We will begin the meeting with a moment of silence.

I think we have seen many things that are going on globally and locally, so if we could have just a few moments of silence, thank you.

Thank you.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

And Miss Black, would you uh lead us in the pledge, please?

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

We ask at this time that you please silence any and all electronic devices.

The City of Greensboro strongly encourages input from all residents, and the council chamber serves as a welcoming and safe environment for all.

Speakers may address specific consent or business agenda items with three minutes allocated for remarks.

For zoning matters, a 15-minute presentation period is provided for both proponents and opponents, followed by a five-minute rebuttal period for each side.

Speakers may not transfer their time to others, and the presiding officer will determine the speaking order based on the number of speakers.

And based on the number of speakers, the mayor may modify the time allotted to each individual.

All handouts must be given to the city clerk for distribution.

Approaching the dais is not permitted.

All speakers are expected to adhere to the established rules of decorum.

Any inappropriate or disruptive conduct will result in immediate removal.

A first removal carries a three-month suspension from in-person participation.

A second violation results in a six-month suspensions, and a third violation or any instance involving physical altercations results in a 12-month suspension and may also subject the individual to criminal charges.

Those suspended from in-person participation will retain the ability to attend virtually via Zoom, ensuring their right to free speech.

I am going to read this resolution.

Whereas December 21st, 2025 marks the first day of winter and is the longest night of the year.

Whereas the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council have designated December 21st, 2025 as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day.

Whereas, in the season of generosity and sharing, citizens of Greensboro are encouraged to commit themselves to promoting expression and compassion and concern for all, particularly during the winter months.

They pose extreme hardships for citizens who are less fortunate and without homes.

Whereas homelessness continues to be a serious challenge for many Greensboro citizens who have the right to adequate food, housing, clothing, safety, and health care.

Whereas homelessness significantly increases one's risk of illness, injury, and death.

Whereas the homeless memorial services will take place in the city of High Point on Tuesday, December 16th, and the walk of remembrance will take place in the city of Greensboro on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, to honor those who have passed away in 2025 as a result of their homelessness.

Whereas by joining together and remembering our neighbors, we can honor their lives by working to provide solutions to end homelessness within the city of Greensboro.

And now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Greensboro that December 21, 2025, is hereby named National Homeless Persons Memorial Day in Greensboro, to remember those who have died homeless and to encourage citizens to come together to celebrate their lives by working to resolve the factors that lead to homelessness within the community.

Adopted this the 16th day of December 2025.

I will move the resolution.

Do I have a motion seconded by Mrs.

Thurm?

Um we do a recorded vote.

All right.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you all so much.

Is there anyone here from urban ministry or who might want to accept the resolution?

We will get this to them, so thank you, Council.

Now we will move on to our public comment period.

This is a time reserved for speakers from the floor on non-agenda items, and it provides an opportunity for members of the public to be heard.

We will listen, and if any comments or requests necessitate action, the city clerk, the city manager, and staff will outline the steps for an appropriate response or follow-up.

Please ensure that your contact information is left with the city clerk.

We had suggested, or I had suggested actually that we keep it to 30 minutes because it's a business meeting, but however, having heard from several of my council members, we will not.

We will continue as usual.

And after Mr.

Pearsall, Mr.

McKinney, then Laverne Lamb, if you would make your way over to the windows, please.

Good evening, Council.

This is the is my honor first and foremost to present this uh proposition to our government in our country.

Uh this is the 17-step plan for America's success, authored and read by John Parker Pearsall.

Uh John Parker Pearson for the Hearts and Minds of Men and Women Alike in America to listen to my declaration today that it honored to many December 16, 2025 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

I'm the son of a revolutionary war soldier, James Pearsall sat at the North Carolina Constitutional Convention and fought at the Battle of Morse Creek Bridge in 1776 under Colonel Rutledge, where they were victorious.

My message is simple.

This is the step plan for America and the success of each and every individual within our union and abroad.

My books, which are federal in nature, are what I'm proposing today.

I stand before you all in defense of the Constitution, which are the walls of our land that I dearly love and granted the honor of its bestowed authority on my life.

I'm also in defense of the American system, which sustains us as civilians in our country to be able to live the lives we desire.

I'm in defense of the national banks, which provide for a tariff that, if it is not judiciated, is lawful, but it being judicious in nature currently makes it unconstitutional.

I'm also in defense of the Compromise Act of 1842, which was read by the Speaker Henry Clay to the Congress in honor to many 1842.

These doctrines, which I've noted are all read by Speaker Henry Clay and are recorded in the Library of Congress and our fulfillment of a great prophecy within our nation that we are all part today, of which I'm declaring currently.

This is for the Emancipation Proclamation of all souls politically and financially.

I'm calling the justice of Southern Cause and uplifting the burdens of the tariff that have been placed on by the judicious tariff since the Civil War.

I respect our President Donald J.

Trump, but do not agree with him entirely on the matters of the tariff.

My hope is that he will see my patriotism in the matter as a loyal citizen to this country.

I've sworn to protect the constitution of our great republic.

I John Parker Pears are send the olive branch to the beloved citizens of this country and our neighboring nations as a sentinel of liberty.

I will not suffer the hatred of my patriotic spirit within the confines of the country that my family and many others before us today have fought dearly for and that have upheld this dear government that we preside in together.

My proposition is to pitch my three books, which are by nature federal due to President James Madison to the government of our nation of our nation and neighboring nations to quiet the people's minds and give them hope for the success of mankind by reading these books.

These books are titled Financial Discipline, 12 Pillars of Business Leadership and How to Invest in Stocks.

It is all laid out in the aforementioned documents read by Speaker Henry Clay in the 1800s and since the days of President George Washington.

The disclosure of the plan includes the mass manufacturing and distribution of all three books to generate revenue for local, state, and federal governments.

It is American first.

These books do not deem foreign interests whatsoever.

These books will help our manufacturing armor of America and will generate profits for government, industry, and myself.

Thank you.

Can you wrap it up like five seconds?

All right.

These books are a proponent of capitalism and the theory of protection.

We may experiment and expect to see six million dollars grant them at the Lorem.

I'm gonna state the three things I need to state.

No, that would your time is up.

Your time is up.

Your time is up.

I did.

All right, Mr.

McKinney and Laverne Lamb.

Ms.

Lamb.

No, Mr.

McKinney's first.

Yes.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the council.

I want to start by saying congratulations to all of you that were newly elected and those that are re-elected.

And your faces look beautiful up there smiling.

I'm Michael McKinney.

I'm CEO for Piedmont Business Capital.

Piedmont Business Capital has been around for 32 years, and we've collaborated with the city on a couple of different venues.

And so I just wanted to give an update on the impact that we're having across the community and our small business community and some of the things that we're doing.

When I arrived at Piedmont Business Capital in 2023, I saw an organization with a wealth of opportunities across our small business community.

As you all know, our small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

And with that being said, since then we've been able to increase our board of directors.

We've expanded our board of directors from seven to eleven.

We've expanded our staff.

We now have six full-time staff members.

And in March of this year, we had applied with the small business administration to become a CDC, a certified development corporation.

A CDC is an organization, a CDFI, that's allowed to offer SBA 504 loans on our occupied commercial real estate loans.

This is another avenue for which we can engage the small business community and give them opportunities to operate out of their own real estate facilities.

And so we're pretty excited about that.

So not only are we partnering with the SBA, we will also service those loans as a way to give us an additional uh revenue stream.

In addition to that, our board met back in the early part of the summer, and we uh had a strategic planning session in which our board voted on in a final a new strategic plan that will guide this organization over the next three to five years.

We participated in multiple economic summits and education sessions with uh our partners across the community, the chamber of commerce over at AT, uh, many different banks of our partners.

Uh we've hosted green gas echo uh economic summits for the underserved community and low business, uh low-income communities uh and low-income business communities as well.

Um I'm happy to say that the number of uh of small businesses that we serve across Greensboro uh are tremendous.

We have dedicated hundreds of hours uh in technical assistance, working with small businesses, working with them on their financial reporting, uh understanding the financial literacy of reading PLs and balance sheets and putting together business plans so that they will increase their opportunity to be more successful in their endeavor as a small business.

During the course of that work, we continue our community advocacy, our business development, and our affiliation and our business coaching across the city.

We've helped a number of black owned businesses, women owned businesses, men, black women, and Hispanic owned businesses.

Twenty percent, twenty-one percent of the loans that we provided to small businesses were black owned.

32 percent were uh black women, and I guess that's my time.

I could go into more detail.

I do want to tell you that PMO Business Capital is delighted to continue our collaboration with the city and the SBA, and the state of PMO Business Capital is strong.

Thank you.

All right, Miss Lamb, and then after Miss Lann, I have Brian Hall, Anthony Young, and Tracy King.

Good evening, Megan and newly elected board.

My name is Laverne Lamb, and some of you probably already heard of me.

I was elected twice to be, excuse me, I was appointed twice to be on the GTAC board, Greensboro Transit Agency Commissions Board.

Um I been in Greensboro for like 40 years, but I've also been at GTA employee for 22 and a half years on paratransit fixed route, safety, you name it.

I was there.

I currently work in transit still under Guilford County.

This will be my fifth year coming up in August, so I have massive background in transportation and transit, both paratransit and fixed.

I'm coming to you to you this evening because I need help.

I need people to be put on the board, appointed to the board that have voted for all of you, that I have gathered some people here tonight to come and ask that they be appointed to the board.

They're not only servants of our community, they ride our transportation daily.

So they can provide a lot of information and wealth that we can pass on to the Greensboro Transit Authority as long as they're subcontractor.

So that's why I'm here tonight.

So I'm gonna I'm not gonna take up all my time because I have some people here that want to ask to be appointed to your board.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, Mr.

I just want to Mr.

Young, he had death in his family, so I just want to let you know that he wanted to be appointed to the board as well.

Mr.

Young, yes, he's off okay.

Anthony Young.

Sorry about the death.

Uh Brian Hall.

Yes, sir.

Well, yeah, I'll wait until evening, Mayor, and other council members.

Um my name is Brian Hall.

I'm a coach, mentor, youth average.

Uh I'm 57 years old, and I have limited mobility.

Uh Access GSO was a service that I've been fortunate enough to qualify to use this service.

I would hope that all clients would appreciate the service that they receive from the dispatchers, reservationists, operators, management, and supervisors.

There's a disconnect when the service is delayed, riders are severely not returned to their home or next trips, falsehoods about the trips, pickups, etc.

Two or three things I think to help with these situations.

Uh one is you're not getting door-to-door service, miscommunication, and not receiving pre-arrival notices, uh phone calls and things of that nature.

Um, is needed.

I've been riding for a few years.

I wrote these notes for another meeting.

I didn't think I was coming before the city council, so um I want to be on the board.

I've been riding.

I think I could work at the place because I know of a lot of the things that kind of go on and make the rides difficult.

I've been uh riding the bus and for a month or few months ago.

I was left somewhere for four or five hours for a month straight.

That is ridiculous.

And the people that are working in this GTAC, the people that are supposed to be implementing rules, resources, they're not doing a good job.

These people that are running this organization, GTAC, will be old one day.

The work that they do will benefit others.

So I heads up to the writ, but submit your legacy.

Help us get GTAC access, GSO running smoothly, because the work that you do now, like I said, is gonna be the foundation for people to come.

People that are here now.

But please elect me to the board.

I think I'll be a dutiful member to it.

Thank you.

I want to make sure that that uh now have you filled out a board and commission uh application online yet.

Oh what kind of there's an application for boards and commissions.

No, I've I was told to come here, and you all I will be asked to be put on the board and so I don't know.

Can we get someone to assist them?

Mr.

Canapino will be happy to, and I'll listen to the other two as well.

So, yes.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

All right, Miss King.

Miss King, when you after Miss King, we have Tanya Hamill.

I'm not quite sure how to pronounce that, I'm sorry.

Uh then we have Toad of the Mountain and Jason Hicks.

If you all would make your way over to the window, please.

Yes, go ahead.

Good evening.

My name is Tracy King.

I would like to be a 40 to the GPAT committee.

I'm sorry, GPAT board.

I have lived in Greensboro for over 40 plus years.

I have wrote district types of accessibility transportation.

It will be a blessing to come together, work together, and help stabilize Greensboro and make it a wonderful place for citizens to come and live here.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss King.

Um, I believe that's all I have signed up for the GTA board.

But make sure that uh Mr.

Canapino at the front desk has your information for Ms.

King, okay.

Thank you so much.

All right, toe to the mountain.

I'm sorry, Tanya.

Is Tanya Hamill in the room?

I did not see her stand up.

No, she's not in, so go ahead.

Hello.

I mean, I like the new council.

Very um pleasing.

But uh now that we have a new council, let's actually get to business on solving publicists.

Um, you know, Mary Kay, congratulations.

I actually got this up for you.

That may be happy.

Uh but um, you know, you you you approached me months back about uh I getting homeless work program.

Yes, that thing can be done.

Like there's literally a thousand things that can be done following mostly the finished model of solving homelessness.

We cannot count on the state government or definitely not the federal government, so let's just solve things at a city pace.

We're gonna have to work with uh skip because yes, the county controls the um medical health funds.

So we're gonna we're gonna have to you know glad hand some some crap and you know that one for shit.

Sorry, excuse my language, but you guys know I'm unfiltered.

But we actually have a chance to solve this.

Our population is not growing as badly as it is it usually does.

So you've got the uh regency which you guys bought.

I can give you a proposal to house 500 within a year, and you can actually make money on that.

We can really solve this.

Let's just do it, please.

Thank you.

All right, uh thank you, Cody.

After Mr.

Hicks, I have Samantha Hall, Trayvon Worth, and Malaya James.

If you would come towards the window, please.

Yes, Mr.

Hicks.

Good evening, City Council.

It's nice to see some new faces up here.

So good evening, City Council and City Leadership.

My name is Jason Hicks.

I come before you tonight, not as an adversary, but as an advocate for justice, for accountability, and for all the people of the city who deserve both.

In November, a video went viral showing Greensboro police officers beating a black man, a video that made national news on TMZ and led to the release of body camera footage.

That officer is Corporal Tyler Bryan Hatch.

Tonight I'm here to show you that this was not an isolated incident.

It is part of a documented pattern of racially disproportionate policing.

I provided you all with a handout summarizing traffic enforcement data for Corporal Hatch, produced by Bolo Reports LLC in collaboration with Emancipate MC.

The data comes directly from the State Bureau of Investigations Traffic Stop Database and is self-reported by Corporal Hatch himself.

Since 2017, Corporal Hatch has conducted 1,729 traffic stops, and 85.3% involve black motorists in a city that is only 42% black.

He reported conducting searches in 31 of those stops.

The department average is only 5% of those searches, 91.5% involved black drivers.

Among 962 GPD GPD officers with 100 or more stops since 2002, hatch ranks first in total searches conducted.

He reported making on view arrests in 15% of his stops.

The department average is 3.5%.

Statewide, 2% of those arrests, 90% involved black drivers.

He reported use of force in 20 stops.

100% of those stops involve black motorists.

Across every category, stops, searches, arrests, and use of force, over 85% of Corporal Hatch's interactions involved black residents.

This was not just one bad moment.

It is a clear, consistent pattern of targeting black residents that places our city at a legal, moral, and financial risk.

This action would send a clear message that we take data seriously as a city.

This action would send a clear message that we believe in racial equity and that we take accountability seriously.

Thank you for your time and your service to the city.

Thank you.

Samantha Hall, is she in the room?

Samantha Hall.

Trayvon Worth.

Trayvon Worth.

After Trayvon, Malaya James, Albina Ray, and Terr Dungey.

If you would start making your way over to the window side, please.

Thank you.

Hello.

So my name is Trayvon Wirf.

Um and I run a business, active snacks and things.

And um, first and foremost, I want to say hello to our new council members and everything, and I wish you the best in all your journey and um uplifting our city.

And um the reason why I'm here today because I'm an advocate of mental health awareness, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and nonprofit organizations, as money laundering and advanced federal entities.

Sometimes it's hard for a brother like myself to get in front of a panel of people and express myself to cement the issues that I face.

I would call it post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Interactive Resource Center not only have been the leading place to go to for help.

Sometimes I think about urban ministry, but three days ago I ran into a problem with Scott A.

Jones at the Tiny House.

We've been consistently scapegoated.

And if homelessness was a human right, how are you building so many tiny houses with grants and funding, and you're still not housing this?

How are you gonna have homeless prevention?

But it's more people getting hint of the house.

Oppression is going on to our people with us being pushed outside of the city.

Um, I would like to ask you, Miss Mary, um, could you actually sit down and have a talk with me because I've been doing my practicing and my research and I see and I know and not here, and when I point, they go when I speak and listen.

I thank John Swain for actually standing up and giving me a place on February 1 in Animal Street where I soul high goes.

I'll stand with the brother, mother just on my face.

Mr.

Nina Coate.

This lady means so much to me.

And just in the hole, it doesn't matter about color.

If it was a gang out here, I would say I'm grateful and I'm never crazy.

It takes me back to how can my hood be rich?

And they're teaching us like we're poor.

I'm talking about Cam Moffe, who is rich.

She's a great, great demonstration of what I'm asking for.

If I can only ask for a time to sit down and speak with you about my declaration of the proclamation, I would appreciate it.

People like me.

I wouldn't want to die for these people that haven't got a guiding light when they need it the most.

Also named downtown Greensboro Incorporated, where I spoke about 1.6 million dollars about American Rescue Player.

Thank you so much.

Make sure Mr.

Canapina gets your information.

Can you send them to me?

I'm not sure who everyone is.

Yeah, yeah, you he'll he'll get it to me.

I appreciate it.

Yes.

All right, Malia.

I'm so sorry I mispronounced your name.

Malia James, then Albina, Albina Ray, and then Terrell.

Go ahead.

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Malia Ones, and I lead the eviction court watch here at the Greensboro Courthouse.

The last time we spoke to your predecessors, we asked them to hear from the community about code enforcement and the need to do something.

They didn't listen.

Every week in eviction court, I hear from families living in conditions that no family should have to endure.

Some of whom already have open code compliance cases, and others who either don't realize they have the right to have a ability or are submitting countless maintenance requests and only receiving band-aid resolutions.

Just this week I heard a tenant under the Greensboro Housing Authority describe her living conditions as the projects because her tub was molded, her bathroom floor was caving in, her kitchen ceiling was caved in, and she could hear animals in her walls because her attic window was missing.

Stories like this aren't out of the ordinary.

One tenant described sewage and flies coming out of their shower as well as maggots and fruit flies in the refrigerator, even after the refrigerator had been replaced.

They also went without heat and air conditioning for a period of time, which other tenants from the same complex reported experiencing the same day.

North Carolina law allows a city or county to identify, regulate, repair, close, or demolish dwellings that are unfit for human habitation.

While still giving property owners notice hearings and opportunities to fix the problems.

Today, we ask that you review code enforcement and explore how it can be strengthened.

Commit to attending a town hall hosted by tenants and keep Gay City House, where you hear directly from tenants about their issues, work with them, and produce a report on ways code enforcement can be strengthened at the city level and share this with the community within 90 days.

No one deserves to be without heat in 13 degree weather or without air conditioning when temperatures reach 90 degrees.

No one should get sick from mold that is painted over instead of repaired, and no one should be forced to live in substandard residential building when the city has the legal authority to intervene.

We are asking you to use that authority.

Please take action.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Albina Ray, thank you.

Hello.

My name is Albina Ray.

I'm with Keep Case City House.

Many, if not all present, elected and appointed are aware of the issues of housing conditions for renters and tenants.

Some members of the council have seen with their eyes what code enforcement has seen.

I thank you for this one step and for the others that you may have taken.

But there is a next step, and taking it is never a guarantee.

First, you must accept that a next step is necessary, then formulate it, then act on it.

Accept what it means when my friend is afraid to go home for fear of being bitten by rats.

What it does when another friend is harassed in their own home by the people they hand their hard-earned money to.

When an entire family cannot watch themselves because sewage or no water at all comes from their shower heads.

How can they say that they live in dignity in this city?

How can their neighbors say they hold dignity while this continues?

It is them today.

It can be me or you tomorrow.

I cannot trust my city to protect me from slum lords like those at Cottage Gardens, like those at Village Walk, and others across this city.

Today, this is our task.

Today we can bring acceptance.

Tomorrow we can make a plan.

You have the resources, the expertise, and imagination to find the answers, but you must make renters a priority.

I ask, we ask for a report to be released to the public in 90 days on how code enforcement can be strengthened to meet the minimum living conditions outlined in the already existing housing codes.

Use that report to construct policy that fixes homes and holds landlords accountable.

Help the people by giving code enforcement more power and resources.

At the same time, I encourage members of the council and the city government to attend once scheduled, a town hall hosted by tenants and keepgate city housed across the city in the new year.

Hear about the conditions of some of the rental units in Greensboro and hear what solutions would make their homes safe and secure.

I have hope for this new council.

It could be one to be remembered.

If we finally work together, the council, its staff, tenants, and advocates, if we finally work together, the people may one day no longer live with rats, roaches, and abusive landlords.

They will remember your names.

A trust lost long ago may yet return.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Terrell, and then after him, James Griffin, Nayema Triman, I hope I said that correctly.

And Art Close.

Thank you.

First, I want to offer an apology to those from the former council and staff.

Last time I was at this mic, I lost my cool.

Working around housing and tenant rights, you hear some harrowing conditions.

I got frustrated.

Not seeing anyone taking accountability for what these tenants were experiencing daily and watching people lose their homes because of it.

Seeing that cycle again and again pissed me off.

And I showed off pretty pissed off in my comments.

So still, I lost my cool, and for that I apologize, I acknowledge the hard work the city and the council does to make the city function.

I don't want to set a bad example for future organizers that you don't have to be a jerk to be heard.

Heat Gate City House has been able to do our best work with the city when we collaborate and we seek alignment from each other.

So I'm going to do that work of staying collaborative with this new council and combative but still seeking collaboration.

Now, I've come to remind the city of our organizing calls last month for action around strengthening code.

Eleven speakers came to you, making that very clear, and the signals got crossed.

We want to make it clear.

Our program has spent the last two years studying NCE and NC tenant law and helping tenants report housing code violations.

This is why we are advocating now that city step in and follow up with what we're disclosing with these homes.

People are being taken advantage of in our rental market.

Right before this meeting, the district on West Market just displaced a hundred plus people because the landlord did not keep the home up to fire code.

This is why excuse me.

How can we say we're combating homelessness when we're allowing these Slim Lords to erode our housing stock and devastate people's lives?

Let's do something about this negli these negligent landlords.

We're asking the city for three commitments as we're going into the new year.

Can this council commit to making strengthening code enforcement for rental units and tenants a priority as we go into the next year?

Making sure we're setting an expectation of how landlords must treat renters in our city.

Could council also request a report be done on ways the city could strengthen minimum housing standards for rentals based on current state and local laws, like they've been in, like they've explored in Durham.

This report would be made public to the city within 90 days of that new year.

And lastly, can the city also commit to meeting with tenants in the new year, once scheduled, to hear how renters are being treated in their homes and how we can respond to keep them safe and secure.

So thank you.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Griffin.

Yes, that's next.

Yes.

Oh, for you were signed up for the business item.

Okay, I'm gonna take you off there then and uh put you on.

It was under the the public speaking.

All right, so that will go on the innovation district.

Uh Ms.

Triman.

And then Art Close.

That is all the speakers.

I have signed up for public comment.

And I'm so sorry I didn't know how to say your first name.

Ms.

Naima.

Naima.

Thank you.

Good evening to all the council members.

Uh my name is Naeem Simon.

I've been a resident here for about six years.

Uh, this is my first council meeting, uh, except for the swearing in that I came to a couple weeks ago.

Um, I did plan on engaging more, but not in this way.

Um I actually I got my son lives at 8 30 West Market Street.

And these are the text messages that he got today.

He got one this morning that said, Good morning, residents.

We have received official notification from the city and the electrical team that the building's power is currently being shut down.

All residents are required to vacate the building during this period until power is fully restored and the building is deemed safe for re-entry.

He then got another text message two, three hours ago.

Due to an elect an electrical systems failure and in coordination with city officials, the building is temporarily closed for safety reasons.

Please collect essential personal items only and follow staff instructions during the floor-by-floor evacuation.

We are working with electricians and city partners on a solution and we'll provide updates soon.

A follow-up message will be sent later this week regarding the retrieval of remaining belongings.

So, as the gentleman just said, this was like they were displaced.

But this is the this big this is the the notification that they got.

It's student housing, but it's not just student housing, it's mostly studios, and the people that live there that aren't in that are not students, are families that can't afford to live anywhere else.

And the city just kicked them out.

And I get that they don't run the building, but I'm a social worker.

I work on Act Teams and community support teams here in Greensboro.

I've seen the terrible housing that that's been discussed tonight.

I didn't see the Red Cross, I didn't see social workers from the city, I didn't see any flyers, any resources, nothing about the IRC, nothing about urban ministries, no communication.

I have been in contact with my my district city council person, but this is not their district.

And I was advised that the Greensboro Housing Tower Coalition is aware of this.

However, I called my son on the way back down here.

I say, hey, my council person said that you know this is going on.

Have you heard anything?

No.

No, so you're traumatizing these people, not you, they are traumatizing these people a week before Christmas.

They have no idea where they're going.

It's going to be below freezing tonight.

And the communication has been awful.

And since this was in partnership with the city, whether they own the building or not, there should have been more done to not traumatize these people.

So I don't know what can happen from here on out, but the communication was despicable.

And you've just put, they have just put, I counted 120 balconies while I was waiting for him.

That's one side.

So we're looking at two to three hundred units.

And gratefully, some of them are students, and they left because they're on break.

But the people that are still there had nowhere else to go.

And I don't know where they are tonight.

My son, we shouldn't cohabitate, but he can come stay with me.

But what about the rest of the people?

Sure, thank you.

Um I'm gonna call on a wait a minute.

Uh on Miss Andrea Harrell, our assistant city manager, um, and she can explain what has happened.

My understanding is that it was totally unsafe to be in the building, but I'm gonna let her explain.

That's what, yeah, we can explain that as well.

So the building um had to be condemned this morning because the electrical system is actually burning up.

Um, there was not heat or electricity in multiple parts of the building, it was not safe to occupy, so we did have to condemn it.

Normally, we like to give people 24 hours.

This building was so unsafe that was not a possibility.

We asked the apartment complex to notify their residents, they did not do that, they left the building.

All staff left this morning and did not communicate communicate anything to their residents.

We tried to contact the owners, they did, um, an owner representative did show up on site at 2.30, did not assist us in making any notifications.

We actually went door to door at 3 o'clock, and lastly we I was on site from two to right before this meeting.

Um, police officers, GSO home, um, numerous resources were there going door to door, making sure people knew they had to be out.

The building was not safe.

We had um the Red Cross, Greensboro Housing Coalition, GSO Home, myself, Guildford County Emergency Management, were all um in the lobby trying to offer people resources.

There are not a lot of immediate options that we have.

We also let them know about White Flag, um, and we are trying to fast track people into the pallet homes because we do have some capacity there.

We tried to do everything we could.

This the complex did not provide us with a rent roll, they did not provide us with contact information.

We were just on site trying to notify people as quickly as we could that that building was simply not safe to occupy.

Um, I wish it had not had to, you know, be so quick, but unfortunately, that's what the law requires.

Thank you.

And um, you know, Mr.

Canapino has your information.

We'll reach out as well.

Thank you.

Okay, we went into the back door.

There was nobody there.

There's more than one door, so he missed all those resources because nobody at the back.

I'm so appreciate that.

We'll we'll give you a call.

All right, thank you.

I believe the Red Cross is still on site right now.

Well, when I was there, I saw a fire truck, I saw city officials, I saw Duke, I did not see the Red Cross.

Okay.

They were there when I left at five.

Okay.

And they had a long line of people waiting to talk to them.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

We want to make sure everyone has a safe place to stay tonight.

Yes, ma'am, definitely.

All right, that is all of my speakers from the floor for this evening.

Um, I'm so sorry, Mr.

Close.

I did that the other day.

Yes, I did.

Mr.

Close is our last speaker.

Good evening.

My name is Art Close.

I live in Kemp Road West here in Greensboro.

I wanted to one congratulate you all and let you know that we clearly have high hopes for you.

It's important we're here, we're here to say our piece and the things that are important to us to also inform you, because it's a big city, hundreds of thousands of people here, and lots of things that happen.

And the way we got to where we are now is decisions and actions that were taken in the past.

Some of those now have to be fixed, like maintaining a building.

It's easier if I do it in little bits as I go along than try to tear the whole thing down and have to start from scratch.

So, what we want to do is inform you of what's going on and hopefully catch somebody who can give us a hand in getting these things fixed.

I think one of the biggest things that we're going to have to face is how big our city wants to get.

And I've talked with many of you about that when you were running.

That how big we get is something we can control.

We have lots and lots of towns that have decided this is what we're going to do, this is where we're going to stay, and the quality of life is based on what they do.

Um, there's a lot of teaching, and I've been teaching MBAs for over 20 years.

This idea that you either grow or you die, and that is a falsehood, right?

That's not how it works.

You have to be able to support what you've grown to.

And I want to make that perfectly clear.

That includes the codes, that includes the maintenance, that includes the roads, that includes the infrastructure.

Everything has to work together.

We can keep growing.

What tends to happen is what we're seeing now.

We've grown an awful lot.

We have the 2040 plan, but we have problems.

Our infrastructure isn't what it ought to be.

We have people who are homeless.

We have schools that are in bad shape.

And I understand you know we don't pay for the schools except all of us here paid taxes that pay for the schools.

We're not supporting the stuff that we've already grown to.

And that's why I'm saying we need to think very carefully about how big we're going to get and how we're going to plan what growth we have left to do, and thinking about where we're going to go because all of us here have been paying the taxes so we can afford that growth.

And that part needs to be remembered.

We're the ones on whose backs this is all happening.

We have high hopes for you.

Please remember that we're here and that we have people who are going to get forced into homelessness as we continue to raise wages.

It's what happens.

There's an awful lot of studies done on it.

It doesn't seem fair that the person who's working at McDonald's is going to lose their home because we brought in Jet Zero.

It's just not the right way to treat the people who have been here paying their taxes.

We have schools, we have sewers, we have water, we have power.

We are already buying services from outside our area.

We're paying money for that because we don't have enough to do it ourselves.

It should help give us caution.

It should make us think ahead.

And I'm happy to sit down with anyone and do it.

As I said, I've been teaching MBAs for a long enough.

I can even do math.

I can help you.

Okay.

Regular town halls, before I finish up in my last 15 seconds.

You came here because you wanted to help people.

I've seen many of you at some of the same meetings that I've been at where people get together to talk, right?

The Society of Our Sacred Honor, etc.

It's a great place to be able to connect with people and talk to them one on one.

Thank you for your time.

Look forward to working with you all.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Close.

That concludes my speakers from the floor.

And we will uh move on to our consent agenda.

And is anyone on council wishing to remove any item from the consent agenda due to a conflict of interest or the purpose of voting?

No, I do know that I believe Mr.

Marshall has a statement.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um, I do want to make a disclosure on consent item G two, as well as hearing item H6 and H7.

Um, for transparency purposes and upon the advice of council, I want to make a disclosure regarding my law firm's membership with the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition, Tree Vick.

Uh, due to concerns raised by one of our compute community members.

Uh, this disclosure will again speak to items G two, H6, and H7.

Uh, the applicants' attorneys and myself are not members of the same law firm.

My firm is a member of TreeBick.

However, since my election, I am no longer my firm's delegate to that organization.

I have no financial interest in this matter and no personal or business relationship with the applicants or the landowners.

Further, I have no bias towards these agenda items in any way.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Marshall.

Um, does any council wish to remove any item from the consent agenda?

Madam Mayor, I'd like to remove item G twenty-one from the consent agenda for further discussion.

All right, G twenty-one is pulled for discussion.

And do I hear a motion to accept all of the other consent agenda items minus G twenty-one?

Mr.

Holston uh made the motion.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Seconded by Mrs.

Thurm.

Council, please vote, and we will then we'll go back to 21.

And that carries nine to zero.

Um, Ms.

Parker and I have spoken about this a little bit.

Go ahead, Miss Parker.

Um, for the regular schedule, I think it was March third.

Um it's primary day, and we want to promote we love a good voter, and we want to promote civic and voter engagement, so we'd like to make that adjustment.

All right.

Uh if that's the wish of council, we could move forward with that.

I do want you to look at your calendars very quickly and see if the Monday prior to that Tuesday or the Wednesday would work for everyone.

So please look at that first before we take a vote on what we are going to do.

Second.

Monday or Wednesday.

Monday or Wednesday.

What's the preference?

Monday?

Monday.

Preference seems to be Monday.

Would someone like to make that motion?

April.

Like to make a movement.

Second.

All right.

That is moved by Ms.

Parker, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Uh, let's just do a voice call vote.

Um, Ms.

Black.

Hi.

Mr.

Holston.

Yes.

Uh Ms.

Parker.

Hi.

Mr.

Marshall?

Aye.

Ms.

Crawford.

Aye.

Ms.

Roth?

Aye.

I am a yes.

And that passes unanimously.

Thank you so much, though.

It will be the March 2nd, 2026 meeting instead of the Tuesday, March 3rd.

Thank you all so very much.

All right.

Moving on.

Now is the time for consideration of our public hearings.

Our item H1, resolution authorizing an economic development incentive to Project Superman and an amount not to exceed $1,500 per job.

Mr.

City Manager.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'm going to ask our economic development director, Martha Gendal to provide counsel with the presentation.

Wrong one.

There we go.

All right, Mr.

Yandel?

Thank you.

Again, Marshall Yandel.

I'm the economic development manager.

Tonight we're uh going to have a public hearing for Hoffman Hoffman, also known as Project Superman.

No, I did not name the project.

Um Hoffman and Hoffman uh was established in nineteen forty-seven and is headquartered here in Greensboro and is an employee owned company.

The Hoffman Companies operates as manufacturer representatives selling commercial HVAC and hydronic pumping equipment and other HVAC related items as well as service and maintenance to those systems.

The company is then active in our Greensboro community and very civic minded, uh having relationships with elementary schools, Salvation Army, and other food banks here in Greensboro.

They considering seventy nine ten and seventy nine fifteen triad center drive, as well as expanding in Columbia, South Carolina.

Once the decision is made, the plan is to consolidate the existing Greensboro operations, retaining the three hundred and fifty employees and hiring another hundred and thirty-one new positions.

And none of those jobs would pay below the city minimum wage of twenty dollars an hour.

Those uh grants would be made possible by a match from the City of Greensboro and Guilford County.

Second slide here represents uh demonstrated the minimum uh requirements to be considered for incentives in the city of Greensboro.

Seven million of investment, minimum uh uh twenty-five new jobs, and those jobs need to be at or above the Guildford County average wage.

You need to meet two of those three requirements to be at least considered for incentives, and they meet all three of those requirements.

Staff recommends council consider this request to authorize these incentives of $1,500 per job being paid over five consecutive years.

The new jobs will be posted on the local workforce development board, and they will be required to host job fairs in each of the hiring phases.

Uh to have jobs in their uh company.

All aspects of this project are required to follow applicable local state and federal permitting guidelines.

Uh, here tonight is Mr.

Marvin J.

Price and Mr.

Brett Christensen from the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, as well as Ms.

Kelly Patterson and Jim Bingham from the company.

Do you have any questions?

Are there any questions from council concerning this?

Hearing none.

Um let's see, Mr.

Yandel, is that the end of your presentation?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, thank you.

Uh is there anyone in the public?

Let's open the public hearing.

Anyone in the public wishing to speak?

Hearing none.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Yandel.

I would accept a motion or any discussion from council.

Ms.

Thurm?

I'll move the item.

Ms.

Thurm moves the item.

Second.

Second by Ms.

Roth.

Broth.

Council, please vote.

Two and then three will be right after.

Thank you.

Sorry.

And that passes nine to zero.

Thank you for some good news there.

All right, item H2, public hearing for a street name change, administrative administration drive to women's college way.

Good evening, Madam Mayor and City Council.

My name is Chris Andrews with the planning department.

It's great to be before you tonight.

Street names are typically assigned in association with either a subdivision or some type of new development and reviewed by city staff in accordance with the city's addressing and street naming manual.

But from time to time, individuals or groups may petition to change a street name.

After the petition is filed, the request is typically reviewed by city staff, the planning and zoning commission, and then brought to city council for a final consideration and decision.

This item tonight is a request from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

And only campus property is affected by this request.

UNCG in its celebration of the legacy of its women's college era has requested to rename administration drive as women's college way.

The proposed name change aims to maintain affinity and relationships with their alumni and donor and future donor base.

They aim to honor UNCG's women's college roots and graduates to help remind current students who have paved who have helped pave their way and also to highlight UNCG's history and future.

This proposal was found by staff to be in keeping with the street naming and addressing manual.

And then at its November 17th meeting, the planning and zoning commission unanimously recommended approval of the item.

No one else spoke related to the subject.

All right.

At this point, are there any questions from council?

None?

Is I don't have anyone signed up to speak.

So in that case, I do not need to open or close the public hearing.

So do I have a motion?

Move by Mr.

Holston.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Seconded by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Thank you, Council.

And thank you.

All right.

Item H3, public hearing for an ordinance amending in the Greensboro Land Development Ordinance.

Fall 2025 ordinance amendments.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Much like a rezoning case, any amendment to the city's development ordinance requires planning and zoning.

Requires a planning and zoning commission recommendation and then city council approval.

Text amendments can be initiated by external applicants, but most of the time they're going to be initiated by city staff, often in response to observed trends or addressing a specific need in the zoning or development process.

And I'll explain what that is and use some visuals here in just a moment.

And it also the amendment also aims to address the relationship between some applications, development applications called preliminary subdivisions and final plates, and then finally to correct some spelling errors in the in the ordinance.

And so an IMUD is a designation that the city's development ordinance gives to properties that allows lots within a certain development to share some common features.

So I'm not going to read the full definition here, but there are some common features that are shared.

Right now, there's four of them common driveways, common parking, common sign plan, and then common landscaping.

So as part of the if it if an applicant is desiring one of these IMUDs as a as part of their development, there's essentially a unified design and function that's desired.

This is a uh on the ground iMUD.

This is four season station at Westgate City in Pinecroft, and this is where the new Whataburger and Chipotle and whatnot are.

But this is a development that has that designation.

Typically, if a development is coming through the city for review, there's going to be buffers around the perimeter, and each one of those lots would be required to provide those.

Within an IMUD, again, you have some shared landscaping, so then we concentrate just on the on the perimeter of that development.

So from an aerial photo, you know, you don't see these large buffers that might be required between different types of uses.

Instead, you might have just a buffer where the drive-thru is or where the parking lot is, and then you can see the larger landscaping around the perimeter.

So to get into the actual text of the or the actual text of the amendments, uh, one thing staff wanted to propose was that an IMUD could be designated kind of at any time by the applicant, not just during the subdivision process, as the purpose reads here.

Subdivision has definition uh in state statutes, uh, but you can also do division of land through what's called an exempt plat.

We're not the aim here is not to get into the details, but this is an amendment that will help staff uh helps clarify the process for staff and for applicants.

Um arguably the the biggest change here is the applicability for IMUDs.

This is something that will hopefully give some flexibility for developers.

Um right now the the applicability and requirement is that there are two or more non-residential establishments.

So typically you see this with commercial uh properties.

Uh but we we've been we we were approached by some developers that said, well, you know, what why why not have multifamily as part of that?

So you know, over time we kind of molded over and thought you know that that might be a great suggestion.

So you might have a relationship where there's a uh multifamily and then some type of uh recreational facility or a store, and uh where they would would be able to share some of that parking, um, you know, not have a buffer in between those properties.

So that's what this this change would allow.

And then you'll see number five and six are adding two more common features to the existing four, and that would include common stormwater management and common outdoor lighting.

Um just on the ground and actually kind of reviewing plans, those two things were already happening, so we're kind of just catching up to the to practice.

This slide just reflects what the uh amended definition of an IMUD would be.

Um then two more quick portions of this uh of the entire text amendment.

Um staff is recommending that we insert the term substantially.

Um there's a relationship between what are called preliminary subdivisions and final plats.

Uh, preliminary subdivision uh is a term that probably isn't wouldn't be used before council.

This this is kind of downstream from a rezoning.

So you might see a rezoning, and then a couple months down the road, the applicant is going to come to staff to file a preliminary subdivision plat to uh divide their property.

And it's kind of a bookmark, um, it gives some predictability to staff about where roads might be dedicated as right of way where the lots uh would be would be situated, if any sort of easements might be dedicated.

Uh and right now the text reads that it must conform.

Um as you get further down down the line, if you do some um you know maybe geological testing or there's some environmental features that creep up, you may have to shift roads, or you may have to move lots around.

So we wanted to just kind of um you know give some some comfort that hey, if you need to move some of these lines around, it doesn't have to be a carbon copy of what you had previously.

Um so uh wanted to insert that in there.

Uh again, going back to four season station.

