OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Greensboro City Council Meeting on October 22, 2025

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, October 22, 2025
BodyGreensboro, North Carolina
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, October 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:14:24

Transcript — Verbatim
0:31

Mayor Pro Tem?

0:32

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

0:33

I moved to go into closed session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to NC General Statute 143-318.11.

0:48

Seconded by uh Mr.

0:49

Thurm.

0:50

All in favor say aye.

0:51

Aye.

0:52

Aye.

0:52

Opposed.

0:53

Okay.

0:53

That passes unanimously.

0:55

And we plan to be back by 5 30 to start the other meeting on time.

2:13

Welcome to Gate City Insider.

2:15

I'm Rosemary Plybent.

2:16

Fifty-four adventures in six years.

2:19

It kind of sounds like the premise of a book, right?

2:21

Well, it is, but it's also a whole lot more than just printed pages.

2:25

Laura Carney is a journalist and author, and she's finishing up a two-week stay in Greensboro as part of one city, one book community read.

2:33

Hello and welcome.

2:34

Hi, it's so nice to be here.

2:36

Good to have you with us.

2:37

Okay, let's start by just talking a little bit about you.

2:40

What were you like as a little girl?

2:42

Oh gosh, I was very shy, very pensive.

2:45

Um I was in um accelerated classes from a young age and very academic, and I just love to draw all day long, basically.

2:52

And I played a lot of sports.

2:53

I was a tomboy too.

2:55

A reader and writer is a child.

2:56

Oh, big time.

2:57

I started reading my mom claims I was three, but I don't remember.

3:01

Okay, wow, that's impressive.

3:03

I'm guessing that your parents read to you as a child a lot.

3:06

Yes, a lot.

3:06

Yeah, my grandmother too.

3:08

Oh, that's great.

3:08

All right, so tell us about your dad, because this is this is leading somewhere.

3:11

Tell us about your dad.

3:12

Um, oh, my dad uh was uh a writer himself, and he was a salesman by day, and he actually uh six he sung and he was a comedian in nightclubs that night.

3:24

What was that like?

3:25

Uh growing up with him like doing all this.

3:28

Oh, he you know, he just was one of those people who uh sang more than he spoke and was always on, always entertaining everybody, always always making jokes all the time.

3:36

Yeah, very charismatic.

3:37

I I'm picturing him making up songs uh about you guys when it you know the getting ready song or the breakfast song.

3:44

Yeah, well, you know, there actually wasn't a lot of that because my parents divorced when I was six.

3:48

So I would see him twice a week.

3:50

But it was always very um undivided attention from him when we did see him.

3:53

I like that.

3:54

And you lost him when you were young, 25 years old.

3:56

Yes.

3:57

Tell us about that.

3:58

What was that like?

3:58

Um it's interesting you say that because since doing this project of finishing his bucket list for him and writing this book, I don't even think of it as having lost him anymore.

4:06

But but he did die when I was 25 um in a car crash with a teenager who was using her phone and went through the next intersection where he was, which was very it was devastating.

4:17

It was, yeah.

4:18

And um, you found though a little bit later, a few years later, a list that he had left, a bucket list.

4:24

Tell us about it.

4:25

How did you find it?

4:26

What was that like?

4:27

Sure.

4:28

Well, it was actually thirteen years later.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Arts And Culture█████████████13%
Economic Development█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Women's Equality██████6%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Homelessness██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Community Engagement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Greensboro City Council Meeting – October 22, 2025

The Greensboro City Council met on October 21, 2025, with the meeting concluded in the early hours of October 22. The agenda included a moment of silence, consent agenda items, public hearings on zoning and annexation, and multiple general business items. Council also addressed ceremonial recognitions, infrastructure contracts, and community concerns, with all votes passing overwhelmingly. Key highlights included approval of a city manager salary adjustment, adoption of the Gillespie Golf Course Master Plan, and discussions on winter emergency shelters.

Consent Calendar

  • Postponement of Item G23: An ordinance amending the Minimum Housing Standards Commission powers was postponed to the November 10, 2025, City Council meeting (unanimous).
  • Continuation of Annexation and Zoning Items (H7–H12): Six items related to properties on Banning Road, Centerfield Road, Oak Ridge Road, and others were continued to the January 20, 2026, City Council meeting without advertising (later amended to require new advertising; motion passed unanimously).
  • Consent Agenda Approval: Items G28 (budget adjustments) and G30 (September 18, 2025, work session minutes) were heard with public comment and then approved unanimously (9–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • George Hartzman (Public Integrity Watch) spoke on G28 and G30, criticizing water rate increases (88% jump in water billing since 2013, 142% hike in hazard fees) and alleging that the city subsidizes developers at the expense of residents. He also accused Councilmember Matheny of a conflict of interest regarding DGI and the Samet Corporation contracts (I9–I10).
  • George Hartzman also spoke on I7, opposing the reimbursement agreement with Seafred Industrial Properties, calling it corporate welfare.

