Gastonia City Council Regular Meeting – March 7, 2023

The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall. Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin presided because Mayor Walter Reed was on leave. The council adopted the agenda and approved the February 21, 2023 regular meeting minutes. The printed agenda listed Councilman Robert Kellogg as the invocation speaker, but the transcript records Councilwoman Marvel leading the invocation; Mayor Reed and Councilman Kellogg were excused. The meeting included a proclamation, a presentation, public comments, a public hearing, consent actions, committee reports, and announcements.

Proclamation and Presentations

• Council proclaimed March 17, 2023 as Arbor Day in recognition of North Carolina Arbor Day and Gastonia's 22nd consecutive year as a Tree City USA. Juliann Lehman, Keep Gastonia Beautiful Administrator, accepted the proclamation; city staff noted tree-planting events at schools this spring.
• Christine Ingle and Dandria Bradley presented the Gaston MAX (Multicultural Arts Xperience) event, scheduled Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rotary Pavilion. The second in-person festival is a partnership among the City of Gastonia, Gaston County, the Gaston County Public Library, and the Friends of the Library. They expected about 40 vendors, three food trucks, breweries, family activities, and musical performances, including Jay Hines, Garrett Huffman, The Gift, and Fourier Tropical.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mark Solars said it was a privilege to pay taxes, but he urged council to lower the current tax rate, impose no new taxes, place a moratorium on new city projects, and consider suspending travel while maintaining pay for firefighters, police, and other essential employees.
• Michael Tamborella reported a 76% increase in his property assessment and called the resulting revenue jump "immoral." He asked council to reduce the tax rate by an amount corresponding to the reassessment and criticized the lack of responses to his emails to council and county commissioners.

Consent Calendar

Council approved all 10 consent agenda items unanimously after discussion of one item. Approved items included:

• January 2023 monthly financial report.
• Resolutions accepting $13,984 of State of North Carolina asset forfeiture funds and $21,343 from the Department of Justice asset forfeiture program, with Budget Amendment 2320031.
• General Fund fund balance appropriation of $275,000 to buy five Technology Services vehicles, with Budget Amendment 2320032.
• Water and Sewer fund balance appropriation of $1,146,952 to buy new equipment, with Budget Amendment 2320033.
• Authorization of opioid settlement agreements and supplemental agreement between the state and local governments.
• Acceptance for maintenance of Wilson Street Subdivision.
• Declaration of surplus municipally owned personal property under G.S. §160A-270.
• Two resolutions directing the clerk to investigate annexation petitions and setting public hearings for March 21, 2023: 41.12 acres on Delta Drive and 26.830 acres on Apple Creek Parkway.
• Award of a $138,050 contract to McAdams for engineering services for GO Bond safety improvements at schools and parks, including the Sherwood Avenue/Edgefield Avenue traffic circle.

During discussion of the McAdams contract, City Manager Michael Peoples said the GO Bond was approved by 68% of voters for $75 million, the city's engineering staff lacks the capacity to perform all the work in-house, and the fee covers study of roughly 40 parks and schools.

Regular Agenda: Project Husky

Economic Development Director Kristy Crisp presented Project Husky. The company proposes a 750,000-square-foot warehouse distribution facility in Gateway85, investing $100 million and creating 50 jobs. It would use the existing rail line and locate on the north side of the property. The requested incentive is a standard Level Four local investment grant over 10 years. Staff noted three buildings in Gateway85 are currently built and occupied, and Project Husky would be the fourth. Council discussion clarified that the grant is tied to verified taxable investment, taxes are paid up front, the Level Four threshold is $50 million, and this grant rebates 85% for five years and 75% for five years. No public speakers appeared after the sole speaker was removed. Council closed the public hearing and unanimously approved offering the standard Level Four incentive grant, with details to be negotiated by legal staff.

Arts Committee Actions

• Approved up to $10,350 for geotechnical services for relocated Merit Building art panels near the Rotary Pavilion. The artwork will be installed on two-sided support structures; the funds come from the arts budget and are for soil and foundation engineering.
• Approved up to $1,000 for an arts table and children's craft at Gaston MAX.
• Approved the 2023 City of Gastonia Art Show at the Schiele Museum on April 27, 2023, with up to $5,000 in city funds and a $2,500 cost-share request to Gaston County. The vote passed 3-1 after debate about whether city funds should support countywide school participation; Councilwoman Stepp opposed and preferred city-only schools.
• Approved up to $3,000 for a three-panel stretch art installation at 114 South Marietta Street, contingent on the property owner's approval and a legal contract, with a QR code.
• Approved up to $1,500 for a live art instructor and art-to-go bags at Keep Gastonia Beautiful's Beetopia event.

