OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Winston-Salem General Government Committee Meeting - May 12, 2025

Meeting Portal — Monday, May 12, 2025
BodyWinston Salem, North Carolina
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, May 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:29:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

And welcome.

0:00

Woo!

0:04

You know how I welcome to the general government committee meeting, or better known as community development housing and general government.

0:13

Today we have two consent items.

0:16

We have six general agenda items.

0:18

Three are for information and review, and the other three are for possible action.

0:27

I would like to, before we start the meeting, uh I'd like to refer or defer to our Mayor Alan Joan to welcome our sister city.

0:39

They're not here yet.

0:41

Okay, well, we will insert whenever they come in.

0:44

Thank you, Mayor.

0:45

Um, on the consent agenda items.

0:47

Uh we have Clerk, would you please call a role for community development, please?

0:53

Council Member Hall.

0:54

Present.

0:56

Mayor Pur Tim Adams.

0:58

Here.

0:58

Councilmember Joyner.

0:59

Present.

1:00

And Councilmember Burke.

1:01

Here.

1:02

Welcome, committee.

1:03

Welcome everyone.

1:04

Um we have the consent agenda item.

1:07

Uh we have two in this particular no more than our council.

1:12

If there's no uh discussion or debate, we can approve with general consensus.

1:18

Are there any of the two items that need to be pulled by the committee or council?

1:25

May I have a motion for approval.

1:28

I'm sorry, I'm losing it already.

1:31

Um I need I have a first.

1:33

May I have a second?

1:34

Second.

1:35

Is the mood and probably seconded of the two consent items?

1:38

All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

1:41

Aye.

1:41

All of the polls like signs say no.

1:45

Uh would the clerk please read the first general agenda item.

1:50

Item G1, Youth Advisory Board Annual Report.

2:02

Good.

2:02

Oh, okay.

2:04

Good afternoon.

2:05

Mayor joins Mayor Putham Adams and committee members.

2:08

Good afternoon.

2:09

My name is Ava Banner, and I'm the chair of the Winston Soum Youth Advisory Council, which serves as a bridge between our community, our youth, and our government.

2:20

Today we are going to be presenting our annual report regarding the events that we have been engaged in throughout the year.

2:27

To begin, I'd like to introduce Jada Taylor, our council's vice chair.

2:34

I know you.

2:37

Well, again, good afternoon, Mayor, Mayor Pro Temp, and members of the committee.

2:41

My name is Jada Taylor, I said before, and I'm the vice chair of YAC, and I am completing my third year on the council.

2:48

I'm excited to share some of the incredible opportunities that the State Youth Council has provided for us.

2:54

From powerful leadership events to major statewide responsibilities, SYC continues to be a platform where students can grow, lead, and make a real impact.

3:03

Today I'll be talking about three key SYC conferences, and are hosting the 2024-2025 Spring Convention here in Winston-Salem.

3:12

Number one is the Leadership Conference, which gathered executive board members of each youth council to learn leadership skills and share ideas.

3:20

It's where the student leaders connect with peers from across the state and get inspired by speakers who challenge us to lead with passion and purpose.

3:28

Number two is the Mini Garrett Conference, which turns ideas into action.

3:34

This program gives youth an opportunity to develop programs, write grant proposals, screen grants submitted by youth groups, and implement defined program objectives.

3:45

With an annual appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly, the Youth Advisory Council is able to award grants averaging from 100 to 500 dollars for a wide range of youth directed projects.

3:58

It's an amazing way to take initiative and make a difference.

4:02

Number three, the team building conference, which is focused on collaboration.

4:06

Through engaging activities and problem-solving challenges, teams grow stronger, improve communication, and return to their schools, ready to lead more effectively.

4:15

This teaches us cooperation, communication, and teamwork.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters█████████████████████████25%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Intergovernmental Relations█████████████13%
Youth Programs████████████12%
Fire Department Operations█████████9%
Harm Reduction████████8%
Arts And Culture███████7%
Zoning█████5%
Language Accessibility█1%
Summary of Proceedings

General Government Committee Meeting Summary

Date: May 12, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:32 PM
Location: City Hall, 101 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC

The Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee (chaired by Mayor Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams) met on May 12, 2025. The committee approved a consent agenda, received reports from youth boards, voted on arts inductees, reviewed employee accrual rates, amended city council ordinances, and passed a resolution opposing a state housing bill.

Consent Calendar

  • C-1: Adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan for submission to HUD.
  • C-2: Approved the April 14, 2025 committee meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Catherine Burroughs (daughter of Julian Burroughs) expressed gratitude for her father’s selection to the Walk of Fame, noting his dedication to radio.
  • Kathy Burrows (former professor) praised the oral presentation skills of the Youth Advisory Council.

Discussion Items

G-1: 2024-2025 Youth Advisory Board Annual Report

  • Presenters: Ava Banner (Chair) and Jada Taylor (Vice-Chair), along with Veda Senka.
  • Highlights:
    • Participation in State Youth Council conferences (Leadership, Mini Garrett Grant, Team Building) and National League of Cities conferences (Tampa Bay, Washington D.C.).
    • Hosted the 2024-2025 SYC Spring Convention in Winston-Salem.
    • Community service: collected clothing for Hurricane Helene survivors, volunteered at International Village.
    • Youth Expression Wall at West End Park – June theme: “Unity.”
    • Veda Senka received a $750 grant from Unleash (NLC).
  • Action: Information only.

G-2: 2024-2025 College Advisory Board Annual Project

  • Presenters: Jacob Taylor (Chair) and Nani Pardo.
  • Topic: Harm reduction in Forsyth County.
  • Highlights:
    • Addressed four pillars: healthcare access, neighborhood/built environment, economic stability, social/community context.
    • Partnered with Twin City Harm Reduction Collective; students packaged naloxone kits.
    • Data: Opioid-related ED visits increasing in high-poverty areas.
    • Call to action: integrate harm reduction with job training, housing, and education.
  • Action: Information only.

G-3: 2025 Walk of Fame Inductees

  • Presenter: Ben Rowe (Assistant City Manager).
  • Inductees:
    • W.G. Benton (Arts & Philanthropy)
    • Dr. J.C. Burroughs (Radio)
    • J.T. Diggs, Jr. (Visual Arts)
    • M.S. Mueller (Music)
  • Process: Panel reviewed 7 nominees; induction ceremony set for July 2026 before the International Black Theater Festival.
  • Action: Approved unanimously (4-0).

G-4: Accrual Rates for City Employees

  • Presenter: Sharon Wojda (Assistant City Manager).
  • Proposal: Adjust sick/vacation accrual for 56-hour fire employees to be proportional to 40-hour employees (11.2 hours/month vs. current 24 hours/month).
  • Feedback from fire employees: Concern about needing 24 hours for a shift off; compared to other cities (Greensboro uses 16-hour increments).
  • Language incentive program: Expand from Spanish-only to multiple languages (including Polish, Mongolian, Mandarin, etc.) and increase stipend from $1,104 to $1,500/year, also available to part-time permanent employees.
  • Next steps: Proposed changes to personnel resolution will go to Committee of the Whole on June 9, 2025, and full council on June 16, with effective date July 1.
  • Action: Information only.

G-5: Ordinance Amending City Council Code (Article II, Chapter 2)

  • Presenter: Camille French (City Attorney).
  • Key changes:
    • Renamed committee from “Community Development/Housing/General Government” to “General Government.”
    • Updated meeting notice times (36 to 48 hours); electronic notice allowed.
    • Clarified special/emergency meeting procedures and consent agenda removal rules.
    • Made presiding officer language gender-neutral.
  • Debate: Council Member Burke questioned late-added information but voted no on final motion.
  • Action: Approved 3-1 (Adams, Joiner, Hall in favor; Burke opposed).

G-6: Resolution Opposing House Bill 765 (Save the American Dream Act)

  • Presenters: Camille French, A. King (Assistant City Manager), and planning staff.
  • Concerns: The bill would limit local zoning authority (minimum lot sizes, shot clock on rezonings from 180 to 90 days, sidewalk restrictions).
  • Update: As of May 9, the bill’s progress has been slowed due to municipal pushback. Some provisions acceptable.
  • Action: Approved unanimously (4-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda adopted unanimously.
  • Walk of Fame inductees approved (4-0).
  • City Council ordinance amendment approved 3-1.
  • Resolution opposing HB 765 approved 4-0.
  • Staff to return with final accrual and language incentive recommendations on June 9, 2025 (Committee of the Whole) and June 16, 2025 (City Council).

Meeting Transcript

And welcome. Woo! You know how I welcome to the general government committee meeting, or better known as community development housing and general government. Today we have two consent items. We have six general agenda items. Three are for information and review, and the other three are for possible action. I would like to, before we start the meeting, uh I'd like to refer or defer to our Mayor Alan Joan to welcome our sister city. They're not here yet. Okay, well, we will insert whenever they come in. Thank you, Mayor. Um, on the consent agenda items. Uh we have Clerk, would you please call a role for community development, please? Council Member Hall. Present. Mayor Pur Tim Adams. Here. Councilmember Joyner. Present. And Councilmember Burke. Here. Welcome, committee. Welcome everyone. Um we have the consent agenda item. Uh we have two in this particular no more than our council. If there's no uh discussion or debate, we can approve with general consensus. Are there any of the two items that need to be pulled by the committee or council? May I have a motion for approval. I'm sorry, I'm losing it already. Um I need I have a first. May I have a second? Second. Is the mood and probably seconded of the two consent items? All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Aye. All of the polls like signs say no. Uh would the clerk please read the first general agenda item. Item G1, Youth Advisory Board Annual Report. Good. Oh, okay. Good afternoon. Mayor joins Mayor Putham Adams and committee members. Good afternoon. My name is Ava Banner, and I'm the chair of the Winston Soum Youth Advisory Council, which serves as a bridge between our community, our youth, and our government. Today we are going to be presenting our annual report regarding the events that we have been engaged in throughout the year. To begin, I'd like to introduce Jada Taylor, our council's vice chair. I know you. Well, again, good afternoon, Mayor, Mayor Pro Temp, and members of the committee. My name is Jada Taylor, I said before, and I'm the vice chair of YAC, and I am completing my third year on the council. I'm excited to share some of the incredible opportunities that the State Youth Council has provided for us. From powerful leadership events to major statewide responsibilities, SYC continues to be a platform where students can grow, lead, and make a real impact.

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