Charlotte City Council Meeting – May 11, 2026

The Charlotte City Council met on May 11, 2026, for its regular business meeting. The agenda included a consent calendar with several items pulled for discussion, public hearings on the FY2027 budget and related topics, a detailed presentation on data centers and a proposed moratorium, an update on the MPTA (Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority) transition, and a resolution regarding the I-77 South corridor managed lanes project. Significant debate centered on minority business participation, the environmental and community impacts of data centers, firefighter pay parity, and the future of the I-77 P3 project. Key votes included approval of a 150-day moratorium on data centers (pending a public hearing) and adoption of a non‑binding resolution urging an independent analysis of I-77 alternatives; a motion to rescind P3 approval failed.

Consent Calendar

• Councilmember Mayfield pulled items 30 (water/sewer service installation, $8.585 million contract) and 31 (contract amendment for $4.317 million) for separate discussion due to low minority‑owned business (MWBE) participation. Item 30 had a 10% aspirational goal but only 4.26% committed ($365,500); item 31 had 3.15% commitment ($136,125). Councilmember Mayfield argued the levels were disrespectful to city policies and small businesses.
• Item 34 was pulled by Councilmember Johnson to clarify that federal DBE rule changes do not affect the city’s CBI program; staff confirmed the city’s local program remains active.
• Item 30 – Councilmember Mayfield moved to defer; the motion passed unanimously.
• Item 31 – A deferral motion failed (4 in favor, insufficient); then a motion to approve passed by majority (with Mayfield and others opposed).
• The remaining consent items (24–43, except deferred 35) were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Approximately 40 speakers addressed the council, primarily on the FY2027 budget and the I-77 project. Key themes:

• Affordable Housing & Homelessness: Several speakers (Carol Hardison, Ted Fillette, Greg Jarrell) urged increasing the Housing Trust Fund to $200 million (vs. proposed $125 million), citing 52,625 eviction filings last year and a shortage of 40,000 affordable homes. Oshana Hunter (OneMet) noted that adding $100 million would increase city debt by only 1.5%.
• Firefighter Pay & Police Pay Parity: Firefighters (Mark Wilson, Brantley Stylins, Adam Alman, Meredith Barbie) requested a 10% raise and maintained parity with CMPD. They argued that the proposed 7% is effectively 2% after step increases, and that firefighters work 2,700 hours/year vs. 2,184 for police, while starting pay for new firefighters is below the new $25/hour minimum. The Fire Union noted 90% of firefighters work second jobs.
• City Worker Wages: Speakers (Cass Otley, Dominique Harris, Khalisma Ortiz) echoed calls for a 10% raise for all city workers, noting that the actual increase after performance reviews is often only 2%. They highlighted that Charlotte Water employees are excluded from public safety pay plans.
• Data Centers & Environment: During the evening session (prior to formal public hearings), multiple council members and staff discussed data center impacts. Residents voiced concerns about noise, water usage (1.2 million gallons/day for hyperscale sites), air quality, and proximity to homes.
• I-77 South Corridor: Community members (Libba Moore, Rocky McGregor, Cole Garday, and others) urged council to pause or rescind the P3 toll lane project, citing induced demand, displacement of Black neighborhoods, lack of trust in NCDOT, and the need for independent multimodal alternatives.
• Other: Support for Safe Alliance funding, animal care and control, bicycle infrastructure, international affairs office, and the People’s Budget coalition.

Discussion Items

Data Centers & Proposed Moratorium

• Alison Craig (Planning) presented a detailed update, noting that state law (Session Law 2024‑57) restricts local zoning authority. Charlotte has one definition for all data centers, ranging from small server rooms to hyperscale campuses (e.g., Powerhouse, Morris Chapel). Current inventory: ~1 million sq ft of single‑user facilities; two hyperscale sites (up to 2.5‑3 million sq ft) approved in the ETJ.
• Key Statistics: Water usage by hyperscale data centers in summer can reach 1.2 million gallons/day (using reclaimed water); smaller facilities use 64,000 gallons/day total. Data centers account for 0.4% of total water demand. Duke Energy notes data centers are <1% of statewide peak demand now, projected to reach 10% by 2030.
• Staff recommended a 150‑day moratorium to study impacts and develop performance standards (noise, water/energy conservation plans). A public hearing would be held May 26, with council action on June 8. The moratorium would not affect existing approved developments.
• Councilmembers Anderson, Watlington, and Ashmira expressed support for the moratorium and called for tighter definitions, including requiring closed‑loop cooling, and engaging stakeholders (e.g., Action NC, Clean Air Carolina). Concerns about legal risks from the state law were addressed; staff said a moratorium is permissible under GS 160D‑107.
• Vote: Motion to hold a public hearing for a 150‑day moratorium passed unanimously.

MPTA Transition Update

• City Attorney Leslie‑Fight and Catherine Clodfelter (Parker Poe) presented the draft interlocal agreement required by the PAVE Act, which must be adopted by July 1, 2026. The proposed phased transition: Phase 1 (July 1, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027): city retains asset ownership, MPTA becomes policy body, operational control delegated back to city. Phase 2 (Jan 1 – July 1, 2027): employees transfer to MPTA, unencumbered assets transfer, back‑office services may continue. Phase 3: as debt is paid, additional assets transfer.
• Key conditions: employees must receive comparable salaries and benefits; service credit must be recognized; MPTA must have infrastructure to direct funds for debt service. Indemnification provisions remain a placeholder.
• Council will receive further updates at TPD committee (June 1) and action review (June 8), with final adoption scheduled for June 22.

I-77 South Managed Lanes Resolution

• Councilmember Owens introduced the resolution, which was amended by a substitute motion from Councilmember Masweta‑Adios to call for an independent third‑party reevaluation of the corridor, including multimodal options, non‑highway strategies, and a pause on the draft RFP until findings are presented.
• After extensive debate, the amended resolution passed 10‑1 (Councilmember Johnson opposed).
• Immediately after, Councilmember Johnson moved to rescind the city’s approval of the P3 project, directing the CARTPO representative to seek rescission. The motion failed 5‑6 (in favor: Johnson, Watlington, Anderson, Ashmira, Mayfield; opposed: Mayo, Mitchell, Graham, Driggs, Owens, Mayor Lyles).
• Councilmember Driggs noted that rescinding P3 would likely stop the project entirely, as NCDOT stated it cannot be built without private funding. NCDOT representatives confirmed the project remains on the STIP but without alternative funding.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved with items 30 and 31 handled separately (30 deferred; 31 approved).
• Data Center Moratorium: Passed a motion to hold a public hearing on May 26 for a 150‑day moratorium (vote: unanimous).
• I-77 Resolution: Adopted (10‑1) with substitute amendment calling for independent reevaluation and RFP pause; rescission motion failed (5‑6).
• Water/Sewer Revenue Bonds (Item 14): Approved unanimously (motion to adopt items A–E).
• Mayoral Appointments: Confirmed nominations for various boards, including Darlene Whitfield and Nicole Reina for Business Advisory Committee, Eric Norman for Business Inclusion Advisory Committee, and others.
• Budget Timeline: Public hearing held; budget adjustment discussions set for May 18, straw votes June 1, adoption June 8.