OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Winston-Salem General Government Committee Meeting - February 9, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, February 9, 2026
BodyWinston Salem, North Carolina
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, February 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 51:51

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Meeting today.

0:01

I hope everybody is uh snowed out right now.

0:05

Uh thank again, I want to thank the staff and the employees of Winston Salem for everything that you all did the past couple of weeks or so.

0:15

Uh again, I've lived here all my life.

0:19

And I remember the snows of the 60s where it snowed every Wednesday, like two feet and whatever.

0:25

But I've never seen anything like this scenario this set up.

0:29

It was like a perfect storm.

0:31

It was ice, it was a little bit of rain, it was sleek, and then we got the snow.

0:36

And when we got the snow, everybody still thinks that we can get out and our employees can plow and put Brian down.

0:44

And if it's they don't, they do but don't want to hear about the chemical reaction.

0:49

They don't want to hear about that.

0:51

You can't plow ice effectively.

0:54

And then when the snow came and fell on top of the ice, you know, we were again in a place.

1:00

But again, I want the public and everyone to know that we thank you, thank you, thank you.

1:05

See, unlike everybody else, I was at the house.

1:08

I was good.

1:09

You know, I tell people the much groceries is everybody bought.

1:13

Nobody should have been wanting to come out the house.

1:16

But uh again, I'm just hoping that uh the next week we see some temps in the 50s and 60s, so we can go ahead and melt the snow because I'm a country girl, and I know my folk told us if snow lay around long enough, you're gonna see some more to go with it.

1:31

So uh I see the forecast as saying possibility uh next week, but uh we're gonna hope and pray that that we don't get it.

1:40

Again, thank you all so much.

1:42

Today we have our general and consent agenda.

1:45

We have one consent item, and we have uh five general agenda items.

1:51

Uh I would like to know are there any items besides the consent of one that you want to pull?

1:57

And if not, may I have a motion to approve that one item?

2:00

Move to approve.

2:02

Is it moved and properly seconded?

2:04

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

2:07

Aye.

2:07

All those opposed, let it be known by saying that.

2:10

Thank you very much.

2:12

And then passes.

2:13

Madam Clerk, would you please read the first item?

2:16

Item G1 update on neighborhood services, homeless initiatives.

2:21

Ms.

2:21

Floyd, our angel handling it.

2:26

I know you'll you you've had a busy past two and a half, three weeks, but again, thank you too.

2:32

Thank you.

2:33

So um, good evening, Sharika Floyd Neighborhood Services.

2:37

I am here to give you an update on the winter storm response that we have for neighborhood services for our unhoused population.

2:44

Um, so January 23rd, Friday, January 23rd to February 2, Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026.

2:52

We provided shelter services to 422 422 individuals.

2:58

Um, this was at locations, um, Samaritan Ministries, including their Project Cornerstone, Bethesda Center for the Homeless, Salvation Army's family shelter, and then in partnership with the dwelling, we opened the um winter shelters located at the locations to annex to St.

3:15

Timothy, New Story Church, another family shelter, the dwelling, and then a warming center.

3:21

Um, and that totaled 422 individuals, and then our domestic violence shelter ran at capacity at 95% as well, and those numbers aren't included here.

3:31

That was a total of three out of the four rooms that they have.

3:36

And then um, in addition to that, we would just like to thank the Bear team, Samaritan Ministries, Emergency Management, and the Winston.

3:43

Salem Police Department.

3:45

Samaritan Ministry served 1,222 meals during the storm period, an average of 305 per day.

3:52

They kept those services going for shelter breakfast, community lunch, and shelter dinner.

3:57

They also also want to thank this winter shelter staff who worked through the storm.

4:01

Um they worked three-day shifts and even walked, many of them walked to work.

4:06

Um, emergency management for meals and supplies that were provided to the local shelters during the storm.

4:11

And Winston Salem Police Department and Bear Team.

4:14

Um, Winston Salem, the police department assisted Samaritan Ministries with um delivering dinner when staff was unable to take it out the parking lot to get it, as well as bear team transporting families and individuals to emergency shelter during the storm when our um local emergency shelters vans were not able to make it.

4:35

Ms.

4:35

Floyd, the number that you've shown us 422.

4:38

Yes.

4:39

Does that look like the numbers that you've shown us over the past of how many people are homeless in the city or the area, or is this number slightly down, or is it higher?

4:50

So this number um shows a larger number of individuals participating in a winter shelter, especially during the winter period.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%
Public Safety██████████████████18%
Affordable Housing████████████12%
Emergency Management███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Food Resilience██████6%
Homelessness█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Winston-Salem General Government Committee Meeting - February 9, 2026

The General Government Committee of the Winston-Salem City Council met on February 9, 2026, at 4:00 PM, chaired by Mayor Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams. The meeting included action on proposed noise ordinance amendments, code updates for the Urban Food Policy Council, and a Unified Development Ordinance text amendment. Informational briefings were received on the winter storm homeless response and a list of properties proposed for demolition. All four committee members were present and voted unanimously on the action items. The meeting adjourned at 4:52 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (C-1): The committee unanimously approved the meeting summary from December 8, 2025.

Discussion Items

  • G-1: Winter Storm Homeless Response Shereka Floyd, Housing Programs Manager, reported on shelter services provided to the unhoused population during the winter storm from January 23 to February 3, 2026. A total of 422 individuals were sheltered through partnerships with local organizations. Samaritan Ministries served 1,222 meals during this period. The domestic violence shelter operated at 95% capacity. Council members expressed gratitude to staff.
  • G-2: Properties Proposed for Demolition in 2026 Bryan Chaney, Assistant Director of Neighborhood Services, presented a list of 11 properties to be demolished within the next 60 to 90 days. The properties are located in the Northeast, East, and Southeast wards. Council members questioned the city's efforts to preserve viable housing stock. Mr. Chaney noted that the owners did not undertake required repairs. City Attorney Camille French explained the legal requirements for notifying property owners. Staff committed to providing updated figures on the backlog of dilapidated properties. The city manager emphasized that these are privately owned structures where owners failed to comply.
  • G-3: Noise Ordinance Amendment (Chapter 46) Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe presented Phase 1 of the noise ordinance amendments. The proposal sets an objective standard of 85 decibels (DBA), measured at the complainant's property line, for large public assembly venues. The ordinance would be enforced by the police department using sound meters. Civil and criminal penalties are proposed. Phase 2 will address noise in commercial and residential areas. Council members discussed enforcement and exemptions, including a specific exemption for motorsports events. The committee voted 4-0 to recommend approval, forwarding the ordinance to the full City Council on March 2, 2026.
  • G-4: Urban Food Policy Council Code Update Dr. Shaleen Miller, Director of Sustainability and Intergovernmental Relations, presented an ordinance revising the code regarding the Urban Food Policy Council. The update removes references to defunct organizations and updates membership duties. The committee voted 4-0 to recommend approval, forwarding the item to the City Council on March 2, 2026.
  • G-5: UDO Text Amendment for Retaining Walls Dan Roberts, Project Planner, presented a request for a text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO-CC32) to remove specific height limits for mechanically stabilized slopes and retaining walls. The technical standards would be relocated to the Infrastructure Development Standards. The Planning Board had previously recommended the change unanimously. Discrepancy Note: The written agenda and meeting minutes state the public hearing date for this item is March 23, 2026. However, during the meeting, the City Clerk referenced the public hearing date as March 16, 2026. The committee voted 4-0 to recommend approval.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Unanimously approved.
  • Noise Ordinance (G-3): Recommended for City Council approval (4-0 vote). Forwarded to the March 2, 2026 meeting.
  • Urban Food Policy Council (G-4): Recommended for City Council approval (4-0 vote). Forwarded to the March 2, 2026 meeting.
  • UDO Text Amendment (G-5): Recommended for City Council approval (4-0 vote). Forwarded for a public hearing (written records indicate March 23, 2026; oral transcript stated March 16, 2026).
  • Informational Items: The committee received the Winter Storm Homeless Response update and the Proposed Demolition List.

Meeting Transcript

Meeting today. I hope everybody is uh snowed out right now. Uh thank again, I want to thank the staff and the employees of Winston Salem for everything that you all did the past couple of weeks or so. Uh again, I've lived here all my life. And I remember the snows of the 60s where it snowed every Wednesday, like two feet and whatever. But I've never seen anything like this scenario this set up. It was like a perfect storm. It was ice, it was a little bit of rain, it was sleek, and then we got the snow. And when we got the snow, everybody still thinks that we can get out and our employees can plow and put Brian down. And if it's they don't, they do but don't want to hear about the chemical reaction. They don't want to hear about that. You can't plow ice effectively. And then when the snow came and fell on top of the ice, you know, we were again in a place. But again, I want the public and everyone to know that we thank you, thank you, thank you. See, unlike everybody else, I was at the house. I was good. You know, I tell people the much groceries is everybody bought. Nobody should have been wanting to come out the house. But uh again, I'm just hoping that uh the next week we see some temps in the 50s and 60s, so we can go ahead and melt the snow because I'm a country girl, and I know my folk told us if snow lay around long enough, you're gonna see some more to go with it. So uh I see the forecast as saying possibility uh next week, but uh we're gonna hope and pray that that we don't get it. Again, thank you all so much. Today we have our general and consent agenda. We have one consent item, and we have uh five general agenda items. Uh I would like to know are there any items besides the consent of one that you want to pull? And if not, may I have a motion to approve that one item? Move to approve. Is it moved and properly seconded? All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, let it be known by saying that. Thank you very much. And then passes. Madam Clerk, would you please read the first item? Item G1 update on neighborhood services, homeless initiatives. Ms. Floyd, our angel handling it. I know you'll you you've had a busy past two and a half, three weeks, but again, thank you too. Thank you. So um, good evening, Sharika Floyd Neighborhood Services. I am here to give you an update on the winter storm response that we have for neighborhood services for our unhoused population. Um, so January 23rd, Friday, January 23rd to February 2, Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026. We provided shelter services to 422 422 individuals. Um, this was at locations, um, Samaritan Ministries, including their Project Cornerstone, Bethesda Center for the Homeless, Salvation Army's family shelter, and then in partnership with the dwelling, we opened the um winter shelters located at the locations to annex to St. Timothy, New Story Church, another family shelter, the dwelling, and then a warming center. Um, and that totaled 422 individuals, and then our domestic violence shelter ran at capacity at 95% as well, and those numbers aren't included here. That was a total of three out of the four rooms that they have. And then um, in addition to that, we would just like to thank the Bear team, Samaritan Ministries, Emergency Management, and the Winston. Salem Police Department. Samaritan Ministry served 1,222 meals during the storm period, an average of 305 per day. They kept those services going for shelter breakfast, community lunch, and shelter dinner.

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