Good afternoon, and welcome to the January twenty twenty-six meeting of the Greensboro City Council.

We are going into a closed session first.

Mrs.

Thurm, would you please read the motion?

Yes, thank you.

To prevent the disclosure of information that is privileged or confidential pursuant to this law of this state or of the United States or not considered a public record within the meaning of chapter one hundred thirty-two of the general statute statutes.

Seconded by Mr.

Holston.

All in favor, please say aye.

Oh, they may already fold it in.

Okay, then uh that passes unanimously.

Thank you so much.

We will be back.

That's quite the mouthful.

Guilford Works on Try It today.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Jim Longworth and welcome to a special edition of TriAd Today coming to you from the Currentville Auto Museum, as always.

Um I call it special because we're going to devote the entire half hour to the good work and the good folks of Guilford Works.

And we'll tell you about that throughout the next 30 minutes.

And we start out with Fred Henry, a good friend of ours has been on the show before, assistant director for Guildford Works.

Good to see you again, sir.

Good to see you.

Thanks, Jim.

Uh Fred, what is let's remind people, what is Guildford Works and what's the mission?

Gift for Works is the uh workforce development board of Guildford Works.

Uh, we're one of 20 workforce development boards in North Carolina that provide oversight for the NC Work Career Centers within our local area.

Uh we serve both employees and job seekers.

Our primary focus is on youth, and most of the time, probably about 75% of out of school youth, but also those job seekers who may be uh dislocated workers or underemployed, looking through transition.

If they just got laid off or something, laid off or somebody wants to make a career change or exactly, and then the employers, because the employees without those employers, we can't connect those job seekers to opportunities.

Right.

Now, what uh what kind of give me some examples of programs that you offer to job seekers in in Guilford County?

Give me a couple examples.

Sure.

So uh we offer training and subsidies for job seekers.

Uh a lot of times when folks who worked um jobs for a number of years, sometimes their skills could be outdated.

Uh so we provide scholarships for those uh job seekers to get in-demand skills, but also connect with our local opportunities uh with some of the needs of our uh manufacturing or other sector employers uh to make sure they're good fit.

Other resources that that are offered, maybe offer resources for for folks in this position.

Yeah, so when we look to uh support individuals, whether it's through training or uh job search, uh we provide what we call wraparound services, and these are services to assist individuals who may need transportation assistance or daycare child care assistance uh so they can complete training programs in a timely manner.

Now, who can access these resources?

Is there a criteria for who can take advantage of the resources you're offering through Guilford Works?

Yeah, there is eligibility criteria for certain certain programs.

Uh a lot of times with dislocated uh services.

Uh these individuals who have showed that they're displaced due to no follow-on, uh, they can come in and uh we work with those individuals whether they're filing for unemployment insurance and so forth, uh, but also those individuals who may just need that extra hand holding to help them with career transitions that we can connect them to training whether it's through the local school or community college or other vendors.

Yeah, uh uh people might be watching and say, Well, that's nice, Mr.

Henry.

You know, helping the people that want to uh their job seekers, but what if somebody's watching who's a business person?

How do you support the business community?

Yes, so as businesses.

We look at as two primary employers uh customers.

We look at our businesses and our job seekers, but that businessman, their primary customer, we help them with the recruitment needs.

But also we provide subsidies when businesses are looking to upskill their incumbent workers uh that we could provide uh grants to support them to offset some of those costs.

Uh when we look at some of our work-based learning programs, we provide subsidies to the businesses to offset some of their onboarding costs.

And also tell us now what what we mean work-based.

Work-based learning could be things like on-the-job training or what we call work experience or internships or apprenticeships, uh, that we work with businesses to customize those needs, and as we connect those job seekers, uh, we hope to fill those opportunities by not only paying those applicants as they go through training, but also providing subsidies for those businesses.

Yeah, and I think uh we hear stories about the fact that if somebody goes through this and work-based training or apprenticeships like you were talking, it introduces them to that industry, and maybe they want to stick with that that industry and and uh and stay in the workforce, and that's an important part of it, isn't it?

Um just a few seconds left.

Uh who or what led you to a career and an interest in a career like this?

Well, I think it started for me uh initially just coming out of high school and growing up in the PMA Tride area.

I wanted to get in something like a HR.

But actually going to grad school and doing HR and then getting to my second practical and into workforce development.

I saw their workforce development, I got to wear a number of hats, not just be stuck in office, uh, not only work with the employees, but also work community.

I like our community and I like to see the benefit of these programs serving our community, not only for families, but uh the economic growth of the PMAR tribe.

Well, uh, and you do an excellent job with it too, and and I'm glad of of that that we have you as a resource.

Uh Guilford Works.org is the website on screen, GuilfordWorks.org.

I invite you to check that out throughout the program as you meet more folks who work behind the scenes to make all this work for the community.

Fred, thanks for coming.

Thank you.

All right, we'll be right back.

Back now on the special edition of uh try it today as we focus on the good works and the good folks behind the scenes that make Guilford Works do such a great job for so many people in this area.

Our guest now is a returning visitor to the show, Thaddeus Shore is one stop operator for Guilford Works.

Good to see you again, sir.

Good to see you.

Um you sent me an email about uh a mobile career center.

I want to learn about that.

Now, what is that and what kind of uh resources it offer?

Well, the mobile career center is like um our brick and mortar building on wheels, and what it actually does, it allows us to take all the services that we offer inside the brick and mortar building to the communities that need it the most.

Okay.

Now, what what kind of an example do you think let's look at community outreach programs?

Give me an example of a community outreach program that maybe wouldn't be as effective without the mobile career center.

Oh, without the mobile career center, our fresh start events wouldn't be as effective once a month well monthly.

We actually go to one of the local prisons and we work with those in the facility that will be leaving within the next 90 days, and we provide them with career center services so that they can get a head start on their fresh start.

When they get out.

Yes.

Uh, how important are partnerships uh uh and with area organizations and and how do they enhance career services?

Talk about the partnership angle.

Oh, partnerships are very important.

Uh Guilford Works has a network of um nonprofit as well as uh faith-based organizations that we partner with, uh, one of which is the Hub for Hope out of Evangel Fell Fellowship, and uh together we have hosted hiring events that have serviced over twelve hundred uh job seekers.

Wow.

Is there any requirement that that people need to meet to be able to take advantage of what you're doing either in the the main office or the the mobile career center, or is it just for anybody and everybody, or is there an age restriction?

Sort of walk me through the kind of folks that can benefit from what you're doing.

Oh, pretty much everybody can.

Um from uh we have a next gen, which is a youth uh department, uh, which is from ages 16 to 24, and then we also have the adult uh services that are provided as well.

So anybody that is seeking employment or wanting to improve their employment situation can come in and see us and we'll take care of them.

Of any age.

Any age.

All right.

Now, uh what what measurable outcomes have resulted from uh having the mobile career center in area neighborhoods?

Have you gotten any sense of how that's been going?

Well, yes, it's been going very well.

Uh on the average uh for the past few years, the mobile career center has participated in over a hundred events uh annually in Guilford County, and just last year I think we serviced on the Mobile Career Center over 600 personnel.

Wow job seekers, yes.

That's that's something.

Now, what can how would a community group when they watch this on TV, how would they say, hey, you know, I'd like to have the the mobile career center come out to our neighborhood or or f uh for our community group, whatever.

Now, how do they go about that?

Because there's only one mobile center, right?

So there's actually two.

There are two.

There's actually two.

So you got to cover big areas though.

Yes, yes.

So how uh the question is still remain the same.

How do I get in touch and how do I how do I get to get you guys to come out?

Okay.

So the the way to have access to the mobile center is to go to uh our website, Guilfordworks.org, and then from there go to uh services and then click on Mobile Career Center and it'll give you a uh uh a page where you can reserve it.

Okay.

Now is there a if let's say I've got a community group that wants to have you guys come out with the mobile career center, is there a fee that I pay or is this free?

Right now there is no fee, no.

Okay, how about that?

That's you can't get better than free when you're trying to help people get jobs and and uh especially people might have been laid off or want to start a new career or this kind of thing.

It's been a while since you and I talked, so I'm gonna ask you to repeat something for me.

What do you get in terms of satisfaction, gratification personally from doing what you do?

Oh, I I love what I do.

You know sometimes it's hard for me to believe that I actually get paid for what I do.

Uh we're in the position in our office where we can actually change people's lives.

Uh people that come in that are uh you know unemployed and we usually see people on their worst day.

You know, they've lost a job, got laid off or something and we have the ability to change their lives.

It's incredible.

Yeah and you do and and I can testify to that.

I appreciate what you're doing up on screen.

As Addie's mentioned a little bit a while ago Guildford Works dot org is the general website Guilford works dot org and that will help people learn how they could get in touch to get the mobile career center to them as well, right?

That is correct.

As well as you know taking advantage and benefiting from many of these services and resources that we talked about not just with Thaddeus but we'll cover throughout this special half hour program.

Thanks for all you do my friend.

Thank you.

All right we'll be right back after this.

Hi I'm Jim Longworth reminding you that TriA today also airs on GTN Spectrum Channel 13 and streams on WFMY plus free on Roku and Amazon Fire.

Back now in this special edition of uh TriA today as we salute the folks who do such great work for Guilford Works and helping people throughout the community and in this particular segment we're gonna speak with a young lady who works with a special kind of grant program.

Angelica Lynn career advisor for Guilford Works.

Good to see you.

Good to see you as well.

Um what's the purpose of the Golden Leaf Foundation's grant program?

Because you sent me an email about that one day said we kind of want to focus on that.

What's the purpose of that?

Yeah so the purpose of the program is to cover the cost for different trainings and courses within specific industries of focus.

And so individuals who are seeking new job opportunities, um maybe unemployed or just wanting to change their careers um they will seek out my programs because we can cover the cost for those trains.

Yeah because training can be expensive in some instances.

Uh now you mentioned certain I think your words were certain industries.

Let me put you on the spot give me two or three examples of the kind of industries that would be involved the focus would be on.

Yeah so um some of those industries include advanced manufacturing um industrial technology um skill trades such as HVAC welding plumbing construction so yeah those are some of the industries well now uh what about eligibility requirement for taking advantage of your services and getting uh hooked up with this foundation grant program which is great but there's got to be certain criteria right yes there is um so the requirements is that you have to be 18 or older and have a high school diploma or GD.

All right.

Now what kind of training have you previously uh what about for uh enrolled participants um maybe who've been in the program before or this kind of thing um that can they continue this kind of training or what?

Yeah so some of those trainings that I've been able to connect people with include like construction, um advanced manufacturing um also some with HVAC and I know for our advanced manufacturing um individuals they were able to continue on with the trainings um because we also offering a manufacturing technician training kind of lifelong learning type stuff is yeah now uh now let's say that somebody goes through the program the training uh they're fortunate enough to get a a really a good job and I'm assuming that a lot of things you've been talking with me about are in demand jobs right it is yes.

So y when you're helping people you sort of feel um putting words in your mouth do you feel sort of confident that there's a there's a conduit for them to get some jobs?

It definitely is it it is yeah now let's say that they go through all this is is that the end of it I mean do you do you never speak to these people or is there any kind of afterward or follow-up or or do you stay in touch or what what happened?

Yeah so I definitely try and stay in in touch with my clients um and so after they complete the trainings if they do not have any job opportunities aligned uh we may can connect them with different work experiences or apprenticeships and also as their career advisor I can help them um with preparing their resume um doing mock interviews to prepare for job opportunities.

I also like to connect them with um our NC work centers uh because we also have career advisors there that can assist them in their job search and um we also have things such as like while Wednesdays which is an opportunity for um clients can come out and talk with different employers that are tabling at our centers on Wednesdays.

Is that every Wednesday?

That is every Wednesday.

Wow and we alternate between our centers.

Well who maybe at a recent one get well let's just do some name dropping what what would be an uh example of a business or industry that might have participated in in a Wednesday program.

Yeah so um one company that I think of is St.

John's packaging.

Okay also uh when we had our career fair for veterans and um civilians as well we had Lenovo there and St.

John's packaging was also great companies.

I know who you I know you're talking about.

Uh we just have a few seconds left what what's gratifying to you about the work that you do.

Yeah seeing people's lives change and being able to take part in that um and also being able to just you know guide them in their um career searching.

Right.

Well they're fortunate to have you and and and doing what you're doing on that.

Up on screen I want to share this with you guilford works.org we're gonna mention this throughout the Half Hour special but in each of our segments we want to mention this and put up the website address guilfordworks.org that's important because I'd like for you to visit that website uh if you are uh uh wanting to uh change jobs or get a job and maybe uh for the folks in the business community as well.

Angelica Lynn thanks for everything you're doing.

Thank you.

All right young ladies okay we'll be right back after this back now on the special edition of Try Today as we salute the folks and the good works of Guilford Works and talk to some of the folks behind the scenes that make such a difference throughout the community with us now first time visitor of the show on Reed Newkirk he's career advisor for Guilford Works.

Good to see you sir how you doing where were you born?

Uh I was born in Fedville North Carolina.

Where'd you go to school?

I ended up going to school at Parkland High School then from there I went to Livingstone College.

I received political science degree from there Winston Salem State Mass Communications degree and I'm currently at Morehouse College.

All right now uh you sent me an email about something called connect ed connect ed what is that so connect ed is a program it is housed in Guilford County basically it reaches out to low-income families we support them in going back you know and enrolling in programs like CNA CDL uh HVAC uh manufacturing things like that so they can get extra training so they can be in a better place in life.

Right now who's eligible for the Connect Ed program and are there certain criteria they have to meet.

Yes sir so we do look for you to at least have your high school diploma uh you can only make 25,000 a year.

So if you make 25,000 and below you qualify for that and those are the people that we are trying to target and you know really help out.

All right let's talk about credentials and certifications because in a lot of these things you're talking about you just about everything nowadays there's got to be some kind of a certification involved for you to do it become professional at it.

What kind of those credentials and certifications are offered through Connect Ed.

So with Connect Ed you can go you can enroll in CNA class you know go through that training become a certified nursing assistant get a good job there.

You can go and get your CDLs and then you know go and get a great truck driving job or even open up your own business.

Learn how to build planes different things like that.

So you know we are there to help you get that I'm glad you mentioned that because the aerospace industry is just ballooned in this area with all the folks coming in you know boom and Honda and everything.

Aside from tuition support what else does Connected provide?

So also with that you know with the families that we target you know sometimes they may hit a rough spot.

So by them hitting a rough spot you know we will sit there we'll guide you we may be able to provide you with assistance as far as transportation getting there.

So we may offer you like an Uber gift card or something like that.

There's also been times where we pay for uniforms we pay for supplies pay for books yes sir.

Yes neat now what now how much time is required to go through and complete like a credential program.

So typically with our programs we try to get you in there and we try to say between six to nine weeks just to give a little bit of cushion right so that way you get in there you get what you need and we get you back out here and get you going.

Talk about participants' expectations uh obligations for them is there support for them and try you already mentioned about the Uber thing what kind of barriers can you knock down for them?

Oh so whenever it comes to like different type of barriers like for instance let's say that is someone that they may have you know an issue as far as child care and everything like that.

We may be able to sit there and assist you with that we may be able to you know find some type of resource that may be able to help you as far as getting that type of care that you need while you do that class and while you're doing that class you know you're good to go.

We got peace of mind.

Yeah we hear from moms of any age especially young moms saying you know I'm I'm sort of down on my luck I have a a young child but child care is too expensive but I really want to go after this certification in you know a field like you were talking about and I think it's so good what you're doing to knock down those barriers.

And I think it's so good what you're doing to knock down those barriers.

One last thing I want to ask you.

And I'm trying to ask a lot of folks the same question.

What's gratifying to you about your job and the work that you're doing?

I would say the the biggest thing that I take from it is whenever I initially meet someone, seeing where they are right then, and then the transformation that has taken place in such a short time.

You can see the confidence is there.

You can see as far as their perspective on how life is there.

And you can also see they now have a go-getter, and I can provide, and that is the biggest thing whenever it comes to a person that can provide.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Up on screen, Guildford Works.org, as we're doing throughout the program, trying to show you this website, which is very important that you will hope you will navigate.

It's very easy to go to, Guildford Works.org.

And to great folks.

Uh like all the folks we talked to so far and Henri, uh, I just applaud the work you're doing, and thanks for helping so many people.

Thank you, sir.

I appreciate you.

All right, young man.

Yes, sir.

We'll be right back after this.

Back now for the final segment in this special half hour of trying today as we salute the good folks and the good work of Guilford Works.

And our final guest of this half hour is Robert Carter Jr., he's veteran services with Guilford Works.

Good to see you, sir.

Yeah, great to see you, sir.

All right.

And and as you school me before we started the show that you're an Army, the only branch that I've been.

No, but I do recognize our brother branches.

Well, I'm gonna ask you about that in a second.

What is you sent me an email about something called the American Job Center?

What is that?

It's the uh all the employment service centers that are across the state, across the country, that they're called the American Job Centers.

Um it used to be called the employment offices or anything like that, but the real the original name is the American Job Center.

One of the things that you wrote to me about, and I'm gonna make sure I get this right.

It was you said something about priority of service.

Yes, sir.

Now, what does that mean when it comes to veterans in the center?

Well, any veteran ends our American job centers like NC Works, of course, receive priority of service.

That means they are to go earlier or instead of non-covered um persons uh when it comes to employment services.

Yeah, because there's a lot of different kinds of transition that somebody coming out of the military goes through the other people don't, right?

Yes, yeah, exactly.

Um tell me about this.

Uh you also mentioned something called jobs for veterans state grant.

Yes, sir.

Now, what is that all about and what's the purpose?

Well, it's funded by the U.S.

Department of Labor and it's federal law that um funds that are given to the states across the country, of course, to hire dedicated individual staff members to service our veteran population, uh eligible persons and um of that nature.

So right.

When I knew you were coming over here today, one of the things I wanted to ask you, and I and I don't want you to tell me it's a stupid question because maybe it is.

How do you define who a veteran is?

According to the American job centers, when they come into the service, we define our veteran population of those who have served at least 180 days of continuous service, not including basic training or school.

Not including basic training, not including basic training or school, or either those persons who may have been called up on orders for at least one day.

So uh, for example, uh National Guard or our reservist, if they're called up on orders to be deployed for at least one day, right?

They're considered a veteran.

Now describe the makeup of the staff at American Job Centers.

Who are we talking about working there to help people?

Well, in our American job centers, everybody's required uh to service our veteran population, but we do have our dedicated staff, which is considered um of three uh care uh main people.

Um the first is our veteran uh career advisors who works directly with the veteran population and getting them job ready.

Right.

Um, then we have our veteran business service representatives, which is I that goes out and work with our employers to as an advocate to hire our veteran population, and then we have what is called a hybrid county does both of the job, both both sets of jobs.

All right, let me circle back to the uh asking about definitions again.

Is there a difference between eligible veterans and eligible persons?

No, eligible veterans uh, of course, are veterans who served at 180 days, but the eligible person is considered like my spouse.

Okay, okay.

That we also consider them uh um eligible for our veteran program.

Okay, so it helps the families too.

Yes.

All right, I got you now.

Uh final thing I want to go over with you is uh since we were talking earlier about you being in the Army.

How many years did you serve?

Six years.

Six years.

Yes, sir.

Um, what was your transition like coming out from the Army?

Um, my transition was pretty easy because I when I got out of the service, I went straight to college.

So I I had a pretty easy transition because I knew what I wanted to do coming out.

So I went directly to college with the intentions of getting a green and then actually going back into the service, but I did unfortunately I didn't.

So that gives you a unique perspective in terms of your view on how these programs that you're working with now, how they really make a difference, right?

Oh, it makes a tremendous difference to our veteran population of those who that recently gotten out or been out for a while.

Um because we understand their language.

A lot of veterans are intimidator or to go to these employers, and because of the language barriers different because we're using acronyms to try and talk.

