Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - April 21, 2025: Approvals, Zoning, and Public Comments
Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - April 21, 2025: Approvals, Zoning, and Public Comments
The Winston-Salem City Council met on April 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM, adjourning at 7:20 PM. The meeting included a proclamation, consent agenda, public hearings on economic development incentives and zoning petitions, and a public comment period. Key actions included approval of two economic development projects, approval of several zoning petitions, and continuation of one case. The public comment period featured concerns about firefighter benefits, pedestrian safety, and community remembrance.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of City Council Summary of Minutes from April 7, 2025 (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Scott Blair, former fire captain, expressed concern about firefighter pay and benefits, stating that the department is losing competitiveness.
- James Grogan advocated for a Housing First approach to homelessness, citing cost savings of $26,146 per housed individual based on a Louisville study.
- Linda Winikoff urged the council to support public remembrance of Carlos Stoner, a victim of racial terror lynching in 1992, and to address systemic injustices.
- Olivia Doyle (HADA Winston) demanded safer pedestrian infrastructure at Parkland High School, noting a 2014 study that called for sidewalks and bike lanes on Peters Creek Parkway. She criticized the city for approving commercial development without safety improvements.
- Bob Manizzo supported calls for a reduced speed zone and crossing guard at Peters Creek Parkway and Brewer Road, citing a pedestrian hit on January 29, 2025.
- Taleir Gereer echoed demands for a lower speed limit and crossing guard at Parkland High School.
- Scott Mullins, president of the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of North Carolina, argued against proposed changes to firefighter sick leave accrual, stating it feels retaliatory after firefighters raised staffing concerns.
- Ryan Turner, fire captain and union secretary-treasurer, detailed issues with leave accrual, retirement contributions, and staffing. He noted that 85% of firefighters hold second jobs.
- Kathleen Garber opposed benefit cuts, emphasizing that firefighters work 24-hour shifts and need competitive compensation to retain talent.
Discussion Items
- Honorarium: Proclamation of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, presented to Iris Sunshine of the Children's Law Center and Family Services representatives. 5,096 cases of child abuse investigated in Forsyth County in 2024.
- Project Renaissance (GMAX Industries): Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe presented a resolution for economic development assistance. The company plans to reshore production of medical supplies, creating 42 jobs at an average wage of $57,500, with a $15 million capital investment. City assistance: 50% of net new property taxes over five years. Ellis Keifer of Greater Winston-Salem Inc. spoke in support. Approved unanimously.
- Project Beaver (Polyvlees USA): Rowe presented a resolution for a $31 million investment (28 jobs, average wage $47,321). The company, a non-woven manufacturer, is considering expansion. City assistance: $291,183 over five years. Keifer spoke in support. Approved unanimously.
- Zoning Petition G-3 (Grandview Inc.): Continued to May 19, 2025, at the petitioner's request. Unanimous.
- Zoning Petition G-4 (Shyam Shlock LLC): Rezoning from RS9 to LB-S for a convenience store at Burke Mill and Griffith Roads. Planning Board recommended approval (6-2), but staff recommended denial. Petitioner Marc Isaacson and traffic engineer Jay Clapp argued traffic impact would be insignificant. Opposition by Gwen Reisman and Steve Schwartz cited traffic increase (fourfold per staff report), commercial creep, and lack of pedestrian infrastructure. Council voted 7-1 to approve, with Council Member Andree-Bowen voting no.
- Zoning Petition G-5 (SCG-Summit Station LLC): Rezoning from LB-S to LB-L for an existing shopping center at Jonestown Road and Frandale Drive. No opposition. Planning Board recommended approval unanimously. Approved unanimously.
- Zoning Petition G-7 (Family Services Inc.): Rezoning from RS12-S and RS7 to RM12-S for a group care facility at Terrace and Kentucky Avenues. Council Member Scippio excused from voting. No opposition. Approved unanimously.
