Greenville City Council Regular Meeting - June 9, 2025

The Greenville City Council met on June 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers, 200 West 5th Street. The meeting included special recognitions, a public hearing on the proposed FY2025-26 budget and economic development appropriations, approval of contracts and agreements, and council member comments.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2–11: Approved as a single block, with the following details:
  • Items 2–10 were initially approved 6–0 then re-voted 6–0 to correct a recording error.
  • Item 11 (Various Tax Refunds Greater Than $100) was approved 5–0 after Councilmember Robinson recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
  • Items included: Resolutions accepting dedications of rights-of-way and easements for Arbor Hills South, Section 2, Phase 12 & 13 and Winslow West; lease agreement for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program properties; ordinance and reimbursement resolution amending Greenville Utilities Commission's FY2024-2025 budget and various capital project budgets; recommendation for purchase of real property near Dickinson Avenue Extension and Frog Level Road for a new elevated water tank; contract with The Ferguson Group for FY2025-2026; contract with Cummins for emergency generator monitoring and service; construction contract award for Solid Waste Office Renovations; request to purchase new equipment for Engineering Department's Traffic Services Division and Fire/Rescue EMS.

Public Hearings & Public Comments

• Public Hearing on the Proposed FY2025-26 City of Greenville Budget (including the Manual of Fees, and Sheppard Memorial Library, Pitt-Greenville Convention & Visitors Authority, and Greenville Utilities Commission budgets) and Concurrent Hearing on Appropriation of Economic Development Funds for the Greenville ENC Alliance:
  • Presentation: Chief Financial Officer Jacob Joyner presented the $504.5 million total overall budget (city operating budget $185.3 million; general fund $118.8 million). The proposed property tax rate remains stable at $39.54 per $100 valuation. Sales tax is projected at $30.5 million (conservative estimate). Public safety accounts for $58 million of the general fund. Personnel costs rose by $6 million, including a 4% average wage increase, a 1% increase in the 401k match (from 3% to 4%), eight new police officer positions, six new fire/EMS positions, $200,000 for affordable housing, and an additional $200,000 for ADA and sidewalk funding. Sanitation rates will increase to $19.25 per month from $16 (including $1.25 for cart replacement). Budget adoption is scheduled for June 12, 2025.
  • Council Questions: Councilmember Foreman expressed concern about the impact of utility rate increases on lower socioeconomic communities and asked about assistance programs. A GUC representative described the IHEP federal program (administered by Pitt County DSS), the Neighbor to Neighbor program (local matching), and GUC's $150,000 annual contribution to the city's community development block grant program. Potential federal cuts to IHEP were noted as a concern.
  • Public Comment: Tim Langley of 1009 West Wright Road, Greenville, spoke against the proposed construction/improvements at the Town Common, citing flood risks (Hurricane Floyd, 1999) and questioning the wisdom of building in a flood-prone area. He also expressed broad concern about budget increases affecting low-income residents. Mayor clarified the project involves amphitheater improvements, not a new civic center. No other speakers came forward.

Discussion Items

• Item 13: Fiscal Year 2025-26 Contract for Services with the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge:
  • Holly Garriott, Executive Director, highlighted the economic impact of the arts (average $33 spent per attendee beyond tickets), the 20th Youth Arts Festival (10,000 attendees), the Greenville International Festival, public art projects (mural at West Fifth Street Police Substation, trolley shelter at Town Common, roundabout mural at Albemarle/Elizabeth/West 5th, Downey Sculpture Exhibition), Downtown Art Walk (800 riders over eight First Fridays), and the Emerald Loop lighting plan (City Hall, Bright Speed Tower, Pitt County Courthouse illuminated). Upcoming projects include a modular mural at Carver Library, a traffic control box wrap competition, intersection murals, and new sculptures along Dickinson-to-10th Street walkway. Council discussed improving the timeline for the sculpture competition to attract more artists. Councilmember Blackburn made a motion to approve, seconded by Councilmember Scully. Approved 6–0.
• Item 14: Memorandum of Understanding with Pitt Community College for Development of Affordable Housing:
  • John McPhyrman, Neighborhood and Business Services Director, presented a pilot project to construct three affordable single-family homes (each ~1,300 sq. ft., energy efficient) using Pitt Community College trade students and instructors. Homes will be built on PCC campus, then relocated to city-owned lots at Davis and West 6th Street in West Greenville. Total cost $450,000, with $200,000 from the city, $75,000 from Greenville Utilities (pending board approval), $75,000 from Pitt Community College, $25,000 from ECU Health, and $75,000 from private investment. Construction will follow the school year calendar, with completion and buyer contracts expected by July 2026. Dr. Maria Farr, PCC President, spoke about the impact on students. Councilmember Forman suggested a live build cam and QR-code signage for public viewing. Councilmember Forman motioned to approve, seconded by Councilmember Scully. Approved 6–0.
• Item 15: Consideration of Additional One-Stop Voting Sites:
  • City Clerk Valerie Should presented the municipal agreement with Pitt County Board of Elections: the city is guaranteed two early voting sites (AG Center and Community Schools Building) open October 16–November 1 at a base cost of $120,000. The council could request additional sites, each costing $115,000, to be open only during the last week (October 27–November 1). Councilmember Blackburn noted consistency with past practice (two additional sites in 2017, 2019, 2023) and moved to add two additional sites. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Daniels. Approved 6–0.
• Item 16: Budget Ordinance Amendment #11 Amending the FY2024-25 Budget:
  • The amendment recognized revenues for a fishing access pier at Wildwood (general fund +$87,000; recreation capital +$7,500), closed a completed grant (special revenue -$15,500), allocated support for the Convention & Visitors Bureau (occupancy tax fund +$300,000), reduced costs for a pipe replacement project (ARPA fund -$1,500), recognized program revenue for CWG programs (housing fund +$330,000), reallocated funds from Station 7 project to vehicle replacement fund for a new ambulance (fire rescue capital project fund unchanged; vehicle replacement fund +$401,000), and funded the affordable housing project with Pitt Community College (affordable housing fund +$450,000). Total city operating budget after amendment is just over $200 million. Councilmember Blackburn motioned to approve, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Daniels. Approved 6–0.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda items 2–11 (items 2–10 by 6–0; item 11 by 5–0 with recusal).
• Approved FY2025-26 contract with Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge (6–0).
• Approved Memorandum of Understanding with Pitt Community College for a three-home affordable housing pilot in West Greenville (6–0).
• Approved two additional one-stop early voting sites for the November 2025 election (6–0).
• Approved Budget Ordinance Amendment #11 (6–0).
• Council recognized the 2024-2025 Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute graduates (Jessica Carter and Lieutenant William Stokes) and welcomed four summer interns to the city manager’s office.
• Council comments included: congratulations to new Police Chief Tyndall and Deputy Chief Thomas; Father’s Day wishes; Pride Month remarks (Councilmembers Scully and Blackburn highlighted the importance of celebrating diversity and acknowledging ongoing anti-LGBTQ incidents); concerns from Councilmember Foreman about utility rate increases affecting low-income residents; and appreciation for ECU baseball and Coach Godwin.