Good evening and welcome to the case to the February 17th, 2026 meeting of the Greensboro City Council.

We are in the Katie Dorset Council Chambers.

Let the record reflect that all council members are in attendance, and we will begin this meeting with a moment of silence, please.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

And Mr.

Marshall, would you please lead us?

And to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

If you would please silence any and all electronic devices.

And all speakers are expected to read and adhere to the rules when addressing the council during speaking opportunities.

To address the council this evening, participants must have completed speaker sign-up by 5 30, pursuant to the rules prior to the council meeting.

Those who registered online should confirm their attendance with Mr.

Canopino.

All handouts must be given to the city clerk for distribution prior to the start of the council meeting.

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

For zoning applications, each side will get 15 minutes to speak, and then five minutes for rebuttal each side.

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

Any inappropriate or disruptive conduct will result in immediate removal.

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

A second violation results in a six-month suspension, and a third violation or any instance involving physical altercations results in a 12-month suspension, suspension.

Any violation of state criminal laws 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.

If the Zoom speaker violates the rules of procedure and decorum, they will be muted.

Any videos, media, or supplemental documents utilized by speakers during this meeting are not reviewed or verified by the city for accuracy, completeness, or authenticity.

The city does not endorse or adopt the content, and all opinions and views expressed are solely those of the speaker.

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 modify the time allotted to each individual approaching the dais is also not permitted.

Speakers may not address the audience nor employees of the city of Greensboro.

The public comment period is for speakers to address council members only with their comments and an opportunity for council to listen and take notes.

Any violation of this protocol and the speaker's time will be surrendered.

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 receives city funding.

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

The consent agenda covering items G1 through G12 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.

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

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 around 7 30 p.m.

First, we will have our ceremonial and/or presentation items.

And I will have the introduction of the RAVE employee of the year.

And if Maria Hicks Few and Ethan Inglehorn would come forward, please.

I think some of you have either been a part of or you've seen some of these things.

These are some just some of the amazing, and I'll call them superheroes for our organization that do the things every day that make this city work and uh allow us to serve the citizens and the community in a way that we do with excellence.

So I want to say thank you.

And if if employees are in the audience, please give Marie Hicks view a hand.

And while they're trying to bring this up, then I will go ahead and I'm sorry.

It's up, okay.

It's up.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Madame Mayor.

Thank you, Council, and thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Information Technology Department staffer, Ethan Englehorn.

He's somewhere behind me.

Yes.

Ethan received the City of Greensboro's inaugural respect, accountability, value, and excellence, or RAVE Employee of the Year Award at a luncheon in the Melvin Municipal Office Building a few weeks ago.

The EEAC, which is our employee engagement advisory committee, in conjunction with human rights belonging and engagement division, developed the RAID program as our city manager said to recognize one city employee per month and an employee of the year.

Monthly winners are selected from nominations submitted by fellow employees, which is very, very important.

Members of the city's employee engagement advisory committee, or EEAC, selected Ethan from a pool of six winners of RAVE employees from the month of July to December.

His nominator, assistant payroll manager Laura Reynolds, nominated Ethan for the December RAVE honor based on his faithful service to the payroll team in the Financial and Administrative Services Department.

She said Ethan exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding team member.

And she wrote in her nomination he consistently goes above and beyond support to support the payroll team and is always willing to help whenever and whatever he needs to do to make the process better.

So on behalf of the employee engagement advisory committee, Ethan, and on behalf of the City of Greensboro, we would like to present you with this wonderful inaugural 2025 employee of the year plaque.

And again, it says, in recognition of your respect, accountability, uh, value and excellence to the City of Greensboro.

And Mr.

Inglehorn, if you'd like to say word, but I also have a certificate to present to you from the city, so I'll come down and do that.

And I'll just read it from down here.

This employee of the year award presented to Ethan Inglehorn for exemplary service and a steadfast commitment to excellence in support of the city of Greensboro.

Your dedication strengthens our organization and enhances the services provided to residents each day.

With gratitude and admiration, you are recognized before your Greensboro City Council for your outstanding contributions to our community.

Thank you.

Okay.

I I asked him.

He didn't want to.

Yes.

He's being shy.

He's being all shy.

Yes, I asked him.

Yes.

All right.

So we will move on.

We love seeing good things happen in the city of Greensboro.

Um does anyone on council wish to remove any of the consent agenda items?

We're going to consent agenda.

We do have some speakers on that is coming later.

Let's see, make sure we don't have any on this.

All right, I would accept a motion.

Moved by Miss Black, seconded by I heard someone down to my left.

I'm sorry, who was it?

Seconded by Ms.

Parker.

Council, please vote.

And our consent agenda passes nine two zero.

Moving on to our public hearing agenda.

This is the time for consideration of the public hearings.

Excuse me.

The first one, H1 is a public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for properties located at 3800 Pine Needle Drive, and a portion of the right-of-way 0.63 acres.

Hugh Latham of Centurion Buyers LLC and City of Greensboro.

An item H2, public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for thirty-eight hundred Pine Needle Drive, and a portion of Pine Needle Drive right-of-way, Hugh Latham of Centurion Buyers LLC and the City of Greensboro.

Mr.

City Manager.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'm going to ask our planning department and zoning to give some context to this.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Good evening, members.

Uh mayor and members of city council.

The request this evening is for annexation to bring this property into the city's jurisdiction and then establish original city zoning.

Currently a zone County R S 30, which is residential single family in the county, and then they're requesting to go to City R3 residential single family.

North of this request is currently zone county RS 30.

East request is zone county AG.

South of the request is City R3 and West of the request is zone accommodation of City R3 and County RS30.

The subject property is currently undeveloped at this time.

This is a straight zoning application.

There are no conditions associated with it.

Staff has concluded that this request does support the conference of 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.

Proposed R3 district accommodates lower density single family detached residential development that is similar to uses on the surrounding area.

And again, staff is recommending approval of this request.

This request was heard at the January 21st planning and zoning commission meeting.

The commission did unanimously recommend both the annexation and original zoning requests.

At that meeting, there was one speaker in favor and two in opposition.

I can answer any questions.

Any questions from council?

Any questions from council?

Hearing none, I would accept the motion.

Hearing none, then we can move on.

Then I would accept a motion for item H1.

I'll make a motion that we approve.

Um motion made by Mr.

Marshall.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Ms.

Crawford.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

And also item H2 needs statement of consistency.

Do I hear a motion?

I make a motion.

Mr.

Marshall made the motion.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Second.

Uh council, please vote, and then we will hear the statement of consistency.

