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I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston Salem.

It's my pleasure to call to order this June first meeting of the Winston Salem City Council, and ask the city clerk to call the role, please.

Councilmember joyner.

Present.

Councilmember Clark.

Here.

Councilmember Andrew Bowen.

Here.

Councilmember Scipio.

Present.

Mayor Pratim Adams.

Here.

Councilmember Taylor.

Present.

Councilmember Hall.

President.

And Councilmember Burke here.

And would you join the city council meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Indivisible with liberty and justice for the same.

And it will be replayed tomorrow morning at nine AM, and again Wednesday at nine PM.

As you know, copies of our agendas as well as videos of previous meetings are always available online on the city's website.

You just click on watch meetings online.

As part of the special community celebration, Mayor Jones will recognize residents who are 100 years of age and older.

This recognize recognition highlights the lives, experiences, and contributions of some of the community's most treasured residents.

The deadline to submit nomination forms for the special recognition is today.

So if you're listening and you have a member, please send those in today so we can get those in place.

So family members, close friends, and caregivers still have time to go to the city's website to submit those recognition.

So I just encourage you to look for that on the website.

Also on the um website, you can find information about the mayor's inaugural summer youth program.

We just uh slated to begin June 8th with a three-day workplace training session.

So this is designed for youth ages 16 to 18 who participate in various job placement opportunities.

So we encourage people to uh to register on the city website.

Youth ages 11 to 15 are encouraged to register for our summer camp programs offered by the Winston Salem Recreation and Parks Department, Salvation Army Youth Camp or many other community-based camps that we have in the city.

Along the same line, registration for the Winston Salem Police Department's 26 Youth Citizens Police Academy is also now open.

This is a free program taking place June 8th through the 12th, and gives rising high school freshmen through seniors the opportunity to go behind the scenes of law enforcement, meet officers and specialized units, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of what policing looks like in our community.

So just while we're talking about youth, I'm all um I I think it's it's actually not William, I got real Royston.

But I'll turn it over to Ben.

We're gonna have have a little bit of a information on our pool program.

Good evening.

Mayor joins Mayor Pro Tempori Adams, members of council.

Yes, I'd like to introduce Heather Candy Laura, who is our aquatic supervisor who's going to uh give you an update on our preparations for the high heat days uh good at the pools this coming summer.

Heather.

Please.

Good evening.

Uh Mayor, Mayor Pro Temp Adams, uh, Council members.

I'm Heather Candelora with the Recreation and Parks Bryce Stewart.

Um the aquatics division is committed to the safety of all pool patrons and staff with a strong focus on protecting aquatics employees doing extreme heat.

To support staff during outdoor conditions, enhanced guidelines, and the following preconditions are in place at all facilities.

Enhanced heat safety measures are implemented based on temperature and heat index conditions.

95 to 99 degrees, increased pool breaks, staffing increased shade time and pool and water breaks.

And during high peak heat hours.

These thresholds ensure that consistent and proactive response to rising temperatures.

In addition to the written guidelines, the following precautions are also implemented at all facilities.

Lifeguards are issued hats, cooling towels as part of their uniforms.

Each pool is equipped with two to two to three fans and many refrigerators.

All locations have access to functioning water fountains.

Employee education has been provided through employee safety, including training on hydration, heatness, um, heat illness recognition and acclimation to outdoor heat conditions.

Um we also are um working on installation of cold water fountains at all facilities and uh addressing uh making sure that all of our staff uh are educated on hydration and heat safety measures.

Thank you.

Any questions?

Customer Hall.

Thank you, Mayor Join Sether.

Thank you for that um update.

I do have a question about um operational facility breaks.

I think you mentioned that under the section that was for 100 degree weather or more.

This does the operational facility breaks mean that you may kind of temporarily close the facility, whether that's for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour.

Is that what that means?

Could you explain that?

Yes, that would be um closing for at least an hour, maybe more during peak heat hours, like uh between 12 and 2 o'clock.

Thank you.

Councilmember Andre Bullen.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So I just want to say thank you for addressing this.

