Gastonia City Council Meeting - November 21, 2023: Awards, DEI Plan, Affordable Housing, Audit

The Gastonia City Council met November 21, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin presided in the absence of Mayor Walker E. Reid III (ill) and Councilman Jim Gallagher (absent); both were excused by unanimous motion. Councilwoman Steph arrived later in the meeting. The meeting featured recognition of a championship tennis team, a service award for the retiring mayor, presentations on domestic violence services, the summer concert series, Christmas in the City, a new Diversity/Equity/Inclusion (DEI) strategic plan, an affordable housing study, the FY2023 audit, public comment, consent items, and public hearings.

Awards & Ceremonies

• Tennis Certificates (E.1): Councilman Robert Kellogg presented certificates to Coach Jason Drummond and student-athletes Madison Darnell and Katelin Vaher of Highland School of Technology. Darnell made Gaston County history as the first tennis player to receive a North Carolina High School Athletic Association state individual title, winning 15 of 16 matches and earning all-state honors. Vaher was named an all-star after advancing to the semifinals of the 1A State Tournament on October 27, 2023.
• Season of Agape Proclamation (E.2): Councilman Kellogg presented a proclamation declaring Thursdays and Saturdays throughout November and December 2023 as the 2nd Annual Season of Agape. Minister of Music Shannon Sanders of The Genesis Church received the proclamation; Pastor Johnny Brown accepted and described agape as the unconditional love of God. Benefactors include child agencies, nursing homes, hospital patients, detention centers, and families of slain victims.
• Mayor's Service Award (E.3): Mayor Pro Tem Kirlin presented a plaque honoring Mayor Walker E. Reid III's service from 2017 to 2023. The mayor's brother accepted on his behalf, noting Reid also served 16 years as a councilman. Council members offered tributes. Mayor Pro Tem Kirlin then moved to rename Marietta Park as Walker E. Reed III Park; the motion passed unanimously.

