evening.
>> meeting.
We.
Each.
Now call the.
Meeting to order.
Good evening and thank you all
for joining us in person here
and those watching online for
our AUGUST 24th business
meeting.
Now we'll begin with
introductions around the dais
uh, starting with our city
clerk to my right.
Billy town's deputy.
City clerk andrea leslie by
city attorney.
Who do.
>> you mean mayor at large?
Good evening.
I'm victoria watlington.
>> and I have.
>> the pleasure of serving.
You as a member at large.
Good evening.
Joy mayo representing district
three.
Marcus jones, city manager rob
harrington mayor.
Good evening everyone james
mitchell mayor pro tem.
Good evening kimberly.
Owens representing.
>> district.
Six malcolm graham district
two.
And driggs district seven.
Good evening luana mateo,
councilmember.
At large.
Good evening jd my sweater adds
proudly representing the east
side district.
five good evening I'm renee
johnson and I'm honored to.
Represent district four.
Thank you.
We begin our meeting with an
invocation expression or
inspiration followed by the
pledge of allegiance.
The invocation is intended to
solemnized our proceedings.
We celebrate the religious
diversity of our community
including those without a
religious faith.
Tonight council member doctor
watlington will give our
invocation.
Thank you, MR. Mayor.
Uh.
>> for those of.
>> you.
That would like to please.
Join us and bow our heads.
Heavenly father.
We come before you.
Tonight grateful for.
>> this city.
And for the trust placed.
In us to serve it well.
Lord give us wisdom beyond our
own understanding as we
deliberate.
Tonight and as we hear from the
community.
Give us humility to.
Listen to.
>> each other and to the
neighbors who.
Aren't in this room but whose
lives are shaped by what.
We decide here lord, where
there is disagreement among us,
let it be rooted in respect.
Where there is doubt, grant us
clarity where there is division
in our city.
Use us as instruments of
healing.
Rather than discord.
Lord, we ask that you guide
every vote cast tonight.
Toward justice.
Toward mercy and toward the
well-being of every person who
calls charlotte home.
We ask this in your name amen.
Amen.
>> please stand and join us in
the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to.
>> the flag.
Of the.
United states.
>> of.
America and to.
>> the.
Republic for which it stands
one nation under GOD,
indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
Before we move to voting on
consent items, I want to take a
quick moment because we have a
representative from anderson
county who I think has a
special message and recognition
for some of our city staff.
I'll now recognize CHAIRMAN
Cordle of anson county.
Take your time.
>> uh.
Right here.
>> be great.
Like to thank.
We.
>> be.
Right behind you.
Uh, this was much better.
>> so it's, uh, taller.
So good evening council.
Good evening mayor staff.
Thank you.
>> for the opportunity to
address you tonight.
Um, my name is jamie colter.
I'm the CHAIRMAN Of the anson
county board of commissioners.
Um, I call it a neighboring
county.
we're just a few miles east of
here.
But, uh, again, I appreciate
you letting me, uh, speak
tonight.
I just want to address a, um,
situation that we had in nancy
county back on JULY the 7th.
Uh, ac county experienced a
countywide water system loss.
So we had a complete
depressurization of our water
system across the entire county
.
95% of our citizens were
without drinkable water at that
time.
Um, the next couple days after
that line break, our focus was
to restore water service for
the basic principle of fire
protection to all residents and
businesses.
Once that was achieved, our
focus then became on restoring
quality drinking water to all
the citizens of our district or
our county.
Um during that time it became
apparent that our utility staff
was going to need some help and
getting that restored.
So we began to reach out to our
neighboring municipalities,
neighboring counties and the
city of charlotte being one of
those.
Um, I'm here tonight to tell
you thank you for the
assistance that you provided to
our county during that time.
Um, I want to thank the elected
officials.
I want to thank the city staff
.
And most importantly, I want to
thank the men and women who had
boots on the ground who helped
us restore that service to all
of our citizens in our county.
uh, we are all north
carolinians and that's what
makes this the greatest state
in the country to live in north
carolina.
Um, when we need help we always
lend a hand to our neighbors.
And that's exactly what you did
for our county and anson county
.
Uh, your willingness to lend a
hand or in this case several
hands, um, just shows the type
of character that.
>> you.
As leaders, uh, exhibit and
also your staff.
Um, you sent 9 to 10 highly
skilled and trained crew
members each day for 2 or 3
long days.
And I want to specify long days
,um, to help us that worked
diligently to help us restore
the water service.
I can't name them all but I do
want to especially thank MR.
Marion sanders and I know he's
in the audience behind me here
.
Um.
He is truly a remarkable person
and a true leader in that
department.
And so he was on site with us
in our eoc operations center
and MR. Sanders was there every
day and I just want to thank
him personally.
But also, you know, the staff
and also I have not met this
person yet.
We I did not physically talk to
you on the phone but I was on
the phone conversations with
her.
Um, MISS Angela charles at your
water lab.
Um, and she might be here
tonight.
i would know.
Yeah.
>> nice to meet you.
So?
>> so MISS Charles, she did
whatever was necessary to get
our water samples, uh, fixed
and tested.
She offered.
Extended hours on dropping off
water samples.
Accommodated us our county in
whatever way she could do.
Um, she provided technical
support on obtaining the water
samples.
That way we could lift our boil
water advisory and our citizens
could go back to consuming the
water.
Most importantly, she give our
citizens a trusted.
Resource that they could
believe in.
The water sample was, uh,
passing and was able to be
consumed.
So I want to say thank you to
MISS Charles, MR. Sanders and
all of the staff I can't like I
said, I can't name all the
staff members.
They were way too many people
coming in in that building that
day.
Um, so tonight I just want to
present you with this plaque.
Um, and grateful recognition of
your invaluable assistance,
extraordinary partnership and
unwavering support provided to
anson county during the JULY
2026 water emergency.
Your dedication to public
service and commitment to
helping our community during a
time of need exemplify the
highest ideals of local
government and emergency
response.
so it's a sincere appreciation
and gratitude on behalf of
anson county commissioners,
anson county staff and most
importantly the anc county
citizens.
We say thank you for your.
Partnership.
>>
uh.
>> we.
>> are credit to the city.
Thank you.
Thank.
You.
Thank you.
You good job.
You know.
Thank you.
Thank you very.
Jason.
Thank you, MISS.
Appreciate it.
We just going.
Through excruciating.
Didn't jim didn't.
All all right.
Yeah.
No.
Oh, wait.
Good evening.
Yeah.
See?
All time.
To ask.
Thank you, CHAIRMAN Carl.
And thanks to all the staff at
charlotte.
Water for.
>> your hard work.
Helping our neighbor community.
Uh.
I'm sure do it again.
Just likes to say thank you.
Thank you.
>> so appreciate that.
Thank you.
>> thanks for coming through.
>> I think you get there.
thank you sir.
Thank you thank you.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN.
Always good to have good news.
Oh, yeah.
All right.
We'll start that again.
Thank you, CHAIRMAN Carl.
And thank you to all the staff
of charlotte water for your
hard work on helping our
neighboring community in their
time of need.
That's a wonderful way to start
the meeting.
So thanks again to everyone
that is involved from charlotte
water and to the CHAIRMAN.
Um I'd like to thank again all
of you for joining us on behalf
of the entire city council.
I ask that audience members be
civil and courteous while in
the chamber.
We want to ensure that everyone
has a positive experience while
attending this meeting.
We will start our meeting items
with consideration of consent
agenda items before we take the
vote.
Are there any for comment or
for a separate vote?
We will vote on the items not
pulled first and then address
any item pulled for.
A separate vote later.
Council member wish mayor.
Item number 20 just for
comment.
The any others?
Okay.
MAY I have a motion to approve
the consent agenda items 13
through 32 with the exception
of item 26.
Is there.
>> any further discussions or
comments as to the bulk of the
items?
All in favor please raise your
hand.
Any opposed?
All right.
That passes.
Um, since we have comments just
on one let's go ahead and take
that now.
Council members.
Mayor.
So first I'll make a motion to
approve item number 20 and then
I'll make a comment.
Second.
Okay I'll speaking of charlotte
water.
Um I.
>> just want to highlight
charlotte.
Water again.
They are a champion.
Of the circular.
Economy and angela charles and
her team does an excellent job
of meeting our cap goals.
We have seen that when they
unveiled.
A renew rule.
And this is item number 20 is
just another example of how.
>> we.
Recover our.
Valuable resources like
phosphorus and nitrogen from
wastewater to.
Support a circular.
Sustainable economy.
And this is going to result in
almost $2 million.
So let me say that again
sustainable sustainability and
economic development and cost
saving goes hand in hand.
So angela, thank you.
>> for your leadership.
In helping us meet our goals as
well as our sustainability
department.
Thank you for your leadership.
Thank you.
>> council member ash mayor we
have a motion and a second.
Um.
,to.
Approve item number 20.
The motion.
Uh, now we're ready for a vote.
All in favor raise your right
hand.
Any opposed?
All right.
The passes and we're complete
with the, uh, consent agenda.
And now we move to open forum.
Uh, public forum.
I'd like to thank you all for
joining us and behalf of the
entire city council.
I ask that all speakers and
audience members be civil and
courteous in their use of
language.
Speakers are encouraged to
address council and should
refrain from responding to
audience members.
Likewise, audience members
should be courteous of each
speaker and not yell out or
interrupt speakers.
We want to ensure that everyone
has the chance to be heard
tonight.
Since there are more than ten
speakers, each speaker will
have two minutes to address
council.
Thank you.
And now I'd like to call the
first speaker and that will
require me to get my list.
To the first speaker.
Um I apologies if I
mispronounced name but he is on
holiday.
MR. Day.
Here.
>> all right.
Second speaker is mike homan.
Right?
>> next speaker is jim berry.
Jim.
>> I'm going to stop striking
out here.
The next speaker is manolo
betancourt.
That's a manila.
You know we have three marinas
now without them.
Uh.
Unfortunately there's a waiting
list but we look.
>> forward to hearing from.
Uh, good evening, MR. Mayor.
Doing it.
And they are.
Friends of, uh, our city
council.
I had a very nice speech 24
hours ago.
They wrote for all of you.
But everything changed 24, 24
hours ago when greg marino.
Show up.
Uh, my parking lot at the
bakery.
Uh, and he's the person who
brought sonny's darkness and
hate to our city this past
NOVEMBER.
And and the baker.
I should be back selling cakes
and bread.
I shouldn't be condemned.
And this person to show up in
our city.