And that carries nine to zero as well.

Mr.

Marshall.

For item H2.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the original zoning request for the property at 3800 Pine Needle Drive and a portion of Pine Needle Drive right away from County RS 30 residential single family to city R3 residential single family 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 plan's future built form map and future land use map.

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

And we have voted on that.

So we move on to item H3.

Public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for property located at 3804 Pine Needle Drive 0.5 acres.

Hugh Latham of Centurion Buyers LLC.

And item H4, public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for 3804 Pine Needle Drive.

Hugh Latham of Centurion Buyers LLC.

Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, thank you, Mayor Busweyer.

Again, this is another request to bring property into the city's jurisdiction.

Currently zone County RS 30 residential single family, and they are requesting city R3 residential single family.

North, south, and west of the request is currently zoned county RS30, and east of the request is zone county AG agricultural.

The subject property is currently undeveloped.

North and West of the request are existing single family dwellings.

East of the quest is U.S.

Highway 29, and south of the request is a combination of a single family dwelling that says undeveloped land.

This property is designated residential on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan and urban general on the future built form map.

This is again a straight zoning request with no conditions.

Staff has determined 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.

Proposed R3 district does again accommodate low density single family detached residential development that is similar to uses surrounding the property.

And again, staff is recommending approval of the request.

This item was heard at the January 21st planning and zoning commission meeting.

The commission did recommend both the annexation and the original zoning.

At that uh hearing there was one speaker in favor and none in opposition.

I can answer questions.

Any questions from council?

Hearing none.

I have no one signed up for the public hearing.

I would accept a motion.

Move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Seconded by Miss Crawford.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item uh H4.

Uh we will take the vote and then do the statement.

Uh so it's a public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning.

So I would accept the motion for H4.

Mid by Ms.

Roth.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Second by I heard Ms.

Thurm first.

Sorry.

Um all in favor, please vote.

And that requires a statement of consistency.

It's on the screen presentation.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the original zoning request for the property at 3804 Pine Needle Drive from County RS30 residential single family to City R 3, residential single family three to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action to be taken to be reasonable and in the public interest for the following reasons.

The request is consistent with the comprehensive plan's future built form map and future land use map.

The proposed city R3 zoning districts 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 to the areas.

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

Thank you.

Now we will move on to item H5, public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for the property located at 125 Vivian Lane, 1.48 acres.

Fahad Shabir of Fafa Properties Incorporated, and item H6 public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for 125 Vivian Lane and portion of Vivian Lane right of way, Fahad Shabir of Fafa Properties Incorporated.

Mr.

Kirkman.

Yes, uh thank you, Mayor Gambus Vader.

Again, this request is to bring this property into the city of Greensboro and establish original zoning.

It is currently zoned County AG agricultural, and they are requesting City R3 residential single family.

North, south, and west of this request is also zone county AG.

South of the request is of City R3 residential single family.

The subject property current contains a single family dwelling.

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

This property is designated as residential on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan and is urban general on the future built form map.

This is a straight resident request with no conditions.

Staff in evaluating this request notes that it does meet the comprehensive plan's creating great places goal to expand Greensboro citywide network of unique neighborhoods, offering residents of all walks of life or variety of quality housing choices and the building community connections goal to maintain stable, attractive, and healthy places to live and raise families.

Proposed R3 district accommodates lower density single family detached residential development that are similar to uses present on adjacent treks and staff is recommending approval of the request.

Planning and zoning commission considered these requests at their January 21st meeting and did recommend both the annexation and original zoning to city council.

At that hearing, there were no speakers on that item.

Answer any questions.

I'll move the item.

Move by Mr.

Marshall.

Seconded by Ms.

Black.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

We will take a vote on uh the next item H6 and then as for the statement of consistency.

Do I hear a motion?

I'll move that item also.

Move by Mr.

Marshall.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Seconded by Ms.

Thurm.

Uh Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Mr.

Marshall, the statement of consistency.

The Greensboro City Council believes that it's action to approve the original zoning request for the property at 125 Vivian Lane and portion of Vivian Lane right away from County AG Agricultural to City R3 residential single family to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable and in the public interest for the following reasons.

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

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

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

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

All right, thank you.

Um now moving on to item H7, public hearing for fiscal year 2025 annual action plan for housing and urban development hug.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I'm gonna have uh Director Hunter uh give you all an uh an update on that.

Thank you, Mr.

Hunter.

No, that's not okay.

So this is just a uh item of formality that we have to use when we do the annual action plan.

Um the city of Greensboro is an entitlement city, therefore, meaning we receive direct financial assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In order to implement and program those funds, we have to host the public hearing to get feedback from anyone that may want some activities included into that document.

What this item does not do right now is formalize the document.

We will have some additional community input.

We will be talking to our nonprofit partners as well to get their feedback on how they want the document programmed.

But again, this is just a formality in that process.

Okay, are there any questions for Mr.

Hunter?

Move the item.

Move by Miss Mrs.

Thurm, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote Councilmember Black.

Well done.

And that carries nine to zero.

Um that passes unanimously.

Thank you.

We are going to hold off just a moment on item H8 and go to item H9 and 10 because um they will be much quicker.

So uh I was asked if I could do that, and I'm gonna go ahead and allow that.

So we'll introduce item H9, ordinance designating the mill house at Revolution Mill, a Guilford County Historic Landmark.

All right, Mr.

City Attorney.

No, that's it.

Yeah, no, no.

Our planning department is going to give um an update on this and the mix as well.

I H9 and H10.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

So these are uh both designations with the Guilford County Landmark Program.

Um, as the great example of two, you know, local government entities working together.

Um, this comes to you for final approval.

This has gone through the Guilford County Historic Preservation Commission.

Uh, they recommended in favor of both of them.

Um, I think they're both great examples of how preservation can work to enliven our communities and are great examples of different types of construction in Greensboro.

So, first Emma Haney is going to give a brief overview of the mill house at 2005 Yancyville Street.

Thank you.

Hi, good evening.

Uh, do you need any information about me?

Or I can just go ahead.

Okay.

Um I'm Emma Haney.

I'm here uh on behalf of the applicant, self-help, the owner and developer of Revolution Mill and Mill House.

Um I've been a project manager on this project for my entire career.

Um, so hold it very close to my heart and appreciate your consideration of this designation.

Um I have slides here with a lot of additional information for context that um we don't need to go through in in its entirety, but I'll highlight a few of the key points about the property uh in this particular designation.

So the mill house designation is the property that's outlined in red on this screen, um, and you can see how it's situated within the context of the rest of the Revolution Mill campus, which is everything in blue.

And you can see how it's situated within the context of the rest of the Revolution Mill campus, which is everything in blue.

So Self Help has been redeveloping the Revolution Mill campus since uh 2020.

And we uh designated Revolution Mill, the rest of the campus as a local historic landmark in 2016.

We had not yet started redevelopment efforts on Millhouse, so we held off on including that until we are finished with the redevelopment.

Um and we brought it at this time.

And this gives you a little bit more context for how the property that we're talking about with this designation fits into the rest of campus.

Um it's the building in the foreground, highlighted in yellow.

Um it's a single standalone building on about three and a half acres of land.

And I won't read this entire statement of significance.

There are several sides, it's just for reference.

But uh, the key details about this property are that the mill house was the last building added to the historic Revolution Mill textile campus.

It was built in two phases originally in 1915 and then expanded in 1935.

Um, and it was primarily used for holding finished goods that were uh getting ready to be put on uh the railroad track that ran just just by the building.

Um so it's mill house is included in the national register nomination for the entire campus, um, and it is and it's labeled as a distinct part of the functionally related complex.

Um, specifically, and again, I won't read all of this.

Um, so it's historical significance fits within that of the broader revolution mill campus.

That said, it does have some architectural significance that is unique to this building, primarily more Art Deco style, Flemish Bond brick, um different window patterns, um casting uh cast in place concrete uh columns that were unique to this building and a few other elements that we've captured in the interior designation.

Um and so I'll just briefly run through what what we're designating, what we presented to designate to the historic commission that they approved, includes all of the exterior um of the buildings, and then a few key interior elements, which I've shown here, which are on the left.

You'll see the cast in place concrete columns that are really beautiful and well preserved.

So each of those is being designated, and the other interior element is this brick wall that I'm pointing an arrow to in the picture.

Um, the original exterior wall of the 1915 building.

It's uh original exterior wall, it's now interior because of the 35 edition.

Um, but again, that's a a key element.

So those are all the elements of uh what we're designating with this particular designation, and again, it'll be the final piece of the RevMill campus that we would designate.

So I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

Are there any questions?

Sorry, are there any questions?

Hearing none, I would accept the motion.

Is anyone else wanted to speak on this?

No.

Except the motion.

So moved.

Moved by Mrs.

Thurmond here is second.

Seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you so much.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

All right, item H10 ordinance designating the George and Nancy Kessler House as a Gilford Historic Landmark, and I do have some speakers on this item.

Um, go ahead, Mr.

Cook.

Yes, um, this is the second of our two uh landmark designations, and we do have some folks here to speak.

Sure.

Um H2.

Uh yeah, it was HDR.

There we go.

There you go, Miss Johnson.

Good evening, everybody, and good evening, Madam Mayor and Councilpersons.

I'm Joyce Hoffson Johnson.

I reside at 2115 Murray Hill Road here in Greensboro.

And I'm an founder executive in residence at the beloved community center.

Thank you.

First, I'd like to acknowledge the passing of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson today, who is a son of Greensboro.

He was a personal friend of one of our founding members, Mr.

Lewis Brandon, who's here with us today, and certainly a friend to all of those of us who love and push for justice and equity and all those things, even though people don't like to call the words.

Those are the matters of our heart.

So we want to just acknowledge him and his family.

And it holds a lot of cherished memories for many of us.

It's been a place where people have gathered over the years, often people from disparate communities, but amazingly, inside that old building, that two-story building, there has been a lot of unity developed that's helped us move forward.

I think about the um what could have been just a contentious labor struggle of the Kmart back in the 1990s.

And in the morning, I can still remember members of our own Greensboro Chamber of Commerce coming in along with some of the clergy, along with some of the homeless folk, and certainly with the workers and organizers, and we worked out a situation that resulted in certainly progress for those workers, but it really brought in over six million dollars a year into this community through increased wages.

So those types of things that folks think will not happen, can happen when the spirit of beloved community is existent.

The other thing I want to remind us of is that so many of our leaders locally, on the state level, nationally, and some internationally when they were students at these local colleges, were trained in community relations, I guess is the word that's used, but really in human relations and the possibility of turning things that may seem bad into a good thing.

That happened and still happens at the beloved community center.

So we're asking you to vote yes tonight on um item number H10 and join us in making sure that this gym is preserved, not just architecturally, but also in terms of all of what it means for the heart and soul of Greensboro.

So I'll ask our um consultant Samantha Stewart to give you a few of the architectural technical details.

Thank you.

Ms.

Johnson.

Good evening, Mayor Abusator and City Council.

My name is Samantha Stewart, and I'm with Gate City Preservation, which is the consulting group who wrote the local landmarker report for this amazing property.

Um as Ms.

Johnson said, it's an exquisite building.

It's one of the very few remaining in Greensboro that was built before 1880.

This house was built in 1876 and still possesses a very high level of architectural integrity, which is rare for our area.

Many of the historic materials and finishings of the residence have been preserved or restored, including the arched Italian eight windows and the decorative porch moldings.

I believe you have a packet that shows some of the photographs of the house.

So along with working towards local landmark status, I'm also working with beloved community center to list the house on the National Register of Historic Places, and this will open up opportunities for historic tax credits to rehabilitate the property, which is very exciting.

Thank you.

Any questions?

I believe Mr.

Thigpen has signed up to speak for a moment.

Yeah.

Thank you, uh, Madam Mayor, Council.

Uh as I speak, I just want to gently uh nudge the council that on the county side this passed unanimously nine to zero.

Um I thought I would just general reminder.

Um, when Reverend Nelson Johnson and Barbara DeWay and Zee Holler came together and envisioned having a place that um where people could stand uh with the poor and excluded on behalf of the community, which is not a very easy thing when you try to pursue Dr.

King's vision.

This House emerged as a place and a space where we could do that over the course of time that House had many different groups as Joyce was alluding to the Greensboro Citywide Poor People's Organization, the Environmental Resource Center, the servant leadership school of Greensboro.

We had uh Chamber of Commerce representatives big business meeting with pulpit form ministers uh and Joyce was alluding to the Kmart boycott.

I bought a whole lot of donuts in that house and helped get people into meetings where there were 170 arrests for civil disobedience, and this community was teetering at a place that could have gone in a very negative direction.

But this vision brought people together because they believed that this city could be more than it was at a given moment, and that in doing that, we could create a vision that could be a model for the nation.

And so I come here supporting this, not just because it's a house, although it is really important, and we're here to protect that house, but we're also here to protect this city and to be a space and a place where people can come together around every civic issue that is needed right now.