Presentations

• Hope United Survivor Network (F.1): Director Tara Joyner described the Family Justice Center (opened April 2020), which brings collaborative services to domestic violence survivors - about 700 served in 2020 - rather than requiring 8-9 separate stops. Law enforcement responded to over 6,000 domestic violence calls for service in 2020. She cited a case where charges were increased from misdemeanor assault on a female to felony strangulation and later attempted homicide through collaboration. Domestic violence affects 1 in 4 women and about 1 in 13 men. Contact: HopeUnitedGaston.com or 704-862-6783.
• Gastonia East Rotary Concert Series (F.2): Drew Horine and Jenna Jourdet presented 2023 results: over $19,000 raised for community organizations, two events exceeding 1,500 attendees each, a barbecue for 500 first responders, and a free Thanksgiving dinner for 340 local singers. About 100 bands have asked to participate in 2024. They proposed partnering with local breweries for beverage sales, adding downtown signage and promotion, and scheduling concerts May-August.
• Christmas in the City (F.3): Christine Ingle, Juliann Lehman, and parade organizer Maggie Lanier outlined the December 3 event from 3-7 PM at the Rotary Pavilion, with the Gaston County JC's Parade at 5 PM. About 96 parade participants are registered (expected to reach 100). The marketplace is full with 8 food trucks (applications filled within 24 hours) and 48 vendors. The event features an 18-tree decorating contest (prizes of $200/$100/$50), carolers, a trackless train, Santa from 3-4:30 PM, and a special "snow" effect.
• DEI Strategic Action Plan (F.4): Coordinator Cherie Jzar presented the city's first five-year DEI strategic action plan with 8 overarching goals and measurable targets, including increasing underrepresented-group representation in the workforce, reviewing at least 10 policies for equity, establishing 5 new community partnerships within 3 years, launching 4 public awareness campaigns annually, and creating a DEI dashboard. Councilwoman Steph relayed community concerns that the public was not involved and asked whether to consider tabling; Councilwoman Barber spoke strongly in support, calling opposition concerns "myths," and Councilman Odom said moving backward would be a step backward. Mayor Pro Tem Kirlin noted a prior compromise making most training voluntary. The resolution to adopt was approved by voice vote.
• Affordable Housing Study (F.5): Assistant City Manager Quentin McPhatter and Bruce Rich, Director of UNC-Greensboro's Center for Housing and Community Studies, presented a 78-page plan informed by over 1,000 survey responses, interviews, roundtables, a steering committee, and an August 21 public meeting. The 8-point plan includes an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, land disposition policy, community land trust, one-stop housing resource center, zoning incentives (accessory dwelling units, missing-middle housing, density bonuses), gap financing, a potential bond issue (citing precedents in Charlotte, Wilmington, Durham, Greensboro, and others), and programs such as down payment assistance, eviction prevention, and code enforcement. Councilwoman Steph asked about funding; Rich listed options including a general fund set-aside, recording fees, impact fees, CDBG/Home funds, bonds, and philanthropy. She opposed new taxes, and City Manager Peoples clarified that adopting the plan does not bind the council to fund it. The study was accepted and approved unanimously.
• FY2023 Audit (F.6): Tonya Thompson of Martin, Starnes & Associates presented a clean (unmodified) opinion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. General fund revenues rose $2.4 million, expenditures rose $4 million, and fund balance increased $1.88 million; $12,992,778 of appropriated fund balance was not needed. Available fund balance was $35,849,079 (42.79% of expenditures and transfers out, down from 47.96%; the LGC minimum suggestion is 25%, or just under $21 million). Public safety is 54% of expenditures. Total debt was $147,395,792, up about $31 million due to issuance of ~$37 million in transportation GO bonds, IT subscription liabilities, a $4.3 million state revolving loan, and $13.2 million in debt maturities. S&P Global Ratings upgraded the series 2015 water and sewer revenue bond from AA- to AA on November 6, 2023. The LGC data-input worksheet showed no red flags. The audit was accepted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mark Solarz (15-21 Nottingham Drive): Asked for budget transparency including the true cost of city services (police, medics, fire) at events such as the Fall Festival, noting about $3,800 in in-kind donations but no visible accounting for city staff costs. He urged council to have honest conversations about spending cuts as the budget process begins, expressed the position that increased taxes and spending create more unaffordable housing, and opposed linking pay increases to DEI training, citing a 1% pay increase associated with the training.
• Eric Elliott: Expressed strong support for accepting the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant for the Duharts Creek Critical Infrastructure Protection and Stream Restoration Project, praising staff (Robert Kloniger, Brian Pataki, Kyle Butler), a separate $250,000 Golden LEAF Foundation award, and a $2 million city stormwater-fund allocation. He cited a February 2023 sewer break that spilled nearly 36,000 gallons of waste into Duharts Creek and urged hiring a full-time stormwater control inspector, creating a financial incentives program for retrofits in the Duharts basin (which he said contains about 70% of the city's commerce), installing water flow/quality monitoring stations, and hosting an early community meeting for property owners along Duharts and Armstrong Creeks. Note: The consent agenda lists the Phase 1 BRIC grant amount as $524,895; Elliott described the grant as nearly $6 million (about $5.98 million) coming to the city. The transcript does not reconcile these figures.

Consent Calendar

• H.1: Awarded contracts for distribution transformers to Sunbelt Solomon ($662,957.02, corrected from a typo in the agenda), decorative street light fixtures to Border States ($120,816.91), and decorative streetlight poles to Wesco ($184,896.00).
• H.2: Accepted the FEMA BRIC grant for the Duharts Creek Critical Infrastructure Protection and Stream Restoration Project Phase 1 in the amount of $524,895, plus a $24,995 transfer from the Stormwater Capital Projects Fund with Budget Amendment 2420021.
• H.3: Awarded the Long Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Substation #2 contract to Page Power Systems, Inc. ($823,757).
• H.4: Approved a sole source justification form for McNaughton McKay Electric Company.
• H.5: Amended the Revised Grant Project Ordinance for the City of Gastonia American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 2021 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
• H.6: Awarded a contract to Terex Utilities for one replacement bucket truck for Public Utilities ($298,989.52).

The consent agenda was approved as presented.

Regular Agenda & Public Hearings

• I.1 - N. Broadcast Street Closure: City Attorney Ashley Smith explained the unopened street is near the I-85/US-321 intersection, behind a motel and restaurant, adjoining Highland School; staff recommended closure with the city retaining a utility easement. The public hearing was closed and the resolution to close N. Broadcast Street was approved.
• I.2 - UDO Amendment (Bicycle Plan, File #202300419): Planning Director Jason Thompson said the amendment adds the adopted City of Gastonia Bicycle Plan to the list of adopted plans (Greenway Plan, Parks & Rec Master Plan, Comprehensive Transportation Plan) already referenced in Section 9.18.3 for determining multi-use paths, trails, and greenway locations. Approved unanimously.
• I.3 - UDO Amendment (Prohibited Signs, File #202300365, 2nd Reading): City Attorney Smith said the amendment makes violations of Section 12.3 punishable as a misdemeanor pursuant to Part XIII of Session Law 2021-138 (Senate Bill 300), enabling police enforcement; he noted police located two individuals putting out "Obamacare" signs. Approved unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Kirlin verbally corrected the ordinance reference from "Gastonia 2525" to "Gastonia 2025 Comprehensive Plan."

