Good evening, everyone.

I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem.

It's my pleasure to call to order the September 15th meeting of the Winston Salem City Council and ask the City City Clerk to call the role, please.

Councilmember Joyner.

Present.

Councilmember Clark.

Here.

Councilmember Andrew Bowen.

Here.

Councilmember Scipio.

Present.

Mayor Pro Tim Adams.

Councilmember Taylor.

Present.

Councilmember Hall.

Present.

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?

Pledge of allegiance.

What would you say is one nation under God?

Thank you very much.

Our Sergeant in Arms tonight is Lieutenant Victoria Arnt.

And our fire marshal is Peter Geyck.

Glad to have there he is over the corner.

I'd like to turn the meeting now over to the city manager for his uh update.

Uh thank you, uh Mayor.

Um a couple of different announcements tonight, but I'm gonna start with a couple of uh quick presentations.

The this past fiscal year was a very successful year for our local tourism industry, including a record setting year for the Benton Convention Center.

I want to recognize first uh Stephanie Pace Brown, who's president of Visit Winston Salem, and then Grant Mennox, who's our director of operations for the Benton, who are both going to provide you some reports on this past year's performance and the outlook for the upcoming year.

Thank you very much, Mr.

City Manager.

Hello, everyone, nice to see you.

Um, I was here just about a year ago um to share with you our new brand, um, which is uh Winston plus Salem is twice as nice.

Come on in.

So I'm happy to have a few minutes um tonight to update you on the progress that we've made um in the past year or so to attract visitors to Winston Salem to expand the customer base for our local businesses to create jobs and to generate uh tax revenue.

Um, just a few weeks ago, the state of North Carolina um released their annual report on the economic impact of travel and tourism in North Carolina.

The study reported that visitors to Forsyth County spent 1.1 billion dollars in 2024, and um that's 1.1 billion with a B dollars.

Um, and it generated 75 million dollars in state and local taxes.

I think people are often really surprised to learn that more than seven million people visit Forsyth County every year, and we rank ninth out of 100 counties in North Carolina for visitor spending.

Um we've made so much progress in the last couple of years.

Um, in our fiscal year that ended June 30th, hotel revenue in Forsyth County increased 10 percent to total more than 140 million dollars.

And we know that typically for every one dollar that's spent on lodging by visitors, another four dollars is spent on restaurants, retail, recreation, entertainment, and transportation.

Um that's money in local cash registers.

Um visit Winston Salem uh works to attract both leisure visitors and group visitors who come for meetings, conventions, and sporting events.

On the group side, the sales team's bookings were up 13 percent in our last fiscal year, totaling almost 70,000 room nights and generating 84 million dollars in economic impact.

The team generated 346 leads for future business and booked 177 groups.

On the sports side, our team worked with local venues to book 41 youth and collegiate sporting events across the wide variety of sports that included basketball, tennis, track, cycling, soccer, lacrosse, dance, field hockey, hockey hockey, golf, gymnastics, motor sports, volleyball, running, dance, and dog competitions.

Um, we work to support the clash that generated so much local enthusiasm as well as uh national broadcast coverage.

On the leisure side, we greatly expanded the quality and reach of our marketing program.

I'm going to share a handful of key stats with you, but every one of these stats uh represents a bunch of hard work, a lot of strategy, and relationship building.

Our paid advertising campaign reached 66 million impressions, our social media reached 20 million impressions across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

We generated more than one billion media impressions in national publications such as Southern Living, and our website traffic has increased from about 200,000 web sessions two years ago to over two million last year.

Our marketing puts William uh Winston Salem on the map.

It builds awareness for Winston Salem as a place to visit, and it shapes the image of our community.

The brand is more vibrant, youthful, and inclusive, representing both the rich history and culture of Winston Salem in Forsyth County and embracing the contemporary vibrancy that this city has achieved.

Of course, our team doesn't work in a vacuum.

I'd like to say that tourism is a team sport, and it's the result of a lot of hard work of hundreds of people across our community.

Um, Visit Winston Salem launched a partner engagement program about two years ago.

Um, just last fiscal year we hosted six events, um, including two socials.

Um, we did educational programs on how to use AI and um media relations efforts.

We did a very popular spring reveal where attractions came together and reported what was new for the beginning of the season.

And we'll host our very first annual meeting next week, which I hope you can all attend.

Um we work hand in hand with partners across the county, and we're fortunate and grateful for the amazing team that manages and sells the Benton Convention Center.

And I'm here tonight with our good friend Grant Menix.

Thank you.

Mr.

Minix.

I've had my glasses, sorry.

Good evening, Mayor Joins, Mayor Pro Tem Adams, and members of the City Council.

I'm Grant Minnox, and I'm the director of operations at the Benton Convention Center.

Today is an important day in the 57-year history of the Mint MC Benton Convention Center.

Today we're going to celebrate the past year's revenue accomplishments, but we first need to reflect on where we were.

In 2012, you commissioned Crossroads Consulting Services to do an economic analysis of the convention center.

In February 2013, you approved the report and voted to uh invest 20 million dollars into the convention center.

The work started early 2016, was completed in the summer of 2017.

The renovation made the center more attractive to convention attendees, more flexible for meeting planners, and the fiscal year 2012-2015.

I mean, excuse me, 2012-2013, the center's year in revenue was 2.6 million dollars.

After the completion of the renovation, the center had its best year ever, coming in at $5 million, and that was for the calendar year, 2019.

And 2020, the year of COVID.

The Benton total yearly revenue was $305,000.

That's hard to believe, isn't it?

Yeah.

We only hosted 33 events.

The building was occupied 53 days, and we only had 6,700 guests.

In 2021, the yearly revenue hit 3 million dollars, which is still two million shy of where we were in 2019.

So let's fast forward and get to 2023.

In 2023, the revenue came in at 6.6 million dollars.

We hosted 252 events.

The building was occupied 290 days.

It was hosted up to 138,616 guests.

Wow, we had done it.

We had had the best year of the Bentons history.

Now, let's get to 2024, 2025.

The yearly revenue came in at $8 million.

Y'all bought a clap.

This was 21% growth year over year.

39% growth to the prior year.

We hosted 240 events.

The building was occupied 295 days or 80% of the year, and we hosted 195,486 guests.

Of the 8 million, 3.6 million of that was food sales.

1.8 million of that was audiovisual.

It takes a lot of work to get to this milestone.

I want to thank you for your support, the Benton and having the vision and the belief and the economic analysis to move forward with the renovation in 2016.

I also want to thank all the team members at the Benton.

Every day they host our citizens and our out-of-town guests.

Again, thank you for allowing me time to this evening to celebrate the accomplishments of the fiscal year 24-25.

And I do believe we have the best 150,000 square meeting facility in the state.