Discussion Items

  • I1–I2: Signal System Upgrade (Citywide) – A resolution and ordinance to accept $2,930,000 from NCDOT for signal system upgrades. Councilmember Hightower questioned whether the funds would address community-requested signal improvements (e.g., at Glendale, Randleman, Florida). Staff explained the funds are for back-end system upgrades, not new signals. The items passed 8–1 (Hightower dissenting) and 9–0, respectively.
  • I3: Water Main Cleaning Contract – A $626,000 contract with Hazen and Sawyer for unidirectional flushing in South Greensboro. Staff noted accelerated timeline due to resident concerns, with flushing expected to continue through November 2025 and resume in March 2026. Councilmember Hightower emphasized community engagement and a task force being formed. Passed 9–0.
  • I4–I6: Water and Infrastructure Items – I4 (Golden Leaf grant for Jet Zero), I5 (water/sewer line warranty program), I6 (Voss Avenue culvert replacement) all passed unanimously (9–0).
  • I7: Reimbursement Agreement with Seafred Industrial Properties – A $1.335 million reimbursement for water line oversizing. Councilmember Hightower defended the project as public infrastructure investment. Passed 9–0.
  • I8: Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation – A $24 million contract with Kagan Construction. Passed 9–0.
  • I9–I10: Windsor Chavis NOCO Community Complex Contracts – Two resolutions with Samet Corporation totaling over $71 million. Hartzman alleged conflict of interest for Councilmember Matheny (Samet CEO is on DGI board and donor). City attorney stated no conflict under state law. Matheny asserted his duty to vote. Both items passed 9–0.
  • I11: Amendment with Vines Architecture – $91,702 for the NOCO complex. Passed 9–0.
  • I12: Brian Park Soccer Complex Master Plan – Approved unanimously.
  • I13: Gillespie Golf Course Master Plan – Approved unanimously. Staff noted the $25 million plan includes course renovations, new clubhouse, and honoring the Greensboro Six. $2 million from ARPA funds is allocated; $2 million gap remains. Discussion included potential name change to honor Dr. George C. Simpkins Jr., which would require future council action.
  • I14: Coliseum Lighting Bond – $937,000 for LED lighting at the arena. Passed 9–0.

Key Outcomes

  • City Manager Salary Adjustment: Council approved a salary increase to $324,000 annually, effective November 26, 2025, passing 9–0.
  • Council Reorganization: The December 1, 2025, meeting will honor outgoing council members, with the organizational meeting on December 2 (swearing-in of new members).
  • Winter Emergency Shelters: Mayor Vaughan requested reconsideration of funding for WE shelters (church-based overnight shelters). City manager will review a proposal from Greensboro Urban Ministry and discuss with churches. Councilmember Matheny offered to engage business community for funding.
  • Howard Johnson's Closure: Councilmember Thurm reported the successful closure of the Howard Johnson's on Westgate City Boulevard via nuisance ordinance. Multiple arrests were made. Staff will follow up on relocation of displaced families.
  • Boards and Commissions Appointments: Patricia Adams reappointed to the Redevelopment Commission (second term); Angela Hornet appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission (replacing Jesse Arnett). Both unanimous.

Meeting Transcript

Mayor Pro Tem? Thank you, Madam Mayor. I moved to go into closed session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to NC General Statute 143-318.11. Seconded by uh Mr. Thurm. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Okay. That passes unanimously. And we plan to be back by 5 30 to start the other meeting on time. Welcome to Gate City Insider. I'm Rosemary Plybent. Fifty-four adventures in six years. It kind of sounds like the premise of a book, right? Well, it is, but it's also a whole lot more than just printed pages. Laura Carney is a journalist and author, and she's finishing up a two-week stay in Greensboro as part of one city, one book community read. Hello and welcome. Hi, it's so nice to be here. Good to have you with us. Okay, let's start by just talking a little bit about you. What were you like as a little girl? Oh gosh, I was very shy, very pensive. Um I was in um accelerated classes from a young age and very academic, and I just love to draw all day long, basically. And I played a lot of sports. I was a tomboy too. A reader and writer is a child. Oh, big time. I started reading my mom claims I was three, but I don't remember. Okay, wow, that's impressive. I'm guessing that your parents read to you as a child a lot. Yes, a lot. Yeah, my grandmother too. Oh, that's great. All right, so tell us about your dad, because this is this is leading somewhere. Tell us about your dad. Um, oh, my dad uh was uh a writer himself, and he was a salesman by day, and he actually uh six he sung and he was a comedian in nightclubs that night. What was that like? Uh growing up with him like doing all this. Oh, he you know, he just was one of those people who uh sang more than he spoke and was always on, always entertaining everybody, always always making jokes all the time. Yeah, very charismatic. I I'm picturing him making up songs uh about you guys when it you know the getting ready song or the breakfast song. Yeah, well, you know, there actually wasn't a lot of that because my parents divorced when I was six. So I would see him twice a week. But it was always very um undivided attention from him when we did see him. I like that. And you lost him when you were young, 25 years old. Yes. Tell us about that.

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