You all know it and you see it at the council, and we need people to step in that gap and be models of leadership in the broader community so that we can actually again support our community holding hands with those people who are the most excluded and the most left behind, and in the name of that make Greensboro a great city.

That's the polluted community vision, and that's why we're all here.

We want to love the city and we want to love this house and lay a foundation for the future.

So I I want to remind you again it was a vote on the county side.

So uh wish y'all well.

Uh but please support this.

I I think we know which button to push.

All right.

Um, are there any questions from council?

Hearing none, I would accept that motion, Mr.

Allen.

So moved by Mr.

Allen, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Uh council, please vote.

And that carries a nine to zero.

And thank you all so much.

Well deserved, well deserved.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, moving back to H8, and I believe our city attorney has a statement to make concerning that.

I do, madam mayor, and thank you.

Uh, if the board would just uh indulge us for a moment, we've had so many concerns um and emails around this item that in talking with you all and city manager, we thought it would be appropriate to give the community a little more broader context on this text amendment that the council has before it.

So if you will just bear with me why I try to explain this to the community.

As I've stated in prior council meetings, since I've been with the city, one of my um obligations have been to make sure that our ordinances, codes, and resolutions and policies are transparent, tight, and clear.

Um, as you know, we just updated our rules of decorum as well as our ethics policy.

As the Q as the community also knows, we're working currently on our commercial building code as well as our housing um codes, which will be before council in an upcoming future council meeting.

Tonight, what we have on the agenda is part of, if you will, that bundle, it's all the buildings that may be located within our city limits, and if they're purchased or leased, we want to be clear to the public about what happens with them and how it happens with them.

So, in looking at the current codes and ordinances, there's been some ambiguity, which creates confusion, misinformation, and inconsistent outcomes.

So, in clarifying those definitions and standards, we are trying to prevent that.

This is normal, this is responsible uh governance, and it's done with legal at the helm of it to ensure that we update the language before we do get into any crisis down the road.

So the text amendment that's on tonight's agenda is uh item H8 is a standard land use clarification.

Zoning is the city's job in that we defined what land uses are allowed and what's which districts and citywide.

We also define what site standards apply.

This particular text amendment is a citywide neutral text amendment to an already existing ordinance or code, and it is not a site specific change.

Thus, it has nothing to do with any specific site or building, and I think that bears repeating so that the community understands this is not a site specific change.

It's rather a citywide neutral text amendment to include everything that we could think of in legal for buildings that are in our city that may be purchased or leased.

So again, the zoning language is citywide and it's neutral, it does internal speculation about any one site.

If there were a proposal for any site, it would have to come through a formal application process, and that would also have to be public.

Thus, this text amendment to the ordinance, it doesn't target any group, and it doesn't attempt to interfere with any federal law or action.

Again, it's a clarification of a zoning classification for buildings that are purchased within our city limits that was not included in our existing zoning classification in the current language.

Additionally, I wanted to ensure that everyone knows that if someone purchases or leases a building within our city limits, that part of the reason why we're going through and updating codes and ordinances and resolutions and policies is because we want to ensure that we we try to avoid any potential negative impacts on nearby existing uses by ensuring that any proposed uses, especially of buildings in our city, has to go through a higher level of scrutiny.

So while the emails that are coming in have fear or concern that we're not going to take anybody that purchases or leases buildings in our city, we're not going to take them through a higher level of scrutiny.

That's exactly the opposite of what this text amendment does.

It makes sure that they go through not just one step or no step at all for a permitted use, but in fact, it has to go through several steps in order to get to certain uses.

So in our existing code, we already had definitions and clarifications for things that we entitled correction facility jails and prisons.

But coming from the judicial branch, I know that there are different definitions used for detention centers, correctional centers, jails, and prisons.

So I wanted to make sure that we included everything that we thought it could be called with clarity so that people would know if you purchase a building within the city that it's not a commercial building or a house, that it falls under, if you will, what I would call these other buildings.

And that is what this specific ordinance that you will look at entails, but this specific text amendment is just adding another clear clarification to a definition.

And so I wanted to, again, if you will just indulge me, just to make sure that the public understands that in order for someone to purchase a building or lease a building in our city, and you want to use it for a certain use, you would have to go through certain steps.

So for anything that's not considered commercial or house, we want to put it through the extra scrutiny.

We want to make sure that it that all eyes are on it to make sure that it's what we want it, it's used the way we want it to be.

It did it went through there last night.

What the planning and zoning commission does is they do one of three things.

They approve it as is, they approve it with suggested changes, or they deny it.

Last night, this text amendment, they approved as is.

So the next step is for it to come to you all, the council.

Tonight, you will be able to do one of three things.

You will approve this amendment as is, you will approve it with suggested changes, or you will deny it.

If you approve it as is, what that means is when someone purchased a building within our city limits, if they have a proposed use, they would then have to take that per, let's say if it is a detention center.

I only use that example because that's what the emails have been concerning.

So if they if they if there is a proposed use for a detention center, if you are approved this text amendment, what that purchaser requester would have to do is they would have to apply to have it rezoned, that would go through the board of adjustments, and then at the same time, they would also have to request excuse me to have it permitted as a special use permit.

And once that went through the board of adjustments, if they approve it and it's not appealed, then it's approved.

If they deny it and it's appealed, it then comes to council.

And so those are the steps, and then if it comes to council, it also has to have a public hearing.

And so what we wanted to make sure when we put this text amendment in no one can just come in, purchase any building within our city, have what we call a P use on the table that's called permitted use, and do whatever you want without coming through different levels of scrutiny.

So with this text amendment, what it does is it make again it ensures that there is not one, not two, but now three levels of scrutiny that it has to go through before someone can just decide how they're going to use a building within our city.

So I hope that that clears up some of the concerns that the community has, some of the concerns of what the city is doing and why the city is doing it.

And again, this this is probably going to be happening for the foreseeable future, because again, good governance is to ensure that legal being at the forefront goes through the ordinances, which in municipal law is considered law for our city to make sure that it's clear, it's transparent, and it's in the best interest of our city.

So thank you, Madam Mayor, for allowing that.

Thank you.

Are there any questions from council?

I just have one uh a comment.

So after we hear the speakers, of course, and then we vote, we are voting to allow that extra level of scrutiny should someone come and purchase a building for a use that we would have to look at.

Am I basically saying that correct?

You are you are basically saying it correct, and just to highlight some of the things that are in this text amendment.

Um we have what we call some separation regulations, which means that you can only use it for what it's permitted for, and again, I'm only using the detention center reference because that's what the emails reference.