This is an example of their preliminary subdivision, and I'll draw attention uh to the left side.

I think it's the Chick-fil-A lots.

Um the red line is where the preliminary subdivision showed the line, the lot line to be, and then after a while they figured out you know what, I don't know if it was an access easement or whatever.

The green line is where the final plat ended up, the the lot line was.

So there was no change in the number of lots, anything like that.

Um and so staff um would be able to support that, but we wanted to memorialize that.

And with with that that ends staff's uh summary of the uh the amendments.

Sure.

Mr.

Holson?

For for the purposes of future argument, um must conform, must substantially conform.

How do we or yeah, how do we define substantially?

Is there is it 70%, 80%, or are you are we trying to stay away from that?

But then again, who's the judge and what if um 50% is that substantial?

The typically not in terms of of we're not looking at terms of numbers, like if there were changing number of lots or something like that, those would likely be more substantial changes that the applicant would have to come back and re um you know, resubmit their plan.

Staff in the ordinance there are some thresholds for certain changes that take place that would have to come back to either staff or um you know we're not talking about rezoning cases either.

This is specifically for um items that are reviewed by staff.

Um but if we if we do need to have them resubmit an application, um there are some standards within the development ordinance that that give us guidance.

So you're saying that it's it's clear as mud.

That's clear as mud, yes.

Um it's just that it it just seems like it's it's gonna be it could be ripe for we don't we we have not had um you know issues with this.

I think this is more for internally for staff to be able to say if there are you know changes in how the lot lines are laid out, we're not requiring an applicant to come back and amend their preliminary subdivision to change one lot a you know few fractions of a degree.

Um so the ultimate arbiter of uh substantial would be the city.

So staff if I may, councilman, part of this is we get a lot of requests that to have more flexibility at the staff level instead of having to have some judgment on acceptance or as things change, especially as commercial properties change and things move and demands are different.

So part of this is to respond to the market that we're seeing and the request to have more internal flexibility so that we can get through the development review process a little quicker.

And I appreciate the flexibility.

I'm just you know, thank you down the line.

You know, we don't know it right now, but somehow I hope we don't come back and have to come back and further define a substantial because it went one way or the other.

I understand.

All right, Miss Thurm.

The IMUD designation, um can this be done way after the fact, like a new buyer buys a shopping center or a an apartment complex owner buys the shopping center next to them that's been there for 20 years.

Can they then ask for the IMUD or is this something that you can only do when you're building it or establishing the development?

It it can certainly be designated uh if there's a case of redevelopment, yeah.

And we we've had those.

Okay.

Um again, it's it's looking to kind of dissolve some of those features that lay between those lot lines or or beside those uh in interior lot lines.

But yes, it can definitely be uh it doesn't have to be at the initial development, um can happen in redevelopment as well.

I can see a lot of uses for this, and I think you know, especially as we look at some areas um that have gotten old and stale, and um we're having new investment come in.

I can see where this would be very beneficial.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Marshall.

Um back to the plat issue is substantial.

Um, the current language, what is the process when a a later change is is made?

Um is there an average time that it would take to resubmit that plat, get reapproved, and then be back to where they were before.

What I guess what I'm getting at is I think part of what we're doing here is trying to save some time in the review and uh make the developer able to get to the end of their project quicker.

I I think the thing that it was is attempting to be a convenience for the uh for the city as well as the applicant in that um when you have this relationship between a preliminary subdivision, that's a document that gets approved internally by city staff.

There's no recordation of that, it's just kind of sitting in the city's um hands, and then the the applicant or property owner will come in with subsequent final plats.

Um if that if the final plat is different than the preliminary subdivision, um it's giving the ability for us to say, hey, we don't need you to come in and every change you have on a final plat, also have a preliminary subdivision revision.

Um that no, if you have multiple sections of the subdivision, that's happen that could happen multiple times.

Um I not so much in in you know number of days or things, but um in submittals.

And I uh Madam Mayor, I just do want to add that as with any text amendment, you know, this applies to the whole city.

This is these are items that are not uh to a specific property.

Um, and then the staff did reach out to uh the uh TreeVick um for review and kind of comment by their uh membership.

We did not receive any uh comments uh back from that.

Um but again staff recommends approval of the amendments uh and that the planning and zoning commission November 17th they uh you unanimously recommended approval of the item as well.

All right, any further questions from council?

Hearing none, uh there's no one signed up to speak for the public hearing.

So I would accept the motion or if see if there's any further discussion.

I'll move the item move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Second by Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote.

Yes, there is a consistent consistency.

Go ahead, Ms.

Thurm.

The Greensboro City Council believes that it's action to recommend approval of the text amendment request for the fall 2025 general amendments to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable and in the public interest for the following reasons.

The request is consistent with allowing development that supports the comprehensive plans, future built form map and future land use map.

The text amendment better supports the Greensboro City Council's strategic goal of being an easy place to do business and also supports the goal of GSO 2040, the city's comprehensive plan in creating great places.

The request is reasonable due to the fact that the proposed amendments would allow for applicants to have added flexibility for shared features between compatible development sites, provides clarification for development review, and corrects errors in the land development ordinance.

All right, council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you so much.

All right, moving on to item H3, a public hearing for an ordinance amending.

Oh, I'm so sorry, that's H3.

Now we're only four.46 acres, Anardol and Ginaldo Bronson for Hispanos Incorporated, and H5, a public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning, 4218 Farlow Drive.

Arnaldo and Ginaldo Bronson for Hispanos Incorporated.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh, my name is Luke Carter with the City of Greensboro Planning Department.

I'll be presenting items uh H4 through H7 tonight.

I just want to um go over real quick uh why H4 and H5 are being presented together and H6 and H7 are being presented together.

Whenever a property owner desires access to city utilities, usually it's water and or sewer that necessitates that that request.

It is the city's policy to require the annexation of that property.

So with an annexation, you get first the annexation request and then the original zoning request.

So H4 is the annexation, H5 is the original zoning request.

So this is the zoning map of the subject property, which is uh 4218 Farlow Drive.

This subject property is approximately 0.46 acres and is located south of Farlow Drive and east of Gramacy Park Drive.

This is an annexation and regional zoning request from County RS40, which is a single family designation in the county, to City R3, which is residential single family three, and that's approximately three dwelling units per acre.

North, east, and west of the request are zoned county RS40, and south of the request is County Agricultural.

This is the aerial map of the subject property showing that it is currently undeveloped.

Actually, there is a single family dwelling located on the property now that is under construction.

So the map was taken before the construction took place, and it's under construction now.

North, east, south, and west of the request contains single family dwellings.

This is the future land use map from the GSO 2040 comprehensive plan, which designates the property as residential.

This is the future built form map for the property, which designates it as urban general.

In recommending approval of the original zoning requests, staff notes that the GSO 2040 comprehensive plan currently designates this property as urban general on the future book form map and residential on the future land use map.

The proposed original zoning request supports both the comprehensive plans creating great places goal to expand Greensboro's citywide network of unique neighborhoods, offering residents of all walks of life a variety of quality housing choices and the filling in our framework big idea to arrange our land uses for where we live, work, attend school, shop, and enjoy our free time to create a more vibrant and livable Greensboro.

The proposed R3 zoning district is primarily intended to accommodate low density single family detached residential development similar to uses present on adjacent tracks.

And with that, I can answer any questions that you have.

Are there any questions from council?

Hearing none.

Hearing none.

Okay, so let's vote first on item H4.

Council, please vote.

I need a motion and a second.

Is moving the item.

Do I hear a second?

Second of mine, Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

And now I need a motion on H5 that requires the statement of consistency.

Do I have a motion?

Move by Miss Black, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote.

And Miss Black, would you read the statement of consistency, please?

Starting with H5.

The City Greensboro City Council believes that it is actions to approve the original zoning request for the property of 4218 Farlow Drive from County RS40 to City R 3 to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable and in the public interest for the following reasons.

The request is consistent with the comprehensive plans future built form map and future land use map.

The proposed city R3 zoning district permits uses that fit the context of the surrounding area and limits negative impact on the adjacent properties.

The request is reasonable due to the size, physical conditions, and other attributes of the area.

It will benefit the property owner and surrounding community, and approval is in the best in the public's interest.

All right.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you.

Moving on to item six and item seven, h6 and h7.

A public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for the property located at 4212 South Elmu Jean Street and a portion of Ritters Lake Road, ROW, 9.34 acres.

Amanda Hodiern and others.

An item H7, a public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for property at 4212 South Elm U Gene Street and a portion of Ridders Lake Road right of way.

Amanda Hoad Yarn for South Elm Baptist Church Incorporated and the City of Greensboro.

Yes, go ahead.

Thank you, Mayor.

This is the zoning map of the subject property.

And again, it is 4212 South Elm Ugene Street and a portion of the Ridders Lake Road right-of-way.

And just a note on the right-of-way, whenever a property that is being annexed is adjacent to primary corporate limits.

And what the property that is between the property that's requesting to be annexed and the existing corporate limits of the city, that public land, the right-of-way is included with that application as well for annexation.

So that's why a portion of the Riders Lake right-of-way is included in this.

This is the aerial map of the subject property.

The subject property currently contains a religious assembly use on it.

North, east, and south of the request contain north of the request contains undeveloped land that is zoned for commercial.

East of the request contains single family dwellings and undeveloped land, and south of the request is an industrial use.

West of the request is a residential subdivision that is previously or recently approved for rezoning.

This is the future land use map of the subject for the subject property showing that is designated as residential.

This is the future built form map, which shows that it is urban general and actually shows that it is near a district scale activity center.

That's the red cross axis you see just north of that.

And recommending approval of this request, staff notes that the GSO 2040 Comprehensive Plan as stated designates the site as urban general on the future built form map and residential on the future land use map.

The proposed original zoning request supports the GSO 2040 building community connections big idea to maintain stable, attractive, and healthy places to live and raise families.

The proposed public and institutional zoning district supports land uses present on the subject property and uh compatible with the area's general character.

And this annexation and original zoning request were both heard by the uh planning and zoning commission at the November 17th meeting.

Uh and they were both recommended uh unanimously for approval.

I can answer any questions that you have.

Are there any questions?

I have no one signed up for the public hearing, so um I know Miss Hodiern is here.

If there should be any questions, any questions for hearing none, I would accept a motion.

I'll move the item item.

That was a tie.

Mr.

Marshall.

I'll second.

Uh Ms.

Black seconded.

Uh all right, so that is um item H6 and H7.

All right.

Council, please vote on H6.

And that passes 9 to 0.

And now for H7, which will need the letter of consistency.

I'll move that one as well.

Move by Mr.

Marshall.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Mr.

Allen.

All right.

Mr.

Marshall.

The Greensboro City Council believes that it's action to approve the original zoning request for the property at 4212 South Elm Eugene Street and a portion of Ritter's Lake Road right away from County AG agricultural to city PI, public and institutional, to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable and in the public interest for the following reasons.

The request is consistent with the comprehensive plans, future belt form map and future land use map.

The proposed city PI zoning district permits uses that fit the context of the surrounding area and limits negative impacts on adjacent properties.

The request is reasonable due to the size, physical conditions, and other attributes of the area.

It will benefit the property owner and surrounding community, and approval is in the public interest.

All right, council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Thank you very much.

And I did want to explain to council why there is a delay for your vote screen to come up.

It's because we are now posting on the screen who voted for what.

So there is a slight delay there.

That's why it takes us a moment to vote.

So wanted to make sure you knew that.

That is all of our public hearing items.

Let us move on to our general business items.

And this is the time for those consideration of such.

Thank you and good after good evening, Madam Mayor and City Council.

My name is Russ Clegg.

I work in the planning department and manage the long-range planning division.

Tonight we will be reviewing and considering the approval of a sales development agreement between the redevelopment commission of Greensboro, the City of Greensboro, and the Alexander Company of Wisconsin for property at 734 South Elm Street, owned by the Redevelopment Commission.

I'm going to give you a beef bit of a brief bit of background about the project, and then Dave Fawlts of Alexander Company will be here to talk about the project in more detail.

Sales development agreements spell out the terms for eventual disposition.

We will actually be transferring any property tonight or tomorrow.

But what this does do is allow time for due diligence for the purchaser of the property to do more work investigating the property as well as creating more time for them to develop a building program so they can show us the final versions of architecture and financing and things of that nature, as well as working out any mitigation measures with the state.

In short, doing all the things they need to do to make sure they can sell and buy and develop the property.

We've looked at a couple of different scenarios for how it might be funded and know that they can they can do the project.

The plan that was adopted in 2007 had several key elements to it.

One transforming it as a gateway.

Gate City Boulevard is very important to the city and to downtown as is Elm Street, forging connections to area neighborhoods and to downtown, addressing the existing environmental issues, which we've done through a lot of remediation there, and in short, restoring economic use to the area and establishing a mix of uses and creating a mix of incomes with the residents in the area.

So this sales development agreement has a development program that includes 128 apartment units, a shell for future retail use.

He'll explain all those uh details in a little bit more when he comes up.

The timeline associated with the sales development agreement, uh, once the once it's signed and there's an effective date, they will have 90 days to do an inspection period that allows them to do any geotechnical work, any soil sampling, um, do any kind of surveys they need to do to make sure they understand there's no surprises on the property.

Once they complete that, we'll go into a 12-month phase where they will work with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to work on the financing portion of the project.

Um that at that point, the $30,000 deposit becomes non-refundable.

They'll also work on the additional pre-closing deliverables that are due to the redevelopment commission.

I have those in a subsequent slide.

Umce they send those to the commission, once those are approved by the commission, and if anything needs to come back to city council, um they'll have 10 days to actually close on the property.

Uh once they close on the property, then they'll begin construction within one month and they'll complete it within 24 months.

So prior to closing, uh, we'll see the final site plan elevations, make sure they're conforming with the the redevelopment plan, the design guidelines for the South Alm redevelopment area, as well as for downtown.

We'll have drawing specifications that fully show the architectural details and the interior layout.

We'll have the final building development program, their phasing schedule, their development budget.

They will have financing in hand before we close on the property.

Uh the marketing and their affordability levels will we'll also know in detail.

Um, and if there's any city financial participation for the housing or for the publicly available parking or any of those other pieces, we'll have that agreed to as well.

Uh at this point, uh, before Mr.

Voss comes off, I'd like to answer any questions that you may have.

All right.

Any questions?

Go ahead, Miss Thurman.

At this point, do you know what the anticipated ask is of the city in terms of our part of the financing on this?

Do we have any?

I I've heard numbers, but I don't know whether they're real or not.

Is there any ballpark?

Yeah, so it kind of depends on what funding they get from the housing finance agency primarily.

Um they would be looking at it, and I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but they would be looking at a couple million dollars in housing, and that would come from the funds we have for housing already, part of they would be applying to our housing programs.

Um, and then there would be some from the housing from the Southown redevelopment bonds.

Um, and so that could be I want to say anywhere from four to six million for the parking piece for publicly available parking.

There could be some monies that we have said we would have available for downtown parking as well.

So that will be determined in more detail though as we move forward on that.

Do we anticipate that the LITEC application will be in the 26th year or of the 2020 twenty-seven?

The 2026 application year just making it.

Okay.

And if LITECONES, I mean, we're we're only we've approved several projects already to apply for LITEC in 2026, and they're not all going to go through.

So I'm trying to get a feel for what happens if Mr.

Vosk can speak in a little bit more detail to that.

I know the the initial round is for the 9% competitive deals, and that gives us a little better rate, obviously.

Um, and based on his analysis, they feel they are competitive in that realm, and then the 4% would follow if they're not successful as that.

But those are I'll let him speak in his bunch of the state.

Yeah, I just have questions about if they go to four percent, then it's would the expectation be that the city makes up the difference between the five and the four, or how that might work.

I just want to know what we're committing to.

Yeah, and I'll let Mr.

Voss speak to that.

Thank you.

All right, so um we do have a speaker on this item.

Would the applicant like to go ahead and speak or yes, he okay, and then we'll have the speaker.

Okay, and then we'll have the speaker.

If that is council's pleasure.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this item.

Um my name is David Voss.

I'm a development project manager with the Alexander Company.

Um I started with the company in almost embarrassed to say 1988.

So that's been a while.

Um I did leave for a couple of years, uh, and was turning cornfields into office buildings.

Um but um that was in the early 90s, and in the early 90s, we hit a recession.

Um the commercial office market fell out, and I found a haven back at the Alexander Company.

Um I'm glad I made the change to go back because we've been doing urban infill adaptive re historic adaptive reuse and mixed income housing ever since.

And the feeling getting up in the morning when you're doing something positive like this is much better than just trying to make money creating office buildings out of cornfields.

So I'll get on with my presentation.

Um little history of the company.

The Alexander Company was founded by Randy Alexander, it's a second generation company.

Um, Joe and Nick Alexander is the president and vice president currently running the company.

Um we've done quite a bit of development as you can see.

Um most important things about our company is that we're very focused and deliberate and cautious about what we do because it is a family-owned business.

Um so we create a team that's involved in every project, and because we anticipate having long-term ownership of the project, we want to make sure that we're not designing something that we can't afford to build, that we're not building something we can't afford to manage and maintain.

Um, so that's why we have our in-house team of all these disciplines involved in every project that we do.

Um in this process, when we're evaluating a project, we probably have a dozen projects that we say no to before we ever consider taking on a project like this project that we're talking about in Greensboro.

Um, most of our focus has been on the eastern half of the country.

Um, my area has been primarily the uh the mid-Atlantic area from Rhode Island down to North Carolina.

Um, a couple of examples of the work that we've done, um, the Liberty uh project in Fairfax, Virginia.

Um this is the former DC correctional facility, and um that project we are just completing the final phase.

There's been a number of phases on that project, but it's a 200 million dollar project.

Um we built 171 apartments, um adaptive historic adaptive reuse projects.

Umits are affordable, the balance of them are market rate.

Um there's 157 townhomes that were built on the site, 24 single family homes, and 174,000 square feet of commercial space.

Um of the things that makes us very attractive is the fact that there's so many community amenities.

You can see from this plan there's a central green.

Um the central greens available for all the residents of the community to use.

There is a cross-county trail that's kind of running along the northern edge and western edge of the property.

You can see that in the yellow line.

Um there was quite a bit of community engagement in this project as well.

A citizens advisory committee was created to guide us through the neighborhood groups that were all affected in the proximity of this development.

And one of the primary changes that occurred was um you see all the town homes and kind of the orangish color around the central green.

We had those wrapping around the green, but with the community engagement and the input from the historic preservation folks, um, they really felt there need to be more connectivity between the reformatory on the lower part and the and the penitentiary in the upper part.

Um so by moving the town homes to the periphery uh down in the lower right-hand corner, that created that connectivity, which is very visible from the cross county trail.

Um Dan River Falls is a project we are just completing as well.

This is um in Danville, Virginia, and this is a public-private partnership between the Alexander Company and the City of Danville through their redevelopment authority.

Uh the redevelopment authority is currently um mass releasing the commercial space in the building.

There's 147,000 square feet of commercial space.

Um we built 190 mixed income apartments using Virginia's workforce housing loan program.

Um, so a percentage of our units are set aside for those earning 80% of the median income.

Um there's 207 interior parking spaces, and it's surrounded by a seven-acre park.

Um, the city has plans to create a white water um rafting course around the project, so when that is completed, the building will literally be on an island, um, separated by the river and it and the canal that's being used for whitewater activities.

So when that is completed, the building will literally be on an island, separated by the river and it and the canal that's being used for whitewater activities.

Printworks Mill was another joint venture between the Alexander Company and the city.

The redevelopment authority owned this building.

They had twice had developers put in proposals to redevelopment, and both times the development fell through.

So they selected us to come in and redevelop the building.

Did I go backspace here?

Oh, this is Printworks Mill.

I did this last time I made this presentation too because it looks so similar in a lot of ways.

But Printworks Mill, that's here in Greensboro, of course.

And and Printworks mill had been vacant for a long, long time.

It was a blight on the neighborhood, the roofs were caving in.

There were six stories of structures that had fallen down in the basement of the building.

Kind of interesting because when we're getting the approvals from council to do this project, there was a street renaming item on the agenda.

So when I saw the street renaming item on the agenda here, I I started having PTSD because it was it was a Josephine Boyd street renaming.

And if you were on council at that time, you know that was a very, very long meeting.

And thankfully when they voted to adjourn, the mayor spoke up and said, Well, Mr.

Voss traveled all the way here from Wisconsin, which at least here is item before we adjourn.

So I'm glad they did.

And I'm also glad I was here for that meeting because I was so inspired by Josephine's story that we named the community room at Printworks after her, did a public dedication to that space, and I got the opportunity of meeting her family and listening to the stories about this brave young woman.

So sorry about the little sidebar.

Keep going.

So Printworks Mill is a 217 apartments, 74 market rate, and 143 units that are serving 60% of the median income.

This was a 4% low-income housing tax credit project, working with NCHFA.

And there's 9,000 square feet of commercial space and 80,000 square feet of self-storage.

We have about 460 self-storage units in the in the building.

This project was a redevelopment authority project that I'd mentioned previously.

We have 101 apartments, 57 market rate, and 44 affordable.

This is another four nine percent low-income housing tax credit project.

And there's 3,000 square feet of commercial space in this building.

Capital US, I'll run through real quickly.

So I just wanted to point that out that we not only have done multifamily condominiums, apartments, commercial space, self-storage, but we also have done parking as well.

So our experience is pretty broad.

Southgate Market, the project that we're talking about today has about 29,000 square feet of future commercial space.

Liberty, the Lidl grocery store there occupied about 28,000 square feet, so we wanted to be able to accommodate a similar size grocery store in this in the space.

We have planned 128 units on floors two through five.

75% of the units will be one bedroom.

So that reduces the amount of reliance on vehicles.

We really see the fact that people be able to live close to where they work at South Elm to reduce the amount of parking demand in the South Elm or South Elm area.

And we believe that it creates more safety too for the people that work in this in the South Elm businesses, whether it be bartenders or servers or hospitality workers, that they can walk just a few short blocks to their home.

There's two different scenarios.

One is with the 9% low-income housing tax credits.

We have a much lower affordable rate.

So we've set aside 41.4% of the units at 70, 50 to 70% of the AMI.

If we're not successful in securing 9% credits, then we switch the program to a 4% program.

The 9% program, the applications are due in January, and in the 4% program, they're due in May.

So we'll submit in January.

If we're not awarded credits for 9%, then we'll switch to 4%.

I think every one of the rooms here desires that we get the 9% credits because the neighborhood really wants to have more market rate housing, and we'd like to do that as well.

So we are really hopeful that we can get the 9% application.

Go with the lower affordability, and it also reduces the ask from the city.

And again, we'll have a lot of amenities with a community room, fitness center, storage units, rooftop patio, and the ever important in today's environment, the pet spot, and hopefully a dog park.

It seems like everyone now is having dogs instead of kids, so we have to accommodate them in today's developments.

Just kind of give you a layout of how the project lays out.

Sorry about the redundancy.

Gate City Boulevard is on your right, so that is north.

And the Elm Street is on the bottom, running east north-south.

This is the lower level, and we have parking in a lower level in white.

The portion that's in yellow is actually underneath the building itself.

We had met with the greenway folks, and they really wanted more interaction between the building and the greenway.

So what we've agreed to do is push that parking up the page to the west towards the railroad tracks, and that's going to create an amenity space right along South Elm Street that can include perhaps a tot lot, a gazebo, which NCHFA requires, or it could create a dog park as well.

But really want to be able to tie the like the greenway to the lobby that you see in that lower left-hand corner of the building.

The other change that we're going to make after meeting with some of the folks from Preservation Greensboro is that on the next plan, you see that we have the community room and fitness room in the corner of Gate City Boulevard.

It was our intention to activate that corner immediately with our community room and fitness room.

But they felt that there wasn't enough emphasis and enough interaction with the street with those uses.

So what we've agreed to do is move the community room and fitness room up to the second floor, which I'll show you on a future slide.

And we're going to move our leasing office down to that lower left-hand corner so that the leasing office has direct view of those amenity spaces that lead to the greenway.

So we'll have a small retail space on this corner instead, which will help activate the streets and create a more pedestrian and friendly environment.

On this plan, you see on the left-hand side again the parking that was down at that lower level.

That area on the left-hand side also becomes the future trays of parking.

So when you look at what's in yellow on this plan, those hundred and roughly 150 parking spaces can become a grocery store in the future.

We're creating 20-foot high floor to floor so that we have enough apple space to put in the grocery store in that space.

If a grocery comes, then we can add the tiers of parking to the west hand side, the left-hand side of the site.

The upper floors kind of shows how the building wraps around a rooftop patio.

So we'll have probably not as much green as shown on here, but there'll be some green roof on that roof on that plan.

We're gonna have to create a dog house, obviously, for mechanicals if a grocery store does come in.

But you can see that the fitness center and the community room in light green are on this floor.

And then each of the tenants also have storage, so they have places to store their boxes and luggage and things like that.

Those are the dark gray areas that you see on the inside corners.

This just shows a kind of a cross section of what we're looking at with the building, and again, you can see where the future parking deck would be, the surface parking on the left-hand side, the grocery store in the center, and then the residential units up above.

As far as the design of the building, we were taking inspirations from the area's industry.

Textiles are obviously very big in Greensboro.

So we wanted to create kind of a softer building material ensemble.

And one of those is by creating a screen on the glazing around the parking.

That glazing would be the future glazing for the grocery store.

But while it's a parking, we can add a film to the glazing itself to kind of give the image of a loom.

That's looming jeans.

Or we can do it with a fabric itself.

And in the lower center part, you see what we're looking at for the actual building material.

So the lighter colors are the are the brushed concrete material that are is being used on the facade of the building.

And you can see kind of the looming effect of the uh glazing on the left hand side.

That would be the retail space on the corner of South Elm and Gate City Boulevard.

And as you move down the site, you to the left, you're heading towards the uh the greenway.

And you kind of get a glimpse of the rooftop patio there as well.

Um this is the corner of the southeast corner of the building, so this would be towards the greenway.

Um and this is where the future parking deck would be added if the grocery store did occupy that space.

Where you see the number 714, that would be the residential lobby and the leasing office.

So that would be looking over this amenity space that we're going to be creating next to the greenway.

And this is the elevation from Gate City Boulevard.

Um again, you've got the um future um parking sorry, future retail space grocery store on the right hand side with the screening, and then on the left-hand side we'd have a small retail space as well.

It's right on the corner of Kate City Boulevard in South Elm.

That's just kind of a close-up of the rooftop deck and the uh corner, and I believe that's it.

That was a mouthful.

I'm sorry.

Great, thank you.

Are there any questions from council?

Any discussion?

I'd like to hear from the um one who signed up for to speak on this.

Yes, and thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um we have any questions, we'll get back.

Uh Mr.

Jason Hicks, if you would like to come up now, please.

Mr.

McGriffin as well.

Mr.

Hicks signed up.

Yeah, got it.

Wait, what Mr.

Griffin?

Yeah.

Oh, can I go first?

He wanted new job.

Okay, how are you doing?

My name is James Griffin from the Warren'sville community.

First of all, I'd like to thank um actually congratulate all of you guys for winning the elections, and I think this is going to be a fabulous city council.

First of all, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening on behalf of the Warren's Community Coalition.

Warner's Bill is the first planned community, period, in the city of Greensboro.

It's also the first African American community in the city of Greensboro.

It was also the first heritage community approved by the city council in the city of Greensboro.

