For cats quality control and can report damage, graffiti removal, and more through the Adopt the Bus Stop website.

Beyond beautification, adapting a bus stop helps create a more comfortable environment for our community's riders.

Comfortable clean bus stops encourages the use of public transportation, which in turn reduces traffic congestion and air pollution.

Volunteers in the program receive cleanup supplies that they can keep for as long as they participate in the program.

So why not take action and make a difference in our community today?

Together, let's create a stronger, more connected city, one bus stop at a time.

Very good.

Thank you for being here and being present and joining us for an in-person meeting, and I'm really glad to have all of you here.

Um, let's call the um November twenty-fourth.

Um November twenty-fourth City Council meeting.

And let's begin our meeting with good evening, and thank you all for joining us here in person, and those that are watching online for this meeting.

Good evening, Andrea Leslie Fight City Attorney.

Good evening, Dimple Shmere.

At large.

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

Good evening, boy, James Mitchell at Large.

Marcus Jones, City Manager.

Good evening, Dante Anderson, Mayor Pro Tim, District One.

Ed Drake's District Seven.

Edwin Peacock, District Six.

Good evening.

I'm Victoria Watlington.

I have the pleasure of serving you as a member at large.

Good evening, TMA, Charlotte City Council District Three.

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

Um, this invocation is intended to solemnize our proceedings.

We understand that we celebrate the religious diversity of our community, including those without a religious faith.

So tonight I'd like to be able to stand and have you stand with me if you choose to have a blessing with our city.

Let us hope that you see us tonight in a way that we believe that all of us want to be.

We want to be people that make the city better.

We want to make sure that people have the opportunity to thrive in our city.

We hope that we have the wellness to be able to do this together.

One of the things that we know we've gone through some difficulties for the last couple of weeks.

So Lord, please give us a moment of silent prayer so that we can begin to understand that not everyone has the ability to be with us today.

And there are some of those that did not have the opportunity to come back to their homes and their family and their businesses.

And we hope that you will give our city and all of our people if then in our city the ability to do that just that.

So Lord, we know it's Thanksgiving time.

We know that there are going to be people that don't have food that need food.

Let us think about that as we begin to think how we can do and be better people.

With your grace, I'm in.

Sorry for the pledge of allegiance.

The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice for all.

That's what all right.

Thank you very much.

Um the first item on our agenda is our consent items.

Um Marie, please, thank you, and good evening, uh, Mayor and Council.

I've had a chance to speak with many of you, but does is there any other questions on a consent items?

And I also need to note, I believe I sent you earlier the item number 23 is being deferred.

Also, item number 24.

Scaly Bark station drainage is is moving forward in December.

So both of those 23 and 24 are being pulled from the consent.

All right, so any other deferrals on them for this item.

All right, with that, do I have a motion for approval of the items that we have for um agreement?

And do we have those?

Do I have a motion?

May I have a question of clarification?

I'm sorry.

You just asked that there were any other items for deferral versus do we have any items to pull?

We have any others.

So for items to pull.

On item number two.

My apologies.

Item 22.

Real estate appraisals and appraisal reviews.

Is that correct, Miss Mayfield?

All right, Miss Mayfield, you have a comment about that.

I do, but I guess someone needs to make a motion because I'm not sure.

Do we have do we have someone to make a motion for this for approval?

Item 22.

For item 22.

So are we going to vote on the other ones and then take up 22, or do you want to do 22 first?

All right.

So Mr.

Driggs has suggested that we have all of those except items 22, 23, and 24, that we take a vote and then come back to we have a motion and a second for that.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing no discussion, all in favor of the motion, please you raise your hand.

The motion for discussion.

I will be voting no for item 20.

Item 20.

This is a motion for everything.

This is a motion for everything.

No, okay.

So since we just do everything in, I don't want to pull it for a separate.

I would have this motion as Ms.

Mayfield, I'm sorry.

She wants to go.

The manager.

So I'm sorry.

You got that in context.

All right, let's go ahead and I believe we have a vote for the consent with every all of the items except 20, 22, 23, and 24.

Right, and we voted, I think, right?

We haven't voted yet.

So all in favor, raise your hand.

Okay, I believe that's you now.

Any opposed?

Any opposed?

Miss Mayfield.

All right.

Let's move to the next step on our agenda then.

We have to do 22.

22.

Let's start with 22, which is real estate appraisals and appraisal reviews.

Is there a motion?

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Any further comments?

And it was just a comment for Marie to thank you for the information that you provided to me earlier as I reached out, and the fact that I want to thank staff for the work that they did to make sure that we have an opportunity to have very diverse businesses to be a line regarding our real estate appraisals and our appraisal review.

So it's really just an opportunity to thank you.

All right, we're good.

Do we have another anyone else for comment?

There's no one else for comment.

So all in favor of the motion, please raise your hand.

Anyone opposed?

I don't oppose it.

All right, Miss There's no opposing.

It's unanimous.

It's unanimous though.

Thank you.

All right.

The next item that we have is a recognition for an awareness day.

Vote on item 20.

I thought we excluded item 20 from the consent, and therefore we haven't taken action on that.

Is that right?

I believe the clerk is going to record a no on item 20 for Miss Mayfield.

Right, just for Miss Mayfield.

Okay.

Okay.

Weird, but that's all right.

And 23 was deferred.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Right.

So we have completed our consent items.

And we have an award in recognition.

This is a special recognition, and I believe that Miss Ashmira is going to present it for us.

Please move.

To accept it.

Is there anyone who's rejected?

Is anyone who's here to accept it?

No, there's no one here too.

It's just yes.

Okay.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Wait.

We have this.

So this awareness is for prematurity awareness month and prematurity awareness day.

So we have this proclamation by the mayor.

Whereas families face serious health risks and Novant Health fights for their health by supporting research, leading programs, and providing education and advocacy.

And whereas Novant Health is committed to amplifying the voices of pregnant people and families in North Carolina.

And whereas Novant Health has worked extensively to improve access to prenatal care for all, increase awareness of the impacts of implicit bias on maternal health care, and raise awareness of the importance of optimal preconception health as a strategy to improve maternal health, reduce pretem birth, infant mortality, and maternal mortality.

And whereas Novant Health will continue their work in the community to address the maternal and infant health crisis of prematurity, as well as the social determinants of health, such as transportation and housing.

And whereas the month of November is recognized as prematurity awareness month.

And November 17th is recognized as World Prematurity Day to raise awareness.

Now therefore, she by Alexander Laws, Mayor of Charlotte, do hereby proclaim November as prematurity awareness month and November 17th as World Prematurity Awareness Day in the City of Charlotte and encourage all residents to join us in special observance.

So to all the practitioners who work in this fit field, thank you for all that you do to keep our mom safe.

Thank you very much, Miss Ashmira.

And now we will move on to our public forum.

Um we would like to thank all of you for joining us on behalf of the entire city council.

And I ask that all speakers and audience members be civil and courteous in their use of language.

Speakers are encouraged to address the council and should refrain from responding to audience members.

Likewise, audience members should be courteous to hear each speaker and not yell out or interrupt them.

We want to ensure that everyone has the chance to be heard.

Since there are more than 10 speakers, each speaker will have two minutes to address the council.

So let's begin.

Um, Mayor Pro Tem with the first speaker.

Yes, okay.

Um can we have Lauren Patterson?

If you could come down to one mic, and then if we could have Frank Devine.

Frank, are you present?

Okay, if you can come to the other mic, then you can be ready to go.

And you'll have two minutes once you begin to speak.

Thank you.

Hi everyone, I'm Lauren Patterson, District 3, um, and member of the bike advisory committee.

Um, and I'm here to talk about the need for more bicycles funding within our city.

And that was also in the deadliest city in America and the most sprawled.

And when I moved to Yorkmont, that was the time I actually had to buy a car because crossing South Triad and Woodlawn, even though it is only five minutes from the rail trail and trains and a regular bus network.

So I just wanted to talk through that getting through safely is a key aspect that makes me not be able to bike currently today.

And what's needed to fix this is really not that much.

It can also be implemented quickly with minimal disruption on roadways.

And it can ease increase access to transit by over nine times, which is a stat from our own Charlotte's better bicep better business.

It also is one of the only forms of transit that has a positive ROI.

So being able to invest more in this infrastructure and be able to meet more needs, especially as our city continues to grow, is very important to be able to maintain the same quality of life that we currently have today.

Thank you, Ms.

Patterson.

We'll have uh Mr.

Devon.

You'll have two minutes as is Matt Wessler.

You could come down, and when Mr.

Devine is done, you'll have your two minutes.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Uh my name is Frank Devine, and I've had the privilege of serving on Charlotte's bicycle advisory committee for the past three years.

Tonight I'm here to encourage you to take the opportunity to increase the dedicated funding for the city's bicycle program.

Now that the PAV Act has been approved by Mecklenburg County voters.

Last year, along with Sustained Charlotte, the BAC advocated for increasing the budget to 10 million dollars per year.

Just by proposing the largest transportation bond in Charlotte's history at over 238 million dollars.

City Council and staff elected to keep spending flat at $4 million per year, even as inflation stretched the meager existing funding thin.

With the existing funding, Charlotte continues to fall short of reaching its goals of 10 miles of protected bike lanes per year.

I'm aware of the projects that we have completed successfully, namely College Street and MLK Uptown, as well as Parkwood.

Um, but those are simply taking too long.

We need a cultural shift where we don't just look at vision zero and street safety as a budgetary line item.

We need infrastructure and action.

Fifty-three people have died on Charlotte Road so far this year.

These are people with friends, families, and communities that have been left reeling.

Enough is enough.

Fully fund and build out the seven miles of the uptown cycle link.

It should not take this long.

Complete the bike lane vertical element pilot.

No pilot should take over a year and a half to get any traction.

This is a disgrace from the Department of Transportation.

And then also, we need to actually enforce parking and bike lanes and make a working system to report it.

The Charlotte Plus app has been hailed as a great way to save time for calling 311.

You actually tried to report an infraction in the bike lane.

You get a ticket emailed back to you and say, sorry, we don't handle that.

Call 911.

With all we hear about 911 response times being so grand, we're supposed to call 911 for someone illegally parked rather than reporting it asynchronously through the app.

We can do better.

In 2024, we had a rapid response quality of life team introduced to handle these issues.

Where's thank you?

Where's the update on that?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Devine.

Uh Jacob Kresminski, are you present?

If you could come down, that'd be great.

You go ahead and proceed.

You have two minutes.

Thank you.

Madam Mayor and members of City Council.

My name is Matt Weshler.

I'm a district two resident, a member of the city's bicycle advisory committee, and a board member of the Biddleville Smallwood community organization.

One month ago, while walking my three-year-old Wheaton terrier, Ruby Rose.

She slipped out of her collar, ran into Eastway Drive, and was struck by a driver.

Yes.

I screamed first in fear and then in anguish as I watched this happen.

Volunteer tried CPR to save her life, but she sadly died on our way to the emergency vet.

I share it not because of the grief my wife and I still feel, but because what happened to Ruby is not an isolated tragedy.

Twelve years ago, at the same spot where Ruby was killed, Lola Jean Williams also lost her life to a hit and run driver.

NCDOT pedpike crash data show that the tragic consequences of roads like Eastway Drive, planned and designed to funnel high volumes of cars through places where people live and work are not an anomaly in Charlotte.

They are the consequence of decades of decisions by past city leaders to prioritize vehicular throughput over the safety and comfort of those outside a vehicle.

November 4th, voters granted this council the power to decide how 100 million dollars a year and new taxpayer money would be spent on Charlotte's Roads.

I voted yes on that referendum.

In honor of Ruby and all the victims of roadway violence, may I ask of you, Council, therefore, as you discuss how to spend that money is to not repeat the mistakes of your predecessors, but rather to resolve to making the safety and comfort of people outside the car, your unequivocal priority, and to communicate that expectation clearly to CDOT and planning leadership.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Mr.

Abdullah, are you here?

Chey Abdullah.

If you can make your way down to this podium when you get there, you'll have two minutes.

You go right ahead, sir.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Lyles, Council members, and Charlotte residents.

My name is Jacob Krisminski, and I'm here to share updates to my 311 call center solution, which I first spoke to you all about in August.

Since then, we've made some big improvements, and I am here to ask for a pilot meeting.

We recognize the city's recent success in integrating full Spanish language support to the CLT Plus app.

Inspired by your commitment to accessibility, we also have integrated full Spanish support into our 311 solution so that every resident can get instant help for their problems and their desired language.

We've also enhanced security and accuracy for our solution.

After our conversation in August, I got the opportunity to speak with Pamela Joyner.

She was able to share the scale of the 311 challenge.

70 plus reps, 40 to 60,000 calls a month, utilizing 15 plus applications to answer those questions.

While I haven't been able to secure a follow-up meeting, I truly believe this is a great way for you and I to make a quick and appreciated impact in residents' lives.

That is why we've also committed to a start small and succeed fast strategy.

Instead of tackling everything at once, we are going to prototype one to two of the most common inquiries.

And just a 10% and just a 10 to 20 percent drop in those calls would free up thousands of representative hours every month.

Charlotte would be our very first city partner.

I live here, I love it here, and because of that, I want to see us lead, and I am willing to do this pilot at cost.

Mayor Lyles, Council members, all I'm asking for tonight is a formal meeting with city staff and applicable partners.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Uh Ms.

Abernathy, are you present?

Okay.

If you could come to this podium, that would be great.

And Mr.

Abdullah, you go right ahead.

You have two minutes.

Uh hi, thank you uh for having me here.

It's a pleasure to see all of you guys today.

Uh, I'd like to ask if you could visit Cedar Grove, Save Cedar Grove.org.

That for folks uh here in the room and uh and online.

Uh I'm here tonight to talk about the work that's happened there.

Uh when you visit uh the Cedar Grove website, uh I I suggested that you go there because we can walk through several things that have happened with that property.

Cedar Grove is a once abandoned piece of property in the Beatty Sword uh corridor.

Uh it has been cleaned up by some efforts uh with myself and some other partners.

Uh and now instead of a blight abandoned blight on the neighborhood, it has become a communal spot, a place where conversations can happen.

Research is happening, and the community is coming together uh around this really historically significant piece of property.

Uh at the website you can donate.

We are funded by donations, and they are always helpful and appreciated.

So please consider that uh in this time of giving.

I'd like to invite you all to join us for our third annual Reese Bay ceremony, which is on December 13th, where we honor the veterans that rest in Cedar Grove.

We started our work there discovering six veterans.

Through the research, we were up to 55 veterans that lay in that property that again was abandoned and blighted until we stepped in and started to make an effort.

Through that effort, we've been able to generate several several things.

Uh the wreath day ceremony.

Uh, we will have our sixth annual memorial day ceremony this year.

We've launched a program for children called West Side Digital that explores that history and advances their skills in digital storytelling.

And we also have a podcast honoring the soldiers at uh Cedar Grove.

It's called The Lost Soldiers Podcast, hosted by myself and Mr.

Tom Hanchett.

I encourage all of you guys to give that a listen and learn about the great work, the veterans, the people and the stories that live on that property.

Well, very quickly, my next opportunity there is workforce development.

And the reason I've come to you tonight is to ask for your support in the pursuing a program that will allow for workforce development to happen locally with local jobs behind it.

We've done the work there and we know the people.

Thank you, Mr.

Abdullah.

Uh Ms.

Hardin, are you present?

Kathy Emma.

Nine Harden.

Okay.

Uh Miss Otley, Cass Otley.

Um Elena Muller, are you present?

Uh Donna Schumann.

Okay.

Shayna Silver.

If you could come down to this podium, Ms.

Silver.

That would be great.

And you go right ahead, Miss Abernathy.

Hi, my name is Kathy Abernathy, and I am on the board, the Condo Association Board for 230 South Trion.

I'm here to address the council tonight because we have it's a small issue, but it's still an issue that we have with the valet program of town.

Uh, in particular, we have the restaurant Ruth Chris next to us, and they have been violating the conditions of their permit for a long time.

We finally had a couple residents go to them.

This was back in March to ask could we just have a little space so that people getting medications, groceries, other food delivered, or getting picked up by Uber or Lyft, have a spot for that.

Um the initial text went to a manager at Ruth Chris, and they said, Oh, absolutely, that makes sense.

We want to be nice to our neighbor, but then nothing changed.

And further text resulted in no change.

So in July, I was asked by some residents to intervene.

And um, Commissioner Graham was able to give me the contact information for the C DOT.

And I will say that they have been great at responding to me and understanding what the issues are.

They provided me with the permit.

I saw that they're they're just parking wherever they want as long as they want.

They're not doing valet, so getting cars in and then moving them on.