So, for instance, if someone wanted to purchase a building and they wanted to use it as a detention center, um, we have things in it like it can't be within 2500 feet of residential zoning, can't be within 2500 feet of schools, parks, child care facilities, places of religious assembly.

These things are called developmental standards.

If someone wanted to do a detention center and they were not within these developmental standards, they would have to go through board of adjustments to ask for a variance.

And so the these are some of the text amendments, and when it says text amendment, text amendments, it means that the words are gonna slightly change.

They they've either been added, revised, or deleted.

In this particular case, we've added words for clarity.

Great, thank you.

Anyone, Mr.

Holston?

Yes, thank you very much, madam city attorney.

Uh during your comments just now you were mentioning the term if they purchase.

Um in the case of the lease or purchase, it really comes down to the use.

Is that correct?

Exactly.

Um, Mr.

Um Holston.

It's it this is these amendments are under the land use ordinance.

So, yes, it comes down to the use.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Anyone else?

All right, we'll go ahead and hear our speakers.

Um unless Mr.

Kirkman had anything to say.

You want you want to go ahead?

Well, if you would like to share a quick uh just to kind of go through the nuts and bolts real quick to make sure that's familiar with what's actually being uh changed in the ordinance, and I will be very brief with this.

Um basically there's gonna be four changes to the ordinance.

This is uh use that would be added to our permitted use table, which is where everybody that goes when they're trying to figure out if they can do a use on a property would go there immediately.

As attorney cows alluded to, um, on that table, you will see either a blank space, which means it's not allowed, a P permitted by right with no additional standards, or a U, which means it is permitted, but with additional development standards, and in some cases also an S for a special use permit.

So this use would have both an S and a U on the permitted use table with that.

Uh we would add this use as part of our typical use group within the larger governmental facilities use group, uh, but making distinctions between that and other uses, again, providing that clear definition and distinction, and I'll show that in just a minute.

And then, as Attorney Cobish mentioned, there'll be specific development standards that would be added for that.

So, just to kind of give you an idea of structurally how this works, governmental facilities cover a variety of types of uses within there, but there are other uses that are carved out separate from your general governmental facilities, such as city offices, parks of facilities, etc.

on there.

Um, the ordinance does include a term correctional facility, uh, but that term is not defined by the land development ordinance.

So the only references we have in this case would be the jail or prison references in this uh group, and the secure detention and custodial facility would be a separate defied use within that larger use group.

I'm not gonna read through the definition, everybody's got that information on there.

Um this is only to be allowed in certain zoning districts.

Um, so that's gonna be the central business district, heavy industrial district, and public institutional district again with a special use permit requirement.

We already mentioned about the development standards that would go with that.

So if a property could not meet those, then a variance would also be a part of that conversation on there.

So uh that's all I needed to add there.

And any other questions?

Any questions?

Hearing none, we will go to our speakers.

I have Kate Watson, Alejandro Lee, Carmen Calhoun, Nathan Lewis.

You can all come to the side and is Kate here.

Are you Kate?

Um it's Kate not here.

Okay, uh Alejandro.

Um thank you for the additional clarification.

Um I think that was something that we all needed to hear.

Um so new zoning is something absolutely needed.

We need the additional transparency, we need the additional voice in our own community.

Um to have this pass to have this be able to be presented before us before any decision is ultimately made, makes our community safer.

Um we have a large immigrant community, um, which I'm speaking on because of the concerns of specifically ice detention facilities.

Um, and we have seen what's been unfolding around the country, and that's not something I think anyone wants for Greensboro.

We want our city to remain safe.

We want our city to remain um in line with the legacy of standing against discrimination.

Um to be able to pass this and have that additional power put into the hands of the people.

Um ultimately serves that legacy and that goal.

So that is just what I would like to present to the council um to pass this for that purpose.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you so much.

All right, uh, Carmen is Carmen here.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council, and fellow community members.

I want to begin by thanking the city of Greensboro for addressing public concerns about the um this comes as a response to the proposed ICE facility at the former American Hebrew Academy grounds by discussing these new zoning requirements for detention facilities in our city.

I think this is an important first step in acknowledging the threat of ICE, establishing a foothold in our community.

While some may debate the terminology, the reality is that ICE has been an unaccountable military force whose paramilitary force whose facilities operate operate as sites of mass unconstitutional detention, and people, including children, are systematically profiled and subjected to inhumane conditions, denied due process and separated from their families, echoing some of the most oppressive systems in history, and we can't allow this to take root in Greensboro.

So the severity and urgency of this issue demands more than zoning discussions.

In my opinion, the implications of the proposed federal plans for an ICE detention facility at the former American Hebrew Academy campus still needs to be addressed, especially in light of well-documented and systematic use of violence, intimidation, racially motivated tactics by ICE and CBP agents, sometimes resulting in deathly consequences.

Well, zoning regulations are a start, and I'm grateful for that, they're not enough.

Greensboro must also lead follow the lead of cities and states across the nation that have recognized ICE as a public safety threat, particularly to communities of color, non-English speakers, and those who stand up to protect their neighbors.

These cities and states have taken decisive action, enacting local and statewide legislation to prevent ICE from establishing a presence in their communities, and we should follow their lead.

This type of legislation in other cities has limited local resources and cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

And this is a distinction between non-cooperation and obstruction.

Localities are not required to use their own funds or personnel to enforce federal immigration law, and this has been upheld in court.

So on behalf of Forza Triad, we stand ready to collaborate with you to ensure that the people of Greensboro and North Carolina never face the lawlessness, violence, and fear that communities in Minneapolis, Chicago, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and countless other cities have endured.

And the consequences would be devastating for us.

Not only would our local economy suffer, it would also create an atmosphere of fear and undermine the trust and unity that make Greensboro a vibrant, welcoming community.

As a lifelong resident of Greensboro, I take immense pride in our city's legacy as a leader in the civil rights movement, involved also in the Underground Railroad, and as being a welcoming gate city for immigrants who have enriched our community.

Thank you.

Sorry, tall person problems.

Thank you.

That's better.

I signed up this evening to initially speak against the proposed change, but after having heard that clarification from the city attorney, uh now like to speak in support of it with some qualifications.

So thank you for that clarification.

I've lived a lot of different places around this country of ours.

But I've never felt more at home anywhere than I do here in Greensboro.

This is my adopted home.

And I love it.

I can't think of anywhere else in this town that I would rather live.

And I love the people that make it what it is.

They're my neighbors, they're my friends, they're my community.

