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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - June 2, 2025

Meeting Portal — Monday, June 2, 2025

BodyWinston Salem, North Carolina

SessionMeeting Portal

DateMonday, June 2, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:04:05

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

Good evening, everyone.

0:05

I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem.

0:06

It's my pleasure to call to order this meeting of the Winston Salem City Council.

0:10

And if I turn the mic on, you could hear me say that again.

0:13

But I am Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem.

0:16

We're delighted to have you here at our meeting tonight.

0:18

I'd ask the City Clerk to call the role, please.

0:21

Councilmember Joyner.

0:22

Present.

0:23

Councilmember Clark.

0:24

Here.

0:25

Councilmember Andrew Bowen.

0:26

Here.

0:27

Councilmember Scipio.

0:28

Present.

0:29

Mayor Per Tim Adams.

0:30

Here.

0:30

Councilmember Taylor.

0:31

Present.

0:32

Councilmember Hall.

0:33

Present.

0:33

And Councilmember Burke.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Thank you, everyone.

0:37

Would you please join the City Council and me in a moment of silence?

0:53

Thank you so much.

0:54

Would you join the City Council meeting the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:59

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic.

1:08

Undervisible with liberty and justice.

1:17

Thank you so much.

1:21

Lieutenant, thank you for being with us tonight.

1:23

And our fire marshal tonight is Peter Geich.

1:26

Thank you both for them.

1:28

Thank you both for keeping us safe.

1:30

Let me turn the meeting over to our city manager Pat Pate for his update.

1:35

Thank you, Mayor.

1:37

A couple of uh different things tonight.

1:38

One of the first things I do, I'm gonna call Sue Spainhauer up to talk to you a little bit about an item on your consent agenda, which is the 2025 inductees for the Winston Salem Arts, Culture and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame.

1:51

But then we just wanted to highlight those for you for a moment.

1:55

And for the public that who's coming up on that, good afternoon, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, and members of the City Council.

2:05

I'm Sue Spain Hour, Marketing and Communications.

2:09

Um I am here to present the 2025 uh Winston Salem Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame nominations.

2:19

The uh Walk of Fame Committee met earlier this year, reviewed the applications that had been sent in, and from that they have selected these four nominees.

2:35

They are William Grady Benton, Julian Carr Burroughs, James Thackeray Diggs Jr., Margaret Snodgrass Mueller.

2:46

William Gray Benton uh was nominated in the category of arts and philanthropy.

2:53

He uh was very active with the Arts Council of uh Winston Salem for Tythe County with the school, the Saultooth School of Visual Design, Pete Montcraftsman, Winston Salem Symphony, Carolina Symphony, Chamber Symphony, excuse me, and received a lifetime achievement and philanthropy award.

3:17

Uh we have Joule Julian Carr Burroughs in the category of radio.

3:22

He was WFDD faculty advisor and station manager for the radio voice of Wake Forest University.

3:30

He secured the FM broadcast license for full service station for WFDD, which was very significant.

3:39

He also acquired the first NPR Charter membership in North Carolina in 1971 and served as uh professor emeritus of speech communication at Wake Forest.

3:52

James Thackeray Diggs Jr.

3:55

Uh in the category of visual arts.

3:57

Of course, he's renowned for his work on Cubism, Surrealism, and Expressionism.

4:04

He was an art professor and chairman of the Winston-Salem State Art Department.

4:10

He was a founding member of both the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem and North Carolina, co-established SECA, and of course Diggs Gallery is named in his honor.

4:24

Margaret Snagrass Mueller, uh, she was uh nominated in the category of music.

4:31

She's a professor emeritus of organ and theory at Salem uh College.

4:37

She established the Summer Organ Academy at Salem College.

4:41

She was uh teacher at the Salem Community Music School.

4:45

She served as the organist at St.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████13%

Environmental Protection█████████████13%

Arts And Culture██████████10%

Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%

Public Safety█████████9%

Affordable Housing█████████9%

Public Engagement██████6%

Veteran Affairs██████6%

Energy Management██████6%

Summary of Proceedings

Winston-Salem City Council Meeting - June 2, 2025

The Winston-Salem City Council met on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM at 101 North Main Street. The meeting included a proclamation for the U.S. Army's 250th birthday, approval of a consent agenda with 10 items, three public hearings, and a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget. The meeting adjourned at 7:21 PM after a brief closed session.

Consent Calendar

Approved unanimously (8-0) a consent agenda including:
- Resolution awarding a construction contract for Muddy Creek Greenway repairs to RES Environmental Operating Company, LLC for $827,597.62.
- Resolution awarding a contract for Innovation Quarter Stormwater Facility Rehabilitation to Freshwater Construction, LLC for $1,649,285.00.
- Resolution authorizing a contract with CIGNA for administration of the city's self-funded health and dental insurance plan.
- Resolution authorizing the abandonment of a sewer easement for the Ridge Event Center Project.
- Resolution authorizing an NCDOT agreement for additional funding and time extension for Piedmont Regional Greenway construction.
- Ordinance amending City Code Section 42-123 (c) and (e) relating to the state highway system.
- Ordinance amendment to allow Winston-Salem Police Department personnel to operate golf carts on public streets.
- Resolution electing the 2025 inductees for the Winston-Salem Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame (inductees: William Grady Benton, Julian Carr Burroughs, James Thackeray Diggs Jr., Margaret Snodgrass Mueller).
- Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 Consolidated Housing and Community Development Program and Plan submission to HUD.
- Summary of minutes from the May 19, 2025 City Council meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

Old Salem Museums & Gardens: Terry Taylor, President and CEO, thanked the council for support and highlighted Old Salem's 75th anniversary and its role as the site of the first recorded 4th of July celebration in 1793.
Sustainability advocates: Matthew Mayers, Jamie Maier (Piedmont Environmental Alliance), Richard Sebastian, Kathryn Stuebner, Carter Berry, and Debra Demske urged increased capital funding for sustainability projects, noting the city's 2020 resolution goals and the strategic energy plan. They argued that investments in solar, EVs, and efficiency save money long-term.
Housing and homelessness:
- David Vuckovich criticized the budget for cutting over $4 million in neighborhood services compared to FY2023-24, reducing rapid rehousing funding, and allocating $6.1 million for police vehicles. He called for funding a right-to-counsel program for tenants facing eviction, citing over 600 eviction hearings in the first three months of 2025 from three rental companies.
- Debra McCluney (United Way of Forsyth County) expressed serious concern about a proposed 45% reduction in funding (from $87,620 to $48,070) for the Rapid Rehousing Collaborative, which has a 90% success rate in preventing returns to homelessness within two years.
- Paula Traffes (volunteer with Housing Justice) noted Forsyth County has the 14th highest eviction rate in the country and called for expanded legal assistance for tenants.
- Jasmine Robinson (Turning Point Community Collaborative) proposed eco-friendly tiny homes for at-risk and homeless youth, citing a 19% increase in homeless youth and that aging-out foster youth often become homeless within four years.
Childcare and senior services:
- Gena Puckett (Child Care Resource Center) thanked the council for support and shared a success story about a Spanish-speaking mother who found infant care through their bilingual parent navigator.
- Sam Matthews (Shepherd Center) reported serving over 8,300 older adults in 2024, with a return on investment of $24 for every city dollar invested, and noted that 60% of those served are below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Economic development: Margaret Collins (Center for Creative Economy) requested continued funding for the Velocity Creative Business Accelerator, noting they have helped 143 companies with 78% still existing and generating $30 million in revenue.
Museum: Casey Rayner (Kaleideum) reported over 250,000 visitors since reopening in February 2024, and nearly 38,000 individuals received discounted admission through Museums for All.
Domestic violence: J. Nelson-Weaver (Family Services) thanked the council for funding that supports the largest domestic violence shelter in the city.
Reentry services: Harold Smith (Eureka Ministry) thanked the council for supporting efforts to house ex-offenders.

Discussion Items

G-1. Ordinance Amending Article II of Chapter 2 (City Council): Approved unanimously (8-0) with no discussion.
G-2. Public Hearing and Resolution Confirming Assessment Roll for Demolition of Unsafe Nonresidential Buildings: No public speakers; declared closed. Approved unanimously (8-0).
G-3. Public Hearing and Amendment to Installment Purchase Contract with NC Municipal Leasing Corporation: No public speakers; declared closed. Approved unanimously.
G-4. Public Hearing on Proposed City of Winston-Salem Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026: Scott Tesh, Director of Budget and Performance Management, presented a summary. The proposed budget includes a tax rate decrease from 72.5 cents to 57.5 cents per $100 valuation (4.8 cents above revenue-neutral), with increases for transit (2.2 cents), general operations (1.3 cents), and capital maintenance (1.3 cents). Water/sewer rates increase 5% ($3/month average), solid waste tipping fees 4%, and stormwater fees increase in January. The budget maintains service levels and includes no reductions. After 18 public speakers, the hearing was closed. The motion to approve the budget public hearing (as a procedural step) carried 8-0.

Key Outcomes

Consent agenda approved 8-0.
G-1 (Ordinance amending City Council article) approved 8-0.
G-2 (Demolition assessment roll) approved 8-0.
G-3 (Installment purchase contract amendment) approved unanimously.
G-4 (Budget public hearing) closed and approved 8-0 (procedural; final adoption expected June 16, 2025).
The council voted to go into closed session (8-0) to discuss economic development matters per NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4).
The meeting adjourned at 7:21 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem. It's my pleasure to call to order this meeting of the Winston Salem City Council. And if I turn the mic on, you could hear me say that again. But I am Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem. We're delighted to have you here at our meeting tonight. I'd ask the City Clerk to call the role, please. Councilmember Joyner. Present. Councilmember Clark. Here. Councilmember Andrew Bowen. Here. Councilmember Scipio. Present. Mayor Per Tim Adams. Here. Councilmember Taylor. Present. Councilmember Hall. Present. And Councilmember Burke. Here. Thank you, everyone. Would you please join the City Council and me in a moment of silence? Thank you so much. Would you join the City Council meeting the Pledge of Allegiance? I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic. Undervisible with liberty and justice. Thank you so much. Lieutenant, thank you for being with us tonight. And our fire marshal tonight is Peter Geich. Thank you both for them. Thank you both for keeping us safe. Let me turn the meeting over to our city manager Pat Pate for his update. Thank you, Mayor. A couple of uh different things tonight. One of the first things I do, I'm gonna call Sue Spainhauer up to talk to you a little bit about an item on your consent agenda, which is the 2025 inductees for the Winston Salem Arts, Culture and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame. But then we just wanted to highlight those for you for a moment. And for the public that who's coming up on that, good afternoon, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, and members of the City Council. I'm Sue Spain Hour, Marketing and Communications. Um I am here to present the 2025 uh Winston Salem Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame nominations. The uh Walk of Fame Committee met earlier this year, reviewed the applications that had been sent in, and from that they have selected these four nominees. They are William Grady Benton, Julian Carr Burroughs, James Thackeray Diggs Jr., Margaret Snodgrass Mueller. William Gray Benton uh was nominated in the category of arts and philanthropy. He uh was very active with the Arts Council of uh Winston Salem for Tythe County with the school, the Saultooth School of Visual Design, Pete Montcraftsman, Winston Salem Symphony, Carolina Symphony, Chamber Symphony, excuse me, and received a lifetime achievement and philanthropy award. Uh we have Joule Julian Carr Burroughs in the category of radio. He was WFDD faculty advisor and station manager for the radio voice of Wake Forest University. He secured the FM broadcast license for full service station for WFDD, which was very significant. He also acquired the first NPR Charter membership in North Carolina in 1971 and served as uh professor emeritus of speech communication at Wake Forest.

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