- Closed Session: Council entered closed session under G.S. §143-318.11(a)(5) to discuss real property acquisition negotiations. Motion approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Economic development assistance for Project Renaissance (GMAX Industries) and Project Beaver (Polyvlees USA). Both resolutions passed unanimously.
- Continued: Zoning petition G-3 (Grandview Inc.) to May 19, 2025.
- Approved: Zoning petitions G-4 (Shyam Shlock LLC) with a 7-1 vote, G-5 (SCG-Summit Station LLC) unanimously, and G-7 (Family Services Inc.) unanimously.
- Excused: Council Member Scippio from voting on G-7.
- Closed Session: Authorized for contract negotiations.
- Public Comments: Aired concerns about firefighter benefits, pedestrian safety at Parkland High School, housing crisis, and remembrance of Carlos Stoner. No council action taken during the meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Office. The topic will be starting your spring garden. Speaker Matthew Scoggins. You can register online on the city's website. I know I've got a few gardeners up there on the dais that like to do those things. I do too if I can. The neighborhood services department will hold an open house series in the month of May, beginning Tuesday, May 6th. This is an opportunity for the public to learn more about its services from staff, including lending opportunities for homeowners, code enforcement efforts, affordable housing, and more. And with that, I'll stand ready to see if there are any other questions. Thank you. Saturday, April, so Saturday is not April 25th, Saturday the 26th. Correct. Okay. I will stand corrected. I am sure that it's got to be on Saturday. Thank you for making that catching that. I have to be there so I know it's Saturday. Thank you, Mr. Pate. We do have one honorarium tonight, so would you please read item H1? Item H1 proclamation declaring April as child abuse prevention month. Whereas in the year 2024, 5,096 cases of child abuse and neglect were investigated by child protective services agencies in Forsyth County. And whereas child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every segment of our community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone in our community. And whereas our children are our most valuable resource and will shape the future of the world and Forsyth County. And whereas child abuse can have long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects that have lasting consequences for victims of abuse. And whereas protective factors are conditions that reduce or eliminate risk and promote the social, emotional, and developmental well-being of children. And whereas effective child abuse prevention strategies succeed because of the partnerships created between child welfare, education, health care, community, faith-based organizations, businesses, and law enforcement agencies. And whereas communities must make every effort to promote programs and activities that create strong and thriving children and families. And whereas we acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and collectively advocate for the social, emotional, and well-being needs of children and families to thrive in safe, stable, and nurturing environments. Now, therefore, IJ Allen joins, Mayor of the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and call upon all citizens to participate in efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. Thank you. We thank you for the work at the Jordan's Wild Center as well as the other organizations that are representing here today. Congratulations and thank you. Oh well, thank you. And um thank you, um, all of you the city council on behalf of the members of this collaborative, um, everybody here who's representing the agencies who work every day to advocate and and provide services to the children across the city who are um who are dealing with such trauma that none of us really can imagine, and and each each individual here and their staff are working to prevent child abuse, to provide services for those children who are suffering from child abuse, and to mitigate those adverse childhood experiences so that they can hopefully not deal with those poor health outcomes later in life that we know um are often the outcomes. But I want to thank all of you on behalf of all of us for your continued support of the work that we do and for the children of this community. Thank you, Miss Sunshine. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's agenda of the city council is comprised of two parts, the consent agenda and the general agenda. As always, the practice of this council to take the consent agenda as the first order of business. The item on the consent agenda has been unanimously recommended by committee of the city council, or it's being submitted in accordance with established city procedure. There will be no discussion of this item unless a council member or so request. It will be removed from consent agenda and considered individually. Items not removed from the consent agenda will be enacted with one motion. We're televising this meeting live tonight on TV 13 as well as the city's YouTube page. And it will be replayed on Wednesday at 9 a.m. and again Wednesday at 9 p.m. Of course, copies of our agenda are always available online at the city's website. And just click on the watch city uh meetings online option. I don't think anybody wants to pull anything on the consent agenda. If not, I'll uh take a motion to approve.
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