I'm here to ask you to be a
third people as ordinary people
are the people who create a
positive upset, a good change
in our society.
And ordinary people are the
ones who live our daily lives.
Our city is full of
extraordinary people.
I saw the this past NOVEMBER
when everybody show up in my
bakery when everybody show up
in central avenue on a broad
low to us but ice is still in
charlotte every single day they
are taking people away from our
street, our business going
down.
Our children are going back to
school tomorrow.
They are they are in trauma.
They are shut.
They are worried and nobody is
raising their voice.
I've been baking for 29 years
and this is worse than covid.
This is worse than 2000 a
recession.
We all can combine and create
solutions if we feel proud to
bring back ceos, another
company from another estate and
we feel so proud and all 500
million fortune company to
charlotte which will feel proud
for them.
We take care of our two small
businesses now where minorities
.
So I'm here to invite you to
create solutions.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
>> next speaker our next
speaker.
Our next speaker is.
Doctor.
>> yes.
>> I'm going to mispronounce
your name but pietro zick is he
here?
With it's great.
Next speaker is daniel araya.
Here here.
Yeah okay.
Mhm.
Yes.
>> uh hello council my name is.
Daniel warrior I live in
district two.
During a recent.
conversation that this council
.
>> was having about the.
Model cities initiative there.
Are concerns.
>> brought.
Up about.
>> flock cameras and similar
technologies and.
Potential expansion of use of
that technology.
And during that conversation.
Another council member
commented about that and said
the following.
The last.
Portion of what I'll say is
connected to this technology
piece that.
We've talked about because just
a short while.
Ago we approved red.
Light cameras that are going to
track vehicles and other things
that come within its purview.
And we have 621 cameras on
intersections all throughout
the city of charlotte.
The reason this was concerning
to me is because it made me
realize that some members of
this council MAY be
catastrophically misinformed
about the issue of surveillance
technology.
This is hugely concerning to
me.
The aclu described what was
going on with flock this way
recently the.
Cloud automatic license plate
reader company flock is
building a dangerous nationwide
mass surveillance
infrastructure.
They go on to say if your
community adopts this
technology you need to know
it's doing more than just
recording what car is driving
where and at what time.
I also would like to follow up
and say that axon is another
company that is doing a similar
thing.
Their technologies are
developing and growing at
breakneck pace.
If this council waits another
year to confront this issue.
It will be too late.
I call upon the council to do
three things ask cmpd about
their current use and planned
use of technologies from flock
,axon and other surveillance
companies.
Gather information about this
topic to ensure you are
educated.
And three.
>> have an.
Open discussion and make
deliberate decisions about
where charlotte is going to
draw the line to protect our
rights.
This is a critical issue and I
urge the council to please
address this issue as soon as
you can.
Thank you very much for your
service to the city and I look
forward to action on this.
>> thank you.
MR..
Wright.
>> our next speaker.
The next speaker is martha
carney.
Okay.
>> next speaker is ashanti
williams.
Good evening mayor herrington.
>> and city.
Council members.
My name is ashanti.
Williams and I am an.
Unaccompanied minor escort at
the charlotte.
douglass international.
Airport servicing.
American airlines passengers.
While I'm.
>> trusted to.
Help keep the airport's most
vulnerable passengers safe.
I was recently put.
Into a.
>> situation where I was given
the training.
I wasn't given the training I
needed.
To do the job safely.
I stepped in as a wheelchair
attendant during a staffing
shortage.
And was expected to push two.
Passengers at the same time.
I had no help.
No guidance.
Or any idea how I was.
>> going to push them both
through.
>> a.
Crowded airport.
I made one.
Mistake that was a.
Security violation.
Because of that.
Mistake I paid a hefty price.
I didn't.
>> know I had to do security
too.
Nobody told us these things.
My airport badge was suspended
for 67 days and it's because I
had poor training.
When charlotte airport security
reinstated.
>> my badge.
They said that my employer
prospect gave me insufficient
training for nearly 70 days.
I went without pay.
My bills powder.
Food was limited and I had to
fight for my life to survive.
Stories like mine happen when
workers.
>> are overworked.
Understaffed and being asked to
fill gaps without proper
training and the support that
we actually need.
And when you add bottom of the
barrel benefits and low pay
that doesn't allow us to
support our families.
You have a recipe for disaster
.
I love my job and helping
people travel safely.
But the airport workers at clt
deserve better.
Mayor herrington charlotte city
council the new airport lease
at clt can change things for
the better.
Give the public 45 days to
review the lease and require
airlines and their contractors
to publicly report their
training and staffing data so
we can improve airport
services.
And stories like mine don't.
Happen again.
Thank you.
Because we've.
Our next speaker is averil fong
.
Iva will fong.
Next is leslie brown.
Next is alisha brown.
Nobody came to chicago for the
short.
MR. Brown if you could since I
was going so fast.
Two names if you could state
your names just so we have them
clearly.
I'm sorry.
Oh, if you could just.
>> state your names because I
was calling it a bunch of
names.
I want to make sure everybody
knows who's talking.
Very well.
>> um, good evening, mayor and
.
Members of the charlotte.
City council.
I am.
Alicia brown.
I'm the founder and executive.
Director of for the struggle.
And the managing partner.
Of justice and action law
center.
Um, I'm speaking tonight
because what we've heard from
the community.
With respect to this.
Curfew is that criminalization
is not the answer.
Resources is in fact.
>> the answer.
And the fact that investing in
resources to alleviate this
problem was not the initial
response is concerning at
least.
Let's be honest.
You all have heard.
And we've already acknowledged
that this ordinance will have a
disproportionate impact on
black and brown children.
That is something that we
already know.
We know what's happened in the
past and we know will continue
to happen even.
With this.
Particular ordinance.
What's even more concerning is
criminalizing parents for.
Children engaging in children
activities and.
Children behavior.
We work with parents.
Every single day.
Low income parents.
Struggling every.
Single day.
And the idea of criminalizing a
parent for a child's activity
is not only concerning, but it
shows me that whoever wrote
this ordinance is completely
out of touch.
We do not support a blanket 9
P.M. Curfew as proposed if an
immediate measure is necessary
.
It should be.
Temporary and the attorney in
me needs to say it needs to be.
Narrowly tailored.
And evaluated alongside
non-criminal alternatives.
After speaking.
With our youth.
Um again, criminalization under
these circumstances is
unrealistic and it's not the
answer.
You've been offered
alternatives.
We've seen the city pay
astronomical amounts for
studies to come.
Up with solutions.
Well this is the time to employ
your community experts in
impacted communities to come.
Up with a real solution.
The scope is far too broad.
This in practice again will
criminalize children who are
not engaging in any criminal
activity.
My problem even further is that
again it will have a
disproportionate impact on
black.
>> and brown children.
Thank you, MISS Brown.
Next speaker is abraham.
Smith.
>> I believe the person after
me is one.
>> of.
Our students to.
Maya jama.
Let's see.
That I.
Oh so it says on a she's
speaking in the place of zone
out.
I know okay.
Good evening.
Sorry.
If you're if we're not signed
up we can't allow it.
Um.
Apologize.
Okay.
>> thank you.
All right.
>> the next speaker is doctor
reverend doctor janet garner
mullins.
Good evening, MR..
Mayor and council members.
I'm here tonight to
respectfully.
Ask you.
>> to stand firm.
And maintain.
>> the six.
Vote position opposing the
current I-77 south toll lane
proposal.
This issue is about more than
transportation.
It's about public trust.
Residents attended.
Meetings, submitted comments,
contact elected officials and.
>> made their views known.
After hearing.
>> those concerns.
This council voted to oppose
the project.
The question before you is
simple what.
Is change?
The transportation needs have
not changed.
The concerns raised by
residents have not changed and
the burdens that.
Toll rose.
Place on working families has
not changed.
What appears to have changed is
the pressure on local
government to revisit decisions
that already.
Reach through.
Public engagement and.
Careful deliberation.
Let me be clear.
We all want transportation
improvements.
We want safer roads, reduce
congestion and better.
Mobility throughout our region
.
But working families should not
be.
Asked to pay twice.
Once through their taxes and
again through tolls used on
roads they've already.
Paid for in the beginning.
And for some residents.
>> and neighborhoods.
This proposal is.
>> not merely about traffic
patterns.
It's about the potential
disruption that will.
Stablish communities families
losing their homes they've
worked for.
>> for many years.
And sometimes generations to
below.
Charlotte residents deserve
transportation solutions that.
>> are affordable.
Transparent.
>> accountable to.
>> the public.
So tonight I urge you to hold
your position.
Continue advocating for
transportation solutions that.
Reflect the needs.
Values and.
Voices of our people.
Because roads can't be rebuilt.
Budgets can be revised.
But once public trust is.
Lost you.
Can't get it back.
thank you.
Thank you doctor.
>> our next speaker is riki
singh.
Riki singh.
All right.
Next speaker is nathan hoffman.
Good evening.
>> mayor and members of the
city council.
My name is nathan hoffman.
I'm an uptown resident,
PRESIDENT Of friends of fourth
ward and a member of the center
city safety task force.
I'm here tonight in support of
the.
Youth protection.
Ordinance.
>> I understand some of the
concerns surrounding the
ordinance.
A curfew.
Alone will not solve the
challenges facing our young
people.
We absolutely need greater
investment in youth programing
,mentorship, safe places for
teens.
To gather mental health.
Resources and opportunities for
young people to thrive.
But I don't believe we have to
choose.
Between these investments.
And giving cmpd a.
Reasonable tool to protect
young.
People and our community.
This ordinance creates clear.
Expectations and importantly.
Allows officers to intervene
before.
>> a situation escalates.
Not simply after a crime has.
Occurred or someone has become
a victim.
Use properly this should.
>> not be about criminalizing
young people.
It should be an.
Opportunity to engage them,
reconnect them with parents and
guardians.
Identifies those who MAY need
additional help and connect
families with.
Resources.
>> as an uptown resident.
I've seen.
>> how quickly large
unsupervised.
Gatherings can change the
environment for residents.
Businesses.
>> visitors and the.
Young people themselves.
This is.
>> why implementation matters.
It must be fair.
Consistent, compassionate and
accountable.
Pair this ordinance.
>> with.
The visible policing, youth.
Engagement, community.
Partnerships.
>> safe youth.
Spaces and meaningful
resources.
And I believe we create
something much more powerful
than a curfew.
We create a proactive.
Preventive strategy on behalf
of the residents of uptown and
all those across.
>> the city.
