Winston-Salem City Council Meeting – April 7, 2025
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Winston-Salem City Council Meeting – April 7, 2025
The Winston-Salem City Council met on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 101 North Main Street. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Allen Joines and included a moment of silence, pledge of allegiance, recognition of Sergeant-at-Arms (Lieutenant Barry Martin and Fire Marshal Bradley Watson), a City Manager update, honorariums, consent agenda, public hearings, and a general agenda. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM. All votes were unanimous except where noted.
City Manager Update
- Transportation Director Jeff Fansler presented an update on the modernization of municipally managed on-street and off-street parking. "Pay by Phone" signage is being installed, with the program expected to launch on May 1, 2025. A public education campaign will accompany the rollout. Existing parking restrictions (e.g., 2-hour parking from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday) will remain in place. A toll-free number will be available for those without smartphones.
- The City Manager announced the execution of a grant agreement with the Federal Transit Authority for $4.4 million in federal funding to procure five replacement hybrid-electric fixed-route buses for the Winston-Salem Transit Authority, with manufacturing by New Flyer. The City Manager thanked Senators Tillis and Budd and Representatives McDowell and Harrington for their support.
- Upcoming events: RiverRun International Film Festival (April 11–25, over 160 films), Winston-Salem Police Department Community Day Recruitment Event (April 12, 10 AM–2 PM at Beatty Training Center), and Battle of the Badges hockey game between Police and Fire Departments (April 18 at 7 PM at Fairgrounds Arena).
- Fire Department Senior Community Educator Tabetha Childress received the 2024 Community Service Award from the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association.
Honorariums
- H-1: Proclamation declaring April 2025 as National Fair Housing Month, presented to Dr. Ronnie Christian, Interim Director of Human Relations.
- H-2: Proclamation declaring April 2025 as Cultural Awareness Month, presented to Dr. Ronnie Christian and Julie Puckett. Activities include art exhibits, performances, and food trucks.
- H-3: Resolution declaring a week of mourning in memory of Dr. Virginia K. Newell (1917–2025), former educator, City Council member, and community leader. The resolution was approved unanimously (8-0). Dr. Newell’s memorial service was announced for Saturday at 11:00 AM at Wake Chapel.
Consent Calendar
Items C-1 through C-10 were approved by a single vote (8-0) after item C-3 was removed for discussion.
- C-1: Public hearing set for May 5, 2025, on a petition to close and abandon a portion of Flag Street (East Ward).
- C-2: Resolution accepting a Choice Neighborhood Grant for the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program by the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (HAWS) and HUD, and amending the FY2024-2025 Project Budget Ordinance.
- C-3: (Discussed separately) Resolution rescinding, in part, a prior resolution allocating a $410,000 Transformational Grant to Christ Rescue Temple Apostolic Church. Shantell McClam, Director of Neighborhood Services, explained that the rescission was at the church’s request and the funds would return to the affordable housing pot (ARPA funds, must be spent by end of 2026). Approved unanimously.
- C-4: Amendment to lease agreement with Old Salisbury Holdings, LLC at 1320 Old Salisbury Road.
- C-5: Expenditure of Out of County Service Funds for design and construction of infrastructure improvements at Union Cross Industrial Center, and amendment to the 2025-2030 Capital Plan.
- C-6: Agreement with NCDOT for replacement of the Old Greensboro Road Bridge over Brushy Fork Creek ($4,815,000) and amendment to FY2024-2025 Project Budget Ordinance (East Ward).
- C-7: Appointment of Council Member Regina Ford Hall as First Alternate to the Transportation Advisory Committee.
- C-8: Re-appointments of Christopher J. Jeffords and Justin L. Wilson to the Urban Food Policy Council (terms expiring September 2027).
- C-9: Approval of Committee of the Whole summary of minutes from March 17, 2025.
- C-10: Approval of City Council summary of minutes from March 17, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
Item G-1: Spec Building Revolving Loan Program for Front Street Capital
- Proponents:
- Coleman Team (President and Managing Partner, Front Street Capital, 450 N. Patterson Ave., Suite 300): Expressed full support for the partnership, noting that previous city loans had been repaid within 18–19 months, generating nearly $2 million in annual tax revenue and $215 million in tax base. The new 300,000 sq. ft. building would accommodate manufacturing operations and create a range of jobs.
- Ellis Kiefer (Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., 525 Vine St., Suite 240): Stressed that the project fills a critical gap in industrial inventory (19% of recent inquiries were for 250,000–350,000 sq. ft. spaces) and serves as a gateway for companies considering Winston-Salem.
- Opponents:
- Daniel Rose (1332 Pleasant St.): Argued that the loan violates the program’s 10% cap ($3.5M on a $32M project is more than 10%). Alleged pay-to-play politics, citing campaign donations from the Team family to the Mayor. Questioned the ethics of the loan and the quality of jobs created. Called for investing in city services instead.
- Paula Traffas (845 Knollwood St.): Opposed the interest-free loan, stating that with federal cuts coming, the city needs to preserve funds. Argued that “advanced manufacturing” jobs are often automated and few in number.
- Rebecca Johnson (4361 Johnsborough Court): Opposed, citing the loss of 905 jobs from the Dell project. Suggested using funds for walkability, road maintenance, and affordable housing instead.
Item G-3: Funding to Family Services, Inc. for Non-Congregate Emergency Shelter
- No public testimony was heard; the item was presented by staff.