You're simply parking cars all over Trion in that block.

Um regardless of the fact that the C DOT has communicated with them several times via email.

They've even had a meeting.

Sophie Mobility, who's the valet service, and Ruth Chris have just basically thumbed their noses at the rules.

They just continue.

Last night they had cars parked many times in the evening, all the way to the corner.

Thank you, Miss Abernathy.

I'm gonna connect you with uh Miss Babson.

She's right over there, and she'll discuss things further with you.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember elect JD, if you could join us.

You go right ahead, ma'am.

You have two minutes.

I'm done.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members, and city staff.

My name is Sheena Silver.

I am the founder of Directions to Discovery, a Charlotte-based program dedicated to supporting autistic youth and young adults as they move towards independence.

Every week I meet with families across of Charlotte who are struggling with something many residents never see, and that is young adults with autism, aging out of school services with nowhere to go, no social support, no daily living support, no transitional housing, no path toys, employment or independent or independent life.

As a city, we are losing their talent, their brilliance, and their potential simply because there are not enough programs created for them.

Directions to Discovery was created to fill in the gap.

We provide independent living, skill building, routine development and home support, social and peer development, career readiness, family support, and a safe structural programs for autistic teens and young adults who need guidance, transitioning to adulthood.

Our families are not asking for luxury.

They're asking for safety, skills, and opportunity.

They're asking for a chance for their loved ones to live with dignity city they grew up in.

Charlotte is growing fast, but not the services for our autism communities.

Right now, parents are having to quit their jobs because there are no support of the fears of what happens to their child when they are no longer care for them.

We are asking the City to Casito partnership with us to recognize autism and its independent living support as an essential part of Charlotte Services Landscape.

Thank you for your time and your leadership for your commitment to our Charlotte families.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Maggie Cummings.

Yeah, thank you.

And you can go ahead and have a seat.

Thank you for sharing your perspective.

Ms.

Cummings, if you could come down and uh Councilmember Alec, go right ahead.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, Council colleagues.

Tonight's the last meeting of this council before I'm sworn in next Monday.

And I want to briefly acknowledge what our city has lived through this past week.

Charlotte was met with the presence of CBP in our neighborhoods.

Something we are not used to seeing at this scale.

We are not often a political body, but sometimes the moment meets us.

And this was one of those moments.

What I saw in our community was incredible.

It was the children of immigrants, young people who took their fear, their love, and their courage into the streets on Central Avenue in front of Manolo's Bakery in the heart of District 5, night after night, standing up for their families who were too afraid to leave home.

Their leadership should make every one of us proud.

I am proud that me and Representative Jordan Lopez joined them every night, and community leaders like Reverend Corinne Mack, Beth and Kyle Clements and Bri Brian Ballard and Manolo himself were out there every day.

I want to thank council, especially the chair of the budget governance and intergovernmental relations committee, Councilmember Ashmira, and members Brown, Mayfield, Mitchell, and Peacock, and Deputy City Manager Sean Heath and City staff for acting quickly and approving a hundred thousand dollars in short-term emergency funding for organization helping families with rent and utilities.

That was meaningful action when people needed it the most.

I also want to thank our police, the officers who showed up with compassion, empathy, and calm during an incredible difficult week.

I was in close contact with Lieutenant Jenkins and Sergeant Decker in the East Wade Division.

And I'm grateful for the way they protected these young people exercising their right.

And I'll close with this we can do more, and we should should do more.

In 2019, Charlotte became the first city in the nation to sign an immigration compact.

Our residents know what local government can and cannot do.

But these all but they also expect us to show up, not just with statements, but with presence.

So I invite all of us to be in community, support the immigrant-owned businesses in East Charlotte on South Boulevard and across our city, and in moments like this and matters when we stand alongside our people.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Elect.

Um, Miss Marinescu for you, President.

Okay.

Uh Mr.

Shoulties, Shouthisis.

If you could come down here, that'd be great.

And Miss Cummings, you go right ahead.

Thank you, and um, good evening to Mayor Lyles and Council members.

Fun fact um, the council member elect was one of the best students I ever taught at Queen's University of Charlotte.

I stand in front of you today as chair of the Charlotte International Cabinet.

Um, we are here to express our sincere gratitude for the city's efforts to support Charlotte's immigrant community during the recent customs and border protection operations.

We encourage you to continue supporting the well-being and dignity of all who call Charlotte home.

Like you, the cabinet hears from so many of our community members who are living in fear and uncertainty.

Please continue to make public statements that offer reassurance, clarity, and a strong reaffirmation of Charlotte's values.

We applaud the city's decision to create a 100,000 dollar fund to support our neighbors financially.

We support the decision to administer that fund through trusted community organizations.

We hope that you will consider adding additional funding as needed.

We are grateful for your ongoing efforts to highlight trusted community organizations and resources from legal assistance to crisis support that ensure people know where to turn in moments of fear or confusion.

The commitment to transparency and to community partnership strengthens trust across our city.

Thank you for sharing standing with immigrant communities and for working to ensure that the Queen City remains a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for all who call it home.

The cabinet is working on a report that highlights the international contributions of our or the contributions of our foreign-born community that they make to our city from international business to immigrant entrepreneurs to the many people and organizations who enrich our community's culture and vibrancy.

We look forward to sharing that report with you in the new year.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Cummings.

Mr.

Justin Baker, are you present?

If you could come down to this podium, that would be fantastic.

Thank you.

You'd go right ahead, sir.

You have two minutes.

Esteemed counselors.

I want to begin by thanking City Council and Mecklenburg County Council for its continued support and expansion of services at animal care and control.

However, as a volunteer performing Trap New to Return, I cannot help but notice that the animal welfare crisis continues to worsen.

As apartment complexes continue to ban or phase out pet ownership at an alarming rate, surrenders to shelters are skyrocketing nationwide.

While the upcoming shelter renovation will provide much needed relief to the city, we can also take steps to prevent pets from being surrendered or abandoned by preventing them from being born.

While Trap New to Return is an effective program, many pet owners continue to refuse to spay or neuter their animals and allow them to roam.

Backyard breeding remains wide spread widespread, and every box of unsold kittens or puppies dumped by a breeder at a rescue's doorstep or on the roadside only continues to exacerbate the problem.

Animals given away for free also provide a ready supply for dog fighting rings.

While broad spectrum mandatory spay neuter ordinances are typically ineffective, carefully targeted ones can be.

For example, Jasper County, South Carolina passed a specifically targeted mandatory spay neuter ordinance to address bully breeds and dog fighting and has seen success.

I therefore ask City Council to consider the implementation of a targeted mandatory spay neuter ordinance for specific dog breeds based on shelter data, mandatory spay neuter for all adoptions and sales of dogs or cats in the city, and mandatory microchipping of pets.

Additionally, I ask City Council to increase its funding of spay neuter vouchers for low-income households and rescues, particularly to address the roaming stray and feral cat population.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Felix Gonzalez, are you present?

Okay, Mr.

Baker, you go right ahead.

Thank you so much.

Madam Mayor, members of the Council, good evening.

My name is Justin Baker, and I'm here on behalf of the World Mission Society Church of God in Mount Holly.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you all tonight.

We would like to briefly introduce our organization and extend an invitation to our upcoming human trafficking forum on December 4th, 2025 at 7 p.m., hosted at 707 Westland Farm Road here in Mount Holly and also in South Charlotte.

This forum will feature guest speakers from the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Police Department and the Gaston County Police Department, along with Hope United Survivor Network Partners, as well as representatives from PATS Police Child Advocacy Center.

Their collective expertise will help raise awareness and provide practical guidance on identifying and reporting human trafficking in our communities.

Human trafficking continues to pose a serious threat in our region.

Last year, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 638 contacts from North Carolina, identifying 301 cases involving 580 victims.

Additionally, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department reported a 77% increase in human trafficking cases year over year.

These numbers underscore the importance of strong community partnerships to prevent vulnerable individuals and also support survivors.

By the way of background, the World Mission Society Church of God is a Christian-based organization with more than 7,500 churches in 175 different countries.

Through our 21,000 volunteer initiatives involving 2.6 million participants.

We have supported relief efforts, environmental cleanups, blood drugs.

Thank you, sir.

If you have any written comments, you can give it to the clerk and she can share that with us.

Thank you for coming out and sharing your perspective.

Thank you so much.

Yes, sir.

And that concludes our public forum for the evening, and we will proceed with agenda item number five.

Thank you for sharing with us your perspectives and concerns.

We appreciate that you join with us this evening.

And now while we're concluding this, we're gonna move right into our public hearing.

Um item number five, which is a public hearing on the Kelly.

I can want to say Kelly Alexander for sure, and Margaret A.

G.

Alexander for the House Historic Landmark Designation.

We're now going to open this up as our public hearing, Madam Clerk.

Do we have any speakers signed up?

Mold closing here.

I'm sorry.

There is a speaker on number.

No, sir.

No, ma'am.

There's not a speaker on third.

Okay, so we do not have a speaker regarding the Alexander House.

So do I have a motion to close the public hearing?

Oh, I'm sorry.

We have a motion and a second.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor of that motion, please raise your hand.

Anyone objecting?

All right, thank you.

Um, do I have a motion to adopt a public or adopt an ordinance with an effective date of November 24th, 2025, designating the property known as the Kelly M and Margaret GA Alexander House as a historic landmark?

So move.

Second.

Any discussion?

Hearing no discussions.

All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand.

Is any is anyone object without any objection?

Just thank you for the work that we get to do on these kind of really important people that have helped us who we are, have helped us make who we are as a city.

So thank you very much for that recognition.

All right, on item number six.

We have a public hearing on a resolution to close a portion of alleyway between Liggett Street and Bullard Street.

We're now going to open the public hearing on a resolution to close that portion of an alleyway between that.

Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers?

No, ma'am.

If we not have any speakers, do we have a motion to close the public hearing and to adopt a resolution and close portion of the alleyway between Liggett Street and Bullet Street?

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

Hearing no further discussion.

All in favor, please raise your hand.

Anyone object?

No, we're good.

Thank you very much.

Um, so the next item that we have is a public hearing on the Emerson Pond voluntary annexation.

Madam Clerk, any speakers for this one?

All right.

Let's close.

We have a motion to close.

Um do I have a motion to close the public hearing and adopt an annexation ordinance with an effective date of November 24th, 2025 to extend the corporate limits to include this property and assign it to adjacent city council district five.

Move A and B.

Second.

We have a motion of A and B and a second.

All in favor, please raise your hand.

Anyone objecting?

Thank you very much.

The next item is a public hearing on a and decision on garrison industrial phase two voluntary annexation.

We're now going to open public hearing.

Is there any speaker, Madam Clerk?

So that we do not have a close speaker.

Do I have a motion to move to approve A and B.

Second.

Anyone object?

So thank you very much.

The next item that we have is the public hearing on the River South Voluntary Annexation.

Madam Clerk.

Any speakers?

No, ma'am.

All right.

Do we have a motion to close the public hearing and adopt the annexation ordinance with an effective date of November 24th at 2025 to extend the corporate limits to include this property and assign it to adjacent city council district three?

Move A and B.

Second, have a motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none.

All in favor, please raise your hands.

All right, we're ready to move to the next item.

The next item is item nine.

Hearing a public hearing and decision on river south voluntary annexation.

Any speaker?

Madam Clerk.

No, ma'am.

All right.

Um, do we have a motion to close the public hearing and to adopt an annexation ordinance with an effective date of November 24th?

Must be a lucky day.

2025 to extend the corporate limits to include this property and assign it to adjacent city council district three.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor, please raise your hand.

Anyone opposed?

That's agreeable.

Um, the next item is um our policy section of our agenda.

And so we'll start off with the city manager's report.

Thank you, Mayor.

Members of council.

Uh during the last business meeting, uh there was a um discussion to have a um action tonight with the community area plans.

What I'd like to do is utilize the manager's report just to have an update of where we are to set the framework for the discussion or the vote.

Community area plans and mayor members of council.

While it's later on on the agenda, maybe there's an opportunity to keep them together and have the conversation and recommendations of the vote after this presentation.

I believe that we put this into Ms.

Watlington's hands.

Ms.

Watlington.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

Manager.

Um Monica, you'll be coming up.

All right, Miss Holmes will come up and give the overview and then um I'll share where we land it.

While she's coming, I just want to say thank you for for your work as well as the city attorney's office and um deputy manager, you guys got together very quickly after the conversation we had here, and I appreciate your willingness and your openness to brainstorm together and come up with some solutions.

So thank you.

No problem.

And as this is uh being pulled up, just to frame it a little bit.

So what this presentation is really is there's a little bit of a reminder of what area plans are.

There's also a just kind of what it means uh with an adopted plan versus not an adopted and a preview of that path forward.

So as we get into the slides, I just want to be really clear.

That's the intention is to kind of set that frame and tone.

So again, uh our purpose this evening is council action, and uh those decisions are in y'all's hands.

We've been here two weeks ago and many times before, as you can see here.

Um we want to just start off with again how do community area plans impact you, how does it impact the decisions in your community?

As you can see, the map here uh it highlights the 14 different geographies.

Uh, each one has a unique area plan associated, and the intention of these 14 is really that everyone has uh a similar framework to work from.

So uh staff started this project about two and a half, three years ago, uh focusing on how we can really call out what matters most and ensure that our community's growth benefits everyone, and it provides new guidance for private and public investment.

So uh area plans that are adopted, how will they be used?

Uh they'll be used really to first in our rezoning process.

So to highlight what is uh how do we see this project meeting our community's biggest needs?

Is it addressing our concerns?

Does it represent the character that's outlined in the area plan and outlined and seen in that community?

Uh can our roads and utilities support it?

Is it a is it a development that can be supported?

And then how does it add um to the transportation open space improvement?

So is a project bringing um improvements to the table?

So that's how those area plans will be used and uh vetted against in the rezoning process, and then many similar things you'll see happen on the capital improvement side.

So, does a capital improvement project meet the priorities as outlined in the area plan?

Does a project align with our policy and priority?

Does it maximize uh the city's resources, and does it support the area for future growth?

So we've talked a lot about Stillbury Acres, and we uh even had some comments uh at the last meeting on November 10th that were let's show some more examples and talk through exactly how a proposal may be looked at when you have an area plan in place.

So the top two you see that map on the map on the left should look pretty familiar.

That is the current adopted 2040 uh policy map, and that has you can see the single family, that light yellow is the single family neighborhood, Sealberry Acres, the purple is what is around it.

It's recommended for manufacturing and logistics and the current adopted map.

What you see on the right there is what uh manufacturing and logistics looks like when it is actually built.

So that's the form that you would see there.

That's what is um exists today in our policy, that top line.

So right now, when a project's coming in, so let's say someone is coming in and proposing to build what is on that top right in one of those purple areas.

You would vet that against the 2040 uh plan, and you would say, does it advance any of the 10 goals of the 2040 plan?

So we would look at the map, we would also go through those 10 goals and assess whether it does or does not.

So that is how it would be measured today.

That's what you see in your staff analysis.

That's what you see when a proposed rezoning comes in.

So what you can see on the bottom is what a revised policy map looks like in the area.

So the community area plan proposes changing that to what we call industrial mixed use, that lighter purple.

So I put a little black star on the top and on the bottom showing like that as the pretend proposed development.

To be clear, that's not an actual proposed development.

This is just a scenario.

So in that bottom right, you can see what that industrial mixed use would look like if developed in that regard.

So it looks a little different, it's a little less auto-oriented, you know, manufacturing and logistics versus a more walkable built for form in that bottom right.

So then you would also look at what is the community area plan say.

So you would check it against does it advance the prioritized goals.

So for example, in this the example we're looking at in Stillbury Acres, you a prioritize goal is an integrated natural and built environment.

So you would say, does this project include integrating a natural built environment?

Is it good for both the existing neighborhood?

Is it good for the future community?

Um so you would assess it against that.

You would assess it against the adjacent neighborhood.

So does it respect the adjacent neighborhood?

And you would look at some of the new policy that's in the area plan.

So for example, in the area plan, there's um a policy that says when next to single family, you should include large buffers and less intense manufacturing development.

So you would make sure that is the rezoning proposing that, is it providing that larger buffer?

Is it uh providing more separation between the single family neighbor and the adjacent uses?

So those are two examples: the top one being how you would do it today, and the bottom one being how you would do it in a when you have an adopted area plan.

So again, I want to just map that out.

I just walked through the example, but to kind of summarize that on the left, you see when you have an whether today or in the future, whether when you have an adopted area plan, this is how the development is assessed.

This is how it would impact our uh rezoning decisions.

So you'll see a new staff analysis with an adopted plan.

