Charlotte City Council Business Meeting - May 12, 2025

The Charlotte City Council held a business meeting on May 12, 2025, starting at 5:00 PM with an Action Review session and continuing at 6:30 PM for the regular business meeting. The meeting included an update on the Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP+), several public hearings on annexations, the Charlotte Water Revenue Manual, Municipal Service Districts, the Charlotte Future 2040 Community Area Plans, and the proposed FY2026 Operating Budget and Capital Investment Plan. Council also approved consent agenda items, business items, and nominations.

Consent Calendar

• Items 28 through 35 were approved unanimously. These included:
  • Municipal Agreements for State-Owned Traffic Signals (reimbursement up to $863,000)
  • Supplemental Agreement for Oakdale Road/Sunset Road/Miranda Road Roundabouts (local match of $1,399,924)
  • Custodial Supplies and Equipment Contract Amendment ($150,000)
  • Municipal Agreement for Relocation of Water/Sewer Infrastructure along Knox Road and Torrence Chapel Road ($1,094,551.87 estimated)
  • Municipal Agreement for Relocation of Water/Sewer Infrastructure along Oakdale Road ($1,952,051.36 estimated)
  • Uniforms and Branded Specialty Items Contract (three-year contract, estimated $525,000 annually)
  • Water Resource Recovery Facility Equipment Maintenance and Repair Services (three-year contract, estimated $400,000 annually)
  • Refund of Property Taxes ($43,958.59)

Public Comments & Testimony

Several public hearings were held, with the following speakers and positions:

Municipal Service Districts (MSDs):

• Kristen Smith (Fourth Ward resident, 25 years) expressed support for the MSD 2 and 3 millage increase, citing the need for public safety, beautification, and programming in Uptown. She noted Center City Partners' communication with residents.
• Nathan Hoffman (Uptown homeowner, 20+ years) supported the Uptown Vibrancy Initiative, stating it would restore safety, confidence, and foot traffic in Uptown.

Charlotte Future 2040 Community Area Plans:

• David Larson (resident) argued the Northeast Middle & Outer plan focused too heavily on housing supply and ignored local jobs and amenities. He recommended distributing community activity and neighborhood center zones throughout the area and urged the city to proactively build infrastructure.
• Deb Ryan (UNCC graduate student) discussed the North Inner and Northeast Inner plans, noting the 220-acre Norfolk Southern rail site near Uptown is a rare opportunity for transformative development, but the current Queen's Park proposal does not deliver on complete communities.
• Alexander Rios (resident) praised the city's commitment to sustainable growth but noted contradictions between land reclassification and tree canopy preservation. He called for requirements to maintain raw land during development.
• Diana James (Stillbury Acres resident) opposed the manufacturing and logistics designations near her neighborhood, stating the airport's purchases and clear-cutting have harmed her community. She argued residential neighborhoods are not encroaching on industrial areas.
• Reverend Janet Garner Mullins (West Inner area resident) urged council to ensure the West Inner plan protects existing residents, provides equitable access to housing, health care, and education, and prevents displacement.
• Eric Zavarelle (Sustain Charlotte, urban design master's) supported the community area planning process, acknowledging it is messy but necessary, and urged council to continue listening to residents.
• Tanya Jameson (Leading on Opportunity) supported the plans as structural policy changes needed for economic mobility and urged adoption.
• Nancy Pierce (Mary Oaks resident since 1984) supported the 2040 plan but asked council to prioritize aligning the UDO with the plans and to address contradictions.
• Barbara Rainey (Cherry community, 134-year resident) opposed the South Inner Area Plan as it relates to Cherry, stating the plan is misleading and does not address community concerns raised throughout the process.
• Mike Pompeii (Barringer Woods resident) opposed opening Chelston Drive into West Boulevard, citing traffic safety concerns.
• Stephanie Lazen (Stillbury Acres resident) criticized the plan for not incorporating resident input, noting the neighborhood's unique situation as the only one facing encroachment by airport-related development. She called for deeper assessment and partnership.

