Charleston City Council Regular Meeting – August 3, 2026

The Charleston City Council met at 7:00 PM on August 3, 2026, in Council Chambers at City Hall, with Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin presiding. Twenty-four members were present, and the Mayor declared a quorum; Burka, Cook, and Gianola were absent. The meeting ended at 8:50 PM after the Council passed four ordinances, five finance resolutions, and an appointment, introduced two new bills, and heard public testimony. The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Hash Khadim, a Ward 15 resident, said he filed a FOIA request on July 27 and described existing surveillance technology: 27 Motorola M500 in-car license plate readers, a fixed Motorola L6Q license plate reader on the West Side, AI-capable Motorola HXX cameras in city parks, and 180 Motorola V700 body-worn cameras. He estimated about $1.5 million in Motorola-related spending over the last three to four years and called for transparency, public input, and protection of Fourth Amendment rights.
• Justin Knapp of South Hills Youth Football said only two youth football teams exist in the city and South Hills lacks a dedicated field; he asked for financial help, saying it costs less than $4,000 for the team's five games.
• The minutes also list Andy Ricardson and Emma Carpenter as speaking about a children's book, but their remarks do not appear in the transcript.

Proclamations and Appointments

• A proclamation honored George Washington High School Baseball for its first Class Quad A state championship, recognizing Coach Mike Davis, the coaching staff, and the team.
• Council approved the appointment of Mark Farrell to the Green Team by voice vote; the Mayor and Council clarified it was his first appointment, not a reappointment.

Environment and Recycling Committee: Bill No. 8084

• The Council passed Bill No. 8084 Committee Substitute (all present voting yes), establishing a Restricted Use Area in the West Side near 508 Roane Street that prohibits use or extraction of groundwater except for monitoring and remediation. Councilmember Burton said the measure responds to state-law notification of groundwater hazards and is consistent with prior restricted-use-area bills. The restriction addresses benzene and naphthalene concentrations above WVDEP Groundwater De Minimis Standards in monitoring well MW-A1-1. Councilmember Faegre stated there is no health threat to the public at large.

Ordinance and Rules Committee: Bill No. 8083

• Bill No. 8083, updating animal-excrement removal responsibilities and fines, was the most debated item. It removes service-dog exemptions and raises first-offense fines to $50-$100 from $10-$25, with higher fines for repeat offenses and possible community service.
• Councilmember Steelhammer's amendment striking the clause that the municipal court judge 'shall have no authority to suspend the fine or any portion thereof' passed 22-2, with Jenkins and Snodgrass voting no.
• Councilmember Jenkins' amendment to keep the $10 minimum and retain the service-dog exemption failed 2-22.
• Councilmember Faegre initially moved to refer the bill back to committee, but withdrew the motion after Councilmember Steelhammer offered an amendment.
• The bill then passed as amended. Supporters said it protects public spaces and responds to constituent complaints; opponents and skeptics cited enforcement difficulty, lack of prior citations, excessive fines, and removal of disability-related exceptions. Critics also said enforcement has been rare, citing roughly 21 complaints/citations over the past decade or two. City Attorney Joseph Baldwin said the service-dog change would not create an ADA issue.
• Discrepancy note: the minutes' final roll call lists all 24 present members as yes, but the minutes' narrative states 22-2. The transcript records audible yes responses, and the Mayor declared the bill passed.

Public Safety Committee: Bills 8077 and 8078

• Bill No. 8077 Committee Substitute passed unanimously (all present voting yes). It changes procedures for caring for and impounding animals subject to poisoning or cruelty, including forfeiture timelines and five-day claim periods, and raises the maximum fine to $1,000 from $500. Councilmember Steelhammer said it reduces time animals spend in limbo at the shelter after owners fail to appear in court.
• Bill No. 8078 Second Committee Substitute passed unanimously. It increases penalties for aggressive dogs at large, adds charges for subsequent offenses within 24 months, allows impoundment while charges are pending, and creates an automatic dangerous-dog review after a second offense involving the same dog.
• Bill No. 8081 (Trespass Enforcement Authorization Program) remained in committee and was not taken up.

Finance Committee: Resolutions 26-092 through 26-096

• Resolution 26-092 adopted: purchase of 44 SCBA safety cylinder and valve assemblies from Atlantic Emergency Solutions at $1,298 each, for a total of $57,112.
• Resolution 26-093 adopted 22-2, with King and Snodgrass voting no: authorization of an MOU with the West Virginia Division of Highways for paving Route 13/10 (Oakwood Road), with costs shared equally. Members Gardner and Pharr spoke in support; Faegre asked about state-road paving issues.
• Resolution 26-094 adopted: annual renewal of Charleston Police Department records-management software from TriTech for $88,608.74.
• Resolution 26-095 adopted: purchase of a new Pierce Enforcer 107 ladder truck for the Charleston Fire Department from Atlantic Emergency Solutions for $1,744,618.
• Resolution 26-096 adopted: approval of Amendment No. 1 to the FY 2026-2027 Coal Severance Budget; Councilmember Jenkins said it reflects the budget's actual balance at the July 1, 2026 fiscal-year start.

Reports, New Bills, and Member Remarks

• The Council received and filed a City Manager memo regarding Resolution No. 978-24 (MDENT vehicle purchase authority). The minutes also list the Planning Department Annual Report 2026 under reports of officers.
• Bill No. 8085, introduced by Hoover and Jones, would rezone 1708, 1710, and 1712 5th Avenue, West Charleston, to C-10 General Commercial; it was referred to the Municipal Planning Commission and the Planning, Streets & Traffic Committee.
• Bill No. 8087, introduced by Hoover, would update stormwater ordinances on erosion and sediment control to comply with the City's Stormwater Management Plan; it was referred to the Planning, Streets & Traffic Committee.
• Mayor Goodwin said 12 new police officers were sworn in, the largest class in many years, and shared a CARE Team success story. She also discussed the West Virginia Municipal League conference and reported that the City gave $540,000 to 14 local nonprofits last year and that about $320,000 is anticipated in the current opioid-abatement round; the Opioid Community Council meets on August 27 at 2:00 PM.
• Councilmember Moore objected that Little League and youth teams have no places to play and described disadvantages for South Hills youth teams.
• Councilmember Snodgrass requested a public accounting of the $5 million Sports Complex funds, a vacant-structures list tied to the city's registry, and action on more than 20 bills she said have not moved through committees.
• Councilmember Robinson disputed that number, saying 15 bills sit in his committee and that members should contact him directly to schedule bills.
• Councilmember Annie thanked Public Grounds Director Brent Webster and city crews for responding after hours.
• Councilmember Pharr promoted Kids Bash on August 8 from 11 AM to 3 PM at 116 Hills Plaza and MultiFest, noted Kids Bash growth from 200 people five years ago to 2,500 last year and an expected 3,000 this year, and praised open Council debate.
• Councilmember Jones thanked staff, the CARE Team, and the Mayor for help in his ward.

Key Outcomes

• Bill 8084 passed with all present members voting yes.
• Bill 8083 passed as amended; vote-tally discrepancy noted above.
• Bill 8077 passed unanimously.
• Bill 8078 passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 26-092, 26-094, 26-095, and 26-096 were adopted with no opposition; Resolution 26-093 was adopted 22-2.
• Mark Farrell's Green Team appointment was confirmed.
• New bills 8085 and 8087 were introduced and referred.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM; the next regular meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM.