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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting: December 19, 2023

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, December 19, 2023

BodyGastonia, North Carolina

SessionCity Council & Commissions

DateTuesday, December 19, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:00:30

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0:00

The city council, I would like to welcome you to our December 19th, 23, 2023 meeting, and I will now call the meeting to order.

0:11

Councilman Odom is going to lead us in the invocation.

0:15

And I'd like Dr.

0:16

Curlin to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:22

You're inclined to pray with us.

0:24

Please bow your heads.

0:26

Father God, this again we come before you this day.

0:29

Thank you for your many kind blessings, O Heavenly Father.

0:33

Thank you for just seeing us to this appointed time at this place right now.

0:38

Thank you for your protection throughout the day, throughout the year, O Heavenly Father.

0:44

Because without you, we know don't know where we might be right now, Lord Jesus.

0:51

Lord, I pray for those who have suffered so much loss in this uh year or heaven and father or the loss of our mayor, the loss of uh friends, the loss of uh loved ones, oh heavenly father.

1:05

I think all of us have had tremendous loss in some form or fashion, Lord.

1:12

We thank you for keeping us, keeping us sound and in our right mind, oh heavenly father, and oh heavenly father, I pray that you would just in this season where you came into the world to save mankind, oh heavenly father.

1:30

We thank you for your coming as we celebrate this season, oh heavenly father, and no doubt in my mind, Lord Jesus, we will find people that are saddened even in this happy season, oh heavenly father.

1:46

We will find those who are weary, oh heavenly father, those that don't even have a place to lay their heads right now, Heavenly Father.

1:55

But Lord, give us the power, give us the strength, Lord Jesus.

1:59

Just uh try to bring joy to those that are saddened those that are lonely, Lord Jesus, by sharing our love, oh Heavenly Father, in this season of love.

2:09

Lord, just be with us, be with this council, Lord Jesus.

2:14

In Jesus' name we do pray, amen.

2:22

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to revive for which it stands one nation of God with liberty and justice for our councilman Gallagher is absent tonight due to the passing of his mother.

2:48

Do we have a motion to excuse Councilmember Gallagher?

2:52

Councilmember Gallagher.

2:53

Second.

2:54

All those in favor.

2:58

It's unanimous.

3:00

And if we could, could we take a moment of silence for everybody to say a prayer for Councilman Gallagher?

3:21

Okay.

3:22

First item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda.

3:27

Everybody on the city council should have the agenda in front of you.

3:32

We just had a project update meeting last Thursday.

3:38

We had wanted to add the in-kind services to that.

3:44

I'm just going to leave that off for that one because we've all considered to move that until Councilman Gallagher comes back from bereavement.

3:53

Do we have a motion to adjust adopt the agenda?

3:58

Mr.

3:58

Mayor, I'd like to make a uh an amendment or a modification to the agenda.

4:04

Uh the regular agenda item I won election of Mayor Pro Tem.

4:10

I would uh respectfully ask that we postpone that until the next regularly scheduled meeting.

4:16

And otherwise, I'll make a motion that we adopt the agenda as presented.

4:21

Second.

4:22

All those in favor.

4:25

It's unanimous.

4:29

Next we have to approve the minutes from our signee die meeting on December the 4th, 2023, and the regular city council meeting on December the 5th, 2023.

4:40

What are the wishes of the council?

4:43

Second.

4:44

All those in favor.

4:47

It's unanimous.

4:50

Next we have the award ceremonies and promotions.

4:54

That's E1.

4:56

I'd like to call for another.

5:00

Oh, this is actually something that from the wars committee that I suggested we do.

5:05

So I'd be happy to do it.

5:08

Well, is there anybody here from the families?

5:11

If not, I'll just stand, I'll just call them out for right here.

5:18

One of the things that the awards and committee wanted to do was to recognize city employees or former city employees that had passed during the year.

5:29

And this is our last meeting of the year, so we wanted to recognize the uh remember our departed employees and retirees of 2023.

5:39

Joanne Duncan from police administration, David Kissler, lab technician, water, sewer, and wastewater, Peggy Fox, Custodian, Public Works, Building and Grounds, Ted Hodge, Enterprise Services, Refuge Collection and Solid Waste, Cornelius Bell, Development Services, Building Support, JC Biggers, Enterprise Services, Refuge Collection, Solid Waste, Larry Stevens, Treatment Plant Operator from our water, sewer and wastewater plant, George Randy Hamilton, fire operations, Charles Hustickler, Police, ABC Enforcement, Agnes Hill, Bus Driver Transit Operations, James Lee Jenkins Jr., refuge refuge collector, George McCaskell, Electric and Electric Line Construction, Vicky Connor, Food and Beverage Supervisor of the Golf Course, Walker E.

