Gastonia City Council Meeting – September 16, 2025

The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Public Forum Room of the Gaston County Courthouse. The meeting included an invocation, pledge of allegiance, adoption of the agenda, approval of minutes, four proclamations, a presentation, public comments, committee reports, consent and regular agenda items, and a closed session. Key actions included approving fee schedule changes, amending sidewalk dining and wrecker rotation ordinances, updating the Unified Development Ordinance, and continuing a public hearing on the 2050 Comprehensive Plan.

Awards, Ceremonies, and Promotions

• Proclamation – Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 28, 2025): Recognized Dan Aleman, Bill Radcliff, Zion McKenzie, Anissa McCloud, and Tiffany Wylie. Accepted unanimously.
• Proclamation – Gaston Recovery Day (Sept. 20, 2025): Recognized Dr. Wanda Jones, Executive Director of A Safe Place Empowerment Network Inc. Accepted unanimously.
• Proclamation – Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5–11, 2025): Recognized Deputy Fire Chief Brady Best. Accepted unanimously. Deputy Fire Chief noted a lithium-ion battery fire was occurring during the meeting.
• Proclamation – Public Power Week (Oct. 5–11, 2025): Recognized Adrian Certain, Division Manager of Electric Utilities. Accepted unanimously.

Presentations

• Citizens Academy Promotional Video (Karely Chavez): The six-month program offers residents, business owners, and city employees an inside look at city operations. The 2026 session is now accepting applications. The video was shown successfully after technical difficulties.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Teddy Sharmer (Huntington Forest resident): Criticized a new roundabout on Leonard Road as too small for trailers, trucks, and school buses. City Manager later confirmed the developer will replace it with a more accommodating traffic calming device.
• Miranda Phillips (licensed home child care provider): Urged the council to update local ordinances to align with House Bill 412 (effective July 1, 2025), which allows larger group sizes and increased flexibility. City Attorney noted the proposed UDO amendment (Item J.2) addresses this.
• Tony Stubbs: Requested extended public transit hours, more G-transit card purchase locations, and increased focus on homeless services.
• Glenn Silver (Ward 2): Praised the NAACP’s “Breaking Bread” event and urged the council to keep homelessness on the agenda despite the upcoming election.

Committee Reports

Recreation Advisory Commission (Councilwoman Barber)

• Discussion: Pickleball uniformity across city facilities.
• Action: Approved a revised Parks and Recreation Fee Schedule (effective Jan. 1, 2026), consolidating 14 pages into 4. Key change: Irwin Center pool will offer a $6 all-day pass ($2 less than two $4 sessions); Limeburger Pool retains two $4 sessions. Councilwoman Littlejohn argued for $4 all-day at both pools, but the motion passed. The motion also included adding Walker E. Reid Third Park to the fee schedule.
• Other: Discussion of lifeguard shortages and scholarship programs for low-income families.

Public Safety Committee (Councilman Gallagher)

• 2.C – Sidewalk Dining Standards Amendment: Clarified that restaurants with a permit for outdoor dining on city property may ask disruptive individuals to leave and call police if they refuse. Passed unanimously.
• 2.E – Wrecker Rotation Agreement Update: Adopted updated maximum pricing, higher insurance minimums, separate storage requirements for electric/hybrid and commercial vehicles. Passed unanimously.
• Note: Councilman Gallagher mentioned the new Real Time Crime Center is operational.

Personnel Committee (Councilwoman Barber)

• Action: Proposed hiring an outside consultant (Baker Tilly) for the City Manager’s evaluation, citing the need for a structured, written process. Estimated cost $12,000–$15,000.
• Debate: Councilwoman Littlejohn argued the current system has worked for 25 years and opposed spending taxpayer money. Councilman Koutsoupias supported the new approach for gaining a broader perspective. Mayor Franks noted the committee voted to bring it forward but he personally opposed spending.
• Outcome: The motion was withdrawn and the item tabled to the next meeting for more information and presentations from the firms.

Consent Agenda (7 items)

Approved unanimously. Items included:

• I.1: Proclamation – Colonial Heritage Month (October 2025)
• I.2: Capital Project Ordinance – Firestone Relief Sewer Project
• I.3: Acceptance of Cramer Estates Subdivision, Phase 2 roads for maintenance
• I.4: Work authorization ($715,075.19) for Runway 03/21 Extension Feasibility Study at Gastonia Municipal Airport
• I.5: Contract ($131,752.50) for S. New Hope Road Turning Lane Addition engineering
• I.6: Webex Suite Enterprise Agreement renewal ($393,721.20 for three years)
• I.7: Contract ($623,532.58) for Caromont Regional Medical Center Campus electric distribution construction

Regular Agenda

J.1: Public Hearing – Closing of Briarcliff Drive (unopened street between Laurel Lane and Dewey Street)

• No public speakers. Motion to close hearing and approve resolution passed unanimously.

J.2: Public Hearing – Unified Development Ordinance Amendment (File #202500354)

• Changes:
  • Removed the 3–12 child numeric limit for child care centers in residences, deferring to state licensing (NCDHHS).
  • Clarified “Manufactured Goods – Class 2” by using NAICS code prefix 3273 for all concrete manufacturing.
  • Updated Chapter 13 to allow staff to reference the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in addition to the Comprehensive Transportation Plan for right-of-way reservations.
• Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. Council adopted the ordinance, finding it consistent with the 2025 Comprehensive Plan.

J.3: Public Hearing – 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update

• Public hearing opened and continued to the October 21, 2025 council meeting. The draft plan is available online for comment.

J.4: Citizens Committee Appointment

• Appointed Cassandra Langeway to the Community Development Citizens Advisory Board. Approved unanimously.

City Manager’s Report (Michael Peoples)

• Leonard Road Roundabout: Developer will remove and replace with a more suitable traffic calming device.
• Cold Weather Shelter: RFP issued after First United Methodist Church withdrew. Proposals due Sept. 26.
• Cooling Station: Ended (9 indoor days, 9 outdoor days, total cost $16,400).
• Adult Recreation Center: Moving to 107 South Broad Street.
• Lead/Copper Inventory: Contractor conducting mandated surveys.
• Electro Cities: Free radio ad campaign won by Gastonia.
• Federal Funds: Letters sent to protect CDBG and HOME funds.
• Greenways: Highland Branch, Catawba Creek, and Marietta Street sections expected by year-end.
• Gastonia Ghost Peppers: Playoffs Sept. 20–21.

Council Reports & Announcements

Multiple council members reported on community events (NAACP forum, 9/11 memorial, wrestling event, basketball standout, free trash pickup week). Upcoming events included the Gastonia Concert Series, Habitat for Humanity Rock the Block, Gaston Recovery Walk, National Night Out, and more.

Closed Session

• Council voted to enter closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. §143-318.11(a)(3) to preserve attorney-client privilege and receive instructions on handling claims. Motion to adjourn after closed session passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All proclamations, the fee schedule, sidewalk dining and wrecker rotation updates, the UDO amendment, street closing, and committee appointments were approved.
• The personnel committee’s external evaluation proposal was tabled to the next meeting.
• The 2050 Comprehensive Plan public hearing was continued to October 21.
• The city manager addressed the Leonard Road roundabout complaint, promising removal and replacement.