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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Meeting - May 6, 2024: Budget Presentation, Recognitions, and Public Safety

City Council — Monday, May 6, 2024

BodyGreenville, North Carolina

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, May 6, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:56:53

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:40

I would like to call the May 6th, 2024 meeting of the Greenville City Council to order.

0:45

I am Mayor Pro Sam Monica Daniels, and I will be presiding over this meeting.

0:50

I like to call on Councilmember Marion Blackburn Byrne to provide the invocation this evening, and it will be immediately followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:00

Thank you so much, uh Mayor Pro Tim.

1:03

Good evening, everybody.

1:05

Um tonight I I just wanted to take a minute to um to talk about uh the nature of the prayer I'm going to offer for us.

1:13

One of the patron saints of the United States is Saint Michael, and Saint Michael is um honored in many faiths, not just the Christian faith, uh Christianity of all kinds, the Protestantism, Catholicism, but also in Judaism and in Islam.

1:28

And in Buddhism, there is a um uh an archangel archangel Michael um uh uh uh deity who appears as who is called Mayatreya, and then in Hinduism, there is also an archangel angel type uh deity who appears who is named Narashima.

1:50

I'm sure I didn't say that.

1:51

Nara Simha, no, I didn't say that right, but um, I think the oh he uh uh Archangel Michael is also present in Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest religions.

2:01

And I think that what's important here is that it shows how many commonalities there are amongst uh the the religions and how much we share and how much we we have in common with each other, and to always keep that in mind that even when it comes to um uh an angel uh by the name of Michael, that Michael appears in so many of our world religions, um Michael represents the spiritual warrior, which is looking at conflict with evil as the battle within.

2:32

So evil is is certainly outside of us, but first we have to look at the what we're what we are struggling with on the inside.

2:40

So this is just a part of the prayer to Saint Michael, and it goes, um, and if you would join me, um Archangel Michael, heaven's shining star, we humbly come to thee with hearts both heavy and scarred.

2:56

In our time of need, we plead for your divine aid to help us through this darkness and guide us through the shade.

3:04

May your wisdom guide us and your love surround us as we journey on toward a brighter future.

3:11

Amen.

3:25

And to the republic for which it stands in the nation under our individual with liberty and justice for all clerk, will you please read the roll, please?

3:42

Sure.

3:43

Um Mayor Connolly has let us know he will not be able to attend tonight.

3:47

Mayor Fraternil's Councilmember Forman.

3:51

Present.

3:51

Councilmember Blackburn.

3:53

Present.

3:54

Councilmember Scully.

3:55

Here.

3:55

Councilmember Robinson.

3:56

Here.

3:57

Councilmember Wellis.

3:58

Here.

3:58

Mayor for Town we have a quarter.

4:00

We will now move to the approval of the agenda.

4:03

Mr.

4:03

Manager, are there any recommended changes?

4:05

No recommended changes, Mayor Pro.

4:07

Okay.

4:08

Move to approve.

4:09

Second.

4:16

We haven't gotten to the consent agenda yet.

4:18

Yeah, yeah.

4:19

Have no fear.

4:21

I was going to say that I know it couldn't happen.

4:24

Motion made by Councilmember Blackburn, second by Councilmember Robinson.

4:29

All those in favor?

4:31

Aye.

4:31

Any opposed?

4:33

Motion passes zero.

4:36

Okay.

4:39

Yes.

4:46

I'd like to call for also Jeremiah.

4:56

Meet me.

5:03

Mr.

5:03

Kellyn.

5:13

So tonight we have with us Officer Jeremiah Loveless, who started out if I uh if I believe correctly, over in the South Zone over eight years ago, moved to our center city unit, and then has been live uh working in our west zone as a field training officer for the city of Greenville and has just done an outstanding service, has outstanding service with the city over the last eight years.

5:37

But I will say that Officer Loveless, your life did change on April 2nd of this year.

5:42

And I'd like just to kind of uh give a little uh write-up of how it just did change.

5:51

On April 2nd, 2024, Officer Loveless responded to Glendale apartments with his trainee, Officer Rohack, in reference to an open line 911 call.

6:02

A prime upon arriving on the scene, they contacted a victim outside who had been assaulted by her child's father.

6:10

She stated that her nine-month-old child was still inside the apartment with him, and she feared for the child's safety.

6:18

She told officers that he was intoxicated and that he kept a firearm in the house.

6:23

Officer Loveless contacted the suspect by phone and persuade him to come outside to talk with the officers.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety█████████████████████21%

Budget Equity Analysis███████████████████19%

Community Engagement████████8%

Public Works███████7%

Procedural██████6%

Environmental Protection██████6%

Public Comment█████5%

Public Transportation█████5%

Parks and Recreation█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Meeting - May 6, 2024

Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels presided over the May 6, 2024, City Council meeting at 6:00 PM. All six council members were present; Mayor Connolly was absent. The meeting featured special recognitions, public comments, consent agenda approvals, a detailed proposed FY2024-25 budget presentation, and council discussions on public safety funding and a sustainability coordinator.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (Item 3)
Ordinance Enacting Supplement #2024-S16 (Item 4)
Deed Correcting Grantee Name for Airport Authority (Item 5)
Resolution Accepting Dedication of Rights-of-Way for Abigail Trails Phase 2 (Item 6)
Resolution Authorizing Police to Apply for GHSP Grant for BikeSafe Regional Coordinator (Item 7) – Pulled and approved separately.
Resolution Authorizing Police to Apply for GHSP Grant for Traffic Safety (Item 8) – Pulled and approved separately.
Police Department Asset Forfeiture Funds for Equipment (Item 9)
Resolution Accepting ARPA Funds for Corey Road Regional Detention/Stream Restoration (Item 10) – Pulled and approved separately.
Award of Design-Build Contract for Corey Road Project (Item 11)
Award of Construction Contract for Wildwood Park PARTF Improvements (Item 12) – Pulled and approved separately.
Various Tax Refunds > $100 (Item 13)

Items 7, 8, 10, and 12 were pulled for discussion and individually approved 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Dr. McKinnon (Environmental Advisory Commission) urged the council to make the sustainability coordinator position permanent, citing a recent $50,000 grant secured by the current fellow and benefits of energy efficiency and grant management.
Jeff Monaco (Sierra Club, Cypress Group) supported the sustainability coordinator, highlighting environmental threats and the position's necessity.
Robert Shaw (retired physician) noted that many similar NC cities have sustainability managers and urged Greenville to follow suit, referencing climate-related insurance rate increases.
Ariana Harper (youth from Operation Sunshine) requested more entertainment options like Chuck E. Cheese and Urban Air in Greenville rather than traveling elsewhere.
Veronica Stokes (Operation Sunshine executive director) echoed the need for positive youth activities to keep youth safe.
Yoshi Newman (Environmental Advisory Commission member) emphasized the urgency of a sustainability manager, noting the city's growth and the cost of inaction.

Discussion Items

Ordinance Approving FY2023-24 Capital Reserve Fund Designations (Item 14): CFO Jacob Joyner presented designations including $5M for Town Common Bulkhead, $1M for a future industrial site. Approved 6-0.
Budget Ordinance Amendment #10 (Item 15): Joyner outlined changes to multiple funds, including $5M for Town Common Bulkhead, opioid settlement funds, and stormwater project funding. Discussion included coordination with the county on opioid funds. Approved 6-0.
Presentation of FY2024-25 Proposed Budget (Item 16): City Manager Cowan presented a $483.2 million total budget ($175.6M city operating funds, $112.5M general fund). Key elements: property tax rate reduced from 48.95¢ to 39.27¢ per $100 valuation (revenue neutral rate 36.85¢, retaining 2.42¢ from revaluation). The budget includes a 4% average wage increase, 2.6% pay plan adjustment, 3% 401(k) contribution, $500,000 for public safety pay adjustments, seven new fire/EMS positions, $250,000 for pedestrian safety, $100,000 for ADA projects, $100,000 for sidewalk expansion, extended transit hours, and a community engagement coordinator. Council discussed the need for additional public safety funding (Chief Sauls estimated ~$150,000 more to fully address compression) and the feasibility of adding a sustainability coordinator. Councilman Robinson voiced concerns about police staffing (20-25 vacancies) and recruitment/retention.

Key Outcomes

Consent Items 7, 8, 10, 12 approved individually 6-0.
Capital Reserve Fund Designations (Item 14) approved 6-0.
Budget Ordinance Amendment #10 (Item 15) approved 6-0.
Motion (Item 16): Councilmember Blackburn moved, seconded by Councilmember Robinson, to direct staff to examine the feasibility of adding a sustainability officer to the FY2024-25 budget and to fully fund the public safety pay adjustments (beyond the proposed $500,000). The motion passed 6-0. Council will consider the final budget at the June 13, 2024 meeting following a public hearing on June 10.
Appointments were made to several boards/commissions.
Adjourned at approximately 10:00 PM (estimated from transcript length).

Meeting Transcript

I would like to call the May 6th, 2024 meeting of the Greenville City Council to order. I am Mayor Pro Sam Monica Daniels, and I will be presiding over this meeting. I like to call on Councilmember Marion Blackburn Byrne to provide the invocation this evening, and it will be immediately followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you so much, uh Mayor Pro Tim. Good evening, everybody. Um tonight I I just wanted to take a minute to um to talk about uh the nature of the prayer I'm going to offer for us. One of the patron saints of the United States is Saint Michael, and Saint Michael is um honored in many faiths, not just the Christian faith, uh Christianity of all kinds, the Protestantism, Catholicism, but also in Judaism and in Islam. And in Buddhism, there is a um uh an archangel archangel Michael um uh uh uh deity who appears as who is called Mayatreya, and then in Hinduism, there is also an archangel angel type uh deity who appears who is named Narashima. I'm sure I didn't say that. Nara Simha, no, I didn't say that right, but um, I think the oh he uh uh Archangel Michael is also present in Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest religions. And I think that what's important here is that it shows how many commonalities there are amongst uh the the religions and how much we share and how much we we have in common with each other, and to always keep that in mind that even when it comes to um uh an angel uh by the name of Michael, that Michael appears in so many of our world religions, um Michael represents the spiritual warrior, which is looking at conflict with evil as the battle within. So evil is is certainly outside of us, but first we have to look at the what we're what we are struggling with on the inside. So this is just a part of the prayer to Saint Michael, and it goes, um, and if you would join me, um Archangel Michael, heaven's shining star, we humbly come to thee with hearts both heavy and scarred. In our time of need, we plead for your divine aid to help us through this darkness and guide us through the shade. May your wisdom guide us and your love surround us as we journey on toward a brighter future. Amen. And to the republic for which it stands in the nation under our individual with liberty and justice for all clerk, will you please read the roll, please? Sure. Um Mayor Connolly has let us know he will not be able to attend tonight. Mayor Fraternil's Councilmember Forman. Present. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Scully. Here. Councilmember Robinson. Here. Councilmember Wellis. Here. Mayor for Town we have a quarter. We will now move to the approval of the agenda. Mr. Manager, are there any recommended changes? No recommended changes, Mayor Pro. Okay. Move to approve. Second. We haven't gotten to the consent agenda yet. Yeah, yeah. Have no fear. I was going to say that I know it couldn't happen. Motion made by Councilmember Blackburn, second by Councilmember Robinson. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes zero. Okay. Yes. I'd like to call for also Jeremiah. Meet me.

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