6:42

Reid III, Mayor, Grant Cottoner Public Works, Senior Motor Equipment Operator, and Charles E.

6:49

Roper, Police and Field Services.

6:52

We would like to give our condolences to those families, especially of those who worked here for a very long time and became family to our city and served our citizens for so long.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Pending Litigation█████████████████████████████████████████████55%

Economic Development██████████12%

Procedural██████7%

Homelessness█████6%

Community Engagement█████6%

Public Engagement███4%

Arts And Culture██3%

Public Works██3%

Veteran Services██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting: December 19, 2023

The Gastonia City Council convened on December 19, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Gaston County Courthouse Public Forum Room. The meeting included an invocation, pledges, approval of minutes, proclamations, committee reports, consent agenda, and city manager and council reports. Councilmember Gallagher was absent due to a family bereavement; the council excused him and observed a moment of silence. The regular agenda item for election of Mayor Pro Tem was postponed to the next meeting.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (Sine Die Meeting Dec 4, 2023 and Regular Meeting Dec 5, 2023): Unanimously approved.
Consent Agenda Items H.1–H.5: Approved unanimously. Items included:
- Resolution to recognize Asset Forfeiture Proceeds of $5,830 with Budget Amendment 2420023.
- Resolution to recognize Additional Funds from Surplus Sales and Insurance Proceeds of $82,033 with Budget Amendment 2420024.
- Resolution to award Residuals Services contract to EMA Resources, Inc. (amount to be determined by volume, with annual CPI adjustment).
- Resolution to approve Final Recording Plat for Pine Trace.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 9 of the Code of Ordinances.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public signed up to speak during Public Expression (Item F).

Proclamations & Recognitions

Moment of Silence for Departed Employees and Retirees of 2023 (Item E.1): Councilmember Gallagher (absent) had proposed the recognition. Mayor honored 19 departed employees/retirees, including former Mayor Walker E. Reid III. Council observed a moment of silence.
Homeless Persons Memorial Day Proclamation (Item E.2): Councilmember Robert Kellogg presented a proclamation declaring December 21, 2023 as Homeless Persons Memorial Day in Gastonia. Barbie McMack (HealthNet Gaston) accepted and invited the public to a memorial service at 9:00 AM at First United Methodist Church. The council unanimously accepted the proclamation.
ACE Program Certificate of Recognition (Item E.3): Councilmember Kellogg and Neighborhood Program Administrator Tyler Davis presented a certificate to the Catawba Hills neighborhood for formal recognition through the Alliance for Community Enrichment (ACE) program. Omar Borders (HOA President) and Danielle Greb (board member) accepted. The community plans movie nights, block parties, and a community watch group.

Committee Reports & Action Items

Arts Committee (Item G.1): Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp reported the committee's actions. Key outcomes:
- Biggers Stretch Art Project: The committee approved funding of $3,000 and directed staff to secure a location by the end of fiscal year 2024. Council unanimously approved the motion (Stepp, seconded by Epstein).
- The committee also discussed performing arts show planning (directed staff to continue work with subcommittee) and an update on grant disbursements (funds from un-cashed checks to be returned to the city).
Intergovernmental Relations and Economic Development Committee (Item G.2): Councilman Robert Kellogg reported. Key actions:
- RFP for Management of Municipal Services District: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to recommend approval of a Request for Proposals for a partner to manage downtown Gastonia. Christy Crisp (Economic Development) explained that the RFP will be competitive; the city will retain control of grant programs. The council unanimously approved the motion.
- Economic Development Agreement with TriBridge Residential for Loray Mills Phase II: The committee voted 3-0 to recommend holding a public hearing on January 2, 2024, to consider the agreement. Council unanimously approved setting the public hearing. Discussion included incentives: a 10-year tax incentive grant (years 1-2: 100% reimbursement, years 3-6: 50%, years 7-10: 25%) and a 50% reduction in property valuation due to local historic landmark status. Resident Alyssa Courier expressed concerns about townhome development on Banks Street, rental restrictions, and maintenance issues. Developer Josh McPherson noted Phase I occupancy is 95%.