Um not only did we have a couple people speak on this uh last month, uh I received a handful of emails.

Uh but my teenage son um some of his friends know who I am, and they went to him and said, Hey, could you please have your dad help on on this?

So um there are many uh different ways that people will get in touch with me about this.

So thank you very much for for all of you for addressing this, and I look forward to seeing how it works in the future.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Oh, okay.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you, Heather.

Uh and maybe I missed it when you were talking.

Uh I apologize.

Uh do we have like sprinkler coal cold water that just like a splash pad that comes down on people or kids when they're at the pools or the splash pads, or it is just warm, cold water.

It's it's ground temperature water.

Almost of the water, all the water that comes out of our splash pads is ground temperature water.

I would ask we'll charge staff to investigate other cities that may have that and just to look at it just to see because the environment in is changing.

You know, climate is real.

And I think we're probably going to have more 90 plus degree days than we've seen in a while in the summers.

And uh I I appreciate the cold water, the ice, whatever.

But I think maybe we need to take our game up.

And we need to look at Mr.

Royston, uh, whether they are sprinkler systems.

I've seen, I think one in Philadelphia, uh, because they have these splash pads and sprinklers everywhere downtown.

But I noticed that the water was cold and it was very, very hot that day.

It was probably over 95 then.

But the children and adults are there because of the cold water.

The water's good, but I think we probably put ourselves in a great situation if we start looking at the next.

And Mr.

Pate, I'm not talking about adding nothing to the budget this year.

I'm just saying that we need to go investigate because we live in the South.

And we we seen what's coming this week is gonna make everybody kind of scratch their heads when a couple of weeks we was you know down in the 40s again.

So, but thank you and your team and the staff.

Any other questions?

Thank you very much.

Good luck this summer.

Uh thank you.

We we wanted to make sure that everybody was aware that we are we do we do take heat conditions very seriously, and uh they have been and we'll continue to deal with those.

Um if you read some of the articles that were recently uh talking about parks and recreation, not all not all of it was necessarily uh accurate or apples to apples, but one of the things that they did point out is we have I think 14 splash pads in the city, which is more than practically anybody else around.

So there's plenty of opportunities to do exactly what you said is to go, and we talked about groundwater.

That's that's the temperature of water that would be coming out of the pipes in the ground, which is always going to be cooler than the air temperature uh significantly.

But I think you're asking more about misting stations at our pools, and we can certainly look into that.

A couple of uh final things.

One is just a uh, and I know council knows this, but just as a reminder, uh, based on the feedback we're getting on our parking signage, we are changing the city parking signage to improve visibility, clarity, and ease of use for residents and visitors.

And so we've got an updated design that's being uh delivered now that will distinguish what is city operated parking from the many private owned lots uh in our city and reinforcing information about our city system.

So we we understand that a lot of people are confused right now, so we're gonna really make an effort to put in a new color scheme that differentiates what is a city parking spot and the what it costs to be there versus going into a private spot, which we do not have any control over uh how they're uh being regulated or or what charges they want to make.

So you'll see additional signage throughout uh coming through the summer on those signs, and we think that'll be a uh a really a good informational item for visitors and for our existing residents.

Uh well uh uh as I have to reiterate this on every time, it's also just worth noting that in our city parking spaces, parking is free in the city-owned lots and on street spaces after 5 p.m.

on weeknights and all days on weekends and holidays.

So again, don't uh we encourage folks to come down the and and use our parking spaces to to do their shopping, dining, uh other things that they enjoy doing.

One of the things that that happens in this city that gets a lot of press is public art.

And so I think everybody uh knows that that some installation happened.

The Dandelion Public Art Project called Invasive Hope bloomed overnight last week.

Uh and we'll have a ribbon-cutting uh ceremony on Tuesday, June 9th at 10 10 a.m.

behind True Stadium on the Twin City Trail.

Um but this is uh uh it's getting a lot of publicity already.

Um I hope most people like I am uh pleased to see uh public art out in our in our areas.

