Gastonia City Council Regular Meeting – June 20, 2023

The Gastonia City Council met at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, with Mayor Walker E. Reid III presiding. Council excused Councilmember McKellogg for the evening, adopted the agenda with consent item H14 added by amendment, and approved meeting minutes for the May 30 Budget Outlook Work Session, the June 6 Special Meeting, and the June 6 Regular Meeting. The agenda also included awards, public comments, several public hearings, a large consent agenda, and committee reports.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the 14-item consent agenda unanimously, including: National Pollinator Week proclamation; ESRI GIS software renewal ($170,100); Police Cadet grant ($8,745, budget amendment 2320049); asset forfeiture proceeds ($63,044, budget amendment 2320050); Nolen Farm access easement plat; July 25, 2023 public hearing date for Mable Drive closure; Customer Care Center equipment ($94,960.79); American Rescue grant for AMI water meter infrastructure ($8,000,000); Withers Ravenel engineering services for the 2024 GO Transportation Bond resurfacing program ($1,260,000); GASB Statement 96 implementation ($2,805,896, budget amendment 2320051); Davenport Group server/storage systems ($949,972); NCMPA1 ElectriCities alternate appointments; CDW-G Rubrik backup system ($263,801); and GovDirect mobile laptop computers ($511,327).
• Council questions confirmed the AMI grant is part of a total project anticipated to exceed $20 million, GASB 96 is a financial reporting change for software-as-a-service contracts, and the new Davenport Group equipment is expected to last about 6–7 years.

Presentations & Awards

• Recognized the 12 graduates of the 2023 Municipal Citizens Academy, the first class since COVID; graduates Lana DuPont and Ethan Peeler spoke about the value of the program.
• Honored Patti Plaksin for 21 years of service as a Stormwater Commissioner; Dana Lawson noted she attended 126 meetings, participated in more than 220 decisions, and helped direct about $2 million in stormwater improvements.
• Honored Sandra Merrell with a plaque for 50 years of service to the City of Gastonia, effective June 21, 2023.
• Introduced summer interns Ashlyn Lewis and Courtney Clinton.
• Christine Ingle presented plans for the Fourth of July celebration on July 4, 5:00–9:30 p.m., downtown and at the Rotary Pavilion, including 12 food trucks, more than 50 vendor booths, music, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The agenda listed a five-minute public-expression limit, but the mayor announced a two-minute limit. Approximately 18 people signed up to speak.
• Almost all public speakers opposed code-enforcement fines or threatened closure of Faith Hope and Love Ministry at 418 North Oakland and urged the city to partner with Pastor Moses Cobert instead of shutting the ministry down. Speakers described the ministry as a lifeline for people experiencing homelessness, warned that 75–125 residents could be scattered across the county, and argued the city was weaponizing codes.
• Pastor Moses Cobert denied breaking rules, asked the city to stop demonizing the ministry, and requested tents and partnership. Pastor Shannon Williams of Finish Line Christian Center called the fines very disturbing. Joy Smith cited a statistic that 4 out of 10 workers live paycheck to paycheck and challenged council members’ responses to homelessness. Mike Ross, who said he had spoken to council nine times in the prior year, said the fines punish vulnerable people and called on council to be humans before politicians. Some speakers, including Thomas Hill and Spike Cohen, made defiant statements and threatened to publicize the city’s actions.
• During the Historic District public hearing, Historic District Commission member Jeff Treple spoke in support of stronger enforcement tools, saying builders sometimes perform work without required Certificates of Appropriateness and that a deterrent was needed.