So we are we're very proud of that, and we're very proud of what we're doing here.

We support the decision they made by the redevelopment commission to award initial phase to the Alexander Group for the construction of affordable marketplace, housing, and future grocery store.

For years, this home has been the area where properties were so and reduced was reduced significantly in prices, and properties remained abandoned for decades.

However, we realized that this is just the beginning.

We believe that connecting union cemetery, which is part of our history, which was basically formed in 1865 between the union of five churches, uh, could be an effective marketing strategy that combines local neighborhoods and city services in the future.

We envision an innovation district that extends down Elm Street, combines retail, student and senior housing, jobs, green space, and historic character.

Union Square, the health facility that's on the corner, um, is a combination of higher education, UNCG, North Carolina NT, Greensboro College, and Gift of Technical College, excuse me, not Greensboro College, but Green Gift Technical College and Cone Health.

The if the union, it is a union of five neighborhoods coming together.

Southside community, O Ashboro Street, Arlington Park, downtown Greensboro, and Warren's View Community.

So we've been working on this for several years as far as planning and thinking about what we wanted to do.

And we've come to the conclusion that we have new partners now with the Southeast United United Five Group who are supporting us and everybody in the surround surrounding communities.

With the city's expertise and guidance, we are confident that it's done properly.

With the city's expertise and guidance, we are confident that if done properly, the innovation district can and will become a place of destination for all the citizens of Greensboro, called with a possible name of Union Points.

But that comes later.

But thank you so much, and we appreciate everything that you do and everything that you were going to do.

Thanks.

Thank you, Mr.

Griffin.

Mr.

Hicks.

Good evening, y'all.

I guess I would say, you know, for like 20 years, nearly 20 years.

This has been like an idea, right?

Just an idea.

And I think it's uh fitting that many of you that were able to attend some of those meetings that Mr.

Voss put together.

Uh I think it's fitting that y'all are gonna vote on this tonight and excited about what that looks like.

Um I just want to I think it's be remiss to not just come up and say separate from like all the the good stuff, something even better is I just want to mention that uh Mr.

Voss uh has been exceptional throughout the process.

Uh I think that there's a lot of a lot of times a lot of meetings I've been to over the past couple years where it's talked about like did you have a community meeting, did you reach out to the surrounding communities?

Did you do all those things?

And he did.

Uh so you know, I think that I just want to point out that you know he was responsive and uh you know really willing to open openly communicate with the community, and I hope for all those reasons y'all will vote in favor of this proposal.

Thank y'all.

Thank you.

Nice to hear.

Um, all right.

So are any questions from council?

Ms.

Black.

I just wanted to uh lift up the comment to Mr.

Voss that in that retail space, I would like to see conditions put on it of what it cannot be going forward in that way.

Um retail can be very broad, and as we move down the line of life, uh we want to be able to secure that that remains a sustainable place.

So if we could look at having some conditions around what it cannot be, and that can be based on the input from the community.

Um, but ideally um we know what we would want to see there, but I would hate for it to move forward and be idolatry, you know, which is not something that we look for in our communities all the time.

So I would just like to uplift that as a condition that we think about considering to put in that space.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Holston, anybody else?

I'm also excited about this project.

I I did have the opportunity to listen to the presentation previously, and uh piggybacking on what council member black has said regarding um uh making sure that we uh receive what we're expecting to receive, and a lot of times we don't always do that, and putting those conditions so that um you know everybody can really continue to enjoy these on a long-term basis, is important.

What's also important for me is you know, talk about the different variety of things that are going to be there.

We're talking about you know the fitness center, talking about the greenway, talking about the retail, talking about the future potential for the grocery store.

Um, but also you're talking about you know the low the the at LITEC funding, whether it's the 9% or the or the 4%.

What I'm also even more excited about is that there's market rate, so you have this whole mixture going on.

It's not one thing or the other, it's not a concentration of one or the other, it's a variety in all aspects, and it's right there at that gateway, that doorway to uh to to downtown Greensboro, so to speak, downtown one way, Warren'sdale uh the other's way.

And I'm just very excited about the project and looking forward to uh that solution coming to uh that community that's been looking for it for so so many years.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Anyone else?

I've I would like to make just a few comments.

Um I do recall the discussions back in 2006.

I was attending some of those meetings, and I know Mr.

Griffin was as well uh about what was needed and wanted in the area, and I do think this is a major step forward.

Um, and I Mr.

Voss, thank you for your presentation, and thank you for taking the time to talk to the community.

Um, I do know that you know there are certain things we cannot exclude due to state law.

However, um I do know that Mr.

Voss with his presentation is wanting to try to attract the businesses that um we are expecting and hoping to have there.

So I know that uh you know, upon further communication with Mr.

Voss, we can we can move forward with that, and I do appreciate that very much.

So um I would accept a motion uh from council moved by Mr.

Holston, second, second and by Miss Crawford, uh please vote, Council.

I think it's me.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you so much, everyone.

All right, so um I'm going to go at the pleasure of council.

I I would personally like to take a small break, about 10 minutes, but I would like to come back very promptly if uh that's the pleasure of counsel.

All right, all right, great.

We will break for 10 minutes.

Please come back within 10 minutes.

The holiday season is here, and so is GTN's annual holiday guide in honor of the word of the year.

We're gonna give you six seven ways to enjoy the holiday season in Greensboro.

December downtown is a place you want to be so many things going on from the Festival of Lights to the parade to the jingle jog and much more.

And the man who knows it all is Zach Metheny.

Hello.

What a day in downtown Greensboro right now.

I mean, it it doesn't look like we're in December, but we certainly are in December.

The tree is up behind us.

Skating rink is back this year in the Bauer Park.

Skating Rink's back, Piedmont Winterfest, it's gone until the end of January.

Weather looks really good right now.

It is gonna be chilly, so it's perfect ice skating weather.

That helps the ice skating rink, but we have a little bit cooler temperatures out there for sure.

What about uh the big man himself, Santa?

Is he gonna make some visits?

Santa is making an appearance uh throughout December, and you can visit downtown Greensboro.org to check out his schedule to see where he's gonna be.

All right, no, tell me about uh Food Line's holiday lane.

What is that?

That is you know, Foodline made their big announcement, and so they really want to make their push out there.

So Foodline is activating the park, uh, and they're gonna have some great things to give away and just get bring some excitement more to the Peter Mont Winterfest, which is the ice ring.

Coming in the middle of December, and of course, events happening all along downtown.

Uh if you're not coming downtown for a specific event, what's the best way to really get a good feel of downtown during the holiday season and enjoy it?

Honestly, what I love seeing is people just grabbing uh hot cocoa or coffee.

You can even stroll with uh adult beverage and just check out the the windows as you mentioned, the holiday decorations, and you'll I bet you you'll see something you didn't know was downtown, and little things like Little St.

Next, which is taking over the Little Brother Brewing, things that are always new.

So just come and stroll.

We're gonna definitely do it.

Downtown in December, downtown Greensboro.

Find out all about it by going to downtown Greensboro.org.

Take a walk in the winter wonder lights at the Greensboro Science Center.

It's a fun thing to do with the family this holiday season.

Becca, what is new at Winter Wonder Lights this year?

Well, welcome to our sixth annual Winter Wonder Lights, brand new for this year.

Handmade Chinese style lanterns behind us.

We've got one of them.

We've got an iguana.

We also have a green wing macaw and a clouded leopard.

So these are all animals that are gonna call our rainforest biodome home.

Yeah, and if you notice it's a little foggy, that's why we're getting that rainforest wheel right now.

And this isn't the only new thing.

No, so we also have our Merry Mermaids.

They're in our Merry Mermaid Grotto.

So they have learned to walk from our resident epaulette sharks.

And so they are educating guests on aquatic species and the aquatic species that call the Greensboro Science Center home.

How many lights are here?

Any idea?

Oh, more than a million.

For sure, for sure.

And really every inch of the Science Center's cover.

Just about every inch of the Science Center is covered.

You know, every year we're finding more and more spaces where we can put more of those lights in and even add more and more to that more than a million.

And so talk about the experience when you come here.

Like how's the best way to get the most out of your time?

Yeah, so you know, you're gonna have a timed ticket, and so come at that time.

Um you're gonna make sure you get a parking spot, and then just come and enjoy the time with your family.

So and your friends, you know, this is really an experience, you know, be here for the magic and really just be here together and experience it, have fun, take pictures, and of course, drink what I think is the best hot chocolate in Greensboro.

Yeah, I'll never turn down a cup of hot chocolate.

That is for sure.

It's good.

Do you have a favorite of favorite spot here at the Science Center of during winter wonderlights?

Yeah, I think one of my favorite spots is also our guest favorite spots.

So I absolutely love our tunnel.

I think there's something so magical about Marshmallow World.

And you know, it's a great place to take a good family photo.

I love it.

And is there also some ice skating this year?

Ice skating.

Ice skating, yes.

You know, of course, here at the Science Center, we pull a little magic out of our hats.

So we do have snow, and we also have ice skating.

So we have sock skating inside where our big fountains are, and um you can see three places where there are snow down in our zoo.

Uh, any other special events we should have on our radar during the holiday season here at the science center.

Well, there will be a very jolly man coming to the science center.

Wonder.

So you might want to see if you're on I'm on his nice list.

Oh you'll have to check in with him and see if you're on his naughty or nice list.

I think you're on the nice list.

Okay, good thing.

I appreciate it.

Well, we'll look forward to seeing Santa.

And again, how long can we visit?

I mean, how long is this open?

So this is open now until January 4th to get a full schedule of events and to grab those tickets at the Greensboro Science.org.

No holiday shopping trip is complete without a stop at Toys Co.

And Mark Colcomb has been doing this for a lot of years, showing us the hot toys.

Hi, how are you?

I'm doing great.

Thanks for being here.

Happy holidays.

All right, let's talk.

Let's start with the little ones as we do.

With the youngest ones, one of our uh best sellers and favorites is the spin again.

It's your classic stacking toy with a twist.

Um, it's threaded so that as the rings go on and as they come off, they spin.

I'm making a mess here.

Then as you put them back on, they spin down.

So it has a cause and effect kind of aspect to it, which keeps kids engaged.

Love it, love it.

And then our best seller of all time for the young ones for the one-year-olds is the fun time tractor right here.

Um the right animals in the right place make the corresponding sounds.

Um McDonald sings his own little song.

The horn works.

What's really cool is when you press the smokestack, it takes off across the floor.

I love it.

So it's probably 30 years that's been around, so it's one of our favorites.

Um the Explore and Learn Magic Cube from Hope.

It's a German company.

Every side has a different activity on it, including the top.

Um, as well as uh interactive soundmaking piano that's also a synthesizer, so it makes nature sounds, it makes vehicle sounds, etc.

So with the bead maze a lot going on here.

This year, too, it's Corol, which is a French doll company, it's their 45th anniversary.

Um, I think we've been carrying Corolla for the four full 45 years.

Um, these are really popular.

Well, a lot of people are getting back to basic play with uh wooden blocks, wooden train sets, dolls, kitchen play, that sort of thing.

So we thought we'd feature corral, um, some of the most durable, sweetest play dolls that are out there.

Very sweet.

Yes, my daughter's had them as well.

We're also excited about the vending machine from Melissa and Doug.

It's just like any other vending machine, it takes coins.

But once you put the coins in, you can press based on the color and it dispenses your item at the bottom, just like a regular vending machine.

Oh, so fun.

And you can load whatever you want to from the back of it.

Really fun.

Hook Rally.

It's a new game from uh Fat Brain Toys.

It's the old hook and ring game where you're trying to get the rings on the hooks.

I'm terrible at this game.

But it's uh that's why you're not on the other side doing it.

Um you're trying to be the first one to get three.

So it's uh head to head.

And it's harder because the the target moves.

Yeah, they do move.

I'm trying to at least hook one.

Anyways, that's a really good solar forest, too.

And then the claw game here.

It's a kid's version of the classic claw game.

So it works just like the real thing.

Unlike the real thing, you actually can win things.

You actually can win.

I don't think I ever have on the full size.

Alright, so what do we have here?

A really popular license this year is Formula One.

A lot of people are following.

I think there's a Netflix show on it, following on the weekends when they race, but uh a lot of our companies are doing something Formula One.

Hot Wheels has a couple of brand new sets that look really cool.

We have some really nice remote control Formula One cars.

Lego also doing Formula One, and even for the youngest kids, Duplo has our own little Formula One set.

Oh, those are super cute.

All right, one more stop over here.

Virtual reality kits.

This was new a couple of years ago, and they've really expanded into some new subject matter.

What this is is you get a viewer, the book with full color content, put your smartphone into the viewer.

As you're reading through the book, it comes to life.

There are different little uh codes in the book that cause the video app to come to life, and you have it here in a virtual 3D world learning the content.

The newest one is ESPN that we just got in on Friday.

A really good gift for say six and up all the way up to teenagers.

Mark, what's your favorite thing about the holiday season in Greensboro?

Um, the people.

Yeah, the crowds coming in, it's unbelievable.

The energy in here is fantastic.

And it seems to get better every year.

How is that happening?

I don't know.

Take it from me and my friend here.

Come visit Toys and Co-In Friendly Center or online at Toys Co.com.

What better way to show your gratitude to a loved one who is a veteran than with a brick that is at the Guilford County Veterans Memorial and Susan Danielson is board chair for the memorial.

Hello.

Hey.

So tell us about the bricks.

There are how many bricks already here at the memorial.

There are 1,233 personalized bricks at the Guilford County Veterans Memorial.

Each one with a name and what is not on there is a story, and there are lots of stories here.

That's true.

Everybody who is memorialized on these bricks has a wonderful story to tell, and you can't tell that story on three lines.

We have expanded our website to include a space to add photos and biography of the person who's memorialized on the brick.

So this is a lovely way to honor someone in your life who served and was a veteran.

Tell us about how you actually do it and how the process works.

