Charlotte City Council Meeting – June 8, 2026: Budget Adoption, MPTA Agreement, Red Light Cameras, Data Center Moratorium
Charlotte City Council Meeting – June 8, 2026
The Charlotte City Council held a regular meeting on June 8, 2026, to consider a consent agenda, receive updates on the MPTA transit transition and red light camera program, adopt the FY2027 operating budget, and approve a 150-day moratorium on new data center facilities. The meeting also included a discussion on council rules and other business items.
Consent Calendar
- Items 29 through 53 were approved unanimously after Councilmember Mayfield raised procedural concerns about public hearings and decisions on the same night for separate items but did not request an exception.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were heard during the meeting; the agenda did not include a separate public comment period for the consent or discussion items.
Discussion Items
- MPTA Interlocal Agreement Update: City Attorney Catherine (from Parker Poe) presented a phased transition of CATS to the MPTA. Councilmember Driggs, who served on the working group with Councilmembers Owens and Watlington, noted no employee will be worse off, no general fund money will be used for transit, and debt reserves will be maintained. Discussion covered employee career pathing, retirement portability, and the need for ongoing partnership. A vote is scheduled for June 22.
- Red Light Cameras Pilot: Charlie Jones, CDOT Deputy Director, presented a one-year pilot at 10 intersections to reduce angle/left-turn collisions and serious injuries. Estimated program cost is $600,000/year, with annual revenue of $4.5 million (90% to CMS) and a $150,000 funding gap covered by Vision Zero funds. Councilmembers discussed rotating cameras, a public dashboard, community notification, and negotiating with CMS on use of proceeds. Next steps: RFP issuance, contract approval, pilot start by early 2027.
- FY2027 Budget Adoption: Councilmember Graham moved adoption, highlighting a 1.89 cent property tax increase dedicated to public safety, a $25/hour minimum wage for city employees, $125 million for the housing trust fund, 10% pay parity for CMPD and CFD, $600,000 for business district organizations, and $1.5 million for youth internships. Several council members expressed concerns about cumulative fee and tax impacts on low-income residents, but the budget passed with a majority. Councilmembers Mayfield and Driggs voted against.
- Data Center Moratorium: Councilmember Ashmara introduced a 150-day moratorium on accepting or processing applications for new telecommunications and data storage facilities. Discussion emphasized the need for policy guardrails on water/energy consumption, noise, and proximity to schools and neighborhoods. City Attorney Leslie-Byrd clarified state-law exemptions for projects with valid permits or substantial expenditures. The moratorium passed unanimously.
- Council Rules Procedures: Councilmember Johnson moved to amend Rule 4D to allow four council members (rather than a majority) to place an item on a future agenda if objected to by the city manager or a council member. After debate, the motion passed with two opposed.
- Bank of America Stadium Lease Amendment: A proposal to include a 0.244-acre parcel (conveyed from NCDOT) into the stadium lease for a privately funded performance venue. Councilmembers raised concerns about community benefits and fair market value. A motion to defer to the next business meeting passed narrowly; the item was deferred.
- Other Business: Approval of federal funding for the East Charlotte Connector (e-Sharlot) mobility path; authorization for a general obligation bond referendum in November 2026; consent appointments to boards and commissions.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda (items 29-53) approved unanimously.
- MPTA interlocal agreement to be voted on June 22.
- Red light camera pilot program advanced; staff to develop RFP.
- FY2027 budget adopted (7-2 vote; Councilmembers Mayfield and Driggs opposed).
- 150-day moratorium on data center facilities adopted unanimously.
- Council Rule 4D amended to require four council members to place items on future agenda (passed with two opposed).
- Bank of America Stadium lease amendment deferred to a future business meeting.
- Appointments approved for multiple boards and commissions by acclamation.
- Referrals: Councilmember Anderson will explore rotating camera options; staff to study data center impacts and report within 150 days; city attorney to work on legislative agenda for red light cameras.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, not that. Oh my god. Oh no, no, no. I think we can have a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit more. Ariel Smith, Late City Clerk. Andrea Leslie Byte, City Attorney. Good evening, Dimple Echmark at large. Good evening, Victoria Watlington at large. Joy Mayo, representing District 3. Dante Anderson, District One. Let's see, who are we missing here? James. James who'll be. We'll have someone else coming in pretty soon. Um, and I am Vi Lyles. Marcus Jones, City Manager. Kimberly Owens, representing district six. Good evening, Luana Mayfield, Councilmember at large. All right. Good evening. JD Masueta Adias, Council Member District Five. Good evening, I'm Renee Johnson, and I'm honored to represent District 4. Okay, so I believe that's everyone else, and thank you all for who the attending our session. I hope that you'll be able to work with us and make things happier for all of us in this place. So let's go with this. We're now going to start off our meeting with items with the consent agenda items. This is actually amazing. Thank you. And good evening, Mayor and Council members. And as far as I'm aware, there's no outstanding questions still on consent, but if there are, please let me know at this time. Okay. Ms. Mayfield. Excuse me, thank you, Madam Mayor. I had some IPad issues over the weekend, so I'm trying to find the item because I love my book up sale. Um we have where we're tonight, we have an item on where we have a hearing as well as a decision, and I had mentioned previously that I have concerns when we have hearings and decisions on the same night versus having a hearing, hearing from the community, and then having the discussion for whatever that item is. I'm double checking it. I think it was item six and um seven, and that's in the chamber public hearing, not the consent, but yes, ma'am, it's public hearing items. Not in the consent, but I wanted to make sure to acknowledge that that we need to have a conversation about having a public hearing the same night where item A is opening up the public hearing and item B being to approve whatever that project is without having enough time for discussion and for community to be engaged in the process. Thank you, madam mayor. All right, thank you. Before we take before we um I may have but Mr. Driggs has come in, and Mr. Graham, I think I just didn't see you. No, I just came in too. Okay, thank you. I was going to wonder if something had gotten. How's the new babe? She is doing fine. I think you and Ed should work together since you both have girls.
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