And they make it the special little place that it is in this town that I call home.

And I appreciate that this zoning change is meant to clarify something that may or may not happen.

However, I would like to say that it doesn't go far enough.

We are a city that is proud and rightfully so of being one of the birthplaces of a movement that brought a greater degree of equality to this nation, a value that we I think all aspire to as Americans.

And a great deal of that started here.

And I think we would be remiss and abandon that responsibility if we only couched our current uh stance towards what is going on in Minneapolis and DC and LA in legalese that maybe only a dozen of us in this room really understand.

There is, as the previous speaker said, there is a difference between obstruction and non-cooperation.

And the movement that we are also proud of that started here 60 years ago was rooted in that same virtuous non-cooperation.

So I urge the council in the days and months to come to go a step further and make it clear that they will not cooperate with the sale or lease of any city property for this proposed detention facility use.

And even one step further that this police department will not cooperate with such enforcement activities.

Thank you.

All right.

Julie Peoples and then Ricky Draper and Liz Torres Melindez and Marilyn McCunza.

Just be ready to come on up.

Yes, Reverend Peoples.

Thank you.

Madam Mayor and members of City Council, thank you for your services community.

Thank you for your recent statements, and thank you as well for your proactive effort here.

I am in support of this effort, and I am vehemently opposed to the establishment of any detention facility in our county or state, whether in a warehouse, a former school, or any other structure.

Some of us here are well acquainted with the suffering caused inside these centers to those being imprisoned and to the families.

We have seen it with our own eyes.

And we are all well acquainted with the growing list of human rights abuses in detention centers across the country.

Years from now, the ICE abductions and interments we are seeing will be recorded in history as a horrific violation of basic human decency, a violation of our nation's highest values, and a shredding of the US Constitution.

So please, officials, oppose this any way you can, including the proposed action now that clarifies and strengthens our local codes and regulations.

Use every available tool.

Hold fast to the authority given to you by the voters, the people.

Be transparent with us, proactive, and we will be right here fighting with you.

We are much stronger together than we are if we work in silos.

Together we must start now saying a loud, clear, forceful no to the expansion of any ICE operations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have Ricky Draper, then Liz Torres Melindez and Marilyn Lacunza.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor and City Council members.

Um it's an honor to speak before you.

I'm so proud of Greensboro for electing the city council.

Um thank you for your efforts to pass this ordinance to regulate detention and custodial facilities in Greensboro.

As we understand it, um, this is an effort we hope to solidify local regulations to limit the ability of the federal government to create detention centers in our community.

If that's true, I support the passing of this ordinance, and also urge you to come to the table to pass a resolution that fully meets this moment and the needs of Greensboro's immigrant communities and all of us.

These are extraordinary times.

The massive buildup of detention facilities nationwide, the unprecedented number of deportations and increasing custody deaths within facilities calls for extraordinary measures.

This is a time to pass courageous legislation to fully protect all people living in our city.

We must approach the very real danger of ICE by working together to provide steadfast material and political support for our immigrant neighbors.

We know this is not a time for symbolic action or timid measures.

We must join other municipalities and states in resisting ICE's repeated violations of human rights.

It is only through bold and unified action that we can ensure the safety of all people.

We call on the city council to pass a resolution to cut all ties with ICE that bans ICE detention centers outright.

An ordinance that requires full transparency by publicly disclosing all requests from DHS or ICE to do business with our city that vows to protect residents who oppose the violence of ICE and mass deportation and names Greensboro a Fourth Amendment City.

Thank you, and I look forward to working with all of you.

Thank you.

Hey y'all, good evening.

My name is Liz Torres Melendez.

I'm a district one resident, go, Glenwood, and a member of Guilford for All and a proud Puerto Rican who is brought to the continental United States by a single mother hoping to create a better life for her two daughters.

It feels weird to be grateful to be born on the oldest colony.

But being Latina from that particular 3,500 square miles means I was born a U.S.

citizen and I didn't have to navigate, and my mother didn't have to navigate the impossible immigration system in the United States that she would have if we were from just a few miles east or south.

The U.S.

immigration system was designed to exclude and dehumanize anyone that is deemed unworthy.

And the recent increase in public violence by ICE, because it's been happening privately for as long as that agency has existed, has put that reality on display.

In a Washington Post article published on Christmas Eve, internal ICE documents show the agency's plan to turn warehouses into immigration detention.

Sites of inhumane torture and containment for anyone caught up in ICE's net that discriminates only on racial and ethnic features, not citizenship or criminal background.

This proposed amendment seeks to build a protective barrier around the city of Greensboro.

ICE can't do to us what they've done to cities like Chester, New York, where they bought a former pet boys warehouse without the knowledge or consent of town officials.

This amendment would require anyone seeking to open this kind of short-term detention facility in Greensboro to receive a special use permit, which means going to the Board of Adjustments, as we heard, which means importantly, it gives us time.

Many of you all were elected on the promise that you would use the levers of city government to stand with marginalized people.

And this amendment, while it's not sexy and it accepts the unfortunate reality that short-term detention exists in this country, right?

This is you all doing that, standing with us.

So thank you.

And I look forward and we're here to work with you to build off of this work in the future.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Marilyn, and that is the last speaker I have signed up on this topic.

Good evening, Mayor Abu Swaider and Council members of Greensboro and City Council.

My name is Marilyn Mandiola Lacunza de la Cruz.

I'm a Mexican Cuban dreamer from Mexico, brought here from a single mother that has cleaned houses ever since we arrived.

I'm speaking tonight regarding the proposed amendments to chapter 30 of the land development ordinance relating to the definition and regulation of secure detention and custodial facilities.

I do want to thank the attorney that clarified earlier today and all of you all for considering passing this and working with us as a community to set those zoning requirements so we cannot, so we can work together in making it harder for everyone to just do whatever they want to do when they come here.

So I take those interpretations with a grain of salt.

However, after reviewing the text of the amendments itself, there are some very clear practical implications worth highlighting.

First, the ordinance creates a broad and specific definition of a secure detention and custodial facility that applies regardless of whether it's publicly or privately operated.

And regardless of whether detention is classified as civil or criminal, that is still quite significant.

It closes potential gaps in classifications and ensures that facilities designed to confine people who are not free to leave are treated consistently under zoning rules.

Second, by requiring special use permits and imposing buffer requirements, including 2,500 feet from residential zoning, schools, parks, child care, religious assembly, health care facilities.

The ordinance places meaningful siting constraints on these facilities.

It also limits expansion without renewed approval and fixes occupancy levels once permitted.