I respectfully ask council to
support the youth protection
ordinance.
Thank you.
Thank you, MR. Hoffman.
We will move on to the waiting
list since we've got several
spots still open.
And next first on the waiting
list.
Next speaker is michael
mcbride.
And even more space on the
waiting list now.
Uh, nancy cook.
Bishop omari MAY.
Jamal snow.
Queen.
>> yes.
Um.
>> I think he's still coming.
Because he.
Mayor council.
We need to be honest about what
this ordinance actually will
do.
If we already know black and
brown.
Youth face disproportionate
harm during police encounters.
Why would we pass a policy that
guarantees even more encounters
?
And why criminalize parents
when the system is already
stacked against them?
First.
>> the curfew increases police
youth contact especially for
black and brown teens.
Charlotte's own data shows 1503
32 juvenile related incidents
this year.
Only 30% happened after 8 P.M..
So why create a policy that
affects 100% of teens for 30%
of the problem?
Cities like baltimore, chicago
,minneapolis, nashville,
raleigh and my hometown of
fayetteville have already
learned this lesson curfews
don't reduce youth crime but
they do increase police
interaction and communities of
color.
Charlotte cannot afford to
repeat those mistakes.
Second, criminalizing parents
will hit families underneath
already under strain.
under the current ordinance,
parents can already be charged
with contributing to a
delinquency of a minor a class
one misdemeanor.
We know exactly who will bear
the brunt.
Black and brown parents.
Single parents families already
struggling economically and
misdemeanor means fines, courts
fees MISS Work even jail time
that destabilizes housing
employment and family
structure.
Criminalizing parents doesn't
solve root causes.
It deepens generational harm.
I urge the council to remove
revise this section.
Third.
>> we need alternatives that
actually work.
If the goal is safety and
protection then investment
strategies with proven impact.
For example hotspot analysts so
we know where youth academies
are happening and can target
solutions instead of blanket
curfews from community
organizations already trusted
by youth.
Credible messengers violence
interrupters neighborhood peace
teams.
These models work in baltimore
in new york chicago.
Create a youth hotline.
Replace criminal
criminalization with support
and provide safety technology
such as door doorbells motion
alert sensors for families in
hotspot areas who need help
keeping their kids safe in
light.T.T.
Charlotte has the talent and
the organizations in the
leadership to build something
real, sustainable and rooted in
trust.
>> thank you.
MR. Snow.
Next speaker.
Is brandy williams.
Thank you for the name.
Wendy williams.
Not here.
Okay.
>> next speaker is jamia
pittman.
Okay.
>> good evening, mayor.
And members of city council.
>> my name is DR..
My opinion I'm a little used
student and a young person
connected to the charlotte
community.
I do not believe an earlier
curfew is the best solution.
Young people gather together
does not audibly mean we are
causing trouble.
Sometimes we are simply
spending time together after
school work or an event.
A curfew could also affect
jobs, transportation, family
responsibilities, school
activities and social lives.
Young people who are not
causing trouble should not be
punished for the actions of
someone else.
Instead of focusing mainly on
enforcement, I am asking the
city to invest safe places for
us to go reliable
transportation mentors pass
positive activities and a
trusted adults who will help
conflict when this begins.
Having someone who will listen
to who are listening in a calm
situation can stop a problem
before it becomes worse.
Before making a decision,
please listen directly to young
people who will be.
Affected if.
>> the curfew is changed.
Make it temporarily and
publicly review where they
actually MAY start with safer
and whether it is being
applied.
>> for use.
Young people are part of this
community to our experience.
Opinions should be included in
decisions about our safety and
freedom.
Thank you for listening.
>> to our police.
Our next speaker is robert
mccutcheon.
I'm so many things to hear.
You have to repeat the name
made in.
Music to me.
>> robert mccutcheon.
Good evening mayor.
Herrington and.
>> fellow city council members
.
>> my name is robert
mccutcheon.
I have the.
Privilege of.
Leading the charlotte.
Regional business alliance.
Over the past.
Several months.
>> you've heard.
Many passionate.
Voices about.
I-77 south.
But I want to speak tonight for
some of the people you.
>> haven't heard from.
Because while they MAY not be
in this room, many of them are
sitting on I-77 south right now
.
They're coming home from work
picking up their kids, heading
to an evening shift.
They wear suits and scrubs and
steel toed boots.
They teach our children, stock
ourselves, build our homes.
Drive our.
Trucks and serve our meals.
And they share two hopes spend
less time in traffic and make
sure every neighborhood in
charlotte has the opportunity
to succeed.
These are not competing values
.
They're charlotte values.
The debate over I-77 south has
too often become about winners
and losers.
But what if charlotte can do
something bigger?
What if we can reduce
congestion for hundreds of
thousands of people and
reconnect communities divided
for generations?
What if we can improve mobility
and bring a meaningful
investment and opportunity to
neighborhoods that have waited
for decades for it?
This isn't choosing one
charlotte over another.
That's choosing all of
charlotte.
Council you represent the
people in this room but you
also represent the parent
trying to teach daycare before
it closes.
The nurse driving home after a
12 hour shift and the worker
losing an hour every evening to
traffic.
And you represent communities
that deserve investment
opportunity and reconnection.
Their voices matter too.
History rarely.
Remembers whether leaders
choose the safest path.
History remembers whether
leaders choose the future.
let's choose a charlotte that
moves a charlotte that connects
a charlotte that invests a
charlotte that leaves no
neighborhood behind.
Thank you very much.
>> thank you.
MR. Mccutchen.
Quiet.
Please try.
>> to.
Next speaker.
>> is cigar dorothy.
Soccer.
>> soccer.
Rafi.
Thank you.
>> thank you.
Good evening.
Mayor.
Members of council.
My name is sagar rossi.
I'm here in.
Support of regional growth and
as a resident of district
seven.
I'm here in support of moving.
I-77 forward.
Three key.
Things I want to reiterate.
First, I drive this.
Corridor every.
Day to the.
Airport to south.
Charlotte into uptown.
It is.
Unreliable now and it's not
getting better.
I don't think anyone here what
other would argue otherwise.
And it's not just.
My experience.
This is.
Honestly one of the most travel
corridors we've seen in any
major metro in the in the us.
It's not meeting the needs
today and it's not changing
anytime soon.
our region is growing and this
problem only gets worse the
longer we wait.
Second.
>> I know there's been a lot of
discussion regarding tolls and
whether they're useful,
beneficial or helpful and in
this instance.
I think.
>> there's something pretty
unique about how we're funding
this.
>> or.
How we're funding the
structure.
.
Right now.
The way tolls are set up, we
actually get the benefit of
over 40% of the people paying
for it coming from out of
state.
That's not a tax necessarily on
our community.
That means everyone.
Pays their fair share.
If this.
Worked, if.
>> this were to change to some
sort of tax funded alternative
,that means everyone else here
in this room.
>> is.
Paying for it.
That's a challenge.
And third.
I want to.
>> be clear this vote today or
this vote coming up doesn't
really what it does do and what
it doesn't do.
It doesn't finalize anything.
It only keeps our progress
moving forward.
We have been talking about
trying to advance and improve
77 for over 20 years.
Now is the time to try to make
a stand and make something
happen.
The work that's been done over
that time period has been.
>> really.
To drive the growth that we're
living and seeing every single
day.
And it's not slowing down so
let's not stall it.
Let's advance it and keep
working.
Towards it.
Thank you.
>> thank you, MR. Rafi.
Next speaker is jake freeman.
Jake freeman.
Good evening, MR. Mayor and.
Council members.
My name is jake freeman.
>> I was born and raised in
charlotte and I'm a.
Proud graduate.
Of west charlotte high school.
You'll see.
I'm here to speak about the
proposed 77 toll lane
improvements that are currently
on hold.
I own a property that's being
directly impacted by the
proposed improvements being
made.
At 77 south.
We all know that 77 is
currently broken.
It's getting worse every day
and it must be improved.
However, council's rescinding
support for this project has
effectively wiped out the
marketability of every property
that will be impacted by 77.
Improvements because the
project's now on hold.
No one is willing to purchase
property that could be subject
to condemnation by ncdot in the
future.
Furthermore, I have a loan on
my property and I'm sure many
other property owners in the
same situations MAY have loans
on their property with a
looming condemnation in front
of us.
Banks are unwilling to
refinance properties.
We are suffering under this
cloud of condemnation because
the project was announced then
the project was approved and
then the improvement plans and
subsequent.
Property condemnations were
initiated with people like me
and city council members own
words you don't want to kill
the project, you just want to
change the proposed design.
But the design is only 10 to
15% complete.
The concerns raised about this
project can be addressed as the
design progresses through the
same public process that
produce caps and stitches and
community benefits already on
the table.
By putting this project on
hold.
City council members are
hurting the very communities
and residents they hope to
protect.
There are many property owners
and homeowners like me who are
now living and working under
this cloud of condemnation
causing us more and more
financial damage every day
while we wait for the eventual
conclusion.
While you delay, we suffer the
public with you if you vote to
move forward.
A JULY poll of charlottes
registered voters found that
52% support.
Moving ahead with the I-77
south expansion.
thank you, MR. Freeman.
Going into.
>> the.
Next speaker is damian smith
followed by robin and felt just
to be prepared.
We have socialist.
Is a constituent.
Good evening council.
Many of you already know how I
feel about this.
You've heard from me plenty
over the last year.
Now the fact of the matter is
is that many of us on the west
side we share the concerns
about wanting people to be able
to get to their homes.
We share concerns about
congestion.
What we've said the entire time
is is that the solution that
has been proposed does not work
and that is supported by the
data both economic engineering
and it's been shown for the 80
plus years that toll lanes and
highway expansions don't work.
And conservative publications
like the economist say that
they don't work and that they
are a bad use of public dollars
even if they are public private
partnerships that you should
invest in mass transit and
alternative transit and
providing people freedom and
options of how they get to and
from their jobs to see their
friends, to see their family,
to pick up their children from
school.
And maybe here's a brilliant
thought.
Allow your kids to be able to
walk and bike home from school
or take the bus because we
provided safe infrastructure
because that's how most
children got to and from school
until the last 30 years.
So and those investments for
biking infrastructure and
things like that have a 10 to
25% tax.
Return and by providing
residents of rock hill and
providing residents from
mooresville and from gastonia
and from the region other
options than getting into a car
is what we need.
It's what's going to actually
address the needs of the
region.
And as a west.
Side resident.
>> you MR. Smith?
Yes thank you.
I.
