Charlotte City Council Business Meeting - June 9, 2025
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Charlotte City Council Business Meeting - June 9, 2025
On June 9, 2025, the Charlotte City Council held a business meeting covering a range of topics including street vending policy, community area planning feedback, a public hearing on Spectrum Center financing, adoption of the FY2026 budget, and several consent and business items. The meeting included a closed session. Key decisions included approval of the FY2026 budget (unanimous), denial of a $6 million affordable housing development, and extension of the interim city attorney's contract.
Consent Calendar
- Consent items 13–26 were approved in a single motion, except for items 15, 20, 25, and 26 which were pulled for separate votes. Items 13–26 included police recruitment advertising services, undercover vehicle leases, several storm drainage improvement projects, financial modeling consultant services, cloud-based communication services, historic landmark designation public hearings, a right-of-way abandonment resolution, and property condemnations for the Riverbend Storm Drainage Improvement Project.
- Item 15 (Engineering Services for Queens/Westfield Storm Drainage) was clarified regarding CBI participation percentages. Item 20 (Financial Modeling Consultant Services) was discussed regarding self-performance waiver. Items 25 and 26 (condemnations) drew questions about property owner impacts and city responsibility for future maintenance. All four pulled items were approved along with the rest of the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing on Spectrum Center Upgrades (Item 7): No members of the public signed up to speak. The hearing was closed with no public testimony.
Discussion Items
- Street Vending Policy (Action Review): Staff presented proposed changes to street vending ordinances, including increasing fines from $50 to up to $500 per violation and developing a pilot program in the NODA area. Councilmembers discussed the need for enforcement, support for the pilot, concerns about criminalizing entrepreneurship, and the importance of affordable and accessible permitting. Councilmember Mayfield expressed concern that the $500 maximum might not be a sufficient deterrent. Councilmember Johnson supported permitting citywide but stressed affordability. Councilmember Graham supported a pilot before citywide expansion. Councilmember Molina urged a human-centered approach to avoid harming small vendors. The pilot program was recommended by the Housing, Safety, and Community Committee.
- Community Area Planning Feedback (Action Review): Staff reported on public engagement for the 14 draft Community Area Plans, with over 800 comments received since April 2025. Proposed changes included new policies, clarity improvements, and an implementation roadshow. Councilmembers raised concerns about the timeline for review (proposed adoption June 23) and the volume of materials. Councilmember Johnson requested more webinars and a postponement of the vote. Councilmember Mayfield argued for phasing the plans rather than blanket approval, citing conflicts with neighborhood character and existing development. Councilmember Driggs acknowledged the need for more time for council review. No final vote was taken; the item is expected to go to the Planning Committee on June 17 and full council on June 23.
- FY2026 Budget Adoption (Item 9): The $3.65 billion budget was presented as structurally balanced with no property tax increase. Highlights included $24/hour minimum pay, $1.5 million for employee support programs, $200,000 for NAACP convention, $1.237 million for non-profit organizations, and $300,000 for Helping Hands Foundation. Councilmembers praised the budget for its focus on youth, workforce, housing, public safety, and infrastructure. Councilmember Driggs noted the budget is a stretch with future challenges. The budget was adopted unanimously.
- Spectrum Center Financing (Item 7, after public hearing): Council approved an initial findings resolution for a draw program up to $136.5 million for Spectrum Center upgrades and refunding of up to $130 million in outstanding certificates of participation. The action is part of a two-step process with final approval expected June 23. Councilmember Peacock asked about the cost of delay (~$350,000 per month). The item was approved with one opposing vote (Councilmember Brown).
- City Attorney Search and Contract Extension (Item 12.5): Staff presented an updated timeline for hiring a permanent city attorney. The position was reposted on June 2, closing June 16, with video interviews August 11, on-site interviews August 25, and a target start date in October 2025. The interim city attorney, Anthony Fox, was recommended for an extension through December 31, 2025, with a retention bonus of $75,000 if he remains through October 31. Councilmembers expressed frustration with the search process, citing lack of transparency and communication. Councilmember Graham and Mayfield criticized the decision to pause the search without council input. Councilmember Ajmera opposed the bonus and proposed direct reports from the search firm. The motion to approve the extension and bonus passed 9-2 (opposed: Ajmera, Driggs).
