[1:19:26] ,it's

[1:20:42] a strange man

[1:21:42] .

[1:21:45] >> we're back.

[1:21:53] >> life with them with the feet

[1:21:53] .

[1:21:53] Okay.

[1:21:55] All right.

[1:21:56] Welcome back to the charlotte

[1:21:56] city council meeting.

[1:21:58] Our next candidate is mayor pro

[1:22:03] tem james mitchell.

[1:22:06] Tonight from inside out and

[1:22:09] look at that might well start

[1:22:10] with you.

[1:22:14] Well, this is my come this way

[1:22:14] .

[1:22:15] Start with you.

[1:22:23] That way everyone can.

[1:22:23] >> yeah.

[1:22:25] Good afternoon, mayor pro tem

[1:22:26] mitchell.

[1:22:26] Good afternoon, council.

[1:22:29] Welcome to the charlotte city

[1:22:30] council interview for the

[1:22:31] interim mayor position.

[1:22:34] You will have 30 minutes in

[1:22:34] total.

[1:22:37] Each candidate each council

[1:22:40] member will ask questions

[1:22:42] that's been pre-prepared.

[1:22:45] There MAY be a follow up to

[1:22:45] those questions.

[1:22:47] You will get a five minute

[1:22:49] warning when your time is about

[1:22:49] to expire.

[1:22:51] You'll get a one minute warning

[1:22:52] when you're running out of

[1:22:52] time.

[1:22:55] Finish your thought.

[1:22:55] You don't have to stop or

[1:22:57] probably finish your thought.

[1:22:57] >> and then at the conclusion

[1:23:00] you'll get a one minute closing

[1:23:03] statement to the council.

[1:23:04] We're going to start inside

[1:23:04] out.

[1:23:06] So we're going to start with

[1:23:06] councilmember owens and then

[1:23:09] we'll start with councilmember

[1:23:09] anderson.

[1:23:12] Once we complete that like

[1:23:12] councilmember owens, the floor

[1:23:14] is yours.

[1:23:15] >> okay.

[1:23:15] Thank you, councilmember

[1:23:18] mitchell the recent rescission

[1:23:20] of the I-77 project

[1:23:21] recommendation reflected strong

[1:23:23] public engagement and differing

[1:23:24] perspectives about

[1:23:24] transportation planning.

[1:23:27] What do you believe should be

[1:23:27] the next step in addressing

[1:23:29] congestion and mobility

[1:23:30] challenges along the I-77

[1:23:32] corridor?

[1:23:33] And how would you as mayor

[1:23:35] ensure the public is

[1:23:36] meaningfully involved in the

[1:23:36] process?

[1:23:43] While I think that 77 is going

[1:23:46] to take really strong

[1:23:47] leadership and leadership from

[1:23:49] not only me but for this tired

[1:23:52] council, I think number one we

[1:23:55] learn from what we did earlier

[1:23:57] that the public was were not

[1:24:00] involved or the public were not

[1:24:03] made aware, not made aware of

[1:24:03] what was actually going to

[1:24:03] occur.

[1:24:06] So as mayor if I'm fortunate be

[1:24:08] me, I think the first thing we

[1:24:11] we need to do is make sure we

[1:24:11] have the right stakeholders in

[1:24:13] the room.

[1:24:14] What we need to do is make sure

[1:24:16] this council is fully aware of

[1:24:17] all the ramifications as it

[1:24:20] relates to us, said michelle.

[1:24:22] I think it was very clear that

[1:24:25] the design was a big issue.

[1:24:28] We have to address the design

[1:24:28] to solve the traffic problem.

[1:24:31] I think there was conversation

[1:24:33] about community benefits and

[1:24:36] community allocation.

[1:24:37] We never explained articulated

[1:24:39] to the neighbors what what

[1:24:40] could be the benefits of that

[1:24:43] community allocation.

[1:24:45] I think we need to continue to

[1:24:46] have a different dialog with

[1:24:48] ncdot because immediately it

[1:24:51] was a problem that we had to

[1:24:52] face that the credibility with

[1:24:55] laws the way ncdot handled this

[1:24:57] project.

[1:25:00] I will be the first one to tell

[1:25:04] you we do have 77 traffic issue

[1:25:06] how we do how we solve it is

[1:25:07] going to have to be a

[1:25:09] collaboration of this

[1:25:10] community, this city council

[1:25:13] and nc D.O.T. Come up with to

[1:25:13] know the pros.

[1:25:15] But let me talk about the tough

[1:25:16] vote we had as council.

[1:25:18] I think it was a 6 to 5 vote

[1:25:21] and so I would not be in favor

[1:25:23] of rescinding the rescinding.

[1:25:27] It has to be a new model that

[1:25:29] we put forth for this community

[1:25:32] to solve this problem.

[1:25:34] Councilmember drake's.

[1:25:35] Good afternoon.

[1:25:37] Good afternoon, COUNCILMAN.

[1:25:38] >> in order to achieve a more

[1:25:41] orderly council process, how

[1:25:43] would you work outside of

[1:25:44] meetings to help council

[1:25:46] identify priorities and achieve

[1:25:47] consensus?

[1:25:49] >> okay, great.

[1:25:52] >> so you know council member I

[1:25:52] have to play to my strengths

[1:25:55] and I'm a people person and I

[1:25:57] believe having one on one

[1:25:57] meetings with council members

[1:25:59] on a monthly basis allow that

[1:26:00] dialog and a lot of

[1:26:02] communication and set what I

[1:26:05] would call a new culture for us

[1:26:08] a culture of collaboration, a

[1:26:08] culture of understanding, a

[1:26:11] culture of listening, having

[1:26:12] different perspectives, having

[1:26:14] debate is not wrong.

[1:26:17] Diversity is our strong suit.

[1:26:18] i think as a as a council

[1:26:20] member and as a mayor I think

[1:26:23] it's important that that door

[1:26:25] stays open and it stays open

[1:26:28] for a collective converse case

[1:26:29] among us.

[1:26:32] Our.

[1:26:33] I'm one to truly believe in

[1:26:34] doing a council meeting.

[1:26:35] We should allow more

[1:26:35] opportunities.

[1:26:39] So to me mayor and council

[1:26:39] topics should be the second and

[1:26:42] fourth monday of the month.

[1:26:45] I think when we talk about how

[1:26:46] we're going to get the policy

[1:26:48] and the things we want to

[1:26:49] accomplish, we have to empower

[1:26:51] our committees and make sure

[1:26:53] our committees are doing the

[1:26:56] real work which is policy.

[1:26:59] I've been around a long time

[1:27:01] and I'm and I'm would take what

[1:27:02] I think the best practices and

[1:27:05] the best practice I think to

[1:27:07] lead is one by trust one

[1:27:10] through collaboration and one

[1:27:13] by building consensus.

[1:27:13] Thank you.

[1:27:15] Council member mayfield.

[1:27:16] >> thank you.

[1:27:18] Thank you so much for offering

[1:27:21] yourself up for the position.

[1:27:22] How do you plan to maintain

[1:27:24] your employment and do this

[1:27:27] role as it does take up a

[1:27:27] significant amount of time?

[1:27:27] >> thank you.

[1:27:28] Councilor mayfield.

[1:27:30] So council members I would say

[1:27:32] since 1999 I've held two jobs.

[1:27:35] I've been fortunate enough to

[1:27:37] have a real job working for

[1:27:38] some top companies like barton

[1:27:41] mallow, R.J. Leeper, mcfarland

[1:27:43] and the same time to be able to

[1:27:46] do this job as a part time.

[1:27:49] And so I've been fortunate that

[1:27:50] my employees have seen value

[1:27:52] allow me to serve.

[1:27:56] and so I think being mayor of

[1:27:56] the 14 applied to city I will

[1:27:58] continue to have a job as

[1:27:58] business developer for

[1:28:01] mcfarland and I will continue

[1:28:04] to prioritize make sure I get

[1:28:04] my work done but more

[1:28:06] importantly have the time and

[1:28:07] energy I tell people where I

[1:28:11] work to jobs one is 40 hours

[1:28:13] for mcfarland the other the 70

[1:28:14] hours for the citizens of

[1:28:19] charlotte.

[1:28:22] Council member judy.

[1:28:22] >> thank you.

[1:28:24] Chair graham thank you.

[1:28:27] Councilmember mitchell.

[1:28:30] Charlotte is a growing city but

[1:28:30] too often that growth is not

[1:28:33] reaching everyone equally and

[1:28:33] working families are being left

[1:28:34] behind.

[1:28:36] How would you balance being

[1:28:38] business friendly and people

[1:28:39] first and how would you ensure

[1:28:41] that our private partners are

[1:28:42] collaborative partners and

[1:28:44] closing socioeconomic gaps?

[1:28:45] >> thank you.

[1:28:47] Councilmember jd so council

[1:28:48] members I'm actually addressing

[1:28:50] it at the town hall meeting I'm

[1:28:50] having saturday JUNE 27th and

[1:28:53] this MAY have neighborhood

[1:28:56] presidents and and developer

[1:28:57] saying the title is come be a

[1:28:59] pro less developed charlotte

[1:28:59] together.

[1:29:02] I do think if we're talking

[1:29:02] about some of the pillars who

[1:29:05] have in our community it is

[1:29:07] corporate it is policy makers

[1:29:08] and is more important it's us

[1:29:10] citizens and so we need to

[1:29:13] continue to find ways to bring

[1:29:13] them together.

[1:29:15] And so part of the conversation

[1:29:16] I want to hear from a citizen

[1:29:18] what is smart growth?

[1:29:20] What's your definition of

[1:29:20] nimbyism?

[1:29:23] And then what does community

[1:29:24] benefits look from your

[1:29:26] perspective?

[1:29:27] And the conversation with

[1:29:29] developers is about why are you

[1:29:32] developing charlotte and what

[1:29:35] does development mean to you?

[1:29:38] Is it driven by profit or is it

[1:29:38] driven by making charlotte

[1:29:41] better community for all?

[1:29:44] But let's be very clear what

[1:29:46] our main responsibility has to

[1:29:48] be and that's to the 879,000

[1:29:49] citizens currently right now to

[1:29:51] call charlotte home.

[1:29:52] So we need to continue to have

[1:29:54] townhomes.

[1:29:55] We need to continue to have

[1:29:57] open dialog and making sure

[1:30:02] that even our zoning and zoning

[1:30:02] practice is a12 we need to

[1:30:05] change because we hear from

[1:30:05] neighbors a lot.

[1:30:07] It's like the community meeting

[1:30:08] is just a check mark.

[1:30:11] It's not really.

[1:30:13] And so I would be the first one

[1:30:13] to tell you maybe we do defer

[1:30:16] to tpd.

[1:30:16] Let's look at our zoning

[1:30:19] practices and make sure our

[1:30:19] neighborhood voices are heard

[1:30:21] and heard early.

[1:30:25] I would tell you using my

[1:30:25] experience 14 members a

[1:30:28] district rep and now at large

[1:30:30] it was always insulting to me

[1:30:31] when a developer would come and

[1:30:33] they'd never even pick up the

[1:30:35] phone call the district rep.

[1:30:38] I would nicely tell them you

[1:30:39] recall councilmember johnson

[1:30:41] COUNCILMAN J.D. Was in district

[1:30:42] four and five.

[1:30:44] And so there has to be a

[1:30:45] different culture and a

[1:30:47] different way that us citizens

[1:30:50] feel like that we are working

[1:30:50] on our behalf.

[1:30:53] and I would tell you,

[1:30:53] councilmember, we need to

[1:30:55] provide what I call stability

[1:30:58] among our citizens, what we

[1:31:01] will support and what we will

[1:31:01] not support.

[1:31:04] And I think it a mixed shot a

[1:31:04] better place for all us

[1:31:07] citizens to call home.

[1:31:10] >> councilmember johnson, thank

[1:31:11] you.

[1:31:13] And thank you for your

[1:31:14] willingness to serve cast

[1:31:18] members out.

[1:31:22] >> what concerns, if any, do

[1:31:22] you think the public might have

[1:31:24] about your appointment as

[1:31:25] interim mayor and how will you

[1:31:28] address those concerns?

[1:31:28] >> wow.

[1:31:30] Okay.

[1:31:32] I think the first concern he

[1:31:33] MAY have does he still have

[1:31:35] enough energy in the tank to do

[1:31:40] this job for 18 months and that

[1:31:43] I would say yes, I do.

[1:31:45] You know, COUNCILMAN Johnson,

[1:31:46] we are public servants so we're

[1:31:48] not perfect service.

[1:31:51] And so we are going to make

[1:31:53] mistakes and at times we're

[1:31:54] going to have different

[1:31:56] different conversations with

[1:31:57] some of us citizen.

[1:31:59] I will hope to over my over my

[1:32:02] years of serving the public,

[1:32:02] there's been one thing that

[1:32:05] people have felt toward me and

[1:32:08] that is I love charlotte more

[1:32:08] than myself.

[1:32:10] >> okay.

[1:32:11] >> so that leads to the second

[1:32:11] part.

[1:32:13] Additionally, what strengths

[1:32:14] and experiences do you believe

[1:32:16] make you well-suited for this

[1:32:17] role?

[1:32:17] >> and how many minutes I have

[1:32:19] someone do this quickly.

[1:32:22] Okay, 21 minutes left.

[1:32:22] 21 minutes left.

[1:32:24] So let's talk about the

[1:32:25] leadership because I truly

[1:32:27] think when you are prepared to

[1:32:29] work in your community you must

[1:32:30] do what I call leadership

[1:32:32] development.

[1:32:33] So I've been a graduate of

[1:32:33] leadership charlotte, a

[1:32:36] graduate of focus on leadership

[1:32:38] graduate institute of political

[1:32:39] leadership and have taken some

[1:32:41] courses john f kennedy at

[1:32:44] harvard and then lester.

[1:32:45] Let's talk about just the track

[1:32:45] record.

[1:32:47] 14 years been a dish.

[1:32:48] You grew up in district two and

[1:32:52] now be coming back since 2015

[1:32:52] at large.

[1:32:56] I love being the chili ta for

[1:32:56] charlotte north carolina.

[1:32:59] The city has given me so much

[1:33:01] and it's my way of repairing

[1:33:02] saying thank you for allowing

[1:33:02] me to serve.

[1:33:05] So councilmember johnson the

[1:33:08] energizer bunny is still

[1:33:08] energize.

[1:33:11] I still think there there's

[1:33:11] tough issues that we need to

[1:33:14] handle but I think I want to do

[1:33:15] it from a different way.

[1:33:17] I want to do it for taking

[1:33:17] advantage of all that

[1:33:19] leadership does in this room.

[1:33:20] We all bring different

[1:33:22] leadership skills and I just

[1:33:23] want to be the captain of the

[1:33:26] team to make sure that our team

[1:33:28] is performing at a level that

[1:33:29] each and every one of you feel

[1:33:31] like you learn something for

[1:33:34] the 18 months of the leadership

[1:33:35] that I could bring to the

[1:33:37] mayor's office.

[1:33:37] >> thank you.

[1:33:43] Council member anderson quiet.

[1:33:46] >> we're going inside out.

[1:33:46] >> all right.

[1:33:48] okay.

[1:33:49] >> welcome, MR. Mitchell thank

[1:33:49] you.

[1:33:54] Council moments in your opinion

[1:33:54] ,what is the biggest challenge

[1:33:57] facing our city right now?

[1:33:57] >> public safety.

[1:33:59] Okay.

[1:34:00] I think we heard loud and clear

[1:34:02] COUNCILMAN Anderson, that this

[1:34:05] community does not feel safe.

[1:34:05] And so if that's your

[1:34:08] perception, it will become your

[1:34:08] reality.

[1:34:10] So I'm glad the current mayor

[1:34:11] decided we need to have our own

[1:34:13] public safety committee which

[1:34:13] you chair.

[1:34:16] I do think public safety then

[1:34:18] touches on economic development

[1:34:18] .

[1:34:21] It touches our neighborhoods.

[1:34:24] It it is a selling car.

[1:34:25] The people say I want to move

[1:34:25] charlotte cars.

[1:34:27] It's safe.

[1:34:28] And so I do think I budget

[1:34:30] speak very loudly our

[1:34:33] priorities as relates to public

[1:34:36] safety 10% pay increase but

[1:34:38] also we hope that the funding

[1:34:38] will allow the 320 full open

[1:34:42] positions we have to be filled

[1:34:44] and then I think public safety

[1:34:46] also in a way a vision zero we

[1:34:49] get too many crashes that taken

[1:34:50] place in our community public

[1:34:52] safety is we talked about

[1:34:55] downtown and in providence at

[1:34:56] 51 we talked about the newest

[1:34:58] camera and rear camera.

[1:34:59] Public safety has to be a

[1:35:01] number one priority for the

[1:35:02] next 18 months and I'm

[1:35:04] fortunate enough to to be your

[1:35:04] interim mayor.

[1:35:07] I will make sure it's a top

[1:35:09] priority for the next 18

[1:35:09] months.

[1:35:11] Not saying it will the other

[1:35:11] ones but you say the number one

[1:35:14] is public safety quantum of a

[1:35:16] mayor.

[1:35:17] >> thank you.

[1:35:17] Thank you.

[1:35:19] Mayor pro tem how would you

[1:35:19] ensure meetings are efficient

[1:35:22] while still allowing robust

[1:35:25] debate and discussion?

[1:35:26] Oh no I this is a good one.

[1:35:28] Okay so first of all let me say

[1:35:31] somehow we need to take all the

[1:35:33] work that the the workgroup is

[1:35:35] doing on a meet on the meeting

[1:35:39] decorum there's a lot of items

[1:35:40] there that I think that would

[1:35:42] need to come forward.

[1:35:43] So I don't know do we forward

[1:35:44] it to the bgr committee but it

[1:35:45] is a lot of work so so let's

[1:35:48] talk about how we need to

[1:35:50] improve.

[1:35:51] We need to start meetings on

[1:35:53] time which as we can concern

[1:35:53] that most of us might have

[1:35:56] another job or other

[1:35:56] obligation.

[1:35:58] Secondly I think the immediate

[1:35:59] needs to be a decorum the way

[1:36:01] we respect one another when we

[1:36:03] have conversation.

[1:36:04] Thirdly, I hope we can get to

[1:36:06] the point we have time

[1:36:07] allocation how long we can

[1:36:09] speak for.

[1:36:12] >> I think it has we have to

[1:36:15] change the decorum norm as

[1:36:17] citizens coming up building I

[1:36:18] don't mind the passion from

[1:36:21] citizens but I think all of us

[1:36:22] feel a little uncomfortable.

[1:36:23] Has been borderline

[1:36:26] disrespectful and so how how do

[1:36:29] it one time embrace we want to

[1:36:32] feel your passion but we need

[1:36:32] you to respect the building you

[1:36:34] in a talk to us and share your

[1:36:37] ideas in a very professional

[1:36:37] way.

[1:36:39] You know one thing I will say

[1:36:42] but our meetings we have to

[1:36:45] find a way that we have

[1:36:45] disagreement.

[1:36:47] We do it professionally.

[1:36:50] And so in my mind I would say

[1:36:51] because I'm a basketball player

[1:36:53] I think we need to have a

[1:36:53] huddle.

[1:36:56] So if you and I have a disagree

[1:36:57] ,how can we help before the

[1:37:00] scheduled meeting?

[1:37:01] And so we clear that it's not a

[1:37:02] personal attack but we come

[1:37:05] from different perspectives and

[1:37:08] so how do we embrace one

[1:37:09] another differences that makes

[1:37:14] the team better really want one

[1:37:16] last idea and I want to just

[1:37:18] throw this out because one

[1:37:18] thing the meeting decorum

[1:37:21] talked about is how we state

[1:37:21] the ground rules for the

[1:37:24] behavior we're going to accept

[1:37:26] at the very beginning and that

[1:37:27] way even our audience will

[1:37:29] understand our expectations.

[1:37:32] How you had to act in the

[1:37:35] chamber.

[1:37:37] Council member wallington thank

[1:37:37] you.

[1:37:38] >> good afternoon.

[1:37:38] Good afternoon.

[1:37:40] Customer wallet.

[1:37:40] >> charlotte's priorities are

[1:37:43] not new conversations but the

[1:37:43] tools, partners and scale of

[1:37:46] these challenges look very

[1:37:47] different than they did even

[1:37:48] five years ago.

[1:37:48] Can you walk us through a

[1:37:51] specific example of work you

[1:37:54] are doing right now or have

[1:37:54] done in the very recent past

[1:37:57] that directly connects to one

[1:37:57] of these priorities?

[1:38:02] >> and so I'm happy to a cheat

[1:38:04] sheet because I know is five of

[1:38:05] you great neighborhoods help me

[1:38:07] do it cheap sheet, great

[1:38:07] neighborhoods, well-managed

[1:38:09] government safety, community

[1:38:10] transportation planning,

[1:38:12] workforce and business

[1:38:13] development.

[1:38:15] So let me take one that I'm

[1:38:15] probably more passionate about

[1:38:20] does workforce development.

[1:38:21] And I do remember and counsel a

[1:38:23] grandmother proud we might be

[1:38:25] dealing with to hear around

[1:38:25] this time.

[1:38:29] But I am debbie got struck I am

[1:38:35] debbie adobe program a lawsuit

[1:38:35] we filed against it and so

[1:38:38] which charlotte ahead to make a

[1:38:41] change to his program and then

[1:38:41] we say how are we going to set

[1:38:43] up another program that will

[1:38:46] address our small businesses in

[1:38:48] the community?

[1:38:49] And so working with staff we

[1:38:52] came up to new cba program

[1:38:54] shall the business inclusion

[1:38:55] code we were committed and I

[1:38:57] was committed to make sure our

[1:38:58] small business the minority

[1:39:00] business still had a voice in a

[1:39:03] community but had a voice that

[1:39:05] people going to champion,

[1:39:05] people going can understand and

[1:39:09] support the new program and so

[1:39:11] here we are today cba is

[1:39:14] probably now seven years old.

[1:39:17] Cba program now has reach

[1:39:19] almost $1 billion in minority

[1:39:21] participation and so customer

[1:39:22] wallets and I would tell you

[1:39:25] that's what leadership and

[1:39:25] working with staff and

[1:39:28] stakeholders is about being a

[1:39:28] leader.

[1:39:30] You don't have to have all the

[1:39:31] right answers so sometimes you

[1:39:33] have to overcome the challenges

[1:39:33] .

[1:39:33] Sometimes you had to be strong

[1:39:36] in your conviction.

[1:39:37] You want a different result for

[1:39:39] people we serve it and so

[1:39:41] that's just one example of how

[1:39:44] even day to this day our

[1:39:46] benighted business program is

[1:39:49] thriving when several years ago

[1:39:49] they were question was

[1:39:52] charlotte ever embrace minority

[1:39:52] companies again?

[1:39:55] >> are you councilmember samir

[1:40:00] thank the next mayor might play

[1:40:00] a major role in shaping the

[1:40:03] selection of charlotte's next

[1:40:03] city leaders how would you

[1:40:06] ensure a city council is

[1:40:07] meaningfully included in that

[1:40:09] process and what structure

[1:40:10] would you put in place to make

[1:40:11] sure our city staff is

[1:40:14] proactive, transparent and

[1:40:15] communicative with council

[1:40:18] members and residents

[1:40:18] especially in communities that

[1:40:20] often feel decisions are made

[1:40:21] without them?

[1:40:23] >> okay, so let me tackle the

[1:40:23] first one.

[1:40:25] So if I'm interim mayor hear me

[1:40:26] loud and clear james much

[1:40:28] immature name would not be on

[1:40:32] the ballot 2027 so I have the

[1:40:34] ultimate to ultimate freedom I

[1:40:37] just developing the love of

[1:40:40] people around this table and so

[1:40:40] let me apologize if when I set

[1:40:43] out my vision of my committees

[1:40:46] that it offended some people it

[1:40:46] was not to offend you but it

[1:40:49] was to say I believe each and

[1:40:50] every one of you should have

[1:40:52] the opportunity to have a

[1:40:53] leadership role on charlotte

[1:40:55] city council.

[1:40:57] So my first thing with you my

[1:41:00] question is let me be very

[1:41:03] specific when I talk about next

[1:41:03] city leaders, I'm talking about

[1:41:05] our direct reports like the

[1:41:05] attorney, the manager and the

[1:41:08] clerk oh, I'm sorry.

[1:41:08] >> I'm sorry.

[1:41:09] I thought you said so.

[1:41:11] Repeat it again then, mr.

[1:41:11] mayor.

[1:41:12] >> yes.

[1:41:13] The next mayor might play a

[1:41:14] major role in shaping the

[1:41:16] selection of charlotte's next

[1:41:18] city leaders.

[1:41:19] City leaders?

[1:41:19] Yes.

[1:41:20] The three that we were

[1:41:21] responsible for.

[1:41:22] >> yes.

[1:41:22] So how would you ensure that

[1:41:25] the process is transparent,

[1:41:27] communicative and proactive

[1:41:30] where council is meaningfully

[1:41:33] engaged in the process right.

[1:41:36] >> and that's okay.

[1:41:36] Thank you.

[1:41:37] Council members.

[1:41:37] I'm sorry.

[1:41:39] I was thinking about the 11

[1:41:39] year old.

[1:41:41] We had three people we know we

[1:41:43] responsible for.

[1:41:44] We should have their evaluation

[1:41:46] on that schedule.

[1:41:47] We need to do a better job of

[1:41:51] being proactive and so one

[1:41:53] ideal I had is have quarterly

[1:41:56] what I call 90 days check in so

[1:41:57] we got the city manager we know

[1:41:59] we're going to have the city

[1:41:59] attorney.

[1:42:00] We know we're going to have the

[1:42:00] city clerk.

[1:42:03] We have a bgr committee that we

[1:42:06] can refer this item to.

[1:42:08] So the bgr committee would talk

[1:42:09] about the evaluation of scoring

[1:42:11] and the date we had the respect

[1:42:14] of everybody time we got work

[1:42:15] commitments, we have family

[1:42:17] commitments and we got other

[1:42:19] commitments out there in the

[1:42:20] community and so to me the

[1:42:22] worst thing we do right now is

[1:42:25] always we look at that calendar

[1:42:28] and it pops up like next monday

[1:42:31] from 2 to 5 we have a city

[1:42:33] clerk evaluation.

[1:42:34] proactive and communication has

[1:42:37] to improve in a way I would

[1:42:38] like to improve it on a 90 day

[1:42:41] lookahead schedule.

[1:42:42] How are we going to do that by

[1:42:43] the way, some be referred to

[1:42:46] the bgr committee what criteria

[1:42:49] we're going to use goes to the

[1:42:52] bgr committee so let's ensure

[1:42:55] all the work is on the

[1:42:56] committee and let's work on me

[1:42:58] being proactive on scheduling

[1:43:01] these evaluation that fits

[1:43:04] council's schedule.

[1:43:06] Okay let's do a time chart ten

[1:43:08] administer three seconds so

[1:43:11] raise your hand and I'll

[1:43:11] recognize anyone who wants to

[1:43:12] ask a question.

[1:43:14] Council some member jd council

[1:43:16] member anderson thank you.

[1:43:19] >> thank you chair graham

[1:43:24] council member mitchell one

[1:43:25] second.

[1:43:27] >> how would you balance out

[1:43:30] the priorities and protect the

[1:43:31] local authority the city of

[1:43:33] charlotte has on our airport

[1:43:36] but also improving the

[1:43:37] conditions of airport service

[1:43:39] workers?

[1:43:39] Thank you.

[1:43:41] So I did have or a referral

[1:43:44] actually put in to kind of

[1:43:45] address the airport and

[1:43:48] unfortunately did not get sent

[1:43:50] to the aisle economic

[1:43:50] development committee.

[1:43:53] So let me share my thoughts.

[1:43:55] One is and I give councilmember

[1:43:57] owens credit we were at

[1:44:00] breakfast in politics and we

[1:44:02] heard from two companies abm

[1:44:05] and prosper about the

[1:44:08] workington ditions out there.

[1:44:09] And councilmember, I want to

[1:44:11] say that particular time didn't

[1:44:12] need to be a service level

[1:44:16] agreement that we need that we

[1:44:19] need to include as it relates

[1:44:20] to the working conditions at

[1:44:22] the airport, we have to let

[1:44:25] citizens know then when we hear

[1:44:26] your concerns and conditions

[1:44:27] you have we take an area of

[1:44:28] politics and I mean public

[1:44:30] safety workforce development.

[1:44:33] We need to have a plan.

[1:44:36] And so my thing at that

[1:44:37] particular time I me allows

[1:44:39] that she can refer is to a job

[1:44:42] fair with the abm employees to

[1:44:45] really understand how we can

[1:44:46] improve their quality of life.

[1:44:48] Can we assist them in getting

[1:44:49] more opportunities at the

[1:44:51] airport we heard about the

[1:44:53] public safety concerns.

[1:44:54] Well, we got a public safety

[1:44:56] committee and so how can we

[1:44:57] address some of the real

[1:44:59] concerns at the airport?

[1:45:02] I think and this is my motto I

[1:45:04] think doing nothing does not

[1:45:07] solve any problems and it

[1:45:08] definitely not solve the

[1:45:08] problems that we hear in that

[1:45:10] airport.

[1:45:13] Councilmember mayo and I were

[1:45:14] invited to attend a conference

[1:45:19] this this past sunday sunday

[1:45:19] talking about the airport

[1:45:22] advisory council for minority

[1:45:25] companies charlotte we was

[1:45:27] there to support them and

[1:45:28] charlotte was recently

[1:45:30] charlotte to have an airport

[1:45:31] minot advisory council along

[1:45:33] with the cit in new york.

[1:45:36] We were proud to be there, was

[1:45:36] proud to represent.

[1:45:37] But you know what I took away

[1:45:39] from that is minority

[1:45:39] businesses.

[1:45:42] >> the airport have a long way

[1:45:45] to go so they can sustain

[1:45:45] themselves.

[1:45:48] And so councilmember mayo and I

[1:45:49] was was proudly sitting up

[1:45:52] there and as they say charlotte

[1:45:54] we have a new chapter and you

[1:45:55] can just see the joy among

[1:45:57] minority companies who have

[1:46:00] been working for three years to

[1:46:02] get this charter airport is an

[1:46:03] economic development as well as

[1:46:05] a transportation.

[1:46:05] But we need to make sure our

[1:46:08] airport research and guidelines

[1:46:11] of the city council would like

[1:46:11] to establish that make sure

[1:46:13] that employees are taken care

[1:46:24] of and law thank you.

[1:46:24] >> how do you see the

[1:46:27] relationship between the mayor

[1:46:29] and council and what does it

[1:46:32] look like in practice when you

[1:46:35] disagree with the body that has

[1:46:36] appointed you?

[1:46:38] How do you see your

[1:46:41] relationship with the manager

[1:46:42] the city manager on a day to

[1:46:44] day basis?

[1:46:44] Let's talk about the most

[1:46:47] important relationship is the

[1:46:48] level of people it is around

[1:46:49] this table.

[1:46:51] The mayor doesn't have a vote

[1:46:55] so the mayor or the best thing

[1:46:58] pursuit facility date and

[1:47:01] create a culture that people

[1:47:01] can be honest and there's

[1:47:04] dialog COUNCILMAN So I would

[1:47:06] say that's why the one on one

[1:47:08] meetings we will establish will

[1:47:10] help that trust be built but

[1:47:13] also again on the standing of

[1:47:17] what do we need to do as a

[1:47:19] council to move forward.

[1:47:22] I think the city manager's

[1:47:25] responsible for staff the staff

[1:47:26] is responsible for implementing

[1:47:28] the policies that 11 those

[1:47:31] around this table raise our

[1:47:33] hand and tell them to work on

[1:47:37] and so has it been a different

[1:47:39] culture?

[1:47:40] I think there's been

[1:47:43] frustration for all of us of

[1:47:45] how things have been move and

[1:47:48] how we are being heard.

[1:47:50] COUNCILMAN How's that going to

[1:47:51] bring you?

[1:47:53] What I'm used to and that is

[1:47:54] used to tough new people

[1:47:56] working with people and making

[1:47:59] sure people understand that as

[1:48:02] more power will we work

[1:48:02] together.

[1:48:08] I'm never being someone who

[1:48:08] needs attention or who likes to

[1:48:14] grandstand and I think as mayor

[1:48:17] is more importantly that your

[1:48:19] love and fear can't will

[1:48:20] working together you'll never

[1:48:20] feel counted.

[1:48:22] You can come to talk to the

[1:48:24] mayor on pressing issue and I

[1:48:27] have to be open and to listen

[1:48:30] to that.

[1:48:31] Let me tell you one thing too I

[1:48:33] think help set that is open

[1:48:37] dialog and we have meetings

[1:48:37] here at 5:00 we do agenda

[1:48:40] review or a city council

[1:48:42] meeting.

[1:48:42] It's important that this

[1:48:46] community looks at us and said

[1:48:48] that is a council that's

[1:48:49] working together not for the

[1:48:52] own individual agenda but for

[1:48:55] us to citizens.

[1:48:57] Five minute warning it's been

[1:48:57] given councilmember wallington

[1:48:59] it's up council member

[1:49:01] addresses thank you.

[1:49:02] >> thank you.

[1:49:02] As a follow up to the previous

[1:49:04] question regarding

[1:49:07] intergovernmental relationships

[1:49:10] ,MR. Belcher, you are

[1:49:10] currently the mayor pro tem

[1:49:13] economic development chair and

[1:49:15] the capo alternate given where

[1:49:18] you already sit why would you

[1:49:21] be more valuable in the mayor's

[1:49:23] seat groups all of the roles

[1:49:24] that you currently have so

[1:49:26] councilmember watlington first

[1:49:27] of all I think there's other

[1:49:30] leaders on this table they can

[1:49:32] fit the role of mayor pro tem,

[1:49:33] chair of economic development

[1:49:35] and carpool out.

[1:49:35] That's number one.

[1:49:38] Number two, I think my

[1:49:41] leadership style and leadership

[1:49:41] skills is perfect for this

[1:49:44] transition period we having

[1:49:47] this is a true transition

[1:49:47] period and so I hope you all

[1:49:50] will feel comfortable there's

[1:49:52] someone who willing to do the

[1:49:53] work who's willing to make sure

[1:49:56] we are develop and have

[1:49:58] leadership abilities to grow

[1:50:01] and someone who's going to put

[1:50:02] this city forward instead of

[1:50:04] himself.

[1:50:07] I do not think in all my 20

[1:50:09] some years of serving that I've

[1:50:12] always been selfish.

[1:50:16] I take pride in developing

[1:50:18] other people and so I would

[1:50:21] like to say that after 18

[1:50:23] months the level you all would

[1:50:26] be better leaders this city

[1:50:27] council be more accountable and

[1:50:29] we have accomplished that.

[1:50:32] We set out to do it as relates

[1:50:35] to our priorities and I think

[1:50:35] I'm suited best.

[1:50:38] COUNCILMAN Watlington leading

[1:50:40] this team to accomplish those

[1:50:41] objectives.

[1:50:43] >> council councilmember drakes

[1:50:44] will get the last question and

[1:50:44] then I think we should be ready

[1:50:46] for the one minute closing

[1:50:49] statement and lester's any

[1:50:49] other questions from members?

[1:50:51] Council member drake thank you

[1:50:52] MR. Chair.

[1:50:54] >> how important are the

[1:50:55] intergovernmental relationships

[1:50:57] to the city's agenda and what

[1:50:58] are ways you as mayor would

[1:51:00] work with our intergovernmental

[1:51:03] partners to achieve outcomes

[1:51:03] for our city?

[1:51:04] >> thank you, councilmember

[1:51:04] judy.

[1:51:06] So I think that to me needs to

[1:51:08] be called in meetings between

[1:51:09] committee county commissioner

[1:51:12] mark dreyer, school board chair

[1:51:14] stephanie sneed quarterly

[1:51:15] meetings I think we have

[1:51:18] demonstrated success and

[1:51:20] historic social club the city

[1:51:21] county participation we had

[1:51:23] demonstrated success with the

[1:51:26] with cmc with the teacher

[1:51:27] village.

[1:51:28] We gave $1 million and then and

[1:51:31] then council majorities.

[1:51:31] I think there's two other

[1:51:32] relationships though we need to

[1:51:33] maintain.

[1:51:34] So I would like us to have a

[1:51:36] government day in raleigh.

[1:51:37] We need to make sure our

[1:51:39] relationships rallies are

[1:51:40] respected from raleigh as well

[1:51:42] as us.

[1:51:42] I'm going encourage you all to

[1:51:45] go in MARCH with our

[1:51:48] congressional relationships and

[1:51:48] alcee because our congressional

[1:51:51] delegation is very important.

[1:51:54] COUNCILMAN Rodriguez, I have

[1:51:57] always believe that when you

[1:51:59] have the three governing bodies

[1:52:00] in this community working

[1:52:02] together, schools will be

[1:52:04] better accountable, would be

[1:52:05] better in the city would

[1:52:07] definitely be better.

[1:52:07] Thank you.

[1:52:10] Okay.

[1:52:10] Any last pressing questions

[1:52:15] before the closing statements

[1:52:15] saying none.

[1:52:18] Well, what's yours for a

[1:52:18] minute?

[1:52:19] >> give us your closing

[1:52:19] statement.

[1:52:21] What chair pro tem I'm just

[1:52:23] going to go back to some I left

[1:52:25] you all when I did my two

[1:52:27] minute speech and I talked

[1:52:28] about the four c's.

[1:52:30] So I want to reiterate them.

[1:52:31] I'm so honored to get your

[1:52:34] support on JUNE 22nd and the

[1:52:37] first c is collaboration and so

[1:52:37] I talked about I want to create

[1:52:40] a culture of about

[1:52:42] collaborating meeting with the

[1:52:43] mayor one on one and seeking

[1:52:45] your input.

[1:52:47] Second is about our committees

[1:52:47] .

[1:52:48] We need to empower our

[1:52:50] committees to do the real work

[1:52:51] and so I would like the

[1:52:53] committees to have they stand a

[1:52:54] meeting on the first monday and

[1:52:56] then you determine what I call

[1:52:57] a special committee meeting.

[1:52:59] We have to be flexible enough

[1:53:02] to get the work done.

[1:53:02] Committee assignments are very

[1:53:05] important so I seek your input.

[1:53:08] I just want to have chairs and

[1:53:10] vice chairs on each committee

[1:53:10] discusses about increasing

[1:53:13] leadership capacity on this

[1:53:15] council thoroughly was about

[1:53:18] communication we need to do a

[1:53:19] better job being proactive what

[1:53:21] I communication engaging with

[1:53:24] our communication and sharing

[1:53:25] our results the lessons that

[1:53:28] citizens who we need to work

[1:53:28] for each and every day.

[1:53:31] >> thank you chair pro-tem for

[1:53:31] this opportunity.

[1:53:33] Thank you council we're port

[1:53:34] town mitchell I want to thank

[1:53:36] you for your civic leadership

[1:53:37] for all these years.

[1:53:39] Thank you for your commitment

[1:53:41] to the city of charlotte and

[1:53:42] thank you for applying for the

[1:53:44] interim mayor position.

[1:53:44] >> we appreciate your

[1:53:45] leadership.

[1:53:45] Thank you.

[1:53:46] Thank you.

[1:53:52] >> thank you all who sat next

[1:53:55] to you council member always

[1:54:00] your next I know robert

[1:54:05] harrington robert harrington.

[1:54:06] >> robert harrington is next.

[1:54:21] Oh my good betsy I know I do

[1:54:21] too.

[1:54:23] >> yes.

[1:54:27] Oh truth be told I couldn't use

[1:54:27] the restroom.

[1:54:27] We want to move it.

[1:54:29] I've got I want to take another

[1:54:29] two minute break.

[1:54:32] >> I'll just about I don't want

[1:54:35] to stop nobody stand for them.

[1:54:38] I'm going to we have someone

[1:54:40] more just more robert and then

[1:54:47] carrie this break for two

[1:54:47] minutes.

