Gastonia City Council Meeting - July 16, 2024
Gastonia City Council Meeting - July 16, 2024
The Gastonia City Council held a regular meeting on July 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included a proclamation, presentations, committee reports, a large consent agenda, and several regular agenda items including approval of a major AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) contract, citizen committee appointments, and council committee appointments. The council also honored the late Charmaine Gallagher, wife of Councilman Jim Gallagher, with a moment of silence. Key decisions were made on staffing incentives, a downtown parking study, a Charters of Freedom display, and remediation of Sims Legion Park.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from June 11, June 17, and June 18, 2024.
- Proclamation recognizing August 4-10, 2024 as National Health Care Center Week (recipient Ms. Verlina Lomick, Kintegra Health).
- Resolution authorizing FY2024-25 HUD Annual Action Plan and substantial amendment.
- Resolution for Kroger Opioid Settlement and supplemental agreement.
- Resolution accepting Golden Leaf Foundation Grant ($1,500,000) for Apple Creek Corporate Park sewer upgrade.
- Resolution accepting grant for African American Museum ($50,000).
- Resolution accepting Emergency Management Disaster Relief Grant ($1,000,000) for Duharts Creek project.
- Resolution recognizing $88,000 payment in lieu for Nolen Farms.
- Resolution authorizing release of utility easements (New Hope Rd, LLC).
- Resolution declaring two vehicles surplus and delivering sale proceeds to Gaston County Schools.
- Resolution approving first amendment to lease for Cramerton Public Works Facility.
- Resolution accepting for maintenance portions of Rhyne Court Subdivision and Northway at Huffstetler Subdivision.
- Resolution approving final plat for Camber Woods Phase 3.
- Resolution approving City Event Vendor Policy.
- Resolution approving contract with EMA Resources for water treatment residuals.
- Resolution approving NC Department of Commerce grant application for Apple Creek sewer upgrade.
- Ordinance authorizing demolition of three properties (215 Pryor St., 515 N. Chestnut St., 300 Hanks Cir.).
- Resolution rejecting bids for Southeast Sewer Contract 4.
- Resolution adopting Armstrong Park Mural Project for NCDOT submission.
- Resolution awarding contract for Walker E. Reid III Park playground equipment ($549,855).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dot Guthrie, representing the African American Museum of History and Culture, thanked the council for ongoing support and highlighted the museum's national recognition and programs such as Golden Year Seniors Camp and literacy therapy. She urged continued support for youth and cited the African proverb "it takes a village to raise a child." She did not request specific action but expressed gratitude.
Discussion Items
AMI Contract (Advanced Metering Infrastructure)
- City Manager Michael Peoples and Public Utilities Director Brian Potocki, along with consultants from MeterSys and USG, presented the proposed $30 million+ contract for AMI covering water and electric meters.
- The system will provide hourly water reads and 15-minute electric reads, enable remote disconnect/reconnect, improve leak detection, outage management, and customer portal access.
- The project is funded partly by $14 million in state ARPA funds and an additional $6 million from state legislature (pending final confirmation).
- The selection committee unanimously recommended USG.
- Discussion included ROI, warranty, lifespan, failure rates, consumer education, and transition for new developments.
- Council approved the contract unanimously.
Parking Assessment Study
- Christy Crisp (Economic Development) presented the need for a comprehensive parking analysis following concerns about downtown parking, especially near the new Center City Crossings apartments.
- The Facilities/Management Committee voted 3-0 to recommend issuing an RFQ for a technical services firm.
- Discussion included concerns about signage and enforcement of reserved spaces.
- Council approved the motion unanimously.
Charters of Freedom Display
- Councilwoman Barber presented a proposal from Foundation Forward to install a replica of the Charters of Freedom (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Civil Rights Amendments) at the Rotary Pavilion.
- The display is a gift with no cost to the city; Gaston County will maintain it.
- The committee recommended approval (3-1 vote).
- Council approved unanimously.
Sims Legion Park Remediation
- City Manager Peoples explained a state-funded project to remediate an unregulated landfill on city property at Sims Legion Park.
- The state will cover over $1 million to cap and cover the area.
- The city must accept a perpetual land use restriction, but staff recommended approval to mitigate liability and improve the site.
- Discussion focused on the permanence of restrictions.
- Council approved the resolution.
Police Department Lateral Transfer Sign-On Bonus
- Councilwoman Stepp (for Public Safety Committee) reported the committee voted 2-0 to extend the $15,000 sign-on bonus to lateral police officers from South Carolina.
- Resolution approved unanimously.
Additional Committee Reports
- Arts Committee (Councilwoman Stepp): No action items; updates on grants, upcoming performing arts show (Nov. 14-15), public arts subcommittee, Armstrong Park mural, and sculpture leases.