Discussion Items & Public Hearings

• I.1/I.2 – Annexation and Dallas-Bessemer City Highway Townhomes: Council held a combined public hearing for voluntary annexation of 32.404 acres and assignment of PD-RRDD zoning for up to 191 townhomes. Planning Director Jason Thompson said the Planning Commission gave a unanimous recommendation. Applicant representative Kyle DePertoro presented plans for alley-loaded for-sale townhomes, at least two parking spaces per unit, more than 100 guest spaces, an HOA, a central green space, a walking trail, and possible connection to Dallas Park. Council unanimously approved both the annexation and the rezoning.
• I.3 – Providence Drive Closure: Council approved closing an unopened portion of Providence Drive after a public hearing. Staff had no objection; discussion addressed the nearby Westfall development and access to the surrounding area.
• I.4 – UDO Parking Amendments: Council approved Chapter 10 amendments revising parking maximums in certain zones, allowing the Administrator to approve increases in particular zones, establishing electric vehicle charging station standards, and updating cross-references. One council member raised concerns about dying maples in median islands and asked staff to follow up.
• I.5 – UDO Roof Sign Amendments: Council approved allowing roof signs as a sign flexibility option in the UMU zoning district, subject to Design Review Committee approval. The vote was not unanimous; one council member dissented and said they did not like those kinds of signs.
• I.6 – Historic District Civil Penalties: Council approved amending Section 7.6.2 to allow staff to issue civil penalties for violations of Certificates of Appropriateness in historic districts. The Historic District Commission supported the change as a needed deterrent.
• I.7 – Health Fest In-Kind Services: Council approved the in-kind services request for Health Fest 2023, planned for August 12, 2023, at Southwest Middle School. Councilwoman Barber, the applicant, recused herself from the vote.
• I.8 – Facade Grant: Council approved a Level One facade grant of $2,750 for ENP Marketplace at 201 W. Main Ave. Owners Eric Johnson and Paul Jones are investing approximately $5,550 in signage and other improvements.
• I.9 – Revenue Bonds: Council approved a resolution authorizing the sale and issuance of Combined Utilities System Revenue Bonds, Series 2023, in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000. Director Crystal Certain said the actual issuance could be closer to $40 million because of bond premium and favorable bids; closing is anticipated August 8, 2023. Councilman Gallagher recused himself because his employer would be the underwriter.
• I.10 – Southeast Sewer Contracts: Council awarded contracts for the Southeast Sewer Extension – Catawba Creek Outfall to Fuller & Co. Construction for $13,459,837.70 and the Southeast Regional Sewer Pump Station to Wharton Smith for $9,897,000, contingent on NC Local Government Commission approval. The project will serve about five square miles, complete utility infrastructure for anticipated growth, and allow three existing pump stations to be taken out of service.
• I.11 – In-Kind Service Policy Recommendations: Staff presented four options for reducing city costs of in-kind service events and recommended either capping services per event (Option 1) or creating a city-assisted partnership program (Option 3). Council tabled the item to the CCHRCE committee for further review, noting that Councilmember McKellogg, the committee chair, was absent.
• I.12 – Citizen Committee Appointments: Council approved a slate of appointments by acclamation, including Megan Chapman to the Planning Commission, Angela Drew and Resident Satanya Roberts to the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and several board reappointments. The mayor noted the Housing Authority appointments are his by state statute. No alternate member for the Zoning Board of Adjustment was identified.

Committee Reports

• The Transportation Committee recommended and council approved the city’s proposed Comprehensive Bicycle Plan. Councilwoman Stepp summarized survey data: 50–60% of residents are interested in cycling but concerned about safety.
• Council approved a resolution supporting the application to the U.S. DOT FY2023 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program; the expected minimum grant is $10 million with a 20% local match.
• Council approved FTA Section 5307 project allocations for FY2024 and FY2025.
• Committee updates included ongoing work on microtransit modeling, April bus ridership of 10,052, the Edgefield/Shearwood intersection traffic-circle discussion, and an airport self-fuel system projected to be operational by August 5.

City Manager’s Report, Council Reports & Announcements

• City Manager Michael Peoples reported on street resurfacing progress, about 300 employees participating in city talks, a $2,272,275 grant from the NC Rural Infrastructure Authority for the Apple Creek Sewer Project, upcoming bond rating work with Fitch and Moody’s, and receipt of a bid for the Highland Greenway project.
• Council members reported on Juneteenth events, the Aunt Charlotte McClee garden dedication, JC’s Distinguished Service Awards, a Linwood Park tour, and arts events.
• Council voted to cancel the August 15, 2023 regular meeting and to move the September 5, 2023 meeting to the Gaston County Courthouse because of the number of pending public hearings.
• Mayor Reid announced upcoming schedule items, including city offices closed July 4, a Special Council Meeting July 11 at 5:30 p.m., and the next regular Council meeting July 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the courthouse.

Key Outcomes

• Approved all consent items, minutes, and the amended agenda.
• Approved the 32.404-acre annexation and PD-RRDD zoning for up to 191 townhomes.
• Approved the Providence Drive paper-street closure.
• Approved three UDO amendments: parking/EV charging, roof signs (one dissenting vote), and historic district civil penalties.
• Approved Health Fest in-kind services, the ENP Marketplace facade grant, $50 million revenue bond authorization, and two Southeast sewer construction contracts contingent on LGC approval.
• Tabled the in-kind service policy options to the CCHRCE committee.
• Approved the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, SS4A grant support resolution, FTA 5307 allocations, and citizen committee appointments.
• Canceled the August 15, 2023 council meeting and moved the September 5, 2023 meeting to the county courthouse.