You'll see those prioritized goals, we'll vet it against the revised policy map.

Uh we'll also reference the policies that are in the adopted plan, so you can see how it measures against those policies.

Uh, we'll also reference assessment tables.

So again, that's is the project providing transportation improvements, open space improvements, and then we'll also take into account the environmental justice environmental impact considerations.

So without community area plans, um, it'll it'll be just the way it is now, where you'll have the existing staff analysis, you'll vet against the 10 2040 goals.

So you'll take those 10 goals and you'll vet it against the adopted policy map.

So that's how those two will play out in this interim period, you'll see those two different things.

So, what happens in geographies if we if we're split, right?

If we're gonna have some in phase one and some in phase two, as we've been discussing.

Uh the ones that are not adopted, we'll do continue to do in targeted engagement.

So in-person, virtual, meet people where they are, we're happy to do walking tours, and we'll continue uh refining, specifically focused on established and existing neighborhoods and contextual development that's appropriate for them.

And then we will, if we need to add policies uh and make map changes in those area plans, we will do that.

And then once we bring those forward for adoption, the if there are new policies that are applicable citywide that should be in all the area plans, then those will get added to the ones that are adopted in an earlier phase.

So if ones are adopted this evening, if we come back and adopt others in the future, we will refer they can be added basically to the ones to adopt it.

And that same framework can continue going forward, meaning if in another point in the future there's an important policy that we need to add, we'll go back, get them adopted, and add them to all the area plans, if that makes sense.

So it's really an iterative approach, and again, you know, we're two a little over two, two and a half years into the UDO, we're learning things.

We're about five years into the 2040 plan, we're learning things.

So we're gonna be modifying policy as we see impacts and assess that things need to change, and they can go back and modify previously adopted policy.

So just in summary, um, you've seen this slide before, so it's no surprise.

This is just kind of what the area plans we believe do again, uh, whether all some are adopted, we believe that they help us get towards that 100% city coverage.

They provide us with when, how, and what it should look like if neighborhoods evolve and change over time.

They give us clearer direction and rezonings, and they help us to memorialize where we want to see those transportation improvements and identify what they should be, the needs for them.

And then last but definitely not least, because we're hearing a lot about this, they help us understand and how we can reduce um environmental impacts, uh, whether that be manufacturing and logistics, whether that be transportation and transit investments, or whether that be from heat.

So that is all I have for you.

I'm happy to answer questions or provide more uh clarity if you have them.

All right, thank you.

Um before we we do have several speakers that we're that we're gonna join, but I'd like to recognize council member member Watlington for um motion.

Oh, okay.

Well, thank you, madam mayor.

I'm happy to do that.

I'd also like to ask a follow-up question.

Do you want to do that before I miss it?

No, I think as long as you get the motion on the floor and then go on with the discussion.

Perfect.

Okay, well, then I'll start with the motion and um I move to adopt the following community area plans with the proposed changes.

East enter, northeast inner, south inner, south mid, and if you've got a map studio, that would be fantastic.

Ms.

Watlington.

Can you read the letters in the E?

Sure, I'll read the letters.

Yeah, I think I can pull up this map.

It doesn't have them color coded, but I can pull up that first map that has shows the 14.

I think we can do the letters and everybody can mark them up here.

Okay.

I move to adopt the following community area plans with the proposed changes.

A, E, G, H, A, J, and K.

Again, that's A, East Enter, E, Northeast Enter, G, South Enter, H, South Middle, I, South Outer, J, Southwest Middle, K, Southwest Outer, and to Defer action on the following community area plans.

B, C, D, F, L, M, and N until the March 23rd, 2026 council meeting.

Again, that's B, East, Middle, and Outer, C, North, inner, D, North, Middle and Outer, F, Northeast, Middle, and Outer, L, West Inner, M, West Middle, and N, West Outer.

Make enough every button.

Okay.

Second.

Thank you.

We have a motion and a second on the floor.

Miss Watlington, you still have the floor.

Yes.

Um, I wanted to um make sure that it was clear because it was very helpful for me, Monica.

You you alluded to it a little bit in your example.

Can you please explain the relationship between the area plan, the parcel zoning designation that it is today, um, and what the difference can be, particularly for these deferred um maps when we talk about its color is this, it's actual zoning is this, but we can take it a step down, say from N1, is it N1A through N1F?

And how does that give the residents more clarity as we take that next stab?

Yeah, so with the area plans, uh it is policy, so it does not impact a parcels zoning today.

So a parcel is is zoned and can be utilized for that zoning category, whatever is it is allowed today, it can be utilized for.

So if that's N1C, then whatever is allowed in N1C can be built on that.

The area plan is guidance in policy both broadly.

So what our future text amendments may look like that can be guided by policy.

So if we were to refine the neighborhood one uh categories, we would have a broad, we would have a policy in the area plan, like we the one I the example I gave you, we call it uh PT five that refines um what should be allowed.

So let's take into consideration the lot sizes, let's take into consideration the type of road that it looks like that that it's on.

Is it a four-lane road or a two-lane road?

Um let's is it in the middle of a neighborhood or not?

So the area plan can set that policy and say when you are considering to change the zoning you should take into uh consideration these qualities and if if it does not meet these quality qualities then we do not think that it should change zoning that it should become more intense.

Does that make sense?

So if it is in one A and it's in the middle of a neighborhood and all the lots around it are 50 feet wide then you should not change the zoning to go to N1D or N1E or N1F.

The area plan will not change that zoning but it gives you guidance to say that if it were to come before you as a proposed rezoning we do not think it is something you should support because of the adopted policy.

So that's how we can start to draw that box and then we can work on future text amendments that align to that policy within what's allowed by state law.

So you know as long as we can do it within state law we can change our regulations to match the policy.

Thank you for that and I'm sure it will come up again but as we think about what's different.

If we defer these seven what is going to look different or what could look different by March I think it's uh that one I think it's vetting and just checking some of those policies that that are in it and making sure that um are they refined and are they as clear as they should be and does that resonate with the community so I really want to have some targeted conversations specifically around a couple issues and really a lot of it is around established neighborhoods and what's happening either on the edges or what's happening within their that community um so I think it's those two things and then we'll I think we could see some policies just the wording change maybe a little more needs to be added I don't I think we're very close I think it's just making sure one people understand it and two like is it right are we hitting the right mark thank you all right I have a few people that have um raised their hands so I'm gonna um start with the dais around here I believe it was Mr.

Graham followed by Mr Driggs and then Msajmeir thank you madam mayor um and I want to thank uh the staff for the work that's that's already been done for sure uh and for the work that council member wallington uh has done thus far uh I'm I'm still a little puzzled though uh by your answer I'm not sure specifically what's gonna happen between now and March that we hadn't done between July and December um uh especially in reference to uh the West inner and the West Outer which is in district two and the West Middle which is in district two and we had an extensive outreach I I've been on the ground for months coming to a wide variety of neighborhood leaders met with staff on a wide variety of occasions we were expected to vote on this at as a whole in August October and here we are in November saying that we need to delay until March so I'm a little puzzled in reference to what we're gonna know differently in March if we're waiting for a hundred percent agreement it's just not gonna happen.

I mean if this is a continuation of a process that started with the 2040 plan and there was some disagreement around this dice on that we hand it off to the UDO there certainly was disagreement around the dice on that and now we are here with the area plans and there will be disagreements on that I I just think that at some point my daughter's a basketball coach she will say you can't hold a ball you have to dribble or shoot right at some point we gotta we gotta make a decision.

No you you don't pass your dribble shoot right I think that's where we're at right now at least for me and I have met with staff earlier today just trying to get an understanding of what it is that we're trying to do and accomplish and I'm just not there yet.

I think they're ready to move forward tonight.

There are a number of other things that I know staff and I are I talked to staff earlier today that that we still have to do, like the transit station plans is being delayed because we're still working on this.

The environmental action plan is being delayed because we're still working on this.

The info standards is being delayed because we're working on this, and this is something that we were supposed to vote on in October, and now we're saying we're not going to do it until March.

And so help me understand from a staff perspective.

Um what more can be done, right?

Um I'm I'm just and I heard your response, but it didn't move me at all to say, hey, this is why we need to wait another four months.

Yeah.

I mean, I think if if it is really the council's uh choice, and I mean, I think we we need to make sure that if we defer some, we will we we talked today about this in a staff meeting is that we will have to put together a very clear roadmap as to what we're addressing when we have a broad framework, but that is that's I mean that's what we will do in the next week or two is is basically make sure we have a clear path.

Well, I I will listen before I maybe offer the substitute motion or amendment to include the the ones that impact district two.

Um this is from my perspective.

I think we've done the work, study, we listen, we enter it.

I'm not sure this would be any difference between now versus March.

So Madam Mayor is a second to the to the motion, given that the district council members have been working very closely with those three area plans in this community.

If the motion maker would accept the friendly amendment, I was certainly second it.

Um I'd rather see that as a substitution, only because I haven't spoken to the other council members that I already have spoken with on it.

But uh certainly if it's a substitute motion, I'm on for that to be heard on the floor.

Okay, well, but before we go there, let's go around and get some of the comments that were being asked for.

Um, Mr.

Drake's and Miss Mayfield, and then we'll come back, Miss Ajmira, and well, we'll come on the side as well.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh I don't know if you all remember how I got pounded when I tried to push for uh adoption of all these plans uh uh previously.

Um and Mr.

Graham uh in fairness to the staff, this is not a recommendation of theirs.

This is something that came out of the lack of consensus among us.

Um I did after that last meeting talk to staff and the council and established that the path of adopting these separately was possible, right?

So at least we don't get hung up as a group on that issue alone.

Um I still feel that uh, as I said then, the the areas that do not have these adopted plans are gonna be at a disadvantage.

And you have to weigh the cost of that against whatever you think can be accomplished uh to Mr.

Graham's point, with several more months after the seven that we had.

There are probably things pending that need to be addressed, and uh I think the fact that the plans we adopt tonight will be modified to the extent that future changes are agreed to other plans indicates these are still open to change.

We are not casting anything in stone.

Um and uh I I'm really just troubling you.

Listen to that, this is the description we just got of the way the procedures change.

There will be rezonings that we can't consider in the light of the area plans because they haven't been adopted yet.

Um I'm not convinced that all of the seven that are excluded from the proposed thing uh need to be deferred.

Um so in my mind, for example, if we could move on the recommended approvals as a group and then consider the other ones uh perhaps individually and then decide defer or pass.

Uh and at least, for example, that would give Mr.

Graham uh chance to advocate for the plans in his area.

Um it it feels to me like that solution makes more sense than trying to do anything uh in one uh in one foul swoop.

So I think uh when the time comes, uh my suggestion would be that we vote on the ones that are offered for approval uh without the uh action on the other ones, and that we've considered the other plans, bring them up one at a time, say okay, this is this one, where do we stand?

And if it is the will of council to defer those, we should.

But the impression I have from staff and also from talking to people uh otherwise is a couple of these are in this sort of pending situation because of what sounds like language issues or local local area issues, and uh I really wonder whether the people who are advocating in those situations intend for those to be deferred.

Uh so I hope we'll be thoughtful about the deferrals, but I would at least hope that we can do them deliberately and and consider them one at a time and then pass this this recommended group uh immediately.

Thank you.

Ms.

Mayfield, thank you, madam mayor.

As a member who has been requesting for more than six months for this process to be broken up, and I will repeat again.

We travel to other cities and attempt to bring back what is identified as best practices to Charlotte.

Well, in those travels, one of the stops was in Denver.

Denver did not pass our all-inclusive.

We're going to do all the areas at once.

They took their time and identified areas.

I support us breaking up.

I don't necessarily like the idea of just deferring.

We need to take our time to get this right, but I do want to address as a resident that actually lives in District 2 and have had also many conversations with residents that live in the Coolwood neighborhood, live off of Mount Island Lake.

They have not had conversations with their current district representative or have had reached out to me as well, since I also served as an at-large member for meetings where they do not feel that there's a clear understanding of what potentially can be proposed in their area.

There's a concern.

We all of council received the email both on Saturday and then a follow-up email Sunday that clearly states, dear mayor and members of Charlotte City Council, I respectfully request that council postpone the upcoming vote to approve the community area plans.

This is not a postponement that has been recommended by my colleague.

It is a partial, let's move forward with some, but knowing that there's still conversation back to the email, specifically the North Inter Community Area Plan.

While the plan reflects years of thoughtful work, I am concerned that it continues to preserve too great a concentration of manufacturing and logistics uses in our area already burdened by industrial zoning.

Put a pause there because we are having conversations where our wonderful partners in the North Carolina General Assembly are talking about toll roles, and we're talking about expansion, and we're talking about the idea or possibility of Redlining 2.0.

So as we are having conversations on our level regarding potential development and language, there are also conversations that are happening regarding toll roles.

We're going to hopefully finalize our appointments for the MPTA.

That is also going to have an impact in our community when we look at trains.

So when we have areas that have already been identified because of us approving so many new multifamily projects on two-lane roads like Mount Holly, Huntersville Road, which manager you and I got the wonderful opportunity of spending an hour and a half in during regular traffic, not even doing rush hour traffic to experience just a snap a snippet of the rezonings that have been approved in that area.

I don't see why there's a challenge for us to move forward with some of the projects in areas where we're still not having community outreach to say, hey, we are concerned because what was approved back in the 90s or in 1924, and the way the city has grown today and the lack of infrastructure or road widenings and other things, we just have a couple of more questions.

So the idea that is shared that we should just go ahead and approve all 14 in one swoop and then in less than a year and a half, say, oh my goodness, that was an unintended consequence, which there is no such thing.

And we have already done that, and we've seen how the UDO has played out, we've seen how the 2040 plans played out.

We're seeing how we're seeing this is inconsistent, but yet we're going to support it and move forward with it.

Slow down.

The city's growing.

The city is experienced a lot of growth, which is a great thing for our city.

But if we do not grow it in a way that is intentional and that protects as many of our residents, because we are not going to be able to protect all of our residents.

But if we are protecting as many of our residents as we possibly can, and that is by them having the opportunity to be a part of this process, then we have an opportunity to see something that can actually be beneficial for multiple parts of the community and not just some parts of the community.

And again, as a resident that lives into, who is constantly receiving not only calls and emails and text messages, and when I'm seeing the people at Calibridge shopping centers, that is our closest, or the Fort Line Shopper Center, and they're having they ask questions or they say they have not met with their web because there was a meeting schedule and that meeting did not happen, then yes, it is them our responsibility to say, yeah, let's slow down a little bit because there's some there are still some concerns.

Well, of course you don't.

All right.

Um next we'll hear from Misshmira, followed by also at the meetings.

Oh, yes, please.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh first, I just want to thank the staff for putting together this presentation and providing clear examples.

Uh, I know that was one of the requests that the council had made last week.

So I certainly appreciate this additional work that has gone into this.

I also want to thank uh Councilmember Mayfield.

She brought up this idea about phased approach uh almost six months ago.

So to see that um now in action, and at least it gives the council two options to pick from.

Um also I want to thank Dr.

Watlington for for her work to develop this faced approach with staff with your team specifically, and specifically to address concerns that's been raised by the community and our colleagues.

Um when we are out in the community, we hear um two different opinions on community area plans.

There are community communities that are ready to go, but then there are communities that need more uh work.

They feel like we need to do more listening.

And I believe this approach uh gives us an option to incorporate some of the feedback that we have received.

I think just a couple of days ago, we received a feedback from North End partners about balancing our manufacturing with our community activity centers, as well as um just the balancing innovation mixed use with manufacturing, and I think that is a valid concern, especially around uh community health concerns and just the pollution from manufacturing facilities.

Uh so I think if we can somehow find a way to balance that where we are listening to the community, incorporating their feedback into our overall community area plan, this will give us that additional time.

Um so the example that I'm raising, are you following me, Monica?

Okay, good.

I'm aware I I think in the time ahead for a couple of months that we have, I would like us to incorporate that feedback into our community area plan because that is around environmental justice.

And I certainly appreciate the work that you and your team has done on Stilbury Acres.

I know we used to hear from that community at least once a month.

They used to come out here and talk about uh just manufacturing or industrial facilities too close to their homes, and I think that was a valid concern, and I'm glad to see that changes have taken place to address those.

Um, so I look I would like to see additional work being done in next month or two to get us all comfortable with all 14 area plans.

Uh and in terms of seven area plans that we have that is that was part of the original motion.

I have not seen any outstanding issues in the seven that's been moved forward in Councilmember Watlington's motion.

Is that correct?

Uh yeah, yes, we don't we do not see any outstanding concerns in the ones that are listed.

Yes, in these seven, yes.

