Gastonia City Council Regular Meeting - May 4, 2026

The Gastonia City Council met Monday, May 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Mayor Richard Franks presided; Councilwoman Donyel Barber gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilwoman Step was excused because of an emergency. The council unanimously approved the agenda and the minutes of the April 13, 2026 special meeting and April 21, 2026 regular meeting.

Proclamations & Ceremonies

• Recognized May 17, 2026 as First Baptist Church of Gastonia Day for its 150th anniversary, presented by Councilman Demetri Koutsoupias to Rev. Jonathan Bryson and church representatives. The pastor thanked the city and invited the public to a May 17 celebration. Accepted unanimously.
• Recognized May 11-17, 2026 as National Transportation Week, presented by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gallagher to Randi Gates and Transportation staff. Gates said fleet services maintains about 1,000 pieces of equipment and described GoGastonia and MPO planning. Accepted unanimously.
• Recognized National Public Works Week. The agenda listed May 17-23, 2026, but the proclamation read in the transcript said May 15-21, 2026. Councilwoman Angela Dreher presented to Robert Cloninger, and public works employees introduced themselves with their years of service. Accepted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rebecca Ensley Manigault, widow of Derek Manigault, demanded transparency and accountability for his killing, saying Gastonia Police officers shot him outside Jacob's Food Mart and were back on the streets without consequence. She said the family was not informed.
• Lee Henderson, Derek Manigault's brother-in-law, said both officers returned to active duty on April 13, learned through a public records request. He criticized the police chief, district attorney, and city officials for failing to communicate with the family, and closed with "Justice for Derek."
• Emily Parker said Derek Manigault's death reflected a pattern of racial inequality and bias in Gaston County, citing lawsuits and disparate treatment. She criticized the silence of the council and called on leaders to show courage, accountability, and empathy.
• Ms. Guthrie asked the council to support the African American Museum Summer Reading Program, planned for June 1-30, including 150 children from ASPIRE on June 9 and an award-winning author on June 30. She said donations could be made through the museum's PayPal link.

Committee Reports

• Facilities/Management Committee (Councilwoman Barber) reported no actionable items.
• Public Safety Committee (Mayor Pro Tem Gallagher) presented a resolution approving a memorandum of understanding between the Gaston County Public Health Overdose Fatality Review Team and the Gastonia Police Department. It was described as having no cost. The council approved it unanimously.

Consent Calendar

The council approved all 11 consent items unanimously without questions. The consent agenda included: a water/sewer rate study contract with Garver LLC for $125,865; acceptance of water/sewer maintenance for Village at Cramerton Mills Phase F Map 3; the March 2026 monthly financial report; $40,000 in Drinking Water/Wastewater State Reserve Program contingency funds for the Long Creek WWTP piping replacement project; equipment purchases including an asphalt patching hot box and sewer jetter from ISG totaling $162,022.40, a Transource flusher truck for $204,785.02, an Amick automated side loader refuse truck for $340,817.02, three Comer mini excavators for $251,589.78, and an Excel Truck Group dump truck chassis for $119,107.00; acceptance of $26,405 in NC Department of Public Safety mutual aid funds with budget amendment 2620045; and a five-year data protection/disaster recovery solution from Advanced Network Management Inc. for $903,679.08.

Project Precise Economic Development Agreement Amendment

Kristy Crisp, Economic Development Director, presented a request to amend the Project Precise economic development agreement. The amendment extends a start date in the agreement from 2026 to 2027 because Gaston County is pursuing a state building reuse grant; city staff said it does not change the city's grant payment. Council closed the public hearing and unanimously approved the amendment, with details to be negotiated by city legal staff.

Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Grant

Randi Gates, Transportation Director, presented the application for federal fiscal year 2022 FTA Section 5307 funds. The federal apportionment is just over $2.9 million, matched by nearly $2 million in local funds, to be spent over city fiscal years 2027 and 2028. Operating expenses would be 50/50 federal/local; rolling stock, security, and preventive maintenance would be 80/20. One percent of the grant would go to security lighting. No one signed up for public comment. Council unanimously approved the resolution.

GoGastonia Fare Increase Public Hearing

Randi Gates presented a proposed fare increase effective July 1, 2026: regular fare from $2.50 to $3.00, reduced fare from $1.25 to $1.50, plus a distance-based surcharge for rides over five miles. Outreach included more than 10,000 GoGastonia account holders and 208 survey responses; many respondents opposed or strongly opposed the fare increase and surcharge. Public comments read into the record raised affordability, wait times, and reliability concerns. Staff estimated about $71,000 in additional fare revenue, $14,200 from the surcharge, and $85,000 total, against a current cost of $16.35 per ride with a local share of $7.30 per ride. Staff requested no formal action; council closed the public hearing and indicated the proposal would be considered in the FY2026-27 budget/fee schedule.

Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Proposed Budget Public Hearing

City Manager Michael Peoples presented a $378 million proposed budget with no property tax increase, keeping the rate at 47 cents per $100 valuation. It includes 3.5% across-the-board raises effective July 1, 2026, plus 1% career development pay; four new general fund and four new enterprise fund positions; about $1 million in facility improvements; $1 million for public safety radios; and planning for Fire Station 9. Proposed fee changes include a 7.5% water/sewer rate increase (about $6 per month), a $2 per month solid waste fee increase, GoGastonia fare changes, and a planetarium ticket increase. Electric rates would remain stable using the rate stabilization fund. Council members commented: Councilman Silverman called the budget balanced but raised affordability concerns; Mayor Pro Tem Gallagher praised the compensation increases and stable tax rate; Councilwoman Dreher said hard choices and rate increases were needed. Council discussion also covered per-person GoGastonia fares, federal subsidies, airport fees, ballpark revenue, and the use of retired city employees at Caramont Health Park. Public commenter Mike Tamarella criticized a 22% spending increase and asked for 1% cuts in every department. Council closed the public hearing without adopting the budget; adoption was scheduled for June 2, 2026.

City Attorney's and City Manager's Reports

• The City Attorney reported that proposed changes to the conditional zoning review process would go to the Planning and Zoning Board on May 7, and self-insurance reinsurance cost estimates were expected in mid-May.
• City Manager Peoples reported that the burn ban remained in effect, the city was under Stage 2 water conservation rules, and the Senior Activity Center ribbon cutting was scheduled for May 11 at 4 p.m.

Council Reports & Announcements

Council members reported on community events: Chief Welch's retirement and Chief Best's promotion; a Ghost Peppers home opener sellout; Shred Day with 450 cars; a Cinco de Mayo celebration; a Howland Neighborhood cleanup collecting 88 pounds of trash; the youth art show; a STEM festival; and the citizens recognition banquet. The mayor announced the next regular council meeting on May 19, 2026 at the Gaston County Courthouse and other upcoming city events.

Key Outcomes

• Council unanimously approved the agenda, minutes, three proclamations, the public safety MOU, the 11-item consent agenda, the Project Precise amendment, and the FTA Section 5307 grant application.
• Public hearings were closed on the GoGastonia fare proposal and the FY2026-27 budget; no final vote was taken on either, with the fare proposal to be considered in the budget/fee schedule and budget adoption set for June 2, 2026.
• The council noted the agenda/transcript discrepancy in Public Works Week dates (agenda: May 17-23; proclamation as read: May 15-21).