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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Charlotte City Council 2025 Swearing-In Ceremony and Oaths of Office

City Council — Monday, December 1, 2025

BodyCharlotte, North Carolina

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, December 1, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:31:19

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:12

There are moments where I'm like, oh, I really want to go home.

0:15

I don't want to do this anymore.

0:16

And then I go look at, you know, the tall firefighters that look like me, Remy and Chantel, and I'm like, that's like me, that could be me.

0:25

Oh my gosh.

0:33

I didn't like fully understand what being a firefighter was, even though my dad is, but um they have motivational speakers come in, and I'm realizing all the different um like things there are in firefighting that I didn't know before.

0:53

You know, they're together all day.

0:54

So they just they build a good relationship and camaraderie.

1:14

And then most of the people they're gonna ask me, and they'll how many books.

2:02

And uh that we could uh provide the their needs and it gave us a purpose.

2:15

We like the idea that the people dancing groups, all culture, especially dancing groups, and uh we had uh uh chess club using this one and a lot of the community use of the facility.

2:32

So we have a several churches, they have a worship service in here, or so or kind of a meeting, even though you know a lot of American people they are using this library.

3:06

We're gonna keep this one as a library, whatever the community needed for facility or anything.

3:14

That's our goal.

3:20

This is inside this building off South McDowell Street.

3:25

And today, together, we open up the doors to the Pearl.

3:32

A new future of medical innovation and education is blossoming for Charlotte.

3:36

We are ready.

3:38

Let's do this.

3:40

After years of planning, the Pearl, Charlotte's new medical innovation district, officially opened its doors.

3:46

The innovation district was created by a public-private partnership between Atrium Health and Wexford Science and Technology LLC.

3:54

Community support was absolutely critical to making this happen.

3:58

The idea for the Pearl formed back in 2019.

4:01

Charlotte was one of the largest cities in the country without a four-year medical school, something many wanted to change.

4:08

By 2021, the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County approved incentive packages totaling 75 million dollars to help this project move forward.

4:30

The Pearl is now home to the Charlotte campus of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, as well as the North American headquarters of ERCAT, a renowned French research and training institute for surgeons.

4:41

Leaders say the new district will generate over 5,500 on-site jobs and 11,500 regional jobs, with 40% of those not requiring a four-year degree.

4:52

At full build out, we would generate over 800 million dollars a year in economic impact.

4:58

That's direct, indirect, and induced.

5:17

The Pearl is located where Brooklyn Village, a once thriving African American community once stood.

5:23

Thanks to an advisory committee of members from the former neighborhood and the Cherry neighborhood.

5:46

You can hear our interviews.

7:35

And then we're all set.

7:40

Who has been a champion for us in the neighborhood?

7:50

Hello, everyone.

7:51

My name is Renee Perkins Johnson, and I am the District 4 representative for City Council.

7:57

And this complex happens to be in District 4.

8:00

I had the pleasure of working with John during construction.

8:03

I'm not working with him, speaking with him.

8:05

But he was so passionate and so caring.

8:08

And that and that love and dedication.

8:13

It shows.

8:25

So hi Rocky, happy birthday.

8:29

Fabulous.

8:35

Um in your units.

8:37

So thank you.

8:38

We need more complexes like this.

8:41

Absolutely, yes.

8:42

And I'm just honored to be here today.

8:44

So thank you all.

8:47

And thank you.

8:48

Thank you.

9:00

I'm so glad that uh the city fathers have invested a billion dollars in bringing this blue line extension.

9:07

We see 280 million dollars worth of total economic development.

9:11

I think the investment being made in and around University City is so important.

9:15

We represent over 200,000 people who oh live in University City and 100,000 people who work here.

9:22

The numbers are dynamic.

9:24

This community is amazing and it's accessible.

9:26

In other words, it's affordable.

9:28

Thank you, John, for making some affordable units.

9:30

It's really crazy to see how expensive things is because they said average rent prices, 80% of the population can't afford it in the city.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement█████████████████████████████████████████████45%

Procedural███████████████████████23%

Miscellaneous████████8%

Public Safety█████5%

Economic Development███3%

Affordable Housing███3%

Mental Health Awareness███3%

Transportation Planning██2%

Youth Programs█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Charlotte City Council 2025 Swearing-In Ceremony and Oaths of Office

This meeting served as the formal 2025 swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected and re-elected members of the Charlotte City Council, following the municipal election held on November 4, 2025. The session included the presentation of annual Mayor's Citizen Awards, farewell addresses from outgoing council members, and the official oaths of office for incoming and continuing leaders. Council members delivered initial remarks outlining their key priorities, with a strong emphasis on mobility, affordability, public safety, and inclusive community engagement. The evening concluded with the election of Councilmember James Mitchell as the new Mayor Pro Tem.