- Public Safety Committee (Stepp): Staffing updates; fire department at full staff; police department still understaffed; presentation on Real-Time Crime Center.
- Facilities/Management Committee (Barber): Update on Gastonia Conference Center (ahead of budget by $104,612); update on CaroMont Health Park upgrades (bathroom expansion, new entertainment area); update on Employee Wellness Center (opened); update on Garland Business Center security improvements.
Go Gastonia Rideshare Update
- City Manager reported strong initial usage: 1,290 rides in week one, 2,190 in week two, ~4,000 total rides; average pickup 18 minutes, ride duration 13 minutes, distance 4.1 miles; user rating 4.9/5.0.
- Service shifted to door-to-door to reduce confusion.
Key Outcomes
- AMI Contract: Approved unanimously (motion by Odom, second by Stepp).
- Lateral Transfer Bonus for South Carolina Police Officers: Resolution approved unanimously.
- Charters of Freedom Display: Resolution approved unanimously (motion by Barber, second by Odom).
- Parking Assessment RFQ: Approved unanimously.
- Sims Legion Park Remediation: Resolution approved (motion by Barber, second by Curlin; vote was unanimous after discussion).
- Consent Agenda: All 21 items approved unanimously (motion by Stepp, second by Koutsoupias).
- Citizen Committee Appointments: Approved as presented by Councilman Koutsoupias (4 appointments) and Mayor Franks (4 appointments) – all unanimous.
- Council Committee Appointments: Councilman Koutsoupias appointed to fill vacancies from former Councilman Kellogg; council assignments for chair positions finalized (Mayor Franks to chair Intergovernmental Relations and Economic Development; Councilman Koutsoupias to chair Central City Revitalization; Koutsoupias also appointed to MPO).
- AMC Contract Amendment: Pre-meeting agenda amendment approved to adjust funding line item.
Meeting Transcript
My name is Richard Franks, the mayor of Gastonia. On behalf of the City Council and myself, I'd like to welcome you to the July 16, 2024 Council meeting. I will now call the meeting to order. At this time, I would recognize Councilwoman Jennifer Step to give us the invocation. Thank you, Mayor. Before I say the prayer, I would like for us to have a moment of silence. Most of you already know, and if you don't, that uh Councilman Gallagher's wife passed away last Saturday night. And so before I say the prayer, I would like for us to take a moment of silence to read the Charmaine to pray for the family. Dear Gracious God, I come to you tonight first praising you for who you are, the great I am, the creator and the sustainer of life, the provider of all we have, the great physician, and a fair, just and loving Father. I thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon us, especially your love and mercy that we do not deserve. Help us to live according to your word in all we do, and please forgive us when we fall short. God, I pray for those in our community, especially those that are hurting. Many are struggling within the oppressive heat, and I ask you for relief and solutions to keep our citizens comfortable and safe. Many are struggling with housing and the means to afford necessity. Help us as leaders to work together to find answers and help the community to come together to help one another. I ask you for protection on our staff, especially our first responders, and on our citizens. I ask that you turn away evil from our city. I pray hearts and minds would be changed and all would focus on doing good. Thou there seems to be so much hate and division in our country right now. I pray you would give us the wisdom and strength to rise above and be an example of true community, that we would love even those who have different opinions and make different choices, that we would be kind and patient with one another, that we would realize we all have faults and shortcomings and are far from perfect, and that we have different perspectives and experiences that shape who we are, that we would be understanding of one another. I pray for this council as we work together to provide services for our citizens and to make our city safe and prosperous and a great place to live. Give us discernment and let us make decisions for the right reasons. Lastly, I pray for our friend and colleague Jim Gallagher, who has suffered such a great loss. We lift Jim, Caroline and Jordan, and other families up to you. May you give them comfort and peace during this difficult time. Please wrap them in your arms and let them feel your presence and love. Fill the giant hole that is in their hearts in a way that only you can. I thank you for the life of Charmaine. I thank you for her example and her witness and her sweet spirit. Thank you for bringing her into our lives. I thank you that she is now in your presence, whole, pain free, and rejoicing with you. Now I ask you to bless this meeting as we work to do the city's business. And I ask this all in your name. Amen. The visitation for Charmaine will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow evening at McLean Funeral Home in Gastonia on New Hope. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. at Parkwood Baptist Church with the commitment ceremony to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Belmont. Councilman Casupius, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? My pleasure to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and I get a motion to excuse Councilman Gallagher from tonight's meeting. So we have a motion and we have a second second by Councilman Odom. All those in favor. It was the consideration of approval of proposed AMI contract with budget amendment. I'm not going to go into this lengthy detail. They just need to change one line item as to where the money is going to be placed. And we need to change that. So can I have a motion to add that amendment to the agenda? Motion to approve with the amendment as you described.
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