And then from the other side, the civilian world on the standard language that we that we use in them in the military, so it's it's a tremendous difference.

Well, I appreciate all you're doing, Robert.

I appreciate really appreciate you for having me here.

Up on screen, as always, as we close out the show, Guildford Works.org is an important website I want you to take a look at, and please do that.

And I want to thank all the good folks, Fred and everybody with Guildford Works for making this such a special program because of all the great work they do for helping so many people.

I'm Jim Longworth.

We'll see you next week.

Welcome to the Pines, located at 230 North M Street inside of the Renaissance Plaza.

We offer an all-day brunch menu featuring our newly added shrimp and grits.

The Pines is found between LaBauer Park and City Center Park.

So people of all walks, backgrounds, dogs included, are welcome.

Again, we are the pines found inside of the Renaissance Plaza across the street from Tango Performing Arts Center.

Find us on Instagram at the Pines NC website, the PinesNC.com.

Greensboro Fire Department has a new safety tool, and it's not exactly what you might expect.

Yeah, that's you.

Sean, tell us about Natty.

Uh she is right now a five-month-old golden retriever.

Um she is gonna be the fire department's first therapy dog.

Right now she's just a puppy, no training, but she's already providing some therapy relief to people.

She uh officially goes off the training on the 19th, and for 30 days and she'll be back and then be put to work.

Why was this a decision to have the therapy dog?

We really put emphasis on mental health and mental health of firefighters, and she's just the the next step in that.

She's just another tool in the toolbox.

Um just something that we're really trying to do and think it's gonna be very beneficial for her.

So mostly for firefighters or for public.

Yeah, this is gonna be for the department for firefighters for any kind of critical incident, stress debriefings, um, peer support, that type of thing.

So already she hangs out with you, she comes to work with you every day, right?

She goes home with you every day.

She does, and she has plenty of visitors every day, and just bring smiles to everybody.

So yeah, she's already providing therapy, even though she's had no training.

100%.

Yeah, and she's doing an awesome job at it.

Uh she's very well behaved.

Her demeanor is very good.

She hangs out during class and just she's awesome.

So, how will she be trained and what happens next?

So she goes off to a therapy dog training in Charlotte, and when she comes back, if she is needed, hopefully she's not needed for anything major, but we all know that with this job, things happen, and uh eventually she will be needed, and when she's needed, she'll be here for whoever needs her.

So you she'll still come to work, she'll be she'll be just ready to to stand by somebody's side to be gentle, she'll walk with you and be accustomed to people and all of that.

Yeah, she loves people, as you can probably already tell.

I mean, anybody she comes in contact with, she runs up tailwagon, wants to be pet.

It's almost to the point now where if you don't speak to her, she's like what's going on.

So, yeah, she she'll be here with me every day, and anytime somebody needs her, she'll go where she's needed.

Have you worked with a therapy dog in the past?

I have not.

This is the first time, so this is all brand new, all their inexperience.

Um, I do love dogs.

My family loves dogs, so she fits right in with us at home and everybody department seems to love dogs too, because everybody everywhere I go, if I don't have her with me, they're asking where's she at?

So you're like, hey, what about me?

Yeah, you like me too, right?

It's got it's just like when you have uh when you have a kid, they're it's all about the baby, it's not about you anymore, and I'm perfectly fine with that because that's what she's here for.

How have you seen dogs really make a difference in a situation?

They just bring just a sense of relief and calming.

Um and studies have shown that they help lower stress and anxiety and blood pressure and those type of things.

Um, and even though she's new to us, she's this is not a new concept.

There's many cities around that are already doing this uh with proven effects.

So we're just getting on board and heading down that same road now.

Yeah.

And tell us about her name.

Her name is Natty.

We kind of want to name her something either after fire apartment or after the city, but obviously Nathaniel Green is big for the city of Greensboro.

Um, but Nathaniel wouldn't have been good for her, so we shorten it up, and Natty just seemed to fit.

And what do you hope that she does for the department?

Well, I just hope she does her job.

That she just brings smiles to people's faces, and if there is a time where somebody needs just a little stress relief, anxiety relief, hopefully she can be there and help that situation.

That's the ultimate goal.

Um, if she can just help one person, then she's done her job.

But I have a feeling she'll do more than just one.

Natty's going off to training for a few weeks, but even when she comes back, likely you won't see her, but you'll know she's working hard behind the scenes to keep the people keeping you safe safe too.

All right, so uh good morning.

My name is Letitia McNeil, and I am the director of community safety, and I'm here today with my partners from the Greensboro Police Department, uh, Chief John Thompson and Assistant Chief MJ Harris, and we are excited to announce a new opportunity for collaboration that we hope will bring lasting change to how we collectively approach public safety in our community.

Uh, this new group will be a way to work collaboratively to address issues within our city using uh data-informed community engagement approaches.

Three years ago, myself and Chief Thompson uh were sitting in a conference room in uh Tulsa, Oklahoma, and we're thinking about ways that we could address uh issues in our community and more holistically, and we realized that our departments were just pieces of the puzzle, and um to building a safe community.

We needed to make sure that it was in co it that we incorporated multiple stakeholders at the table, not only to hear about the problems, to uh articulate the problems, but also to bring solutions and to be in on sharing the responsibility on making those solutions happen.

And after researching many models across the country for uh collaborative meetings, such as uh the Newark Public Safety Collaborative, Omaha 360, and the St.

Louis Collaborative, among many others, uh, we worked as a group to develop our city's new approach to address issues related to public safety.

And at this time, I would like to turn it over to IVG for more information.

Thank you very much, Letitia.

Good morning, Greensboro.

Today marks a important moment for our city, one rooted in collaboration, accountability, and a shared belief that every person in Greensboro deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen.

It's my honor to introduce the collaborative action network, also known as GSO Can.

GSO can is more than initiative, it's a movement, a united effort, bringing together community organizations, public safety partners, city departments, public health experts, educators, business leaders, and our faith community.

Together, we are stepping forward with one clear message.

Greensboro can reduce violence.

Greensboro can foster trust, and Greensboro can build a safer, stronger future for every neighborhood.

Now, our mission is rooted, our mission is grounded in five core goals.

Uh, one addressing the root cause of violence.

We know that safety belongs begins long before crisis occurs.

GSO can is committed to tackling the underlying issue: poverty, lacking lack of access, disconnection, and generational trauma.

Because sustainable change starts with understanding why violence happens and not just reacting to it.

Fostering equity, safety and resilience in communities.

Every resident deserves the same opportunity to thrive through intentional investments and community-centered strategies.

GSO can works to ensure that equity is not an aspiration, but a standard across our city.

Strengthening trust and collaboration.

Public safety is shared responsibilities and solutions are more powerful than they are built with the community, not for the community.

I'm going to say that again when it's built with the community and not for the community.

GSO can brings people together, residents, systems, and sectors to design and carry out strategies that reflect what Greensboro needs and deserves.

But we must acknowledge an important truth.

Across our nation and here at home, there have been situations where police encounters have resulted in excessive force.

These incidents, often captured and shared in videos, have left a deep and undeniable impact on our communities that have created wounds, frustration, and a bad taste in the mouths of many who no longer feel seen, valued, or protected.

So we cannot ignore that.

We should not ignore that.

Because real safety requires more than a plan, it requires trust.

That's is why the collaborative action network exists.

GSO Can is committed to unifying uplifting and sharing and strengthening partnership between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Not through empty promises, but through intentional work, building relationships, listening with uh humility, acknowledging harm and creating ongoing spaces where residents' voices matter just as much as institutional voices.

We believe that a safer Greensboro is possible only when every partner, community member, service provider, faith leader, and public safety professional comes to the table with honesty, accountability, and a shared desire to build something better.

Leveraging data to drive progress.

We will use real time informed trends and community feedback to guide action.

Data will help us remain transparent, accountable to each other, and responsive, ensuring that our solutions reflect the realities people experience every day.

We plan on promoting consistent interaction and engagement.

Change happens when people stay connected.

GSOCAN will prioritize ongoing community, I mean ongoing communication, community touch points, and public updates so that everyone, not just leaders, can participate, contribute, and track our progress.

This is our promise.

GSOCAN will make space for every voice, every neighborhood, and every partner who believes that Greensboro's best days are still ahead of us.

We recognize that reducing violence is not the work of one day, one department or one organization.

It requires citywide commitment and the courage to rethink how we show up for one another.

With GSOCAN, we are moving from conversation to collaboration, from reaction to prevention, from fragmented efforts to unified visions.

To the people of Greensboro, your experience, your concerns, and your hopes are the heart of this work.

And together we are building a community where safety is shared, trust is restored, and possibilities are abundant.

Greensboro, right now, this is our moment.

This is our movement.

We won't be able to do it without you, without an invitation to want to collaborate.

And with the collaborative action network, GSO can, we can make a difference.

We can reduce violence.

We can build resilience.

We can create lasting change together.

Thank you very much.

Do we have any questions at this time?

A question from me, Ms.

Black of ABC 45.

I know that in the past there's been organizations that have come together with the city.

So how is this different from that, or is this just an extension of that?

Yeah, so this is different because first, this is an invitation for everyone to come to the table.

This isn't something where it's a select few, it's a choice organizations.

It's that that's not what we're doing.

We are inviting everyone to have a seat and to value all of the voices at the table.

That's one of our first differences.

Next, one of the things that we are focused on is having a shared responsibility.

Because we recognize that oftentimes we will have a community meeting, people will come to the table and they will express issues that and concerns that they have in the community.

This is not what this is.

This is not another community meeting.

This is an opportunity for us to come together and really focus on creating those solutions to issues.

So what we encourage is when someone comes to the table with the problem, we want to make sure that we also have the folks at the table for those solutions, and it may not always be the people that you see standing right here.

Uh do you have any data-driven goals in mind uh to cut uh a specific number by a specific time?

Um do you plan to reduce violence in a specific way, or are there any data-driven goals that you have based off of what you've seen so far?

So we did not set a goal as a group yet, because this is a collaborative effort, we want all the community at the table when we start setting what those goals look like because oftentimes we can set a goal and then we're the ones who are held accountable to the results.

But because this is about shared responsibility, the goals will be set by GSOCAN, and the responsibility for making it happen will also be on GSOCAN as an entire collaborative.

When do you I know you said it's not another community meeting, but at some point you do have to meet.

So when will GSO can meet?

Is this something that's open to the public or how does that work?

Yes, so this uh press release or meeting is an opportunity for us to issue the invitation.

That's what this this moment is the invitation to community to join us.

Our first meeting is January the 8th, and that's gonna be at 4 30 at Barber Park event center.

So that's the invitation for community to show up to that first meeting.

So we'll have ongoing meetings, um, and then we will have monthly meetings that will give an opportunity for an overview of where we are in progress.

I guess another one for me.

Um, how important is it to have this collaboration aspect, um, especially from the police department uh perspective?

I think it's important from uh police department's perspective is because we are the first responders.

We normally are the first on scene that encounter people who need help.

Um the difference is and with this collaborative is what we've known for a time is that police can't solve the issue alone, so we might identify that issue.

If it's not a criminal issue, we're unable to deal with it.

So we're asking the community to come, an intentional collaboration to get to the root cause of those issues, and that might hamper police response.

I mean, slow the police response.

It might cure the issue so police don't have to respond.

So it's important that we support this effort holistically, come together with the community and just be a partner and a driving force in it.

I'm sure that this has taken a while to you know plan.

So what has made y'all decide to do this now?

And when did you guys start planning for this?

So from a police perspective, last year we uh we saw a spike in violent crime.

We held some community meetings across the city, and there was an overwhelming response in the audience of service providers who were asking for some form to bring everything onto and under one umbrella to help solve this issue, and through that, while we were hearing those um community partners talk, this was in motion.

Um, so it solidified that we were moving in the right direction, and here is GSO CAN.

I I keep looking, I'm sorry.

Sorry.

No, I was just gonna say I keep looking over at uh Chief Thompson because I'm just thinking about uh the time that we spent in Tulsa, and we were you know just sitting, really talking about how do we do more, you know, how do we make sure that we bring other partners to the table?

And I think uh having the the experience of learning about other collaboratives uh across the country, going and and visiting some of those uh other cities gave us um an opportunity to really be able to develop uh what we want to do here uh in Greensboro.

And I I didn't know if you wanted to say anything about about that.

Um so I I'm I'm really excited about this program, and it's one of the the things that uh it may cause me not to retire.

Um it's just it's that exciting, and this is a program that over the last three years, it it can't be forced.

It has to happen when the community is ready, uh, when they want to engage, when they want to be involved, and it has taken a lot of work over the last three years to get to a point where we were ready as an organization, community safety department, the city, uh, and as Chief Harris mentioned, waiting for the right time for the community to be ready.

And I think um that's why we're here today because we feel like we're at that point where this program has the opportunity to be extremely successful in our community.

Um as a police organization, as a city, as a community, um, I think we're we're ready to move forward and uh take that next step and really make a significant change in our community, not just looking at how do we reduce violence in our community, how do we make our community safe safer overall for everybody in the community?

Uh what can people expect when they do come to these meetings?

Like what practically can they expect?

So uh first, they can expect uh IBG to be the facilitator of the meeting.

So uh she will be the person who is helping us to guide, guide the meetings.

Uh and they can expect to have the opportunity to express issues that they may have, but also be able to be connected with partners in the room who can bring actionable uh solutions to those problems, and also as we are creating those actionable uh solutions, there's accountability uh for us as a collective to say, did this work?

Was this you know, we we started this initiative, this happened.

Um this organization stated that they were going to do this.

This department stated that they were going to do that.

So Ivy will be able to put it up on the screen and say, okay, where are we?

Did we did this work?

Yes, it was great, or no, you know what, we may need to bring in uh a different organization that maybe we didn't consider, or someone else in the room may have another insight that they can add to it, and then we go back and we come yet again, and Ivy's like, okay, well, here you know here it is, this is what worked, this is how it was.

So having those opportunities to not just come and just talk about what's wrong, but really talk about how we can make it right together.

And Ivy, I see you teasing over there.

So can you just talk about your excitement and you know how your background will help this program succeed?

Yeah, I um am super excited.

I'm a facilitator at heart.

I have uh facilitated with NCCJ as a contract facilitator, Guilford County Schools, the City of Winston Salem, Atrium Health, uh facilitating difficult conversations such as transforming white privilege, um doing gender identity, it all of those conversations gave me the opportunity to grow the um passion for people, right?

And the passion the passion for people's voice to be uplifted to kind of translate and tell a story in a way that makes sense, right?

And it gives the opportunity to have some accountability uh through uh just collaboration, right?

And we have the opportunity, and when I say we, it's not just the us here, it's the we that makes Greensboro so amazing.

So I can't help but tap my teeth out about that.

Was there anything else that we didn't ask you that you guys think is important for us to share with you?

I I think that maybe uh when we think about coming to the table, being solution-oriented, being um encouraged, feeling the tenacity, the determination that we can make this happen, right?

And and we really want to invite this community with the idea of collaboration and collaborating, collaborating to make this an amazing Greensboro.

And I would just say that we name this GSO can because it is we can.

Thank you all so much for your time today.

Hi everyone, I'm Mikey Romano, and welcome to another, actually not another, a special edition of Eco Venture GSO.

Today we are here at Great State Trails Day at Lake Brandt Marina.

We're gonna kind of go around and show you a lot of the people who are coming to contribute to this event.

Take a walk, have some fun with me.

So like I was saying, we're out here at Lake Brandt for this fun, beautiful Saturday event, and we are gonna meet some of our guests who came out to hang out with the public, show some people around, and kind of commemorate this fun day.

So hello, good sir that I've never met before.

What's your name?

What's going on, Mike?

My name's Evan.

Oh, Evan, hi.

Maintenance supervisor over Trails and Greenways.

Wonderful.

Great, great.

Thank you for coming out today.

Uh I see you have an assortment of fun toys and things out here.

So can you tell me, A, why you're out here today and what are you uh gonna show off for us?

Well, yeah, so we're out here just representing the uh trails and greenways.

Uh we're obviously maintenance out here.

Uh we've got a few of our toys like our backpacks with our chainsaws, this is stuff we carry around for storm damage removal.

We got a few ATVs, uh pieces of heavy equipment that we use to keep the trails safe and clear.

That's awesome.

That's great.

And you you seem to have a whole array of things to just make sure your job is as safe and smooth as possible.

Absolutely, absolutely.

Well, thank you for bringing it out here.

Dude, is there anything you want to show off to us?

Um, sure, we can hop on the banger if you want.

Yeah, that would be great.

I'd love to do that.

Thanks.

It's awesome.

That's great.

No one of you guys do such a great job keeping our trails clear and good for everybody to hike down.

So awesome.

Thanks for coming out today, buddy.

Thank you very much.

Much appreciated.

I'll catch you later, all right?

Thanks.

All right, so now we're gonna go up to our next guest.

This is Jennifer Hans with Parks and Rec.

And our guest to the for the day.

Ah, doing her acting debut, obviously.

Yes.

She's volunteering here with us today.

Oh, very cool.

Um, so Jennifer, please tell us a little bit about why you're here and uh contributing to this fun event.

Yeah, so I'm our community engagement coordinator with Greensboro Parks and Recreation.

And so one of the roles that I have is coming out to events and supporting, but telling people about all the really awesome things that we have here in Parks and Recreation.

Like volunteer opportunities, volunteer opportunities for all ages.

We are always looking for volunteers.

Uh, we also are so excited to be out here, and I mean, what better view do we need than this?

Come over here.

Oh, I'm sorry, what better view that we need to do?

Thank you, appreciate it.

But it's just really exciting to be out here and highlighting our lakes and all the things that Mikey and his amazing staff do for our department and for our community.

Um, you know, we have opportunities where people can just hang out and sit at the hammocks or go out on the lakes, visit the creatures on the e combus.

Every once in a while he brings a spider just to scare me because they're horrifying.

Scary.

Um our trails crew.

I don't know if a lot of people know.

We have three full-time trail staff that maintain over a hundred miles of trails.

Um so they really just do amazing work and sort of highlighting what they do today.

But it's just a really cool opportunity to be out here and share with everyone what we have to offer as a department.

That's great, that's awesome.

Now, we were talking a little bit earlier before, you know, the fun camera stuff, but you're also taking suggestions as a department so we can kind of help serve the public better.

So we are in the middle of our strategic plan right now, so that's a five-year plan for us, just laying out what we're gonna do over the next five years.

And it's really easy for us to come in and go, Mikey, here's what you need from us as parks and rec.

But that's not what we want to do.

We want Mikey, we want you to tell us what you need from us.

And so this is a really cool opportunity for people to come and just tell them, tell us about the different types of programs and facilities that we offer and what's important to them and their family.

Okay, great.

Like having a soda fountain at the office.

I mean, that'd be pretty awesome.

Okay, but we're talking more programming and more programming, facility in general, you know.

I mean, we do have like a ride-in option.

So if that's at a fountain is important for you.

There's actually a little boy here earlier that wants a waterfall.

So I mean, you know, you can get one of the bogs, but that's the only one we have.

I I can't say that I don't second that motion.

I know we have to write that one in and see what we can do.

Awesome.

Well, thank you, ladies, for being out here today and really appreciate it and hope it's a great day for you.

Yes, thank you.

Awesome.

Thanks, thanks.

Now we're gonna come over to our Greensboro Mountain Biking Experience table, talk to some of our friends there.

So check out all the cool stuff and meet these guys.

All right, even though I know you, please tell me who you are.

I am Lauren Elledge with the Greensboro Mountain Bike Experience program.

Awesome, thank you.

And I'm Scott Vines with the Greensboro Mountain Bike Experience program.

Good to not meet you for the first time, but good to have you on camera.

So thanks for coming out to our event.

You want to tell us a little bit about mountain biking and why it's become so popular lately?

Because I know this is the program is booming.

So can we get a little bit more on it if you would?

Definitely.

We um our goal is to introduce the awesome sport of mountain biking to our um Greensboro and area residents, and we have a large focus on youth as well as anybody that just wants to learn about mountain biking.

We have bikes from toddler age all the way through and up, and we run programs.

Um Scott can talk a little bit on our programs.

Yeah, well, we like everyone to take advantage of our 40 miles plus of single track through Greensboro.

Uh I've been mountain biking in this area for over 30 years, and Greensboro is so lucky to have this much single track and within the city limits.

And we're just blessed that Greensboro has been a great partner with the Piedmont Fat Tire Society who maintains the trail systems.

And um, yeah, we just want to expose everyone to that and get them out and join the trail like we do.

Okay, great.

So, one or two questions, besides the you know original ones.

Um first off, do you do training wheels on any of these bikes?

We do not.

I'm asking for I'm asking for a friend.

So, okay.

Um secondary, so I know that the Greensboro Mountain Biking is also a partnership, like you said, with that tire society.

Is that where the gnome comes from?

Yes, sir.

You want to tell me about the gnome?

That Nobby is our mascot.

Okay.

Uh he kind of came to be um, I don't know, 15 or so years ago.

Well, someone bought that and um we gave him a name of Knobby, which if you're wearing knobby tires on a mountain bike, that's where he got his name.

Okay.

And uh he originally had a lantern in it, but we were able to we were able to manipulate it and put a little tool in his hand because that represents one of the trail work tools that we use when we're working on the trails.

Okay.

And uh every year the Fat Tire Society awards golden gnomes, little gnome statues, like an Oscar.

Yeah.

To uh members of the club or folks who volunteer a lot for the club and just people who become a real uh asset to the trails network in uh Greensboro.

Very cool.

Awesome, thank you.

Well, thanks for being here.

Appreciate you guys coming out to represent both the Greensboro program and Fat Tire Society, and uh looking forward to keeping on expanding the program.

So much appreciated, guys.

I hope the day is great for you.

All right, so now we get to talk to one of our friends from Get Outdoors who are nice enough to come by with some of their amazing boats and show some people um how to kayak and how to let try out some new fun stuff.

So, hi.

I'm welcome.

I'm Susan.

I'm Mikey, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

So give me a rundown of uh I mean well, I know you're Susan, but run that of who you are, business wise and what you're doing.

So shop get outdoors, pedal and paddle is on Gate City Boulevard, just west east of the Coliseum.

And we rent and sell paddle, uh, kayaks, paddles, all that stuff.

And so we do demos.

We bring boats out, let people try them out, and let them get used to them and see what they like.

It's great.

I know we've done demo days out here and some of the other lakes as well.

And you guys are always amazing and have some of the nicest toys I've ever seen.

Um bring a lot of good toys.

Oh, they do, they do.

So you're already getting people out on the water I can see.

Right, there's people out on the water, and these are the boats that we brought here.

That's yeah.

And he has all kinds of boats that he sells.

And he gets demo ones.

And we bring them out and people paddle them.

That's great.

That's awesome.

And then if they decide that this is the boat for them or they like it, they can talk to you guys in the store and bring it home, that kind of thing.

And that's amazing.

And that's great that they can try it out versus I think I like it, but it's not the right one for them.

You guys do a lot of work to make sure that's the right boat for them.

Yes, we want to get people introduced to it, then we'll help them pick one.

I always are all really nice boats, though.

I think the one with the super cushy seat is calling me.

I can do that.

That's not a problem.

As soon as we're done with uh all the fun filming stuff, I might have to go out of the water and run amok a little bit.

I would love to.

So well, thank you.

Thank you for being out here.

Thank you for coming to support the event.

And thank you for everything you do to get people outside and enjoying nature.

All right, so this is wonderful meeting you and you too.

You have a wonderful day.

You too.

Thank you.

You too.

All right, so we are at one of our last stops.

And if you've ever seen Eco Venture before, you're pretty familiar with the Eco Bus because it is a tiny little source of pride for me, but we have one of our educators and caretakers right here with us.

This is Tiana Campos, and uh she's making her uh I guess this is your acting debut.

Yeah, my very first acting debut on here.

Hi everybody, if you guys wanna follow me onto the bus.

So, Tiana, if you will tell us a little bit about the bus for the people who aren't as familiar with it as you and I are.

Okay.

This used to be um a bus, a library bus on wheels, and then they changed it into our own eco bus.

And so now we have rescued animals and adopted animals on the bus.

So what we do is I am one of the caretakers of the animals.

We come out to different events.

So right now we're at Great State Trails Day.

It's a little tongue twister.

Um we're here today showing people the animals, because you don't get to see the eco bus unless we do a public event and everything.

We don't really have a place for them to come in public just yet.

And so one day.

Yeah, hopefully we get to show them because if a lot of people ask questions about where can we see these animals when the bus is parked and everything.

We're usually at public Greensboro events such as goulash and everything.

And so we just bring out our best animals for you guys.

They're well behaved, well tamed, and none of them get out, so you don't have to be scared.

A lot of people are scared of the snakes on the bus, the reptiles, but you don't have to be scared.

They're put away, locked away, and we use them to educate people about what they need to know about these animals, how they were adopted, how are they relinquished and stuff, and so a lot of people think that they live in these small enclosures, and we are not animal abusers, you guys.

We care about our animals very much.

We want to make sure they're healthy and stuff, but this is not their home.

They have some of them go home with Mikey or some of them come home with me at Lake Higgins and everything.

So they have perfect enclosures and they're getting brand new enclosures soon.

Um but these are just what we use to show them off, show them how pretty they are.

We got Dexter in here.

Food fighting.

We got um Georgia behind you.

I big big bow.

Careful, our uh our our director slash cameraman is uh big fan of the snakes.

Yeah, love them.

Oh, expresso come to espresso.

Australian spotted python, a rescue.

Look at that Zolly.

You get it?

I yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Um so Tiana, so we basically the bus isn't always just parked here.

We go out, we go to the like you're saying the different events.

We also go to schools, yes, scout troops.

We do a lot of um autism programs so um the kids can see them.

But yeah, we're at different places.

We've been to libraries before.

Um, we've done stuff for the mayor.

We're like everywhere.

Wherever you need us, we go to Reedsville.

We're pretty far.

Okay, cool.

Thank you for coming out to Great Trail State Day.

Great trail state day.

What a tongue swissing, you guys.

Right.

We didn't name it.

So um thank you very much for coming out and bringing the bus and taking care of the animals.

Yes, thank you.

Hi.

Hey everybody, so in addition to the eco bus, I want to introduce you to another friend of mine.

Everybody, this is Trisha.

Hi.

Trisha is here for the debut, I believe, of a new or up uh a new version of a parks and record initiative.

Yes.

You want to tell us a little bit about it?

Of course.

So this is our junior naturalist field guide.

So this is something for all ages to do, whether you're young or old.

It's just a way to get you out into nature and look around you.

So there's gonna be all kinds of different animals in here.

It's gonna be from uh mammals to uh birds to insects, all kinds of stuff.

So you're gonna find four of each of the things located in this book.

You're gonna write it down right here in our field journal.

And once you get four of each kind, you're gonna bring it over to our pod office, which is located on 320 East Friendly Avenue, and you can get a little certificate saying that you're now a junior field guide.

Isn't that so cool?

So there's a million things you can do with this.

It's a fun activity, good way to get outdoors, and just a good way to have fun.

That's great.

And it's all color pictures, so you can see everything really well.

And it's just like a real great activity, so you don't even need a screen, you can just be out checking things out and running amok in the beautiful outdoors and all that kind of stuff.

Yep, and you can find these at all of our all three of the lakes.

You can find it at Lake Higgins, Lake Brant, and Lake Talenton.

And here soon online, right now, this is our debut, so we're still getting everything, you know, worked out, but here soon it'll be available for everyone.

And we're gonna leave some of the pod office too, I believe you were saying.

Okay, great.

That's amazing.

I'm excited about this, and uh thank you for uh handing these out and you know, getting everybody interested in it and then the the new idea that we've got you know we've been kind of playing with.

Thank you so much for coming out.

Bye.

Okay, guys, so you're probably wondering where Crystal is because she's always on Eco Venture with me.

Well, she had a little bit of a different kind of a job today, and here she comes now.

She has been doing hikes today to uh commemorate this event.

How was the hike?

The hike was amazing.

Exlip, just want to let you know uh if you look to the right a little bit.

We could not do an eco venture without you, so had to make sure you were part of this.

All right.

So thanks for coming and playing.

Oh, as always.

So everybody, this has been another Eco Venture GSO.

I'm Mike Romano, Crystal Jones is trying to work.

And uh thanks for coming, and we'll see you at the next one.

Appreciate it, guys.

Welcome to Saver the Moment Dessert Bar, located at 124 North Davy Street in downtown Greensboro.

We offer many desserts ranging from parfaits, cheesecakes, and coffees.

Our most popular dessert is our trademark crunch cheesecakes.

Along with our delicious treats, we offer additional space for hosting various types of events, and we are available for dessert catering.

Again, we're Saver the Moment located at 124 North Davy Street in downtown Greensboro.

You can follow us at Saver the Moment Dessert Bar on all of our social media platforms.

What do you get when you mix archaeology, STEM programs, hundreds of kids, and thousands and thousands of Legos?

You get the first LEGO League North Carolina State Championship.

Hensley, what do you like about Leggets?

I enjoy it.

I enjoy playing with them.

And it's really funny.

Yeah.

Savannah, what about you?

I like building and that I can do anything I want with them.

Yeah, so what makes you most proud when you do Legos?

Legos.

When I have a goal and I want to build it, that I achieve that goal and build what it wants.

What is Lego competition like, Hensley?

It's pretty fun, kind of nerve-wracking, but really, I mean, you just gotta give it a and uh do your best.

What's it like working with a team on a project?

It's nice that you're not by yourself and you have other people to support you, and it's so many different ideas that you can combine and make into one big idea.

All right, Savannah, what do you want to do when you grow up?

I want to be a surgeon.

Love it.

How about you, Hensley?

I want to be a professional soccer player.

So, Corey, what is this that's happening here today?

This is a wonderful event.

So today you are at the North Carolina first Lego League Challenge State Championship, where we have 66 teams from across the state who qualify to be here through qualification events that happen throughout the FLL season.

Alright, so what did it take?

I mean, you said they had to qualify, but like before they even qualified.

What were these teams doing?

What have they been doing for years and years to actually end up in a place like this?

Every season, first Inc.

First stands for for inspiration and recognition of science and technology.

Global organization.

It's a wonderful organization.

And what they do is they come up with a world problem, the top 12 or so, 10 or 12 world problems that we have.

They decide on one, right?

And then across the globe, they announce what the theme is according to that problem or challenge.

And then it's responsibility of the kids to come up with seven thousand.

Even though the keyword is robotics, right?

That's attraction.

They have to do research for first Lego League challenge.

They do community outreach, community engagement, and everything is focused on that one theme.

Like for this year, for instance, is archaeology, and how can Steam or automation and robotics help improve archaeology?

Hello, we're the Darth Rappers, and we're from Carey, North Carolina.

Alright, what grades do we have represented here?

We are all in eighth grade, and I'm in fifth grade, fifth grade.

Awesome.

Okay.

So tell me what brought you here today.

Just a passion for STEM and learning new things.

And tell me about the problem you're trying to solve.

We're trying to solve the problem because archaeologists spend ages excavating sites and where like the artifacts and all the buried walls are just in one singular spark.

But in order to solve this, they need high cost technology, which they can't afford due to low funding.

So our solution is a low-cost multi-spectral camera, which will help them see the unseen.

So they'll know where to dig before they even start.

Wow.

Okay, what do you like about this project?

What do you like about the first Lego League?

Um, we like that it makes such an impact on archaeologists because many of the people that we interviewed said this would really help them.

All right, I'm gonna go down the line.

I want you each to tell me what you hope to do when you grow up.

Oh, we're growing here, we're growing, that's good.

All right, what do you want to be when you grow up?

What do you hope to do?

I hope to be like a marine biologist or something.

I hope to be an engineer, pilot, computer scientist, an engineer and make a big impact on the world.

A lawyer, engineer, a pediatrician, an aerospace engineer that works for NASA.

That works for NASA.

Wow.

The kids grow internally.

It's not just learning the technical aspects of first.

It's learning how to interact with each other, how to communicate with each other, how to understand that if they have a challenge when they're trying to program their robot, trying to build their robot, complete their research, learn from that challenge, which they do.

And then the next time that challenge appears, they already know.

Say, wait a minute, I'm familiar with this, so we'll take a different route.

And it's so amazing to see the kids educate themselves and grow as a person.

Nathan, when did you do your first Lego set?

Um, oh gosh, my first Lego set was I was little, um probably around five or six was I got some one of the little ones, like tiny pieces.

What did you love about it?

Just getting to build something that like I could hold and like create, like something I can play with that I also made, and that was just something really cool to me.

What kept you doing it all the way to high school now?

It's just the fun of building something, it keeps the inner like child and imagination of me alive.

There's one thing to build something, you know, would be like in a holiday set you get or something, but then to come to competition is a whole new level.

Tell us about that.

Um, it is a whole new level, but it's it's wonderful just getting to I guess apply like the kids stuff of building those Legos and like doing things I did as a kid, but also being able to do that forward and moving that to a field of like a future career that I might be interested in, like engineering.

That's very it's a very interesting thing to me.

So do you want to be an engineer?

Yeah.

Um my future hope is to go into biomedical engineering when I'm older, but you're gonna change the world, right?

Yeah, hopefully.

So the opportunity came to come back to ANT and come to a tournament because they said there's this opportunity to get involved with K through 12 education, steam education.

So I came to a first LEGO League challenge tournament, saw the smiles and excitement on the kids' faces.

That's all it took.

I said, what is this?

Growing up where I came from, I did not have in my middle school or high school, I didn't have none of this.

So what are these kids gonna do one day?

What do you think?

Where are they going?

Where will you see them one day?

You can tell you see the growth in them from when they're participating in first LEGO League when they're young to when they get to even first robotics competition, first tech challenge when they graduate high school and they go to college.

The last three years I had people coming to my office, um, students, and saying, Dr.

Bennett, and I was like, okay, who are you?

Right?

And they tell me their name, and I'm like, wait a minute, you were on this team that that many years ago, and it's so exciting that they get involved in Steam and undergraduate degrees and master degrees and PhD degrees, in part because they was uh participant in the first programs.

In part because they was a participant in the first programs.

Get your build on.

Find out more about the first Lego League by searching them online, first Lego League NC.

As someone who's been involved with the GAC for a number of years, it is incredibly rewarding to see the impact of this wonderful facility, not only here in Greensworld, but throughout the whole region.

The Aquatic Center has become an enormous asset to our community, and today we pause to celebrate, and just is just one example of the many things that it continues to do to make our community better.

A key success of both the Aquatic Center and the Learn to Swim Program is the leadership and vision of the facility's very first manager, Susan Barman.

Susan has not only helped shape the Greensboro Aquatic Center from the beginning, she's also created the Learn to Swim Program.

She now serves as the executive director, guiding us through with the same passion and commitment that she has shown for a number of years.

Please join me in welcoming Susan to a repodium.

She has a very important announcement that she'd like to make.

Yeah, 54.

It's a record number for the Learn to Swim Program this year, and one we're proud to be planning on, and are well underway with.

I believe we've completed 21 schools thus far.

The 54 schools being a record is just uh, as you'll see up on the chart on the screen, it is the example of the tremendous growth, the remarkable growth of the Learn to Swim Program.

I'd like to take a moment to recognize several people that are keys to the partnership that we have with the Greensboro Aquatic Center and with the Guilford County Schools.

I'm gonna start with the Greensboro Aquatics Center's Learn to Swim Coordinator, Leanne Williams, who is instrumental in planning for 54 schools and getting them scheduled.

Leanne, thank you for all your hard work.

Thank you.

It's really my pleasure.

I can tell that it is, and that's I love your passion.

Uh next, I'd like to recognize all of the volunteers and instructors.

We have several here today.

They get in the water daily to make this program as successful as it is.

So if you're an instructor for our program, volunteer paid deck coordinator, would you please stand and let us recognize you for all your efforts?

And I don't see her as Becky Hayeslip here.

Becky is with Guilford County Schools, she's our liaison for the program, and we greatly appreciate all that she does to help make this a cooperative effort so successful.

We could not ask for a better partner to work with at Guilford County.

Thank you, Becky.

So we're gathered today to announce the recipient of the fourth annual T Diane Bellamy Small Learn to Swim Instructor Service Award.

This award is named in honor of Guilford County School Board Member and Greensboro Aquatic Center volunteer, T Diane Bellamy Small.

And this award recognizes an individual who has provided longtime support and commitment and dedicated service to our Learn to Swim program.

I'm honored today to be able to announce to you that the instructor this year is Alan Parson.

Alan has been with the Greensboro Aquatic Center since our first year.

He is truly a role model as an instructor.

He's incredibly patient, and he does a great job in teaching.

And despite having done this for so many years, he remains at the highest level of commitment, dedication, and passion for this program in teaching the young children of Greensboro how to swim.

We are so fortunate to have him and that passion that he brings to our swimming program.

So congratulations, Alan.

Thank you.

First of all, I want to give my thanks to the Lord Almighty, our God who made this possible for me to be up here accepting this award.

Without him, it wouldn't have happened.

Secondly, I'd like to thank Susan and David.

Because without them it wouldn't have happened.

When the school back when I was 50-something years old, and uh came over to the Aquatic Center after they built this place, and I was offered an opportunity to start help them with the second grade learn to swim program and start any other programs that they have, and I've been there ever since.

And I thank them both for giving me that opportunity.

But most of all, I'd like to thank all my friends that are here today, because this has been a journey.

And every one of you have been on this journey with me.

That's why I invited you here with me.

If it wasn't for you, I I wouldn't be here.

Your fellowship with me, uh, the encouragement that you've given me to keep doing what I'm doing.

And I just thank all of you for doing the things that you did to get me where I'm at and get this award today.

So I thank you all.

God bless you.

Thank you, Alan, and congratulations to you again.

Before I invite our next speaker to the podium, I want to take a moment to recognize the previous winners of the uh Learn to Swim Instructor Service Award, and that includes Jamie Miller, Lisa Key, and Mike Leonard.

As many of you know, Mike is no longer with us, but we do have his family here today to represent him.

Where are they?

Back in the back.

And I think it's just wonderful that you're here and to keep his memory and to honor him and the hard work that he did to support the program.

So thank you all for being here and helping support again and to the past recipients.

So we have a special guest here today who would like to congratulate Alan on his award and to talk to you a little bit about the benefits that our second graders throughout Guilford County are receiving through this Learn to Swim program.

So please help help welcome the superintendent of Guilford County Schools, Dr.

Whitney Oakley.

I was sitting right next to him, and he didn't know I got to come tell him congratulations.

But on behalf of Guilford County Schools, I just wanted to say thank you and congratulate Alan and express our real sincere gratitude, not only for just your willingness to show up, but also your willingness to collaborate and your dedication that Susan talked about to the Learn to Swim program.

It's a really fantastic collaboration.

We try lots of different collaborations in the school system, but this one is sticking and growing and benefiting a lot of kids.

And it's just a really good example of what it looks like when community comes together.

The collaboration with the Aquatic Center has provided an incredible opportunity that many of our students wouldn't have otherwise.

Also want to say thank you to our board member Bellamy Small for her commitment to this effort over the years and her leadership so that students can gain these valuable skills that will really will serve them for their whole life.

The ability that kids gain through Learn to Swim are not just potentially life-saving, but they also encourage a more physical active lifestyle, supports their overall health and fitness, and opens the door to other kinds of swimming activities, which is what we see, and that's really really helpful for our schools.

It's also exciting to see the growth that this program has shown over the years, and that there are now more than 20,500 GCS students who have completed the program since its debut back in 2011.

So, yes, congratulations.

Along with many other educators who are here in the room, raise your hand, educate.

There we go.

We got principals, teachers, counselors, central office staff who also helped make this happen.

But we share in the Aquatic Center's vision of making this life-changing program available to as many GCS second grade students as students as we can, and it seems to be working.

Just want to say thank you to this board for overseeing the Learn to Swim Program to its leadership and staff of the Aquatic Center for teaching our students these very valuable skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

We think that this partnership continues to be one that enriches our school district, but also our community as a whole.

So thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Oakley, and thank you, Guilford County Schools, for the continued support and partnership of the Learn to Swim Program.

The success of the Aquatic Center and the many community offerings, such as this Learn to Swim Program, would not be possible without the support of the Greensboro City Council.

So for our final speaker today, please help me to welcome a longtime advocate of the Aquatic Center and big supporter of the Learn to Swim Program, our new mayor, Mary Kay Buswaiter.

Thank you, Susan, and thank you, everyone who is in attendance.

I would like to recognize my colleagues.

I have Hugh Holston, who is at large, and Tammy Therm, who is District 5.

And then we have six new council members who are busy learning their roles.

So there you go.

But uh, you know, I I'm just thrilled to be here.

And Alan, congratulations.

That is just amazing.

We sat at a table where he got a similar award before uh at another location, and I tell you what, you deserve every bit of this.

Thank you.

Um, of course, I'm thrilled to be here today.

The Aquatic Center is a true jewel in Greensboro.

Um, since opening its doors in 2011, it's hosted championship swimming and diving meets nearly every weekend, and this has generated an astounding 248 million dollars in economic impact.

Think about that, you know.

We have to look at the numbers, and those are some really good numbers.

Um, but you know, it it goes way beyond those numbers.

It goes to where the aquatic center and the learn to swim program are touching our community in many, many ways.

Um, you know, recreational, therapeutic and and fitness programs that serve all ages.

And I want to say specifically the the Learn to Swim Program has saved lives because I personally know some mothers who have lost their children to drownings, and this was well before they were able to go through a learn to swim program like this, and they are just ecstatic that there is a program like this.

So today we especially celebrate the success of the Learn to Swim Program in partnership with the Guilford County Schools, of course.

And it's truly heartwarming to see the confidence, the safety, and I've seen these kids and the joy they gain the first time they really feel like they can swim.

It's exciting.

Um, you know, it it is transformative for them, totally transformative.

So the Greensboro Aquatic Center, affectionately known as the GAC, has far exceeded our expectations, and we are proud to call it home.

It stands as a premier aquatic facility, a source of pride and inspiration for the entire Greensboro community.

So thank you all not only for being here, thank you, staff, thank you, everyone who has been involved, all of the volunteers, all the educators.

I'm sure I'm leaving a lot of people out, but you know, it's so important that we lift up not only the GAC, but this program that is saving lives, and we're gonna be able to do that.

Thank you.

I apologize for our delay.

We were in closed session.

Welcome to the January twentieth, twenty twenty six meeting of the Greensboro City Council.

First, I would like a motion to close the closed session.

That is moved by Mrs.

Thurm.

Do I second by Mr.

Holston?

All in favor, please say aye.

Second, I would like a motion to go into open session.

Moved by Mr.

Holston.

Second of my Miss Crawford.

Uh, all in favor, please say aye.

All right, we can now open our meeting.

And we are in the Katie Dorset Council Chambers, and let the record reflect that all members are in attendance.

Mayor Pro Tim Denise Roth is on Zoom.

She's been a little under the weather, and we appreciate her not sharing her little bit of being under the weather.

We will begin the meeting with a moment of silence if everyone can you.

Let us please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr.

Holston, would you lead us, please?

I'd like to finish by the United States of America.

And to the Republic, it stands.

One nation under God.

Indivisible with liberty and justice crawl.

All right, so I would like everyone to please silence any and all electronic devices.

And the city of Greensboro strongly encourages participants and input from all residents.

The council chamber serves as a welcoming and safe environment for all.

In order to address the council, you must have completed speaker sign-up by 5 30.

And those who registered online should confirm their attendance with Mr.

Canopino.

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

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

The mayor may also modify the time allotted to each individual, and all handouts must be given to the city clerk for distribution.

Approaching the dais is not permitted.

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

Any inappropriate or disruptive behavior 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 suspension.

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.

Zoom participants must refrain from speaking until they are recognized and called upon.

State statute requires council members to vote on all matters unless a direct financial interest exists, or if the council member serves on the board of a nonprofit organization that is receiving city funding.

All motions will be moved and seconded, and the presiding officer will announce the vote tally.

The consent agenda covers items G1 through G10 and consists of routine and non-controversial matters that are approved with a single vote.

Any council member may request the removal of an item due to a conflict of interest or to vote in opposition.

Items withdrawn for discussion will be carried forward to the next business meeting agenda.

And if an item is found to be time sensitive, the mayor may request that a vote be taken.

Closed captioning is provided for this meeting.

And depending on the duration of proceedings, a brief recess is anticipated right around 7:30 p.m.

And because there are no ceremonial or presentation items, I will move on to the consent agenda.

Does any council wish to remove any item from the consent agenda or recuse themselves due to a conflict of interest for the purpose of or the purpose of voting?

No.

Madam Mayor, I do not wish to recuse, but I do wish to make a disclosure.

Yes, thank you.

For transparency purposes and upon the advice of council, I want to make a disclosure regarding my firm's membership with the Triad Real Estate and Building Coalition, TreeBick, due to concerns raised by one of our community members.

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 these matters and no personal business relationship with the applicants or landowners.

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

I will evaluate future matters as I have here to determine if further disclosures or recusals are necessary.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So we have full uh compliment complement of consent agenda, Mr.

Holston is uh making the motion.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Second and by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Now is the time for our public hearing, and I have several that are being postponed.

Um you have a motion, Mrs.

Thurm.

Yes, I'd like to move that items H1 through H6 be postponed to a date to be to determined.

Um that is to be postponed with notice, re-notice of those items.

Thank you.

And I need a second, please.

Seconded by Ms.

Parker.

Council, please vote.

I need a voice vote for that.

Would it be a voice vote then?

All right, voice vote.

Everyone in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

And Ms.

Roth.

Mayor Pro Tim.

She on the Zoom.

Okay, let's go back.

She's there now.

Yes, Mayor Petim.

Aye.

Thank you so much.

And that passes unanimously.

All right, moving on to item H7.

Uh public hearing for an ordinance for rezoning for property at 2402 Liberty Road.

Liberty Road.

Sheila Collis for Derek McDowell.

Yes, Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, thank you, Mayor Buswair and members of the city council.

The request before you this evening is a rezoning request from R5 residential single family to CDRM18 Conditional District Residential Multifamily.

North and East of this request is currently zoned CM commercial medium.

South and West request is currently a zoned R5 residential single family.

The subject property is currently vacant.

North of the request is a contractor's office.

East request is a religious assembly use as well as commercial parking.

South request are single family dwellings and west requests are is U.S.

Highway 429.

Thank you.

The property is designated as commercial on the future land use map of the adapted comprehensive plan and as urban general on the future built form map as well as within a district scale activity center.

This is a conditional application, and this is the condition that was offered by the applicant and advertised as part of the hearing this evening.

Staff has determined that this request does support the comprehensive plans creating great places goal to expand Greensboro 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 CDRM 18 district does allow residential uses that are compatible with the varied uses in the surrounding area.

And again, staff is recommending approval of the request.

Are there any questions from council?

Seeing none, uh, we do have one person opposed, two people in one person in favor.

I'd like to go with the person in favor first, and that would be Derek McDowell.

Yes, come on up to the podium, please.

I wanted to give you all a handout.

Uh well, first of all, hello everyone.

My name is Derek McDowell.

I'm the property owner of 2402 Liberty Road.

Okay.

I want you all to kind of see and the design of what it is that I am putting on that piece of property.

Is it possible to pass?

Can someone get the handout from him to bring to us, please?

Okay, perfect, perfect, perfect.

He's putting it on.

Go ahead.

Okay.

So as you see, anyway, my name is Derek McDowell.

I am the property owner of 2402 Liberty Road.

Um, good evening, Mayor, members of City Council.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

I am here to support the rezoning of my property to CDRM 18, and to respectfully ask you to deny the appeal to uphold the plan and uphold the planning and zoning commission's approval.

I want to be very clear at the outset that this request followed the city's established process, met the city standards, and was approved based on professional review and evidence.

This rezoning request was thoroughly evaluated through Greensboro's formal development review process.

It was reviewed by professional planning staff whose responsibility is to analyze land use, compatibility, density, traffic, and consistency with adopted plans.

That vote reflects a strong determination that the request that was met the city development standards during this review.

Issues such as neighborhood compatibility, infrastructure capacity, and potential impacts were discussed in detail.

The commission determined that the rezoning is consistent with Greensboro comprehensive plan and long-term development goals.

This rezoning represents appropriate responsible use of the property.

Important, this is a conditional district, not an unrestricted rezoning.

And I'll talk about that later on.

Conditions regulate layout, setbacks, buffers, access points, and overall design.

Those conditions are enforceable, specifically intended to ensure compatibility with nearby residential properties.

Neighborhood protection and reflects thoughtful planning, not overdevelopment.

I've spoken to a few of them.

But anyway, we'll continue on.

As a property owner, I follow the city's rules and work through the required process in good faith.

Upholding this approval reinforces fairness, predictability, and trust in Greenboro's development review system.

Property owners like myself rely on the process to be objective and evidence-based.

Overturning or approval without new evidence would set a concerning precedent for future applicants and the integrity of the process itself.

For this reason, I respectfully ask City Council to deny the appeal.

Please uphold the planning and zoning commission's recommendation to approve the rezoning of 2402 Liberty Road to CDRM 18.

Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration.

Thank you.

And you you will have time for rebuttal after the opposition speaks.

All right, so I just I guess I can wait for this later.

We've got we may have some questions from council, so hold on just a moment.

Okay.

Yes, Mrs.

Thurm.

And looking at the piece of paper that's on the screen now.

Um it says a modern twin unit home.

Are you only planning on one?

That is the exact structure that is going to go up on that piece of property.

Great.

That was my question.

Thank you very much.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Hearing none we'll hear from the opposition.

Uh I mean, you've got a little bit more time if you'd like on this, but if you want to wait and hear the opposition, I can wait.

I can wait.

Okay.

I like to see what they're talking about.

All right, thank you.

And I have uh Mitchell Cook and opposition to this.

Mr.

Cook.

I do not need today, so I shouldn't have any.

Good evening.

Uh, thank you for the opportunity for me to appear here.

Informally present our concerns about the rezoning of 2402 Liberty Road.

My name is Mitch Cook.

I'm a resident of 2601 Liberty Road, and I'm appearing this evening as the designated spokesperson for the families residing on the short two-tenths of a mile extension of Liberty Road.

Present with me this evening are the homeowners and residents from this neighborhood who are directly impacted by this proposed rezoning.

We have them over here.

These are the voices you're going to hear from tonight.

We have 13 members here out of our neighborhood, and uh we are here to talk to you.

So, this portion of Liberty Road consists of 25 residential single-family homes, and it constitutes a small, long-established neighborhood.

The road operates as a secondary access route, providing connectivity between Liberty Road and Alamance Church Road.

My family and I have resided in this location for 31 years, and several other families in the neighborhood have maintained residency for 40 years or more.

Both uses have existed for decades, well before many residents purchased their homes, and they have long been accepted by the neighborhood.

However, these uses have remained appropriately confined to their respective zoning districts.

We bought our homes on this small stretch of road drawn by its long-standing identity as a single-family neighborhood, a place rooted in history, continuity, and community.

We strongly oppose further encroachment into our small established single-family residential area, as such encroachment would enroute erode the integrity of the existing zoning boundaries and undermine the character and stability of the neighborhood.

The proposed rezoning range raises serious concerns regarding future traffic volumes and public safety.

Rezoning could permit requests for further high-density multifamily development, which would significantly increase vehicular traffic through this small residential neighborhood.

Despite a postage speed limit of 25 miles per hour, the roadway already experiences excessive speeding from cut-through traffic, creating an unsafe condition that would further be intensified by any additional multifamily development.

While multifamily zoning may address certain housing needs, it's critical to acknowledge the serious and often irreversible consequences it can impose on our long-established single-family neighborhood.

Growth and development are necessary, but they must be guided by foresight, restraint, and respect for the residents who have already invested their lives in the future in this community.

You, the city council, have a duty to ensure the process does not come, progress does not come at the expense of the neighborhood's stability, character, and quality of life.

Opening the door to multifamily or possible future high density development in our low density single family neighborhood is not an abstract planning decision.

It demands extreme caution.

It affects real families, real homes, and a community that has been built over decades.

The voices of the people who already call this neighborhood home must remain of the highest priority.

The voices of this neighborhood are clear.

The affected homeowners and residents have formally opposed this rezoning through a 29 signature petition.

Hopefully, you guys saw the petition I sent in today.

The existing zoning classification of R5 residential single family already permits single family resident to construct a detached accessory dwelling unit on the same lot.

To qualify as an ADU, the unit must be 50% the size of the principal resident.

It must be independently functional, have its own kitchen, bathroom, and required utilities.

ADUs are commonly utilized to expand housing availability and in many cases to generate rental income.

As such, the current zoning framework already provides a lawful and reasonable mechanism to accommodate additional households on a property without altering the established zoning designation.

Therefore, the stated objectives of the GSO 24 2040 comprehensive plan of increasing housing density or accommodating multiple families within Greensboro can be achieved under the existing zoning, rendering the proposed rezoning unnecessary and inconsistent with the character of the neighborhood.

As demonstrated by our presence here this evening, the petition signed by our neighbors, our formal request for appeal of the zoning board's decision.

This community stands united in its commitment to protect our integrity, the integrity of our small established neighborhood.

We are deeply opposed to the rezoning of the property located at 2402 Liberty Road and respectfully urge the city council to reconsider and overturn the zoning board's prior vote.

I appreciate you letting me stand here if anybody has any questions for me.

Are there any questions from Mr.

McDowell?

Ms.

Black.

How are you?

Um I I read some of your concerns.

I'm uh from that area, so I'm very familiar with the cut through.

And um also know that that cut through is kind of uh a traffic pattern, more so than um being caused by what actually exists on that road.

Um so I'm I guess I uh my question comes with how would uh two units be impactful to what is already kind of happening?

Um and I also wanted to to know what type of engagement you all had with the developer, which he can answer that, but I'm from your perspective.

Um what engagement did you have with the developer?

Well, the the the question about the cut through.

Yes, it is a cut-through road, it is highly highly used.

Oh, I know.

Um adding the the two, say an accessory dwelling uh dwelling unit uh with with a primary residence, it's not going to increase anything.

What we're concerned as a neighborhood is are we opening up something to where we're gonna have more multifamily homes building built in this neighborhood, and now it's going to increase the traffic flow on an already busy busy street.

We can't right now we can't even walk up and down the sidewalks.

It's so dangerous because cars are flying by.

Um that's that's our that's our big concern.

We're are we opening up something that's gonna encroach on our single-family neighborhood.

As far as any uh interaction uh with Mr.

McNow, um I haven't had any.

Um I haven't received any correspondence.

Some of the neighbors have, but I I haven't personally received anything.

Does that answer your question?

Uh yes, I would um just like the lift up to you all that I probably I know the area and I know um how we're used to our acre lots, and um density is gonna be something that we have to kind of embrace.

I even had to think about embracing it as well.

Um, so I just kind of wanted to to get an idea of what other what other concerns you have.

I know that curve can be questionable, and um, looking at the homes is some of the questions I'm gonna ask going forward is how we're gonna navigate that.

Um, so I do hear you and uh your concern, um, but I also want the community to also be thinking about uh when you're thinking about density, um it's coming, and how do we address it in a way that's healthy for your community uh more so than um then not um having a realization that we may have to have that conversation?

I grew up off Pleasant Garden Road.

I've cut through your community a thousand times, um, but it's the habit of that side of town.

It and if you've lived there, you know that you know you get to the food line.

I I remember when the food line wasn't even there, and it was still a cut through.

But I also know that um on uh the other side you have uh Haley trucking that has been there for a long time.

And then a church on the corner.

I don't think is that still a church on the corner.

So that area has kind of been that way for a long time.

And that's what I said, it's been there for decades.

So I understand um your concern, and um, but I would I would welcome you to uh embrace the idea of um that density is coming and try to to at least consider what kind of density um your community, our community can um get used to.

Um, but I do want to hear about the engagement from the developer.

I think uh we should always engage community.

Uh I think sometimes that's where some of your compromising and agreements can come up to.

Uh so I want to hear from him about the engagement piece because you said that you had not there were no community meetings.

No meetings.

Okay.

I'd like to challenge you also.

Sure.

You're challenging us that you consider the neighborhood.

You consider the people that have lived there for 30 to 40 years on the impact that it's going to give to them.

We understand the growth that that's gonna happen, but you still have to consider the impact of the neighborhood, the people that have invested their their life savings, their whole lives in this neighborhood.

Um, I challenge you to to consider that also.

Understood.

Thank you.

Uh thank you.

Are there any more questions from council?

All right, thank you.

And Mr.

McDowell has uh five minutes for rebuttal if he wishes.

And if you would address the um reaching out to the community as well.

Let's put this back up there.

Okay, perfect.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

All right, in regards to Mrs.

Black, in regards to the engagement, uh, this is the exact same flyer that went out to the community uh back uh several weeks ago to have a meets meeting to discuss what I was doing.

Uh no one showed up, unfortunately, but it was one out.

I did get a few return.

Some people said they did receive it, some people were not able to uh be a part of the meeting, but for the most part it uh I didn't have any success with having the meeting with the uh community.

Um it seemed like they're very adverse to the idea of having a twin home structure go up.

Um again, this is to create a three-bedroom, two-bath unit on each side to give maximum uh usage for that particular lot to support the community and uh meet that 2020 2020 40 rule that you all have agenda.

So um did I try to communicate?

I've talked to a few of the uh community, Mr.

Cook, um he and I talked a few days ago, a good conversation.

I just talked to another gym, I forget his name, unfortunately.

Well, that was a good conversation as well.

But again, they're just adverse the idea of change.

Um I have owned the property right beside this lot for almost 20 years, so I am a part of the community as well.

And so I know that this particular structure right here was gonna bring value, beauty to the property.

And as you know, that turn that you're you're speaking of, it's a little short term, but you know, people are not taking that turn too fast because you really can't take it too fast because you you know something could happen.

And there's a tree line on the right of the property that kind of blocks the uh heating air structure over there.

And again, like I was saying before, that's a buffer.

It's a buffer in between commercial and residential.

I'm gonna add from residential to that lot right there to bring more diverse housing as well as keep the aesthetics of the community.

All right, a twin home, three bedroom, two and a half bath on each side of the property on each side.

So that will bring value there.

And I want one to kind of touch on the idea of what this looks like.

So I want to put up another slide.

This right here kind of gives you an idea.

Oh I've got my glass though.

So as you see, in regards to starting from the flow here, this is a very small lot.

All right, as is shown in the diagram.

This is a very small infield rezoning of 0.24 acre parcel with natural limitations on what can be built.

Even though the zoning math could allow up to four units, I want to be very clear.

I am proposing only a twin house design with two residential units, nothing more.

There's no plan now or in the future to increase density beyond the two units.

Either unit count or overall scale.

I know I've heard people say that they're afraid that you're gonna have more development coming to the area.

That's pretty much a nice little quiet community that I think I don't see development coming in there building apartment complexes or building multiple uh multifamily units because I I don't see any additional land usage there.

So I do see the idea of taking this one lot here and maximizing what we can do for it, as well as providing housing for the community.

With only two units, the impact on traffic utility neighboring properties is minimal as reflected in the diagram, as well as the city, the commission have did their research on what could be done with the property.

They saw no problems with it at all.

And so, and again, they voted eight to one in favor of the rezoning.

This proposal aligns with the GSO 2040, supporting modest, well planned in field that fits the surrounding neighborhood.

And I think by design, as you saw earlier, it fits the neighborhood.

Nothing up scene, nothing over the top, it fits the neighborhood very well.

Planning staff and planning and zoning commission have already thank you.

Your time is up, but I think we we got the crux of what you were saying.

Yes, and uh in opposition, you have five minutes as well.

And then I'm gonna have a couple of questions for Mr.

Kirkman.

I'm sorry to go back, but I will after council has some questions for all right.

So to address the thing on the uh on meeting with Mr.

McDowell, um out of the 13 people we have here, two people received a flyer.

Okay.

Um it was a Zoom meeting that he wanted to do during the day, and um people work, so a lot of folks were not able to do that.

Um I the uh this is not the first time, unfortunately.

We've we've had the to come here before you guys with Mr.

McDowell.

Um he he came before us, he wanted to put a halfway house in his house there, right beside this neighborhood, right beside this this vacant lot.

Um sort of psychiatric house he wanted to put in there.

So this is not the first time.

This is kind of a thing that keeps that keeps happening.

Um Mr.

McDowell does not live in the neighborhood.

He owns property in a neighborhood.

I understand his son lives in the neighborhood, but he does not live in this neighborhood.

I don't know where where he resides, but uh um I just can't reiterate enough that we've come together as a as a community um that we we oppose this, and uh we're here showing our unity.

Um, and we just uh want the city council to understand where we're coming from and to understand that the the growth and all that we understand, but it also has impact on existing neighborhoods that you have to actually consider that also, and and going with an additional dwelling unit on a primary property or primary residence covers the uh 2040 comprehensive plan.

It's giving you additional housing, so and you're not having to change any zoning.

Um, and we're not possibly opening up for increased higher density housing and increased traffic on the street.

That's our that's our big concern on this.

Um that's that's what I've that's all I've got right now.

Any questions?

Any questions for Mr.

McDowell?

Thank you.

And uh before I check with other council members, I have a question for either uh Su Schwartz or Mr.

Kirkman, whoever would like to answer this.

So my understanding is after reading the zoning meeting minutes that um Mr.

Cook uh I'm sorry, yes, uh Mr.

McDowell uh could actually build a home there and then have an accessory dwelling unit in the back that could be 50 percent of the home uh architecture.

I I suppose I um I'm fishing for words there, but I it so a house could be built, and then he could build an accessory dwelling unit, which we approve um on the back without even having to have gone through notifying or doing anything like that.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

He could do one principal single family residence and then do an accessory dwelling unit that would not exceed 50 percent of the square footage of the principal dwelling.

He do that by right today, right?

And so basically, and I I know I can't go certain areas, but uh basically uh people uh family could live in the home, and then a family could also live in the accessory dwelling unit, I assume.

Yeah, that's correct.

Okay, so um uh that's where I was going on this, and my second question was I understand also that uh the state requires for the city to send out a notice within 750 feet, and that 37 homeowners were notified by the city.

I believe that is correct.

Yes, that is correct.

Uh Mr.

Cook is actually outside of that 750-foot radius would determine that during the planning and zoning commission hearing, but others of his neighbors did get notice uh from the city, and of course, we posted the property as well per state law too.

And I do realize he is speaking for for them upon their approval, but I I did want to make sure that people were notified that this was going to happen.

Yes, and and then uh I'm assuming that his flyers may have uh yes or no, possibly gotten to people.

Um that's that's something I know we can't verify, but um right.

We did provide, I can say verify we did provide the list of the same addresses that we use for ours to the applicant.

Okay, okay, thank you.

That helps answer a lot of my questions, and I don't know.

Uh Ms.

Black.

I just wanted to ask, are there any conditions, specific conditions that were written out in this?

I thought that he he was gonna mention some, but I'm gonna the one condition that he has the use limited to single family dwellings, duplex, town homes, and twin homes.

That's the only condition that's associated with the request right now.

And there's no condition on there that he couldn't come back and add additional um twin homes on that property because it says up to four.

Well, right, based on the gross acreage, uh, we did do some additional calculations trying to figure out what setbacks, building coverage, and other things on there.

Um uses would range from a single family dwelling to up to a triplex or three twelve town home.

You could do up to three in certain configurations on there.

I think um to at least hear what the residents have in concern if that could be um considered, not not at the meeting.

I don't know if this meeting the the applicant would have to offer any additional conditions, okay.

So I'll have to defer to our legal counsel on whether or not council um city attorney covid.

I think the council was uh councilman was asking if the applicant he right he's he mentioned that he was only gonna put one unit on the property and kind of said that in a guarantee.

My question to um Mr.

Kirkman was is that in the conditions of the of what since he's guaranteed that that's gonna happen.

The concern from the residents was density.

Um so my question was could it be in the conditions of the of the um zoning of the rezoning?

If that was that in the application, so again the condition that was offered by the applicant was to limit uses to single family dwellings, duplex, town homes, and twin homes.

But he didn't have a certain number on that.

There's not a number listed in that condition.

So then that's not no guarantee.

Okay, yeah, Mr.

Kirkman, thank you.

Um aligned with Ms.

Black's comments, questions.

Given the illustrative design that's been presented, you talked about also the lots and the and the setbacks, and is there additional room based upon this illustrative drawing that additional uh structures could be built.

He doesn't have room as we have run the different numbers to do a other structures necessarily.

He could do one structure that has an additional unit within it.

That's what I mentioned, the triplex or the three-town home configuration.

You mean taking this off the table and then putting something different on the correct?

But he would have that option based on what we could with this on the table with the envelope that he has with the setbacks with the topography.

You see this as being the only thing that could go there.

He could do any of the things that we're going to do.

Illustrates, yeah.

Right.

That's one option.

He mentions a twin home that is one of the allowed uses based on the zoning condition.

But the condition allows other uses as well.

Correct.

Okay.

Thank you.

And thank you, Mr.

Kurtman.

I think we after they spoke, we had some additional questions, so I appreciate that.

And I do know that before we consider a motion or a vote or comments that the city attorney uh would like to tell us something considering this.

I do.

So um city council, I wanted to make clear.

You've heard from both the parties, and they've said things that really are not supported in law.

This is an appeal.

However, what the planning and zoning commission does is recommendations.

They don't make decisions.

So when you hear things that says it was an eight to one vote, don't overturn it, it was an eight to one vote to recommend to you all that this be an allowable use for the land to rezone it from a R uh 5 to a CDRM 18 so that the what he has what the developer has proposed, that's the decision that you all will make.

This is an independent legislative decision.

And so you need to take what you've heard today, not base it on what has been recommended by the um planning and zoning commission, but it has to be independent of what you all heard today.

When you hear things from the community that said he does not live there, he owns the property, that cannot be considered in your decision because that makes no difference whether he lives in the community or whether he does not.

You have to only decide from what was presented to you, and the request was to rezone this from R5 to CD RM18 to allow the use to allow the uh development of a twin home.

What the developer has proposed and what the recommendation of the planning and zoning board was was to present to you all to make a decision based on what the developer proposed.

So could he come back and put something in later?

That would depend on how much land is there.

Can it what you are making a decision on is what he has to put there?

So if you all make a decision to put that twin home there, it's gonna be very difficult for him to all of a sudden change up unless it falls within those conditions that he proposed, which I think it was single family town home or twin home.

So I wanted to make that clear because um I heard some language in there, and and then even the developer said something about there's no new evidence.

That is not a condition upon which you all need to consider.

Doesn't matter if if the developer thinks there was new evidence or not any new evidence because the planning and zoning commission only is making a recommendation to bring this for you and allow this use.

They are not the decision makers, that is the uh governing board.

Thank you.

I I just had a quick question for clarification uh for attorney covid or uh Ms.

Schwartz or Mr.

Kirkman.

Aren't we here today because there was an appeal filed within the 10 days?

If that had not happened, wouldn't the decision of the zoning commission have been considered final action, and this would be complete.

But we're here today because an appeal was filed, and therefore we are hearing this case and making a decision in that matter.

That is correct.

Okay.

Thank you.

And I also want to say that you know it's it is an appeal, it's also good to know the background of what was in the minutes of the zoning commission.

I think that's important as well.

So are there any council comments?

Yes, Mr.

Mark.

I have a few.

Um you know, this is a.24 acre lot, so there's only it can only be so dense.

Um essentially, and I know it's illustrative, we're looking at a single family home.

It happens to have two families living in it.

Um we have a housing shortage, we know we have a housing shortage.

This is just one lot and one project, but these are the type of decisions that that while uncomfortable, we we have to wrestle with uh when trying to address our housing crisis.

Uh this property uh not only bounds the residential community, it about it it abuts commercial as well.

So we've been essentially got a transitional use as well, going from commercial a little bit higher density than getting into single family.

I don't have issue with this.

I would be inclined to support it.

Uh I certainly understand the the views of the neighbors and you know, respect you all being here.

Um these are always tough decisions, but um, these are the type of things that we have to wrestle with.

Anyone else, Ms.

Black?

Sure.

Um, I will echo the comments that council member Marshall made.

Um there are a lot of other density options, and I think this is a smart way to increase density.

Um I also believe that from the aesthetics of it, it does appear to be a single family dwelling when you are looking at it from the street level, it just has two doors.

Um at the onset of my comments, I mentioned that we're gonna have to kind of get used to density, and uh that's that's Greensboro loves a sprawl, um, and we're gonna have to kind of get away from the sprawl and think about how we can how we can have density in a smart way.

So I also uh will be supporting this project.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Allen.

Yeah, and I I'm in agreement with uh my colleagues.

I would just like to make mention of uh the communication issues, and I do want to make mention that I would like to see uh folks that are developing the communities make uh uh more than bare minimum effort to do outreach to community and have these conversations uh so that we can uh have better understanding before they come before uh these boards.

But I do think uh that I agree with with the comments of my colleagues as well.

Mr.

Holson.

Uh Councilman Allen makes a very good point about the communication piece, especially when it comes down to a time of the year that uh is the holiday season and people are distracted by various and sundry things.

I think it's important uh that uh those who are looking to make changes to communities or who are uh bringing change and change ought to consider having multiple avenues of communication.

I know this was a Zoom option, I believe it was December 11th when that uh gathering occurred, maybe having something before or something after giving folks the opportunity to uh have their input again because it's a very challenging time of the year for a lot of different reasons, and again, it is is something that when it comes to the transparency of the conversation, uh from the council, at least from from my perspective in the past, it's not that you're having a meeting to uh you know turn over tables or to get everybody to agree with you, it's just to put the facts on the table.

A lot of times when folks come in here, they may not know exactly all that's gonna be going on, and that's where they lay their head, and they just want to know what's going on.

So having that extra effort for communication is very important, and then lastly, when it comes to the question of density, uh density is something that, in a sense, when in a community like this, it brings change, and change is uncomfortable for a lot of reasons, but density is something that we're gonna need across this city as a whole, uh, across the entire city, north, east, south, and west.

Smart density is important, bringing the community in uh to have the conversations, but density is something that we are gonna have to become more comfortable with, smart density and bringing in the community.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Great.

I have Mrs.

Thurman.

Then Mrs.

Roth would like to say something over here, and then CC good.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I was just going to comment that you know, I don't see any substantive difference between a house and an ADU and for two families versus a duplex for two families in terms of how it's going to impact this neighborhood.

We're talking about basically the same number of cars, plus or minus one or two.

Um I understand the concern of what does this open down the road and what changes does this make down the road, but we aren't able to consider down the road.

We have to consider what's the best and highest use for this piece of property and this rezoning.

You know, from the looks of the map that I'm looking at, there's not any there are no other lots right in through here that have the potential for a high impact zoning anyway.

Um as far as I'm concerned, this is the same thing as having the House and the ADU.

Um which you all seem to um be accepting of.

I think the higher use is to have the duplex, and for that reason, I'll be supporting this.

Thank you, Ms.

Roth.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I appreciate the thoughtful conversation uh in comments that have been made by the other members.

Um, and I think it's the um conversation that we will continue to have a number of times as we go through our next few years together.

I did want to ask just for a point of clarification.

Councilmember Black was asking about a potential amendment or limit that can be added to uh this site in addition to what has already been presented.

And I wanted to clarify that if council wanted to add an amendment, we can or we cannot, and if I can just ask for uh staff response to that.

Yes, thank thank you, Mayor Pro Tim, for the question.

I've asked uh planner director Sue Schwartz to provide some context.

So thank you.

Um between general statutes and case law, the council cannot ask for conditions, it must be offered by the applicant to do those kind of amendments, otherwise we would run into a situation considered contract zoning where we're saying we'll we'll approve this if you do this.

So that's that's uh definitely not allowed in our system.

But if they the applicant chooses to add a condition or thinks things through as part of and asks for that to be amended by the count as application to be amended by the council, that is how that would happen.

Thank you.

And so if the council wanted to see something different, and and I'm not suggesting this necessarily for this moment, but just since we're on the point, um the most council could do is ask for the item to be held and for consideration to be made or for it to go back to zoning for consideration.

Um see if I can uh string together, sorry, with the feedback, I was make sure I hear your question correctly.

If the council chose another case that we're we're concerned, the council could have the option of just turning down the application, suggesting and expressing why um in those in their reasons why it didn't feel like it fit Greensboro at this point in time.

Um it could ask for a continuation.

We have done that in the past and ask that the applicant meet continue to meet with the community and see if they can come back with any a revised application.

I can think in the recent past, we've had one that was successful and came back, and one where it came back exactly the same and then it got turned down.

So you have those kinds of options, however, we can't go in and negotiate those with them as a as the voting body, you would have to take what as as it is presented to you.

So um, but those are kind of the options that we have done for either ad for continue, either turn it down and explain why, give print points, which sometimes applicants and then come back and with a new application addressing those points can continue and suggest that the community and the applicant continue to work on their differences and bring it back for a decision.

So I hope that makes sense.

It does.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Crawford.

So it's hard to see community organized and come up here and have a letter and 29 signatures.

Um I definitely feel for you our community is beginning to see in Phil coming in, uh, and we were originally a single family neighborhood, and we wanted to keep that um that feel.

And as much as you know, I I want to I want to comply with the sentiment from the community.

This is probably the lightest multifamily home that you're gonna get in that community.

Um it's really hard for us.

It's not that we don't understand uh we were there at the planning meeting, so we know that there was some concern about community outreach and engagement, and I do agree that going forward that has to be done better, and maybe there's something that we can do about um increasing the square footage or asking developers to increase the square footage of the outreach that they do to the community.

Uh but in this case, um I'm not I'm not seeing anything that allows us to reject um this appeal, this this process.

All right, anyone else.

And I just have a few comments that I too I agree with my colleagues who have spoken so far that um it will be difficult to um vote against vote for the appeal and against the applicant.

So uh I therefore am going to be in favor of it.

Now I would like to say um I am concerned as everyone who's speak spoken tonight, even council, about the traffic issues there.

So if G D OT could look into some of that um just as a side comment that uh there have been complaints.

Um I would like now a motion to close the public hearing.

So moved moved by Mrs.

Thurm.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by her miss black first.

Um all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Now I would like a motion to adopt the ordinance.

Or yes or not.

No, I'll ask a motion to adopt the appeal.

We're gonna have to do that in reverse to adopt the appeal.

And uh right, that wasn't it an appeal, Mr.

Kirkman.

Just so everybody can see me.

Um, so the the request before council, it came to you because of an appeal, but you're simply being asked to approve or deny the resignation.

Or deny the zoning.

Understood.

Understood.

Thank you for that.

So yeah, and you have the findings.

Right, we have I have that.

So um I would like a motion to approve or deny.

Which would you a motion?

I'll make that motion.

To approve.

To approve.

To approve, all right.

And I need a second.

Second.

And it also needs statement of fact.

We need to read the statement, correct.

Okay.

Correct.

All right.

The Greensboro City Council believes that it's action to approve the rezoning request for the property at 2402 Liberty Road from R5 residential single family five to C D RM 18, conditional district residential multifamily 18, 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 CDRM 18 zoning district as conditioned 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.

Thank you.

Um right now I need a motion and a second on the uh on to adopt the ordinance, and that he did read the uh required statement of consistency.

Council, please vote and that passes nine to zero.

We were waiting until it showed on the screen, so there is a slight delay.

Thank you very much.

Um moving on to item H8, public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for the property located at a portion of 1169 Pleasant Ridge Road, point five 45.45 acres.

Devon and Teresa Akin Atkins and item H9 public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for portion of 1169 Pleasant Ridge Road.

Devin and Teresa Atkins.

All right, Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Again, uh, the uh this is a little bit unique request.

I'll go ahead and say the uh parcel itself, part of the parcel is actually already in the city's jurisdiction, and so the request this evening is for annexation and original zoning for the back portion of the property.

Um the request is to go from county AG agricultural to city R3 residential single family, which will match the zoning on the front part of the property.

Uh north and south request is currently zone county AG and City R3.

East request is zone city R3 and City C D L I, Conditional District Light Industrial Further East.

West request is on County AG Agricultural.

So the subject property, the back portion of the property uh has an accessory structure uh that they the applicant is interested in actually converting to an ADU and needs to bring that property into the city's jurisdiction to do that.

Again, the front part of the property is already occupied by an existing single family dwelling.

North, south, and west of the request are single family dwellings, and east request is a combination of single family dwellings as well as undeveloped land.

Property is designated as residential in the Western Area Plan, and then as urban general on the future built format of the comprehensive plan.

Staff has a recommending approval of the request based on meeting the comprehensive plans creating great places goal to expand Greensboro 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 liberal Greensboro.

Staff knows this proposed R3 district does permit uses similar to those present on adjacent tracks.

This request was heard by the planning and zoning commission at their December 15th meeting.

Uh unanimously recommended approval of both the annexation and the original zoning request, and there were no speakers at that meeting.

I can answer any questions.

Thank you.

Any questions from council?

Hearing none, we do have a speaker in favor, but uh we do not have anyone in opposition, so we do not need to have uh the full public hearing.

So unless they would like to say something briefly, um, I would accept the motion.

You good?

They're good.

So does council have any questions?

Move the item.

Move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Uh let's see.

This one does require statement of consistency.

I would suggest that council go ahead and vote first.

Mayor, this is the annexation as far as the annexation.

Okay.

So council, please vote.

All right, and now we can uh ask for a motion to adopt the ordinance, and that does require a statement of consistency.

Do I hear a motion?

Move that item.

Move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Mr.

Holston.

Uh statement of consistency, Mrs.

Thurm.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the original zoning request for the property at a portion of 1169 Pleasant Ridge Road from County AG to City R3 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 R3 zoning district permits uses that fit the context of the surrounding area and limits negative impacts on adjacent properties.

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

It will benefit the property owner and surrounding community and approvals in the public interest.

All right, thank you.

Council that passes nine to zero.

No.

Do we not go yet?

I'm sorry.

I'm waiting on council member Marshall and Parker, please.

I've got a screen that says it passed, so maybe that's the previous screen.

Correct.

Okay, that's confusing.

There we go.

All right, now it passes nine to zero.

Our screens are a little delayed, so I apologize for any confusion there.

Thank you.

That passes nine to zero.

Thank you.

All right.

Item number um H10, public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for the properties located at 3800 Lewiston Road and portions of 4544 Jessup Road, 5.98 acres.

Mark Isaacson for James Hill of Hat Ventures LLC, and item number H11, public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning and rezoning for properties at 3800 Lewiston Road and 4544 Jessup Grove Road.

Mark Isaacson for James Alex Hale of Hat Ventures LLC.

Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Again, the request is an annexation and both an original zoning and a rezoning for property at Jessup Grove Road and Lewiston Road.

