Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - November 4, 2024
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Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - November 4, 2024
The Winston-Salem City Council met on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included honorariums, a consent agenda, public hearings, and several debated items. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Honorariums
- Resolution Honoring 2024 City of Winston-Salem University Graduates: Recognized 20 residents who completed the 33-hour program covering 20 city departments. Unanimously approved.
- Resolution Honoring Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (Phi Omega Chapter): Celebrated the chapter's centennial, noting its 100 years of service, including the Ivy Arms affordable housing project and over $100,000 in scholarships. Unanimously approved.
Consent Calendar
Items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (8-0) with the exception of items C-9, C-14, and C-15, which were pulled for individual discussion. The approved items included:
- Approval of minutes from October 21, 2024.
- Public hearing requests for road closures (Morning Star Lane, White Meadow Lane) set for January 6, 2025.
- Acceptance of grants: Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA Grant, COPS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Grant, Byrne Justice Assistance Grant.
- Contract renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC for Medicare Advantage.
- Personnel resolution amendments.
- Ordinance amendment to City Code on Civil Service Board and M/WBE Advisory Committee.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 38 (special events in Merschel Park).
- Street mural installation at Hawthorne Road and Northwest Boulevard.
- Easement abandonment off Water Works Road.
- Supplemental agreements with NCDOT for sidewalk and intersection projects (later pulled and approved separately).
- Main and Liberty Streets two-way conversion contract (later pulled and approved separately).
- Street naming manual amendment, naming of Bradford Meadows Lane.
- Additional cash flow payments for ARPA Transformational Grant recipients.
- Increase of federal micro-purchase threshold.
- Historic Preservation Fund grant for Potter's House at Bethabara Park ($505,360).
- Purchase of property at Long Creek Park ($16,550).
- FY 2024-2025 budget ordinances.
- Appointments to Zoning Board of Adjustment, Citizens' Police Review Board, Public Assembly Facilities Commission, Fair Planning Committee, Citizens' Budget Advisory Council, Community Sustainability Program Committee, Bicycle/Pedestrian/Active Mobility Advisory Committee, Urban Food Policy Council, and Recreation and Parks Commission.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item G-4 (Demolition at 217-223 East Drive): Erica Hernandez, general manager of the properties, stated that she has been working to bring the units into compliance and presented photos taken that afternoon. She noted that a contractor is remodeling the interiors.
Discussion Items
- C-9: Civil Service Board Regulations: City Attorney Angela Carmon explained that the board will hear appeals on certain disciplinary actions. The application process ended October 31 with at least 20 applicants. The ordinance amendment addresses absentee ballot processes. Approved 7-1 (Council Member Burke opposed).
- C-14: NCDOT Supplemental Agreements for Sidewalk/Intersection Projects: Jeff Fansler, Director of Transportation, confirmed that the Brewer Road sidewalk project is scheduled for right-of-way delivery in late 2025 or early 2026. Approved unanimously (8-0).
- C-15: Main and Liberty Streets Two-Way Conversion: Contract awarded to Sharpe Brothers, a Division of Vecellio & Grogan, Inc., for $5,417,448.12. Council Member Larson noted it is a key link for the cultural corridor. Approved unanimously (8-0).
- G-1: Presentation from Visit Winston-Salem: Stephanie Pace Brown, President, presented the new “Twice As Nice” advertising campaign. The presentation highlighted that in 2023, visitors spent over $1 billion, supporting nearly 7,000 jobs and generating $73 million in tax revenue. The campaign aims to attract leisure travelers from five target markets. No action taken.
- G-2: City-Funded Staffing for Special Events: Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe presented criteria for events to receive in-kind city support. Council Member Burke expressed concern about requiring a track record for first-time events. Approved 7-1 (Burke opposed).
- G-3: Demolition of 311, 313, 315 Lakeview Boulevard: Assistant Director Samuel Hunter noted the properties had been vacant and closed since 2011-2012. Council Member Clark moved to remove the item from action, as the structures were already demolished. Unanimously approved (8-0).
- G-4: Demolition of 217, 219, 221, 223 East Drive: After a public hearing, Council Member Scippio moved to approve demolition. Council Member Scippio stated the owner had been given time but units remain non-compliant. The owner has 90 days to bring units into compliance to potentially reverse the action. Approved unanimously (8-0).
- G-5: Increase in Deed of Trust for Front Street Capital Loan: Ken Millett, Economic Development Director, explained that the primary lender seeks an additional $1.8 million for tenant improvements, without changing the city’s loan terms. Approved unanimously (8-0).
- G-6: Modernization of Downtown Parking Systems: Jeff Fansler presented a plan to implement mobile payment via PayByPhone and license plate enforcement technology. The plan includes a rate increase to $1.50/hour to reduce the $700,000 annual parking subsidy. Council Member Burke offered a substitute motion to table until January 2025, which failed 3-5 (Larson, Taylor, Burke in favor; Clark, Mundy, Scippio, Adams, MacIntosh opposed). The original motion passed 7-1 (Burke opposed).
- G-7: Affordable Housing Development Program: Shantell McClam, Neighborhood Services Director, summarized the program, which includes an RFP for city-owned lots (minimum three lots per request) and a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit process. Council Member MacIntosh moved for no consideration until the November 18 meeting to allow for further community information sessions. The motion was accepted without objection.
- G-8: Resolution for National League of Cities 2024 Annual Conference: Approved unanimously (8-0).
Key Outcomes
- Votes:
- C-9 (Civil Service Board): Approved 7-1.
- C-14 (NCDOT sidewalk funds): Approved 8-0.
- C-15 (Main/Liberty Streets conversion): Approved 8-0.
- G-2 (Special events assistance): Approved 7-1.
- G-3 (Lakeview demolition removal): Approved 8-0.
- G-4 (East Drive demolition): Approved 8-0.
- G-5 (Front Street Capital deed of trust increase): Approved 8-0.
- G-6 (Parking modernization): Substitute motion to table failed 3-5; main motion approved 7-1.
- G-7 (Affordable Housing Program): No consideration until November 18, 2024.
- G-8 (NLC conference): Approved 8-0.
- Closed Session: The council entered closed session under N.C.G.S. §143-318.11(a)(4) and (a)(1)&(6) to discuss business location/expansion and the city attorney selection process. Motion approved unanimously.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem. It's my honor and pleasure to call to order this October, excuse me, November 4th meeting of the Winston Salem City Council and ask the city clerk to call the roll, please. Councilmember Larson. President Councilmember Clark. Here. Councilmember Mundy. Present. Councilmember Scipio. President. Mayor Pratim Adams. Here. Councilmember Taylor. Present. Councilmember McIntosh. Here. And Councilmember Burke. Here. Thank you very much. Would you please join the City Council and meet in a moment of silence. Thank you. Would you join the City Council meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Indivisible with liberty and thank you. Our Sergeant Arms tonight is Lieutenant Barry Martin. Lieutenant, thank you for being with us tonight. Thank you, Your Honor. Just uh a few things tonight. One to uh remind our citizens that leave collection began today. Uh the city's starting in service in two quadrants at a time this year in the eastern and the southern quadrants right now, which cover areas east of U.S. 52 and south of Salem Parkway. And then once those quadrants have been serviced, crews will move to the western and the northern quadrants. So I know I've seen leaf piles out there today, and our university folks talked a lot about leafs for the last uh couple hours. So we'll be interesting to see how that goes this year. Folks are doing it, we'll be doing a great job, I'm sure. Our uh WISTA uh is going to be offering free bus rides to the poll tomorrow, uh Tuesday, November the 5th. They'll be available on all fixed routes and trans aid paratransit service routes. They simply need to board any WISTA bus. No special pass or documentation is required. They're encouraged to use the service for traveling to polling locations, work, school, or other destinations. There's a couple of different opportunities for public input that are upcoming that I wanted to make sure everyone was aware of. On the WISTA bus route improvements, residents are encouraged to take a survey regarding pro proposed bus route changes to improve services. The survey is available until November 16th at uh WST WSTransit.com. So encourage people to go and take that uh survey. The budget performance management department also has provided opportunity residents with an opportunity to give their input on priorities for the next two to four year period regarding city services and community investments that council will be looking at as a part of your strategic planning sessions. That's survey is available again on our website under strategic plan. And the Metropolitan Transit Plan 2050 is out there to help shape the future of transportation in our community. Residents are again asked to give their feedback on key priorities and proposed improvements. And again, that's on our website, has the link to that survey, and we do appreciate all of our uh residents that are completing those surveys to give their input into these valuable and important processes. In terms of several events that are coming up, uh the minority and women on business enterprise division of the business inclusion and advancement department will hold an MWBE mixer on Wednesday, November 6th from 5 30 to 7 30 at the Benton Convention Center.
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