Mean as a west.
>> side.
We do need investment.
MR. Manville.
Well.
>> in his constituency.
Good evening mayor.
Uh, members of council, I'm rob
denfeld.
I'm the.
Executive director of the real
estate and.
Building industry coalition
also known as rick.
Uh, I'm here.
To ask you to reconsider your.
Retention of.
The.
I-77.
>> uh, project.
Um, I was actually on I-77 on
saturday night 6:00 going to
visit our.
>> our in-laws.
And hit two backups on the way
south and those the poor folks
coming north.
Were were.
>> in a in a huge back up as
you as you reach the south
carolina um state line and I
will tell you that's a saturday
night there.
Clearly I.
>> think everybody knows
something.
Has to be done.
My request to you is to is to.
Reconsider your vote.
Because if.
>> we do keep this on track, it
gives an opportunity for a lot
.
>> of.
The concerns that have been
raised during the course of
this to be addressed.
Uh, there's new money
apparently that uh, could be
used for benefits.
There's also mistakes.
>> that.
Were made on the northern
section that that can be.
Reconsidered for the southern
section.
There is there's caps on tolls
and other other benefits that
can also be associated with
that.
So I ask you to to reconsider
and and consider moving this
forward because in the next
month or so if that if a change
is.
Not made.
Then this will eventually come
off the state the state uh list
of plans for projects and if
that once that happens it could
be a decade or more before we
can we can go forward with this
project however it looks.
So I'm asking you to get folks
back to the table so that we
continue to have these.
>> discussions.
Uh, because if we don't it will
be many, many years before this
can be this.
can be.
>> put back on the table so
it's obvious a problem.
We've got different ideas on
how to get to that solution.
Get back to the table so you
can get to a solution because
right now uh that's that's
going to be a long ways.
>> off if we don't.
So thank you for your time.
Thank you MR. Pilch.
Next speaker is joseph williams
.
Joseph williams.
Is.
>> here.
And who will be followed by
connie proctor.
Take your time.
Okay.
>> I'm so excited.
All right.
I was.
Not expected to get off.
The waitlist, so let's.
See what's um.
After you.
Says um.
.
>> I love your switch.
>> really curious about.
>> yeah.
So I.
>> it's not not known I live in
the wilmore neighborhood.
Um.
>> wilmore is.
Uh, neighborhood that would.
Be drastically.
Impacted by the I-77 south
project.
Um.
>> I think some things to
consider.
>> is.
There's 35 plus homes.
Um.
>> that's 35 neighbors.
Who live in charlotte who.
aren't sitting.
>> on.
I-70 seven every day.
To get to uptown to get to
work.
Um.
One more is an.
Overburdened, uh, neighborhood
.
Uh, we've been living.
Next to the pipe boundary and
we've been living next to this.
Wonderful thing.
I 77 um, north carolina widened
it in 1994.
Didn't put a nice sound.
>> wall in for us even though,
uh, it was required.
Law says that they.
Should have.
As a temporary project.
We're going to come back to
this thing soon.
Um, here we are 30 years later.
As you guys know, we are still
talking about this project.
So, um.
Really, you know, I think that
.
Keeping this project rescinded
.
Uh, no.
MR. Hall was going to disagree
with me on this one.
Um, well, this is a great
opportunity to reconnect the
corridor and I think we should.
>> take advantage of that.
And let's.
>> pull this thing off the
strip.
Let's go back to the state with
our priorities known.
Understand?
Uh, council member watlington I
love your idea about
independent study.
Well it's really go back and
relook at this project.
What makes this successful for
charlotte?
How do we set up our corridor
to be successful for the next
50 years?
Not something that just solves
a short term problem.
Let's make this a long term fix
and let's protect our inner
city neighborhoods and not
bulldoze them.
It's not the 60s.
It's in the 70s.
We can we should do better.
We need a better project.
We need a better partner, uh,
with the state.
And I appreciate it.
Thank you for the time.
Thank you.
>> thank you, MR. William.
I believe our final speaker
will be connie proctor.
Uh.
>> good evening, mayor and
council.
My name is connie proctor.
I have spoken to you before and
asked you to.
Envision a better city.
A city where people of all ages
.
>> and.
Abilities have mobility
choices.
A city where children and older
adults.
Have the autonomous.
Mobility they.
Need and deserve.
Expanding an urban highway is
not a way to achieve that
vision.
Expansion will divert precious
resources from achieving it.
We like to talk about how we do
not want to become atlanta.
If we add just ten more acres
of highway right of way within
a mile of uptown, we will
overtake atlanta.
we have been chasing quicker.
Commutes since the 1950s.
We have thrown trillions of
dollars at that problem.
What do we have to show for it?
The same average daily commute
time.
We live for literally haven't
saved a second.
I asked you to envision what
the general assembly is trying
to force us to build.
The year is 2086.
You were standing in frazier
park below the I-77 flyover.
The elevated toll lanes are
crumbling and they will soon be
handed back to by the private
toll company to the public for
maintenance.
Doing nothing is literally not
an option because pieces of the
lanes are in danger of falling
off.
Now the choice must be made
whether to dismantle or repair
them.
You are 10 in 2026 you are now
70.
You wonder why anyone thought
building them was a good idea.
They never did reduce traffic.
This is not the future I want
for either of my children.
I urge you to stand firm in
your rejection of this plan
because not even the full 300
million in community benefits
can make up for the damage
already done to our community.
I have said it before.
The only way to solve traffic.
Is by providing viable
alternatives to driving.
Let's work to make those viable
alternatives possible so we can
actually reduce traffic.
>> thank you for.
Thank you, MISS Proctor.
That brings to an end our.
public forum.
I thank everyone who.
Participated including those
who had no idea that they would
actually make it 12 bucks off.
The waiting list.
But thanks everyone for
participating and thanks for
the audience's attention.
We're now going to open the
public hearing on a resolution
to close a portion of brown
road.
MADAM Clerk, do we have any
speakers?
Do we have a motion to close
the public hearing and to adopt
a resolution and closed a
portion of brown road?
Symbol.
>> is there a second?
Are there any questions or
discussion?
Council member mayfield.
Thank you, MR. Mayor.
I have.
Said it once before but since
our manager is joining.
>> us tonight.
I am.
>> sharing again.
That I.
Have a.
Concern while.
>> we.
Have both.
A public.
Hearing opening.
As well as an adoption.
>> of a resolution to close.
Whatever the public hearing.
>> is.
On on the same.
Evening as.
>> a, a and b action.
If we're open in a public
hearing this like a number of
other.
Items should.
Be us.
identifying a public.
Hearing date.
Not for us to open a public
hearing and because no one's
showed up tonight to have.
Action be made to adopt the
closing of a portion of brown
road.
So I.
>> want to make sure.
That I share the.
Concerns that.
>> I have.
What it seems.
Like we're trying to fast track
.
Certain conversations.
Versus going through the.
Process of setting.
>> a.
Public hearing.
Date to like.
Thank you council member
mayfield.
I want to defer to the manager
and also to the city attorney
to the extent there any
responses about the process of
this particular item?
I don't want around it because
we might not know.
Thank you.
>> mayor.
Um, council member mayfield,
thank you.
>> for.
The comments.
Just as a reminder for the
public this item was referred
to by our committee and it was
taken up today during a special
call meeting under the
leadership um, of that
committee uh chair graham.
And at this point the committee
will continue to explore the
concept and make
recommendations back to
council.
The other thing that.
>> I would note about um.
The the specific statute that
governs this.
Uh.
>> road closure.
There is notice by publication
for four consecutive.
Weeks ahead.
Of the item being placed on the
agenda.
Uh, and it's by publication and
.
In the local newspaper.
And so just for transparency to
the public, uh, those notices
are made available so that
people can be aware of the
public hearings that are being
scheduled for consecutive weeks
in advance.
Council member.
MAY I can.
>> she.
Repeat that?
I was just going to.
Say yes.
You said would.
>> you.
Say.
About four weeks.
The door is still open so we're
not able to hear you as clear.
Sure.
>> this particular.
Section this particular.
Statute requires.
Publication in the newspaper.
For consecutive.
Weeks ahead of it being placed
on the agenda.
And so that is another
opportunity for the public to
be made aware of the matter
being on council's.
Agenda ahead of time.
So that.
Council member mayor.
Oh I was just going to
acknowledge what the attorney
said before she said that that.
>> is something.
That um.
The bigger committee chatted
about today in our meeting and
will be talking more about in
SEPTEMBER.
So thank you for continuing to
raise that concern so that we
can address that.
.
Council member mayfield.
Thank you, mayor for a follow
up and I appreciate the fact
that.
Bgr are had.
>> an additional meeting to
have this discussion.
I wanted to be very clear that
what I am suggesting.
Is that we have a.
Hearing date separate from the
decision.
I don't even know how many
people actually report actually
has a subscription to a
newspaper today.
So to.
Say that we.
Have the information posted in
the paper is the equivalent of
someone getting a divorce today
and putting it into the paper
they have got to worry about
that person challenging it.
So we use social media for
other things.
I'm asking for a clear just
like we have other items where.
>> we are setting a.
Hearing date to.
Just be.
Consistent, set a hearing date.
And not just.
Say well we have listed it in
newspaper when newspaper is not
the main form of communication
for a lot of residents today.
And we can see that by the.
Fact that unfortunately we just
had another one of our local.
channels closed down.
So I would just like for us to
be clear that what I'm asking
for is a separation of a
hearing day and then later I
actual decision on that so that
those who are able to watch us
online or attend the process
also know that this information
is happening in their
neighborhoods.
Council member graham.
Uh thank you, MR. Mayor.
Um, again um we had that
conversation today.
I chair the committee.
Uh, we look at the wide variety
of options not wanting to
debate the committee meeting
right now.
Um, but your point has been
taken and is under
consideration in terms of how
we move forward.
Uh, or if we move forward.
So it's still up for debate.
Council member johnson.
Thank you.
>> MR. Mayor.
So this item.
Went to the committee to
discuss potential.
Improvement or.
Change to the policy.
>> is that correct?
So just just to be clear, I
think the item that went to the
committee is an overall item,
not the particular motion
that's on the table for tonight
.
Right.
There is a it sounds like
there's a discussion to be had
in committee about process but
that's not in the motion that's
for tonight.
Just make that clarification.
So council.
>> member.
mayfield you.
>> brought this up at least.
2 or.
>> 3 meetings.
I would.
>> think that we would hold.
Off on.
Moving forward with that
current process if we're
debating potential.