[1:54:55] >> three minutes after robert

[1:55:26] you want a break

[1:55:44] from their position for the

[1:55:45] city of charlotte in total you

[1:55:48] will have 30 minutes.

[1:55:49] Members of the council will ask

[1:55:51] question there MAY be a follow

[1:55:54] up question that's germane to

[1:55:54] the question that was

[1:55:59] previously extra you you will

[1:56:02] have a five minute warning when

[1:56:02] your time is about to expire a

[1:56:05] minute warning when your time

[1:56:07] is almost done, when you get

[1:56:08] two minute warning just finish

[1:56:10] your thought.

[1:56:11] You don't have to stop for

[1:56:13] properly and then at the end

[1:56:14] you'll get a one minute closing

[1:56:16] argument to sum up your case

[1:56:19] and so if MRS. Johnson is ready

[1:56:22] we'll start from that side.

[1:56:23] I will work our way around the

[1:56:25] dyess.

[1:56:25] Councilmember johnson the floor

[1:56:28] is yours.

[1:56:40] Thank you for voting.

[1:56:41] Thank you.

[1:56:41] Hello.

[1:56:41] Well, thank you.

[1:56:43] Thank you for your willingness

[1:56:44] to serve.

[1:56:44] >> absolutely.

[1:56:47] What concerns, if any, do you

[1:56:49] think the public might have

[1:56:49] about your appointment as

[1:56:53] interim mayor and how would you

[1:56:55] address those concerns?

[1:56:56] And then there's a second part.

[1:56:57] So he says okay.

[1:57:00] >> so on the first part I mean

[1:57:03] I think I am know one of the

[1:57:04] final five who has not served

[1:57:07] in elected office and is not

[1:57:10] served in government per se.

[1:57:12] And I think that raises I would

[1:57:13] imagine that the public would

[1:57:15] have questions about that and I

[1:57:15] think it brings opportunities

[1:57:18] right because I have served in

[1:57:21] a number of positions from the

[1:57:23] north carolina bar association

[1:57:24] to leading the board of the

[1:57:26] charlotte mecklenburg public

[1:57:26] library system.

[1:57:29] And so I've got a good deal of

[1:57:32] experience in the around the

[1:57:32] public sector and in the public

[1:57:33] sector.

[1:57:35] But I would expect that to be a

[1:57:37] question and I think the

[1:57:38] answers are that I've had good

[1:57:40] experience working with city

[1:57:43] and county and library and also

[1:57:43] working with private sector.

[1:57:46] >> thank you.

[1:57:48] Additionally, what's strengths

[1:57:51] and experiences do you believe

[1:57:52] make you the most well-suited

[1:57:55] for this role?

[1:57:55] >> I think it dovetails

[1:57:58] councilmember with what I said

[1:57:58] just now.

[1:58:00] I think I've I think we are in

[1:58:03] a time where, you know, sort of

[1:58:06] bringing all of those

[1:58:06] experiences to bear,

[1:58:08] particularly in this interim

[1:58:09] period would be helpful.

[1:58:12] I don't have political

[1:58:12] aspirations beyond this and i

[1:58:15] think you know, we've all said

[1:58:16] of course that we will not run

[1:58:16] for one for mayor.

[1:58:19] But I think this interim period

[1:58:20] gives us an opportunity to work

[1:58:22] internally some within the

[1:58:23] council to make sure that all

[1:58:25] the council members voices are

[1:58:26] being heard and that the

[1:58:28] council members feel that their

[1:58:28] voices are being heard.

[1:58:31] And then moving out from there

[1:58:33] making sure that the public

[1:58:34] believes that there is a free

[1:58:37] flow of information and

[1:58:37] viewpoints.

[1:58:41] I think my experiences up to

[1:58:42] now in my life experiences

[1:58:44] helped me to do that.

[1:58:45] And I'm eager to bring those

[1:58:47] skills to bear on the current

[1:58:49] situation in thank you council

[1:58:51] member council member jd.

[1:58:52] >> thank you chair graham.

[1:58:55] Thank you MR. Harrington.

[1:58:57] Charlotte is the fastest

[1:58:58] growing city but oftentimes

[1:59:00] that growth is leaving behind

[1:59:00] working families.

[1:59:03] How would you balance being

[1:59:05] business friendly and people

[1:59:06] first as well as ensuring our

[1:59:08] private partners are

[1:59:09] collaborative partners and

[1:59:11] closing socioeconomic gaps?

[1:59:12] >> yeah I yes I would start

[1:59:14] councilmember with the with my

[1:59:15] experience.

[1:59:17] I have spent my career here in

[1:59:18] what I would call the business

[1:59:20] sector.

[1:59:21] I mean I have been a practicing

[1:59:23] attorney handling primarily

[1:59:23] business matters.

[1:59:26] I've also been heavily involved

[1:59:27] in the community and that goes

[1:59:29] from I think the first

[1:59:30] organization I was involved in

[1:59:32] here was probably friendship

[1:59:32] church.

[1:59:32] the second probably right

[1:59:34] around the same time was what

[1:59:35] were then siegel avenue

[1:59:38] partners, which is now freedom

[1:59:38] school partners.

[1:59:42] So I have spent my career

[1:59:44] certainly the last 30 years of

[1:59:47] it bridging those gaps and

[1:59:50] making plain to, you know,

[1:59:53] partners on both sides of those

[1:59:54] issues.

[1:59:56] I don't see that divide because

[1:59:56] I don't want to concede that

[1:59:57] there's a divide.

[1:59:59] But in those different pockets

[2:00:01] of the community the need to

[2:00:04] work together and as we grow I

[2:00:04] agree with you.

[2:00:05] I think it is particularly

[2:00:07] important that we do everything

[2:00:10] we can to make sure that you

[2:00:11] know, working citizens and

[2:00:14] citizens, particularly families

[2:00:15] who have been here for

[2:00:17] generations aren't lost in the

[2:00:20] growth we need to make sure

[2:00:23] that the shiny new things don't

[2:00:23] overwhelm the things that have

[2:00:26] been here and the things that

[2:00:26] are distinctive about

[2:00:27] charlotte.

[2:00:28] I think it's a balancing act,

[2:00:29] right?

[2:00:29] I mean it is a balancing act

[2:00:32] because the fact that we are

[2:00:34] there's something about the

[2:00:35] city that's drawing whatever

[2:00:38] that number is 100 and the

[2:00:38] metropolitan area 100 whatever

[2:00:41] a day there's something we're

[2:00:41] doing right here that people

[2:00:42] see on the outside.

[2:00:44] I think we need to celebrate

[2:00:47] that maintain those engines

[2:00:47] that drive the growth.

[2:00:49] But I completely agree with you

[2:00:50] that you know and I can see it

[2:00:52] in the work that I do and have

[2:00:53] done in various civic

[2:00:55] organizations.

[2:00:56] we need to make sure people

[2:00:56] don't get lost.

[2:00:58] Thank you.

[2:01:01] >> council member mayfield.

[2:01:01] >> thank you.

[2:01:04] Thank you so much for offering

[2:01:04] yourself for this particular

[2:01:06] role.

[2:01:08] >> how do you plan to maintain

[2:01:09] your employment and do this

[2:01:12] role as it does take up a

[2:01:14] significant amount of time?

[2:01:15] >> a council councilmember I

[2:01:16] suspect that's almost an

[2:01:17] understatement that it takes up

[2:01:20] a significant amount of time.

[2:01:20] You know, I'm fortunately come

[2:01:23] to a point in career and a

[2:01:24] place of work where my

[2:01:27] priorities is getting this job

[2:01:29] done well and that takes time

[2:01:32] and I know it takes time.

[2:01:32] You know, I, I couldn't

[2:01:35] tolerate and frankly I think

[2:01:36] the folks that I have worked

[2:01:39] with couldn't tolerate having a

[2:01:41] public figure who was not doing

[2:01:42] what he or she but they needed

[2:01:45] to do in the community.

[2:01:45] And so that has to be the

[2:01:48] priority or you just don't do

[2:01:50] it.

[2:01:52] Councilmember drake, thank you

[2:01:52] .

[2:01:53] Good afternoon.

[2:01:55] Good afternoon.

[2:01:55] In order to achieve a more

[2:01:58] orderly council process, how

[2:02:01] would you work outside of

[2:02:01] meetings to help council

[2:02:04] identify priorities and achieve

[2:02:04] consensus?

[2:02:07] >> so I think you know, when I

[2:02:08] step back and look at the

[2:02:10] situation and look at the

[2:02:12] council, look at the you know,

[2:02:13] just the structure.

[2:02:15] You know, the first thing is

[2:02:17] the overriding thing is trust

[2:02:20] is how do you maintain preserve

[2:02:22] trust among the entire group?

[2:02:23] I think that to me that's the

[2:02:26] purpose for the orderliness.

[2:02:29] You know, you you this body

[2:02:29] it's vital to obviously it's

[2:02:32] vital to charlotte that this

[2:02:34] body be efficient and effective

[2:02:36] and create not just the reality

[2:02:37] but the perception of that.

[2:02:40] I think we you know, we need to

[2:02:42] be attentive to prior to

[2:02:43] meetings or outside of meetings

[2:02:45] having the committee structure

[2:02:48] work the way the committee

[2:02:48] structure should work.

[2:02:50] And that's with, you know,

[2:02:53] leadership of the committees

[2:02:54] that is energized about what

[2:02:56] they're doing.

[2:02:57] It's you know, considering

[2:02:57] committee structure.

[2:03:00] You know, maybe you have, you

[2:03:00] know, engaged and we've had

[2:03:03] this in the past vice chairs

[2:03:03] but the committee structures

[2:03:05] got to work and people have to

[2:03:06] trust the members have to trust

[2:03:08] that the committee structure

[2:03:08] will work.

[2:03:11] And then for meetings there,

[2:03:14] you know, I've my some of my

[2:03:15] colleagues would say I've done

[2:03:17] too much of this in my career

[2:03:17] but I've chaired a lot of a lot

[2:03:19] of meetings.

[2:03:20] And I think there is a

[2:03:23] necessary very task and

[2:03:25] necessary skill to making sure

[2:03:28] that voices are heard and that

[2:03:31] folks, you know, are recognized

[2:03:32] ,that motions are orderly,

[2:03:34] that process is followed.

[2:03:34] You know, there's a detailed

[2:03:38] procedure, you know, for this

[2:03:40] council that I believe you all

[2:03:40] revisited in JUNE.

[2:03:42] I would say JUNE 8th of this

[2:03:45] year and you know, it's laid

[2:03:46] out there and I know the

[2:03:47] overlay to that is robert's

[2:03:48] rules and the overlay to that

[2:03:50] is the city charter which has

[2:03:51] some provisions.

[2:03:53] But I think we have to follow

[2:03:54] those and it's not for the

[2:03:56] mechanics of following it is

[2:03:57] because that's how you create

[2:03:57] trust.

[2:04:00] If people understand and the

[2:04:01] process to be heard in meeting

[2:04:03] and follow that process, we

[2:04:05] have to be attentive to that.

[2:04:06] But again I'd step back from

[2:04:09] that and say both a reason for

[2:04:12] that and an outcome is trust

[2:04:14] and without trust you can't

[2:04:17] accomplish anything

[2:04:17] effectively.

[2:04:17] >> thank you.

[2:04:20] COUNCILMAN Owens.

[2:04:21] Thank you, chair.

[2:04:23] Afternoon.

[2:04:24] It's nice to see you.

[2:04:24] Thank you.

[2:04:27] The recent rescission of the

[2:04:29] I-77 project recommendation

[2:04:30] reflected strong public

[2:04:30] engagement and differing

[2:04:32] perspective about

[2:04:33] transportation planning.

[2:04:35] What do you believe should be

[2:04:36] the next step in addressing

[2:04:36] congestion and mobility

[2:04:38] challenges along the I-77

[2:04:39] corridor?

[2:04:41] And how would you as mayor

[2:04:42] ensure the public is

[2:04:44] meaningfully involved in that

[2:04:44] process?

[2:04:45] >> so I'll start with the end

[2:04:47] of that councilperson council

[2:04:48] member.

[2:04:51] I think the the engagement of

[2:04:53] the public is vital.

[2:04:53] You know, we can't do anything

[2:04:56] without hearing the voices of

[2:04:56] the public.

[2:04:59] I think the you know, there's

[2:05:00] no question that there's a

[2:05:01] congestion problem there,

[2:05:02] congestion problems all over

[2:05:02] the metropolitan area.

[2:05:04] But there's a particular

[2:05:08] congestion problem on 77 south

[2:05:09] two to a to address that

[2:05:12] problem takes you know we have

[2:05:14] the regional areas with the car

[2:05:17] with carpool but it also takes

[2:05:18] the legislature and I think we

[2:05:20] have to have meaningful dialog

[2:05:20] with the legislature with

[2:05:23] communication going both ways.

[2:05:23] Right.

[2:05:26] And so it is the need for

[2:05:28] charlotte to be in fact a

[2:05:32] municipal area, a municipal

[2:05:32] place that that is treated with

[2:05:34] integrity.

[2:05:35] But it's also the realization

[2:05:38] that funding and a lot of

[2:05:40] control emanates from raleigh

[2:05:41] and and for that matter from

[2:05:41] washington.

[2:05:44] So I think we have to I don't

[2:05:44] think any of these are simple

[2:05:46] problems.

[2:05:47] I think communication is vital.

[2:05:50] I think finding a way to

[2:05:53] reengage in an appropriate way

[2:05:54] in the process of developing 77

[2:05:57] south is is important and I

[2:05:58] think it has to be done.

[2:05:59] I think it is an immediate

[2:06:00] priority for whoever holds this

[2:06:02] role.

[2:06:03] And I think we have to be

[2:06:03] attentive to the public.

[2:06:05] We have to and part of being

[2:06:06] attentive to the public is

[2:06:09] communicate doing both the city

[2:06:11] but also importantly the state

[2:06:15] and the you know, department of

[2:06:15] transportation communicating

[2:06:17] fully and effectively with the

[2:06:18] citizens.

[2:06:21] There's a whole I mean we all

[2:06:21] know there's a whole lot of

[2:06:23] background here, right?

[2:06:24] There are years and years of

[2:06:26] background here that are real

[2:06:27] to people and they're real to

[2:06:29] people who you know or my age.

[2:06:32] And so how we address those

[2:06:34] concerns of gets back to trust

[2:06:35] again.

[2:06:35] The trust as we go forward is

[2:06:37] is is important.

[2:06:38] But I do think we have to

[2:06:40] reengage in that discussion and

[2:06:43] figure out how we handle those

[2:06:46] challenges of transportation

[2:06:46] from you know, middle of middle

[2:06:49] of charlotte to the south

[2:06:50] carolina border.

[2:06:55] We can't ignore that issue.

[2:06:58] >> COUNCILWOMAN Anderson, thank

[2:06:58] you and welcome.

[2:06:58] Thank you.

[2:07:01] And your opinion what is the

[2:07:04] biggest challenge facing our

[2:07:04] city?

[2:07:07] And I ask that with the

[2:07:07] understanding that we have many

[2:07:09] challenges.

[2:07:11] But if you could focus on one

[2:07:11] that you believe is the biggest

[2:07:14] one, I'd like to hear from you

[2:07:14] on that.

[2:07:15] >> yeah, I think it's I think

[2:07:17] it's a broad issue that

[2:07:19] involves affordability.

[2:07:22] You know, affordable housing

[2:07:23] and the issues that I mentioned

[2:07:26] earlier with council member of

[2:07:28] how we make sure that a

[2:07:31] prosperous city the prosperity

[2:07:31] is shared as broadly as it

[2:07:32] should be.

[2:07:35] I think affordable housing is

[2:07:35] in the middle of that.

[2:07:37] If I were going to stress on

[2:07:40] one, I think it's you know,

[2:07:40] it's affordable housing and the

[2:07:41] things that revolve around that

[2:07:43] so services for folks in the

[2:07:46] pockets where we're you know,

[2:07:48] struggling with residents who

[2:07:49] can't afford housing anymore

[2:07:51] but there's a there a bunch of

[2:07:52] wraparound services that I know

[2:07:54] are addressed to some extent in

[2:07:54] the budget.

[2:07:56] I mean I think we're we're

[2:07:59] working on those issues at

[2:08:00] least in the you know, the bond

[2:08:01] proposal for affordable

[2:08:02] housing.

[2:08:04] The referendum in NOVEMBER, I

[2:08:05] think that's going to be really

[2:08:06] important for whoever takes

[2:08:07] this role to engage on behalf

[2:08:10] of the city and with the

[2:08:10] council on immediately because

[2:08:12] I think that's going to be

[2:08:13] vital.

[2:08:14] The success of that is vital

[2:08:16] but I think it's affordability

[2:08:20] combined and with I'll use the

[2:08:22] word inclusion but by inclusion

[2:08:25] I mean that that all of our

[2:08:28] citizens have a real chance of

[2:08:28] participating in the prosperity

[2:08:29] of the city.

[2:08:31] While maintaining the

[2:08:31] prosperity of the city.

[2:08:33] If you're going to do a second

[2:08:33] I would say of course at all

[2:08:36] times public safety because

[2:08:39] none of this is possible with

[2:08:39] our public safety.

[2:08:41] I know the budget included at

[2:08:44] least a strong start towards,

[2:08:44] you know, policing and public

[2:08:47] safety and fire.

[2:08:47] But I don't think that can be

[2:08:49] left out of any equation

[2:08:52] because the citizens look to us

[2:08:53] for that.

[2:08:56] >> council member male.

[2:08:56] >> thank you.

[2:08:59] Good afternoon.

[2:08:59] >> good afternoon.

[2:09:00] How would you ensure meetings

[2:09:02] are efficient while also

[2:09:05] allowing robust debate and

[2:09:05] discussion?

[2:09:05] >> great question.

[2:09:08] I think the I think that

[2:09:11] largely gets back to trust

[2:09:11] again but order right.

[2:09:13] i think you have to there has

[2:09:14] to be a and there is I mean

[2:09:17] when you look at the procedures

[2:09:17] and you look at what we have

[2:09:19] available to us running

[2:09:20] meetings efficiently,

[2:09:22] effectively and according to

[2:09:22] our procedures is the sure

[2:09:25] that's why the rules exist so

[2:09:28] that you know the process to be

[2:09:28] heard.

[2:09:29] You have the opportunity to be

[2:09:30] heard.

[2:09:31] You know, I think there there

[2:09:33] are issues that we should we

[2:09:36] that that council and

[2:09:39] leadership should send to

[2:09:40] appropriate committees.

[2:09:40] You know when there are issues

[2:09:43] that can be more robustly

[2:09:45] addressed in the committee

[2:09:45] structure.

[2:09:49] But I think overall and I guess

[2:09:49] I'd add another thing

[2:09:51] communication right?

[2:09:53] So you know one on one I would

[2:09:55] intend to be in this building

[2:09:58] and among council members as

[2:09:59] the default break in.

[2:10:01] I hope that we can create a you

[2:10:04] know, sort of create or

[2:10:06] continue a process where many

[2:10:07] of us are in here because being

[2:10:10] able before meetings between

[2:10:12] meetings to talk and to talk

[2:10:15] even you know, we're all going

[2:10:17] to disagree at times and my

[2:10:20] career is frankly, you know, I

[2:10:21] you know, put a kid through

[2:10:23] college largely on

[2:10:23] disagreements.

[2:10:24] That's what we do.

[2:10:26] But respect ing disagreements

[2:10:27] and being able to work through

[2:10:29] them to some resolution.

[2:10:30] That takes time.

[2:10:32] It takes individual

[2:10:35] conversations and it takes

[2:10:35] orderly meetings and process

[2:10:38] and accustomed to working on

[2:10:41] that from you know, the I keep

[2:10:41] going back to the bar

[2:10:45] association but that was 14,000

[2:10:45] lawyers from across the state

[2:10:49] with a board of approximately

[2:10:52] 30 who are lawyers right and so

[2:10:53] not only do they have opinions

[2:10:55] but they express them and

[2:10:56] learning how to manage that

[2:10:58] process, working together to

[2:11:00] manage that process by the

[2:11:01] rules we have procedures.