The uh Western Fort South County Public Arts Commission envisioned this transformation public art installation to celebrate resilience, hope, and community connection.

The uh ambitious project features a large-scale steel and aluminum sculptures along Salem Parkway and smaller institutions throughout Winston Salem neighborhoods that will create a visual narrative that links the city's past, present, and future.

And I will um it's not an absolute, but I'll almost guarantee that people are complaining that what's gonna happen with those things when a windstorm comes down.

If you've been by one of those, you know that they are very sturdy.

I do not think they're gonna come down as a problem.

So we hope people will enjoy uh looking looking at those and viewing the public art for many years to come.

And then as a last note, the planning and development services department will host their fourth and final meeting on the Northeast Suburban Area Plan tomorrow, Tuesday, June the 2nd at 5:30 at Forsyth Technical Community Colleges Transportation Technology Center at 4255 North Patterson Avenue.

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

Mr.

Pate, would you uh just clarify how the sculptures were paid for?

The the public art sculptures were paid for as a part of the bond referendum that was approved by the voters in the community.

One percent of that referendum was set aside for public art.

So that money that was used to create these uh sculptures as public art was was a part of that bond referendum.

That's all that that's the only thing those funds could be used for.

That is right.

Okay.

The questions, Mr.

Pate.

Great.

Thank you, Mr.

Pate.

We'll now go to our agenda, which is come broken into two parts the consent agenda and the general agenda.

It's always the practice of our council to take the consent agenda as the first order of business.

There will be no discussion of the items on this agenda unless a council member request at which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and uh considered individually.

Items not removed will be enacted to one motion.

Uh council members, are there any items on the consent of genuine?

C one.

C one.

Is there a motion to approve the balance?

Well, for approval of the balance of the consent of second by councilmember hall.

This will be a voice vote.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed, no.

That's approved.

Now may we have item C1, please.

Item C1 resolution adopting the fiscal year 2027 consolidated housing and community development program and the proposed 2026-2027 consolidated housing and community development plan submission to the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Uh Mayor Pro Tim Adams.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um I'm asking a question about, again, I've talked to staff over the past year or so about this.

Is the CHOTO designation?

Uh I see that we have a hundred and ninety seven thousand or something designated for that.

Uh, what I'm really wondering is have we officially communicated launch to the community that these different organizations, nonprofits with the ability to develop housing, rehab housing, whatever, that they can apply uh to also be a CHOTO.

So Shrika Floyd, neighborhood services department.

Um, good afternoon.

So um with the feedback that we received last year during the request for proposal process, we did um redo the request for proposals to put in more information about CHOTO requirements and how to become an eligible CHO.

Um, and then there was some information that was shared for anyone that was interested.

Um, we did have some one other agency that did state that they were interested.

So all of that information was updated in the request for proposals.

However, still this year, only one CHOTO applied.

So with only one CHOTO applying, it goes to that CHOTO.

I have a concern.

Okay.

That you know, like I tell people, I have no issue with the same people, you know, being able to apply.

But the issue is when you only have one entity applying for money, buckets of money like this, and no one else is.

I think it's it's our duty to make sure other organizations, nonprofits understand that they can apply to.

You know, I again I just think it's a misstep on our part that maybe again, this is where we got to go beyond what we normally do.

We've got to get the word out because we have so many nonprofits right now building rehabbing housing in our community.

And I think that they just don't know.

And we may even have to have, you know, I'll sponsor it in the North Wallet.

I think we just need to get the word out so that we can be known to, you know, that we're doing the best we can to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to apply for this funding.

That's all I needed.

Mayor, I can go ahead and uh make a motion to accept C1.

Second.

Second by Councilmember Clark and Joiner simultaneously.

Any discussion.

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

Aye.

Anyone opposed, no?

Or you can vote?

Okay.

Sorry.

We'll wait and see how our body votes.

That's unanimous.

Thank you very much.

We'll now move on to the general agenda, which is uh includes the adoption of the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and related budget uh ordinances and resolutions.

There are four public hearings related to demolition ordinances as well as an amendment to the utility agreement between the city and Frasad County.

When these public hearings are calls, I will uh call on anyone who wishes to speak in the council chamber, we'll give them an opportunity.

If there is opposition, the opponents and proponents 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, consideration of fiscal year 2026-2027 annual appropriation and tax levy and the project budget ordinance.

Mr.

Tesh, I believe you're up to talk about subject.

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

Uh we are here for budget adoption this evening.

I will note there are many fewer items uh on the council agenda this year than there have been in the past.

In the past, we have seen somewhere between 12 and 18 items because of different types of recusals.

We do not have those this year.

You essentially have two items.

I have a presentation, but the two items that you have before you, the first one is going to be the annual appropriation and tax levy ordinance as well as the project budget ordinance.

So these are the budget numbers themselves.

The second item with all of the attachments, these would have been uh separate votes in the past.

We have um pulled them together through the June.

We have to do one vote.

But again, those are all of the parts of the budget process uh related to different things like the capital plan as a financial guide, the opioid settlement uh distribution resolution that you have to pass and things of that nature.

Um before you is item one, but I do have a very quick uh budget presentation.

You have seen this slide several times through the budget workshops as well as the city manager's presentation of the proposed budget, uh priorities for this year, including maintaining the current levels of service as much as possible, strategic investments both on the operating and capital improvement side.

We have talked significantly about preparing for future debt funded priorities or cash-funded priorities specifically as they come back or our needs come back from the facility condition assessment that is being uh completed right now, and then also continuing to stay a regional employer of choice with respect to our compensation and benefits package overall.

I'm not gonna go over this in significant detail unless there are questions, but the committee of the whole did recommend a budget that uh reduced uh 0.4 cents from the proposed tax rate increase.

Uh the proposed tax rate from the city manager's budget was 59.3 cents.

That has been reduced to 58.9.

You can see the items that were selected by the committee of the whole at the top of the slide, as well as the we called it 1.6 million dollars, but the unrounded number 1.583 million.

Uh again, a chart that you have seen several times.

The only difference in this one is the property taxes amount at the top uh under the recommended budget from the committee of the whole, the property tax increase is now less than four percent, which is just uh over four and a half dollars per month for the median uh household.

This is one that we try to show you a little bit earlier in the process, as we were a little earlier in the process, and some of our colleagues were getting theirs out a little later.

Uh we have had an opportunity to grab the proposed budget information for the other four largest cities in North Carolina.

Uh the Winston-Salem information includes the recommended tax rate that you have before you tonight.

But as you can see, when we include taxes, water and sewer, and all of the mandatory fees, we are the lowest cost uh municipal services provider amongst the five largest cities in North Carolina.

Uh the reason that we do this chart again for the public, specifically, if you look at both Charlotte and Raleigh and that lighter blue section of the top, that are other city fees and charges, you can see there are several places where they have chosen to keep the tax rate lower, but they have chosen to charge for specific fees.

And in this case, particularly in Raleigh, these are mandatory solid waste fees.

So you can see that although from a property tax perspective, uh we are almost the same as Raleigh in terms of what the median household pays in property taxes, you pay nearly uh four times more uh in solid waste and other mandatory fees.

That is the high level information that I have for you for item G1, which again is the annual appropriation and tax levy ordinance as well as the project budget ordinance.

G2 will come forward just after that, which includes all of the associated resolutions and ordinances for the 27 budget process, and then G3 is a companion item, which includes amendments to the personnel resolution, which is also generally part of the budget package as well.

Any questions, Mr.

Tesh?

Thank you.

Oh, Councilmember Hall.

Um, and just uh point of information, this is about voting for item G1 based off of what Director Tesh just presented, right?

Right.

Okay.

Um I do have um slide changes from the proposed budget recommended by committee of the whole.

This particular one, yes.

That this particular slide has the elimination of the secondary revenue collections location at BPS on there.

We may end up talking about that a little later.

I'm not sure.

One of the things that came up in the committee meeting last week, I believe, was making sure that there were no positions that were lost because of this was a concern.

I presume that this is where I would state that, or it might be at a different point, but I wanted to make sure that that I had that on record.