Yes, and I also feel comfortable moving forward with those seven.

But I think there needs to be more work done, specifically on North Inner as well as North East Middle and Outer.

So if we can be laser focused on those two area plans along with others, uh where we can incorporate communities' feedback in the next three months.

Because what I often hear is that we're growing at fast pace, but that growth is coming at the cost of certain communities.

And you want to make sure that as we develop this community area plans and work on it.

Well, that's all I have.

Thank you.

Ms.

Johnson.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um Monica, I wanted to ask why these seven that are being deferred, why those were chosen.

Um we well, if if I don't know if you've seen the PDF where we outlined them, but uh we we heard questions on the 10th from several of you all that hit these geographies.

Uh we also went back and had conversations around the vulnerable to displacement uh layer, which that there's um four that are listed out of that seven, so uh we pulled those.

Uh we had very few like very specific concrete concerns.

I think we've heard a couple more in more recent days around specifically that many of you manufacturing and logistics and single family.

But um that that's really how we pulled those was the combination of things we heard from the dais and district representatives, council members, uh, and then uh some of the questions around common issues with vulnerable to displacement uh communities.

So thank you for that thoughtful approach.

That's what we've been pushing since September when we initially wanted to defer the vote.

So I I think that's important in knowing why these areas were selected for council.

I think it's important that that we know why.

I think what I'd like to see differently the next three months is uh maybe a baseline for community input.

As we know, we've talked about it's been less than one percent.

And so I'd like to see uh us raise that.

And like I said last time, we can't blame the public if if the numbers are that low.

We've got to do something differently.

So we've talked about plain language, uh, more outreach, maybe more targeted outreach.

Um, but we can discuss that, but I I think we have to do something differently, or we are gonna have the same outcome.

So I I appreciate the more thoughtful approach and making sure we're that residents feel heard and not just heard that their input is being incorporated into these plans because we do have very active people.

There's one sitting behind you.

Thank you for coming out, Reverend Garner Mullins.

Um we want that type of input.

There are people that are following these, and these neighbor our neighborhoods are being impacted.

Folks are being displaced, so this is important for the future of the city.

So I look forward to supporting the substitute motion.

Thank you.

All right.

So I've had an opportunity for the council.

Council the original motion.

Yes, the original motion.

I would I would like to have the speakers here hear what you've said, and I know it's time for us to hear what the speakers want to say.

And so Reverend Garnet Mullins, I'm sorry about the house.

I just want to put something on the record.

Um, so I think facts matter.

No, I had several outreach meetings in district two, specifically Mountain L LA, where staff account came with me to talk about these area plans extensively.

Uh I had Zoom meetings with residents and district two in general and specifically Mountain Allen Lake about these plans.

I went out there personally and spoke with a wide variety of neighborhood leaders about these plans.

Maybe you didn't get that memo either, but I was there and forth.

Um, to suggest that somehow I'm not listening.

It's just factually incorrect.

Thank you for the record.

Sure, please.

Yeah, all right, thank you.

Um let's hear from you want me to wait to after the speakers.

Yes, I think if we can do that now.

Yes, ma'am, that we have our speakers.

I think they've been very patient.

So let's so um, but I have to say this that I'm going to go in the order by which the speakers um presented the um opportunity.

So our first speaker instead of Miss Garner Mellons will be Tanya Jameson.

Peanut butter.

Is she here?

Nobody's here.

Okay, she's not here.

Then our second speaker is Eric Zeverell.

Always good to see you.

That's unusual for me, you know.

Better late than never.

All right.

Uh, Mayor, City Council, uh, thank you for this opportunity to speak tonight about the community area plans.

Um, my name is Eric Severle.

I'm speaking on behalf of Sustained Charlotte, supporting the adoption of all the plans together.

Um I'm actually going to change that a little bit.

I'm still asking you to all adopt it, but maybe if you have the plans that you defer get followed up because what you're gonna do is have those areas, those seven areas with no guidance.

So any type of development that is occurring, any type of investment that you're gonna be dealing with between now and March, you have no tools.

So you'd be flying blind, and I'll repeat it does not change the zoning, as Monica mentioned.

That still will be up to you at a rezoning vote.

So you don't have to be afraid that you just pass it tonight and it goes on autopilot, and no changes could be made.

It's a tool for you, it's a tool for staff to be able to make better informed decisions.

So what I would ask and encourage you, please for predictability, consistency, and equity is to be able to pass all, have a baseline, but then maybe ask staff to come back in March and make any changes that they've learned and continue to reach out to those those areas that you have concerns about.

But if you go tonight, leaving them behind, you don't have any guidance.

The other areas that have been adopted will have the new policy pieces in place, especially the uh environmental justice piece and concerns about manufacturing being close to residential, right?

There's pieces put in there as well.

Staff, I trust them.

I've worked with them since community area planning to strategic mobility plan, the UDO, um a part of the UDO advisory committee.

I have my master's in urban planning, and the planning at the end means that it doesn't end.

So a vote tonight doesn't mean that this stops, it continues, it's an action always going, always improving.

So please don't leave those folks behind, but don't stop talking to them.

They're not gonna they're not gonna stop talking to you.

I know that for a fact.

Just encourage staff to come back and incorporate those later, but you're gonna be moving forward with something other than having nothing.

So if you you don't, please, if you don't pass them as a complete solution tonight, just provide some kind of clear direction then figure out some way of being able to have guidance as you move forward in this gap.

Um but all else I could say, because I completely improvised all that given everything that's just happened.

So um wish you a happy Thanksgiving.

Happy thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you.

All right, um now, Reverend Janet Garner Mullins.

Fair enough.

I'll take it.

So you have two minutes.

Three minutes.

Three minutes.

Sorry, I said it was two and it's three.

Good evening, madam mayor and members of city council and citizens of Charlotte Mecklenburg.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

I speak this evening in representation of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition and a daughter of the West Interphyndic by I-85, I 77, York Mount Road, Little Rock.

We are Wesley Heights, Cyrusville, Smallwood, Biddleville, Historic West End, and yes, West Boulevard.

We're not a blank slate.

We are the blueprint.

Tonight, I urge you to vote on the CAPS plans individually, not as a bundle decision.

These plans will shape the future of our neighborhoods.

And they deserve thoughtful, transparent review.

Homes pressed against industries, heat without shade, zoning without protection, and we're asking for protection of single family neighborhoods character by disallowing the overabundance of duplexes and triplexes.

But it also reflects what we demand.

Clear land use boundaries, cooling infrastructures, and environmental justice more than just buzzwords.

This is not just a cap update, it's a moral moment.

So we don't just ask you to vote, we ask you to remember policy without people is just paperwork.

Planning without legacy is erasure.

We're not asking for charity, we're demanding coherence.

Let it say that Charlotte did not bundle its future but honored its communities.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I believe I have a question.

We have a couple of people that have not spoken yet.

Okay, so we need to do that as well.

And so Ms.

Brown.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Well, Miss Mellon's Reverend Mullins just spoke for me.

Mother spoke for me.

Out of my voice, um, I am gonna move to support the original motion for reasons beyond just hearing um one of our speakers said that we do the zoning, but how many of our zoners get denied?

We approve almost every zoning that comes down through city council, and so that's something for us to look at in the future.

Mr.

Pompeii, thank you for being here in Baringer.

We do appreciate and love you as well, Mr.

Ricky Hall.

And so these are community leaders that come out and really put a blueprint all over the city for the communities that are oppressed, overlook, marginalize, and um I would have to stand in support of whatever they want me to do on this very last council meeting, and I look forward to the new leader coming in and doing just the same.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Brown.

Um, so I believe that the next person that I had is Ms.

Sajmir.

Yes, so I have a question for Monica and her staff.

So I know the motion that's on the floor is to defer seven plans.

I'm sorry, adopt the seven plans and defer the other seven till March 23rd, 2026.

Is there anything that would prevent your team to use the remaining seven as a framework while we are working on refining that I because I know the concern here is that you wouldn't have something as a baseline for the remaining seven, but what would prevent you all from using the framework for uh any project that comes forward?

So we we could provide in a rezoning case and Therese here, so she could potentially answer if need be, but uh the adopted policy per state law is what is referenced in a geography.

So if the adopted policy we we have is the 2040, the Charlotte Future 2040, then that is the um baseline for consistent or inconsistent.

If we have a community area plan, and I'm looking at if we have a community area plan and a Charlotte Future 2040, then you now have two you can base um its consistency on the combination of those two things.

So we could give you information if there's not an area plan adopted, but it cannot be used as a legal um basis for consistent or inconsistent in my understanding, and if the city attorney wants to further clarify that it's it's just this is land use law, so it's a little different than maybe um before just having it for reference.

So what I hear is without the adoption by the council, it may not be binding, however, we can still use that as a reference point, like you could provide feedback.

Um is that correct?

I don't council member asmira.

The the land use plan that would be the point of reference for any geography that does not have an additional layer of of the um of the additional plan, it would automatically default back to the 2040 plan.

Yes, and so the framework uh or suggestion it there would not be an ability to look at other areas of similar nature, you would have to default back to the 2040.

241.

So that's but let's so to follow up on that, sure.

Um Madam Attorney as project comes forward in front of us.

Could we ask staff specifically to use this as a baseline on a case by case basis?

Um in the absence of having in the absence of adopted community area plans.

No, no, council member, it would it would default back to the 2040 plan.

Okay, well, that's all I thank you.

All right, um, our next um opportunity for this is um Ed Drick's thank you.

Um and uh just like to clarify for for the public that uh although uh it is absolutely correct, Ms.

Brown, that uh the great majority of petitions that come to us are approved, there's a very long road before they get to that point.

So I had one, for example, it was controversial, and after a year and a half, the number of units had been reduced by 50 percent.

Uh and when we see a situation where the approval may not occur, there's a penalty associated with that, and those tend to be withdrawn.

So we work all this out.

It's not like anything that comes in front of us just gets approved, which is the impression that people might get.

You're you're correct that they that the ones that come up for a vote get approved.

I'm just saying people should not assume that that is kind of random.

Uh and I just wanted to comment too that um uh I think as currently proposed, the idea that we have one vote on passing seven of them and uh deferring seven others puts me in a difficult position because I would like to affirm the passage of some, and I don't agree with the deferral, the others, and that's why I'm recommending that at a minimum we break out the ones that are recommended for action and vote on them, and then I think we ought to be a little more intentional and take the other ones one at a time because the conditions in each of these geographies are different.

The reasons for deferring them aren't the same everywhere, and therefore I would hope that the district reps or whatever on a case-to-case basis would then advise us and that we would make more differentiated choices around the seven because there is a cost associated with deferring these.

So I want to be sure we're thoughtful.

Doesn't exclude the outcome that that all of them get deferred in the end, but in light, for example, of Mr.

Graham's comments, I think that we should be we should pay a little more detail and and also frankly, based on what we just heard.

I think that we should not kind of conduct this business on a wholesale basis except where we've reached a point after seven months that seven of them appear to be ready to go.

So I'm I'm gonna make them uh a substitute motion that we separate the vote that we consider the ones that are uh recommended for approval in one action, and that we consider the ones that are recommended for deferral individually.

All right, I'll second that motion.

We have a second to that motion, point of order, just so I'm clear the nature of my motion was approving or deferring.

I think the nature of council member Driggs's motion is about the process.

I don't know if that's a substitute motion to the motion that I made, or if it's something that would be considered separately, because they're they're not the same type of motion.

What is your motion?

Could you repeat it?

Yes, right.

So you're moving to adopt or defer, and I'm saying I don't want to make that decision in one vote.

Right, but I'd rather make it in separate votes.

I understand, but your your motion is about the way we vote, not whether or not we approve the if you're gonna be the parliamentarian, you tell me how to accomplish what I've just asked the city attorney, I wasn't actually talking to you.

So if you could continue.

Um yes, Dr.

Watlington.

So the the motion as it stands, not out of control tonight.

You're correct, it would be it would be a whole motion together with the motion to approve and to defer to bifurcate it would would substantively change the nature of the motion, and so a substitute motion would be in order if if there's a desire to break the two up.

Is that answer the question?

I'm not sure that I could hear you, so can you do this one more time?

Madam Yes, Madam Mayor.

So the the motion on the floor combines the motion to adopt and to defer.

To separate the motions would be a substantive change to the current motion.

And so if if there's a desire by council member Drigs to bifurcate those two, it would require a substitute substitute motion.

Which is what I mean.

Yeah, I just wanted to know if those are because my motion was about approving and deferring, and his was about whether or not we use this process or if we separate it.

Like if he had said I I moved that we approve these seven and defer only this one, then I could see that being a substitute.

Excuse me.

But what I'm asking is his question was what I heard his motion to be was not about which ones we approve or defer, it was about whether or not we could split them up as a motion in general, and whether council wanted to do that as he mentioned before, separate and apart from what the actual approval or deferral outcome would be.

So I just want to be sure that those two could be connected.

Understood.

Thank you.

All right, we I think we're clear on that issue right now.

So okay.

So are we clear?

Does Madam Mayor that the substitute motion in the second is now what we're discussing?

Correct.

That's where the discussion is sitting.

Okay, I repeat the substitute motion is that we approve the ones recommended for approval with this motion, and that we separate the ones for separate action that are on the deferred list.

All right.

We have a motion for that.

We do is there, and I think Mr.

Peacock second, and so now we'll open the floor for the discussion.

Ready to vote?

Call the floor.

Okay, so if we have no further discussion, um we have a substitute motion on the floor, and that motion should be followed as our first vote.

And so with that, all in favor of the motion by made by Mr.

Driggs, please raise your hand second by Mr.

Peacock.

Please raise your hands.

Figures one, two, three, four.

We have four, so the motion does not carry.

Thank you.

All right, what's our what is the council's plan for the next step?

We are the original motion.

So if we can go through that original motion, Ms.

Johnson asked to be recognized.

Ms.

Johnson.

I I just wanted it to be clear that if we don't vote on these last seven that we're deferring, then there is a plan.

I mean we can't say that we're going to operate blindly.

It's the way we're operating through right now.

Um so and that's following the 2040 plan.

So if we defer it for 90 days, I don't want the talking point or the sound bites to be that we're harming these neighborhoods where we're not adopting the plans.

There's more harm, in my opinion, to move forward than there is to take a more thoughtful approach.

So I don't want the talking point nor the sound bite to be that there's some inequitable harm and not and they're left behind because that's not what we're doing.

We're trying to include them and include their voices.

I think that's very clear for the record.

Thank you.

All right, Ms.

Mayfield, and then we'll go for the motion.

So question for clarification, because for the last one, you identified if anyone supported, but what I did not hear is for to close out the vote.

Anyone oppose?

So we did not raise our hands on that.

We counted four, and we just move forward.

Do we not need to have yes and nays?

Well, we certainly can, but I re it would take six people to do the vote, and I think that I was just trying to make sure that that happened.

And I was and I appreciate that, Mayor.

So I was just clarifying for the clerk's office that since there was only four, then it was it's automatically does it move forward, but did we need to have those in opposition on record for your records because we like to ask you for records and want information back from you?

So I just want to make sure for your office that you have what you need.

We can certainly be Ms.

May Miss Mayfield, thank you.

You're really helping me tonight after a rather long day.

So let's um all of those would when we had the motion for those.

So there were people if you decided not to support the substitute motion, please raise your hand if you have any oppose.

Any opposed, right?

For the substitute motion, substitute.

Yeah, substitute motion.

One, two, three, four, five, six.

All right, okay.

Thank you.

Thanks very much, Miss Mayfield.

Always following and helping me out.

Okay.

So now we go back to the original motion.

We go back to the right.

That's I think a good idea.

Yeah.

So I guess we just call it the question.

Miss I hadn't spoken on this matter.

Okay, that is true.

You have not.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

My so my question, and I don't, I'm not sure.

Um, Madam Attorney.

So our the motion is that we pass these seven that are in front of us, and there's a deferral until the end of March.

Uh because there is a deferral specifically for these seven, that precludes us from having any of those seven come back before us before the end of March without taking a series of votes, right?

Uh, because what I'm trying to get to is we've heard council member Graham speak about some of the um area plans in his district, if let's just say, for example, just as an example, if West Inter is ready to feel if the community feels like they're ready to move forward, perhaps at the end of January or beginning of February.

Um, what would preclude us from taking an action to vote to approve that particular area plan before the end of March?

That's what I'm trying to get to.

Staff could bring it back before you, any of the seven that you would be moving to defer.

And essentially, council would just reverse its current action and decide to act earlier than March 23rd, provided that you had these specific votes to move forward.

Um, one could say no layer uh no later instead of until it could be no later than uh that's an option as well.