The property in Orange is the part of the property that's already in the city's jurisdiction for reference.

The request is to go from county RS40 residential single family and city C D RM5 Conditional District Residential Multifamily to City C D RM8 Conditional District Residential Multifamily.

North and East of the Request is currently zone county RS40 residential single family.

South and West request is zone county RS40 and City R3, both residential single family.

The subject properties are currently undeveloped this time.

North of the request are single family dwellings.

South request is also a religious assembly use and single family dwellings and west requests are single family dwellings as well as an agricultural use.

Properties are designated as residential on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan and as urban general on the future built format of the comprehensive plan.

This is a conditional zoning application, and so these are the two conditions offered by the applicant and advertised as part of the hearing this evening.

In recommending approval of the request, staff has determined the request does support the comprehensive plans creating great places goal to expand Greensboro citywide network of unique neighborhoods, offering residents of all walks of life, a variety of quality housing choices, and the building community connections goal to maintain stable, attractive, and healthy places to live and raise families.

They propose CDRMate request as condition permits a mix of residential housing types with a maximum unit count of 65 dwellings and uh allows uses that are similar to existing uses in the surrounding area.

The planning and zoning commission evaluated this request at their December 15th meeting and a unanimously recommended approval of the annexation and the zoning requests.

At that hearing, there was one speaker in favor and none in opposition.

Answer any questions.

Any questions from council?

All right, so we could hear from uh those in favor and uh you will have 15 minutes and also uh someone in opposition uh make a would someone like to make a motion to open a public hearing.

So move by Mr.

Holston.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Miss Crawford, all in favor, please say aye.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Blackwood.

Come on, Madam Mayor and members of council.

My name is Nick Blackwood, 804 Green Valley Road here in Greensboro.

Here on behalf of the property owner and applicant, Hat Ventures, Alex Hale, representative of Hat Ventures is here as well.

If you have any questions that he might be able to assist in answering, I'm gonna try to be fairly brief.

Um, as staff mentioned, uh, received a unanimous recommendation for approval at last month's P and Z uh meeting.

No speakers in opposition at that meeting.

I think we can breeze through this slide.

Just wanted to highlight the zoning conditions uh that were that were submitted as part of this application.

Uh it is a uh multifamily zoning district requested uh in order to allow town homes.

Uh however, there are no apartments uh permitted pursuant to this zoning condition, and that was intentional.

This is um obviously we have to apply for an RM8 zoning district uh to allow for the townhomes that are requested, uh but no intention for a traditional multifamily department project here.

Uh so that's the purpose for that first condition.

Uh the second condition, uh, we are requesting eight units per acre density-wise uh as far as the zoning district is concerned.

However, it's not going to be practical or feasible for us to actually uh fit that number of lots on the property.

Um so wanted to go ahead and provide some property owners in the area with the assurance that this is not going to be maxed out at eight units per acre.

Wanted to show this slide just to highlight what you see outlined in red uh in totality.

That's the property subject to the request.

What you see in red, shaded red um the southern portion of that property.

That was actually annexed and zoned about a year ago for a similar townhome development.

At that point in time, um, Alex and his group owned the entirety of the property.

The civil engineer did not think that it was feasible based on the topography of the property to extend public utilities to that northern portion.

So that was intentionally carved out and left in the county since that annexation and zoning approval.

It has uh since been determined that it is feasible to extend utilities to that northern portion, uh, which would allow us to um to uh have some additional townhomes.

That's the reason for bringing in that northern portion into the city with this annexation request and increasing our density across the board with respect to both pieces.

There is some topography challenges at the northwest portion of the property.

Um that's where our stormwater detention device me devices planned.

Um the topography is situated such that that's a low-lying level.

That's a watershed critical area, so we're not really going to be able to use the northwestern portion.

Applying for the RMA district allows us some development flexibility under that RM8 district that we do not have under RM5 with respect to lot sizes.

So that's the reasoning for the the change to RM8.

Wanted to show this aerial, uh, kind of a blown-out aerial from the city's zoning map.

Uh really wanted to highlight that there's already an existing mix of some higher density multifamily zoning districts.

You see a townhome project to the south at RM8, another townhome project just south of that at RM5.

Um, also in close proximity to the Horse Pen Creek Road Thoroughfare.

There's been a significant amount of investment from the city into improving that that thoroughfare, that corridor.

There's an existing mix of uses there.

You have prolific park, you have the recently approved atrium hospital facility there outlined in black on the right hand side of your screen.

So there's a fair amount of activity in the area.

Um, this is the type of infill project where we can make good use of the city's investment in that infrastructure, the improvements that have already been made uh to Horse Pen Creek Road, also in proximity to Brian Boulevard in the airport.

Um, so with the economic development announcements out at the airport, the jobs that are coming in, this is the type of area where we want to put those additional rooftops for folks so they can live and work you know in proximity.

This slide shows an illustrative sketch.

Um, obviously, this is just as it says, just for illustrative purposes to give you a feel for what we anticipate the layout may look like.

Um, you can see that we what this annexation of the additional northern portion and the rezoning request of the entire site has allowed us to do is extend those proposed townhomes to the northern portion of the site, whereas pursuant to the previous annexation, just development of the southern portion for townhomes would have been permitted.

Um, that's you see the stormwater detention device to the north in that area where the topography is somewhat challenging for development with the watershed area.

What that's going to allow us to do just inherently is provide a natural buffer area between those additional townhomes and the existing single family residences to the north.

Um so we're gonna have just a just by virtue of the topography and the way that the land sits, we're gonna have a natural buffer there along our northern property line.

We did send out a notice letter to all property owners on the city's notification list, um, held a neighborhood meeting on December 2nd.

Um there were five or six folks that attended.

Um, really the the concern was just density related.

They just did not want to see any additional density here.

Um, you know, explained that the city has has enacted um you know a policy preference for additional density where where it's feasible, where infill development makes sense, where the infrastructure is already in place as we move towards our goal of reaching that additional 10,000 unit threshold in the next several years.

So I think there was just some some disagreements on how they wanted to see this area developed.

They would obviously obviously had a preference that we would would keep it as is.

Um, we saw this opportunity to extend the utilities to the northern portion of the site as a good opportunity to further the city's goal towards that 10,000 unit threshold.

And that was the that was the sticking point at the meeting.

Um those folks did not did not show up to the the PNZ hearing to speak in opposition.

That's our last slide.

Again, I have Alex Hale with the developer here to help answer any questions you might have, and I'm happy to answer any questions as well.

Um council, anyone have questions?

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

And I have Mr.

George Hartzman in opposition.

Mr.

Hartzman.

I'll bring it down so let's go down the whole thing.

George Harchman, public integrity watch.

I taught financial and legal ethics to CPAs and attorneys for about 10 years.

And I got into municipal ethics after that.

North Carolina statutes govern conflicts of interest in zoning decisions.

They say a governing board member shall not vote on a zoning map or text amendment if the rezoning petition or the applicant is a person with whom the member has a close familiar business or other associational relationship.

Zoning decisions are quasi-judicial in nature and must be made free from bias.

Undue influence or the appearance of partiality.

In this case, the applicant is representative by attorney Mark Isaacson.

As was stated multiple times.

Public campaign finance records show Mark Isaacson and his law partner Desmond Sheridan both made direct financial contributions to council member Adam Marshall's political campaign.

These are not passive or incidental donors.

They are professionals whose business interests routinely depend on discretionary zoning approvals issued by this governing body.

Both Marshall's and Isaacson's firms are members of Trebock, as you said beforehand.

The Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition.

Trebock lobbies the City of Greensboro on growth zoning annexations, land use and housing code enforcement issues.

This is not a casual network.

Trebock is a coalition with a shared financial interest in development outcomes before this council.

Adam Marshalls, whose legal practice focuses on real estate, land use, and zoning, is a Trebic member who served as his firm's Trebock delegate until the election.

His campaign was funded over 40,000 from Treboc members in real estate interest, including Mark Isaacson.

Mr.

Isaacson's law partner, Amanda Hodorin, is the immediate past chair of Trabek.

Adam received campaign contributions from Trebock's current chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice Chairman among multiple board members.

As confirmed by the American Bar Association, UN School of Government Guidance and Legal Precedent, these relationships are exactly the kinds of situations state law and the city of Greensboro's conflict of interest policies are aimed at.

Adam has an unambiguous associational relationship with the rezoning petition's attorney through their shared traffic membership activity and professional livelihood and campaign contributions.

These overlapping professional organizational and financial relationships create a clear associational nexus between the applicant's legal representation and a sitting council member under the meaning and intent of state law, as well as the city of Greensboro's own conflict of interest standards, which require officials to avoid both actual and apparent conflicts.

This is not an allegation of misconduct.

It's not an allegation of misconduct.

I'm saying you should recuse yourself because you have ties with the applicant of the petition.

It is a procedural safeguard required to preserve public confidence and the integrity of zoning decisions.

Any council member with these associal relationships should disclose them on the record and recuse themselves from participation and voting on this rezoning matter.

I also request this objection and any disclosures or recusals be accurately reflected in the official minutes.

Thank you, Mr.

Hartzman.

All right.

Any comments from council?

All right.

I would entertain a motion.

Motion by the public hearing?

That is moved and closed.

All in favor, please say aye.

Okay.

Um I need a motion to adopt the ordinance item number H10.

So moved.

Motion.

Move by Miss Parker.

Second by Miss Thurm.

Council, please vote.

Ms.

Roth, your vote.

Great.

Miss Roth, your vote.

Mayor Pro Tem?

She's voting on is she voting online?

Okay.

I did.

I was not aware of that.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Uh now I need a motion to that passes nine to zero.

I need a motion to adopt the ordinance item H11.

And that requires statement of consistency.

Motion so moved.

Move by Ms.

Parker.

Ms.

Parker.

I am do I hear a second?

Second amount, Mr.

Holston.

Ms.

Parker, if you would read the statement, please.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the original zoning request for the property at 3800 Lewiston Road and 4.

I'm I'm reading it.

Okay, great.

4544 Jess of Grope Road from County RS40 residential city single family and city CDR M5 Conditional District Residential Multifamily to City C D R M8 Conditional District Residential Multifamily to be consistent 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 consistent with the comprehensive plans, future built form map and future land use map.

The proposed city CD RM8 zoning district as conditioned permit uses that fit with uh within 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.

Thank you.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Thank you very much.

Um Madam City Attorney, did you want to address the um question of recusals?

Um only briefly, Madam Mayor, just to say that um I've looked into this matter, I've also spoken to Councilman Um Marshall.

He does not have a conflict of interest.

Simply because someone has donated to your political campaign does not make you um biased or in a situation where you have to refuse yourself when a vote comes up.

The fact that um Mr.

Councilman Marshall's firm um members are a member of Tree Vick as well as Mr.

Isaacson's firm does not mean that he has to recuse himself.

So I hear Mr.

Hartzman's concerns.

I'm glad that he's bringing those concerns uh before council when he feels like he should, but there is no conflict of interest.

And if councilman marshall just simply does not vote, his vote would be counted as a yes because the law does not allow him just to decide not to vote.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

All right, moving on to item H12 and item H13, public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for the property located at 4452 McConnell Road, 7.33 acres, Alex Gossett for the City of Greensboro, and item H13, public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for 4452 McConnell Road and a portion of McConnell Road right of way, ROW.

Alex Gossett for City of Greensboro.

Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Uh the request this evening is to annex this property into the city's jurisdiction and change the zoning from County AG agricultural to city PI public and institutional.

North and East request is currently zoned a combination of county AG agricultural as well as city PUD plan unit development.

South of request is zone county AG.

West request is also zone county A G.

The subject property is currently undeveloped at this time.

North of requests are a combination of single family and multifamily dwellings.

South and West request are single family dwellings as well as agricultural use.

This property is currently designated residential on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan.

And as exurban on the future built form map of the comprehensive plan.

Staff would note that if this property is annexed into the city, the future built form designation will be changed to urban general to match the other property that's already in the city's limit city's jurisdiction.

In recommending approval, staff notes this request supports the comprehensive plans, filling in our framework strategy to invest in building and maintaining quality, accessible public recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood park facilities, and other services to sustain liberal neighborhoods, and the filling our framework big idea to arrange our land uses for where we live, work, attend school, shop, and enjoy our free time to create more vibrant and livable Greensboro.

The proposed PI zoning district is intended to accommodate a variety of men in larger size public, quasi-public and institutional uses that include governmental uses such as fire stations that can support nearby residential uses that exist in the surrounding area.

This request was heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission at their December 15th meeting.

They uh unanimously recommended in favor of the annexation and original zoning.

There was one speaker in favor of the request at that meeting, and none in opposition.

I can answer any questions.

Are there any questions?

Mr.

Kirkman, could you explain?

I think a lot of people may not realize what ex urban means.

Yes, so basically, when the comprehensive plan was adopted, these are areas that were outside of the city's jurisdiction that we were not sure that could be brought in in a short time frame.

But there have been changes over time, which includes the uh additions of public infrastructure that now make these areas able to be annexed into the city's jurisdiction, and in this case is going to be used to uh build a government facility to directly support property that is already in the city.

Great, thank you.

All right, um, there's no one in opposition, so I could accept a motion to adopt the ordinary item.

Moved by Mr.

Holston, seconded by Miss No.

I'm sorry, Miss Motion by Miss Black, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Uh council, please vote.

I need a vote screen.

No, it was already we got it.

Um that passes nine to zero.

Now I need a motion to adopt the ordinance item H13, which after the vote will require a statement of consistency.

Do I hear a motion?

Moved by Miss Black, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Uh council, please vote, and then we will have you read the statement of consistency, Ms.

Black.

No, they tell me.

Yes, okay.

And that passes nine to zero.

Ms.

Black.

The Greensboro City Council believes that it is action to approve the original zoning request for the property at 4452 Randall, excuse me, McConnell Road and a portion of the McConnell Road right-of-way from County AG to City PI to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers this action taken to be reasonable and in the public's interest for the following reasons.

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

The proposed city PI zoning district permits uses that fit the conte 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 public interest.

Thank you.

And as I said, that passed nine to zero.

Moving on to item number H14, public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for the properties located at 3005, 3015, and 3025 Glass Road, 10.49 acres.

Alex Gossett for the City of Greensboro, and item H15, public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for 3005-3015 and 3025 Glass Road.

Alex Gossip for the City of Greensboro, Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, thank you, Mayor Buslair.

Uh, this request is also again to bring property into the city's jurisdiction and establish original zoning from county AG agricultural to city PI public and institutional.

North, east, south, and the request are all zoned county AG agricultural this time.

As you can see, there's also some city R3 located further to the east.

The subject properties uh right now contain a single family dwelling and undeveloped land.

North of the request are a single family dwelling as well as undeveloped land.

Easter request is undeveloped land, south and west request are single family dwellings.

This is designated as residential on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan, and then also as exurban currently on the future built form map of the comprehensive plan.

In recommending approval of this request, staff notes that this does support the comprehensive plans filling in our framework strategy to invest in building and maintaining quality, accessible public recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood park facilities, and other services to sustain livable neighborhoods and the filling in our framework big idea to arrange our land uses for where we work, live, attend school, shop, and enjoy our free time to create a more vibrant and livable Greensboro.

Again, the proposed PI zoning district is intended to accommodate a variety of mid and larger size public, quasi public, and institutional uses that includes governmental uses such as fire stations to support nearby existing residential uses in this surrounding area.

The planning and zoning commission did review this request at their December 15th meeting and unanimously recommended approval of both the annexation and zoning request.

There were no speakers at that hearing.

I can answer any questions.

Any questions?

Move the item.

Move by Miss Black.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Second by I heard Ms.

Thurman first, sorry.

Um council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

And now we need to vote on adopting the ordinance item item 15.

I'll accept a motion.

Motion.

Move the item.

Move by Miss Black.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Miss Crawford.

Uh council, please vote, and then we will hear the statement of consistency.

Council, please vote.

That passes nine to zero, Ms.

Black.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the original zoning request for the properties of 3005, 3015, and 3025 of Glass Road from County AG to City PI to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable and in the public's 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 PI zoning district permits uses that fit the context of the surrounding area and limits negative impact on adjacent properties.

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

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

Thank you.

And as I said, that passed nine to zero.

Moving on to item H16, public hearing for an ordinance amending the Greensboro land development ordinance, adding medical, dental, and related office offices to the office use group.

Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, thank you.

This is uh kind of a combination of cleaning up some conflicting language in the ordinance and also to reflect the ordinance uh adopting and evolving, if you will, as uh certain uses uh in the medical profession in that field also evolve.

So basically, what the uh amendment is is to take the category of or the individual use, if you will, of medical, dental and related offices and add them to the general office use category.

Currently, they are separated out as a medical facility use only, and so this adds that as an option within the office use.

So just to kind of see how this works, uh basically it would add this again to that office use group, uh would be permitted by right uh with no additional development standards, and then from a tech standpoint, again, we're just adding that use to the uh office use group.

We feel like this is a better reflection of what uh more modern medical and dental offices are in terms of the relationship to general office uses, and we'll make it easier then with uh future development related to medical and dental offices.

I can answer any questions.

Are there any questions?

Uh I'm where did you say that these categories were before?

Right.

So basically the medical dental related office falls under our medical facilities larger use group as a subcategory.

The I think as I understand it, when this ordinance was adopted, they were more reflective of these normally locating within larger institutional campuses near hospitals and those types of things.

But clearly the uh the office uses have evolved over time to be small scale and individual sites, and so this better reflects that relationship.

And we didn't remove it from medical just to be clear, we just added to it basically.

So we haven't taken anything away.

Thank you.

All right.

Um do I have a motion?

Moved by Ms.

Thurm.

Do I hear a second?

Second, and uh kind of heard Ms.

Parker down here, so I'll go with Ms.

Parker.

Uh council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Um the green.

I'm sorry, I have to read this.

Yes, yes.

The Greens I'm sorry, go ahead, Miss Thurm.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the medical office tax amendment to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable 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 strategy strategic goal of being an easy place to do business and also supports the goals of GSO 2040, the city's comprehensive plan and creating great places and filling in our framework.

The request is reasonable due to the fact that the proposed amendments provide administrative clarity for medical office uses.

Thank you.

And that did pass nine to zero.

Moving on to item H eight 17 resolution to close portions of brass Eagle Loop and Long Valley Road, Brian Guffey, Guffey Property Management LLC, and the City of Greensboro.

Mr.

Kirkman, thank you.

Once again, yes, the request before the council this evening again is to close portions of Long Valley Road and Brass Eagle Loop Road, uh, which connects to Fleming Road as you can see on the map.

The area and the hatch on the match on the map is the area that is being requested to be closed this evening.

Um, in terms of the development right now, the properties both to the east and west are not developed at this point.

Uh properties to the east are actually owned by the city of Greensboro, and then the property to the west is uh owned by the applicant who asked for this to be done.

So just kind of walk through the process here.

So this request again was initiated by the owners of that property to the west to request to close that property.

Um the owners of that property plus the city of Greensboro make up a majority of the road frontage, which gets the standard necessary to initiate the process.

Uh the city did following our uh laws and procedures to make notice to any other owners that had frontage along those areas about the public hearings, both planning and zoning commission and tonight's city council meeting via registered mail.

We have not heard from anyone having concerns uh related to those mail notices on there.

Um again, this is basically being requested to allow for new residential development as well as approved public safety at the intersection at Fleming Road and making a determination to close public streets.

The city must have two findings that the closing of that street uh is not contrary to the public interest, and that no property owner in the vicinity is deprived of reasonable means of ingress and egress, and the city did make both of those findings uh at the technical review committee meeting on December 5th.

You see that they did say yes, indeed, both findings were met.

There are three conditions that were associated with that approval, and those are shown here on the screen.

Uh, planning and zone commission did also review this request at their December 15th meeting and did recommend the street closing to the council again with those three conditions offered by the technical review committee.

And just to kind of help a little bit uh better visualize what's going on here, so you can see in this image that again there's a desire to do a single family residential development and to reconfigure this roadway to help with uh some of that development and again also to address uh how this road access Fleming Road and address a public safety issue.

So we feel like it's a win-win for both parties.

And I can answer your questions.

Are there any questions?

I have one, so that this is uh helpful for public safety to get through and and yes, it changes.

Should there be a need?

Right.

I'm not the transportation engineer, but I know it basically changes how they intersect each other and it makes it easier for site lines and addressing other things at the intersection.

Great, thank you.

Any other questions from council?

Hearing none, I would accept a motion.

Motion so moved.

Move by Ms.

Parker.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And after the vote, um we do not need statement of consistency on this one.

Thank you.

And that passes nine to zero.

Thank you very much.

All right, now moving on to item H 18.

And we do have someone wanting to speak on that.

Resolution making certain findings and determinations regarding the proposed financing of various improvements to the city's Coliseum Complex and requesting the local government commission to approve the financing arrangement and item H19, an ordinance in the amount of 20 million three hundred and ten thousand dollars, amending the fiscal year 2025 budget for the hotel motel occupancy tax fund, and amending the Coliseum Bond Fund budget.

This is the hour and the day of the public hearing on a trust agreement or similar installment financing arrangement to be entered into by the City of Greensboro, North Carolina, the city, pursuant to Section 160A-20 of the general statutes of North Carolina as amended, providing for the issuances of limited obligation bonds, the bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 21 million dollars for the purpose of providing funds together with other available funds to a the costs of various improvements to the city's Coliseum Complex, the project, and B, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the sale and issuance of the bonds.

If the city issues the bonds pursuant to the trust agreement, it will secure its obligations there under by an existing deed of trusts granting a lien on the site of the project, together with all improvements and fixtures located or to be located thereon, subject to certain permitted encumbrances.

Due publication of the notice of public hearing was in the Greensboro News and Record and was made on January 9th, 2026, and the city clerk is directed to attach the affidavit showing publication as exhibit A.

The City Council will immediately hear anyone who might wish to be heard on the proposed agreement and bonds as previously described.

All right.

So do we have an explanation, Mr.

City Attorney of the item?

Well, I'm not the city attorney, but I mean city manager.

I'm looking looking at you and looking at her.

I can try to be uh no.

I'm gonna ask ACM Larry Davis uh to provide counsel with the an update.

Yes, Mr.

Davis.

Thank you, Mr.

Manager.

Uh mayor and council, you uh you have two items here that are related, uh 18 and 19.

The first is the public hearing uh on the findings to allow us to pursue uh debt financing through the local government commission, uh, which is common with any request that we bring to you for permission for debt financing.

The second item is the literal uh council ordinance that um you would then adopt, which would then allow us to appropriate those funds.

I do want to take a minute and just speak to the funding source and kind of how we got to this point in terms of the particular projects that these funds would support.

Uh the funding that would be used to support these projects is the city's portion of the hotel motel occupancy tax.

Um that is our most common source of funds for capital improvements at the Coliseum complex.

Uh it's been a while since we've been able to bring such a request to you.

The last time you've had request for debt financing by this source actually is about eight years ago.

Uh, prior to the COVID period, uh, this revenue source brought in about four to four and a half million a year for the city, and we drew on that for uh for debt financing for the Coliseum during COVID.

That number dropped considerably.

Uh, we had two back-to-back years where that number went below three million.

So it's been very difficult for us to accumulate enough funds and project funds in the future that we could come to you and confidently say we're ready to be back in the bond market, we're ready to borrow funds and and and ask for your permission.

Mr.

Hartman, can you stop that please?

I know you're trying.

All right, let's stop just a moment.

All right, continue, Mr.

Davis.

If you could back up just a hair.

Okay.

I think we missed a little bit.

Subsequent coming out of COVID.

This this revenue has rebounded from a COVID low of around three million to now almost six million a year.

So it is now a source of funding that we can use for debt financing for the Coliseum.

The projects that you're being asked to support, things like uh concourse restroom innovations, new dressing rooms, new sound system, uh improvements at the special events center.

A lot of these have been years in the making.

We wish we could have brought them to you sooner.

We just didn't have a uh a revenue source that would support it.

A lot of this goes all the way back to the significant expansion that some of you may remember in the early 90s uh when the arena was expanded and the special events center was expanded.

Some of these areas have seen essentially no upfit since then, and that's again 20, 35 years ago.

So tonight we ask you again um sort of in two parts.

One to give us permission to go to local government commission for the actual borrowing, and then two to actually go ahead and amend the budget for that.

Uh and we've got um uh both Marlene Druga and Scott Johnson here tonight as well for any more detailed questions.

Great.

Are there any questions from council?

We do have one speaker in opposition, Mr.

Hartzman.

George Hartzman, public integrity watch, mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mary Kay Abba Zwader, and Councilman Hugh Holson should recuse themselves from voting on the Coliseum resolution and bond financing for a new VIP suite.

It's not just a matter of policy disagreement by voting to approve hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for the Greensboro Sports Foundation while serving on its board.

Mayor Abba's waiter has repeatedly violated North Carolina conflict of interest statutes, Richard Beard, the Greensboro Sports Foundation CEO, Scott Johnson, the Coliseum Manager, Trey Davis, Hugh Holston, Larry Davis, and the mayor are intertwined in a conflicted mess of their own making.

This is a circular self-dealing use of public funds for a VIP suite for themselves instead of picking up leaves.

Neither Beard or Abbas Wader have disclosed what sponsorship tickets the foundation spent 14,000 onitations to taxpayer-funded private events for consultants, city managers, and the mayor, paid for by taxpayer-funded organization seeking more public funds and debt, which appears to violate uh violate North Carolina gift laws and city policy.

The foundation's tax returns show unexplained spending on lobbying travel and hospitality.

One year, 127,000.

The next year, zero.

Overseen by compromised city audit employees, including Larry Davis and Len Lucas.

You refuse to release the expense ledgers.

Audits are deliberately incomplete.

This is not prudent finance.

It's enabling of a broken system.

The 21 million bond is openly admitted to be just the first installment on a hundred million dollars in new spending, but it doesn't say so.

The bonds at 5.4%, which is probably too low, will cost taxpayers another 12 and a half million dollars.

So the total is not 21, it's 33 and a half million over 20 years.

Instead of taking care of low-income rental co-compliance of Bingham Park, the second meeting under Mary Kay is giving 21 million dollars for a new VIP club for our most wealthy citizens.

It's DGI all over again, including some of the same board members.

Please table these items, send them back, demand an actual independent review.

Do not enable this.

Uphold your vote oaths of office.

Vote no.

All right.

I need a motion to close the public hearing.

Move by Mr.

Holston.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Mr.

Marshall.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Ms.

Roth.

That's a voice vote.

Aye.

Thank you.

All right.

Are there any questions or comments about this item?

Move by Mr.

Holston.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Second by Mrs.

Thurm.

All in favor.

I mean, please vote.

Sorry, I was thinking of voice vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

I do want to just make a brief comment that the uh Coliseum brings in quite a bit of funds to the City of Greensboro, and the more that we can keep it updated and current will bring in even more.

So that is just a small comment I would like to make.

All right, moving on, if I can echo if I can please echo that.

The uh the calcium complex uh is an economic driver in our community.

We have folks who come from all over just to come to the Coliseum Complex.

One example of that, and you'll be hearing more of it, is that uh the Big Ten is going to be hosting its conference swimming championship at the GAC this year.

You heard me right.

Is the Big Ten.

I'm sorry, the Big 12, excuse me.

It's the big big big 10, big twelve.

Whatever.

They aren't from this area.

But they're coming to this area because of what we collectively have built at the Coliseum Complex.

And that and the other uh economic drivers that that come to the Coliseum Complex are going to continue to drive the funds that uh Mr.

Davis was talking about earlier, the hotel motel taxes.

Those are things that we don't have to pay for ourselves because our a lot of times our visitors are paying those.

So I think we're all very proud of what's happening at the Coliseum Complex.

Um it's not always easy to follow what's happening, but if you just simply follow the fact that folks like coming to Greensboro and they like spending their money in Greensboro, that makes a real big difference for all of us.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

You're welcome.

And now I'd like to ask from oh Ms.

Thurm.

And just to clarify, um, these funds are not just to increase the super swanky guess, you know, special VIP suite.

Um, anybody that's been to the Coliseum, I moved here 50 years ago.

The bathrooms, I don't think have changed in 50 years, nor have the locker rooms.

And you know, it's the entire facility desperately needs updating so that we can remain competitive when we try attract different groups to the trial to Greensboro.

Um this will help enable us to do that.

And um, we're not spending 20 million dollars on the VP VIP suite.

Um, there are some very basic things like sound systems that need to be updated.

Um, and I'm looking forward to the improvements that we'll see at the Coliseum.

I think it will pay off in dividends for the city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And you know, uh, we've got to find some some ways to gain access to more funds, and um, I appreciate that staff so diligently worked on this.

Now I do need a motion to adopt the ordinance item number H19.

Move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Second, so here a second, second by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Moving on to item H20, resolution making certain findings and determinations regarding the proposed financing of various improvements in the city's fleet servicing garage and requesting the local government commission to approve the financing arrangement and also item H21 ordinance and the amount of $8,800,000, amending the garage facilities LOB fund budget, and this is the hour and day of the public hearing on a trust agreement or similar installment financing arrangement to be entered into by the city of Greensboro, North Carolina, pursuant to Section 16A-20 of the general statutes of North Carolina as amended, providing for the issue issuance of limited obligation bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 8,800,000 for the purpose of providing funds together with other available funds to a the cost of various improvements to the city's fleet servicing garage, including site remediation work relating thereto, and B the fees and expenses incurred in conjunct in connection with the sale and issuance of the bonds.

If the city issues the bonds pursuant to the trust agreement, it will secure its obligations there under by an existing deed of trust granting a lien on the site of the project, together with all improvements and fixtures located or to be located thereon, subject to certain permitted encumbrances.

Due publication of the notice of public hearing was in the Greensboro Newson record on January 9th, 2026, and the city clerk is directed to attach the affidavit showing publication as exhibited A.

The City Council will immediately hear anyone who might wish to be heard on the proposed agreement and bonds as previously described.

Mr.

Davis, are you going to give a brief summary of this one?

Sure.

It's uh similar to the last two.

You've got a two items kind of that are companion items.

Again, one uh asking for permission for uh us to address the local government commission for borrowing, the second one being the actual ordinance.

In this case, we are looking to expand the budget for the new equipment services facility to allow for some remediation work that needs to occur on the site.

Um we believe that the site is still viable and the the best place for the expansion of the facility, particularly giving the just the nexus of city departments that are located at Patent Avenue.

Um we still are committed to the project, but we do need the additional funding through a local obligation bond instrument to allow for that remediation.

This additional bonding bond uh amount is considered within our current tax rates, we do not anticipate any tax rate adjustments to cover the additional borrowing.

Thank you.

Are there any questions?

Any questions for Mr.

Davis, Ms.

Black?

I just wanted to uh make the comment that um we still have Bingham Park at the forefront of our um planning, and um just because we are having this remediation at this time does not mean that we are in the planning for remediation.

Mr.

City Manager, can you speak to that?

Yes, ma'am, thank you, Councilmember Black.

Uh we have had great discussions with council to determine the path forward uh to address the needs uh at Bingham Park.

And we all know that those are needs that our community uh is asking for uh for a path forward for the full remediation of that particular site.

And so those are some things that we'll continue to work with council on.

Uh it's gonna take a collective effort between council, our staff are looking at innovative ways as well as our senior attorney's office.

So thank you for raising that point to make sure that the community has clarity that we've not lost sight of this this location that they're very passionate about.

Thank you.

I look forward to the discussion.

Thank you.

All right.

Um there's no one to speak on this item, so I would accept a motion.

I'll move the item.

Move by Mr.

Marshall.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Mr.

Allen.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Now I need a motion to adopt the ordinance item H21.

Uh council, please.

Um motion, please.

I'll move that item as well.

Move by Mr.

Marshall.

Second by Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Item under H22 resolution enabling the city to exercise the powers of a housing authority to support the public purpose of increasing the availability of affordable housing within the city limits.

Yes, um, I'm going to ask Samuel Hunter and ACM McCray to lead this particular item.

Thank you, Mr.

Hunter.

Ms.

McCray.

Thank you.

Um, and while Director Hunter is approaching the podium, just want to give additional context that council's being asked to consider this resolution this evening.

It would allow the city to use limited housing authority powers under state law.

Uh, chapter one fifty-seven.

Um, this gives the city an additional tool that can be used to help uh on a case by case basis support affordable um and support of housing across the entire spectrum.

And so this is another opportunity for the city to structure land dispositions in a way that supports a clear public purpose.

Um, it ensures some long-term affordability, and it helps council to maintain full oversight.

So uh with that being said, I'm going to defer to Director Hunter to provide um additional specifics and walk us through additional details for this item.

Thank you, ACM McRae.

Mayor, uh Mayor Pro Team, members of the city council.

Um, this is an innovative strategy that we have in our tool bag.

That is something that we need to utilize going forward.

The city owns a host of land across our jurisdiction, and a lot of them are suitable for affordable housing development, which is a need in our communities.

So this tool really allows us to forego the upset bid process in some circumstances, not all circumstances, um, specifically when it comes to affordable housing.

But as ACM McCray outlined, you all do have full authority to do this.

Um, and it does not impact Greensboro Housing Authority or any other housing authorities in this community as well.

And just just so the community can understand, the city spends approximately $350 for every upset bid that we have to go through when we do affordable housing.

This eliminates that cost.

It also eliminates the 10-day bid period as well.

So we're really reducing those costs, and we can allocate those funds for other um development items in the future.

Thank you.

Any questions from council for Mr.

Hunter?

There is no one signed up to speak in opposition.

Um, you are welcome to if you would like to say a few words, but um I think that council may want to go ahead if they don't have any questions and make a motion.

Make a motion and approve.

Move by Ms.

Crawford.

Do I hear a second?

Second amendment, Mr.

Holston.

Uh council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Thank you very much.

All right, we are going to take a very, very quick five-minute break.

Um, there are yes, um, and we will be back in just a few moments.

I may extend it just a few minutes, but if we could just take a very quick break and come back, I think that would be great.

Greensboro Fire Department has a new safety tool, and it's not exactly what you might expect.

Yeah, that's you.

Sean, tell us about Naddie.

She is right now a five-month-old golden retriever.

Um, she is gonna be the fire department's first therapy dog.

Right now she's just a puppy, no training, but she's already providing some therapy relief to people.

She officially goes off the training on the 19th and for 30 days and she'll be back and then be put to work.

Why was this a decision to have a therapy dog?

We really put emphasis on mental health and mental health to firefighters, and she's just the the next step in that.

She's just another tool in the toolbox.

Um, just something that we're really trying to do and think it's gonna be very beneficial for mostly for firefighters or for public.

Yeah, this is gonna be for the department for firefighters for any kind of critical incident stress debriefings, um, peer support, that type of thing.

So already she hangs out with you, she comes to work with you every day, right?

She goes home with you every day.

She does, and she has plenty of visitors every day, and just bring smiles to everybody.

So yes, she's already providing therapy, even though she's had no training.

100%.

Yeah, and she's doing an awesome job at it.

Uh she's very well behaved, her demeanor is very good.

She hangs out during class and just she's awesome.

So how will she be trained and what happens next?

So she goes off to therapy dog training in Charlotte, and when she comes back, if she is needed, hopefully she's not needed for anything major.

But we all know that with this job things happen and uh eventually she will be needed, and when she's needed, she'll be here for whoever needs it.

So you she'll still come to work, she'll be she'll be just ready to stand by somebody's side, to be gentle, she'll walk with you and be accustomed to people and all of that.

Yeah, she loves people, as you can probably already tell.

I mean, anybody she comes in contact with, she runs up, tailwagging, wants to be pet.

It's almost to the point now where if you don't speak to her, she's like what's going on.

So, yes, she she'll be here with me every day, and anytime somebody needs her, she'll go where she's needed.

Have you worked with a therapy dog in the past?

I have not.

This is the first time, so this is all brand new, all earning experience.

Um, I do love dogs.

My family loves dogs, so she fits right in with us at home and everybody department seems to love dogs too, because everybody everywhere I go, if I don't have her with me, they're asking where's she at?

So you're like, hey, what about me?

Yeah, you like me too, right?

It's just like when you have a when you have a kid.

There it's all about the baby, it's not about you anymore, and I'm perfectly fine with that because that's what she's here for.

How have you seen dogs really make a difference in a situation?

They just bring just a sense of relief and calming.

Um, and studies have shown that they help lower stress and anxiety and blood pressure and those type of things.

Um, and even though she's new to us, she this is not a new concept.

There's many cities around that are already doing this uh with proven effects.

So we're just getting on board and heading down that same road now.

Yeah.

And tell us about her name.

Her name is Natty.

We kind of wanted to name her something either after the fire department or after the city, but obviously Nathaniel Green is big for the city of Greensboro.

Um, but Nathaniel wouldn't have been good for her, so we shorten it up and Natty just seemed to fit.

And what do you hope that she does for the department?

Well, I just hope um she does her job that she just brings smiles to people's faces, and if there is a time where somebody needs just a little stress relief, anxiety relief, hopefully she can be there and help that situation.

That's the ultimate goal.

Um, if she can just help one person, then she's done her job, but I have a feeling she'll do more than just one.

Natty's going off to training for a few weeks, but even when she comes back, likely you won't see her, but you'll know she's working hard behind the scenes to keep the people keeping you safe, safe too.

One of the owners of Cochina Forno Pizeria, located at 1160 Revolution Mill Drive.

Here at Buccino Forno, we offer authentic Neapolitan Pizzas where we bring almost 85% of our ingredients from Italy.

We are cooking those pizzas in multi-fired ovens.

Everything is hand-stretched, handmade in front of your eyes.

Here at Cucino Forno, we are a family-oriented place where we have open kitchen style.

We have picnic style tables.

So again, come see us for authentic pizza, sales, dessert and gelato at 1160 Revolution Drive.

You can also follow us or find us at Gucci NAFO.com or Goutrino Fortnot on Facebook on Instagram.

What do you get when you mix archaeology, STEM programs, hundreds of kids, and thousands and thousands of Legos?

You get the first Lego League North Carolina State Championship.

Oh, countdown three, two, one Lego.

Hensley, what do you like about Legas?

I enjoy it.

I enjoy playing with them.

And it's really funny.

Yeah.

Savannah, what about you?

I like building and that I can do anything I want with them.

Yeah, so what makes you most proud when you do Leggets?

Legos.

When I have a goal and I want to build it, that I achieve that goal and build what it wants.

What is Lego competition like, Hensley?

It's pretty fun, kind of nerve-wracking, but really, I mean, you just gotta give it to your all and uh do your best.

What's it like working with a team on a project?

It's nice that you're not by yourself and you have other people to support you, and it's so many different ideas that you can combine and make into one big idea.

All right, Savannah, what do you want to do when you grow up?

I want to be a surgeon.

Love it.

How about you, Hensley?

I want to be a professional soccer player.

So, Corey, what is this that's happening here today?

This is a wonderful event.

So today you are at the North Carolina First Lego League Challenge State Championship, where we have 66 teams from across the state who qualify to be here through qualification events that happen throughout the FLL season.

All right, so what did it take?

I mean, you said they had to qualify, but like before they even qualified, what were these teams doing?

What have they been doing for years and years to actually end up in a place like that?

Every season, First Inc., first stands for for inspiration and recognition of science and technology.

Global organization.

It's a wonderful organization.

And what they do is they come up with a world problem, the top 12 or so, 10 or 12 world problems that we have.

