Greenville City Council Meeting - February 9, 2026

The Greenville City Council met on February 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included an amended agenda, public comments on speed limits and immigration enforcement, approval of a consent agenda, and new business items including a speed limit reduction on East 10th Street, an update on the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, a budget ordinance amendment, and a rescheduling of the February 12 meeting. All votes were 6-0 in favor.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2–7 were approved unanimously (6-0):
  • Resolution accepting dedication of rights-of-way and easements for Davenport Farms at Emerald Park, Phase 9.
  • Reimbursement resolution for the Town Common Bulkhead and Sports Complex.
  • Ordinance amending the Manual of Fees to establish fees for the North Recreational Complex.
  • Design Services Contract Award to ADW Architects, PA for Fire Station #8.
  • Approval to purchase three additional vehicles for the City’s Transit Division.
  • Various tax refunds greater than $100.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Marion Blackburn (River Hills neighborhood) expressed support for the proposed speed limit reductions on East 10th Street but recommended extending the 35 mph zone from Elm Street to Greenville Boulevard (instead of reverting to 45 mph at Brownlee) for safety reasons, citing bus stops, neighborhood entrances, and pedestrian activity.
• Mike Tan (Chairperson of 5501 Greenville) called for the City Council to adopt a “Philadelphia model” to restrict local cooperation with ICE, including prohibiting officers from wearing masks, requiring badges, banning coordination with ICE/CBP, and barring ICE use of city property without a judicial warrant. He drew parallels between current federal actions and Nazi Germany.
• Anthony (no last name given, resident of 20 years) supported an executive order prohibiting Greenville from participating in 287(g) agreements, arguing that public safety depends on clear authority and that local resources should not be used for federal enforcement that blurs lines of authority.

Discussion Items

• Item 8: Ordinance Revising Speed Limit for East 10th Street – Lisa Kirby, Director of Engineering, presented NCDOT’s recommended speed reduction: 25 mph from Elm to Evans Street (campus area), 35 mph from Elm to the Greenway crossing at Forest Hill Circle, and maintaining 45 mph beyond. The council approved the ordinance concurring with NCDOT (6-0). Councilmember Hardy noted that the reduction had been a priority and that further measures (e.g., LPI signals) are being studied.
• Item 9: Update on 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) – Don (Executive Director of Recreation and Parks) and Lisa Kirby presented detailed updates across departments:
  • Fire Rescue: New live burn facility completed ($600,000, including $100,000 donation); Fire Station #8 design contract awarded, construction unfunded; Station #9 and renovations of Stations 1,3,4 unfunded.
  • Police: Evidence storage expansion ($230,000, funded), storage building ($2.9M unfunded), new headquarters (~$25M unfunded), training center ($25M regional concept).
  • Public Works: Street maintenance facility renovation ($750,000), solid waste office renovations (75% complete, completion March 2026), stormwater pipe replacement phases I&II completed ($12M), phase III unfunded ($6M).
  • Parks & Recreation: Town Common bulkhead (fall 2026), Sports Complex transition, Woodlawn Park improvements ($600,000, fall 2026), Wildwood Park boardwalk connection ($1.7M, partially funded).
  • Engineering: Pavement management ($3.1M/year), stormwater improvement ($1.5M/year), pedestrian improvement plan (grant-funded), Vision Zero Action Plan ($400,000 grant), several drainage projects (Trafalgar, East Fire Tower, St. Andrew) with grant funding uncertainties due to FEMA policy changes.
  • Councilmembers raised concerns about fire station renovations, police headquarters, recreation investment in West and South Greenville, and flooding in North Greenville.
• Item 10: Budget Ordinance Amendment (#7) – CFO Jacob Dorothy presented adjustments to multiple funds (General, Facility Improvement, Transit, Stormwater, Enterprise Capital Projects, Engineering Capital Projects, Donations), totaling a revised operating budget of $204.8 million. Approved 6-0.
• Item 11: Amendment of 2026 City Council Meeting Schedule – City Manager Michael Cowan recommended canceling the February 12 meeting due to lack of a quorum (four council members absent) and moving agenda items to a meeting on February 23 at 7:00 PM, plus adding a 4:00 PM workshop on that date for goal setting. Approved 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Speed Limit Reduction adopted for East 10th Street (25 mph campus area, 35 mph transition zones).
• Budget Amendment #7 approved, setting the overall operating budget at $204.8 million.
• Meeting Schedule Changed: February 12 meeting canceled; February 23 meeting rescheduled to 7:00 PM with a 4:00 PM workshop.
• Consent Agenda (items 2–7) approved without opposition.
• Closed Session authorized (6-0) to discuss real property acquisition negotiations under NCGS §143-318.11(a)(1).
• Councilmembers expressed strong appreciation for city staff’s response to recent ice and snow storms, and Councilmember Foreman urged increased investment in West and South Greenville for recreational opportunities and support for homeless youth.