Based on plain reading, in layman's term, these provisions appear to bring secure detention under the same regulation framework as correctional institutions, potentially preventing them from bypassing existing restrictions through classifications differences.

If that interpretation is correct, the amendment strength is local oversight and land use of land use and provides the community with a clearer process for review and input.

Public discussion, including speculations referencing facilities tied to the U.S.

immigration and customs enforcement suggests that residents are concerned about the sightings of detention operations near locations such as the Temple Emanuel or former American Hebrew Academy.

Whether or not sorry, um whether or not those concerns motivated the amendments.

Please use that intent.

Scope and limitations of these amendments are clearly explained to the public.

If the goal is to close loopholes and strengthen local review authority, say that plainly.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

That's all my speakers for item H8.

Um council.

Any questions?

Discussion.

Hearing none, I would accept the motion.

Motion to move by Mrs.

Crawford.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you to the public for coming.

Madam Mayor, you need to read.

Madam Mayor.

Thank you to commit to read a city manufacturation.

You need to read a consistency statement.

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear.

You need to read a consistency statement.

Yes, we need a consistency statement, Ms.

Crawford.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the secure detention and custodial facility text amendment 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.

One, the request supports the comprehensive plans future built form map and future land use map.

Two, this text amendment supports the filing in our framework and creating great places, big ideas of GSO 2040, the city's comprehensive plan.

And three, the request is reasonable due to the fact that the proposed amendment provides administrative clarity for detention facility uses.

Thank you, and thank you everyone for that item.

We will now move on to our general business agenda.

And uh item I1 resolution approving bid and the amount of one million two hundred and forty-two thousand eight hundred and ninety-three dollars and authorizing execution of contract twenty eighteen-zero six eight tip number EB 5877 with Atlantic Contracting Company Incorporated for the Farmington Drive Sidewalk Project, which is 2026-109.

Any questions?

Do I hear a motion?

Move by Mrs.

Thurm.

Do I hear a second?

Second by Mr.

Holston.

Council, please vote.

Councilman Black.

Thank you.

Moving on to item I two resolution approving sale and issuance of limited obligation bonds for improvements to the city's fleet servicing garage.

Any questions from council?

If none, I would accept the motion.

Move by Mr.

Holston.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Mr.

Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Item I three, uh resolution authorizing the sale and issuance of limited obligation bonds for improvements to the city's Coliseum Complex.

Any questions?

Hearing none, I would ask for a motion.

Move by Mr.

Holston, second.

Do I hear a second?

Second, I'm sorry, I didn't hear Irving.

Uh Mr.

Allen did the second uh council, please vote.

And that passes nine to zero.

Uh moving on to our boards and commissions appointments.

I'll go down the line.

Um Ms.

Parker, do you have any?

Mr.

Marshall.

I would like to reappoint Brian Starrett to the War Memorial Commission.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Second by Mrs.

Thurm.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

That passes unanimously.

Um Mrs.

Crawford, you have any?

Yes, I'd like to appoint uh Ernestine Surgeon to the Greensboro Housing Authority Commission.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Miss Roth.

Uh, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Uh that passes unanimously.

Ms.

Rod?

I do have one.

I would like to reappoint Mr.

Doug Bender to the Cultural Affairs Commission.

I'll need a second.

Seconded by this side.

All in favor, please say aye.

That passes unanimously for Mr.

Bender.

Uh Ms.

Thurm.

None.

Mr.

Holston.

None.

Mr.

Allen.

Ms.

Black.

I'd like to uh nominate Anthony Pass for Parks and Recreation.

I hear a second.

Seconded by Mr.

Holston.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All right.

That uh passes unanimously.

Moving on to let's see.

Council comments.

I'm going to start with Ms.

Parker this time.

Ms.

Parker.

Just really quickly, I just wanted to give great thanks for the collaborative nature of this council and for everybody's participation in the most recent downtown business walks.

And again, thank you to the participants and the residents in the community in the which the ways that you are coming together to take care of each other.

The way the process is going is we have one more on Monday, so you're welcome to join us.

But just to remind you all that if you cannot attend, uh feel free to stop by coffee with the councilwoman.

Uh that's happening the last uh Tuesdays, and um that's going to be at the Pines on Elm Street.

It's a wonderful um intergenerationally owned business, and that's 8:30 to 9, or you can schedule a separate meeting.

Thank you all so much.

Great.

Mr.

Marshall.

Nothing for me tonight.

All right, Miss Crawford.

Um, so I want to thank the speakers who came up to speak on um the H8 item.

Uh I know that there was some confusion, and I really want to thank our city attorney uh for making it very clear in the language.

Uh I hope that the community feels that we are hearing them and we are willing to continue to work with the community.

Um March 10th, uh, I want to invite folks to Kraft Recreational Center at 6 as we begin our budget town halls.

Uh also um I will have my first district two town hall on March 18th from 6 until 7:30 at Peeler Recreation Center.

Uh we have some big changes um happening with our code ordinances around commercial and residential, uh, and there are some things that I really want to hear from the community about before we start moving on them.

So please show up on March 18th at Peeler Recreation Center at 6 o'clock.

Thank you, Ms.

Roth.

Thank you.

Um, I wanted to first uh just give a shout out to PAC and Troop 244.

I had a chance to speak to those young people this week, and uh I tell you their commitment to our community and leadership uh was definitely on display.

I got a lot of questions that night that were very impressive, so just wanted to thank them for having me there.

Um, as I was thinking about the conversation that we had tonight, and I appreciate my colleagues moving forward uh with the text amendment.

I it did get me thinking about how we are communicating as a council um and how we are looking at agenda items.

Um I'd like for us to consider uh Mr.

Manager uh and I guess uh Madam Mayor, um, having uh in putting in rotation regular work sessions.

I've appreciated the work sessions we've had recently.

I do notice that some councils actually have agenda review sessions that are specifically for here's what's coming up on the agenda.

I like to be in a place where our the community is feeling transparency around what we're doing and what we're talking about.

They have a sense of what's what direction we're going in, and that we as a council are discussing things, especially those that will have uh significant impact.

As was pointed out, there is a lot of uh activity that will come from this council, a lot of change has happened on our council, and I think for all uh in it, and I think all in wonderful ways.

Um, but we will be doing a lot over the next year and in the next four years.

Um, and I think finding a way for us to do that uh that is consistent, repetitive, and expected by the public would be uh worth our while and consideration.

Super, thank you.

Moving on, Ms.

Thurm.

Yeah, I just want to um give a shout out.

Councilwoman Parker and um Council Councilman Irving and I uh were judges this past Sunday at the American Legion District 14 oratorical contest.