Proposed FY2026 Operating Budget and CIP:

• Lloyd Shear (former planning commissioner) requested more funding for police, fire, and transportation, suggested using hotel taxes/fees instead of property tax increases, and noted the burden on seniors.
• Kristen Coughlin (animal advocate) thanked council for the adoption center expansion and integration of ACC into General Services, but urged additional staff positions to handle intake growth.
• Catherine Monhe (UNCC student, ACC volunteer) supported separating ACC from CMPD and requested more kennel space and resources.
• Kanai Don Bermudez Bay (survivor of gun violence) demanded the city match Mecklenburg County's $300,000 investment in violence prevention, noting that gun violence is preventable and community intervention programs are effective.
• Margie Storch (UU Community, environmental justice) supported the updated SEAP+ and urged energy education/incentives for the community, especially large users.
• June Blotnick (Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders) strongly supported the People's Budget, particularly the $2 million pilot for AC units in 400 apartments, citing climate risk and heat-related health impacts.
• Clove Flynn Johnson (16-year-old resident) supported CAP, noting rising global temperatures and the need to protect future generations.
• Cass Otley (city worker advocate) thanked council for the proposed $24/hour minimum wage but requested $25/hour and a 6% increase for workers, noting many cannot afford home down payment assistance.
• Philip Barbie (Charlotte Firefighter, 7 years) stated the proposed budget's pay increases for firefighters are not accurate, as recruits hired in 2020 have not received 58% raises. He requested ARPA funds to keep health insurance flat and overtime pay at time-and-a-half regardless of leave taken.
• Carol Hardison (Crisis Assistance Ministry CEO) supported the People's Budget, including the $25/hour minimum wage and the AC pilot, and offered partnership.
• Tiffany Fenn (Sol Nation) supported the People's Budget, noting that climate/environmental justice is a through line for many city issues, and requested funding for community-owned data collection.
• Robin McEnroth (foster pet parent) supported the shelter expansion and ACC integration but requested additional staff positions.
• Sierra Maskleek (animal advocate) thanked council for listening and supported the budget items for ACC, but noted additional staff are needed to utilize new kennel space.
• Liz Clayson Kelly (Roof Above CEO) requested the city become a financial partner for the Day Services Center, citing increased demand (20% more people served in the last year) and operating costs.
• Evan Schultz (activist, in memory of John Holmes) criticized the budget's allocation of $20 million for private jets and $400 million for air travel versus $8 million for cycling infrastructure, and called for re-engineering multimodal infrastructure.
• Greg Jarrell (Redress Movement) presented 1,000 postcards in support of the People's Budget and urged a mandate for air conditioning, comparing to the 1979 heating mandate.
• Rodney McGill (Save Our Children Movement) supported the People's Budget and asked council to consider organizations like his that work on the west side.
• Jessica Lefkowitz (Hearts for the Invisible) thanked council for past funding and requested more support for street outreach, noting 1,133 individuals served with 661 positive exits.
• Tina Scholl (UNC Charlotte history professor) supported the $2 million AC pilot, citing climate inequality and redlining legacies, and called for redressing past wrongs.
• Bobby Drakeford (Black Political Caucus) supported the People's Budget and asked about funding for opportunity corridors.
• Shobita Zresh (Young MacDems, sustainability worker) spoke in memory of Bill Yoder, a cyclist killed at Park Road and Woodlawn, and asked council to prioritize cycling infrastructure, noting the budget's imbalance.

