Charlotte City Council Business Meeting - February 23, 2026

The Charlotte City Council held a business meeting on February 23, 2026, beginning with a public forum where 12 speakers addressed the council. The primary topic was the I-77 South toll lane expansion project, with many residents, community leaders, and organizational representatives expressing opposition and calling for a pause. The council also discussed and voted on consent agenda items, a historic landmark designation, a lease agreement, an affordable housing development support, and an interlocal agreement for risk management services. The meeting concluded with a closed session.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved consent agenda items 13 through 38, with the exception of items 33, 34, 35, and 36 (which were deferred or settled). The vote was unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Philip Stanford (Charlotte Running community): Expressed concern over pedestrian safety and the need for better infrastructure and enforcement, citing the death of Lance Witello and five other pedestrian fatalities. Called for higher DOT budget allocations for non-drivers.
• Logan Creech (Secretary, Washington Heights neighborhood): Criticized the failed placemaking initiative at the Ritz of Washington Heights, asking council to pressure the Urban Design Department for better oversight and programming.
• Mike Phoenix (Charlotte Firefighters Association): Requested approval of budget requests including five additional modified duty positions and pay parity with CMPD to improve recruitment and retention.
• Jackie Adams (District 8 resident): Supported increasing the animal care and control budget, sharing her positive experience fostering dogs and highlighting the need for adequate staffing.
• Susanna Trotter (District 6 resident, volunteer at Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control): Thanked council for past budget support, noted improvements in volunteer processes, and urged continued funding to close staffing gaps and achieve a 90%+ live release rate.
• Shannon Bins (Founder, Sustained Charlotte): Spoke in strong opposition to the I-77 South toll lane project, submitting a petition with nearly 1,300 signatures. Accused NCDOT of a "bait and switch" and lack of transparency, and called on council to use their influence to pause the project.
• Shauna Bell (Macquarie Heights resident): Opposed the I-77 expansion, citing concerns about cost, equity, environmental impact, and historical harm to Black neighborhoods. Asked council to call for a pause and meaningful community engagement.
• Vera Faulkner (Housing Justice Coalition): Demanded a stop to displacement from airport lease negotiations, calling for a 90-day public review period, a living wage for subcontracted workers, a displacement mitigation fund, and community grants.
• Sean Langley: Opposed the I-77 expansion, arguing the NCDOT survey was biased and that the project contradicts climate goals and economic mobility efforts. Urged council to pause and study alternatives.
• Ann Brooks (Charlotte Regional Business Alliance): Argued against stopping the project, stating that community concerns can be addressed while moving forward, and that a pause would waste planning already done.
• Damian Smith (District 3, Lakeview neighborhood): Opposed the I-77 toll lanes, noting they primarily benefit out-of-state commuters. Also supported firefighter pay raises.
• Evan Sultotis: Opposed the elevated toll lanes, citing personal accident experience and proposing low-cost alternatives. Warned that the project would increase costs for the Silver Line transit.
• Mark Wilson (Secretary, Charlotte Firefighters Association): Called on council to address a public safety crisis in the fire department, citing poor pay and benefits compared to comparable cities, hurting recruitment and retention.
• Dr. Janet Gardner Mullins (representing West Boulevard and Wilkinson Boulevard corridor residents): Highlighted displacement from highway expansion and airport growth, urging anti-displacement policies and urgent action.
• Sharif Hanan: Criticized the I-77 plan as a "segregated highway for the rich," questioned the public-private partnership, and called for reevaluating the council's CRTPO representative and exploring alternative funding.

