OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

General Government Committee Meeting Summary – August 10, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, August 10, 2026
BodyWinston Salem, North Carolina
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, August 10, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:57
Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

August 10th general government meeting.

0:10

Happy return to everyone.

0:14

We look forward to to working together again.

0:17

We had a little break too.

0:19

So we've got a lot coming at us, I think, in the next few months.

0:24

But I know that you're ready.

0:26

You're always ready, and we appreciate that.

0:30

City Clerk, would you please call the role?

0:33

Chairwoman.

0:34

Mayor Pro Tem.

0:36

Here.

0:37

Council Vice Chair.

0:39

Councilmember Joyner.

0:40

Present.

0:41

Councilmember Burke.

0:42

Here.

0:43

And Councilmember Hall.

0:44

Here.

0:46

We have general agenda and a consent agenda.

0:49

We have six consent items.

0:51

Are there any items to be pulled?

0:53

I've already been asked to pull C three and C5.

0:58

And one else.

1:00

If not, may I have a motion to accept the balance of the consent agenda?

1:06

Move to approve.

1:08

Second.

1:09

Is the move and properly seconded to accept the balance of the consent agenda?

1:13

All those in favor do so by saying aye.

1:16

Aye.

1:17

And the motion passes.

1:19

Thank you.

1:19

Uh Clerk, would you please call item C3?

1:24

Item C three request for a public hearing on an ordinance ordering the demolition and removal of a structure at 3,005 Teresa Avenue.

1:33

Public hearing scheduled for September 8th.

1:35

Thank you.

1:36

Mr.

1:36

Cheney, uh Councilmember Jorner.

1:40

You asked for this.

1:42

Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:45

Mr.

1:46

Cheney.

1:47

How are you, sir?

1:48

Doing well.

1:48

How are you?

1:49

Great.

1:50

Um is it working?

1:54

It's just a the original um citations and information about the improvements that needed to be done due to this property, all expired May of last year, May of 2025.

2:18

It has less than 25% estimated cost to repair based off of the value of the property.

2:29

Was the uh owner contacted to give uh information about possible remedies that they could possibly use to help with repairs?

2:42

They're always provided with that.

2:43

Uh we're very thorough with with doing that.

2:46

We rather instead of demolishing our property, work with the owners, give them some lease so they can bring it into compliance.

2:52

And their response usually is we'll look into it or time's lapse.

2:59

I'm talking about this particular property.

3:02

Uh I can't remember right off the bat, but what I do know we're enduring our due diligence that we got no response back from them for quite a while.

3:11

Okay.

3:13

Okay.

3:14

Umteen months from the time the the first the the end of the citation to you bringing it to towards us.

3:24

Why such a long lag time?

3:27

Oftentimes it's a lot like uh when we're doing capital budget items.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing███████████████████████████████████35%
Historic Preservation████████████████16%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Code Enforcement███████████11%
Procedural████4%
Homelessness███3%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

General Government Committee Meeting Summary – August 10, 2026

The General Government Committee of the Winston-Salem City Council met on August 10, 2026, at 4:00 PM. The agenda included consent items, public hearings, resolutions on affordable housing extensions, and a historic landmark designation. The committee voted on several items and discussed broader concerns about communication, code enforcement, and the need for a housing project dashboard.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda contained seven items (C‑1 through C‑7). Items C‑3 (demolition at 3005 Teresa Avenue) and C‑5 (rescinding HOME-ARP funding to Step Up America) were pulled for separate discussion. The remaining five items were approved by voice vote without further debate.

Discussion Items

  • C‑3 – Demolition of Structure at 3005 Teresa Avenue: Councilmember Joiner requested the pull. Mr. Cheney (staff) reported the property had less than 25% estimated cost to repair relative to value, and citations expired May 2025. The owner was contacted but did not respond. Councilmember Joiner also referenced an unrelated severe fire property (2802 Trent Street) and requested attention. The item was approved by a 3‑1 electronic vote (three yes, one no).

  • C‑5 – Rescinding $2,258,234 HOME-ARP Funding Allocation to Step Up America: Ms. Floyd (staff) explained the funds were part of a $4.8 million allocation from October 2022. Unobligated funds can be reallocated to other eligible activities (non-congregate shelter, rental housing, tenant assistance, supportive services). Approved projects so far: Family Services shelter ($1.5M), Cleveland Avenue units ($780,000), and a rental assistance program ($35,000), leaving ~$2.5 million. A past proposal for $1 million was not approved. Councilmember Burke asked about Burton Street apartments – funded separately via CDBG and a grant. The item was approved 4‑0.

