[0:02] and I hope that you've all had

[0:04] recognized here in charlotte

[0:04] how we win.

[0:05] Today you have business

[0:07] leaders, you have political

[0:08] leaders, you have educators,

[0:08] you have community leaders.

[0:10] >> and I would also note that

[0:11] you have the governor and the

[0:14] secretary and again political

[0:16] city and county officials.

[0:17] >> they didn't just court you

[0:20] write and recruit you and send

[0:20] a welcome letter.

[0:22] >> they showed up.

[0:23] And that's what we do here in

[0:23] charlotte.

[0:25] We show up.

[0:25] We show up together.

[0:28] And I think that is something

[0:28] that's very special here in

[0:30] this community that we're

[0:31] excited to have you be a part

[0:31] of.

[0:33] >> charlotte, as you heard, is

[0:35] one of the largest the largest

[0:39] second largest financial

[0:40] community not in in the in just

[0:42] the region but in the country.

[0:44] And you heard that 3800 of

[0:46] those jobs are financial or

[0:47] jobs which again the most

[0:49] important part for us is

[0:50] there's a lot more room for

[0:50] growth here in this market.

[0:53] So as we close here today, we

[0:55] assure you that this community

[0:55] this business community is

[0:58] about building winning culture

[0:59] of which you are a part of

[1:02] sports again, back to being

[1:02] close to me team is a big part

[1:04] of that.

[1:04] And not only do you have the

[1:05] team of people in this room of

[1:07] everyone sitting in here and

[1:08] standing back here but there's

[1:10] a team of people outside of

[1:11] here that's waiting to ensure

[1:12] your success.

[1:13] and that's why again, we're

[1:13] happy to have you here.

[1:16] So to everyone again in closing

[1:19] who made today possible, we

[1:19] thank you.

[1:19] There's a lot of people who

[1:20] made today look great in this

[1:21] amazing facility.

[1:22] We thank you.

[1:25] We are proud of this moment.

[1:25] We are proud.

[1:28] More importantly of what it

[1:29] means to what's next.

[1:31] >> and we want to welcome you,

[1:33] MR. Robert lucas on to the smb

[1:34] c executives.

[1:36] You guys have been leading a

[1:37] winning organization for

[1:37] decades.

[1:39] But one that's been having

[1:42] meaningful change and impactful

[1:42] change.

[1:43] >> and we are here to ensure

[1:45] your support and success in

[1:45] this transition.

[1:48] >> so officially welcome.

[1:49] Welcome to the city.

[1:52] Welcome to this region.

[1:54] Welcome to charlotte.

[1:54] We are going to win together

[1:57] and we're excited about that.

[1:58] >> so we will close to conclude

[1:58] that.

[2:05] Thank you.

[2:07] >> we are going to conclude the

[2:08] program now there will be light

[2:11] refreshments in the back.

[2:12] We're going to have some photos

[2:12] up here.

[2:14] And most importantly, please

[2:15] get to know each other and

[2:16] welcome our newest resident of

[2:17] charlotte.

[2:37] >> thank you

[2:38] when you graduate they

[2:39] graduate.

[2:46] Did you know starting school at

[2:48] age four builds the foundation

[2:50] for a lifetime of success.

[2:52] Pre-k develops critical skills

[2:53] and confidence that children

[2:55] carry with them forever. Make

[2:57] pre-k offers high quality pre-k

[2:59] to all mecklenburg county

[3:00] children turning four by AUGUST

[3:03] 31st at no >> cost to families.

[3:04] Thousands of children have

[3:06] already benefited and now it's

[3:08] your child's turn. Start their

[3:17] lifetime of learning now. Sp

[3:17] uploaded a source with a key no

[3:20] lobby menu is never again it is

[3:21] yet another one of the

[3:23] currently seven doors to >>

[3:25] discover doom and I. I see him

[3:26] there he is with it. But if you

[3:28] read this I don't mean to imply

[3:29] at that interpretive at this

[3:29] point whether he. >>

[5:12] can't believe you're doing this

[5:13] alone. I've done it before. I

[5:16] remember you doing it, becca.

[5:17] How are you holding up? I mean,

[5:19] I'm bored. Nothing wrong with

[5:21] getting help. I'm good. I did

[5:23] it when felicia left. I'll

[5:24] figure it out. I know you will

[5:25] . You don't have to do it

[5:26] alone. That's all I'm saying.

[5:28] If I promise to look into it,

[5:29] we drop it and help you build

[5:31] this fence. Now you need to

[5:34] help me a real pain sometime.

[5:35] If you or a veteran you know

[5:37] needs support, don't wait.

[5:51] Eyes forward. Don't drive

[5:52] distracted.

[5:58] Your life sounds pretty great.

[6:02] Don't let a buzz ruin it by

[6:04] just driving. Is drunk driving.

[7:09] ,wow.

[7:12] >> man good evening, everyone.

[7:13] Good evening, everyone.

[7:15] You know that to ex the

[7:15] exercise clap.

[7:17] What's that?

[7:20] All right, we're almost ready.

[7:21] >> so thank you.

[7:24] Today has been a day that I'm

[7:26] sure several of you probably

[7:27] already know about this but

[7:29] it's something that I think is

[7:32] special when you are in the

[7:34] ability to be serving the

[7:37] community no matter when it

[7:38] happens to you.

[7:40] But today I just want to

[7:43] recognize that we just lost

[7:48] eddie knox who is the mayor of

[7:49] charlotte for many, many years

[7:51] many more than me.

[7:54] And just to have him be a

[7:57] presence and what he had done

[7:59] in our work and all of the

[8:00] things that were happening, you

[8:02] know, he and I believe harvey

[8:05] gantt was the next mayor and

[8:08] then that he was still with

[8:09] working he was a lawyer.

[8:12] He was someone that really love

[8:14] this community all of it not

[8:14] just the parts that were up

[8:17] north but he made it possible

[8:19] for many of us to do things

[8:20] that we didn't do.

[8:22] But I knew eddie knox.

[8:25] >> I knew him when I was just a

[8:26] first staff or person in the

[8:28] city and I wanted you to be

[8:31] sure to know and understand

[8:33] that he was the kind of person

[8:34] that cared deeply about our

[8:37] city our state.

[8:39] But he carried a lot more

[8:42] colleges and thoughts to nc

[8:43] state where he went to college

[8:45] and I just think that when we

[8:46] have these kinds of

[8:48] opportunities to say something

[8:51] out of order to just have a

[8:54] quiet moment or the plan that

[8:55] he is the man that he has been

[8:57] the mayor that he was and the

[9:00] person that can make something

[9:00] happen all the time.

[9:03] So with that if we would just

[9:05] take one minute for an hour you

[9:07] know he has a wife and children

[9:08] and I want to make sure that

[9:11] they understand that we are

[9:11] standing with him and really

[9:13] make sure that we understand

[9:16] that he was a great person and

[9:17] did so much for our city.

[9:19] Thank you very much.

[9:20] A few about for just a few

[9:32] minutes.

[9:35] Well, thank you all.

[9:36] Eddie knox was the 49th mayor

[9:39] of charlotte that says a lot

[9:42] for all of us and all of them.

[9:42] Thank you very much.

[9:45] So with that we're going to go

[9:46] ahead and begin the city

[9:47] council business meeting and

[9:53] we're going to start with an

[9:56] invocation, an expression that

[9:56] we use of inspiration followed

[9:59] by the pledge of allegiance.

[10:01] The invocation is intended to

[10:02] solemnize our proceedings.

[10:05] We celebrate great religious

[10:07] diversity in our community

[10:08] including those without a

[10:10] religious faith.

[10:11] Tonight I would like to ask

[10:14] councilmember arias to give our

[10:16] invocation.

[10:17] >> thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[10:19] Let us pray.

[10:22] Let us take a moment to pause

[10:23] together as we begin tonight's

[10:25] meeting and as we prepare for

[10:27] the important responsibility of

[10:28] appointing an interim mayor, I

[10:30] invite everyone to take a

[10:31] breath and settle into a moment

[10:34] of reflection and a moment to

[10:34] remember why we are here and

[10:36] who we serve.

[10:40] In my own way I pray for one

[10:42] path over another for wisdom

[10:43] instead of haste for clarity

[10:45] instead of confusion, for

[10:48] cooperation instead of division

[10:48] and for commitment to people

[10:51] over profit and every decision

[10:51] we make.

[10:54] I offer that simply as our

[10:54] hope.

[10:57] one that welcomes every belief

[10:58] system, every tradition and

[11:00] every way of making meaning.

[11:03] We gather at a time when the

[11:03] world is facing real adversity

[11:06] conflict, uncertainty and

[11:06] hardship are touching

[11:09] communities near and far.

[11:09] These challenges remind us that

[11:11] leadership requires steadiness,

[11:14] humility and a deep respect for

[11:17] the dignity of every person.

[11:17] Tonight MAY we practice

[11:20] thoughtful reflection and

[11:20] discernment, listening

[11:23] carefully weighing our choices

[11:23] responsibly and choosing the

[11:26] course that best serves the

[11:26] people of charlotte.

[11:29] MAY we remember that our work

[11:31] is not abstract it affects real

[11:32] lives, real families and real

[11:32] neighborhoods.

[11:35] MAY we approach disagreement

[11:37] not as a barrier but as an

[11:40] opportunity to understand one

[11:43] another more fully as we take

[11:44] up the work before us.

[11:46] MAY we do so with fairness,

[11:47] integrity and the shared

[11:49] commitment to pitting putting

[11:49] people first.

[11:52] And for those who do not pray,

[11:53] MAY these words simply be a

[11:55] wish for peace, clarity and

[11:56] unity as we begin.

[11:58] Thank you.

[11:59] >> thank you very much.

[12:02] You please stand if you choose

[12:04] for the flag to the united

[12:06] states of america.

[12:07] >> I pledge allegiance to the

[12:10] flag united states of america

[12:14] and to other stands one nation

[12:17] under GOD, indivisible with

[12:20] liberty and justice for all.

[12:20] >> thank you, everyone.

[12:23] Oh, I want to begin with

[12:26] introductions.

[12:26] Good evening and thank you all

[12:28] for joining us in person and

[12:32] for those watching online for

[12:34] our JUNE 22nd business meeting.

[12:36] This year's let's begin with

[12:40] introductions on the dais and

[12:40] we will start with our city

[12:40] clerk.

[12:42] >> good evening, stephanie

[12:43] kelly, city clerk.

[12:43] >> good evening, andrea.

[12:45] Leslie by city attorney

[12:48] screaming dimple ajmera at

[12:48] large.

[12:49] Good evening victoria

[12:49] watlington I have the pleasure

[12:52] of serving you as a member at

[12:52] large.

[12:53] Good evening joy MAY

[12:54] representing district three.

[12:57] >> good evening and welcome to

[12:58] the district one daunting

[12:59] anderson district one marcus

[13:02] jones city manager vilsack

[13:02] mayor.

[13:03] >> good evening everyone.

[13:05] James mitchell mayor acting

[13:07] mayor.

[13:11] Good evening.

[13:11] >> kimberly owens representing

[13:13] district six malcolm graham

[13:14] district two at drinks district

[13:14] seven.

[13:17] >> thank you for joining us.

[13:17] Luana mayfield council member

[13:19] at large.

[13:20] >> good evening jd must wear

[13:22] ideas proudly representing the

[13:23] east side district five.

[13:25] >> good evening I'm renee

[13:27] johnson and I have the honor of

[13:27] representing district four.

[13:30] >> thank you everyone.

[13:33] Now we go next to the city.

[13:35] This mayor and city council

[13:36] consent item questions and

[13:36] answers.

[13:42] We use marie who is absolutely

[13:45] at this and so we're going to

[13:45] begin this and so with them

[13:48] we'll have the consensus items

[13:50] through 25 through 59.

[13:53] So marie, will you help us out

[13:53] there?

[13:54] >> yes, thank you, mayor and I

[13:57] had a opportunity to speak with

[13:58] a couple of you but I was

[13:59] wondering at this point is

[14:00] there any other questions on

[14:07] any of the consent items?

[14:07] Thank you.

[14:07] All right.

[14:10] So our consent items MAY I have

[14:13] a motion to approve the consent

[14:15] items agenda 25 through 59.

[14:17] All in favor, please raise your

[14:18] hands to read a motion.

[14:21] >> we have a follow.

[14:21] So second.

[14:22] Second.

[14:22] Okay.

[14:24] And then we have after this

[14:27] consent item we're going to

[14:30] approve a consent item as we go

[14:32] through this we need to so

[14:34] mayor mayor mayor, you have a

[14:35] motion on the second we have a

[14:37] motion to second.

[14:37] >> all in favor.

[14:39] All in favor.

[14:40] >> yeah.

[14:42] Anyone and we disagreement or

[14:43] not an agreement.

[14:45] Okay.

[14:46] Anyone else?

[14:46] All right.

[14:48] So thank you for coming out and

[14:49] consideration for the consent

[14:51] agenda items that were done.

[14:56] Okay, now we have a few things

[14:58] that we'd like to introduce.

[14:59] First, I'd like to ask

[15:01] councilmember mayfield to

[15:04] recommend to develop and

[15:07] recommend a very special time.

[15:10] Let's see MR. Ryan, I want to

[15:11] recognize MR. Mayor.

[15:13] >> thank you so much, mayor and

[15:16] I would like for our members of

[15:18] our charlotte pride committee

[15:19] community and or charlotte

[15:21] black pride to please stand

[15:22] because I have the honor of

[15:25] presenting a proclamation

[15:27] thanks to our mayor so your

[15:30] where whereas charlotte is home

[15:32] to a vibrant and diverse

[15:33] community among which are

[15:36] lesbian, gay, bisexual,

[15:38] transgender and lgbtq citizens

[15:42] who have positively shaped the

[15:44] cultural business, civic faith

[15:47] and social fabric of the city

[15:49] throughout is history.

[15:49] >> and.

[15:50] Whereas charlotte black pride

[15:52] and charlotte pride have been

[15:55] creating visibility for and

[15:58] promoting a positive image of

[16:00] lgbtq carolinians for more than

[16:01] two decades.

[16:01] And.

[16:04] Whereas, the month of JUNE is

[16:07] traditionally celebrated as

[16:10] lgbtq pride month honoring the

[16:13] iconic stonewall riots of JUNE

[16:15] 1960 nine and the first

[16:18] christopher street liberation

[16:20] day MARCH in 1970 and new york

[16:23] city largely organized by lgbtq

[16:26] people of color, transgender

[16:28] people and young people.

[16:28] And.

[16:32] Whereas, charlotte's lgbtq

[16:32] citizens first attempted to

[16:34] organize gay liberation

[16:39] movement organizations as early

[16:42] as 1971 was charlotte's first

[16:45] pride events finally gives me

[16:46] and held in 1981 and the

[16:50] ensuring decades inspire me the

[16:52] creation of charlotte pride in

[16:53] 2000.

[16:53] And.

[16:56] Whereas charlotte black pride

[16:57] was founded in 2005 with the

[17:00] mission to promote lgbtq pride

[17:03] primarily for but not limited

[17:06] to members of the black

[17:06] community while building social

[17:09] awareness, embracing

[17:12] spirituality and celebrating

[17:12] the diversity that exists

[17:15] within our community.

[17:15] And.

[17:18] Whereas, in JULY black members

[17:20] of the lgbt community and their

[17:21] allies were gallup gathered to

[17:24] celebrate the history culture

[17:27] achievements as four races and

[17:29] dreams during the annual

[17:30] charlotte black pride week

[17:32] culminating in charlotte black

[17:35] pride's annual celebration

[17:38] black tip ism you belong here

[17:38] and.

[17:41] Whereas this AUGUST charlotte

[17:44] pride will carry forward a 45

[17:47] year tradition of pride events

[17:49] in charlotte as it hosts the

[17:52] largest annual annual lgbtq

[17:55] community event in our city and

[17:56] one of the largest in the south

[17:58] east creating significant

[18:00] cultural health and economic

[18:06] empire impact now therefore I

[18:09] I'm here by alexander lyles

[18:09] mayor of charlotte do hereby

[18:15] proclaim JUNE 2026 as lgbt q

[18:16] pride month in the city of

[18:18] charlotte and encourage all

[18:20] citizens to join us in this

[18:21] special observance witness her

[18:24] hand the official seal the city

[18:54] of charlotte thank you.

[19:20] Don't want to go so thank you

[19:22] for that.

[19:22] We have one more proclamation

[19:25] this evening and I'd like to

[19:26] turn it over to council member

[19:33] anderson thank you, MADAM Mayor

[19:33] .

[19:36] Whereas vitiligo is an auto

[19:36] immune skin disease causing

[19:38] loss of pigment from areas of

[19:42] the skin resulting in irregular

[19:45] white spots or pack patches.

[19:45] And.

[19:47] Whereas, vitiligo affects more

[19:48] than 2 million americans

[19:55] between 0.004 and 2.28% of the

[19:57] population and worldwide and

[19:59] even higher in certain regions

[20:02] it can appear at any age and

[20:03] can affect all people

[20:05] regardless of gender, race and

[20:06] ethnicity.

[20:08] And.

[20:09] Whereas, while the condition is

[20:11] not typically associated with

[20:14] physical pain, the psychologic

[20:15] call and the social effects can

[20:18] be seen difficult for many

[20:21] affected individuals especially

[20:24] children and those with darker

[20:24] skin.

[20:24] And.

[20:29] Whereas approximately 15 to 25%

[20:32] of people with vitiligo also

[20:35] are affected by at least one

[20:39] other auto immune disorder.

[20:39] And.

[20:39] Whereas researchers and medical

[20:42] professionals are working to

[20:45] better understand and treat

[20:48] that illegal although there is

[20:51] currently no known cure,

[20:53] treatments are available that

[20:57] can help with re pigmentation

[20:59] especially if begun early and

[21:00] used consistently.

[21:00] And.

[21:03] Whereas, the mission of the

[21:05] leaders of the north carolina

[21:08] vitiligo support community and

[21:11] its members is to support and

[21:11] empower individuals with

[21:14] vitiligo as well as educate

[21:16] advocate and spread awareness.

[21:20] And whereas, the north carolina

[21:22] vitiligo support community and

[21:23] its leaders have been

[21:26] designated by the global that a

[21:30] legal foundation to host the

[21:33] 2026 world vitiligo day usa

[21:35] conference from JUNE 26th

[21:35] through JUNE 28th.

[21:39] And charlotte, north carolina

[21:41] marking a decade of resilience,

[21:44] strength and beauty.

[21:44] And.

[21:45] whereas, the city of charlotte

[21:47] encouraged just people to

[21:50] increase awareness,

[21:50] understanding and support

[21:53] individuals with vitiligo in

[21:56] communities throughout the

[21:56] city.

[21:57] And.

[21:57] Whereas, the city of charlotte

[21:59] encouraged just citizens to

[22:02] increase, I think that's the

[22:02] same line.

[22:07] Therefore now she mayor

[22:10] alexander lyles, acting mayor

[22:15] does hereby proclaim the month

[22:18] of JUNE 2026 as vitiligo a

[22:21] awareness and education month

[22:21] and it is signed in her hand.

[22:24] >> and I would love for you all

[22:27] MISS Carter and friends if you

[22:28] would come down I love to

[22:58] present this to you

[23:05] .

[23:08] Oh, I love that we're taking

[23:13] pictures now I'm sending you

[23:21] yeah, I like it.

[23:39] She that concludes our project

[23:42] our awards and recognitions for

[23:47] tonight and we will MISS.

[23:48] MAY I like to take over right

[23:48] now?

[23:50] You know my mayor I know this

[23:53] is not on not on our agenda but

[23:55] today we want to take a moment

[23:55] to recognize you for

[23:58] extraordinary service to the

[24:01] city of charlotte and its

[24:04] residents for more than three

[24:11] decades, days of public service

[24:11] .

[24:14] Wait, wait, wait, wait.

[24:17] Oh, hello.

[24:19] That's more it's more it's more

[24:19] women.

[24:20] I'm just getting started.

[24:22] Hello.

[24:24] >> for more than 30 years, mere

[24:26] lyles has helped shape

[24:27] charlotte's future through

[24:29] nearly every level of local

[24:30] government leadership from

[24:32] budget director, assistant city

[24:35] manager to city council mayor

[24:38] pro tem and ultimately mayor.

[24:39] Few leaders have served this

[24:41] city from as many perspective

[24:44] or such deep commitment to

[24:44] public service.

[24:47] Her leadership helped establish

[24:50] a strong financial foundation

[24:50] for charlotte.

[24:53] And as mayor she guided this

[24:53] city through a period of

[24:56] tremendous growth and

[24:56] transformation.

[24:59] She championed investments

[24:59] affordable housing,

[25:02] transportation, workforce

[25:04] development, public safety,

[25:05] economic development while

[25:08] advancing major initiatives

[25:09] such as charlotte 2040

[25:12] comprehensive plan save

[25:14] charlotte and the mayor's

[25:17] racial equity initiative.

[25:20] Mayor lyles has always been a

[25:20] leader who brings people

[25:21] together.

[25:24] Her integrity, vision and

[25:26] collaborative approach has

[25:26] strengthened in charlotte and

[25:28] inspired countless residents,

[25:31] community leaders and public

[25:31] servants.

[25:35] On behalf of the charlotte city

[25:38] council and the people 879,000

[25:40] calls charlotte on we extend

[25:41] our deepest gratitude for her

[25:44] distinctive service exceptional

[25:46] leadership and a wave and

[25:47] dedication to this community.

[25:50] Now mayor, we have a few tokens

[25:53] of appreciation we'd like to

[25:53] present to you today.

[25:55] First okay where we are.

[25:57] >> there we go.

[26:10] >> first we have after all the

[26:13] years of helping guide

[26:13] charlotte's direction is seem

[26:15] only fitting.

[26:15] and we found it.

[26:18] Put your name on a sign and we

[26:19] like to inspire others and all

[26:21] in all that transportation

[26:23] project this one need to be

[26:26] delivered on time and those

[26:26] schedule for the mayor.

[26:28] >> all right.

[26:41] >> we also have a skyline view

[26:44] and as a reminder of this city

[26:47] that you help guide, shape and

[26:49] your legacy, you have built.

[26:50] We also have a.

[26:53] Now the special recognition is

[26:55] MR. Walter byers.

[26:58] Walter, can you come forward,

[26:59] please?

[27:08] >> oh, my.

[27:09] >> can you go to a microphone

[27:12] so everybody would know this

[27:15] special recognition that you've

[27:15] given to our mayor wanted to

[27:24] the top top right behind you to

[27:24] .

[27:25] >> good evening, everyone.

[27:27] Good evening.

[27:28] My name is walter bowers.

[27:30] I have the privilege of serving

[27:31] as the director of the

[27:31] governor's office charlotte

[27:34] covering 17 counties as far

[27:37] west as lincoln and as far east

[27:39] as sampson county.

[27:40] I'm here this evening with the

[27:42] distinct honor and privilege of

[27:43] presenting one of north

[27:45] carolina's highest civilian

[27:46] honors the order of the

[27:58] longleaf pine to an

[28:02] extraordinary public servant.

[28:03] Now I need everybody to know

[28:05] that the governor did come down

[28:07] to see mayor lyles personally,

[28:10] but she was too busy for him.

[28:13] But but no scheduling didn't

[28:13] work out.

[28:14] But we said together that you

[28:16] know what it was too important.

[28:16] We thank GOD for her amazing

[28:19] staff that came and represented

[28:19] her.

[28:21] But we wanted to personally

[28:22] present this tonight.

[28:22] The order of the longleaf pine

[28:24] is an award that has been given

[28:25] to individuals across the state

[28:27] of north carolina.

[28:29] Individuals such as michael

[28:32] jordan and steve smith, senior

[28:33] but also individuals like carl

[28:36] bailey junior who served as a

[28:38] fire fighter here in the state

[28:39] of north in the city of

[28:39] charlotte.

[28:41] Saving lives recipients join a

[28:44] distinguished tradition of

[28:44] servant leaders whose

[28:47] dedication has strengthened our

[28:48] state and improve the quality

[28:50] of life for generations of

[28:51] north carolinians.

[28:54] Mayor lyles has devoted her

[28:56] life to public service and

[28:58] we're thankful for that as our

[28:59] first african-american woman

[29:02] elected mayor of charlotte, as

[29:04] our first african-american

[29:06] woman elected mayor of

[29:14] charlotte.

[29:15] >> she broke she broke barriers

[29:17] while demonstrating that

[29:17] leadership is ultimately

[29:20] measured not by titles but by

[29:20] service.

[29:25] She was our mayor doing covid

[29:25] 19.

[29:28] >> she was our mayor during the

[29:28] protests of 2020.

[29:30] She was our mayor.

[29:31] As we continue to push for

[29:34] affordable housing.

[29:34] She's been our mayor as we

[29:36] continue to push for war.

[29:37] Workforce development and

[29:37] opportunities.

[29:40] She set the city of charlotte

[29:43] up along with her amazing

[29:43] coworkers on the city council

[29:46] for greater things ahead.

[29:48] So tonight we recognize not

[29:49] only her years of service but a

[29:51] legacy of leadership that has

[29:52] touched countless lives and

[29:55] helped shape the future of our

[29:55] city and state.

[29:57] Therefore a mayor allows on

[29:57] behalf of governor josh stein

[30:00] and the people of north

[30:00] carolina, it is my honor to

[30:03] present to you the order of the

[30:03] longleaf pine.

[30:05] In recognition of your

[30:06] distinguished service and your

[30:08] enduring contributions to the

[30:09] city of charlotte and the state

[30:11] of north carolina and mayor

[30:14] louse, here is what you get

[30:16] everywhere you go.

[30:19] You get a chance to toast every

[30:19] one that you meet with the

[30:22] following here's to the land of

[30:23] the lonely find the summer land

[30:25] where the sun dove shine where

[30:26] the weak grow strong and the

[30:28] stronger are great.

[30:31] Here's to the down home the old

[30:31] north state.

[30:34] Congratulations that thank you

[30:42] for your service.

[31:03] You don't need okay.

[31:05] Okay.

[31:06] I watched joe bruno last night

[31:08] so don't worry about it.

[31:11] I know what the program is.

[31:14] >> I have I don't know what to

[31:16] say.

[31:19] >> I really don't.

[31:20] >> I guess I'm a softy.

[31:22] It's hard, you know?

[31:23] >> so I always tell people I

[31:25] grew up with really five

[31:26] brothers and they were like

[31:28] hard on me all the time but

[31:30] nothing could be harder than

[31:33] not knowing what you can do if

[31:34] you tear enough if you want to

[31:36] do it enough, if you're strong

[31:37] enough and you can compete

[31:39] enough.

[31:40] And I want you every one of you

[31:42] in this room to understand man

[31:44] this city is absolutely one of

[31:45] the most astounding places that

[31:46] we can be.

[31:47] We go all over the state.

[31:51] This country you don't see the

[31:53] people coming out and saying

[31:55] oh, I'll give the mayor a pat

[31:58] of something anyway but I just

[31:59] want you to know that it has

[32:02] been an honor to be in this

[32:02] community.

[32:05] It's been an honor to work with

[32:07] the people in this organization

[32:07] .

[32:10] It is an honor to know that the

[32:13] city has the ability to do

[32:14] whatever we choose to do

[32:16] because it is the right thing

[32:19] to do and be and I'm not going

[32:21] to stop at this.

[32:22] I know that I am very, very

[32:24] happy because I do get to see

[32:25] my kids.

[32:27] They go to love school close by

[32:31] here and I will be able to do a

[32:31] lot of things that I've never

[32:33] even thought about.

[32:36] But after all of that I will

[32:36] still be in charlotte.

[32:39] And that's what's going to make

[32:39] the difference.

[32:40] Charlotte is the place to be.

[32:42] There's room for everyone in

[32:42] this country.

[32:45] We can see it coming.

[32:47] And I just hope that when we do

[32:48] see it coming we make it better

[32:50] than ever, ever, ever.

[32:51] >> thank you so much for the

[33:02] sacrifice I.

[33:03] >> I don't know if my kids are

[33:13] watching me but tell them hello

[33:13] .

[33:14] Okay.

[33:17] I think I have to go right back

[33:19] into a public forum and it

[33:21] doesn't have this much as the

[33:22] other thing.

[33:24] So we're now going to open the

[33:24] public forum.

[33:26] I would like to thank you all

[33:29] for joining us and on behalf of

[33:32] the entire city council I ask

[33:33] that all speakers and audience

[33:36] members be civil and courteous

[33:38] in the use of their language.

[33:41] Speakers are encouraged to

[33:42] address the council and should

[33:44] refrain from responding to

[33:44] audience members.

[33:48] Likewise, audience members

[33:50] should be courteous of each

[33:53] speaker and not yell out or

[33:53] interrupt those speakers.

[33:56] We want to ensure that everyone

[33:56] has a chance to be heard.

[33:59] Now since we have been fairly

[34:05] busy lately we're going to have

[34:08] an opportunity that maybe some

[34:09] will and some will like and

[34:11] maybe others will not.

[34:13] Since there are more than ten

[34:15] speakers, each speaker will

[34:15] have one minute to address the

[34:17] council.

[34:18] >> thank you.

[34:20] I'm okay.

[34:20] >> I'm sorry.

[34:23] I thought it was one.

[34:23] >> it's just for the applause

[34:24] for this.

[34:24] Okay.

[34:26] For the public forum.

[34:26] Okay.

[34:28] So we will have to pick two

[34:30] minutes to speak and address

[34:31] the council.

[34:33] So thank you.

[34:34] I'm going to call on the first

[34:41] speaker who is avonte jackson

[34:49] truck driver and he hello.

[34:52] >> good evening this evening my

[34:54] name is devonte jackson and I

[34:57] am a trucker's advocate.

[34:58] I am a heart transplant

[34:58] recipient.

[35:01] I'm a seedless structure and I

[35:02] am the owner for a cdl shorty d

[35:04] for d.

[35:05] i'm here today to speak about

[35:07] trucking infrastructure and

[35:10] transportation issues that

[35:10] directly affect public safety,

[35:13] economic growth and the

[35:13] movement of goods throughout

[35:14] our city.

[35:16] First we must address the

[35:16] bottleneck traffic in

[35:18] charlotte, north carolina major

[35:21] corridors such as I-77 85 I-45

[35:23] experience heavy congestion

[35:26] daily truck drivers moving

[35:27] freight through these areas

[35:29] face delays that increase

[35:32] operating costs, reduce

[35:33] efficiency, create safety

[35:35] concerns for each and everyone

[35:36] on the road.

[35:38] Charlotte continues to grow and

[35:41] however our infrastructure must

[35:41] grow with it.

[35:44] Second, I believe that the city

[35:44] should collaborate with the

[35:45] north carolina division of

[35:47] motor vehicles to improve

[35:49] public education on how to

[35:50] safely share the road with

[35:52] semi-trucks.

[35:55] Many drivers do not understand

[35:55] truck blindspots stopping

[35:58] distances wide terms or safe

[36:00] following distance better

[36:01] education for teens and adults

[36:03] could reduce preventable

[36:04] crashes and it could save

[36:04] lives.

[36:06] >> third, we must talk about

[36:09] truck driver compensation and

[36:09] fair pay.

[36:11] The fair labor standards act of

[36:13] 1938 excludes many truck

[36:14] drivers from overtime

[36:16] protection.

[36:17] Truck drivers are essential to

[36:19] our economy.

[36:20] Yet many work long hours

[36:22] without fair compensation for

[36:25] detention time delays and

[36:25] unpaid labor.

[36:28] supporting the fair pay for

[36:28] truck drivers strengthens the

[36:30] workforce and helps retain

[36:31] skilled professionals in this

[36:31] industry.

[36:33] Fourth, we need to prioritize

[36:36] female truck drivers safety.

[36:37] Many truck stops and parking

[36:39] areas especially here in

[36:41] charlotte lack proper lighting

[36:42] security and safe access to

[36:45] rest facilities as men as more

[36:47] women enter the trucking

[36:47] industry.

[36:48] Safety requirements must be

[36:50] part of the conversation.

[36:51] And there was a young black

[36:54] woman in louisiana named

[36:54] commission thomas that was

[36:57] found unfortunately on alive in

[36:58] her semi truck overnight with

[37:00] her family.

[37:00] >> thank you.

[37:01] Thank you.

[37:02] Two minutes.

[37:08] All right.

[37:10] You.

[37:11] >> our next speaker is linda

[37:14] byers and faith sanders.

[37:17] >> could come down please.

[37:19] >> faith sanders and linda

[37:27] byers.

[37:28] >> you can speak to one of

[37:28] them.

[37:32] You can do it.

[37:50] She didn't just hear me.

[37:54] >> if you give us your name,

[37:54] please.

[37:57] >> I am linda byers.

[37:59] I am a native in charlotte,

[38:01] north carolina and I live in

[38:05] district one.

[38:06] And forgive me, I don't feel

[38:07] well today.

[38:10] Good evening, mayor.

[38:11] You'll be missed.

[38:13] Thank.

[38:13] And city council.

[38:16] Thank you for allowing me to be

[38:16] here today.

[38:18] My question tonight is simple.

[38:21] Is district one forgotten?

[38:23] I am here tonight to address

[38:26] the growing concerns

[38:26] surrounding safety and quality

[38:29] of life for seniors and

[38:30] longtime residents in uptown

[38:32] charlotte.

[38:35] As our city continues to grow

[38:35] and develop, it is important

[38:38] that we do not overlook the

[38:38] people who have helped build

[38:41] and sustain these communities

[38:43] for decades.

[38:45] These concerns are not new.

[38:48] >> in 2020 four we raised

[38:48] concerns about parking

[38:50] congestion and the impact of

[38:53] new development on our

[38:53] neighborhood.

[38:54] After the city adopted a

[38:56] private street to support

[38:58] apartment development at that

[39:02] time we warned about the burden

[39:03] this would place on long time

[39:05] residents especially seniors

[39:08] living on fixed incomes.

[39:11] Unfortunately those concerns

[39:13] were not adequately addressed.

[39:16] Now in 2026 what began as

[39:18] concerns over parking and

[39:19] traffic has escalated into much

[39:22] deeper issues of safety,

[39:24] privacy, noise disturbances

[39:27] during quiet hours, loitering

[39:32] and declining quality of life.

[39:35] These are not isolated concerns

[39:35] .

[39:38] In just a few weeks a community

[39:41] petition address these concerns

[39:44] and we raised over 200

[39:44] signatures.

[39:47] Just in a few weeks.

[39:49] And these are people who are

[39:50] going through the same things.

[39:52] >> these are leaders and people

[39:52] who live in the city of

[39:55] charlotte that's going through

[40:00] quality of life issues.

[40:00] >> thank you.

[40:07] Thank you.

[40:13] >> is MR. MISS juneteenth here

[40:13] ?

[40:16] >> yeah.

[40:16] Okay.

[40:19] I don't think that we can see

[40:20] her yet.

[40:22] So she is I mean a question MAY

[40:24] a man.

[40:25] MAY I ask a quick question?

[40:28] I know at one point since we

[40:28] only have two minutes if

[40:30] speakers have written remarks

[40:33] they're able to give them to

[40:33] the clerk.

[40:36] But I think we might not have

[40:36] mentioned that at the beginning

[40:41] so I do believe even with the

[40:41] first speaker they had

[40:42] additional comments.

[40:44] So just wanted to make sure

[40:47] that you all know if you are

[40:47] two minutes runs out and you

[40:49] have additional comments I

[40:52] would gladly capture that so

[40:53] that we can get the full

[40:54] information because what is

[40:58] shared is present it to council

[40:58] in the form of a memo.

[40:59] Thank you, ma'am.

[41:00] I appreciate that.

[41:01] Okay.

[41:05] So we don't have faith yet and

[41:06] so we'll go to jeff cross.

[41:22] MR. Cross thank you.

[41:24] Acting mayor.

[41:27] Thank you, counsel.

[41:30] >> my name is jeff and I am a

[41:31] member of the charlotte metro

[41:33] democratic socialist of

[41:34] america.

[41:36] >> we understand last meeting

[41:37] you got a bit irritated with

[41:39] how your constituent engaged

[41:40] the democratic process.

[41:43] You told us that your hands are

[41:45] tied as the state has laws

[41:45] limiting your ability to stop

[41:46] data center construction.

[41:49] you told us we need to contact

[41:51] our state reps, vote for

[41:51] democrats in the midterms and

[41:54] work through nonprofit efforts

[41:55] to craft unique policies to

[41:57] comply with the state

[41:57] government.

[42:01] How could you say that with a

[42:01] straight face?

[42:04] Our state is famously

[42:04] gerrymandered.

[42:06] The people of charlotte have

[42:07] voted blue and are left with

[42:09] minoritarian rule.

[42:12] We cannot simply vote harder or

[42:13] especially when the democratic

[42:16] party permits snakes like

[42:16] tricia cottam and karla

[42:19] cunningham to run and betray

[42:21] their voters after election as

[42:24] our state government is

[42:25] structured to deny our working

[42:27] class a voice.

[42:30] But you the city council of

[42:33] charlotte still can and should

[42:34] represent us.

[42:36] That means standing up for our

[42:37] well-being, our environment,

[42:39] our jobs and our way of life.

[42:42] We demand that you take action

[42:45] and implement every measure

[42:48] possible to prevent current and

[42:51] future data center construction

[42:51] .

[42:52] Your decision to resist or

[42:55] comply with state law imposed

[42:57] on us by exploitative

[42:58] corporations and developers

[43:00] will be remembered by your

[43:01] constituents when you ask for

[43:04] their votes next year.

[43:04] Thank you for your time.

[43:11] I see the rest of mine.

[43:15] >> and our next speaker is jack

[43:32] adams.

[43:35] Hey, good evening everybody.

[43:38] Gaming console gaming.

[43:38] Acting mayor.

[43:41] My name is jack adams and I've

[43:44] been a charlotte resident since

[43:44] july of 2019.

[43:48] Now three weeks ago on JUNE the

[43:50] 3rd I rode my bike to uptown

[43:51] area for the very first time.

[43:54] I have been empowered by our

[43:56] infrastructure as well as the

[43:57] green energy shift to try to

[44:00] minimize use of my car by bus

[44:01] train, bicycle.

[44:04] >> however, when I was riding

[44:07] southbound on elizabeth avenue

[44:07] towards hawthorne lane you know

[44:10] just around the corner here I

[44:11] noticed that the bike lane

[44:13] ended before reaching the

[44:13] intersection.

[44:16] Now anyone that's taking the

[44:17] tram long enough understands

[44:19] that elizabeth avenue has

[44:21] tramway tracks for two links.

[44:21] Goal line in order to pass

[44:23] through that road.

[44:26] So unfortunately as I was

[44:26] shifting towards the main load

[44:28] from the bike lane my front

[44:31] wheel cut onto the tramway

[44:32] track and I face planted onto

[44:36] the road at 20 miles an hour.

[44:37] Where was I?

[44:37] Oh yeah.

[44:40] So I woke up at the emergency

[44:42] department at novant health

[44:43] with huge scrapes on my joints

[44:45] and face.

[44:46] You can see a little scarring

[44:48] in the distance a broken nose

[44:51] and a laceration on my eyebrow

[44:51] requiring stitches.

[44:54] Now thankfully my wounds have

[44:54] healed.

[44:56] The pain is gone.

[44:57] And last saturday I was able to

[45:00] get replacement glasses.

[45:03] Now as an avid bus rider I

[45:05] believe in a future where

[45:06] alternative modes of

[45:06] transportation charlotte are

[45:09] not only accessible but

[45:09] encouraged.

[45:11] I want everyone to have all the

[45:13] options they can.

[45:14] >> however, for the safety of

[45:17] cyclists near the gold line I

[45:17] encourage the city to add a

[45:20] dedicated bike lane across the

[45:22] entire gold line.

[45:23] Now the department of

[45:25] transportation has spoken to me

[45:27] earlier today to reassure me

[45:28] that there are measures to be

[45:28] done about this.

[45:31] So I look forward to

[45:31] cooperating with them as well

[45:33] as the city council as well.

[45:34] >> thank you all.

[45:34] And I hope you have a great

[45:34] night.

[45:38] Thank you.

[45:43] I want to get in as many of the

[45:45] people that signed up to speak

[45:45] and so I'm going to start with

[45:48] to speakers because we have

[45:48] podiums on both side of the

[45:51] room and then we can have them

[45:54] come down and then we'll have

[45:54] one person to speak and then

[45:56] we'll just go that and make it

[45:59] a little bit faster for all of

[46:01] us to be successful leader.

[46:02] Be heard.

[46:04] Our next speaker is annabel

[46:07] rodriguez and ashton mcgrady.

[46:12] And either side that you choose

[46:20] annabel so it's I can you give

[46:23] me your name please?

[46:23] >> good evening, chair.

[46:26] Commissioner and city council

[46:29] members and partners of the

[46:29] community.

[46:32] My name is annabel rodriguez

[46:32] and I current PRESIDENT Of

[46:34] north charlotte national

[46:35] association of hispanic real

[46:38] estate professionals.

[46:38] And tonight I'm here to present

[46:41] to you the 2025 hispanic

[46:43] homeownership report that I

[46:46] will hand over to.

[46:48] I appreciate the opportunity

[46:49] the opportunity to discuss the

[46:52] key findings from the 2025

[46:54] hispanic homeownership report

[46:54] published by nar rep.

[46:57] The report highlights historic

[47:03] milestones hispanic households

[47:05] added 441,000 new homeowners in

[47:08] 2025 bring in a total of

[47:08] hispanic homeownership holds

[47:13] nationwide to a record of 10.2

[47:14] million hispanic families

[47:16] account for virtually all net

[47:20] of homeownership growth of the

[47:20] united states.

[47:21] That's a 92.7% through our

[47:24] census.

[47:27] Hispanic families accounted for

[47:30] virtually all of the net here

[47:33] in the U.S. The nation's trends

[47:33] matter, especially here in

[47:35] mecklenburg county in north

[47:36] carolina.

[47:40] It being my home for the past

[47:41] 25 years has approximately 1.3

[47:45] million latinos representing

[47:48] 12% of the state population.

[47:51] The latino homeownership rate

[47:53] in north carolina is 50.2% of

[47:56] hispanic households that are

[47:58] responsible for more than 60%

[48:01] of the growth in the past year.

[48:03] I am gladly here to represent

[48:09] the hispanic homeowner and

[48:12] visionary of what our city is.

[48:14] I appreciate the time.

[48:15] I definitely appreciate the

[48:20] inclusivity and I hope you have

[48:21] a wonderful evening.

[48:25] >> thank you.

[48:29] Our next speaker is ashley

[48:32] mcgrady and david roble.

[48:35] Also I MAY not get it

[48:37] completely right.

[48:40] Will do both.

[48:50] The good evening.

[48:53] My name is david roble also.

[48:56] Laundry is something that we

[48:56] all take for granted.

[48:58] We never given any thought

[49:01] until the polls up and we have

[49:01] nothing left to wear.

[49:04] >> for many of us

[49:04] procrastinators it might be a

[49:06] choice but if we don't have a

[49:07] choice.

[49:09] For some folks laundry piles up

[49:12] not by choice but because they

[49:12] have to juggle their living

[49:14] expenses.

[49:17] Many families don't have

[49:18] washers and dryers at home so

[49:20] they use a laundromat and going

[49:23] to the laundromat takes money.

[49:26] >> we get creative when we live

[49:27] on a shoestring budget but you

[49:29] can only recycle so much of

[49:29] your dirty laundry.

[49:31] Parents might not say anything

[49:34] but the kids notice.

[49:37] They sense they feel it.

[49:38] Imagine wearing the same shirt

[49:40] several times without being

[49:40] washed.

[49:43] There's entire families living

[49:46] in cars and storage units and

[49:49] motels and the kids still have

[49:51] to go to school.

[49:54] Imagine the stigma that young

[49:57] students have to overcome.

[49:59] A single chore becomes a

[50:02] barrier to self-confidence,

[50:04] self-esteem and learning.

[50:08] That is what I operation clean

[50:11] health is to launch the

[50:13] inaugural national back to

[50:14] school free laundry day this

[50:16] AUGUST in charlotte.

[50:19] My vision is for charlotte to

[50:22] be the birthplace of a national

[50:25] movement and that is why I

[50:25] created the website national

[50:26] free laundry day.Org.

[50:30] >> our goal is simple helping

[50:32] students start the school year

[50:32] with clean clothes,

[50:33] self-confidence and dignity.

[50:35] But this is bigger than just

[50:37] one day or just one laundromat.

[50:38] There are approximately 60

[50:40] laundromats in charlotte and

[50:40] nearly 30,000 laundromats

[50:43] across the country.

[50:43] Imagine the impact of

[50:46] communities across the country

[50:46] dedicated just one day each

[50:49] year helping young students

[50:50] start school prepared and

[50:50] confident.

[50:52] Tonight I am asking for your

[50:54] support, your partnership and

[50:57] your help in spreading the word

[50:57] .

[50:58] Together we can demonstrate how

[51:00] our small act of service can

[51:02] have a profound impact.

[51:15] >> but our next speaker is you

[51:18] marker not on key.

[51:24] I'm on katz improvement meeting

[51:24] .

[51:24] >> okay.

[51:31] And evan sure thesis housing.

[51:40] Thank you.

[51:43] >> esteemed councilors last

[51:44] month mayor lyles announced the

[51:46] housing innovation challenge

[51:48] tasking students from ten

[51:49] universities across the

[51:51] charlotte mecklenburg tropical

[51:52] zion area to develop new and

[51:54] innovative solutions to meet

[51:55] charlotte's growing housing

[51:55] need.

[51:57] >> but tonight I question if

[51:58] this innovation is really a

[52:00] weaseling around the rules of a

[52:00] restrictive regulatory

[52:03] framework established by a

[52:03] group of individuals who

[52:05] implemented it to isolate

[52:06] themselves in the city's

[52:06] sprawling suburbs.

[52:09] That is to say that the housing

[52:11] crisis will not be solved

[52:12] through a distorted sense of

[52:12] innovation but through the

[52:15] elimination of regulatory and

[52:17] zoning requirements imposed by

[52:17] the past century of white

[52:20] flight and urban renewal that

[52:20] intentionally made housing

[52:23] scarce and development

[52:26] uncompetitive as the value of

[52:26] land has increased dramatically

[52:29] and suburban resistant to

[52:30] resistance to growth mount's

[52:32] development developers are

[52:33] forced to turn back inwards to

[52:35] urban cores to satisfy the

[52:36] needs of the market.

[52:38] This fundamentally is a good

[52:40] problem to have.

[52:41] >> the obstacle they face

[52:44] however, is zoning restrictions

[52:46] such as setbacks maximum lot of

[52:47] footprint ratios, minimum

[52:49] parking requirements and double

[52:50] stairwell requirements which

[52:52] severely limit the types of

[52:53] housing they can permit and

[52:53] build.

[52:55] Well the unified development

[52:55] ordinance has made significant

[52:58] strides in reforming this

[52:58] regulatory framework.

[53:01] I'm here to ask the city to go

[53:01] further.

[53:03] I am asking the city to

[53:04] eliminate setbacks and maximum

[53:06] footprint ratios for all levels

[53:09] of residential and commercial

[53:10] zoning under the udl and to

[53:12] expand the ability to apply for

[53:15] a minimum parking waiver to all

[53:16] levels as well.

[53:16] This will make smaller parcels

[53:19] of land appealing to developers

[53:22] and enable small developers to

[53:22] expand the types of

[53:23] construction they can provide

[53:24] to the market at lower cost

[53:25] which is then passed on to the

[53:27] consumer.

[53:28] Eliminating these restrictions

[53:29] will accelerate housing

[53:30] construction clear up confusing

[53:32] rules and increase

[53:33] affordability across the city.

[53:36] Thank you and thank you mayor

[53:46] lyles for your service as you

[53:48] cook and to come in.

[53:49] Okay.

[53:52] our next speaker is megan

[53:54] stansell.

[53:59] >> megan yeah, great.

[53:59] Yeah.

[53:59] And just making I think it is

[54:01] just for this and the next one

[54:02] if we could have the second

[54:05] person come down gabriel.

[54:13] >> kai jack gabriel hey, good

[54:13] evening.

[54:15] >> my name is mike fenster.

[54:16] I service co-chair of

[54:18] charlotte's mission zero task

[54:19] force and tonight I'm speaking

[54:21] on behalf of sustain charlotte

[54:21] .

[54:23] I had wanted to read all the 41

[54:23] names of people who have been

[54:26] killed in charlotte in traffic

[54:26] crashes this year since JANUARY

[54:26] 1st.

[54:29] But I won't have time so I'm

[54:29] going to start since the last

[54:31] time we came to you in MARCH.

[54:32] These are not statistics.

[54:34] These are our loved ones.

[54:37] Terry lee clark age 43.

[54:39] Julian allen 35.

[54:42] Sophie klippel 23.

[54:44] Daniel davon dixon 49.

[54:47] Naomi summers eight.

[54:49] Aiden lynn garcia 34.

[54:52] William angelo primos 28.

[54:55] Christopher john shea 54.

[54:58] Jonathan michael moretti race

[54:59] 35.

[55:01] Bobbi jo skidmore 39.

[55:04] Carlos jamal mitchell gina 32.

[55:06] Pablo daniel martinez delatour

[55:07] 24.

[55:10] Aaron linwood mcintosh 32.

[55:13] Louis anthony chega sola 39.

[55:15] Elijah smoot 30.

[55:18] Luis vasquez reyes 33.

[55:20] Keegan mckenney 22.

[55:23] Adrian mello escobar 17 as

[55:26] letty herrera ramirez 17 fan

[55:30] dieter mata 52 roosevelt davis

[55:34] the third 55 edwin jose flores

[55:36] 54 frankly on dente 64 kathryn

[55:39] lamberth 38.

[55:42] Angelina naomi cejka 17.

[55:45] Caden riley molitor 18.

[55:49] Johnny wesley mason the fourth

[55:49] 53.

[55:50] I now like to pause for a

[55:52] moment of silence for us all to

[55:53] remember these individuals

[56:00] these neighbors of us all.

[56:03] We urge you to implement the

[56:03] red light camera pilot

[56:06] immediately rather than waiting

[56:08] until 2027 because every week

[56:08] matters.

[56:10] Every week we lose at least one

[56:11] more neighbor to traffic

[56:13] violence every week someone

[56:13] loses someone they love.

[56:14] >> thank you.

[56:23] Thank you.

[56:26] Hello, city council members.

[56:28] My name is gabriel joseph

[56:29] kendrick ultra.

[56:30] I am a designer who's been

[56:31] working on a concept I

[56:34] genuinely believe could help

[56:35] state and local leaders

[56:35] communicate with their

[56:37] constituents.

[56:40] Right now there's a real gap in

[56:40] how the government receives

[56:43] clear and verified public

[56:43] input.

[56:46] >> commissioners and boards

[56:46] often struggle to get reliable

[56:49] feedback before making big

[56:49] decisions.

[56:51] For regular citizens finding

[56:52] the right information and

[56:52] having their voice heard is

[56:55] still way too difficult.

[56:57] Between scattered websites,

[57:00] public forums and long hearings

[57:01] it's hard for any person to

[57:03] stay informed and engaged.

[57:06] I developed something called

[57:06] the north carolina state

[57:09] communicator a secure verified

[57:10] platform that puts essential

[57:12] services in one simple app

[57:13] while also giving leaders a

[57:15] tool called public pulse.

[57:18] With public pulse, the governor

[57:18] or a county board can quickly

[57:21] send a poll on any proposed

[57:24] project like a new data center

[57:25] or a reforestation plant and

[57:27] within days receive clear

[57:29] verified statistics from real

[57:30] citizens only no bots, no

[57:33] guessing just actionable data

[57:36] that helps leaders see what

[57:36] their constituents actually

[57:39] want and prioritize

[57:39] accordingly.

[57:42] >> for citizens it becomes much

[57:44] easier to stay informed and

[57:44] share their opinion without

[57:45] having to hunt through

[57:47] complicated websites or

[57:48] rearrange their schedule for a

[57:48] hearing.

[57:50] For leaders it means faster,

[57:53] more confident decisions backed

[57:56] by real public input with the

[57:58] ability to clearly explain

[57:59] those decisions to the media

[57:59] and the public.

[58:02] So please, I want nothing more

[58:04] than to see this bridge of

[58:05] intuition built between the

[58:07] people and our government.

[58:08] I truly believe this could help

[58:10] bring the voice of the people

[58:11] to you and shed light for every

[58:14] person who isn't in this

[58:16] meeting all currently so you

[58:17] can expect to see me at each of

[58:19] these meetings until this

[58:19] happens.

[58:22] So we the people MAY educate

[58:22] ourselves in our local politics

[58:25] with ease and you the elected

[58:26] can feel safe in your decision

[58:28] making process.

[58:29] >> thank you very much.

[58:33] Y'all have a good one.

[58:39] Our next speaker is kay primack

[58:51] and leah sara salisbury live.

[58:52] Good evening.

[58:55] my name is chrissy matthews and

[58:55] I'm a member of charlotte metro

[58:57] dsa.

[58:58] Two weeks ago when city council

[59:01] enacted the current moratorium

[59:01] they expressed that the state

[59:03] government limits the city

[59:04] council's ability to regulate

[59:06] data center construction.

[59:07] Considering the city council

[59:09] attempted to wash its hands and

[59:10] claim that the power to rent

[59:10] these rested solely in the

[59:12] hands of the general assembly,

[59:13] I would like to stress a few

[59:15] potential policy remedies.

[59:16] I would urge the council to

[59:18] utilize the current moratorium

[59:19] to actively consider new

[59:22] measures that impede future

[59:22] data centers.

[59:23] While the city's restrictive

[59:25] down zoning nothing prevents

[59:25] the city from adjusting the

[59:27] unified development ordinance

[59:28] to halt future facilities.

[59:31] Additionally, adjustments to

[59:32] the zoning rules that are being

[59:32] utilized to prevent the

[59:34] construction of future ice

[59:35] detention centers such as in

[59:37] greensboro.

[59:37] Under that adjustment the city

[59:40] added a new land use category

[59:40] and prohibited such facilities

[59:43] from operating within a half a

[59:43] mile of residential and

[59:45] community spaces.

[59:46] Even durham just voted to

[59:48] extend its current moratorium

[59:49] by another ten months.

[59:51] If these adjustments can halt

[59:52] the construction of ice

[59:52] detention facilities, can we

[59:55] not usher in similar

[59:57] restrictions on data centers?

[59:58] >> more importantly, does the

[59:58] city council not have the

[1:00:00] political will to enact such

[1:00:00] restrictions?

[1:00:03] it's no secret that certain

[1:00:04] lobbying groups have expressed

[1:00:06] their dismay over the rejection

[1:00:08] of both the I-77 expansion and

[1:00:08] data center construction.

[1:00:11] So council will you take the

[1:00:11] steps that are clearly needed

[1:00:14] to prevent the operation of a

[1:00:14] facility known to cause

[1:00:15] definite harm to your

[1:00:17] constituents or you support the

[1:00:17] lobbying groups and

[1:00:19] corporations who stand to gain

[1:00:20] from causing that harm?

[1:00:26] >> thank you.

[1:00:30] As has layla is layla

[1:00:30] available?

[1:00:31] >> yes, I'm right here.

[1:00:31] Okay.

[1:00:31] There we go.

[1:00:33] Thank you.