[2:11:04] We just need to make sure we're

[2:11:04] following them.

[2:11:07] >> council member wallington

[2:11:07] thank you and thank you for

[2:11:09] being here.

[2:11:10] >> brooke perhaps following up

[2:11:13] on your experience or you can

[2:11:14] certainly pick something else.

[2:11:16] >> charlotte's priorities are

[2:11:16] not new conversations but the

[2:11:19] tools partners and scale of

[2:11:20] these challenges look very

[2:11:22] different than they did even

[2:11:22] five years ago.

[2:11:23] Can you walk us through a

[2:11:25] specific example of work you

[2:11:26] are doing now or have done in

[2:11:28] the very recent past that

[2:11:28] directly connects to these

[2:11:31] priorities?

[2:11:31] Councilmember two the

[2:11:34] priorities specific to

[2:11:37] charlotte or in general to

[2:11:37] charlotte.

[2:11:38] So I think the most recent

[2:11:39] experience that I had in

[2:11:42] charlotte in the you know

[2:11:42] public sector was as chair of

[2:11:45] the the board of the library

[2:11:48] board of trustees.

[2:11:49] And we work through a number of

[2:11:51] issues.

[2:11:52] I mean we go through a process

[2:11:55] periodically I won't say every

[2:11:55] year but periodically with the

[2:11:57] county on capital priorities in

[2:12:00] where you know library

[2:12:02] facilities need to be

[2:12:03] constructed or renovated.

[2:12:05] You know, otherwise worked on

[2:12:06] the dedication of of you know

[2:12:09] human resources of people to

[2:12:11] particular areas.

[2:12:14] I maintained a process I will

[2:12:15] say I started the process but I

[2:12:16] maintained a process where we

[2:12:19] were in communication with, you

[2:12:22] know, staff senior staff and

[2:12:24] other trustees who we selected

[2:12:25] because they hopefully

[2:12:28] represented the city well and

[2:12:28] it was a diverse in every sense

[2:12:31] of the word board on purpose to

[2:12:32] make sure that we were getting

[2:12:34] the feedback from citizens

[2:12:35] about what they need and what

[2:12:37] they need in fast growing new

[2:12:37] areas and what they need on

[2:12:40] very good road.

[2:12:40] You know we invested around

[2:12:43] that time in the you know,

[2:12:45] betty ford regional which we

[2:12:46] changed the name of to honor a

[2:12:48] citizen but that's a it's a

[2:12:49] process of communicating with

[2:12:52] the public and then working

[2:12:54] internally to make sure that

[2:12:55] effective and getting it done.

[2:12:57] I think my library experience

[2:13:00] is probably the closest in that

[2:13:03] sense experience public sector

[2:13:03] in charlotte and obviously I've

[2:13:05] done stuff with the bar

[2:13:06] association that statewide but

[2:13:09] again you're there you're

[2:13:09] working with and I think it

[2:13:12] would be I think it would be

[2:13:14] helpful here that experience of

[2:13:16] working with people from across

[2:13:17] the state and with working you

[2:13:20] know, not as a, you know,

[2:13:21] lobbyist we have our own

[2:13:23] lobbyist right.

[2:13:23] But working conscious of the

[2:13:26] goals of folks in the

[2:13:28] legislature who have various

[2:13:29] opinions about charlotte and

[2:13:29] various needs in their own

[2:13:32] communities and I would really

[2:13:33] look forward to engaging that.

[2:13:34] So I would say that the

[2:13:35] experience is charlotte is

[2:13:38] primarily library but I think

[2:13:40] the skill set is developed from

[2:13:41] a range of other experiences.

[2:13:43] I hope that interest.

[2:13:44] >> thank you.

[2:13:48] Time to 13 minutes and 14 by

[2:13:49] council member shamir.

[2:13:49] >> thank you.

[2:13:51] Welcome MR. Harrington.

[2:13:51] >> thank you.

[2:13:54] Thank you for your service on

[2:13:55] the ward within charlotte as

[2:14:00] well as the library.

[2:14:01] >> so the next mayor might play

[2:14:03] a major role in shaping the

[2:14:06] selection of our direct reports

[2:14:06] whether that be a manager or

[2:14:09] clerk or the city attorney.

[2:14:12] >> how would you ensure city

[2:14:14] council is meaningful included

[2:14:15] in that process and what

[2:14:17] structure would you put in

[2:14:18] place to ensure city staff is

[2:14:20] proactive, transparent and

[2:14:23] communicating with all council

[2:14:23] members and residents

[2:14:24] especially in communities that

[2:14:27] often feel decisions are made

[2:14:29] without them?

[2:14:29] Oh great question I think and

[2:14:31] thank you council member.

[2:14:34] I think the communication on

[2:14:35] those issues and you know none

[2:14:38] of this is easy, right?

[2:14:39] I mean that's why we're here.

[2:14:40] That's why you guys devote so

[2:14:41] much time to this to

[2:14:43] communication on all of those

[2:14:44] issues is key there.

[2:14:47] You know, I've not been through

[2:14:47] a process obviously of

[2:14:49] selecting a manager or city

[2:14:52] attorney, but the voices in

[2:14:55] this room have to be involved

[2:14:55] meaningfully because if they're

[2:14:58] not you set up a prescription

[2:15:01] for folks not to feel a part of

[2:15:03] the process and in any

[2:15:05] situation like that you run the

[2:15:08] risk of, you know, creating a

[2:15:08] setting someone up for failure.

[2:15:08] Right.

[2:15:11] I think that's one of the keys

[2:15:14] for whoever is the next mayor

[2:15:17] is to make sure that the intent

[2:15:19] going into the process is that

[2:15:20] voices be heard.

[2:15:22] Sometimes that takes longer,

[2:15:22] right?

[2:15:25] Because you might have to work

[2:15:25] through disagreements.

[2:15:26] You might have to work through

[2:15:28] a lot of questions.

[2:15:30] The outcome there is better.

[2:15:33] And so I would look for

[2:15:35] certainly to involve this body

[2:15:38] and look for appropriate ways

[2:15:41] to involve the body so that you

[2:15:43] have a voice and not just a you

[2:15:46] know, a vote.

[2:15:48] We probably got about 11

[2:15:49] minutes.

[2:15:49] All right.

[2:15:51] So the floor is open for

[2:15:52] general questions from the

[2:15:54] paper.

[2:15:54] I recognize councilmember

[2:15:57] johnson and councilmember jd

[2:16:01] you're in q thank you.

[2:16:03] Charlotte adopted an ordinance

[2:16:04] in 2020 for related to

[2:16:06] individuals who are unhoused.

[2:16:07] What are your thoughts on those

[2:16:10] policies and charlotte's

[2:16:10] overall approach to

[2:16:13] homelessness?

[2:16:16] >> I think we need to continue

[2:16:19] to to devote the resources as

[2:16:22] to the underlying causes and

[2:16:22] that's I'm sure that as

[2:16:24] collaboratively with the county

[2:16:25] in the areas that the county

[2:16:28] you know, works in in you know,

[2:16:30] human services and human

[2:16:33] resources human services.

[2:16:36] I think we the balance to that

[2:16:36] balance is probably the wrong

[2:16:39] word.

[2:16:41] I think we need a vibrant city

[2:16:42] across the board.

[2:16:44] I think we need to take care of

[2:16:45] folks who are temporarily

[2:16:48] unhoused and you know and

[2:16:49] realize that they're not the

[2:16:51] enemy, that they are folks who

[2:16:53] are in a situation that we're

[2:16:54] blessed not to be in as we sit

[2:16:56] here today.

[2:16:57] So we have to be compassionate

[2:16:59] and we have to put the

[2:17:00] resources we have to you know,

[2:17:02] I would say and I think I can

[2:17:03] help in this process.

[2:17:05] We have to combine the

[2:17:08] resources and perhaps help to

[2:17:11] guide the resources of the

[2:17:11] public and the private and

[2:17:14] nonprofit sectors and working

[2:17:15] on these issues and then both

[2:17:20] for the folks who are you know

[2:17:21] ,find themselves on the

[2:17:21] streets and for those who are

[2:17:23] using those areas, we need the

[2:17:26] not just the perception but the

[2:17:26] reality of safety.

[2:17:29] And so I think it's balancing

[2:17:29] those things so that we are

[2:17:32] attentive to the needs these

[2:17:34] are our neighbors right.

[2:17:35] But we also all have to feel

[2:17:38] including those neighbors have

[2:17:40] to feel safe in our various

[2:17:43] areas.

[2:17:43] Councilmember jd a

[2:17:46] councilmember mayfield thank

[2:17:46] you.

[2:17:48] >> thank you, chair graham.

[2:17:51] Charlotte's airport is one of

[2:17:51] our city's most important

[2:17:53] economic engines.

[2:17:54] How would you protect

[2:17:54] charlotte's role in shaping the

[2:17:57] future of the airport while

[2:17:59] also assuring airport service

[2:18:00] workers benefit from its

[2:18:00] success?

[2:18:02] >> I'll try a great question

[2:18:03] and I'll try to take that in

[2:18:05] some order.

[2:18:06] I mean I think we have to

[2:18:08] continue to show that we are

[2:18:11] not good but exceptional

[2:18:13] stewards of that business

[2:18:16] because we are as as any city

[2:18:18] like us that operates an

[2:18:21] airport we are at risk with

[2:18:24] raleigh and I don't mean that

[2:18:27] adversarial to raleigh but we

[2:18:27] are at risk.

[2:18:28] We're in a state where raleigh

[2:18:30] has that type of control as

[2:18:32] most states and we are

[2:18:35] conscious of you know, actions

[2:18:35] by washington.

[2:18:38] And so, you know, it is a it's

[2:18:40] an economic driver and it's a,

[2:18:44] you know, municipal issue of

[2:18:47] municipal integrity that we

[2:18:48] continue to be able to operate

[2:18:50] the airport and that we operate

[2:18:51] it in an exceptional manner

[2:18:51] which I think we historically

[2:18:53] we have.

[2:18:56] I agree that we need to, you

[2:18:57] know, continually be looking at

[2:19:00] the support that we provide for

[2:19:02] all of our municipal employees

[2:19:03] including those at the airport.

[2:19:06] But we have to be, you know,

[2:19:08] mindful of again stretched from

[2:19:11] the the business sector to the

[2:19:12] nonprofit sector to the the

[2:19:14] religious sector.

[2:19:15] We've got to be mindful of the

[2:19:18] balance of making sure that we

[2:19:20] protect and preserve that asset

[2:19:21] while also making sure that we

[2:19:23] treat the employees there and

[2:19:26] our our team members there with

[2:19:28] respect and councilmember

[2:19:31] mayfield, council member drake,

[2:19:31] thank you.

[2:19:31] >> thank you.

[2:19:34] This is a really long question

[2:19:35] but I'm gonna try to condense

[2:19:37] it.

[2:19:39] >> so if appointed interim

[2:19:43] mayor how would you identify

[2:19:46] and manage any actual or

[2:19:46] perceived conflicts of interest

[2:19:49] arising from your employment

[2:19:52] clients business relationship

[2:19:55] or financial interests

[2:19:57] specifically if there if your

[2:19:58] current profession require you

[2:20:00] to frequently recuse yourself

[2:20:03] from matters knowing you don't

[2:20:04] have a vote before the council,

[2:20:07] would you be willing to modify

[2:20:09] or step away from the vote from

[2:20:09] that role to ensure that the

[2:20:12] public has a fully engaged and

[2:20:14] independent mayor?

[2:20:14] >> thank you council member.

[2:20:17] Great question for someone

[2:20:17] sitting in my position of

[2:20:19] continuing to work my intention

[2:20:23] is very much to remain with the

[2:20:25] caveat that I think I gave to

[2:20:27] councilmember earlier about

[2:20:28] this has got to be the

[2:20:28] priority.

[2:20:31] You can't do this job when it's

[2:20:31] not the priority.

[2:20:36] I think I believe to the extent

[2:20:37] there are conflicts they can be

[2:20:37] managed.

[2:20:39] I think they would be, you

[2:20:40] know, few and far between but

[2:20:42] they're important when they

[2:20:43] arise.

[2:20:45] I think we have to work our I

[2:20:46] would have to work my way

[2:20:47] through the process to make

[2:20:48] sure that they are in fact

[2:20:48] manageable.

[2:20:51] But you know, we've got

[2:20:53] examples of you know, richard

[2:20:54] ben root was mayor and was

[2:20:56] continuing practice and I think

[2:20:57] that that is a very successful

[2:20:59] mayor.

[2:21:01] I believe mayor grant was

[2:21:02] continuing to work as time

[2:21:05] allowed as an architect during

[2:21:07] his time.

[2:21:07] i believe mayor mccrory

[2:21:10] continued to you know, with the

[2:21:11] connection employment with duke

[2:21:12] energy.

[2:21:15] I think there is a model here

[2:21:15] in perhaps one of the things

[2:21:18] that's helpful for for for all

[2:21:21] of the lawyer jokes out that

[2:21:21] it's helpful to lawyers is you

[2:21:25] know, this is one of the things

[2:21:27] we do that the question of

[2:21:27] ethics and being thoughtful and

[2:21:30] being careful not to say anyone

[2:21:31] else does it but it is a part

[2:21:33] of the profession.

[2:21:33] It's who we are.

[2:21:36] So I would I would I think it's

[2:21:36] a manageable situation and I'd

[2:21:39] look forward to managing it.

[2:21:41] I would air on the side of

[2:21:43] protecting the city's interest

[2:21:46] in getting the job done.

[2:21:47] But you know my intent at this

[2:21:49] point is to to maintain my

[2:21:50] partnership with robinson

[2:21:54] rather problems strength.

[2:21:55] Thank you.

[2:21:58] How important are

[2:21:58] intergovernmental relationships

[2:22:01] to the city's agenda and I know

[2:22:03] that you've alluded to this but

[2:22:04] what in particular are ways

[2:22:06] that you as mayor would work

[2:22:07] with our intergovernmental

[2:22:10] relations partners to achieve

[2:22:10] outcomes for our city?

[2:22:13] I think I got done I was I was

[2:22:15] making sure I looked at was

[2:22:16] attentive to the time I mean I

[2:22:18] think there is a you know

[2:22:19] hierarchy is the wrong word

[2:22:21] there there's a list of

[2:22:24] partners that we need to, you

[2:22:24] know, work with.

[2:22:27] I think probably we have good

[2:22:27] relationship with them but I

[2:22:30] would want to jump into that

[2:22:30] immediately.

[2:22:33] Obviously mecklenburg county in

[2:22:36] our you know, dovetailing areas

[2:22:39] of of engagement in the city,

[2:22:39] making sure that those continue

[2:22:41] to work which I think is

[2:22:42] communication with you know,

[2:22:45] chair general and drell and

[2:22:49] others making sure that works.

[2:22:50] And then there's you know, the

[2:22:52] host of others if you sort of

[2:22:53] work your way out from the you

[2:22:55] know, through the region, you

[2:22:56] know the work that we're now

[2:22:58] doing with the you know,

[2:23:01] standing up watching, being

[2:23:02] standing up, participating and

[2:23:04] standing up the metropolitan

[2:23:05] public transit transit

[2:23:07] authority, the work that we do

[2:23:08] on a transportation level with

[2:23:12] cart pro the regionalism both

[2:23:13] the combination of regionalism

[2:23:15] the charlotte metropolitan area

[2:23:18] and the shared interests of

[2:23:21] municipalities and particularly

[2:23:21] large municipalities.

[2:23:24] As we go to raleigh and we're

[2:23:27] having discussions or debate or

[2:23:28] however you want to frame it

[2:23:31] having it's not just charlotte,

[2:23:31] it's not just raleigh, it's not

[2:23:33] just greensboro.

[2:23:34] It is the shared interests of

[2:23:37] municipalities and the shared

[2:23:39] interests of the this in

[2:23:40] credible engine for the state

[2:23:42] that is the charlotte area.

[2:23:43] So I've named a few of the

[2:23:45] entities but I think

[2:23:46] understanding the importance of

[2:23:48] those partnerships is is vital

[2:23:48] to access.

[2:23:51] We should not be in this on our

[2:23:54] own and we are thank you.

[2:23:57] >> any other questions,

[2:24:00] COUNCILMAN Member as mayor and

[2:24:01] then I think we're running

[2:24:04] close to it.

[2:24:06] >> we've got three minutes and

[2:24:07] then you get a closing argument

[2:24:09] for one so you got until the

[2:24:09] four minutes left.

[2:24:09] >> yes.

[2:24:10] I just wanted to follow up on

[2:24:12] councilmember mayfield's

[2:24:14] question about your private

[2:24:17] employment, especially in your

[2:24:17] case.

[2:24:18] >> so I just want to make sure

[2:24:20] you said that you would

[2:24:21] prioritize the council work

[2:24:24] right and did you say you were

[2:24:26] willing to step away from your

[2:24:27] private employment or you would

[2:24:29] maintain the one was your

[2:24:30] interest?

[2:24:30] >> I would maintain yeah.

[2:24:32] No, I recognize the priority of

[2:24:37] the city for my own interests

[2:24:37] and for those that you know

[2:24:40] I've worked for almost 30 years

[2:24:45] around you know the the damage

[2:24:45] to yours really sort of sense

[2:24:48] of self and professionalism if

[2:24:51] you don't do this well is

[2:24:51] irreversible.

[2:24:53] So the focus has to be doing

[2:24:54] this well and the advantage in

[2:24:57] doing that is it's an 18 month

[2:25:01] you know, role and one that you

[2:25:03] know, I wouldn't be running for

[2:25:03] reelection to.

[2:25:06] So it's a defined period where

[2:25:08] you realize that your number

[2:25:11] one task is serving the council

[2:25:11] and the citizens of of

[2:25:14] charlotte but I would my intent

[2:25:17] is to stay with the with the

[2:25:19] firm okay thank you.

[2:25:20] And you are a partner, right?

[2:25:20] Yes.

[2:25:22] Thank you.

[2:25:22] >> okay.

[2:25:25] Saying that there are more no

[2:25:27] more further questions.

[2:25:28] You have a one minute closing

[2:25:30] argument.

[2:25:30] Well, thank you MR. Chair.

[2:25:33] I appreciate the opportunity to

[2:25:36] interview I take the

[2:25:36] opportunity very, very

[2:25:36] seriously.

[2:25:39] charlotte has been incredibly

[2:25:41] good to me and my family.

[2:25:42] I believe very strongly in

[2:25:45] paying that forward and I think

[2:25:47] this is perhaps the ultimate

[2:25:48] way of paying that forward.

[2:25:48] As I said the other day when I

[2:25:51] had my short speech before the

[2:25:51] before the council

[2:25:54] collaboration and communication

[2:25:56] and transparency figuring out

[2:25:57] how to work together in an

[2:25:59] orderly, continue to work

[2:26:00] together in an orderly manner.

[2:26:03] I would hope would be hallmarks

[2:26:04] of this 18 months and I see

[2:26:07] this 18 months as yes there are

[2:26:07] going to be immediate

[2:26:10] priorities but also as a bridge

[2:26:10] from now until the next elected

[2:26:13] mayor hoping to put this city

[2:26:15] in the next elected mayor and

[2:26:15] council's hands in fantastic

[2:26:18] shape.

[2:26:19] I appreciate the opportunity to

[2:26:19] talk to you all today and

[2:26:21] thanks so much for all that you

[2:26:21] do.

[2:26:23] >> you know MR. Harrington, we

[2:26:24] really appreciate your

[2:26:26] leadership and your commitment

[2:26:27] to public service and your

[2:26:27] willingness to consider this

[2:26:30] opportunity.

[2:26:31] And on behalf of the council,

[2:26:33] we thank you for your time.

[2:26:33] >> thank you.

[2:26:38] Thank you.

[2:26:39] >> last but not least is carrie

[2:26:41] cook.

[2:26:43] >> take this.

[2:26:44] >> let's take five minutes.

[2:26:45] Okay?

[2:26:46] >> we'll be back in five

[2:27:16] minutes

[2:30:03] ready and I as soon as MS..

[2:30:06] Wallington returns we'll get

[2:30:08] started again.