Transportation Committee Actions

• The resolution to replace fixed-route bus service with micro-transit was tabled, not approved. The committee heard from micro-transit providers and had voted unanimously to recommend the change, but council members wanted more information on costs, service details, and employee impacts. Staff will produce a side-by-side vendor comparison, work with FTA and DOT on the financial model, hold public meetings, and target a January 1, 2024 implementation rather than July 1, 2023. Five aging buses would be kept in reserve for one year. Councilman Gallagher described the proposed service as an Uber-like, on-demand ride option that could extend hours beyond the current 6 p.m. bus shutdown.
• Approved a scope of services and not-to-exceed fee of $89,952 for Kittelson & Associates for the Garrison Boulevard Corridor Study. The approximately 12-month study focuses on the corridor from South New Hope Road to Chestnut Street, including pedestrian safety, bike lanes, connectivity, and traffic operations.
• Approved a resolution supporting 2023 as the Year of the Trail.

Central City Revitalization & Housing / Community Engagement Committee

• Approved a one-year, $50,000 pilot project with 101 Black Men of Highland. Councilman Odom recused himself because of his involvement with the organization. A representative said every dollar would go back into community programs, with no salaries or service fees.
• Approved in-kind services for five community events: Gaston Community Foundation Run (April 1, 2023), Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride (November 26, 2023), Marshall Cabiness Day Event (April 22, 2023), Boogie Crank Easter Tournament (April 11-14, 2023), and Gastonia Ebonyfest Juneteenth Festival (June 17-19, 2023).
• Approved the IDEAL Façade Grant for 174 West Main Avenue for upgraded signage.
• Informational discussion: 2022 in-kind event services cost more than $100,000; the committee asked staff to research practices in other cities. Gastonia Housing Authority Executive Director Terry Samford reported that increased crime and two arson fires have driven up insurance and liability costs and caused vacancies at affordable housing properties; Councilman Odom offered to connect 101 Black Men of Highland to assist.

Facilities/Management and Recreation Advisory Commission Updates

• Gastonia Conference Center is $7,548 ahead of its budgeted loss of $49,421, has booked about $352,250 in future business, and spent slightly more than $15,000 on repairs and maintenance, including replacing stolen fire extinguishers and failed heating units.
• Caromont Health Park improvements discussed included a roof/cover for the Overlook Bar with fans and heat, construction of a new umpire building, an additional swing gate at the North Parking Lot, additional Hill Street parking, a new solid waste compactor, audio/visual upgrades, a handicap ramp, and portable chiller fans.
• Recreation Advisory Commission: Ryan Recendez was recognized with the Dixie Youth National Directors Award. Senior Games kick off March 25, 2023; the 2023 Dixie Youth Baseball State Tournament will be held at Martha Rivers Park June 30-July 4. Parks and recreation updates included new playground equipment, Linwood Springs work, Marietta Street park cleanup, Irwin Center pool replacement, an RFP for 12-16 pickleball courts due March 15, and follow-up on Phillips Center court lights.

City Attorney, City Manager, and Council Reports and Announcements

• City Attorney L. Ashley Smith reported that $93,000 in attorney's fees from Sun Crest Realty had been received and deposited as part of a sewer easement settlement related to the Nolan Farm subdivision.
• City Manager Michael Peoples reported that FY2024 budget work is underway, the city may host up to five summer interns, and staff are preparing community project funding requests after meeting with U.S. Representative Jeff Jackson. He also mentioned the League of Municipalities City Vision conference in Concord, April 25-28, and continued work with the Schiele Museum, Greer Middle School, and Gaston County Schools.
• Council members shared reports, including Councilman Gallagher's trip to Israel, Councilwoman Barber's request for an updated diversity/equity/inclusion report, Councilwoman Stepp's arts and community event announcements, and Councilwoman Barber's praise for the HBCU expo at East Ridge Mall, with a suggestion that local police and sheriff's departments recruit at future events.
• Mayor Pro Tem Kirlin announced upcoming dates: March 9 stormwater workshop, March 11 police barbershop rap session, March 14 council budget update, March 20-24 free access trash collection week, March 21 council meeting at the Gaston County Courthouse, March 25 Gaston MAX, March 28 budget work session, April 4 regular council meeting, and April 7 Good Friday closure.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda (10 items) unanimously.
• Closed the Project Husky public hearing and unanimously approved a standard Level Four incentive grant with details to be negotiated.
• Approved arts funding actions: $10,350 geotechnical study, $1,000 Gaston MAX arts table, $5,000 Art Show with a $2,500 county request, $3,000 stretch art installation, and $1,500 Beetopia art activity.
• Tabled the microtransit resolution pending further study and public input; approved the Garrison Boulevard Corridor Study and Year of the Trail resolution.
• Approved the 101 Black Men of Highland pilot project, five event in-kind service requests, and the IDEAL Façade Grant.
• No further formal action was taken on informational reports.