- Learn2Earn Grant Administration Services (Item 11): Approved a contract with FORWARD for grant administration ($230,000 management fee out of $2.3 million total) for digital inclusion program. Councilmember Mayfield opposed, arguing that local organizations could have been prioritized. The item passed 8-3 (opposed: Mayfield, Johnson, Brown).
- Havenridge at Sharon Amity Affordable Housing (Item 12): Councilmember Molina moved to deny the $6 million Housing Trust Fund allocation for the 120-unit affordable housing development in Council District 5, citing strong community opposition after two listening sessions. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously, sending the funds back to the drawing board.
- Ancillary Governmental Participants Investment Program (Item 10): Adopted a resolution to transition Long-Term Investment Program funds to the state AGPIP program, effective FY2026, for lower fees and similar returns. Approved without discussion.
Key Outcomes
- FY2026 Budget Adopted (unanimous): $3.65 billion operating budget with no property tax increase, $24/hour minimum wage, investments in youth, housing, public safety, and infrastructure.
- Spectrum Center Financing Resolution Approved (10-1): Initial findings for draw program up to $136.5 million and refunding of COPs up to $130 million.
- Street Vending Policy Direction: Council endorsed increasing fines to up to $500 and developing a pilot program in NODA. Staff directed to bring final policy for vote on June 23, with implementation targeted for mid-July.
- Community Area Plans: No vote taken; council members expressed need for more time to review proposed changes. Staff will present to Planning Committee on June 17; final adoption still scheduled for June 23 but may be delayed.
- City Attorney Search: Extended interim city attorney Anthony Fox’s contract through December 31, 2025, with a $75,000 retention bonus if he remains through October 31. Approved 9-2.
- Learn2Earn Contract Approved (8-3): FORWARD will administer $2.3 million in digital inclusion grants.
- Havenridge at Sharon Amity Affordable Housing Denied (unanimous): $6 million Housing Trust Fund allocation rejected due to community opposition.
- Consent Items Approved: All 13-26 items passed, including storm drainage projects, police contracts, and property condemnations.
- LGBTQ Pride Month Proclamation: Recognized June 2025 as LGBTQ Pride Month in Charlotte.
Meeting Transcript
So um thank you everyone for being here today is our at the beginning of our agenda we have a very um an agenda for the beginning of our program which is the consent and action review and we'll call that to order and we have put uh I believe we have a quorum. We do. And so we do have a quorum. And so with that, let's begin with our introductions, and we'll start with we'll give with our city clerk. Billy Tons, Deputy City Clerk. Anthony Fox Interim City Attorney. Good evening, Renee Johnson, and I'm honored to represent District Four. Good evening, Dimpolage Mara at large. Dante Anderson, Mayor Pro Tem, District One. By Lauz Mayor. Malcolm Graham, District Two. Ed Drigs, District Seven. Edward Peacock, District Six. Good evening, Lawana Mayfield, Council Member at large. Well, thank you for everyone being here, and thank you for those that are attending and watching us either virtually or in person. Um, we really appreciate when we have participation like this for our community and our decisions. So um we usually will we will begin our first items with our consent items. Are there any consent items that the council would like to have for a separate vote? Or any comment. A separate vote for fifteen. Yes, and four, and I had questions on our consent items twenty-five and twenty-six. Um the motion ma'am. I'm sorry, Miss Johnson. Thank you. Yes. 20. Yes. All right. Oh, thank you. Item number 20. Okay. All right. So the first item, Miss Mayfield, would you like to take the first item of item 15? Yes, all right. Item 15. Engineering Services for Queens Westfield Storm Drainage Improvement Project. Yes, and my computer is now acting up. So the question that I had on here for item 15 was as far as this proposal in front of us for an amendment. This amendment is for an additional $900,000, which makes the total cost of this project a million 300 now that we're going into actual design phase. We identified initially two partners through the CBI program. So I wanted to get clarification regarding the percentages that are on here now that this is an additional 900,000. I would think that now that we're actually going into the actual work with design and construction, and that this the company we initially identified for the Queens Westfield storm drainage, that we would be able to identify additional opportunities. And Marie did share. Thank you. Um Councilmember Mayfield. So this was a separate agreement. It's an amending, but like Miss Mayfield said, it's for a different set of scope of services. So they did go back to the vendor, and but this 9.65% is based on the work of additional work of this scope for the amendment. Thank you, Marie. I just wanted clarification on that item.
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