Discussion Items
G-1: Spec Building Revolving Loan Program – Front Street Capital Ken Millett, Director of Business Inclusion and Advancement, presented the request for a $3.5 million loan to assist with construction of a 300,000 sq. ft. speculative building at Union Cross Industrial Center. The total capital stack is $19.5 million (primary mortgage) and $13.5 million (equity). Construction is expected to begin Q3 2025, with repayment upon sale/refinancing or within five years. Previous similar projects were repaid within 19 months. After public hearing, Council Member Clark moved approval, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Adams. The motion carried 8-0. Mayor Joines noted that the funds are from voter-approved bond issues for economic development and that Dell had repaid all incentives.
G-2: Motion to Excuse Council Member Scippio from Voting on G-3 Approved unanimously (8-0) due to Council Member Scippio’s service on the board of Family Services.
G-3: Funding to Family Services, Inc. for Non-Congregate Emergency Shelter Shereka Floyd, Housing Programs Manager, and Michelle Speas (COO/Executive Director, Family Services) presented the request for $1.5 million in HOME-ARP funds to convert the existing congregate domestic violence shelter (36 beds) into a non-congregate shelter. The new facility will allow service to single fathers and families with older male children. Family Services is at 66% of its $11 million fundraising goal; construction is expected to begin Q1 2025 with occupancy in 2026. Council Member Andree-Bowen moved approval, seconded by Council Member Clark. The motion carried 7-0 (Council Member Scippio excused).
G-4: NCLM 2025 City Vision Annual Conference Resolution designating Council Member Scippio as voting delegate and Council Member Clark as alternate. Approved unanimously.
G-5: Ordinance Amending Civil Service Board Code Sharon Wojda, Assistant City Manager, explained the amendment adds electronic voting options for police and fire department elections, improving operational efficiency and participation. Approved unanimously.
G-6: Ratification of Contract Amendment with Novant Health William Crandell, Interim HR Director, presented the ratification of an amendment increasing the annual contract cap from $350,000 to $500,000 for the employee health clinic, which now provides expanded services (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, screenings). The contract runs through October 2026. Approved unanimously.
G-7: Resolution on Civility City Manager William Pate presented the final step in the NCLM civility program, with council members having completed required training. The resolution commits the council to operate in a civil manner. Approved unanimously.
Closed Session
Council went into closed session pursuant to G.S. §143-318.11(a)(3) to discuss potential litigation and (a)(4) to discuss location or expansion of industries or other businesses. The motion was made by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Ford Hall, and carried 8-0. The closed session ended, and the meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (8-0): Consent agenda items (C-1 through C-10, with C-3 discussed separately and approved unanimously).
- Approved (8-0): G-1 – $3.5 million spec building loan to Front Street Capital.
- Approved (8-0): G-2 – Motion to excuse Council Member Scippio from voting on G-3.
- Approved (7-0): G-3 – $1.5 million HOME-ARP funding to Family Services for non-congregate shelter.
- Approved (8-0): G-4 – Resolution on NCLM City Vision Conference delegates.
- Approved (8-0): G-5 – Ordinance amending Civil Service Board for electronic voting.
- Approved (8-0): G-6 – Ratification of Novant Health contract amendment.
- Approved (8-0): G-7 – Resolution on civility.
- Consent Agenda Vote: 8-0 (all items except C-3 passed as a block).
- Honorariums: H-1 and H-2 presented; H-3 approved unanimously.
- Public Hearing Date: May 5, 2025, for Flag Street closure (C-1).
Meeting Transcript
Oh I was about ready to code it off. Good evening, everyone. I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem. It's my pleasure and honor to call to order this April 7th meeting of the Winston Salem City Council and ask the city clerk to call the roll, please. Councilmember joyner. Present. Councilmember Clark? Here. Councilmember Andrew Barrow? Here. Councilmember Scipio? Here. Mayor Pro Tim Adams? Here. Councilmember Taylor. Present. Councilmember Hall. Present. And Councilmember Burke. Here. Thank you very much. Would you please join the City Council and meeting in a moment of silence? Thank you. Would you join the City Council and meeting the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Our Sergeant in Arms tonight is a Lieutenant Barry Martin. Lieutenant, thank you for being with us. And our fire marshal tonight is uh Bradley Watson. Thank you for being with us as well. Uh I'd like to recognize our city manager for his bi-monthly uh updates. Thank you, Mayor. Uh we're going to start tonight. First, I'm gonna call on Jeff Fansler to come up to give you an update on the downtown parking uh program that was being put in place. Mr. Fansler. Mr. Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, members of City Council, uh Jeff Fansler, Director of Transportation for the City of Winston-Salem. Real briefly, I want to just provide an update on the November action that this this body took to uh modernize our parking program. So last fall we did bring an item before you to consider uh some ordinance changes, including a rate increase, but also the modernization of the program, both on street and off-street for our municipally managed parking spaces. And since that time, uh what we've been doing is uh working with the selected vendor, pay by phone to get them under contract to go through the logistics of their deployment and then the nuance of how they would roll out their their work here in Winston Salem. So I stand before you tonight with an update that um what I want to show you is the signs that you'll see. So if you recall, the technology really is to to combat the the aging equipment, the the meters that are in disrepair, and really to combat the state of repair that our current parking systems are in. And to do that, as you remember, it is going to be a technology-based solution via a mobile device uh and the application on your on your mobile device. But from there, what you'll see there will look like this in the field. And so these are come to the signs that you'll see that will be deployed that'll have our logo, of course, the location number, and this is what you'll enter when you download that pay by phone app to designate where you are in real space, and you assign you know your one-hour stay or whatever you choose based on the posted time restriction at that location, all of which can be easily navigated in the app uh pay by phone, both available on Apple and Android, Google Play, etc. So tonight we are deploying those. Uh as you see, they're being covered right now. So it's a big effort.
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