  • G‑1 – Public Hearing for Chatham Block Local Historic Landmark Designation: Michelle McCullough (Historic Resources) presented. The building (301‑311 West 4th Street) is designed by local architect Harold Macklin in Streamline Art Deco style, opened 1931, with commercial significance tied to Montaldo's. The Historic Resource Commission recommended designation of the entire building and site. Options at public hearing (set for September 8, 2026) are to designate as proposed, designate exterior only, or deny. Councilmember Adams shared personal memories of shopping at Montaldo's. The motion to set the public hearing passed unanimously.

  • G‑2 – Extension for Lofts at Motor Road (216 affordable units): Presented by Erisbeta Dami Smith (Housing Program Coordinator). Originally approved in 2023 with $6,579,000 in ARPA funds. The developer (Wynnefield Forward) faced site redesign issues. New completion deadline: December 31, 2026 closing; construction start soon; units delivery expected between months 16‑18, full completion within 30‑36 months. Councilmember Burke raised concerns about delays, the kiosk request, clubhouse, and materials. Councilmember Adams noted the difficulty of explaining long timelines to constituents. The resolution passed (voice vote).

  • G‑3 – Extension for Residences at Indiana (180 affordable units): Also by Wynnefield Forward, funded with $4,850,000 in ARPA. Closing scheduled for August 25, 2026. Councilmember Burke expressed frustration over lack of community notification about clearing. Developer committed to a community meeting. Councilmember Hall noted that a site plan amendment was previously voted on without a community meeting, which she opposed due to communication issues. Councilmember Adams stressed the need for a dashboard to track housing projects. The resolution passed.

Key Outcomes

  • C‑3: Approved 3‑1 (demolition hearing set for September 8, 2026).
  • C‑5: Approved 4‑0 (rescinding HOME-ARP allocation).
  • G‑1: Unanimous approval to set a public hearing for September 8, 2026, on Chatham Block historic landmark designation.
  • G‑2: Approved (voice vote) to extend construction completion for Lofts at Motor Road.
  • G‑3: Approved (voice vote) to extend construction completion for Residences at Indiana.
  • Directives: Staff to create a simplified housing project dashboard with ward, status (red/yellow/green), and timelines; to hold community meetings for affected neighborhoods; and to improve communication between council and Code Enforcement.

Staff Comments

  • City Manager Pate acknowledged council concerns and indicated follow‑up offline.
  • Housing staff confirmed an infographic was sent July 17, 2026, and will be refined with ward information and posted on the city website.
  • Councilmember Adams and others thanked staff for handling the recent water main break and urged better public education on infrastructure issues.

Meeting Transcript

August 10th general government meeting. Happy return to everyone. We look forward to to working together again. We had a little break too. So we've got a lot coming at us, I think, in the next few months. But I know that you're ready. You're always ready, and we appreciate that. City Clerk, would you please call the role? Chairwoman. Mayor Pro Tem. Here. Council Vice Chair. Councilmember Joyner. Present. Councilmember Burke. Here. And Councilmember Hall. Here. We have general agenda and a consent agenda. We have six consent items. Are there any items to be pulled? I've already been asked to pull C three and C5. And one else. If not, may I have a motion to accept the balance of the consent agenda? Move to approve. Second. Is the move and properly seconded to accept the balance of the consent agenda? All those in favor do so by saying aye. Aye. And the motion passes. Thank you. Uh Clerk, would you please call item C3? Item C three request for a public hearing on an ordinance ordering the demolition and removal of a structure at 3,005 Teresa Avenue. Public hearing scheduled for September 8th. Thank you. Mr. Cheney, uh Councilmember Jorner. You asked for this. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Cheney. How are you, sir? Doing well. How are you? Great. Um is it working? It's just a the original um citations and information about the improvements that needed to be done due to this property, all expired May of last year, May of 2025. It has less than 25% estimated cost to repair based off of the value of the property. Was the uh owner contacted to give uh information about possible remedies that they could possibly use to help with repairs? They're always provided with that.

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