,it's
a strange man
.
>> we're back.
>> life with them with the feet
.
Okay.
All right.
Welcome back to the charlotte
city council meeting.
Our next candidate is mayor pro
tem james mitchell.
Tonight from inside out and
look at that might well start
with you.
Well, this is my come this way
.
Start with you.
That way everyone can.
>> yeah.
Good afternoon, mayor pro tem
mitchell.
Good afternoon, council.
Welcome to the charlotte city
council interview for the
interim mayor position.
You will have 30 minutes in
total.
Each candidate each council
member will ask questions
that's been pre-prepared.
There MAY be a follow up to
those questions.
You will get a five minute
warning when your time is about
to expire.
You'll get a one minute warning
when you're running out of
time.
Finish your thought.
You don't have to stop or
probably finish your thought.
>> and then at the conclusion
you'll get a one minute closing
statement to the council.
We're going to start inside
out.
So we're going to start with
councilmember owens and then
we'll start with councilmember
anderson.
Once we complete that like
councilmember owens, the floor
is yours.
>> okay.
Thank you, councilmember
mitchell the recent rescission
of the I-77 project
recommendation reflected strong
public engagement and differing
perspectives about
transportation planning.
What do you believe should be
the next step in addressing
congestion and mobility
challenges along the I-77
corridor?
And how would you as mayor
ensure the public is
meaningfully involved in the
process?
While I think that 77 is going
to take really strong
leadership and leadership from
not only me but for this tired
council, I think number one we
learn from what we did earlier
that the public was were not
involved or the public were not
made aware, not made aware of
what was actually going to
occur.
So as mayor if I'm fortunate be
me, I think the first thing we
we need to do is make sure we
have the right stakeholders in
the room.
What we need to do is make sure
this council is fully aware of
all the ramifications as it
relates to us, said michelle.
I think it was very clear that
the design was a big issue.
We have to address the design
to solve the traffic problem.
I think there was conversation
about community benefits and
community allocation.
We never explained articulated
to the neighbors what what
could be the benefits of that
community allocation.
I think we need to continue to
have a different dialog with
ncdot because immediately it
was a problem that we had to
face that the credibility with
laws the way ncdot handled this
project.
I will be the first one to tell
you we do have 77 traffic issue
how we do how we solve it is
going to have to be a
collaboration of this
community, this city council
and nc D.O.T. Come up with to
know the pros.
But let me talk about the tough
vote we had as council.
I think it was a 6 to 5 vote
and so I would not be in favor
of rescinding the rescinding.
It has to be a new model that
we put forth for this community
to solve this problem.
Councilmember drake's.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, COUNCILMAN.
>> in order to achieve a more
orderly council process, how
would you work outside of
meetings to help council
identify priorities and achieve
consensus?
>> okay, great.
>> so you know council member I
have to play to my strengths
and I'm a people person and I
believe having one on one
meetings with council members
on a monthly basis allow that
dialog and a lot of
communication and set what I
would call a new culture for us
a culture of collaboration, a
culture of understanding, a
culture of listening, having
different perspectives, having
debate is not wrong.
Diversity is our strong suit.
i think as a as a council
member and as a mayor I think
it's important that that door
stays open and it stays open
for a collective converse case
among us.
Our.
I'm one to truly believe in
doing a council meeting.
We should allow more
opportunities.
So to me mayor and council
topics should be the second and
fourth monday of the month.
I think when we talk about how
we're going to get the policy
and the things we want to
accomplish, we have to empower
our committees and make sure
our committees are doing the
real work which is policy.
I've been around a long time
and I'm and I'm would take what
I think the best practices and
the best practice I think to
lead is one by trust one
through collaboration and one
by building consensus.
Thank you.
Council member mayfield.
>> thank you.
Thank you so much for offering
yourself up for the position.
How do you plan to maintain
your employment and do this
role as it does take up a
significant amount of time?
>> thank you.
Councilor mayfield.
So council members I would say
since 1999 I've held two jobs.
I've been fortunate enough to
have a real job working for
some top companies like barton
mallow, R.J. Leeper, mcfarland
and the same time to be able to
do this job as a part time.
And so I've been fortunate that
my employees have seen value
allow me to serve.
and so I think being mayor of
the 14 applied to city I will
continue to have a job as
business developer for
mcfarland and I will continue
to prioritize make sure I get
my work done but more
importantly have the time and
energy I tell people where I
work to jobs one is 40 hours
for mcfarland the other the 70
hours for the citizens of
charlotte.
Council member judy.
>> thank you.
Chair graham thank you.
Councilmember mitchell.
Charlotte is a growing city but
too often that growth is not
reaching everyone equally and
working families are being left
behind.
How would you balance being
business friendly and people
first and how would you ensure
that our private partners are
collaborative partners and
closing socioeconomic gaps?
>> thank you.
Councilmember jd so council
members I'm actually addressing
it at the town hall meeting I'm
having saturday JUNE 27th and
this MAY have neighborhood
presidents and and developer
saying the title is come be a
pro less developed charlotte
together.
I do think if we're talking
about some of the pillars who
have in our community it is
corporate it is policy makers
and is more important it's us
citizens and so we need to
continue to find ways to bring
them together.
And so part of the conversation
I want to hear from a citizen
what is smart growth?
What's your definition of
nimbyism?
And then what does community
benefits look from your
perspective?
And the conversation with
developers is about why are you
developing charlotte and what
does development mean to you?
Is it driven by profit or is it
driven by making charlotte
better community for all?
But let's be very clear what
our main responsibility has to
be and that's to the 879,000
citizens currently right now to
call charlotte home.
So we need to continue to have
townhomes.
We need to continue to have
open dialog and making sure
that even our zoning and zoning
practice is a12 we need to
change because we hear from
neighbors a lot.
It's like the community meeting
is just a check mark.
It's not really.
And so I would be the first one
to tell you maybe we do defer
to tpd.
Let's look at our zoning
practices and make sure our
neighborhood voices are heard
and heard early.
I would tell you using my
experience 14 members a
district rep and now at large
it was always insulting to me
when a developer would come and
they'd never even pick up the
phone call the district rep.
I would nicely tell them you
recall councilmember johnson
COUNCILMAN J.D. Was in district
four and five.
And so there has to be a
different culture and a
different way that us citizens
feel like that we are working
on our behalf.
and I would tell you,
councilmember, we need to
provide what I call stability
among our citizens, what we
will support and what we will
not support.
And I think it a mixed shot a
better place for all us
citizens to call home.
>> councilmember johnson, thank
you.
And thank you for your
willingness to serve cast
members out.
>> what concerns, if any, do
you think the public might have
about your appointment as
interim mayor and how will you
address those concerns?
>> wow.
Okay.
I think the first concern he
MAY have does he still have
enough energy in the tank to do
this job for 18 months and that
I would say yes, I do.
You know, COUNCILMAN Johnson,
we are public servants so we're
not perfect service.
And so we are going to make
mistakes and at times we're
going to have different
different conversations with
some of us citizen.
I will hope to over my over my
years of serving the public,
there's been one thing that
people have felt toward me and
that is I love charlotte more
than myself.
>> okay.
>> so that leads to the second
part.
Additionally, what strengths
and experiences do you believe
make you well-suited for this
role?
>> and how many minutes I have
someone do this quickly.
Okay, 21 minutes left.
21 minutes left.
So let's talk about the
leadership because I truly
think when you are prepared to
work in your community you must
do what I call leadership
development.
So I've been a graduate of
leadership charlotte, a
graduate of focus on leadership
graduate institute of political
leadership and have taken some
courses john f kennedy at
harvard and then lester.
Let's talk about just the track
record.
14 years been a dish.
You grew up in district two and
now be coming back since 2015
at large.
I love being the chili ta for
charlotte north carolina.
The city has given me so much
and it's my way of repairing
saying thank you for allowing
me to serve.
So councilmember johnson the
energizer bunny is still
energize.
I still think there there's
tough issues that we need to
handle but I think I want to do
it from a different way.
I want to do it for taking
advantage of all that
leadership does in this room.
We all bring different
leadership skills and I just
want to be the captain of the
team to make sure that our team
is performing at a level that
each and every one of you feel
like you learn something for
the 18 months of the leadership
that I could bring to the
mayor's office.
>> thank you.
Council member anderson quiet.
>> we're going inside out.
>> all right.
okay.
>> welcome, MR. Mitchell thank
you.
Council moments in your opinion
,what is the biggest challenge
facing our city right now?
>> public safety.
Okay.
I think we heard loud and clear
COUNCILMAN Anderson, that this
community does not feel safe.
And so if that's your
perception, it will become your
reality.
So I'm glad the current mayor
decided we need to have our own
public safety committee which
you chair.
I do think public safety then
touches on economic development
.
It touches our neighborhoods.
It it is a selling car.
The people say I want to move
charlotte cars.
It's safe.
And so I do think I budget
speak very loudly our
priorities as relates to public
safety 10% pay increase but
also we hope that the funding
will allow the 320 full open
positions we have to be filled
and then I think public safety
also in a way a vision zero we
get too many crashes that taken
place in our community public
safety is we talked about
downtown and in providence at
51 we talked about the newest
camera and rear camera.
Public safety has to be a
number one priority for the
next 18 months and I'm
fortunate enough to to be your
interim mayor.
I will make sure it's a top
priority for the next 18
months.
Not saying it will the other
ones but you say the number one
is public safety quantum of a
mayor.
>> thank you.
Thank you.
Mayor pro tem how would you
ensure meetings are efficient
while still allowing robust
debate and discussion?
Oh no I this is a good one.
Okay so first of all let me say
somehow we need to take all the
work that the the workgroup is
doing on a meet on the meeting
decorum there's a lot of items
there that I think that would
need to come forward.
So I don't know do we forward
it to the bgr committee but it
is a lot of work so so let's
talk about how we need to
improve.
We need to start meetings on
time which as we can concern
that most of us might have
another job or other
obligation.
Secondly I think the immediate
needs to be a decorum the way
we respect one another when we
have conversation.
Thirdly, I hope we can get to
the point we have time
allocation how long we can
speak for.
>> I think it has we have to
change the decorum norm as
citizens coming up building I
don't mind the passion from
citizens but I think all of us
feel a little uncomfortable.
Has been borderline
disrespectful and so how how do
it one time embrace we want to
feel your passion but we need
you to respect the building you
in a talk to us and share your
ideas in a very professional
way.
You know one thing I will say
but our meetings we have to
find a way that we have
disagreement.
We do it professionally.
And so in my mind I would say
because I'm a basketball player
I think we need to have a
huddle.
So if you and I have a disagree
,how can we help before the
scheduled meeting?
And so we clear that it's not a
personal attack but we come
from different perspectives and
so how do we embrace one
another differences that makes
the team better really want one
last idea and I want to just
throw this out because one
thing the meeting decorum
talked about is how we state
the ground rules for the
behavior we're going to accept
at the very beginning and that
way even our audience will
understand our expectations.
How you had to act in the
chamber.
Council member wallington thank
you.
>> good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
Customer wallet.
>> charlotte's priorities are
not new conversations but the
tools, partners and scale of
these challenges look very
different than they did even
five years ago.
Can you walk us through a
specific example of work you
are doing right now or have
done in the very recent past
that directly connects to one
of these priorities?
>> and so I'm happy to a cheat
sheet because I know is five of
you great neighborhoods help me
do it cheap sheet, great
neighborhoods, well-managed
government safety, community
transportation planning,
workforce and business
development.
So let me take one that I'm
probably more passionate about
does workforce development.
And I do remember and counsel a
grandmother proud we might be
dealing with to hear around
this time.
But I am debbie got struck I am
debbie adobe program a lawsuit
we filed against it and so
which charlotte ahead to make a
change to his program and then
we say how are we going to set
up another program that will
address our small businesses in
the community?
And so working with staff we
came up to new cba program
shall the business inclusion
code we were committed and I
was committed to make sure our
small business the minority
business still had a voice in a
community but had a voice that
people going to champion,
people going can understand and
support the new program and so
here we are today cba is
probably now seven years old.
Cba program now has reach
almost $1 billion in minority
participation and so customer
wallets and I would tell you
that's what leadership and
working with staff and
stakeholders is about being a
leader.
You don't have to have all the
right answers so sometimes you
have to overcome the challenges
.
Sometimes you had to be strong
in your conviction.
You want a different result for
people we serve it and so
that's just one example of how
even day to this day our
benighted business program is
thriving when several years ago
they were question was
charlotte ever embrace minority
companies again?
>> are you councilmember samir
thank the next mayor might play
a major role in shaping the
selection of charlotte's next
city leaders how would you
ensure a city council is
meaningfully included in that
process and what structure
would you put in place to make
sure our city staff is
proactive, transparent and
communicative with council
members and residents
especially in communities that
often feel decisions are made
without them?
>> okay, so let me tackle the
first one.
So if I'm interim mayor hear me
loud and clear james much
immature name would not be on
the ballot 2027 so I have the
ultimate to ultimate freedom I
just developing the love of
people around this table and so
let me apologize if when I set
out my vision of my committees
that it offended some people it
was not to offend you but it
was to say I believe each and
every one of you should have
the opportunity to have a
leadership role on charlotte
city council.
So my first thing with you my
question is let me be very
specific when I talk about next
city leaders, I'm talking about
our direct reports like the
attorney, the manager and the
clerk oh, I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry.
I thought you said so.
Repeat it again then, mr.
mayor.
>> yes.
The next mayor might play a
major role in shaping the
selection of charlotte's next
city leaders.
City leaders?
Yes.
The three that we were
responsible for.
>> yes.
So how would you ensure that
the process is transparent,
communicative and proactive
where council is meaningfully
engaged in the process right.
>> and that's okay.
Thank you.
Council members.
I'm sorry.
I was thinking about the 11
year old.
We had three people we know we
responsible for.
We should have their evaluation
on that schedule.
We need to do a better job of
being proactive and so one
ideal I had is have quarterly
what I call 90 days check in so
we got the city manager we know
we're going to have the city
attorney.
We know we're going to have the
city clerk.
We have a bgr committee that we
can refer this item to.
So the bgr committee would talk
about the evaluation of scoring
and the date we had the respect
of everybody time we got work
commitments, we have family
commitments and we got other
commitments out there in the
community and so to me the
worst thing we do right now is
always we look at that calendar
and it pops up like next monday
from 2 to 5 we have a city
clerk evaluation.
proactive and communication has
to improve in a way I would
like to improve it on a 90 day
lookahead schedule.
How are we going to do that by
the way, some be referred to
the bgr committee what criteria
we're going to use goes to the
bgr committee so let's ensure
all the work is on the
committee and let's work on me
being proactive on scheduling
these evaluation that fits
council's schedule.
Okay let's do a time chart ten
administer three seconds so
raise your hand and I'll
recognize anyone who wants to
ask a question.
Council some member jd council
member anderson thank you.
>> thank you chair graham
council member mitchell one
second.
>> how would you balance out
the priorities and protect the
local authority the city of
charlotte has on our airport
but also improving the
conditions of airport service
workers?
Thank you.
So I did have or a referral
actually put in to kind of
address the airport and
unfortunately did not get sent
to the aisle economic
development committee.
So let me share my thoughts.
One is and I give councilmember
owens credit we were at
breakfast in politics and we
heard from two companies abm
and prosper about the
workington ditions out there.
And councilmember, I want to
say that particular time didn't
need to be a service level
agreement that we need that we
need to include as it relates
to the working conditions at
the airport, we have to let
citizens know then when we hear
your concerns and conditions
you have we take an area of
politics and I mean public
safety workforce development.
We need to have a plan.
And so my thing at that
particular time I me allows
that she can refer is to a job
fair with the abm employees to
really understand how we can
improve their quality of life.
Can we assist them in getting
more opportunities at the
airport we heard about the
public safety concerns.
Well, we got a public safety
committee and so how can we
address some of the real
concerns at the airport?
I think and this is my motto I
think doing nothing does not
solve any problems and it
definitely not solve the
problems that we hear in that
airport.
Councilmember mayo and I were
invited to attend a conference
this this past sunday sunday
talking about the airport
advisory council for minority
companies charlotte we was
there to support them and
charlotte was recently
charlotte to have an airport
minot advisory council along
with the cit in new york.
We were proud to be there, was
proud to represent.
But you know what I took away
from that is minority
businesses.
>> the airport have a long way
to go so they can sustain
themselves.
And so councilmember mayo and I
was was proudly sitting up
there and as they say charlotte
we have a new chapter and you
can just see the joy among
minority companies who have
been working for three years to
get this charter airport is an
economic development as well as
a transportation.
But we need to make sure our
airport research and guidelines
of the city council would like
to establish that make sure
that employees are taken care
of and law thank you.
>> how do you see the
relationship between the mayor
and council and what does it
look like in practice when you
disagree with the body that has
appointed you?
How do you see your
relationship with the manager
the city manager on a day to
day basis?
Let's talk about the most
important relationship is the
level of people it is around
this table.
The mayor doesn't have a vote
so the mayor or the best thing
pursuit facility date and
create a culture that people
can be honest and there's
dialog COUNCILMAN So I would
say that's why the one on one
meetings we will establish will
help that trust be built but
also again on the standing of
what do we need to do as a
council to move forward.
I think the city manager's
responsible for staff the staff
is responsible for implementing
the policies that 11 those
around this table raise our
hand and tell them to work on
and so has it been a different
culture?
I think there's been
frustration for all of us of
how things have been move and
how we are being heard.
COUNCILMAN How's that going to
bring you?
What I'm used to and that is
used to tough new people
working with people and making
sure people understand that as
more power will we work
together.
I'm never being someone who
needs attention or who likes to
grandstand and I think as mayor
is more importantly that your
love and fear can't will
working together you'll never
feel counted.
You can come to talk to the
mayor on pressing issue and I
have to be open and to listen
to that.
Let me tell you one thing too I
think help set that is open
dialog and we have meetings
here at 5:00 we do agenda
review or a city council
meeting.
It's important that this
community looks at us and said
that is a council that's
working together not for the
own individual agenda but for
us to citizens.
Five minute warning it's been
given councilmember wallington
it's up council member
addresses thank you.
>> thank you.
As a follow up to the previous
question regarding
intergovernmental relationships
,MR. Belcher, you are
currently the mayor pro tem
economic development chair and
the capo alternate given where
you already sit why would you
be more valuable in the mayor's
seat groups all of the roles
that you currently have so
councilmember watlington first
of all I think there's other
leaders on this table they can
fit the role of mayor pro tem,
chair of economic development
and carpool out.
That's number one.
Number two, I think my
leadership style and leadership
skills is perfect for this
transition period we having
this is a true transition
period and so I hope you all
will feel comfortable there's
someone who willing to do the
work who's willing to make sure
we are develop and have
leadership abilities to grow
and someone who's going to put
this city forward instead of
himself.
I do not think in all my 20
some years of serving that I've
always been selfish.
I take pride in developing
other people and so I would
like to say that after 18
months the level you all would
be better leaders this city
council be more accountable and
we have accomplished that.
We set out to do it as relates
to our priorities and I think
I'm suited best.
COUNCILMAN Watlington leading
this team to accomplish those
objectives.
>> council councilmember drakes
will get the last question and
then I think we should be ready
for the one minute closing
statement and lester's any
other questions from members?
Council member drake thank you
MR. Chair.
>> how important are the
intergovernmental relationships
to the city's agenda and what
are ways you as mayor would
work with our intergovernmental
partners to achieve outcomes
for our city?
>> thank you, councilmember
judy.
So I think that to me needs to
be called in meetings between
committee county commissioner
mark dreyer, school board chair
stephanie sneed quarterly
meetings I think we have
demonstrated success and
historic social club the city
county participation we had
demonstrated success with the
with cmc with the teacher
village.
We gave $1 million and then and
then council majorities.
I think there's two other
relationships though we need to
maintain.
So I would like us to have a
government day in raleigh.
We need to make sure our
relationships rallies are
respected from raleigh as well
as us.
I'm going encourage you all to
go in MARCH with our
congressional relationships and
alcee because our congressional
delegation is very important.
COUNCILMAN Rodriguez, I have
always believe that when you
have the three governing bodies
in this community working
together, schools will be
better accountable, would be
better in the city would
definitely be better.
Thank you.
Okay.
Any last pressing questions
before the closing statements
saying none.
Well, what's yours for a
minute?
>> give us your closing
statement.
What chair pro tem I'm just
going to go back to some I left
you all when I did my two
minute speech and I talked
about the four c's.
So I want to reiterate them.
I'm so honored to get your
support on JUNE 22nd and the
first c is collaboration and so
I talked about I want to create
a culture of about
collaborating meeting with the
mayor one on one and seeking
your input.
Second is about our committees
.
We need to empower our
committees to do the real work
and so I would like the
committees to have they stand a
meeting on the first monday and
then you determine what I call
a special committee meeting.
We have to be flexible enough
to get the work done.
Committee assignments are very
important so I seek your input.
I just want to have chairs and
vice chairs on each committee
discusses about increasing
leadership capacity on this
council thoroughly was about
communication we need to do a
better job being proactive what
I communication engaging with
our communication and sharing
our results the lessons that
citizens who we need to work
for each and every day.
>> thank you chair pro-tem for
this opportunity.
Thank you council we're port
town mitchell I want to thank
you for your civic leadership
for all these years.
Thank you for your commitment
to the city of charlotte and
thank you for applying for the
interim mayor position.
>> we appreciate your
leadership.
Thank you.
>> thank you all who sat next
to you council member always
your next I know robert
harrington robert harrington.
>> robert harrington is next.
Oh my good betsy I know I do
too.
>> yes.
Oh truth be told I couldn't use
the restroom.
We want to move it.
I've got I want to take another
two minute break.
>> I'll just about I don't want
to stop nobody stand for them.
I'm going to we have someone
more just more robert and then
carrie this break for two
minutes.
>> three minutes after robert
you want a break
from their position for the
city of charlotte in total you
will have 30 minutes.
Members of the council will ask
question there MAY be a follow
up question that's germane to
the question that was
previously extra you you will
have a five minute warning when
your time is about to expire a
minute warning when your time
is almost done, when you get
two minute warning just finish
your thought.
You don't have to stop for
properly and then at the end
you'll get a one minute closing
argument to sum up your case
and so if MRS. Johnson is ready
we'll start from that side.
I will work our way around the
dyess.
Councilmember johnson the floor
is yours.
Thank you for voting.
Thank you.
Hello.
Well, thank you.
Thank you for your willingness
to serve.
>> absolutely.
What concerns, if any, do you
think the public might have
about your appointment as
interim mayor and how would you
address those concerns?
And then there's a second part.
So he says okay.
>> so on the first part I mean
I think I am know one of the
final five who has not served
in elected office and is not
served in government per se.
And I think that raises I would
imagine that the public would
have questions about that and I
think it brings opportunities
right because I have served in
a number of positions from the
north carolina bar association
to leading the board of the
charlotte mecklenburg public
library system.
And so I've got a good deal of
experience in the around the
public sector and in the public
sector.
But I would expect that to be a
question and I think the
answers are that I've had good
experience working with city
and county and library and also
working with private sector.
>> thank you.
Additionally, what's strengths
and experiences do you believe
make you the most well-suited
for this role?
>> I think it dovetails
councilmember with what I said
just now.
I think I've I think we are in
a time where, you know, sort of
bringing all of those
experiences to bear,
particularly in this interim
period would be helpful.
I don't have political
aspirations beyond this and i
think you know, we've all said
of course that we will not run
for one for mayor.
But I think this interim period
gives us an opportunity to work
internally some within the
council to make sure that all
the council members voices are
being heard and that the
council members feel that their
voices are being heard.
And then moving out from there
making sure that the public
believes that there is a free
flow of information and
viewpoints.
I think my experiences up to
now in my life experiences
helped me to do that.
And I'm eager to bring those
skills to bear on the current
situation in thank you council
member council member jd.
>> thank you chair graham.
Thank you MR. Harrington.
Charlotte is the fastest
growing city but oftentimes
that growth is leaving behind
working families.
How would you balance being
business friendly and people
first as well as ensuring our
private partners are
collaborative partners and
closing socioeconomic gaps?
>> yeah I yes I would start
councilmember with the with my
experience.
I have spent my career here in
what I would call the business
sector.
I mean I have been a practicing
attorney handling primarily
business matters.
I've also been heavily involved
in the community and that goes
from I think the first
organization I was involved in
here was probably friendship
church.
the second probably right
around the same time was what
were then siegel avenue
partners, which is now freedom
school partners.
So I have spent my career
certainly the last 30 years of
it bridging those gaps and
making plain to, you know,
partners on both sides of those
issues.
I don't see that divide because
I don't want to concede that
there's a divide.
But in those different pockets
of the community the need to
work together and as we grow I
agree with you.
I think it is particularly
important that we do everything
we can to make sure that you
know, working citizens and
citizens, particularly families
who have been here for
generations aren't lost in the
growth we need to make sure
that the shiny new things don't
overwhelm the things that have
been here and the things that
are distinctive about
charlotte.
I think it's a balancing act,
right?
I mean it is a balancing act
because the fact that we are
there's something about the
city that's drawing whatever
that number is 100 and the
metropolitan area 100 whatever
a day there's something we're
doing right here that people
see on the outside.
I think we need to celebrate
that maintain those engines
that drive the growth.
But I completely agree with you
that you know and I can see it
in the work that I do and have
done in various civic
organizations.
we need to make sure people
don't get lost.
Thank you.
>> council member mayfield.
>> thank you.
Thank you so much for offering
yourself for this particular
role.
>> how do you plan to maintain
your employment and do this
role as it does take up a
significant amount of time?
>> a council councilmember I
suspect that's almost an
understatement that it takes up
a significant amount of time.
You know, I'm fortunately come
to a point in career and a
place of work where my
priorities is getting this job
done well and that takes time
and I know it takes time.
You know, I, I couldn't
tolerate and frankly I think
the folks that I have worked
with couldn't tolerate having a
public figure who was not doing
what he or she but they needed
to do in the community.
And so that has to be the
priority or you just don't do
it.
Councilmember drake, thank you
.
Good afternoon.
In order to achieve a more
orderly council process, how
would you work outside of
meetings to help council
identify priorities and achieve
consensus?
>> so I think you know, when I
step back and look at the
situation and look at the
council, look at the you know,
just the structure.
You know, the first thing is
the overriding thing is trust
is how do you maintain preserve
trust among the entire group?
I think that to me that's the
purpose for the orderliness.
You know, you you this body
it's vital to obviously it's
vital to charlotte that this
body be efficient and effective
and create not just the reality
but the perception of that.
I think we you know, we need to
be attentive to prior to
meetings or outside of meetings
having the committee structure
work the way the committee
structure should work.
And that's with, you know,
leadership of the committees
that is energized about what
they're doing.
It's you know, considering
committee structure.
You know, maybe you have, you
know, engaged and we've had
this in the past vice chairs
but the committee structures
got to work and people have to
trust the members have to trust
that the committee structure
will work.
And then for meetings there,
you know, I've my some of my
colleagues would say I've done
too much of this in my career
but I've chaired a lot of a lot
of meetings.
And I think there is a
necessary very task and
necessary skill to making sure
that voices are heard and that
folks, you know, are recognized
,that motions are orderly,
that process is followed.
You know, there's a detailed
procedure, you know, for this
council that I believe you all
revisited in JUNE.
I would say JUNE 8th of this
year and you know, it's laid
out there and I know the
overlay to that is robert's
rules and the overlay to that
is the city charter which has
some provisions.
But I think we have to follow
those and it's not for the
mechanics of following it is
because that's how you create
trust.
If people understand and the
process to be heard in meeting
and follow that process, we
have to be attentive to that.
But again I'd step back from
that and say both a reason for
that and an outcome is trust
and without trust you can't
accomplish anything
effectively.
>> thank you.
COUNCILMAN Owens.
Thank you, chair.
Afternoon.
It's nice to see you.
Thank you.
The recent rescission of the
I-77 project recommendation
reflected strong public
engagement and differing
perspective about
transportation planning.
What do you believe should be
the next step in addressing
congestion and mobility
challenges along the I-77
corridor?
And how would you as mayor
ensure the public is
meaningfully involved in that
process?
>> so I'll start with the end
of that councilperson council
member.
I think the the engagement of
the public is vital.
You know, we can't do anything
without hearing the voices of
the public.
I think the you know, there's
no question that there's a
congestion problem there,
congestion problems all over
the metropolitan area.
But there's a particular
congestion problem on 77 south
two to a to address that
problem takes you know we have
the regional areas with the car
with carpool but it also takes
the legislature and I think we
have to have meaningful dialog
with the legislature with
communication going both ways.
Right.
And so it is the need for
charlotte to be in fact a
municipal area, a municipal
place that that is treated with
integrity.
But it's also the realization
that funding and a lot of
control emanates from raleigh
and and for that matter from
washington.
So I think we have to I don't
think any of these are simple
problems.
I think communication is vital.
I think finding a way to
reengage in an appropriate way
in the process of developing 77
south is is important and I
think it has to be done.
I think it is an immediate
priority for whoever holds this
role.
And I think we have to be
attentive to the public.
We have to and part of being
attentive to the public is
communicate doing both the city
but also importantly the state
and the you know, department of
transportation communicating
fully and effectively with the
citizens.
There's a whole I mean we all
know there's a whole lot of
background here, right?
There are years and years of
background here that are real
to people and they're real to
people who you know or my age.
And so how we address those
concerns of gets back to trust
again.
The trust as we go forward is
is is important.
But I do think we have to
reengage in that discussion and
figure out how we handle those
challenges of transportation
from you know, middle of middle
of charlotte to the south
carolina border.
We can't ignore that issue.
>> COUNCILWOMAN Anderson, thank
you and welcome.
Thank you.
And your opinion what is the
biggest challenge facing our
city?
And I ask that with the
understanding that we have many
challenges.
But if you could focus on one
that you believe is the biggest
one, I'd like to hear from you
on that.
>> yeah, I think it's I think
it's a broad issue that
involves affordability.
You know, affordable housing
and the issues that I mentioned
earlier with council member of
how we make sure that a
prosperous city the prosperity
is shared as broadly as it
should be.
I think affordable housing is
in the middle of that.
If I were going to stress on
one, I think it's you know,
it's affordable housing and the
things that revolve around that
so services for folks in the
pockets where we're you know,
struggling with residents who
can't afford housing anymore
but there's a there a bunch of
wraparound services that I know
are addressed to some extent in
the budget.
I mean I think we're we're
working on those issues at
least in the you know, the bond
proposal for affordable
housing.
The referendum in NOVEMBER, I
think that's going to be really
important for whoever takes
this role to engage on behalf
of the city and with the
council on immediately because
I think that's going to be
vital.
The success of that is vital
but I think it's affordability
combined and with I'll use the
word inclusion but by inclusion
I mean that that all of our
citizens have a real chance of
participating in the prosperity
of the city.
While maintaining the
prosperity of the city.
If you're going to do a second
I would say of course at all
times public safety because
none of this is possible with
our public safety.
I know the budget included at
least a strong start towards,
you know, policing and public
safety and fire.
But I don't think that can be
left out of any equation
because the citizens look to us
for that.
>> council member male.
>> thank you.
Good afternoon.
>> good afternoon.
How would you ensure meetings
are efficient while also
allowing robust debate and
discussion?
>> great question.
I think the I think that
largely gets back to trust
again but order right.
i think you have to there has
to be a and there is I mean
when you look at the procedures
and you look at what we have
available to us running
meetings efficiently,
effectively and according to
our procedures is the sure
that's why the rules exist so
that you know the process to be
heard.
You have the opportunity to be
heard.
You know, I think there there
are issues that we should we
that that council and
leadership should send to
appropriate committees.
You know when there are issues
that can be more robustly
addressed in the committee
structure.
But I think overall and I guess
I'd add another thing
communication right?
So you know one on one I would
intend to be in this building
and among council members as
the default break in.
I hope that we can create a you
know, sort of create or
continue a process where many
of us are in here because being
able before meetings between
meetings to talk and to talk
even you know, we're all going
to disagree at times and my
career is frankly, you know, I
you know, put a kid through
college largely on
disagreements.
That's what we do.
But respect ing disagreements
and being able to work through
them to some resolution.
That takes time.
It takes individual
conversations and it takes
orderly meetings and process
and accustomed to working on
that from you know, the I keep
going back to the bar
association but that was 14,000
lawyers from across the state
with a board of approximately
30 who are lawyers right and so
not only do they have opinions
but they express them and
learning how to manage that
process, working together to
manage that process by the
rules we have procedures.
We just need to make sure we're
following them.