Consent Calendar

No formal consent calendar items were presented as the meeting focused on ceremonial swearing-ins, awards, and inaugural remarks rather than legislative approvals.

Public Comments & Testimony

Outgoing Council Members:
- Councilmember Tia Wonder Brown (District 3): Expressed that her service does not end with her tenure; emphasized leading from empathy rather than ego and honored her spiritual anchors and fellow candidates who dared to run. She stated she is not defeated but often imitated, carrying her calling forward beyond the chamber.
- Councilmember Marjorie Molina (District 5): Described the event as a celebration despite a "very ugly" campaign race. She affirmed she will not return to represent District 5 but vowed to continue serving Charlotte in other capacities. She praised the collaborative nature of the council, stating it is a "team sport".
- Councilmember Edwin Peacock: Expressed deep honor in participating in democracy during the nation's 250th anniversary and thanked his colleagues, staff, and family.
Incoming Council Members:
- Councilmember Joy Mayo (District 3): Expressed gratitude for the support of her campaign team and mentors, committing to creating "walkable 10-minute neighborhoods" and increasing opportunities for residents.
- Councilmember Juan Diego Mazzarella Arias (District 5): Stated he is unapologetically "people first" and not anti-growth, arguing that development must center the residents of East Charlotte who have long been overlooked. He emphasized the need to shift the narrative that the area is "up and coming" to recognizing its existing value.
- Councilmember Kimberly Owens (District 6): Set expectations to be transparent and efficient, aiming to make residents "bored with acts of governmental competence." She urged the business community to advocate for public schools and challenged residents to engage with local media and attendance at meetings.
- Councilmember Dante Anderson (District 1): Noted that voter participation was under 20% of the city's eligible voters, expressing concern over this lack of engagement. He emphasized the need to tap into disengaged neighbors to ensure sustainable growth.
- Councilmember James Mitchell (At-Large): Committed to focusing on small business participation, workforce development for ages 18-24, and affordable housing.
- Councilmember Renee Perkins Johnson (District 4): Reaffirmed her commitment to equity, transparency, and compassion, promising to push for solutions that put people first, especially those with the least power.
- Mayor Lela Lyles (Returning): Expressed gratitude for a fifth term and prioritized mobility, safety, and the transit tax referendum. She stated that mobility is about access, freedom, and opportunity for every Charlotian.

Discussion Items

Outgoing Council Farewells:
- Councilmember Tia Wonder Brown: Delivered a powerful speech about her history as the first formally incarcerated woman on the council, noting that her voice "does not expire" and that she led from a place for people without people.
- Councilmember Marjorie Molina: Reflecting on her two terms, she highlighted the complexities of city staff collaboration and thanked her colleagues for their resilience during tough tasks.
- Councilmember Edwin Peacock: Acknowledged his short tenure since May 2025 and thanked the city staff for their dedication.
- Chief of Police Johnny Jennings: Received the Harvey Gantt Mayor's Award for service. He thanked the mayor and staff for their support over five and a half years, stating he has no desire to serve elsewhere and considers Charlotte the "best city" to serve.
- Mayor Lela Lyles: Accepted the Richard Venroop Award. In her acceptance, she thanked Tanya Jameson for her work in civic engagement and reflected on the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks.
- Councilmember Tijuana Brown (Outgoing): While she did not attend the swearing-in of her successor, her farewell speech (delivered by the Mayor on her behalf or as part of the segment) emphasized her leadership from empathy and her belief that her calling continues regardless of her current role.
- Councilmember Marjorie Molina: Reiterated her transition to "service is the rent" she pays to live in Charlotte, promising continued engagement without holding the District 5 seat.
- Councilmember Edwin Peacock: Expressed honor in his brief service and thanked the democratic process.
Mayoral Priorities (Mayor Lyles):
- Transit and Mobility: Stated that the passing of the transit tax referendum was a proud moment, emphasizing that it connects people economically and socially, not just physically.
- Safety and Growth: Committed to working with CMPD to ensure safety during city expansion, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of the homeless or vulnerable populations.
- Future Vision: Called for a Charlotte where every person has a path forward, focusing on housing affordability, safe streets, and opportunities for children.
Councilmember Priorities:
- District 1 (Dante Anderson): Highlighted the need to address SNAP benefit pauses affecting children and the necessity of engaging the 62% of eligible voters who did not participate in the recent election.
- District 2 (Malcolm Graham): Identified public safety, affordability (as a moral issue), and opportunity as key pillars. He specifically warned against highway projects like the I-77 South widening repeating past mistakes of dividing Black neighborhoods.
- District 3 (Joy Mayo): Focused on the concept of "10-minute neighborhoods" to ensure residents can live, work, and play within a short walk, bike, or transit ride.
- District 4 (Renee Perkins Johnson): Reiterated her commitment to community stability and ensuring that leadership listens to residents, particularly in rezoning and community-driven decisions.
- District 5 (Juan Diego Mazzarella Arias): Emphasized that growth is healthy but must be centered on the people who live there, rejecting opposition to development while advocating for workers' rights and dignity.
- District 6 (Kimberly Owens): Called for business community advocacy regarding public schools and urged residents to engage with local politics and media to hold government accountable.
- Citywide (James Mitchell): Prioritized small business support, workforce development for youth, and affordable housing.
Election of Officer Pro Tem:
- Councilmember James Mitchell: Nominated. The motion resulted in a vote of 9 in favor and 3 opposed (Mayor Lyles, Councilmember Graham, and Councilmember Owens). Mitchell was elected Mayor Pro Tem.

