Welcome to the December 16th zoning meeting.

We will I will call this meeting to order, and we will start with introductions.

And let's start with our clerk.

Billy Pines, Deputy City Clerk.

Tijuana Brown.

City Council District Three.

Good evening, Renee Johnson, and I'm honored to represent District Four.

Good evening, everyone.

James Mitchell, City Council at Large.

Liz Babson, Assistant City Manager.

Good evening.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Dante Anderson, Mayor Pro Tem, District One.

Now I'm Graham, District Two.

Ed Drags, District 7, Trof Carter 60.

Milwaukee Mayfield Council Member at Large.

Good evening, Victoria Waddlington, Councilmember at Large.

Terry Hagler Gray, Senior Assistant City Attorney.

Marjorie.

Miss Molina, would you like to introduce yourself?

Good evening, everyone.

Marjorie Molina, I represent District Five.

Excellent.

So we will begin our meeting with an invocation, an expression and inspiration, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

The invocation intended to solidify our proceedings, and we celebrate the religious diversity of our entire community, including those who do not have a religious faith.

And this evening, Councilmember Brown will lead us.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

Thank you for coming tonight or this evening.

So it is an absolute pleasure to be able to bring the invocation tonight.

So I'm a dedicated member to Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church.

No matter what you're going through, how you're going through it, what amount of money you have in your bank account.

I'm a current events person.

I like to see what's going on in the world.

And there was another shooting in Wisconsin, and it was ju it was a juvenile.

Didn't get up, didn't get the age, but juvenile tells me under the age of 17, 17 and below.

And so there was six injured and uh two pronounced dead, including the shooter.

And so this is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but maybe it's not the most wonderful time of the year for others.

We all have our agendas, we all have our goals, we all have things that we want to get done and accomplish in life.

When you're thinking about what you're gonna do, remember that we all have to exit this world.

And whether you believe it or not, or whether your religion, your faith or your faith base, or what your religion is or what you practice.

We're no better than anybody, but we're just as good as everybody.

Some of you have gotten to a point in your life where you've been able to retire, and you've been able to move on and enjoy the balance of your life.

And Mr.

Keith McVane has been working with us for many, many years, and he's decided to go and do just that in 2025.

And so I'm going to read Keith a letter from the mayor, Mayor Laues, that is directed to you.

And it reads as follows.

Dear Keith, as Mayor of Charlotte, I want to take the opportunity to congratulate you on your retirement after a total of 40 years of tireless work to enhance the lives of Charlotte residents.

You began your career with the City of Charlotte and dedicated 24 years of exemplary service, working in several leadership positions within the city planning department, helping to shape for helping to shape for good the growth and the development of our community by promoting a balance of sound planning initiatives with a proper regard for jobs and opportunities for Charlotte citizens.

During your tenure with the city, you developed a reputation for thoughtfulness, patience, management skillfulness, and a remarkable memory for the many details associated with rezonings and land use cases.

Seeking new challenges, you continued this commitment to excellence in the area in the area of planning and development with an additional 16 years of service in the private sector as a land use consultant, where you displayed the same tireless and patient work ethic, culminating now in a total of 40 years of tireless work to enhance the lives of Charlotte residents.

During your 40-year career, you have been recognized not only for your professional accomplishments, but also for your kindness and your warmth, the low-key determination and gen and genuine good nature, leaving a positive impression on colleagues, clients, and community members alike.

Congratulations, Keith, on a career that supported the creation of housing initiatives, advancement of community benefits, the promotion of economic development initiatives that have left a lasting lasting mark on the City of Charlotte and the entire region.

On behalf of the city, we are grateful to you for your many years of commendable service to the Charlotte region, and we genuinely wish you the best for a long and happy retirement.

Yours truly, signed by Alexander Lyles.

Please join in the walk around.

Hey Keith, do the walk.

That's right.

Yeah, do the walk.

My friend.