Charleston City Council Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Charleston City Council convened on October 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM for a regular meeting. The agenda included public comments, two proclamations, five resolutions from the Finance Committee, introduction of new bills, and extensive remarks from council members on topics ranging from police staffing to community concerns.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Chad (Mountaineer Feedback): Spoke on behalf of Nicole Taylor requesting denial of a conditional use permit and parking variance for 217 Monongalia Street, citing overcrowding and displacement of residents by Goodwill. He also made general suggestions on youth programs (extending rec center hours), business tax incentives, homeless services, and East End infrastructure, offering his document to council for consideration.
• Debbie Kinder (Kendra’s Closet Ostomy Pantry): Read a letter thanking the city, Beth Kerns, Dax Miller, Trenton Samuel, and Tanya Cummings for providing a climate-controlled space at the Roosevelt Center for the nonprofit, which serves West Virginians needing ostomy supplies.

Proclamations

• Filipino American History Month (October 2026): Recognized contributions of Filipino Americans; celebration at City Center Slack Plaza on October 17 from 12-6 PM.
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October 2026): Recognized the importance of early detection; representatives accepted the proclamation.

Discussion Items & Resolutions

Resolution 26-111 – Amendment No. 3 to the FY 2026-2027 General Fund Budget. Adopted unanimously after brief discussion.

Resolution 26-112 – Amendment to the 2024, 2025, and 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budgets. Discussion included:

• Update from city staff that the Sojourners roof project was completed under budget.
• Councilmember Farrell expressed concern about replacing Rehoboth Church with single‑family homes given vacant houses in Ward 6.
• Councilmember Snodgrass questioned whether unspent federal funds must be returned; Andy Bacchus explained that amendments over 25% require council approval and HUD allows eight years for expenditure. Funds were being reallocated to demolition (slum/blight) with low-to-moderate income percentages already high.
• Councilmembers Hudson, Morser, and Cook abstained over potential conflicts (work for recipient organization or general grant involvement). After debate, the chair ruled that because no pecuniary interest exists, abstentions were unnecessary but noted for transparency. The resolution passed 22-2-1.

Resolution 26-113 – Architect agreement with ZMM Architects & Engineers for $55,000 to conduct a comprehensive facilities assessment of GoMart Ballpark. Councilmember Snodgrass noted the bond would be paid off November 30, 2026. Adopted unanimously.

Resolution 26-114 – Novation agreement transferring ARPA funds and property at 748 Virginia Street West (old Save‑A‑Lot) from the Partnership of African American Churches (PAC) to Mountaineer Food Bank. The food bank plans a volunteer headquarters and distribution hub. Councilmember Cook abstained due to employment with Mountaineer Food Bank. Councilmember Moore raised concerns about neighborhood input, perception of west side, and unintended consequences (trash, crime). Resolution passed with 22 yes, 2 no, 1 abstention (vote tally clarified after roll call).

Resolution 26-115 – One‑year software subscription with Logisoft for VMware support and maintenance for virtual servers ($65,057). Competitively sourced; no interruptions expected. Adopted unanimously.

New Bills Introduced

• Bill 8096: East End Community Renewal Plan (referred to Urban, Rural, and Economic Development)
• Bill 8097: Regulation of data center locations (referred to Ordinance & Rules and Planning, Streets & Traffic)
• Bill 8098: All‑way stop at Venerable Avenue SE and 44th Street (referred to Planning, Streets & Traffic)
• Bill 8099: Increased notice requirements for permanent street closures (referred to Planning, Streets & Traffic)

Remarks by Council Members

• Councilwoman Kearns: Reported that the city has 137 certified police officers (144 sworn, 7 in academy), down 36 officers due to retirements (6) and resignations (13) in the last six months. Urged action on the DROP deferred retirement option plan to improve retention and noted pay is $5–6/hour below surrounding agencies.
• Councilwoman Snodgrass: Expressed frustration that term‑limit bills (for mayor, treasurer, municipal judge) introduced eight months ago have not been heard; she introduced a bill requiring bills to return to full council if not heard within 45 days.
• Councilmember Moore: Voiced concerns that the west side is not monolithic and that organizations sometimes change plans without genuine community input; worried about attracting unwanted activity.
• Councilmember Overstreet: Thanked the mayor for speaking at a celebration of Greek organizations and praised the city’s hospitality to visitors.
• Councilmember Farr: Contrasted the denial of a conditional use permit for a catering business (on Wyoming Street) with an upcoming hearing for a halfway house on Monongalia Street; highlighted constituent fears about safety and police response times.
• Councilmember Solomon: Supported the DROP program for police/fire retention; urged consideration of bills to let bills expire after a year (Resolution 26083) and to expand public speaking time to three minutes per speaker with no limit on speakers (Resolution 26101), similar to other West Virginia cities.
• Councilmember Fagry: Asked for a crosswalk at Washington Street and Park Avenue (and Central Avenue) for West Side Middle School children, noting a two‑year wait; attributed the delay to the state level.

Key Outcomes

• All five resolutions adopted (tallies: 26-111 unanimous; 26-112 22-2-1; 26-113 unanimous; 26-114 22-2-1; 26-115 unanimous).
• Four new bills introduced and referred to committees.
• Council members directed the mayor/administration to provide updates on the police DROP program and on the stalled term‑limit legislation.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM.