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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting - February 4, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, February 4, 2025

BodyGastonia, North Carolina

SessionCity Council & Commissions

DateTuesday, February 4, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:02:15

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

I'd like to welcome you to the February the 4th 2025 City Council meeting.

0:05

I will now call the meeting to order.

0:09

And our invocation will be by Councilwoman Daniel Barber.

0:14

Thank you.

0:16

I have asked Pastor Justin Ross Hilliard, the newly appointed pastor of Friendship Christian Church located here in Gastonia to do our invocation for today.

0:32

Thank you, Councilwoman Barber.

0:34

Certainly to Honorable Mayor Franks, all of the council people, to all those who are assembled here.

0:39

Let us pray.

0:41

Precious father, we thank you for this opportunity that we have to serve your community and your people.

0:49

We thank you for the grace that you have bestowed upon us to be leaders in such a time as this.

0:56

We ask that you would continue to guide our efforts and our thoughts, that you would guide the works of our hands, that we would always do what is in the best interest for all of your creation.

1:10

We pray that we would be aligned with you as you have taught us what is good, and that is that we should be just, that we should love mercy, and that we should walk humbly before you.

1:22

We thank you for our mayor, for all of our council people, and for all that make up the great city of Gastonia.

1:29

Be with us as only you can in Jesus' name.

1:33

Amen.

1:45

I Pledge of Allegiance to the class of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:14

We have two additional items to be added to the consent agenda.

2:19

Information of those items should be in front of you.

2:22

Please keep that in mind when making the motion.

2:25

Mr.

2:26

Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we accept the agenda as presented and adding the two items to the consent agenda, item 6G and item 6 uh G7.

2:37

We have a motion.

2:38

Do we have a second?

2:39

Second.

2:39

We have a second.

2:40

Councilwoman Step.

2:42

All those in favor.

2:45

Unanimous.

2:46

Next up we'll have the approval of the minutes.

2:49

We have one set of minutes tonight.

2:50

That's from our regular city council meeting on January the 21st, 2025.

2:56

Uh can I have a motion to approve those?

2:58

So moved.

2:59

We have a motion, we have a second.

3:01

We have a second by councilwoman barber.

3:03

All those in favor, it's unanimous.

3:09

Instead of what I normally do, and just skip right over it.

3:12

We have nobody signed up for public expression, so we'll move on to our committee reports.

3:18

And our first committee report is going to be the utilities committee, and uh councilman Gallagher chairs that committee, and he will do the presentation.

3:28

Thank you, Mr.

3:29

Mayor.

3:29

I appreciate the helpfulness on that and um being recognized for the utility committee.

3:35

Um just want to say that we did have our meeting, and the one item that you might want to take away from this would be the first item that's up.

3:42

That is uh developmental uh proposal.

3:46

And um everything else uh has been laid out.

3:51

There's been no action items whatsoever on on this out of all the items that we had up here.

3:56

Um stuff is in your agenda packet for you to review.

4:01

Um if you have any questions, please let me know.

4:06

And with that, Mr.

4:07

Mayor, I just want to say thank you.

4:09

Thank you, sir.

4:10

With no discussion on that, we will move on to item F2, which will be presented by councilwoman Jennifer Stepp.

4:17

She is the chairperson of that committee, and it is the arts committee.

4:21

Thank you, Mayor.

4:22

Mine won't be quite as brief.

4:24

Um we did have arts committee meeting and we did have a quorum, and um a lot of it is for information purposes on my touch on them quickly.

4:34

The the biggest um time was spent on looking at an update for the grant cycle for the fiscal year and changing that to line up from calendar year to fiscal year with our um monies, and then also their subcommittee, the grant subcommittee is going to work on the grant rubric and guideline priority verbiage and bring it back to us at the next meeting.

4:58

Of course, Charles was helpful in that.

5:00

And the public art subcommittee.

5:12

So I hope some of you will go see those.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Municipal Leadership███████████████████████████27%

Public Safety██████████████████18%

Procedural█████████████████17%

Homelessness███████████11%

Economic Development████████8%

Historic Preservation████████8%

Arts And Culture████4%

Community Events████4%

Community Engagement███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting - February 4, 2025

The Gastonia City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting included committee reports, a consent agenda, a public hearing for a facade grant, adoption of a new mission statement and goals, approval of an advocacy agenda, and updates from city officials. The council voted unanimously on most items and tabled the vision statement for further discussion.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved unanimously after adding two items (identified as G.6 and G.7 in the transcript) to the original seven consent items. Items included amendments to HUD annual action plans, acceptance of asset-forfeiture funds, acceptance for maintenance of a subdivision road, setting a public hearing for street closure, the December 2024 financial report, a directive to investigate an annexation petition, and approval to purchase property at 107 South Broad Street.

Public Comments & Testimony

Paulina Venorio addressed the council during the public hearing for the facade grant (Item H.1). She expressed concerns about a hostile tone from city employees, including fire department, police, medics, and sanitation staff. She requested discipline or dismissal for those involved. The mayor acknowledged her comments but noted the city could not respond during the meeting.

Discussion Items

Facade Grant (H.1): Kristy Crisp, Director of Economic Development, presented a request for a $10,000 Level 1 facade grant for the Standard Hardware building at 156 S. South Street. The owner, Geb Hallman, described plans to remove a modern awning, restore original copper and leaded glass details, and add period-correct gooseneck lighting. The grant is reimbursement-based and funded by the Municipal Service District tax. The council voted unanimously to approve the grant after closing the public hearing.
Mission, Vision, and Goals (H.2): City Manager Michael Peoples presented a proposed new mission statement ("Enhance the quality of life for all by providing innovative, responsive, and cost-effective services at the highest level") and a shortened vision statement ("Gastonia will be connected, engaged, and vibrant – a model of civic leadership"). The council voted unanimously to adopt the mission statement. However, several council members, led by Councilwoman Littlejohn and Councilwoman Barber, argued the vision statement lacked substance and inclusivity (e.g., references to economic vitality, inclusiveness). The council voted unanimously to table the vision statement and send it back to staff and Centralina for revision, with feedback due by February 11, 2025.
Goals and Objectives (H.2 continued): The council reviewed 50 priority issues (goals and objectives for 2025–2027) that were refined during a January retreat. The list was approved unanimously without additional debate.
Advocacy Agenda (H.3): The council unanimously approved the proposed advocacy agenda for the 2025–2026 state, federal, and county legislative sessions, which largely continued existing priorities aligned with the League of Municipalities.
Panhandling Public Education (Council Report): Council member discussed a proposal to launch a public education campaign discouraging citizens from giving money to panhandlers, redirecting donations to service agencies. The council reached consensus to task staff with developing a program, using best practices from other communities. No formal vote was taken.

Key Outcomes

Approved (unanimous): Consent agenda, facade grant ($10,000), mission statement, 50 goals and objectives, advocacy agenda.
Tabled: Vision statement – referred back to staff/Centralina for revision, with a target date of February 18, 2025.
Directive: Staff directed to develop a public education campaign on panhandling.
Next Meeting: February 18, 2025, at the Gaston County Courthouse (Public Forum Room) at 6:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to welcome you to the February the 4th 2025 City Council meeting. I will now call the meeting to order. And our invocation will be by Councilwoman Daniel Barber. Thank you. I have asked Pastor Justin Ross Hilliard, the newly appointed pastor of Friendship Christian Church located here in Gastonia to do our invocation for today. Thank you, Councilwoman Barber. Certainly to Honorable Mayor Franks, all of the council people, to all those who are assembled here. Let us pray. Precious father, we thank you for this opportunity that we have to serve your community and your people. We thank you for the grace that you have bestowed upon us to be leaders in such a time as this. We ask that you would continue to guide our efforts and our thoughts, that you would guide the works of our hands, that we would always do what is in the best interest for all of your creation. We pray that we would be aligned with you as you have taught us what is good, and that is that we should be just, that we should love mercy, and that we should walk humbly before you. We thank you for our mayor, for all of our council people, and for all that make up the great city of Gastonia. Be with us as only you can in Jesus' name. Amen. I Pledge of Allegiance to the class of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We have two additional items to be added to the consent agenda. Information of those items should be in front of you. Please keep that in mind when making the motion. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we accept the agenda as presented and adding the two items to the consent agenda, item 6G and item 6 uh G7. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a second. Councilwoman Step. All those in favor. Unanimous. Next up we'll have the approval of the minutes. We have one set of minutes tonight. That's from our regular city council meeting on January the 21st, 2025. Uh can I have a motion to approve those? So moved. We have a motion, we have a second. We have a second by councilwoman barber. All those in favor, it's unanimous. Instead of what I normally do, and just skip right over it. We have nobody signed up for public expression, so we'll move on to our committee reports. And our first committee report is going to be the utilities committee, and uh councilman Gallagher chairs that committee, and he will do the presentation. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate the helpfulness on that and um being recognized for the utility committee. Um just want to say that we did have our meeting, and the one item that you might want to take away from this would be the first item that's up. That is uh developmental uh proposal. And um everything else uh has been laid out. There's been no action items whatsoever on on this out of all the items that we had up here. Um stuff is in your agenda packet for you to review. Um if you have any questions, please let me know. And with that, Mr. Mayor, I just want to say thank you.

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