Discussion Items

City Manager's Report: Michael Peoples provided updates:
- Municipal Citizens Academy begins January 2, 2024, with 20 participants.
- Leaf Collection Challenges: Due to heavy volume, it takes 1.5 to 2 weeks to complete one day's route, resulting in 6-8 week intervals between collections. Two automated leaf trucks are out of service awaiting parts. Staff works overtime and Saturdays.
- Solid Waste operations relocated to North Broad during Phase I of public works demolition.
- Strategic planning meeting scheduled for January 19-20, 2024.
Council Reports:
- Councilwoman Barber recognized Chuck Dellinger for induction into the NC Recreation and Parks Association Hall of Fame (39+ years of service).
- Councilwoman Stepp praised employee barbecue and holiday events, attended senior Christmas party, and participated in NC Human Relations Committee meeting and Wreaths Across America ceremony.
- Councilman Odom and Councilman Curlin offered holiday wishes and condolences to Councilman Gallagher.
- Councilman Kellogg thanked staff, highlighted the Homeless Persons Memorial Day service on December 21, and shared HUD data: national homelessness grew 12% in 2023, with over 650,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night. He noted that local point-in-time counts may undercount due to favorable weather.

Key Outcomes

Excused Councilmember Gallagher due to bereavement; moment of silence observed.
Postponed election of Mayor Pro Tem to the next regular meeting (January 2, 2024).
Approved Arts Committee funding of $3,000 for the Biggers Stretch Art Project.
Approved issuing RFP for downtown Municipal Services District management partner.
Scheduled public hearing for January 2, 2024 on the TriBridge Residential economic development agreement for Loray Mills Phase II.
Approved consent agenda and all resolutions and ordinances therein.
Council entered closed session (pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11) to consult with the city attorney on pending litigation and claims, with no report upon return.
Meeting adjourned following the closed session.

Meeting Transcript

The city council, I would like to welcome you to our December 19th, 23, 2023 meeting, and I will now call the meeting to order. Councilman Odom is going to lead us in the invocation. And I'd like Dr. Curlin to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. You're inclined to pray with us. Please bow your heads. Father God, this again we come before you this day. Thank you for your many kind blessings, O Heavenly Father. Thank you for just seeing us to this appointed time at this place right now. Thank you for your protection throughout the day, throughout the year, O Heavenly Father. Because without you, we know don't know where we might be right now, Lord Jesus. Lord, I pray for those who have suffered so much loss in this uh year or heaven and father or the loss of our mayor, the loss of uh friends, the loss of uh loved ones, oh heavenly father. I think all of us have had tremendous loss in some form or fashion, Lord. We thank you for keeping us, keeping us sound and in our right mind, oh heavenly father, and oh heavenly father, I pray that you would just in this season where you came into the world to save mankind, oh heavenly father. We thank you for your coming as we celebrate this season, oh heavenly father, and no doubt in my mind, Lord Jesus, we will find people that are saddened even in this happy season, oh heavenly father. We will find those who are weary, oh heavenly father, those that don't even have a place to lay their heads right now, Heavenly Father. But Lord, give us the power, give us the strength, Lord Jesus. Just uh try to bring joy to those that are saddened those that are lonely, Lord Jesus, by sharing our love, oh Heavenly Father, in this season of love. Lord, just be with us, be with this council, Lord Jesus. In Jesus' name we do pray, amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to revive for which it stands one nation of God with liberty and justice for our councilman Gallagher is absent tonight due to the passing of his mother. Do we have a motion to excuse Councilmember Gallagher? Councilmember Gallagher. Second. All those in favor. It's unanimous. And if we could, could we take a moment of silence for everybody to say a prayer for Councilman Gallagher? Okay. First item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Everybody on the city council should have the agenda in front of you. We just had a project update meeting last Thursday. We had wanted to add the in-kind services to that. I'm just going to leave that off for that one because we've all considered to move that until Councilman Gallagher comes back from bereavement. Do we have a motion to adjust adopt the agenda? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a uh an amendment or a modification to the agenda. Uh the regular agenda item I won election of Mayor Pro Tem. I would uh respectfully ask that we postpone that until the next regularly scheduled meeting. And otherwise, I'll make a motion that we adopt the agenda as presented. Second. All those in favor. It's unanimous. Next we have to approve the minutes from our signee die meeting on December the 4th, 2023, and the regular city council meeting on December the 5th, 2023. What are the wishes of the council? Second. All those in favor. It's unanimous. Next we have the award ceremonies and promotions. That's E1. I'd like to call for another.

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