Charlotte City Council Business Meeting - October 28, 2024
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Charlotte City Council Business Meeting – October 28, 2024
The Charlotte City Council held a business meeting on October 28, 2024, starting at 5:00 PM for the Action Review and Consent Agenda, and reconvening at 6:30 PM for the regular meeting. The meeting included consent agenda approvals, public hearings, a proclamation, public forum, and discussion of major items including the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) update, the Faith in Housing initiative, and the Hornets practice facility property transactions. The meeting adjourned after approving a consent item and discussing a pedestrian safety project.
Consent Calendar
- Items 21, 35, 48, and 49 were deferred by staff to the November 25, 2024 business meeting.
- Items 53 and 54 (Vision Zero Pedestrian Safety Hybrid Beacon – Park Road at Sunset, Parcels #2 and #3) were pulled for a separate vote after a speaker opposed the project. The council voted to approve them despite objections from the property owner (Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter), who argued the mid-block crosswalk was unnecessary and that the city had inadequate communication. Staff stated the project was requested by a resident with disabilities and that alternatives were not feasible. The vote was 7-0 (unanimous).
- All other consent items (including approval of contracts, purchases, and property acquisitions) were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alicia Santana (small business owner) criticized the procurement process, alleging that contracts are awarded to well-connected firms, that small businesses face barriers, and that subcontracting opportunities are hollow.
- Robin McEnroth requested support for a new, updated animal shelter for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control and moving the shelter out of the police department budget to a separate department.
- Rayfield Taylor (returning citizen) called for mandatory hiring of justice-involved individuals by city contractors and employers, citing lack of second-chance employment despite existing programs.
- Valerie Washington (housing preservation) pleaded for affordable housing, stating she faces rent increases and cannot find income-based apartments; she asked for help from the city.
- Famisha Okoca (pastor, Christ Semacy Church) thanked the council for economic progress and offered prayers.
- Priscilla O’Hoyo (airport cabin cleaner) described harsh working conditions, low pay, and dehydration, noting that a petition to management had produced no change.
- Anna London (president of Charlotte Works) advocated for funding for Care Ring, a health care provider for uninsured residents, arguing it supports workforce productivity.
- Dr. Kenny Robinson (Freedom Fight Missionaries) also supported Care Ring, emphasizing its work with justice-involved individuals and pregnant women in detention.
Discussion Items
- American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Update (Action Review, 5:00 PM): Sean Heath (City Manager’s Office) reported that the city received $141.6 million in ARPA funds. $31 million was allocated to city operations and $110 million to community-facing programs. As of October 28, $91.9 million had been spent and $21.4 million obligated, leaving $28.3 million unobligated. To meet the December 31, 2024 obligation deadline, staff proposed using revenue replacement for six project areas (e.g., anti-displacement, affordable housing, workforce development) to extend the spending period. This would free up $5.35 million for redeployment, plus $4.55 million in interest earnings, totaling ~$10 million available for new uses. Council discussed potential priorities including nonprofit support (e.g., Care Ring, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Do Greater Charlotte) and pay-go capital investments. No decisions were made; staff will return with an RCA for revenue replacement.
- Faith in Housing Initiative Update (Action Review, 5:00 PM): Councilmember LaWana Mayfield and Warren Wooten (Housing and Neighborhood Services) presented the initiative launched in January 2024. Over 80 faith leaders participated in 12 small group discussions. A May 2024 summit drew 300+ attendees from 95 faith communities. The city allocated $2.5 million (ARPA funds) for technical assistance. Councilmember Mayfield asked for an additional $1 million. The initiative has already supported creation of over 700 affordable housing units by faith groups. Upcoming steps include a readiness checklist, a flash advising event in early 2025, and two grant opportunities for faith organizations (cohort-based design and individual technical assistance grants). The city will continue to host virtual sessions (e.g., Land Development 102 on Oct 29).
- Hornets Property Transactions (Business Item 14): The council approved a ground lease of 1.907 acres (Tract 2) to Charlotte PEC, LLC for $10/year for 99 years, and an option to purchase 1.312 acres (Tract 1). The city also approved $15 million in fund balance for the parking structure portion of the new practice facility (Performance Enhancement Center). The city will retain 125 parking spaces weekdays 7 AM–5:30 PM, paying $150,000 annually for maintenance. Councilmembers Mayfield and Johnson opposed, citing concerns about the limited hours and broader parking affordability for uptown workers. The item passed 9-2.