[2:30:11] Okay.

[2:30:13] Give her a second or two and

[2:30:16] after the last speaker there's

[2:30:17] two process questions that we

[2:30:19] have to go through.

[2:30:20] >> they should go relatively

[2:30:24] quickly so we will see on

[2:30:25] monday.

[2:30:27] >> yes.

[2:30:28] Just to make sure that we're

[2:30:28] all on the same page about how

[2:30:30] we're going to process what we

[2:30:40] do.

[2:30:41] And then I sort of brought my

[2:30:42] tennis skills with me to the

[2:30:43] left straight from here and to

[2:30:45] go to the tennis court I'm

[2:30:48] playing tennis and district

[2:30:51] council member judy's district

[2:30:55] today a veterans park.

[2:30:57] >> I going have time for that.

[2:30:59] >> I got to be there at 6:00

[2:31:00] though.

[2:31:03] I have a veterans park.

[2:31:11] Oh so and I love the pizza in

[2:31:15] the at the university like we

[2:31:15] all know that yeah we had the

[2:31:17] border guards in court and not

[2:31:19] be you know all right I think

[2:31:22] we have everybody here so we're

[2:31:22] going to call the meeting back

[2:31:24] to order.

[2:31:25] I think everybody's here.

[2:31:27] We have one more speaker and

[2:31:27] after the speaker again we have

[2:31:29] to quick process items.

[2:31:32] We just need to make sure that

[2:31:33] there's consensus in the room

[2:31:35] in terms of how we move for it.

[2:31:57] So we're ready for MR..

[2:31:58] >> welcome.

[2:32:05] Thank you.

[2:32:06] >> all right.

[2:32:07] I want to take this opportunity

[2:32:08] to welcome you to the city

[2:32:09] council interviews for the

[2:32:11] temporary mayor position.

[2:32:14] We appreciate your interest in

[2:32:14] applying.

[2:32:17] You will have a total of 30

[2:32:18] minutes every council member

[2:32:21] will have around the questions.

[2:32:23] there MAY be a follow up

[2:32:23] question or two for

[2:32:25] clarification.

[2:32:26] The city clerk will let you

[2:32:28] know when you get your five

[2:32:30] minutes warning and then you'll

[2:32:31] get a one minute warning once

[2:32:33] that is completed don't feel

[2:32:34] free that you have to stop

[2:32:38] abruptly finish your thought

[2:32:38] and think you'll get a one

[2:32:40] minute closing statement

[2:32:40] towards the end.

[2:32:41] Okay?

[2:32:42] Okay.

[2:32:45] >> and so so councilmember

[2:32:49] shamir will welcome MISS Cook

[2:32:49] thank you.

[2:32:57] Thank you for having me.

[2:32:59] Hi.

[2:33:00] >> so the next mayor might play

[2:33:02] a major role in shaping the

[2:33:03] selection of our direct report

[2:33:05] so we have three direct reports

[2:33:08] manager, a clerk and attorney.

[2:33:10] So how would you ensure city

[2:33:11] council is meaningfully

[2:33:13] included in that process?

[2:33:14] Yes.

[2:33:16] And that process is proactive,

[2:33:18] transparent and communicating

[2:33:19] with all council members and

[2:33:20] residents especially in

[2:33:22] communities that often feel

[2:33:24] decisions are made without them

[2:33:24] .

[2:33:25] Thank you for the question,

[2:33:27] COUNCILWOMAN Asmara and thank

[2:33:28] you for the opportunity to be

[2:33:30] with you all today.

[2:33:30] I appreciate this chance to

[2:33:33] speak with you about my

[2:33:33] candidacy.

[2:33:35] When you think about the role

[2:33:38] that the mayor plays with the

[2:33:38] city manager and the city clerk

[2:33:41] and residents and internal and

[2:33:42] external stakeholders more

[2:33:45] broadly I mean I think there's

[2:33:50] a key emphasis on trust on

[2:33:51] transparency, on consensus

[2:33:53] building and those are the

[2:33:54] things that I have done

[2:33:54] throughout my life and

[2:33:56] throughout my career on

[2:33:59] building trust, on building

[2:33:59] relationships.

[2:34:00] I'm building consensus and

[2:34:02] coalitions with different

[2:34:02] groups of people across this

[2:34:05] community from the east side to

[2:34:08] the west side from north to

[2:34:08] south.

[2:34:10] I have been in communities and

[2:34:11] I think a reputation that I've

[2:34:13] had as being both grass tops

[2:34:14] and grass roots which I view as

[2:34:16] a strength because I can

[2:34:17] connect and walk with the folks

[2:34:20] across our community hand in

[2:34:22] hand, be in the neighborhoods,

[2:34:22] understand and talk with

[2:34:25] residents but also I can sit

[2:34:28] with executive leaders and ask

[2:34:28] for their input and ask for

[2:34:29] their concerns.

[2:34:31] But the biggest thing that I

[2:34:33] know that's important to all of

[2:34:37] us is for our city to succeed

[2:34:37] and for our residents to have

[2:34:39] quality of life.

[2:34:40] And so when I think about that

[2:34:42] for our city to succeed, we've

[2:34:42] got to have trust.

[2:34:45] We've got to have transparency,

[2:34:48] we've got to have efficiency

[2:34:48] and we have to deliver results.

[2:34:51] And so I am someone who would

[2:34:53] work with the three different

[2:34:56] entities that COUNCILWOMAN Asma

[2:34:59] mentioned to deliver results

[2:34:59] but to do it together with you

[2:35:02] and to empower you and the

[2:35:03] roles that you have as council

[2:35:05] to lead I think that's really

[2:35:05] important and I think it's

[2:35:07] important to listen.

[2:35:08] I think it's important to

[2:35:10] understand what you all are

[2:35:11] wanting to advance and not

[2:35:13] bring you a fully baked plan

[2:35:16] but come to you for early

[2:35:17] iteration, for early feedback,

[2:35:19] for opportunity to build

[2:35:20] something together that we can

[2:35:22] all be proud of.

[2:35:23] And so that's you know, when I

[2:35:25] think about the way in which

[2:35:28] the mayor operates with council

[2:35:29] and internal stakeholders and

[2:35:31] external stakeholders.

[2:35:31] Last night my daughter said

[2:35:34] mommy, what does the mayor do?

[2:35:35] Said the mayor is a bridge in a

[2:35:37] lot of ways and you have to be

[2:35:38] a bridge of information.

[2:35:40] You have to be trusted and

[2:35:41] transparent as a bridge.

[2:35:42] I don't want to go over any

[2:35:43] bridges that I don't trust.

[2:35:45] And so when you have

[2:35:46] relationships, when you're able

[2:35:48] to work with folks, when you're

[2:35:51] able to include people in a

[2:35:51] process and galvanize people

[2:35:54] and build consensus, those are

[2:35:55] the ways that I have led and

[2:35:57] been known to lead across our

[2:35:59] city for over two decades and

[2:35:59] that's what I would continue to

[2:36:01] do.

[2:36:04] >> councilmember wallington,

[2:36:04] good afternoon.

[2:36:07] >> yes, charlotte's priorities

[2:36:09] are not new conversations but

[2:36:10] the tools, partners and scale

[2:36:13] of these challenges look very

[2:36:14] different than they did even

[2:36:14] five years ago.

[2:36:16] >> can you walk us through a

[2:36:18] specific example of work you

[2:36:19] are doing right now or have

[2:36:22] done in the very recent past

[2:36:22] that directly connects to one

[2:36:25] of these priorities?

[2:36:25] >> mm hmm.

[2:36:26] That's a great question.

[2:36:28] Thank you for the question.

[2:36:30] COUNCILWOMAN Watlington I I'll

[2:36:31] just tell you I'm very excited

[2:36:33] about the areas of strategic

[2:36:34] focus that you've outlined

[2:36:37] since your retreat in MARCH

[2:36:38] because all of those areas

[2:36:39] whether it's safety, whether

[2:36:41] it's housing, whether it's

[2:36:42] well-managed government, great

[2:36:43] neighborhoods or planning and

[2:36:45] investment are areas that I've

[2:36:46] worked in over the course of my

[2:36:48] career and areas that I've

[2:36:48] worked in hand in hand with

[2:36:50] residents of the city.

[2:36:51] And so just to give a specific

[2:36:54] example as requested, you know

[2:36:57] over the last couple of years

[2:37:00] I've done a couple a number of

[2:37:00] significant things I'd say

[2:37:02] related to housing and to

[2:37:03] workforce development.

[2:37:05] And so let me just talk just

[2:37:06] for a minute about that.

[2:37:09] A few years ago I served on the

[2:37:10] city's affordable housing

[2:37:11] committee when we were

[2:37:12] advancing our opportunity to

[2:37:15] move from to think about a

[2:37:17] continuum of care for our

[2:37:18] residents.

[2:37:20] And so not just those who are

[2:37:21] unhoused, not just those and

[2:37:23] the missing middle not just

[2:37:23] those who are moving into

[2:37:26] ownership but really thinking

[2:37:27] about that continuum and what

[2:37:29] we need to do to advance an

[2:37:30] opportunity for all of our

[2:37:32] people no matter where they are

[2:37:34] in trying to find housing and

[2:37:35] build their life here in our

[2:37:35] city.

[2:37:37] And so when I think about the

[2:37:40] ways that I've engaged one

[2:37:40] again working with city

[2:37:43] leaders, working with other

[2:37:44] internal and external partners,

[2:37:46] building collaborate and

[2:37:46] working with folks who are

[2:37:49] looking to build and develop

[2:37:49] more housing in our city

[2:37:52] working to increase the housing

[2:37:54] trust fund allocation, thinking

[2:37:55] about innovations and ways we

[2:37:58] use those dollars and way we

[2:38:00] support and increase the supply

[2:38:04] of housing preserving our noah

[2:38:04] right.

[2:38:05] So making sure that a naturally

[2:38:06] occurring affordable housing

[2:38:07] remains in communities.

[2:38:10] And so those are things that

[2:38:10] I've done but also currently

[2:38:13] serve on the west side

[2:38:15] charlotte land trust board and

[2:38:16] so continuing to advance the

[2:38:18] work there have done that also

[2:38:21] in an informal capacity as an

[2:38:21] advisor.

[2:38:23] >> and so advancing housing

[2:38:26] issues so that everybody in

[2:38:27] this community even if you are

[2:38:29] on the front end of being

[2:38:30] unhoused and we're working with

[2:38:32] other partners like the county

[2:38:33] and others where you need a

[2:38:35] continuum of care to support

[2:38:36] our residents whether it's

[2:38:38] mental health or other services

[2:38:40] county services that are needed

[2:38:41] that is really important to our

[2:38:44] residents to be able to have a

[2:38:44] quality of life here.

[2:38:47] And so when you think about

[2:38:49] those core areas that you all

[2:38:49] have outlined as your

[2:38:52] priorities I've been working in

[2:38:53] all of those areas but those

[2:38:55] are some specifics I'd give you

[2:38:56] around housing.

[2:38:58] The last thing I would say is

[2:38:58] that you know, I've partnered

[2:39:01] over a number of years a couple

[2:39:04] of decades now to work on in

[2:39:04] the city's capital investment

[2:39:06] plan.

[2:39:07] And so when you talk about

[2:39:07] investments in streets and

[2:39:10] neighborhoods and housing, you

[2:39:10] know, I've been on the front

[2:39:12] lines of leading our advocacy

[2:39:15] and organizing campaigns to

[2:39:16] invest in our area so that we

[2:39:18] have shared prosperity for our

[2:39:19] residents.

[2:39:19] And so that's really important

[2:39:22] to me because when people have

[2:39:24] housing that's connected to

[2:39:24] transit, that's connected to

[2:39:27] sidewalks, that's connected to

[2:39:30] work that allows our folks to

[2:39:30] live, work and play here in a

[2:39:33] way that everybody can benefit

[2:39:33] from.

[2:39:34] And so I'm really excited about

[2:39:36] that and grateful that you've

[2:39:37] outlined it as one of your core

[2:39:39] priorities moving ahead.

[2:39:40] >> thank you.

[2:39:42] Councilmember mayo.

[2:39:43] >> thank you.

[2:39:45] Good afternoon.

[2:39:45] >> how would you ensure

[2:39:48] meetings are efficient while

[2:39:50] still allowing robust debate

[2:39:51] and discussion?

[2:39:53] >> that's a great question.

[2:39:54] Thank you for the question,

[2:39:54] councilmember mayo.

[2:39:56] I think over the years what

[2:39:57] I've been able to demonstrate

[2:39:59] in leadership across public,

[2:40:01] private and nonprofit sectors

[2:40:02] is just someone who is an

[2:40:05] active listener but also a

[2:40:06] leader and a facilitator.

[2:40:09] So I've been able to govern in

[2:40:11] rooms, be a strong facilitator,

[2:40:14] be someone who is really a

[2:40:16] parliamentarian who says okay,

[2:40:17] we've got a process.

[2:40:17] We're going to stick to our

[2:40:20] process and we're going to

[2:40:20] drive that process forward to

[2:40:23] deliver results for the people

[2:40:24] that we're delivering them for.

[2:40:26] And so when I think about

[2:40:28] effective meeting facilitation,

[2:40:32] it's not just about the meeting

[2:40:32] itself.

[2:40:34] It's about again relationships

[2:40:35] ,trust and transparency.

[2:40:37] It's about collaboration and

[2:40:38] building consensus.

[2:40:40] And that's how I've shown up in

[2:40:41] our community to work with

[2:40:41] residents, to work with

[2:40:43] different leaders.

[2:40:46] >> and it's how I would want to

[2:40:46] show up with each of you if

[2:40:49] given the honor of working with

[2:40:51] you in that way because that's

[2:40:52] the way that we advance things

[2:40:57] with with priority that with

[2:40:57] the priorities that have been

[2:40:58] set up.

[2:41:00] And that's the way we advance

[2:41:01] them in a way that's best for

[2:41:03] our residents because again

[2:41:03] everybody wants us to succeed

[2:41:05] here so strong trust and

[2:41:08] transparency allowing for

[2:41:12] discussion and dialog to take

[2:41:13] place before you arrive at a

[2:41:15] meeting so that there's some

[2:41:18] galvanizing and some rapport

[2:41:18] and some consensus and some

[2:41:21] trust around what we can do

[2:41:22] together.

[2:41:24] And those are just really

[2:41:24] active listening and

[2:41:25] facilitation.

[2:41:27] Building consent those are just

[2:41:30] core tenets of governing well

[2:41:30] and continuing to lead to meet

[2:41:33] the moment.

[2:41:33] And I'll say that, you know,

[2:41:36] it's been quite some time since

[2:41:39] I finished this this program.

[2:41:41] But going back to even serve on

[2:41:44] the board at the umc in chapel

[2:41:44] hill school of government I

[2:41:47] mean we train local leaders to

[2:41:47] be effective.

[2:41:50] And so that was an important

[2:41:50] part of my own professional

[2:41:53] journey and allowed me to learn

[2:41:56] ways to listen and learn and

[2:41:56] lead but also now being a part

[2:41:58] of helping to train other

[2:41:59] municipal leaders to lead

[2:42:01] effectively.

[2:42:02] Those are the things that I've

[2:42:04] continued to do throughout my

[2:42:05] career and it's what I'd want

[2:42:05] to bring to meeting

[2:42:08] facilitation and to helping to

[2:42:08] galvanize this group as we

[2:42:11] contend with the issues of the

[2:42:13] day to support our city.

[2:42:16] >> councilmember anderson,

[2:42:16] thank you and welcome.

[2:42:17] >> thank you.

[2:42:19] In your opinion, what is the

[2:42:22] biggest issue or challenge

[2:42:24] facing our city today?

[2:42:25] And I ask that with the

[2:42:28] understanding that we have lots

[2:42:28] of challenges.

[2:42:30] But if you can pick the one

[2:42:32] that you believe is the biggest

[2:42:35] and speak to that.

[2:42:41] >> so the biggest issue and I

[2:42:41] reframe it also as the biggest

[2:42:44] opportunity facing our city is

[2:42:46] we're a world class city.

[2:42:47] The secret is out and we're

[2:42:47] growing.

[2:42:51] So our growth the 150 plus

[2:42:54] people a day who are coming

[2:42:54] here balancing that growth in a

[2:42:57] way that provides shared

[2:42:59] prosperity for all of our

[2:43:00] residents and a way that we

[2:43:03] make investments in corridors

[2:43:06] and communities across the city

[2:43:06] in a way that says we're going

[2:43:09] to drive this forward with not

[2:43:11] only these core priorities but

[2:43:12] with the fiscal responsibility

[2:43:14] and with the prioritizing

[2:43:18] resident voice and the bringing

[2:43:20] in of cross-sector stakeholders

[2:43:20] .

[2:43:20] That's the biggest opportunity

[2:43:23] and challenge that I see

[2:43:24] because if you don't do that

[2:43:26] well you risk losing losing

[2:43:28] folks or leaving folks behind

[2:43:29] and you risk asking yourself

[2:43:32] can our local teachers, can our

[2:43:35] firefighters, can our nurses,

[2:43:35] can our ems workers can our

[2:43:37] neighborhood coalition leaders

[2:43:38] and nonprofit leaders and

[2:43:41] working families build a

[2:43:41] quality of life here?

[2:43:44] And I believe they can and will

[2:43:44] continue to build a quality of

[2:43:46] life here.

[2:43:49] If we manage growth well in and

[2:43:53] support growth that is that

[2:43:53] provides benefits for all of

[2:43:55] our residents and they're sure

[2:43:58] that prosperity in that growth

[2:43:58] .

[2:44:01] >> councilmember owens, thank

[2:44:01] you, chair.

[2:44:01] Good afternoon.

[2:44:04] It's nice to see you.

[2:44:06] The recent rescission of the

[2:44:07] I-77 project recommendation

[2:44:09] reflected strong public

[2:44:10] engagement and differing

[2:44:12] perspectives about

[2:44:13] transportation planning.

[2:44:15] What do you believe should be

[2:44:15] the next step in addressing

[2:44:16] congestion and mobility

[2:44:18] challenges along the I-77

[2:44:19] corridor?

[2:44:21] And how would you as mayor

[2:44:22] ensure the public is

[2:44:23] meaningfully involved in that

[2:44:26] process?

[2:44:30] >> COUNCILWOMAN Owens I

[2:44:33] appreciate the question and you

[2:44:33] know, we hear from residents

[2:44:36] that congestion is a concern.

[2:44:37] We also hear from residents and

[2:44:38] we understand from our

[2:44:41] neighbors that they want

[2:44:42] quality of life and they want

[2:44:42] their voices heard on these

[2:44:45] issues.

[2:44:45] And so as we think about the

[2:44:48] next step and the path forward

[2:44:50] again I'm going to go back to

[2:44:50] trust.

[2:44:51] So building trust with

[2:44:53] communities so things happen

[2:44:56] with people and not to them.

[2:44:56] I'm going to go back to

[2:44:59] transparency and being open and

[2:45:02] deliberations as a group around

[2:45:04] this dais but also open with

[2:45:05] the public in the process.

[2:45:05] I'm going to go back to

[2:45:08] relationships.

[2:45:10] So the relationships that that

[2:45:13] I've built over the last two

[2:45:13] decades plus with legislative

[2:45:16] delegations and with

[2:45:19] transportation planning

[2:45:19] organizations I mean going out

[2:45:22] and continuing to find a way to

[2:45:25] advance together is important.

[2:45:27] So whether it's calling members

[2:45:30] of the pta or crypto or calling

[2:45:31] on regional mayors, calling on

[2:45:34] others to say all right, we

[2:45:37] need to sit around the table

[2:45:37] and identify how we're going to

[2:45:39] address the demands that we

[2:45:40] have with our growth and the

[2:45:42] demands that we have so people

[2:45:43] can continue to enjoy a quality

[2:45:45] of life here.

[2:45:46] And we have to do that

[2:45:46] strategically.

[2:45:48] But it has to be people first

[2:45:49] and people centered.

[2:45:51] And so that's what I would say.