It's pretty simple to order a brick.

It's done through our website, GC Veterans Memorial.org.

Each brick costs 250 dollars.

That is tax deductible because we are a nonprofit.

We review the submissions to make sure that what's on the order form is gonna look great on the brick.

We ensure that the brick has been paid for, and then we send it out for the brick to be made.

And about two months after the brick is ordered, our great friends at Parks and Rec will in place the brick.

Then I photograph the brick, I catalog it, and I place it on the website so that we you can search for your brick through the searchable database.

And you can come to the memorial and actually see it in person.

That's the best way to find out about the brick and to see your brick is to come in person.

And every brick has an incredible story behind it.

So we really want to get those stories out there.

There are so many veterans in Guilford County who need to be honored, who need to have their legacy commemorated.

The brick is a great way to do that.

It certainly is, Susan.

Thank you.

The website is GC Veterans Memorial.org.

You can order a brick today.

It's true.

We're all gonna spend a little extra time in the kitchen during the holiday season.

And maybe you need an extra ingredient or maybe something to help you get that dish just the way you want it.

Well, you probably want to come to the extra ingredient.

Been here for 40 years in Greensboro.

No, it's amazing.

It's gone very fast, believe it or not.

You and your wife started this one.

We started it back in 1985.

Cause we love it.

We love to entertain.

We love to help people entertain.

I think that everybody gathering around the table is such a great thing.

It brings communities together, brings families together.

We can all usually agree we like to eat.

So it's a fun business.

What else can I say?

Well, describe the store.

I mean, you know, obviously things for the kitchen and the dining room.

But cooking and entertaining.

It's just we're all about cooking and entertaining at home.

So we do appeal to professional chefs, but not real.

We're looking for that home person, but not just chefs, just people who like to entertain.

And I think you know, it's just a happy place.

Atmosphere is very important to Martha and I.

We really like the, you know, we kind of consider it like we're almost at a party when we when we come in.

I love that.

I love that.

And people come uh to buy gifts, but they're also buying things to fill out their own kitchen.

Oh, yes, and a lot of the things we sell the best on the market.

I mean, we really we feel like we're almost a sieve.

So there's so much information out there about kitchen wear and people reviews and what's new and all that.

Martha and I have worked in this business for over 40 years.

So we have done a lot of that research for you.

So we feel like you know, we can kind of help guide you to what's good for you.

Well, and I know people count on you for that.

And then um, and and you know the people, uh so they said, Well, do you need your wife already got those scallop plates?

Which are there?

Maybe you want these plates instead.

Well, you you know, Greensboro is such a welcoming great community being here 40 years.

We've really enjoyed getting to know our customers, and that's what it's all about.

I mean, it really is a like I said, almost a party, and we do try to keep up to help people.

If you had to name one item that people come in most for, or or maybe category of item, what might it be?

Well coffee is a tremendous part of our business.

I had a tremendous event with our automatic coffee machines and learning about espresso in cappuccino, which is very much on topic right now.

I think people are very interested.

But lots of strong categories.

Cookwear, of course.

There's so much about cookwear out there, what's good, what's not, cutlery.

I mean, we we cover the whole gamut.

Yeah, you see it all every day.

That's right.

Our congratulations on 40 years and happy holidays to you.

Same to you.

I hope everybody has a wonderful holidays and happy new year.

Yes, indeed.

The extra ingredient, come visit them in friendly center.

They've been here for 40 years.

They are the experts in all things entertaining.

If you need something for your kitchen for your celebration, or you just feel like you need a little party in your day, come visit them right here in Friendly Center.

All right, welcome back from our recess.

We will move on to item I two resolution to authorize contract amendment in the estimated amount of three million eight hundred and thirty-six thousand four hundred and forty-eight dollars with United Health Care Care Services Incorporated for the 2026 stop loss policy.

Um is there a presentation from anyone, Mr.

City Manager?

We do not have a presentation.

Uh we'll entertain questions and provide feedback if needed.

Great.

Does anyone have any questions?

Move the item.

Move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Seconded by Ms.

Roth.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Moving on to item I three, resolution approving bid in the amount of three million one hundred and five thousand dollars and authorizing execution of contract twenty twenty-five zero four sixty with Bar Construction Company Inc.

for the GSO Complex Special Events Center Building Renovations Project.

Um are there any questions from council?

Is everyone had a chance to review?

Hearing none, I would accept a motion.

Moved by Mr.

Holston.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero item I four ordinance to appropriate funds and coliseum bond fund 525 for special event center improvements.

Do I hear a motion?

Moved by Mr.

Holston.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

All right, and that passes nine to zero.

Item I5 resolution approving water and sewer service for properties at 1223 North Carolina Highway 62 and 1313 North Carolina Highway 62.

Um do I hear a motion or any questions?

Moved by Mrs.

Thurm.

Seconded by Mrs.

Roth.

Council, please vote.

It takes a second, I think.

And that passes nine to zero.

Item I six, ordinance to appropriate funding for Genset purchases in the amount of three million two hundred and thirty five thousand nine hundred dollars for the TZ Osborne Water Reclamation Facility.

Are there any questions on this item?

Mr.

Borgers is here if we need him.

Hearing no questions, I would entertain a motion.

Move by Mrs.

Roth, second.

Second by Mr.

Allen.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Item I seven resolution authoring municipal agreement in the amount of five million four hundred and eighty eight thousand dollars with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for HL0166 Vandalia Road Modern Modernization Project Modernization Project.

Pleasant Garden Road to South Elm Eugene Street.

Are there any questions from Council?

Move by Ms.

Black, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote.

And I just want to say Vendelia Road in that area have been asking for improvements for a long, long time, 30 years that I remember.

So I'm thankful this is moving forward.

All right, so item I eight, ordinance and amount of five million four hundred and eighty-eight thousand dollars establishing the budget for the municipal agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for HL0166 Vandalia Road Modernization Project, Pleasant Garden Road to South Elm Eugene Street.

Do I hear a motion?

Moved by Ms.

Black, seconded by Miss Crawford.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

All right, moving on.

Item I9, resolution authorizing municipal agreement in the amount of one million five hundred and fifty-five thousand two hundred and forty-seven dollars with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for BL0170, General Sidewalk Improvements at Nealtown, Martin, and Spry Streets.

Do I hear a motion or then any questions?

Move by Mr.

Allen.

Second and by Ms.

Parker.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

And our last item of the evening on our business agenda.

Item I ten, ordinance and the amount of one million five hundred and fifty-five thousand two hundred and forty-seven dollars.

Establishing the budget for establishing the budget for the municipal agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for BL0170, General Sidewalk Improvements, the Nealtown Martin and Spry Streets.

Do I hear a motion?

Move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Do I hear seconded by Ms.

Crawford?

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

I do want to say that the Neiltown Martin and Sprite Street areas have been waiting for a long time as well.

So this is I think everyone can see how you know the background on all of these things has taken years and years and years, and now we are reaping the fruits of those that hard work.

So thank you all very much.

You've great first meeting, Council, new council.

So now does anyone have any border commission appointments?

All right, I see Ms.

Thurm and Mr.

Holton.

Go ahead, Ms.

Thurm.

I'd like to make two reappointments.

Pamela Turner on the redevelopment commission.

I'd like to reappoint her for her second term.

All right, do I hear a second?

Second by Ms.

Roth.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All right.

And reappointing Connor Baker for the community sustainability council for his second term.

All right.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Ms.

Roth.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

And those pass unanimously.

Thank you, Mrs.

Thurm.

All right.

Who else had some go ahead, Ms.

Parker?

I'm bringing Jamila Pender back.

I would love to appoint her to the Library Board of Trustees.

I will second that.

I think we uh I'll let Mrs.

Thurm second that.

All right.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All right, that passes unanimously.

Anyone else?

Anyone else?

I do have a removal I need to make the uh council aware of, and um it's someone I've been trying to talk to for over a month.

Um I am removing uh Franklin D.

Scott from the Minimum Housing Standards Commission for calls.

Um if you uh I I would like to remove him for um and I did watch the tape, disrespect of the client and violating the codes uh in two sections of the handbook.

So um I would like a second on that if at all possible.

Seconded by Mrs.

Thurm.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

I believe that's unanimous.

Any opposed I can use I wanted to say okay, and I don't mind uh attorney, is it okay if I express?

Okay, thank you.

Um there was a video of the minimum housing standards commission, and in um in the handbooks, let me see if I can pull up the email I just sent.

My iPad is not gonna work now.

Um so in the video, um, and I you know, I would assume if council wished to see it at some point they could.

Yep.

Um it he expressed to staff in a very uh disrespectful tone that um he demanded that they he do what they say and that they had to the staff had to leave if they uh did not like what he asked them to do.

Um so that is the crux of it.

Specifically, um there were some things said that you know we take a code of ethics to not mistreat staff basically, and so do the commissioners when they get the handbook.

So on page seven of the board and commission handbook, I I was the one who appointed him, and that is why it is me.

It's not because I'm mayor.

Um on page seven of the board and commission handbook, it specifically states conduct or action which creates an offensive or hostile environment is prohibited and will be grounds for immediate uh removal.

It says approval, but immediate removal.

Also, Section 2-140 states, in addition, the city council may remove a member for any other calls.

Uh, and I did state in there his treatment of staff was uncalled for and inappropriate, and this is not the first time.

And uh anyone uh you know that if that helps a little bit.

Okay, all right.

Uh and I did have unanimous, I believe.

Was anyone in opposition?

Hearing none, that passes, and he has removed.

We will ask the alternate to stand in tomorrow, and then um I will appoint somebody by the end of January.

Thank you.

All right, so I would like to know council comments, and we will start down the road.

I'm gonna start with Ms.

Parker.

What a great first meeting, one of many.

Um I'm grateful for this opportunity to sit in one of the best seats in the house.

Um this is a time in uh that I hope to listen and learn and connect.

And right now, like just coming off of this campaign trail, we're still um building those relationships, and I haven't been able to determine yet the ways in which um you basically what I'm saying is I go into a do not disturb December usually on my social medias, but I can't do that anymore since getting elected.

So I've grown a little bit quiet, uh, but I do miss communicating more regularly.

So I'm planning on working with the community um communications department.

So in 2026, we have a more regular way of communicating.

Um so yes, I wanted to say that.

So in the next coming weeks, because I don't have a regular newsletter uh going out.

Um I'm going to be meeting with city department leads, leaders and city leaders, and I welcome your invitation to attend events, uh, to meet with you all and to learn and listen from the community.

So please don't hesitate to reach out, even if I haven't been able to send my regular emails.

I'll start doing that in the beginning of the year again, and then after the holidays, I'll resume coffee coffee with a councilwoman every Monday and at a district three coffee shop.

So please email me a good place that we can meet up and still um speak as community.

And in the meantime, I also wanted uh to invite the city to our citywide Kwanzaa collective by the Greensboro.

Um, I believe this is probably like the 12th year.

Uh, and so we um on December 27th from 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m.

Councilman Irving Allen and I have been asked to speak, and so we ask that everybody join us to celebrate uh Kwanzaa.

Um, and so thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Marshall.

I'll echo that.

Great first meeting.

Um, I thought things might die down after the campaign a little bit, but you know, drinking from a fire hose is how I would describe this as a new council member.

Um, but I'm really excited about the energy that everybody has.

You can see it, you can feel it.

Uh I think we're gonna be able to accomplish a lot together.

So I'm I'm happy to be here and happy to get to work.

Thank you, Ms.

Crowford.

So, yeah, I'll echo the fire hose.

Um, we were in uh a really great meeting with um a consulting group, and they asked us uh did we feel like the dog that caught the bus.

Um I think that is very apt, but what I loved about that was that we were working together to build a vision for this council and for our city, um, our vision for what we see we want to see in the city.

Um I was really thankful to be a part of the Parks and Rec staff uh annual end of year celebration.

Um, and it was really great to see our mayor uh behind the line serving food.

Um, and it was really great to see all of the things that Parks and Rec has done uh over this year, and it's been a lot.

Um, and just reminding me just how amazing our staff is, and I I can say um from the staff that I've met um in the legislative portion, well, period.

The staff has been really helpful uh and very supportive in us uh catching up and learning how to uh make revisions to ordinances, um, especially thinking about what happened today uh with the district and making sure that these kinds of things don't happen again in the future.

Um, and I think that that lands solely in council's lap of um making sure that we strengthen our code enforcement.

We heard it from speakers tonight.

Um I'm really glad that we were able to uh approve um the development uh by the Alexander Company there on Gate City in South Elma Eugene.

That has been a long conversation.

Um we have tussled uh over a grocery store.

Um I am happy with what has been settled on uh for this uh lot and I think that it is movement in the right direction uh for this part of district two.

Um and I hope that we are able to build uh more developments along the same lines, which are mixed income, they're beautiful, they're mixed use, and you won't be able to tell um the difference between people who are paying 60% AMI and those who are paying full rate, and I think that's how it should be the dignity.

Um, and I do commit to the um the promise that I made.

I will be bothering staff yet again to see if we can go ahead and pull together a town hall for district two and maybe together with district one so that we can begin to hear from the community as we look at uh ways to make things better for our residents uh overall for East Greensboro.

Um so yeah, I I think that's more than enough for first night comments.

Thank you, Ms.

Roth.

Thank you.

I just want to say thank you to my colleagues who have been very diligent and um and very energetic out of the gate with all of your efforts uh behind the scene, your thoughtfulness and creativity on how we can help improve and grow the city.

So I look forward to us working together.

All right, Miss Black.

I thought we were going down the line.

Uh first I'd like to wish our two council members who are celebrating Hanukkah.

I'd like to acknowledge them and say happy Hanukkah to you.

I shared my uh memories of uh making potato latkiss and applesauce to our students at GCS, so wanted to lift you up.

Also wanted to thank all of our many community members for the holiday party invitations.