Committee Reports

• Utilities Committee (J.1, Councilman Charles Odom, Chairman):
  • Approved electric vehicle charging rates of 30-50 cents per kilowatt-hour for the city's nine publicly available chargers (currently free), effective January 1, 2024, including a 20-cent-per-minute idle fee after 10 minutes of inactive charging; rates are based on load factor, reviewed every six months, and designed to cover cost of service and charger cost over a 10-year period.
  • Approved a Wastewater Volume Allocation Policy establishing a formal, first-come-first-served reservation process with three methods: sewer permit (valid one year), commercial site development plan approval (valid one year), or willingness-to-serve application (requires a preliminary plat or site layout; letter expires in one year). New developments proposed outside city limits must apply for annexation.
  • Approved a presentation and discussion regarding the Water and Sewer Petition Process; committee guidance was to continue the program and adjust fees so property owners pay construction costs. Example cited: a petition to serve six lots on Royal Oaks/Kendrick Road received bids of $434,000, while the four property owners' fees were $16,000 (about 4% of project cost). The committee also acknowledged public necessity exceptions, such as failed septic systems.
• Finance/Benefits Committee (J.2, Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin, Chairman): Referred to the audit presentation; Judy Smith was available for questions via email.

City Manager's Report

Michael C. Peoples reported GO bond progress (manhole rehabilitation on Franklin), 2023 resurfacing underway, 2024 resurfacing package out to bid with bid opening scheduled for December 12, Christmas decorations installed, Municipal Citizens Academy application deadline November 30, Garland roof replacement started (scheduled for six weeks), drought information distributed, city-wide sign cleanup begun November 20, and the Norfolk Southern rail project finished with cleanup remaining.

City Council Reports

• Councilwoman Barber moved to direct staff to meet with Bountiful Blessings to review its services and proposals and explore how the city could be a better partner. The motion passed unanimously. She noted the organization grew from serving 300 people per week to 4,000 per week during COVID.
• Councilwoman Steph listed holiday arts events (Gaston Choral Society, Gaston Symphonic Band, Gaston School of the Arts, Gaston County Art Guild, Gaston Dance Theater's Nutcracker, and Little Theater of Gastonia) and wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving.
• Councilman Odom had no report.
• Councilman Kellogg cited the fire at the abandoned hotel behind IHOP, raising concerns about commercial code enforcement and the burden of homelessness on police, and urged the council to address both issues seriously.

Announcements

Mayor Pro Tem Kirlin announced upcoming meetings: Facilities Management Committee November 27; Recreation Advisory Commission November 28; Christmas in the City and parade December 3; Sine Die City Council meeting and mayor/council induction ceremony December 4; regular City Council meeting December 5; Arts Committee December 11; Intergovernmental Relations and Economic Development Committee December 12; special City Council projects update December 14; second City Council meeting December 19. City offices are closed November 23-24 for Thanksgiving.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved with corrected H.1 amount ($662,957.02); minutes of November 9, 2023 approved.
• Certificates and proclamation presented; Marietta Park renamed Walker E. Reed III Park (unanimous).
• DEI Strategic Action Plan adopted by voice vote after discussion of community and employee concerns.
• Gastonia Affordable Housing Study accepted and approved unanimously; staff directed to begin work on a task force or committee structure.
• FY2023 annual financial audit accepted (clean opinion, no LGC red flags).
• Consent agenda (6 items) approved as presented.
• N. Broadcast Street closure approved; two UDO amendments approved unanimously.
• EV charging rates and Wastewater Volume Allocation Policy approved; Water and Sewer Petition Process presentation endorsed unanimously.
• Staff directed to meet with Bountiful Blessings (unanimous).
• Closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(3) to consult with the city attorney on a potential claim; no report upon return; meeting adjourned.

Note: The agenda listed Councilman Jim Gallagher as delivering the invocation, but he was absent and excused; the invocation was given by Pastor Johnny Brown of The Genesis Church. Meeting minutes for November 9, 2023 were listed as an attachment, but no minutes document was available in the source materials.