Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - November 18, 2024
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Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - November 18, 2024
The Winston-Salem City Council met on November 18, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included honorariums for outgoing officials, approval of the consent agenda (with one item pulled), and consideration of several major items: the Affordable Housing Development Program, economic development assistance for HanesBrands, adoption of the Forward 2045 Comprehensive Plan, a zoning petition, and appointment of a new City Attorney. Public comment periods were held on the comprehensive plan and at the end of the meeting.
Honorariums & Recognitions
- H-1: Resolution honoring Stephen (Pat) Ivey for 38+ years of service to NCDOT. Approved unanimously.
- H-2: Resolution of appreciation for outgoing Council Member Jeff MacIntosh. Approved unanimously.
- H-3: Resolution of appreciation for outgoing Council Member John Larson. Approved unanimously.
- H-4: Resolution of appreciation for outgoing Council Member Kevin Mundy. Approved unanimously.
- H-5: Resolution honoring retiring City Attorney Angela Ingram Carmon. Approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
The Consent Agenda was approved with one item (C-5) pulled. Later, the vote on C-5 was rescinded to allow further staff work. The following items were approved:
- C-1: Approval of Special Meeting Minutes (October 23, 2024)
- C-2: Approval of City Council Summary Minutes (November 4, 2024)
- C-3: Acceptance of surplus right-of-way donation from NCDOT (South Ward)
- C-4: Purchase order for Eventide Nexlog System Audio-log Recorder – $62,685
- C-6: Purchase order for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment – $3,627,357.98
- C-7: Purchase order for Turnout Gear – $663,075
- C-8: Contract for Ice Rink Reconstruction at Fairgrounds Arena – $1,191,360
Public Hearings & Testimony
G-2: HanesBrands Economic Development Assistance No public comment. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. The item was approved unanimously.
G-3: Forward 2045 Comprehensive Plan Multiple speakers addressed the council:
- Proponents: Chris Leak (Chair of City-County Planning Board), Matthew Mayers, Mo McRae (Planning Board member), Calvin McRae (VP Public Policy, Greater Winston-Salem Inc.), Jason Thiel (President, Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership). They expressed support for the plan, noting extensive community engagement and the need for a flexible, aspirational document.
- Opponents: Phil Carter (Citizens for Accountability and Transparency), George Bryan (Winston-Salem Neighborhood Alliance), Kalen Highsmith, Melinda Dunegan. They raised concerns about lack of community ownership, insufficient public engagement, vague goals, lack of measurable targets, and inadequate climate action. They urged the council to delay approval for more input and revisions.
G-4: Zoning Petition of LeFever Limited LLC (W-3634) No public comment. The public hearing was closed. The zoning change from RS9 to AG-L on 8.5 acres on Kernersville Road was approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
G-1: Affordable Housing Development Program Guidelines and Implementation Council Member Burke made a substitute motion to table the item until January 21, 2025, to allow new council members to vote. The substitute motion failed 3-5. The original motion to approve the program and guidelines passed 5-3.
G-2: HanesBrands Economic Development Assistance Ken Millett presented the performance-based incentive of up to $208,050 over five years (50% of estimated sales tax revenue from $40 million payroll) for HanesBrands to move its global headquarters downtown. The city will pay the incentive after property taxes are paid. The current headquarters has been sold to Carolina University, with no vacant buildings. Approved unanimously.
G-3: Forward 2045 Comprehensive Plan Chris Murphy and Amy Crum presented the plan, highlighting over 4,000 citizen engagements, 2,900 survey responses, and 20 public meetings. The plan is a broad policy document to guide growth, with five vision themes. Council debated the lack of specific metrics but ultimately approved the plan 6-2, with Council Members Larson and Burke voting against.
G-4: Zoning Petition W-3634 The petition rezoned 8.5 acres from RS9 to AG-L for a fish hatchery operation. Approved unanimously.
G-5: Appointment of New City Attorney The council appointed Tanya Camille French as the new City Attorney, effective December 31, 2024, with a starting salary of $235,000. Approved unanimously.
Public Comment Period (General)
- Mackenzie Cates Allen: Thanked the city for support of the Holiday Parade (December 7).