Key Outcomes
- Consent items (except deferred and pulled items) approved unanimously.
- Items 53 and 54 (Vision Zero Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon) approved unanimously after debate.
- Action Review items: ARPA update received; staff directed to return with revenue replacement RCA. Faith in Housing update received; council expressed support for potential additional funding.
- Public Hearings: Three public hearings held:
- Courtyards at Back Creek Properties voluntary annexation (78.24 acres, 142 single-family units) – closed and ordinance adopted unanimously.
- Russell Grove Area voluntary annexation (60.13 acres, 185 single-family units) – closed and ordinance adopted unanimously.
- Transit Technology Project Grant Applications (7 grants totaling $4,234,574) – closed and resolution adopted unanimously.
- Business items 12-19 all approved (details below):
- Item 12: UNTechCLT grant ($250,000 from US Conference of Mayors/Comcast) – approved.
- Item 13: Renewable Natural Gas sale to Piedmont Natural Gas (75% revenue share, est. $56.9M over 20 years) – approved.
- Item 14: Hornets Property Transactions – approved (9-2).
- Item 15: Ramsey Creek Park shuttle bus interlocal agreement (seasonal, $20,710) – approved.
- Item 16: W.T. Harris Blvd/Sugar Creek Rd intersection project ($1,338,000 NCDOT grant) – approved.
- Item 17: West Rocky River Rd shared-use path ($1,976,000 NCDOT grant) – approved.
- Item 18: Hornets Nest Park access improvements ($1,030,000 supplement) – approved.
- Item 19: Metropolitan Planning Program grant ($1,449,642 total) – approved.
- Appointment: Judson Stringfellow appointed to the Alternative Compliance Review Board (partial term through Dec 31, 2026).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to Charlotte City Council Business Meeting October 28th. We will call this meeting to order and we'll start with introductions. I'll start to my right with the clerk. Ariel Smith, lead city clerk. Marjorie Molina, Councilmember, District Five. Dante Anderson, Mayor Pro Tem, District One. Marcus Jones, City Manager. Mayor from Graham District Two. Ed Driggs, District Seven. Jar Big Gardy Six. Victoria Waddlington at large. Excellent. So we will jump right into our cassette agenda. And now as we get started with the consent agenda, please note that items 21, 35, 48, and 49 have been deferred by staff to the November 25th business meeting. And it's my understanding from the clerk's office that we have a speaker signed up to uh address the property transactions for 53 and 54. Zero Vision Pedestrian Safety Beacon Hybrid Beacon on Park Road at sunset, parcel two and three. And we will um pull out fifty-three and fifty-four for a separate vote as we have a speaker this evening. But before we hear from the speakers, are there any other consent items that the council would like to have a separate vote or comment on? Miss Mayfield. Yes, I'm just looking at the ones that were pulled because those were some of my questions. Okay. Anything else? Okay, hearing hearing none. So moved. Second. Okay. We have a motion and is and a second. All in favor, raise hands. Any opposed? All right, that's unanimous. And so we will start then with item number 40. Get there. Item number 40. Is there a motion to approve a contract in the amount of 2,650, 415 dollars and ninety cent to the lowest responsive bidder Blythe construction for the Josh Bingham Bingingham parkway silly and bypass project. All right, have a motion and a second. Are there any comments? Miss Miss Mayfield. Thank you. Marie, how many current projects are Blythe working on at the airport? I'm also trying to figure out we have a very low CBI goal on this project, and CBI recently have expanded to 100 counties. So I'm trying to figure out where our trying to understand why the goal is so low. And the last question is around the bidders information when we put out the RFP. We would normally also have just like that second or third sheet that'll list everyone that bid it and what their amount was versus just having it noted in here that blight construction was selected as the lowest responsive bidder. Yes, thank you, madam. And for this one, again, it's item number 40 on your consent. This one is there's only one current contract with this Blythe vendor. The Blythe Development and Blythe Brothers Asphalt Company also have a contract for own call services for snow removal with the airport, and these are listed as separate companies, however. And also you mentioned, and and I apologize that I need to follow up on why you can see the bid tab is attachment, it is in there, but we'll follow up on that to make sure it's visible. But efficient development LLC was the only other bidder, and their bid was 2 million seven hundred and forty-six two hundred twenty-nine and ninety-seven cent, and their commitment, they did also meet the goal, but their commitment was lower at three and nine and nine percent, just meeting the goals. But to your point, there was only two bidders on this one, and this one um the one awarded, of course, bit beat in price, but also beat with CBI goals.
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