Greenville City Council Workshop on Opioid Funds, Title VI, and UDO - October 7, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Greenville City Council Workshop - October 7, 2024
The Greenville City Council held a workshop on October 7, 2024, to discuss three key items: the National Opioid Fund Settlement Update, the Title VI Nondiscrimination Program, and the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Project. Staff presentations provided updates, and council members engaged in discussion. No formal votes were taken, but next steps were outlined.
National Opioid Fund Settlement Update
- Renee Skeen, Neighborhood and Business Services Program Manager, presented a partnership proposal with Pitt County to maximize the impact of opioid settlement funds. The city is set to receive approximately $1.89 million over 18 years, while Pitt County will receive about $15.9 million. The city proposes allocating all current and future funds to Pitt County to leverage existing programs (e.g., Narcan distribution, needle exchange, fentanyl awareness, medication-assisted treatment, peer support, diversion programs) and avoid duplication. A dedicated opioid settlement coordinator (Caitlin Houston) is in place.
- Councilmember Robinson asked about periodic updates. Staff replied that regular reporting will be provided through workshops and presentations, and a shared online platform is being developed for transparency.
- Councilmember Robinson also inquired about the grant decision process. Angie Manning (Pitt County Health Department) explained a proposed review committee of about seven members (including a city representative) to evaluate grant applications, with recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. The process requires reimbursement (local requirement), and smaller organizations may find reporting easier but may struggle with upfront costs. Letters of intent are expected in winter/spring 2025, with awards by April–May 2025 for the July fiscal year.
- Councilmember Willis expressed concern that the reimbursement model could disadvantage new, cash-poor organizations. Manning noted that most grants are supplemental ($50,000 average) and that the county will prioritize gaps identified by stakeholders. Staff emphasized that unspent funds roll over and do not expire.
- Key Outcomes: Council directed staff to bring back a formal proposal for adoption in November 2024, including a plan for community meetings and a single portal entry process. The city will continue to collaborate with Pitt County.
Title VI Nondiscrimination Program
- Jessica Carter, Training and Development Manager and Title VI Coordinator, presented an overview of the program required by federal law (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964). The program covers race, color, national origin, and limited English proficiency (LEP). The city will contract with Accolid for interpretation/translation services. A Title VI coordinator has been designated, and liaisons have been identified across all 13 city departments. Training will be provided to all employees annually and during onboarding, with in-person sessions for those without email access. The policy statement will be posted in public areas in English and Spanish.
- Mayor Pro Tem and council members asked no substantive questions beyond clarifying that the program applies to all city programs, regardless of funding source.
- Key Outcomes: The program will be implemented as presented. The Title VI coordinator will maintain training records and ensure contract compliance. The city manager noted the fiscal responsibility tied to federal funding.
Update on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Project
- Sarah Sinatra (Inspire, consultant) provided an update on the UDO project, which began in spring 2024. The goal is to unify subdivision regulations, zoning, signage, lighting, vegetation, and development review procedures into a user-friendly, modernized code consistent with the Horizons Plan.
- Public engagement included seven open houses (101 attendees), 411 completed surveys (print and online), 41 online visioning activity participants, and 18 online gather activity participants. Common themes: importance of pedestrian/cyclist/transit infrastructure, environmental concerns (especially tree preservation), need for affordable housing citywide, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and lack of essential services north of the Tar River (pharmacies, grocery stores, health clinics).
- Task force meetings have been held; the next is scheduled for November 6, 2024, to discuss five critical topics: housing options (ADUs, cottage courts), signage and lighting, vegetation standards, home occupations (including village of the arts concept), and options for conditional zoning. A final task force meeting in January 2025 will review a draft of the ordinance.
- Councilmember Foreman praised the engagement efforts and asked about conditional zoning vs. spot zoning. Sinatra explained that spot zoning is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan, while conditional zoning would set performance standards for certain developments, similar to planned developments. The task force will provide guidance.
- Councilmember Willis asked about distance separation between same-type businesses. Sinatra confirmed that the UDO team is evaluating separation requirements for certain uses, using examples from other communities. The restrictions would apply only to new businesses.
- Key Outcomes: The draft UDO is expected to be presented to the Planning Board in late March/early April 2025, to council in late April/early May 2025, with public hearings in June and July 2025. A presentation summary will be posted on the UDO website.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the October 7th workshop for the Greenville City Council. I'll be I'm here PJ Conley for presiding over today's workshop. First I'll call on our city clerk for the roll call. Yes, sir. Mayor Connolly. Here. Mayor Ken Daniels. Councilmember Foreman. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Spelly let us know that you will not be attending the season. Councilmember Robinson. President, you always get more with those. Councilmember Willis. Here. All right, Mayor Highland. Thank you very much. We'll move on to the approval of the agenda. Mr. Manager. So motion to approve. Second. All right, motion made by Councilmember Blackburn, second by Councilmember Willis. All those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Let's move on to it number one. All right. This is the National Opioid Fund Settlement Update. I'll call forward our neighborhood business services program manager, Renee Skeen for the presentation. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Okay, so we'll start out a partnership with Pitt County to maximize the impact of the opioid settlement funds by collaborating. We can better address the opioid crisis through coordinated efforts across both the city and the county. All right, so we'll give you a little background. In 2021, the city of Greenville initially signed onto the National Opioid Settlement Fund Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The settlement fund provides funding to the city for up to 18 years, totaling about 1.89 million. Pitt County's funding will total about 15.9 million. Active collaboration with Pitt County regarding the use of funds to help with the opioid epidemic. Current efforts to address the opioid crisis. The county is actively working with partners to provide allowable initiatives, including Narcan distribution to first responders in the community, the needle exchange program to prevent disease transmission, fentanyl awareness programs, and the medication assistant treatment, peer recovery support, and diversion programs to redirect individuals to treatment rather than incarceration. We propose allocating these funds as well as future installments to Pitt County. This approach ensures maximum efficiency and regional impact by leveraging Pitt County's existing programs and services. By doing so, we benefit from expanded recovery services across the county, ensuring the Greenville residents have access to comprehensive care. They have increased opportunity for regional impact by addressing opioid challenges across Greenville and Pitt County. They have access to expanded recovery services, ensuring all residents benefit from comprehensive care, and they have the ability to leverage existing programs to ensure immediate and future growth and implement new programs based on increased capacity. Settlement funds and compliance through a dedicated position, the opioid settlement coordinator. This will avoid duplication of efforts, including use of city staff capacity to develop and implement programs in existence. We believe Greenville will be greatly benefit from the partnership as well. So our proposed next steps.
openpublica.com