Gastonia, NC City Council Meeting – December 17, 2024

The Gastonia City Council held its regular meeting on December 17, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. and continuing past 10:00 p.m. The meeting opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by adoption of the agenda, approval of the December 3, 2024 minutes, a lengthy awards ceremony, public expression, a unanimous consent agenda, public hearings, and council reports. Council also held a closed session and later announced a schedule of interviews for the Ward 4 vacancy.

Awards & Recognitions

• Sergeant David Rowland and Bo the Bloodhound were recognized as the 2024 Top Hero Dog from American Humane. They were credited with a seven-mile track that helped save a seven-year-old boy taken at knifepoint, and their story had been carried by more than 350 news outlets.
• The Gastonia Police Department SWAT team was recognized for placing second overall in the North Carolina Tactical Officers Association SWAT competition in November 2024, with three first-place and three second-place individual/team finishes. Councilman Jim Gallagher presented the recognition.
• Plato "Tete" Pearson Jr. received a Certificate of Recognition for his 100th birthday. His son and daughter-in-law accepted on his behalf and read his gratitude to the council.
• Gaston Day High School state championship teams were recognized. The agenda described them as undefeated state champions; the presenter cited records of 13-1 for girls tennis, 19-10 for volleyball, and 16-4 for boys soccer, which appear inconsistent with an undefeated overall record. Boys soccer was noted as winning its fourth title in six years, beating Westchester 2-0.
• The Little Theater of Gastonia received a proclamation honoring its 75th season. Executive Director Lauren Parker accepted and noted the theater's nearly all-volunteer nonprofit history.
• Council held a moment of silence for city employees and retirees who died in 2024.
• Councilman Charles Odom received the Key to the City for his service on the council from December 2019 to December 2024. Council members offered farewell remarks, and Odom said he had grown to respect governing and thanked the city for electing him.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Latasha Johnson introduced Phenomenal Me Rebirth Center, a program she designed to help people experiencing homelessness through housing, counseling, drug and alcohol recovery, on-the-job training, and transportation. She cited Gaston County's homeless count as 258 in 2022 and 388 in 2024, an increase she described as a little over 50 percent.
• Zion McKenzie thanked the council for community work and offered himself as an "agent of encouragement and progressiveness." He asked for more resources, data, and strategies for areas he said need help, including Highland Hills, Mountain View apartments, and other parts of Gastonia with homelessness, unsafe conditions for children, and a lack of cameras and speed bumps.
• Sarah Rivera opposed a proposed city sidewalk route on her property instead of across the street onto Poplar. She argued the sidewalk was unnecessary, would decrease property values, would cross a dangerous roundabout, and could worsen issues with people experiencing homelessness in her historic neighborhood. She asked the council to reconsider the plan.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved all 15 consent agenda items unanimously after discussion of G.1, G.5, and G.8. Police officials explained that the Flock Safety OS platform will integrate license plate readers, condor cameras, city cameras, and eventually business and community cameras into the planned Real Time Crime Center. They stated the system is for criminal investigations, not routine enforcement, and is encrypted and cloud-based. Current technology includes 21 Flock LPR cameras, with 22 additional condor cameras expected by late January or early February 2026? The transcript states by end of January or beginning of February, and Real Time Crime Center construction was estimated at about six months.
• Approved items included:
  • G.1: Flock Safety OS Platform agreement and one-time professional services for the Police Department, not to exceed $148,500 using the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services grant.
  • G.2: Agreement with United Way of Gaston County to administer $10,000 in CDBG funds for a warming center.
  • G.3: Release of drainage and utility easements in exchange for replacement easements for Sterling Charlotte Apartments VI, LLC.
  • G.4: Recognition of asset-forfeiture funds of $12,450 from the State of North Carolina and $104,710 from the Department of Justice.
  • G.5: Acceptance of a $198,000 cybersecurity grant.
  • G.6: Acceptance of $4,621,465 for Apple Creek Corporate Park sewer improvements.
  • G.7: Amendment of the Duharts BRIC project design, permitting, and grant management contract for $224,600.
  • G.8: Design-build services for the Real Time Crime Center at the Police Department to Quinn Sales for $220,000.
  • G.9: Declaration of surplus municipally owned personal property.
  • G.10: Purchase of four 2025 Ford F-150 pickup trucks from Parks Ford for $147,244.20.
  • G.11: Purchase of four 2025 Ford F-250 pickup trucks from Piedmont Truck Center for $206,850.58.
  • G.12: Acceptance of $6,000,000 for Advance Metering Infrastructure.
  • G.13: North Carolina Emergency Management applicant's agent designation and disaster assistance agreement.
  • G.14: Amendment of the ARPA grant project ordinance.
  • G.15: Support for a FY2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant application.

