Greenville City Council Meeting - February 10, 2025

The Greenville City Council met on February 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Mayor P.J. Conley and included an invocation by Councilmember Les Robinson (Buddhist-themed), the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call with all six members present. The agenda was approved with a late addition for a closed session. Key topics included a public comment on water quality, approval of consent items (including a therapy canine transfer and infrastructure grants), a presentation from the Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC), fee adjustments for EMS and parking, and a budget ordinance amendment.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Amendment of the 2025 Schedule of City Council Meetings – approved.
• Item 2: Approval of Public Art for West Zone Police Station Mural – approved.
• Item 3: Resolution declaring Therapy Canine Chase as surplus and authorizing disposition to Kristen Hunter – approved.
• Item 4: Resolution accepting dedication of rights-of-way and easements for The Preserve at Langston – approved.
• Item 5: Resolution approving encroachment agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc. for pipeline crossings and culvert upgrade as part of Public Works Stormwater Pipe Improvements-Phase 3 – approved.
• Item 6 (pulled): Resolution for FY2024 FEMA BRIC grant applications for Trafalgar Drive Infrastructure & Floodplain Benching Project and Lake Ellsworth Dam Scoping Project – discussed separately and then approved (see Discussion Items).
• Item 7: Various Tax Refunds Greater Than $100 – approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Yoshi Newman, speaking as a community member and EAC assistant chair, urged council to seek abundant information on flood and drought impacts when considering development. He noted that construction practices (topsoil removal, erosion) affect water quality in creeks and the river. He thanked Daryl Norris from Stormwater Engineering for his support and highlighted that the EAC is celebrating its 50th anniversary, stressing that environmental issues are more urgent than ever.

Discussion Items

• Item 6 (FEMA BRIC Grant Applications): Councilmember Blackburn pulled this item to highlight Greenville’s leadership in stormwater management and flood prevention, noting that residents receive lower flood insurance rates due to proactive measures. City Engineer Daryl Norris explained the two grant applications: (1) Trafalgar Drive Infrastructure & Floodplain Benching Project – aims to alleviate frequent flooding in the Trafalgar neighborhood (including structural flooding of homes and road inundation) by improving culverts and benching; (2) Lake Ellsworth Dam Scoping Project – a planning grant to assess dam repairs, emergency action plans, and inundation mapping. Councilmember Blackburn commended staff for securing grants that save the city millions. The item was approved unanimously (6-0).
• Item 8 – Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) Presentation: Chair Jeff McKinnon presented the EAC’s 2024 accomplishments and 2025 priorities. Accomplishments included: assisting with the creation of a permanent sustainability coordinator position; helping the UDO adopt policies such as requiring 50% native species in plantings; providing feedback on engineering grants; initiating research on water fluoridation and EV charging stations; and reviewing air quality issues. McKinnon also gave a broader briefing on climate change impacts in eastern NC: sea level rise causing coastal erosion and “ghost forests”; saltwater intrusion damaging farmland; Hurricane Elia being 10% more severe due to global warming; rising insurance costs (15% projected over two years). He noted that a 2018 ECU study found that five-to-nine-year-olds in eastern NC have the highest asthma-related emergency department visits in the state, with highest death rates in rural, impoverished, and predominantly African American counties. EAC’s 2025 goals include: working with the new sustainability coordinator; urging Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) to consider low-carbon energy sources and stop promoting natural gas (citing health risks from indoor methane); monitoring regional air pollutants; advancing EV charging; tracking UDO tree policy outcomes; and continuing water fluoridation analysis. Councilmember Blackburn praised the commission’s work and suggested they present at the upcoming joint meeting with GUC in April.
• Item 9 – Ordinance to Amend the Manual of Fees (EMS and Parking): CFO Jacob Joyner presented small adjustments: EMS fees updated to align with new state rates (basic life support non-emergency drops $25; others increase $5–$10); parking fees amended to reflect the new downtown parking plan (two-hour free parking, then $0.75/hour in the deck; removal of pay station language). Approved unanimously (6-0).
• Item 10 – Budget Ordinance Amendment #7: CFO Jacob Joyner presented a package of adjustments across multiple funds: General Fund increase of $135,000 for downtown beautification and disparity study (from GEC); $12,000 transfer to Community Development Capital Projects for UDO contract costs; $12,000 revenue from GUC for energy improvement fund; $37,000 reallocation from Public Works to Engineering Capital Projects for street improvements; $1.4 million from Sanitation Fund balance for their assembly room renovation; adding 2.5 FTEs to Recreation and Parks with no budgetary impact. Total operating budget becomes $196 million. Approved unanimously (6-0).
• Review of February 13, 2025 Agenda: Skimmed due to time; city manager deferred verbal report to that meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent items 1–5 and 7 approved; item 6 approved after discussion; all votes 6-0 except consent initially (5-0 with roll call for agenda approval).
• Closed Session: Council voted 6-0 to hold a closed session pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(a)(6) and (a)(3) to discuss personnel qualifications and consult with the attorney on legal matters.
• Council Comments: Multiple members acknowledged Black History Month, thanked staff for January’s heavy workload, noted upcoming events (Third Street School visit, Rec and Parks events, African American music series, Sycamore Hill celebration). Councilmember Robinson congratulated Detective Rinstein as Officer of the Year, highlighted recent concerns about shootings in the city, commended fire and public works for snow response, and promoted Girl Scout cookies and ECU baseball. Mayor Pro Tem Daniels shared her experience speaking at Third Street School.