Improvement.
>> any other discussion?
I, I again we are looking at
the process question and
committee.
Um one council member brought
it forward.
The committee is discussing it
to see if it's appropriate if
any changes will will be made
at all.
The committee is still
discussing it so it's still on
the table.
>> all right.
Any council members who have
not been hurt I just want to
make sure that there are other
council members that have been
heard because I think we're
sort of debating process
instead of this.
Particular motion.
My question.
But let me let me come to
council member mirror and I'll
come back if there are other
council members who have not
been heard.
Don't to speak.
Yes.
>> thank you.
Mayor.
Mayor harrington so council
member johnson, just so that I
understand your question, why
are we sticking with the
existing process if the
conversation is in the bigger
committee?
so from what I understood.
From the attorney is that until
the new process is adopted we
have to continue with the
existing process.
Am I correct?
That's correct.
So I know that this is going to
be coming in front of the
bigger committee for a follow
up next month and this month
the bpr committee had two
meetings to and this was number
.
Second item on our agenda
tonight to today earlier today.
They're being prioritized to
your question.
Any other council members who
would like to be heard who have
not been heard?
Okay.
There is a motion and a second
we've had discussion all in
favor of the.
>> point of order.
That was a follow.
>> up.
.
>> point of order.
Are we.
>> not able to seek
clarification or follow up.
On our question?
You can.
>> seek clarification follow up
on the question but we're still
going to at some point call the
question on this particular
motion.
So one more round of questions
on your question about process
and then we should move on with
the believe with the motion.
But if there's a question.
Thank you.
>> so the last couple last.
>> month if.
I'm correct we deferred.
Didn't we deferred because we
there was more than just one
council member who.
>> was.
Concerned about it.
So is this some process that we
have to move forward on or was
this a choice to put this on
the agenda because if it's if
it's in the committee and we're
looking at improving a process
or.
Changing a.
Process.
.
I would ask or hope that we
kind of hold off.
Until then because.
>> all we're doing is just
taking a deeper.
Hole or doing things opposite
of what the council is desiring
to do.
Is there a motion to defer this
motion or any other ancillary
motion to this motion?
>> I mean I can.
Make a motion to defer this.
There motion.
Yes.
>> thank you.
>> okay.
>> so there's.
>> a motion on.
>> the.
Floor I believe the youth
commission to close the public
hearing.
But close the public hearing on
this and then move to the
discussion.
Yes.
>> is there a motion to close
the public hearing?
So you.
>> have a motion.
>> you have a second.
Second we're going to come back
to have.
>> a question of clarification
.
the way this is presented it is
presented as a and b as a close
b is a is to close the public
hearing b is to adopt the
resolution.
I do not understand how we are
attempting to close the public
hearing when you still have b
on this item, which is what
triggered the entire my
original question because the
close the public hearing is by
default adopting a and b a to
close the public hearing and b
to adopt the resolution to
close the actual portion of the
street.
So please clarify.
>> so we could entertain a
substitute motion simply to
approve a to close the public
hearing and move on from there
and then have the discussion on
the substantive motion.
Is there a motion to close the
public hearing?
Close?
>> I make a motion to close the
public hearing just the second
.
A second.
Is there.
>> a second.
Kimberly.
>> any further discussion on
closing the public hearing so
we can go on to the discussion
of b okay.
All in favor?
Any opposed?
Okay.
Now is there a separate motion
to adopt to uh approve the
motion itself.
To defer.
Is there is there a separate.
We do not we do not have a
motion yet.
So is so there is a motion and
a second to adopt the
resolution deferral.
>> to defer to debate adopt the
resolution to close a portion
moved to defer the adoption
which is b okay.
All in favor.
Any discussion of that?
Council member.
>> elliott if I MAY.
>> thank you mayor.
Um, if I could ask.
>> the.
City attorney.
>> the way.
I had understood um, in our
conversations earlier today.
This was.
Something that.
>> was brought by a resident.
Is that.
>> correct how.
>> this particular motion.
>> came forward?
>> can you describe.
>> that to.
Council, how we.
>> got where we are and what.
This particular motion is?
Sure.
>> so the property.
Owner has requested.
To close.
>> a.
Portion of the of the driveway
.
And or the we on a drive.
We we.
>> on a avenue excuse me.
And notified.
The adjacent property.
Owners to see if.
>> there.
Was opposition.
Apparently there was no
opposition and.
So this is the property owners.
Request and it has not been
challenged.
So mayor, if I MAY.
I will not be supporting.
a motion to defer.
>> because I find it
inefficient to do.
So in.
>> circumstances such.
>> as have.
>> been.
Described as I understand this
motion.
It is ripe for determination on
this evening even.
Though we.
>> have.
Had the public.
Hearing in the.
Same context.
>> of the.
Meeting, I think that this is
a.
Is ripe situation.
Council member.
As mayor.
Yes.
>> so MADAM.
Attorney gave us legal guidance
earlier today at the committee
meeting.
So what I'm concerned about is
if we impose a.
Different process and take it
out when we have not adopted a
new process, I'm concerned
about the legal challenge.
So MADAM Attorney, if you could
speak to that and.
Certainly has council member
engineer at 168 to.
>> 99 does provide.
An appeal.
Mechanism to superior court.
For the decision.
Any decision is made by.
Council concerning.
Concerning one of these public
hearings and.
Uh at this point without.
Opposition there could be.
>> it could be opposition to
that.
Be appeal to the court.
that's all I have.
Okay.
>> is there any further council
member graham on the motion to.
Defer and I'll be I'll be
voting against that as well.
And I think councilor, if you
would allow the committee to
process the request that you
made.
And we don't know what the
committee is going to recommend
.
We don't know what the council
will eventually vote on what we
have done to start a discussion
and we have to keep the rules
as they are today and they MAY
or MAY not change tomorrow.
So I think we need to.
Plow forward.
And allow the council and the
committee the process to work
with you.
Access to do it is not ready.
It's been prioritized.
We'll be talking about it again
in two weeks.
I think.
>> we need to move on.
We're having a debate about
having a debate.
And we have a motion on the
floor to defer the motion to uh
uh, adopt the resolution and
close a portion of pete brown
road.
That's item four in the agenda
.
All in favor of the motion to
defer?
Please raise your hand.
All opposed?
MR. Mayor, I move to approve.
B second.
Just just for the record, the.
Motion to defer failed.
Uh, the motion to approve adopt
the resolution now.
>> is there a second?
second.
>> okay.
>> uh, it's.
Further discussion.
All right, all in favor raise
your hand.
All against.
All right.
>> the motion, uh, be to
approve the, um, resolution
regarding a closing of a
portion of pete brown road has
.
Passed.
>> okay, that brings us to
public hearing and decision on
resolution to close a portion
of we honore avenue.
We're now going to open the
public hearing on a resolution
to close a portion of we honor
avenue.
MADAM Clerk, do we have any
speakers on this public
hearing?
Is there a motion to close the
public hearing?
>> I'm to do that separately
this time.
Is there a motion to close the
public hearing?
So move.
>> there a second.
Any discussion?
All in favor raise your hand.
Any opposed to closing the
public hearing, please raise
your hand.
All right.
That passes unanimously.
No.
No one's.
Not unanimous.
Maybe mayfield.
>> was again.
Was that just a or all of it?
No.
>> this was just to close the
public hearing.
Um.
.
So.
Councilmember johnson, your
vote is in favor.
Yes we can.
So unanimous to close the
public hearing.
Is there now?
Is there now a motion to adopt
the resolution to close a.
Portion of we on.
>> a road as described in
paragraph five?
Moved to adopt.
>> is there a second?
Okay.
>> uh, any further discussion
there?
Okay.
>> all in favor of adopting the
resolution and closed a
portion.
>> of we on a road as.
Described further in item five
on the agenda.
Please raise your hand.
Any opposed?
All right.
The ayes have it and that has
passed.
And that brings us to the city
manager's report.
So policy.
Thank you.
>> uh.
Mayor members of.
Council as.
We, um.
Discussed previously.
We have, uh, the police chief
here today to utilize the time
for the manager's report to
give you an update on the youth
protection ordinance.
Um, with no action, just more
information.
Um, answering.
Some of the questions.
That you provided.
And, mayor, before I turn it
over to, um.
Our police chief, um.
There is something that the
mayor pro tem would like to
provide.
For yours.
Okay.
>> uh.
Thank you, city manager.
Thank you, mayor and council.
Uh.
>> we have one of our deputy
city managers who after so many
years has finally decide she's
going to start another career.
Uh, this young lady has made.
Me a better public servant over
the years.
And in.
>> particularly, uh.
>> council we had to stand up,
attempt.
To process uh, with COUNCILMAN
Mayfield, councilmember driggs
and this young lady worked.
Bristly to make sure that we
had a process in place that we
can select that candidates.
And so I would like to have us
give a special recognition to
deputy city manager liz bass
and for your outstanding.
Leadership dedication to make
charlotte a better city.
Liz.
I.
>> is some of the time you
disappear.
Johnson and probably.
How are we.
Going to MISS You?
I'm going to MISS You come down
the hall singing.
Some jokes we.
Might.
Uh.
Okay okay.
Oh oh.
She's.
Asking me.
i'm.
Good evening, mayor.
And members of.
Council as.
>> we.
Continue this.
>> conversation concerning the.
Youth protection ordinance.
I wanted.
To be sure to.
Address the.
Questions you.
>> raised.
At our.
Lives council.
Meeting on AUGUST.
>> 10th and also to.
Highlight a few points and
provide some.
Updates concerning this
ordinance.
I have been listening
tentatively.
To the comments.
Today and even those.
>> that have.
Been.
Brought to me by.
>> other community members and
we want to be.
Sensitive to.
That because we.
>> know.
That there is concern.
>> on.
Both sides.
And so in.
>> our last meeting since our
last.
Meeting I should say I had a.
Meeting with seven civic.
And community leaders along
with a number of residents who.
>> have had general questions.
>> as well.
So I'd.
>> like to share some of them
with you.
>> I'd like to start.
>> off by.
saying first and foremost we
have gotten the question
repeatedly.
What are we.
>> trying.
To solve or.
>> what.
Are we.
>> were trying to do with this
ordinance?
>> I will tell you very.
Plainly that we are.
Trying to reduce.
The number of teen takeover
events where there is crime,
where there is property damage
and where we have seen harm to
the community.
We want to make sure that we
are also being cognizant of
victimization of our young
people.
We want to minimize that as
much as possible.