Public Hearings & Discussion Items

• H.1 – 1111 E. Garrison Boulevard (File #202400437): Public hearing on a request to rezone approximately 0.22 acres from O-1 to C-1. The applicant, Brian Maielli, said his wife planned to open a second location of their family-owned Italian ice business. Staff recommended approval. Council members expressed concern that a general C-1 rezoning would allow any C-1 use, potentially setting a precedent near residential and office properties. Staff explained that conditions could only be imposed through a conditional rezoning application. The council unanimously continued the hearing to January 21, 2025, to allow the applicant to consult with his wife and possibly convert the request to a conditional rezoning.
• H.2 – Industrial Pike Road (File #202400292): Continued public hearing on a conditional rezoning of approximately 15.898 acres from I-2 to I-3 CD. The original proposal for an asphalt plant had received a 4-2 denial recommendation from the Planning Commission. After Ferebee Corporation purchased an already-approved asphalt plant across the street, the proposal was revised to use this site only for bulk storage of aggregate and recycled asphalt (RAP). Staff recommended approval. The applicant said the revised plan would result in one asphalt plant rather than two, with an $8-10 million private investment and about 30 jobs. Neighboring business owners Jim Warren and Ron Seitz raised concerns about noise, exhaust brakes, dust, road damage, air pollution, and property values. Council members questioned traffic, road capacity, stormwater, dust mitigation, and buffer widths. The applicant offered additional conditions, including a 35-foot pile height limit, relocation of RAP piles, and planting evergreens. The council unanimously continued the hearing to January 21, 2025, so staff, the applicant, and neighbors could refine mitigation measures.
• H.3 – Business Park Court cul-de-sac: Public hearing on a resolution to close a previous cul-de-sac on the east side of Business Park Court. Gaston County Public Works representative Rebecca Edison said the county plans to build an emergency fueling station for county emergency vehicles and a backup fueling station for the city. Staff had no objection. The council closed the public hearing and approved the resolution unanimously.
• H.4 – Project Panther 25: Public hearing on an economic development agreement to provide a standard Level One local incentive grant. The project is an expansion of an existing Gastonia Technology Park facility with a $10 million investment in machinery and equipment and no additional jobs. The five-year grant reimburses taxes after they are paid upfront. The council closed the hearing and approved the agreement unanimously, with details to be negotiated.
• H.5 – Transit fare increase: Public hearing on a proposed GoGastonia microtransit fare increase from $2.00 to $2.50 per ride and from $1.00 to $1.25 for reduced fares, effective January 1, 2025. Transportation Director Randi Gates reported 727 online survey responses, the largest response ever, from more than 8,400 GoGastonia accounts. Survey results showed 64 percent satisfied, 38 percent supporting the increase, 37 percent opposing it, 49 percent saying they would ride as often, 37 percent less often, and 14 percent no longer using the service. The city also reported a record 606 completed rides the previous day and the deployment of six new minivans. Councilwoman Barber opposed the increase as too soon, and other members discussed affordability and possible future passes or low-income discounts. The motion to close the hearing and approve the increase passed 6-1.
• H.6 – Citizen Committee Appointments: Mayor Franks requested that the citizen committee appointments be continued until the new year because he had not confirmed his selection for the Sister Cities appointment. There was no objection and no action.
• H.7 – Centralina Regional Council Board of Delegates: The council unanimously reappointed Councilwoman Stepp as delegate and appointed Councilwoman Barber as alternate to the 2025 Centralina Regional Council Board of Delegates.

Reports & Announcements

• City Attorney L. Ashley Smith extended condolences to a city employee who lost her father, Bill Gray. He also discussed the Ward 4 appointment process. Council members ranked candidates on paper in open session, and Councilman Odom recommended Carl Harris and Angela Dreer.
• City Manager Michael Peoples said he would submit updates by email on solid waste and leaf collection, and he thanked staff for encumbering ARPA funds to meet the December 31 deadline.
• Councilwoman Barber reported visiting Oak Street Health in West Gastonia, announced the overnight cold weather shelter would move from the Farmers Market to First United Methodist Church at 190 East Franklin Boulevard starting Friday, and gave holiday wishes.
• Councilwoman Stepp congratulated Tony's Ice Cream on being named by Southern Living as one of the ten most iconic old-school ice cream shops, encouraged donations to local arts and nonprofits, and offered holiday wishes.
• Other council members gave brief holiday reports and farewell wishes to Councilman Odom.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the December 3, 2024 minutes and the 15-item consent agenda unanimously.
• Continued the 1111 E. Garrison Boulevard rezoning hearing to January 21, 2025, unanimously.
• Continued the Industrial Pike Road conditional rezoning hearing to January 21, 2025, unanimously, to allow further mitigation negotiations.
• Approved the Business Park Court cul-de-sac closure resolution unanimously.
• Approved the Project Panther 25 Level One local incentive grant unanimously.
• Approved the GoGastonia transit fare increase effective January 1, 2025, by a 6-1 vote.
• Reappointed Councilwoman Stepp as delegate and appointed Councilwoman Barber as alternate to the Centralina Regional Council Board of Delegates unanimously.
• Held a closed session under North Carolina law to consult with the city attorney about real property, litigation, claims, and previous closed session minutes. No report was made from the closed session.
• After the closed session, the city clerk announced Ward 4 interview appointments for January 6, 2025, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with 30-minute interviews: Reese Barnett, Cheryl Littlejohn, Carl Harris, Angela Dreer, and Alison Pell.
• Adjourned after the closed session and announcements.