Thank you.

Thanks to both of them.

That's uh part of a great story that we're producing here in Winston and more to come.

A couple of items on city business.

I want to make sure you're aware of.

The Historic Resources Commission is seeking applicants for historic markers for buildings or sites that are 50 years or older and are of historic significance in Winston Salem and unincorporated Forsyth County.

More information about this process can be found on our website or by emailing preservation at City of Winston Salem.org.

The city's SOAR program is now accepting applications for a new class.

The six month program is a re-entry program for justice involved individuals.

More information can be found on our city website under Career Tab and look for SOAR, SOAR.

It's a great program.

The Planning and Development Services Public Arts Commission is seeking request for qualifications for a mural project at the City Owned Six Cherry Trade Parking Deck.

Again, you can find more information on our website under uh backslash public art.

And then the newspapers reported that the Winston it was that committee as well.

The Winston Salem Police Department will soon begin adoption of a new black and white vehicle marking for each of the vehicles.

The new design is professional, highly visible, cost effective, and easily identifiable by the community as a police vehicle.

One of the greatest advantages they believe of this new black and white color scheme is what our police department of professionals call the omnipresence factor.

Just so the presence alone of these vehicles in this color scheme can serve as a powerful crime deterrent while also giving residents a stronger sense of safety.

A couple of uh other things coming up.

The human relations department will host a coffee with the city at the Compare Food Store on Martin Luther King Drive on Wednesday, September 24th from 8 to noon.

Several city departments as well as other community-based organizations will be attending to inform and serve our residents in this general area.

And then historic Bathabra Park will hold its annual and very popular Apple Festival on September 27th from 10 to 4.

And two new employees today that were uh joining the that were gonna be a part of that festival.

Uh a lot of good good crowds that are that are there.

And then in line with uh some of the the first reports that we had the earlier this year, the International Association of Fairs and Expositions partnered with Johnson Consulting to conduct an economic impact study of fairs and fairgrounds across the country.

The study quantified the impact of fairs as well as year-round operations of fairgrounds.

And the this is in a in a gross um amount from all across the country, and then we're gonna get some better information on our particular fair a little later.

But the economic impact of fairs totals $330, I'm sorry, $30 billion annually, and fairgrounds provide $52 million in annual economic impacts.

So they show that the fairgrounds are clearly a community asset and economic driver.

And again, as I said, we're gonna have some specific impact study of our Carolina Classic Fair and the Fairgrounds uh that'll be coming to you soon.

But that's all just as a uh foreshadowing to the Carolina Classic Fair is coming soon, October 3rd through the 12th.

The public is encouraged to visit the website at Carolina Classic Fair.com to get details on the traffic pattern changes due to the new project and the altercation of Deacon Boulevard, as well as to get information on the attractions and new policies that will be implemented this year to make the fairgrounds continue to be a family-friendly event that we can uh all enjoy.

So with that, I'll stand ready to answer any additional questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Pate.

We do have a honorarium tonight.

I ask the city clerk to read that one, please.

Item H1, proclamation declaring family, friend, and neighbor caregiver day.

Whereas family, friend, and neighbor care child care, which refers to informal child care arrangements provided by relatives, friends, and neighbors, is the most common form of child care in Winston Salem in Forsyth County.

And whereas the Child Care Resource Center is a nonprofit that for focuses on children ages birth to five by providing resources, training, advocacy, and engagement to families, providers, educators, businesses, and communities in nine counties, including Winston Salem and Forsyth County for over 30 years.

And whereas FFN offers families culturally aligned, flexible and cost effective support and plays a crucial role in the early childhood of approximately 12,000 of our community's children prior to kindergarten.

And whereas nationally, family friend and neighborhood child care appreciation week is intentionally celebrated during the second week of September with National Grandparents Day to recognize the millions of grandparents who support our communities and care for young children.

And whereas Winston Salem and Forsyth County are recognizing family, friend, and neighbor caregivers as an essential workforce behind the workforce for our economy that enables families to engage in employment which can lead their economic stability.

And whereas Winston Salem and Forsyth County join Child Care Resource Center and families in recognizing family, friend, and neighbor caregivers for their efforts in caring for children of working parents and providing them with safe, nurturing early childhood experiences.

Now therefore, IJ Allen joins, Mayor of the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim Saturday, September 7th, 2025, as Family Friend and Neighbor Caregiver Day.

Thank you.

We have uh Ketura Jackson, who's the executive director of the Child Care and Resource Center.

If you would join me.

I think everybody's Jackson, we certainly appreciate the work of your organization to highlight the uh important role that the individuals and family members uh provide in terms of child care, which is one of the critical things for our workforce here in Winston Salem.

So thank you for your good work there, and I'll be happy to present this proclamation if you'd like to say a word to the council.

Oh, sure.

Well, I think the proclamation said it all, but thank you, Mr.

Mayor, Mayor Pro Chim, Council members.

Um we really appreciate you recognizing family, friend and neighbor care.

Um, as uh the proclamation said, it is a most common form of care.

A lot of you all are probably family friend and neighbor caregivers yourselves, even though you don't think about it that way.

Um in Winston Salem, we have about 25,000 children, birth to five, and we have 5,000 child care spaces.

So those other children have to be somewhere, and usually it's with a family friend or neighbor care.

And so we have our FFPN facilitator and coordinator.

Y'all want to stand up.

And even the last week was family friend and neighbor care week.

We're gonna celebrate it the whole year.

How about that?

So thank you so much, and uh we appreciate this recognition and this honor.

Thanks.

Thank you, Ms.

Jackson.

Thank you.

We're totalizing this meeting live tonight on uh TV 13 as well as our city's YouTube page, and it will be will be replayed tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

and again tomorrow, uh Wednesday night at 9 30 p.m.

Uh copies of our agendas as well as videos of previous meetings are always available online at the city's website, and just click on the watch meetings online option.

As you know, our meetings are agendas comprised of two parts the consent agenda and the general agenda as always the practice of the council to take the consent agenda as the first order of business.

Items on this agenda have been unanimously approved by a committee of the city council or are being submitted in accordance with established city procedure.

There'll be no discussion to items on the consent agenda unless the council member so request, in which the item will be removed from the consent agenda and uh considered individually.

Items not removed will be enacted with one motion.

Council members, are there any items you wish to remove from the consent agenda?

C two and three.

Because it they affect every citizen in Winston.

Thank you.

Is there a motion on the balance of the consent agenda?

So moved.

Second.

Motion by Councilmember Taylor, second by councilmember Hall.

All those in favor of the motion, please, and this will be a voice vote in the cave of saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed, no, and that's unanimous.

Now, item uh C2.

