Charleston City Council Regular Meeting — November 2, 2026

Charleston City Council met in regular session on November 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included public comment on noise, alleged harassment, firefighter support, neighborhood crime and public stairways; a Veterans Day proclamation; the unanimous appointment of Alison Bibby to the vacant Ward 16 seat; zoning, traffic and right-of-way bills; support for the Kanawha County Schools excess levy; and two finance resolutions.

Consent Calendar

• Claims 11-2-2026: claims from Gary C. Cole (personal injury), Rebecca Pro Kitty (property damage) and Cecil Sardis (property damage) were referred to the city solicitor.
• City Treasurer's report for the month ending September 2026 was received and filed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Allie, a South Hills resident off Hickory Road, complained that Republic Waste Services collects trash at her townhouse complex on Tuesdays between 4 and 5 a.m., sometimes as early as 4:49 a.m. on a Saturday after a missed Friday pickup. She said the noise is about three feet from her bedroom window, has continued for months, and cited what she believed was city noise ordinance Code 61-6-26; she said calls to the property manager, waste company, city and non-emergency police had not resolved it.
• Ozday Shafi, a student, alleged that his family had suffered targeted harassment for four years from the Charleston Police Department and other public officials, including his father being pulled over or followed and ultimately driven from his hometown. He asked council to take the family's concerns seriously and to ensure protection, accountability and equal treatment.
• Austin Smith, a Charleston Fire Department captain representing Local 317, said the local represents 168 firefighters who respond 24/7 and thanked council and the administration for their support of first responders.
• Michael Tolliver, a North Charleston resident, complained about traffic, prostitution and drug activity at the end of 3700 Washington Street and Perry Lane, a recent police raid and trash at a nearby Fourth Avenue property, and speeding of 70-80 mph with stop-sign violations on 3700 Washington Street. He asked for more attention in the area.
• Gail Bellamy, a West Side resident, supported the right-of-way notice bill (Bill 8099) and described losing public stairways that residents had used for walking, errands and access. She thanked council and hoped it would vote for the bill.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• Mayor Amy Schuler Goodwin issued a proclamation recognizing November 11, 2026 as Veterans Day in Charleston, honoring veterans and the John Brawley Post 20 American Legion's 85th Annual Veterans Day observance.
• Don Wood of the American Legion Riders said the group raised $1,000 for the Charleston Fire Department from its charity ride.

Communications & Appointments

• Council filled the unexpired Ward 16 vacancy by nominating Alison Bibby, described as a local lawyer and artist focused on economic development and community beautification. The vote was unanimous, and Bibby was sworn in.

Discussion Items

• Bill 8091 amended the zoning ordinance to align accessory dwelling unit rules with new state legislation and revise the dwelling unit definition. It prohibits campers and recreational vehicles as residences and requires permits and permanent utilities. City staff said the camper/RV provision was unique to Charleston, that tents or campers without sanitary sewer are not authorized dwelling units, and that extension cords are not adequate permanent power. Councilmembers asked whether it was related to anti-camping ordinances (staff said no) and how it affected mobile homes, RVs and temporary housing. It passed.
• Bill 8092 amended the zoning ordinance to reference new West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration regulations for vape and smoke shops without changing local zoning rules. Staff said state and local spacing requirements apply, many existing shops are grandfathered, and there is no set number of vape shops allowed per square mile. It passed.
• Bill 8093 established a handicapped parking zone on the southerly side of Quarrier Street from 655 feet east of Ruffner Avenue to 685 feet east of Ruffner Avenue, amending the traffic control map and file. Councilwoman Hoover said the property owner requested it for a resident needing accessible parking in front of the apartment building at 1527 Quarrier. It passed.
• Bill 8094 established a stop intersection at Bridge Road and Walnut Road, with stop signs for the Walnut Road easterly and westerly approaches and the Bridge Road northern approach, while giving the Bridge Road southerly approach the right-of-way. Hoover said it formalized an existing stop that lacked an ordinance record. Councilmember Solomon said neighbors had raised safety concerns and suggested a mirror or flashing lights; Councilmember Jenkins asked why it was not a four-way stop, and Hoover said traffic backup was a concern. The bill passed.
• Bill 8099 amended municipal code notice provisions for permanently closing, abandoning or discontinuing public streets, alleys, lanes, roads or rights-of-way. It increases the notification radius from 250 to 350 feet, requires newspaper publication once weekly for two consecutive weeks, and requires an 8.5-by-11-inch sign posted on the property. Councilmember Gardner moved to strike language allowing other documentation indicating fair and adequate consideration so that a current certified appraisal would be required. Councilmembers Pepper and Snodgrass opposed the amendment as undermining a settlement agreement; Solomon and Carnes supported it, and the city attorney said the language allowed extra documents, including liabilities and community value, while fair and adequate consideration remained required. The amendment failed. Jenkins opposed the bill because it removed mandatory referral to council's planning/streets/traffic and finance committees, leaving the municipal planning commission as the required review; the city attorney said the presiding officer or a council majority could still refer it. The bill passed 20-5. Later, Solomon said the bill stemmed from the 2024 sale of a West Side staircase: 2,247 square feet sold for $100, less than a nickel per square foot, followed by a lawsuit and settlement. He said the adjoining home's Zillow estimate rose from $356,000 in June 2024 to $435,000, over 20% in two years, while a West Virginia housing index rose about 11%; he thanked West Side residents and supporters, including Sharon Lewis, Mark Tabbert, Gail Bellamy, Rachel Rubin and Phil Mellick.

Resolutions & Finance

• Resolution 26-125 declared council support for the Kanawha County Schools 2026 excess levy, citing the levy's role in funding facilities, staffing, safety and maintenance and warning that failure would cut one-fourth of the county's operating budget. Councilmember Taylor spoke in favor, citing his family's connection to Kanawha County public schools and urging support at the November 3 election. Adopted.
• Resolution 26-121 authorized Citizen Appreciation Parking on Saturdays from November 28, 2026 through January 2, 2027, waiving hourly fees at all metered on-street parking spaces; estimated revenue loss is about $2,300 per Saturday. Adopted.
• Resolution 26-123 authorized purchase of one new 2026 Ford Interceptor for the Charleston Fire Department from Thornhill Ford for $45,973 through competitive bidding, replacing a truck that was rear-ended and totaled and using insurance funds. Adopted.

Reports & Council Remarks

• The mayor thanked community members and election workers, noted CDBG applications open December 1, and mentioned upcoming Veterans Day and Rev. Ron English observances.
• Councilmember Moore said a childhood friend and Maryland school superintendent visiting his old neighborhood was pulled over in Moore's ward while driving a Jaguar with Maryland tags; Moore said such incidents feed perceptions that people who return to Charleston are targeted and urged that it stop.

Key Outcomes

• Alison Bibby was unanimously appointed and sworn in to the vacant Ward 16 council seat.
• Resolution 26-125 supporting the Kanawha County Schools 2026 excess levy was adopted.
• Bills 8091, 8092, 8093 and 8094 passed.
• The Gardner amendment to Bill 8099 failed; Bill 8099 passed 20-5.
• Resolutions 26-121 and 26-123 were adopted.
• The next regular council meeting is November 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM.