Gastonia City Council Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Gaston County Courthouse Public Forum Room. The meeting included proclamations, presentations, public comments, committee reports, and approval of the consent agenda and regular agenda items. The council unanimously approved a revised solicitation ordinance (civil penalty, commercial only, first-offense warning) and adopted the Gastonia Reimagined downtown revitalization plan.

Consent Calendar

• I.1 through I.20: Approved unanimously. Items included resolution for utility easements, cooperation with Cramerton, NCDOT cost-sharing, subdivision maintenance, CDBG/HOME action plans, lease for 309 Norment Avenue, construction contracts (Southeastern Consulting Engineers for Long Creek WWTP; Carolina Environmental Systems for refuse trucks; Excel Truck Group for dump trucks; Transource for dump truck chassis), surplus vehicle transfers (buses to Highland Neighborhood Association, Community Public Charter, and City of Greensboro), grant acceptances (ElectriCities downtown grant $10,000; Bulletproof Vest Partnership $27,693), traffic ordinance amendments (new stop controls, parking changes on Lynhaven/Edgefield), interlocal solid waste study ($50,000), ESRI license ($193,563), and amended safe parking agreement with Mount Zion Restoration Church.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brandy Prophet (Make Em Smile NC): Promoted the third annual event for individuals with special needs on August 29, 2026, at Caramont Health Park. Requested council attendance and support; encouraged to be added to future agenda.
• Dan Aleman (Laurel Lee Community Watch, secretary): Expressed support for the proposed solicitation ordinance, noting aggressive solicitors and the need to respect homeowners' no-soliciting signs. Thanked the public safety committee.
• Rebecca Ensley Manigault: Spoke about her husband Derek Manigault, who was fatally shot by Gastonia police on January 10, 2026. Claimed he was wrongfully profiled and killed, and that officers received pay raises. Called for accountability and justice.
• Olivia Henderson: Criticized the police shooting of Derek Manigault, saying it signals that Black lives are devalued. Asked council to prioritize reforms: de-escalation training, diversity training, use-of-force policy review, mental health evaluations for officers. Demanded accountability.
• Additional speaker (relative of Derek Manigault): Described autopsy ruling homicide, accused officers of murder, criticized DA Page and Chief Connard for lack of transparency and accountability. Noted pay raises for involved officers. Raised concerns about disproportionate treatment of people of color by GPD and DA.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation: National Health Center Week (Aug 2-8, 2026): Presented by Councilwoman Barber to Ms. Elveria Hoke of Kintegra Family Medicine. Approved unanimously.
• Proclamation: Tabernacle Baptist Church 100-Year Anniversary: Presented by Councilwoman Barber to Ms. Alicia Brantley and Rev. Dr. Benjamin Hinton. Approved unanimously.
• Proclamation: Center Baptist Church 150-Year Anniversary: Presented by Mayor Franks to Rev. Dr. Pierre J. Crawford. Approved unanimously.
• Recognition of Citizen Committee Members: Honored Jackie Radford (absent), Clara Odom, Kristie Ferguson, Gerry Durkee, William Toro, and Kendrick McDowell for service on Arts, Recreation Advisory, and Planning Commissions. Approved unanimously.
• Presentation: Gastonia Reimagined Downtown Revitalization Plan: Patrick Mumford (Gaston Business Association) presented an actionable framework to guide downtown development through public-private partnerships, focusing on leveraging public land, improving public realm, adding attainable housing, and connecting neighborhoods. Council discussed next steps and marketing. Motion to adopt the plan carried unanimously.
• Presentation: 2026 Summer Intern Projects: Interns Celeste Paul (Belmont Abbey) and Addison Lioy (UNC Chapel Hill) described work with Two Rivers Utilities, Parks & Rec (Linwood Springs Park), SHEL Museum, GIS mapping for CDBG, and more. Thanked city staff.
• Public Safety Committee Report (Councilman Koutsoupous): Staffing updates from fire and police chiefs (PD has 6 vacancies). Discussion of solicitation ordinance revision. Detailed deliberation led to unanimous adoption of a modified ordinance:
  • Decision: Replaced the original (unworkable) permitting ordinance with a civil penalty ordinance targeting only commercial solicitation (not canvassing). First offense is a warning; second $100, third $250, subsequent $500. Sign must be conspicuously posted (no specific dimensions). Council can seek civil action against employers who violate. Amendment: remove specific dimensions and instead require "conspicuously posted" to give actual notice. Vote: unanimous.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approval of all proclamations and recognitions.
• Unanimous adoption of Gastonia Reimagined downtown revitalization plan.
• Unanimous approval of consent agenda (Items I.1–I.20).
• Public hearing for Project Metro (economic development incentive grant) continued to August 4, 2026 meeting (unanimous).
• Citizen committee appointments: Reappointed Harlan Head (Recreation Advisory, Ward 3) and appointed Janara Welsh (Youth Member, Recreation Advisory) for one-year terms (unanimous).
• Solicitation ordinance revised and adopted: civil penalties, commercial only, first-offense warning, conspicuously posted signs.
• Next regular meeting: August 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM.