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Record of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2024

City Council — Monday, October 7, 2024
BodyGreenville, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, October 7, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:09:52

Original source
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0:47

Good evening.

0:48

I'd like to call the October 7, 2024 meeting of the Greenville City Council to order.

0:52

I'm Mayor P.

0:52

J.

0:52

Connolly over presiding over tonight's meeting.

0:54

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

0:59

Thank you, Mayor.

1:01

It's been a bit of an emotionally taxing week, actually two weeks, um, with um some senseless losses of life over the last couple of weeks.

1:10

And so I wanted to uh revert to the scripture tonight to share um with Galatians five and six.

1:20

Um, verses twenty-two and twenty three.

1:26

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

1:37

Against such things, there is no law.

1:40

In Galatians 6 13, wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the day, and having done all to stand.

1:53

Move down to Galatians 6 18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all.

2:08

I lift his words in prayer in the unwavering name of Jesus.

2:14

Amen.

2:15

Amen.

2:16

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:19

What it does?

2:28

And see the Republic for which it stands.

2:31

One nation under God invisible with liberty and justice.

2:40

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

2:42

Yes, sir.

2:43

Mayor Connolly.

2:44

Here.

2:44

Councilmember Tim Daniels.

2:47

Present.

2:47

Councilmember Foreman.

2:49

Here.

2:49

Councilmember Blackburn.

2:51

Present.

2:51

Councilmember Scully has let us know he will not be a screen this evening.

2:54

Councilmember Robinson?

2:56

Here.

2:56

Councilmember Willis.

2:57

Here.

2:57

Right, Mayor Collie, you will.

2:59

Thank you very much.

2:59

Well I move on to the approval of tonight's agenda.

3:01

Mr.

3:01

Manager, any recommended changes?

3:03

Thank you, Mayor.

3:03

I have one change.

3:04

I'd like to ask under special recognitions to remove item number two cardiac save at Winter Green School.

3:10

Okay, that'll be on.

3:11

Motion to approve the agenda as well.

3:16

Council's got the question.

3:18

Yeah, Mayor and Council would ask that a closed session motion be added to the agenda to be read at the end of the meeting.

3:25

Motion to approve the count, the uh agenda with those deletions and additions.

3:30

Second.

3:30

All right, motion made by Councilman Robinson, second by council member Willis.

3:34

All those in favor say aye.

3:37

Motion passes five zero.

4:43

Thank you for coming over here.

4:47

So uh on September 6, 2024, at 1015, uh our department received a 911 call for a house fire on Maple Street.

5:00

Um we get there, we do our regular thing, and Mr.

5:02

Anderson's standing out there uh across the street, and we didn't really know the whole story until after you know the fire was out and smoke was gone and everything, and we're helping the family get cleaned up and stuff.

5:14

But Mr.

5:15

Anderson um he probably could be thanked for just calling 911, which is what you know most folks do in the community when they see something.

5:25

They'll call 911, get the responders uh in route, get them to be taken care of.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%
Public Comment██████████10%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Racial Equity███████7%
Public Works███████7%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Public Safety██████6%
Municipal Contracts██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2024

The Greenville City Council met on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Mayor P.J. Connolly presided, with Council Members Monica Daniels, Tonya Foreman, Portia Willis, Marion Blackburn, and Les Robinson present. Council Member Matthew Scully was absent. The meeting included special recognitions, consent agenda approvals, presentations from boards and commissions, and several new business items. All votes were unanimous (5-0) unless noted.

Special Recognitions

  • Maple Street Fire Hero: Fire Rescue Chief Brock H. Davenport presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Eddie Anderson for his actions on September 6, 2024. Mr. Anderson, a mail carrier, stopped his route, banged on the door of a burning house on Maple Street, and woke the sleeping occupants, potentially saving their lives. The fire was significant, spreading from the exterior to the attic.
  • Cardiac Save at Wintergreen School: This item was removed from the agenda before approval.

Consent Calendar

  • All consent items were approved 5-0 except items 8 and 10, which were pulled for individual discussion.
  • Items approved en bloc included: Resolution for membership in the American Flood Coalition; Municipal Agreement with NCDOT for the North-South Connector Project; Resolution accepting rights-of-way and easements for West Arlington Commercial Park; Resolution declaring Police Canine Nitro surplus and authorizing transfer to Officer Robert Parker; Upgrade of Animal Protective Services Officer from part-time to full-time; IT Department renewal of Microsoft 365 agreement; Agreement for electric vehicle charging station at Wildwood Park; Purchase of new vehicles for Public Works Transit Division; Contract award to ETA Transit for passenger information and fare collection systems; Contract award to Eneco East LLC for HVAC replacements at City Hall; Various tax refunds over $100.

Discussion Items

  • Item 8 – Asset Forfeiture Funds for Police Equipment: Chief Ted Sauz explained the $174,000 request from approximately $700,000 in forfeiture funds. Equipment includes cameras, mapping devices, a popsicle community engagement trailer, crime scene barriers, shelving for evidence, gym equipment (shared with fire department), replacement firearms, a crash reconstruction computer, a LIDAR radar system, and an ice dispenser. Council approved 5-0.
  • Item 10 – Contract Award to The East Group for On-Call Engineering/Architectural Services: Projects and Development Manager Mark Nottingham stated the two-year contract (with renewal option) will support projects like a new fire training facility. Six proposals were evaluated; The East Group was selected. Council approved 5-0.
  • Item 16 – Presentations by Boards and Commissions:
    • Historic Preservation Commission (Chair Jeremy Jordan): Reported 5 major work certificates of appropriateness (COAs) and 35 minor COAs. Façade improvement grants totaling $14,035 were awarded to three properties (Brick House, Go Post Cafe, Fifth Street Hardware). Signs installed for the Skinnerville/Greenville Heights Historic District. A CLG grant (no match required) was awarded for a workshop on preserving original windows. Ongoing efforts to save the Higgs House on Dickinson Avenue with Preservation North Carolina continue.
    • Human Relations Council (Vice Chair Procopio Serrano): Summarized 2024 activities including the 51st anniversary event, Fair Housing Month observance (April 18, 2024), Juneteenth Jamboree, and the 17th Annual Inclusive Community Breakfast (September 26, 2024) on preventing human trafficking. Staff liaison responded to 148 tenant-landlord calls from October 2023 to September 2024. The council is working on a fair housing policy, tenant-landlord handbook, and strategic plan.
    • Greenville Youth Council (Chair Morgan Worsley): Reported 12 active members with 8 open slots. Adopted new mission (“We Are Youth Unified to Help and Serve”) and vision statements. Goals include 15 hours of volunteer service per member, creating a recruiting video, holding community listening sessions, and seeking state charter status. Participated in MLK Jr. celebration, community baby shower, and Juneteenth event.
  • Item 17 – Pavement Condition Survey Contract: Asset Manager Kevin Lee and Director of Engineering Lisa Kirby presented a contract with ESP Associates for $372,583.20 to conduct the MPO’s 2024 pavement condition survey and asset inventory. The survey covers 282+ centerline miles of city streets using automated data collection. The asset inventory component includes ADA ramp investigation and sidewalk studies, funded in part by a $200,000 budget allocation for ADA implementation. Council approved 5-0.
  • Item 18 – Update on Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant: Lisa Kirby presented the city’s application to the EPA for a $20 million grant (no local match required). The proposal includes: a new distribution warehouse/gymnasium at Greenfield Terrace (using a sprung structure rated for 175 mph winds, with permanent Red Cross storage, a truck rodeo, solar EV charging, and pickleball/basketball courts under blue skies); constructed wetlands and walking trails connecting the neighborhood to the park system; retrofits at the Boys & Girls Club’s Grady White Boats facility (new HVAC, LED lighting, solar panels, battery backup) projected to save $30,000/year and reduce carbon footprint by 351 metric tons; and a secondary Emergency Operations Center in North Greenville with redundant fiber. The total project cost is $21 million, with $1 million coming from the stormwater utility for the wetland. The EPA had awarded 17 of approximately 150 expected projects as of July 25, 2024, leaving significant funding available. The application was submitted on October 4, 2024 (Friday). This was an informational update; no vote was taken.
  • Item 19 – Amendment to Manual of Fees: CFO Jacob Joyner presented two new fees: a $150 CDL skills test fee for non-employees (to cover testing costs) and a $2,500 per cubic foot per second stormwater fee-in-lieu of attenuation for developers. The fee-in-lieu allows developers to pay instead of providing on-site attenuation when it is impractical or counterproductive. Council approved 5-0.
  • Item 20 – Budget Ordinance Amendment #3: CFO Jacob Joyner presented the amendment affecting multiple funds, including $11,640 for zoning ordinance project, $175,000 for pavement condition survey, $160,000 for golf course improvements, $75,000 for wayfinding, $36,000 for convention center pedestrian mall renovations, transfer of Merchant Alley project funds, recognition of $1.4 million for body-worn cameras, $20,000 for downtown beautification, $263,000 for shop spotter, $130,000 for EMS billing, $2.6 million for a solar economic development grant, establishment of an opioid settlement fund ($500,000 transferred from special revenue), close-out of pool replacement project ($4.3 million), close-out of public works capital projects ($19.5 million), and appropriation of $175,000 in federal forfeiture funds for police. The overall operating budget is now $191 million. Council approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous 5-0 on: approval of agenda (with modifications), consent agenda (except items 8 and 10), item 8 (asset forfeiture equipment), item 10 (engineering services contract), item 17 (pavement survey contract), item 19 (fee amendment), and item 20 (budget amendment).
  • Closed session was approved 5-0 to consult with the attorney on a legal matter (pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(a)(3)).
  • Grant application for $20 million to the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant was submitted; no council action required.
  • Next meeting previewed for October 10, 2024.

Comments from Mayor and Council

  • City Manager Michael Cowan praised the engineering department for outstanding work, especially on the EPA grant.
  • Council Member Foreman offered no comments.
  • Council Member Blackburn expressed condolences for Western NC hurricane victims, thanked staff for the 250th anniversary celebration.
  • Council Member Willis had no comments.
  • Council Member Robinson thanked Henry Hinton for organizing relief (14 tractor-trailer loads sent to Western NC), noted Council Member Scully is volunteering there, and thanked Eddie Anderson for his heroism.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Daniels reminded everyone that it is Fire Prevention Week and urged checking smoke detectors; also wished her twins a happy birthday.
  • Mayor Connolly echoed condolences and urged continued support for Western NC and Florida as they face Hurricane Milton.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to call the October 7, 2024 meeting of the Greenville City Council to order. I'm Mayor P. J. Connolly over presiding over tonight's meeting. First, I'd like to call on Councilmember Foreman for the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mayor. It's been a bit of an emotionally taxing week, actually two weeks, um, with um some senseless losses of life over the last couple of weeks. And so I wanted to uh revert to the scripture tonight to share um with Galatians five and six. Um, verses twenty-two and twenty three. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. In Galatians 6 13, wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the day, and having done all to stand. Move down to Galatians 6 18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all. I lift his words in prayer in the unwavering name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. What it does? And see the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God invisible with liberty and justice. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Yes, sir. Mayor Connolly. Here. Councilmember Tim Daniels. Present. Councilmember Foreman. Here. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Scully has let us know he will not be a screen this evening. Councilmember Robinson? Here. Councilmember Willis. Here. Right, Mayor Collie, you will. Thank you very much. Well I move on to the approval of tonight's agenda. Mr. Manager, any recommended changes? Thank you, Mayor. I have one change. I'd like to ask under special recognitions to remove item number two cardiac save at Winter Green School. Okay, that'll be on. Motion to approve the agenda as well. Council's got the question. Yeah, Mayor and Council would ask that a closed session motion be added to the agenda to be read at the end of the meeting. Motion to approve the count, the uh agenda with those deletions and additions. Second.

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