But again, staff could bring it back for your consideration before the before that time, and you would just simply vote to move forward on those on those plans.

Okay.

Um and perhaps a motion maker, if we could make a friendly amendment to say no later than um March 23rd.

I'll accept.

Okay.

And that's just as the uh second on that motion.

I'll I'll second that.

You know, my concern is, and certainly I want us to move forward.

I know you guys have done a tremendous amount of work.

There's been a tremendous amount of community engagement, absolutely within district one.

My concern is um, you know, the entire west side and um effectively the entire north side uh does not have an area plan that's moving forward at all.

And um I I feel that that presents some potential inequities uh especially as we move forward with three additional zoning meetings in between now and March 23rd, you know, that's a lot of um decisions and a lot of discussions uh that won't be framed the same way as other parts of our city, which is a concern that I brought up I I believe a couple of um meetings ago.

And we talk a lot here about unintended consequences, whether they whether they're myths, women are not missed.

I don't know if we figured that out, but I do believe that this could potentially um bring some challenges to those areas, specifically on the west side and the north side that are not included at all in the work that's been done over the last several months are will not be included in those decisions uh over the next three four really zoning meetings that will occur in December uh January, February, and March.

So that's that's my concern.

I've voiced that before.

Um I am I do want some of these area plans to move on because they are ready, and I would like to see them have that level of protection and that level of perspective as we make these uh land use decisions, but that's just a looming concern that I do have.

I think it's a real concern, and uh we just need to be mindful of that.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Ms.

Mayfield.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

As we're trying to work through transparency on this, I do not discount the work the staff has done, even though I have asked us to break this up.

When we look at what staff presented to us regarding the community area plans and the breakdown, since we're going to talk about the West Internet household range in the West Energy Archive is between 17,685 dollars and eighty thousand seven hundred and fourteen.

While the citywide range is eighteen thousand eight ninety-seven up to two hundred and fifty thousand and one dollars.

So to give the impression that well, we don't want to move too fast in these areas that have been identified for deferred.

We have to acknowledge and recognize that as an elected body, not just this body for many years and generations of bodies that areas of our community have not had the investment, the education, or the alignment the other areas have.

So in the recommendation that Dr.

Wattlington has identified for tonight under approved as well as deferred, you see areas that have had a greater opportunity over generations.

We have areas in our city that look exactly the same as they did 45, 50 years ago.

So to say, well, we need to hurry up and we need to approve this plan for all because they're not going to get any work done in this area if we don't have a plan approval.

Okay, well, let's stop lying because they didn't get any work done in the last 35 years anyway.

So how about we take the time and do it right and actually hear from the people, the small businesses, the community that are being displaced, that are being pushed out that are saying that their voices are not being heard because we're looking at one segment of this neighborhood and not three streets over where they're still having challenges because we can drive through the city and have one street that has seen robust investment and literally go a block and a half, two blocks or two streets over, and it is a completely different story.

But this area plan is an overlay of the whole area, so you're not having a real you're not having an apples to apples conversation.

So in our language, if we identify that we have a segment of our community where the highest range of that income is 80,000 and some change while the citywide range is over 250,000.

But we know in this city today, in order to possibly identify housing, whether it's rental or not, you need to be earning 24 plus an hour.

Well, we don't get to mandate that for our businesses, but what we can do is to the best of our ability ensure that we're having transparent conversations.

We cannot have that transparent conversation if we are not going to acknowledge the opportunities that we have not taken advantage of throughout the years.

We either gonna learn from the lessons, most recent lessons of unintended consequences, not a real thing, or we're going to say, you know what, we're gonna continue doing what we've always been doing because that's easier, because I really don't want to do the work.

So let's just go ahead and do this, and we'll run into any challenges later and we'll try to go back and fix it.

First, it's slowing down and let's reduce or mitigate the unent and unintended consequences on the front end.

So I want us to be very transparent because everyone in the community isn't necessarily reading and looking at this community area plan that we all have.

Now we can gladly, I would gladly start just shooting all y'all through Facebook, Instagram, or whatever way you want, all the information that we receive so that you can start looking through it for yourselves.

But ultimately, we're the ones that's elected to do the work and try to dig in and ask the questions.

But when we have community members that not only show up to share their concerns, but email us, email us as a council and email us individually with the exact same comments that they had eight months ago.

That means someone someone's not listening or we're listening, but your voice isn't powerful enough for us to move forward.

Okay.

Thank you, Miss Mayfield.

Now I believe that we have them ready to vote.

Um we have an item on I would let's Madam Clerk.

Can you read again what the recommendated what the motion was I can if you want?

Ums Quatlington, would you please?

I move to adopt the following community area plans with the proposed changes.

A, E, G, H, I, J, K.

Again, that's A, East Enter, E, Northeast Enter, G, South Ener, H, South Middle, I, South Outer, J, South West Middle, K, Southwest Outer.

And to defer action on the following community area plans.

B, C, D, F, L, M, N, until no later than March 23rd, 2026 council meeting.

Again, that's B, East, Middle and Outer, C, North Enter, D, North, Middle and Outer, F, North East, Middle and Outer, L, West Enter, M, West Middle, and N, West Outer.

Thank you.

Miss Brown, I slipped over and not did not recognize you, and I think that you wanted to make a statement.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

It's okay.

We're a piece of work tonight, so I get it.

I understand.

Totally.

It's been a job.

Yes, ma'am.

I appreciate you very much.

So I really want to say we really do need to um look at there's a lot of people watching.

And I know Mr.

Driggs, you know, you like to go below the belt sometimes.

So you know, I don't play the anyway.

Deception is everything.

You say we work hard to get the zoning approved.

That is true.

Now you should have known that I was going to address that.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how hard we work.

People do not care what we know unless they know we care.

That's important.

Okay.

That's number one.

Number two.

There is nothing wrong with taking our time.

We've got a lot of time with this new council coming in.

They work, they won the election so they can do the work just like all of us have done the work up here.

We have to make sure that we're reaching every person we need to reach by all means necessary.

And can each one of us up here collectively and individually say we've done that.

I haven't.

I'm a truth teller.

There's more work to be done because there's 150,000 plus people in my district.

There's no way I can reach all of them.

But I got amazing leaders that are out here representing that are willing to show up to make sure that their voice can be echoed in the places that I might not be able to reach.

And that's a real statement that can't be taken or can't be taken from me or retracted.

That's it.

With a period, not a comma.

And so at the end of the day, I want to vote to delay it and slow while I'm in this seat to do what we need to do for the entire community, not just parts of the city.

Some parts are flourishing and growing.

Some left behind need more work.

And that's where I'm at as a district three representative that was selected by all of District 3 for 2023 to 2025.

That's where I'm at.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

So I believe that we have the motion on the floor.

All in favor of a motion, please raise your hand.

Okay.

That's that's so the opposed.

Any opposed?

Mr.

Graham is in opposition.

Thank you very much.

It's gonna be like this.

That's hard work.

Next thing that I want to say is we um Dr.

Wattlington.

Dr.

Watlington.

I just wanted to verify.

Was there another motion that you were intending to continue?

No, I'm good, and I can bring this to you if you like.

You you need A B.

Monica's saying something.

No, we need the adopt.

We need the motion too.

Yes.

I do not hear that.

Yeah.

Forgive me.

So Monica, do you need anything else?

Yes, sir.

Yes, there's one more motion just to make sure we're all apologies.

Thank you for that.

Yeah, I've got another motion.

And it reads, I move to adopt the revised policy map to include the community area plans that were approved tonight.

And those were, thank you, Mr.

Drigs.

Those were A, E, G, H, I, J, and K.

Second.

There's a motion.

And I think that we already had a second.

All any further discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor.

Please raise your hand.

Okay.

All anyone in opposition?

None.

No.

Noted.

So thank you very much.

Good job.

All right.

So the next item on our agenda.

May I move forward?

Unanimous, right?

Everybody voted yes.

I'm sorry.

Everybody voted yes.

Yes.

May I move approval actions A and B.

All right.

We are on the bridges.

I think item 11.

Let's go to item 11.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Anyone opposed?

Anyone opposed?

I want to make sure.

All right.

The next item is item 12.

Is there a motion to approve a contract with Motorola solutions to provide implement and maintain drones and related systems for the girl?

I'm sorry.

I understand that they are speakers.

There were speakers that we never heard from.

Yes, thank you.

When when we were having the um public speaking time, we missed a person who has been sitting here and watching us the entire time.

So I we want to we want to repair that.

So thank you.

You would have if you would be able to come to the podium.

Okay.

Well, she is these three people.

Mr.

Speaker.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh my gosh.

You have a two minutes.

Okay.

If you would give us your name so that we can make sure that we all understand who you are.

Good evening.

My name is Donna Elisa Schmidt.

I live at 9200 University City Boulevard.

I'm a 20-year-old education major at UNC Charlotte and teach beginner English as a second language classes to adults in the city.

I've been working with my students for over four months and have gotten to know them extremely well.

They are kind, hardworking, funny people who pay out of their own pocket to come to my English classes after long shifts to learn to talk to their neighbors and give and better give back to the community.

They call home.

On Wednesday, November 12th, it was announced that immigration enforcement would come to our city.

That evening and the following day, only two of my students showed up.

That Saturday, immigration enforcement parked their unmarked vans directly in front of my school.

Since then, due to the frequent reports of immigration officers stopping and arresting people solely based on their appearance and repeatedly violating their rights.

Going to jobs that feed their families and pay taxes, buying groceries or taking their kids to school.

These places are not where you find the worst of the worst criminals that the officers claim they came to Charlotte for.

Yet they know if they leave their house, they will be treated like criminals, which breaks my heart.

I also have a lot of Latino friends who have student visas or are citizens.

They've also been afraid to leave their home due to cases of racial profiling, such as VDSA Dunos, who was a citizen.

Additionally, the public school I intern at is missing seats where my Latino students usually sit.

The violation of constitutional rights, including unnecessary violence and dehumanizing manners of immigration officers towards this targeted group of people, is causing them to hide in their homes.

I urge this council to let communities know that we support our neighbors by releasing a statement in Spanish and English condoning the fear and havoc masked federal officers have brought on our city.

I also provide propose providing know your rights materials on the council's website, accompanying other community resources to create a safe Charlotte.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

And our apologies for not getting you, it was rather a lot of things going on.

So if you want to join the city council any time, I'm sure there's another time that you can come and express your concerns and we appreciate you.

Thank you so very much.

Okay.

So now we're going to move to the business section of our agenda.

Um item 12.

Is there a motion to approve a contract with Motorola Solutions Inc.

to provide implement and maintain drones and related systems for the drones as first responder programmed for a term of five years, authorizing the manager to renew the contractor up to one five-year term with possible price adjustments, authorizing the manor city manager to negotiate and execute and purchase such additional software licenses, services, and those et cetera items that required to maintain the system as long as the city is using the system.

So with that, do we have a motion?

May I make a motion?

I'll make a motion to accept items A, B, C, D, and E.

Second.

We have a motion on A, B, C, and D for the business section of our agenda.

Um I just want to make what number are we on?

Number 12.

Thank you.

Item 12.

So we have a motion on the floor on the dice.

All in favor of the motion, please raise your hands.

Anyone opposed?

Anyone opposed?

All right, two three, two opposed.

So that passes.

Thank you very much.

All right.

The next item.

Um is that includes the acceptance of the funding as well.

The next item is item 13, which is register in nomination grants for Macquarie Heights in Oakland Park.

Um, Sean Langley.

Where are you, Sean?

Oh, there you are.

Don't be fearful.

This is the second one.

Good to see you, but that was too fast.

I know.

So is there let me start with the motion as well as your after you come to move A B?

So we have a motion to accept the grant and amount of 21,500 from the U.S.

Department of Interior for National Register nominations for Macquarie Heights and Oakland Park.

Anne, Sean, please.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So uh just wanted to briefly thank you all for um being here and also for hearing about why we want Macquarie Heights to be recognized as on the National Historic Registry, as well as Oaklawn Park.

Macquarie Heights is one of the most iconic historically black neighborhoods in all of America.

Every single home has a storied history.

Macquarie Heights was home to educators, including five college presidents, civil rights lawyers, medical doctors, theologians that all collectively worked to dismantle the walls of segregation in public spaces here in Charlotte.

Notable women like Miss Dorothy Count Scoggins family lived in Macquarie Heights and one is and was one of the first African Americans to integrate an all-white Charlotte Mecklenburg school system.

She endured racial harassment.

Prolific writer James Baldwin was so moved by our activism and courage.

He left Europe and fled back to the United States to write about the plight of African Americans.

That is just one example among many.

While these people and countless others made significant strides in their own respective way, they were all part of the Macquarie Heights community.

Their advancements were part of a larger cause that took place in these modest, uniquely designed mid-century homes.

This neighborhood significance is attributable to people and places, which is why so many residents are advocating for the national designation.

But our historic neighborhood has faced adversity and is threatened our livelihood in the past as well as in the present.

Currently, NCDOT is planning to expand toll lanes on I-77, which would encroach in on our community.

Plan A brought forth by NCT NC DOT would see six homes in our neighborhood and over 80 homes along this 11 mile stretch.

Plan B, an elevated highway, also referred to as an adequated double decker highway.

But other progressive cities have looked and done research on this and have found other equitable ways to do this without uh causing unnecessary harm.

So both plans uh presented uh do not align with our neighborhood, do not align with the residents that live up and down this 11-mile stretch.

But they also don't align with your strategic energy action plan, which causes to reduce greenhouse gases by 72 percent by 2035.

So both options destroy our quality of life, they decrease our property value and cause unnecessary harm to Oaklawn Park, to Macquarie Heights, to Wesley Heights to West Boulevard to Clanton Park to Nations Ford and countless other neighborhoods.

So if this body is really serious about helping us become on the national historic designation, we also can't also have at the same time in NC DOT unjustly causing harm to our neighborhood.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I I believe you've had a number of meetings.

We have.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, did you give me the next item that we have?

Oh, we need to vote on this.

Oh, we have to vote.

We have I'm sorry, Ms.

Johnson.

You want to say I did have a question.

So will this national registry nomination or any type of designation prevent um display?

Okay, all right, okay.

This is one thing.

Transportation people.

Okay.

That's a better question.

I was asking the mayor.

Unless you know the have a different answer.

So it does provide us with certain statutes and laws that make it harder for NCDOT to demolish homes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, so the next item that we have.

Oh, we got a vote.

Oh my gosh, yeah.

Okay, all in favor of the motion, please raise your hand.

Anyone in opposition?

Yeah, anyone in opposition?

No.

Okay, so we're good on that one.

So the next item is item 15, a motion to adopt 14.

14 is a motion to approve 25 million dollars in capital improvements for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Approve the interlocal agreement to reimburse the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority for an amount up to 1.3 million for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, design, development, and phase costs.

Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating the same amount and proceeds for A B and C.

We have a motion to approve A B and C and a second.

Is there any discussion?

Mr.

Graham.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I just want to form the public and the council that this uh item has gone through the Economic Development Committee at least on two occasions.

I think it came out with a five-voa vote.

This will be the first time that there'll be any major improvement or enhancement to the NASCAR Hall of Fame census opening.

Um obviously there are much work that needs to be done.

Um there are representatives from the Hall of Fame and the CRVA with us tonight.

Um I urge approval.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Drake's so uh I agree, and just want to mention that uh I had some conversations, uh Steve, and good evening to you.

Um, and basically satisfied myself that the cash flows that are projected can service this debt because I think that's something from the past that we want to be comfortable with, uh and I'm satisfied that we do have the capacity, and therefore I will join Mr.

Graham in supporting it.

Thank you, Miss Mayfield.

That you have your comments, madam.

So I have had the pleasure to serve on the NASCAR Hall of Fame board for seven plus years at this point, and what I can share, which it is evident in the proposal, but the board has been very fiscally conservative for a number of years, and with this particular request of approvement, knowing that these come for a capital improvement and that those dollars had already been identified through our current source.

I completely support us moving forward, but I do want to make sure that full council and community are aware that the NASCAR Hall of Fame has been extremely conservative at the same time the number of events out of town stays, hotel and motel night stays that have increased increased.

But for me, something that's extremely important is the number of youth engagement events that have been created through this board over the last five to seven years that directly outreach to young women as well as young men to be engaged and not only learn about NASCAR, but learn the business of NASCAR and what that has opened.

So I just wanted to share for those.

Please take the time, go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame website.

All of the information is available.

Tune in because the fiscal responsibility, because I've had this the opportunity this last term to serve alongside of my colleague, Councilmember Brown, to be a part of the meetings and to share and show, see how we show up in community and throughout diverse community because we are NASCAR for all.

