESPONSIBLE AND YOU LOVE THAT, THERE YOU GO. I SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT, I'M SORRY. SO I THINK THIS IS A PROBABLE A THREE-PART STRATEGY, HEARING EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD. ONE IS, I THINK THERE'S AND PERHAPS WITH A LITTLE CAUCUSING BEHIND THE SCENES, I THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL TO HAVE THE MAYOR AND MANAGER POP SYSTEM NEAR-TERM THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF COMPLEXITY AND WE KNOW THE ANSWERS, ON TO A AN AGENDA IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM, AND GET THAT DONE, AND PROBABLY IT'S UP TO A FEW OF US TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS TO SEE IF THAT'S THE CASE. AND THEN I THINK, TWO AND THREE, WHEN YOU GET TO THE RACY CHART, IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE -- EVERYONE IS ABSOLUTE RIGHT, WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE COUNTY AND SEVERAL PARTNERS AND WHAT WE NEED, MR. MANAGER IS PROBABLY A MIXTURE OF PART ONE, WE DO THE SAME KIND OF POLITICAL CAUCUSING WITH SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO GET THE POLITICAL WILL, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE THAT, TOO, THE RACY CHART THAT SAYS, LIKE, IS AN EXAMPLE, OUR ORDINANCES AND OUR ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY, ARE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS STUFF ISN'T OCCURRING ON THE STREETS. BUT WHERE THEY GO, WELL, THE JAIL MIGHT BE ONE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SHERIFF, BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PIECE, IS CLEARLY THE R, IS ON THE COUNTY. THOSE WHO NEED TO GO TO A SHELTER, OR NEED TEMPORARY HOUSING, LET'S PROBABLY THE R IS IN THE CITY'S WHEEL HOUSE, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THE MOST, YOU KNOW, COMPLICATED OF EXERCISES, BUT WE KNOW WHERE THE TOP THREE OR FOUR PERSONAS ARE, OF WHERE PEOPLE ULTIMATELY NEED TO GO, WHICH WE CAN ALL AGREE, JAIL IS NOT THE ITEM. AND I THINK THAT'S GOT TO BE THE STARTING POINT OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH PARTICULARLY THE COUNTY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHERE WE NEED THE HANDOFF TO BE REAL STRONG, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT INVESTMENTS ARE GOING TO NEEDED TO BE MADE, ONCE WE REALIZE WE'VE CLOGGED UP THE PIPELINE. >>VICTORIA WATLINGTON: TO WIG WIG -- PIGGY-BACK ON THAT, STAFF IS COMPILING AS WE LOOK AT OUR PILLARS, EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO REACT TO HERE SOON. >>MAYOR: AGAIN, I -- I TELL YOU, THAT I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH OUR PROVIDERS AND WHAT THEY DO FOR THESE PROGRAMS, AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT. BUT IT IS TRULY THOSE ARE THE FOLKS, THESE ARE THE PLACES THAT THE HOUSES OF WORSHIP CONTRIBUTE, THE MONEY TO, THESE ARE THE PLACES WHERE WE'VE PUT BONDS IN, TAKING OUR HOUSING MONEY, AND WE USE THAT FOR SUBSIDIES, ALL OF THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED, AND MOST DIFFICULT PART IS THE JAIL. I MEAN, THEY -- THEY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE NOW TO WORK INSIDE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SAY, OKAY, EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, PUT OUR OFFICERS IN THE POSITION WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO TAKE PEOPLE THERE, AND BASICALLY, THE NEXT DAY, IT'S -- AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR URGENCY, BUT THERE IS REALLY NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT AN URGENCY WHEN THE ONLY RESPONSE IS TAKE PEOPLE TO JAIL, AND LET THEM OUT THE NEXT DAY. BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM AND SAME ISSUE. SO AGAIN, I JUST REALLY ENCOURAGE US THAT WE INVEST IN THIS, IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND STREAMS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS INVESTMENT IS BEING MADE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE INVESTMENTS ARE BEING USED TO MEET THE GOALS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. SO. GREAT DISCUSSION. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. >>RENEE JOHNSON: I WAS JUST GOING TO -- JUST REITERATE THAT SADLY, THERE AREN'T ANY RESOURCES FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I WORK WITH THIS POPULATION, YOU KNOW, DAILY. AND FINDING SOMEONE HOUSING, THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MAGIC SOLUTION, THERE'S WAIT LISTS, THERE'S ELIGIBILITY, SO WE CAN'T SAY, YOU KNOW, WE -- WE'RE GOING TO CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS OR WHEN THERE'S NO -- NO PLACE TO GO. I MEAN, EVEN -- I CAN REMEMBER WHEN ONE OF THE HOTELS WAS CLOSING, AND WE HAD THIS WHOLE DELIBERATE INTERACTION AND WE BROUGHT IN HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS. AND BASICALLY, ALL THE OUTCOMES SAID, WELL, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SOLUTIONS. THAT WAS THE OUTCOME. SO WE CAN'T PRETEND AND WE'RE NOT, AND SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, MAYOR, WE CAN'T SAY THAT THIS SOLUTION AND MORE HOUSEING IS WHAT'S NECESSARY, WE KNOW THAT, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT -- IT'S JUST NOT AVAILABLE. SO WE HAVE TO JUST BE VERY CAREFUL AND DELIBERATE AND SETTING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS, SADLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON THE STREET. UNLESS -- UNTIL WE FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR EVERYONE AND THAT'S NOT 80%, IT'S NOT 60%, IT'S FOR FOLKS WITH ZERO INCOME, WE'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU. >>MAYOR: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT OUT IS BUDGET, GOVERNANCE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS. MS. AJMERA? >>DIMPLE AJMERA: ALL RIGHT. WELL, SPEAKING OF MEDICAID. WELL, FIRST, LET ME JUST INTRODUCE OUR BUDGET, GOVERNANCE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEMBERS. SO TODAY, WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBER ANDERSON AND MAYFIELD, ONLY THREE OF US WERE PRESENT THE FOR THE EXCITE -- COMMITTEE MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND INPUT DURING THE MEETING. WE HAD THREE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. WE HAD AN UPDATE ON ARPA. DOLLARS, WHICH IS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. AND FOLLOWED BY STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES. SO ON THE FIRST ITEM, ARPA UPDATE, CITY HAS RECEIVED $141.6 MILLION. AND THIS FUNDING WAS ALLOCATED TO THE CITY IN TWO INSTALLMENTS OF 70.8 MILLION EACH. AND COUNTY HAD ESTABLISHED FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE AROUND IN 2021, WE HAD FOUR CATEGORIES FOR THE FUNDING, HOUSING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY VITALITY, AND CITY OPERATIONS. AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE $132.1 MILLION THAT'S BEEN BUDGETED FOR PROJECTS. AND THERE IS $9.5 MILLION THAT'S REMAINING TO BE PROGRAMMED. AND KEEPING IN MIND, ALL OF THESE FUNDS, ARPA FUNDS, SPECIFICALLY MUST BE OBLIGATED BY ENDED OF THIS YEAR. -- END OF THIS YEAR. I'M SORRY, BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, AND ALL -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> SEND SOME MONEY. >> WRITE SOME CHECKS. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: ALL OF THE FUNDING MUST BE SPENT BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, SO WE HAVE SOME TIME. SO CITY RECEIVED $141.6 MILLION UP FRONT, WHICH ALLOWED US TO EARN $4.6 MILLION IN INTEREST. SIGNIFICANT. >> I WANT TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS. >> ME, TOO. [ LAU [ LAUGHTER ] >>DIMPLE AJMERA: SO THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED GETTING UPDATES ON THE BUDGETED PROJECTS AND ALSO DISCUSSED HOW WE MAY OPTIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN ADDITIONAL INTEREST FROM VINESTING ARPA RESOURCES, BECAUSE THE INTEREST THAT WE EARN DOES NOT HAVE DATE WITH WHERE WE HAVE TO SPEND IT BY. AND THAT INTEREST CAN BE USED TOWARDS -- IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY STRINGS ATTACHED. SO THAT'S ON THAT. AND ANY QUESTIONS ON ARPA DOLLARS? >>MAYOR: ANY ARPA QUESTIONS? OKAY. KEEP GOING. >>MARJORIE MOLINA: . >>DIMPLE