Now we know that an ordinance
is not the save all be all in
doing that we know that there
still is.
>> going to.
Be victimization.
We know they're still going to
be victimizing but we want to
mitigate it as much as
possible.
And so this ordinance gives us
or this modification to the
ordinance gives us one more
tool.
For law enforcement to be able
to create safe spaces for our
youth and also prevent or
reduce victimization.
I want to reiterate what I've
heard repeatedly and even
tonight that this ordinance
change or modification is not
intended.
To criminalize our youth.
We do not want to create
pipelines to prisons or where
our youth are just doing things
that youth do and be subject to
the criminal justice system.
In fact, in a little bit I'm
going to ask attorney battle if
she will talk about the process
if someone is in um if cited
for youth violation under this
ordinance.
Also too.
With the implementation of this
ordinance if passed one of the
things we want to do is make
sure that we're working very
closely with.
Community partners.
I've already.
Started those conversations.
Cmpd has always been.
>> good about working.
With the community and
different groups in that regard
.
Next slide please.
So there are a couple things
or.
>> do.
I have.
>> it here?
I'm sorry.
Here we go.
So a couple things.
>> I.
Just.
Want to.
>> reiterate and highlight to
you is first the recommendation
the overall recommendation is
that we.
Modify the curfew.
Curfew age to include all
minors 17 and younger and also
to that the time will be 9 P.M.
Every day of the week.
Also to.
>> a lot of conversation has
been had about the exceptions
or the exceptions.
Many people have stated that
this is a blanket curfew, that
there are no exceptions.
We want to be clear that they
are.
We spoke of this last time but
I think it's worth mentioning
again especially with cms
schools starting on tomorrow.
It is important that we
understand that youth who are
going to and from football
games or other sanctioned youth
events by schools, religious or
recreational events that are
accompanied by an adult or that
are supervised by an adult.
Those individuals will be okay.
They will not be subject to the
curfew.
Um additionally, those who are
running errands by their
parents or their guardians at
their direction they will not
be subject to the curfew.
Will this mean that an officer
MAY not stop this person or
talk to him?
>> of course not.
>> what?
We want to make sure that the
youth is safe.
However we will not be taking
that youth into custody or such
or doing a juvenile arrest.
Additionally exceptions exist
if there is an emergency also
too if that youth is traveling
to and from work.
One of the things that we
really I have got conversations
about.
>> or I've gotten.
Questions about is concerning a
17 year old who is in college.
I want to reiterate again we
understand that individuals
like that are in school.
They're doing the right thing.
We are not.
Going to have a curfew police
we're not going to have our
officers patrolling the streets
of charlotte looking for
individuals and trying to
determine their ages so that we
can do a juvenile arrest or
that we can take them into
custody.
That is not the intent of this.
Again, we are trying to have a
tool that when we have teen
takeovers we have these mass.
Gatherings.
>> we're able to address them
effectively and in a way that
prevents harm to our youth.
One other question I wanted to
make sure that we were
addressing and to update you is
concerning some of the studies
related to curfew.
In the document that you should
have received we outlined some
studies in there we found where
there were three studies in
support of positive impacts.
For curfews.
There were four that were.
Mixed impacts.
And certainly I know that
people have found studies that
suggest that curfews are not
effective.
What I would say is that many
of the studies that have been
used or we have looked at.
Are not.
>> current studies.
They they.
>> do not address the issue of
teen takeovers which we have
seen is a phenomenon that's new
that we have seen probably in
the last year year and a.
Half um.
Mainly this.
>> year that we have seen in
charlotte.
So because of.
That I will suggest that we
look very closely at our data
that we would move forward with
this so that we can.
Gain data, we can.
Work with some of our local
universities to be able to
capture the proper data for our
community and then we can know
whether or not this is
something that is effective,
that is meaningful for.
Our community.
One other area that we wanted
to address and one of the main
reasons for the modification
that we're looking at.
Is because we want to reduce or
prevent the victimization of
our youth.
I believe that was doctor
watlington in the last meeting
asked us if we could break out
the youth victimization numbers
to show the different time
frames and so we were able to
do that so that you can see
that particularly at nighttime
out outdoor juvenile
victimization is still driven
primarily by firearm and
aggravated assaults.
When we look at the charts you
can see in the different time
frames.
So from 9 P.M. To 5:59 A.M. We
saw an overall 431 victims.
Of crime in our community.
This is youth that are outside
or in those open spaces.
If you look at that also too,
we see that the age of 16 to 17
was roughly 30% and the
majority were 80 or assault
with gun cases or victims.
Um.
>> also to looking at the
demographics 91% were youth of
color.
We broke it out between 10.
>> and 5.
5:59 P.M. Or 6 A.M. And you can
look at the numbers there they
go down slightly but we still
see victimization happening
throughout those hours and
throughout the early mornings.
The percentage of our brown and
black youth that are victimized
is still in the 90s, which is
concerning to all of us.
Having raised two
african-american males in my
household, that was always a
concern that they would be a
victim of crime or that they
would be out doing something
innocently and end up hurt.
So it is a concern not only for
me but I know it is for many
parents and.
Those in our community.
One other area an update I want
to provide is speaking to
community members.
The question arose repeatedly
concerning juvenile arrests.
What does it mean if we enforce
this ordinance?
What does it mean for our youth
particularly?
Does it mean that they are
going to be arrested?
They're going to be placed in
handcuffs.
Do they go through the criminal
justice system?
There's a lot of conversation
even tonight that we're
criminalizing our young people
.
We want.
>> to.
Be very clear that that.
>> is.
Not what happens necessarily.
And I'm going to ask attorney
jessica battle to come forward
to talk a little bit more.
But I do want to emphasize the
point that with a juvenile
arrest most of the times those
youth are.
Returned to their families.
We call their parents their
guardians.
They come and they take
possession of that youth.
At no time are they going
through the sheriff department
or going to the jail or
anything like that and there's
instances in which there are
criminal activity that occurs
that necessitate necessitates
them being in the criminal
justice system.
But the majority of these
juvenile cases of curfew are.
Not what.
We're finding.
So when I'm.
Asked just.
>> gives you a come forward to
talk about just a.
>> little.
Bit more.
>> about the.
Process so that we can
understand that a.
>> little bit better.
Thank you ma'am.
Good evening jessica battle
with the city.
Attorney's office.
As chief.
Stated, if there is probable.
Cause to charge a juvenile
with.
A violation.
>> of a.
Curfew or any.
Particular charge.
Officers would have to.
Make an on-scene.
Decision about.
Whether or not they were.
Going to.
>> charge that juvenile.
They look at.
>> many.
Different factors including.
>> the severity of the.
Crime.
>> the juveniles behavior on
that.
Particular encounter.
And also their.
Full juvenile history of any
charges, investigations or
arrests.
One of.
>> the first factors that.
Officers will.
Consider after they look into
the.
Juveniles history.
Is whether or.
Not diversion.
>> is an option.
Diversion would.
Mean sending that juvenile to.
Some sort of.
Youth program in.
Charlotte to look at their
behavior and look at the sort.
Of overall.
Holistic view of that.
Juvenile to make.
>> sure that they stay on the.
>> right.
Track and.
Complete that program in order
to avoid any juvenile charges.
And so they will review their
arrest history and.
Especially for six.
Six for.
Six years old.
Through 17 year olds.
Those are the ages that are
subject to.
Juvenile law.
And they.
>> will look.
>> at those.
Prior arrests.
Per cmpd policy.
If the.
>> juvenile has a history of
any prior arrest, they would
not be subject to.
seeking a.
>> diversion program based on
that policy.
However.
>> whether or not cmpd.
Officers were to divert the
juvenile to a youth.
Program.
>> the department.
Of juvenile justice and the
juvenile court counselors in
the court system could still
send that juvenile to a
diversion program prior to it
getting to the courthouse.
And let's say that the juvenile
court counselor chooses not to
send the youth to a diversion
program.
The district court judge in
juvenile court still has the.
Final decision to decide.
Whether or not they will send
that particular youth to a
diversion.
Program as well, and that
applies for curfew violations
or any third sort of violation
that is not diverting.
Because that barrier.
When we.
>> talk about the particular
juvenile arrest process and
again this is a general
overview not just related to
curfew.
One of the decisions or things
that an officer will.
Have to determine is whether or
not they need a secure custody
order.
You will see that abbreviated
as esco.
And that means that the
juvenile would.
Be taken to a secured facility
like a juvenile detention
facility.
Um juveniles will have to or
excuse.
>> me officers.
Would need to seek a referral
from the juvenile court
counselor to get that secure
custody order if the crime is a
felony, if it involves gang
activity or weapons or if it
involves an aggravated assault
.
So if any juvenile committed
one.
>> of those particular.
Types of crimes, they could.
>> not be sent by the officer
through a diversion program and
the officer was seek that
secure custody order with the
juvenile.
Court counselors.
Um, let's.
Say that it is an option for
officers to divert.
They would do the police report
to enter the facts and
information of what occurred
and then students in that
juvenile through the diversion
program or else if it's a crime
that is it can be diverted but
based on that particular
juvenile history the officer
does not divert them that
juvenile within enter the
juvenile court process by way
of a petition.
Um this is governed by chapter
seven b of our north carolina
general statutes.
And would.
>> involve that child going to
the eighth floor of the
courthouse where a juvenile
district court judge would hear
that particular matter.
Um, it's important to state
here that these charges would
not automatically initiate a
neglect case against that
juvenile or their parent.
However, I will say that the
juvenile court system takes a
very global and holistic look
at each juvenile and there
could be any sort of crime
before a juvenile court judge
where that matter could end up
in a case where the family has
an open dss investigation for
abuse, neglect or any sort of
thing but it does not
automatically flow from a
curfew charge or any particular
charge.
Um, our officers, our juvenile
court counselors, our district
court judges all have a duty to
report and if there were to be
something in the factual
circumstances uh, for example,
a curfew charge that required
reporting to dss, then that
would open a file.
But it is not an automatic part
of the juvenile arrest process.
Um, a big thing.
People think that when
juveniles are arrested it means
automatic handcuffs as the
chief said that they are taken
to the sheriff's office.
They are not generally speaking
with a juvenile arrest.
The parent or guardian of that
juvenile is called to come and
get them and from there
diversion and petition
decisions are made about
whether that case will go to
court or be diverted.
Now sometimes when detained
officers do have a legal
authority to use handcuffs on
juveniles depending on the
particular act committed on
that date in other factual
circumstances.