They decide on one, right?

And then across the globe, they announce what the theme is according to that problem or challenge.

And then it's responsibility of the kids to come up with even though the keyword is robotics, right?

That's attraction.

They have to do research for first Lego League Challenge.

They do community outreach, community engagement, and everything is focused on that one thing.

Like for this year, for instance, it's archaeology, and how can steam or automation and robotics help improve archaeology.

Hello, we're the Darth Rappers, and we're from Carey, North Carolina.

All right, what grades do we have represented here?

We are all in eighth grade, and I'm in fifth grade, fifth grade.

Awesome.

Okay.

So tell me what brought you here today.

Just a passion for STEM and learning new things.

And tell me about the problem you're trying to solve.

We're trying to solve the problem because our archaeologists spend ages excavating sites.

But in order to solve this, they need high cost technology, which they can't afford due to low funding.

So our solution is a low-cost multi-spectral camera, which will help them see the unseen.

So they'll nowhere to dig before they even start.

Wow.

Okay, what do you like about this project?

What do you like about the first LEGO League?

Um, we're gonna be able to do that.

All right, welcome back to the meeting.

Um, this is the time for our business items.

Uh and I'm introducing item I one resolution to authorize a commitment of three million twenty three million twenty-eight thousand four hundred and eighty-three dollars to affordable housing management incorporated for supportive housing project located at 817 Summit Avenue.

Yes, Madam Mayor and Council, um, before I turn it over to Director Hunter, just want to provide a little bit more context related to this item.

Um, this is proposed redevelopment of 817 Summit Avenue, which you all know is the former Summit Executive Center.

Um, this is for the purpose of permanent supportive housing, which would serve a very specific uh population that has significant needs.

Um, this is a project that's being done in collaboration between the city, uh the county, and uh some very strong nonprofit partners.

Um council previously approved the acquisition of the property, and tonight's focus is on moving forward with a redevelopment proposal that includes some long-term affordability protections.

Um with that, I'll turn it over to Director Hunter.

You'll also hear from uh Affordable Housing Management uh representatives Grant Duffield and Anna Blanchard, as well as Adriana Adams with the Triad Health Project is here as well.

Thank you, ACM McRae.

Um, you're exactly right, and this is another innovative tool for affordable housing here in the city of Greensboro.

Umed projects are hard to come by.

Typically, you see a lot of municipalities use their Hope funding for supportive services and things of that nature.

We have decided that the best use for the Hoppwa funds can be for actual affordable housing development, something that we haven't done here in the city of Greensboro historically.

So this would be the first and hopefully of many.

Um, when we think about innovative strategies, we don't want them to be a one-off, we want them to be a recipe.

And then also what we did, we have collaborated with the county for this with the home consortium funds in the amount of 125,000 to supplement some of the funding in this project.

Um, we all know that the county has an interest in affordable housing, so this is a great way to, for lack of better words, get their feet wet when it comes to affordable housing projects.

Um but Nasha gave some great historical context, so I'm gonna turn it over to AHM and to Trid Health Project to explain what's going on at this um at this executive center.

Thank you.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, uh, Madam Mayor Pro Tem, uh, members of council.

Um I'm Grant Duffield, I'm the executive director of affordable housing management.

I'm thrilled to be before you this evening.

I want to start by saying thank you.

Okay.

Um thank you for the work you do on behalf of this community and your dedication to Greensboro at large.

Um, while often I think your efforts probably go unrecognized, they don't go unappreciated.

And so, yeah, from a heartfelt, genuine thank you for what you're doing.

Um, I'm privileged to stand before you this evening uh and present the 14 friends at 817 Summit Avenue Project.

With me this evening is Anna Blanchard with Affordable Housing Management, Director of Mission Partnerships and Real Estate Development, and Adriana Adams, uh CEO of Triad Health Project.

Thank you for your time this evening.

A little about AHM as we get started.

Yeah.

Um, we are a 56-year-old non nonprofit creator, provider, and sustainer of affordable housing.

We work in partnership and partnership with other public nonprofit and private entities to advance affordable housing and neighborhood enhancement within our community.

We are excited to partner with the City of Greensboro and Triad Health Project on the 14 Friends effort.

AHM is a registered nonprofit organization chartered by the state of North Carolina through the state of North Carolina.

As such, our Articles and Corporation set forth our mission and purpose.

And as stated within our articles, our primary purpose is to create or upgrade affordable housing by sponsoring and developing such housing and/or partnering with other suitable organizations to develop such housing for the betterment of the community and to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of those persons residing in and around North Carolina.

I share this to make I share this with you just to make clear, okay.

AHM is much more than just a housing developer.

We are a creator, sustainer, manager, nurturer of high quality, high value housing in Greensboro.

No small part of our mission to is up to to uplift not only the residents we serve, but the neighborhoods and communities within which we work.

Um it's our charge, it's our mission, it's our purpose.

It's what we do.

As a publicly chartered nonprofit, we are co-collaborators with the city of Greensboro.

Um and this purpose is something we hold as absolutely sacred.

I'll now ask Ms.

Adams to come forward and share a few words about THP and introduce the 14 Friends Project.

Thank you, Grant.

Uh, I won't take too much time with our history.

I can look across this group and see that many of you have been supporters of Tried Health Project.

Many of you have showed up at events.

Many of you have been eager partners to work with the population that we work with.

But did just want to mention that we are in our 40th year, which I'm sure some of you is like, well, I was there in the beginning, right?

We've been around for a long time.

And the biggest thing that I wanted you to know is that we've shifted as the reality of HIV has shifted in the community.

So we went from a provider that was really there to be alongside people as they passed.

And then as medication really changed, we saw that people were living long, fulfilled lives, and we turned our eyes to helping them live those long, fulfilled lives with access to care and medication, and then also prevention services.

And as I've shared before, I think in front of you, we're doing about 60 to 70% of the testing in Guilford County for Guilford County.

We are good partners.

We love partnering with our county.

We love partnering with the city of Greensboro.

And we grow.

So just a little brief.

Some of you may know us just mostly for our case management services.

And a lot of people know about higher grounds, our day center for people living with HIV.

But we also have expanded in the last several years to have treatment and wellness services.

So people across the state of North Carolina are accessing PrEP through us for free, which is a medication that prevents HIV.

And then they're also accessing HIV treatment across North Carolina, which has really led us to be at the forefront of how we are reacting to the realities in our current climate around HIV.

So just a bit about our mission and vision.

I really want you to see this word stigma.

Because one of the things I'm very interested in about this project is how we're staking a claim in our community around who deserves to be affordably housed and who deserves to be affordably and beautifully housed.

A healthier, happier, more stable, and secure Guilford County for everyone.

No matter where they come from, no matter their background, but specifically thinking about people who've been historically and culturally marginalized.

Again, we've been operating for 40 years.

I'm sticking this in here so you know right now we're a pretty safe bet as far as how stable we are, which is very unusual in this field right now.

You've heard a lot about nonprofits being unstable at this moment.

In the last three years, uh we have been able to double, we're close to tripling.

This is a uh an estimate figure, um, our annual budget.

We've increased our workforce by 40%, and we've added these two service delivery streams.

Um we'll be adding a mobile unit in 2026.

We would have added it in 2025, but our partners couldn't support it, and so we're really actively partnering in the community.

AHM is one of these partners.

Um, and I I want you all to know that really this growth is about meeting these barriers.

I won't go through them.

You all are familiar with them, except to mention stigma again, because it's often not mentioned when we talk about intersectionality around health.

And there's a lot of stigma that our clients are facing when they go to get housing and when they even go to their doctor.

Our number one barrier that we've been facing the last several years has been housing.

We don't have a lot of affordable inhabitable housing.

Uh we have limited availability, there's background checks.

Some of our folks do not have a what you'd say, a clean criminal record.

Um, they may need a second chance.

And Hoppa allows them that, but other kinds of housing do not.

And so that's an important distinction.

Um, and then they have the added barrier of this HIV status.

We are getting calls all the time from clients who will say things to us like, well, so-and-so found out about my status, and they're just not comfortable with me here.

They're not comfortable with me in this place with other people.

My neighbors found out.

And so we're about creating a community that can really exist on its own in a stigma-free place, and a community that's harm reduction focused.

So, 14 Friends came about.

Um, it really the name is about our lore.

Uh, we had 14 friends who gathered around a table and started health, tried health project.

And so we wanted to pay them homage and then also think about people who take a chance to do something innovative to meet a need.

Because at that time in 1986, there was more stigma, there were people that were passing, and nobody knew exactly from what there was still a lot of unknown around HIV.

And so when we want to pay on it homage to these folks who did this, we're also thinking about how this innovative approach to housing our people is also a connection to that.

To that innovative approach, people who were willing to gather around people who were dying at the time.

And this is a time that we can gather around people to make sure that they live a healthy whole life.

So a mission.

We made a mission statement for this group, this collaboration.

We want this to be a people-centered collaborative effort that brings together the expertise and care of local nonprofit organizations, local government, and local housing developers to provide stable permanent housing for people living with HIV.

I'll turn it over to Anna.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Anna Blanchard.

I'm the director of mission partnerships and real estate development at AHM.

And really, out of this vision and mission of 14 Friends, want to give you a little bit of background of how it came about, where we are now with this current proposal.

So, as many of you have been told, this has a bit of a history with it.

The city acquired the property in June of 2024 and really encouraged AHM and THP to work together in an application for a request for proposals to rehab the property under Hopwa funds.

And I cannot stress enough how much this wouldn't be possible without the city, as well as both AHM and THP coming to the table.

We are not a case management organization or are not experienced serving folks with HIV.

THP is they haven't done housing development before, and we are very good at that.

And so it has been just a beautiful partnership between us to really bring this together.

As you'll see on the map here, the 14 Friends site is 450 feet from current THP offices.

So that was another really big part of this of just a walk away for case managers to go there, for folks to go over and be at THP offices.

And so really, as this has come together, we first responded to a city RFP in fall of 2024.

That originally was just rehabbing the units that were existing there as the old motel.

Those units were about 200 square foot each, if not smaller.

And it was also a greater cost because it was a higher number of studios at that point.

And we received some feedback that that cost was just too high for the budget that the city had.

And we went back to rethink the project, and as part of that, really went deep with neighborhood engagement as well as getting folks with lived experience who are have either experienced homelessness or living with HIV.

And in that process came to the current proposal that I'll go over a bit here.

So again, really increased community focus, some reduced cost, renamed to 14 friends, like Adriana mentioned, honoring those 14 friends who first started THP.

We're able to reduce the cost by 2.4 million dollars.

That was largely through creating fewer but larger units.

Felt like a better inflection into the community with it being a little bit less dense, and really allowed for a size of units now a bit over 400 square feet that really seemed like a permanent place that folks could live, added full kitchens instead of kitchenettes so that folks could have a private kitchen long term and not have to go to the community space for kind of making dinner each night if they wanted a fuller kitchen.

We also greatly reduced our development fee, just doing it at cost, getting the cost of the project down as low as possible.

Our GC and architect who we have wonderful relationships with, we went back to them and said this is a really wonderful project, and we need to be able to do this at a reduced cost.

And they both actually reduce their fees to get to the current budget that we have.

And then also in that process as well, just took out that's why there's no acquisition costs on the property.

So getting a little bit more into what the property itself will look like, you'll see here basically each old motel room is being combined into one new studio unit.

Again, so that folks can have their private homes and then also really have an inclusive social living space as well.

So having courtyard in the middle with planter boxes for community gardens, as well as a multi-purpose room that is actually our architects designed it just as they would a single family living room.

And that is just really exciting in order to really have that community feel to have that home feel that we heard over and over again from folks that they would like to see.

Then in this design as well with the units themselves, um, again, having that living room for folks and reducing some parking to maximize the outdoor space.

Um, we have on site laundry that we'll be adding into the building, um, and really having that space for folks to call their individual unit home while also having the space around.

And I will just echo what has been said before that this really is an innovative project, and we're really excited to be able to do this in partnership with um the city and THP and really create an inclusive living environment for folks who will call 14 Friends home.

And I will pass it back over to Adriana.

So you'll see that the on site services really mirror what we're doing at our offices.

It's just we're being able to bring this home for people.

Um may be familiar with a man named Thomas Claude Felter.

He's in our community a lot.

Um, I feel comfortable speaking about him because he calls himself Mr.

HIV.

Um of our clients.

If you can picture him, you can maybe picture who we're thinking about for some of this housing.

Someone who is getting later in years, self-admittedly, and is coming to me having these conversations where he's saying, Adriana, I'm not sure who's gonna be here for me as I enter into these later stages of life.

Um, honestly, I'm his uh power of attorney medically, and so you know, what this has been something that's happened a lot at THP because people do not have family all the time, and they find chosen family to support them.

And so you're thinking about this as from a perspective of a community that would be of chosen family living in a place that's really beautiful and built for them.

So it is very innovative.

Things on site, psychosocial support.

Um, we have moved to hiring people living with HIV and many of our staff members, and they provide peer support.

They're walking people through these pieces as they age, and so we envision that being a part of this community, having support groups, um, people making dinner together if they choose, um, having this community garden, which is something that we do at our office sites, but really bringing it home because there's always this piece where people are having to go home and they're lonely when they don't have a family and they need to be with their chosen family.

Um of our partners, I won't even go through them all.

We partner so much.

If I don't know how to do something, I'm finding a partner, and that's exactly why we have AHM as partners.

I've been asked throughout this project don't you want to own this building?

Don't you want to have this property?

No, I don't right now because right now this would be a first-time project for us, and I think it's smart to partner with people who know it better, right?

I'm not in this place of let me just own this property.

I want to make sure that we can also use Hopwa funds to pay the rent, and we can't pay ourselves in Hopa funds.

So that's a bit about how trying to get the wheels turning.

Um, I both care for my people, and I'm thinking about this from a business perspective.

How do we keep people here and how do we keep it stable?

We have a lot of people who are very interested in this project, all the way up to the federal government.

Um, one of the things I've been able to do this past year is be a part of the AIDS United Public Policy Council, just in DC talking to the people, Congress, and and talk to the opposition about how they could be helpful.

And I'm not saying I did it, but I did hear this morning that we are in a place where funds are gonna be carried through for HIV.

We are actually gonna get an increase of about 23-24 million in Hoppa funds.

And so, just to let you know about some of the stability that we're gonna have going forward as well.

Will there be funding going forward?

Yes, and we're advocating for it constantly at every level.

Thank you.

I promise we're getting close to the end.

Okay.

Um, existing conditions.

I don't need to reiterate this for most of you.

You have the opportunity to drive by this frequently, I'm sure, right?

This is uh in its current condition, not an asset for the community as it sits today.

Our vision for this is to change that.

We want to see this property and this project become a cornerstone for that Summit Avenue Corridor, uh, an entryway into this section of Greensboro.

High quality housing.

Talked about the community center, talked about planters.

We envision seeing murals on the sides of the buildings.

Um I'd love to see this as a as a porch fest stage at some point in the future.

I see this as something that the community can embrace.

The community that we have talked with, uh the residents in the area are very excited, supportive of this smaller unit count, this more stable type of uh proposed project.

Looking forward to bringing that to fruition.

As far as affordability, rents will top out at uh $790 a month.

As you can see, um, this was taken.

This picture was taken from the uh existing uh motel.

They they used to charge 400 bucks a week.

Yeah, we're sixteen hundred dollars a month, we're less than half than that.

Um we'll serve residents that are at 60 percent of area median income.

Again, that's the max, and we expect to to reach uh lower income residents uh through uh the voucher program.

Our timeline moving forward, assuming that that we receive your blessing this evening, um, we'll then move to uh the county commission decision uh in February.

We'll start the drawings process, we'll begin the uh the process of loan closing and pre-construction, start construction no later than the fall.

Hopefully uh in the spring, we'll begin leasing up and a little over a year we'll have the project finished and contributing to the to the health and well-being of the community.

Last last part, last part.

Okay, this is just to tell you a little bit about what these the savings will be because this is a big price tag, and we we realize that.

Um, but there's also a lot of cost when someone either goes undiagnosed or untreated when they're living with HIV.

And the biggest thing that we're talking about here is access to medication.

If someone is living with HIV and they have access to their medication, they go into a state that we call undetectable.

That means that there are less than 200 copies of a virus in their body.

That's very simplistic way of putting it, right?

But what that means is that they can no longer transmit HIV.

And so I wouldn't talk about this in every room, but in this room, I will let you know that even though it's a bit stigmatizing to talk about, it is a public health risk when people go untreated for HIV because they do not stop having sexual encounters, and so there is a spread that happens in the community when people are going untreated, and it can be a big risk factor for our community.

And so when we look at cost, and we're talking about where do people go when they're not on their medications, when they don't have access to medications, they go to our emergency rooms, right?

Um, and they go to maybe an urgent care, but they mostly go to the emergency room, especially now.

We see our people do this, and right now when they're unhoused, they go there too, because then they maybe get a warm bed for the night, right?

And so we're thinking about what this will save us in the community in the long run.

If we prevent 20 new infections, then we're talking about a 4.6 million dollar savings.

So there's a lot, and that's just 20 new infections, right?

And public health risk uh it increases pretty exponentially.

I think we saw that with COVID, right?

Um, now you do have to do a little bit more to transmit HIV, so I don't want to put that out there than you did with COVID, but I'm just saying people are still interacting with one another, they're still spreading STIs, even when they're not medicated.

And so this is an important number to keep in mind as you're looking about what what are the costs here that we're we're talking about investing, especially when we have funds that are specifically for people living with HIV.

A little chart.

So, what's the goal?

We want this to be a beautiful reimagined residency for people.

We want people to be there and really feel loved and cared for when they walk into the places that they're living.

We want them to have space.

Um, we want to make sure that corner is no longer blighted.

Um, it's a bit of a mess there.

We have people who go and just try to stay there anyway, right?

And then we want safe supportive housing for people with HIV in our community, and uh we will continue this with a great partnership with one another and with you all.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any questions from council?

Any comments you'd like to make?

If not, oh Ms.

Thurms.

I have Ms.

Roth 212 being the moment.

Okay.

You know, this project was a long time in coming.

We've been working on this for several years.

You know, when um David Levy left affordable home management and retired.

Um many of us worried about what does that mean for affordable housing in our community.

Um, and I just want to say um you all will have done him proud, and he would be thrilled.

Um, and thank you for helping us with this project and making it a reality.

Um as someone that dealt with several people that eventually passed due to AIDS.

Um it's it's very near and dear to my heart.

Um, and I want folks to realize that these are funds we are spending funds that are specifically for helping those individuals that have AIDS and HIV.

Um, that this is this can't be used for some these monies can't be used for some other project.

It's monies that we get from the federal government specifically to serve this population.

If we weren't using these funds, we have to send these funds back.

And we have people in our community that desperately need them, and I'm so excited that this is finally gonna become a reality, and thank you all for all the work.

I know it hasn't been easy, and we've gone back to the drawing board a couple times, and um it's an expensive project for 10 units, but at the same time, um it is a wise, wise investment.

So thank you for all that you've done to make this a reality for our community.

It's a huge, huge thing.

I can't wait till we have the ribbon cutting.

Thank you.

Great, thank you, Mr.

Holston, Ms.

Crawford, and then uh Mayor Pro Tem Roth.

Absolutely.

I I also want to say thank you all for bringing this project.

Um many of us remember uh what the Executive Summit Center is famous for in a sense, and it was a true blight on Summit Avenue, it was a blight in our community, and to see this project uh come out of the ground like a Phoenix, like a renaissance.

Um giving folks who need some assistance that extra assistance to get there.

And you did it in a way that there was a case we had or a a hearing, a public hearing we had earlier, in that you went to the community, you know, transparently with accountability, and I said earlier you're not really going for agreement, you're going to make sure they understand what's happening.

You get the chance to hear them, and you heard them.

You had 25, 24 units, and they said it's too many.