That was one of the concerns that I had with this particular um item.

Other than that, I can see efficiency numbers making sense for any sort of closure, but I wanted to make sure that we touched on that, that I touched on that um publicly, because I publicly put that on record last week.

I just wanted to make sure that that was stated tonight before I did any vote.

Once we get a motion, the council hall, I'll recognize you and you can state that for the record on that.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Uh City Clerk, would you read item G1, please?

Item G1, consideration of fiscal year 2026-2027, annual appropriation and tax levy and project budget ordinances, including the annual appropriation and tax levy ordinance for the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the fiscal year 2026-2027, and the project budget ordinance for the city of Winston Salem, North Carolina for the fiscal year 2026-2027.

Recognize the chairman of our finance committee, Councilman Clark.

Before I make the motion, needs to be one thing said that what we're not voting on tonight.

The budget simply has a number in there for the nonprofits, a total number.

It does not break it out by who's going to get it.

A week from tomorrow at the Finance Committee, which is on the 9th at 4 o'clock, that's Tuesday, 4 o'clock.

The Finance Committee will take up or continue the discussion that we had from the last uh committee, the whole meeting, talking about which specific organizations will be funded from that.

But understand tonight there's simply a one number in the budget, which is $912,000 or something like that.

956,550 for the general funds.

Approximately, yeah.

Okay.

So anyway, so that's what's in here.

And we will we will deal with the details uh next week.

And then that will be voted on at the second meeting of the month, which is the 15th.

Which by the way, is the meeting.

The second meeting of the month is when we typically vote on the budget.

We're actually two weeks ahead of schedule, which is nice to be.

Anyway, with that said, I moved to approve the annual appropriation and tax levy ordinance for the city once the Salem, North Carolina for the fiscal year 2026-27, which sets the tax rate at 58.9 cents per hundred of assessed value and approval of the project budget ordinance for fiscal year 2026-27, authorizing multi-year appropriations for various funds.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Mayor Pro Tim Adams.

Uh yes.

Um Councilman Clark, what was the the the uh tax rate that you quoted?

58.9.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

I will recognize Councilman Hall if you want to make your comment for the record on this.

I do.

Thank you, Mayor Join's comment for the record is um pertaining to the elimination, possible elimination of the secondary revenue collection site, which is at the Black Phillip Smith Building on Patterson Avenue.

It's very important to me that while we consider eliminating uh this particular site so that we can approve efficiency and operations and potentially have some cost savings, that any employee that would be affected by this would not lose their job for no fault of their own.

Um and instead that we did our due diligence in making sure that they were able to continue employment, if that is their wish to continue employment here, but that there would not be any loss of employment due to this particular vote tonight.

Thank you.

One more comment.

Yes.

Excuse me.

You want to say amen to that, Mr.

Tesh or the manager there.

Yes, uh uh Councilmember Hall had a discussion this afternoon.

We any time that there is a uh a change in assignments uh to an individual based on uh efficiencies that we're trying to gain, uh any employee in good standing as always, we're looking to put them in to keep them within the department first, which is what we hope to be able to do in all those cases.

But if that's not the case, then to make sure that they have got another opportunity somewhere else in the organization.

Uh we have every confidence that we'll be able to accommodate uh the employee that's at the uh at this facility in this manner this time.

Thank you, Ms.

Pape.

Mayor Pro Tim.

Yes, Mr.

Tesh, the slide that shows the the other cities, uh urban cities in North Carolina.

I think it would be a good idea again if we make sure the public sees that, because in their mind and what they're hearing, is that we charge more than everybody else.

And they need to see that we don't, but there also needs to be an education and explanation that people assume that we are the smallest urban city, which is you know, but they feel like then why should we play pay $1,450 when Raleigh is only paying 1456 as well, and everybody knows Raleigh is much bigger.

Charlotte is much bigger.

Uh again, I know that we think people understand all of this, but they don't, a lot of them.

So I would like to make sure that going forward that we make sure people see this and that we explain to them the why, based on population, based on economics in the area, the businesses and all this other stuff that goes into this rate, uh particularly the commercial properties decline and all of that.

And then for me, I would just throw this out there with what's going on in Raleigh and them looking at all of these cities plus three or four more as to why we charge taxes the way we do.

And I'm wondering if this is not giving them also something to press pause and think about that, you know, people that don't know in Raleigh, and they've never done municipal government to be able to want to say, well, listen, Salem is charging more than Raleigh and Charlotte.

How is that?

You know, again, I think it just goes back to explaining to the public at a level that everybody can kind of grasp a little bit of it as to why we have to do what we do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Do we have a motion and a second on the floor?

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

Anyone opposed, vote no.

That is unanimous.

Thank you.

May I item G2, please?

Item G2, consideration of resolutions and ordinances related to the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget process, including a resolution approving the capital plan for the fiscal years 2026-2027 through 2020 2031 and 2032 as a financial planning guide.

Resolution adopting the fiscal year 2026-2027 user fee schedule.

Resolution directing the expenditure of opioid settlement funds for the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the fiscal year 2026-2027.

Resolution adopting an order to collect taxes for 2026 fiscal year 2026-2027 and delinquent taxes from 2016 through 2025.

Ordinance amending Chapter 75, Stormwater Management, Article 3, and ordinance amending Chapter 42, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Article 4.

Thank you.

Councilmember Hall, Member Clark.

Clark, yes.

It used to be I would make separate motions on all these things, and we'd be here until midnight.

He has grouped them all together, but it's everything from uh, for example, we're changing this uh fee in the stormwater area.

We're taking the opioid monies for specific reasons, etc.

etc.

etc.

Uh.

Please note, for example, uh the capital budget.

We only approve next year's capital budget, and the years after that are financial planning guidelines.

So all this is wrapped up in here uh in one big beautiful don't say that.

No, don't say that.

Anyway.

With that, I move to approve item G2, adopting resolutions and ordinance changes, including approval of the capital improvement plan as a financial planning guide, various changes to users' fees, approval of opioid settlement fund uses, and orders to collect current and delinquent property taxes.

Sir Second.

Second.

Second by uh Councilmember Scipio.

Any discussion?

If not, all those in favor of the motion, please indicate by voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you, Councilmember Clark.

Item G three, please.

Item G three, resolution to amend Article 2 of the personnel resolution of the City of Winston-Salem to standardize pay increased timing across police, fire, and general employees.

Mr.

Tesh.

The item number three is a companion, as we said each year as part of the budget package.

We do bring uh amend necessary amendments to the personnel resolution.

If you have specific questions about what is contained herein, I would be happy uh to allow our human resources director, Dr.

Keena, to do those otherwise.

This is a standard part of the budget package that you adopt each year as well.

Any questions from Mr.

Tesh or Dr.

Jones?

If not, Mr.

Clark, go ahead.

I move the resolution to amend Article 2 of the personnel resolution of the city of once the same to standardized pay, increase timing across police, fire, and general employees.

Sir Second.

Second.

Second by Mayor Pro Tim Adams.

Any further discussion or questions?

If not, all those in favor of the motion, please indicate by voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

That's unanimous.

Thank you very much.

Congratulations, Mr.

Tesh, to you and your staff.

Great, great job.

Item G4.

Item G four, public hearing in consideration of an ordinance ordering the demolition and removal of a structure at 1135 Argonne Boulevard, located in the Southeast Ward.

This is a public hearing, yes, sir.

Anyone in the Council Chamber who wishes to be heard on this proposed demolition of the property on Oregon Boulevard.

Seeing no one, I'll declare the public hearing closed.

I recognize I guess Councilmember Taylor is his ward.

Thank you, Mayor.

Members of the Council.

I move for approval of agenda item G4, the ordinance for 1135 Oregon Boulevard.

Second.

Second by Mayor Pro Tim and Councilmember Jordan.

Any discussion?

If not, all those in favor of the motion, please indicate by voting yes.

Anyone opposed, vote no.

That it's unanimous.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item G five.

Item G five, public hearing in consideration of an ordinance ordering the demolition and removal of a structure at 1331 Houston Street at located in the Southeast Ward.

This is the public hearing.

Is there anyone in Council Chamber who wishes to be heard on this proposed demolition at 1331 Houston Street?

Seeing no one declare a public hearing closed and again recognize Councilmember Taylor.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move for approval agenda item G five.

Second.

Second by Councilmember Scipio.

Any discussion?

Questions?

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

Anyone opposed, vote no.

That is unanimous.

Thank you.

Item G six.

Item G6, public hearing in consideration of an ordinance ordering the demolition and removal of a structure at 2705 Stokes Avenue, located in Northeast Ward.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone in the Council Chamber who wishes to be heard on this proposed demolition of 2705 Stokes Avenue?

Seeing no one, I declare the public hearing closed and recognize Councilmember Burke.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move for approval of agenda item G6, the demolition ordinance for 2705 Stokes Avenue.

Sir Second Second by Mayor Pro Tim Adams.

Any discussion?

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

Anyone opposed, vote no.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you.

Item G7.

Item G7, public hearing in consideration of an ordinance ordering the demolition and removal of a structure at 410 Barrie Street, located in the East Ward.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone in Council Chamber who wishes to be heard on this proposed demolition at uh 410 Barrie Street?

Seeing no one, I declare it a public hearing closed and recognize Councilmember Sipio.

I move for approval of agenda item G7, the demolition ordinance for 410 Barrie Street.

Sir Second?

Second by Councilmember Hall.

Any discussion?

Questions?

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

Anyone opposed, vote no.

That is unanimous.

Thank you very much.

And item G8, please.

Item G8 resolution amending an agreement between the County of Forsyth and the City of Winston Salem.

Dated April 20th, 1976 relating to the Utility Commission.

Mr.

King, you want to say a brief comment about this, please?

Sure, Mayor.

So in 1976, when this agreement was entered into between the city and the county to create the utility commission, the whole intent behind the utility commission was to have a non-political board overseeing the operation of our utilities.

And as such language was included in that original agreement that said no member of the county commissioners or city council could serve on the utility commission.

The language that is before you tonight basically takes that same language and just further expands that to say no elected official in Forsyth County can serve on the utility commission.

So it keeps that same premise in mind and captures to apply that across the board to any other municipality.

Other than that, the agreement is the same.

Right.

And the county will be considering this change.

That's correct, Mayor.

So um the amendments to the agreement have to be approved by both the city council and the county commissioner, so it'll go to the county after this.

Great.

So recognize the chairman of our public works committee, Councilmember Burke.

Thank you again.

I move for approval of agenda item G eight, res resolution amending and agreement between Forsyth County and the city dated April 20th, 1976, relating to the Utility Commission.

Second.

Second by Councilmember Hall.

Any discussion questions?

Uh yes, Councilmember Clark.

And then Councilmember Sipio.

I was just going to say the Utilities Commission has been a home run for this community.

It has done an outstanding job.

We have some of the most competitive water and sewer rates in the state.

They also run the landfill, which runs very nicely.

And we need to be sure we keep politics out of it and have just good citizens running it as they have for many years.

Thank you.

All right, Councilman Scipio.

Yes, I don't know, Mr.

King, if you know the answer to this.

Um, but because there are other municipalities, about I think it's eight or seven that surround us.

Um is it the county that sort of ensures that they have representation from the various other municipalities?

That's right, Council Recipios.

So it would have to be because the members, the five members of the council appoints, have to live in the city of Winston-Salem City limit.

So I think the county does try to seek to try to spread that around and seek members from all over the county on their behalf.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh is there a mo we do have a motion, excuse me.

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

Anyone opposed, vote no.

And that is unanimous.

Thank you, Councilmember Burke.

That's all well.

Our agenda anybody have any comments or you ready to go?

I entertain a motion to adjourn.

So move.

Second.

Motion by Mayor Pro Tim, seconded by Councilmember Hall to adjourn.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

We are adjourned.