But the juvenile arrests
generally involves um the
juveniles parent or guardian
being called to pick them up
and if there's a secure.
Custody order then that
juvenile would be transported
to the secure facility after.
>> that.
Juvenile arrest.
And with that I will turn it
over to doctor stewart to talk
about our spaces for youth
opportunities.
And evening mayor.
Manager members of council
ricky stuart office of youth
opportunities.
I wanted to take.
>> a moment.
To share.
Some things that I shared.
In our previous meeting.
On AUGUST 10th.
As it.
>> relates to what the office.
>> of youth opportunities.
Has been doing.
As it relates to third spaces.
So we.
Were a little bit ahead.
>> of.
The.
Game as we have been.
Working with third spaces for
over a year.
We've had.
>> a great.
>> partnership with the ymca.
Where from uh.
JUNE to DECEMBER we were able
to provide 200 passes to all of
the.
Y's across.
Charlotte and then.
This year we were able to
create a great partnership.
With mecklenburg county.
Parks and recreation.
Where we were able to provide
250 passes.
To the rec.
Center and we're working.
>> on.
expanding that.
Uh.
>> I also want to.
Share that.
>> chief patterson.
And I on.
Last tuesday.
Had a.
Great meeting with the ceo of
the.
Y and her.
>> team to discuss what we can
do to partner.
To reimagine.
Third spaces for our youth.
So we.
Left out of the meeting, um.
Feeling very good.
About some opportunities.
And my.
Team and I are now.
Working on.
Ideating a pilot with.
The ymca to offer third spaces.
Over the next ten months.
Um, some of the additional
things.
>> that we're.
Doing as a relates to third
spaces.
Is I did mention we have.
>> a.
Partnership grant that.
>> we are.
Working on finalizing.
So once I have an.
Opportunity to.
>> get.
That to my leadership, the goal
is.
>> to.
Have that out before the.
End of SEPTEMBER.
This will give us an
opportunity to work with other
partners across the city to
create additional third spaces
for youth.
And lastly, we have.
Already started working with
cmf.
And other.
Partners as it relates.
To teacher workdays because we.
Understand it's not.
>> just the weekends that the
youth need something to do.
It's not just after.
Is any time.
That they are left alone.
So the great thing about the
office.
>> of youth opportunity.
>> since.
Its inception is we have.
Looked at the child.
As a whole.
So we're not just looking to
give them somewhere to.
Go and play.
We're looking to give them
programing.
We're looking to give them
exposure.
We make.
Sure that our partners do.
Provide wraparound services and
provide mentorship.
So we will definitely.
Keep you posted on.
Our pilot.
And we will uh, let everyone
know when the grant.
Opportunity becomes available.
So I will turn it back over to.
Chief patterson.
Stewart.
>> and one final.
>> thing I would note is that
um, with the implementation of
this youth ordinance, if you so
desire, we will make sure that
we do a full.
Scale education.
Campaign regarding this.
Uh, we would want to make sure
that first foremost all our
officers will be.
Informed that again this is
just a tool to help.
us to.
Ensure that our young people
are safe and they're.
In safe spaces.
Additionally, any interaction
that our officers would have
with any member of the youth as
is our policy right now.
They have to wear their.
Body worn cameras so we would
be able to track information.
To ensure that this is.
Applied fairly equitably across
the city and again that those
exceptions that are in place
would be considered and would
be part of this ordinance.
So with that I will open.
>> it up.
For any.
>> questions that you.
>> MAY have of us.
Concerning any of this.
Thank you chief patterson and
team uh, no we have let's see
we have at least three
questions starting with doctor
watlington.
Thurman out here.
Okay.
Got watlington.
All right I've got four quick.
Um, if we could go.
To yes.
Uh, chief, perhaps a we could
go to slide three.
I want to make sure that I
understand.
What the numbers are telling.
>> us here.
Can you walk me through what.
Is the story that the data.
Is telling here?
What is what.
>> is the.
Hypothesis?
>> yes, ma'am.
So the story that's.
Telling us is that we have
youth victimization happening
from 9 P.M. To 6:00 in the
morning.
And when we look at the
percentages one I think it's
just.
We should.
>> note that 91%.
Throughout the night and into
the early morning are people of
youth or of color.
I'm sorry.
Um, are black and brown
children I think which is from
what we hear is a concern.
So how do we get this number
down?
How do we work to get it down?
>> so I'm sorry.
>> I just.
>> want to make sure I'm.
Clear.
>> this light this dark blue is
total victims.
This light blue that says age
of 16 to 17 is that victims or
offenders?
These are.
Victims okay?
This is all victimization okay
?
Yes ma'am.
And so and if I could just
break it down for you so from 9
P.M. To 5:59 A.M. We had 431
victims.
These are actual victims of
crimes during that time period
from 10 P.M. To 6 A.M. The
number shrinks a little bit but
we had 300 and then from 11
P.M..
>> to.
6.
A.M..
266 victims.
And so at 9 P.M. From 9 P.M. To
6 A.M., 127.
Of these total.
Victims are aged 16 and 17.
Yes, ma'am.
>> and then.
At 11.
>> P.M..
That number is 77.
So basically the.
Difference between 122.
>> and 77 is.
What you're.
>> saying we.
Will you're hoping to reduce.
Yes ma'am.
Victimization and.
>> then that percentage as well
trying to get that number down
as low as possible to protect
our youth.
And can you just a quick follow
up can you then help me
understand.
Uh the reason I'm asking this
question because I think about
the alternatives to violence
work that we're doing.
>> and so.
My immediate question
especially as I see 81 gun here
is how many of those are
addressed through that
retaliatory violence piece
versus through the curfew.
I'm still not quite clear on
the mechanism.
That's changing.
So our desire our goal is that
we get that number down.
The number of victims of crime
.
As well.
>> as.
Offenders of crime that are
youth.
And so I think for us is just
being able to.
You know, knowing that when you
throw out.
>> a.
Theory is when they are out
then they're being victimized
and some are also causing um
victimization.
so we would like to reduce both
of those the curfew we believe
would help us to do that
because when youth are out
then.
They're getting in trouble but
when they're not out they're
not um victimizing.
And then just too quickly we
and I asked this last time but
I'm.
Hoping that maybe we can dig
into.
>> a little bit deeper here
right now the sun sets
somewhere between 8 and 9.
We know in the winter time it's
going to be somewhere between 4
and 5:00.
What is the what is the thought
process during the winter time
of how this applies?
>> do we.
Are there tell me what your
thoughts are.
Yeah so you know we want to be
reasonable with the time that
we set this curfew right based
on what our data shows us.
Um, you know, at 9 P.M. You
have more victims.
So we certainly felt like 8
P.M. Was unreasonable.
We looked at other cities what
they're doing just to benchmark
um, I believe firmly that.
If we go with a 9 P.M. Curfew
that is enough time that if you
start to gather they start to,
um, congregate we can dismantle
it.
We can prevent them from having
um, harmful events or being
engaged in something that could
where they victimize.
Or they.
>> can be victimize.
I don't know if I'm answering
your question fully.
Well for the summertime.
sure in the winter time that's
4 or 5 hours where youth would
still be permitted to be out
but it is also dark and people
.
Are likely inside.
So I'm just curious as to how
we're thinking about how this
applies during the winter
months.
Sure.
>> I think in the winter months
as you stated people tend to be
inside more.
I think there's more
opportunities for happy to have
events for our youth,
meaningful events, things that
they can do so they they are
not outside.
They're not out during that.
Time.
Okay.
And then just finally are you
suggesting.
As part of your proposal.
>> a pilot to gather data?
Are you suggesting full on
implementation at the start.
We would like an implementation
.
I think a pilot is something
that could be.
Considered especially if we
want to get substantive data.
I think that's an opportunity
for us to do that.
Thank you thank you.
Great.
>> and uh next is council
member mayo.
Um thank you doctor watlington
.
And that was sort of thinking
time that was 3 or 4 minutes.
Um if we could try to keep our
comments and try not to be too
repetitive redundant um, but
also keep our comments
somewhere in that range I think
we can um, have a.
Good discussion of an important
issue so.
You know, for me.
Thank you.
Um.
>> I've asked.
That the map be.
Shown for.
>> district three.
Um.
>> and I'm sure some of my.
Colleagues MAY want their
district map shown as well but.
I thought this is really good
data.
Um, this is something I've.
>> been.
Talking about.
Probably almost ten years.
Since I first moved to orleans
forward.
Um, and I know this is an all
city.
Investment, but I just want us
to be thoughtful.
Holistically.
>> particularly when we're
talking about young people.
You know, we want to equip.
You with with.
Everything that you need.
>> in order to decrease.
Victimization, uh, for our.
>> young people.
But how.
>> can.
We also.
Encourage our.
County counterparts to help do
their part?
MISTER Manager be able to get
that up there?
Sorry we talked about it
earlier so okay.
Should I come back?
>> y'all come back to me.
Okay.
>> we'll do that.
Okay.
uh, council member edgemere.
Will come back.
And thank you.
Mayor harrington.
You're doing an excellent job.
Keeping track of all the hands
that's been raised.
Y'all are helping.
Um.
First chief, thank you for your
leadership.
I understand that you are
asking for.
A tool.
In the case where there is a
teen takeover that could turn
violent.
Um, I certainly appreciate and
respect your leadership.
I would like to see if we can
do a pilot to gather data and
then based on the data it will
tell us whether this is
something that will work in our
region or not.
Right.
Because your.
Department and alongside doctor
stewart's office gave us.
Studies and I appreciate that
he was objective right.
It was an all pro curfew wasn't
all the entire curfew was
somewhere in the middle right.
We had some.
Studies that shows mixed
results.
There were.
>> some studies that shows it
works.
So for us.
>> to really.
Not have an objective study
done, I think.
Our data can tell us whether
this will work or not.
So my question.
>> to you is would you be
willing to do a pilot.
Program and see whether we are
able to see improvement in teen
takeovers that turn violent?
Yes ma'am and thank you for
that.
I will be willing to do
something like that.
I think it is.
Reasonable and it.
Allows us in real time to be
able to see is this something
that would be effective here in
charlotte especially based on
what we're seeing?
I don't think that we can as I
stated before, just rely on the
studies.
Um.
>> they're in different parts
of the nation.
They are 2030 years old.
I think we can get real data if
we look here in.
Charlotte and.
>> and do.
A pilot.
I appreciate that.
I would like us to explore that
alternative uh, so that we are
looking at real data that is
local.
Uh, also doctor stewart, I
appreciate.
>> the.
