Greenville City Council Meeting - May 8, 2025: Budget Presentations, Appointments, and Special Recognitions
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Greenville City Council Meeting - May 8, 2025
The Greenville City Council met on May 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting included special recognitions, appointments to boards and commissions, continuation of two public hearing items, and presentations of proposed FY2025-26 operating budgets from the Pitt-Greenville Convention & Visitors Authority, Sheppard Memorial Library, and Greenville Utilities Commission. Council members also provided comments on community events and federal funding risks.
Special Recognitions
- Kevin Heifferon was recognized for his 25 years of service with the Public Works Department, retiring as Assistant Director. He played a key role in maintaining city facilities and increasing the city's tree canopy by over 3% in the last decade.
- Mayor proclaimed the week of May 4-10, 2025 as Professional Municipal Clerks Week in Greenville, recognizing the city clerk's office.
Appointments
- Board of Adjustment: David Southwood appointed (motion 6-0).
- Housing Authority: Nola Dixon appointed (motion 6-0).
- Planning and Zoning Commission: Toya Jacobs appointed (motion 6-0).
- Appointments to Environmental Advisory Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Recreation and Parks Commission, and Youth Council were continued.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No registered speakers or public comments were made.
Discussion Items: Public Hearings (Continued)
- Item 3: Ordinance to rezone 16.82 acres from RA20 to Industry (Happy Trail Farms) – continued to June 12, 2025 meeting at applicant's request.
- Item 4: Resolution to close a portion of Grande Avenue – continued to June 12, 2025 meeting after the property owner was informed of insufficient support.
Discussion Items: Budget Presentations
Pitt-Greenville Convention & Visitors Authority (CVB)
- President/CEO Andrew Schmidt presented the proposed FY2025-26 budget of $2.2 million, a 3% increase from the prior year. The CVB is funded by occupancy tax (3 cents, with 1 cent going to the convention center). Highlights include a record $313 million in tourism impact in 2023, 2,100 jobs supported, and plans for a new visitor center and social media specialist. Council asked about sports tourism ($9 million) and advertising allocation.
Sheppard Memorial Library
- Director Roman Leary presented the proposed budget of $1,513,850 from the city (5.4% increase) plus capital requests. In FY2023-24, the library had 244,131 visitors, 351,557 books checked out, 742 programs with 189,969 participants, and 52,167 reference questions answered. Capital needs include elevator replacement ($83,333 city share) and facility needs assessment ($27,000). The library also eliminated rental fees on DVDs and late fees for children's materials effective July 1.
Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC)
- General Manager Tony Cannon presented the proposed FY2025-26 budget with rate increases: electric 3.7%, sewer 6.5%, gas 4.9%, water 0%. GUC serves 173,000 customer connections and has 517 employees. Key challenges include wholesale power cost increases, PFOS regulation, and infrastructure renewal. The budget includes $9.1 million turnover to the city, $19.8 million in capital outlay, and $21.7 million in debt service. GUC's reliability metrics are well below investor-owned utilities, and customer satisfaction is at 84%. Council discussed the rate stabilization fund, federal funding risks, and community support.
City Council Comments
- Councilmember Blackburn warned that the city faces imminent risk of losing $9 million in federal infrastructure funds due to federal policy changes, and commended staff for a resilient budget.
- Councilmember Robinson emphasized the need for growth through property and sales tax development, referencing struggling neighboring towns.
- Council members wished Happy Mother's Day and congratulated graduates and community events.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments to three boards approved (6-0).
- Public hearing items 3 and 4 continued to June 12, 2025.
- Budget presentations received; no votes taken (budget adoption will occur at a later meeting).
- The May 19, 2025 council meeting was canceled due to lack of agenda items (motion passed 6-0).
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to welcome everyone to the May 8th, 2025 meeting of Greenville City Council. Mayor PJ Connolly for presiding over tonight's meeting. First, I'd like to call on Councilmember Les Robinson for the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mayor. I hope you'll join me. Lord, we ask that you bring your presence into this chamber and that you give us the patience and wisdom that we need to make good citizens, good decisions for our citizens. We ask you bless us, give us the information we need. We ask you to bless our citizens, and especially on this day, Lord, we ask that you uh bless who are less fortunate than we are today and bestow your blessings upon them and give them peace and comfort. And as we move forward, thank you for another day. In your precious name we pray. Amen. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Yes, sir. Mayor Connolly. Here. Mayor Tim Daniels. Present. Council Member Foreman. Here. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Snully. Here. Council Member Robinson. Here. Councilmember Willis. Here. All right. Mayor Connolly, we have a forum. Thank you very much. Mr. Manager, any recommended changes to tonight's agenda? Yes, Mayor. The uh applicant for item number three. Happy Trail Farms Ordinance has requested that the item be continued to the June twelfth City Council meeting. The applicant for item number four, the resolution to close Grand Avenue has also requested that the item be continued to the June twelfth City Council meeting. Second by council member Robinson. And um the owner of the building on Grant Avenue that was making the proposal for it to be closed, um, basically was informed that he would likely not have the support needed to get that action taken and decided to request to have it taken off the agenda tonight. With that being said, um I do not want you all to count that as a a win. Okay. So I already see hey as nodding, but I do not want you to count that as a win because um generally when things like that happen, they resurface again later. All righty. So um I have most of your phone numbers, and um for the ones that I didn't have already, I have now. Uh I will be reaching out to you or members of my team over the next week to give you an update if there um are any, and if it comes up again to follow up with you and continue our community conversations as it relates to things that impact um the West and South Greenville community. Um you're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting, but I wanted to thank you for your presence because as I said in Tuesday's meeting, um, when these types of things come up, you have the support and you have the voices on council to speak up for what your needs and interests are, but we cannot do it alone. And so your presence is invaluable, and I appreciate you guys and love you. All right. We'll move on to special recognition. I would like to ask Kevin Heffer and his family to come forward.
openpublica.com