Greenville City Council Workshop – October 7, 2026

On October 7, 2026, the Greenville City Council held a workshop meeting at City Hall. Council approved the agenda with the addition of a closed session item. Presentations and discussions focused on the Pitt County Community Development Department’s tourism update, a new small business participation policy, and downtown safety concerns following a recent shooting.

Presentation: Pitt County CDD Update

• Rachel Whitman, President of the Pitt County Community Development Department, presented a tourism economic impact update. She reported $332 million in visitor spending for calendar year 2025, supporting 2,100+ jobs with $75 million in payroll, $10 million in local tax revenue, and saving each Pitt County resident $122 in taxes annually.
• Whitman outlined five organizational pillars: internal stakeholders, partnerships, destination marketing, sports tourism, and conventions. She highlighted the African American Cultural Trail’s fifth anniversary, a new coffee trail, a partnership with ECU to reimagine the visitor center, and the Little League tournament marketing campaign that generated 3.8 million impressions.
• Councilmember Robinson, the council’s liaison to the CDD board, praised Whitman’s leadership and announced proposed bylaw amendments to add representatives from East Carolina University and Pitt Community College to the board. Council expressed support for the expanded collaboration.

Small Business Participation Policy

• City staff presented a proposed small business participation policy to replace the former MWBE program, which was repealed by recent state law (Session Law 2026-41). The new policy is race- and gender-neutral and focuses on awareness, access, education, and engagement.
• Council members expressed disappointment at the loss of the MWBE program but committed to ensuring equitable opportunities through intentional outreach and communication. Discussion included using qualified census tracts to target assistance, maintaining the small business technical assistance program, and coordinating with Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) on any joint changes.
• Next steps: incorporate council feedback, finalize the policy, meet with GUC, develop an implementation plan, and create updated branding.

Downtown Safety Discussion

• Police Chief K Z Thomas reviewed a September 27 shooting incident downtown (three non-life-threatening injuries; arrests made quickly). He attributed the incident to large crowds blocking sidewalks, which hindered police response. He presented photos showing crowded sidewalks with officers present.
• Immediate police response: increased officer presence, light towers for visibility, message boards, use of utility vehicles for patrol, real-time crime center monitoring on Saturday nights, proactive enforcement of sidewalk code violations.
• Council discussed underlying factors: the city’s 500-foot rule concentrating nightlife activity in a small area, alcohol consumption, underage drinking, and lack of alternative venues. Councilmember Michael suggested a need to reconsider the 500-foot rule. Others called for consistent enforcement, parental accountability for juveniles, and coordination with ECU on student discipline.
• Ideas included livestreaming public cameras to increase transparency and accountability (Chief Thomas had contacted a webcam service), and a "mama bear" approach to parent accountability.
• Chief Thomas noted that officers recovered five guns downtown even during a relatively quiet fall-break weekend. He emphasized that the increased downtown presence is supplemented by overtime and does not reduce policing elsewhere.
• Council acknowledged that downtown has long had a persistent culture of disorderly behavior, not just isolated incidents, and stressed the need for honest public communication while also promoting downtown as generally safe. Councilmember Stone recounted a positive experience downtown recently.
• Upcoming concerns: Halloween weekend with a football game potentially exacerbating crowds.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved with the addition of a closed session item (to discuss private business).
• Council directed staff to finalize the small business participation policy and return for formal consideration.
• Council will continue discussions on downtown safety, including possible amendments to the 500-foot rule and sidewalk enforcement ordinances.
• Chief Thomas will continue enhanced downtown patrols and evaluate effectiveness.
• No formal votes were taken on the presentations; discussions were for feedback and future action.