So when we think about the work that we have done together, I am proud to support this recommendation this evening.

Mayor all right, Ms.

Brown.

Thank you so much, madam mayor.

Thank you for appointing me to that board to sit alongside Councilmember Mayfield.

I learned a lot.

They got a lot of outfits in out there in the four year area that I like to wear.

Could I get some things out of the cages?

But um on a more serious note, what council member mayfield said.

I learned so much about the NASCAR Hall of Fame and what they do and how they get back and I point to the community.

So it's been amazing to sit on the board and to learn about the great works that they do and how they dwindle their funds down into the community to people that look like me, and that matters to me.

And so I'm I'm happy that I was able to serve on that board and see how they poured into our youth and to make the community a better place for all people, like council member mayfield said so.

Of course, it's a pleasure not only to sit on the board, but to see the work that they do, uh the time that they put in, the commitment that they've made, and just to see the outreach.

And so I support this for the reason that I stated.

Well, thank you so much, Ms.

Brown, and thank you.

We see the folks up in the um I can't even see it all everything.

All is everything.

We're glad to have you guys.

Thank you so much for the work that you've done.

So let's go to our vote.

Got a vote.

Let's go ahead and vote.

All in favor of the motion to prove approved.

Say is there anyone in opposition?

No.

Ms.

Johnson, even opposition.

Put your hand in.

Thank you for that.

Let's go, district one.

All right.

So the next the next item is item 16 remaining appointments to the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority Board.

And tonight the city council will make the city's remaining three appointments to the Metropolitan Transportation Board as well as appointments for the business advisory committee.

And I'm going to recognize Mr.

Mitchell.

Mayor Council, thank you so much.

And for the public out there, thank you for your patience.

You allow us to complete a very important process and to the city council team for reading 145 applicants, then interviewing 27 applicants.

And on last Monday, we approved four.

So tonight we have three that we need to uh appoint uh for I told us seven.

So I'm gonna ask uh Miss Stephanie Kelly.

Can you read off the nominations to us, please?

Um yes, sir.

These are your votes um after ballots were um submitted this afternoon.

Katrina Young has been appointed and the there is a need for a raise of hands on the following three who received five votes each Emma Allen William Cameron Pruitt and Corey Mack.

I make a motion to appoint Emma Allen.

There was I heard a motion for appointing Emma Allen.

Yes.

And second by was second by Johnson.

Okay.

All right.

Any other nominees?

I make a motion to support Corinne Mack.

Second.

We have a Corinne Mack.

And that is Mr.

Graham.

Second by Councilmember Brown.

And Miss Brown.

Madam Mayor make a post up a motion to support Mr.

Pruitt.

Second.

Mr.

Pruitt.

All right.

We have a second on that as well.

Yes.

All right.

Is there any other nomination, Madam Clerk?

The three that we have.

So it's um yes.

Just for clear question for clarification.

Yes.

We couldn't have moved those three by acclamation.

I think it's all got six.

They all got five.

Five.

Oh, Katrina's on.

So there's still seats.

There's two seats.

But we just nominated three.

Yeah, I'm confused.

I've never done that.

So we have um three.

We had two seats left, just for clarification.

I apologize because I had stepped away when Clerk Kelly was calling out.

So we have one person that receives six.

So was there a motion for them to be approved by acclamation?

It was that a process is they are automatically appointed upon vote.

Okay, so we still have two seats.

That's right.

But we just received three nominations.

Correct.

I just wanted to clarify.

Thank you.

All right.

Okay.

So with that, um part.

And the names were um Emma Allen, Corine Mack, and Cameron Pruitt.

All right.

So we need to vote again now.

Yes, by show of hands.

All right.

So I don't know, Madam Clerk.

You put putting putting this together for the last six weeks or so.

So let's see.

How do we do this?

With um, we have Miss Mac.

Um we have Mr.

Pruitt and Miss John.

I mean, no, Miss Sally Adams.

Right.

Yeah, there.

And so we do that by raise of hands.

Correct.

Okay.

And each one in what order?

We can start alphabetical.

Alphabetical.

Okay.

Emma Allen.

All those voting for Emma Allen.

And you're gonna do raise your hands.

Raise your hands.

So we have one, two, three, four, five.

Next um person would be Corinne Mack.

All in favor, Corinne Mack.

We have one, two, three.

Oh, I didn't see you, Miss Brown.

Let's see.

We have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

That's the opposed.

Any opposed?

No, we don't have another number.

So we're just gonna go with and she and we have one seat.

One more seat left.

Cameron Pruitt.

All in favor?

I believe that's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

I think that that also.

Can we see showing that wasn't eight, I don't think.

As Mirror One, two, Ms.

Johnson.

No, anyway.

Okay.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Seven.

Seven and still any.

All right, seven.

Eight.

Is that eight?

Yes.

All right, we now have eight.

All right.

So we have this has been a great effort, and I really want to say to the council members, thank you so much for the time and hang out with us.

Mr.

Graham and Mr.

Driggs next.

He was first.

So uh since we have one appointment still outstanding, I believe, right?

Not having gotten the whole thing.

No, we just didn't disappoint it to the only got to five on just a point.

We got a full seven now.

All right.

So we're done.

Yes.

And there's a hand somewhere in there.

Trump.

Okay, Mr.

Graham.

Yeah, thank you.

First, I want to take the opportunity really to thank uh Councilmember Mitchell for his leadership and over the last several weeks uh in terms of really um pulling us together and kind of leading the charge as well as the committee.

So I I first want to acknowledge that.

Uh and then secondly, I just wanted to re reiterate the the importance of tonight's action.

Um as I said before, the PAVE Act is not perfect.

Um we anticipated that this thing would be passed in the fall of 24, not June of this year, and and that means we have a whole lot of work to be done uh in a short period of time.

Uh I I I really want to thank you know, Frank Emory, Todd Collins, David Hollett, Jocelynoli, uh the mayor's appointment, Ms.

Mr.

Bowman and Long, uh, the Alliance appointment, Dixon and Griffin and the foundation appointment, um Peter Pamphus, which makes up the 12 members of the authority from the city's perspective.

Um I've said all along, at least what was important to me is that the individuals that we select uh represent the the interest of the city of Charlotte, that they represent the interests of the riders, that we elect leaders that can lead on day one, that they can lead a major subcommittee of the authority, they can lead the authority itself, right?

Uh that they have the time commitment to do the work because it's going to be a lot of work right up front that they would have to do uh that they support displacement policies and funding and obviously small business uh utilization and minority business development.

Um I think it's a reset from my perspective because again uh these 12 individuals now lead our uh how about interest in terms of shaping uh uh the region from a transportation perspective moving forward, uh shaping priorities, policies, strategies, and when you add the uh the appointments that Meckenburg County will make, uh then we'll have our full allotment of 27 members, which is gonna be extremely critical.

I I just hope that they all get up to the first to a fresh start, Mr.

Manager.

Uh, and that you know, I guess my first question is how would they be orientated and informed that they were selected by the city and now they'll be joining this big board.

How does that process work, Mr.

Manager?

Well, uh thank you, Mr.

Graham.

I think uh now that you've made the appointments uh there would be great that there's some kind of welcome letter for sends a formal appointment letter that says that the council has appointed you and who to contact and who they should expect to hear from for further information about moving forward.

And that's on your behalf, we send a letter informing them of your appointment.

And they will be contacting the city of Charlotte for next steps in terms of what they do, how they do it, how they begin to be orientated.

Well, I will tell you in kudos to the team.

What we are prepared to do is much like what McKinney has been doing for a while, and Brent Cagle is to provide a packet for everybody in terms of some of the documents, you know, the payback, but as well as some of the um different things that we have been putting out in the community so that they understand some of the um best way to say it some of the ways that this was proposed to the residents of Mecklenburg County and some of the discussions that occurred over the course of this entire campaign.

Okay.

And at that first meeting, they're expected to get studies.

Um what is the city doing to kind of get things moving in the right direction?

Yeah, so um I guess earlier this fall, the uh MTC approved uh up to a half million dollars for a series of studies that had to occur according to the payback of five different studies, and if needed a sixth study, and uh what has been occurring since that approval is um the different entities that are working on the studies to so to make sure that this is feasible, so those studies will be delivered to the um authority and the authority eventually they're the authority studies, okay.

And I see Larry up there, so I'll make sure I get this right.

They're the authority studies, and those studies need to be um presented to the General Assembly, I believe, by January 1st.

Okay, and all appointees are have equal fitting to get things started with all the other appointees, whether it's state appointments, city appointees, county appointments, everyone leave the starting date together.

Yes.

I'm just saying that the appointments have been staggered, so like even the county won't make their appointments in time.

No, no, I'm talking about in terms of once the body is seated, they they all kind of ready set go together in terms of collecting, identifying priorities, identifying leadership, none of that stuff has been predetermined.

I'm aware of it.

I believe um Mr.

Mitchell wanted to have a comment.

And so do you.

Okay.

No, I'm I'm sorry.

I can councilman uh Graham was finished.

Uh Mayor Council, I don't think I was gonna say is a big thank you to two people with four people.

First, uh Councilmember Mayfair and Councilmember Dregs for putting up 20 hours and all the meetings and putting up with me being hyper.

Thank you all for your patience, and but I think we had an outstanding process.

And sackly with Liz Basson, please stand up.

Yeah, yeah.

Yes.

You can have withdrawal symptoms now, because we're not gonna talk Saturday and Sunday.

But City Manager, I can't tell you how much Liz was just making sure that every meeting we we we were thorough, we were precise, and we want to make sure that we had a process that had uh a lot of integrity.

So, Liz, thank you so much for all what you've done to make sure this day could happen.

Okay, thank you, Mayor.

All right, Miss May, I uh Miss Mayfield had her hand on Miss Mayfield, Mr.

Driggs, those three mayfield.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Also, I would like to thank Liz, and it was a pleasure serving alone.

Councilmember Mitchell as well as Councilmember Drigs with this AHA committee, but I do also want to make sure that community understands that when the three of us got together and working with staff, bless you.

Once council helped to identify the 27 members, that was 17 hours of interviews.

In those 17 hours of interviews, the scoring process was zero to one.

Zero being does not address the question because we asked each five questions.

One minimally addresses the question, two adequately addresses the question, or three fully and effectively address the question.

Now the three of us then said that we will make a recommendation of seven individuals, yet we recognize that it is up to full counsel to then choose the person of their choice.

And to create a scoring system for us to have the max you can receive was a 45.

So five questions up to three points each, max 15 times three that gets to the 45.

We had a total of six individuals that actually scored a 45.

We made our recommendation.

Then it was not our understanding or my understanding that you know what the categories aren't as important.

So we work to try to identify individuals based on their scoring and the categories.

Yet tonight we had individuals that scored a 40.

We had individuals that scored in the high 30s, and we just it appointed an individual that scored a 22.

So I don't really understand why we went through the process of interviewing seven 17 plus hours of time of going through a scoring mechanism based off of the questions that our colleagues presented.

22 of them for us to break down five each.

One is the categories that we want to ensure that we have representation, meaning we want people to actually have experience in finance, engineering, public transportation, economic development, urban planning, logistics, or not, and if there's going to be another interview process moving forward, if there's going to be a scoring mechanism, then either stick to the scoring mechanism or don't have it.

Because this information, the score should be already available to the public, but if not, it will be posted on my social media now that we've gotten through all of this, because we talk about we want transparency, but we had individuals that scored a nine, as well as had individuals that scored a 43, a 41, a 40, and we all had access to that information.

So if we're going to talk about creating a board that within a short amount of time, we'll be overseeing more than 30 million dollars.

Infrastructure investment that not only impacts the city of Charlotte but also impacts the region that's gonna help determine where small businesses may or may not grow, may or may not be displaced, and if that choice is going to be made off of relationship versus quality of work and possible contribution to this board, that's something that really needs to be taken into consideration, and it's the repeat of the financial partners conversation all over again from this summer, where I said, why are we making people go through hoops to fill out applications?

If only thing we're gonna do is appoint our friends.

Since we only had choices of those who received two or more votes to try to get to a consensus, I am proud of the fact that I stepped to my 30 and above scoring to ensure at least the integrity of the process that the three of us committed 20 plus hours to was upheld.

Thank you.

All right, dental ashmira.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um thank you, Councilmember Mitchell Mayfield and Drake's for putting in a lot of work.

Um, I probably called James at least six times because we were having technical difficulties, and um he was up till midnight trying to get make sure everyone submitted their 27 names.

So, James, thank you for being accessible, making sure that everyone submitted their ballots and their 27 names by the deadline, and and also I want to thank Madam Clark.

I know she was on the phone with us.

She's worked over the weekends, she has been available late nights, and we couldn't have done this without her team's support throughout this.

So thank you, Miss Callie and your entire team.

Um, and I know that Mr.

Drags and Miss Mayfield as well as Mr.

Mitchell, you put in a lot of time going through all the interviews, asking questions and taking in questions from each council member that were surveyed.

And I'm excited about this transit authority appointments.

This will be a transformational investment for our community.

And I can't wait to see the results of it.

So looking forward to that.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Now we also had um Mr.

Drake's.

Thank you, Mayor.

So uh as the chair of transportation planning and development, uh I'd just like to note this is another milestone.

Uh we had the passage of the legislation, we had the referendum pass, and now we have a board.

Uh and it's one step at a time.

Uh I actually enjoyed my work in the in the steering committee.

And Mr.

Mitchell, I have to take my hat off to you.

I think your leadership was extraordinary, and you navigated us through something that could have been a lot harder.

Uh so I do appreciate that.

Um we need to understand we traveled a long road to get here.

Uh and this goes back years, depending on when you want to actually identify the origins of it.

And and then there was uh, as you recall, engagement with the towns, they didn't want to play unless we had uh guarantees about the red line.

The manager went out and spent 74 million dollars and bought the red line.

Okay, and that was critical.

Uh and throughout this process, there were people working on this thing, working to make it happen.

Uh I had the opportunity to see a lot of them work on it.

Um I think we owe a special debt to them.

I don't want to start naming names, uh, but I can tell you there are at least 10 people without whom, any one of whom we would not be here.

Um so as I look ahead, what I'm seeing is a uh is a very tricky process.

So we're in uncharted waters here, and uh we have a lot of constituencies, and they have different concerns, and we're gonna have to kind of collaborate in order to achieve all of the intended purposes of this.

Uh uh as it stands right now, we have the prospect of the authority being the entity that decides.

One thing I can tell you for sure is nothing is going to happen that it has any force with the authority without a majority vote of the authority.

There will be no officer appointments, there's going to be no adoption of bylaws, uh, nothing will happen.

And so some of this is just procedural in the sense of the question was just put to the manager.

Okay, who notifies whom?

Who writes those board packets?

Uh, whose draft of the bylaws are we going to be looking at?

And they're fair questions, but just understand anything that is brought forward and is not approved by a majority of the authority, it won't happen.

So uh I hope that we can all share in uh the desire uh to engage with each other constructively, identify the different interests, reconcile the interests, uh, and uh and move forward with the achievement of this thing and the realization of all the benefits that we expect from it.

Uh I'm excited at the prospect and at the council's continued involvement uh and the efforts of uh the authority once they all get together and they kind of uh you know they're gonna walk into a room and you'll have 27 people in that room, and they're all gonna be looking at each other going, now what?

So um uh but I think they will get themselves organized and again they will then uh based on what they heard from us as the people who appointed them, they are going to uh define the actions and uh the purpose of the authority.

Thank you.

All right, Ms.

Johnson.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Um, I want to say congratulations to all the appointees.

Um you know, and it this has been a long road, but here we are, right?

So I think I want to congratulate all the appointees, and I want to uh lift up Reverend Mack.

I think it was very important that we had someone who was uh representing the 80,000 residents that were uh challenged by the the plan.

I don't think that there's anyone that that doesn't think we need a plan, but there were important questions about displacement and small business and um questions that the people had challenges with.

So I think it's important that we do have a strong voice that's going to continue to ask those questions, and I hope that the other 26 members, I imagine they will make the same consideration.

So I'm looking forward to the next chapter and putting this behind us and on to the next big thing.

Thank you.

Mayor one more thing.

Can I say I'm sorry, best thing.

Um Councilmember Mayfield, you mentioned the scoring, and and thank you all for the committee.

