Good evening and welcome to the May 19th, 2026 meeting of the Greensboro City Council.

We are in the Katie Dorset Council chambers, and let the record reflect that all members are in attendance.

We will begin the meeting with a moment of silence.

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

Thank you.

Please silence any and all electronic devices.

The City of Greensboro strongly encourages input from all residents.

The council chambers serve as a welcoming and safe environment for all residents.

The council rules of procedure and decorum are posted on the city website under the city clerk tab.

All speakers are expected to read and adhere to the rules when addressing the council during any speaking opportunity.

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.

Canapena.

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.

All speakers are expected to adhere to established rules of decorum, and 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 twelve-month suspension.

Any violation of state criminal law may also subject the individual to criminal charges, and those suspended from in-person participation will retain the ability to attend virtually via Zoom.

This ensures their right to free speech.

State statute requires requires members, 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 F one through F twenty two 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Items withdrawn for discussion will be carried forward to the next business meeting agenda.

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, depending on the duration of proceedings.

A brief recess is anticipated around 730 p.m.

We first have our ceremonial and presentation items, and this is the time for recognition of the City Academy graduates.

Mr.

Canapino.

Oh, Miss Isabel.

Miss Isabel Gill.

Good evening.

We are going to introduce something first.

I don't need to call.

I need you to put that on.

Who do you need?

Mayor Abusleader, City Council, City Managers, and distinguished guests.

I'm Isabel Gill with the Community Relations Office, and it's been a privilege to serve one more time as the program manager for Greensboro City Academy.

This program truly wouldn't be possible without the rest of our dedicated community relations team, Nicole Drummond, Gary Canapino, and Satrina Smalls, who could not be here today.

It is now my pleasure to introduce you to our 21st cohort right here sitting.

Beginning in February, this class visit visited different city facilities and participated in a variety of experiences that offer insight into how the city of Greensboro runs runs and the hard work city staffers pour into their role each and every day.

The feedback from this cohort has been incredibly rewarding.

Our participants repeatedly shared how engaging and informative the sessions were and more importantly, how deeply inspired they were by the dedication of our city staffers.

Mayor Busader and City Manager Davis, would you please join us in front of the daisy?

And at this time, I would like to ask City Academy participants to step into the aisle into this aisle and come forward as I call your name.

Laura Blackstock Keith Ellis.

Carlo Gagliardo.

Scott Goodrich.

Oleg Goryyanski.

Veronica Griffin.

Joshua Hill.

Shanikwa Hunter.

Eugene Jeffries.

Spencer Jewel.

Cheryl Johnson.

She King.

Laverne Lamb.

Carol Lilly.

Jennifer McClinton.

April Miller Hughes.

Keir Peterson.

Lily Primo Gemina.

Jennifer Real.

Betina Ross.

Suchitra Shinoi Paker.

Doctor Portia Shipman.

Andrew Simmons.

Brittany Singh.

Emily Thompson.

Catherine Uka.

Noung Ya.

Victoria Young.

And if you could remain one moment, if you can give me.

Good evening, everyone.

I'm Nicole Drumman.

I'm the newest edition to community relations.

The department and staff who participate make City Academy a huge success.

Again this year, some stood out from the rest.

At the end of the program, our participants were given the opportunity to select their favorite learning experience.

Each session includes interactive presentations where the staff thought creatively on how to deliver engaging and interactive learning experiences.

Those sessions kept the participants participants focused, and each one contained valuable information.

A vote from the entire class court decided the winners.

And as you can see, Griffith couldn't wait for the announcement.

And as y'all can see, Griffith just couldn't wait for that announcement.

So there he is, Griffin Hatchet.

Right.

Congratulations, Griffin.

I've been giving them a hard time all week long about it, so right, Solid Waste.

The winner for the winner for the favorite learning experience small department this year was GM 911.

Congratulations.

Thank you, City Manager and Mayor.

We've done something new this year, and we're going to introduce the C Academy Cup trophy that will be kept on the public display in the building.

Engrave with the names of each year's winners, Solid Waste starting it out, and GM nine one one will be the inaugural departments listed.

The class also voted for their favorite individual presenter this year.

And that award ended in a tie with Kevin L.

Wood from GTA.

And our other presenter person, of course, is Griffin Hatch.

Yay.

Congratulations.

Congratulations to all of our winners.

You all work very hard for it.

Well do I gotta do a speech?

Oh fantastic.

Well, um, first, I I know my team's outside, but um I brag on my staff all the time, and uh I just want to say they are amazing uh to work with, and so I know we had a heck of a times like the adults stay fair, right?

And uh I just want to say they are amazing uh to work with.

And so I know we had a heck of a times like the adult state fair, right?

Um so uh we we try to make trash fun and awesome, and I really appreciate it.

I really appreciate y'all taking the time to learn about solid waste and recycling and enjoying interacting with my staff.

So thank you very much.

And uh thank you for this opportunity.

Have a good night.

At this time, I would like to introduce Bettina Ross, who we love city council, uh the City Academy 2026 class representative.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council members.

I'm Bettina Ross, District One.

16 weeks, Thursday nights, and let me be honest, by Thursday, most of us were running on empty, but we showed up ready and willing.

We came in as residents, and tonight we graduate as Greensboro nerds, and we fully own that title.

City Academy gave us something rarer than knowledge.

It gave us each other, it gave us new passion and a profound understanding built through hands-on experiences and genuine teamwork.

We embraced every opportunity and we engaged, and sometimes we engage to the extreme.

In 16 weeks, we learned the impossible decisions and the implications each department faces.

We sat with budget, legal.

We stood inside the Guildford Metro 911 Communication Center, and we felt the weight of what it means to answer a call for help.

We explored the White Street landfield, and we came home with a new respect for what happens when our trash leaves our driveway.

We rode a GTA bus, we learned GSO history, experienced fire and police demonstrations.

We toured countless facilities, and we drank Greensboro's finest water.

Yes.

Libraries, parks, and wrecks, museums, operations.

We learned there's approximately 27,000 street lights, and someone has to manage all of those.

Tonight, we want every city employee that gave us their Thursday nights to hear this.

You changed us, not in the way a classroom does, the way truth changes you.

And two to three minutes isn't enough to express that.

To my cohort, each of us holds a piece of this city, the rest of us need it.

The future of Greensboro is interdisciplinary.

It requires a retired educator, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, young activist at the table, at the same table.

And City Academy didn't just teach us about government, it taught us the importance of involvement, social capital, community awareness, opportunities, programs, and resources.

Speaking to those who don't know, like most of us may have experienced firsthand.

To Gary and the entire team who built this program, planned it, showed up, dead us, yes, challenged us and believe that an informed citizen is the most powerful resource a city has.

Thank you.

Not for a program, but for a movement.

Because we're not leaving this room as passive residents.

We're leaving as architects, as advocates, as people who know nothing about this city is as simple as it looks from the outside, and who are committed to being a part of the solution from the inside.

On behalf of the largest Greensboro City Academy of 226, we thank you.

Boys and commissions here we come.

In conclusion, in conclusion, I just want to give uh heartfelt thank you to all our city staff that were able to help us with this program because we couldn't have done it without them.

And to the class, thank you for your commitment.

Uh Bettina already said everything else.

Good night.

Thank you again, and we will see you next spring.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So before the graduates leave, before the graduates leave, let's see.

I think someone else upon you on the diet's uh graduated City Academy.

Yes, Crystal, would you like to say something?

And Adam too.

All right, we we've got a couple of council members that want to say a few words.

Uh so I'm very proud to have been represented by District One in such a spirited manner.

Uh but I too attended City Academy, and I I it wasn't that long ago, so I still live the space that you all are in.

Take this information and spread it, is what I ask you to do because we need you, we need you to be a part of our boards and commissions and just uh to communicate to our community what you've learned and send us some more folks.

So thank you.

What which year?

Which year did you take the academy?

I just finished, and then I ran for council.

There you go.

All right, Adam.

There you go.

Adam Marshall.

Congratulations, everybody.

Um City Academy was such an eye-opening experience for me.

Um really gets you into the nuts and bolts, shows you what it's like to be a part of city government.

Uh, I did it a little bit longer ago than Crystal class of 2014.

Um, but it's such a great program, and I'm so glad that people are are taking the city up on it.

Uh, it takes all of you that care about this city to help keep it going and to foster the next leaders of this city.

So thank you for doing it, and we will see you on some boards and commissions.

Yes.

And I personally want to thank each and every one of you.

I'm class of 2008.

So a little while ago, but you know what?

I as I've seen the classes evolve and grow and become more interested.

You know, I see more and more people who took the City Academy being on our boards and commissions, being involved in the community, understanding that sure, it's great to criticize, but it's also great to let's work on some solutions.

So I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart because it makes me proud that so many are uh taking City Academy.

As you said, the largest.

I think mine only had 20, but uh, you know, it was an eye-opening experience.

You learned so much about each department.

So just wanted to say thank you, good luck, and we'll see you on those boards and commissions.

Thank you.

Oh, Cece.

I'm sorry.

C wanted to say something.

So mine was 2022.

Oh, it was the most fun that I've ever had at a city function ever.

Um, and I don't know how y'all did 30 because uh that that's a huge class.

One of the things that I really enjoy though, um, not just learning about you know how the city works, because that was eye-opening, right?

Um, but also meeting my classmates.

Uh you guys are gonna know each other for a long time going forward, and now you know who to call it the city when something is going wrong, right?

Uh so I I'm just glad that you guys are here, and I know that we're already looking at where we can put you guys.

So, and and I want to thank Dr.

Wells for um, you know, suggesting that I did it back in in the days, right?

Since a while ago.

But um, I I think that uh as council members up here and now you as graduating uh academy students, we have to make sure that everyone understands how the city works, share this information, don't be gatekeepers.

And second of all, like they said, get us some more folks.

That's right.

Thank you.

Thank you all so much.

And see, you've got four alums up here, so think about that, right?

Think about that.

Could be you.

All righty, thank you all so very much.

You deserve every round of applause you get.

Of people exiting.

With such a large crowd, we're letting them leave, and the people that were waiting in the lobby coming in.

So give us just a few moments, please.

No, I'm sorry, item E two resolution recognizing the month of May as Children's Mental Health Awareness Month.

And I'm going to ask Councilwoman Thurm to read it.

And if there's anyone here to receive the resolution, I will bring it down when we finish.

Whereas good mental health is a key component in a child's healthy development, and children's mental health week provides the opportunity to focus on this important matter while celebrating the accomplishments and resiliency of children and families affected by mental health concerns.

Whereas, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one in five children is diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Whereas the Kellen Foundation, as a nationally recognized child mental health center, the Hope Hub, Prevention and Treatment Hub, and dozens of integrated partners work to promote and educate about children's mental health needs as fundamental to the future of Gufford County.

Whereas research has shown early identification and appropriate treatment of mental health disorders among children and adolescents provide them better opportunities to lead full and productive lives.

Whereas children and youth with mental health challenges and their families benefit from access to timely services and supports that are family are family-driven, youth-guided, and culturally appropriate.

They also benefit from integration of behavioral health and primary care, education, and child welfare.

Whereas it is important that children and adolescents, along with their families and communities, learn about warning signs of mental health disorders and where to obtain necessary assistance and treatment.

Whereas it is the community's responsibility to ensure that comprehensive, diverse, and culturally coordinated mental health services are recognized for all children, and now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Greensboro that the Greensboro City Council recognizes the month of May as children's mental health awareness month to all upon the citizens to recommit our community to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness, improve the array of mental health services for consumers of all ages, and ensure those who are struggling to know they are not alone.

Adopted this the 19th day of May 2026.

All right, motion by Mrs.

Thurm, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Or council, please vote.

Can we take a recorded vote, please?

And that passes nine to zero.

Is anyone here to accept the resolution?

Yes.

You can come up and say a few words.

Okay.

Good evening, everyone.

On behalf of Dr.

Kelly Graves and the Kellen Foundation, good evening and thank you to for your attention to this matter.

This is a very, very important topic we're here to discuss today.

One in four youth and one in five adults experiencing mental illness in the last year.

Almost 1.5 million adults were diagnosed with a mental illness, that's three times the population of Raleigh.

Yet we often wait until families are in crisis before providing care.

If we are serious about building health and wellness in the community, it must be mental health.

And we must not wait until families are in crisis.

We need to take away the signal of asking for help and have affordable care ready for when people are reaching out.

Easy access, early care for everyone.

So our call to action is to build mental wellness and normalize asking for help because families shouldn't have to wait until crisis to access community care.

I'm here asking you to make a pledge to help make mental wellness a real a reality for everyone everywhere.

Thank you.

And I did not introduce myself.

My name is Alex Ebizia.

I'm the community education now key lead for the Kellen Foundation, and with me is Melanie Gardner, my wraparound supervisor.

Thank you all so much.

Appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And I know that Dr.

Kelly Graves wishes she could be here this evening, and I know they'll be able to get it to her.

So thank you so much.

All right, uh item E3, resolution recognizing May as foster care awareness month.

I've asked Mrs.

Crawford to please read it for me.

Thank you.

Whereas children and youth enter foster care through no fault of their own, often as a result of abuse, neglect, or family crisis, and may arrive in new homes with little more than the clothes on their backs, facing uncertainty during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Whereas the foster care system exists to provide safety, stability, and support while working towards reunification with families when possible, or finding permanent loving homes.

Whereas foster parents, kinship caregivers, and adoptive families show extraordinary compassion and commitment by opening their homes, often on short notice to care for children in need.

Whereas organizations such as Family Room serve as a critical and important immediate support system by providing essential resources at no cost, including beds, clothing, car seats, diapers, food, and other necessities, ensuring children have what they need from their first day in care.

Whereas by removing barriers such as referrals and financial limitations, Family Room allows foster families to say yes to placement calls with confidence, knowing they have access to the resources needed to care for each child.

Whereas these efforts meet basic needs and create a safe, welcome environment where children feel valued, supported, and cared for by their community.

Whereas in the past year, hundreds of children in our community have entered foster care, and organizations like Family Room have served hundreds more by providing essential items and support.

Whereas foster care awareness month provides an opportunity to recognize the strength and resilience of children in foster care, honor the dedication of foster families, and encourage the community to step forward as not everyone can foster, but everyone can help.

Whereas the City of Greensboro values strong partnerships between local government, community organizations, and residents to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment.

And now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council or the City of Greensboro.

One, recognize May 2026 as foster care awareness month in the city of Greensboro.

And two, encourage all residents to learn more about foster care, support foster families, and work together to ensure every child has a safe and nurturing place to call home.

Adopted this the 19th day of May 2026.

Thank you.

And Mrs.

Crawford, I'm sure you want to make that motion.

I would like to make that motion.

Seconded by Mrs.

Thurm.

Council, please vote.

Thank you.

And is there anyone here to accept the resolution?

Yes.

Oh wow.

Yes.

Good evening.

My name is Melinda Graham, and I am the Provisions Program Manager at Family Room on behalf of Carrie Thompson, who is our executive director and the staff and board at Family Room.

We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to be here this evening and to recognize May as foster care awareness month.

Family Room plays a small part in the system in the sense that we are there just to be a help, right?

In a very challenging time.

Like what's the goal of Family Room of Foster Care?

Like what's the goal?

And the goal is whole healthy, healed adults, right?

It's interesting that May is also children's mental health awareness month because I think that is the goal for them as well.

That that when a child enters foster care, that they experience something different than what they have experienced before that, the neglect of the pain or the abuse that they've experienced in the past is no longer, and whether or not that they return home to their legal parents or that they are ultimately in the governmentship or in adoption with another family, that that different experience, that experience of safety and security creates space for them to heal, so that ultimately when they become adults in the world, they are those healed, whole humans.

And that is that is the goal, and we love and we're so grateful for the fact that we get to be a part of that.

Family Room's mission is to love support and encourage families that foster the children in their care.

But our vision is that every person in every community supports children in care.

And we are so grateful for Greensboro and the community around in Gopher County that has really just embraced Family Room and embraced the families that we support.

So thank you so much.

Thank you.

Appreciate it very much.

And we appreciate what you do.

All right, those are our ceremonial items.

We will move on to the consent agenda.

Does anyone on council wish to remove any item from the consent agenda due to either a conflict of interest or for the purpose to vote?

No.

Anyone?

Hearing none, I would accept the motion on the consent agenda.

Move by Mr.

Marshall.

Do I hear a second?

Second among Ms.

Thurm.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you so much.

Appreciate that.

Now we move on to our public hearing agenda.

This is our time for public hearing items.

I have item H1, public hearing for flood damage prevention text amendment.

Are there any public speakers from the public?

Seeing none, go ahead.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

This will not be nearly as exciting as City Academy, but we'll get through it quick.

Good evening, everybody.

My name is Chris Andrews, Deputy Director with the Planning Department.

I want to thank you for your review of this item tonight.

We have representatives from the city's water resources department here with us, Daniel Quick and Chester Holder.

If there's any technical questions about why this is happening, but this should be really short, and I did not even prepare a presentation.

So item H1 before you tonight for your consideration is a text amendment.

It's related to verbiage in the flood damage prevention section of the land development ordinance.

These are some very minor changes that were necessitated by a change in flood maps and program terminology at both the federal and state levels.

If you're interested in what what that text is, it's within your packet, but again, the changes are very minor.

The amendments are due to federal and state requirements due to new flood maps being made available.

This will make the city's preliminary preliminary maps effective and is required by FEMA for the city's participation in the national flood insurance program, which is very important.

The language, there's some language in there that changes something from no impact to no rise, and that's due just to a change in language in the name of the documentation that's required as part of the program.

This item was reviewed by the planning and zoning commission at their April 2026 meeting, and it was recommended unanimously 7 to 0 for approval.

Unless there's any other questions of uh planning or water resources, uh staff asks council for approval.

And just as a reminder, as this is a text amendment, it still would require an adoption of the consistency statement as part of your uh part of your approval.

Uh with that, I'm happy to answer any questions or direct them over to water resources.

Are there any questions?

No one.

All right, do I hear a motion?

Moved by Mr.

Holston.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem.

Uh, this does require the statement of consistency.

Can you hear me now?

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the flood damage prevention text amendment to be consistent with the adopted GSO 2040 comprehensive plan and considers the action taken to be reasonable and the public interest for the following reasons.

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

The request is reasonable as the proposed amendments are reflective of changes in state and federal floodplain mapping and reflect current document language.

All right, so council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Thank you so very much.

All right, moving on to item H2, public hearing for an ordinance annexing territory into the corporate limits for the properties located at 5101, 5113, and 5327.

Z Z Old Randallman Road, 104.03 acres.

Scott Cresswell Crestell for Sean Cummings of Agency Partners LLC and others, and item H3, public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for 5101, 5113, and 5327 Z Z Old Randoman Road.

Scott Chrysell for Sean Cummings of Agency Partners LLC and others.

All right, so we now have uh the public hearing, 15 minutes in favor, 15 minutes in opposition, and five minutes each for rebuttal.

Yes.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Mayor Adams Waiter.

My name is Luke Carter.

I'm the land development division manager with the planning department.

I'll be presenting items H2 and H3 tonight.

I'm subbing in for Mr.

Kirkman.

With each of these items that I'll be presenting tonight, there's an annexation request and an original zoning request.

So that will uh necessitate two motions for uh for these items.

This is the zoning map of the subject properties, which contain approximately uh 104.3 acres and are located east of Randallman Road and north of Benedict Road.

This is an annexation and original zoning request from County Agricultural and County RS 40 to City Plan Unit Development.

North and south of the request are zoned County Agricultural and County RS40.

East of the request is zone county agricultural.

West of the request is zone county agricultural and county PI.

This is the aerial map of the subject properties showing that the properties uh currently contain a single family dwelling and undeveloped land.

North and south of the request contain single family dwellings and undeveloped land, east of the request contains uh U.S.

Highway 220, uh I-73, and west of the request contains religious assembly use, single family dwellings, and undeveloped land.

The future land use map designates the property as residential.

And the future bill form map designates the property as uh ex urban.

Um I'm gonna have to read in uh a couple of proposed conditions on this request.

The applicant uh through working with the neighborhood has added uh conditions.

So I will read those conditions in and then uh you will need to vote to accept those conditions.

Um I will only read the new conditions.

Uh condition number two, uh density regarding density.

Density in each phase is limited as shown on the unified development plan for area uh for the area shown as phase two on the unified development plan.

The maximum allowable units is 550, and that is down from 650.

Uh condition number three, allowable exterior building materials shall include stone, brick, stucco, cementitious exterior fiber cement, engineered wood, or architectural grade polymer cladding designed to emulate traditional horizontal lap profiles.

Single family units will include a minimum of 10% stone, brick, cementitious exterior materials on the first floor of the front facade, and multifamily units will include a maximum or I'm sorry, a minimum of 25% stone, brick, stucco, cementitious exterior materials on all facides.

Condition number four architectural fenestration and facade color for each single family unit will not be repeated in units directly adjacent to or directly across the street from that unit.

Number five, in lieu of required street planting yard, a uh type B planting yard will be provided along old Randleman Road, and number six for multifamily uses, a type B planting yard will be provided between the site and adjacent parcels.

And finally, condition number seven for single family uses with the exception of parcels uh one for one seven six four, a type C planting yard will be provided between the site and adjacent parcels.

And uh just so you know this is a unified development plan.

The parcel that was identified in the that last condition is this um there's a leg at the very bottom there where I've identified with the triangle or with the pointer.

That's the parcel that's being identified.

And we need you to make the motion and approved.

Would someone like to make a motion to accept the conditions as stated?

Move on, Ms.

Ms.

Thurm, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Uh counsel uh do we need to take a uh recorded vote?

All right, we can take a voice vote.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Hearing none, those conditions are accepted.

Thank you very much.

And this is the unified development plan that was approved by Planning and Zoning Commission.

Uh, with your acceptance of the new conditions.

With your acceptance of the new conditions, if this request is approved tonight, the unified development plan will also be amended before it is recorded to reference those amended conditions.

Briefly.

Conditions, yes.

Thank you.

Yes.

In recommending approval of this request, staff notes that the GSO 2040 comprehensive plans feature built format currently designates the property as exurban and is residential on the future land use map.

The proposed original zoning request supports the GSO 2040 comprehensive plans, filling in our framework, big idea for how we 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.

It is also supported by the Creating Great Places goal to expand Greensboro's citywide network of unique neighborhoods, offering residents of all walks of life a variety of quality housing choices.

The proposed Plan Unit Development Zoning District as conditioned allows a variety of residential uses.

The request also includes conditions to limit negative impacts on the surrounding area.

I would also like to note that at the March 16th planning and zoning commission meeting.

Regarding the annexation request, both uh the planning the planning and zoning commission and technical review committee's recommended approval of the annexation.

And I can answer any questions that you have at this time, sir.

All right, are there any questions from council?

Hearing none, thank you.

Thank you.

Now I need a motion to open the public hearing.

Moved by Ms.

Thurmond here a second.

Second, Mr.

Holston, all in favor, please say aye.

Okay, the public hearing is open.

Our first speaker is Mr.

Isaac Snumpe.

Yes, that's right.

Okay, thanks.

Good evening, Mayor and members of council.

My name is Mark Isaacson.

My address is 804 Green Valley Road.

With your permission, I have uh one handout to deliver to council.

Before I give you the overview of the handout here, is just a set of the conditions that Luke read into the record.

I thought it might be helpful for council to have those in front of you since uh there are several new new conditions that we added to our application.

I just wanted you to have a copy.

Um as the staff has uh has reported.

Uh this is a planned unit development request accompanied by an annexation application.

It's about a hundred and uh four acres south, located south of the city limits.

Uh it's uh a planned unit development mixed housing community that uh requires annexation.

Uh overall, you'll see that it's a it's a low part, low part of the medium density scale uh under the city's ordinance.

I have a lot of information, so I'll I'll kind of run through this briefly, but uh uh I and a members of our team are here to answer any questions.

I am uh joined this evening by the Ventera uh principals and uh members of the Ventero team as well as our transportation engineer who are available to answer any questions you all may have.

Um I think this map is fairly important.

This uh uh shows you the location, it's circled there in green, uh, the project site.

It is located about a half a mile from the interchange of old Randall and Road and uh US 220 uh I-73.

Uh we think it's an ideal location to uh provide support for housing needs related to the economic development and affordability goals that the city council has adopted.

Uh I think importantly, and this was pointed out by a number of people at the zoning commission, particularly Mr.

Downing, it's located 15 miles from the Greensboro Randolph mega site.

That's where the Toyota Battery Facility is located, as well as a number of suppliers and vendors.

15 miles.

So a great location, very convenient, access to interstate thoroughfares, and so forth.

Very easy to move around from there.

We see this as a really unique opportunity to provide housing at this key location.

This is a hundred and four acres intact, and we just don't find that very often.

So it supports the housing needs that we all are aware of, and we uh helps with the city growth to the south and bringing in this kind of property that provides mixed housing products that support what we call a continuum of housing options.

Next, as Mr.

Carter showed you, this is the unified development plan.

This is a fairly technical document that our engineers prepared.

It does show you that the property is divided into two phases, and I guess what you'll see here is the location of some streams and wetland areas.

We have, as you'll see, worked around all of those natural constraints on the property.

And so we uh engaged with two agencies, uh NCDOT and Greensboro Department of Transportation.

Uh we went through a 10-month process for traffic impact analysis, and a summary of that analysis is included in the staff report.

This uh traffic impact analysis was reviewed by two local NCDOT offices, and it was reviewed by the NCDOT Congestion Management Unit as well as Greensboro DOT or GDOT.

Seven intersections were studied along Old Randleman and two at the I-73 ramps and other streets, as well as the two access points for the for the project.

There are various requirements that those agencies have required are requiring if this project is approved.

They are significant transportation improvements to the transportation system in the area.

They are shown here, and I'll just go through these very quickly.

There are improvements being made by Guilford County Schools already because of the expansion of that school.

Uh and we are, as you'll see from the top moving down, extending the southbound I-73 right turn lane.

We are installing a signal here on Old Randleman Road.

There will be various widening of lanes on Old Randleman Road, and stem lengths will be at a hundred feet within the property at the two access points, and various other improvements that are indicated here.

They're described in more detail in the summary and in the traffic impact, transportation impact analysis.

Our transportation engineers here to answer any questions that you all may have about that.

Our estimate is that between the school improvements to the transportation system and our improvements to that system in excess of two million dollars will be spent improving the transportation system in and around this area, a significant uh amount.

And I think it's important maybe for council to uh appreciate that when you have uh larger scale developments such as this that's proposed, oftentimes these transportation improvements follow along.

The transportation improvements traditionally don't come first.

The developments come first, the rooftops, the other retail support, the other developments, and then typically uh the state and the city uh transportation offices deem it appropriate to fund or to engage in improvements to accommodate the new traffic.

Uh this is submitted for illustrative purposes.

This is a sketch plan.

Uh we'll get to a little better illustration of this next, but I just wanted to present this to council.

This has been submitted to City TRC.

Uh no, I guess red flag issues were found at that process.

That's a very common process for a developer to go through to submit.

All of the departments reviewed this, and we had some feedback.

The plan was shaped up to see to what you see before you hear.

Next, I think this is a little clearer for for you to review.

In the late blue, there is the multifamily part or component near the street.

The gray part is what we call the cottages, those are attached single family.

Then in the late green, those are smaller single family detached lots, and in the blue or purple, those are larger single family detached lots.

So we have called this a continuum of housing.

And I I made I use the phrase cradle to grave at the zoning commission because I think you could literally spend decades here on this property and in this community, and we are setting this up so that someone could start out in the apartments, for example, move into the either smaller single family, larger single family lots, and then if you wanted to downsize, move into the cottages near the front.

There are some examples just for illustrative purposes of the types of housing that will be provided here.

I think importantly, and it's not a zoning condition because legally we can't add that as a binding condition, but there will be amenities for each component.

The multifamily section will have its own amenities, the single family section will have its own amenities.

What we uh intend there is to have clubhouse, uh swimming pool.

I guess pickleball is now popular, and so we'll probably have that and various other amenities to support and serve the residents of this community.

Next is a draft rendering, just showing you a different angle of the layout of the various dwellings on the property.

Again, we think that this is a unique opportunity.

This is a hundred and four acres intact that could be brought into the city, well planned, thoughtfully laid out, and functions very well.

So we think that's an important priority for the city to provide quality, reasonably affordable housing in a new area of the city, a new area of Greensboro.

Now, we had some outreach with our neighbors.

We had a neighbor, we sent out letters as we usually do.

The city sent out its notices.

We had a neighborhood meeting in mid-February.

About 53 people attended.

There were traditional concerns that were raised about density, traffic, perimeter buffers, street yard landscaping, environmental, and about the well recharge rate, affordability, and timing and schedule.

And so I submitted to you and uh the staff read into the record the six new conditions that we added to this application in an attempt to address what we consider to be the reasonable concerns of our neighbors.

In addition, after that, we had several communications.

The uh some of the neighbors have retained legal counsel, and you'll hear from him this evening, and so we've been in communication with uh Mr.

Winfrey on a regular basis leading up to this.

Now, uh these are the conditions that are summarized.

I'm not going to take too much time here because you've seen those, and I'll move through these.

As I mentioned, we offered conditions that the staff could not accept based on either legal constraints or difficulty in applying or enforcing them, and they are the community amenities.

But I'm here to tell you on the record that they will be included.

Those amenities will be included in these communities if this is approved.

In addition, we have offered to use as part of our stormwater control measures in addition to the retention or detention ponds, uh, underground bioretention cells, which are more expensive, more efficient, uh, and not too many developers utilize those, but we think it's uh appropriate at this location.

Our engineers have recommended that.

Uh as far as the schedule moving forward, if this is approved, uh Mr.

Isaacson, sorry to interrupt you, but we're having a little trouble hearing you up here.

And I think it's because I'll speak up.

Yeah, thank you.

Okay, thanks.

Uh so we we have uh a tenant of schedule here of uh this evening's public hearing.

If this should be approved, we anticipate that the design and permitting will take up the rest of this year.

Next year would be involved in site work horizontal construction, and then years 2028 through 2032 would be the vertical construction.

So as you all may appreciate, development is a heavily regulated industry, and if this is approved, it will go through very rigorous processes after this for site plan approvals, engineering, uh, stormwater, other approvals, various agencies, local and state uh levels will review our plans, and only then would we be allowed to uh to start construction.

Um I'm available for questions uh as well as members of our team.

Uh again, we think this is a unique opportunity to have 104 acres intact that could come into the city, become part of the city's tax base.

Uh the the estimated budget for this project is approximately 200 million dollars, and so we would look forward to becoming part of the city of Greensboro and providing what we think is appropriate and necessary housing to help the city meet its uh adopted goals for housing.

Thank you.

All right, thank you so much.

Okay.

There may be others who want to speak.

Are there any speakers in favor?

You have a minute and 26 seconds.

Good afternoon, Council.

Um Sherlock Ivor 404 with my cousin Drive, Greensboro, North Carolina.

I'm about uh four miles from the project, and as someone who has fought many rezoning requests in the South and Rundamin Road area, I empathize with the um dissenters here.

Although this project doesn't affect me directly, I believe that it could have a positive impact on our area.

We need the head count, we need the income to provide more resources, such as grocery store options, more healthy food options.

Um other statement that I would make to the dissenters is great job in getting conditions added.

That is very important that you be a part of that process.

I we have fought about 20 zoning cases, so I truly truly empathize with you guys.

My other comment is that something is going to be built there.

It doesn't matter how hard you fight it, sooner or later, something is going to be built there.

I would say take the opportunity to this project because it could be more dense.

It could be CDRM 18, where it's all apartments, which is everything we have tried to fight in our area.

Um again, I empathize with you guys, but I do think it can have a positive impact for the area in general as far as growth, um, forest restore options and those things alike.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, that is the 15 minutes for uh in favor of now for the opposition.

I have uh Chuck Winfrey, I also have Alan Perdue, Greg Creed, David Hyder, Alan Nelson, Kim Venable.

Yes, I have a video somewhere.

Okay.

Um the other speakers, I think they appear in a video that I have, so I had them sign up just to just completely.

Thank you.

You're also here if you want to hear from them, but except for Mr.

Hyder.

Mr.

Heider's not in there, but he'll be available to discuss.

Yes, that's right.

Yeah, I got some members.

Yes, sir, please.

Okay, good.

Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the Greensboro City Council.

My name is Chuck Winfrey.

And I have the pleasure of representing members of the Summer community who are concerned and opposed to this annexation and rezoning that's before you tonight.

The main reasons are in two big categories.

Primarily, we are concerned that the staff recommendation and the zoning commission decision were based upon flawed and incomplete information analysis.

I have submitted to you, and I hope you've had a chance to review a couple of reports.

One is from Mr.

David Hyder, who is present, who is a professional engineer who has identified significant deficiencies in the applicant's traffic study.

And also has raised concerns about infrastructure.

In addition, Alan Nelson, or Barry Nelson, I call him, is the is a certified hydrologist who has identified concerns that the impervious surface of the proposed project would have on the wells of the people who are nearby.

These are shallow wells, and he'll be you'll be hearing from you on the video shortly.

The second category of concerns is just completely incompatible with the surrounding community.

Let me present this is the Guilford County Long Range Plan.

You've heard about the City of Greensboro Long Range Plan.

This is the county's long range plan, and you will notice that this red area, red circle near New 220.

This is the subject property.

And looking at the code beneath it, it calls for that to be rural living or low density residential.

There are a couple of patches of of multifamily, but none of that near this site.

So I was, and this plan was adopted by the county just nine months ago.

So it's a recent plan and has been relied on by the community.

The majority of the property is in red.

The maps in your packets made it look like it was next to the contiguous city city, but actually the only thing that's nearby is this triangular piece, which is Sumner School, which was incorporated because they had problems with their water and sewer.

The nearest residential properties in the city is appears to be this Wolf Trail Run subdivision, which is 1.4 miles northeast of this of the property.

And that I'd like to talk about that for a few minutes because that tract is 134 acres.

And the development is under consideration tonight, will have 900 or 800 units, and we'll have all their access will be on old that old Randallman Road and it will have at two or three access points.

So I would respectfully submit that they're they're doubling the number of units if you compare it to Wolf Trail Run with half the access.

And we think that that is unsafe and unwise to do so.

Um at this point, I would like to have going and start the video, and I'll come back to these other slides.

So if I could get IT person to help me with that.

Thank you.

My name is Greg Creed.

I'm a pastor at Concord Friends here at 5000 Old Randaman Road.

I live at 6240, Davis Mill Road, Randallman, North Carolina.

I've lived in the community and worked in the community since 1977.

We stand today on the east side of Old Randleman Road here adjacent to the property that's under consideration by the city for rezoning and annexation.

The water from the church comes from this well and goes under Old Randallman Road.

In the late 1990s, the church tried to build a family life center.

Our property is part of the random and lake watershed, so we are held to strict guidelines for impervious surface for the property.

We made many revisions to the building plan and ultimately limited our parking beside the new building.

So now in 2026, the hundred-acre property next to the church requests annexation and the 900 home development, removing most of the trees that cover the property now and creating 50 acres of impervious surface.

The community is very concerned about this project as it will add to the stormwater runoff and remove the trees and infiltration that helped recharge the area water table.

15 adjacent property owners and potentially many others would be left to deal with compromised wells while the annexed property has city water.

Adding 900 homes will triple the traffic on old Randleman Road.

All this traffic on a two-lane road and no turning lane.

New homes for Greensboro are needed, and though this development might increase attendance at our church.

It is not reasonable to add them at this level.

Hi, my name is Kevin Stone.

I've been the operator of Sumner Food Mark for 30 years.

I live at 7109 Steepleview Court, Randleman 327317.

We've had a lot of business here at the store.

Traffic out is very busy.

We've had two or three accidents in the last year.

A couple of people went to the hospital in ambulance.

Increasing the traffic by three times would be very dangerous for the community, very dangerous to people trying to get out of the store.

While it would increase our business, which is great, I'm not too sure the risk is worth it.

My name is Barry Nelson.

I live at 1103 Salamar Court in High Point, North Carolina.

I am the president and chief hydrogeologist with Northwest Fear Science.

I've been licensed since 1985.

We're in an area just off Old Randleman Road.

All of the areas in this particular zone are on groundwater.

The 100 acre development will have an adverse effect on these particular domestic wells.

The 100-acre development will reduce the recharge area anywhere from 35 to 70 percent depending upon the amount of impervious surface that will be developed.

The impervious surface includes the roadways, the rooftops, the driveways, and any other surface that does not allow for infiltration into the soil.

If we reduce the recharge area, there's not enough water that's going into the water table, and then the water table is unable to reduce that water going into the pipeline system, so that the available water going into the water wells is greatly reduced.

If the project goes through, they should also be concerned with how they're going to supply water to the people in and around the development because they adverse effects that this development will have on the domestic water supply in this particular area.

My name is Pat Short.

My address is 614 Riders Lake Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27406.

I've been farming here in the Sumner community for over 50 years.

Right now, one of our major challenges, North Carolina is second in the nation in loss of farmland.

As far as the farmland that's up for annexation, I'm very familiar with it.

It's very productive and it would be a shame to see all that environment destroyed.

It would be devastating to not only the wildlife, be all that impervious service with 900 units there would be devastating to the environment.

My name is Chris Morgan.

I live at 5325 Old Randleman Road.

This is one of the proposed entrances for the subdivision.

This road is ribbon pavement, it's not a city road.

As far as Elm Crest Drive is concerned, my parents built and maintained the gravel driveway and well for their personal use 50 years ago.

In their view, any claim to use this as a public right-of-way has been abandoned.

And these roads are not capable of serving a subdivision of 900 homes for emergency services, trash, anything like that.

These roads are not built to those standards.

I'm Kimberley Venable, and my address is 2536 Kivitt Drive, Greensboro.

I've lived in this community for over 60 years.

This development is expected to generate around 9,400 vehicles per day with hundreds of vehicles during peak hours.

This is a massive increase for what is currently a rural two-lane road.

Today, Old Randleman Road carries about 3,500 vehicles per day.

This project would add approximately 6,000 additional vehicles per day.

This means we are nearly tripling the traffic on this road.

Now here's the issue.

In other words, it studies how cars get in and out of the neighborhood, not how the road itself handles the total increase in traffic.

And under current standards, that's allowed.

The TIA only has to show what's called acceptable operations with improvements.

That means minimum improvements, not long-term solutions.

Just things like turn lanes, minor intersection changes, small adjustments.

So when you step back and look at it clearly, what's being proposed here is not a true solution.

It's a set of localized, minimalized improvements, but do not meaningfully increase the capacity of old Randallman Road.

And even with those improvements, the road will still be overloaded.

So that brings us to the real question.

What does it actually take to fix Old Randleman Road the right way?

Not patchwork improvements, but a real long-term solution.

Well, step one, the problem gets recognized.

This doesn't happen today.

It happens after the development is built.

After traffic gets worse, after complaints increase, after crash data starts to build.

That alone takes one to three years after the build out.

Step two, it gets into local planning.

The project has to go through the Greensboro Urban Area MPO.

It must be added to the long-range plan.

That requires data, support, and justification.

That's another one to three years minimum.

Step three, it competes for funding.

The project is submitted into the state priority process.

It's scored based on traffic volume, congestion, safety, cost, and it competes against other transportation needs.

This takes two to four years, and it may not get funded at all.

Step four, if it's successful, it gets programmed.

If it scores high enough, it's added to the state transportation improvement program.

This is one of the biggest hurdles in the entire process.

Step five, project delivery, planning, environmental review, design, right-of-way acquisition, construction.

That's another five to ten years.

So now look at the bottom line.

The best case timeline, approximately ten years from the development completion to full corridor completion.

Worst case timeline, approximately 23 years from development completion, the full corridor completion.

So if this development is built by 2030, a best case solution may not happen until 2040.

A worst case full solution may not happen until 2053.

That creates a long gap of bad conditions.

So while the homes could be built in just a few years, the infrastructure needed to support them will come much, much later.

That's the reality.

For more than 36 years, I served as a public safety responder on these very roads.

The road infrastructure on Old Randleman Road is the same as it was 50 years ago.

No wider, no traffic lights, no turn lanes, no curb and gutter, no sidewalks, just a two-lane road.

We're being asked to absorb approximately 900 new housing units and the traffic impacts that come with that density.

Now I want to be clear about something.

Traffic is more than a daily vehicle count.

That single data point is misleading on its own.

What it doesn't catch are the pinch points, the moments during morning and evening commutes, the moments when parents are dropping off children at Sumner School, namely commercial vehicles are trying to access the many intersecting roads along this short corridor between the proposed site and I-73.

And also the farm equipment that utilizes these roads, moving large trackers, combines, and other use.

And speaking of Sumner schools, something that's important to remember is under North Carolina State Law, if a child lives within one and a half road miles of the school, transportation is a parent's responsibility.

Buses don't pick them up.

That means they either have to come in car or they have to walk, but there's no sidewalks on Old Randoman Road.

And there's commercial vehicles moving through here all day long.

We're talking about children walking alongside traffic with no protection.

That's not a hypothetical risk.

That's a daily reality that will only get worse.

Let me be clear.

Our community is not against change.

We understand that growth happens, and we accept that.

What we are against is the change that is driven by spot annexation and spot zoning of land that sets more than one and a half miles from the current contiguous city limits without proper and complete holistic infrastructure assessment.

The people of this community deserve better than that.

And we are respectfully asking this city council to understand the big picture and require better.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would respectfully submit that you are being asked to give permission to an incredibly dense development in an area that is very rural, is very sparsely populated.

Before you do that, we have two requests that you please require complete and accurate information on the impacts of this development before you take action.

And as I said, we have experts here that we've submitted reports for.

They're available for you to ask questions of Mr.

Hyder, Mr.

Nelson are here and available for your questions.

Moreover, we would request that you require the developer to submit a proposal that is more compatible with this with this area.

The road system will simply not accommodate 800 unit development generating between five and six thousand trips per per day.

So we respectfully submit that you do those things before you approve this.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Now, does uh for the rezoning, if they would like to come forward, please you have five minutes rebuttal.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and uh I'll be as brief as I can to respond to some of the points that uh that you all heard.

Um the uh the point about uh the wells and the aquifer recharge.

I would uh suggest to you that we're going to uh have uh all of the uh improvements and the equipment to contain and control our water and uh meet all the water resources standards uh that are that are contained in the ordinance.

As I mentioned, although it's not a binding condition, we will have bio cells on this property uh to even further channel that water.

Uh I'm quite frankly not sure that hydrology is uh an area of within the council's purview.

You're welcome to check with your staff and legal counsel, but uh that is one of those specialized areas that I think we're here to look at the land use, and uh that is that's a subspecialty area.

Uh if this were developed in Guilford County, it's 100 acres.

Uh each of the homes then that were developed on this property would have its own well.

And who knows what the impact of that would be on the other property owners in the area as far as the aquifer and the well recharge rates.

We're going to be hooked up to and served by city water and sewer.

Um so I would submit that for council's consideration.

Uh there was a note about taking up farmland.

This is not farmland.

Let's let's be clear, let's distinguish this is just raw land with one house on it on over 100 acres.

Um as far as transportation is concerned, and our transportation engineers here to address any questions.

Uh, I would point out to council that we did engage in a very extensive transportation study process with all the appropriate agencies.

Uh in addition, if this is approved, there are two more, at least two more review points.

One is a fully engineered site plan that will go through a rigorous review at the City of Greensboro and NC DOT will sit in on that site plan review.

In addition to that, even after that site plan is approved, we hope this would go back to NCDOT and GDOT for driveway permit review as to the exact location where the access points would be located.

So there are several layers of review, and we say in our office that rezoning approval is just an opportunity to try to develop property.

It still has to go through a rigorous series of reviews before anything else happens.

Um as far as uh transportation congestion, I understand and respect the concerns.

I would maybe submit to council that we had some of the similar issues with some of the thoroughfares in Greensboro.

When Greensboro was developing to the north, and New Garden Road was becoming that was a two-lane county road.

Uh Horseman Creek was a very uh narrow road.

Uh each developer along those thoroughfares uh paid for and made the improvements that it needed to make according to transportation reviews.

And then the city and the state came in and filled in the gaps.

And now I think I would submit to council that those thoroughfares operate well and that they accommodate the traffic and the development brought those improvements to those transportation systems.

And that is the logical way that things happen.

That's what's been happening for decades in the city of Greensboro.

Someone suggested that we just wait and do this later.

I don't think we can wait.

I think now is the time we have what I would consider a we're living in a generational chapter of Greensboro's history, and we have such great economic development and activity here, and we have got to find a way to accommodate it.

People are moving here, they're not moving away, they're moving to Greensboro, and they want to live here.

And this is a unique window of opportunity to provide reasonably affordable housing, a variety of housing types in a key location located near an interstate system that will get people to the new megasite and the airport area very quickly, very efficiently.

So I suggest that we have an opportunity to seize the moment, and we hope that you will approve that our applications and take advantage of this opportunity.

And we thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, Mr.

Isaacson.

Do you have five?

You have five minutes for rebuttal.

I'd like to just briefly respond to the observation about New Garden, I mean Horse Bay Creek Road.

I do not recall there being a 900 or 800 900 unit development being approved on Horse Pane Creek Road when it was two lanes.

And so I respectfully submit that that is not an apt example, and Frank argues against their position because I don't think I don't recall there ever being a development that size on 100 acres when it was two lanes.

If I might the I'm sorry.

You saw this most of the slide earlier from Mr.

Isaacson's presentation, but I have added to his slide the areas that will still remain two lanes after the school is built, after the developer makes their required improvements.

So we will still have these areas that are in red, will still remain two lanes after this development is built.

And so we will have a bottleneck.

Then after school, it will go back to two lanes again all the way to 220.

And so this bottlenecks goes from three to two to three to two is three and bottlenecks that I think are going to be more impactful than we can realize now.

That's why we hired a traffic engineer to do our own analysis of theirs.

And that's so at this point.

But if particularly if you have any questions about his review of the TIA, I would invite you to do so.

Finally, I'd like to thank you for all your time.

I know we've met with several of you, and several of you made trips down to the site, so I appreciate your time and consideration of this matter.

Thanks so much.

Today's the time.

Two and a half minutes.

Two and a half minutes.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Appreciate the opportunity to be here.

My name is David Hyder.

I am a professional engineer in the state of North Carolina.

I earned my living doing traffic impact analysis and occasionally commenting on these.

Some things that I must comment on is the risk associated that you have.

I mean, you have probably the hardest job in the room tonight.

I stood on both sides of the counter, so I understand.

But you have in your hands the future of this neighborhood.

And so the question in my mind is is appropriate to approve this zoning application, this annexation on a system that for on a set of documentation that is incomplete, contradictory, and not well documented.

Those are my basic findings.

DOT standards are quite simple, and they're several, but I'm going to only go hit two.

And the city of Greensboro, and your transportation director is a good friend of mine.

I've been you know sort of know her standards as well.

DOT says 3,000 cars a day is the thresh is the general threshold for doing a TI for requiring one.

I believe the city of Greensboro probably says a hundred vehicles in an hour near the peak hour.

Peak hours very important to traffic folks like me because that's when most of the problems occur.

But here are some things that are not documented.

One, how did they derive the trip distribution?

It says engineering judgment.

Um, but there's no documentation for Sumner School, the trip the growth rate was four percent.

For this TA growth price one percent.

Well, which one is right?

They're only a thousand, they're less than a thousand feet apart.

Um then what is the other one?

Uh when I do a TA, and I've done TIAs in this region, DUT tells me very carefully, tell me who is responsible for the improvements so that we can hold them to it.

That's conspicuous by its absence.

So what I'm telling you is it is in my opinion, incomplete, inconclusive in that little document.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Council, that is all the time for the public hearing.

And um, does council have anything they would like to add, talk about discuss?

Mayor, there were um references regarding our transportation evaluation.

I think it might be beneficial to hear from staff on that.

Great.

Would someone like to address that, please?

Thank you, Ms.

Coffin.

Good evening.

Hannah Cockburn, Director of Transportation.

I'm happy to answer any questions that you have about the process we use for traffic analysis.

Um, as has been mentioned many times in the past, as you're going through these land use decisions, the traffic impact analysis document really is looking at what is the projection for new trips being generated by this change in land use, where those trips will interact with the existing roadway network, and in this instance, NC DOT has a lot of influence about what the recommended and required improvements look like based on those changes.

Oh, and any questions.

Sorry, Ms.

Cochrane, there was specific references made to the TIA being incomplete for this project.

I think it would be worthwhile just for the audience and for the public that's watching for you to address those, please.

Sure.

So in this instance, the TIA is complete.

It was accepted both by NCDOT, which is important in this case because these are their streets, as well as GDOT.

Um of the things that were pointed out are acceptable practices at the point in time where we are at.

As we go through the development process, if you decide to rezone this property and bring it into the city limits, we go through a very detailed technical process in conjunction with the developer and their engineers to ensure that the required improvements are made in a timely way that is that matches the requirements of the development.

All right, Ms.

Question, Mr.

Captain.

Um in much of the video, we saw the Gaia M Turner trucks going through that section of road, which I know they use on a regular basis for their large equipment.

Sure.

Um there is another direction for them to get to the highway.

That is correct.

So so if they can't go that way because of traffic or whatever, they can I don't know the road because I turned down and put it it takes you all the way down and goes to another section of the highway.

They can still get to the highway.

There are there are multiple uh routes for them.

Yes, that's correct.

Thank you for thank you for clarifying that.

Thank you.

Please keep the quorum, please.

Thank you will you finish Ms.

Yes.

Okay.

Uh Mr.

Holson.

Just a quick question, Director.

You talked about acceptable practices, and I know that we we heard some conversation about projected growth.

4% versus 1%.

Can you share thoughts on that?

So what what Mr.

Hyder was referring to is the background traffic changes.

And that 4% that was discussed with the Sumner Elementary School traffic impact analysis was incorporated already into those considerations.

So that additional 1% that we was mentioned is on top of that.

So it's it's cumulative.

As we evaluate all of these different developments, we're taking into consideration the previous work and analysis that's been done at Sumner School at some of the other sites that have already been approved in this vicinity.

So it is truly a cumulative analysis, not just in in it feels and looks like it's individual, but from the part you don't see, it is truly cumulative in nature.

All right, Miss Thurm.

In addition, I know that the school is going from something less than a thousand feet of stacking to over three thousand feet of stacking.

Yes.

Number that you can share with any measurement of what that will do to the backup at drop off and pickup.

And I know currently it backs up that road pretty severely at times.

One of the other important things here is Sumner School will be getting a traffic light at their entrance.

That was one of the requirements of that traffic analysis.

That in addition to the way that the new traffic will be managed on the school site should drastically improve those conditions.

And the new school is meeting today's challenges by designing the entrance and exit process on the site to pull those those vehicles off of the road and store them while people are waiting to pick up their children and then removing them as quickly from the site as possible.

So the backups that we saw in the video, you would anticipate those would go away because those would be held internal to the school property.

We are very optimistic that the changes that are anticipated at the schools.

Please, please.

No, you uh we have rules of decorum, so no, no outbursts, please.

In tripling the stacking stacking, providing much more stacking space and managing it appropriately.

You know, as the school opens, and this is happening as Guildford County is improving and changing schools all over Guildford County.

Um we work very closely with them as new schools open to ensure that they have a good handle on how they're managing the traffic coming in and out so it's not impacting the public street network.

Thank you.

All right, anyone else?

Saying none.

I do need to close the public hearing.

Do I have a motion to close the public hearing?

Moved by Mr.

Holston.

I hear a second.

Second by Miss Thurm.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

We will move on to if everyone has their questions, is there any discussion?

Any discussion from council.

All right.

Uh I would accept yes, sorry.

I will say something.

Um I know there was discussion and question about Horse Pen Creek versus New Garden Road.

Um I can tell you that I lived on New Garden Road 40 years ago when it was the two-lane, and when we regularly had deer standing in the middle of the street after dark.

Um the deer are still there, by the way, they just are on the side streets.

Um but I can say that the traffic on that road has dramatically changed.

The apartment complexes, the neighborhoods that have been built, my neighborhood, which has been built since that time where I'm living now.

Um, you know, all those came in pieces with the development of the Target shopping center, etc.

as New Garden got widened, that brought even more development, and it did end up filling in all those pieces in between.

Um so I am familiar with with starting out with the two little two-lane road and how that changes over time.

Um it does fill in as development comes.

Somebody's got to be first.

And I think that's what we're looking at is the first.

Excuse me, piece by piece, that whole area will fill in and widen out rather quickly.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Mayor.

Oh, oh, I'm so sorry.

Who has a comment?

Adam, go ahead.

Um yeah, just a few comments.

And first I want to thank everybody for being here.

Um I I do think we get to uh better results and projects when there is somebody on the other side.

Um so thank you for being here and for advocating for your community.

Um, we we've talked about the need for housing in Greensboro and the need for uh mixed products, right?

Diversity diversification in housing.

This is one of those projects that that brings that to the city and is close to some of our large employers.

Um people are moving here, and we do have to have the housing.

This adds a huge chunk potentially to uh the road to 10,000, which is probably more like 30 or 40 or 50.

So this is something that the city needs, and from a land use perspective, this is an appropriate land use.

The road configurations and the stormwater runoff, those things will get worked out at the technical review stage of this process.

And if certain standards can't be met, then plans have to be changed.

So I'm confident that this can be built to the specifications of the city uh and I'm comfortable with the project uh moving forward.

I I just wanted uh to share that I do appreciate uh the interaction that we had with the community and uh being able to add some conditions on to uh the development.

I think that they will enhance the project.

Um I do agree with council member Thurm that the development is coming in this area, and I am more concerned with the quality of product that we're getting in the area, and I do believe that this is a quality product.

Um I also believe that it will also bring a tax base to the area that we we actually need, and so I am going to support it and and I also want to say that you know today our governor decided uh signed an executive order directing us to move forward with accelerating our housing development.

And um, this is this is an area in district one where growth is going to happen, and I think that this is opening the door to uh more development.

I hope that we can um come to some agreements on what that development can be, but the density is going to happen in this area, and I'm just glad that this product is quality coming to District One, and I am going to support it.

So thank you.

Thank you, uh, Councilmember Holston, and then Council, and then Mayor Pro Tim.

Yes, and and I also thank the residents for coming out and sharing, and I think it was very helpful that there was the uh the meeting of the community, and from that meeting there were many conditions that were brought in that I think are going to be helpful for the project.

Uh I am in support of the project, and uh because uh there is a need for housing, this is a a good location for the housing.

I did have have one question that was answered in the uh in the minutes from the planning and zoning commission, and and that was that it was noted that the property itself is not contiguous to the uh the the boundary lines of the city of Greensboro, which brings into effect can these residents receive uh adequate services uh being where they're located uh with uh water resources with uh police with fire with EMS, and those questions were were answered that the city staff says that uh from fire from police from uh Metro 9101, which is critical for the health and safety of of any community, uh that they can be properly and adequately served uh in a timely basis.

Uh and with that and with the other attributes that have been mentioned, uh I will be in support of the project.

Thank you.

Mayor Po Tem.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and I appreciate the comments of my colleagues.

I think what I would add to this, and I think the comment was said earlier.

If not this, it will be something else.

And I think that's the reality of where we are.

We are in a period of growth here in Greensboro, and what it really, what we want that to look like is an understanding of what quality can bring being brought to our to our marketplace, as well as there to be a consistent conversation between all of those that are here today as well as those that are in coming that is bringing our community together and bringing in the perspective of what the future looks like.

I think what this charges us to do is to look faster and more diligently at how we are growing this part of our community.

The map in the chart that talks about the time it takes for growth to happen, for roads to be approved, those processes.

That's something that we really need to push on in terms of expediting.

We really need to be thinking about how we're going to move people between here and the work work centers that are existing, both uh down Randleman in terms of the Toyota plan as well as at the airport and other areas.

This is really the challenge for us as a community.

This is a challenge for us as a state.

Um, we really should be focused around how do we ensure that growth is happening because we do want people to come here.

We do want to invite them here and not for them to move somewhere else.

Uh, but we want to also be mindful of the fact that we're creating a new pressure to our communities as well.

And so to the extent that we can expedite and really partner with the state in terms of how we bring transportation facilities to bear, um, as well as thinking creatively.

You know, at some point I really do think we need to think about high-speed rail in this community, um, and this is part of it.

Is how are we going to get people around?

How are we going to access jobs?

How are we going to get access to housing?

Um, and this is what growth looks like.

So thank you all for the time you've taken and uh and diligence that you've given to us into this process.

Anyone else?

Hearing none, um, I do just want to state that I really do appreciate, and I've spoken to several people in the community and went to one of the meetings.

Um it is tough when you have development coming into your neighborhood.

I always bring up that you know was right off of the two-lane New Garden Road and then Brassfield, and then there were going to be apartments across from me.

And of course, we were all worried at first, but um I do have to say, and I've said many many times before, that I walk out my my front porch and I see the the apartments, but the crime is not increased.

My my house value did not go down, it actually went up.

Um, it brings more uh things to the area that that people want and need.

So uh having said that I would definitely in just a moment uh accept the motion, but for transparency purposes, I must declare disclose that three years ago I hired attorney Winfrey for a real estate matter.

I've hired him none since then, and in no way am I benefiting directly or indirectly personally or financially from this matter.

I do not have an ongoing client relationship with attorney Winfrey, and I do not believe it affects my ability to consider this matter fairly.

Uh so I just wanted to mention that to council.

I know we've had a lot in social media lady lately about transparency, and I want to be fully transparent that I have had that client attorney contact with him.

But uh so moving on, I would accept the motion.

Move the item.

Okay, I've got like two move the item.

Um council member black, uh, council member Therms seconded.

Uh council, please vote.

Yeah, there it is.

I think there it is.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item H3 requires a statement of consistency.

I will ask for a motion to uh adopt the ordinance.

Motion move Mrs.

Thurm.

Second by Mr.

Holston.

Uh the statement of consistency, please.

The Greensboro City Council believes that its action to approve the original zoning requests for the properties at 5101, 5113, and 5327 Z Z Old Man Randallman Road from County AG and County RS40 to City PUD 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 reason.

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

The proposed city PUD zoning district as condition 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 approvals in the public interest.

Thank you.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

We have one more item on our public hearing, and we will move forward with that, and then we will take a 10 minute break.49 acres.

Tammy Roberts of Homes Built by Design Incorporated for David Dawhton.

And item H5, public hearing for an ordinance for original zoning for 3700 Liberty Road.

Tammy Roberts of Homes Built by Design Incorporated.

Mr.

Carter.

Thank you, Mayor Abismeda.

This is the zoning map for the subject property showing that the property contains approximately 0.49 acres and is located west of Liberty Road and south of Delmar Drive.

This is an annexation and an original zoning request.

So again, there will need to be a recommendation or not a recommendation, but uh two motions for tonight for final action.

Um the request is to go from county RS40 to City R3.

North, south, and west of the request are zoned County RS40, and east of the request is zoned uh County Limited Office and County RS40.

This is the aerial map of the subject property.

Um the aerial map shows that the property is undeveloped.

There is a uh single family dwelling that is currently uh under construction at this location.

North of the request contains single family dwellings, east of the request contains a medical facility, which is a dental office, and undeveloped land.

The uh use on the undeveloped land may be agricultural in nature.

Um the south and west of the request contain undeveloped land.

The future land use map designates the property as residential, and the future built form map designates the property as urban general.

There are no conditions with this request.

Um, and staff recommends approval, noting that the GSO 2040 comprehensive plans future built form map currently designates the property as urban general, and the future land use map designates the property as residential.

The proposed original zoning request supports both 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.

It is also supported by the filling in our framework.

Big idea to arrange our land uses for where we live, work, attend school, shop, and enjoy our free time to create a more vibrant and livable Greensboro.

The proposed R3 zoning district is primarily intended to accommodate low density single family dwellings and is uh promoting uses that are existing in the surrounding area.

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

Great.

Any questions, council?

This is primarily for water, correct?

Yes, this is uh for connection to water and sewer, yes.

And uh so yes, the technical review committee recommended approval of the annexation as did the planning and zoning commission.

Planning and zoning commission uh recommended approval of the original zoning 7 to 0 with no speakers.

Great, thank you.

There's no one signed up for public hearing, so I would accept a motion.

Moved by Mr.

Holston's second, seconded by Ms.

Thurm.

Um the council please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item H5 requires statement of consistency.

I would ask for a motion, moved by Councilmember Holston.

Do I hear a second?

I'm sorry, seconded by Council Member Black.

Uh if you would read the council the statement of consistency.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

The Greensboro City Council believes that it's action to approve the original zoning request for the property at 3700 Liberty Road from County RS40, residential single family, the CD R3, residential single family three, to be consistent with the adopted GSL 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 build format and future land use map.

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

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

It will benefit the property owner and surrounding community.

And approval is in the public interest.

All right, council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

The last public hearing item is item 86.

Public hearing for a resolution ordering the making of certain local improvements, an eight-inch sewer line improvement on Battleground Avenue from a proposed manhole at 4079 Battleground Avenue to 40 460 lineal feet to 4089 Battleground Avenue.

Is there anyone here to uh discuss this?

Any discussion from the council.

And there's no one signed up for the public hearings, I would accept moved by Mr.

Holston.

Second, second.

I will heard Mr.

March first.

Okay.

Mr.

Marshall, second.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

We will return in ten minutes.

Parking in downtown Greensboro is easy with the Part Mobile app.

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Once you've parked, confirm your zone number on the closest part mobile sign.

Select amount of time you'd like to stay and complete your payment.

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Meet ADA accessible parking.

Display your valid plot card and select the accessible zone in your location, even if you aren't in a designated accessible space.

Friendly reminder, parking is free in public surface lots in on street locations after 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Parking is also free all weekend and on city recognized holidays.

So plan your next trip downtown, support your favorite small businesses, and don't forget to use the part mobile app for convenient hassle-free parking payments.

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 Greens World, but throughout the whole region.

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.

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

Please join me in welcoming Susan to our podium.

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

Keeps us quite busy year-round.

This week we're hosting Joyner Elementary School, and joiners won of 54 planned schools for this year.

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 Aquatic 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.

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.

I got out of school that a when I was older person.

I went to 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 degree 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.

You may not think you've done anything to help me move forward with what I'm doing, but you touched my heart every step of the way on this journey.

And I appreciate your your 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.

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 I think it's just wonderful that you're here and to keep his memory and 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 Guildford 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.

Um, but on behalf of Guilford County Schools, I just wanted to say thank you and congratulate Alan and express our real sincere gratitude.

Um, 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.

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

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

Also want to um 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, um, supports their overall health and fitness and opens the door to other kinds of swimming activities, which is what we see, um, 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.

Um, 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.

Um, 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 Thurm, who is District 5.

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

So uh there you go.

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

That is just amazing.

I 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 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 um mothers who have lost their children to drownings, and this was well before uh 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's 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 GAT, but this program that is saving lives.

Item I1, resolution directly, the filing with the city clerk of the budget estimate for fiscal year 2026 to 2027.

Mr.

City Manager.

Thank you, Mayor.

Well, first I'll say good evening to Mayor, members of council, to our residents, to our employees that are here and watching.

In accordance with the general statute of North Carolina, and we on behalf of our dedicated staff team, it is an honor and a privilege to present to you my recommended budget for the City of Greensboro for fiscal year 2026-27.

It is a balanced and fiscally responsible plan that maintains essential services, responds to significant cost pressures, and begins to connect our annual budget decisions more deliberately to Greensboro's long-term direction.

This budget is not simply about funding another year of operations.

It's about maintaining the core services residents rely on every day, responding to costs that can no longer be deferred with our consequences, and continue target investment in areas identified as most important.

Those areas I will tell you are our employees, our public safety, infrastructure, facilities, housing and economic development, and the internal support systems that make service delivery possible.

This is also the first budget cycle that we begin using Vision 36 as more than just a planning exercise.

That makes this budget year consequential in the most sense.

This budget was developed in a challenging fiscal and financial environment, but it also gives us an important opportunity to be more disciplined, more intentional, and more aligned with how we move forward.

I'm proud of the way that our staff and departments have approached this work because this work is not an easy work.

They focused on efficiency, they focused on stewardship and smart prioritization while continuing to deliver the high quality services our residents both expect and deserve.

The priorities reflected in this budget are not separate efforts.

They are connected.

They represent the intersection of community need organizational capacity, council direction, and the long-term opportunities before Greensboro.

This budget begins to put those pieces all in the same lane.

Now, I've mentioned Vision 36, and you know, we work together on this through our retreat, and we we continue to build this out.

Let me talk a little bit to the community and the people watching so they understand what this means to us.

So Vision 36 gives a framework for making budget decisions with a more discipline, consistency, and long-term focus.

It is intended to help us move from reacting year to year toward aligning our capital policy and operating decisions around a more clear direction for Greensboro.

Now that matters in this budget because every major investment should be tested against the same basic questions.

Does it advance our strategic priorities?

Does it improve access and community benefit?

Does it strengthen our workforce and talent position?

Does it leverage partnerships?

Is it financially sustainable?

And does it make Greensboro more competitive over time?

This budget does not complete that work.

It does not fund every need identified through Vision 36.

But what it does, it is it begins to put the framework into practice.

It starts moving us from disconnected decisions toward a more aligned approach to growth, service delivery, and long-term community impact.

This budget is presented in a reevaluation year.

So it is important to be clear about what this recommendation recommendation does and also what it does not.

So the city's current total property tax rate is 67 and a quarter.

That distinction matters.

Reevaluation changes property values, but the amount of revenue available to support city services is determined by our tax rate.

The council adopts.

The recommended rate is intended to strike that balance.

It reduces the rate from where it is today.

It recognizes the impact of re-evaluation on property owners and still provides the financial capacity needed to sustain core services and move key priorities forward.

For practical example, I'll give a home valued at $250,000 under the 67 and a quarter cent rate would pay about $1,680 in annual city property tax.

If that same home value increased to $350,000 after the reavow of about 40% under the recommended rate of 58.3 cents, the annual city tax bill would be about $2,040, which is roughly about $30 more dollars a month.

And I want to be clear that this recommendation is not about holding the tax rate flat.

At the same time, it is not that holding a tax rate flat is not effective to recommend revenue neutral.

Let me say that again.

It is a balanced recommendation that you have before you that lowers the rate while recognizing that maintaining services and meeting ongoing obligations requires more revenue than the revenue neutral approach would provide.

Now our employees are the foundation of every service we deliver.

And this budget continues our commitment to attracting, retaining, and rewarding the people who make Greensboro work.

This recommendation continues to path toward a $25 minimum wage by moving the minimum hourly wage for benefit and employees from $20 to $21.25.

That is a 6.25% increase and raises the annual floor from $41,600 to $44,200.

Also, for general employees, the budget includes a 2.5% cost of living adjustment and a 1.5% average merit increase.

For our sworn police and fire employees, the budget includes a 4% STEF movement.

The budget also increases our roster and seasonal minimum salaries, which is very important to a lot of the services, especially as we approach the summer months.

It increases that salary or that minimum wage from $17.21 to $18 per hour.

We also continue to support to support our talent recruitment, our retention, and the compensation tools, including on-call and shift in differential pay, certification bonuses, and tuition assistance.

These compensation investments are service deliveries invest in delivery investments.

They help us maintain the workforce needed to provide public safety, infrastructure, community services, and daily operations across Greensboro.

Stepping into a few of the specific categories, public safety remains a top priority, and this budget includes close to 11 million dollars in additional investments to support our current operations.

The police department budget includes 30 officer positions with cops grant funding, offsetting a portion of those costs for the next three years.

The budget also supports the expansion of our behavioral health or other known as BHART as we continue enhancing our response model for behavioral health.

We also continue our balance interruption, neighborhood engagement, and community safety work.

In addition to staffing, the budget addresses the tools and systems public safety agencies need to operate effectively, including our axon technology, Motorola Communication Costs, the real-time information center, body camera support, fire truck financing, and major equipment replacements.

These investments in people, response capacity, and modern public safety operations.

Another area of focus is infrastructure.

Infrastructure readiness is one of the clearest themes running through both this budget and Vision 36.

Brisbane cannot compete at a higher level if we understate the real cost of maintaining streets, facilities, utilities, and other public assets.

The water resources budget totals 213 million and includes 37 million in pay as you go transfers for system maintenance projects.

The recommended water and sewer rate increase reflects the reality that system replacement, regulatory compliance, and growth capacity all require sustained investment.

The budget also supports major facility and capital needs, including opening preparation for our winds and changes NOCO complex, street and sidewalk work, stormwater and maintenance crews, restored engineering and inspection maintenance funding, and continued planning for proposed 2026 bond projects.

These actions are not isolated line items.

They reflect the broader recognition that infrastructure requires sustained reinvestment, not periodic attention.

For residents, this is about reliable daily services and visible community conditions.

For businesses, it's about confidence that Greensboro has the infrastructure capacity and organizational discipline to support the growth that we're seeing.

Greensboro's long-term competitiveness, competitiveness will depend on how well we connect workforce pipelines, logistics, and manufacturing strengths, downtown and corridor vitality, mobility, neighborhood conditions, and support for business investment.

This budget continues that direction through projected development activity, planning and inspections capacity, infield revitalization, continued partner support, and targeted economic development incentives.

For a typical business, this is not just about incentives or tax rate.

It is about whether Greensboro is strengthening the condition that matters most for investment and growth.

Again, our public safety, infrastructure reliability, permitting capacity, talent alignment, and quality of place.

Just a few notes since 2020, the city supported and region supported regional economic development projects associated with Greensboro's economic development efforts have represented more than 21 billion.

I'll say that again, have represented more than 21 billion in projected investments.

More than 24,000 projected new jobs.

Again, I'll say that.

More than 24,000 projected new jobs and 2,000 retained jobs, including major advanced manufacturing, aerial space, aviation, logistics, and technology projects across the Greensboro region.

An area that has received much talk is our housing.

Housing and economic development are directly connected in this budget and in Vision 36.

Greensboro's long-term competitiveness depends on having housing options for residents at different income levels, having strong neighborhoods, and an economic environment that supports job growth, private investment, and long-term tax-based growth.

This budget continues support for the NUSBOM fund, housing and homeless initiatives, the Road to 10,000.

It also supports economic development partners, downtown and corridor investments, and other place-based efforts that strengthen Greensboro's position over time.

Just as important, this work is not intended to rely only on city dollars.

Let me say that again.

Just as important, this work is not intended to only rely on city dollars.

The goal is to use local funding strategically to leverage outside investment, including federal and state resources, private development, philanthropic support, and partnerships with institutions and community organizations.

City investment should help unlock larger opportunities, not carry the full cost alone.

The larger goal is to connect housing workforce, infrastructure, and economic development so that growth is more intentional, more sustainable, and more broadly beneficial across the entire Greensboro community.

This budget also recognizes that efficiency and internal support are not secondary issues.

They're part of how we protect service delivery and build organizational capacity.

In the constrained budget year, we're not only asking what needs to be funded, but we're asking what more needs to be done.

We also have to ask how the organization can work better, where processes can be improved, and where internal services affect frontline operations.

The recommended budget includes support for several of those core systems, including technology platforms, public safety communications, equipment replacement, health care insurance, and other internal service needs.

These are not always the most visible investments, but they are necessary for departments to deliver services in a reliable way.

This is also where Vision 36 matters.

If Greensboro is going to move with a more disciplined and consistent approach, we need the internal systems, the data, staffing, and decision making tools to support that work.

Efficiency is not just about reducing costs, it's about making sure the organization is allowed, aligned and accountable and able to deliver.

Now, this slide highlights several of the priority service enhancements included in the recommended budget.

Some major investments have already been noted earlier in the presentation, including things like compensation, public safety, infrastructure, housing, and internal support.

But this slide highlights several other priority investments that haven't been covered.

In total, the budget includes 48 new full-time employees through service enhancements.

These additions were reviewed through the budget process and evaluated against service needs aligned with council priorities and organizational capacity and long-term sustainability.

Other additions support areas such as behavioral health response, stormwater maintenance operations, and internal capacity.

At the same time, this budget does not fund every request submitted by departments.

I need to say that again because again, I highlighted at the beginning the work that our departments did.

So I'll note that this budget doesn't fund all of the things that were requested by our departments.

The organization identifies far more needs than could be responsibly supported in just one year.

That requires again prioritization, sequencing, and in some cases deferring items to future considerations.

The broader point is that efficiency does not mean avoiding every new investment.

It means being clear about which investments are most necessary, which are most aligned with our priorities, and which strengthen Greensboro's organizational ability to deliver services over time.

Looking at the total budget, the fiscal year 2026-27 recommended budget totals 913 million across all funds.

That's an increase of $83 million or 9.9% over the current year amended budget.

Now, when we look at the budget by expenditure categories, the largest share remains maintenance and operations at about $513 million, or about 56% of the total budget.

Personnel costs are $372 million or about $41%.

Capital outlay totals $29 million or about 3%.

The personnel increase reflects the compensation items discussed earlier in the presentation, including our cost of living, merit, step movements, minimum wage adjustments, our overtime pay, roster, premium pay, pension costs, and restore position funding.

The maintenance maintenance and operation increases reflect the cost of running the organization.

Things like contracts, technology, utilities, transfers, equipment support, insurance, debt-related operating support, and the ongoing cost of maintaining current service levels.

The key point is this.

The key point is that growth in this budget is not concentrated only in one area.

It reflects a combined cost of people, operations, infrastructure, technology, and service systems needed to keep Greensboro functioning at the level that our residents and our businesses expect.

On the revenue side, the recommended budget is supported by a mix of property taxes, user charges, sales taxes, intergovernmental revenue, fund transfers, and other sources.

The largest revenue source are user charges at $348 million and property taxes at $329 million.

User charges are largely tied to services such as water sewer, stormwater, solid waste, and other fee-supported operations.

Property taxes remain the primary revenue source for the general fund and many other core services.

Property tax revenue increases by 21%, which is driven largely by revaluation and the recommended tax rate.

Sales tax revenues are more modest, modestly increasing at 4.2%, while intergovernmental revenues increase by 9.4% and changer fees by 8.7%.

The most important point is that not all revenue is interchangeable.

Some revenues are restricted or tied to specific services, while property tax and sales tax revenues provide the broader support needs for core operations.

That is why the tax rate discussion matters so much in this budget.

It determines the level of return revenue available to maintain services and address the cost pressures discussed throughout the presentation as noted today.

Maintaining the core services residents rely on while positioning Greensboro for what comes next.

Again, I'll say that.

It responds to documented cost pressures that can no longer be deferred without affecting service delivery.

It continues investing in the workforce that provides those services every day.

It supports infrastructure and operating readiness from utility and facilities to technology, equipment, and internal systems.

Most importantly, it begins connecting annual budget decisions to longer-term direction established through Vision 36.

This budget does not solve every challenge in one year.

Again, this budget does not solve every challenge in one year.

But it does move Greensboro toward a more disciplined, aligned, and sustainable approach to growth, service delivery, and community impact.

So, Council, I look forward to working with you through the budget review process and appreciate your continued leadership and partnership.

I'll go to the next slide to highlight for council and the public.

Over the next few weeks, tonight is the beginning phase of our project or the next phase of our budget process.

So this recommended budget is now before you, Council, for your review, your discussion, and your direction.

A few things on our schedule coming up include four budget work sessions.

So this Thursday, May 21st, May 28th, June 4th, and June 11th.

A few dates for our council meetings will be the public hearing will be our next scheduled meeting, which is June 2nd, and budget adoption is scheduled for June 16th ahead of the new fiscal year beginning July 1st.

Tonight's presentation is intended to formally submit the recommended budget to council for questions and discussions that will take place during the upcoming sessions.

Our goal is to make the choices and trade-offs clear so that council can adopt a budget that reflects the community's priorities, fiscal responsibility, and Greensboro's long-term direction.

Council, I want to close by thanking you for your leadership.

I want to say thank you to the residents who have engaged throughout throughout this process.

I also want to give a huge thank you to our staff across the entire organization who worked to pull this recommendation together, especially our all-star budget and evaluation team who are sitting right behind me here for their analysis, their coordination, and also I'll say this, their discipline that's required to bring this budget forward.

And some of us have had conversations or you've heard reflections.

We talked about it in Vision 36.

Greensboro has assets, it has institutions, it has civic foundations to compete at a higher level.

I would say to you that this budget begins aligning our decisions, our resources, and our expectations with that opportunity.

So council, I respectfully submit the fiscal year 2026-27 budget for your consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

I know we'll probably have a lot of things we would like to discuss, but I do want to thank you and your team.

So don't know if the council has any comments or anything, and I could entertain a motion to adopt the fact that it is being filed.

Mid by Mr.

Holston, or here seconds.

Seconded by Mayor Pro Tim.

Council, please vote.

That carries nine to zero.

Thanks to you and your team.

Appreciate it.

All right.

Moving on to item I two, resolution approving $3.5 million addendum for management and operations of transit services with RAPDEF USA Incorporated.

Unless there are any questions or comments, I would accept a motion.

I need a motion.

Motion by Councilmember Halston.

Seconded by Council Member Black.

Council, please vote.

It's okay.

And that carries nine to zero.

Oh, wait a minute, no, maybe not.

Yes, nine to zero.

Okay, uh item I three resolution approving a contract and the amount of oh gosh, one million five hundred and ninety-three thousand one hundred and forty-three dollars and thirteen cents with ADS environmental services to provide system-wide flow monitoring, data collection, and rainfall monitoring services for the city sanitary sewer collection service system.

Unless there are any questions or discussion, I would entertain a motion.

I have council member black first, second invite council member Crawford.

Uh council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Uh item I-4, a resolution authorizing a change order in the amount of $2.3 million for contract 2024 0460 with mainlining America LLC for the waterline rehabilitation 2025 project.

Unless there are questions or discussion, I would entertain a motion.

Moved by Councilmember Black.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Council Member Marshall.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item I five, ordinance amending state, federal, and other grants fund budget for the appropriation of funds from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for the Bingham Park Remediation Project.

Unless there's discussion or questions, I would accept a motion.

Councilmember Black.

Yes.

Moving the item, Councilmember Holston, as a strong second.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item I6, ordinance and the amount of 201,466,915, amending the fiscal year 2025 to 2026 water resources enterprise fund for the refinancing of 2024 revenue bond anticipation notes.

Unless there is discussion or questions, I would accept a motion.

Moved by Mr.

Councilmember Marshall.

Seconded by Council Member Thurm.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item I7 to authorize the sale and issuance of not to exceed $21 million taxable and $199 million non-taxable CES revenue bonds.

Unless there is discussion or questions, I would entertain a motion, please.

Do I hear a second?

Seconded by Councilmember Holston.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item I eight, ordinance amending chapter five of the Greensboro Code of Ordnance.

Madam Mayor, I think we need a quick explanation.

Sure.

For the public's information.

Sure.

Brent Duchar.

Sorry, Members Council.

Hope everyone's doing well this evening.

This item is just a very brief ordinance amendment.

Pass the next couple are as well.

This one reflects the fact that animal control services are handled pursuant to an interlocal agreement by the county.

The interlocal agreement provides that the county ordinance is to apply within the city limits.

So we're just explicitly incorporating the provisions thereof and adding one additional provision, just noting that if there were an animal-related nuisance to occur within city limits, the city could seek to abate that if necessary if county uh enforcement efforts were not sufficient.

But again, really just an incorporation of language that's already present in the county ordinance.

Thank you.

I just wanted to make sure the public understood what we weren't doing something outside of their ordinance.

Right, right.

Um I have a motion moved by Mrs.

Thurm.

Do I hear a second?

Second of Mayor Pro Tim.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Item I-9, ordinance amending chapter 16 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances.

Would you like to explain, Mr.

Sean?

Yes, and certainly, Madam Mayor.

Um just a little bit more on this one, uh, really broken down into uh into two parts, I'd say.

Uh these are uh ordinance amendments, of course, regarding chapter 16 motor vehicles and traffic.

The first uh substantive piece of the amendment would be increasing the civil penalty that applies to parking of oversized vehicles uh on the street.

So that uh that process has historically been for a first offense, folks will get a warning.

Second offense would be a 75 civil penalty.

Um could be authorized after uh the third offense.

Um what this would do would say instead of a warning on your first offense, you are looking at a hundred dollar uh civil penalty on your second offense instead of a $75 civil penalty, you'd be looking at a $250 civil penalty, and again, third offense would still permit the towing.

Um so that is uh first component of this amendment here.

Uh secondly would be an amendment in regard to section 16-162.

This is parking for the purpose of selling goods, washing, uh, etc.

Uh the ordinance provision already covers storage.

It already prohibits parking on the street for the principal basis of storing a vehicle.

Uh there's just not a lot of content to what that means and how that would, you know, how that would really apply in a residential context.

So uh the ordinance would be amended to reflect that um you know we're talking about storage of vehicles by garages, dealers, uh homeowners, doesn't really matter who, right?

Um when uh you know they are placing their vehicles on the street, not uh for reasons incident to incidental to just using the vehicle, right?

So if you have your vehicle out there on the street, not moving it for a period of three days, um, that is going to be deemed you know parking for the purposes of storage, right?

Against that prohibition that already exists in our ordinance.

Um in a residential context, if you are a resident parking your vehicle in front of your own home, that provision would only apply to you if the vehicle that you have standing out there on the street does not have a current license plate.

So that that's the uh clarification that that brings to that provision.

Certainly happy to say a little more if helpful, but those those are the two areas.

Okay, any questions?

Yeah, just to clarify that that last example you used about the homeowner with the property with with the vehicle with the vehicle then stored in the front yard, as long as it has a valid license plate.

Is that oversized or is that any size?

Uh the oversized prohibition would be separate.

Um and sorry, just for clarification, it's it's parking on the street rather than on the street.

Yes, sir.

So uh the underpinning area.

Yeah.

The underpinning of theory, right, is is just basically the street should not be used as an overflow lot for garages or so on, right?

Oversized or undersized.

Uh yeah, well, the uh the oversized vehicle prohibition would already cause of that anyway, so this really would apply to your run-the-mill automobile.

Great.

Uh any further discussion questions?

Hearing none, I would entertain a motion.

Moved by Ms.

Black, second, second by uh councilmember Crawford.

Council please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

Now we do have a speaker on this item, but uh after I read it, ordinance amending chapter 17 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances.

If you would like to go ahead and give the explanation, and then we can get to the speaker.

Uh yes, ma'am.

Again, a the fairly brief explanation on this one, right?

This is a reflection of existing practice of uh you know process that is permitted under state law.

Uh chapter 19 of uh the general statutes enables the city to uh pursue abatement of criminal nuisances, right?

Criminal nuisance properties we see this in action uh recently with properties such as Howard Johnson Studio 6, right?

Um so this is just codifying our local ordinance in fact that this process is out there, we can make use of it and uh you know makes clear uh situations in which that can apply, right?

So repeated breaches of peace and borrows the statutory definition of what that means.

Uh so again, really just reflecting the fact that this is this is out there, this is a practice we can utilize.

I think just uh ensuring the public's copies of that aware of it.

Great, thank you.

And we did have one speaker, Mr.

Hicks.

I'll be good evening, Council.

I'll be as I won't be brief.

Never mind.

I support the intent of this amendment.

I do.

Uh safe neighborhoods matter.

Uh good intentions without accountability can still do harm.

And this ordinance or this amendment rather is not accountable enough just yet.

And here's what's missing.

The amendment allows the city to pursue nuisance actions through civil court under a lower legal standard than criminal court without requiring a criminal conviction.

Uh when the government is given broad power with fewer protections, the burden rarely falls equally.

Uh it allows investigations to begin upon notice from any citizen or public official.

That means an upset neighbor, a disgruntled former tenant, or anyone with a personal grievance can trigger this process in a city with deep inequities and long-standing distrust, that kind of broad discretion should concern us all.

Uh a property owner may not even know what is happening on their property, which I think is the intent, right?

But can still face injunctions, penalties, or forfeiture.

Uh landlord uh willing to cooperate or to rate take corrective action is not guaranteed that opportunity first.

Uh nowhere in this amendment are the tenants and families living inside these properties protected.

Uh, if a building is shut down, such as the Motel 6, uh people can lose their homes, even if they did nothing wrong.

Uh the amendment does not address that reality.

Uh there is also no requirement for public reporting, no clear standard for enforcement decisions, and no way for the public to know whether this power is being applied fairly.

We know how systems like this can operate when left unchecked.

If the intent is truly public safety, and I believe that it is, then add the safeguards, require notice, protect tenants, create transparency, define the standards clearly.

The intent may be right, make the ordinance worthy of it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further discussion questions?

Uh Councilmember Black.

Um, I would like to um just have our city attorney's office to address uh some of those concerns because to my understanding, these are documented criminal instances that happen at a residence, so that proof is already documented before the process is initiated.

So could you please uh elaborate for that on that for me, please?

Thank you.

Um certainly, and thank you, Madam Councilwoman Black.

Under chapter 19, this is abatement, there has to be a barrage of complaint driven um actions.

So what this uh ordinance is intended to do and will do is once those complaints have been, and we're not talking about one, we're talking about many complaints to the same residents.

Though the landowner, the owner of the residence will have notice.

You cannot do a nuisance abate abatement in any form.

You cannot even start the process without notice.

And what we do here in Greensboro is we send out a letter stating this is the concern.

We'd like to have a conversation with you to see how we're going to address that concern.

And then the process goes from there.

So there's not going to be anyone that's just put out of their home.

That is also not true about any of the hotels that we have shut down.

Uh both of those hotels had um issues that required uh the last one studio six.

We were those occupants were given a timeline of as to when they weren't going to vacate.

And then when the inspectors went in, they found electric as well as other issues that rendered the building unsafe for those residents to live in.

And council won Councilman Holston can confirm that we had uh displacement specialists out there and helped every single person find somewhere to go.

Um but had they just stayed in that hotel, their lives would have been in danger.

So it was absolutely our responsibility to make sure that they were not there.

With this ordinance, again, there has to be it, it has to be complaint driven.

People have to know what's going on.

There has to be notice given, and it has to be a process followed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Hearing none, I would accept a motion.

Move by Miss Durham.

Second invite Councilmember Black.

Council, please vote.

And that carries nine to zero.

We are at towards the end of our um agenda.

Item I11 is the last board and commission appointments for May 19th, 2026.

Councilmember Black.

Yes, I'd like to reappoint Jasmine Quick Miller to the Board of Adjustments.

She's done a wonderful job, and I look forward to having her serve another time.

Thank you.

Second invite Councilmember Thurm.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

Hearing none, that passes Councilmember Allen.

No appointments, but just wanted to correct something from our last meeting.

We had I had uh made an appointment, but we have to uh do that appointment over, so it'll be done next week.

Uh the applications for uh the ACAD uh commission are are ready and up now, and so I've been spreading them around.

Uh but the person that uh we appointed last week did not fill out the application, so that'll be filling that out uh and we'll uh make those appointments and a few other ones uh at our next meeting.

Okay.

Thank you.

Councilmember Holston.

None tonight, Madam Mayor.

Councilmember Thurham.

None tonight.

Uh Councilmember Mayor Pro Tent, I'll go down there.

Uh Councilmember Parker, Marshall, Councilmember Crawford.

I would like to appoint Spencer Jewell.

Just graduated this evening, has his application in uh to the board of adjustments as the newest alternative.

Super president.

Dow here a second.

Second by councilmember Thurham.

Council uh everyone in favor, please say aye.

Anyone opposed?

Hearing none, that passes unanimously.

All right, Mayor Pro Tim.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I'd like to appoint Jen McClinton for the community sustainability council.

She too graduated this evening and is a district four resident and has been a very active community member.

Look forward to seeing her serve.

Wonderful.

Uh here second.

Second by Councilmember Thurm.

Uh, all in favor, please say aye.

Okay, that passes unanimously.

All right.

Uh matters to be discussed by all of us.

Councilmember Black, I'll start with you.

So it's a surprise that in you guys.

Um, I just wanted to one lift up the uh city academy and the work that they do and continue to do uh uh the community relations department under that program, um being a part of City Academy and just seeing that it grow to 30 members.

I think that it's going to serve our city well as just a valuable educational piece for our residents and want to lift up those district one members.

Thank you.

I had a list here.

Maybe I'll find it, maybe I won't, but uh I did have some district one council members, I mean district one city academy academy members that I want to recognize April Miller Hughes, Bettina Ross, Cheryl Johnson, uh Karen Lilly, and Veronica Griffin, and thank them for their service and look forward to having them serve on some of our boards and commissions.

So thank you.

All right.

Okay.

Councilmember Holston.

I also want to echo for the City Academy graduates, congratulations to them.

Also I'm going to say that several council members and myself attended the Chamber of Commerce's intercity visit.

Myself, uh Councilmember Thurm, their pro Tim Ross, May, A Boozwaiter, and also Councilmember Marshall with the 10 jacket.

And you're looking good.

The tan jacket.

And Wichita is a city that is known for its aeronautics and aerospace, and this is one of the prime reasons that we were there.

What I saw was a tale of two cities, so to speak.

But when we took the bus ride out to the uh to the park, it it reminded me a lot about research park that we have in Durham in the state.

And it it have a 100-year head start on us, uh, and it gave us a glimpse and a vision for what Greensboro with that mega site that we talked about earlier this evening.

And when we have those uh supply chain suppliers coming in, building those concentric circles, uh that the growth is on the horizon.

And when I saw that, and then I listened to the conversation about the housing tonight, those those 900 homes.

Um we need them, but we're really gonna need them as these two megasite juggernauts begin to and continue to churn and drive economic development in our community.

So it was it was a great trip.

Looking forward to utilizing some of the knowledge and information that we brought back.

And Madam Mayor, that concludes my comments.

Great, thank you.

Councilmember Thurm.

I would just like to thank Mr.

Davis and his team all the way through budget teams and department directors.

Um I understand that a lot of work has gone into this budget.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Um, I think there's more work that we will be doing on it and more conversations to have.

I have I look forward to what's ahead and the discussions ahead.

Um, and just want to thank everybody.

I know that these budgets are hard.

Uh they're really hard.

And uh it's a lot of work, and I appreciate the effort and the homework that's been done by the budgeting group so far, and I know there's more to come, so thank you for doing that.

Um I'd also like to say that the thanks to the chamber for putting together the trip to Wichita.

Um, it was a very worthwhile trip.

We learned a lot.

Um we saw a lot, we came back with some good ideas.

Um, Mayor Pro Tem, I would like to thank you for the analysis that you put on your social media page.

You did an amazing job of synthesizing what we learned and what we saw, and um thank you for doing that.

It was far better than I could have done, but I think it really gave the public uh a view of why we do these trips and what we have to work towards.

So thank you for your efforts on that as well.

All right, uh Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you, Mayor, and uh and thank you, Councilmember Thurm, for your comments.

I really appreciate it.

And for I I apologize to the chamber because I actually did not point them out, but it they did a great job putting that trip together.

And uh I'm sure you're going to hear from some of the other council members, and you may have seen the pictures of the uh downtown greenway, the ribbon cutting, the community-wide ribbon cutting that occurred.

Um so the point that I will point to is what these various pieces mean.

You heard the manager provide a budget tonight that is looking holistically at where we where our needs are, thinking both about um maintenance and growth uh for our organization for the city operations, um, as well as the trip and discussion around the travel to uh Wichita uh Wichita Umside Joe.

Um but also the Greenway, you know, all of these elements as we're thinking about community and community growth, we have to think both about retention as well as attraction.

We have to think both about retention as well as attraction.

How do we ensure that the people that are living here today are finding the amenities and the attraction of living here, finding a place for family and for young people and people of all ages, those who are in their silver lines as well, as well as those that we want to bring here to help improve our quality of life and doing that in a way that is thoughtful and responsible.

In our greenway, it's a part of that.

And I'm sure I hope you've seen the article in Forbes magazine about the Greenway.

That is saying quite a bit.

That was a lot of effort, a lot of funds, and not the least of which the city was a key partner, staff hours and time and energy and creativity that was added to that project.

All of these pieces are key aspects of how you grow and evolve a city.

And so what's happening here is really essential.

As Mr.

Halston pointed out, the thinking about how we are evolving in leveraging the mega sites that we have, these are all part of our city taking its next steps.

So I look forward to all that's happening, and thank you all for what you're doing.

Great, thank you.

Councilmember Crawford.

Yes, I want to echo thank you to Trey Davis City Manager Trey Davis and the team on presenting new council's first draft of the budget.

This is really like a 30,000-foot view because we have talked about so many different uh departments and details and deferred maintenance and just so much of what has to be done.

Uh and I really appreciate each department walking us through so much that we don't know so that we can get up to speed to understanding how to build out this budget in a real and strategic way.

Um I also want to uplift uh to folks that there is going to be some meet and greets with our new police chief.

Uh and you know, with everything that's happened up until now, I really advise folks to show up to those and to have real conversations in your community with the new police chief.

Um I meant to write it down.

I know we have one in June at Peeler Rec Center.

I plan to definitely be there, thank you, June 4th, um, to hear the community's interaction and engagement with our new police chief.

Um I also want to thank all of the district two folks who committed to going to City Academy.

Um that's a oh, yeah, June 4th at Keeler, yes.

Um it's uh it's a long commitment as someone who's done it.

Um I mean, I I looked forward to those Thursdays uh just because I enjoyed the folks that were in the academy with us, but also we have amazing staff, and it was really great to hear how each of these departments help uh piece together and make the city run.

Um I thought that Crystal would bring it up, but we attended an urban planning workshop.

Listen, that thing was uh pretty amazing.

Um what it was was that uh we were tasked to build out a development for the city based on retail and housing and uh streets and parks and roads and sidewalks and um, but you had these indices and goals that you had to meet by bringing in a specific amount of money uh revenue into the city, and it was a lot more difficult than you would think.

And then, you know, take the nerve-racking plunge of uh presenting this before a mock council.

Uh, and so there were a lot of uh community folks that were there along with staff and uh two council members, um uh councilwoman black was one of the groups that presented, but I really think that, and I don't know how much this would put a dent in our budget, and you know, we can talk about it next year, but I think that this is something that um neighborhood associations or communities in different districts really should be a part of um these exercises to really understand how do you fully fund these developments and help the city grow in a meaningful way uh for all residents, right?

Um a lot of them had ideas for young folks and kind of left out the seniors, and then we realized like that was a problem.

So I I think uh, you know, Trey Make It So, I think that's the thing.

Uh but um yeah, I really appreciate all of the work that staff has done to to help us understand as we are now what six months in and already pushing a budget.

So thank you.

Great, thank you.

Councilmember Marshall.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh it's it feels like it's been nonstop for about a week.

Um I I was also on the uh chamber trip to Wichita and left that trip really energized.

Um I think that's because there was so much there that we could replicate and bring back here.

It was one of those places.

I'm I'm glad we went.

I've now been to Kansas, so I can check that off my list.

But um all of the things that we talked about in the retreat, uh aviation, advanced manufacturing, a partnership between the universities and the city center for you know advanced research and your your wet labs and dry labs and all it was there, and we could see it.

And you know, I really think there's a lot to take back from that.

Um they are ahead of us.

You know, they've got things like Cessna there, but we've got Honda Jet, you know, we've got Jet Zero coming in.

So I I'm really excited to see what we can pull from that trip.

Um, and no sooner than I landed two hours later from Kansas.

I'm at a Wizard of Oz theme um gala for the children's museum, so it you know felt like part of the movie.

Um I was also at the Greenway event, hence my red face.

I got extremely sunburned, but it what a great day.

Um, and what a great day to be with so many people in the community that were there uh to celebrate the Greenway opening.

And I also want to mention the uh fire department's hundred year rededication of the Central Fire Station was there also the same day, right after the Greenway.

Um, and that was also a great event.

It was really cool to be inside that facility, see some of the old trucks, some of the old um some of the things that were brought back out uh to be part of that that central station.

Um so it was a heck of a week.

Um, but I was glad to be a part of it.

Great, thank you.

Councilmember Parker, nothing this evening.

I only have a few things.

I think a lot of them have already been mentioned.

Um, you know, the the opening of the Greenway Saturday after we'd come off of that trip, and it was kind of like, yeah, here we go.

We've got the partnerships, the vision, the connectivity, all of those things, and it's just um I want to thank Dabney Sanders who has led the charge.

I know that a lot of city staff have been involved, the community partnerships, businesses, all of those things.

And I say all of those things because when we were on the inner city visit in uh Wichita, a lot of that came up that everything is built on relationships, everything is built on the community coming in, the businesses coming in, and uh I know I mentioned to the city manager several times.

It was mentioned that uh, you know, a a lot of what they do in Wichita is like eighty-four percent private partnerships with yes, private money.

And I'm like, yeah, we need to get on board, we need to get everybody coming together at the table, and we can do something like that.

Um so you know, it was it was really exciting to be on that trip, and then we do the opening of the Greenway, the hundred-year dedication of the Greensboro Fire Department.

It was just jam-packed week that was just totally awesome.

Um I do want to say uh for those who were unable to go this morning, the law enforcement memorial, uh honoring those fallen officers.

Uh there were sheriffs, uh department led it this time, and um all of the fallen officers in the state troopers, um, let's see, who else?

Uh High Point, Gibsonville, Greensboro, and the sheriff's office of those who have fallen before.

It's a very touching and moving service if you get a chance next year to go.

And some of the family members are there also.

Something I wanted to start doing that I've gotten recently, um, is just we we get a lot of emails and we get a lot of critical emails.

But you know, occasionally we get those really nice emails, and I want to start lifting those up.

Um this is from an attorney.

Uh we get a lot of complaints about our planning processes too long, or our staff is that hasn't done this, that, or the other.

But the local land use attorney praised the city's planning department after receiving a response to a pre-application meeting request within hours, including next day availability.

He noted that this level of responsiveness is rare among the many counties he serves and involved in land use and development work.

His feedback highlights Greensboro's commitment to customer service efficiency and supporting re responsible economic growth and development.

And I thought that would be very nice.

He shared positive feedback regarding exceptional customer service provided by the city's water and sewer department.

He accidentally dropped his car key fob into a sewer drain, and he submitted an online request for assistance.

Jeff Loudermilk shared positive feedback regarding the outstanding service provided by Jeff Pearson at the White Street Landfill.

While picking up leaf mulch, Mr.

Pearson noticed a flat tower tire on Mr.

Loudermick's trailer and alerted him before he drove away, potentially preventing significant damage.

After learning he did not have the necessary tools, Mr.

Pearson retrieved a jack and equipment from the shop so the tire could be changed safely.

Mr.

Louder Milk expressed appreciation for Mr.

Pearson's attentiveness, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond to assist a resident.

So yes, very nice.

All right.

And thank you for the great work on the uh draft of the city budget, Mr.

City Manager.

And do you have anything this evening?

One quick thing.

We are tremendously excited.

Uh Jackie Boone, our cultural, our creative Greensboro director or leader, uh, is bringing to us um world-renowned Ruth Carter.

And Ruth Carter is a two-time Academy Award winning costume designer.

Uh, I just need everybody to know that so she's known for movies like Black Panther Centers, Selma, Malcolm X, and a few other movies.

So I will be one of her uh featured models in her show this weekend.

So I know she's done work with people like Michael B.

Jordan, but she will forget all about them when I perform for her.

Um but this is a huge recognition.

If you get a chance, I'm gonna ask ACM McCray to send you all information.

She is very influential in her field, the first black woman to win an Oscar for costume design and the most nominated black woman in Oscar history.

Uh and she will be right here in our city, and that's going to be truly amazing.

So the show is Saturday, it's free.

It's a one-day festival uh on Saturday the 23rd.

And again, we'll send you all the details and the times uh so that you can come out and support uh meet this very influential person and also support me on my uh my modeling debut.

Thank you.

Okay, so what are you going to be modeling?

Uh it's a uh it's a surprise.

Uh oh.

Yes, we deserve pictures.

Uh, Mayor Pratim and I concur that we need pictures if, yeah.

Prior.

All right.

Madam City Attorney.

I just want to say that our city manager is great, but he is no Michael.

Ooh.

I think we got some drillings.

Oh, to end on a laughing moment.

Did you have anything?

No.

Thank you, Madam City Attorney.

I I would entertain a motion.

I think he's talking about adjournment.

He's so moved.

Uh uh was that your motion to adjourn?

Do I hear a second second by Council Member Black?

We are adjourned.

Thank you all very much.

April, I'm not sure what I'm saying.