It's a mouthful um at New Garden's friends home.

It was so great.

Um, this is a contest for high school students throughout the community, whether they're homeschooled, regardless of what school they're going to, they can participate anywhere from ninth grade through their senior year.

Um and it gives them practice to learn speaking spell skills, presentation skills.

Um it was amazing.

The winner of this this year's contest will move on to um regionals, then state, then national, should he proceed.

He was an amazing young man that is both a senior in high school and a senior at High Point University because he's not old enough by law to have his high school diploma yet.

He's only 15 years old, and his speech presentations um the Constitution were just amazing.

And um, you know, he has the opportunity if he goes all the way to nationals to win.

I think it's $27,000 or $25,000 in scholarship for his post what will be for him postgraduate work.

Um he's planning on being a he wants to be a neurosurgeon.

Um, and he will be graduating the this year from both high school and college, which is just amazing.

But it was a great experience.

I enjoyed um the judging position, and uh just a really cool experience.

So for those of you out in the public that have high school seniors, I would encourage you to look into this contest.

It's great skills uh for every young person to be able to stand up in front of a room and be able to deliver a coherent speech with poise and confidence and clarity.

Um it was very very impressive, and it was very nice to be there.

Um, I think that's it for me today.

Thank you.

Pretty impressive for those that went, Mr.

Holston.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Just a couple of things.

Um I guess first it was very nice to see the turnout and the speakers tonight come out and share their thoughts on the text amendment.

It it passed nine to zero, and um it was just very nice to hear our residents come and share their thoughts and uh and also uh keep their foot on our backside, so to speak, to make sure that uh we're doing the people's work.

Next, I'd like to say um relative to Black History Month, there's been a lot going on.

Um at the NAACP at AT, they had their Founders Day event uh just this past week, and uh it was a wonderful, wonderful celebration of uh the founding of the NAACP chapter and Black History Month.

Someone else just mentioned earlier that we lost the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and we all know that that uh Reverend Jackson cut his teeth over it.

North Carolina A T.

And I think that none of us will forget uh his aspirational keep hope alive.

So rest in peace, rest in power, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and then somewhat related, but but not necessarily so.

But I was also very happy to see that uh tonight we passed two resolutions regarding the history of Greensboro.

Uh the beloved center, the mill house.

It it goes in in in line with what we did at the previous council meeting with the Magnolia House.

That we care about our history.

We don't forget where we came from, so to speak.

And so just very happy to see those and and look forward to uh continuing to preserve our history, not forgetting our history, preserving it, and looking for the future.

Keep hope alive.

Thank you, Mr.

Allen.

Yes, I'll be brief as well.

Um first want to thank council for the collaborative nature that we were able to uh work through uh this time.

The want to thank the public for uh all of your emails, all of your comments and all of uh your support through uh all of uh the matters that we'll be working through both now and in the future because that is uh something that will uh constantly need those reminders and that support uh from you all.

Uh want to give a shout out to uh the students uh particularly those that were a part of the Protect Ours organization that marched to the polls uh and uh made their voices heard.

Uh early voting is still going on, so if you haven't, I want to encourage everybody to get out and early vote uh and to pay attention to all of the things that are going on in our community as we work together uh to get through these issues.

We will continue to uh listen and make sure that your voices are heard through our voice.

Thank you, Ms.

Black.

I want to uh just lift up a couple of things.

One, thank you, uh Councilmember Roth for uh speaking to collaboration.

I think that that's important, and I think council members know I love to collaborate a lot on the on things, so I I hope that we can keep building on top of that um so that we can uh be as transparent as we can be to not only ourselves but to the public especially.

Um I also want to say that I've jumped in and got my feet wet and started going to some of the community uh meetings.

I feel like in District One you can walk two blocks and it's a whole nother neighborhood name.

So I am trying to keep up with all of the individual neighborhoods and they all meet.

Um but I am glad to be a part of that.

So I want uh D1 members to know that if you're having a community meeting and you want me to attend, please let me know.

I will get it on my calendar, but I do enjoy coming to hear the community speak about their individual needs within their individual communities, hoping to bring that back to council and be able to uh resolve or answer some of the calls that they have.

Um I also wanted to lift up council member Parker and the downtown walk.

Uh not only did I need the exercise, but I enjoyed getting out and just uh being among community members and hearing the voices of those community members and some of the questions that they have about downtown.

I even got an email from D1 members wanting to know why we're not walking in District One.

So I will let them know that we're gonna wait for the weather to warm up, and then we will have a walk in district one.

But I appreciate you creating that sense of community.

I think it was a great idea, and the uh fruit from that I think will be abundant.

So thank you.

That's all I have.

Thank you all.

And yes, I'm walking Monday.

So yes, some of our schedules were pretty overloaded, so um we we've had to go to the last day, but uh we will be there.

And I only have just a few thanks, condolences, of course, to the friends and family of Jesse Jackson.

Um, you know, uh the legacy he leaves is huge.

I mean, it's he's done so many things over so many years, and I I know he started at AT, so um, you know, something to to consider and thank you to the public who came out to speak, and thank you, City Attorney, Madam City Attorney for the clarification.

I think that helped so much because you know sometimes when you get into the legalese and the way the amendments are written and things like that, it is a little confusing.

And I want to commend this council for asking the the tough questions, and for um, if you if you realize that December, we were sworn in on December 2nd.

And we had like a week or two trying to find our bearings, and then it was the holidays.

And then the week after the holidays, and then we had like another week trying to to kind of figure out everything.

And then we had snowstorm for basically two weeks.

So when you think about it, we haven't really had a lot of time to sit down with each other and do all of those things.

We have been, but I commend them because you know they're already they hit the ground running and they're not going to stop.

And I think that's just amazing, and I appreciate the passion commitment and the dedication.

So I wanted to say that up front.

Um, and I will move on to Mr.

City Manager.

Do you have any comments?

Uh I do want to say a quick thank you to you all for allowing the space for the employee to be recognized tonight.

I recognize we have a lot of important business, but it it always means a lot.

I do get a lot of positive feedback from the staff when they recognize and you all mean a lot to them.

So thank you very much for that opportunity.

That's it for me tonight.

Thank you, Madam City Attorney.

I only want to give um condolences to the Jackson family.

Um, being that he's an Aggie, I would feel remiss if I didn't get on here and say that.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

All right, council.

I can accept a motion to adjourn.

Move by Miss Ross, second second by Miss Black.

All in favor, please say aye.

We are adjourned.

Thank you so very much.