Item C2 resolution directing the application to the local government commission for approval of the city's water and sewer system revenue bonds series 2025, requesting local government commission approval of the 2025 bonds, declaring the intent of the city to reimburse itself for capital expenditures from proceeds thereof and certain related matters.

Mayor Pretem.

Yes, again, I think it's important, uh, Ms.

Latham and uh Mr.

King and those affiliated with the utilities uh that our citizens know uh when we are out here in this platform, what these funds are, how much it is, and how do we finance this uh these types of projects?

Yes, yes.

Um good afternoon, Mayor joins Mayor Pro Tim Adams and members of City Council.

Um the first item C2, this is um a proposal to uh receive council's approval to move forward with the initial steps to borrow $70 million in revenue bonds for various water and sewer projects.

These projects are in the the capital plan already.

Um and this is one way that we finance our water and sewer projects.

We also um finance quite a few projects with paygo, so thirty to forty million dollars of year um just in regular revenues that are coming in through um through utility fees to cover all of these projects, but um periodically we do um have very large projects and so we supplement that by borrowing funds.

So these would be revenue bonds which uh pledge the water and sewer revenues.

So uh basically um we'd be applying to the LGC and they would be reviewing our application to make sure that they agree that we have the resources to to repay the debt.

Thank you, Ms.

Latham.

Yeah, and Ms.

Latham, tell the audience again how do we repay this debt, this $70 million?

Yes, the $70 million for the water and sewer fund is repaid by uh user fees for the water and sewer fund.

So when everyone is paying their their monthly water and sewer or their bi-monthly water and sewer bill, we're using those funds to pay off the debt.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Motion.

Yeah, move full approval of item C2.

Second.

Motion second to approve item C2.

All those in favor of the motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed, no.

We're gonna vote on this one electronically.

We just did.

Yeah.

Okay.

And that's unanimous.

Thank you very much.

Item C three.

Item C three resolution of the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, approving an amendment to an install installment purchase contract with the North Carolina Municipal Leasing Corporation to finance certain facilities and capital assets, declaring the city's intent to reimburse itself for capital expenditures from proceeds thereof and related matters.

Public hearing date, October 6, 2025.

Mayor Prochem.

Yeah, thank you again, Miss Latham.

Again, to Councilmember Clark's credit, uh the other week he made a comment that we just don't vote money and do things haphazardly.

Uh we are we, some of us, all of us consider ourselves pretty good stewards of the community trust.

So, Ms.

Latham, if you again could explain where this $26 million is coming from and the why as to why we have to do this.

Yes, absolutely.

So uh again, we have a lot of large projects in the Solid Waste Fund.

Um, one of those would be the mechanically stabilized earth and berm to to provide extra capacity of landfill and just a number of other projects that have been planned for some time, such as the gas system expansion and the phase three Cell 6 initial construction.

So again, this is going to um create um a lot of expenditures that are due in a short time period.

Um again, we do use PAYGO as well, but given the time frame of these projects and how much money would be needed to get these projects done.

Debt financing is just one of the other ways that we we can fund projects such as this, which are which are needed.

Um in this case, we would be borrowing limited obligation bonds, and so the collateral for those bonds is actually several of our public facilities.

However, the financial plan calls for the debt to be repaid from the solid waste fund revenues.

Thank you so much.

Just for everyone's edification.

Both this one and the previous one have to be approved by the local government commission.

That is headed up by the State Treasurer.

It's an additional check and balance on when we borrow money.

We have to show them our financials and prove to them that we are financially responsible and can pay them back.

So it's an adjustmental check and balance that's somewhat unique to I think to the state of North Carolina.

Yeah, that's a good point.

We do have that extra layer of oversight, which I think is is very helpful in in the state.

Very good.

Um, and I know Mayor Pro Tim, you and I spoke about um G6, which will be a public hearing later tonight on the financing for the grounds.

And I just wanted to go ahead and point out that that $80 million, um, that is not an obligation of the city for payment.

It's not any type of pledge mortgage obligation.

Um it's not the city's not endorsing the projects, it's just an IRS code requirement for them to access the taxes in debt.

You all have to approve that, but that that is not considered by the LGC and is not city debt.

Okay.

We may ask you to say that again when that item.

Yeah.

Thank you so much.

I move for approval of item C3.

Second.

Second by Council Member Clark.

All those in favor will vote yes.

Anyone opposed will vote no.

I didn't come up.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you all.

We now go to the uh general agenda, which is comprised of seven public hearings on voluntary annexations, rezoning petitions, site plan amendment, the issuance of bonds, as well as economic development assistance.

When the public uh hearings are called, persons in the council chamber will be given an opportunity to speak.

If there is opposition to the public hearing item, the proponents and the opponents will each be given 15 minutes for presentation and three minutes for rebuttal.

If no one wishes to speak, I'll close the public hearing and the city council will consider the item.

May we have item G1, please?

Item G1, public hearing in consideration of a resolution for the voluntary annexation of approximately 14.734 acres located east of Maple Chase Lane at the eastern stub of Chanterrell Court project known as Brookbury Farm phase 12.

Petition of Brookbury Brookbury Farm LLC.

This is a public hearing.

Is anyone in council chamber who wishes to be heard on this proposed voluntary annexation?

See no one, I'll declare the public hearing closed, and this is in uh councilmember clerk's ward.

I'll recognize him.

Thanks.

Ms.

Mayor, I move for approval of item G1.

Second.

Second by Councilman Scipio.

Any discussion?

If not, all those in favor, please vote yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no?

And that is unanimous.

Thank you, Councilmember Clark.

Item G2, please.

Item G2, public hearing in consideration of a resolution for the voluntary annexation of approximately 13.6 acres located at the confluence of Union Cross Road and Thomasville Road.

Project known as Union Cross Subdivision.

Petition of Clay Pigeon Properties LLC.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone in the Council Chamber who wishes to be heard on this proposed voluntary annexation?

Seeing no one, I declare a public hearing closed and recognized Councilmember Taylor from Southeast Ward.

Thank you, Mayor.

Members of the Council, I move for approval of item G2.

Second.

Second by Councilmember Scipio.

Any further discussion of this item?

Questions?

Those in favor, please indicate the voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no?

And that is unanimous.

Thank you very much.

Item G3.

Item G3, public hearing in consideration of zoning petition of the City of Winston-Salem from County MUS to City MUS.

Property located at the eastern terminus of Chanterrell Court, north of Brookbury Farm Road, located in the West Ward.

So we just annexed these properties into the city.

Now we have to rezone them to city zoning.

Is there anyone in the council chamber who wishes to be heard on this proposed rezoning?

Seeing no one, I'll declare the public hearing closed and recognize Councilmore Clark.

I move for approval of item one, the statement of consistency and for the approval of this item and two W 3653.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Councilmember Scipio.

Further discussion.

All those in favor of the item, please syndicate the voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you.

Item G4.

Item G4, public hearing and consideration of zoning petition of the City of Winston-Salem from County RS9 to City RS9.

Property is located along the north side of Union Cross Road at its intersection with Thomasville Road, located in the Southeast Ward.

Again, this is a public hearing.

Is there anyone the council chamber who wishes to be heard on proposed rezoning?

Seeing no one I'll declare a public hearing closed, I'll recognize Councilmember Taylor.

Thank you, Mayor.

Mayor Protein members of the Council.

I move for approval of one, the statement of consistency for approval of this item and two W-3654.

Second.

Second by Councilmember Hall.

What's it?

Councilmember Hall.

Any further discussion?

Questions?

Not all those in favor of the motion, please indicate but voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

That is unanimous.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item G five, please.

Item G five, public hearing and consideration of site plan amendment of Gem Site Development LLC to modify an approved site plan from a retail building to a restaurant from drive-through service.

Located on the north side of Fairline Drive between Fairlawn Court and Silas Creek Parkway, located in the North Ward.

Is there anyone in Council Chairman who is opposed to this rezoning?

No one is opposed to petitioner is here.

If there's any questions, I'm sure.

Unless you just want to say we'll move on, uh, Mr.

Isaacson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Mayor Pro Tem, members of Council.

Mark Isaacson, 804 Green Valley Road in Greensboro, just here on behalf of the contract purchaser.

We appreciate the staff's cooperation here.

We work through the process.

This is a site plan amendment, not a rezoning, so fairly technical review.

But we think everything is lined up and ready to bring some Zaxby's uh sandwiches to Winston Sale.

Good.

Thank you, Mr.

Isaacson.

I declare the public hearing closed and recognize Mayor Pro Tim Adams for a motion.

Yes.

I move for approval of one, the statement of consistency for the approval of this item.

And two, W3656.

Second.

Second by Council Mercipio.

Any further discussion?

And all those in favor of the motion, please indicate by voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you very much.

Item G6, please.

Item G6, public hearing in consideration of approval of the issuance of bonds by the public finance authority for the benefit of PRG, the grounds, LLC, and Wake Forest University.

Ms.

Latham, let's let you on the record one more time.

Just indicate uh what we're doing here, please.

Yes.

Um, as mentioned, this is um an IRS technicality that requires council to approve another agency in the city getting access to this tax exempt debt.

So this just allows the grounds to obtain a lower rate on their financing.

Um we have done this for other organizations in the past.

Uh we've done this for the housing authority as well as Salem College.

Um again, this does not obligate the city for payment of the bonds.

It does not obligate the city in the way of a pledge or a mortgage or an obligation or any type of agreement.

Um these are not bonds of the city, and we are not giving an opinion on the bonds.

Thank you, Ms.

Lazem.

Thank you.

This is a public hearing.

Is anyone in the audience want to be heard about this proposed uh financing?

Seeing that one, I declare the public hearing closed and would uh entertain a motion from the chairman of the finance committee.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move for approval of item G6.

Second.

Second by Councilman Roscipio.

Any further discussion?

Questions?

I'm sorry, Ms.

Councilmember Burr, excuse me.

Thank you, Mayor.

Will this have any bearing at all on the city's credit profile?

Slatham, you want to comment on that?

Please.

Um, good afternoon, Ms.

Burke.

Um no, it does not have any any factor at all on the city's credit rating since it's not considered city debt, and the LGC also would not need to consider it since it's not our city debt, but that's an excellent question.

Thank you for that.

Thank you.

And just for the record, the city has triple A credit rating from two of the national credit rating agencies, and we're very proud of that.

Um is there a motion?

We've already got the question.

We've got the motion.

I beg pardon.

Excuse me.

We already voted on it.

We did.

Okay.

Well, we haven't voted on it.

I can make it again if you no, I'm good.

We'll vote on it, though.

All those in favor, please vote yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

We have voted.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you very much.

Good question, Councilmember Burke.

And then item G7, please.

Item G7, public hearing and consideration of economic development assistance for project touchdown, pursuant of NCGS 158-7.1.

Uh Mr.

Millett, would you please give us a quick briefing on this uh project, although we have talked about it several times here as well.

Certainly, Mayor joins.

Good evening to you.

Mayor Pro Tim Adams and members of council.

When we have talked about this project in closed session and at finance committee, it was referred to as Project Touchdown.

The name of the company is actually Reagent, which is almost an almost 50-year-old company that is based in the United Kingdom that manufactures laboratory and specialty of chemicals for a variety of industries.

They've identified a strong potential market in the United States and are looking to locate a facility in the Southeast.

In addition to an existing 20,000 square foot building in Winston-Salem, they're considering locations in South Carolina, Virginia, and um South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.

They are seeking financial assistance to assist with the opening of the new facility, which would create 30 new jobs at an average wage of $59,217.

Taxable capital investment is expected to total over $5.6 million over five years.

Staff is recommending performance-based incentives of up to $57,168, which represents 50% of the net new property taxes expected to be generated over the first five years.

Incentives for this project have been approved by Forsyth County and also being considered by the State of North Carolina.

We do have staff from Greater Winston-Salem Inc.

here in support of the project.

Very good.

Any questions from Mr.

Millett?

Thank you, Ms.

Millett.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone in Council Chairman who would like to be heard?

Kiefer, please.

Ellis Kiefer, 525 Vine Street.

Good evening, Mayor Joins, Mayor Pro Tem Adams, and members of Council.

Greater Winston Salem Inc.

is excited to present Project Touchdown to you this evening for incentive consideration.

We're grateful that this project has identified Winston-Salem as an attractive location for its U.S.

expansion through the site selection process.

The company's considered, as Ken mentioned, several competitive markets.

The project has sought opportunities in Winston-Salem specifically for its expansion into the U.S.

because of our region's proximity to customers and suppliers, our skilled manufacturing workforce, and the community's overall connectivity.

The company also shares our community's commitment to workforce development and plans to partner with for Scythe Tech if Winston-Salem is selected.

This project's jobs and investment will not only strengthen our tax base but also create real opportunities for individuals and families in Winston-Salem while building momentum in our advanced manufacturing sector.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

Thank you, Ms.

Kiefer.

Would anyone else like to be heard on this proposed economic development project?

Seeing no one, I declare the public hearing closed, and again recognize our chairman finance committee, Mr.

Clark.

Thank you.

I move for approval of item G7.

Second by Mayor Pro Tem Adams.

Any further discussion?

Oh, excuse me, Councilmember Bowen.

Andre Bowen, excuse me.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, so um I when when we when we first were learned the name of this uh organization, um I did some uh we we we have a conversation around the uh environmental impact.

That was just a concern of mine.

Um all the research that I was able to do um saw that they had a clean bill of of environmental policies that they they do.

So I was really happy to I'm happy to support this.

So thank you, Councilmember.

Very good.

All right.

All those in favor of the motion, please indicate voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you all.

We'll now go to our public comment period, which is a time once per month that uh the city council and I invite citizens to address us on matters that are germane to city government uh when the public comment period is called.

Each speaker will be uh given an opportunity for three minutes of comment, and the total uh public comment period is limited to 30 minutes.

Uh comments should pertain to issues that are relevant to city government, and the city council will likely not respond to items during the meeting, but may address them in a later date or ask staff to follow up if necessary.

Uh speakers are encouraged to be civil and courteous in their language and presentation.

Insults, profanity, use of vulgar language or gestures or other inappropriate behaviors are discouraged.

Engaging in such conduct may result in a forfeiture of any remaining speaking time.

Individuals who engage who continue to engage in such egregious behavior after being told to cease the same may be instructed to leave the meeting.

Speakers, of course, may use other avenues to pursue any concerns, including but not limited to personnel matters, litigation, and confidential matters.

And I certainly appreciate your uh cooperation.

We do have a number of speakers who have signed up uh dealing with uh issue of homelessness and we've got uh several speakers, and we only got 30 minutes, so I might encourage you to maybe group your comments together there, but we'll we'll begin and move as quick as we can.

First person, it's Ruth Burkar, please.

If you would each uh state your name and address for the record.

You know the drill, Ruth.

I do know the drill.

Uh good evening, Mayor Joins, Mayor Pro Tim Adams, and members of the council.

I am Ruth Cole Burkhaw.

I'm the executive director of City with Dwellings, and we um serve many of our city's unhoused citizens.

Uh we are at 502 North Broad Street.

I know some of our West End neighbors are here tonight to raise concerns about crime and nuisance issues uh near our day center at the edge there of West End.

And we share the desire for safe, welcoming neighborhoods.

Uh everyone deserves to feel safe wherever they live.

Uh but homelessness itself is not the cause of these problems, and people experiencing homelessness are not the enemy.

And people experiencing homelessness are not the enemy.

In fact, they are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators of crime.

What we face is not a people problem, it's a housing problem.

City with dwellings has been part of the West End neighborhood, the edge there for more than a decade.

First through our winter shelter at Augsburg Lutheran Church, then on Spring Street, and now at Sixth and Broad.

What has changed is visibility.

Street homelessness is rising, and the crisis isn't new, but it's harder to ignore now.

Every day, our staff and our volunteers help people stabilize, connect to services, and move toward housing.

And we're good at it, but the need is outpacing our capacity.

We very much appreciate the city's role in administering HUDs, continuum of care and ESG funds, which support part of our work.

But those resources are limited.

We know that.

If we want real progress, we need stronger local investment on all fronts.

What will truly make Winston Salem safer is investing in solutions that work.

Housing, supportive services, and prevention so that folks don't fall into homelessness to begin with.

Please see us as partners in this work in building these solutions.

The people most affected by this crisis are often the ones who best understand what is needed.

We are ready to work with the city, with our neighbors and other stakeholders to make it happen.

Thank you for hearing us tonight.

Thank you, Ms.

Bukar.

Emily Harkinson.

Good evening.

My name is Emily Harkins.

I'm uh from 1661 Light Street.

Um, I serve as the senior pastor at the dwelling, a church community here in Winston that aims to do life with our unhoused neighbors.

And I come tonight with an invitation to you, not an argument or not statistics and not even a complaint, though I'm sure you get many of those.

Just pure invitation.

I want to invite you to come and sit with your unhoused neighbors, not in a service to kind of way, but in a neighbors with kind of way.

To share a meal, to listen to a story, to walk a block side by side.

Because until we sit together, we will keep missing the truth that we are more alike than we are different.

When you sit beside someone who carries their life in a worn backpack, you discover the weight of their dreams are not so different than your own.

And when you listen to your neighbors talk about their children, you hear what sounds a lot like the love that you have for your own.

And when you laugh at a joke while sitting on a front step, you remember that joy doesn't need an address to be real.

Too often conversations about homelessness are filled with fear and blame and distance.

But when fear fades, when we learn each other's names.

Blame softens when we begin to see faces instead of categories, and distance closes when we dare to share time and space together.

Here is what I have learned.

Caring for one another is not just responsibility, it is joy.

It is the kind of joy that surprises you and sneaks up on you in the middle of a random Tuesday.

Because the truth is our neighbors are already contributing to this city.

They are poets who give us words, they are artists and musicians, they bring us beauty, they are workers who clean up the streets.

They are the people that push broken down cars up Broad Street.

They are your neighbors.

They are the heartbeat of this city just as much as you and I are.

But the question is whether or not we'll recognize them as such.

So here's my invitation again.

Learn their names.

Hear their stories.

They are your people.

They are your neighbors, and they deserve that kind of love and affirmation.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Brooke Devon.

Brooke DeYoung, 3050 South Stratford Road, Winston Salem.

Good to see you, Mayor, Mayor Potem, and Council again in my stole.

I serve as the deacon at the dwelling, and I'm here tonight to express our unwavering support for our partners, city with dwellings, and the vital work they do every single day.

At the heart of what we're facing is not only a housing crisis, it's a crisis of compassion.

We are being asked to choose between comfort of those in homes and care for our neighbors who are unhoused, between fear and faith.

And I want to be clear.

Fear is not the same thing as being uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable is okay, but doesn't mean our neighbors who we love are a threat.

It means we have stepped close to something that is hard to see, the pain of others.

In the last two years, we have seen a drastic rise in homelessness around the country, and here in Winston Salem, just the same.

The fastest growing group is actually families with children, not violent criminals.

This is the outcome of disinvestment of policy and neglect, mostly at the federal level.

We gotta get those head fundings to do the things we gotta do.

And in response, the dwelling and city with dwellings are doing what church and community organizations should do.

We are welcoming, walking alongside, and working towards housing and healing.

We have been good faith partners in constant conversation with our neighbors, housed and unhoused.

We've listened to concerns, and we are actively working to relocate our winter shelter for this season in partnership with the city and the county, not out of shame, but out of care for relationships and requests.

No community or part of community gets to opt out of this work.

If we push people out, if we displace service providers or shame those in need, we do not solve homelessness.

We spread it, we deepen it.

As such, I want you to know we do not stand alone.

The dwelling is part of Forsyth IAF sponsoring committee, a growing collective of over 30 churches and community institutions across this city.

Together we are organizing for the common good and a unified truth.

Homelessness is not a criminal issue, it is a moral one.

So, what if instead of asking, where should they go, ask how do we respond faithfully and compassionately as one city?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ron Schulz.

Thank you.

My name is Ron Schultz.

My address is 502 North Broad Street.

Why is downtown on the decline, you might ask?

If you look at social media, the homeless are at the forefront of the list of causes.

It's easy to blame the people who are too busy trying to survive and not having the time or energy to defend themselves from anomalous posters.

Sure, homelessness is an issue, but in reality, it is a symptom of a deeper societal disease that seemingly most metropolitan areas suffer.

Why don't they just get a job?

Stop and think about the barriers.

Fortunately, the dwelling church runs a shower trailer where three days a week you can get cleaned up and find a little dignity.

Every Sunday they provide two meals and spiritual fellowship in a no-judgment zone.

Then there's a city of dwelling, two separate entities.

Which gives us a mailing address and helps navigate the process to get vital documents and help get people housed and off the streets.

A very daunting process that would be difficult, if even possible to navigate on your own.

Just remember that in today's society, most people are only one or two major financial crises away from finding themselves on the streets.

And it is always a surprise when it happens.

There are no guidebooks or city maps telling people where to go for the little bits of help that is available.

Maybe the growing homeless population hurts downtown business.

Maybe.

But that is not the real cause for the decline.

It's just not simple.

There are an economic factors, inflation and consumer budgets, high inflation and strained household budgets for lower and middle income consumers, making dining out a less affordable luxury.

Decreased consumer spending overall.

Consumers are spending less at restaurants, leading to lower foot traffic and sales at many establishments.

Economic uncertainty.

Broader economic concerns include including job market volatility and the impact of trade policies, making consumers more cautious about discret discretionary spending.

Operational pressures like rising labor costs, labor expenses have increased significantly due to factors like rising minimum wage in a tighter labor market.

Volatile food costs, the cost of food ingredients remain volatile due to weather supply chain issues and trade policies, increasing operational expenses.

Margin pressure.

Staffing and turnover.

Many businesses struggle with high employee turnover rates and staffing shortages, which impacts service speed and efficiency.

And of course, a lot of people throw in the new meterless parking into the mix.

And that may be a contributing factor in the decline of downtown.

After all, the new system is a big jump from feeding quarters into the meter.

Thank you so much for the schultz.

Berkeley von Son, excuse my uh mispronunciation.

My name is Berkeley von Feilich, and I live at 5909 Brookbury Farm Road.

Good evening, Mayor Joins, Mayor Pro Tim Adams and Council members.

Um I'm also a small business owner with an office in downtown Winston-Salem.

I'm here tonight because I care deeply about the city and all who call it home.

I've heard rumors rumors circulating the idea that people are experiencing homelessness are being bussed in from somewhere else.

I want to be very clear that this is not true.

According to the national data, roughly 80 to 85 percent of people receiving services are from the same community where they lost housing.

And that is true here also.

They are not strangers.

These are our neighbors, people who grew up here, worked here, paid rent here, and now trying to survive here.

We are not seeing people brought in.

We're seeing more people pushed out, out of housing, out of safety, and too often out of dignity.

This isn't just happening in Winston Salem, it's everywhere.

According to the most recent 2024 federal data, more than 653,000 people were homeless on a single night across the United States, the second highest number ever recorded in the U.S., only slightly behind the 2023 historic spike.

I also want to speak to you from a personal perspective.

My business is downtown.

My church is downtown.

I have also attended Sunday services at the dwelling, which I highly recommend.

It's beautiful.

I walked to the library, I walked to meetings.

I have met many of the people supported by the dwelling and city with dwellings, and I want to say this clearly.

What I do feel is compassion, because discomfort is not the same as danger.

Seeing poverty like this up close may be unsettling, may feel unsettling, but that does not make our neighbors dangerous.

We can't confuse vulnerability with threat.

We need solutions, not scapegoats.

City with dwellings and the dwelling are trying their hardest to provide solutions, and they're doing real work, navigating broken systems, helping people get IDs, apply for housing, access health care, and survive while waiting for services that currently take months or even years to obtain.

Let me leave you with this.

No neighborhood gets to opt out of compassion.

No business gets to be exempt from caring.

If we love this city, we must love everyone in it, not just the comfortable parts.

Let's not meet this crisis with fear.

Let's meet it with courage and collaboration.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I'm Tanner Broughton, 706 South Green Street.

Um, first and foremost, I'd like to thank all of you for the opportunity to be present and speak in this forum.

I would like the City Council to please revisit the location that the Twin City Harm Reduction Group operates.

This is the sterile syringe program located in Green Street United Methodist Church in West Salem.

While I openly agree they must unfortunately provide a group of services for a segment of society that has been neglected.

I, along with many of my immediate neighbors of the exchange, feel that this operation should be run outside of predominantly residential area.

I asked the City Council to please go back and watch the city public safety meeting in April of 2017, and the related meetings that were run during that same time.

It was proposed to the city and to our neighborhood that that exchange was going to be in that location at for a limited amount of time until they found a permanent location.

There were a few speakers that were for the exchange staying in that location that is now operated in.

Most of those in support then will be similar to those supporting it now.

They will be the employees of the exchange, the employees of the church, and residents that reside out of the immediate bullseye of issues.

While the exchange group will point to their recent neighborhood sweep this past weekend as they are doing their part.

We neighbors still find drug biohazards discarded in our yards, streets, and parks.

These biohazards are contaminated with illegal substances that we all know can do great bodily harm.

What happens when one small children find something is curious?

Our pets pick up something in their mouths, or an ill-informed adult picks up something and has an overdose event.

The negative effects do not stop at just discarded biohazards.

I ask you, council, to please read the many letters I've had residents send you in the last week or so.

Please read the stories of harassment and terror that we have all experienced being so close to this organization's operation.

Our belief that just adding stricter guardrails on the existing location will not solve the health and safety issues we constantly have to experience.

We are not asking for the service to the city or county to be stopped.

We are asking for it to be relocated to a sensible location that will bring safety to all parties involved.

The exchange in West Salem is very much an anomaly across the state, located in the middle of a neighborhood.

Please take a look at the models that some other cities in North Carolina are operating on.

Some cities and counties have their exchanges partnered with health clinics and medical locations outside of residential neighborhoods where their patrons are most likely much less likely to openly dispose of biohazards and much less likely to harass innocent bystanders in public.

Thank you.

Your time's up.

Thank you very much.

Terrace Clark.

Have been for over 10 years, over a decade, probably closer to 15.

2024, my application was rejected.

Contacted Male Pro Temp.

She got me a meeting with the city manager and the facilities manager for the fair.

We sat down.

I was told because they felt like I wasn't honest about my revenue.

Okay.

But no proof, just an accusation.

My application was rejected.

Now, I told we could I was told we can move past that, but there was no more space for that year.

Keep that in mind, no more space.

So I applied this year.

My application was accepted.

Good.

I was on the assumption I would be put back in my original spot that I had been in for over 10 years already, but no, they put me somewhere else.

They put me in a spot that wasn't there last year.

So the spot that they put me in, if you look at the vendor map for last year, it wasn't even there.

So they could have put me there last year if they want if they wanted to.

This is this is that a point.

But my point is, all I need is for someone to make a call and have them put me back in my original spot.

I was told that the person that they put in my spot that just happened to sell the exact same thing that I sold, the exact same menu that I have, had a very good selling year.

I'm pretty sure they did.

I spent the last 10 years building that spot for that item.

So that's what people was coming in for.

Councilwoman Jordan, you know, location is key when it comes to food.

You know that.

Uh Councilman Hall, I met you.

We shared office building together.

Congratulated you on your campaign.

Uh councilman, Councilman Taylor.

The name of the fair has changed.

Other things need to change too.

Some more things need to change.

Mr.

Mayor, I plead you, put a vendor on the fair planning committee.

It doesn't have to be me, but would I volunteer to do it?

Yes, I would.

But a bender should be on that committee.

I was told by the facilities manager of the fairground that that would be a conflict of interest.

Uh uh, Mr.

Bowman, I live in your district in your war.

Uh I was told by the facilities manager that that would be a conflict of interest.

But that would be like me telling y'all y'all can't be on the city council because y'all live in with the same.

It makes no sense.

There should be a bender on that fair planning committee, and if there was, then problems like mine wouldn't occur because there would be someone on the inside that could stop that problem before it revealed itself.

But I need somebody to help me get back into my spot, me and my family.

We built that spot up for over a decade.

I've literally shed blood, sweating tears in that spot.

I've caught myself on fire in that spot, working with a gas cooker.

And we have family moments at their fair when people come back.

I've seen kids grow from two to 15.

And all I masculin is to be put back in our spot so that we can re-enjoy our customers and have a profitable year.

I want to have my big competition year, the best year I ever had.

Good.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Clark.

Thank y'all.

Dennis Sykes, please.

I like that idea.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor.

Mayor Pro Tim Adams.

My name is Dennis Sykes.

I live at 811 West Fifth Street in Winston Salem.

I'm speaking tonight as a representative of the All God's Children Ministry team from Nollwood Baptist Church.

We are distressed at the idea we're hearing of considering making it illegal to sit down or lie down on sidewalks in Winston-Salem.

In other words, a loitering ordinance.

A loitering ordinance would treat our unhoused brothers and sisters with fear or distaste instead of compassion.

Loitering ordinances have a pretty sordid history in our country.

Arresting people simply for being somewhere allows the authorities to decide who has the right to be in the streets for any purpose and who does not have that right.

As a group dedicated to social justice, the All God's Children's Ministry team sees our right to protest in public spaces being threatened.

On a personal note, my home is located in the historic West End Overlay District, directly across Pilot View Street from the Augsburg Community Center.

I want to say that City with Dwellings and the dwelling have been excellent neighbors.

My wife and I feel safer now than we did before they moved into this location.

Their influx of volunteers has created a friendlier vibe in the area, and we have not bought been bothered at all by any of their clients.

The growing visibility of our unhouse citizens is not a problem, but a symptom of a problem.

City with dwellings is not a problem.

It is a part of a solution.

Winston Salem already has laws that address the complaints being made by some of our neighbors.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Matthew Mayers.

Matthew Mayers.

I'm sorry.

She thought you said missy.

I think you two must have the same last name or something.

We have about five minutes left, so if we could speak expositiously.

Okay.

My name is Matthew Mayers.

I live at 2844 Wesleyan Lane.

I'm here with a couple of friends tonight, and since you hear from me a lot, uh I'm gonna let them talk to y'all about our desire to see the city really lean into energy efficiency for city operations.

Thank you, greetings, council members.

My name is Margaret Miller.

I live at 1179 uh Edgebrook Drive.

Hi, good evening.

My name is Annette Hayes, and I am a resident of Winston Salem, as well as I have a business here.

And I wanted to say th congratulations on all the things that are happening here in Winston-Salem.

And in terms of sustainability, we need that in order to keep going, in order to be competitive to other cities, especially in a triad and greater Winston Greater North Carolina.

There are some things that we can do better for sustainability as well as taking care of our citizens and our energy.

So you want to make sure that we are working collectively with all the organizations that are represented.

I know we work on different programs together, and it's important that we work together and not in silos to accomplish the things we need to accomplish.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Do I have anything?

Yeah, I'll just say briefly.

Um we just want to encourage the council to really pursue energy efficiency of our city facilities in a deliberate and intentional way.

You know, many times doing the right thing is costly, right?

It took costs us personally or costs us money to stand up and do the right thing.

In this case, you know, climate change is a huge problem.

And um pursuing the city's commitment to become carbon neutral um by 2050, pursuing that by um addressing energy efficiency of city facilities, is doing the right thing, but it's also at the same time gonna save the city money.

By common grace, these two goals are aligned, and we can accomplish both at the same thing at the same time.

So just really encourage you to focus on that and and provide um uh staff and other um analyses and and pursue those goals to improve city facilities.

Matt, do you have any final comment?

Um they left me some time, so why not?

Um I I also wanted to thank Mr.

Huff, who last week uh reported to the public works committee on the state of the storm sewer uh stormwater system, and he said something very interesting near the beginning of his of his presentation, which was storms that we used to get here once a decade, we're getting several times a year now.

Climate change is coming for us, y'all.

And uh you raised our taxes.

We really want you to use that money wisely, and big way to doing that.

Change out your light bulbs, hire somebody to manage the energy use in the buildings of the city.

Um you're gonna hear more from us, obviously.

But hope you have a good night, and we'll see you next time.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayors.

Uh Denise Little.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Mayor Pro Tim.

Councilwoman uh Burke and other council members.

On May the 28th, um, the police.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm 1801 Hattie Circle.

You probably move the mic down just a little bit, Miss Little, so we can't hear you.

There you go.

Thank you.

How's that?

Good, thank you.

Okay.

On May the 28th, the police department was in our in our neighborhood.

Uh they had gotten called to a break-in of a new uh home that was built but unoccupied on Bramble Brook, which is parallel to my street.

Um they gave chase to two 13-year-old boys, and that chase came through my yard.

The canine group uh attempted to jump the fence, but they jumped the the wood fence that I have, but they didn't quite make it, so it started to fall.

Officer Pace came chasing after them, and he just broke through it.

So at the end of that, they uh officer pays came to us and he told my husband and I what had happened, and there was another officer there with him.

And apparently he was on the canine team, and he said, why don't we charge that to canine?

He said, Because I'm the one who finished the the fence off.

K9 just got it started.

I was grateful to for them to recognize that the cost was theirs.

Um so they said that that they would turn that in and someone would be contacting us.

No one ever contacted us.

I called uh 311 on July 2nd and was uh directed to fill out a form.

I completed that form.

Uh Zoe Olet, wonderful man.

I wish I could talk to him every time I call for the city, but he helped me with that project.

He set up the claim, and unfortunately he had to call me back to tell me that because the police was in chase and not negligent, they would not fix my fence.

I was encouraged to, after I followed the process, I was encouraged to come before you all to see if there was anything that I could do.

The police owned the the damage, they owned the damage.

They were willing to pay for that out of their budget, but I can't seem to get a part of that.

So I'm asking for your help.

Thank you, Ms.

Little.

Uh Ms.

Lanier, can you follow up with her, please?

Ms.

Lanure here is uh she'll follow up with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, now is the time we set aside for uh our uh uh public comment period.

And I'm uh John, I'm sorry, but we we ran out of time.

Uh ninth on the list.

What happened?

Beg pardon?

I was ninth on the list.

What happened?

You got skipped.

John, if you've come out, I'll come on, John.

I also got we've got time for one more time, council members.

Nice to see you.

In a in a recent West End Association public safety meeting up with over 50 people in attendance.

A city official pointed out that there were two trouble areas for the homeless downtown.

One was six and broad, where city with dwellings is located, and the other one is Marshall Park.

Not the legacy any of us wanted for Wanda.

In looking for solutions, my dear friend George Bryant from the West End Association and I met with Director Chris Leib of the Bethesda Center for the Homeless, looking for solutions.

We found out that he has a hundred beds, 70 for men and 30 for women.

And we were shocked to find out that his day center has been closed since March.

When open, that day center has offers restrooms, laundry, showers, phones, air conditioning and heat, a mailing address, internet and computers, and counseling.

That's seven days a week.

That's not two or three.

We need to get that day center open.

We need to do what we can to get that day center open.

Secondly, I'm sure you read a in the recent article in the paper about my friend Greg Carlisle, uh, owner of the Millennium Center on Fifth Street.

The paper quotes Greg is saying that his customers from Fourth from the hotels around Fourth Street are told to avoid Trade Street between Marshall Park and Fifth Street to get to his events.

The valid reason for that is people using trade have to run a gauntlet of people hanging out in that corridor.

Partly because of the Transportation Center, but mostly because of guru store.

That bodega, which is owned by a local attorney, sells one dollar a can of beers in paper bags all day, every day, and they they buy the beer and they walk down to Marshall Park and sit there all day, come back and rotate.

And there's another group of people that just hang out in that quarter, and there's some drug trade there.

There's drinking and carrying on, so it becomes a real gauntlet to try to walk down there.

Um I think we need a carrot in a stick approach.

I'd love to see the the uh Bethesda Day Center open.

I think it's really important that we do that.

And then I'd like to see uh inspections and police attack that, not attack, work on that quarter of Trape Street to make it safe and less intimidating.

I'm willing to meet with anybody at any time to try to find solutions to this problem.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, John.

Uh Mr.

Manager, do you want to comment on uh the day center at Bethesda?

Any update on that?

The the Day Center at Bethesda did close down.

Uh we have had discussions with the Bethesda Center and Pastor Loeb about uh the possibility of opening that up.

I do know that he is seeking funds at this point in time to be able to do that.

Uh it's my understanding that they're closed between eight and two or somewhere in the early afternoon, and then their uh clientele can come in in the evening before they go into the the shelter at night.

So there is discussions ongoing about trying to do that, and I know that that's uh being held with both uh other corporate individuals and uh and other uh foundations as well as with the city.

All the city funds, federal funds that we have for homeless services or services of this type have been allocated out this year, and so there are no additional federal funds that we have to go towards this issue, but that's but there is ongoing discussion discussion about it.

All right, I'm gonna close the uh public comment period and uh recognize the yes, mayor.

Thank you, members of the council and the public.

Again, we're talking about it.

It all we do is talk.

You know, all of us, just like was stated earlier, need to all get on the same page that you know this is just not a city of Weston Salem issue, it's an issue of the whole country.

And not once, and I'm not throwing no shade and nobody under the bus, but you never mentioned the county.

The county and the state are in charge of health and human services.

That is their lane.

As the manager just said, whatever funding that the city of Weston Salem gets from the Fed, the state can put the continuum of care, it was already allocated in our budget.

We don't have any money.

So if we all want to get on the page, like I said earlier, two, three years ago.

You can't talk about housing without talking about homelessness first.

And we as a city, I know we meet in our little sallows, because I just went to one this past week.

But if we don't invite the people who are the customers or the victims, or the clients, or the stakeholders, the philanthropic people, the business people, the government, we all got to get on the same page, y'all.

And we can't be scared to be in the same room to talk about a problem or an issue that we know is there.

But we need to stop talking.

We need to come together.

We need to make solutions.

One or two.

That's all we need to start with.

And I bet you we can help get this.

This it will never be eliminated.

But we can help make our situation better for our homeless population and others if we would just come together and establish two priority reasons.

Solution.

That's all I'm saying.

Councilmore Hall has to be recognized before we adjourn.

Thank you.

Um Mayor Joins.

I do appreciate the um comments tonight.

And um I want to make sure that I mention this.

I wasn't able to get this in right after the honorarium, but I do want to give kudos uh publicly to Childcare Resource Center for what they do do for this community by way of the family, friends, and neighbor network.

Um we see you, we appreciate you all.

Um I see Miss Ramona Brooks is still here.

I know members of the team did have to go, but I hope that you will share those sentiments with them.

Appreciate all that you all do with the um grandparent support groups that you do and just really want to uplift that for community.

I personally um have parents that assist me uh with my children, so I'm very much um someone that takes advantage of that network, and so I just wanted to make sure that I do that.

So please um tell your your fellow staff members thank you.

Also, Mayor Joins, quick moment of personal privilege and wanting to shout out Mr.

David Richie Brooks, who is in the audience, someone who's very familiar with these chambers.

So good to see him who's dedicated so many years to this city over the um community development department, um the former name of neighborhood services.

And so um, hello, Mr.

Brooks.

Good to see you and glad to have you back in the chambers.

Thank you, Mayor Joins.

Thank you, Councilmember Hall.

Sir motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Motion by Councilmember Clark, second uh Mayor Pro Tem.

All those in favor joining, please say aye.

Aye, any opposed, no, we're adjourned.