Key Outcomes

Swearing-In: Mayor Lela Lyles and the newly elected/returning City Council members (Dante Anderson, Juan Diego Mazzarella Arias, Kimberly Owens, Malcolm Graham, Joy Mayo, James Mitchell, Renee Perkins Johnson, Edwin Peacock, Dimple Ashmara, Victoria Watlington, and Lawana Slack Mayfield) were administered the oaths of office.
Mayor Pro Tem Election: Councilmember James Mitchell was elected Mayor Pro Tem with 9 votes in favor and 3 opposed.
Award Presentations:
- Tanya Jameson received the Richard Venroop Award for civic engagement and equity.
- Chief Johnny Jennings received the Harvey Gantt Award for leadership in law enforcement.
Election Results Announced: The City Clerk read the results of the November 4, 2025, municipal election, confirming the victory of the current roster of Mayor and Council members.
Strategic Directives:
- Mayor Lyles: Directed focus toward the implementation of the new transit authority and the mobility plan, ensuring safety and equity are central to Charlotte's growth.
- Councilmembers: collectively agreed to prioritize affordability (housing as a moral issue), public safety, and community engagement, with specific calls for higher voter participation and business community support for public education.
- District 2 & 4: Emphasized the need to prevent historical displacement in future highway projects and maintain community-centered leadership.
- District 6: Highlighted a commitment to efficient government and the need to "bore" constituents with competent governance.

Meeting Transcript

There are moments where I'm like, oh, I really want to go home. I don't want to do this anymore. And then I go look at, you know, the tall firefighters that look like me, Remy and Chantel, and I'm like, that's like me, that could be me. Oh my gosh. I didn't like fully understand what being a firefighter was, even though my dad is, but um they have motivational speakers come in, and I'm realizing all the different um like things there are in firefighting that I didn't know before. You know, they're together all day. So they just they build a good relationship and camaraderie. And then most of the people they're gonna ask me, and they'll how many books. And uh that we could uh provide the their needs and it gave us a purpose. We like the idea that the people dancing groups, all culture, especially dancing groups, and uh we had uh uh chess club using this one and a lot of the community use of the facility. So we have a several churches, they have a worship service in here, or so or kind of a meeting, even though you know a lot of American people they are using this library. We're gonna keep this one as a library, whatever the community needed for facility or anything. That's our goal. This is inside this building off South McDowell Street. And today, together, we open up the doors to the Pearl. A new future of medical innovation and education is blossoming for Charlotte. We are ready. Let's do this. After years of planning, the Pearl, Charlotte's new medical innovation district, officially opened its doors. The innovation district was created by a public-private partnership between Atrium Health and Wexford Science and Technology LLC. Community support was absolutely critical to making this happen. The idea for the Pearl formed back in 2019. Charlotte was one of the largest cities in the country without a four-year medical school, something many wanted to change. By 2021, the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County approved incentive packages totaling 75 million dollars to help this project move forward. The Pearl is now home to the Charlotte campus of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, as well as the North American headquarters of ERCAT, a renowned French research and training institute for surgeons. Leaders say the new district will generate over 5,500 on-site jobs and 11,500 regional jobs, with 40% of those not requiring a four-year degree. At full build out, we would generate over 800 million dollars a year in economic impact. That's direct, indirect, and induced. The Pearl is located where Brooklyn Village, a once thriving African American community once stood. Thanks to an advisory committee of members from the former neighborhood and the Cherry neighborhood. You can hear our interviews. And then we're all set. Who has been a champion for us in the neighborhood? Hello, everyone. My name is Renee Perkins Johnson, and I am the District 4 representative for City Council. And this complex happens to be in District 4. I had the pleasure of working with John during construction. I'm not working with him, speaking with him. But he was so passionate and so caring. And that and that love and dedication. It shows. So hi Rocky, happy birthday. Fabulous. Um in your units. So thank you. We need more complexes like this. Absolutely, yes. And I'm just honored to be here today. So thank you all. And thank you.

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