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Record of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Meeting – February 5, 2024: Presentations, Contract Awards, and Policy Updates

City Council — Monday, February 5, 2024
BodyGreenville, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, February 5, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
1:17

I think we're live.

1:19

All right, good evening.

1:20

I'd like to call the February 5th 2024 meeting of the Ringville City Council to order.

1:25

I'm Mayor P.

1:26

J.

1:26

Connolly.

1:27

I'll be presiding over tonight's meeting.

1:28

First, I'd like to call Councilmember Robinson for the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:35

Thank you so much.

1:35

I hope you would join me in prayer.

1:37

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day and for the life we live.

1:41

Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives.

1:44

Thank you for your goodness and the many blessings we have received, both acknowledged and unknown.

1:49

Thank you for our families, our relatives, our friends, our colleagues and citizens.

1:53

Thank you for the many employees and staff who serve us and the citizens of Greenville.

1:57

Thank you for those who I serve with on this council.

2:00

Thank you for your great love and care and your infinite mercy and grace.

2:04

I ask that you give each of us the experience, the wisdom, the discernment to properly consider all views and opinions on the issues that come before us.

2:11

I ask that you give each of us the patience and perseverance and guide us as we consider and decide those issues for our citizens of Greenville.

2:19

It's in your precious name we pray.

2:21

Amen.

2:22

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:38

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:50

Yes, sir.

2:51

Mayor Connolly.

2:52

Here.

2:53

Mayor Protem Daniels, present.

2:55

Councilmember Foreman.

2:56

Here.

2:57

Councilmember Blackburn.

2:58

Present.

2:59

Councilmember Scully?

3:00

Here.

3:00

Councilmember Robinson.

3:02

Here.

3:02

Councilmember Willis?

3:03

Here.

3:03

All right.

3:04

Mayor Connolly of a quorum.

3:05

Thank you very much.

3:06

We'll now move on to the approval of tonight's agenda.

3:08

Mr.

3:08

Manager?

3:09

Yes, Mayor.

3:09

I would like to request that council remove item number one special recognition of Chris Cox from tonight's agenda and continue it to the March 11th City Council meeting.

3:18

Second.

3:18

All right.

3:22

All those in favor say aye.

3:23

Aye.

3:23

Those opposed saying nay.

3:25

Motion passes 6-0.

3:27

All right.

3:27

We will move right on to the public comment period.

3:30

Public comment period is a period reserved for comments by the public.

3:32

Items that were scheduled to be the subject of a public hearing to conduct at this meeting or another meeting during the same week shall not be discussed.

3:37

A total of 30 minutes is allocated with each individual being allowed no more than three minutes.

3:41

Individuals registered with the city clerk will speak in the order register until the allotted 30 minutes expires.

3:54

Yes, sir.

3:55

First speaker is Dr.

3:56

Yoshi Newman.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural███████████11%
Historic Preservation███████████11%
Public Comment██████████10%
Stormwater Management█████████9%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Public Engagement█████5%
Zoning And Land Use█████5%
Budget█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Meeting – February 5, 2024

The Greenville City Council met on February 5, 2024, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor P.J. Connolly presided. The meeting included an invocation, pledge, roll call, approval of the agenda (with item #1 continued to March 11), public comments, approval of a consent agenda (with two items pulled for separate discussion), presentations from two boards, contract awards for infrastructure and zoning projects, a budget amendment, and council member reports. All votes were 6-0.

Consent Calendar

  • Items Approved En Bloc (after pulling #5 and #7):
    • Approval of minutes (Item #2)
    • Proposed amendment of Boards & Commissions Policy (Item #3)
    • Authorization to enter into NC Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement (Item #4)
    • Resolution and Deed of Release to abandon two drainage easements (Item #6)
    • Update to Façade Improvement Grant Program Guidelines (Item #7 was pulled and later approved separately)
    • Pre-event contract for Debris Management and Removal Services (Item #8)
    • Pre-event contract for Debris Removal Monitoring Services (Item #9)
    • Various tax refunds greater than $100 (Item #10)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dr. Yoshi Newman (spoke first) highlighted that Greenville-Pitt County lies within one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots, where 30% of original vegetation remains and 70% has been removed. He urged council to consider how development choices affect rare species. He gave a hypothetical example of Tanger Outlet tearing down downtown, illustrating the need for careful planning. He also thanked city staff for their support.
  • Jeff Monaco, Chair of the Cypress Group of the Sierra Club (representing about 700 members in Northeastern NC), spoke in support of the Environmental Advisory Commission's work. He discussed the concept of the Anthropocene and humanity's responsibility to protect the environment, urging council to follow the commission's advice on tree ordinances and energy use.

Discussion Items

  • Item #5 – Modifications to Sale of GUC Former Operations Center (801 Mumford Road): Councilmember Blackburn asked about contamination. Tony County (GUC President/CO) explained a six-acre area had cleaning solvent in soil under voluntary monitoring agreement with the state; the modification carves out a lease until natural attenuation. Councilmember Blackburn also asked about leftover Compute North (crypto mining) assets; staff indicated some containers may remain under a lease with the purchaser. Motion to approve passed 6-0.
  • Item #7 – Façade Improvement Grant Program Guidelines Update: Chief Planner Sean Tighe explained new requirements: applicants must provide financial proof, maintain general liability insurance for three years, and record a preservation easement for grant value during the maintenance period. Councilmember Blackburn asked clarifying questions. Motion to approve passed 6-0.
  • Item #11a – Affordable Housing Loan Committee Presentation: Chair Mark Tansky reported on the past year: approved one $20,000 down payment assistance loan (closed by Habitat for Humanity), reviewed federal plans, and recommended $179,000 to nonprofits in FY2023 and $150,000 pending for FY2024. Applicants include Community Crossroads Center, Center for Family Violence Prevention, Boys & Girls Club, Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children, Habitat for Humanity, and Quinania Christian Center.
  • Item #11b – Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) Presentation: Chair Jeff McKinnon (ECU biology professor) presented. He noted the region is a global biodiversity hotspot (36 in the world) and summarized 2023 accomplishments: supported hiring a sustainability fellow (Abby Kimmel), saw improved GUC policies for residential solar, provided feedback on stormwater grants, urged GUC board to stop promoting natural gas, and worked on EV charging stations. 2024 goals: establish a permanent sustainability coordinator position, shift GUC away from fossil fuels, review tree protection policies, and address regionally important air pollutants. He cited ECU’s 19% reduction in purchased electricity (saving $60M since 2003) and Asheville’s $1.3M/year savings from similar efforts. Councilmembers asked about endangered species (Venus flytrap, red wolf, red-cockaded woodpecker) and thanked the commission.
  • Item #12 – Contract Award for St. Andrews Drive Stream Restoration: Civil Engineer Lynn Rayner described a $589,269 contract to KCI Associates for design, easement acquisition, and CEI. The project will restore 3,200 linear feet of deeply incised stream to protect sewer lines, stormwater outfalls, and transformer boxes. Community outreach will include letters, robocalls, and virtual meetings. Councilmember Willis and Foreman asked about stream bed leveling (grade control structures/step pools), vegetation salvage, and property impacts (easements, no outright purchases). Motion to approve passed 6-0.
  • Item #13 – Contract Award for Unified Development Ordinance (UDO): Chief Planner Sean Tighe explained a comprehensive rewrite of Chapters 4 (zoning) and 5 (subdivisions) to modernize and consolidate standards, with an 18–24 month timeline. A consultant, task force, and extensive public engagement will be used. Motion to approve passed 6-0.
  • Item #14 – Budget Ordinance Amendment #7: CFO Jacob Joyner presented adjustments: $43,154 for opioid settlement fund transfer, $150,000 for utility work related to Metronet, $500 police donations, vehicle replacement fund reallocation (no net change), and $43,500 from state DOT for facility improvements. Total operating budget becomes $176,313,000. Motion to approve passed 6-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda Item #1 (Special Recognition) continued to March 11, 2024, Council meeting (motion passed 6-0).
  • Consent agenda approved (items 2,3,4,6,8,9,10) after items 5 and 7 were pulled.
  • Item #5 – Modifications to GUC property sale approved 6-0.
  • Item #7 – Façade Improvement Grant guidelines approved 6-0.
  • Item #12 – St. Andrews Drive contract awarded to KCI Associates for $589,269 (task order #1) approved 6-0.
  • Item #13 – Unified Development Ordinance contract awarded to consultant (not named in transcript) approved 6-0.
  • Item #14 – Budget Ordinance Amendment #7 approved 6-0.
  • Council thanked staff and boards, noted upcoming events: 250th anniversary celebrations, Black History Month programs, and commended police/fire departments for recent service.
  • Meeting adjourned after council comments.

Meeting Transcript

I think we're live. All right, good evening. I'd like to call the February 5th 2024 meeting of the Ringville City Council to order. I'm Mayor P. J. Connolly. I'll be presiding over tonight's meeting. First, I'd like to call Councilmember Robinson for the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you so much. I hope you would join me in prayer. Heavenly Father, thank you for this day and for the life we live. Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives. Thank you for your goodness and the many blessings we have received, both acknowledged and unknown. Thank you for our families, our relatives, our friends, our colleagues and citizens. Thank you for the many employees and staff who serve us and the citizens of Greenville. Thank you for those who I serve with on this council. Thank you for your great love and care and your infinite mercy and grace. I ask that you give each of us the experience, the wisdom, the discernment to properly consider all views and opinions on the issues that come before us. I ask that you give each of us the patience and perseverance and guide us as we consider and decide those issues for our citizens of Greenville. It's in your precious name we pray. Amen. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Yes, sir. Mayor Connolly. Here. Mayor Protem Daniels, present. Councilmember Foreman. Here. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Scully? Here. Councilmember Robinson. Here. Councilmember Willis? Here. All right. Mayor Connolly of a quorum. Thank you very much. We'll now move on to the approval of tonight's agenda. Mr. Manager? Yes, Mayor. I would like to request that council remove item number one special recognition of Chris Cox from tonight's agenda and continue it to the March 11th City Council meeting. Second. All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed saying nay.

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