Um I would hope future councils or future committees, not just base the recommendation uh on the scoring.

to ask those questions and I hope that the other 26 members I imagine they will will make the same consideration so um I'm looking forward to the next chapter and putting this behind us and on to the next big thing thank you one more thing can I say I'm sorry best thing um councilmember Mayfield you mentioned the scoring and and thank you all for the committee um I I would hope future councils or future committees not just base the recommendation uh on the scoring I watched the interviews and I didn't see any that lasted longer than 10 minutes they were an average of five minutes so I think that if the experience is a part of that matrix is or or scoring metric it's important um that the the interview be the icing on the cake and not the full consideration thanks all right mayor pro tem thank you thank you madam mayor um this is really a culmination of a generational um point for our city and our region and I'm very excited I I hear a little bit of overtone of uh worry maybe or um but this is really a uh an exciting moment for us we know that um public transportation is critically important to our residents and our businesses and the growth of the region and uh we've taken yet another step forward when so many thought that we weren't going to be anywhere near this um this step Mr.

Driggs um I've I've had the opportunity to work very closely with Mr.

Driggs and uh Mr.

Mitchell and others over the last couple years on a variety of these efforts and so I am super excited for our community that um this authority has some challenging things ahead of them but it's challenging in a good way because overall if they get it right it will greatly benefit our city I also just want to thank the selection committee as well I um tried to watch as many uh uh interviews as possible be present for as many interviews as possible they did not have um an easy job and I want to thank every single um person who stepped up and submitted an application um and had the courage to come forward to uh succumb themselves to an interview and um in in that regard I I think we need to honor those twenty six individuals who came forward to say hey I'd like to I'd like to raise my hand to serve the community and um Mr Chair uh Chair Mitchell I don't know if if you all as a selection committee conveyed to all of the applicants that they would have a scoring mechanism um and that um that would be published um it if you didn't I I would I would ask that we extend them grace those interviews were very quick as uh miss john just said there wasn't one that lasted more than 15 minutes um and with the with the grace of stepping up to say I like to serve my city I I certainly don't want us to publish uh those those scores unless we had communicated that as a part of the process that they would in fact be scored I'm not sure if they knew that they would actually even be scored um but as as unless we communicated that to them that that was a part of the process I hope we honor all 26 individuals who raised their hand and not simply put forward a score that they might not have even known that they were going to that was going to be tallied at the end.

So I got it so um so I don't know um madam attorney miss city attorney do you have a point of view on um the latter statement that I just made because I want to make sure we're all on the same page so um Ms.

Anderson the the scores were part of the the packet these were public appointments and so there is um they're public they are public record and um could be subject to inspection if if requested okay that's fine I just you I just wanted to personally uh extend my thanks to all 26 individuals who came forward and and uh put themselves in the the hot seat um to to uh answer questions for this committee thank you madam mayor we should give them all is I just wanted to check in yeah I'm sorry I have I have people that have that have raised their hands Miss Brown thank you so much uh madam mayor I greatly appreciate that so this this right here has been a headache flat out um congratulations to Mr.

Mitchell you carried the torch yeah uh the you and uh Mr.

And so as we strayed and started negotiating as a team because there's no IN team and we had to do some serious negotiating, we did that.

And for whatever criteria we came up individually to place whoever we thought saw fit to move forward on that board.

Um is what we did.

I don't have a problem at all with the scores being posted.

Um thank you to our phenomenal attorney who we approved unanimously to be at this dais to keep us in order and to make sure we're doing things according to our policy and transparency.

So if Council Member Mayfield wants to post that, I definitely don't see anything wrong with that.

Congratulations one to everybody that made it to uh our 27 first.

And then uh no, it was more than 27.

What was it?

Who in how many interviewed?

26.

20 26.

26 interviewed, 26 interview.

Congratulations to all 26 that interviewed to make it up that far, and then to um our appointees that we chose.

This has been a challenge.

This definitely shows teamwork because we've had to negotiate.

We had some team members to step out as a team lead in front of the person that they wanted to move forward, and so definitely my negotiating skills were put to the test here.

And I think I did a very good job with integrity, with decency and integrity with the way that we did it, but I don't think anything is wrong with the scores, especially since when we came back around and we did uh around Robin and we came back and you had to negotiate who you originally was bringing to uh the playing field, Councilmember Mayfield.

So I think all information that was related to the MPTA could be posted on board for people uh or or they can request the records.

Um, everything that we do is public records, they can request that anyway.

So I don't think that's a big deal.

But I do want to say to the committee for doing the interviewing for scanning through uh the resumes, all the credentials.

That stuff is a headache.

So my hat off to you guys for doing that and bringing it to us and making suggestions, even though the suggestions may not have moved forward in the manner in which you thought they would, but the teamwork with negotiating and trying to make sure that we had the best.

I would like to say for the record that I am the one that said that we should have someone on the board in opposition.

That was me.

I brought that forward, and I do appreciate um the council agreeing to that because I remember saying specifically and clearly that there was as many people that was for it that was against it almost.

And so it's always important to have that voice of opposition on the board.

So I want to definitely want to clear that for this last council meeting so folks know how I roll before I roll up out of here.

Okay.

So thank you so much.

And I yield back to you, Madam Mayor.

All right, Miss Watlington.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

So first, I just want to say thank you to Mr.

Manager.

I got you.

The other town managers, the policymakers, our uh lobbyists, our legislators, um, and our um uh commission counterparts.

Uh, because it's been a long time coming.

Uh, there have been previous discussions, even back to uh assistant city manager Ta Wojoba who helped lay the groundwork for what then become our became this plan.

Um, thank you to the committee, Mr.

Mitchell, Mr.

Driggs, and Councilmember Mayfield for the time that you all put um towards this process.

Um, thank you so much to the applicants who put yourselves out to serve um and to the residents who showed up.

We had a very robust discussion in regards to this referendum, and absolutely I'm I'm pleased to have seen the the differences in opinion and the level of uh study and engagement that we got from all sectors of our community.

That's what it takes to build the better policy is to have those community discussions.

And so my hope is that we don't end here, that it's not a pack it up, we we we lost, let's keep it moving.

I hope that everybody in this community feels like they still absolutely have an opportunity to continue to be a part of these discussions.

Certainly, there will be community engagement opportunities as we continue to move forward as these studies are executed, and absolutely there's gonna be opportunities when we talk about how this plan and this authority uh and this work specific to the city because beyond the work of the authority that's overarching our city, we still got a whole lot of dollars that are coming down the pipeline for us to be able to spend.

Um, there are certainly many housing, transportation, and economic mobility conversations to be had that work is underway.

Um, and absolutely there are other opportunities to serve, if not on the transit authority, there are other transportation-related um um committees throughout the state and throughout the community that we will also be looking to make appointments for.

So please definitely, if this is a passion area for you, if you've got interest, keep showing up.

We want to know you, we want to understand what's important to you, and we hope that we can place your skills and your interests with the right role.

Um I do want to say too that as we think about our broader region and where we go from here.

We've done a lot of landmark work over the last several years, and hats off to you, Madam Mayor, for leading this work.

Um, we got to start thinking about where do we go from here and how do we play as the biggest city in this broader region?

This is a concrete catalyst to say it's not just about how we're planning our transportation system, but it's about how do we begin to operate um very specifically as a region versus just one city.

So I look forward to casting that vision with you.

Um I look forward to our uh annual planning process.

Thank you so much.

So this concludes our business items.

Who's been item 17?

I know I'm sorry.

Well I'm sorry.

I know it's I've got item 18, so we got to get that done too as well.

So we're not finished yet, but I do want to say that we are gonna have a closed session as well.

Where there'll be two closed session items that we're going to do.

But what I was really trying to say is that now I really appreciate all the comments and everything that we've done in terms of mobility and the opportunities that we're creating for our community.

I think that that is absolutely the very best thing that we could do to give people opportunities to have jobs and places to go and be.

So this the next item that we have on our agenda is that we have appointments to the business advisory committee.

Oh, yeah.

Just give it to someone.

And I will move on to the case.

Madam Clerk, I will also need a raise of hands.

There were only four votes for Nixonette right, and the other two candidates were tied with one each, one vote each.

So are there I'll make a motion.

Yes, ma'am.

Motion for uh sorry Chakra to be appointed to business advisory committee.

Second.

I'd like to make a motion for Ms.

Wright to be appointed to the business advisory committee.

Second, okay, Madam Clerk.

Did you have that?

Yes, ma'am.

Um so we have a motion.

All in favor, please raise your hands.

One seat, two people.

Yes, it's one appointment.

Okay, one appointment.

Then Madam Clerk, should we start with uh Miss Nixonette as she had the most votes?

She has four votes.

She had four votes.

Okay.

Is that the most?

Wasn't it voted out?

Yes, she had four votes, and uh Mr.

Chakra and McLean at one each.

So would they even move forward?

Because they only have these are votes.

Okay.

I think yes, okay.

She didn't have enough ballots, right?

She had four.

I had four, six votes.

Yeah, so I think not everyone submitted their ballots.

Well, they did, but they did not vote in that.

Yeah, I mean, they did not vote for the business advisory council.

So I guess all right.

So um, I think we need to have a motion to approve between the one with two votes and one with one vote.

I mean, I'm not sure.

We have an a motion, Mr.

Mitchell made the motion for Nixonette.

Next and that and I second it.

Right.

Okay.

So it's on the floor now.

Okay, so any further conversation with this motion.

All right, all in favor of the motion, please raise your hands.

But Nixonette, yeah, this is for next and net.

Nixonette.

All right, ready?

Okay, I believe that that's a number of appropriate.

No, no, we have to go through.

I know we're gonna go through it.

One, two, three, four.

Mr.

Drake, sir, you I'm afraid I'm one of the ones that missed the ballot.

I don't know the individual.

Six, seven, eight, nine.

Did that count nine?

Okay.

Who's opposed?

Any opposite?

And who's opposed to anyone opposed?

No, who's so that's unanimous.

That's unanimous.

It's unanimous.

Okay.

Okay.

Wow.

All right.

So now where we we are going to you all those opposing.

Go to council topics.

This um I hope that everybody has had an opportunity to speak and had a lot of com among the conversations.

But now I think it's just a matter of we're gonna have council members speak, and you can choose over anything.

I would suggest that we hold our comments to about three minutes so that we can go into the closed session with the two topics that we still will have on the agenda.

So who wants to start?

Brown.

Thank you so much, Madam Mayor.

I just want to take this opportunity right now at this time to thank you, the uh city manager, all of our staff, even the ones that are that are here and the ones that are not here for all the hard work that it takes.

Everybody that's listening, okay?

The folks in constituent services, all the hard work it takes to run a council and to get things done.

So I want to just take just not even three minutes.

I don't know how much time you gave us, but just to say thank you, my gratitude.

Some days it's sunshine outside, others is a storm and it's raging.

But um, we've been able to get things done and make things happen for the people that we love and matter the most, and that's our our constituents.

So I'm leaving my time just to say thank you because I know what it's like.

People watching in think they know, you have no idea.

And if you think you want to know, get your campaign together and run against these wonderful folks that do this work.

But it has been an amazing um running district three.

There is no voice like mine.

I know that I don't need anybody to tell me that.

I am one of a kind.

And I do um I just want to say to my colleagues, it's been a joy for the most part to represent District Three and to represent the people in the manner in which I came in and saying that I was gonna represent them.

And if you don't believe me, just ask my colleagues because they told me I did it.

All right, I yield back to you, Madam Mayor.

But thank you, all the staff.

Ms.

Wattlington.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Councilmember Brown, I will co-sign that.

Thank you so much.

You have come in and you have led as only you can in District Three.

So thank you for being passionate.

Thank you for being authentic, and thank you for demonstrating through storms um what it means to stand on your 10 toes down and who you are.

And so I appreciate you for that, and thank you for how you have helped move this the city forward through your representation.

Thank you so much, Dr.

Wallet.

It means a lot.

Absolutely.

Um, the only other comment I have is Happy Indigenous People Day.

It's coming this week.

So you enjoy your holiday.

Um earlier, I think what September I sent an email that I copied you as well as interim attorney Fox on.

As we are getting ready to swear in a new council, I asked for us to look into an update in our ethics policy for there to be more clarity in the ethics policy moving forward for not only this council but for new members coming in all future councils, since we have put a lot of energy and emphasis on transparency and the desire to be as transparent as possible, making sure that if we have any business dealings, if we have any real estate that's within the city, that that is fully disclosed, so that we sitting around this dais are not potentially financially benefiting on the decisions that we are making regarding where investments are going when we identify opportunity corridors of opportunity or areas pre-planning for investment for any members to or their family members to have purchased or attempting to purchase property in those areas for their personal business growth versus identifying which you and I have done with looking at properties to identify to see if our partners could get access to them to try to control affordability in our community.

So I have not received an email update, which I was hoping prior to our new attorney coming in full time.

I know our interim attorney, attorney Fox is working on it, but before we move forward and swear in new council, I would like to have a response to the update or our ethics policy moving forward so that we can all be on the same page and be very clear about expectations as well as expectation of disclosure.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Peacock.

No report, madam.

I think you probably had a few reports somewhere along the way this time, but thank you for that.

Um, Mr.

Drake, anything?

Um, Mr.

Manager and staff.

Uh these are bumpy times.

We're playing for very high stakes.

I just encourage you to hang in there.

I appreciate you.

Mr.

Graham.

Report Mayor Pro Tim.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh, just first, I just want to thank um the community as well as staff and the city manager on how we handled something that was very much unexpected over the last uh week to two weeks in our in our communities with the high concentration on East Charlotte and South Charlotte, uh, but eventually permeating out throughout all of various committe communities throughout Charlotte.

And um we as a community stood together, we supported our neighbors.

Um we did a great job of exercising our First Amendment right, but being lawful and executing through that through that surge and just very proud of staff, very proud, some very late nights, very early mornings.

Um very proud of uh of our community members and everything that that they've done.

Um and it's a shame because in the in the wake of that, we've had such really good news earlier in that week around economic vibrancy and having you know companies like Scout bring uh their uh U.S.

headquarters to Plaza Midwood, bringing 1,200 good paying jobs, having new companies like MERSC and uh Pacific Life say they're gonna bring their East Coast headquarters here, their national headquarters here, bringing good paying jobs and bringing opportunity for the community to continue with the economic vibrancy as well as social uh vibrancy as well.

All three of these companies lean into community and they encourage their employees to do the same to get involved in the community.

So really great news around what we're doing as a city and as a region to attract good paying jobs and to expand opportunities for our residents, and I just wanted to lift that up in the wake of uh such a heavy moment for our community and say thank you to the community and staff for everything you've done over the last two weeks.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Smudge Mitchell.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

So I I want to give a praise report to this council.

Um two years ago, we started on a journey of a landfill was about to be built near a community.

And I think it was the second day, uh, second meeting December.

Uh Councilmember Mayfield joined me with 200 angry citizens.

Then Alison Craig then was in charge of planning.

We quickly uh put landfill in his own separate category.

So tonight I would tell you all now that landfill has gone away, and we will see a single family rezoning partition for that community.

Uh lastly, um, what goes on in Salt Lake City stays in Southern City?

What's that?

You don't get away with that.

So right, Mayor, you should have been with us on a serious note.

December 2nd, all our applications need to be in to serve on boards and commission.

So all my colleagues, I'm gonna be pestering you to get your application in December 2nd.

And last not least, everyone have a happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you, Mr.

Thank you so much.

All right, Ms.

Johnson.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I just have a a few things.

Um I I hope our our next council we can take a look at uh reducing the number of council members that it requires required to put something on the agenda uh currently if the public doesn't know it takes six council members to get something on the agenda, and some would consider that a vote before the vote.

So I hope that we can really take a look.

I know with the new council coming in, hopefully, even with our public speakers with issues like items like bicycle funding and um funding for more funding for the animal control.

We know how long that took.

It count I think council members, our voice should be um heard more.

So I hope we can do that.

Secondly, this was a tough week for immigration.

Um, you all know I've hosted re-entry simulations.

I would love to have an immigration simulation simulation.

If we can take a look at that, so that people understand the barriers to immigration and getting legal citizenship.

I think it's a process that I know I can learn a lot more about.

Um it can take years, so we I I think if more people understood and empathized with the process, and then you would have you know more understanding and empathy.

So I'd like we can talk about it, but I'd love to do something like that.

And then lastly, I want to thank the council members who are leaving.

Um, Mr.

Peacock, Miss Melina, and Councilwoman Tijuana Brown.

It's been an honor to serve with all of you.

Your voice will be missed.

Um, and also council member uh Melina, I think we should give her a shout out because it took courage.

It took courage not to um participate in tonight's vote.

And she had the option, she stood on her recusal.

So it's just been an honor, and um we'll stay in touch.

But thank you.

You're the West Side and District has truly benefited from the voice.

West Side is the best side, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

First, I want to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving.

I hope you all relax and reconnect.

Um second, I want to thank uh counsel and staff, especially Sean Heath.