[1:00:33] Evening city council.

[1:00:36] My name is layla say and I'm

[1:00:37] currently a student at you and

[1:00:39] cc and a member of the

[1:00:40] charlotte metro dsa.

[1:00:42] As a young student whose future

[1:00:43] is invested in the well-being

[1:00:43] of the city, I'm concerned

[1:00:45] about how the city and state

[1:00:46] are more or less negligent in

[1:00:48] the management of our

[1:00:49] infrastructure specifically the

[1:00:51] rush of data centers within

[1:00:51] charlotte.

[1:00:51] My greatest concern is the lack

[1:00:54] of a long term vision

[1:00:54] surrounding this newer

[1:00:55] technology.

[1:00:57] Corporate churn such as I have

[1:00:59] done little to motivate profit

[1:01:01] and build a stronger economy or

[1:01:02] help cities like charlotte

[1:01:04] create stable growth.

[1:01:05] >> despite state pressure to

[1:01:07] stop down zoning the city of

[1:01:08] charlotte needs to make an

[1:01:08] effort against ongoing data

[1:01:10] center development.

[1:01:11] The 150 day moratorium has been

[1:01:13] a step in the right direction

[1:01:14] for the city but its effect is

[1:01:16] only momentary.

[1:01:17] The bottom line is that is

[1:01:19] about investment for this city

[1:01:20] by building new data centers to

[1:01:22] support ai.

[1:01:22] We latch ourselves on to this

[1:01:23] failing trend when our spaces

[1:01:25] could be better spent even for

[1:01:25] a commercial space.

[1:01:28] Data centers provide little in

[1:01:29] terms of creating long term

[1:01:31] jobs for the city of charlotte.

[1:01:33] >> the community has repeatedly

[1:01:34] stated that we don't want to

[1:01:36] raise resources on data centers

[1:01:37] many of which are unfinished or

[1:01:38] empty within the us.

[1:01:40] Why should our city follow a

[1:01:41] technological trend that shows

[1:01:43] itself to be completely

[1:01:45] economically viable?

[1:01:46] Commercially zoned spaces need

[1:01:48] to be used for infrastructure

[1:01:48] that will provide material

[1:01:51] benefits to the people and the

[1:01:51] economy of charlotte.

[1:01:53] That's why I'm speaking today

[1:01:54] to urge the city council to do

[1:01:55] everything possible to delay

[1:01:57] and stop the construction of

[1:01:58] data centers in our beautiful

[1:02:00] city.

[1:02:00] >> thank you very much.

[1:02:05] Okay.

[1:02:07] And our next speaker is carson

[1:02:12] cohen of on ten year alice I'm

[1:02:15] sorry.

[1:02:16] Our next speaker is tamara

[1:02:18] alice.

[1:02:21] >> please come in.

[1:02:24] I say take your time and carson

[1:02:25] cove, would you come?

[1:02:27] Carson cohen thank you.

[1:02:30] And I'm telling her to come up

[1:02:35] this year.

[1:02:39] Got six.

[1:02:39] >> good evening.

[1:02:45] My name is tamara elise and

[1:02:45] there's a typo.

[1:02:48] I actually represent district

[1:02:48] one.

[1:02:51] >> oh, thank you.

[1:02:53] Good evening, mayor and city

[1:02:53] council.

[1:02:54] My name is tamara elise.

[1:02:57] A nonprofit business owner,

[1:02:58] artist and advocate of over ten

[1:02:59] years and charlotte native.

[1:03:02] I stand before you tonight not

[1:03:05] only as a resident of district

[1:03:05] one but as a two time survivor

[1:03:07] of suicide loss.

[1:03:09] I'm losing two kings in my life

[1:03:11] my father and my brother.

[1:03:15] JUNE is mental men's mental

[1:03:15] health month and for me this

[1:03:18] month is a reminder that safety

[1:03:21] in our city is not just about

[1:03:21] crime statistics.

[1:03:23] It is about emotional mental

[1:03:23] and environmental well-being of

[1:03:25] our communities.

[1:03:28] >> and I do have to ask once

[1:03:29] again I heard this question

[1:03:32] before is district one being

[1:03:34] forgotten in the midst of all

[1:03:35] this growth when neighborhoods

[1:03:38] are overwhelmed by violence,

[1:03:38] noise instability and constant

[1:03:41] disruption?

[1:03:41] It impacts more than our sense

[1:03:42] of peace.

[1:03:44] It impacts our mental health as

[1:03:44] well.

[1:03:47] Chronic stress becomes a part

[1:03:48] of daily life especially for

[1:03:51] seniors, families and young

[1:03:53] people trying to find stability

[1:03:53] .

[1:03:56] Too often especially men for

[1:03:57] men, mental health struggles go

[1:04:00] unseen until they become

[1:04:00] crisis.

[1:04:02] The environments we live in our

[1:04:03] safety, our peace and our sense

[1:04:06] of stability play a major role

[1:04:07] in that.

[1:04:08] District one is changing

[1:04:11] rapidly but many long life

[1:04:13] residents are feeling forgotten

[1:04:14] .

[1:04:16] In 2024 concerns were raised

[1:04:17] about parking congestion and

[1:04:19] the impact of a new development

[1:04:19] after private streets were

[1:04:20] adapted to support apartment

[1:04:22] growth.

[1:04:23] Today those concerns have grown

[1:04:25] to much deeper issues including

[1:04:27] safety, privacy, loitering,

[1:04:30] overcrowding, increased traffic

[1:04:30] and intentional noise

[1:04:31] disturbances during quiet hours

[1:04:33] especially on weeknights when

[1:04:34] residents have to work, raise

[1:04:36] and care for their families.

[1:04:39] Residents deserve to feel

[1:04:40] secure in their homes to have

[1:04:43] their boundaries respected and

[1:04:45] to step outside without feeling

[1:04:46] unmonitored, crowded and

[1:04:46] displaced.

[1:04:56] >> thank you.

[1:04:59] >> carson thank you.

[1:04:59] >> hey.

[1:04:59] Hey.

[1:05:01] My name is carson cohen.

[1:05:02] I do want to speak about

[1:05:05] senator and worker pay.

[1:05:07] But first merrill's I want to

[1:05:09] thank you for all your service.

[1:05:12] I first became familiar with

[1:05:15] you after george floyd's murder

[1:05:16] and you were out there

[1:05:18] protesting with us.

[1:05:19] You were in the streets.

[1:05:21] And I appreciate that.

[1:05:24] I do want to say the city of

[1:05:26] charlotte posts on their

[1:05:30] website that there's a $24 hour

[1:05:33] minimum wage for the sanitation

[1:05:35] workers.

[1:05:36] This is not the case.

[1:05:38] The ones that are supposed to

[1:05:40] walk 5 to 10 miles per day.

[1:05:43] Repeatedly lift, carry, push

[1:05:44] and pull up to 75 pounds.

[1:05:47] Work outdoors in all weather

[1:05:47] conditions have exposure to

[1:05:50] dust fumes, chemicals uneven

[1:05:51] pavement.

[1:05:53] Loud noise and heavy equipment

[1:05:53] .

[1:05:54] Begin shift at five.

[1:05:57] Begin shift at 6:15 A.M. When

[1:05:59] no set in time.

[1:05:59] Overtime MAY be required which

[1:06:02] implies to me that they're

[1:06:02] working more than 40 hours a

[1:06:04] week.

[1:06:05] So I just ask that those

[1:06:07] sanitation workers in this city

[1:06:08] where we celebrate the life of

[1:06:10] DR. Martin luther king jr who

[1:06:13] passed voting for sanitation

[1:06:16] workers I ask that we please

[1:06:17] look out for those sanitation

[1:06:19] workers and raise the minimum

[1:06:19] wage for them currently.

[1:06:22] It is $16 per hour.

[1:06:25] I again I want to thank you for

[1:06:27] your service.

[1:06:28] I know you did a lot of

[1:06:30] lobbying in raleigh to get the

[1:06:33] pta that's going to provide a

[1:06:35] lot of bus shelters for people

[1:06:38] out here struggling people

[1:06:39] trying to get to work and all

[1:06:39] that.

[1:06:41] So thank you so much.

[1:06:42] >> if we could just give her

[1:06:42] one more round of applause

[1:06:48] please.

[1:06:49] All right.

[1:06:52] Tonight the city council will

[1:06:55] make appointments to the

[1:06:55] planning commission and to the

[1:06:57] mayoral vacancy.

[1:07:01] The council members voted by

[1:07:04] ballot and have submitted their

[1:07:04] ballots to the clerk.

[1:07:07] Any nominee receiving six or

[1:07:10] more votes is automatically

[1:07:13] appointed if no nominee

[1:07:13] received at least six votes.

[1:07:16] A runoff will be necessary and

[1:07:19] council will be asked to vote

[1:07:21] tonight to determine who will

[1:07:22] be appointed to the board.

[1:07:24] All appointments will be

[1:07:25] recorded in the official

[1:07:27] minutes of this meeting.

[1:07:28] MADAM Clerk, could you please

[1:07:31] announce the results?

[1:07:31] No, I don't think we need

[1:07:32] further.

[1:07:34] That's the planning commission

[1:07:35] so we don't want to do that.

[1:07:36] We're going to start planning

[1:07:38] with our planning commission.

[1:07:39] MADAM Mayor and city council

[1:07:41] for the position on the

[1:07:42] planning commission.

[1:07:44] The incumbent will russell has

[1:07:46] been reappointed.

[1:07:47] >> thank you.

[1:07:50] Congratulations.

[1:07:51] >> and will.

[1:08:03] I guess that's all well.

[1:08:03] >> okay.

[1:08:06] All right, guys.

[1:08:11] >> so let's start off with our

[1:08:11] next step.

[1:08:14] MADAM Clerk, do we have any

[1:08:16] speakers signed up to speak on

[1:08:17] item seven appointment to fill

[1:08:19] the mayoral seat vacancy?

[1:08:22] Yes we do.

[1:08:22] >> we have any?

[1:08:22] Yes, ma'am.

[1:08:23] We have approximately 30

[1:08:25] speakers.

[1:08:25] >> rudy how many?

[1:08:26] 30.

[1:08:28] 30 excuse 30 speakers and we

[1:08:31] can speak speaker will have to

[1:08:31] one minute.

[1:08:32] One minute.

[1:08:32] Okay.

[1:08:35] Oh, okay.

[1:08:35] Yes.

[1:08:38] Just get ten people in one

[1:08:39] minute for these.

[1:08:39] One minute please.

[1:08:44] We need something to change

[1:08:49] because when you all ready?

[1:08:49] Ready.

[1:08:53] let's do this garland green.

[1:08:55] Would you would you please come

[1:08:56] down and speak?

[1:08:58] And linda lockman brooks, if

[1:09:00] you would take one of the sides

[1:09:03] and come down and speak if you

[1:09:04] have two minutes.

[1:09:04] >> thank you.

[1:09:05] One minute.

[1:09:06] One minute.

[1:09:06] I'm sorry.

[1:09:08] One minute.

[1:09:10] First of all, mayor lyles, job

[1:09:10] well done.

[1:09:11] Greatly appreciate it.

[1:09:13] Thank you.

[1:09:14] I want to bring two points to

[1:09:16] your consideration.

[1:09:17] I'm going to be real quick and

[1:09:19] to the point on them is we have

[1:09:20] enjoyed tremendous growth and

[1:09:22] prosperity for the last ten

[1:09:24] years in order to continue

[1:09:28] that, in my opinion we need to

[1:09:30] build a bridge to raleigh.

[1:09:34] They are not the enemy.

[1:09:37] They are going through change.

[1:09:37] We're going through change.

[1:09:39] This could be a golden

[1:09:39] opportunity when you're voting

[1:09:42] denial I ask you to consider

[1:09:45] the person that you feel might

[1:09:48] be best to lead this forward.

[1:09:49] Secondly, I want to talk about

[1:09:51] crisis management.

[1:09:52] It was really not talked about

[1:09:56] in the half an hour interviews

[1:10:01] is not 11 people murdered on

[1:10:02] the light rail.

[1:10:04] Things like that happened.

[1:10:07] And so ask yourself who is the

[1:10:10] best candidate to handle crisis

[1:10:13] management?

[1:10:16] Who can pick up the microphone

[1:10:17] at a time of crisis and deliver

[1:10:20] for our city?

[1:10:20] Thank you.

[1:10:20] Thank you very much.

[1:10:23] All right, MS..

[1:10:25] Brooks, good evening.

[1:10:28] >> I'm linda lockman brooks and

[1:10:31] first of all, mayor lyles,

[1:10:31] thank you.

[1:10:32] Thank you for all your years of

[1:10:34] service on council and as mayor

[1:10:36] we appreciate you and look

[1:10:37] forward to what's next.

[1:10:40] I'm a business owner and a

[1:10:40] civic volunteer who's lived in

[1:10:43] charlotte for over 30 years.

[1:10:46] I've known rob harrington for

[1:10:46] over 20 years and have worked

[1:10:49] with him on the board of the

[1:10:51] charlotte-mecklenburg library

[1:10:52] foundation, the

[1:10:54] charlotte-mecklenburg library

[1:10:55] system is focused on access for

[1:11:00] all citizens and really focused

[1:11:01] on access to education,

[1:11:03] workforce development and civic

[1:11:04] resources.

[1:11:07] Since 2019 rob has served as

[1:11:09] co-chair of the common spark

[1:11:12] campaign raising funds for the

[1:11:14] new main library in center city

[1:11:15] which will open to the public

[1:11:17] on MAY 1st, 2027.

[1:11:21] Rob is a leader who bridges my

[1:11:23] colleague just said we were

[1:11:24] concerned about crisis and they

[1:11:26] will come.

[1:11:28] >> rob is calm and a crisis.

[1:11:29] Thank you very much.

[1:11:33] You are okay.

[1:11:37] Our next speaker is justin

[1:11:47] harlow followed by eric norman

[1:11:47] .

[1:11:50] >> this year no one's going to

[1:11:53] change the role to three

[1:11:56] minutes one.

[1:11:58] Reclaiming my time the climate

[1:11:58] .

[1:12:01] >> all right, MR. Manager.

[1:12:02] MR. Tony clark.

[1:12:04] Good to see you all.

[1:12:05] MADAM Mayor, thank you for your

[1:12:07] sacrifice and your leadership.

[1:12:10] Justin harlow who should be the

[1:12:11] next leader?

[1:12:13] Who should be our next mayor?

[1:12:14] i think that next leader is

[1:12:16] carrie raised in charlotte and

[1:12:19] kim's graduate carrie is the

[1:12:19] product that you all said that

[1:12:22] you wanted you wanted a

[1:12:22] partner.

[1:12:22] You wanted someone who cross

[1:12:24] the sectors of nonprofit fit

[1:12:25] private sector and public

[1:12:25] sector.

[1:12:28] She's been that partner for

[1:12:28] you.

[1:12:31] She has championed your bonds,

[1:12:31] your infrastructure.

[1:12:34] She has led workforce

[1:12:34] development programs that have

[1:12:37] created jobs in this community.

[1:12:39] People first lyn's mission is

[1:12:41] where are is someone who does

[1:12:42] the work as you like to say?

[1:12:44] MR. Graham this election

[1:12:47] tonight is more than a name

[1:12:48] with six hands being raised for

[1:12:48] them.

[1:12:50] But it says something about who

[1:12:51] you are as a council, as an

[1:12:54] institution and where you're

[1:12:54] trying to lead this city

[1:12:57] pro-business not enough pro

[1:13:00] community, not too much.

[1:13:00] You've got a decision to make.

[1:13:03] This is about the future of our

[1:13:03] city and it's not just about

[1:13:04] amendment.

[1:13:11] Thank you.

[1:13:11] Our next speaker is frank.

[1:13:14] She's up here, you say there

[1:13:14] you are.

[1:13:15] >> thank you.

[1:13:16] Good evening everyone.

[1:13:17] And we try to give you the high

[1:13:19] speed rail version of my three

[1:13:21] minute speech.

[1:13:21] Thank you.

[1:13:22] Good evening.

[1:13:24] Mayor lyles, members of council

[1:13:24] and city staff.

[1:13:25] My name is eric norman.

[1:13:27] I'm a former small business

[1:13:29] owner in the community.

[1:13:30] i'm an active member of the

[1:13:32] carolina's lgbt community

[1:13:32] carolina chamber of commerce

[1:13:35] and I'm also a resident

[1:13:37] currently unincorporated part

[1:13:38] of district two.

[1:13:39] I watched all five interviews

[1:13:42] last thursday night and to make

[1:13:43] discharge I why you each chose

[1:13:46] to talk to I had a top three a

[1:13:48] carrie cooke state senator

[1:13:51] caleb theo daughtry and mayor

[1:13:53] pro tem james mitchell what I

[1:13:54] do not want to see is calvin

[1:13:57] and carrie being blocked from

[1:14:00] running for a full mayor term

[1:14:00] next election cycle.

[1:14:03] They are our future as the

[1:14:05] transition to new leadership.

[1:14:08] So my choice for everything

[1:14:09] that's going on right now with

[1:14:11] the charlotte business

[1:14:11] inclusion advisory committee

[1:14:14] where I also sit as the

[1:14:17] representative of the lgbt

[1:14:18] chamber of commerce james

[1:14:20] mitchell should be the interim.

[1:14:20] Thank you.

[1:14:28] Thank you and our next speakers

[1:14:29] are vanessa mitchell and

[1:14:39] jasmine allen burnett has never

[1:14:47] now let us know he's getting

[1:14:47] too much.

[1:14:50] We just keep going.

[1:14:57] Yep and that's okay.

[1:15:05] You see we way no you oh my bad

[1:15:05] I thought you are waiting on

[1:15:08] panetta I'm jasmine allen.

[1:15:08] Good evening mayor lyles my

[1:15:11] heart and soul are with you as

[1:15:13] you move forward and I

[1:15:14] appreciate as justin said, your

[1:15:16] sacrifice for this city.

[1:15:17] It's all the better because of

[1:15:19] you.

[1:15:22] I'm honored to speak in support

[1:15:23] of carrie cook for interim

[1:15:25] mayor of charlotte.

[1:15:26] I've had the privilege of

[1:15:28] knowing carrie for more than 15

[1:15:29] years and she and I have become

[1:15:31] close collaborators with her

[1:15:34] launch of her nonprofit empower

[1:15:35] her mit as a volunteer and as a

[1:15:37] parent of a young woman who

[1:15:38] participate in the program.

[1:15:40] But I've witnessed firsthand is

[1:15:41] something our city needs now

[1:15:43] more than ever a leader with

[1:15:45] the evidence base of putting

[1:15:48] charlotte residents first cares

[1:15:48] what I call a leader among

[1:15:51] leaders.

[1:15:52] She doesn't seek the spotlight.

[1:15:54] She creates opportunities for

[1:15:55] others to shine through her

[1:15:57] nonprofit she's helped develop

[1:16:00] and mentor generations of young

[1:16:03] women and girls by building not

[1:16:05] just programs but long lasting

[1:16:06] leadership pipelines and

[1:16:09] inspiration for charlotte's

[1:16:09] youth.

[1:16:11] >> what carrie, thank you very

[1:16:16] much.

[1:16:20] Our next speakers are nicole

[1:16:23] grace renee

[1:16:26] and mindy mitchell

[1:16:56] henson

[1:16:58] .

[1:16:59] >> good evening MAY allow and

[1:17:01] members of city council my name

[1:17:04] is nicole grace formerly known

[1:17:07] as nicole rayner professionally

[1:17:08] I am the PRESIDENT Of the

[1:17:10] charlotte chapter of the

[1:17:11] national association of women

[1:17:13] business owners and I currently

[1:17:15] serve on the charlotte business

[1:17:15] advisory committee.

[1:17:18] I am here today to encourage

[1:17:21] you to appoint mayor pro tem

[1:17:22] james mitchell as charlotte

[1:17:25] vote mayor let me to my support

[1:17:27] is based on voting and

[1:17:28] experience I served on the

[1:17:30] charlotte people.

[1:17:30] It includes an advisory

[1:17:33] committee, a committee james

[1:17:35] helped establish and later

[1:17:36] worked with them through my

[1:17:38] advocacy leadership was never

[1:17:39] silent throughout the years I

[1:17:41] told you to conflict and he

[1:17:43] showed up and he listened and

[1:17:44] worked collaboratively to

[1:17:46] support charlotte community and

[1:17:49] bring people together.

[1:17:50] Charlotte need experience

[1:17:52] leadership I can tap in and

[1:17:54] lead effectively from day one

[1:17:55] based on my experience working

[1:17:57] with him.

[1:17:57] I believe james mitchell had

[1:18:00] the integrity, experience

[1:18:03] commitment not to it continue

[1:18:04] moving our city forward.

[1:18:06] >> thank you very much.

[1:18:07] I respectfully encourage you to

[1:18:09] a point game matter as

[1:18:09] charlotte next mayor thank you

[1:18:11] thank you for your time and

[1:18:14] your service MS. Henson yes my

[1:18:16] name is mindy mills henson and

[1:18:20] I am past PRESIDENT Of nami

[1:18:20] charlotte currently serve at

[1:18:23] the national level for the

[1:18:23] national association of women

[1:18:25] business owners.

[1:18:28] I'm here tonight to throw my

[1:18:29] endorsement for mayor pro tem

[1:18:31] mitchell.

[1:18:33] Oh, I met him 14 years ago as a

[1:18:35] member of neighbors charlotte

[1:18:38] where he was a strong advocate

[1:18:42] on behalf of small businesses.

[1:18:42] 12 years later he is still an

[1:18:44] active part of our

[1:18:45] organization.

[1:18:47] He shows up, he answers the

[1:18:48] phone when we call he gives us

[1:18:50] his cell phone.

[1:18:51] He was there for us when we

[1:18:53] were trying to figure out what

[1:18:54] to do in covid coming out of

[1:18:56] covid informing us always about

[1:18:59] the resources that were

[1:18:59] available through the city of

[1:19:02] charlotte and how we could all

[1:19:03] survive.

[1:19:05] he works faithfully with us and

[1:19:08] is a huge advocate for small

[1:19:08] businesses all in this area not

[1:19:11] just women.

[1:19:11] How different we would be in

[1:19:14] this country if all of our

[1:19:16] leaders had the compassion that

[1:19:17] james mitchell has?

[1:19:22] Thank you.

[1:19:22] All right.

[1:19:24] Our next speakers are rochelle

[1:19:27] ,the gala steward and

[1:19:28] hopefully I'm sorry I'm not

[1:19:30] getting the right part of the

[1:19:30] middle name.

[1:19:33] >> and hannah hazan.

[1:19:36] William, I'm sorry we have

[1:19:38] jasmine right.

[1:19:39] >> good evening, mayor and

[1:19:42] members of the city council.

[1:19:45] My name is rochelle stewart and

[1:19:46] I'm a local business owner and

[1:19:48] immediate past PRESIDENT Of

[1:19:49] nava charlotte.

[1:19:51] The national association of

[1:19:51] women business owners.

[1:19:54] I am here tonight to give full

[1:19:56] support and endorsement to bear

[1:19:57] pro tem that's all.

[1:20:00] As council considers their

[1:20:00] appointment this evening for

[1:20:02] mayor pro tem mitchell has been

[1:20:05] a long standing supporter,

[1:20:08] advocate and champion for women

[1:20:08] business owners in charlotte.

[1:20:11] He has consistently helped

[1:20:14] women to ensure that they have

[1:20:14] a voice, that they have

[1:20:17] visibility and a seat at the

[1:20:17] table.

[1:20:20] Mayor pro tem mitchell has not

[1:20:20] only supported nabil shaath

[1:20:23] charlotte and words but he

[1:20:23] shows up, he shows up for

[1:20:26] meetings, events, listens to

[1:20:28] women business owners needs

[1:20:28] mayor pro tem mitchell

[1:20:32] understands that economic

[1:20:32] development and workforce

[1:20:35] development for all businesses

[1:20:38] large corporations must work

[1:20:38] for established companies.

[1:20:41] Small businesses, women owned

[1:20:43] businesses, minority businesses

[1:20:43] .

[1:20:46] He recognizes that charlotte is

[1:20:46] strongest when opportunity is

[1:20:49] extended across the business

[1:20:49] community.

[1:20:49] >> thank you.

[1:20:50] Thank you.

[1:21:01] Thank you.

[1:21:02] Yes.

[1:21:04] Go right ahead.

[1:21:05] >> good evening.

[1:21:05] I am hannah hassan.

[1:21:08] I have shared community with

[1:21:10] kari cook in many capacities

[1:21:10] through the years and I've

[1:21:13] learned what must most of you

[1:21:14] probably already know about

[1:21:14] her.

[1:21:17] >> kari is an incredibly star.

[1:21:17] But more than that, kari cook

[1:21:20] is a charlotte native who was

[1:21:20] educated in charlotte public

[1:21:21] schools.

[1:21:23] She went to vance high school

[1:21:24] when as a ninth grader she

[1:21:25] helped lead their basketball

[1:21:26] team to a championship they

[1:21:28] nicknamed her the floor general

[1:21:31] because she was able to see the

[1:21:31] court from all the angles.

[1:21:33] She was able to inspire her

[1:21:34] teammates.

[1:21:34] And even though she was an

[1:21:36] unlikely leader, they trusted

[1:21:37] her.

[1:21:37] She trusted them and that is

[1:21:40] how she will show up as mayor a

[1:21:40] floor general to the

[1:21:43] distinguished members of our

[1:21:43] council I invite you to

[1:21:45] envision a beautiful charlotte

[1:21:46] story with me with carrie cook

[1:21:48] as your mayor while working

[1:21:51] alongside you you begin to see

[1:21:52] your vision for the city

[1:21:54] actualize with a mayor who

[1:21:54] isn't afraid of coming into a

[1:21:57] new team and collaborate every

[1:21:58] leading you work together as a

[1:22:00] collective body to continue to

[1:22:00] improve the lives of all

[1:22:03] charlotte teens council I

[1:22:03] challenge you to take a

[1:22:06] courageous step and invest in

[1:22:06] charlotte in a purposeful and

[1:22:09] powerful way.

[1:22:09] >> let's get our general in the

[1:22:14] game terryville and cleveland

[1:22:15] here we has the beautiful

[1:22:16] village here with her today all

[1:22:17] pulling for the man.

[1:22:19] Q thank you.

[1:22:22] Thank you.

[1:22:23] >> thank you very much.

[1:22:27] Now we have MS..

[1:22:28] MS..

[1:22:30] MR. Youngblood.

[1:22:36] MR. Youngblood is that yes.

[1:22:38] I receive an okay.

[1:22:41] Thank you so much.

[1:22:43] I wonder who is sitting next to

[1:22:43] .

[1:22:46] >> good evening MR. Lisle.

[1:22:48] Charlotte city council first of

[1:22:48] all my name is william

[1:22:49] youngblood.

[1:22:51] Thank you for the opportunity

[1:22:52] to share my thoughts and strong

[1:22:54] endorsement my friend robert

[1:22:58] harrington a little background

[1:22:59] my first opportunity to work

[1:23:02] with rob was when we both

[1:23:02] served as trustees at

[1:23:03] friendship missionary baptist

[1:23:04] church here in charlotte at

[1:23:07] this time we also he also

[1:23:07] volunteered volunteered his

[1:23:10] services as the official legal

[1:23:12] counsel to the church volunteer

[1:23:15] and to the board of directors

[1:23:16] for several years I had the

[1:23:18] privilege of serving as the

[1:23:19] church chair of the board of

[1:23:19] directors and worked very

[1:23:21] closely with rob on many issues

[1:23:24] involving members

[1:23:24] incarcerations of this

[1:23:27] environment.

[1:23:27] And so my thoughts when

[1:23:30] preparing these comments it was

[1:23:30] very clear to me that many of

[1:23:33] you don't know me know my past.

