Gastonia City Council Meeting – September 3, 2024: Comprehensive Plan, Arts Funding, and Project Nexus Incentive
Gastonia City Council Meeting – September 3, 2024
The Gastonia City Council met on September 3, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included an invocation and pledge of allegiance, adoption of the agenda, approval of minutes, a presentation on the Comprehensive Plan update, public comments, committee reports, a consent agenda with 14 items, a public hearing and vote on an economic development agreement for Project Nexus, and various reports and announcements. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- H.1: Award contract to Rhinehart Fire Services for self-contained breathing apparatus and related equipment ($1,112,429).
- H.2: Award contract to Mosaic Community Planning LLC for 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan consulting ($38,475).
- H.3: Resolution to support application for U.S. DOT Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant (requesting $2 million for feasibility study).
- H.4: Award contract for Southeast Sewer Expansion – Force Main & Gravity Sewer and Union New Hope Waterline to Fuller & Co. ($7,465,521).
- H.5: Rejection of bids for sewer aerial repairs on Fern Forest Dr. & Dixie St.
- H.6: Ordinance to authorize demolition at 902 N. Oakland St.
- H.7: Award contract for two 2024 Autocar/Labrie automated refuse trucks ($888,220).
- H.8: Award contract for one 2024 Vacall combination sewer jetter truck ($573,228).
- H.9: Accept FEMA BRIC grant for water/wastewater energy resilience project scoping ($138,800).
- H.10: Accept NC state reserve for SCADA Rehabilitation Phase II ($6,500,000).
- H.11: Accept NC state reserve for Brooklyn Neighborhood Water Relocation ($1,105,000).
- H.12: Accept NCACP Performance and Wellness Grant ($21,355).
- H.13: Approve new fee category for residential downtown properties using valet services for compactors.
- H.14: Approve interlocal agreement for athletic field improvements at Grier Middle School using ARPA funds.
Councilmembers asked questions about items H.2 (relation to previous study), H.3 (grant chances, feasibility study scope, Norfolk Southern involvement), H.14 (city use of fields, maintenance responsibility), and H.8 (function of the sewer jetter truck). The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Aileen Aguirre (25-year-old wife and mother, advocate for youth and families): Expressed love for Gastonia’s natural beauty but disappointment in underloved parks, vacant buildings, and lack of family-friendly downtown options. Asked what will be done to revive the city, specifically mentioning Martha Rivers Park’s upcoming 25th anniversary as a starting point.
- Daniel Whitmore (first-time attendee, representing faith-based organizations): Raised concerns about the local homeless shelter closing and the lack of a shelter component for inclement weather. Said faith-based groups can provide meals and clothing but need a place to refer people for shelter. He asked for direction and connection after the meeting. Councilman Gallagher took his number to follow up.
Discussion Items
- Comprehensive Plan Update (E.1): Assistant City Manager Quentin McPhatter and consultants Demetri Baches (Metrocology) and Glenn Walters (Town Studio) presented the update. The plan will guide growth over 10–25 years, began in July 2024, includes an advisory committee of ~15 members, a website launching September 16, a community pulse survey, and a study area extending into the extraterritorial jurisdiction. A timeline for completion is May 2025. Council members asked about advisory committee composition (broad representation, including some ward representatives, but only 5–6 from neighborhoods), survey accessibility, and outreach tactics. Councilwoman Stepp requested adding an arts community representative. Councilwoman Barber asked for more average citizen representation. The presentation concluded with no formal vote.
- Arts Committee Report (G.1): Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp presented the committee’s actions. Three subcommittee reports were approved unanimously:
- Community Engagement Subcommittee: Approved $16,875 for a performing arts show, fall festival, Christmas wreath decorating, Gaston MAX activities, visual art show, and Beetopia class. Included a free opera sponsorship.
- Public Art Subcommittee: Approved $35,700 for a sculpture lease project ($6,000), community art installation at Rotary Pavilion ($26,700), and Empty Bowls project ($3,000). Discussion included lease terms, insurance, and in-house installation. Councilman Odom suggested IFAB might donate fabrication.
- Grant Subcommittee: Approved $35,000 for the 2024 Arts Grants Cycle for nonprofit arts organizations. Additionally, a motion to reallocate the Empty Bowls project from public art to public engagement budget was approved unanimously.
- Public Hearing – Project Nexus (I.1): Director of Economic Development Kristy Crisp presented a proposal to authorize a Level One or Level Two local incentive grant for Project Nexus, a speculative warehouse distribution facility (~170,000 sq ft, $27 million investment) on Cox Road. The project had already been approved by Gaston County commissioners. The incentive would be based on assessed property value and paid over 10 years. Councilmembers discussed the “but for” clause, return on investment, truck traffic impacts, and the need for a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA). Councilman Gallagher expressed skepticism about giving incentives without knowing the tenant. Other members noted that the city never loses money because taxes are paid two years upfront. The public hearing was closed and the motion to approve the incentive (details to be negotiated) passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (14 items).
- Arts Committee Resolutions: Approved unanimously:
- Community Engagement activities: $16,875.
- Public Art projects: $35,700.
- Arts Grants: $35,000.
- Reallocation of Empty Bowls to public engagement: approved.
- Project Nexus Economic Development Agreement: Public hearing closed; motion to approve Level One or Level Two incentive grant passed unanimously.
- Other: City Manager’s report included updates on upcoming project meeting (Sept 5), ARPA/state project report in October, Rotary Foundation event, second round of city talks, and grand opening of Walker E. Reed Park (Nov 1). Councilmembers reported on National Night Out, Electric Cities conference, and various arts events. Councilwoman Barber invited the public to a free movie night at the health department on Sept 6. Mayor announced upcoming meetings and events.
Meeting Transcript
City Council and myself, I'd like to welcome you to the September 3rd, 2024 meeting. I now call it to order. First up, we will have the uh invocation, and that will be by Councilman Demetrios Casupius. Thank you, Mayor. Please bow your head and join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, as we begin this meeting, we ask for your guidance and wisdom. Help us to work together in harmony and with a purpose. Open up our minds and inspire us with great ideas, solutions that will move our city forward. Thank you for all the skills and talents you have given us, and for everyone who is part of this team, our staff and all of our citizens. Bless each of us so that our efforts may contribute to the betterment of our community. May you give us strength and good help and always keep us safe. And lastly, Lord, let us pray for those who may be facing some difficult adversities, having a hard time at work or at home, or may just need some positive words of encouragement. Thank you for allowing us to safely be here tonight to listen, learn, and have a productive meeting. Amen. Chief, would you like to say the pledge of allegiance? And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, our God. In advisable with liberty. Thank you, sir. Each of you should have a copy of the agenda in front of you. Are there any corrections, additions, or deletions to the proposed agenda as presented? Ms. Mayor would like to make a motion that we accept it as presented. Second. We have a second by councilwoman Barber. All those in favor. It's unanimous. Next is the approval of the minutes from the regular city council meeting on August 20th, 2024. Motion to approve. Second. Have a motion, second by councilwoman Barber. All those in favor. It's unanimous. Next up, we'll have a presentation. It's an update and overview of the City of Gastonia's comprehensive plan project. And our presenters will be uh assistant city manager Quentin McFadder, Demetri Box. He is the owning owner managing partner of Metro Ecology and Glenn Walters, he's the owner of Town Studio. Okay. Good evening, uh Mayor and City Council. Uh glad to be before you this evening. Um, our consultants metroecology, also Dimitri Batis uh is at the meeting uh this evening to kind of provide an update and overview of our uh comprehensive plan update uh project. Um, as you are aware, this project was fully funded in this year's fiscal budget, and it is part of our it's on our goals and objectives uh as part of our strategic plan as well. Um, just a quick reminder comprehensive plan is something that helps guide the future actions of our of our great city, uh presents a vision for the future with long-range goals and objectives for all activities that affect our local government. Um this document also provides us with guidance on public investments, uh private investment decisions, uh expenditure of public funds, as well as issue as well as issues of concern for our city. Um generally speaking, most comprehensive plants run for are long term, so they run probably from 10 to 15, some in some cases 20 years after that plans adopted, so it prevents a so it prevents presents a long-term vision for our city. So, with that, glad to have uh Dimitri uh not a stranger to you all, not a stranger to us. We've been working with Demetri for a long time on the UDO update, and he'll give kind of give an overview of what we're going to work on as far as our comprehensive plan update. So, with that, I'll turn it over to him. Thank you, Quentin. Mayor, members of council.
openpublica.com