AJMERA: THE STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED THE BUDGET AND THE GOVERNOR WILL ALLOW IT TO BECOME LAW BECAUSE OF THE MEDICAID EXPANSION, HE'S NOT PLANNING ON VETOING IT. THE $12 MILLION IN FUNDING APPROVED FOR PROJECT BREAK POINT SO WE'RE CERTAINLY VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. ALSO, WE GOT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT GET FUNDING FOR THE POWELL BILL PROGRAM. WHICH WE HAD ANTICIPATED OR AT LEAST THAT WAS IN OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. AND I DID ASK MR. FENTON TO FIGURE OUT A STRATEGY ON HOW WE ADDRESS THAT MOVING FORWARD. ALSO, THE MEALS TAX EXTENSION IS PENDING. AND OH, THERE IS A -- I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY ALL READ, MR. FENTON'S UPDATE, ON BOND REFERENDUM LANGUAGE. WHICH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN THE BALLOT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL BE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT. MOVING FORWARD. BUT I DID ASK MR. FENTON TO LOOK INTO THAT, BUT AT LEAST WE ARE GOOD FOR THIS BOND REFERENDUM, THAT'S FOR THIS YEAR. BUT THIS WILL GO IN EFFECT NEXT YEAR, WHERE WE -- THERE IS A SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO INCLUDE IN THE BOND REFERENDUM WHERE IT SAYS THAT ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES MAY BE LEVIED TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. AND LET'S SEE. WHAT ELSE? YES. MEDICAL -- MEDICAID EXPANSION, THAT WAS A BIG WIN. AND THEN, THERE WILL BE REDISTRICTING DISCUSSION ST STARTING SOON, STARTING NEXT WEEK. AND STAFF ALSO REVIEWED OUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR. SO HOPE YOU WILL ALL JOIN US FOR VISITS TO D.C. AND RALEIGH. SO THAT'S ALL ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS? >>MAYOR: MAYOR PRO TEM? >>BRAXTON WINSTON: JUST SAY FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE BODY, SOUNDS LIKE THIS MAY BE THE LAST COMMITTEE -- SET COMMITTEE DAY UNTIL PERHAPS FEBRUARY. GIVEN THE WAY THE CALENDAR IS SET UP. AND AS YOU START A NEW TERM, THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE SOME AMBITIONS THAT MIGHT NEED LEGISLATIVE, PARTICULARLY STATE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO INTO A SHORT SESSION AND YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO ADOPT A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RATHER QUICKLY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT. THE CALENDAR THAT WAS PRESENTED REALLY WAS STAFF-CENTRIC, AND WE KNOW IN THE PAST, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HAD DESIRES TO EXPLORE THINGS AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO GIVE STAFF THE ABILITY TO RESEARCH THINGS, FOR YOU TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AMONGST YOURSELVES AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO HAVE THOSE KIND OF POLICY DISCUSSIONS, WE HAVEN'T STARTED THAT PROCESS YET. KNOWING THAT THERE WILL BE A NEW COUNCIL SET, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO START HAVING THOSE THOUGHTS, IF YOU DO THINK FROM AN INDIVIDUAL STANDPOINT, OR FROM A SUBJECT AREA STANDPOINT, FOR SOMETHING THAT'S IN COMMITTEE, START HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO KIND OF GET BEHIND THE 8 BALL WHEN YOU GET BACK HERE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY. >>MAYOR: THANK YOU. MAYBE WE'LL JUST CALL THE NEW LABOR SECRETARY AND THEY CAN DO IT FOR US. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I KNOW, RIGHT. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: AS YOUR LIAISON TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I WOULD HIGHLY NOT RECOMMEND THAT. [ LAUGHTER ] >>BRAXTON WINSTON: BEING THAT THAT WON'T BE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2024, I SHOULD CERTAINLY SUGGEST DON'T WAIT UNTIL THEN, EITHER. [ LAUGHTER ] >>MAYOR: OKAY. SO. >>DIMPLE AJMERA: WE HAVE THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. GOOD NEWS. IS THAT THERE'S NO SHUTDOWN. THERE WAS A -- ON SATURDAY, IT'S OPERATING ON A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 17th, COMING UP FAST. CONGRESS IS ACCELERATING ITS WORK ON FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET. THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT CITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT. BECAUSE THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR OUR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THE FIRST BEING THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM FOR BROADBAND. AND SECONDLY IS LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. SO THOSE TWO AREAS ARE OF CONCERN. BOTH OF THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS DO NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO KEEP THEM OPERATING IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. SO CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL -- I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT CONGRESSWOMAN ADAMS WORK, SO CONGRESSWOMAN ADAMS HAS SPONSORED, THERE ARE THREE CITY REQUESTED PROJECT FUNDING THAT, ARE ADVANCING THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2024, AND THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON THAT. FIRST IS HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM. SECOND IS CMPD CARES TEAM. AND THIRD IS WEST SIDE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. SO THOSE THREE ITEMS OUR CONGRESSWOMAN ADAMS IS SPONSORING FOR US. AND SO FAR, CITY HAS BEEN AWARDED $81.5 MILLION IN COMPETITIVE GRANTS. AND AN ADDITIONAL $5.3 MILLION HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION. SO WE SHOULD GET IN RESPONSE ON THOSE, WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THE ADDITIONAL FUNS THAT COME TO THE CITY -- FUNDS THAT COME TO THE CITY AND THE STAFF IS CONTINUING TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDS. AND WHAT ELSE? OH, YES, COMMITTEE DID NOTE THERE IS A CORRIDORS OF OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM THAT HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS FEDERAL GRANTS. AND IS GIVEN EXTRA CONSIDERATION DUE TO PARTICIPATION IN THE THRIVING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM THAT CITY IS PART OF. SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >>MAYOR: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON. BOTH AND TRANSPORTATION AND PLANNING DID AND DEVELOPMENT, BOTH THE CHAIR AND THE VICE-CHAIR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE TONIGHT SO WE'VE ASKED THE COMMITTEE MEMBER, MR. GRAHAM TO GIVE OUT A BRIEF REPORT ON THEIR WORK. >>MALCOLM GRAHAM: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AS THE MAYOR JUST INDICATED BOTH THE CHAIR AND THE VICE-CHAIR WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING THIS MORNING. BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE THIS EVENING. AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO UP THE DATE YOU BASED ON THE -- UPDATE YOU BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE. THE MEMBERS ARE AGAIN, DRIGGS, CHAIR, ANDERSON VICE-CHAIR, MS. JOHNSON, MR. MITCHELL. WE HAD TWO AGENDA ITEMS, ONE WAS A C.A.T.S. UPDATE. PROVIDED BY INTERIM CEO. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WAS UNEVENTFUL. [ LAUGHTER ] AND WAS A SHORT PRESENTATION. CERTAINLY, THERE WILL BE SOME QUESTIONS. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT UPDATE AND AGAIN, I GOT TO THE MEETING LATE MYSELF. MR. DRIGGS AND I HAD AN EARLY MORNING BREAKFAST MEETING. WAS THE UDO UPDATE. THE PLANNING STAFF, MS. CRAIG, AND DAVE GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE UPCOMING UDO TEXT AMENDMENT AND DISCUSSED HOW STAFF EVALUATES NUMBER 1 AND 2 INCONSISTENCIES IN THE REZONING PROCESS. IT WAS A GOOD PRESENTATION BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND DAVE IN TERMS OF WALKING US THROUGH THE TEXT AMENDMENT OVERVIEW, THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY DONE TO DATE, THOSE THAT WERE APPROVED AND DENIED, FOR EXAMPLE, LAND CLEARING AND DEBRIS, LANDFILL WAS APPROVED. CR -- CENTES DENIED. CLEANUP RSH RESULTED IN BETTER FUNCTIONALITY OF THE UDO APPROVED. PENNING MULTIFAMILY USE FOR CG AND CR ZONING AND CENTER PLACE TYPES WHICH IS A PENDING TEXT AMENDMENT. SO THE UDO CONTINUES TO BE A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT STAFF AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHEN THEY SEE INCONSISTENCIES, OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, STAFF HAS BEEN MORE THAN READY TO PROVIDE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY. AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT AS WELL. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF GOING OUT AND TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE ACTION PLANS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THAT'S BEEN OCCURRING. STAFF HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY. EXPLAINING WHAT WE DO, HOW WE DO IT, WHY WE DO IT. WHY WE DO IT. WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND AND KNOW AT LEAST STAFF DOES FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THAT THIS IS A BIG CHANGE, NOT ONLY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, STAFF THEMSELVES AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IN TERMS OF HOW WE GUIDE AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE UDO PROCESS. BUT I THINK -- ABOUT FOUR MONTHS INTO IT NOW, SINCE JUNE, THAT WE'RE MAKING MEANINGFUL PROGRESS, THAT'S DEMONSTRATE A WILLINGNESS TO EDUCATE, NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS EDUCATING ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBERS IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE MANAGE AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH A NEW DOCUMENT THAT'S SOME 600 PAGES, RIGHT, AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AND THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, AND SO. VERY MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. ONLY TWO AGENDA ITEMS. AGAIN, THE C.A.T.S. UPDATE, I WAS LATE FOR THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS A QUICK UPDATE. BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR C.A.T.S. SYSTEM. AND I'LL PAUSE AND TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF I CAN. >>MAYOR: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. JOHNSON? >>RENEE JOHNSON: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MY QUESTIONS AREN'T FOR COUNCIL MEMBER GRAHAM, BUT FOR THE CITY MANAGER. AND MR. JONES, CAN YOU GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE -- WHAT'S GOING ON WITH C.A.T.S. AND THE MTC LETTER? >>MANAGER: MS. JOHNSON, I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S AN MTC LETTER AS MUCH AS THERE'S A LETTER SIGNED BY A NUMBER OF MAYORS AND A COMMISSIONER. MECKLENBURG COUNTY. AND SO WE RECEIVED THE LETTER. AND WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY. >>RENEE JOHNSON: WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY? >>MAYOR: WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY, WE HAD AN MTC MEETING AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT REPORT ON THE OCTOBER MEETING AGENDA FOR THE MTC. AND IT WAS NOT AN MTC LETTER, IT WAS A LETTER OF SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE MTC. IT WAS -- SO WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT. AND WE HAD A MEETING, AND WE WILL HAVE -- WE'RE HAVING A BUDGET SESSION WITH THEM, THAT WAS ALREADY PLANNED. WITH THE MTC. ON -- IS IT THE 10th? OR SOMEWHERE AROUND IN THERE. AND THEN, WE WILL HAVE AN AFTERNOON SESSION AND OUR REGULAR MEETING TO DISCUSS THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT. >>RENEE JOHNSON: OKAY, THANK YOU. AND ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD, MR. JONES, I ASKED ABOUT AN UPDATE FROM THE DECEMBER 2022 INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING. AND MR. DRIGGS WHO'S THE CHAIR, ALMOST ALLUDED TO THE STAFF THAT IT TAKES SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REQUEST A REPORT FROM THAT MEETING. BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY. WE HAD A MEETING IN DECEMBER OF 2022. SO I'M ASKING FOR A FOLLOWUP REPORT. WOULD YOU -- AS -- WOULD YOUR STAFF OR WOULD YOU EXPECT FOR ANOTHER MOTION TO NEED TO BE MADE FOR A RESPONSE TO A MEETING THAT WE HAD IN DECEMBER. >>MANAGER: NO, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, AND I GUESS MAYBE WE'RE JUST MISSING EACH OTHER HERE, WE'VE GIVEN YOU A COUPLE OF UPDATES TO THAT, SO WE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU AGAIN. >>RENEE JOHNSON: I DON'T ME, IT WAS A PUBLIC MEETING -- >>MANAGER: GAVE IT TO THE COUNCIL. >>RENEE JOHNSON: JUST A PUBLIC -- WELL, I GUESS, YOU GIVE AN UPDATE BUT A REPORT, I ENVISION MORE OF A REPORT LIKE WHAT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN CERTAIN AREAS, AND I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE ASKED FOR IN CERTAIN AREAS, LIKE, IF YOU MEASURE OR RANK WHERE WE ARE WITH SIDEWALKS AND TRAFFIC AND DIFFERENT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SO WE NEED KIND OF A STATE -- I THINK WE WERE ASKING FOR A STATE OF THE CITY, WHERE WE ARE, AS FAR AS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. EVEN ON EMERGENCY SERVICES. YOU KNOW, HOW UNDER STAFFED ARE WE? WE NEED -- I ALWAYS SAY THIS, WE NEED INFORMATION IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR FUTURE. >>MANAGER: YEAH, I BELIEVE DR OKAY, I'M SORRY. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: CAN I TAG ON TO O THAT, TOO. >>RENEE JOHNSON: EVEN WITH THE TREE STUDY, AND I'VE ASKED FOR THIS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW, I HAVE A PETITION COMING UP THIS MONTH, IT'S BEEN DEFERRED TWICE. FOR 150 ACRES. AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I COULD -- THE COUNCIL COULD MAKE A RESPONSIBLE AND INFORMED DECISION TO DEMOLISH 150 ACRES OF TREES WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR TREE CANOPY IS CURRENTLY, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A REPORT SINCE 2019. SO I'M ASKING FOR A CURRENT STATUS SO THAT I -- SO THAT WE CAN JUSTIFY THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT, SO WE'RE NOT WAITING UNTIL OCTOBER, WHEN WE GET A REPORT AND SAY, OOPS, PERHAPS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE THAT DECISION, IT'S UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE. SO I AND THERE'S ANOTHER PETITION IN DISTRICT 7 FOR 50 ACRES AND WE SEE THESE CONSTANTLY, I'M ASKING, I'M BEGGING FOR A REPORT, SOME TYPE OF DRAFT, OR SOMETHING, BEFORE WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION. IT'S BEEN DEFERRED TWICE. AND I -- I DON'T WANT TO ASK THE DEVELOPER THE DEFER IT AGAIN, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM. CAN WE HAVE SOMETHING, CAN WE HAVE I A DRAFT OR SOMETHING, A STATUS FROM THE ARBORIST ON SOMETHING ON WHAT OUR TREE CANOPY IS BEFORE I MAKE -- BEFORE WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION ON SUCH LARGE DEVELOPMENTS. >>MANAGER: SURE, I'LL START WITH YOUR FIRST QUESTION. MS. JOHNSON. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: CLARIFY -- I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP. >>MANAGER: OKAY. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: WOULD YOU MIND, MADAM MAYOR. >>MAYOR: GO AHEAD. >>TARIQ BOKHARI: I FULLY AGREE, BUT THESE COMMENTS DO NOT EXTEND TO THE TREE STUFF. JUST IN CLARITY. I FOUL -- FULLY AGREE, THAT'S WHERE WE LEFT OFF, THAT IS A CRITICAL TAKE AWAY. AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT. HOWEVER, I WOULD ADD THAT WHEN WE HIT THAT POINT, I THINK THE DIFFERENCE AND PERHAPS THIS IS WHAT MR. DRIGGS MEANT WHEN HE SAID THE SIX VOTES IS, IT'S ONE THING TO REPORT ON KIND OF WHERE WE WERE. IT'S ANOTHER THING, THAT'S A BODY OF WORK. THAT HAD TO BE DONE WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE. AND YOU KNOW, I'M AS PASSIONATE AS YOU OF THE TIME, LET'S GET THE GRADINGS, AND WHERE WE ON SIDEWALKS STORMWATER SEWER WATER, CONGESTION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE HAVE POLICIES THAT MANDATE A MINIMUM THAT HERE'S WHERE WE ARE FAILING OR NOT, AND WHERE WE HAVE POLICIES THAT DON'T EVEN QUANTIFY A MINIMUM. SO I AM BOTH IN FULL AGREEMENT, WE NEED TO DO THAT, BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH THE POINT THAT THAT'S THE BODY OF WORK THAT IS LARGE, WILL TAKE STAFF TIME BEYOND JUST PULLING SOMETHING TOGETHER. AND I THINK IT -- IT IS AS IT PAINS ME TO SAY, PROBABLY TAKES AT LEAST SIX VOTES AND PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE, TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT WORK DONE. SO I'M IN FULL AGREEMENT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN UNILATERALLY ASK FOR IT, BUT THERE'S TWO VOTES FOR IT AND PERHAPS WE CAN CAUCUS WITH OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF WORK AT MINIMUM. >>MANAGER: WHAT I'LL DO, MARIE OR SOMEBODY WILL SEND OUT THE SCHEDULE AGAIN TONIGHT. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FIVE AREAS. BUT WE'VE ALSO SHOWED THE COUNCIL THE TIMING IT WOULD TAKE TO DO THIS. SO CAN WE AT LEAST JUST GET THAT BACK TO YOU, AND IF YOU DISAGREE WITH TIMING, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT WE CAN DO. BUT I DON'T WANT THE FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS TO THINK THAT WE'VE JUST STONE WALLED YOU. WE HAVE PUT OUT A SCHEDULE. AND WE ARE PILOTING THOSE FIVE AREAS. THAT I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MONTH IN THIS ROOM. >>RENEE JOHNSON: AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC, IT HAS TO BE RIGHT. AND THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT IT IS PROFESSIONALLY DONE, IN A WAY THAT WE HAVE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, AND EVEN DEFINING THIS. SO I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS, SIX PEOPLE AND IF YOU HAVE TWO RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE MANAGER SAYS, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD DO, HOW WE WOULD DO IT, AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE. AND WHAT IMPACT COULD IT HAVE, SO IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF SHAPE, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VALUED, BUT AGAIN, IF WE'RE GOING TO USE IT FOR DECISION MAKING, IT HAS TO BE ACCURATE. AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, TOO. >>RENEE JOHNSON: SO THE ANSWER AS FAR AS THE TREE REPORT? >>MANAGER: YEAH, SO WE'LL SEND THIS OUT TO YOU GUYS AGAIN. THE -- WE ARE GOING TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE TREE CANOPY, I DO BELIEVE IT'S IN OCTOBER. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WHAT WE'VE HAD IS THESE ASSESSMENTS OF THE CANOPY EVERY THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. BUT NOW, WITH THIS DATASET, IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE UPDATED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. AND IT'S -- A HUGE LEAP FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN, THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT, WE'LL HAVE THAT, I'M ALMOST CONVINCED IT'S OCTOBER. I ALSO WANT COUNCIL TO -- REMIND YOU THAT WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN TERMS OF REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO BE WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN A SHAP SNAPSHOT IN TIME, TO RESERVE THE TREE CANOPY. I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL HAVE THIS UPDATE IN OCTOBER. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S A CHANGE AND HOWEVER WE MEASURE SIGNIFICANT OR INSIGNIFICANT, IT'S NOT A BIG CHANGE. BUT AGAIN, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS THE REGULATIONS THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE ARE DESIGNED TO HELP WITH THE TREE CANOPY. >>RENEE JOHNSON: AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IN FRONT OF US, WILL BE A HUGE PETITION. AND THERE'S NOT -- THIS AMOUNT OF GREENSPACE IN THE NEAR VICINITY, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL PETITION, SO IT'S OCTOBER NOW. THE ZONING MEETING, I BELIEVE IS OCTOBER 16th. SO IT'S BEYOND HALF OF THE MONTH. SO I'M SURE THAT WHOMEVER OR THE PARTY THAT'S DEVELOPING THE PRESENTATION OR THE REPORT WILL HAVE SOMETHING BY THE 16th. >>MANAGER: SURE. >>RENEE JOHNSON: SO WE CAN JUST -- IF WE CAN JUST GET THE DRAFT BY THE NEXT ZONING MEETING, THAT WOULD WILL BE GREAT. >>MAYOR: THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SO MOVED. >>MAYOR: ALL RIGHT, A SECOND. WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. [ MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:59 ]