- Michael Thomas Morgan: A seventh-grader spoke about homelessness and affordable housing, urging funding for families and children.
- Kevin Kranis: Thanked the council for hiring Serve First Racket Sports at Hanes Park, noting their USTA Southern Member Organization of the Year award.
- Cynthia Herson: Criticized lack of affordable housing and homelessness, demanding more action.
- A.C. Jabbar: Criticized the council's decision on affordable housing, questioning the feasibility of $230,000 homes for low-income residents.
- Garry Roberts Jr.: Raised concerns about park maintenance and suggested cost-saving measures.
- Richard Wickie: Opposed increased parking fees downtown, requesting exemptions for Trade and Liberty Streets.
- Apostle T. Sckelcth: Requested more business funding for the north side and criticized red tape.
- Arnita Miles: Presented data on affordable housing units (27 units from 2018-2024 from $47 million funding, placing only 15 families) and called for better coordination.
- Adrian Smith: Thanked outgoing council members, requested completion of Granville Park project and more police presence.
Key Outcomes
- Affordable Housing Program: Approved (5-3) after substitute motion to table failed (3-5).
- HanesBrands Incentive: Approved unanimously.
- Forward 2045 Comprehensive Plan: Approved (6-2) after substitute motion to table failed (3-5).
- Zoning Petition W-3634: Approved unanimously.
- New City Attorney: Appointed unanimously.
- Consent Agenda: Approved with C-5 pulled and later rescinded.
- **Meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem. It's my pleasure to call to order this uh meeting of the Winston Salem City Council November 18th and ask the city clerk to call the roll, please. Councilmember Larson. Present. Councilmember Clark. Councilmember Mundy. Present. Councilmember Scipio. Present. Mayor Pratim Adams. Councilmember Taylor. Present. Councilmember McIntosh. And Councilmember Burke. Here. Thank you very much. Would you please join the city council and meeting a moment of silence? Thank you. Would you please join the city council meeting the Pledge of Allegiance? Please public nation under God. Indivisible with the advantage. Thank you very much. Our Sergeant Arms tonight is Lieutenant Patrick McCalvin. Excuse me if I butchered that, but thank you for being with us, Lieutenant. Um call on the city manager for his update. Uh thank you, Honor. Uh a few things uh tonight. One is WISTA night service has returned. So they've implemented night service as of November the 11th, allowing more residents to rely on public transit for late night work shifts, events, and safe, convenient travel across Winston Salem. The extended hours of operations across several major routes provides reliable transportation access beyond standard business hours. These sales can be found on our website on their website. Just as I mentioned this two weeks ago, but from on terms of public input opportunities, there are several opportunities for residents to help the city plan for the future through uh surveys that are currently online. So in the strategic planning area, the budget performance management department has provided residents with an opportunity to give their input on priorities for the next two to four years regarding city services and community investments, and that survey is available on our website. And the Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2050 plan is to help shape the future of transportation in our community, or that plan is for that. Residents are asked to give their feedback on key priorities and proposed improvements, and again, they can go on our city website to to find the link to that survey. Good evening, Mayor Joins, Mayor Pro Tim Adams, members of City Council, Chantel McClam, neighborhood services director. So we had the opportunity to hold two public meetings last week, one virtual on Wednesday, which we streamed live on YouTube. The participants were allowed to submit questions regarding I gave a short presentation and they were able to submit questions regarding the process. We had 29 active viewers at the time. We had 32 chats, and since the video has been posted, we've had 158 total views. Thank you. Uh thank you. Several um more events items that are coming up on Tuesday, November the 19th from 6 to 8 p.m. The Winston Salem Police Department is hosting a recruitment open house and tour at the public safety center located at 725 North Cherry Street for prospective applicants to explore and learn about rewarding careers paths within the police department. It offers a rare opportunity to meet the chief and our dedicated team while touring key facilities like the real-time crime center, 911 communications center, and criminal investigations division. I should say it is for recruits, not just for the general public. So we're hoping that people are interested in policing that we'll come to that. Our recreation and parks department is offering two everything but the Turkey Bingo events. Tuesday might have to go to this one too. Tuesday, November 19th at 1 p.m.
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