>> council member wallington
thank you and thank you for
being here.
>> brooke perhaps following up
on your experience or you can
certainly pick something else.
>> charlotte's priorities are
not new conversations but the
tools partners and scale of
these challenges look very
different than they did even
five years ago.
Can you walk us through a
specific example of work you
are doing now or have done in
the very recent past that
directly connects to these
priorities?
Councilmember two the
priorities specific to
charlotte or in general to
charlotte.
So I think the most recent
experience that I had in
charlotte in the you know
public sector was as chair of
the the board of the library
board of trustees.
And we work through a number of
issues.
I mean we go through a process
periodically I won't say every
year but periodically with the
county on capital priorities in
where you know library
facilities need to be
constructed or renovated.
You know, otherwise worked on
the dedication of of you know
human resources of people to
particular areas.
I maintained a process I will
say I started the process but I
maintained a process where we
were in communication with, you
know, staff senior staff and
other trustees who we selected
because they hopefully
represented the city well and
it was a diverse in every sense
of the word board on purpose to
make sure that we were getting
the feedback from citizens
about what they need and what
they need in fast growing new
areas and what they need on
very good road.
You know we invested around
that time in the you know,
betty ford regional which we
changed the name of to honor a
citizen but that's a it's a
process of communicating with
the public and then working
internally to make sure that
effective and getting it done.
I think my library experience
is probably the closest in that
sense experience public sector
in charlotte and obviously I've
done stuff with the bar
association that statewide but
again you're there you're
working with and I think it
would be I think it would be
helpful here that experience of
working with people from across
the state and with working you
know, not as a, you know,
lobbyist we have our own
lobbyist right.
But working conscious of the
goals of folks in the
legislature who have various
opinions about charlotte and
various needs in their own
communities and I would really
look forward to engaging that.
So I would say that the
experience is charlotte is
primarily library but I think
the skill set is developed from
a range of other experiences.
I hope that interest.
>> thank you.
Time to 13 minutes and 14 by
council member shamir.
>> thank you.
Welcome MR. Harrington.
>> thank you.
Thank you for your service on
the ward within charlotte as
well as the library.
>> so the next mayor might play
a major role in shaping the
selection of our direct reports
whether that be a manager or
clerk or the city attorney.
>> how would you ensure city
council is meaningful included
in that process and what
structure would you put in
place to ensure city staff is
proactive, transparent and
communicating with all council
members and residents
especially in communities that
often feel decisions are made
without them?
Oh great question I think and
thank you council member.
I think the communication on
those issues and you know none
of this is easy, right?
I mean that's why we're here.
That's why you guys devote so
much time to this to
communication on all of those
issues is key there.
You know, I've not been through
a process obviously of
selecting a manager or city
attorney, but the voices in
this room have to be involved
meaningfully because if they're
not you set up a prescription
for folks not to feel a part of
the process and in any
situation like that you run the
risk of, you know, creating a
setting someone up for failure.
Right.
I think that's one of the keys
for whoever is the next mayor
is to make sure that the intent
going into the process is that
voices be heard.
Sometimes that takes longer,
right?
Because you might have to work
through disagreements.
You might have to work through
a lot of questions.
The outcome there is better.
And so I would look for
certainly to involve this body
and look for appropriate ways
to involve the body so that you
have a voice and not just a you
know, a vote.
We probably got about 11
minutes.
All right.
So the floor is open for
general questions from the
paper.
I recognize councilmember
johnson and councilmember jd
you're in q thank you.
Charlotte adopted an ordinance
in 2020 for related to
individuals who are unhoused.
What are your thoughts on those
policies and charlotte's
overall approach to
homelessness?
>> I think we need to continue
to to devote the resources as
to the underlying causes and
that's I'm sure that as
collaboratively with the county
in the areas that the county
you know, works in in you know,
human services and human
resources human services.
I think we the balance to that
balance is probably the wrong
word.
I think we need a vibrant city
across the board.
I think we need to take care of
folks who are temporarily
unhoused and you know and
realize that they're not the
enemy, that they are folks who
are in a situation that we're
blessed not to be in as we sit
here today.
So we have to be compassionate
and we have to put the
resources we have to you know,
I would say and I think I can
help in this process.
We have to combine the
resources and perhaps help to
guide the resources of the
public and the private and
nonprofit sectors and working
on these issues and then both
for the folks who are you know
,find themselves on the
streets and for those who are
using those areas, we need the
not just the perception but the
reality of safety.
And so I think it's balancing
those things so that we are
attentive to the needs these
are our neighbors right.
But we also all have to feel
including those neighbors have
to feel safe in our various
areas.
Councilmember jd a
councilmember mayfield thank
you.
>> thank you, chair graham.
Charlotte's airport is one of
our city's most important
economic engines.
How would you protect
charlotte's role in shaping the
future of the airport while
also assuring airport service
workers benefit from its
success?
>> I'll try a great question
and I'll try to take that in
some order.
I mean I think we have to
continue to show that we are
not good but exceptional
stewards of that business
because we are as as any city
like us that operates an
airport we are at risk with
raleigh and I don't mean that
adversarial to raleigh but we
are at risk.
We're in a state where raleigh
has that type of control as
most states and we are
conscious of you know, actions
by washington.
And so, you know, it is a it's
an economic driver and it's a,
you know, municipal issue of
municipal integrity that we
continue to be able to operate
the airport and that we operate
it in an exceptional manner
which I think we historically
we have.
I agree that we need to, you
know, continually be looking at
the support that we provide for
all of our municipal employees
including those at the airport.
But we have to be, you know,
mindful of again stretched from
the the business sector to the
nonprofit sector to the the
religious sector.
We've got to be mindful of the
balance of making sure that we
protect and preserve that asset
while also making sure that we
treat the employees there and
our our team members there with
respect and councilmember
mayfield, council member drake,
thank you.
>> thank you.
This is a really long question
but I'm gonna try to condense
it.
>> so if appointed interim
mayor how would you identify
and manage any actual or
perceived conflicts of interest
arising from your employment
clients business relationship
or financial interests
specifically if there if your
current profession require you
to frequently recuse yourself
from matters knowing you don't
have a vote before the council,
would you be willing to modify
or step away from the vote from
that role to ensure that the
public has a fully engaged and
independent mayor?
>> thank you council member.
Great question for someone
sitting in my position of
continuing to work my intention
is very much to remain with the
caveat that I think I gave to
councilmember earlier about
this has got to be the
priority.
You can't do this job when it's
not the priority.
I think I believe to the extent
there are conflicts they can be
managed.
I think they would be, you
know, few and far between but
they're important when they
arise.
I think we have to work our I
would have to work my way
through the process to make
sure that they are in fact
manageable.
But you know, we've got
examples of you know, richard
ben root was mayor and was
continuing practice and I think
that that is a very successful
mayor.
I believe mayor grant was
continuing to work as time
allowed as an architect during
his time.
i believe mayor mccrory
continued to you know, with the
connection employment with duke
energy.
I think there is a model here
in perhaps one of the things
that's helpful for for for all
of the lawyer jokes out that
it's helpful to lawyers is you
know, this is one of the things
we do that the question of
ethics and being thoughtful and
being careful not to say anyone
else does it but it is a part
of the profession.
It's who we are.
So I would I would I think it's
a manageable situation and I'd
look forward to managing it.
I would air on the side of
protecting the city's interest
in getting the job done.
But you know my intent at this
point is to to maintain my
partnership with robinson
rather problems strength.
Thank you.
How important are
intergovernmental relationships
to the city's agenda and I know
that you've alluded to this but
what in particular are ways
that you as mayor would work
with our intergovernmental
relations partners to achieve
outcomes for our city?
I think I got done I was I was
making sure I looked at was
attentive to the time I mean I
think there is a you know
hierarchy is the wrong word
there there's a list of
partners that we need to, you
know, work with.
I think probably we have good
relationship with them but I
would want to jump into that
immediately.
Obviously mecklenburg county in
our you know, dovetailing areas
of of engagement in the city,
making sure that those continue
to work which I think is
communication with you know,
chair general and drell and
others making sure that works.
And then there's you know, the
host of others if you sort of
work your way out from the you
know, through the region, you
know the work that we're now
doing with the you know,
standing up watching, being
standing up, participating and
standing up the metropolitan
public transit transit
authority, the work that we do
on a transportation level with
cart pro the regionalism both
the combination of regionalism
the charlotte metropolitan area
and the shared interests of
municipalities and particularly
large municipalities.
As we go to raleigh and we're
having discussions or debate or
however you want to frame it
having it's not just charlotte,
it's not just raleigh, it's not
just greensboro.
It is the shared interests of
municipalities and the shared
interests of the this in
credible engine for the state
that is the charlotte area.
So I've named a few of the
entities but I think
understanding the importance of
those partnerships is is vital
to access.
We should not be in this on our
own and we are thank you.
>> any other questions,
COUNCILMAN Member as mayor and
then I think we're running
close to it.
>> we've got three minutes and
then you get a closing argument
for one so you got until the
four minutes left.
>> yes.
I just wanted to follow up on
councilmember mayfield's
question about your private
employment, especially in your
case.
>> so I just want to make sure
you said that you would
prioritize the council work
right and did you say you were
willing to step away from your
private employment or you would
maintain the one was your
interest?
>> I would maintain yeah.
No, I recognize the priority of
the city for my own interests
and for those that you know
I've worked for almost 30 years
around you know the the damage
to yours really sort of sense
of self and professionalism if
you don't do this well is
irreversible.
So the focus has to be doing
this well and the advantage in
doing that is it's an 18 month
you know, role and one that you
know, I wouldn't be running for
reelection to.
So it's a defined period where
you realize that your number
one task is serving the council
and the citizens of of
charlotte but I would my intent
is to stay with the with the
firm okay thank you.
And you are a partner, right?
Yes.
Thank you.
>> okay.
Saying that there are more no
more further questions.
You have a one minute closing
argument.
Well, thank you MR. Chair.
I appreciate the opportunity to
interview I take the
opportunity very, very
seriously.
charlotte has been incredibly
good to me and my family.
I believe very strongly in
paying that forward and I think
this is perhaps the ultimate
way of paying that forward.
As I said the other day when I
had my short speech before the
before the council
collaboration and communication
and transparency figuring out
how to work together in an
orderly, continue to work
together in an orderly manner.
I would hope would be hallmarks
of this 18 months and I see
this 18 months as yes there are
going to be immediate
priorities but also as a bridge
from now until the next elected
mayor hoping to put this city
in the next elected mayor and
council's hands in fantastic
shape.
I appreciate the opportunity to
talk to you all today and
thanks so much for all that you
do.
>> you know MR. Harrington, we
really appreciate your
leadership and your commitment
to public service and your
willingness to consider this
opportunity.
And on behalf of the council,
we thank you for your time.
>> thank you.
Thank you.
>> last but not least is carrie
cook.
>> take this.
>> let's take five minutes.
Okay?
>> we'll be back in five
minutes
ready and I as soon as MS..
Wallington returns we'll get
started again.
Okay.
Give her a second or two and
after the last speaker there's
two process questions that we
have to go through.
>> they should go relatively
quickly so we will see on
monday.
>> yes.
Just to make sure that we're
all on the same page about how
we're going to process what we
do.
And then I sort of brought my
tennis skills with me to the
left straight from here and to
go to the tennis court I'm
playing tennis and district
council member judy's district
today a veterans park.
>> I going have time for that.
>> I got to be there at 6:00
though.
I have a veterans park.
Oh so and I love the pizza in
the at the university like we
all know that yeah we had the
border guards in court and not
be you know all right I think
we have everybody here so we're
going to call the meeting back
to order.
I think everybody's here.
We have one more speaker and
after the speaker again we have
to quick process items.
We just need to make sure that
there's consensus in the room
in terms of how we move for it.
So we're ready for MR..
>> welcome.
Thank you.
>> all right.
I want to take this opportunity
to welcome you to the city
council interviews for the
temporary mayor position.
We appreciate your interest in
applying.
You will have a total of 30
minutes every council member
will have around the questions.
there MAY be a follow up
question or two for
clarification.
The city clerk will let you
know when you get your five
minutes warning and then you'll
get a one minute warning once
that is completed don't feel
free that you have to stop
abruptly finish your thought
and think you'll get a one
minute closing statement
towards the end.
Okay?
Okay.
>> and so so councilmember
shamir will welcome MISS Cook
thank you.
Thank you for having me.
Hi.
>> so the next mayor might play
a major role in shaping the
selection of our direct report
so we have three direct reports
manager, a clerk and attorney.
So how would you ensure city
council is meaningfully
included in that process?
Yes.
And that process is proactive,
transparent and communicating
with all council members and
residents especially in
communities that often feel
decisions are made without them
.
Thank you for the question,
COUNCILWOMAN Asmara and thank
you for the opportunity to be
with you all today.
I appreciate this chance to
speak with you about my
candidacy.
When you think about the role
that the mayor plays with the
city manager and the city clerk
and residents and internal and
external stakeholders more
broadly I mean I think there's
a key emphasis on trust on
transparency, on consensus
building and those are the
things that I have done
throughout my life and
throughout my career on
building trust, on building
relationships.
I'm building consensus and
coalitions with different
groups of people across this
community from the east side to
the west side from north to
south.
I have been in communities and
I think a reputation that I've
had as being both grass tops
and grass roots which I view as
a strength because I can
connect and walk with the folks
across our community hand in
hand, be in the neighborhoods,
understand and talk with
residents but also I can sit
with executive leaders and ask
for their input and ask for
their concerns.
But the biggest thing that I
know that's important to all of
us is for our city to succeed
and for our residents to have
quality of life.
And so when I think about that
for our city to succeed, we've
got to have trust.
We've got to have transparency,
we've got to have efficiency
and we have to deliver results.
And so I am someone who would
work with the three different
entities that COUNCILWOMAN Asma
mentioned to deliver results
but to do it together with you
and to empower you and the
roles that you have as council
to lead I think that's really
important and I think it's
important to listen.
I think it's important to
understand what you all are
wanting to advance and not
bring you a fully baked plan
but come to you for early
iteration, for early feedback,
for opportunity to build
something together that we can
all be proud of.
And so that's you know, when I
think about the way in which
the mayor operates with council
and internal stakeholders and
external stakeholders.
Last night my daughter said
mommy, what does the mayor do?
Said the mayor is a bridge in a
lot of ways and you have to be
a bridge of information.
You have to be trusted and
transparent as a bridge.
I don't want to go over any
bridges that I don't trust.
And so when you have
relationships, when you're able
to work with folks, when you're
able to include people in a
process and galvanize people
and build consensus, those are
the ways that I have led and
been known to lead across our
city for over two decades and
that's what I would continue to
do.
>> councilmember wallington,
good afternoon.
>> yes, charlotte's priorities
are not new conversations but
the tools, partners and scale
of these challenges look very
different than they did even
five years ago.
>> can you walk us through a
specific example of work you
are doing right now or have
done in the very recent past
that directly connects to one
of these priorities?
>> mm hmm.
That's a great question.
Thank you for the question.
COUNCILWOMAN Watlington I I'll
just tell you I'm very excited
about the areas of strategic
focus that you've outlined
since your retreat in MARCH
because all of those areas
whether it's safety, whether
it's housing, whether it's
well-managed government, great
neighborhoods or planning and
investment are areas that I've
worked in over the course of my
career and areas that I've
worked in hand in hand with
residents of the city.
And so just to give a specific
example as requested, you know
over the last couple of years
I've done a couple a number of
significant things I'd say
related to housing and to
workforce development.
And so let me just talk just
for a minute about that.
A few years ago I served on the
city's affordable housing
committee when we were
advancing our opportunity to
move from to think about a
continuum of care for our
residents.
And so not just those who are
unhoused, not just those and
the missing middle not just
those who are moving into
ownership but really thinking
about that continuum and what
we need to do to advance an
opportunity for all of our
people no matter where they are
in trying to find housing and
build their life here in our
city.
And so when I think about the
ways that I've engaged one
again working with city
leaders, working with other
internal and external partners,
building collaborate and
working with folks who are
looking to build and develop
more housing in our city
working to increase the housing
trust fund allocation, thinking
about innovations and ways we
use those dollars and way we
support and increase the supply
of housing preserving our noah
right.
So making sure that a naturally
occurring affordable housing
remains in communities.
And so those are things that
I've done but also currently
serve on the west side
charlotte land trust board and
so continuing to advance the
work there have done that also
in an informal capacity as an
advisor.
>> and so advancing housing
issues so that everybody in
this community even if you are
on the front end of being
unhoused and we're working with
other partners like the county
and others where you need a
continuum of care to support
our residents whether it's
mental health or other services
county services that are needed
that is really important to our
residents to be able to have a
quality of life here.
And so when you think about
those core areas that you all
have outlined as your
priorities I've been working in
all of those areas but those
are some specifics I'd give you
around housing.
The last thing I would say is
that you know, I've partnered
over a number of years a couple
of decades now to work on in
the city's capital investment
plan.
And so when you talk about
investments in streets and
neighborhoods and housing, you
know, I've been on the front
lines of leading our advocacy
and organizing campaigns to
invest in our area so that we
have shared prosperity for our
residents.
And so that's really important
to me because when people have
housing that's connected to
transit, that's connected to
sidewalks, that's connected to
work that allows our folks to
live, work and play here in a
way that everybody can benefit
from.
And so I'm really excited about
that and grateful that you've
outlined it as one of your core
priorities moving ahead.
>> thank you.
Councilmember mayo.
>> thank you.
Good afternoon.
>> how would you ensure
meetings are efficient while
still allowing robust debate
and discussion?
>> that's a great question.
Thank you for the question,
councilmember mayo.
I think over the years what
I've been able to demonstrate
in leadership across public,
private and nonprofit sectors
is just someone who is an
active listener but also a
leader and a facilitator.
So I've been able to govern in
rooms, be a strong facilitator,
be someone who is really a
parliamentarian who says okay,
we've got a process.
We're going to stick to our
process and we're going to
drive that process forward to
deliver results for the people
that we're delivering them for.
And so when I think about
effective meeting facilitation,
it's not just about the meeting
itself.
It's about again relationships
,trust and transparency.
It's about collaboration and
building consensus.
And that's how I've shown up in
our community to work with
residents, to work with
different leaders.
>> and it's how I would want to
show up with each of you if
given the honor of working with
you in that way because that's
the way that we advance things
with with priority that with
the priorities that have been
set up.
And that's the way we advance
them in a way that's best for
our residents because again
everybody wants us to succeed
here so strong trust and
transparency allowing for
discussion and dialog to take
place before you arrive at a
meeting so that there's some
galvanizing and some rapport
and some consensus and some
trust around what we can do
together.
And those are just really
active listening and
facilitation.
Building consent those are just
core tenets of governing well
and continuing to lead to meet
the moment.
And I'll say that, you know,
it's been quite some time since
I finished this this program.
But going back to even serve on
the board at the umc in chapel
hill school of government I
mean we train local leaders to
be effective.
And so that was an important
part of my own professional
journey and allowed me to learn
ways to listen and learn and
lead but also now being a part
of helping to train other
municipal leaders to lead
effectively.
Those are the things that I've
continued to do throughout my
career and it's what I'd want
to bring to meeting
facilitation and to helping to
galvanize this group as we
contend with the issues of the
day to support our city.
>> councilmember anderson,
thank you and welcome.
>> thank you.
In your opinion, what is the
biggest issue or challenge
facing our city today?
And I ask that with the
understanding that we have lots
of challenges.
But if you can pick the one
that you believe is the biggest
and speak to that.
>> so the biggest issue and I
reframe it also as the biggest
opportunity facing our city is
we're a world class city.
The secret is out and we're
growing.
So our growth the 150 plus
people a day who are coming
here balancing that growth in a
way that provides shared
prosperity for all of our
residents and a way that we
make investments in corridors
and communities across the city
in a way that says we're going
to drive this forward with not
only these core priorities but
with the fiscal responsibility
and with the prioritizing
resident voice and the bringing
in of cross-sector stakeholders
.
That's the biggest opportunity
and challenge that I see
because if you don't do that
well you risk losing losing
folks or leaving folks behind
and you risk asking yourself
can our local teachers, can our
firefighters, can our nurses,
can our ems workers can our
neighborhood coalition leaders
and nonprofit leaders and
working families build a
quality of life here?
And I believe they can and will
continue to build a quality of
life here.
If we manage growth well in and
support growth that is that
provides benefits for all of
our residents and they're sure
that prosperity in that growth
.
>> councilmember owens, thank
you, chair.
Good afternoon.
It's nice to see you.
The recent rescission of the
I-77 project recommendation
reflected strong public
engagement and differing
perspectives about
transportation planning.
What do you believe should be
the next step in addressing
congestion and mobility
challenges along the I-77
corridor?
And how would you as mayor
ensure the public is
meaningfully involved in that
process?
>> COUNCILWOMAN Owens I
appreciate the question and you
know, we hear from residents
that congestion is a concern.
We also hear from residents and
we understand from our
neighbors that they want
quality of life and they want
their voices heard on these
issues.
And so as we think about the
next step and the path forward
again I'm going to go back to
trust.
So building trust with
communities so things happen
with people and not to them.
I'm going to go back to
transparency and being open and
deliberations as a group around
this dais but also open with
the public in the process.
I'm going to go back to
relationships.
So the relationships that that
I've built over the last two
decades plus with legislative
delegations and with
transportation planning
organizations I mean going out
and continuing to find a way to
advance together is important.
So whether it's calling members
of the pta or crypto or calling
on regional mayors, calling on
others to say all right, we
need to sit around the table
and identify how we're going to
address the demands that we
have with our growth and the
demands that we have so people
can continue to enjoy a quality
of life here.
And we have to do that
strategically.
But it has to be people first
and people centered.
And so that's what I would say.
