Winston-Salem City Council Regular Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Winston-Salem City Council met on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Mayor Allen Joines presided, with all nine council members present. The meeting included proclamations, consent agenda items, public hearings, and a debate on extending the youth protection ordinance. A closed session followed for the city manager's performance evaluation.

Consent Calendar

• C-1 (Removal of Park Land Designation, Rhyne Avenue): Approved by consent vote.
• C-3 (Long-Term Lease to Colab, Inc. for DIY Skate Park): Approved by consent vote.
• C-4 (Jet Vac Sewer Cleaning Truck, $565,000): Approved by consent vote.
• C-5 (Tractor-Drawn Aerial Ladder Truck, $2,413,452): Approved by consent vote.
• C-6 (Reappointments to Bicycle/Pedestrian/Active Mobility Advisory Committee: Amy Easter, Carol Hoover, John Gunckel): Approved by consent vote.
• C-7 (Reappointments to Fair Planning Committee: Justin Armstrong, Tyler Foster, Thomas McKim, Celine Richards, Sydney Richardson, Daina Rumley, Kim Smith, terms expiring December 2028): Approved by consent vote.
• C-8 (Approval of City Council Summary of Minutes from September 21, 2026): Approved by consent vote.
• C-2 (Resolution to Accept 9.27 Acres for Long Creek Park, Donated by the Conservation Fund): Pulled from consent for discussion. Michael Leonard of the Conservation Fund spoke in support, noting that 70.74 acres had been added to the original park with a total gift value of $514,399. Mayor Pro Tempore Adams moved approval, seconded by Council Member Joiner. The motion passed unanimously (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

Item G-6 – Proposal to Extend the Youth Protection Ordinance Mayor Joines allocated 20 minutes for public comment: 10 minutes to proponents and 10 minutes to opponents, with 2 minutes per speaker.

Proponents:

• Mark Owens, President and CEO of Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., expressed support on behalf of the business community, stating the ordinance has helped keep young people safe and cited that in 2025 two juveniles were murdered during the curfew period, whereas this summer there were zero deaths. He urged data collection to evaluate effectiveness.
• Jason Thiel, President of Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, voiced support, emphasizing the need for downtown to be safe and welcoming. His time was cut short after using only about 3 minutes.

Opponents:

• Olivia Doyle (Haidat Winston coalition) argued the ordinance is an experiment on children and families, disproportionately affecting East and North Ward residents who may not be aware of the curfew. She cited national studies showing ineffectiveness and called for youth-centered resources like late-night study cafes.
• Marilyn Lacunza (Greensboro, NC) stated the ordinance lacks evidence to justify restricting liberty. She noted only 13 incidents were identified during the curfew period, not enough for a citywide restriction, and that national research shows curfews do not reliably reduce crime and produce racial disparities.
• Qumekia Shavers (Winston-Salem) argued that safety cannot be achieved through containment alone; the city must invest in restorative justice, extended recreation center hours, youth jobs, and mental health resources rather than relying solely on policing and citations.
• Phoenix Sampson Young (Winston-Salem) stated the curfew disproportionately affects minority communities. She called for safe spaces for youth (movies, fashion events, teen clubs, sports tournaments) and said the city should focus on root causes of youth issues, not punitive measures.
• Paul Robert Ford (Winston-Salem) noted he had submitted amendments to make the ordinance less offensive and proposed opening recreation centers late. He called on the business community to partner in solutions, not just enforcement.

Discussion Items

G-1, G-2, G-3 – Demolition Ordinances (605 Eldora Street; 2802 Trent Street – main structure and accessory building) Mayor Joines opened each public hearing; no one spoke. The council voted unanimously (8-0) to approve all three demolitions.

G-4 – Petition to Close and Abandon a Portion of South Spring Street Charles Hendricks (Engineering) presented: the petitioner (Salem Baptist Church) seeks closure for student safety and campus security. Council Member Joiner raised concerns about insufficient neighborhood notice and potential traffic congestion on nearby streets. She offered a substitute motion to continue the item to the October 19, 2026, council meeting to allow more input. Council Member Burke and Council Member Clark seconded; the substitute motion was unanimously approved (8-0).

G-5 – Surplus and Sale of Liberty Street Park Shelter Structures Council Member Clark made the motion to approve; Council Member Burke seconded. Council Member Hall noted that the space was previously rented for $45/day but struggled to attract users, though churches used it. She expressed concern that churches should continue to have access. Council Member Joiner worried that disconnecting utilities (unconditioning) would accelerate deterioration and suggested community agencies could use the structures at minimal cost. Council Member Burke, representing the Northeast Ward, supported the motion, stating the structures must be sold to make way for a planned Transformational Center funded in 2022. She emphasized community need for workforce development, classrooms, senior services, and a multi-purpose room. She said if the structures do not sell, they would be moved to Bloom Park. Mayor Joines called the vote: 6 in favor (Andree-Bowen, Burke, Clark, Hall, Taylor, Adams), 2 opposed (Joiner, Scippio). Motion carried.

G-6 – Proposal to Extend the Youth Protection Ordinance (First Reading) Chief of Police William Penn briefed the council, reporting that since enactment, seven youth and eight adults have been charged, with 19 warnings issued to youth and 10 to adults. He stated the ordinance created intervention opportunities through the JRISE (Juvenile Response Intervention Support and Engagement) team, and that during the same period the city saw the fewest youth victims of crime in five years, with no youth injured by violent crime or traffic accidents, and no teen takeovers. He requested a one-year extension to collect more data. After public comment, Council Member Scippio moved to approve the extension; Mayor Pro Tempore Adams seconded. The vote initially showed 2 ayes (Clark, Scippio) and 6 nays; Mayor Pro Tempore Adams corrected her vote to nay, making the final tally 2 ayes, 6 nays. The motion failed.

Key Outcomes

• Demolitions (G-1, G-2, G-3): Approved unanimously (8-0) after public hearings with no speakers.
• Street Closure (G-4): Continued to the October 19, 2026 council meeting by unanimous substitute motion.
• Liberty Street Park Shelter Structures (G-5): Declared surplus, authorized public auction on November 6, 2026; passed 6-2.
• Youth Protection Ordinance Extension (G-6): Failed on a 2-6 vote (Clark and Scippio in favor; Andree-Bowen, Burke, Hall, Joiner, Taylor, Adams opposed).
• Closed Session: Council entered closed session (8-0) pursuant to N.C.G.S. §143-318.11(a)(6) for the city manager's annual performance evaluation, §143-318.11(a)(1) for privileged information, and to review prior closed session minutes.
• Meeting Adjourned: 8:50 PM.