[2:45:53] I mean I, I am firmly

[2:45:56] supportive of making sure our

[2:45:57] neighborhoods have connectivity

[2:46:00] making sure folks can continue

[2:46:02] to enjoy the neighborhoods that

[2:46:02] they built.

[2:46:05] But also balancing that with

[2:46:08] our growth demands.

[2:46:09] And so I think a path forward

[2:46:11] is to say when we come back

[2:46:13] around the table and nothing is

[2:46:14] in my career I've learned that

[2:46:17] you got to give a little bit

[2:46:17] and you got to be able to, you

[2:46:19] know, sort of there's a push

[2:46:20] and pull and there's a dynamic

[2:46:24] in place where nobody will get

[2:46:24] 100% of everything they want.

[2:46:27] but I've been able to work with

[2:46:27] different groups and say how do

[2:46:30] we build a coalition advance a

[2:46:33] solution and deliver results

[2:46:34] for our people that everybody

[2:46:36] can live with and that

[2:46:37] everybody will be proud of?

[2:46:40] In some way everybody won't get

[2:46:41] 100% but that's what it takes

[2:46:44] to lead and govern is to find a

[2:46:46] solution and find a path

[2:46:46] forward.

[2:46:49] >> councilmember joyce thank

[2:46:49] you, MR. Chair.

[2:46:52] Good afternoon.

[2:46:52] >> good afternoon.

[2:46:54] In order to achieve a more

[2:46:55] orderly council process, how

[2:46:58] would you work outside of

[2:47:00] meetings to help council

[2:47:01] identify priorities and achieve

[2:47:03] consensus?

[2:47:08] >> I would work outside of the

[2:47:09] process doing the things I've

[2:47:11] been doing for my entire life

[2:47:14] which are showing up listening

[2:47:17] actively leading, intentionally

[2:47:20] building coalitions across

[2:47:23] sectors, working with

[2:47:23] stakeholders.

[2:47:26] Again the significant some

[2:47:26] building relationships and

[2:47:27] working with stakeholders

[2:47:29] working with local neighborhood

[2:47:30] groups, working with corporate

[2:47:32] partners, working with

[2:47:32] neighborhood partners, working

[2:47:35] with all of the folks that it

[2:47:35] takes to get things done.

[2:47:38] I mean that's how I would show

[2:47:39] up to continue to advance

[2:47:41] processes.

[2:47:41] It's it's the ways that I've

[2:47:43] always shown up with

[2:47:44] communication with active

[2:47:46] listening trust, transparency

[2:47:47] and also an acknowledgment that

[2:47:49] I don't have all the answers so

[2:47:52] I don't have all the answers.

[2:47:53] You all are listening to your

[2:47:55] different constituencies and

[2:47:56] representing different

[2:47:58] perspectives and that's a

[2:48:01] difficult process.

[2:48:02] But through that process and

[2:48:04] through being out hearing from

[2:48:07] folks advocating I mean you

[2:48:09] really in this role have to be

[2:48:10] someone who's willing to pick

[2:48:13] up the phone, go to raleigh, go

[2:48:14] to washington, go to the places

[2:48:16] and sit with the people even

[2:48:18] when you disagree and say how

[2:48:19] do we get to a point and a

[2:48:21] place of agreement to advance

[2:48:22] charlotte's priorities for

[2:48:22] charlotte's people?

[2:48:25] And so I think that's an

[2:48:25] important thing that I've done

[2:48:27] in my career is calling on

[2:48:30] state legislative delegations

[2:48:30] whether it's business growth

[2:48:33] and expansion, whether it's

[2:48:33] education and supporting our

[2:48:36] talent pipeline, whether it's

[2:48:38] investments in how we think

[2:48:39] about growing our city.

[2:48:41] I mean all of those things are

[2:48:42] things that I've done and I'm

[2:48:44] comfortable to do on day one

[2:48:44] and they would be an extension

[2:48:46] of the work that I've already

[2:48:47] done.

[2:48:47] >> thank you.

[2:48:51] I get the time to say.

[2:48:52] >> councilmember mayfield,

[2:48:54] thank you.

[2:48:55] Thank you so much for joining

[2:48:57] us today.

[2:49:00] >> how do you plan to maintain

[2:49:01] your employment and do this

[2:49:04] role as this does take up a

[2:49:06] significant amount of time?

[2:49:09] >> well, I've recently

[2:49:09] transitioned from employment

[2:49:11] and so I'm at a great place in

[2:49:14] my life and part of this was

[2:49:15] the impetus or the catalyst to

[2:49:17] say what's next?

[2:49:18] What are you going to do next?

[2:49:20] how are you going to serve

[2:49:20] next?

[2:49:21] How are you going to step in

[2:49:21] next?

[2:49:24] So recently I led community

[2:49:26] development for the fed and was

[2:49:29] able to drive investments and

[2:49:29] analyze data and inform

[2:49:32] monetary policy to support

[2:49:35] communities across across six

[2:49:38] states and then work with folks

[2:49:40] across our country around our

[2:49:40] best practices, around

[2:49:42] solutions, around low income

[2:49:43] communities being better

[2:49:46] capitalized and better

[2:49:48] supported with building

[2:49:49] capacity and making investments

[2:49:51] everything from skills and

[2:49:56] access to jobs to non-school

[2:49:58] based barriers around housing,

[2:50:01] transportation, education those

[2:50:01] things.

[2:50:04] And so my career has been one

[2:50:06] that spanned public private

[2:50:07] nonprofit grassroots sectors

[2:50:10] and now I'm at a place in my

[2:50:12] life where I've taken a pause

[2:50:13] to evaluate what is the next

[2:50:13] step.

[2:50:16] So I am able to fully devote

[2:50:18] myself to this endeavor with

[2:50:19] you all and advancing the

[2:50:21] priorities.

[2:50:24] Of course I have a family and

[2:50:26] so that is always going to be

[2:50:26] first and foremost for me.

[2:50:29] But I very much as I have

[2:50:32] always done lean in to leading

[2:50:34] and different areas of my life

[2:50:37] and it would be an honor to

[2:50:37] lean in to lead with you in

[2:50:40] this season knowing that there

[2:50:41] is an interim period and then

[2:50:43] voters will next fall choose

[2:50:43] their next mayor.

[2:50:45] But there's an interim period

[2:50:46] to help support and advance the

[2:50:49] issues that we all care about.

[2:50:51] For charlotte teens to succeed

[2:50:51] .

[2:50:54] >> and councilmember jd.

[2:50:54] Thank you chair graham.

[2:50:57] Thank you MS..

[2:50:57] Capps for being here.

[2:50:59] Charlotte is a growing city but

[2:51:02] too often growth is shaped and

[2:51:05] leaving folks behind especially

[2:51:05] working families.

[2:51:06] How would you balance being

[2:51:08] business friendly and people

[2:51:08] first and ensuring that our

[2:51:11] private partners are

[2:51:11] collaborative partners and

[2:51:14] closing socioeconomic gaps?

[2:51:14] >> yeah, that's a great

[2:51:16] question and thank you for for

[2:51:17] it.

[2:51:19] Councilmember I, I think

[2:51:22] balancing business friendly

[2:51:23] with people first is the

[2:51:26] epitome of who I've had to be

[2:51:28] over the course of my career.

[2:51:29] And so when I think about

[2:51:32] balancing the opportunity to

[2:51:34] talk with court corporate

[2:51:34] partners whether it was when I

[2:51:38] started long ago, long before

[2:51:38] this city started talking about

[2:51:40] economic mobility and social

[2:51:43] capital when I built programs

[2:51:44] that invested in young girls in

[2:51:47] this city and invested in youth

[2:51:47] in our city and brought

[2:51:49] corporate partners to the table

[2:51:50] to say you have to be a part of

[2:51:52] building our local talent

[2:51:53] pipeline.

[2:51:55] I mean that work existed long

[2:51:56] before someone told us that we

[2:51:58] needed to work on economic

[2:52:00] mobility in the city and then

[2:52:01] it just continued from there.

[2:52:04] So the balance of saying hi

[2:52:06] corporate partners we need you.

[2:52:07] We can't do this work to the

[2:52:08] exclusion of you.

[2:52:09] We need you around the table

[2:52:10] for these difficult issues.

[2:52:12] But we also we're we're here

[2:52:15] for our people and so our

[2:52:15] people have to be the ones that

[2:52:18] are at the table making

[2:52:18] decisions, driving decisions,

[2:52:19] putting forward input.

[2:52:21] And I'll just give you examples

[2:52:21] of what I've been able to do

[2:52:24] that one of the recent examples

[2:52:26] was when I launched green light

[2:52:27] fund charlotte and was able to

[2:52:30] galvanize a number of public

[2:52:31] private nonprofit partners

[2:52:33] partnered with the city and the

[2:52:36] county to make investments in

[2:52:37] in workforce and launching the

[2:52:39] center for employment

[2:52:40] opportunity charlotte at the

[2:52:42] goodwill opportunity campus so

[2:52:43] that neighbors could have jobs

[2:52:45] in our community and have

[2:52:46] financial stability and

[2:52:48] security also helped to launch

[2:52:49] financial security.

[2:52:51] Clt which is a coalition of

[2:52:53] folks working together to make

[2:52:54] sure families can build a life

[2:52:54] here.

[2:52:57] And when we're allowing and

[2:52:59] making sure that those

[2:53:02] opportunities are possible,

[2:53:02] you're working with folks who

[2:53:05] we have to say corporate

[2:53:05] partners.

[2:53:07] We need you side by side with

[2:53:10] us in this because many of the

[2:53:11] corporate partners are

[2:53:11] employing the residents of this

[2:53:13] city.

[2:53:14] And so when you think about the

[2:53:16] chance to invest in things like

[2:53:19] the center for employment

[2:53:20] opportunities, invest in youth

[2:53:22] advocate program and

[2:53:22] alternatives to violence which

[2:53:25] was another thing that we

[2:53:28] launched and it was in a few of

[2:53:28] you all's districts and the

[2:53:31] program has now expanded across

[2:53:31] the city when we are able to

[2:53:34] bring together those strong

[2:53:34] partnerships with city, with

[2:53:37] county, with private sector

[2:53:39] stakeholders whom we're also in

[2:53:42] those collaborations to hire

[2:53:43] our residents and make sure

[2:53:45] they had a pathway to financial

[2:53:45] security.

[2:53:46] Those are the things that I've

[2:53:48] continued to do throughout my

[2:53:49] career and I think it's an

[2:53:51] important balance.

[2:53:52] >> so I've always tried to be a

[2:53:54] consensus builder, a trust

[2:53:54] builder, someone that leads

[2:53:57] with servant leadership quite

[2:53:59] frankly and a heart for people

[2:54:00] but also understands the

[2:54:02] dynamics and the different

[2:54:03] stakeholders that have to be

[2:54:05] around the table together.

[2:54:05] Thank you.

[2:54:08] Council member johnson.

[2:54:18] Thank you.

[2:54:21] Thank you for I'm sorry.

[2:54:21] >> thank you for your

[2:54:23] willingness to serve.

[2:54:26] For my question I'm sorry while

[2:54:27] you're looking for your

[2:54:30] question I'm going to inject

[2:54:32] one more thing to councilmember

[2:54:34] jade's point and you know this

[2:54:37] is just really point a point of

[2:54:38] pride because when I think

[2:54:38] about the partners that we've

[2:54:41] worked with annie charlotte and

[2:54:41] the charlotte bilingual

[2:54:44] preschool and our bridge four

[2:54:44] kids and a number of other

[2:54:46] partners and hired local

[2:54:48] parents to be educators and be

[2:54:49] neighborhood partners and to be

[2:54:49] leaders.

[2:54:52] I mean those types of

[2:54:52] collaborations with public

[2:54:55] private and nonprofit partners.

[2:54:57] I mean I've just really gained

[2:55:00] a tremendous amount of respect

[2:55:01] and pride to be able to work

[2:55:03] with folks across east

[2:55:06] charlotte and bring programs

[2:55:09] and investment into an area

[2:55:09] that sometimes has not always

[2:55:11] received that investment.

[2:55:12] Thank you so much.

[2:55:15] Thank you for your willingness

[2:55:15] to serve.

[2:55:15] >> to serve.

[2:55:18] What concerns, if any, do you

[2:55:20] think the public might have

[2:55:20] about your appointment as

[2:55:23] interim mayor and how would you

[2:55:24] address those concerns?

[2:55:26] And there is a second part

[2:55:26] also.

[2:55:27] Okay.

[2:55:28] Thank you for that question,

[2:55:29] councilmember johnson.

[2:55:34] Concern is what I've heard to

[2:55:35] community and what I've also

[2:55:37] heard to business.

[2:55:40] And so you know, I find that to

[2:55:41] be an interesting balance of

[2:55:43] concerns and a good mix quite

[2:55:46] frankly because you want to

[2:55:49] have trust across a number of

[2:55:50] different stakeholders.

[2:55:52] And so for people to say she's

[2:55:52] to community she's been

[2:55:55] organizing on the ground, she's

[2:55:56] been lead a nonprofit, she's

[2:55:57] been doing this and for other

[2:55:58] people to say she too business

[2:56:00] she's been at the chamber,

[2:56:01] she's been at the fair and

[2:56:02] she's been at these places.

[2:56:04] I mean I think that's what we

[2:56:06] would aspire to have in a

[2:56:06] leader who has sat at the

[2:56:09] table, who has advanced issues,

[2:56:12] who knows what people across

[2:56:15] different perspectives are

[2:56:15] leaning into, who has

[2:56:18] relationships across those

[2:56:18] different groups.

[2:56:19] I mean I think that's the kind

[2:56:21] of person that is uniquely

[2:56:22] served in this moment and I

[2:56:23] have those relationships,

[2:56:24] skills and experiences.

[2:56:27] And again, I'm going to go back

[2:56:27] to trust relationships

[2:56:30] transparent and consensus

[2:56:31] building because those are the

[2:56:32] things that I think are

[2:56:33] important and the challenges

[2:56:35] that people would say I think

[2:56:36] are the very things that would

[2:56:39] help us be successful together

[2:56:39] for charlotte against.

[2:56:41] >> okay let's do a time check.

[2:56:45] >> councilmember drakes is out

[2:56:48] there being q if I can I'm

[2:56:50] sorry I think she into this.

[2:56:50] What's the second part?

[2:56:51] I'm sorry.

[2:56:52] I think she answered it so we

[2:56:53] might be able to move on.

[2:56:55] But additionally what strength

[2:56:56] and experiences do you believe

[2:56:58] make you well-suited for this

[2:56:59] role?

[2:56:59] >> yeah.

[2:56:59] Okay.

[2:57:02] Yeah.

[2:57:04] >> so she answers that part of

[2:57:04] it.

[2:57:07] >> can I have some member?

[2:57:07] >> that's why mike isn't going

[2:57:10] to and and you want to be q

[2:57:10] yes.

[2:57:10] >> all right.

[2:57:12] So councilmember drags

[2:57:15] councilmember justice in.

[2:57:17] Q and I don't see on the other

[2:57:20] hand council member jd.

[2:57:23] >> so how important are

[2:57:23] intergovernmental relationships

[2:57:26] to the city's agenda and what

[2:57:27] are ways you as mayor would

[2:57:30] work with our intergovernmental

[2:57:32] partners to achieve outcomes

[2:57:32] for our city?

[2:57:33] >> that's a great question.

[2:57:35] Thank you.

[2:57:36] Councilmember driggs I mean

[2:57:38] intergovernmental in

[2:57:38] governmental relations are

[2:57:41] incredibly important and going

[2:57:43] back to you know, 20 years ago

[2:57:44] when I moved back to charlotte

[2:57:45] after completing my studies

[2:57:48] coming in to bgr meetings and

[2:57:49] sitting around and making sure

[2:57:51] I'm hearing the issues of the

[2:57:52] day and still continuing

[2:57:54] continuing to do that today has

[2:57:55] allowed me to build

[2:57:57] relationships with city

[2:57:58] leaders, with county leaders,

[2:58:00] with school board leaders, with

[2:58:03] state legislative delegation

[2:58:03] and federal delegations again

[2:58:06] with rnal mayors and

[2:58:06] colleagues and local planning

[2:58:09] and transportation and

[2:58:09] investment organizations.

[2:58:11] And so doing that work over a

[2:58:15] number of of of years has

[2:58:15] really just provided an

[2:58:17] opportunity to be thoughtful

[2:58:21] with partners to be fearless as

[2:58:24] an advocate for charlotte's

[2:58:24] issues and charlotte's

[2:58:24] priorities.

[2:58:27] >> so whether it was trying to

[2:58:28] determine how we continue to

[2:58:31] lean into emerging industries

[2:58:31] around logistics or

[2:58:34] transportation or energy or any

[2:58:34] number of things you know,

[2:58:36] working together with

[2:58:39] colleagues with regional mayors

[2:58:41] ,with you know, other regional

[2:58:42] transportation groups, state

[2:58:44] federal groups that's really

[2:58:45] important.

[2:58:47] So intergovernmental is

[2:58:48] something that I believe we

[2:58:51] have to continue to do really

[2:58:53] well to advance charlotte's

[2:58:53] priorities and charlotte's

[2:58:56] issues and it's something I'm

[2:58:56] comfortable with.

[2:58:58] I'm comfortable picking up the

[2:58:58] phone.

[2:58:59] I'm comfortable getting on the

[2:58:59] road.

[2:59:01] I'm comfortable leaning in and

[2:59:02] having conversations with

[2:59:04] people who again sometimes have

[2:59:04] different perspectives and

[2:59:07] experiences but at the end of

[2:59:10] the day you do that because for

[2:59:11] me it's about being an advocate

[2:59:13] for our people and moving our

[2:59:13] issues forward and I'm very

[2:59:16] much aligned with the core

[2:59:16] issues and priorities that you

[2:59:18] all have outlined and would be

[2:59:19] excited to support those and

[2:59:22] pick up the phone and be a

[2:59:25] chief advocate for the city and

[2:59:25] for our people.

[2:59:25] >> okay.

[2:59:27] So the five minute warning was

[2:59:29] given a minute ago so you

[2:59:29] probably got about four minutes

[2:59:29] left.

[2:59:30] >> okay.

[2:59:31] Councilmember johnson's then q

[2:59:33] and then councilmember jd

[2:59:37] charlotte adopted an ordinance

[2:59:40] in 2024 related to individuals

[2:59:40] who are unhoused.

[2:59:41] What are your thoughts on those

[2:59:43] policies and charlotte's

[2:59:43] overall approach to

[2:59:45] homelessness?

[2:59:46] >> thank you.

[2:59:48] Council member johnson for the

[2:59:48] question.

[2:59:51] So again I'm going to go back

[2:59:53] to a couple of things with

[2:59:54] housing and thinking about it

[2:59:57] on a continuum.

[2:59:57] So when we start with our

[3:00:00] unhoused neighbors, I think we

[3:00:03] do have to continue to advance

[3:00:04] policies that increase the

[3:00:06] supply of housing and provide

[3:00:07] housing for our neighbors who

[3:00:09] are unhoused.

[3:00:10] But we also have to be

[3:00:12] thoughtful about the partners

[3:00:13] that are around the table and

[3:00:15] think innovatively about how we

[3:00:16] continue to address the issues

[3:00:18] around our unhoused neighbors.

[3:00:19] And so one of the things again

[3:00:21] coming back to the question is

[3:00:24] how do we partner with other

[3:00:24] folks?

[3:00:25] Going back to COUNCILMAN Greg's

[3:00:27] question, intergovernmental.

[3:00:29] And so the county has a big

[3:00:30] part in this.

[3:00:30] And when we think about some of

[3:00:33] the reasons that our neighbors

[3:00:34] are unhoused including mental

[3:00:35] health and other challenges.

[3:00:36] And so you know, part of part

[3:00:39] of my thoughts are around yes,

[3:00:41] we have to advance policies and

[3:00:42] opportunities to increase

[3:00:44] housing supply.

[3:00:45] We have to advance

[3:00:47] opportunities for stakeholders

[3:00:48] to build a continuum of care

[3:00:51] together so that we can move

[3:00:53] neighbors from being unhoused

[3:00:54] into housing stability.