I mean I, I am firmly
supportive of making sure our
neighborhoods have connectivity
making sure folks can continue
to enjoy the neighborhoods that
they built.
But also balancing that with
our growth demands.
And so I think a path forward
is to say when we come back
around the table and nothing is
in my career I've learned that
you got to give a little bit
and you got to be able to, you
know, sort of there's a push
and pull and there's a dynamic
in place where nobody will get
100% of everything they want.
but I've been able to work with
different groups and say how do
we build a coalition advance a
solution and deliver results
for our people that everybody
can live with and that
everybody will be proud of?
In some way everybody won't get
100% but that's what it takes
to lead and govern is to find a
solution and find a path
forward.
>> councilmember joyce thank
you, MR. Chair.
Good afternoon.
>> good afternoon.
In order to achieve a more
orderly council process, how
would you work outside of
meetings to help council
identify priorities and achieve
consensus?
>> I would work outside of the
process doing the things I've
been doing for my entire life
which are showing up listening
actively leading, intentionally
building coalitions across
sectors, working with
stakeholders.
Again the significant some
building relationships and
working with stakeholders
working with local neighborhood
groups, working with corporate
partners, working with
neighborhood partners, working
with all of the folks that it
takes to get things done.
I mean that's how I would show
up to continue to advance
processes.
It's it's the ways that I've
always shown up with
communication with active
listening trust, transparency
and also an acknowledgment that
I don't have all the answers so
I don't have all the answers.
You all are listening to your
different constituencies and
representing different
perspectives and that's a
difficult process.
But through that process and
through being out hearing from
folks advocating I mean you
really in this role have to be
someone who's willing to pick
up the phone, go to raleigh, go
to washington, go to the places
and sit with the people even
when you disagree and say how
do we get to a point and a
place of agreement to advance
charlotte's priorities for
charlotte's people?
And so I think that's an
important thing that I've done
in my career is calling on
state legislative delegations
whether it's business growth
and expansion, whether it's
education and supporting our
talent pipeline, whether it's
investments in how we think
about growing our city.
I mean all of those things are
things that I've done and I'm
comfortable to do on day one
and they would be an extension
of the work that I've already
done.
>> thank you.
I get the time to say.
>> councilmember mayfield,
thank you.
Thank you so much for joining
us today.
>> how do you plan to maintain
your employment and do this
role as this does take up a
significant amount of time?
>> well, I've recently
transitioned from employment
and so I'm at a great place in
my life and part of this was
the impetus or the catalyst to
say what's next?
What are you going to do next?
how are you going to serve
next?
How are you going to step in
next?
So recently I led community
development for the fed and was
able to drive investments and
analyze data and inform
monetary policy to support
communities across across six
states and then work with folks
across our country around our
best practices, around
solutions, around low income
communities being better
capitalized and better
supported with building
capacity and making investments
everything from skills and
access to jobs to non-school
based barriers around housing,
transportation, education those
things.
And so my career has been one
that spanned public private
nonprofit grassroots sectors
and now I'm at a place in my
life where I've taken a pause
to evaluate what is the next
step.
So I am able to fully devote
myself to this endeavor with
you all and advancing the
priorities.
Of course I have a family and
so that is always going to be
first and foremost for me.
But I very much as I have
always done lean in to leading
and different areas of my life
and it would be an honor to
lean in to lead with you in
this season knowing that there
is an interim period and then
voters will next fall choose
their next mayor.
But there's an interim period
to help support and advance the
issues that we all care about.
For charlotte teens to succeed
.
>> and councilmember jd.
Thank you chair graham.
Thank you MS..
Capps for being here.
Charlotte is a growing city but
too often growth is shaped and
leaving folks behind especially
working families.
How would you balance being
business friendly and people
first and ensuring that our
private partners are
collaborative partners and
closing socioeconomic gaps?
>> yeah, that's a great
question and thank you for for
it.
Councilmember I, I think
balancing business friendly
with people first is the
epitome of who I've had to be
over the course of my career.
And so when I think about
balancing the opportunity to
talk with court corporate
partners whether it was when I
started long ago, long before
this city started talking about
economic mobility and social
capital when I built programs
that invested in young girls in
this city and invested in youth
in our city and brought
corporate partners to the table
to say you have to be a part of
building our local talent
pipeline.
I mean that work existed long
before someone told us that we
needed to work on economic
mobility in the city and then
it just continued from there.
So the balance of saying hi
corporate partners we need you.
We can't do this work to the
exclusion of you.
We need you around the table
for these difficult issues.
But we also we're we're here
for our people and so our
people have to be the ones that
are at the table making
decisions, driving decisions,
putting forward input.
And I'll just give you examples
of what I've been able to do
that one of the recent examples
was when I launched green light
fund charlotte and was able to
galvanize a number of public
private nonprofit partners
partnered with the city and the
county to make investments in
in workforce and launching the
center for employment
opportunity charlotte at the
goodwill opportunity campus so
that neighbors could have jobs
in our community and have
financial stability and
security also helped to launch
financial security.
Clt which is a coalition of
folks working together to make
sure families can build a life
here.
And when we're allowing and
making sure that those
opportunities are possible,
you're working with folks who
we have to say corporate
partners.
We need you side by side with
us in this because many of the
corporate partners are
employing the residents of this
city.
And so when you think about the
chance to invest in things like
the center for employment
opportunities, invest in youth
advocate program and
alternatives to violence which
was another thing that we
launched and it was in a few of
you all's districts and the
program has now expanded across
the city when we are able to
bring together those strong
partnerships with city, with
county, with private sector
stakeholders whom we're also in
those collaborations to hire
our residents and make sure
they had a pathway to financial
security.
Those are the things that I've
continued to do throughout my
career and I think it's an
important balance.
>> so I've always tried to be a
consensus builder, a trust
builder, someone that leads
with servant leadership quite
frankly and a heart for people
but also understands the
dynamics and the different
stakeholders that have to be
around the table together.
Thank you.
Council member johnson.
Thank you.
Thank you for I'm sorry.
>> thank you for your
willingness to serve.
For my question I'm sorry while
you're looking for your
question I'm going to inject
one more thing to councilmember
jade's point and you know this
is just really point a point of
pride because when I think
about the partners that we've
worked with annie charlotte and
the charlotte bilingual
preschool and our bridge four
kids and a number of other
partners and hired local
parents to be educators and be
neighborhood partners and to be
leaders.
I mean those types of
collaborations with public
private and nonprofit partners.
I mean I've just really gained
a tremendous amount of respect
and pride to be able to work
with folks across east
charlotte and bring programs
and investment into an area
that sometimes has not always
received that investment.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for your willingness
to serve.
>> to serve.
What concerns, if any, do you
think the public might have
about your appointment as
interim mayor and how would you
address those concerns?
And there is a second part
also.
Okay.
Thank you for that question,
councilmember johnson.
Concern is what I've heard to
community and what I've also
heard to business.
And so you know, I find that to
be an interesting balance of
concerns and a good mix quite
frankly because you want to
have trust across a number of
different stakeholders.
And so for people to say she's
to community she's been
organizing on the ground, she's
been lead a nonprofit, she's
been doing this and for other
people to say she too business
she's been at the chamber,
she's been at the fair and
she's been at these places.
I mean I think that's what we
would aspire to have in a
leader who has sat at the
table, who has advanced issues,
who knows what people across
different perspectives are
leaning into, who has
relationships across those
different groups.
I mean I think that's the kind
of person that is uniquely
served in this moment and I
have those relationships,
skills and experiences.
And again, I'm going to go back
to trust relationships
transparent and consensus
building because those are the
things that I think are
important and the challenges
that people would say I think
are the very things that would
help us be successful together
for charlotte against.
>> okay let's do a time check.
>> councilmember drakes is out
there being q if I can I'm
sorry I think she into this.
What's the second part?
I'm sorry.
I think she answered it so we
might be able to move on.
But additionally what strength
and experiences do you believe
make you well-suited for this
role?
>> yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
>> so she answers that part of
it.
>> can I have some member?
>> that's why mike isn't going
to and and you want to be q
yes.
>> all right.
So councilmember drags
councilmember justice in.
Q and I don't see on the other
hand council member jd.
>> so how important are
intergovernmental relationships
to the city's agenda and what
are ways you as mayor would
work with our intergovernmental
partners to achieve outcomes
for our city?
>> that's a great question.
Thank you.
Councilmember driggs I mean
intergovernmental in
governmental relations are
incredibly important and going
back to you know, 20 years ago
when I moved back to charlotte
after completing my studies
coming in to bgr meetings and
sitting around and making sure
I'm hearing the issues of the
day and still continuing
continuing to do that today has
allowed me to build
relationships with city
leaders, with county leaders,
with school board leaders, with
state legislative delegation
and federal delegations again
with rnal mayors and
colleagues and local planning
and transportation and
investment organizations.
And so doing that work over a
number of of of years has
really just provided an
opportunity to be thoughtful
with partners to be fearless as
an advocate for charlotte's
issues and charlotte's
priorities.
>> so whether it was trying to
determine how we continue to
lean into emerging industries
around logistics or
transportation or energy or any
number of things you know,
working together with
colleagues with regional mayors
,with you know, other regional
transportation groups, state
federal groups that's really
important.
So intergovernmental is
something that I believe we
have to continue to do really
well to advance charlotte's
priorities and charlotte's
issues and it's something I'm
comfortable with.
I'm comfortable picking up the
phone.
I'm comfortable getting on the
road.
I'm comfortable leaning in and
having conversations with
people who again sometimes have
different perspectives and
experiences but at the end of
the day you do that because for
me it's about being an advocate
for our people and moving our
issues forward and I'm very
much aligned with the core
issues and priorities that you
all have outlined and would be
excited to support those and
pick up the phone and be a
chief advocate for the city and
for our people.
>> okay.
So the five minute warning was
given a minute ago so you
probably got about four minutes
left.
>> okay.
Councilmember johnson's then q
and then councilmember jd
charlotte adopted an ordinance
in 2024 related to individuals
who are unhoused.
What are your thoughts on those
policies and charlotte's
overall approach to
homelessness?
>> thank you.
Council member johnson for the
question.
So again I'm going to go back
to a couple of things with
housing and thinking about it
on a continuum.
So when we start with our
unhoused neighbors, I think we
do have to continue to advance
policies that increase the
supply of housing and provide
housing for our neighbors who
are unhoused.
But we also have to be
thoughtful about the partners
that are around the table and
think innovatively about how we
continue to address the issues
around our unhoused neighbors.
And so one of the things again
coming back to the question is
how do we partner with other
folks?
Going back to COUNCILMAN Greg's
question, intergovernmental.
And so the county has a big
part in this.
And when we think about some of
the reasons that our neighbors
are unhoused including mental
health and other challenges.
And so you know, part of part
of my thoughts are around yes,
we have to advance policies and
opportunities to increase
housing supply.
We have to advance
opportunities for stakeholders
to build a continuum of care
together so that we can move
neighbors from being unhoused
into housing stability.
And we also have to think about
not just housing stability but
economic mobility and
opportunity.
So once somebody is stable, how
do they now participate in
market rate rent?
How do they now participate in
home ownership later on down
the line?
And there are so many partner
is good phenomenal partners in
this community from you know
yeah dream key partners to
other developers and partners
to a number of housing
organizations habitat charley I
mean a number of housing
organizations public and
private partners and nonprofit
partners who are working to
advance issues.
>> I mean you've got liz clasen
you've just got so many leaders
around this community that are
doing work around housing and
building and bringing people
together who have been doing
the work for years.
and so I think just continuing
to advance those issues is
important.
>> councilmember jd and then
probably a quick response
contract for charlotte's
airport is one of our most
important anomic engines.
How will you ensure that
charlotte continues to protect
that economic engine but also
protecting airport service
workers and their conditions?
>> thank you for the question,
councilmember jd.
>> so charlotte's airport is a
tremendous asset for our city
and for our residents to live,
work and play and be mobile.
When I think about the issues
and opportunities, you know a
couple of things at play.
One, you've got an opportunity
to think about how to support
the workers who work at the
airport.
I recognize the time is running
short to you have an
opportunity.
We don't want to wait until we
get 18 months from now to
really get into the details of
renewing this lease and talk
about what it's going to take
to make sure that there's
satisfactorily satisfactory
satisfactory agreement amongst
all the parties.
So I think just again trust
transparency, engagement early
understanding the tremendous
asset that the airport is
understanding that we have to
balance that with workers
ability to live here and build
a life here.
I think all of those things are
in the balance here.
But again we're fortunate to
live in a city with an asset
like our airport.
And so a combination of
consensus building thoughtful
processes and negotiations
supporting workers ability to
live here and build a life here
and being thoughtful with
advanced planning that allows
us to continue to make the
investments that we need for
our citizens to enjoy this city
is what I would say is
important here.
Hmm.
Okay.
Very good.
Okay.
So you have a minute and to
share with the council and in
closing thoughts.
>> well I just would say thank
you.
I think we're in a moment where
my skills, my heart, my
experiences and the way that
I've led are really uniquely
positioned to help us move
forward.
And so I don't I don't believe
that anybody around this table
is not here for charlotte's
best interests.
And while there are different
constituencies and different
issues and different groups,
what I do believe is that we're
all here now in a unique moment
to be able to advance and
balance the growth and
opportunities in this city with
the ways in which everybody can
share in the benefits of that
growth in that prosperity.
And so I'm a charlotte.
I was raised in charlotte.
My mom is you know, my schiro
and we grew up in COUNCILWOMAN
Johnson's district.
Bought my first home in
councilmember graham's district
and you know, have done
organizing and work in
councilmember watlington
district.
I've organized with folks in
COUNCILWOMAN Ashman's district.
And so last week or last month
I spoke to a economic club in
COUNCILMAN Driggs district.
I mean I've just really had an
opportunity to show up in
spaces and places across the
city again without a title.
I did this long before there
was ever a title associated
with it because I just believe
in and I love our city.
I have imported a husband into
this city.
We have we have had two
children here and it's just a
great joy to continue to build
a life here and I'd love to
partner with you to do that for
for our residents.
>> well, let me thank you for
your leadership and your
commitment to public service
and for showing up and showing
up today as a candidate and we
appreciate the opportunity to
hear from you today.
>> thank you all so much.
>> council we have to we have
to process questions that
should take relatively short
period of time, right?
So here we go.
The first question is to to
determine the number of
nominees on the ballot for JUNE
22nd.
I would suspect that we're
advancing all five candidates.
Is there consensus on that?
Correct.
Okay.
The second question is to
determine the number of those
required to proceed subsequent
balance if necessary I.E.
Obviously of a candidate gets
six votes.
They are our winner.
If a candidate doesn't get six
vote, are we in agreement that
the two top vote getters will
move forward for a runoff?
>> councilmember anderson then
councilmember mayfield, thank
you.
>> thank you.
So I just want to combine this
with what we heard from city
attorney.
I believe on monday.
So I'm open to this discussion.
But should we think about a
threshold of votes?
Right.
And so if for example someone
gets five votes and then the
next person closes gets two
votes, should we think about a
threshold of you have to at
least have, you know, three or
more votes or four more votes
to advance?
Is this a question I want to
put out a put out here?
Clearly I hope we can get the
six and then we don't have to
worry about this.
But as we try to prepare the
process ahead of time so we
don't have confusion on monday
.
>> thank you.
So we have mayfield and
wellington in q.
Thank you.
So on the same line as far as
the threshold I've shared when
we had small group discussion I
do think there needs to be a
threshold for me that threshold
is five or more.
>> six is the majority I would
hope that we would be able to
garner support of more than six
for the individual that will be
stepping into this role.
I don't think three is the
number for us to get to four
conversation on monday.
>> I would hope that we have
the opportunity and can
identify our majority or better
for individual.
I know was stated that if it's
six they automatically get it.
Personally I'm looking for
seven and nine.
If not consensus of 11 that
might be a little bit more
difficult but six is the
minimum threshold.
I think we have the opportunity
to do better than six for this
person is going to be stepping
in.
So I do agree that we should
have a threshold.
I just don't think it should be
as low as three.
>> right.
Just reminding the council that
there will be 11 votes cast on
monday night so that's our five
folks.
So I think you need to take
that into consideration.
Councilmember wallington, then
councilmember dreyfuss and q
councilmembers I'm assuming
that's you.
>> thank you, MR. Chair.
And maybe this what you just
spoke to maybe addresses my
question.
I'm not I'm attorney can you
just remind us of what you
recommend it if anything last
time in terms of number of
nominations for the dia for the
day?
DR. Watlington thank you for
the question for the day of
each councilmember I
recommended that each
councilmember would have one
vote and the minimum threshold
in reference to councilmember
matos point I suggested that at
a minimum three to keep it to
keep it moving forward to
advance to subsequent balance
ballots if required but
certainly as council's
pleasure.
>> okay.
So with that I would I would
support keeping it at three
simply because if we each only
get one vote and you get more
than I'm just not sure how that
would even work if you have to
have at least five that means
only two people could even be
in contention and that means
the other person lost.
So I'm saying if if if you're
saying that you have to have
five or 6 or 7 to get it and we
each only cast one vote if one
person has five and then the
others have three and three for
example, that means we are
awarding or I don't say
awarding we're appointing a
mayor with less than a council
majority vote and that doesn't
feel procedurally correct?
>> correct.
>> so I could I well, I concur
with that.
Councilmember draitser thank
you.
>> the next I'm sorry and then
COUNCILMAN Asha mira and I
think I saw a and go up.
>> okay concept of address.
So we need to think about sort
of the contingencies how the
numbers could play out right,
right.
If you had two people that had
four votes for example and
somebody had three then you
weren't you bring the two
forward.
If somebody has six right away
their chosen.
Mm hmm.
What about five?
>> three and three?
>> that's what mine.
Yeah.
So that's a tough one because
now you don't have a basis,
right?
You could have a runoff between
the true three getters to
determine who is in there and
then run them against the top
three.
Right.
I mean that would strike me as
being the best way to do that.
And I think with that we've
probably covered the bases.
>> I'm not sure there's a I
mean it would be weird, right?
11 votes and if all five of
them get two or something could
happen though.
So I guess as I say you bring
forward the top vote getter or
the two tied top vote getters
and if people are tied at less
to the top you then run them
off against each other and try
to get it narrowed down that
way.
>> okay.
So councilmember asmir so I
just want to make sure I am
clear on what what MR. Drake
said.
So you are not suggesting any
threshold correct?
>> well, I'm looking at the
possible.
>> no, I'm just saying I guess
I'm just sort of yeah, I agree
or I agree with you if you have
if you have a situation where
nobody got six right.
So then obviously you're going
to have a top person you may
have a tie for the top, you run
those.
No, I get it.
I just I just want to make sure
we are clear.
You are not suggesting a
threshold and I agree with that
approach where there is no
threshold but maybe just the
top three ends up or I remember
how did we do with empty did we
empty a process?
I know there are four and I
just wanted to if the attorney
can if you've got six because
the empty process was it wasn't
easy, right?
>> appointment process.
I want to see if we could
replicate that for the final
round.
>> so the challenge well excuse
me council member as mayor has
the floor so we so we can hear
attorney the one noteworthy
distinction between the empty
process and this process is
that each council member only
has one vote.
>> you had multiple votes for
the final round.
>> we only had one meeting.
>> oh yeah, after the
interview.
>> but you were voting for
different categories, right?
That's there and in this
instance at all times each
council member will have one
vote.
>> councilmember mayo has the
floor.
>> thank you.
I'd actually like to make a
motion regarding this so I
would like to move that we when
we're doing our first round of
ballot five we do the top two
vote getters and if there is a
tie that we do a runoff between
those two is to determine who
will be you know what the top
vote getter and then we're just
having two people go against
each other if we have to go to
around to this emotion on the
floor.
So second, just a comment I
made you pay and oh I
discussion I'm asking for a
clarification.
>> well please address the
chair so we can all here right
right.
That's what that's what that's
the purpose right so it's been
properly moved.
It's been properly second
councilmember drake's has a
comment so just so I understand
clearly right if you have a top
vote getter and you have a tie
for second place then what I'm
suggesting is you have a runoff
between the two second place
people in order to determine
then who will run off against
the top vote getter.
>> yes.
All right.
So is that your motion?
Yes, sir.
All right.
So can favor that.
All right.
Councilmember anderson is
recognized.
>> councilmember owens is.
Thank you.
Okay.
So I so so in that scenario if
we have and I'm not sure it's
going to happen but if we have
two people that have five votes
,how will we advance from that
in the midst of your in your
motion that there's 11 votes
being casted?
I understand but it still is
this is math.
two candidates could get five
and there could be two
candidates with five one
candidate and one so I'm just
asking in the face of this
motion city attorney hat how
would that work?
The five turn is recognize
thank you MR. Chair.
The five and five would they
would they would runoff to
select the mayoral candidate
the the let's say that the
third highest vote getter would
would fall off and they would
just be the top that one.
>> perfect.
I just wanted to have clarity
so the mathematics right
exactly exactly right comes MAY
feel thank you so the scenario
that I'm considering is the six
five to me six five is because
that's where we land more often
than not I don't the add to me
that's a one off because where
11 members to me that will be
the top two I don't think for
this particular position that
we are looking at for mayor out
of five candidates that by that
one vote individual should then
be appointed mayor.
I feel like if we're looking at
a five and we're and we have
the opportunity to get to the
top two, then if it's a65 vote
when it's all done and that's
all 11 counted that that six
five are the two that would go
to the runoff.
That's why I want to try to
make sure that it's clear if
there's more clarity.
So I I'm I'm saying I'm not
saying what I bill and make
sure you capture I am saying
clearly that I do not think for
this particular opportunity
when we are appointing a mayor
that the standard six out of 11
should automatically be
appointed if we have and this
is only if when the votes come
in if we have a65, then those
two should be in the top two.