Um it has made us feel really welcomed when we we've not made them all, sorry, but there were three in one day at one day.

So I but we it has uh presented an open arms to us as new council members uh to feel welcomed, and so we want to appreciate those community organizations and members for those invitations.

Um we've had a couple of events in District One.

Uh the water uh the concerns around the brown water we were supposed to meet that was canceled due to weather.

Uh we will be revisiting that and letting our community members know when that will be rescheduled.

I would also like to lift up that there was a Randleman Road corridor meeting in which I was not able to attend, uh, but there are conversations happening around some forward thinking in that corridor area, and I look forward to sharing some updates and uh more depth with those community members as we move forward.

I will echo uh what some of our former council members have, I mean, our council members have said about the collectivists.

Uh we have really worked as a team, I believe, and um have come up with some very thoughtful ways to move forward on this council.

So I'm excited to work with all of you all, and I think that we're gonna be able to do some great things.

I um last want to say to our community that we appreciate the emails.

We appreciate you reaching out and we appreciate you communicating, and I want you to know that we're listening because we do believe that your voice matters.

And so I don't want anyone to feel discouraged about um sending out any concerns or anything like that like that to us.

And just because you may not get an immediate reaction, I want you to know that we're listening and we are taking in what you are asking for and hopefully honoring uh some of the things that you're looking for as um in this council body.

So that is all that I have, and I will pass the mic to Urban, Mr.

Allen.

Uh this was a great first meeting of fantastic experience.

Everything I thought it would be working with this council, so I'm excited about that.

Uh want to uh make mention of the uh 2025 Positive Mail Symposium that I was invited to uh last week and uh thank uh the Forever 29 Foundation and Jones Elementary School for hosting almost a hundred uh black student uh male students uh at the Warner's Ville Rec Center.

We had a fantastic time, uh sponsored by Monkey Face Clothing Line.

Uh every child left with a jacket uh and uh we had a fantastic time uh building up those young men.

So uh want to thank uh Alexis Goul and uh Chauncey Carter and Shannon Carter for uh putting that program together and uh making sure that uh we are investing in our young food uh and our young people uh and in loving memory of Shannon uh Carter, uh who the uh organization was created for.

Uh also uh wanted to make mention of the GSO can organization in the announcement.

I was excited to hear uh that information uh and looking forward to uh following up and just wanted to also make mention uh of uh along with the GSO can the information that we received tonight from public comment uh to see how we could uh follow up on some of those uh the information that we received uh to see uh what can be done specifically, uh and I think that that falls in line with the GSO can.

So I would uh look forward to following up with staff and seeing uh what can be done uh and how we can uh look into uh some of those numbers that I did find uh uh a little uh worrying.

Uh and then also uh just want to um also thank the public for uh their uh public comment um and areas of concern.

Uh we wouldn't uh have the guidance and uh the information that we uh do have to make decisions without uh the input of the public.

So uh standing on the back of uh council member black, I'd I'd like to thank everyone for their public comment and concern.

All right, Mr.

Holston.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I want to say uh I'm gonna echo the comments that you've already heard, but uh I really have enjoyed the synergy of this new council.

Um there are lots of ideas and initiatives that are underway that you'll be seeing uh the fruits of the labor in the near future.

Just excited about working with each and every one of our new members and of course our seasoned members also, Tammy.

And Mary Kay, Mary Kay, and and also Madam Uh Madam Mayor.

Um next is uh had the opportunity to uh share in the 134th anniversary of New Light Missionary Baptist Church recently, uh, who also celebrated uh their their pastor's 50th anniversary, uh Reverend Cardis Brown.

Uh just this past Sunday uh was at the Collins Grove United Methodist Church where they celebrated their 150th anniversary uh led by the Reverend Dr.

Carl Manuel Jr.

And those were two wonderful events, and and uh Madam Mayor joined joined me and I joined her at the uh Collins Grove, and that was a great great time.

Um next is you know there was some conversation today uh from our community members about the goings on at the district down at 830 West Market Street.

I know that there are approximately uh 245 units there.

Uh those that were being occupied, they're about 180 that were occupied.

And uh I was there just before this council meeting, and uh somebody mentioned uh the portion about the the communication of it all.

And I'm not here to point fingers just simply to say that that those residents were literally standing in the lobby and didn't know what to do because things happen so very quickly with them.

Uh they are in need, and that there's several resources reaching out to them to help them.

Uh we just need to make sure that we lift them up.

Um I know there's several organizations, Red Cross, uh those who are students of universities.

There are some representatives from the universities there who have placed them and they're assisting there, but there's still others.

Others who at this point in time, well, at the point in time when I was there, they were probably at work, and probably didn't even know that uh their location was in the situation that it was in.

So we're gonna uh be continuing to work with them uh over the next few days, uh partnerships with the city uh to help get them housed.

The one fortunate part we have is that it wasn't as cold, uh it's not as cold tonight as it was last night, but it's still cold.

And uh we're gonna have to make sure that we um stay with them and uh continue to to provide them some resources.

Uh and next uh on Sunday, uh Greensboro lost a legend, Mike Boston of Boston's House of Jazz.

Uh he passed, and uh his services are this coming Saturday.

I know Madam Mayor and I plan to be there.

Uh Mike was uh a strong businessman, a strong um uh philanthropist, and uh he was a good friend of mine, and he will be missed.

And I know that his family, Anita and uh Big Mike and Clarence and Aisha.

Um we love you, and we're here to support you.

Yeah, and the city loves you, because you know I gotta say it, because you know, because Mike Boston always say I'm Mike Boston, and I own this liquor house.

We all we all knew it, we all loved it, and uh, and we still love it.

And after that, I'll say uh happy holidays and Merry Christmas and happy Kwanzaa and happy Hanukkah to all in our community.

We love you.

Thank you, Mrs.

Star.

Um yes, I've I have several things to talk about, but the the first item um that I want to talk about is something that I've mentioned to I think all of you, either written or by phone in the past several days.

Um we currently have an allocation or set aside in our budget for Triad Local First to support our small business community.

Um unfortunately that organization is closed up and defunct.

Um I would like to propose to council that we um direct staff or request staff to enter into a support agreement with SCORE.

Um score is a very well-known organization.

Um just the past year.

They've hurt helped over 170 businesses in Greensboro, small businesses in Greensboro, uh, 48 new businesses.

They've mentored over 250 people.

Um they have requested, they have lost all their federal funding for the upcoming year was pulled uh under the federal changes, and so they are requesting 22,000 allotment um or an agreement.

I'd like to propose that we ask staff to enter an to agreement to repurpose the money from Triad Local First, which supported small businesses to score, which also supports small businesses.

I'm not sure what exactly you need from us, Mr.

Manager, assistant manager at this point, or just whether a verbal we'd all like you to do that is okay, or how do we go about this?

Yeah, that works.

Yeah, I think we'll discover.

Consensus of council because the the monies that were there before that business has gone defunct, and we're trying to find something very similar that helps small business.

So I don't think we need anything other than a consensus of council.

We have consensus.

I think everybody is pretty much on board with that.

Okay, thank you very much.

I appreciate that.

Um I would like to ask that based on the comments tonight about Access Greensboro and the challenges they're having.

If we could get a comprehensive report of what's going on there and are there problems, are there staffing challenges?

Just an update to kind of summarize the status of what's happening with Access Greensboro.

Um, I know that's a really tough service.

I know first my hand because my husband is a dryer driver for a similar service, um, helping seniors and others that can't navigate by themselves and need additional transportation.

And I know it's it's a challenging environment to work in.

Um, and there's everything's constantly changing.

Um, so if we could just get an update of kind of where we are on that, I would appreciate that.

Councilman, I I can give you we will give you a more detailed update, but I can tell you I've had some conversations with a few folks and some community members myself over the last couple months due to some of the staffing challenges that that we've experienced.

There have been some delays uh in some of the routes, but we'll get you a full update.

Okay, if we could just make sure people can usually live with delays if we communicate with them, and I think that's the key is the communication piece, but I I would appreciate help there.

I also want to lift up that um not this past weekend but the weekend before we had the third anniversary of the women of the Showa Monument at LaBauer Park.

Um that's the women's holocaust memorial that we have here in Greensboro.

Um it's an amazing memorial if you haven't been there.

I'd encourage you to do it and visit it.

But what was extra special is the niece of the woman in the picture or the statue that didn't take her boots off was here and spoke.

Um and it was um fortuitous that she found out about.

We didn't know she was living, we didn't know who she was.

Um she saw an article about the statue and reached out to the commute the Jewish community, and it was very fortuitous and very cool to have her there to honor the legacy of her family that she lost in the Holocaust.

And it was it was quite moving and very special occasion to have her with us.

Um and the last thing let's last two things reminding folks that the uh walk of remembrance is tomorrow night, Greensboro Urban Ministry at five o'clock, and I'd invite anybody that would like to participate.

Um, it's quite a moving event, and um I wouldn't encourage folks to come.

And last of all, I'm so proud of y'all.

Everybody did good.

We had a great first meeting, and um I'm really excited, and I look forward to all of us working together for the next four years.

And I think it's gonna be great.

We're gonna do some really amazing things, and uh I'm very excited about moving forward with this whole team.

So thank you very much, and I'll shut up.

All right, I've only got a few brief comments.

Thank you.

I think uh everyone feels like you know this really was a good meeting, and uh we kind of I thought we could power through, but then I also know we needed a little break, so that was that was good as well.

So thank you all.

Um just a few things.

I attended the mayor's conference in Chapel Hill right after being sworn in, and that was for two days.

Uh and I just want to say that all of the other cities in North Carolina is a metro mayors, okay.

They're experiencing many of the same things we are.

We are not like different from any other city in North Carolina.

They're experiencing the homelessness, they're experiencing, you know, sometimes an uptake and crime, they're experiencing uh needing more housing.

All of them mentioned housing.

So I just want everyone to, you know, we've got a lot of challenges we are going to address, but I don't want us to feel like we're the only ones experiencing.

It was actually very moving for me to know that other people were experiencing something similar, and we're gonna have more meetings to put all of our heads together here, and then we're gonna have meetings with the other.

I'm gonna have meetings with the other mayors uh to see what people have done, what works, what doesn't work, all of those things.

So just want to make everybody feel secure in that that you know things are moving forward.

Um let's see, so that and um I was able to attend AT State University graduation Saturday morning.

Two of the young ladies I mentor in um my Kawana Service Organization graduated, and it was really thrilling.

Two thousand graduates, y'all.

Two thousand, and every single name was was uh you know, spoken out, but let me tell you how they did it.

It was AI generated.

So the students had a card and it had a QR code on it, and as they came up, the QR code was scanned with the proper pronunciation of their name.

And it was fascinating, absolutely fascinating.

You've got to to see that someday because I was I was in awe because it is hard to know how to pronounce someone's name, and you don't know you know phonetically or how to how to pronounce it.

So that was very helpful.

I was very proud of the young ladies.

Um also uh condolences to Mike Boston's family.

He's a kind of a legend in Greensboro with the Boston's House of Jazz, and you know, I know that we all are going to miss him.

My last thing is you know, happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas.

So I will now see if the city manager has anything he would like to say.

Yes, Mayor, thanks.

Uh I've got three quick things.

Uh one, uh I've said news.

We received notification from uh solid waste and recycling director Griffin Hatchell of the passing of one of the supervisors, Paul Jacobs, um, on just a few days ago.

He was had a tremendous reputation amongst these folks.

So I'll ask you to please remember them.

Uh this has been a tough year uh for that that group.

Uh he was an army veteran uh as well as a father and grandfather.

Uh so please remember that group and and Mr.

Hatchel, Director Hatchel.

Uh on a positive note, I do want to take privilege to give a quick recognition.

Our very own Larry Davis received the John Jack Voigt Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding commitment to advancement of local government budget and evaluation, which recognizes individuals who have advanced in the field of budget and evaluation in North Carolina local government.

This is the highest honor presented annually at the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association.

So thank you so much for your service, Larry.

And right on cue, I do want to take, you know, today today's kind of is I'm a little bit conflicted because you hit you hate to see a day like today when you have challenges like we saw uh at the location on Market Street.

But as a city manager, it does warm my heart to see the folks that step up and do the work.

I'm receiving updates.

You are receiving updates.

You probably see uh ACM Harold dashing back and forth.

She ran in, uh, leaving the location.

Uh ACM McCray is working with her folks.

Uh it is really an amazing thing to see our folks when they step in uh to really hope help folks that are in the I know you're going to get a few updates, and thank you, Mr.

Holston, for uh the context you provided as well.

It makes me proud that we have a community that does not want to see folks that are just left out in the coal.

Uh so again, I'm kind of conflicted.

You hate that it happens, but I'm proud to see people step up and work together uh from a number of different spaces.

I receive uh some messages from the county manager um looking at how they can potentially assist us.

So again, um and thank you all for your leadership.

Thank you all for this first meeting.

Uh looks like we have a great for the next four years.

Uh and thank you for the questions and the inquiry and and working with us and looking forward to things.

I'll kick it over to my partner over here.

Madam City Attorney.

Right.

Um so I mentioned in onboarding to you all that I thought the next four years are going to be amazing.

And I think tonight is indicative of that.

I am so I'm I'm just gleaming because I've known most of you guys for the last 20 years of me being in public service and you supporting me, and now I actually get the opportunity and the blessing to support you.

So happy first meeting.

Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy holidays to all of you all, and we'll see you at the next meeting in January.

All right.

So I think that is uh the consensus that this was a great meeting.

Um want to thank everyone for their input for asking questions.

And you know, a lot of times, as was said, the city manager staff, any of us can help you answer questions, so feel free.

Um, I will now entertain a motion to adjourn.

Move by made by Mr.

Holston, seconded by Miss Black.

All in favor, please say aye before you leave.

Aye.

Okay, thank you.

Apparently, I think that's a good thing.