[3:00:57] And we also have to think about

[3:00:58] not just housing stability but

[3:01:00] economic mobility and

[3:01:00] opportunity.

[3:01:03] So once somebody is stable, how

[3:01:03] do they now participate in

[3:01:06] market rate rent?

[3:01:06] How do they now participate in

[3:01:08] home ownership later on down

[3:01:08] the line?

[3:01:09] And there are so many partner

[3:01:11] is good phenomenal partners in

[3:01:14] this community from you know

[3:01:17] yeah dream key partners to

[3:01:19] other developers and partners

[3:01:22] to a number of housing

[3:01:23] organizations habitat charley I

[3:01:25] mean a number of housing

[3:01:26] organizations public and

[3:01:28] private partners and nonprofit

[3:01:29] partners who are working to

[3:01:31] advance issues.

[3:01:34] >> I mean you've got liz clasen

[3:01:34] you've just got so many leaders

[3:01:37] around this community that are

[3:01:39] doing work around housing and

[3:01:40] building and bringing people

[3:01:43] together who have been doing

[3:01:43] the work for years.

[3:01:44] and so I think just continuing

[3:01:46] to advance those issues is

[3:01:46] important.

[3:01:48] >> councilmember jd and then

[3:01:49] probably a quick response

[3:01:55] contract for charlotte's

[3:01:56] airport is one of our most

[3:01:56] important anomic engines.

[3:01:59] How will you ensure that

[3:02:01] charlotte continues to protect

[3:02:01] that economic engine but also

[3:02:04] protecting airport service

[3:02:07] workers and their conditions?

[3:02:07] >> thank you for the question,

[3:02:10] councilmember jd.

[3:02:13] >> so charlotte's airport is a

[3:02:14] tremendous asset for our city

[3:02:16] and for our residents to live,

[3:02:16] work and play and be mobile.

[3:02:18] When I think about the issues

[3:02:19] and opportunities, you know a

[3:02:22] couple of things at play.

[3:02:24] One, you've got an opportunity

[3:02:25] to think about how to support

[3:02:28] the workers who work at the

[3:02:28] airport.

[3:02:30] I recognize the time is running

[3:02:31] short to you have an

[3:02:31] opportunity.

[3:02:33] We don't want to wait until we

[3:02:35] get 18 months from now to

[3:02:35] really get into the details of

[3:02:39] renewing this lease and talk

[3:02:39] about what it's going to take

[3:02:41] to make sure that there's

[3:02:42] satisfactorily satisfactory

[3:02:44] satisfactory agreement amongst

[3:02:45] all the parties.

[3:02:47] So I think just again trust

[3:02:50] transparency, engagement early

[3:02:51] understanding the tremendous

[3:02:53] asset that the airport is

[3:02:54] understanding that we have to

[3:02:56] balance that with workers

[3:02:56] ability to live here and build

[3:02:58] a life here.

[3:02:59] I think all of those things are

[3:03:02] in the balance here.

[3:03:04] But again we're fortunate to

[3:03:05] live in a city with an asset

[3:03:07] like our airport.

[3:03:10] And so a combination of

[3:03:13] consensus building thoughtful

[3:03:13] processes and negotiations

[3:03:16] supporting workers ability to

[3:03:18] live here and build a life here

[3:03:19] and being thoughtful with

[3:03:21] advanced planning that allows

[3:03:24] us to continue to make the

[3:03:25] investments that we need for

[3:03:28] our citizens to enjoy this city

[3:03:28] is what I would say is

[3:03:30] important here.

[3:03:31] Hmm.

[3:03:31] Okay.

[3:03:33] Very good.

[3:03:33] Okay.

[3:03:36] So you have a minute and to

[3:03:37] share with the council and in

[3:03:39] closing thoughts.

[3:03:40] >> well I just would say thank

[3:03:41] you.

[3:03:42] I think we're in a moment where

[3:03:45] my skills, my heart, my

[3:03:48] experiences and the way that

[3:03:50] I've led are really uniquely

[3:03:51] positioned to help us move

[3:03:54] forward.

[3:04:00] And so I don't I don't believe

[3:04:02] that anybody around this table

[3:04:03] is not here for charlotte's

[3:04:03] best interests.

[3:04:05] And while there are different

[3:04:06] constituencies and different

[3:04:08] issues and different groups,

[3:04:11] what I do believe is that we're

[3:04:12] all here now in a unique moment

[3:04:14] to be able to advance and

[3:04:14] balance the growth and

[3:04:18] opportunities in this city with

[3:04:21] the ways in which everybody can

[3:04:23] share in the benefits of that

[3:04:23] growth in that prosperity.

[3:04:26] And so I'm a charlotte.

[3:04:26] I was raised in charlotte.

[3:04:29] My mom is you know, my schiro

[3:04:32] and we grew up in COUNCILWOMAN

[3:04:34] Johnson's district.

[3:04:34] Bought my first home in

[3:04:37] councilmember graham's district

[3:04:37] and you know, have done

[3:04:40] organizing and work in

[3:04:40] councilmember watlington

[3:04:41] district.

[3:04:43] I've organized with folks in

[3:04:44] COUNCILWOMAN Ashman's district.

[3:04:46] And so last week or last month

[3:04:48] I spoke to a economic club in

[3:04:51] COUNCILMAN Driggs district.

[3:04:52] I mean I've just really had an

[3:04:54] opportunity to show up in

[3:04:54] spaces and places across the

[3:04:57] city again without a title.

[3:05:00] I did this long before there

[3:05:01] was ever a title associated

[3:05:03] with it because I just believe

[3:05:03] in and I love our city.

[3:05:06] I have imported a husband into

[3:05:06] this city.

[3:05:09] We have we have had two

[3:05:10] children here and it's just a

[3:05:12] great joy to continue to build

[3:05:14] a life here and I'd love to

[3:05:15] partner with you to do that for

[3:05:17] for our residents.

[3:05:18] >> well, let me thank you for

[3:05:20] your leadership and your

[3:05:23] commitment to public service

[3:05:25] and for showing up and showing

[3:05:28] up today as a candidate and we

[3:05:29] appreciate the opportunity to

[3:05:31] hear from you today.

[3:05:36] >> thank you all so much.

[3:05:37] >> council we have to we have

[3:05:39] to process questions that

[3:05:42] should take relatively short

[3:05:42] period of time, right?

[3:05:45] So here we go.

[3:05:48] The first question is to to

[3:05:50] determine the number of

[3:05:52] nominees on the ballot for JUNE

[3:05:52] 22nd.

[3:05:55] I would suspect that we're

[3:05:55] advancing all five candidates.

[3:05:58] Is there consensus on that?

[3:05:59] Correct.

[3:05:59] Okay.

[3:06:01] The second question is to

[3:06:03] determine the number of those

[3:06:06] required to proceed subsequent

[3:06:09] balance if necessary I.E.

[3:06:12] Obviously of a candidate gets

[3:06:12] six votes.

[3:06:14] They are our winner.

[3:06:16] If a candidate doesn't get six

[3:06:18] vote, are we in agreement that

[3:06:19] the two top vote getters will

[3:06:24] move forward for a runoff?

[3:06:27] >> councilmember anderson then

[3:06:27] councilmember mayfield, thank

[3:06:28] you.

[3:06:30] >> thank you.

[3:06:33] So I just want to combine this

[3:06:33] with what we heard from city

[3:06:34] attorney.

[3:06:35] I believe on monday.

[3:06:38] So I'm open to this discussion.

[3:06:43] But should we think about a

[3:06:44] threshold of votes?

[3:06:44] Right.

[3:06:47] And so if for example someone

[3:06:50] gets five votes and then the

[3:06:53] next person closes gets two

[3:06:56] votes, should we think about a

[3:06:56] threshold of you have to at

[3:07:00] least have, you know, three or

[3:07:00] more votes or four more votes

[3:07:03] to advance?

[3:07:04] Is this a question I want to

[3:07:06] put out a put out here?

[3:07:06] Clearly I hope we can get the

[3:07:07] six and then we don't have to

[3:07:08] worry about this.

[3:07:09] But as we try to prepare the

[3:07:12] process ahead of time so we

[3:07:14] don't have confusion on monday

[3:07:14] .

[3:07:15] >> thank you.

[3:07:15] So we have mayfield and

[3:07:17] wellington in q.

[3:07:17] Thank you.

[3:07:21] So on the same line as far as

[3:07:23] the threshold I've shared when

[3:07:28] we had small group discussion I

[3:07:28] do think there needs to be a

[3:07:31] threshold for me that threshold

[3:07:31] is five or more.

[3:07:33] >> six is the majority I would

[3:07:36] hope that we would be able to

[3:07:40] garner support of more than six

[3:07:43] for the individual that will be

[3:07:45] stepping into this role.

[3:07:47] I don't think three is the

[3:07:52] number for us to get to four

[3:07:55] conversation on monday.

[3:07:57] >> I would hope that we have

[3:08:00] the opportunity and can

[3:08:03] identify our majority or better

[3:08:04] for individual.

[3:08:06] I know was stated that if it's

[3:08:09] six they automatically get it.

[3:08:11] Personally I'm looking for

[3:08:11] seven and nine.

[3:08:14] If not consensus of 11 that

[3:08:17] might be a little bit more

[3:08:18] difficult but six is the

[3:08:19] minimum threshold.

[3:08:21] I think we have the opportunity

[3:08:24] to do better than six for this

[3:08:27] person is going to be stepping

[3:08:27] in.

[3:08:28] So I do agree that we should

[3:08:28] have a threshold.

[3:08:30] I just don't think it should be

[3:08:31] as low as three.

[3:08:31] >> right.

[3:08:34] Just reminding the council that

[3:08:38] there will be 11 votes cast on

[3:08:41] monday night so that's our five

[3:08:41] folks.

[3:08:44] So I think you need to take

[3:08:46] that into consideration.

[3:08:47] Councilmember wallington, then

[3:08:48] councilmember dreyfuss and q

[3:08:51] councilmembers I'm assuming

[3:08:52] that's you.

[3:08:52] >> thank you, MR. Chair.

[3:08:53] And maybe this what you just

[3:08:55] spoke to maybe addresses my

[3:08:55] question.

[3:08:57] I'm not I'm attorney can you

[3:08:58] just remind us of what you

[3:09:00] recommend it if anything last

[3:09:01] time in terms of number of

[3:09:06] nominations for the dia for the

[3:09:06] day?

[3:09:07] DR. Watlington thank you for

[3:09:08] the question for the day of

[3:09:09] each councilmember I

[3:09:09] recommended that each

[3:09:12] councilmember would have one

[3:09:15] vote and the minimum threshold

[3:09:15] in reference to councilmember

[3:09:18] matos point I suggested that at

[3:09:19] a minimum three to keep it to

[3:09:20] keep it moving forward to

[3:09:22] advance to subsequent balance

[3:09:23] ballots if required but

[3:09:25] certainly as council's

[3:09:25] pleasure.

[3:09:25] >> okay.

[3:09:28] So with that I would I would

[3:09:30] support keeping it at three

[3:09:32] simply because if we each only

[3:09:33] get one vote and you get more

[3:09:35] than I'm just not sure how that

[3:09:38] would even work if you have to

[3:09:39] have at least five that means

[3:09:40] only two people could even be

[3:09:40] in contention and that means

[3:09:42] the other person lost.

[3:09:47] So I'm saying if if if you're

[3:09:49] saying that you have to have

[3:09:51] five or 6 or 7 to get it and we

[3:09:53] each only cast one vote if one

[3:09:53] person has five and then the

[3:09:59] others have three and three for

[3:10:01] example, that means we are

[3:10:01] awarding or I don't say

[3:10:04] awarding we're appointing a

[3:10:04] mayor with less than a council

[3:10:06] majority vote and that doesn't

[3:10:07] feel procedurally correct?

[3:10:09] >> correct.

[3:10:13] >> so I could I well, I concur

[3:10:13] with that.

[3:10:16] Councilmember draitser thank

[3:10:16] you.

[3:10:19] >> the next I'm sorry and then

[3:10:22] COUNCILMAN Asha mira and I

[3:10:25] think I saw a and go up.

[3:10:26] >> okay concept of address.

[3:10:27] So we need to think about sort

[3:10:29] of the contingencies how the

[3:10:29] numbers could play out right,

[3:10:30] right.

[3:10:32] If you had two people that had

[3:10:35] four votes for example and

[3:10:35] somebody had three then you

[3:10:38] weren't you bring the two

[3:10:38] forward.

[3:10:40] If somebody has six right away

[3:10:40] their chosen.

[3:10:40] Mm hmm.

[3:10:42] What about five?

[3:10:45] >> three and three?

[3:10:46] >> that's what mine.

[3:10:46] Yeah.

[3:10:48] So that's a tough one because

[3:10:51] now you don't have a basis,

[3:10:51] right?

[3:10:54] You could have a runoff between

[3:10:56] the true three getters to

[3:10:59] determine who is in there and

[3:11:02] then run them against the top

[3:11:03] three.

[3:11:03] Right.

[3:11:04] I mean that would strike me as

[3:11:08] being the best way to do that.

[3:11:08] And I think with that we've

[3:11:11] probably covered the bases.

[3:11:11] >> I'm not sure there's a I

[3:11:14] mean it would be weird, right?

[3:11:16] 11 votes and if all five of

[3:11:18] them get two or something could

[3:11:18] happen though.

[3:11:24] So I guess as I say you bring

[3:11:26] forward the top vote getter or

[3:11:26] the two tied top vote getters

[3:11:29] and if people are tied at less

[3:11:31] to the top you then run them

[3:11:32] off against each other and try

[3:11:34] to get it narrowed down that

[3:11:35] way.

[3:11:35] >> okay.

[3:11:38] So councilmember asmir so I

[3:11:40] just want to make sure I am

[3:11:43] clear on what what MR. Drake

[3:11:43] said.

[3:11:46] So you are not suggesting any

[3:11:46] threshold correct?

[3:11:49] >> well, I'm looking at the

[3:11:49] possible.

[3:11:51] >> no, I'm just saying I guess

[3:11:54] I'm just sort of yeah, I agree

[3:11:55] or I agree with you if you have

[3:11:57] if you have a situation where

[3:11:59] nobody got six right.

[3:12:00] So then obviously you're going

[3:12:02] to have a top person you may

[3:12:03] have a tie for the top, you run

[3:12:04] those.

[3:12:05] No, I get it.

[3:12:06] I just I just want to make sure

[3:12:07] we are clear.

[3:12:07] You are not suggesting a

[3:12:10] threshold and I agree with that

[3:12:13] approach where there is no

[3:12:15] threshold but maybe just the

[3:12:18] top three ends up or I remember

[3:12:21] how did we do with empty did we

[3:12:24] empty a process?

[3:12:26] I know there are four and I

[3:12:27] just wanted to if the attorney

[3:12:29] can if you've got six because

[3:12:31] the empty process was it wasn't

[3:12:32] easy, right?

[3:12:34] >> appointment process.

[3:12:35] I want to see if we could

[3:12:37] replicate that for the final

[3:12:37] round.

[3:12:41] >> so the challenge well excuse

[3:12:41] me council member as mayor has

[3:12:43] the floor so we so we can hear

[3:12:46] attorney the one noteworthy

[3:12:48] distinction between the empty

[3:12:49] process and this process is

[3:12:52] that each council member only

[3:12:53] has one vote.

[3:12:54] >> you had multiple votes for

[3:12:56] the final round.

[3:12:58] >> we only had one meeting.

[3:13:02] >> oh yeah, after the

[3:13:02] interview.

[3:13:05] >> but you were voting for

[3:13:05] different categories, right?

[3:13:08] That's there and in this

[3:13:08] instance at all times each

[3:13:11] council member will have one

[3:13:11] vote.

[3:13:13] >> councilmember mayo has the

[3:13:13] floor.

[3:13:14] >> thank you.

[3:13:14] I'd actually like to make a

[3:13:16] motion regarding this so I

[3:13:19] would like to move that we when

[3:13:20] we're doing our first round of

[3:13:22] ballot five we do the top two

[3:13:24] vote getters and if there is a

[3:13:25] tie that we do a runoff between

[3:13:31] those two is to determine who

[3:13:31] will be you know what the top

[3:13:34] vote getter and then we're just

[3:13:34] having two people go against

[3:13:36] each other if we have to go to

[3:13:37] around to this emotion on the

[3:13:38] floor.

[3:13:42] So second, just a comment I

[3:13:44] made you pay and oh I

[3:13:47] discussion I'm asking for a

[3:13:48] clarification.

[3:13:50] >> well please address the

[3:13:52] chair so we can all here right

[3:13:53] right.

[3:13:53] That's what that's what that's

[3:13:56] the purpose right so it's been

[3:13:58] properly moved.

[3:13:58] It's been properly second

[3:14:00] councilmember drake's has a

[3:14:04] comment so just so I understand

[3:14:04] clearly right if you have a top

[3:14:09] vote getter and you have a tie

[3:14:09] for second place then what I'm

[3:14:12] suggesting is you have a runoff

[3:14:13] between the two second place

[3:14:14] people in order to determine

[3:14:17] then who will run off against

[3:14:17] the top vote getter.

[3:14:19] >> yes.

[3:14:19] All right.

[3:14:20] So is that your motion?

[3:14:20] Yes, sir.

[3:14:22] All right.

[3:14:23] So can favor that.

[3:14:23] All right.

[3:14:25] Councilmember anderson is

[3:14:25] recognized.

[3:14:26] >> councilmember owens is.

[3:14:27] Thank you.

[3:14:28] Okay.

[3:14:33] So I so so in that scenario if

[3:14:33] we have and I'm not sure it's

[3:14:36] going to happen but if we have

[3:14:40] two people that have five votes

[3:14:43] ,how will we advance from that

[3:14:46] in the midst of your in your

[3:14:48] motion that there's 11 votes

[3:14:49] being casted?

[3:14:51] I understand but it still is

[3:14:53] this is math.

[3:14:56] two candidates could get five

[3:14:58] and there could be two

[3:14:59] candidates with five one

[3:15:00] candidate and one so I'm just

[3:15:03] asking in the face of this

[3:15:05] motion city attorney hat how

[3:15:08] would that work?

[3:15:12] The five turn is recognize

[3:15:14] thank you MR. Chair.

[3:15:18] The five and five would they

[3:15:18] would they would runoff to

[3:15:21] select the mayoral candidate

[3:15:23] the the let's say that the

[3:15:24] third highest vote getter would

[3:15:26] would fall off and they would

[3:15:27] just be the top that one.

[3:15:27] >> perfect.

[3:15:29] I just wanted to have clarity

[3:15:32] so the mathematics right

[3:15:34] exactly exactly right comes MAY

[3:15:42] feel thank you so the scenario

[3:15:44] that I'm considering is the six

[3:15:49] five to me six five is because

[3:15:51] that's where we land more often

[3:15:54] than not I don't the add to me

[3:15:56] that's a one off because where

[3:15:56] 11 members to me that will be

[3:15:59] the top two I don't think for

[3:16:01] this particular position that

[3:16:05] we are looking at for mayor out

[3:16:08] of five candidates that by that

[3:16:11] one vote individual should then

[3:16:11] be appointed mayor.

[3:16:14] I feel like if we're looking at

[3:16:15] a five and we're and we have

[3:16:17] the opportunity to get to the

[3:16:20] top two, then if it's a65 vote

[3:16:23] when it's all done and that's

[3:16:25] all 11 counted that that six

[3:16:25] five are the two that would go

[3:16:27] to the runoff.

[3:16:28] That's why I want to try to

[3:16:31] make sure that it's clear if

[3:16:33] there's more clarity.

[3:16:36] So I I'm I'm saying I'm not

[3:16:39] saying what I bill and make

[3:16:41] sure you capture I am saying

[3:16:44] clearly that I do not think for

[3:16:45] this particular opportunity

[3:16:47] when we are appointing a mayor

[3:16:50] that the standard six out of 11

[3:16:52] should automatically be

[3:16:56] appointed if we have and this

[3:16:57] is only if when the votes come

[3:17:01] in if we have a65, then those

[3:17:04] two should be in the top two.

[3:17:04] I think we should give

[3:17:05] ourselves at least the

[3:17:07] opportunity of having a choice

[3:17:09] of two and not just say well

[3:17:11] out of 11 members six chose

[3:17:12] this particular person.

[3:17:14] So this should be the person

[3:17:17] that or even if it is six four

[3:17:19] and one person abstains I just

[3:17:19] want to make sure that we do

[3:17:21] have another opportunity to

[3:17:24] ensure that we are identifying

[3:17:28] who we think is the most

[3:17:30] appropriate right now to serve

[3:17:33] in this role of our city and I

[3:17:33] just don't think doing the

[3:17:38] minimum the bare minimum of six

[3:17:38] out of the 11 which is our

[3:17:40] majority for this particular

[3:17:45] well in a dream world we will

[3:17:46] be closer to eight nine if not

[3:17:50] for consensus but if it is a

[3:17:52] sample and example of a65 to me

[3:17:55] that's the top two and those

[3:17:58] would be the two that we choose

[3:17:59] between four runoff.

[3:18:01] So I just wanted to make sure

[3:18:03] that I had that in the minutes

[3:18:03] .

[3:18:06] Councilmember owens so my

[3:18:09] question has morphed a bit in

[3:18:12] light of that comment.

[3:18:13] I'm I'm processing that but for

[3:18:17] me if you do have a65 for me

[3:18:20] that does not suggest that you

[3:18:21] would then go to a runoff

[3:18:23] because you've had those 11

[3:18:23] votes and you would just

[3:18:24] continue to perpetuate a65

[3:18:27] potentially that was the runoff

[3:18:27] .

[3:18:30] So that that is the runoff.

[3:18:33] So I would propose that we not

[3:18:36] advance for a supermajority for

[3:18:40] for you to do a simple majority

[3:18:42] as we do our votes.

[3:18:43] I think it is it is commendable

[3:18:46] the aspiration that we would

[3:18:47] have a degree of consensus

[3:18:48] around us.

[3:18:49] I think it would serve the city

[3:18:51] well if we were aligned and we

[3:18:53] were to communicate with one

[3:18:54] voice and we did achieve

[3:18:56] unanimity.

[3:18:59] But I don't want to handicap us

[3:18:59] to continue to perpetuate a

[3:19:03] repeat six five vote as you

[3:19:04] advance those two people to a

[3:19:04] runoff.

[3:19:07] I would I would propose that we

[3:19:09] maintain the motion which I

[3:19:10] believe is on the floor that it

[3:19:13] would be as simple majority and

[3:19:15] we would adopt MR. Driggs

[3:19:16] language with respect to what

[3:19:20] would happen were we to have a

[3:19:21] five as the as the dominant and

[3:19:23] then the other votes split

[3:19:25] between parties that we would

[3:19:26] sort it the way that he

[3:19:26] suggested.

[3:19:29] Thank you, chair and then after

[3:19:32] of that scenario plays comes

[3:19:32] into play.

[3:19:35] We can also have another vote

[3:19:38] to accept the the the nominee

[3:19:41] by consensus and which I think

[3:19:43] we should do right no matter

[3:19:44] who who the winner is because I

[3:19:46] think it's really important

[3:19:49] that we do that right.

[3:19:52] So we can we can do that.

[3:19:53] >> I think that's appropriate

[3:19:54] recommendation.

[3:19:55] I think it's just protocol

[3:19:57] right?

[3:19:58] That's for somebody to just do

[3:20:00] it right make that motion out

[3:20:03] so councilmember anderson, just

[3:20:06] a point of information.

[3:20:08] Can the clerk read what the

[3:20:09] motion is that we're about to

[3:20:11] vote on the motion made by MS..

[3:20:12] maio second by MS..

[3:20:15] Mayfield it was taught to vote

[3:20:15] getters move forward and if we

[3:20:17] have the time we do a runoff.

[3:20:20] >> okay.

[3:20:21] >> and that's right,

[3:20:24] councilmember anderson has the

[3:20:24] floor.

[3:20:26] >> that's what that's why I was

[3:20:26] asking because I just heard

[3:20:27] something a little bit

[3:20:29] different.

[3:20:29] Yeah.

[3:20:32] I thought I thought that that

[3:20:32] was the motion.

[3:20:33] Right.

[3:20:35] But then I just heard I want to

[3:20:36] sort of make sure we're all on

[3:20:37] the same page here.

[3:20:37] The top vote getter will

[3:20:40] advance clearly if there's a

[3:20:41] top vote getter and they don't

[3:20:42] get six but I just heard that

[3:20:45] then the rest of them would

[3:20:47] have a runoff to select the top

[3:20:48] two.

[3:20:48] That's only if there's a tie.

[3:20:50] Is that correct?

[3:20:51] >> right.

[3:20:51] I just want to make sure we

[3:20:53] were all on the same page

[3:20:54] because I just heard something

[3:20:54] different.

[3:20:54] >> okay.

[3:20:56] Councilmember dres johnson and

[3:20:57] everyone have a question so I

[3:20:59] want to clarify.

[3:21:01] Top vote getter less than six,

[3:21:01] right?

[3:21:02] You got a runoff.

[3:21:04] Okay.

[3:21:07] Then that person runs against

[3:21:07] the second highest vote getter

[3:21:09] if there's a tie for second

[3:21:12] place then you have a runoff

[3:21:13] between those two to determine

[3:21:15] who will run off against the

[3:21:18] five vote getter for the final

[3:21:18] outcome.

[3:21:21] So I'm not sure the motion

[3:21:24] captures that does it then I

[3:21:27] can I can add that to it except

[3:21:31] the but then the amendment okay

[3:21:32] so go to the chair so we so we

[3:21:34] can everyone can kind of know

[3:21:37] what we're doing right now.

[3:21:39] >> you still have okay thank

[3:21:42] you chair pro-tem you're doing

[3:21:42] a great job.

[3:21:45] >> I think I'd like to ask q so

[3:21:47] the clerk has captured the

[3:21:50] elements of councilmember

[3:21:50] anderson's question about the

[3:21:52] motion?

[3:21:52] Yes.

[3:21:55] The top vote getter they get

[3:21:57] less than six that person in

[3:22:00] the other individual will have

[3:22:03] a runoff.

[3:22:03] >> so that's incorporated in

[3:22:04] the motion that's on the floor.

[3:22:07] So let me ask a question I

[3:22:07] think this clarifies it.

[3:22:09] COUNCILMAN Johnson, you have

[3:22:09] the floor.

[3:22:10] >> thank you.

[3:22:11] If someone is if this for three

[3:22:14] to and then a tie at one they

[3:22:17] don't have a tiebreaker it's

[3:22:19] only if the second place has a

[3:22:19] tie.

[3:22:20] Is that correct?

[3:22:22] We're only advancing the top

[3:22:23] two.

[3:22:23] Okay.

[3:22:26] So the bottom number is a tie

[3:22:26] then that's we're not advancing

[3:22:28] that.

[3:22:28] Okay.

[3:22:29] So that's the clarification.

[3:22:31] It's not an automatic tie

[3:22:31] breaker.

[3:22:33] It's only if the second place

[3:22:35] has a tie.

[3:22:38] That's right.

[3:22:38] >> yeah.

[3:22:38] Thank you.

[3:22:39] Thank you.

[3:22:41] Are we all good?

[3:22:42] >> have any clarifying

[3:22:43] questions?

[3:22:44] Are we ready for the vote?

[3:22:46] Yes.

[3:22:47] >> can you read the motion one

[3:22:49] more time?

[3:22:52] >> so now I got you a little

[3:22:54] bit but the top two vote

[3:22:56] getters or the top vote getter

[3:22:58] that is less than six.

[3:22:59] Those two people will have a

[3:23:04] runoff if there is a tie right

[3:23:04] .

[3:23:07] >> if I MAY MAY I MAY MAY I

[3:23:08] take a stab so if we have a top

[3:23:11] vote getter who has less than

[3:23:12] six, that top vote getter will

[3:23:14] advance if the second place is

[3:23:17] a tie.

[3:23:18] That's right.

[3:23:18] There will be a runoff between

[3:23:22] the second place to two people

[3:23:23] two candidates in the second

[3:23:24] place and the winner of that

[3:23:27] runoff will vance against the

[3:23:29] top vote get it?

[3:23:30] >> that's right.

[3:23:30] Is that correct?

[3:23:32] That is the motion.

[3:23:33] We all good?

[3:23:35] Yeah, we're ready to vote.

[3:23:36] All right, let's all those in

[3:23:40] favor say I, I all those oppose

[3:23:41] the ayes have it.

[3:23:44] Last item is process, right?

[3:23:47] So it is my understanding that

[3:23:49] the ballots will be distributed

[3:23:52] to the council members at the

[3:23:53] beginning of the 530 meeting.

[3:23:57] There is not a oh right.

[3:23:58] All right.

[3:24:00] I'm turning help me out.

[3:24:03] >> thank you MR. Chair.

[3:24:04] >> this is a little bit

[3:24:06] different than your typical

[3:24:06] process for boards and

[3:24:09] commissions.

[3:24:12] The proposal is that the ballot

[3:24:12] would be provided at the

[3:24:15] beginning of your 530 meeting.

[3:24:17] You will have a hard copy

[3:24:20] ballot and envelope.

[3:24:20] You will fill out the ballot,

[3:24:23] you will turn it into the

[3:24:23] clerk's office or

[3:24:26] representatives from the

[3:24:27] clerk's office will be present.

[3:24:28] You will turn it in the meeting

[3:24:29] will begin.

[3:24:32] The clerk's office will tally

[3:24:32] while the meeting is is ensuing

[3:24:35] and will prepare a report.

[3:24:38] It will be provided to MADAM

[3:24:40] MADAM mayor to read the results

[3:24:43] and if we have a winner we have

[3:24:43] a winner.

[3:24:46] If not we will proceed as we've

[3:24:48] outlined here today.

[3:24:49] >> okay.

[3:24:49] The only thing that we

[3:24:52] discussed earlier and I just

[3:24:52] want council impact there there

[3:24:54] will be public speakers coming

[3:24:57] to speak to the issue.

[3:24:58] The question is should we wait

[3:25:00] until after they make their

[3:25:03] presentation to vote or do you

[3:25:06] guys want to vote at the

[3:25:06] beginning of the main that's

[3:25:11] just a question for the for so

[3:25:11] I recognize council member

[3:25:14] always raise your hand I'll get

[3:25:15] you council member always comes

[3:25:17] from member jd council member

[3:25:19] kashmir and q just a question

[3:25:20] yes or no a process.

[3:25:23] >> thank you chair.

[3:25:24] I am in favor of awaiting an

[3:25:26] actual vote until we've heard

[3:25:26] from the community.

[3:25:28] I think that the community has

[3:25:29] probably felt a bit of

[3:25:32] disintermediation and we need

[3:25:32] to do all within our power to

[3:25:34] help them feel incorporated

[3:25:35] into our process.

[3:25:37] And so voting before we've

[3:25:38] heard for them seems contrary

[3:25:40] to that.

[3:25:41] So I would be a fan of not

[3:25:43] doing that.

[3:25:44] >> councilmember jd short and

[3:25:44] sweet.

[3:25:46] I agree with that.

[3:25:48] Councilmember asmir okay.

[3:25:49] >> and council member anderson

[3:25:51] question I'm sorry, just a

[3:25:52] question because I just looked

[3:25:54] at the agenda.

[3:25:57] So when is that taking place in

[3:26:02] the space of the agenda and and

[3:26:05] the reason why I ask is if it's

[3:26:08] not at the appropriate space in

[3:26:11] the beginning should we

[3:26:14] deliberate around whether we

[3:26:15] should move it up so residents

[3:26:17] aren't sitting here all night

[3:26:17] as we conduct our business

[3:26:19] agenda.

[3:26:22] Let me I agree with that.

[3:26:23] The clerk has been raising her

[3:26:25] hand for a while so let's hear

[3:26:26] from her and then we'll come

[3:26:28] back out to council member

[3:26:33] anderson's question is item 22

[3:26:36] on the agenda which is the part

[3:26:36] of the agenda where you

[3:26:37] normally would have

[3:26:39] appointments to boards and

[3:26:40] commissions because you do have

[3:26:42] an appointment to the planning

[3:26:44] commission also that night I

[3:26:47] was just also going to add that

[3:26:50] as of this moment we don't have

[3:26:51] any speakers that have signed

[3:26:54] up to item 22 just yet.

[3:26:57] However today is thursday and

[3:26:59] persons could sign up to speak

[3:27:02] to that agenda item between now

[3:27:03] and monday or even at the

[3:27:05] meeting for that matter.

[3:27:08] So I just wanted to provide

[3:27:11] that information.

[3:27:11] I heard councilmember male

[3:27:14] COUNCILMAN Anderson thank you.

[3:27:15] >> okay, I'm in.

[3:27:16] You yes.

[3:27:17] Okay.

[3:27:20] Male can can MADAM Clerk when

[3:27:22] would you recommend that we

[3:27:23] potentially add this?

[3:27:25] i'd rather be respectful of

[3:27:28] residents time and start the

[3:27:29] public hearing for the mayor

[3:27:31] interim mayoral race and then

[3:27:34] we have our vote so that you

[3:27:37] know people have other things

[3:27:37] to do in the evening they can

[3:27:39] when what will be your

[3:27:40] recommendation looking at the

[3:27:42] agenda perhaps if not after the

[3:27:45] public because you also have a

[3:27:48] public forum that night so

[3:27:50] there will be you know we have

[3:27:52] probably at least 15 people or

[3:27:53] close to 15 people signed up

[3:27:58] for the public forum on monday

[3:28:01] and perhaps after that or

[3:28:02] either at the time of the city

[3:28:05] manager's report in that area.

[3:28:06] One of those two things but

[3:28:07] there is a public forum

[3:28:09] scheduled for monday at 530.

[3:28:13] >> okay, councilmember drew,

[3:28:15] I'm not very comfortable and so

[3:28:15] I'm sorry.

[3:28:20] >> thank you again I'm review

[3:28:21] ing the agenda which I did

[3:28:23] earlier.

[3:28:26] So we do have a public forum

[3:28:29] but this particular item is not

[3:28:32] under the section of public

[3:28:34] hearings and so I just raise

[3:28:35] that because we hadn't

[3:28:37] discussed that the whole

[3:28:37] concept of having a public

[3:28:41] hearing on this particular

[3:28:41] item.

[3:28:43] So I just want to make sure and

[3:28:46] in the public hearing section

[3:28:49] here is it's not listed it is

[3:28:50] not a public hearing.

[3:28:52] >> however it is an agenda item

[3:28:55] and the public can speak to any

[3:28:58] item on your agenda if they

[3:28:58] sign up in it in advance.

[3:29:01] Well at the meeting even if

[3:29:03] it's just an agenda item you

[3:29:05] know the title number 22 so

[3:29:08] they could potentially someone

[3:29:11] could sign up to speak.

[3:29:11] i understand.

[3:29:12] Thank you.

[3:29:12] I just wanted to speak to the

[3:29:14] fact that we actually hadn't

[3:29:16] had that discussion as a body

[3:29:19] around this action so thank

[3:29:19] you.

[3:29:22] >> so I suggest that we kind of

[3:29:25] move it up on the agenda right

[3:29:25] after the public hearing that

[3:29:28] we're we we and we can also do

[3:29:28] the other appointment.

[3:29:30] I think it's only one at the

[3:29:32] same time we just advance it on

[3:29:33] the agenda so the public won't

[3:29:35] be waiting there all night.

[3:29:36] That's my recommendation.

[3:29:39] Councilmember drex, you're on.

[3:29:39] >> yeah, I agree with that MR.

[3:29:40] Chair.

[3:29:42] I'm just wondering have we

[3:29:42] published that agenda already?

[3:29:44] >> yes.

[3:29:44] >> all right.

[3:29:45] So then what action does it

[3:29:47] take by us if any formally to

[3:29:50] just move it up?

[3:29:53] City clerk's it would just be a

[3:29:55] matter of communicate that to

[3:29:58] the manager's office and to

[3:29:59] strategy and budget.

[3:30:01] I don't know that there's

[3:30:02] necessarily a need to republish

[3:30:04] the agenda just to move an item

[3:30:04] up.

[3:30:07] We could just make them aware

[3:30:09] of council's desire to consider

[3:30:13] this at a earlier time in the

[3:30:13] meeting.

[3:30:13] >> okay.

[3:30:15] Council member jd councilmember

[3:30:16] owens then we're going to close

[3:30:18] out to discussion.

[3:30:19] Could I follow up a quick

[3:30:21] follow up for councilmember

[3:30:21] driggs?

[3:30:22] >> so if somebody wanted to

[3:30:24] sign up and they came late and

[3:30:26] you had already done it I mean

[3:30:29] it's a technical issue but

[3:30:29] somebody could show up later in

[3:30:32] the meeting seeing 22 and then

[3:30:34] be told oh no, they already did

[3:30:34] that.

[3:30:37] >> so I just want to be sure

[3:30:38] that we observed the right

[3:30:38] procedure.

[3:30:40] >> in fact, councilmember owens

[3:30:41] ,I'd like to ask the question

[3:30:43] of the city attorney can you

[3:30:45] clarify that point and what is

[3:30:45] best practice?

[3:30:46] Does it make more sense to

[3:30:49] publish that obviate the need

[3:30:51] for somebody arriving and not

[3:30:52] being able to speak in light of

[3:30:54] council's decision today I

[3:30:55] would highly recommend

[3:30:55] republishing the agenda with

[3:30:58] directing the manager's office

[3:30:58] and team and staff to bring

[3:31:01] published to the agenda what

[3:31:01] they're being moved higher up

[3:31:03] in the agenda.

[3:31:04] >> yeah.

[3:31:04] Thank you.

[3:31:04] All right.

[3:31:07] Councilmember jaideep then we

[3:31:07] can kind of close this

[3:31:10] conversation we don't need a

[3:31:10] motion but if we could just can

[3:31:11] this get consent?

[3:31:12] Well, we can get consensus.

[3:31:13] >> is that the direction of

[3:31:13] council?

[3:31:15] Yes, after the public form, to

[3:31:18] be clear correct.

[3:31:18] Okay.

[3:31:18] Thank you.

[3:31:21] Because this is just a

[3:31:22] suggestion to get our

[3:31:24] communications team to disperse

[3:31:25] this and our social media

[3:31:27] channels to ensure that all

[3:31:28] constituents are aware that

[3:31:30] they can speak.

[3:31:30] Okay.

[3:31:33] That sounds good to me.

[3:31:33] All right.

[3:31:35] So no votes necessary just

[3:31:35] consensus.

[3:31:39] MADAM Attorney.

[3:31:40] MADAM Clerk, we're all on the

[3:31:41] same page again.

[3:31:44] So even when we if there is a

[3:31:45] runoff you will get another

[3:31:46] ballot.

[3:31:47] I just want to make sure in the

[3:31:49] envelope you will mark they'll

[3:31:52] go back and they'll calculate

[3:31:53] and come out again and give it

[3:31:55] to the mayor and she will make

[3:31:55] the announcement.

[3:31:58] >> all right.

[3:31:59] Motion to adjourn.

[3:32:00] Second I'm going to recognize

[3:32:03] comes from a majority today.

[3:32:04] >> I want to take your motion.

[3:32:04] Thank you.

[3:32:06] Just to clarify and this is if

[3:32:06] there's a runoff, it's going to

[3:32:09] be done monday the 22nd.

[3:32:09] Right?

[3:32:09] It's all done.

[3:32:09] Okay.

[3:32:12] Same night.

[3:32:12] Okay.

[3:32:13] And accepting a nomination.

[3:32:13] Right.

[3:32:14] Okay.

[3:32:15] All right.

[3:32:15] Good.

[3:32:15] Okay.

[3:32:16] Big day, everyone.

[3:32:17] I know that councilmember

[3:32:20] mayfair also kind of a motion

[3:32:21] to adjourn.

[3:32:23] I did maybe second of the

[3:32:25] second I said this is let's go

[3:32:26] home.

[3:32:26] >> thank you.

[3:32:57] Thank you for

City Council Special Meeting on 2026-06-18 12:00 PM - Mayoral Candidate Interviews

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