I think we should give
ourselves at least the
opportunity of having a choice
of two and not just say well
out of 11 members six chose
this particular person.
So this should be the person
that or even if it is six four
and one person abstains I just
want to make sure that we do
have another opportunity to
ensure that we are identifying
who we think is the most
appropriate right now to serve
in this role of our city and I
just don't think doing the
minimum the bare minimum of six
out of the 11 which is our
majority for this particular
well in a dream world we will
be closer to eight nine if not
for consensus but if it is a
sample and example of a65 to me
that's the top two and those
would be the two that we choose
between four runoff.
So I just wanted to make sure
that I had that in the minutes
.
Councilmember owens so my
question has morphed a bit in
light of that comment.
I'm I'm processing that but for
me if you do have a65 for me
that does not suggest that you
would then go to a runoff
because you've had those 11
votes and you would just
continue to perpetuate a65
potentially that was the runoff
.
So that that is the runoff.
So I would propose that we not
advance for a supermajority for
for you to do a simple majority
as we do our votes.
I think it is it is commendable
the aspiration that we would
have a degree of consensus
around us.
I think it would serve the city
well if we were aligned and we
were to communicate with one
voice and we did achieve
unanimity.
But I don't want to handicap us
to continue to perpetuate a
repeat six five vote as you
advance those two people to a
runoff.
I would I would propose that we
maintain the motion which I
believe is on the floor that it
would be as simple majority and
we would adopt MR. Driggs
language with respect to what
would happen were we to have a
five as the as the dominant and
then the other votes split
between parties that we would
sort it the way that he
suggested.
Thank you, chair and then after
of that scenario plays comes
into play.
We can also have another vote
to accept the the the nominee
by consensus and which I think
we should do right no matter
who who the winner is because I
think it's really important
that we do that right.
So we can we can do that.
>> I think that's appropriate
recommendation.
I think it's just protocol
right?
That's for somebody to just do
it right make that motion out
so councilmember anderson, just
a point of information.
Can the clerk read what the
motion is that we're about to
vote on the motion made by MS..
maio second by MS..
Mayfield it was taught to vote
getters move forward and if we
have the time we do a runoff.
>> okay.
>> and that's right,
councilmember anderson has the
floor.
>> that's what that's why I was
asking because I just heard
something a little bit
different.
Yeah.
I thought I thought that that
was the motion.
Right.
But then I just heard I want to
sort of make sure we're all on
the same page here.
The top vote getter will
advance clearly if there's a
top vote getter and they don't
get six but I just heard that
then the rest of them would
have a runoff to select the top
two.
That's only if there's a tie.
Is that correct?
>> right.
I just want to make sure we
were all on the same page
because I just heard something
different.
>> okay.
Councilmember dres johnson and
everyone have a question so I
want to clarify.
Top vote getter less than six,
right?
You got a runoff.
Okay.
Then that person runs against
the second highest vote getter
if there's a tie for second
place then you have a runoff
between those two to determine
who will run off against the
five vote getter for the final
outcome.
So I'm not sure the motion
captures that does it then I
can I can add that to it except
the but then the amendment okay
so go to the chair so we so we
can everyone can kind of know
what we're doing right now.
>> you still have okay thank
you chair pro-tem you're doing
a great job.
>> I think I'd like to ask q so
the clerk has captured the
elements of councilmember
anderson's question about the
motion?
Yes.
The top vote getter they get
less than six that person in
the other individual will have
a runoff.
>> so that's incorporated in
the motion that's on the floor.
So let me ask a question I
think this clarifies it.
COUNCILMAN Johnson, you have
the floor.
>> thank you.
If someone is if this for three
to and then a tie at one they
don't have a tiebreaker it's
only if the second place has a
tie.
Is that correct?
We're only advancing the top
two.
Okay.
So the bottom number is a tie
then that's we're not advancing
that.
Okay.
So that's the clarification.
It's not an automatic tie
breaker.
It's only if the second place
has a tie.
That's right.
>> yeah.
Thank you.
Are we all good?
>> have any clarifying
questions?
Are we ready for the vote?
Yes.
>> can you read the motion one
more time?
>> so now I got you a little
bit but the top two vote
getters or the top vote getter
that is less than six.
Those two people will have a
runoff if there is a tie right
.
>> if I MAY MAY I MAY MAY I
take a stab so if we have a top
vote getter who has less than
six, that top vote getter will
advance if the second place is
a tie.
That's right.
There will be a runoff between
the second place to two people
two candidates in the second
place and the winner of that
runoff will vance against the
top vote get it?
>> that's right.
Is that correct?
That is the motion.
We all good?
Yeah, we're ready to vote.
All right, let's all those in
favor say I, I all those oppose
the ayes have it.
Last item is process, right?
So it is my understanding that
the ballots will be distributed
to the council members at the
beginning of the 530 meeting.
There is not a oh right.
All right.
I'm turning help me out.
>> thank you MR. Chair.
>> this is a little bit
different than your typical
process for boards and
commissions.
The proposal is that the ballot
would be provided at the
beginning of your 530 meeting.
You will have a hard copy
ballot and envelope.
You will fill out the ballot,
you will turn it into the
clerk's office or
representatives from the
clerk's office will be present.
You will turn it in the meeting
will begin.
The clerk's office will tally
while the meeting is is ensuing
and will prepare a report.
It will be provided to MADAM
MADAM mayor to read the results
and if we have a winner we have
a winner.
If not we will proceed as we've
outlined here today.
>> okay.
The only thing that we
discussed earlier and I just
want council impact there there
will be public speakers coming
to speak to the issue.
The question is should we wait
until after they make their
presentation to vote or do you
guys want to vote at the
beginning of the main that's
just a question for the for so
I recognize council member
always raise your hand I'll get
you council member always comes
from member jd council member
kashmir and q just a question
yes or no a process.
>> thank you chair.
I am in favor of awaiting an
actual vote until we've heard
from the community.
I think that the community has
probably felt a bit of
disintermediation and we need
to do all within our power to
help them feel incorporated
into our process.
And so voting before we've
heard for them seems contrary
to that.
So I would be a fan of not
doing that.
>> councilmember jd short and
sweet.
I agree with that.
Councilmember asmir okay.
>> and council member anderson
question I'm sorry, just a
question because I just looked
at the agenda.
So when is that taking place in
the space of the agenda and and
the reason why I ask is if it's
not at the appropriate space in
the beginning should we
deliberate around whether we
should move it up so residents
aren't sitting here all night
as we conduct our business
agenda.
Let me I agree with that.
The clerk has been raising her
hand for a while so let's hear
from her and then we'll come
back out to council member
anderson's question is item 22
on the agenda which is the part
of the agenda where you
normally would have
appointments to boards and
commissions because you do have
an appointment to the planning
commission also that night I
was just also going to add that
as of this moment we don't have
any speakers that have signed
up to item 22 just yet.
However today is thursday and
persons could sign up to speak
to that agenda item between now
and monday or even at the
meeting for that matter.
So I just wanted to provide
that information.
I heard councilmember male
COUNCILMAN Anderson thank you.
>> okay, I'm in.
You yes.
Okay.
Male can can MADAM Clerk when
would you recommend that we
potentially add this?
i'd rather be respectful of
residents time and start the
public hearing for the mayor
interim mayoral race and then
we have our vote so that you
know people have other things
to do in the evening they can
when what will be your
recommendation looking at the
agenda perhaps if not after the
public because you also have a
public forum that night so
there will be you know we have
probably at least 15 people or
close to 15 people signed up
for the public forum on monday
and perhaps after that or
either at the time of the city
manager's report in that area.
One of those two things but
there is a public forum
scheduled for monday at 530.
>> okay, councilmember drew,
I'm not very comfortable and so
I'm sorry.
>> thank you again I'm review
ing the agenda which I did
earlier.
So we do have a public forum
but this particular item is not
under the section of public
hearings and so I just raise
that because we hadn't
discussed that the whole
concept of having a public
hearing on this particular
item.
So I just want to make sure and
in the public hearing section
here is it's not listed it is
not a public hearing.
>> however it is an agenda item
and the public can speak to any
item on your agenda if they
sign up in it in advance.
Well at the meeting even if
it's just an agenda item you
know the title number 22 so
they could potentially someone
could sign up to speak.
i understand.
Thank you.
I just wanted to speak to the
fact that we actually hadn't
had that discussion as a body
around this action so thank
you.
>> so I suggest that we kind of
move it up on the agenda right
after the public hearing that
we're we we and we can also do
the other appointment.
I think it's only one at the
same time we just advance it on
the agenda so the public won't
be waiting there all night.
That's my recommendation.
Councilmember drex, you're on.
>> yeah, I agree with that MR.
Chair.
I'm just wondering have we
published that agenda already?
>> yes.
>> all right.
So then what action does it
take by us if any formally to
just move it up?
City clerk's it would just be a
matter of communicate that to
the manager's office and to
strategy and budget.
I don't know that there's
necessarily a need to republish
the agenda just to move an item
up.
We could just make them aware
of council's desire to consider
this at a earlier time in the
meeting.
>> okay.
Council member jd councilmember
owens then we're going to close
out to discussion.
Could I follow up a quick
follow up for councilmember
driggs?
>> so if somebody wanted to
sign up and they came late and
you had already done it I mean
it's a technical issue but
somebody could show up later in
the meeting seeing 22 and then
be told oh no, they already did
that.
>> so I just want to be sure
that we observed the right
procedure.
>> in fact, councilmember owens
,I'd like to ask the question
of the city attorney can you
clarify that point and what is
best practice?
Does it make more sense to
publish that obviate the need
for somebody arriving and not
being able to speak in light of
council's decision today I
would highly recommend
republishing the agenda with
directing the manager's office
and team and staff to bring
published to the agenda what
they're being moved higher up
in the agenda.
>> yeah.
Thank you.
All right.
Councilmember jaideep then we
can kind of close this
conversation we don't need a
motion but if we could just can
this get consent?
Well, we can get consensus.
>> is that the direction of
council?
Yes, after the public form, to
be clear correct.
Okay.
Thank you.
Because this is just a
suggestion to get our
communications team to disperse
this and our social media
channels to ensure that all
constituents are aware that
they can speak.
Okay.
That sounds good to me.
All right.
So no votes necessary just
consensus.
MADAM Attorney.
MADAM Clerk, we're all on the
same page again.
So even when we if there is a
runoff you will get another
ballot.
I just want to make sure in the
envelope you will mark they'll
go back and they'll calculate
and come out again and give it
to the mayor and she will make
the announcement.
>> all right.
Motion to adjourn.
Second I'm going to recognize
comes from a majority today.
>> I want to take your motion.
Thank you.
Just to clarify and this is if
there's a runoff, it's going to
be done monday the 22nd.
Right?
It's all done.
Okay.
Same night.
Okay.
And accepting a nomination.
Right.
Okay.
All right.
Good.
Okay.
Big day, everyone.
I know that councilmember
mayfair also kind of a motion
to adjourn.
I did maybe second of the
second I said this is let's go
home.
>> thank you.
Thank you for