Gastonia City Council Meeting – September 1, 2026

The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, Gastonia, NC. Mayor Richard Franks presided. Councilman Glenn Silverman gave the invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance was led, the agenda and the August 4, 2026 minutes were approved unanimously, and the council recognized honorees, heard public comments, acted on committee recommendations, approved a 14-item consent agenda, and held public hearings on grant and economic development items.

Proclamations & Recognition

• Gaston Recovery Day: Proclaimed September 19, 2026. Dr. Wanda Jones of A Safe Place Empowerment Network accepted; the Gaston County Recovery Walk will be held that day, with check-in at 8:30 a.m. The proclamation was entered into the public record unanimously.
• Chiari Malformation Awareness Month: September 2026 was proclaimed. Ashley Anderson accepted and noted the Conquer Chiari Walk Across America will be held September 26, 2026 at Dallas Park, the only such walk in North Carolina. The agenda listed Mayor Franks as presenter, but in the meeting Mayor Pro Tem Gallagher read the proclamation; it was entered into the public record unanimously.
• Low-Cost Spay/Neuter and Animal Hospital 100,000th Surgery: Councilman Silverman read a proclamation recognizing the Animal League of Gaston County’s 100,000th spay/neuter surgery on July 16, 2026; Cornelle Virgil accepted. Entered into the public record unanimously.
• Gastonia Fire Department Honor Guard: Chief Brad Best recognized the team for winning first place at the North Carolina Honor Guard Competition on August 14, 2026, at the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo in Raleigh. The team scored 17.4 out of 20 in its first year of competition; honorees included Captain Josh Love, Engineer Leon Matthews, Captain Blake Wilkey, Firefighter Mackenzie Townsend, Firefighter Josh Pierce, and Firefighter Patrick Shambaugh.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Aviron Pham spoke in support of creating a 'Life Lessons to Pickleball' program under the city’s sports and recreation umbrella. Pham described his personal recovery journey, proposed teaching resilience and communication through pickleball, and requested city support and a software platform for community connection.
• Sean Bates, affiliated with the NAACP, expressed concern about Flock cameras and license plate readers, saying the community lacks transparent oversight and that information could be shared with organizations such as ICE. He urged the city to provide clear communication, community involvement, and oversight to ensure the technology is not used as a tracking mechanism.

Committee Reports

• SPARC Committee: A facade grant and architecture grant for 140 E. Main Avenue were withdrawn after the applicant chose to revise the proposal, so no public hearing was needed. The council approved issuing an RFP for the 2026-2027 Cold Weather Shelter/Warming Center Program, a committee recommendation that passed 3-0 and was unanimous on the floor. The committee also discussed making the Gaston Multicultural Experience more art-focused.
• Utilities Committee: No actionable items; report was informational.
• Facilities/Management Committee: Approved authorization to proceed with the Farmers Market Building Upfit Study using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds up to $32,000. Staff explained the study would take about 2 to 3 months and would assess HVAC, electrical, flooring, walls, ceiling, and other needs; it is a study only, not an upfit. Committee vote was 3-0 and council approval was unanimous.
• Transportation Committee: Approved the High School Championship Signage Policy for state team sport championships by high schools inside city limits, with signs remaining up for five years and exemptions available through the city manager and council. Approved withdrawing NCDOT STIP Project EB-5768 (South Marietta Street/Hilltop Drive sidewalk project). Awarded $80,040.93 to Kimley-Horn for Hudson Boulevard sidewalk design services (approximately 1.1-mile project) and $76,457.60 for S. New Hope Road sidewalk design services (Armstrong Road to Hudson Boulevard). Approved a municipal agreement with NCDOT for sidewalk and curb ramp maintenance on STIP Project U-5965 (US 29/74 and NC 274 intersection improvements). Approved the surplus sale/release/hold-harmless agreement for surplus transit bus 804 with Iglesia de Dios Peniel, Inc.
• Arts Committee: Approved FY2027 grant funding totaling $50,000 for nine applicants. The first six grants were approved unanimously; the Little Theater grant was approved unanimously with Councilwoman Stepp recusing herself because she serves on that board. Approved $5,640 for additional rotations of artwork at the Rotary Pavilion and $1,205 to replace the concrete pad for the Ghillie Dhu public artwork, which had been destroyed by a drunk driver; discussion included considering protective barriers and rocks around the rebuilt kinetic sculpture.
• Recreation Advisory Commission: No action items. Staff updates included Linwood Springs Park’s grand opening being moved to March 11-14, 2027, with Phase 1 near completion on the former donated golf course site of more than 140 acres. Council also noted work to find funding for Martha Rivers Park playground replacement and ingress/egress parking improvements.

Consent Agenda

The consent agenda, 14 items, was approved unanimously. Among the approved items were: a rescission deed for Redhawk Development; award of the Brooklyn Neighborhood Water Relocation contract to Two Brothers Utilities, LLC for $831,926 contingent on state authorization; Recreational Trails Program grant applications for Linwood Springs Park (two applications); an NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division Section 5303 agreement for FY2026-27 transit planning; a yard waste and leaf grinding contract with Carolina Landscape Supplies at $64,984 per grinding event; traffic ordinance amendments (including a 25 mph speed limit on Holland Avenue, stop-controlled intersection changes, and no parking on Westbrook Drive); a $2,615 fire truck change order; purchase of five trucks from Piedmont Truck Center for $473,817.70; purchase of fourteen 2027 Ford Police Interceptor SUVs from Deacon Jones Ford for $668,677.36; FAA flight inspection services with additional NCDOT-DOA state aid of $18,954 and local match of $2,106; a $640,247 General Fund transfer to the Conference Center Fund to correct a FY2025 posting error; conversion of a part-time Construction Specialist II position to full-time; and designation of Assistant City Manager Brian J. Potocki as signatory for CDBG-DR grant projects.

Public Hearings and Regular Agenda

• CDBG-DR Renew NC Community Infrastructure Program: The council held a public hearing and approved a resolution authorizing the development and submission of applications. Grants Management Specialist Emily Matthews reported that HUD awarded North Carolina $1.4 billion in CDBG-DR funding, administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The community infrastructure program will be distributed in at least two funding rounds; the first round allocates $55 million, with individual grants from $500,000 to $15 million. Gaston County is in a state-identified Most Impacted and Distressed area, making the city eligible. The first-round application deadline is September 16, 2026; the public comment period ran from August 21 through September 1, and no public speakers signed up. If awarded, the city would return for a project-specific public hearing. The resolution was approved unanimously.
• Project Atlas: The council held a public hearing and approved a level two local incentive grant agreement. Kristy Crisp, Director of Economic Development, said Project Atlas is a UK-based advanced manufacturing company proposing to locate at the Westgate Building off Cox Road north of I-85, creating 95 new jobs with an average salary just under $80,000, investing approximately $21 million, and adding $17 million in taxable value. The 10-year grant begins at 90% and decreases 10% each year. Discussion addressed business vetting, utility demand, and zoning protections related to data centers. Approved unanimously.
• Project Alliance Gastonia 85: The council held a public hearing and approved a level four local incentive grant for a proposed business park with five speculative industrial buildings off Dr. Martin Luther King Way near Bulb Avenue, just north of I-85. Total investment is $61 million. A level four grant is a 10-year grant returning 85% of tax value for the first five years and 70% for the last five years. The site contains significant rock; council discussion noted quarrying and sale of rock and nearby residential development. Approved unanimously.
• 2027 City Council Meeting Schedule: Approved unanimously. City Manager Michael Peoples noted two changes: the May 3 meeting is moved from Tuesday to Monday because of the League of Municipalities CityVision Conference, and the November meeting moves from Tuesday to Thursday because of the election.

Reports and Announcements

• City Attorney Eric Edgerton had no report.
• City Manager Peoples provided updates: the proposed FY2028 budget calendar would be on the next agenda; excess trash week is September 21-25, 2026; a sign sweep is scheduled September 4; a soft launch of the See Click Fix program is planned in September; a 2022 transportation GO bonds update/report is being prepared; and the city is participating in the United Way campaign.
• Council members reported on the ElectriCities conference, MPO meeting, Centralina meeting, NAACP events, Get Ready Gastonia Forum, park issues, apartment complex meetings, and upcoming events. The mayor announced several upcoming dates, including city offices closed on Labor Day, September 7, 2026; 9/11 ceremonies September 11; and the next regular City Council meeting September 15, 2026 at the Gaston County Courthouse.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and August 4, 2026 minutes approved unanimously.
• Three proclamations entered into the public record unanimously.
• 2026-2027 Cold Weather Shelter/Warming Center RFP authorized unanimously.
• Farmers Market Building Upfit Study authorized using up to $32,000 in CDBG funds unanimously.
• Transportation items, including contract awards and the STIP withdrawal, approved unanimously.
• Arts grants, Rotary Pavilion funding, and Ghillie Dhu pad replacement approved; Councilwoman Stepp recused from the Little Theater vote.
• 14-item consent agenda approved unanimously.
• CDBG-DR application resolution approved unanimously.
• Project Atlas level two incentive grant and Project Alliance Gastonia 85 level four incentive grant approved unanimously.
• 2027 council meeting schedule approved unanimously.