[1:23:35] I want to talk about rob's

[1:23:35] passion.

[1:23:36] That's the one message I want

[1:23:36] to get across the board is

[1:23:38] passion.

[1:23:41] His reputation as an honest,

[1:23:41] honest person with great

[1:23:41] character.

[1:23:44] I think characters imperative

[1:23:45] to what we're going through and

[1:23:47] surely need to be have more of

[1:23:47] and be about and that's what

[1:23:50] rob excel thank you.

[1:23:57] >> thank you molly barker they

[1:24:05] are my good evening my name is

[1:24:06] molly barker and I'm the

[1:24:08] founder of girls on the run

[1:24:09] international.

[1:24:10] I started the organization

[1:24:11] right here in charlotte 30

[1:24:13] years ago this year.

[1:24:14] Since then I've had the

[1:24:15] privilege of witnessing

[1:24:17] firsthand and the profound

[1:24:19] impact authentic leadership can

[1:24:20] have on communities across this

[1:24:23] country.

[1:24:23] And because of that I've

[1:24:24] learned to recognize

[1:24:26] transformative leadership when

[1:24:28] I see it several years ago

[1:24:29] kerry cooke invited me to serve

[1:24:31] on a panel for the organization

[1:24:32] and she founded called

[1:24:35] empowerment a nonprofit that

[1:24:36] partners girls in grades six

[1:24:37] through 12 with mentors who

[1:24:39] help them discover their

[1:24:40] strength and leadership

[1:24:40] potential.

[1:24:43] What I witnessed was amazing

[1:24:44] those girls were naturally

[1:24:46] drawn to carry.

[1:24:46] They trusted her.

[1:24:47] they knew they mattered and her

[1:24:50] presence and as someone who has

[1:24:51] spent much of my life around

[1:24:52] young people, I can tell you

[1:24:55] this kids know they know real

[1:24:58] when they encounter it.

[1:24:58] Over the years I've seen her

[1:25:00] authentic spirit show up

[1:25:01] everywhere.

[1:25:01] She brings the same thing to

[1:25:03] every room she enters light

[1:25:06] optimism, gritty

[1:25:07] resourcefulness and the deep

[1:25:09] desire to make positive change.

[1:25:10] >> thank you.

[1:25:14] Thank you very much.

[1:25:17] All right.

[1:25:18] The next speaker is chelsea

[1:25:21] evans.

[1:25:21] >> oh, cool.

[1:25:23] Cool.

[1:25:27] >> followed by melinda there

[1:25:30] don mcvey, the faded voter.

[1:25:35] Thank you, peyton.

[1:25:35] >> good evening.

[1:25:35] I'm chelsea evans.

[1:25:37] Okay.

[1:25:38] Do I come before you today to

[1:25:41] voice my support for selecting

[1:25:43] rob harrington as interim mayor

[1:25:44] met rob bell ten years ago when

[1:25:46] I was an intern at robinson

[1:25:47] bradshaw during that summer I

[1:25:49] learned that rob was not just

[1:25:50] an excellent and accomplished

[1:25:52] lawyer he was also deeply

[1:25:53] involved in the charlotte

[1:25:55] community through board service

[1:25:55] and pro bono work.

[1:25:56] Rob was not involved just for

[1:25:58] the sake of adding activities

[1:25:59] to his resume.

[1:26:00] He was truly invested in

[1:26:01] charlotte and wanted to do his

[1:26:04] part to make the city a great

[1:26:04] place where all people can

[1:26:04] thrive.

[1:26:07] >> I was struck by his genuine

[1:26:07] commitment and viewed his

[1:26:10] career as the blueprint for

[1:26:10] what a lawyer should be a

[1:26:12] champion of and an advocate for

[1:26:12] your community.

[1:26:15] Once I joined the firm as an

[1:26:16] associate robin green to me

[1:26:16] that it's not enough to be

[1:26:18] dedicated entirely to my legal

[1:26:19] career.

[1:26:20] He implored me to not lose

[1:26:21] sight of the calling while

[1:26:24] focusing on the career he

[1:26:25] reminded me that as lawyers we

[1:26:25] have a moral and professional

[1:26:28] obligation to serve our

[1:26:28] communities.

[1:26:29] He exhibits all of the

[1:26:31] qualities I will make an

[1:26:31] effective and excellent and are

[1:26:32] a mayor.

[1:26:34] He's level headed, dedicated

[1:26:34] and hardworking.

[1:26:36] He's warm, he's genuine.

[1:26:37] He's truly a connector who

[1:26:37] seeks to bring people together

[1:26:39] in a way where everyone feels

[1:26:42] seen and heard while also

[1:26:42] making a decision.

[1:26:43] >> thank you.

[1:26:45] Thank you.

[1:26:45] Yeah.

[1:26:57] And so you see south she speaks

[1:26:58] the lender.

[1:26:58] Thank you.

[1:27:11] I know the steps are really my

[1:27:12] name is rolling to me vaden and

[1:27:17] as you can tell novo is really

[1:27:20] behind MR. Mitchell we've had

[1:27:22] some really great experiences

[1:27:23] and I will tell you this he's

[1:27:26] been involved in bigger

[1:27:26] developments, large

[1:27:27] developments in charlotte.

[1:27:29] He's been involved in small

[1:27:29] developments.

[1:27:29] He is always there for the

[1:27:31] small business person.

[1:27:32] He's been a champion of women.

[1:27:34] He showed us things we didn't

[1:27:35] even know we could do.

[1:27:37] He showed us opportunities that

[1:27:38] we didn't know we could have.

[1:27:40] He partnered with charlotte

[1:27:43] some years ago with an

[1:27:43] initiative that we had called

[1:27:45] power players designed to

[1:27:48] really show small and when I

[1:27:50] say small I mean small business

[1:27:51] owners business owners like me

[1:27:54] who are solopreneur as business

[1:27:56] owners who maybe have 10 or 15

[1:27:59] employees, how to be considered

[1:28:03] by the city to do business with

[1:28:04] the city which is an avenue

[1:28:05] that many of us don't even

[1:28:06] think is available to us.

[1:28:08] It doesn't matter is all

[1:28:11] inclusive for all businesses

[1:28:13] but particularly minorities.

[1:28:19] >> thank you.

[1:28:22] Our next speaker is sam spencer

[1:28:24] and their new val voltaire's.

[1:28:27] Hey everybody sam spencer proud

[1:28:28] district one resident hope you

[1:28:30] all are doing well tonight.

[1:28:31] I want to talk to you tonight

[1:28:33] about lightning strikes.

[1:28:34] The next mayor, whoever they

[1:28:36] are in this room, you know

[1:28:37] there's going be a lot of

[1:28:39] things that happen in our city

[1:28:40] and some of them are going to

[1:28:42] feel like lightning strikes

[1:28:42] things that come out of

[1:28:46] nowhere, events that get a

[1:28:46] disproportionate amount of the

[1:28:49] city and our community's

[1:28:50] attention but are really rare

[1:28:52] things that don't happen that

[1:28:54] often including of course

[1:28:55] mayoral vacancies.

[1:28:58] So whoever is mayor next, I

[1:28:58] really want to implore you to

[1:29:00] work with the council to think

[1:29:01] about the persistent problems

[1:29:03] the structural issues, the

[1:29:06] things that are truly wrong in

[1:29:07] our community things like make

[1:29:09] fence all talked about because

[1:29:11] you know we can't be losing 40,

[1:29:13] 50, 60 people to motor vehicle

[1:29:16] accidents every year.

[1:29:18] So instead I want you to change

[1:29:19] your frame of reference instead

[1:29:21] of thinking about the problems

[1:29:22] .

[1:29:22] Think about what treveon

[1:29:25] shorter's calls as a framing.

[1:29:25] Think about the assets, the

[1:29:27] things in charlotte that we

[1:29:28] want to support, the things

[1:29:29] that we want to champion and

[1:29:30] celebrate and I hope you put

[1:29:33] all of your effort behind them.

[1:29:33] >> thank you very much.

[1:29:35] Thank you very much.

[1:29:39] Our next speaker is ben lou bud

[1:29:43] valadares and followed by al

[1:29:57] austin allen and one of my

[1:30:00] first steps I feel like I'm

[1:30:02] down here a lot.

[1:30:06] >> good evening mayor lives we

[1:30:08] love you mayor pro tem mitchell

[1:30:09] .

[1:30:09] We're so proud of you.

[1:30:09] Thank you.

[1:30:12] Members of council I'm al lost

[1:30:13] and former charlotte city

[1:30:14] COUNCILMAN Again let me thank

[1:30:15] all of you for your service to

[1:30:17] the city of charlotte.

[1:30:20] I'm here to support mayor

[1:30:21] pro-tem james mitchell for the

[1:30:22] interim mayor.

[1:30:26] James brings 25 years of

[1:30:29] elected official experi since

[1:30:30] you elected him to be your

[1:30:32] mayor pro tem.

[1:30:33] He has deep institutional

[1:30:35] knowledge of our city

[1:30:35] government and the challenges

[1:30:38] and opportunities ahead.

[1:30:39] James has built strong

[1:30:41] relationships across

[1:30:41] neighborhoods, businesses,

[1:30:44] nonprofit and other elected

[1:30:44] bodies.

[1:30:47] James has served as PRESIDENT

[1:30:47] Of the national league of

[1:30:50] cities which elevated charlotte

[1:30:52] on a national stage most

[1:30:53] importantly, james can step

[1:30:55] into this role on day one

[1:30:56] without a learning curve.

[1:30:58] Please vote for james smudgy we

[1:31:01] are proud of you brother.

[1:31:06] >> keep pushing.

[1:31:06] >> all right.

[1:31:09] Is antoine dennard in the

[1:31:10] building?

[1:31:12] Is he is there?

[1:31:12] Okay.

[1:31:18] Would you please come down and

[1:31:22] step you and stephanie joyner

[1:31:23] are you as well prepared to

[1:31:28] come down, MISS Joyner?

[1:31:31] There we go.

[1:31:31] Thank you.

[1:31:33] All right.

[1:31:36] >> MR. Dennard yes.

[1:31:36] Thank you, mayor and council.

[1:31:38] Good evening.

[1:31:40] As the 2026 board chair for

[1:31:43] living in and also a partner

[1:31:46] with you to help the residents

[1:31:46] of brookdale still in their

[1:31:46] homes.

[1:31:50] I'm here to support karen cook

[1:31:50] .

[1:31:51] For 17 years I have watched

[1:31:54] kerry no matter the status or

[1:31:56] background provide a level of

[1:31:58] passion and enthusiasm while

[1:31:59] meeting, greeting and working

[1:32:02] with everyone and truly trying

[1:32:04] to find problem solving

[1:32:07] solutions to help everyone for

[1:32:08] example through the green light

[1:32:11] fund she led an investment an

[1:32:14] initiative to help residents of

[1:32:17] and living in find jobs and

[1:32:17] opportunities.

[1:32:20] And so I please ask you to

[1:32:20] consider kerry cooke as our

[1:32:22] next ed romero.

[1:32:28] >> thank you.

[1:32:35] >> chris joyner good evening,

[1:32:38] MADAM Mayor and members of

[1:32:38] council.

[1:32:40] My name is stephanie joyner and

[1:32:41] I'm here to bring the joy

[1:32:41] tonight.

[1:32:44] But I'm a business owner,

[1:32:44] minority and small business

[1:32:47] advocate and community leader.

[1:32:49] I'm here to advocate for mayor

[1:32:52] pro tem james mitchell.

[1:32:54] I have known james for over 18

[1:32:56] years and james has always

[1:32:57] demonstrated unwavering

[1:33:00] commitment to our city.

[1:33:00] He understands the current

[1:33:03] issues we face, the processes

[1:33:05] that drive our governance and

[1:33:06] the key players involved no

[1:33:08] learning curve he often makes

[1:33:12] difficult decisions that MAY

[1:33:15] not always be popular yet he

[1:33:15] remains steadfast in his

[1:33:17] commitment to what is best for

[1:33:17] our community.

[1:33:20] I have personally experienced

[1:33:20] his dedication whether it was

[1:33:23] the establishment of the

[1:33:24] charlotte business inclusion

[1:33:25] advisory committee supported

[1:33:28] workforce development and also

[1:33:29] served as a panelist for the

[1:33:30] metro line for minority

[1:33:32] contract is association.

[1:33:35] James has been there every step

[1:33:35] of the way so I would like to

[1:33:38] say he is a leader who is

[1:33:41] proven passionate and prepared.

[1:33:41] >> thank you.

[1:33:43] Thank you.

[1:33:45] All right.

[1:33:48] Cherry's blackmon and matty

[1:33:52] marshall.

[1:33:53] Yes.

[1:33:55] For this man there's matty.

[1:33:55] Okay.

[1:33:55] Yeah.

[1:34:15] So you join us.

[1:34:18] Good evening.

[1:34:18] I'm sure he's blackmon, the

[1:34:20] executive director of the west

[1:34:21] side community land trust and I

[1:34:24] am here today because I believe

[1:34:24] carrie cooke is uniquely

[1:34:27] qualified to serve as our

[1:34:27] interim mayor.

[1:34:30] Many of you already know carrie

[1:34:32] as a strategic leader with a

[1:34:33] proven track record across

[1:34:34] several of charlotte's priority

[1:34:35] areas.

[1:34:38] But what makes carrie truly

[1:34:38] special is that she is both a

[1:34:41] visionary leader and a neighbor

[1:34:41] next door.

[1:34:44] She understands policy systems

[1:34:47] and governance yet remains

[1:34:47] deeply connected to the

[1:34:50] everyday experiences of the

[1:34:50] people.

[1:34:52] In particular, I want to speak

[1:34:53] to carrie's long standing

[1:34:56] commitment to the creation and

[1:34:57] preservation of affordable

[1:34:57] housing.

[1:34:59] Long before housing became a

[1:35:02] headline issue, carrie was

[1:35:02] doing the work she had to

[1:35:04] advise neighborhood leaders on

[1:35:05] noah preservation efforts

[1:35:08] advocated for charlotte's

[1:35:08] housing trust fund and served

[1:35:10] on the city's affordable

[1:35:10] housing committee.

[1:35:13] She has convened faith leaders

[1:35:14] partnered with nonprofits like

[1:35:16] the westside community land

[1:35:17] trust and I personally believe

[1:35:19] her to be the ideal choice to

[1:35:19] serve as interim mayor.

[1:35:21] Thank you.

[1:35:25] Thank you.

[1:35:27] >> marshall yes, good evening,

[1:35:28] mayor last.

[1:35:30] And I want to say thank you for

[1:35:32] all your years of service and

[1:35:35] your service as a mayor of the

[1:35:36] great city of charlotte, north

[1:35:39] carolina.

[1:35:41] >> I want to start off by

[1:35:42] thanking also the council

[1:35:46] members here and the staff

[1:35:49] because you all are so part of

[1:35:50] uplifting all humanity with

[1:35:52] dignity and respect.

[1:35:55] And we greatly appreciate you.

[1:35:58] I watch you all every monday

[1:36:01] committee meetings and cell

[1:36:01] phone.

[1:36:02] So I'm up on what you've been

[1:36:04] doing and what you have

[1:36:06] accomplished.

[1:36:07] And I think with three city

[1:36:09] council members on board you've

[1:36:12] done tremendous work but you

[1:36:13] don't often give yourself

[1:36:15] credit enough for that.

[1:36:18] Now you've taken about four our

[1:36:20] mayor pro tem which I strongly

[1:36:23] encourage you to continue that

[1:36:23] vote.

[1:36:28] James margie mitchell as the

[1:36:31] next interim mayor I wouldn't

[1:36:44] MISS You in experience address

[1:36:44] .

[1:36:47] >> thank you.

[1:36:50] >> we needed a little bit of

[1:36:50] that magic.

[1:36:50] >> thank you.

[1:36:51] It was appropriate.

[1:36:52] Thank you.

[1:36:52] All right.

[1:36:55] Our next speaker is gina

[1:37:00] esquivel and tanya archer is a

[1:37:08] labor partner.

[1:37:08] >> please.

[1:37:08] Thank you.

[1:37:11] I'm here.

[1:37:11] >> tanya thanks.

[1:37:12] MISS MAY feel you're doing a

[1:37:14] great job.

[1:37:22] I'm trying to help you on all

[1:37:22] mare council members.

[1:37:25] I have the same mayor lyles.

[1:37:27] I grew up watching your leads.

[1:37:28] Thank you so much for your

[1:37:28] service.

[1:37:30] I'm here to support rob

[1:37:31] herrington.

[1:37:33] My name is gina esquivel, long

[1:37:33] term community advocate and

[1:37:36] business owner.

[1:37:36] I know rob herrington since

[1:37:39] back in the 2000s as a recent

[1:37:39] immigrant.

[1:37:42] I look up to those showing up

[1:37:44] for community in a genuine way

[1:37:45] someone who didn't seek

[1:37:47] political game power or even

[1:37:48] visibility.

[1:37:50] I've seen MR. Hiring to move

[1:37:52] through this community quietly

[1:37:53] get intentional in where and

[1:37:56] how they show up, how he shows

[1:37:56] up.

[1:37:59] Rob can litigate anything and

[1:38:02] we know charlotte needs a

[1:38:05] strong negotiator in terms of

[1:38:08] his car city or challenge we

[1:38:09] need someone steady who keeps

[1:38:11] charlotte authentic person

[1:38:11] alive.

[1:38:11] That's why I support rob

[1:38:14] harrington.

[1:38:14] >> thank you.

[1:38:16] Thank you, daniel.

[1:38:17] Thank you.

[1:38:19] Please.

[1:38:20] >> good evening.

[1:38:22] Mayor lyles and city council.

[1:38:22] I'm a practicing attorney here

[1:38:25] in charlotte and a proud member

[1:38:25] of the mecklenburg bar

[1:38:25] association.

[1:38:28] My name is tonya archer and

[1:38:31] I've worked tirelessly with rob

[1:38:31] harrington over many years on

[1:38:33] committees and boards.

[1:38:34] Rob rob MAY be a newer face to

[1:38:36] this arena.

[1:38:36] He's not new to the charlotte

[1:38:37] and legal communities.

[1:38:39] You've now heard him speak

[1:38:39] passionately about resolving

[1:38:42] the affordable housing, public

[1:38:42] safety and transportation

[1:38:43] issues currently facing our

[1:38:45] city.

[1:38:45] You've seen a slice of his

[1:38:48] ability to manage a meeting and

[1:38:48] to resolve contention through

[1:38:50] his brand of objective, calm

[1:38:51] and transparent leadership.

[1:38:54] As an attorney and a community

[1:38:54] member, he simultaneously holds

[1:38:57] roles in corporate law,

[1:38:57] nonprofit boards and civic

[1:39:00] institutions, reflects deep

[1:39:00] cross-sector engagement.

[1:39:03] In fact, many of our region's

[1:39:03] best civic leaders have served

[1:39:06] as leaders within the local bar

[1:39:06] association including district

[1:39:08] attorney spencer merriweather,

[1:39:11] shirley fulton, aretha blake,

[1:39:11] tayari baker.

[1:39:11] Tony lathrop.

[1:39:12] Mel watt.

[1:39:14] Frank emery, diane bailey and

[1:39:14] long time assistant city

[1:39:17] attorney for the city thomas

[1:39:17] powers.

[1:39:19] Rob harrington stands among

[1:39:19] these named leaders.

[1:39:20] And what sets him apart is that

[1:39:22] his role the extension of his

[1:39:25] long history of community

[1:39:25] engagement they support rob

[1:39:28] harrington, thank you.

[1:39:36] >> thank you, chair marcia

[1:39:59] barnes to tanya adams advance.

[1:40:01] Thank you.

[1:40:07] A good evening.

[1:40:07] Hello.

[1:40:08] My name is marcia barnes.

[1:40:10] When I think about what makes

[1:40:11] someone effective in public

[1:40:13] leadership it comes down to two

[1:40:14] things a servant's heart and

[1:40:16] the ability to get results.

[1:40:18] Kerry cook has consistently

[1:40:19] demonstrated both.

[1:40:19] For more than two decades kerry

[1:40:22] has invested in charlotte by

[1:40:22] bringing together businesses,

[1:40:25] non-profits, educators, elected

[1:40:27] officials and community leaders

[1:40:28] to solve complex challenges.

[1:40:31] She has been a strong advocate

[1:40:32] for housing, economic

[1:40:34] development, public safety and

[1:40:35] transportation issues that are

[1:40:37] critical to our city's future.

[1:40:38] Many here can agree that this

[1:40:40] is kerry's calling through

[1:40:40] empowerment.

[1:40:42] She has helped more young women

[1:40:43] ,more young women and girls

[1:40:45] build leadership skills,

[1:40:46] confidence and opportunity.

[1:40:48] As former executive director of

[1:40:49] greenlight fund charlotte, she

[1:40:51] identified community needs and

[1:40:52] brought proven solutions to

[1:40:54] support children and families.

[1:40:57] Most importantly, kerry has

[1:40:58] shown up for this community

[1:41:00] long before seeking any title.

[1:41:00] She leads with humility,

[1:41:03] integrity, compassion and

[1:41:03] competence.

[1:41:06] That combination is rare and is

[1:41:08] why I strongly support kerry

[1:41:08] cook for mayor pro tem.

[1:41:09] >> thank you for your time.

[1:41:16] Q.

[1:41:17] >> good evening.

[1:41:19] Good evening.

[1:41:20] Greetings.

[1:41:20] I'm titania adams.

[1:41:22] I'm the executive director and

[1:41:23] founder of the historic west

[1:41:23] ham partners.

[1:41:26] But not only that, I'm a native

[1:41:27] charlotte teen 62 years and 11

[1:41:32] months I want to raise here.

[1:41:34] >> I'm mayor pro tem mitchell

[1:41:35] at charlotte rec recreation

[1:41:38] center playing and laid on it

[1:41:40] in the pews the eastern wall

[1:41:41] church he served the community

[1:41:44] then he served the church then

[1:41:46] and he you've heard all these

[1:41:49] wonderful things about his body

[1:41:49] of work where he's been

[1:41:52] involved, how he's been

[1:41:52] involved.

[1:41:53] >> here's what you haven't

[1:41:53] heard.

[1:41:55] He is truly a servant leader

[1:41:55] because even when going through

[1:41:58] personal difficulties, whether

[1:42:00] it was raising two beautiful

[1:42:00] girls which you did a great job

[1:42:03] with the blessings going

[1:42:06] through the marriage trials

[1:42:06] that we've all gone through and

[1:42:09] even losing your mother and

[1:42:09] then going through your own

[1:42:12] health battle with cancer which

[1:42:13] I've been through and I know

[1:42:15] what it's like to work when you

[1:42:16] flat on your back and you going

[1:42:18] through chemo and you would

[1:42:19] rather almost be dead and go

[1:42:21] through it.

[1:42:22] >> you did it with grace and

[1:42:23] style.

[1:42:24] I represent mayor pro tem and

[1:42:26] if you will not bring him in

[1:42:28] the in kirkuk is it she's the

[1:42:43] future is that that that was

[1:42:45] the phrase is you don't get a

[1:42:46] double dip I don't think you

[1:42:48] hear all right you know she's a

[1:42:51] rock star grandma so let's go

[1:42:54] with S.Y. Mason watson and

[1:42:56] carlos davis.

[1:43:12] >> davis and carlos miller and

[1:43:25] you know when you let me yeah.

[1:43:27] >> good evening, MADAM Mayor

[1:43:28] and charlotte city council

[1:43:33] members I am S.Y. Mason watson

[1:43:33] and on behalf of the

[1:43:36] african-american caucus of the

[1:43:37] mecklenburg county democratic

[1:43:39] party I stand before you as

[1:43:41] PRESIDENT At this auspicious

[1:43:42] organization.

[1:43:45] We are keenly aware of the

[1:43:47] concerns in the community

[1:43:50] regarding our mayor pro tem

[1:43:52] recent controversial vote and

[1:43:56] early concerns regarding our g

[1:43:56] league.

[1:43:58] >> however, this is a crucial

[1:44:00] time for the city of charlotte

[1:44:01] and all of us who call the

[1:44:03] queen city home who work here

[1:44:06] raise families here, build

[1:44:07] businesses here, become

[1:44:09] educated here, who vote here

[1:44:12] and engage in the political

[1:44:12] process.

[1:44:15] we need continuity of

[1:44:16] leadership and the assurance

[1:44:18] that our city will prosper from

[1:44:18] a mayor that will work to

[1:44:20] promote what is best for her

[1:44:21] citizens.

[1:44:24] We submit there is only one

[1:44:24] applicant who is best suited to

[1:44:26] seamlessly assume the office of

[1:44:29] the mayor of charlotte and work

[1:44:32] that is mayor pro tem james

[1:44:32] mitchell and thank you MADAM

[1:44:33] Mayor for your service.

[1:44:35] Thank you.

[1:44:38] All right.

[1:44:38] >> hi, mayor.

[1:44:38] Hi.

[1:44:41] How are you doing?

[1:44:41] What's going on?

[1:44:41] Everything.

[1:44:43] Announcer how y'all doing?

[1:44:44] >> can you do me a favor?

[1:44:47] I want you to repeat after me.

[1:44:47] Accessibility, accessibility

[1:44:49] and opportunity.

[1:44:52] Opportunity that is what mayor

[1:44:55] pro tem james mitchell has done

[1:44:58] for me as a minority small

[1:44:59] business owner and done for

[1:45:01] many people in this community.

[1:45:02] He's made himself accessible

[1:45:05] not only to me as a business

[1:45:06] owner and giving me and many

[1:45:09] others opportunities but even

[1:45:10] more importantly accessibility

[1:45:13] to him as a lot of you all on

[1:45:15] this council have done for me

[1:45:19] he's also done so I implore all

[1:45:19] of you all as he has done that

[1:45:22] for me please remember that as

[1:45:24] he sits side by side with you

[1:45:27] all and hopefully work together

[1:45:27] with you all as the interim

[1:45:28] mayor.

[1:45:30] >> thank you.

[1:45:33] >> thank you.

[1:45:34] Our next speaker is

[1:45:36] commissioner ferris followed by

[1:45:54] marisa kumar.

[1:45:56] >> mm hmm.

[1:45:57] she was in the business

[1:45:59] committee with her?

[1:45:59] Yes.

[1:45:59] This what about me?

[1:46:02] Marissa?

[1:46:02] >> good evening.

[1:46:05] Mayor allows council members my

[1:46:07] name is commissioner ferris,

[1:46:08] owner of anointed flooring in

[1:46:09] charlotte.

[1:46:12] We've b in business over 20

[1:46:12] years and serve the southeast.

[1:46:14] I'm speaking today in support

[1:46:18] of mayor pro tem mitchell who

[1:46:19] has supported my business for

[1:46:21] over 11 years.

[1:46:24] >> years ago a contractor used

[1:46:26] our company's credentials for

[1:46:27] an award of a project but

[1:46:30] refused to hire us.

[1:46:31] When I brought this to mayor

[1:46:33] pro tem mitchell he picked up

[1:46:33] the phone, called the

[1:46:36] construction of the director of

[1:46:38] construction of then charlotte

[1:46:39] housing authority which is now

[1:46:42] olympia.

[1:46:42] And he got it resolved.

[1:46:44] He didn't listen.

[1:46:46] >> he took action.

[1:46:47] Beyond that, he's consistently

[1:46:50] connected me to valuable

[1:46:52] resources and given solid

[1:46:53] business advice.

[1:46:56] This kind of advocacy is needed

[1:46:58] in the small business community

[1:46:58] .

[1:47:01] >> I encourage the council to

[1:47:02] engage more deeply in the

[1:47:05] community and of of all

[1:47:05] communities because we're

[1:47:08] serving the people.

[1:47:10] >> thank you.

[1:47:13] Hi.

[1:47:14] >> good evening.

[1:47:16] Thank you, mayor mayor lyles

[1:47:18] for your service and to the

[1:47:19] council members for your time

[1:47:19] today.

[1:47:21] My name is morris kumar.

[1:47:22] i'm a past chair of the city of

[1:47:24] charlotte business advisory

[1:47:25] committee and a former

[1:47:27] PRESIDENT Of noble.

[1:47:29] I work alongside business

[1:47:30] owners, executives,

[1:47:30] entrepreneurs and community

[1:47:33] leaders in our city.

[1:47:35] A decade ago charlotte was

[1:47:37] listed 50th in economic

[1:47:40] mobility and more recently that

[1:47:42] ranking has risen to 38.

[1:47:44] Small businesses account for

[1:47:47] 50% of jobs in america.

[1:47:48] And a recent small business

[1:47:51] data audit and intelligence

[1:47:51] report for charlotte showed the

[1:47:54] bank that small businesses in

[1:47:57] charlotte with fewer than 500

[1:47:59] employees account for 680,000

[1:48:04] jobs 680,000 jobs.

[1:48:06] Strengthening the bridge

[1:48:07] between the city and these

[1:48:09] small businesses is critical to

[1:48:12] improve workforce opportunities

[1:48:15] and economic and social

[1:48:15] development.

[1:48:18] >> I support mayor pro tem

[1:48:21] mitchell because he's special.

[1:48:23] He's accessible and will focus

[1:48:24] only on this because he's not

[1:48:26] standing for mayor afterwards.

[1:48:26] >> thank you.

[1:48:27] Thank you.

[1:48:29] All right.

[1:48:31] Our next speakers are tammy

[1:48:37] nichols and and jeff and sara

[1:48:40] lee.

[1:48:52] This is hello mayor city

[1:48:52] council.

[1:48:55] My name is tammy nichols and I

[1:48:56] have a question.

[1:48:58] Do you think your skills on

[1:48:59] city council will make you a

[1:49:01] better mayor than an outsider

[1:49:04] with your relationships with

[1:49:05] staff working relationship with

[1:49:07] the city manager and the city

[1:49:07] attorney?

[1:49:10] What about council priorities

[1:49:10] that you created?

[1:49:12] Who would know that better than

[1:49:13] you?

[1:49:16] I could go on and on.

[1:49:16] But that's why I'm supporting

[1:49:18] mayor pro tem james mitchell

[1:49:21] because when you vote for james

[1:49:21] you're not just voting for the

[1:49:24] next mayor but you're voting

[1:49:24] for you.

[1:49:27] Thank you.

[1:49:29] Thank you.

[1:49:30] All right.

[1:49:30] Thank you.

[1:49:32] Please.

[1:49:33] >> good evening.

[1:49:36] Mayor lyles and members of the

[1:49:36] city council.

[1:49:38] My name is charlotte slate and

[1:49:41] I am a new resident to

[1:49:42] charlotte.

[1:49:45] It did not take me long to know

[1:49:47] james mitchell.

[1:49:51] I have witnessed the impact of

[1:49:51] his leadership through the

[1:49:53] people and organizations that

[1:49:55] he supports.

[1:49:59] My daughter nicole grace has

[1:50:00] served on both the charlotte

[1:50:02] business inclusion advisory

[1:50:05] committee as well as the

[1:50:07] leadership with elbow.

[1:50:12] >> one thing became clear james

[1:50:13] mitchell is the leader who

[1:50:18] consistently shows up, listens

[1:50:21] and supports the people working

[1:50:21] to strengthen this city.

[1:50:27] Later shep is measured not only

[1:50:28] by what you accomplish but by

[1:50:33] trust and respect you earn from

[1:50:33] others.

[1:50:36] James mitchell has earned that

[1:50:36] trust.

[1:50:41] Thank you.

[1:50:43] Thank.

[1:50:49] Thank you so much, soledad.

[1:50:52] Thanks so.

[1:50:52] >> MADAM Clerk.

[1:50:55] We are now going to receive an

[1:50:57] overview and entered in

[1:50:58] instructions of our ballot

[1:51:01] process from our city attorney.

[1:51:03] I'm going to turn it over to

[1:51:06] our city attorney as well where

[1:51:09] thank you, MADAM Mayor, and

[1:51:09] thank you for your incredible

[1:51:12] service to our community

[1:51:12] council.

[1:51:15] The following five candidates

[1:51:15] have been nominated for the

[1:51:18] office of mayor and have been

[1:51:20] included in the ballot before

[1:51:21] you.

[1:51:23] Those names are as follows

[1:51:28] carol cogdill harry cook,

[1:51:30] robert harrington james

[1:51:33] mitchell jr and caleb.

[1:51:35] >> the address.

[1:51:40] The first candidate to receive

[1:51:42] six council member votes will

[1:51:46] be eligible for appointment by

[1:51:50] this council if no candidate

[1:51:50] reaches six votes on the first

[1:51:51] ballot.

[1:51:53] The two highest vote getters

[1:51:56] will proceed to a second ballot

[1:51:59] and all others will be

[1:52:01] eliminated.

[1:52:04] If there is a tie for the

[1:52:04] second highest voter vote

[1:52:09] getter each of those tied for

[1:52:09] second place will participate

[1:52:12] in a runoff to determine who

[1:52:14] will complete against the

[1:52:17] highest vote getter.

[1:52:20] If necessary, all votes

[1:52:20] following the second ballot

[1:52:25] will be conducted by ballot.

[1:52:27] At this time in accordance with

[1:52:32] ncg s 168 dash 63 the council

[1:52:35] will now vote to select the

[1:52:35] next mayor by appointment.

[1:52:40] At this time please mark your

[1:52:42] ballot for one candidate.

[1:52:44] After making your selection

[1:52:45] please sign your ballot and

[1:52:48] place it in the envelope and

[1:52:50] hand it to the clerk.

[1:52:51] As times will come across

[1:52:54] around the dais starting with

[1:52:59] council member johnson, it

[1:53:02] should be noted starting with

[1:53:02] council member johnson.

[1:53:05] Moving across the dais council

[1:53:07] MAY proceed with the remainder

[1:53:10] of its business while the

[1:53:12] clerk's office tallies the vote

[1:53:13] .

[1:53:18] Thank you.

[1:53:22] Number eight.

[1:53:24] >> okay.

[1:53:25] We're going to allow this to be

[1:53:28] the part of our process and

[1:53:31] what we're doing and so I'm

[1:53:32] pretty much see the clerk is

[1:53:34] handling this and providing it

[1:53:36] for further action.

[1:53:37] >> so it's just for

[1:53:40] clarification.

[1:53:40] The attorney did just note we

[1:53:42] can continue so that means we

[1:53:43] can go to number eight which is

[1:53:45] the public hearing correct?

[1:53:45] >> correct.

[1:53:46] Thank you.

[1:53:51] Okay.

[1:53:54] Do you want go to the public

[1:53:59] hearing just.

[1:53:59] I'm just trying to figure out

[1:54:01] MISS MAY feel are you

[1:54:02] suggesting that we continue to

[1:54:05] open the public hearing on the

[1:54:07] dilworth methodist church so

[1:54:09] that south historic landmark

[1:54:13] designation and then we'll just

[1:54:14] keep going?

[1:54:14] Yeah.

[1:54:16] You know if the court finish

[1:54:18] all that up so the did everyone

[1:54:21] understand and so we're now

[1:54:24] open to open the public hearing

[1:54:24] .

[1:54:25] Do I have a motion hearing,

[1:54:27] second motion and a second all

[1:54:30] in favor to speak?

[1:54:32] We do that then we can have one

[1:54:33] speaker we have one speaker and

[1:54:35] speaker that we did not get to.

[1:54:35] Sorry.

[1:54:40] Is this jeff hernando?

[1:54:41] >> there you are.

[1:54:48] Thank you so MR..

[1:54:55] MR. Warren here for.

[1:54:57] >> hello, city council.

[1:55:01] So awesome to be here with you

[1:55:01] on this historic night and now

[1:55:04] we get to talk about a historic

[1:55:04] building.

[1:55:06] I am the owner of lydia hall

[1:55:12] and on cleveland llc thank you

[1:55:13] for considering the designation

[1:55:15] of the de worth methodist

[1:55:16] methodist church south as a

[1:55:18] local historic landmark.

[1:55:20] Jamie and I have always

[1:55:21] believed that our buildings

[1:55:21] tell a story and create a

[1:55:24] unique sense of place.

[1:55:24] They can be challenging to

[1:55:26] preserve but they are also

[1:55:27] incredibly rewarding.

[1:55:29] We are honored to serve as

[1:55:30] stewards of the doors methodist

[1:55:32] church the oldest church

[1:55:34] building in dilworth and a

[1:55:35] cherished part of this

[1:55:37] community's fabric for more

[1:55:37] than 110 years.

[1:55:40] Our hope is that this building

[1:55:40] continues to stand as an iconic

[1:55:43] gateway into historic dover

[1:55:45] from the rapidly growing south

[1:55:46] end.

[1:55:46] More importantly, we want it to

[1:55:49] remain a gathering place and an

[1:55:50] anchor for the community for

[1:55:52] generations to come.

[1:55:52] As charlotte continues to grow

[1:55:55] and the historian neri pace

[1:55:58] preserving places like this

[1:55:58] becomes even more important.

[1:56:01] These storied landmark oaks

[1:56:01] remind us where we came from.

[1:56:04] Connect us to our shared

[1:56:04] history and help make charlotte

[1:56:05] the special city.

[1:56:07] It is today.

[1:56:07] Thank you for your

[1:56:09] consideration and for helping

[1:56:10] preserve this important piece

[1:56:10] of charlotte's heritage.

[1:56:12] >> thank you.

[1:56:15] >> thank you very much.

[1:56:18] So circuit and then a section.

[1:56:18] We have a motion already made.

[1:56:21] I'm sorry I couldn't hear you.

[1:56:21] >> I want to make.

[1:56:23] We have a motion to close

[1:56:24] public hearing in a second.

[1:56:26] All right.

[1:56:27] >> the motion.

[1:56:29] We had a motion and a second.

[1:56:29] We had a speaker.

[1:56:32] Now it is if there is any

[1:56:32] discussion.

[1:56:33] Is there any discussion?

[1:56:35] MISS Mayfield?

[1:56:35] >> thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:56:40] So this is a consistent concern

[1:56:40] .

[1:56:42] The fact that we have a this

[1:56:43] along with two other hearings

[1:56:49] tonight along with the adoption

[1:56:52] versus utilize in the process

[1:56:52] where we have the public

[1:56:54] hearing and then at the next

[1:56:57] meeting is when we have

[1:56:58] decision I think is concerning

[1:57:02] whether it's this designation

[1:57:03] or the other two when we have

[1:57:05] both items on the same agenda.

[1:57:07] I have already mentioned this

[1:57:10] once that does not create the

[1:57:14] space for community engagement

[1:57:14] to have a hearing on the same

[1:57:17] evening as a decision versus

[1:57:20] the public hearing be in a

[1:57:23] separate decision like we do

[1:57:26] with our zoning where we have a

[1:57:27] hearing and later will have the

[1:57:27] decision.

[1:57:29] I am not going to be supporting

[1:57:32] this but we need to have a real

[1:57:32] conversation about what they

[1:57:34] are presenting to us.

[1:57:37] Any discussion where we are

[1:57:39] having a public hearing and a

[1:57:40] decision on it on the same

[1:57:42] evening in the same agenda

[1:57:43] item.

[1:57:43] >> thank you.

[1:57:46] All right.

[1:57:46] You've heard the comments of

[1:57:46] MS..

[1:57:47] Mayfield.

[1:57:49] I want to warn of MADAM Mayor.

[1:57:50] I don't want to interrupt.

[1:57:50] I see councilmember johnson's

[1:57:51] hand is up but I did confer

[1:57:52] with the attorney and we need

[1:57:54] to close the hearing and make a

[1:57:54] motion before we can have

[1:57:56] discussion on the particular

[1:57:57] item.

[1:57:57] >> okay.

[1:58:00] All right, MADAM.

[1:58:03] >> so you had a motion in a

[1:58:03] second?

[1:58:03] Yeah.

[1:58:05] So now moving to discussion.

[1:58:05] >> all right.

[1:58:08] So our next step on this one

[1:58:12] would be a vote the vote

[1:58:14] because where are we discussing

[1:58:17] this misquote?

[1:58:17] >> I think I'm sorry.

[1:58:18] The motion was to clear our

[1:58:20] hand up and I'm not sure what

[1:58:22] for the vote to close it though

[1:58:23] because there's a does johnson

[1:58:25] did you have thought you and

[1:58:26] I'm waiting for the attorney to

[1:58:26] sit here in city and make a

[1:58:28] motion for action and then the

[1:58:32] discussion follows that motion

[1:58:35] and it could go.

[1:58:35] >> yes, I'm going to vote on

[1:58:37] the motion to close because it

[1:58:40] allows the public hearing the

[1:58:41] motion in a second vote on the

[1:58:43] close of public hearing.

[1:58:43] >> okay.

[1:58:46] So we already have first and

[1:58:46] second.

[1:58:48] >> I'm trying to listen but

[1:58:49] that I hear more the more

[1:58:54] voices than I have ears out

[1:58:55] there with a motion and a

[1:58:56] second to close the public

[1:58:56] hearing.

[1:58:58] could we vote on that so that

[1:58:59] the public public hearing is

[1:59:02] officially closed?

[1:59:02] >> right.

[1:59:02] Okay.

[1:59:04] MS..

[1:59:07] MS. Mayor, were you.

[1:59:07] Okay.

[1:59:10] So so those have the vote on

[1:59:10] this like all in favor.

[1:59:12] In favor of the motion please

[1:59:15] raise your hand and want not

[1:59:15] opposing.

[1:59:18] Okay.

[1:59:18] >> okay.

[1:59:18] All right.

[1:59:21] And now with that MS. Motion

[1:59:21] MADAM Mayor, our discussion

[1:59:23] about the hearing before the

[1:59:26] approval but city attorney I

[1:59:27] need to make a motion or

[1:59:29] someone needs to make a motion

[1:59:32] to adopt the ordinance.

[1:59:32] Correct?

[1:59:32] Yes.

[1:59:35] So I make a motion for part b

[1:59:37] of agenda item number eight to

[1:59:39] adopt the ordinance with an

[1:59:41] effective date of JUNE 22nd

[1:59:41] 2012 six.

[1:59:43] All right.

[1:59:46] You've heard the motion is

[1:59:47] there any discussion?

[1:59:50] That's james johnson.

[1:59:50] Thank you.

[1:59:51] I wanted to follow up with the

[1:59:53] city manager for regarding what

[1:59:56] councilmember mayfield for the

[1:59:57] concern she shared.

[1:59:59] She did share that last month.

[2:00:02] I would agree with that that is

[2:00:02] our practice, our common

[2:00:04] practice with all other

[2:00:04] motions.

[2:00:05] >> so can you speak to that?

[2:00:07] Sure.

[2:00:08] Thank you, councilmember

[2:00:08] johnson.

[2:00:10] So my understanding is that

[2:00:12] this way historically the city

[2:00:13] has handled these public

[2:00:16] hearings with exception of

[2:00:16] during covid.

[2:00:18] So the governor at that time

[2:00:21] provided the opportunity for

[2:00:24] jurisdictions to do exactly

[2:00:25] what councilmember mayfield is

[2:00:30] saying after that was lifted.

[2:00:31] We just went back to the

[2:00:33] previous process.

[2:00:34] But if it's the will of this

[2:00:34] council to do something

[2:00:36] differently, you can do

[2:00:39] something differently.

[2:00:42] It's a motion.

[2:00:42] Okay.

[2:00:46] So I mean you in I mean I would

[2:00:48] think when you say this is the

[2:00:48] way we handle it you just mean

[2:00:50] these property decisions

[2:00:53] because other hearings if we

[2:00:56] have a hearing on the business

[2:00:56] agenda again with the exception

[2:00:59] of covid, this is the way that

[2:01:01] we've handled these particular

[2:01:01] hearings.

[2:01:06] But again, if the council would

[2:01:06] like to have a two step

[2:01:07] process, that's something that

[2:01:08] the council can do.

[2:01:08] Okay.

[2:01:11] Thank you.

[2:01:11] >> all right.

[2:01:14] Is there any further discussion

[2:01:14] on this item then?

[2:01:18] I mean I can I make a motion to

[2:01:19] defer this one until next.

[2:01:22] Well, no, we SEPTEMBER is all

[2:01:24] rights for SEPTEMBER.

[2:01:26] We deferred the decision

[2:01:27] tonight then it will be the

[2:01:28] next business meeting would be

[2:01:30] SEPTEMBER, AUGUST, AUGUST as we

[2:01:33] often do we have a motion we

[2:01:35] don't know.

[2:01:38] Okay I mean I'll make the

[2:01:39] motion if I get a second I

[2:01:41] guess second yeah I'd like to

[2:01:42] make a motion to defer to

[2:01:44] AUGUST before the side until

[2:01:46] the decision.

[2:01:46] The decision?

[2:01:47] Yes.

[2:01:49] So we've got several more that

[2:01:49] are pretty much the same kind

[2:01:51] of caliber of what they're

[2:01:57] doing and I wonder if we could

[2:02:00] do them in a way that all of

[2:02:00] them are done and inclusive but

[2:02:03] okay so then a motion to defer

[2:02:05] all of the decisions and until

[2:02:10] AUGUST mare when married yes I

[2:02:13] would like us we don't I would

[2:02:14] like us to have a process

[2:02:16] moving forward so we're not

[2:02:18] just picking one item at a time

[2:02:21] or two items randomly so if we

[2:02:22] can refer this to the committee

[2:02:24] where we come up with a process

[2:02:24] and if if it's the council's

[2:02:27] will to have a hearing and

[2:02:30] decision a month apart, we can

[2:02:31] do that.

[2:02:31] I just don't feel comfortable

[2:02:34] doing it sort of on the fly

[2:02:36] because I do not know how this

[2:02:37] would impact some of the

[2:02:39] projects that are especially

[2:02:39] historic landmark designation

[2:02:42] because time is money that's

[2:02:42] fair.

[2:02:45] >> so if you're okay with the

[2:02:45] friendly amendment to move this

[2:02:47] to the b any committee for a

[2:02:50] process so that we have

[2:02:52] consistency moving forward?

[2:02:53] >> yeah I accept it.

[2:02:55] It's just that council member

[2:02:56] mayfield has shared that

[2:02:58] concern consistently and I'd

[2:02:59] like to know that council's

[2:03:02] concerns are being addressed.

[2:03:04] So I do I will accept that

[2:03:04] amendment.

[2:03:05] >> thank you.

[2:03:06] Second all right, so then what

[2:03:08] happens?

[2:03:09] >> what's happened?

[2:03:11] So that was a friendly

[2:03:12] amendment to the substitute

[2:03:15] motion which was to defer there

[2:03:15] was a motion to defer and there

[2:03:17] was an amendment so vote on the

[2:03:21] motion to defer it or scuse me

[2:03:21] motion to send it to bcr for

[2:03:24] further study so that that's

[2:03:25] the first motion on the floor.

[2:03:26] Is there a second for that?

[2:03:27] I did seconded.

[2:03:27] Okay.

[2:03:28] All right.

[2:03:29] >> so but on that the center

[2:03:31] I'm sorry I just want to make

[2:03:32] sure I'm very clear I hear the

[2:03:34] committee referral this

[2:03:34] specific item though it's

[2:03:36] deferred this specific item and

[2:03:40] refer the broader issue to

[2:03:40] committee or no no.

[2:03:41] >> what is the broader issue

[2:03:43] now just the broader broader

[2:03:43] issue the vote today and we can

[2:03:45] move forward on this item?

[2:03:47] >> yeah, that's okay.

[2:03:48] >> okay.

[2:03:51] Motion in the second is time to

[2:03:51] vote.

[2:03:53] Okay on to river right will

[2:03:54] call for the vote for the next

[2:03:58] this before we can send it to

[2:03:59] legal to the dilworth methodist

[2:04:01] church so historic landmark

[2:04:04] designation all in favor please

[2:04:05] raise your hand MADAM Mayor are

[2:04:07] you disappointed information at

[2:04:10] this point of information we

[2:04:13] have a an amendment an amended

[2:04:16] vote to send this this

[2:04:16] particular issue that MS..

[2:04:18] Mayo's brought up numerous

[2:04:21] times of having both a and b

[2:04:24] the hearing and the vote sent

[2:04:24] to bgea.

[2:04:25] That's what we're voting on now

[2:04:27] not item number eight.

[2:04:29] That's right.

[2:04:31] So you do have a first motion

[2:04:34] and a second so we can vote to

[2:04:36] send this to btr right now.

[2:04:37] >> so you call for the vote.

[2:04:41] well I did but it's not do you

[2:04:42] want to vote so I did.

[2:04:45] So do you all in favor anyone

[2:04:47] opposed?

[2:04:47] All right.

[2:04:50] Thank you very much.

[2:04:53] >> we do have so now we're back

[2:04:56] MADAM Mayor to the my original

[2:04:59] motion which was to move to

[2:05:03] adopt and I agenda item number

[2:05:04] eight part b and it was

[2:05:06] properly seconded right so

[2:05:07] we've done and if you look at

[2:05:09] the rest of your agenda there

[2:05:11] are some others that are doing

[2:05:12] a budget ordinance for general

[2:05:15] funds and others but we're

[2:05:16] going to pass that until you

[2:05:18] have a new process right step

[2:05:21] one and we can vote on agenda

[2:05:21] item.

[2:05:21] >> all right.

[2:05:24] So the next item let's go to

[2:05:26] item number 8 to 88.

[2:05:30] >> we still won't be and b we

[2:05:31] will now move to the business

[2:05:34] agenda for I'm sorry 13 is

[2:05:37] there motion meeting 80 8dbdb

[2:05:40] yes just be you have your

[2:05:42] motion you have a motion and a

[2:05:44] second you see the motion in a

[2:05:44] second.

[2:05:44] All in favor.

[2:05:47] All in favor of apprenticeship

[2:05:49] building grant program.

[2:05:50] All right.

[2:05:50] Okay.

[2:05:53] Any opposed and I want to pose

[2:05:58] here in no opposition and

[2:05:58] opposes so we will go to the

[2:06:01] next house that we're having

[2:06:04] the ford house as a historic

[2:06:07] landmark any issues or

[2:06:07] questions with us more to close

[2:06:10] the public hearing if there are

[2:06:12] no speakers, MADAM Clerk

[2:06:12] second, if you have a motion to

[2:06:15] close open and close the public

[2:06:17] hearing and if there was

[2:06:20] discussion it will next call

[2:06:22] and evaluate all in favor favor

[2:06:25] raise your hand.

[2:06:25] Anyone oppose MS. Mayfield

[2:06:28] thank you MS..

[2:06:29] >> mcphail I was raising my

[2:06:31] hand in support of closing in

[2:06:34] closing this one, the original

[2:06:35] question of closing the hearing

[2:06:37] is unanimous.

[2:06:38] Okay, I gotcha.

[2:06:43] I will make up their motion to

[2:06:45] okay move to adopt adopt b

[2:06:51] which is to approve seconded.

[2:06:51] All right.

[2:06:52] And it is going to have a

[2:06:54] motion and okay.

[2:06:57] All in favor raise your hands.

[2:07:00] Anyone oppose this mayfield so

[2:07:03] that committee okay.

[2:07:05] >> all right.

[2:07:08] So I'm able to conduct a public

[2:07:10] hearing for a number of

[2:07:11] counties.

[2:07:11] >> there are no public

[2:07:13] speakers, MADAM Clerk MADAM

[2:07:16] Clerk how far away along on the

[2:07:19] tally or do we have time to

[2:07:19] talk more about you have time

[2:07:22] to if you want to finish these

[2:07:24] hearings then we can make a

[2:07:28] motion to close the hearing.

[2:07:30] We had most of the motion.

[2:07:33] >> we have a motion motion in a

[2:07:33] second.

[2:07:35] A second already is when we're

[2:07:37] not hearing on this and when

[2:07:38] y'all the motion so there was a

[2:07:40] motion to open and close the

[2:07:40] public hearing.

[2:07:41] It was second here and now

[2:07:43] MADAM Mayor, I believe you're

[2:07:45] going to call for a vote or yes

[2:07:48] on the speaker at the motion to

[2:07:49] a public hearing to adopt an

[2:07:51] annexation ordinance with

[2:07:55] effective date of JUNE 22nd

[2:07:55] 2026 to extend the corporate

[2:07:58] limits to include this property

[2:07:59] and assign it to the city

[2:08:01] district council district five

[2:08:01] all in favor to open and close

[2:08:04] the public hearing right there

[2:08:05] is already a motion in a second

[2:08:07] and one opposed to closing the

[2:08:07] public hearing.

[2:08:08] All right.

[2:08:09] Thank you very much.

[2:08:12] >> so yeah, moved to adopt b to

[2:08:13] approve.

[2:08:15] >> all right.

[2:08:17] We've just got a second to

[2:08:20] adopt in the ten b any

[2:08:20] questions or comments any

[2:08:25] opposition hearing all in favor

[2:08:25] .

[2:08:28] >> all in favor any opposed you

[2:08:28] want to post mayfield okay.

[2:08:30] >> thank you.

[2:08:31] >> all right.

[2:08:31] All right.

[2:08:34] So let's go back to the clerk

[2:08:36] and see where we are.

[2:08:48] >> we just got to going to give

[2:08:51] that have all right.

[2:08:54] So we have a package that was

[2:08:55] just sent to me and I've just

[2:08:58] open it up and it reads no one

[2:08:59] received six votes.

[2:09:01] Turn this over now to our city

[2:09:04] attorney for the next steps at

[2:09:05] this time, counsel, you will

[2:09:08] you will receive a another

[2:09:08] ballot.

[2:09:11] You will once again need to

[2:09:13] select one candidate for this

[2:09:16] runoff ballot and the names on

[2:09:18] the runoff ballot are the names

[2:09:21] are kerry cook and robert

[2:09:39] harrington.

[2:09:46] All right.

[2:09:49] So let me let me let me be

[2:09:52] clear.

[2:09:53] I'm sorry.

[2:09:55] So no one received six I want

[2:09:55] to read the tally out.

[2:09:56] >> okay?

[2:09:56] Okay.

[2:09:57] Oh, we got to do that before we

[2:09:58] move forward.

[2:10:00] so I was okay.

[2:10:04] Harold cogdill received two

[2:10:04] votes.

[2:10:09] Harry cook received three

[2:10:09] votes.

[2:10:12] Robert harrington received four

[2:10:12] votes.

[2:10:17] James mitchell received two

[2:10:17] votes.

[2:10:17] >> so you're to highest vote

[2:10:21] getters are robert harrington

[2:10:23] with four, kerry cook with

[2:10:24] three.

[2:10:26] Neither of them received six

[2:10:29] votes so hits council voting

[2:10:31] again to determine the highest

[2:10:32] vote getter someone will need

[2:10:34] to reach six in order to be

[2:10:37] appointed that clear is man

[2:10:40] thank you.

[2:10:46] Please select one name one name

[2:10:49] and community members to do

[2:10:49] once you've selected your

[2:10:53] candidate you can proceed with

[2:10:55] the remainder of your business

[2:11:12] while we tally all of the she

[2:11:19] gives me statements she makes

[2:11:25] these I like to turn to as it

[2:11:28] yeah she just sitting and she

[2:11:31] tried to he said she doesn't oh

[2:11:31] she said you don't have my

[2:11:33] feelings I have to do it with

[2:11:37] retirees I mean does she I mean

[2:11:39] she's since my field has her

[2:11:39] ballot she's already marked it.

[2:11:42] Let's see the market.

[2:11:43] >> she has a submitted term.

[2:11:44] It is she has to submit that.

[2:11:51] So when she left the dice she

[2:11:54] signed it.

[2:12:00] So this is if you don't have

[2:12:00] those killed.

[2:12:00] All right.

[2:12:07] Let's take a major speaking the

[2:12:25] pollution control division.

[2:12:38] You can continue to MADAM

[2:12:38] Mayor, if it's council's

[2:12:41] pleasure, you can proceed with

[2:12:42] the remainder of your business

[2:12:46] until the tally the fatality.

[2:12:46] >> so what's happening?

[2:12:49] All right, let's go to item 12

[2:12:51] palette real red light camera

[2:12:54] program and ordinance revision

[2:12:54] .

[2:12:55] Our next policy item is for

[2:13:00] this item and for item 12 do I

[2:13:03] have a motion to adopt a adopt

[2:13:06] a resolution and approving

[2:13:06] safety committee's

[2:13:09] recommendation to implement a

[2:13:13] pallet automated red light

[2:13:15] running enforcement program for

[2:13:16] period of one year and a b to

[2:13:18] adopt an ordinance approving

[2:13:23] those amendments to chapter 14

[2:13:23] article four of the city code.

[2:13:26] >> so I and b secondly I have a

[2:13:29] motion for both a and b.

[2:13:32] Any other comments or questions

[2:13:35] on this and thank you, MADAM

[2:13:35] Mayor.

[2:13:37] >> thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:13:38] I just want to first of

[2:13:40] foremost thank the members of

[2:13:41] my committee of the safety

[2:13:44] committee which are see them as

[2:13:46] mirror of myself.

[2:13:50] I see a metro l c m graham and

[2:13:53] c m driggs and we worked pretty

[2:13:56] arduously on that on this

[2:13:59] particular line item given our

[2:14:01] vision zero goals and some of

[2:14:01] the comments that you heard

[2:14:03] from the public around the

[2:14:06] injuries and unfortunately

[2:14:07] deaths as it relates to the hit

[2:14:09] killer accidents and so we've

[2:14:12] we've done great research with

[2:14:14] our peer cities both here in

[2:14:15] the great state of north

[2:14:18] carolina but also throughout

[2:14:18] the country.

[2:14:20] And we landed on this pilot

[2:14:23] program that will attack our

[2:14:25] our highest our highest ten

[2:14:25] intersections that

[2:14:28] unfortunately we have these

[2:14:29] accidents and so we feel very

[2:14:31] good about the program and we

[2:14:34] also are as we stand up this

[2:14:36] program we're also standing up

[2:14:39] a data driven perspective so

[2:14:39] we'll get constant updates as

[2:14:42] it relates to the accidents,

[2:14:44] the potential reductions in

[2:14:45] other things that we can

[2:14:47] potentially tweak as we go

[2:14:48] through this 12 month pilot.

[2:14:51] So like to thank my committee

[2:14:53] for their great work on this

[2:14:54] and hopefully the council will

[2:14:56] support so we can advance

[2:14:59] something that is a very strong

[2:15:00] issue within our city.

[2:15:00] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:15:02] All right.

[2:15:02] Thank you.

[2:15:05] Our next business is about time

[2:15:08] travel and oh, we have to vote

[2:15:08] on this.

[2:15:10] Yes.

[2:15:11] >> I think is so popular I

[2:15:13] thought voting was like I

[2:15:14] didn't think anyone was going

[2:15:17] to be opposed but I me try.

[2:15:17] All right.

[2:15:19] Let's a yes.

[2:15:20] >> we have a motion on the

[2:15:21] floor.

[2:15:22] Okay.

[2:15:22] And we have a second all in

[2:15:28] favor anyone oppose MS.

[2:15:28] Johnson?

[2:15:29] >> did you have your.

[2:15:29] I did.

[2:15:30] I'm in favor.

[2:15:31] Thank you so much.

[2:15:31] Okay.

[2:15:34] So now the next item is item b

[2:15:37] adopt a budget ordinance of I'm

[2:15:40] sorry we're now going to move

[2:15:42] into the business section of

[2:15:42] our agenda for item 13.

[2:15:45] Is there a motion to accept a

[2:15:47] grant in the amount of $12,000

[2:15:50] from apprenticeship and see nor

[2:15:52] and nor in the north carolina

[2:15:53] community college system for

[2:15:55] solid waste services,

[2:15:58] apprenticeships and that's item

[2:16:01] a and item b is adopt a budget

[2:16:03] ordinance appropriating $12,000

[2:16:05] to the general grants fund move

[2:16:08] to approve a and b a motion for

[2:16:11] a and b is there any discussion

[2:16:11] all right.

[2:16:14] If not, we will go on to okay.

[2:16:17] >> all in favor could I could

[2:16:19] come in motion all in favor.

[2:16:20] Not a motion.

[2:16:22] I'm sorry I was just going to

[2:16:22] make a quick comment.

[2:16:25] Can I before we vote I thank

[2:16:26] you.

[2:16:28] >> I just want it to give a

[2:16:31] huge shout out to MR. Rotten.

[2:16:34] James and I had the ability and

[2:16:34] the pleasure to go out and

[2:16:37] spend time with our solid waste

[2:16:40] workers last week and they

[2:16:42] presented me with their

[2:16:45] strategies, their areas of

[2:16:46] opportunity where they need

[2:16:48] funding as well as how they

[2:16:51] actually support and undergird

[2:16:54] their employees from having a

[2:16:55] food bank right there on the

[2:16:57] premises to workers receiving

[2:17:00] their ged and being ushered

[2:17:01] through programs and other

[2:17:03] opportunities.

[2:17:05] And so they really lean in and

[2:17:08] rodney does a fantastic job

[2:17:08] next year around this time

[2:17:11] hopefully a month prior to we

[2:17:14] will lean into them and as it

[2:17:16] relates to budget opportunities

[2:17:17] because throughout the city of

[2:17:20] charlotte with nearly a million

[2:17:22] people they only have 12 street

[2:17:25] sweepers and I don't know about

[2:17:26] some of the district reps but

[2:17:28] I'm constantly getting requests

[2:17:28] from the neighborhoods asking

[2:17:31] why are the streets swept more

[2:17:34] frequently with 12th street

[2:17:37] sweepers they can only hit one

[2:17:37] area on an annual basis just

[2:17:41] based on our footprint and so

[2:17:42] they have some other needs as

[2:17:43] it relates to trucks and

[2:17:46] technology fees and things of

[2:17:46] that nature.

[2:17:48] But just wanted to give a shout

[2:17:48] out to a great leader.

[2:17:51] They're really leaning into his

[2:17:51] employees.

[2:17:52] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:17:52] Okay.

[2:17:54] Thank you.

[2:17:54] I'm sure they will appreciate

[2:17:56] that.

[2:17:57] >> all right.

[2:17:59] So item oh if we voted on this

[2:18:02] one, leave let's go ahead and

[2:18:03] say all right, I'll favor all

[2:18:08] in favor and one opposed so

[2:18:10] anyone not oppose.

[2:18:12] >> all right so our next

[2:18:13] business item is for an initial

[2:18:16] findings of resolution of 2026

[2:18:18] storm water construction period

[2:18:20] financing for item 14.

[2:18:23] Is there a motion to adopt an

[2:18:25] initiative an initial finding

[2:18:28] resolution that makes certain

[2:18:29] statements of fact concerning

[2:18:31] the storm water construction

[2:18:35] period financing and adopt a, b

[2:18:37] and c second motion for a, b

[2:18:39] and c any discussion hearing

[2:18:43] none all in favor anyone

[2:18:43] opposed?

[2:18:45] So we will go to that.

[2:18:46] The next one is our general

[2:18:48] obligation refunding bonds the

[2:18:51] next business items is for that

[2:18:53] and it's for item 15 is there a

[2:18:56] motion now that MAY move

[2:18:58] approve a 12 second we have a

[2:18:59] motion of approval from a

[2:19:02] through f any discussion?

[2:19:03] All right.

[2:19:05] Pursuant to general statute 168

[2:19:06] us 70 5ai must recuse myself

[2:19:08] from this vote.

[2:19:09] I couldn't hear what you said.

[2:19:11] It seems to yeah recusal cuz

[2:19:14] myself or so are yourself.

[2:19:14] thank you.

[2:19:15] I was like why would anybody

[2:19:17] accuse me right now?

[2:19:17] >> yeah what's the point?

[2:19:20] So yes we're going to have have

[2:19:23] a motion to approve of victoria

[2:19:26] watlington so all in favor?

[2:19:29] >> oh no motion necessary.

[2:19:30] No motion necessary is recusal

[2:19:31] cuz.

[2:19:31] >> oh you're going to recuse

[2:19:32] yourself.

[2:19:32] Thank you.

[2:19:34] All right let's go that the

[2:19:36] next item so thank you.

[2:19:37] >> that's the vote on the next

[2:19:39] item I mean the item that we

[2:19:40] have the item paper out the

[2:19:45] well here we go a through if

[2:19:45] that's all we go on all of

[2:19:48] ready for that.

[2:19:48] So anyone have proposed a

[2:19:51] through any a favor all in

[2:19:51] favor.

[2:19:53] All in favor.

[2:19:56] >> okay yes all right the next

[2:19:56] busineneness idea is for the

[2:19:59] general obligation bond fund

[2:20:01] referendum for item 16.

[2:20:02] Is there a motion to introduce

[2:20:04] such of the three bond orders

[2:20:07] required for a general

[2:20:07] obligation bond referendum

[2:20:12] which includes $280 million of

[2:20:15] transportation bonds, $20

[2:20:15] million of neighborhood

[2:20:19] improvement bonds and 125

[2:20:22] million of housing bonds do we

[2:20:25] have a motion to approve a and

[2:20:26] b so I have a motion for a and

[2:20:28] b is there anyone that has as

[2:20:32] it was discussion or not MS.

[2:20:34] Watlington or to one 6870 5

[2:20:35] A.M. Recuse myself from this

[2:20:35] vote.

[2:20:38] All right there's a recusal

[2:20:40] with MS. Watlington anything

[2:20:40] else anyone else you were

[2:20:43] prepared to vote?

[2:20:45] All in favor raise your hand.

[2:20:48] i think this is probably one of

[2:20:50] the things easy is and this

[2:20:50] who's opposed?

[2:20:52] No one is of course one

[2:20:52] opposed.

[2:20:55] >> so I don't have any opposed.

[2:20:57] Okay.

[2:20:58] >> the next item is university

[2:21:00] city municipal service district

[2:21:00] boundary expansion the next

[2:21:03] business item is for that

[2:21:06] university city boundary

[2:21:06] expansion for item 17 is there

[2:21:10] their motion for approval?

[2:21:10] >> so I'm I'm a johnson second

[2:21:12] second I have a motion and a

[2:21:13] second.

[2:21:17] Is there any further discussion

[2:21:18] hearing none all in favor of

[2:21:21] the motion anyone oppose that

[2:21:24] hearing?

[2:21:25] >> all right 18 the next item

[2:21:26] is to accept habitat for

[2:21:27] humanity funding for the

[2:21:29] robinson church road widening

[2:21:31] project for item 18.

[2:21:32] Is there a motion to authorize

[2:21:34] the manager as designee to

[2:21:37] accept a contribution amount of

[2:21:40] $52,000 from habitat for

[2:21:40] humanity for the charlotte

[2:21:43] region for the approval and the

[2:21:46] same thing we have a motion for

[2:21:48] a and b second and a second all

[2:21:51] in favor please let me know

[2:21:53] anyone opposed?

[2:21:54] All right.

[2:21:56] The next item in business and a

[2:21:57] local agreement with the town

[2:21:58] of mid hill for construction of

[2:21:59] water and sewer infrastructure.

[2:22:02] The next item is an in a local

[2:22:02] agreement.

[2:22:03] Is there any questions

[2:22:05] concerning this item?

[2:22:06] >> to adopt a resolution

[2:22:09] authorizing the city manager to

[2:22:11] negotiate security in local

[2:22:11] gaming with the town of M.L.

[2:22:12] For construction a sanitary

[2:22:15] sewer lines and a water storage

[2:22:15] second?

[2:22:15] >> all right.

[2:22:18] We have a motion and a second

[2:22:20] is there any further discussion

[2:22:20] ?

[2:22:21] There are none.

[2:22:23] All in favor please raise your

[2:22:25] hand and then one opposed.

[2:22:27] Staff and are you okay?

[2:22:28] Thank you.

[2:22:30] The next item is 20 is an

[2:22:31] amendment to the amended

[2:22:33] restated lease for the bank of

[2:22:34] america stadium move for

[2:22:36] approval.

[2:22:37] >> we have a second and a

[2:22:37] second.

[2:22:39] Is there any further

[2:22:39] discussion?

[2:22:39] MS..

[2:22:44] MISS Mayfield.

[2:22:45] >> thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:22:47] So as was mentioned to us when

[2:22:48] this was presented when this

[2:22:50] conversation was first

[2:22:53] presented to council, they

[2:22:59] initial understanding was that

[2:23:02] chapter sports was going to be

[2:23:05] purchasing this land we had

[2:23:05] some changes.

[2:23:08] The land was then conveyed over

[2:23:10] to the city of charlotte.

[2:23:11] To me once that conveyance

[2:23:14] happened that was a no

[2:23:14] conversation.

[2:23:18] The challenge I have of which

[2:23:19] one I am not supporting this

[2:23:22] because there is no additional

[2:23:24] community benefit in this is

[2:23:26] for an additional venue space

[2:23:30] that's going to be around 40

[2:23:33] 400ft seating we have numerous

[2:23:33] venue spaces around the city

[2:23:36] but when we look at uptown

[2:23:39] whether or not we can of which

[2:23:41] are as deeper a conversation

[2:23:45] leader of our attorney think of

[2:23:48] orlando studios I think the

[2:23:49] fact that florida residents get

[2:23:51] a discount at orlando studios

[2:23:55] and or disney for us to approve

[2:23:57] yet another project where we

[2:24:00] are basically leasing this out

[2:24:01] for a dollar for them to build

[2:24:05] on without any clear community

[2:24:08] benefits meaning we have

[2:24:09] concerts and we have local

[2:24:12] event space.

[2:24:14] We have a big event that's

[2:24:16] coming in a couple of months if

[2:24:19] this space was already built

[2:24:23] but think of other concerts or

[2:24:24] events that MAY be coming to

[2:24:26] the city the fact that there

[2:24:29] was no negotiation to identify

[2:24:29] the community benefit I have a

[2:24:33] concern about we already have a

[2:24:36] 30 plus year commitment with

[2:24:37] this particular partner.

[2:24:40] Any opportunity that we have to

[2:24:43] at least have a conversation of

[2:24:43] how this benefits our local

[2:24:44] community.

[2:24:46] I think we should take from the

[2:24:47] very beginning and it shouldn't

[2:24:48] be an afterthought.

[2:24:51] So I do have concerns of us

[2:24:56] allocating this corner of land

[2:24:57] without there being a very

[2:25:00] clear community benefit.

[2:25:00] >> thank you.

[2:25:02] Thank you.

[2:25:05] I feel all right, MR. Graham

[2:25:06] and MISS I'm sorry MISS

[2:25:08] Kimberly was next if MR. Going

[2:25:10] that's why thank you so I was

[2:25:11] just going to speak briefly in

[2:25:14] favor of the amendment I, I

[2:25:16] appreciate councilmember

[2:25:16] mayfield's concerns.

[2:25:19] I do not share those concerns

[2:25:20] and I wonder if MR. Heath would

[2:25:22] you step to the podium and

[2:25:22] maybe help us address or is

[2:25:24] there someone better suited so

[2:25:25] well good.

[2:25:28] Can I I just I had a quick

[2:25:30] quote I had understood from MR.

[2:25:31] Heath the negotiated benefits

[2:25:33] had come up front in the

[2:25:34] original lease and if I speak

[2:25:36] an untruth and please someone

[2:25:39] clarify it so for me to reopen

[2:25:40] it over this small section of

[2:25:43] land is in my estimation bad

[2:25:45] faith and I would be very

[2:25:46] uncomfortable with us

[2:25:48] negotiating like that once

[2:25:49] we've already negotiated to go

[2:25:51] back because the small sliver

[2:25:52] is going to be added.

[2:25:54] I just want to put that into

[2:25:56] the room so I will be voting in

[2:25:57] favor of the amendment.

[2:25:57] >> MADAM Mayor, just for

[2:25:59] clarification before MR. He

[2:26:00] speaks I would like for you to

[2:26:02] go back to the original

[2:26:05] discussion of what this project

[2:26:05] was and what was presented to

[2:26:08] council since there seems to be

[2:26:11] some misinformation regarding a

[2:26:13] discussion about faith where we

[2:26:16] started so that we could have a

[2:26:17] transparent conversation.

[2:26:21] >> if I MAY quickly zoom out to

[2:26:21] 2024 so the idea of a stadium

[2:26:24] annex or what we're now calling

[2:26:25] a performance venue was always

[2:26:28] contemplated as part of the

[2:26:29] framework during the 18 months

[2:26:29] that we work to negotiate

[2:26:32] around the key business terms

[2:26:32] that you required as well as

[2:26:35] the community benefit.

[2:26:37] It was always understood that

[2:26:37] one of the owner elected

[2:26:40] projects would be a performance

[2:26:40] venue so there's there's

[2:26:41] nothing associated with the

[2:26:43] performance venue that's new.

[2:26:44] There's nothing that's

[2:26:46] associated with the community

[2:26:48] benefits that were put in place

[2:26:49] that would be impacted by the

[2:26:51] construction of a performance

[2:26:52] what was the original stadium

[2:26:54] and discussion?

[2:26:56] >> the original owner of the

[2:26:57] because this land when it was

[2:27:00] presented to council was

[2:27:02] presented to us as if that

[2:27:03] business was going to own it.

[2:27:06] There was just recently that we

[2:27:06] had that we learned that this

[2:27:09] land was being conveyed to the

[2:27:09] city of charlotte so we're not

[2:27:11] going to have a partial

[2:27:12] conversation.

[2:27:14] >> so if I could zoom out on

[2:27:15] the triangular parcel which is

[2:27:15] a bit of a separate

[2:27:17] conversation it was understood

[2:27:20] last year that having access to

[2:27:21] the triangular parcel which is

[2:27:24] less than a quarter acre which

[2:27:24] was owned by ncdot at the time

[2:27:26] was very important as an

[2:27:27] enabler for the performance

[2:27:29] venue last year we had a lot of

[2:27:32] conversations around what was

[2:27:33] the path to gain site control

[2:27:35] maybe the city would buy it,

[2:27:36] maybe the team would buy it.

[2:27:38] We went back and forth a number

[2:27:38] of times.

[2:27:40] Ultimately ncdot deemed that

[2:27:42] that small parcel to be surplus

[2:27:43] basically a remnant parcel of

[2:27:46] no value to them so they

[2:27:47] transferred that to us at no

[2:27:49] cost which we believe then and

[2:27:49] believe now was the absolute

[2:27:52] best outcome that we could have

[2:27:52] had.

[2:27:54] So we received that at no cost

[2:27:55] and I would just make one other

[2:27:57] comment about the parcel.

[2:27:58] I did walk with the parcel a

[2:27:59] couple of weeks ago with our

[2:28:00] real estate team and they

[2:28:01] affirmed that on a standalone

[2:28:04] basis the parcel really

[2:28:06] essentially is on buildable.

[2:28:07] So our view is we received a

[2:28:09] piece of property no value for

[2:28:11] something that's on buildable

[2:28:12] and it's a logical step from

[2:28:15] our perspective to put it into

[2:28:17] the lease to enable a project

[2:28:18] that will allow the team to

[2:28:20] activate on a requirement that

[2:28:22] you put in place which is $150

[2:28:25] million investment by the team

[2:28:25] in exchange for our investment.

[2:28:32] >> MADAM I have now so far six

[2:28:33] five people to that wish to

[2:28:37] speak to this item so I think

[2:28:40] this I'm kimberly was you done

[2:28:44] okay and then MS. Sanders and

[2:28:49] then MR. Carson and mg is

[2:28:50] before me and I'm after graham

[2:28:52] okay if I remember.

[2:28:53] >> all right.

[2:28:53] Graham thank you.

[2:28:55] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:28:57] This year and district two it's

[2:29:02] really, really small 0.24 acre

[2:29:05] property walked it to without

[2:29:07] getting tired at all.

[2:29:10] It's really really awesome

[2:29:11] because you're in great shape I

[2:29:15] think that is true to and you

[2:29:16] know this is something that

[2:29:18] came before the ed committee

[2:29:22] back and in OCTOBER here and we

[2:29:24] talked about this being as a

[2:29:26] part of the broader deal we get

[2:29:30] in essence a 4200 seat

[2:29:33] performance center no cost to

[2:29:36] the city at all.

[2:29:37] The land has been donated to

[2:29:39] the city.

[2:29:40] We can't build on it at all.

[2:29:42] I walked it.

[2:29:43] You can't do anything with it

[2:29:47] for sure and the benefits we

[2:29:51] get because of the center is 80

[2:29:54] to 100 events night per year

[2:29:59] which support workers uber

[2:29:59] drivers those showing up

[2:30:02] transporting people to the

[2:30:05] facility hospitality workers,

[2:30:08] hotels etc. It creates jobs.

[2:30:09] They create construction

[2:30:11] opportunities operation of the

[2:30:13] facility itself.

[2:30:14] It supports hospitality and

[2:30:16] tourism and did I mention that

[2:30:19] it's very, very small piece of

[2:30:22] property and that we didn't pay

[2:30:24] anything for it was given to us

[2:30:25] and we wanted to absorb it into

[2:30:28] a larger project for greater

[2:30:30] community good carolina

[2:30:33] panthers are a partner of ours.

[2:30:36] Our public private partnership

[2:30:37] is how the stadium is being

[2:30:39] renovated today.

[2:30:42] This is yet a baby step towards

[2:30:45] completing the goal in addition

[2:30:45] we all talked about at least

[2:30:48] from the edi perspective of

[2:30:48] creating a entertainment

[2:30:51] district within that sector of

[2:30:53] the community.

[2:30:54] Again we take a giant step

[2:30:56] forward to do that with the

[2:30:59] small portion of land that we

[2:31:01] can't do anything with from my

[2:31:02] perspective watching it it has

[2:31:04] no economic development value

[2:31:07] for us as relates to community

[2:31:09] benefits.

[2:31:10] I think the agreement that

[2:31:11] we've struck with the panthers

[2:31:13] early in the year last year

[2:31:15] with the provided deal is

[2:31:18] inclusive of this type of small

[2:31:22] property and it so I'm very

[2:31:25] comfortable with it and I hope

[2:31:27] the council will approve it.

[2:31:27] >> all right, MS. Anderson,

[2:31:30] thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:31:33] I was in those meetings when I

[2:31:35] see them graham was the chair

[2:31:36] of the community and committee

[2:31:38] and navigate through this

[2:31:39] process.

[2:31:41] As was mentioned, this is a

[2:31:44] very small triangular parcel.

[2:31:45] This was a part of the overall

[2:31:47] deal where we did discuss

[2:31:48] community benefits as well as

[2:31:51] other opportunity fees and

[2:31:53] recently north carolina

[2:31:57] department of transportation

[2:31:58] and deemed it as a remnant and

[2:32:00] and then a surplus and then

[2:32:05] handed over to us and so that

[2:32:05] wasn't an action that we took

[2:32:08] proactively that was something

[2:32:08] that at the state level was

[2:32:11] decided you know this

[2:32:14] performance venue, the

[2:32:15] performance center which we

[2:32:17] will effectively begin getting

[2:32:19] without additional investment

[2:32:20] at all also fills a gap in

[2:32:23] terms of our entertainment and

[2:32:26] arts footprint within the city

[2:32:31] of charlotte to attract plays

[2:32:32] and other venues and

[2:32:34] opportunities entertainment

[2:32:35] opportunities that might not

[2:32:38] have the right size, the

[2:32:38] building.

[2:32:40] And in addition, as MR. Graham

[2:32:41] mentioned, you know, this sits

[2:32:43] right in the middle of third

[2:32:45] ward which is being revitalized

[2:32:49] in the community neighborhood

[2:32:49] association has stood up just a

[2:32:52] year ago there was an

[2:32:55] opportunity to bring light and

[2:32:55] vitality to this space not on a

[2:32:58] dime of the city and that often

[2:33:01] has has been forgotten about

[2:33:04] over the last several years.

[2:33:05] So I will be supporting this as

[2:33:05] well.

[2:33:07] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:33:12] >> all right, MR. Johnson.

[2:33:12] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:33:17] MR. Heath, what is the total

[2:33:19] square footage of the land of

[2:33:20] the triangular parcel?

[2:33:24] Yes, it's approximately

[2:33:27] 10,500ft and then we get a

[2:33:27] real estate value for that.

[2:33:30] >> we do not have an appraisal

[2:33:32] of that parcel.

[2:33:32] Okay.

[2:33:35] So I think that's the concern.

[2:33:36] I know we're calling it a

[2:33:42] really small piece of land but

[2:33:42] 10,500ft of real estate or of

[2:33:45] land does have some value when

[2:33:48] we talk about community

[2:33:49] benefits, employee parking or

[2:33:51] affordable parking shared right

[2:33:54] drop off and pick up or even a

[2:33:57] space for the displaced vendors

[2:33:57] from other areas of town.

[2:34:03] So there is value potentially I

[2:34:03] think the concern for those of

[2:34:06] us who are concerned is that

[2:34:08] we're giving a piece of land to

[2:34:11] an entity that could otherwise

[2:34:11] afford it.

[2:34:14] So that's all I wanted to

[2:34:14] share.

[2:34:15] Thank you.

[2:34:18] Councilmember johnson we get

[2:34:18] three and a half with

[2:34:20] councilmember watlington

[2:34:21] councilmember driggs and

[2:34:23] COUNCILMAN Mayfield.

[2:34:25] Thank you mayor pro tem and I

[2:34:26] appreciate MR. Heath

[2:34:29] conversations last week and a

[2:34:30] continuation today because I do

[2:34:32] think it's a little bit unclear

[2:34:34] or at least has been up until

[2:34:35] this point whether or not this

[2:34:35] particular parcel was a part of

[2:34:38] the broader conversation.

[2:34:41] From what I understood from you

[2:34:41] last week, this parcel was

[2:34:44] already in the conversation.

[2:34:47] But the the way that the the

[2:34:49] tepper group was going to come

[2:34:50] upon this particular parcel was

[2:34:52] not clear.

[2:34:55] >> is that correct?

[2:34:55] >> yes.

[2:34:56] We knew and were on record in

[2:34:58] OCTOBER of last year that the

[2:35:01] triangular parcel was very

[2:35:01] important to enable this

[2:35:01] project.

[2:35:03] What we didn't know what we

[2:35:04] couldn't know was how site

[2:35:06] control would be gained and

[2:35:06] where we ended up in is what we

[2:35:09] believe is the best possible

[2:35:09] outcome which the state

[2:35:10] transferred that to us at no

[2:35:11] cost.

[2:35:12] >> okay.

[2:35:12] Thank you for that.

[2:35:14] That is helpful for me.

[2:35:15] I will say that in general I do

[2:35:17] think that it's time for us to

[2:35:18] raise the bar just in terms of

[2:35:20] negotiation.

[2:35:21] I do I do obviously know that

[2:35:23] we spoke about deal point at

[2:35:23] the beginning but it definitely

[2:35:27] feels like there is a portion

[2:35:27] of this that maybe the council

[2:35:29] doesn't feel like we were able

[2:35:32] to weigh in on with the benefit

[2:35:32] of all of the information,

[2:35:35] whether it was the types of

[2:35:35] community benefit that actually

[2:35:36] could have been negotiated for

[2:35:38] this particular piece beyond

[2:35:40] the stadium itself or whether

[2:35:41] it was the fair market value of

[2:35:43] the parcel or whatever it was.

[2:35:44] So I hope that what we've

[2:35:46] learned from this and nothing

[2:35:47] else is that we have an

[2:35:49] opportunity to make sure that

[2:35:52] we are in lockstep earlier on

[2:35:55] in terms of negotiation.

[2:35:57] That said, it sounds like this

[2:35:58] was already accounted for in

[2:36:01] the broader conversation in and

[2:36:02] I don't know if we've got it in

[2:36:02] front of you but I think it

[2:36:04] would be helpful to understand

[2:36:04] what then were the community

[2:36:07] benefits that were already

[2:36:07] included in the overall

[2:36:09] negotiation?

[2:36:10] Yes, the community benefits

[2:36:12] were many and they were

[2:36:16] noteworthy just to name a few

[2:36:17] 27% mwc goal associated with

[2:36:20] city funding the seven city use

[2:36:22] stays support for small

[2:36:23] business capacity building

[2:36:26] programs, community programs

[2:36:28] for veterans at risk youth and

[2:36:28] low income residents.

[2:36:31] Increased engagement with hpc

[2:36:32] use and those are incremental

[2:36:35] to all of the civic engagement

[2:36:35] activities that the panthers

[2:36:37] have been doing for years

[2:36:38] including thousands of tickets

[2:36:40] that are going to community

[2:36:41] organizations on an annual

[2:36:43] basis for the stadium.

[2:36:43] >> thank you for that.

[2:36:45] So again, just like I say, if

[2:36:45] there's two venues I would have

[2:36:46] loved to see a little bit more

[2:36:48] specific community benefit

[2:36:49] particular to the other venue

[2:36:51] as well.

[2:36:52] >> but point taken.

[2:36:54] Thank you.

[2:36:56] Council member driggs thank you

[2:36:59] mayor pro tem I think this is a

[2:37:01] valid discussion in principle

[2:37:05] but in the wrong context.

[2:37:07] >> this is a very big picture

[2:37:08] relationship we have with the

[2:37:08] team.

[2:37:11] MR. Tepper is invested billions

[2:37:14] of dollars and I think the idea

[2:37:15] that a 4200 seat venue is not

[2:37:18] an asset to the city or a

[2:37:21] benefit to the city is a

[2:37:21] misnomer.

[2:37:22] We pursued this relationship.

[2:37:24] I remember early on in the

[2:37:26] first conversations and we had

[2:37:27] a vision activation, an

[2:37:29] entertainment district a lot of

[2:37:30] very desirable things that

[2:37:33] could happen and then this

[2:37:35] buyer came along with his

[2:37:37] capacity to just decide to

[2:37:38] build the 4200 seat venue and

[2:37:40] not need to partner with us or

[2:37:42] ask for anything.

[2:37:46] And this parcel is just so

[2:37:49] small and I really hate to

[2:37:49] think that we're kind of

[2:37:52] disturbing our relationship

[2:37:52] with the team, the owner and

[2:37:54] all of the big things that are

[2:37:55] going on in charlotte over this

[2:37:58] particular question.

[2:37:58] so I hope we can have this

[2:37:59] conversation when there's

[2:38:01] something more meaningful at

[2:38:01] stake.

[2:38:06] But 27% commitment on small

[2:38:08] business alone is huge in

[2:38:10] comparison to 10,000ft of

[2:38:10] land.

[2:38:13] So really let's just keep some

[2:38:15] perspective on this when I hope

[2:38:16] appreciate the benefits that we

[2:38:19] have from our relationship with

[2:38:21] temper sports and let this one

[2:38:24] pass and if necessary on

[2:38:24] another occasion when there's

[2:38:27] more at stake we can talk it

[2:38:27] over.

[2:38:29] Thank you.

[2:38:32] So if we MAY, sean, I think

[2:38:33] we're going to try to bring up

[2:38:35] this parcel on the big screen

[2:38:38] so the viewers can can see what

[2:38:40] we were referring to so why are

[2:38:41] we doing that?

[2:38:44] I'm a year to councilmember

[2:38:44] mayfield.

[2:38:46] >> thank you, mayor patel says

[2:38:51] there it's a step tapper

[2:38:51] acquired the team in 2018.

[2:38:54] The panthers value has doubled

[2:38:57] despite the challenging perform

[2:38:58] its record of 36 win 80 losses

[2:39:01] during this ownership.

[2:39:04] So for us to say to give the

[2:39:08] impression that it was

[2:39:11] altruistic what he's done he's

[2:39:13] a business person and as a

[2:39:14] business person and he has made

[2:39:16] money as an elected official

[2:39:19] I'm going to ask the same

[2:39:19] questions that I ask but any

[2:39:21] other lot because it's

[2:39:24] challenging to hear that this

[2:39:27] is such a small space nothing

[2:39:28] can be built on it yet we're

[2:39:29] talking about building a 4400

[2:39:32] square foot facility on it so

[2:39:33] you can't have both.

[2:39:35] >> the challenge that I had is

[2:39:37] the fact of the transparency of

[2:39:40] we started a conversation that

[2:39:43] full council was aware that

[2:39:45] conversation c it was in

[2:39:46] discussion and gave the

[2:39:49] impression if they bought the

[2:39:52] land this is what we would do

[2:39:52] in order for them to have

[2:39:54] access with it.

[2:39:55] I'm like okay I don't have a

[2:39:57] problem with that.

[2:39:58] The moment that conversation

[2:39:59] changed because as you

[2:40:02] mentioned you and staff had

[2:40:06] multiple conversations.

[2:40:06] >> you MAY have even presented

[2:40:08] it to the economic development

[2:40:08] committee.

[2:40:09] The first time I saw it was

[2:40:12] when it was presented to all of

[2:40:14] us from as a decision to have a

[2:40:17] discussion on that conversation

[2:40:20] changed from him owning it to

[2:40:23] the city now owning it and a

[2:40:26] city then giving it to him.

[2:40:26] There was no conversation of

[2:40:29] existing that community

[2:40:29] benefits.

[2:40:32] It is not a community benefit

[2:40:34] to me to say you're going to

[2:40:35] have 20% development

[2:40:37] participation for every small

[2:40:38] business which we heard from a

[2:40:41] lot of them today.

[2:40:42] So have the opportunity to do

[2:40:44] the work on a year $600 million

[2:40:46] contract so that's not a

[2:40:49] community benefit yet when we

[2:40:52] think about the uber drivers

[2:40:53] and others less than three

[2:40:55] months ago some of them were

[2:40:55] saying people came down because

[2:40:57] of the financial challenges

[2:40:58] that they are having uptown

[2:41:01] regarding parking being

[2:41:02] ticketed it because they're

[2:41:04] sitting too long waiting for

[2:41:04] someone.

[2:41:06] So again we can't keep playing

[2:41:07] a seesaw game.

[2:41:09] I just ask the question

[2:41:12] regarding what is the community

[2:41:13] benefit.

[2:41:15] The answer came back to me

[2:41:15] where we did that on this other

[2:41:18] piece perfectly honest I don't

[2:41:18] care I asked about this

[2:41:21] particular parcel, this little

[2:41:22] triangle that we keep talking

[2:41:24] about this triangle that's too

[2:41:26] small for us to build on yet

[2:41:28] we're building a 4400 space

[2:41:32] being you on it because we want

[2:41:33] to entertainment district so I

[2:41:37] want there to be clarity and

[2:41:37] not misinformation or a

[2:41:40] challenge for any of us to ask

[2:41:43] the question because guess what

[2:41:43] ?

[2:41:43] That's what we get to do.

[2:41:46] So don't I don't appreciate it

[2:41:46] being mentioned.

[2:41:49] Well he is such a good public

[2:41:49] private partner.

[2:41:51] He has a business owner.

[2:41:55] We created a business contract

[2:41:55] .

[2:41:56] I'm just saying that if there's

[2:41:58] going to be a conversation on

[2:41:58] where the city is going to

[2:42:01] contribute even more, there

[2:42:01] should also be a conversation

[2:42:04] of how this benefits our

[2:42:06] community be thank you.

[2:42:08] Council member for city manager

[2:42:12] so on mayor members of council

[2:42:15] the I think we have this parcel

[2:42:18] on the screen and I think

[2:42:22] what's important and trying to

[2:42:26] say at this earlier early on

[2:42:27] the discussion was around the

[2:42:29] stadium annex that morphed into

[2:42:35] this performance venue and when

[2:42:35] this was discussed both in

[2:42:40] committee and with the council

[2:42:43] that quarter of an acre of a

[2:42:47] parcel is not what the venue is

[2:42:52] going to be built on the most

[2:42:55] the total acreage on the total

[2:42:55] footprint required for the

[2:42:56] performance venue is

[2:42:57] approximately two acres.

[2:42:58] It's only really a very tiny

[2:43:01] portion of the triangular

[2:43:01] parcel that will be used for

[2:43:04] the performance of those two

[2:43:04] acres.

[2:43:07] It was always contemplated that

[2:43:11] getting that water an acre or

[2:43:14] two to add to it was important

[2:43:20] ncdot owned it and the question

[2:43:22] was in order to build this

[2:43:23] thing out and make it

[2:43:25] successful that quarter of an

[2:43:28] acre was really important.

[2:43:31] There were a couple of options.

[2:43:34] One option would be that tsc

[2:43:36] would buy the quarter acre to

[2:43:37] add it to the rest of the

[2:43:39] footprint again the entire

[2:43:43] footprint is where the

[2:43:43] performance venue will be built

[2:43:45] not the corner of an acre and

[2:43:48] it just seemed to be very

[2:43:51] complicated issue t.

[2:43:53] S e owned that corner an acre

[2:43:56] and then 20 years from now if

[2:44:01] there was not a music venue

[2:44:04] then and that had to come back

[2:44:04] to the city in some way it

[2:44:07] would seem like it would be

[2:44:08] better that the city would own

[2:44:10] all of it as opposed to all but

[2:44:13] a quarter of an acre.

[2:44:14] So again started off as a

[2:44:16] stadium and went to this

[2:44:18] performance venue but I think

[2:44:21] what's key is that quarter acre

[2:44:22] makes the performance venue

[2:44:24] work but it's not where the

[2:44:29] performance venue will be built

[2:44:29] .

[2:44:30] Thank you.

[2:44:30] City manager council member

[2:44:32] asmir thank you.

[2:44:35] So this will be a lease the

[2:44:37] city will still own the

[2:44:38] ownership will still have the

[2:44:40] ownership of that quarter acre

[2:44:43] of land.

[2:44:48] So I, I guess what I'm trying

[2:44:52] to figure out what would be the

[2:44:52] market value right if we were

[2:44:57] to lazy to sell one how much

[2:44:58] would we get as part of the

[2:44:59] lease payment?

[2:45:00] I think that was what

[2:45:03] councilmember johnson was

[2:45:03] alluding to.

[2:45:05] I get it that there was no

[2:45:06] appraisal done because this is

[2:45:08] not a for sale transaction,

[2:45:09] right?

[2:45:11] This is a lease transaction.

[2:45:12] But what we would like to see

[2:45:14] is what is the value that we

[2:45:16] could get if it was other than

[2:45:19] tepper sports I think that's a

[2:45:22] question that I would like to

[2:45:24] get clarification on what is

[2:45:25] the fair market value of the

[2:45:27] lease for that space.

[2:45:30] >> so as I mentioned before we

[2:45:31] do not have a market appraisal

[2:45:33] on it.

[2:45:34] If you can see here in the

[2:45:39] visual just the shape of it not

[2:45:40] just the size.

[2:45:42] So very small size less than a

[2:45:44] quarter acre which is smaller

[2:45:45] than the average size of a lot

[2:45:48] for a single family home in

[2:45:50] mecklenburg county the shape of

[2:45:51] it also poses some major

[2:45:53] challenges on a standalone

[2:45:54] basis.

[2:45:56] So our real estate team was

[2:45:59] very clear with the very direct

[2:46:00] question I had for them which

[2:46:02] was what opportunity for

[2:46:04] development could we have if we

[2:46:05] attempted to do something on a

[2:46:07] standalone basis?

[2:46:08] And the answer back was crystal

[2:46:10] clear this particular

[2:46:13] triangular shaped parcel is

[2:46:14] essentially on buildable on a

[2:46:16] standalone basis.

[2:46:19] So whereas I wouldn't suggest

[2:46:19] it has zero value I would

[2:46:21] suggest it has very

[2:46:24] insignificant value relative to

[2:46:25] what we believe are

[2:46:25] overwhelming benefits

[2:46:28] associated with job creation

[2:46:31] sales and property tax, tourism

[2:46:34] benefits not just tourism taxes

[2:46:34] but also individuals that work

[2:46:37] at restaurants and bars and

[2:46:38] hotels that will benefit from

[2:46:41] 80 to 100 shows on an annual

[2:46:41] basis.

[2:46:42] And then also just the idea of

[2:46:44] uptown activation and vibrancy

[2:46:44] .

[2:46:47] So in our view the benefits

[2:46:47] were so overwhelming that the

[2:46:50] relatively insignificant cost

[2:46:50] so to speak associated with it

[2:46:53] were not material.

[2:46:56] >> so just to follow up on

[2:46:58] that, I understand that the

[2:47:01] value is it MAY not be as

[2:47:03] valuable for us as a standalone

[2:47:04] but this is going to make or

[2:47:07] break the deal for the other

[2:47:07] party.

[2:47:10] So that's where the value comes

[2:47:10] ,right?

[2:47:11] So what are we getting in

[2:47:13] return for the huge value that

[2:47:14] they are getting?

[2:47:16] I think that's what ultimately

[2:47:16] we are trying to get to.

[2:47:19] Are we getting anything extra

[2:47:19] in terms of other community

[2:47:22] benefits or higher lease

[2:47:22] payment?

[2:47:23] What is it that we are getting

[2:47:24] because this project

[2:47:25] performance venue project would

[2:47:29] not happen without this we just

[2:47:32] triangle space that is there

[2:47:32] right?

[2:47:33] I think we have to look at this

[2:47:35] holistically.

[2:47:35] There is already a parcel that

[2:47:38] city own other than the

[2:47:41] triangle so we are giving them

[2:47:43] sort of a land assemblage that

[2:47:44] is making this performance

[2:47:46] venue possible.

[2:47:47] >> I think two quick points.

[2:47:49] One I would say if we owned

[2:47:52] this triangular parcel in 1990,

[2:47:53] it would have always been part

[2:47:56] of the 25 acre campus lease if

[2:47:58] we own to this parcel in 2013

[2:48:01] when we renegotiated the lease

[2:48:01] that would have been part of

[2:48:04] the 25 acre campus if we owned

[2:48:04] it in 2024 it would have been

[2:48:06] part of the campus.

[2:48:07] Right now it's basically

[2:48:10] sidewalk a little bit of patch

[2:48:12] of grass and some trees.

[2:48:15] So what our belief has been all

[2:48:15] along that extracting the

[2:48:18] maximum value for the city or

[2:48:21] the city from the 25 acre

[2:48:23] campus should be something we

[2:48:24] are as equally excited about as

[2:48:27] the team itself and we believe

[2:48:27] the value proposition here is

[2:48:30] very compelling for the city

[2:48:32] excuse me and call the question

[2:48:35] I know MR. Jones and we have

[2:48:38] some people that have agreed

[2:48:40] that this so we want to speak

[2:48:43] MR. Johnson we'll go here then

[2:48:44] we'll come to MR. Watlington

[2:48:46] and then we'll vote.

[2:48:46] Thank you.

[2:48:48] You know we vote and the vote

[2:48:49] doesn't work out.

[2:48:49] >> we'll vote again.

[2:48:51] Yes and thank you, MADAM Mayor

[2:48:51] .

[2:48:54] So MR. Heath, we appreciate the

[2:48:54] plans as far as economic

[2:48:57] development but as elected

[2:48:58] officials we have you know,

[2:49:00] we're stewards of public

[2:49:00] dollars.

[2:49:02] So I think that our public

[2:49:03] would expect for us to

[2:49:06] understand the market value of

[2:49:06] the property.

[2:49:08] So when the state conveyed it

[2:49:11] to us, MR. Jones is there a

[2:49:13] conveyance document that has of

[2:49:14] a value of the property that's

[2:49:16] included?

[2:49:18] No, no it was deeded over at no

[2:49:19] cost.

[2:49:21] There's no indication of of

[2:49:22] market value had had we been

[2:49:24] required to have paid for the

[2:49:27] parcel this would have been a

[2:49:28] different conversation.

[2:49:30] I think a fair thing to ask is

[2:49:30] the market value.

[2:49:32] I think that that's a fair

[2:49:33] question from us and from our

[2:49:36] constituents that we should

[2:49:36] know what the value is as we're

[2:49:39] leasing the property for a

[2:49:39] dollar.

[2:49:41] Again, when you talk about

[2:49:45] being such a small property

[2:49:45] it's 10,500ft.

[2:49:49] We know parking is a challenge

[2:49:51] in downtown or uptown for

[2:49:52] especially for the workers we

[2:49:54] talk about the workers, the

[2:49:55] benefit and also the drop off

[2:49:57] space and like I said a space

[2:49:58] for the vendors so there is

[2:50:00] value that council member as

[2:50:01] meyer said it's very valuable

[2:50:03] to the other party.

[2:50:06] So I think that that's a a fair

[2:50:06] and transparent ask that we

[2:50:08] know the market value.

[2:50:09] I would suggest that we defer

[2:50:12] this until AUGUST but I'll wait

[2:50:12] to see.

[2:50:14] I mean that's just my thoughts

[2:50:14] .

[2:50:15] Thank you.

[2:50:17] MS. Watlington I have MS.

[2:50:20] Wallington I have follow up

[2:50:21] question.

[2:50:22] I want to just say we're going

[2:50:23] to vote after we'll have a vote

[2:50:28] after MS. Watlington comments

[2:50:33] and I just want to be clear MR.

[2:50:36] Heath you mentioned the value

[2:50:37] to the city overall and

[2:50:39] certainly I'm sure many of us

[2:50:42] around the dais share that i

[2:50:44] don't want it to be MS.

[2:50:45] Understood that expecting that

[2:50:48] the value proposition includes

[2:50:48] more than just specific

[2:50:51] economic development dollars

[2:50:54] that will end up being tourism

[2:50:57] revenue or an uber drivers fare

[2:51:00] or that kind of thing is

[2:51:00] separate and apart from the

[2:51:03] broader cities value of some of

[2:51:04] the things that were just

[2:51:04] listed.

[2:51:05] >> it's critically important to

[2:51:06] me that when we have these

[2:51:09] conversations sessions that the

[2:51:12] general public's value is not

[2:51:15] viewed as unnecessary or an

[2:51:18] inconvenience to the rest of

[2:51:18] the work.

[2:51:18] I don't think anybody around

[2:51:20] this dais doesn't understand

[2:51:23] the economic value right.

[2:51:24] >> I also don't think that it

[2:51:27] is unreasoned at all because we

[2:51:30] are public servants right to

[2:51:31] expect that the broader public

[2:51:33] also sees some benefit when

[2:51:35] there is an opportunity for

[2:51:35] that.

[2:51:39] However, this vote lands that

[2:51:39] for me is the fundamental

[2:51:42] principle that we need to get

[2:51:44] clear around honestly, my

[2:51:45] patience is wearing thin with

[2:51:47] these conversations around

[2:51:48] economic development versus

[2:51:48] broader community.

[2:51:50] They should come together and

[2:51:53] we've got to stop putting

[2:51:53] ourselves in these type

[2:51:55] positions.

[2:51:56] So all right.

[2:51:59] So now I'm on I'm going to ask

[2:52:01] for a vote.

[2:52:04] >> so mayor, I would like to

[2:52:06] make a substitute motion to

[2:52:06] defer this item.

[2:52:06] All right.

[2:52:09] For further discussion second.

[2:52:12] >> okay.

[2:52:13] >> and what is your motion to

[2:52:16] defer agenda item?

[2:52:17] >> you defer the first

[2:52:18] committee your what you are

[2:52:21] saying so to defer so the

[2:52:24] motion to defer this item and

[2:52:25] come back is all in favor

[2:52:27] please raise your hands.

[2:52:29] Defer.

[2:52:32] Okay that's 1234 so that does

[2:52:34] not pass.

[2:52:36] >> okay all of those I all of

[2:52:45] the add 1234 yes 567123456

[2:52:50] single from second.

[2:52:50] >> all right.

[2:52:52] You have a motion to approve

[2:52:53] and the second a motion to

[2:52:55] approve and a second so all in

[2:52:57] favor please raise your hands.

[2:52:58] All right.

[2:53:00] Okay.

[2:53:03] >> I think we have a unanimous

[2:53:03] in opposed.

[2:53:03] >> I'll post.

[2:53:04] All right.

[2:53:09] Three want to okay, that's 50

[2:53:09] minutes.

[2:53:09] >> all right.

[2:53:14] So that passes through it.

[2:53:14] Okay.

[2:53:22] Know this is going to be we

[2:53:25] give a tally do we have a tally

[2:53:25] ?

[2:53:28] All right, billy, thank you for

[2:53:33] your patience.

[2:53:33] My question is after this is

[2:53:43] over to more I to I can hear

[2:53:45] the result.

[2:53:46] >> all right.

[2:53:46] So we've received the opening

[2:53:51] and we do have a person to join

[2:53:54] this organization having

[2:53:56] received six or more council

[2:53:57] members votes, there is a

[2:53:59] motion to appoint robert

[2:54:02] harrington by acclamation to

[2:54:03] the office of mayor to the

[2:54:06] office of mayor upon vacancy by

[2:54:08] the office by bylaw.

[2:54:23] So I'm leaving tomorrow second

[2:54:23] .

[2:54:26] Okay doing well but we do need

[2:54:29] to have the city attorney

[2:54:29] address right and just to

[2:54:31] clarify the requests that

[2:54:32] action is to serve until the

[2:54:34] expiration of the elected mayor

[2:54:35] day okay.

[2:54:38] >> so all right.

[2:54:38] We have that.

[2:54:40] So we're moving so we do have

[2:54:43] to register to vote.

[2:54:43] >> what happens next is about

[2:54:45] we got a vote.

[2:54:46] All right.

[2:54:51] So I'm not sure exactly the

[2:54:52] second thing you say all in

[2:54:54] favor of this motion for MR.

[2:54:55] Harrington please raise your

[2:54:57] hands.

[2:54:57] >> thank you very much.

[2:54:59] Anyone oppose?

[2:55:00] >> no, thank you.

[2:55:00] All right.

[2:55:13] So really so we have a few

[2:55:13] other items but I don't think

[2:55:15] that we have much opportunity

[2:55:19] to we have this on and tackle

[2:55:19] it if we want to continue.

[2:55:21] Yes, 21 all right.

[2:55:23] Let's go to item 21.

[2:55:23] >> we move for approval max.

[2:55:26] Item is an amendment to the c r

[2:55:29] t p can I remember that you

[2:55:31] know this right next item is an

[2:55:33] amendment to the c r t

[2:55:34] memorandum of understanding for

[2:55:37] everyone please.

[2:55:38] >> we're still having our

[2:55:39] meeting.

[2:55:42] All right for item 21 is there

[2:55:45] a motion to authorize the mayor

[2:55:45] to execute an amended

[2:55:48] memorandum of understanding for

[2:55:51] the kapo to remove the mtc and

[2:55:54] add mtc m p t a as a member

[2:55:57] moved to approve second motion

[2:55:57] and a second is there any

[2:56:00] further discussion?

[2:56:00] Hearing no discussion.

[2:56:03] all in favor please raise your

[2:56:03] hands.

[2:56:06] Anyone opposed anybody oppose?

[2:56:07] >> we don't have anyone in

[2:56:08] oppose.

[2:56:13] Yeah okay for item 22 MR.

[2:56:14] Hauer, would you please join us

[2:56:16] down here for item 22?

[2:56:18] Is there a motion to adopt a

[2:56:19] resolution approving and

[2:56:21] ratifying an interlocal

[2:56:22] agreement between the city of

[2:56:25] charlotte and the m p t a for

[2:56:27] their joint undertaking and

[2:56:30] implementation of requirements

[2:56:33] to fulfill obligations under

[2:56:36] the pave act and item b

[2:56:37] authorize the city manager to

[2:56:39] negotiate and execute all

[2:56:41] documents and contracts

[2:56:42] including for transfer and

[2:56:45] expedition and to of funds

[2:56:47] necessary to implement and

[2:56:50] fulfill the city's obligations

[2:56:51] under the path that pay for gap

[2:56:53] and authorize.

[2:56:54] >> so I would like to second

[2:56:55] that and comment.

[2:56:56] >> all right, MR. Driggs so

[2:56:59] colleagues, we've talked about

[2:57:01] this now for a number of months

[2:57:01] .

[2:57:02] There's been an extended

[2:57:04] process of engagement between

[2:57:07] empty and the city in order to

[2:57:10] resolve how cats will work, how

[2:57:10] transit will work from the

[2:57:13] period particularly from the

[2:57:16] period from JULY 1st to JANUARY

[2:57:19] when yeah, because mta is not

[2:57:20] in a position to operate cats

[2:57:22] yet cats will continue to be

[2:57:25] operated by the city but

[2:57:25] pursuant to authority received

[2:57:28] from empty to which the payback

[2:57:33] provides owns transit and

[2:57:36] receives the sales tax and a

[2:57:38] lot of work went into this so

[2:57:39] as I appreciate your

[2:57:41] contribution there were many

[2:57:43] issues when you get down into

[2:57:44] the details of how this works

[2:57:46] it gets a little tricky in

[2:57:49] places so I wanted to

[2:57:52] particularly recognize marcus

[2:57:53] jones, liz fabs and hannah

[2:57:55] bromberg or andrea leslie fite,

[2:57:58] sean heath, brant cagle and

[2:57:58] particularly katherine

[2:58:01] clodfelter, our attorney for

[2:58:02] the outstanding work they did

[2:58:04] to engage with them to resolve

[2:58:07] these issues and basically

[2:58:09] create a foundation for our

[2:58:10] continuing cooperation with

[2:58:13] them to as we align our land

[2:58:15] use and development policies

[2:58:16] with their transit decisions.

[2:58:18] So I do move to approve these

[2:58:21] and recommend them to council.

[2:58:22] >> we have a recommendation to

[2:58:24] approve with which to the

[2:58:26] council is there any motion on

[2:58:27] any understanding?

[2:58:27] >> all right.

[2:58:33] All in favor anyone opposed?

[2:58:33] >> all right.

[2:58:34] We have one.

[2:58:36] Okay, keep going.

[2:58:40] So this concludes our business

[2:58:42] items vote for this evening.

[2:58:45] Next we're going to open with

[2:58:45] council topics in order to

[2:58:48] ensure that all council has the

[2:58:49] opportunity to speak.

[2:58:51] We will go around the dais one

[2:58:52] by one.

[2:58:53] I ask that each council member

[2:58:54] try to keep their comments or

[2:59:00] questions to three minutes and

[2:59:03] then we have some fun stuff to

[2:59:03] do.

[2:59:06] You did okay MR. Howard thank

[2:59:09] you for being here tonight and

[2:59:09] for your leadership of empty.

[2:59:12] We look forward to working with

[2:59:12] you and the other merchants who

[2:59:14] have joined us and the other

[2:59:15] board members who are here.

[2:59:18] >> thank you very much.

[2:59:20] let's see it now.

[2:59:20] It's council topics and we'll

[2:59:21] start with MS..

[2:59:22] Johnson.

[2:59:25] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:59:26] It allows as you prepare to

[2:59:28] step down at the end of JUNE I

[2:59:31] want to thank you for your

[2:59:32] decades of tireless service to

[2:59:34] the city of charlotte serving

[2:59:36] together on this council.

[2:59:37] We've not always agreed on

[2:59:39] every policy but that's the

[2:59:39] very nature of healthy

[2:59:42] democracy and a vibrant city.

[2:59:45] Your willingness to break

[2:59:47] barriers as our first black

[2:59:50] female mayor coupled with deep

[2:59:50] institutional knowledge has

[2:59:53] left an undeniable mark on the

[2:59:55] queen city's history.

[2:59:56] You sacrificed tremendously for

[2:59:58] this role.

[3:00:00] I watched you during covid.

[3:00:03] You were here day and night so

[3:00:04] I thank you on behalf of the

[3:00:05] city.

[3:00:06] I pray this next chapter brings

[3:00:09] you peace, joy and the

[3:00:11] well-deserved uninterrupted

[3:00:14] time with your grandchildren.

[3:00:15] Thank you for your historic

[3:00:17] leadership and your sacrifice.

[3:00:18] Thank you.

[3:00:20] Thank you very much for that.

[3:00:22] >> I really appreciate it.

[3:00:27] >> okay, MR. Eyes, what do you

[3:00:28] yes, thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:00:29] >> we're going around the

[3:00:30] diocese.

[3:00:31] >> okay.

[3:00:31] Got it.

[3:00:33] Anybody missed that?

[3:00:36] Well, I also want to echo my

[3:00:37] colleague councilmember

[3:00:39] johnson's remarks.

[3:00:41] >> I just really want to pause

[3:00:44] and honor someone whose

[3:00:45] leadership has shaped in

[3:00:48] charlotte in ways that will be

[3:00:48] felt for generations.

[3:00:51] Our mayor bill lyles, you never

[3:00:54] simply held in office.

[3:00:54] You carried a strong

[3:00:56] responsibility as the first

[3:00:57] african-american woman to serve

[3:00:59] as mayor of our city.

[3:01:00] You've opened doors, expanded

[3:01:02] our possibility and shown our

[3:01:03] city what it looks like when

[3:01:05] dignity, steadiness and service

[3:01:05] guide every decision.

[3:01:08] And on a personal note, we

[3:01:09] share an alma mater, queen's

[3:01:11] university of charlotte.

[3:01:12] >> anyone who has walked those

[3:01:14] halls knows the values that

[3:01:16] place instills service,

[3:01:17] reflection and a belief that

[3:01:19] leadership is not about being

[3:01:20] in front but also about lifting

[3:01:22] others up.

[3:01:23] Mayor lyles, you've embodied

[3:01:25] those values every single day.

[3:01:28] Your service has left a mark in

[3:01:29] that city in this city not just

[3:01:32] in the skyline and or in the

[3:01:34] budget books but in the lives

[3:01:35] of residents who saw themselves

[3:01:35] reflected in your leadership.

[3:01:38] So you have shown us what it

[3:01:40] means to lead with integrity to

[3:01:41] lead with heart and to lead

[3:01:41] with the belief that

[3:01:43] charlotte's best days are ahead

[3:01:43] .

[3:01:44] On behalf of a grateful city,

[3:01:46] thank you for your years of

[3:01:47] dedication, your trailblazing

[3:01:49] example and your unwavering

[3:01:49] commitment to the people of

[3:01:50] charlotte.

[3:01:52] We are better because you

[3:01:52] served.

[3:01:54] >> thank you.

[3:01:57] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:01:58] So I actually have council

[3:02:03] topics so for the manager so

[3:02:05] and I will I've already told

[3:02:08] you we've had I guess we've had

[3:02:09] our cover so number one I want

[3:02:12] what we've already I've already

[3:02:12] share.

[3:02:15] I want us to speak to of which

[3:02:17] we did refer to by our the

[3:02:18] hearings and decisions on the

[3:02:23] same evening also I want us to

[3:02:26] think about the conversation we

[3:02:27] just had and this is something

[3:02:30] I think actually the attorneys

[3:02:30] office will be able to help

[3:02:30] with.

[3:02:32] I gave the example of orlando

[3:02:35] studios and florida and what is

[3:02:38] able to do we a number of of us

[3:02:41] have heard it from community

[3:02:41] members, small businesses and

[3:02:43] others.

[3:02:46] We are pricing out our

[3:02:49] residents as we seek opportune

[3:02:50] cities for people to come in

[3:02:53] and visit and we talk about the

[3:02:55] revenue that's generated.

[3:02:56] A lot of our residents are not

[3:02:58] able to take advantage of the

[3:03:02] amenities and the habits that

[3:03:04] we have in our center city.

[3:03:07] Number three and this is going

[3:03:09] to be for our water even though

[3:03:10] MR. Charles is not here this is

[3:03:12] a bigger conversation now I

[3:03:13] think we need to be paying

[3:03:15] attention to what we know as of

[3:03:15] right now.

[3:03:18] Cuba, nigeria, south africa,

[3:03:21] pakistan and india, venezuela

[3:03:23] and zambia have all experienced

[3:03:26] blackouts and power outages.

[3:03:31] We know that the hamas channel

[3:03:35] is closed which means we are

[3:03:38] going to have a challenge with

[3:03:40] getting gas which means we are

[3:03:41] going to have a challenge with

[3:03:43] electricity.

[3:03:46] The water is life physically

[3:03:48] your body cannot go beyond

[3:03:48] three days without water.

[3:03:50] We can go without food and

[3:03:51] other things.

[3:03:53] we cannot go without water.

[3:03:54] I would add we're already

[3:03:59] hearing others smaller areas

[3:04:00] that are having challenges.

[3:04:02] We're rolling blackouts and

[3:04:06] power outages.

[3:04:08] I want to get an update from

[3:04:11] our charlotte water regarding

[3:04:14] our usage around wind, solar or

[3:04:20] any anything that is not

[3:04:22] electricity independent as far

[3:04:26] as the options in case not even

[3:04:28] in case when blackouts start

[3:04:31] making their way into our

[3:04:31] region.

[3:04:34] This is something that is

[3:04:34] already happening.

[3:04:37] This is not something we can be

[3:04:37] reactionary on.

[3:04:39] So to find out what we're

[3:04:43] actually utilizing to ensure

[3:04:45] that our water will remain

[3:04:49] accessible as long as possible

[3:04:53] having an update would be very

[3:04:55] beneficial and also I just want

[3:04:58] to give an update because there

[3:05:01] is a partner and development

[3:05:03] get engagement meeting that I

[3:05:06] will be hosting coming JULY

[3:05:06] 14th where we are bringing our

[3:05:09] development partners both on

[3:05:12] the capital investment in the

[3:05:13] development in larger

[3:05:15] developers, smaller developers

[3:05:17] they help look at a proposal to

[3:05:20] bring to housing a neighborhood

[3:05:21] services committee as we think

[3:05:23] about the trust fund and moving

[3:05:26] forward and allocation and for

[3:05:29] many years the focus has just

[3:05:32] been on housing even though we

[3:05:33] are housing and neighborhood

[3:05:33] services.

[3:05:35] So we're having the real

[3:05:36] conversations of the

[3:05:38] neighborhoods services piece

[3:05:41] and what does that really look

[3:05:44] like with that mayor I went

[3:05:46] through five mayors in seven

[3:05:49] years coming in under mayor fox

[3:05:50] and then the changes and the

[3:05:53] challenges I was elected in

[3:05:53] 2011 I believe you are

[3:05:57] personally going to 2030 as a

[3:05:59] large member.

[3:06:02] You then ran we appointed you

[3:06:03] right off the bat as mayor pro

[3:06:07] tem because of your experience

[3:06:10] in government and in community

[3:06:13] you ran successfully as mayor

[3:06:15] and have stayed in that role.

[3:06:18] The city has a tremendous

[3:06:19] wealth and with growth comes a

[3:06:21] lot of growing pains.

[3:06:24] You have endured a lot from

[3:06:27] community and in perfectly

[3:06:27] honest from your council.

[3:06:32] So what I appreciate I

[3:06:35] appreciate the fact that you

[3:06:38] still kept showing up every day

[3:06:39] some days you and now we have

[3:06:41] to have very serious

[3:06:47] conversations yet I never

[3:06:49] doubted your commitment to

[3:06:52] service even though we didn't

[3:06:53] always agree on how we get

[3:06:54] there.

[3:06:57] >> I appreciate the fact that

[3:06:59] you brought a vision to our

[3:07:00] city.

[3:07:03] I personally think you should

[3:07:03] enjoy this time because some

[3:07:07] people don't know how to retire

[3:07:11] but I know how important your

[3:07:11] children and your grandbabies

[3:07:13] are to you.

[3:07:14] So to have the opportunity to

[3:07:17] attend their place to spend

[3:07:23] time is something a gift that

[3:07:26] cannot be codified because we

[3:07:28] never know how much time GOD

[3:07:29] has for us.

[3:07:31] So thank you for all the years

[3:07:34] that you have given us all the

[3:07:36] guidance and the service and I

[3:07:39] truly pray that whenever your

[3:07:40] next part of your journey else

[3:07:43] is everything that you want and

[3:07:43] why.

[3:07:43] >> thank you.

[3:07:45] thank you so much.

[3:07:47] Mayor lyles.

[3:07:50] Much will be said about your

[3:07:53] service and the events in

[3:07:54] charlotte during your time in

[3:07:54] office.

[3:07:56] I believe your position in the

[3:07:57] history of charlotte is secure.

[3:07:59] I just wanted to tell you on a

[3:08:02] personal note we got elected at

[3:08:03] the same time we went through a

[3:08:08] lot together and one of the

[3:08:10] most rewarding aspects of my

[3:08:11] service on council has been

[3:08:13] working with you so I

[3:08:16] appreciate appreciate you.

[3:08:17] >> I love you and I wish you

[3:08:17] all the best.

[3:08:21] Thank you very much, mayor

[3:08:22] lyles.

[3:08:24] >> that's a tough one to follow

[3:08:24] .

[3:08:26] You don't have a lot of sweet

[3:08:27] emotion out of my colleague.

[3:08:30] So your departure marks the

[3:08:31] close of a historic chapter of

[3:08:32] charlotte civic life.

[3:08:33] You've had a tenure that

[3:08:36] reflects your steady commitment

[3:08:36] to equity long term.

[3:08:39] This community partnership and

[3:08:41] as you step away from the role

[3:08:43] we carry on your legacy as one

[3:08:44] of the newer members here, I

[3:08:47] can say that watching you lead

[3:08:49] drove me to wish to also lead

[3:08:50] so I thank you for that

[3:08:51] inspiration.

[3:08:55] I also on a somewhat more

[3:08:56] council topic note I will

[3:08:58] simply say that I truly believe

[3:09:01] and I say to the city manager

[3:09:01] and to others who will listen I

[3:09:04] believe that a clear and

[3:09:04] consistent process for filling

[3:09:07] vacancies should start with an

[3:09:09] immediate referral to begin as

[3:09:10] soon as the notice of vacancy

[3:09:12] is received.

[3:09:13] And I say that and I'm sure all

[3:09:15] of us have heard what a a clown

[3:09:17] car, a circus and a spectacle

[3:09:20] are.

[3:09:22] Our discussions were before the

[3:09:24] two minutes were afforded to

[3:09:25] each of the 40 or so people who

[3:09:25] came.

[3:09:28] I know that I'm not unique in

[3:09:28] not wanting to have that be the

[3:09:30] legacy that we leave charlotte

[3:09:31] is that we can't get our act

[3:09:33] together.

[3:09:34] So I would just encourage us to

[3:09:37] perhaps do a postmortem and

[3:09:39] begin to look at what we did

[3:09:42] with this and document it for

[3:09:42] future councils not to bind

[3:09:45] them but to show them what we

[3:09:48] found useful in this process

[3:09:48] and what perhaps was not

[3:09:48] useful.

[3:09:50] I will speak fundamentally for

[3:09:53] me what was most useful were

[3:09:54] the conversations I was able to

[3:09:56] have the more in-depth

[3:09:56] conversations where I was able

[3:09:59] to candidly interview people

[3:09:59] and I appreciate sunshine laws

[3:10:02] do not able us to do that but I

[3:10:04] also don't think that we had to

[3:10:07] do the two minute with

[3:10:07] everybody who applied.

[3:10:09] I don't know that that was

[3:10:10] really useful for the public

[3:10:12] but I just think that bgr is a

[3:10:13] good place for that to be

[3:10:15] discussed and again to do that

[3:10:17] sort of analysis of this part

[3:10:18] of this process that we did and

[3:10:20] I thank you for the opportunity

[3:10:20] .

[3:10:26] Thank you.

[3:10:31] >> she goes okay, right.

[3:10:34] Well thank you, MADAM Mayor and

[3:10:35] MADAM Mayor, you know how I

[3:10:36] feel about you.

[3:10:39] When I applied for MR.

[3:10:42] Mitchell's vacated seat and was

[3:10:43] not appointed you called me

[3:10:47] afterwards and encouraged me to

[3:10:48] run and think about running and

[3:10:51] here I am and I've had the

[3:10:54] pleasure of serving with you in

[3:10:56] this council for now my third

[3:10:59] term but specifically with you

[3:11:01] in the council as mayor pro tem

[3:11:04] for two years and that was an

[3:11:04] incredible time including when

[3:11:07] we had some incredible things

[3:11:07] going on in our city.

[3:11:10] So I'm happy good news tonight

[3:11:13] is that you will be here in

[3:11:13] charlotte and that we're not

[3:11:15] the city of charlotte isn't

[3:11:16] losing you which was fantastic.

[3:11:18] So we will see you around and

[3:11:21] I'm sure you and I will

[3:11:21] connect.

[3:11:24] I want to just speak on two

[3:11:26] council topics.

[3:11:29] The first one is just to remind

[3:11:32] her that this wednesday, JUNE

[3:11:34] 24th we will have our citywide

[3:11:36] public safety summit from 6 to

[3:11:37] 8 P.M..

[3:11:40] It's going to be at the union

[3:11:43] station west in and MS. Mayo's

[3:11:45] district and we'll have a state

[3:11:48] of public safety from both our

[3:11:51] chief of fire and police and

[3:11:53] we'll have various panel

[3:11:56] discussions from covering

[3:11:59] criminal justice system

[3:12:00] partners, violence prevention

[3:12:03] partners and business community

[3:12:05] partners and so on.

[3:12:08] So please come out we have

[3:12:08] really good rent registration

[3:12:11] for it and I'd love to have as

[3:12:13] much engagement as possible.

[3:12:14] The second thing I wanted to

[3:12:17] highlight is over this past

[3:12:19] weekend and many of you MAY

[3:12:22] remember just a couple of weeks

[3:12:25] back there was a multi law

[3:12:28] enforcement raid at the garden

[3:12:30] suites an end in district one

[3:12:31] on reagan drive.

[3:12:34] It was an unprecedented,

[3:12:34] unprecedented collaborative

[3:12:36] effort that our chief drove and

[3:12:39] had great results.

[3:12:43] But in sustain the effort in

[3:12:44] that corridor because the

[3:12:46] behavior has been so entrenched

[3:12:49] and inculcate it that there is

[3:12:52] sustained efforts that are

[3:12:53] going on and will continue to

[3:12:55] go on.

[3:12:57] And one happened this weekend

[3:13:00] where c and pd operated their

[3:13:04] 20 26 queen city safe

[3:13:05] initiative.

[3:13:05] They're doing it monthly in

[3:13:08] different neighborhoods but

[3:13:08] then they collaborate

[3:13:11] collaborated with the north

[3:13:13] division which is responsible

[3:13:13] for reagan drive and other

[3:13:16] areas specifically the sugar

[3:13:19] creek corridor blackwood avenue

[3:13:19] ,north tryon street.

[3:13:22] Tom hunter, a tondo and these

[3:13:25] are places that are plagued

[3:13:25] with narcotics activity,

[3:13:28] alcohol related activity,

[3:13:31] assaults, property crime, high

[3:13:34] crime corridors etc. Just the

[3:13:38] results of this one effort on

[3:13:43] the 19th 168 traffic stops and

[3:13:47] also pedestrian stops 61

[3:13:48] citations, 25 arrests but more

[3:13:51] importantly nine firearms were

[3:13:56] seized nearly $10,000 in U.S.

[3:13:56] Currency related to drug

[3:14:04] activity and 538g of narcotics

[3:14:04] was seized on an effort that

[3:14:08] was effectively 12 hours in one

[3:14:09] area of our city.

[3:14:12] >> so tremendous effort by mpd.

[3:14:15] I want to shout out dc brierley

[3:14:15] and captain jeter for their

[3:14:18] efforts in that space but this

[3:14:21] is the type of work this is the

[3:14:21] type of programs we're going to

[3:14:24] have to stand up in other parts

[3:14:26] of the community.

[3:14:27] So again we can crack and break

[3:14:32] through this hard shell of of

[3:14:35] of nuisance crime and crime

[3:14:38] that is impacting our residents

[3:14:40] in particular our residents who

[3:14:41] are aging in place over in

[3:14:43] hidden valley and deride it in

[3:14:44] other communities.

[3:14:48] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:14:49] Thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:14:51] So I'm kind of echoing the

[3:14:53] sentiment of colleagues.

[3:14:54] It's been a pleasure working

[3:14:56] with you the last few months.

[3:14:59] I very much enjoyed our time in

[3:15:02] dc together and then getting to

[3:15:03] know you and stopping by your

[3:15:04] office and having conversations

[3:15:07] has been very it's been fun but

[3:15:08] also enlightening.

[3:15:08] So I've gotten to learn a lot,

[3:15:11] a lot about you and also about

[3:15:13] how to be a good representative

[3:15:13] .

[3:15:14] So we really appreciate the

[3:15:17] time that we've spent together

[3:15:17] and look forward to seeing more

[3:15:20] of you.

[3:15:20] >> I know my mom's probably

[3:15:22] jealous you'll be spending time

[3:15:22] with your grandkids.

[3:15:25] >> she doesn't have any.

[3:15:25] I think there are a few that I

[3:15:28] love that but yeah, I'm I'm

[3:15:31] sure you will enjoy that time

[3:15:31] and I'm sure they're going to

[3:15:32] enjoy spending more time with

[3:15:33] you as well.

[3:15:34] >> so just want to thank you

[3:15:38] for your service.

[3:15:41] >> well MADAM Mayor, I have

[3:15:44] extended particular remarks a

[3:15:45] couple of months ago so we just

[3:15:47] want to echo the comments of

[3:15:49] our colleagues and thank you

[3:15:53] for your service and we will

[3:15:55] see you I'm sure around yeah, I

[3:15:55] hope so.

[3:15:58] >> I mean, you know, at some

[3:16:03] point so I'm not going anywhere

[3:16:03] .

[3:16:04] I don't know if you know that

[3:16:05] my son is building a house up

[3:16:06] in huddersfield so my tax rates

[3:16:08] will go down.

[3:16:09] >> that's one thing.

[3:16:16] So our did you get chicken

[3:16:19] noodle?

[3:16:22] You know I guess I've just done

[3:16:24] too much truth for the day so

[3:16:28] but there I really will tell

[3:16:28] you one of the most important

[3:16:31] things that I hope to do is to

[3:16:36] engage with the community.

[3:16:37] I have to say joe's did that

[3:16:40] thing for me yesterday and I

[3:16:42] want you to know I use

[3:16:42] transparency at least five

[3:16:45] times the but that was when I

[3:16:48] was young and and not as you

[3:16:50] know it's it gets harder that's

[3:16:51] what I'm going to tell you it

[3:16:53] just gets flat out harder.

[3:16:54] I thought the same thing I

[3:16:56] thought I'm going to do all of

[3:16:57] this and it's going to be great

[3:16:58] and everything's going to be

[3:16:59] wonderful and it the hardest

[3:17:01] job that I've ever had because

[3:17:04] it involves people and it

[3:17:07] involves people that want to do

[3:17:08] the right thing.

[3:17:10] But darkness so you know how

[3:17:15] I've picked up the book on a

[3:17:19] long time ago when doug dalton

[3:17:22] village wasn't really that

[3:17:22] place and I started reading

[3:17:24] that book again and started

[3:17:27] started talking about people

[3:17:30] whose names I remember and what

[3:17:30] they said and what they did and

[3:17:33] this I think it would be really

[3:17:35] good to see some of the things

[3:17:38] that you don't think about

[3:17:39] because you're just so busy

[3:17:41] running all the time.

[3:17:45] But we have those issues I mean

[3:17:45] just like the one that you're

[3:17:47] talking about the green what is

[3:17:50] that hotel garden in and sweet

[3:17:53] and and the lady that the house

[3:17:56] that's going to be used as a

[3:17:58] you know it's a dump anyway so

[3:17:59] you know lots of that but right

[3:18:02] now I think what we all should

[3:18:04] do is congratulate ourselves on

[3:18:05] being able to get through this

[3:18:08] agenda and be able to go home.

[3:18:10] >> you know, you say I have oh,

[3:18:13] you know, I'm sorry how are you

[3:18:16] had said she did it already so

[3:18:16] that sample was hiding behind

[3:18:21] this area.

[3:18:24] You know, I think she wasn't

[3:18:24] done.

[3:18:29] >> I was I was I was just going

[3:18:32] to say as we say farewell to

[3:18:37] you, I look forward to the next

[3:18:38] 18 months because we've got

[3:18:40] work to do and though we've had

[3:18:43] a lot to cover in terms of

[3:18:44] administration and these kinds

[3:18:46] of things, we're at a point now

[3:18:49] where we've got to we've got to

[3:18:51] look forward and we've got to

[3:18:52] lift our gaze, if you will, to

[3:18:53] what we're supposed to be

[3:18:55] delivering for the city though

[3:18:55] we will have an interim or a

[3:18:58] period with an interim mayor we

[3:19:00] cannot use this time to rest on

[3:19:01] our laurels.

[3:19:03] We very much still have all of

[3:19:04] the pressing demands of a

[3:19:06] growing city and so I look

[3:19:09] forward to each and every one

[3:19:09] of us kind of picking up and

[3:19:12] taking up our particular charge

[3:19:15] so that we are able to drive

[3:19:15] this city forward because

[3:19:18] certainly will need to help on

[3:19:18] board our incoming interim

[3:19:21] mayor.

[3:19:22] But each and every person here

[3:19:24] is a leader in their own right

[3:19:25] and so we've got to come

[3:19:27] together and help help lift up

[3:19:30] our new leader as well as our

[3:19:30] community.

[3:19:32] So I hope that that is where we

[3:19:33] are able to pivot to as we come

[3:19:36] back from our break in AUGUST.

[3:19:38] >> okay.

[3:19:41] i agree with what my colleagues

[3:19:43] have already said.

[3:19:46] Thank you for your service and

[3:19:46] for the sacrifices but I think

[3:19:50] the bigger things is to your

[3:19:50] family because they have had to

[3:19:53] sacrifice a lot especially

[3:19:56] kwami, aisha and their families

[3:19:59] to enable someone to serve.

[3:20:02] So I want to thank the family

[3:20:02] for their sacrifices for all

[3:20:08] this years and I know that

[3:20:08] babies are looking forward to

[3:20:10] spending some time with you.

[3:20:13] I ran into them and they just

[3:20:16] want that undisturbed time so I

[3:20:21] certainly recognize that and I

[3:20:21] .

[3:20:22] I wish you all the best in your

[3:20:24] next chapter yours will be the

[3:20:24] same.

[3:20:27] >> I mean kids love and adore.

[3:20:30] >> we do have one more.

[3:20:30] >> I know.

[3:20:31] No, no, no.

[3:20:33] Oh, what do you want to the end

[3:20:33] of this item?

[3:20:35] No, no, no.

[3:20:36] >> I want to embarrass you like

[3:20:36] okay.

[3:20:37] Okay.

[3:20:41] So serving with you probably

[3:20:41] anybody else I remember you a

[3:20:43] budget director that I remember

[3:20:47] you assistant city manager and

[3:20:47] the first time you came in

[3:20:50] ralph was I was addicted to

[3:20:51] about you say smudgy you

[3:20:56] telephone bill is to her oh

[3:20:56] yeah we had a few minutes back

[3:20:59] and you taught me there that

[3:20:59] you got to stay out of the

[3:21:01] newspaper.

[3:21:02] >> that's that was the number

[3:21:02] two thing.

[3:21:05] Never let the newspaper know

[3:21:07] what you're doing.

[3:21:09] And so I would I would say when

[3:21:12] when I started appreciate your

[3:21:16] skills is when I'm more results

[3:21:16] driven.

[3:21:16] But you taught me the art of

[3:21:19] the process that if you have a

[3:21:21] good process you have good

[3:21:24] results and I want to echo what

[3:21:25] everyone said it's time for you

[3:21:28] to take about be proud of if

[3:21:29] you jump on the 14th largest

[3:21:32] city but now is your time.

[3:21:33] >> you need to be selfish.

[3:21:35] It's been time your

[3:21:36] grandchildren spend time with

[3:21:38] you both continue to work on

[3:21:43] you stand in the city, tell you

[3:21:47] hey talent you see where you

[3:21:50] live, what you say movies

[3:21:50] right?

[3:21:52] >> wow.

[3:21:53] >> schools don't tell him

[3:21:55] nothing.

[3:21:56] >> you won't get that water.

[3:21:58] I'm going to MISS You, mayor.

[3:21:58] >> all right.

[3:21:59] Thank you.

[3:21:59] All right.

[3:22:01] We have to do one more thing

[3:22:01] and that this is because of the

[3:22:03] work that we did with the clerk

[3:22:04] this afternoon.

[3:22:06] We want to say thank you for

[3:22:09] all of you that participated in

[3:22:10] this and had this chance.

[3:22:12] But you know what we're having

[3:22:13] I they've been I have.

[3:22:16] And asking you as a draft on

[3:22:16] the salary adjustment for the

[3:22:18] city clerk that you approve of

[3:22:22] during our meeting time and

[3:22:22] that we want to make document

[3:22:25] this so that we can get

[3:22:27] everything on way works and so

[3:22:27] following the completion of her

[3:22:30] annual performance evaluation

[3:22:32] conducted on 20th JUNE 22nd 26,

[3:22:36] the city council approved a

[3:22:37] salary adjustment in the amount

[3:22:38] of 8% for the city clerk in

[3:22:41] recognition of her continued

[3:22:41] service and performance in

[3:22:43] fulfilling the duties and

[3:22:45] responsibilities of her office

[3:22:45] .

[3:22:46] So last year I had to do this

[3:22:49] report.

[3:22:49] >> yeah and it was just decked

[3:22:53] up for report I mean but I

[3:22:55] think now I just want to say

[3:22:58] that the staff people as you

[3:23:00] know well the staff came in and

[3:23:03] now we have a process for it so

[3:23:03] just think about that.

[3:23:06] You know, I heard something and

[3:23:07] we got a process out of it.

[3:23:09] >> hey, that's a win for

[3:23:12] anyone to say we do I have to

[3:23:14] have a motion on this.

[3:23:15] No, MADAM Mayor, great job.

[3:23:17] We just want to clarify when is

[3:23:20] it effective?

[3:23:23] JULY 2nd slappers thank you.

[3:23:23] JULY the 4th.

[3:23:23] Sorry.

[3:23:24] Oh, is 4th of JULY.

[3:23:26] I'd like to do like JULY.

[3:23:28] >> yes, yes, yes.

[3:23:30] 26, 2026.

[3:23:30] Okay.

[3:23:31] All right.

[3:23:33] Thank you.

[3:23:35] >> motion to adjourn second.

[3:23:38] >> all in favor, mayor.

[3:24:08] Thank you

[3:30:03] resilience and never shying

[3:30:05] away from doing what is best

[3:30:08] for all of the students and

[3:30:10] families in our community. We

[3:30:11] also recognize the >>

[3:30:12] importance of being a good

[3:30:15] community partner and I'm

[3:30:18] certainly looking for ways to

[3:30:20] pal around with my friend

[3:30:23] COUNCILWOMAN Kimberly and my

[3:30:24] other friend of your mr.

City Council Business Meeting on 2026-06-22 5:30 PM

Agenda

Transcript