Discussion Items

I-77 South Toll Lane Expansion

• Mayor Lyles acknowledged public frustration, clarified that the city cannot unilaterally stop the project (led by NCDOT), but committed to taking feedback to state leaders. Referred the item to the March 5 Transportation Planning and Development Committee with NCDOT invited.
• City Attorney Andrea Leslie Fight explained the legal framework: the project is a state-designated interstate project; CRTPO's 2014 vote and subsequent P3 authorization advanced the process; the city cannot single-handedly reverse the regional vote. She noted remaining steps: RFP (March 13), NEPA process, and community engagement.
• Councilmember Renee Johnson moved to add the I-77 item to the night's agenda for discussion and potential action. The motion failed (7-4, not unanimous). She then moved to place it on a future agenda, but later withdrew after consensus to discuss it at the council retreat on Monday, February 24.
• Councilmember Malcolm Graham supported a 60-day pause, citing misalignment among community, council, CRTPO, and NCDOT. He urged a special meeting or retreat discussion to direct the city's CRTPO representative to seek a delay.
• Councilmember JD Masuera Adias (District 5): Supported a pause, calling toll lanes "classist" and emphasizing the need for transparency, environmental justice, and alignment with equity goals.
• Councilmember Ed Driggs (District 7): Cautioned that a 60-day pause could jeopardize $600 million in state funds and $100 million in local road projects. Advocated using influence with NCDOT rather than trying to obstruct the process.
• Councilmember Kimberly Owens (District 6): Expressed frustration, questioned the project's benefits, and called for exploring alternatives to toll roads (e.g., managed routes, BRT, truck lanes). Stressed the need to avoid displacement and to show that benefits outweigh harms.
• Councilmember Dante Anderson (District 1): Thanked the community for engagement and urged them to also speak to state leaders.
• Councilmember Victoria Watlington: Supported the pause and noted that the council must work through CRTPO bylaws to get the item on the agenda.
• Councilmember Dimple Ajmira (At-Large): Emphasized that issuing an RFP is not destiny and that the council should explore options with NCDOT and the governor's office. She called for a pause to fully evaluate financial liability, equity impacts, and alternatives.
• The council reached consensus to place the I-77 discussion on the retreat agenda for Monday, February 24.

Other Business Items

• Item 13 (2025 Urban Area Security Initiative grant): Councilmember Masuera Adias clarified that the grant is for disaster preparedness, not immigration enforcement, and is federal funds.
• Item 28 (SCAP+ implementation consulting services): Confirmed that five of the vendors have a local presence and that funds will be used for green print projects in heat-burdened neighborhoods.
• Item 8 (Lease with Envision Charlotte): Council approved a lease agreement for a portion of city-owned property at 3300 Northerly Road for $1 annually. Discussion included questions about revenue ($19,500 total over five years), lack of an RFQ for renewal, and comparison to other nonprofit leases.
• Item 9 (Affordable housing development support for Five Points land acquisition): Approved unanimously. Council members praised the project for bringing mixed-use, transit-oriented development, a co-op grocery store, and affordable housing to the historic West End, led by community partners like Jatanya Adams and LISC.
• Item 10 (Interlocal agreement for risk management services with MPTA): Approved. Council discussed the scope of services, reimbursement, and the transition period through FY27.

Key Outcomes

• I-77 Project: The council agreed to discuss the I-77 project at the February 24 retreat, with many members supporting a 60-day pause. No formal vote was taken on the project itself.
• Consent Agenda: Approved (items 13-38 with exceptions).
• Public Hearing: Closed the public hearing and adopted an ordinance designating the R. Kent and Gertrude Blair House as a historic landmark (effective February 23, 2026).
• Legislative Agendas: Approved the 2026 federal and state legislative agendas, which include priorities on public safety, juvenile detention, and housing.
• Installment Financing Contract: Approved a resolution setting a public hearing for March 9, 2026, for an installment financing contract not to exceed $120 million for equipment and facilities, including public safety and animal care and control.
• Lease Agreement with Envision Charlotte: Approved.
• Affordable Housing Development Support: Approved for Five Points land acquisition.
• Interlocal Agreement with MPTA: Approved for risk management services.
• Closed Session: The council voted to enter closed session to discuss economic development incentives.