He has worked 24-7 this past week to get the assistance out to impacted communities.

I think he deserves a big hand.

Mr.

Heath reached out to all the impacted communities.

He reached out to organizations in record time, and he found a way to support some of our most impacted communities, and many of these families are American citizens and green card holders who pay taxes.

That's been affected.

So I appreciate the work that the committee has done to support this impacted communities, our businesses.

So thank you, Mr.

Heath, for your leadership.

Uh, we are so grateful that you are part of Team Charlotte.

Uh, we need more like you.

And uh I also want to thank our colleagues, uh, Mr.

Peacock, Councilmember Brown, and Councilmember Melina.

You know, after you start serving on the Charlotte City Council, you develop a level of respect for your colleagues, regardless of whether you agree with them or not, because it takes tremendous sacrifices to serve in this capacity.

So thank you all for your sacrifices to serve this community.

It does not go unnoticed.

So thank you.

Uh I also want to welcome the new council members.

I know we had councilmember JD Masra Aryas here earlier, as well as Kimberly Owens.

She's still with us, and uh councilmember elect Jory Mayo.

Um I look forward to working with you all.

Hey and uh lastly, uh I agree with council member Johnson about immigration simulation.

We actually did that exercise five years ago when we were working on immigration compass, and I thought that was a great way for people to understand the immigration process, how complex it is, and how broken it is.

So I think it would be a great way for us to engage the community and help them understand the challenges that our immigrant community is facing.

Uh not just with the naturalization process, but just the whole immigration system.

And I know when Federico was with the city of Charlotte, he did help us with that.

Um, but I'm sure that uh his successor can continue with that simulation to ensure that our community understands uh the complexity behind the whole immigration.

Our family, it took 15 years for our family to immigrate here, and you had to go through multiple hurdles to come to America.

So I I think people don't realize how complex it is, and sometimes unfortunately, immigrant communities are being used to score political points, and I think we need to do our part to ensure that we are putting out the right information and help people edge help people learn more about the whole system.

Thank you.

Okay, I want to say thank you guys.

You did really great.

Um, I think again we're gonna um say this goodbye to Miss Brown.

Love having you, you you've just been really great.

And then all of um with Melina, um I spoke with her this morning, and um she she's got some had some great news.

I don't know if I'm supposed to actually say, but her daughter got into Savannah School of Art and Design.

Oh I think is an exceptional like yeah to have.

So that's really good.

And um, so if you're watching this, I I hope that you understand how much how proud we are of what you've done and what with your family.

So now can we go right ahead to go into the closed session?

Don't we need a motion?

We have to have the attorney give us a motion, and we'll go into the closed session.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

The motion to go into closed session is pursuant to NCGS 143-318.183 to consult with the city attorney to preserve the attorney client privilege in the matter of dispel construction company versus city of Charlotte, file number 24 CBS 023884-590, filed in Mecklenburg County, Superior Court, and pursuant to NCGS 143-318.1810 to view a recording release pursuant to G NCGS 132-1.4A body warrant camera.

Second.

So call for a vote, please.

Call for a vote on the motion, please.

All in favor, say I want to pose Miss Brown.

If you will bow your heads, please.

We come before you this evening.

Just thankful for this great place we call home.

Well, we just ask for your wisdom and your discernment as we carry out the business of the county.

Well, we just thank you for our many blessings.

We know that every good and perfect gift comes from you, and we are truly blessed.

So we just ask you to leave God direct us in your will.

And Lord that our conduct and our conversation to one another will be pleasing in your sight.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

Well, please stand for the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance.

Each speaker will have three minutes to make remarks.

A tone will sound at the conclusion of the remarks.

A speaker may not yield his or her time to another speaker.

Speakers may not discuss matters which are the subject of public hearings, and they must be courteous in their language and presentation.

Restatements or repetitive comments by the same speaker, whether at the same or separate meetings, may be ruled out of order and terminated by the chair.

Every employee deserves dignity, fairness, and the right to speak up without fear of retaliation.

In my case, the county failed to follow Article 8, which calls for sound and considerate judgment by leadership.

When an employee is under stress or dealing with unsafe conditions, the response should be fair and support, not discipline.

On September 16, 2024, I attended a doctor's appointment due to extreme stress from a hostile work environment.

I notified my supervisor on September 13th and made it clear I would I will still attend a contractor's meeting after my appointment.

HR confirmed my health came first.

Yeah, I was written up despite following procedure.

On November 25th, 2024, I responded to an emergency with a malfunctioning turbidity meter that was spewing water and risking system failure.

I notified operations, contacted the manufacturer and worked several hours to stabilize the issue after preventing alarms and protecting operations.

I informed my supervisor only to be written up again.

These actions reflect a deeper issue, a failure of leadership to apply fairness and sound judgment, creating a retaliatory environment that ultimately cost me my job.

I want to emphasize that this is not an attack on any individual.

Many members of this board come from the same community I do, graduates of PMO High School, members of Lee Park, and churches in Indian Trail.

We share roots, value, and faith.

That is why I believe we all care about justice and doing right by the people of Union County.

Today I respectfully ask that my employment record be reviewed and cleared, and that the county examines its internal processes to ensure that employees, especially those from upper unrepresented communities are treated with dignity and respect.

In closing, the ecclesia does not house God.

God resides in us, the people, and when the people stand, speak and pursue and pursue justice, God moves through them.

Real intelligence adapts to change while rejecting backward thinking.

Union County, it's time we move forward together with wisdom, accountability, and light.

Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration.

The next speaker is Amy Brantley.

I'm here tonight to voice my strong and unwavering support for my children's teachers, your children's teachers, my colleagues, and myself.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.

I'm deeply concerned about the lack of transparency between the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Education regarding education funding, especially the unresolved $2,000 stipend.

Our educators deserve clarity, honesty, and real solutions.

No one becomes a teacher to learn a earn a big paycheck.

Teachers chose this profession because they want to make a difference in the lives of children and in their community.

For years, teachers relied on a steady pay scale to support their families, but with rising cost and no meaningful raise, many are struggling more than ever.

Right now, teachers in Union County are working second and third jobs.

Teachers, highly educated professionals, are donating plasma to afford basic needs for their own families.

Many cannot afford to live on their own and are forced to take on roommates and move or move back home with their families.

Veteran teachers are still paying off student loans decades into their careers.

This is not acceptable for a county like ours.

Yes, the state has not passed the budget, but you, the Board of County Commissioners can act.

You can show genuine support support for educators by providing the remaining 1,000 of the stipend and by making time teacher compensation a priority, not a temporary patch.

Why hasn't the Board of County Commissioners made a specific effort to raise Union County teacher supplement, knowing the cost of living has skyrocketed and teachers have not received a state raise in two years?

Union County is the sixth largest county in North Carolina.

Yet we rank 37 in local supplement funding.

And despite this, our teachers have worked tirelessly to make Union County number one in the state.

Families move here because of the exceptional quality of schools and the educators who make that possible.

So I ask you, how do you expect UCPS to retain and recruit highly qualified teachers?

While offering compensation that falls so far below, what concrete steps are you taking, both locally and at the state level to ensure Union County can keep educators who make us number one?

County commissioners are elected to represent their community.

Taxpayers expect accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship of public resources.

A week ago I reached out to all of you, commissioners to discuss these concerns.

Only one of you responded to me.

Commissioner Helms, thank you for taking the time to reply and for meeting with us.

I appreciate your willingness to have a real productive conversation about how we can make Union County better for our children.

They deserve our very best, and that starts with putting them first by supporting the teachers who serve them every day.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Alexis Stadler Good evening, County Commissioners.

My name is Alexis Stadler, and I reside in Waxaw, North Carolina, and I'm here to discuss the UCPS budget request for the 2025-2026 school year.

Over the last several weeks, Union County residents have watched the blame game play out between our Board of County Commissioners and our Board of Education.

We've seen curated statements from both sides and watch board meetings where each side is blaming the other for a lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to the gap in the UCPS budget this year.

However, three of the people currently sitting on this Board of Commissioners serve multiple terms on the Board of Education.

At the last county commissioners meeting, it was stated by Chairwoman Merrill that the Board of Education was responsible for requesting a tax rate increase to fund the budget deficit they were facing.

Based on comments made at the November 6th Board of Education meeting, school board members were unaware that this is something that they were supposed to be doing, let alone something they were able to do in their capacity as a school board.

However, Chairwoman Merrill, Commissioner Sides, and Commissioner Helms all sat on the Board of Education and should be well versed in the policies that affect both sides of this communication issue.

Why were our county commissioners not willing to assist our Board of Education in ensuring that they did everything in their power to rectify the gap in the UCPS funding request?

I know it's because the commissioners sitting on this board do not value public education.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Chairwoman Merrill cares very little about public education.

Her time on the Board of Education was always just a stepping stone for her to gain higher political office as she has consistently gone against the best interests of students and staff by teaming up with politicians like Mark Robinson who wants to ban books and create reporting systems to prosecute teachers for simply doing their jobs.

And now Chairwoman Merrill has her sights set on national politics as she buddies up to Mark Harris, our congressional representative, who is hell bent on gutting the Federal Department of Education and removing even more supports for staff and students.

Why is someone who states they're committed to public education doing everything in their power to destroy it?

I am no longer a Union County public schools employee, afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation.

This entire Board of Commissioners and our school board's lack of commitment to retaining qualified teachers and school employees so that our students can continue to learn from and be supported by the best educators in the state, is why I have decided to run for UCPS School Board in 2026.

We should be able to rely on our elected officials to support public education, not destroy it from the inside.

Do better.

The next speaker is Gina Durar.

Good evening.

My name is Gina Guerrero and I reside in Indian Trail here in Union County.

I'm a proud Union County resident, a parent of two UCPS graduates, classes of 2018 and 2022, and an educator in the Union County public schools.

Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight.

My family moved here in 2014 because of the schools.

Both of my daughters received an exceptional education thanks to the dedication of UCPS teachers.

My younger daughter joined the International Baccalaureate Program at Marvin Ridge High School, an opportunity made possible through your support and funding.

Programs like these are what make Union County such a strong district.

As you know, UCPS was recently ranked number one in EOG and EOC proficiency.

That ranking makes Union County a place families want to call home.

And it is all because of the hard work of our teachers.

Tonight, I respectfully ask you to fully fund the $2,000 County Supplement Increase for Teachers.

This isn't just about pay, it's about showing Union County values the people who dedicate their lives to our children's success.

For me, this increase would mean that I could better provide learning materials for students who come to school without them.

I teach at a Title I school, and I often pay for supplies out of my own pocket.

The supplement would ease that burden and ensure every child has what they need to learn.

I also encourage you to use your positions to advocate for the funding of our schools at the state level.

More than $600 million was allocated this year for private school vouchers.

Yet here in Union County, our teachers received only half of the supplement increase that was requested.

This contrast shows why we need our commissioners to stand up for public schools and advocate at the state level.

So our educators and students aren't left behind while other programs receive full funding.

When county leaders stand together in support of public education, it sends a powerful message that strengthens our schools and our community.

By supporting the supplement increase and championing championing our schools beyond the county, you are investing in the future of our children, our families, and Union County itself.

Thank you for your commitment to education.

The next speaker is Colleen McIntyre.

Good evening, Board of Commissioners.

My name is Colleen McIntyre, and my family and I have resided in Union County for the past 13 years.

My husband and I are both employed in Union County, and our two children attend Union County Public Schools.

I'm here this evening to request that you, like many others, the board take action to show your support of Union County Public School teachers and help us get the rest of the $2,000 that you originally offered to us.

Commissioner Helms, Mr.

Brian Matthews, the county manager, and myself met this past Thursday night to get some clarifying answers to some questions that most teachers still had after our Board of Education's meeting held on November 6th.

Our plea to you, Mr.

Helms, was that you and the Board of Education unify together to continue to show your support for your local teachers, the ones who have carried Union County to the number one performing school district in the state.

We are all aware that there has been a lot of finger pointing back and forth between the two boards about why or how we did not receive the full $2,000 that was requested.

In our meeting on Thursday, Mr.

Helms, you stated that you do a lot of public speaking and debating in your career.

And because of that, you know that if someone is trying to make a valid point and their only defense is to call the other party a liar, then that tells you they probably don't have a point to begin with.

Obviously referring to the Board of Education members.

You repeatedly stated that the Board of Education could have spoken up and communicated with you regarding the funding and where the money went.

You stated you wanted to fix the issue, but and but is the key word here, you went on to continue to point fingers and say that UCPS needs to do a deep look into their financials and trim the fat to find the money necessary.

To be frank, it does not matter whose fault it is.

Both boards have continued to show us the same clear message that we are not valued and that our public schools, the same public schools that ranked number one nation statewide in student performance, are not valued.

Teachers are frustrated that we didn't receive all of what we were told we were getting.

And we can't understand why you, the source of the funds, aren't just as frustrated and demanding we get the full or close to the full amount of funds.

A promise to find the money and make sure we are getting our deserved funds is all we are asking for.

Alternatively, I suggested that you could do a budget amendment and perhaps use a contingency fund to offer UCPS teachers at your discretion as to what it classifies as a classroom teacher, of course, a one-time bonus, which would be the ultimate show of support to your teachers for our hard work and dedication.

Your response to this caught me off guard when you replied that it wouldn't be fair to Union County sheriffs, EMS, and firefighters, as the county also funds those entities, and you would have to grant them a bonus as well.

Our number one ranking is based on factual data, while their number one ranking, you said would be based on personal opinions.

But even more important, and what I didn't know at the time, but I know now is that the deputies have recently been given a six percent raise that they will see in their December checks.

Can you please explain to these teachers how this demonstrates fair?

Let me be clear.

I know the deputies have a very important job in our county.

I'm actually married to a law enforcement officer.

I get it.

But like you said, if we were given a bonus, they would need a bonus too.

So couldn't it also be said if they get a raise, we get a raise as well?

Mr.

Helms.

Mr.

Helms and all board members, I urge you to stop finger pointing, but instead come up with a plan and follow up with the Board of Education immediately to make this right.

There is money between both boards that should be allocated to us to make this right, regardless of how you choose to do it.

But please, we're begging you come together, make a plan, and act on it to show your support of Union County public school teachers, knowing we are worth it.

The next speaker is Pamela Carlton.

Good evening.

My name is Pamela Colton.

I reside in Union County.

I'm also a Union County Public School teacher.

I mean, I guess I can't say it any better than what she says.

So I'm not going to repeat everything that she said.

Um my point of coming is that you guys are all elected officials, and so teachers, we have a voice as well.

And so we're here asking you guys to back the Board of Education.

It's time for you guys to come together and fund that additional thousand dollars that we are asking for.

Um, they originally asked you guys for 14.6 million, I guess.

Um, you funded half of that.

So we got the half of that budget.

We got that half a thousand dollars, so we're here to ask for that additional thousand, and whatever way that you can make it happen.

The Union County teachers are the ones who make this district number one, so we should be treated as such.

Our instructional assistants as well, they deserve a raise.

So somewhere another, that's next coming.

We need to we need to advocate for them as well.

And so our teachers are here, we're just here to support each other, and so we we came to the Board of Ed, we asked them, they came through.

We are here to ask you the same thing.

Can you find it somewhere to fund that additional thousand dollars for our teachers with the increase in health costs?

That thousand dollars that we just got is not gonna do anything, it's not gonna do anything for our budget or our households.

There are teachers that couldn't be here tonight because they got to work second jobs or third jobs.

The single mothers can't put food on their tables.

So, how can we go into a classroom every single day and give 100% when we got this to face?

A thousand dollars is not that a lot of money.

You guys should find it somewhere.

We pay additional taxes on our houses.

That has gone up.

So that money is somewhere, and you guys have it.

So let's see if we can make it happen for our teachers here in Union County.

We shouldn't have to come here to beg.

We shouldn't have to beg.

We made this county number one.

And we are here to stand up, we're here to fight, we're not hiding anymore.

We are here to make a stand, and guess what?

If 700 of us can do it, then all 2800 teachers can do it.

We have over 5,000 employees in this county, and we can come together and make a difference, regardless of what anybody's political affiliation is, and I don't know why that continues to be in education.

It should not be.

We are all people, we are all teachers, and it should not make a difference.

If you are on a board for education, then guess what?

You should be voting public education.

Always.

We should not be taking our money to fund vouchers and private schools.

That's not what it's about.

This is public education, that is where the money should go.

So we are looking to you as our board of county commissioners to find it somewhere in your budget, or find it, make a amendment, or whatever you need to do to fund that additional thousand dollars for these teachers.

And that's all I have to say.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Aaron Nussman.