Charlotte City Council Committee Discussions - April 7, 2025

On April 7, 2025, the Charlotte City Council held committee discussions at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. Committee chairs provided updates on mobility, housing, government infrastructure, and economic development, including presentations from three Municipal Service District (MSD) agencies. No formal votes were taken, but several policy directions and funding requests were discussed.

Mobility Committee

• Council Member Ed Driggs reported on two topics: the community area plan drafts (now released) and the strategic energy action plan update. He emphasized that council members must read the plans to inform the public, as the general public will not read the full documents. Council Member Reneé Johnson added that less than 1% of city residents were initially engaged in the community area plans and urged the city to be intentional about transparency and proactive outreach.
• Council Member Marjorie Molina noted that Council Member Malcolm Graham raised the need to update the public on the transportation tax. Driggs confirmed that the city is seeking state legislation to allow a November referendum on a one-cent sales tax to fund a $20 billion mobility plan (rail, bus, and road projects). The 2030 plan update is expected in May 2025.

Housing, Safety, and Community Committee

• The chair (unnamed in transcript) presented an update on the $100 million housing bond implementation. Categories include rental housing production, home ownership, preservation, supportive housing/shelter, rehab/emergency repair, innovation pilot fund, site acquisition, and administration. They detailed the innovation pilot fund, land development strategies (including mixed-purpose projects like housing with fire stations), and a housing policy simulator from UC Berkeley.
• Council Member Danté Anderson suggested leveraging UNC Charlotte’s R1 status for the simulator rather than exporting expertise. Council Member Johnson noted that the city is already working with the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute for evaluation. She also questioned the affordability of 50% Area Median Income (AMI) rents, noting that at 50% AMI the rent is $1,271 per month, which is still high for many working-class residents.
• Council Member LaWana Mayfield explained that the housing discussion included a pilot for a lower-interest loan product through the Community Impact Revolving Loan Fund, which would extend affordability by 10 years and use a loan rather than grant model.

Business, Government, Infrastructure, and Regulation (BGIR) Committee

• The chair (likely Council Member Tariq Bokhari) reported on four topics:
  • Medic Interlocal Agreement: Fire Chief Johnson provided an update. No contract has been received from Medic, and the town of Harnett has canceled its contract. The chair expressed concern and noted the chief may need to take a hardline approach. Council Member Bokhari and Council Member Graham stressed the urgency, with Bokhari stating that unaddressed issues do not improve with age.
  • Aviation Budget: $30 million increase in operating expenses, but offset by revenue increases (enterprise fund). Leadership is focusing on operational resiliency and passenger safety, especially after the Washington DC mid-air collision. Benchmarking data on parking was requested.
  • CATS Budget: Interim CEO Brent Cagle reported no fare increases, but a fare study is underway. Capital investments for safety and employee measures are planned. Council Member Anderson praised Cagle’s performance, noting improved service and reduced ghost buses compared to 18 months ago.
  • Financial Partners Funding Policy Review: Over $8.2 million in funding requests were received. Committee provided feedback on value-based approach, gap analysis, and suggested that organizations like Tree Charlotte might have a line-item budget instead of going through the financial partners process. The chair noted that scoring has perception issues, and the manager will incorporate feedback into the budget proposal.

Jobs and Economic Development Committee – MSD Presentations

• Council Member Malcolm Graham introduced presentations from the city’s three Municipal Service Districts.

Charlotte Center City Partners (Michael Smith)

• Reported a $5.4 billion development pipeline, 330 days of professional sports in 2024, and the opening of UNCC’s CoLab. The Uptown Vibrancy Collaborative, co-chaired by Bill Rogers and Lynn Good, raised $1 million per year for two years from private companies to fund marketing, programming, and an expanded ambassador program (currently 16, aiming for 35-40). The ask: raise the millage in MSDs 2 and 3 to generate an additional $1 million annually. For a $100 million building, the increase would be $8,200/year; for condo units, $38/year. Council Member Ajmera expressed support. Council Member Watlington questioned whether the funding aligns with core city services, especially safety, and asked for clarity on how the safety ambassador program is funded. Council Member Anderson emphasized coordination with the county’s new 24-hour park security in uptown parks (starting July 1) and the Home for All program.

South Park Community Partners (Adam Bartlett)

• Launched the South Park Skipper microtransit in November 2024, providing 16,000 rides by end of March 2025, with an 8-minute average wait time. Announced a $21 million public-private partnership for Symphony Park, which includes a 500-foot South Park Loop segment, two anchor restaurants (privately funded), micro-retail, and park improvements. Funding: $13 million private (Simon Property Group), $5 million from South Park Community Partners, and $8 million request from existing city bond capacity for District 6 (originally allocated in 2018). Construction target: summer 2026, delivery 2027. Council Member Bokhari noted the money is already allocated. Council Member Johnson asked about precedent for mall assistance. Council Member Ajmera supported the project for its green space and economic development.

University City Partners (Keith Stanley)

• Reported that 20% of Mecklenburg County residential permits are in University City. The lake attracts 3.4 million visitors annually, with average stay of 38 minutes (increasing with events). Six signature events drew 40,000 people. The organization is exploring an ambassador program to address litter, shopping carts, and yard signs, especially on state-maintained roads (WT Harris, North Tryon). Stanley highlighted the R1 status of UNC Charlotte and plans to leverage that for economic development. Council Member Ajmera praised the cleanliness of the lake area. Council Member Anderson suggested using MSD data citywide. Council Member Graham noted the challenge of state-owned roads and the need for council to engage state delegation. Council Member Johnson highlighted the retention of Soul Delish restaurant in University City.

Key Outcomes

• Policy Directions: Council members emphasized the need for increased community engagement on area plans and transportation tax messaging. The BGIR committee directed staff to continue negotiations with Medic and prepare for potential hardline actions. The financial partners policy will be refined based on committee feedback.
• Funding Requests: Center City Partners’ request for a millage increase will be considered as part of the budget process. The Symphony Park project $8 million request is already in allocated bond capacity. Council members expressed general support but asked for additional details on safety investments and core service alignment.
• Next Steps: The manager’s budget proposal will incorporate BGIR committee feedback on financial partners. The community area plans and strategic energy action plan will return for further council discussion. The transportation tax referendum depends on state legislative action and county commission approval.
• No Formal Votes: As this was a committee discussion, no votes were taken. All items are informational or for future action.