Discussion Items

Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP+) Update: Heather Bolick, Chief Sustainability and Resiliency Officer, presented the updated SEAP+ (SEAP+). Key points:

• The plan is an update to the 2018 SEAP, building on successes and setting ambitious but realistic goals.
• New community-wide goals: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 72% by 2035, reach net zero by 2050, and install 600 MW of distributed renewable energy by 2035.
• Municipal goals: Net zero emissions in light-duty fleet by 2035, entire fleet by 2050; buildings goal adjusted to reflect realistic timelines for retrofits.
• Focus areas: Buildings, energy generation, transportation, and cross-cutting strategies (including waste, water, tree canopy).
• The plan was developed with extensive community engagement, including a Technical Advisory Committee and CAP ambassadors.
• Council members expressed strong support, with comments from Councilmember Anderson (vice chair of TPD committee) highlighting the Pepper Tree apartments project, Councilmember Ajmera emphasizing tree canopy and equity, Councilmember Mayfield raising concerns about data center impacts and EV battery lifecycle, and Councilmember Watlington exploring virtual power plant opportunities and data center strategy.
• The plan received unanimous support from the TPD committee and is scheduled for adoption on May 27, 2025.

Charlotte Future 2040 Community Area Plans: Monica Holmes (Planning, Design, and Development) presented the 14 draft Community Area Plans and Revised Policy Map. Council members discussed concerns about insufficient community input (less than 1% of residents participated), particularly from neighborhoods like Stillbury Acres and Cherry. Councilmember Mayfield proposed breaking the plans into separate votes rather than approving all 14 at once. Councilmember Johnson recommended delaying the overall vote. Councilmember Ajmera noted that only one week between receiving the package (May 19) and the scheduled vote (May 27) is insufficient. City Manager Jones agreed to delay the vote past May 27. Staff will continue to collect feedback, hold a webinar on May 15, and publish all comments with responses. The Planning Commission will need to recommend the plans before council consideration.

Business Items:

• Van Donation to Mecklenburg County for CARES Team: Unanimously approved.
• Orr Road Rail Crossing Project Grant Agreement: Unanimously approved (accept $3,704,000 federal grant, local match $926,000).
• Robinson Church Road Widening Phase 1 Municipal Agreement: Unanimously approved (accept $6,227,000 NCDOT funding, local match $6,277,000).
• Helping Hands Outreach H2O Revenue Agreement: Unanimously approved (authorize $900,000 over three years from Charlotte Water tank lease revenues for water bill assistance).

Nominations: The following appointments were approved by acclamation:

• Business Advisory Committee: Manuel Campbell, Michelle Cafino, and incumbent Christopher Dayberry.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Access Corporation: Daniel Freeman.
• Historic District Commission: Incumbents Heather Wojik, Brett Taylor, and Cameron Holtz.
• Keep Charlotte Beautiful: Lucy Cruz, Montravius King, and incumbent Jacqueline Roseboro.
• Firefighter's Relief Fund Board of Trustees will be brought back on May 27.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (items 28-35).
• Brightside Commons Voluntary Annexation: Approved unanimously, effective May 12, 2025, assigning the property to District 4.
• Project Lemmond Voluntary Annexation: Approved unanimously, effective May 12, 2025, assigning to District 5.
• Steele Creek Park Voluntary Annexation: Approved unanimously, effective May 12, 2025, assigning to District 3.
• Charlotte Water Revenue Manual Revisions: Public hearing closed; revisions will be considered with the FY2026 budget on June 9, 2025.
• Municipal Service Districts: Public hearing closed; contracts for six MSDs will be considered on June 9, 2025.
• Charlotte Future 2040 Community Area Plans: Public hearing closed; vote delayed beyond May 27, 2025. Staff will continue engagement and publish comments/responses. Planning Commission recommendation required before council vote.
• Proposed FY2026 Operating Budget and CIP: Public hearing closed; budget adoption scheduled for June 9, 2025, with straw votes on May 29.
• Van Donation to Mecklenburg County for CARES Team: Approved.
• Orr Road Rail Crossing Grant: Approved.
• Robinson Church Road Widening Municipal Agreement: Approved.
• Helping Hands Outreach H2O Agreement: Approved.
• Nominations: Approved by acclamation (Firefighter's Relief Fund postponed to May 27).