Report that your team put
together.
Uh, I appreciate have office of
youth opportunities have.
Touched over 5000 lives and I
know that we are not going to
stop here.
We are going to continue to
increase our investments.
But I just want to give kudos
to you and your team because I
know this is relatively a new
team that was uh that was part
of our last year's budget.
So I appreciate the work that
you do.
I was myself alongside council
member watlington and council
member graham were at civic
engagement event last weekend
and this topic had come up and
I met two youth members who had
participated in some of our
programs and they had great
things to say.
So thank you for all the work
that you are doing.
That's all I have.
Thank you.
>> council members mayor,
council.
Member mayor.
Are you said yes or.
I don't know okay.
We'll go to council member.
Oakland and.
Come back.
>> to you.
He's working on pulling it up.
Thank you.
>> chief patterson.
>> and I appreciate the
presentation.
I.
>> um, had a conversation over
the.
Weekend with a constituent.
Who MAY or MAY.
Not be one of my three children
.
Um.
>> about the curfew.
>> and his.
Question to me was one I could
not.
Answer and he said to me why.
Don't you do what they do?
Would we go on?
Um.
>> you.
Know.
.
Spring break.
And they've.
Got rules.
>> that are.
Focused on the size of a
congregation.
They're focused on a gathering.
They are focused.
>> on enforcing curfew.
Against a mass and you know,
depending.
>> on.
What number.
Perhaps we settle.
>> on so that we're.
Not potentially putting at
risk.
Kids who are out on a date.
And kids who are coming.
To and from events.
Can you address that?
I haven't had an opportunity.
>> to.
Do.
My own.
>> research on whether some of
these things that.
You see.
In destin or some of the the
destinations.
Where people do congregate,
where they.
Are effectively able to break.
>> up large masses of
unaccompanied.
Minors can you.
Speak to that?
>> and I will.
Try um.
>> I'm not sure totally that
I'm understanding.
.
>> the question would be that
it would be a.
Curfew that was tailored more
against.
A congregation.
I've heard you use the phrase
congregation gathering.
It feels.
Like to narrowly tailor this.
So that we're not just not.
Enforcing it against kids.
The face of this would enforce
it against a.
people on a.
>> date and.
>> a movie.
Goes long.
Okay, you're saying to me that
you would not expect your.
Officers nor.
>> do.
You have adequate officers to
enforce that.
>> is a.
Curfew police.
Can we more narrowly tailored
the.
Curfew such that it.
Wouldn't apply to two.
Couples who are out on a date
versus a group of.
Ten individuals who are under
age?
So you're really targeting more
of the.
Congregation aspect than just
the age.
Sure.
>> so if I understand you
correctly so we're saying that
if you have youth that are
gathered in a particular area
of the uptown.
Perhaps um just focus in just
in that area is what you're
saying.
Look.
>> it was just.
Specifically speaking of that.
Area although that's.
Another way of narrowly
tailoring.
>> it if.
You wanted.
>> to have it on certain areas
of the city where are more
frequently occupied.
I was.
>> speaking more.
>> to say you've got.
Ten youth are together.
Your officers are going to.
Ask them what's up and enforce
the curfew versus.
A couple kids on a date and go
see a movie that last past
nine.
I mean I just I personally.
>> couldn't.
Answer the question that was.
Raised of me as to.
>> are.
We exploring all ways.
>> that we could more narrowly
tailor this.
And have it.
Address what we're really
trying to get at.
>> which is gatherings?
Sure, yes.
And I would say that you know,
we thought as the beginning
stages of this we thought about
locations where we have tend to
see the teen takeovers.
The problem with that is
they're all over they're
everywhere and if you try to
just narrow it to one location
,if we put all our resources
say in the uptown area then
we've seen where they would go
to the university area.
,northlake.
>> area, um huntersville
frankie's all these various
locations where these youth
like to hang out and so we want
to be able to have a tool that
wherever they go we're able to
go there and start to break
that up and um, make sure that
we don't have incidents as a
result of it.
So I, I don't know that.
Narrowing it.
>> down to just one particular
area would be effective in
trying to prevent them in the
first place, um, kind of thing
.
Um, the other part that you
said, you know, looking at
congregations or areas I think
I.
Understand you're saying.
That if we were to just focus
on.
>> a.
Group particular group.
Are you saying to give those.
To violate those individuals
for.
So I'm saying that I've asked
our staff to.
Look into.
And I would ask you to also
have.
Folks look.
Into what destinations that
frequently.
Are able to.
Disperse large gatherings of
unaccompanied.
Minors are.
Doing that is not.
Putting at risk.
Folks who.
Are otherwise.
Just doing the things that kids
.
Do in couples or.
>> in.
Small groups of kids.
There is.
>> a big.
Difference in my.
Mind between someone.
Going to see a movie.
Or coming back from.
,you know.
Whatever they're coming back
from at night.
And they happen to.
>> be alone.
I would like to not have.
Them have an interaction with
the police for no reason.
And I appreciate that you've.
Told us that that is highly.
Unlikely to.
Happen because you just.
>> don't have the officers.
>> to.
Do it.
>> I'm asking.
Instead could.
We look at tailoring.
This curfew.
So that that isn't even an
issue so that.
Unless you're in a group of.
Ten people.
Sure is a minor.
You're not going to have that
interaction with.
>> the.
Police officer?
Sure.
That is something to consider.
Now I'm understanding what
you're asking.
My apologies for not
articulating.
It well.
Yes.
>> no I think I understand what
you're saying.
I mean and certainly if they're
in a group together they're in
a safe space together then we
would not want to enforce it
necessarily.
That is something that we can
consider.
Thank you.
.
>> thank you, councilmember
owens.
Councilmember.
>> yeah I'm ready.
Yeah.
>> um I just.
Really wanted to highlight the
map.
Um, and.
>> actually having.
The entire charlotte region.
Is really helpful I think.
Um.
>> to see gaps not only in
district three.
But in district.
six in.
District seven.
Um in five.
Um.
>> when I think of when you
all.
Mentioned partnering.
With the.
Ymca, I know that still creek
lost its.
Ymca maybe like three years
ago.
So I mean I don't know.
>> who you would necessarily.
Partner with.
When there's no y there.
Um, and.
>> even when.
>> you.
Look at.
>> more closer.
Can you tell us more about what
you would do with the high
schools?
Because I saw your dots in the
high schools.
Are you doing programing in the
high schools?
Just curious what that looks
like.
>> so with the high schools
it's more of the teacher.
>> work.
Days but when you speak about
the.
Gaps those are.
>> the.
Things that we're looking at.
So that's why it's.
Taken us a.
>> little bit.
>> of time to put the grant
application.
Together because we want to
make sure we're.
Leveraging not.
Only where there.
Is a lack.
But that we're.
Leveraging cmpd, cmpd data.
>> so we want we're really
wanting to be intentional.
And I really.
Appreciate that.
>> as a former teacher.
I love data.
Uh, always one.
>> of my favorite things look
at teaching math.
Um but I just want to encourage
all of our various partners um
,particularly the county.
Um.
>> and they know I get on them
quite a bit but.
I see some gaps and I.
Hope that our.
Residents will.
>> have some conversations with
their county commissioners
about investment and I'm just
I'm.
Be very.
Frank with.
>> that because it's not.
Something that.
You all can do by yourselves.
Um, that investment needs to
occur.
Everywhere so that our young
people have.
Things to do and you know, not
getting in mischief.
>> so just want to.
Put that out there.
Um, excited.
>> to see the work that y'all
are doing.
Um I think that y'all are doing
great work and very
appreciative of it.
I guess.
>> my only concern is when we
talk about giving passes to.
Young people.
There's nowhere for young
people to go in some of these
districts for those passes and
that's why we really have to
get to the root of the issue
which are the gaps.
So I just want to say so that's
the difference.
>> with.
The partnerships we're not
looking.
>> at just handing.
>> out passes.
We're looking at being.
Intentional and we.
>> met.
With.
The why we looked at every.
Load we.
Looked at.
>> we looked at their map to
see where they had locations.
We bounce.
>> that.
Off chief.
>> to talk about.
Different things that were
happening in those communities.
So just know that we.
>> are being more intentional.
We're not.
Just passing out passes.
And we.
>> definitely want to make sure
that.
>> we're addressing the need.
Thank you.
And I just add to that we've
had a number of nonprofits.
We've had business community
members coming to us saying we
want to be a part of the
solution finding those third
spaces for our youth.
So I think that is all the
conversation we've been having
about this has really garnered
some good responses.
Very excited I know ricky
seeing.
Was supposed.
>> to.
Talk today.
Unfortunately he was not here
but he had some great maps to
show as well and excited.
>> for.
Him to share those.
So that we can see the
solutions.
>> that you are working with
with your various partners.
So I'll stop talking.
And also.
Member mayo council member
mayfield.
Thank you mayor 17.
Thank you for the information.
I um a number.
Of questions.
One I'm going to encourage a
pilot where we actually talk to
our youth.
Before versus adults coming up
with what you think is the
option.
Last week.
I had the opportunity to uh to
.
An event uh.
Spark house.
Where they basically had.
>> a.
Teen take over and one of our.
Cmpd law enforcement officers
with their youth came up with
a.
Basically a mini shark tank
where they came up with
different opportunities.
I have concerns with the
possibilities because what I'm
not going.
What I cannot.
Discount is that it was one.
Of our.
Youth officers who was an adult
.
That while on school property
interacting with a youth
slammed a child on the ground.
It has been our officers that
we have had multiple
conversations with over the
years with interactions with
adults that has resulted in a
number of lawsuits.
So I'm definitely concerned
about how you interact with.
Children without.
Hearing a number.
I personally don't think that
number is ten of we're seeing
hundreds of children are coming
uh, gathering together out of
those hundreds of kids we have
12 to 15 that unfortunately
cause a challenge.
What is that number?
Is it 25 young people together
?
Is it 50 young people together
that's going to trigger someone
to interact?
I'm concerned as far as these
exceptions.
So what do we say when they
have to walk around with a pass
that.
Gives me quite.
>> a bit.
Of concern I think about
unfortunately since both of my
parents had passed when I was
young.
I was working.
At a young age now the court
wouldn't have worked for me to
get home.
So what type of information are
we asking them to provide
moving forward with a 9:00 time
versus actually working with
spark house, working with some
of our other groups that
already have successful
programs where they are
engaging with 3 to 500 youth.
First is concerning not having
the youth at the table to help
identify.
Which I learned evidently young
people like pickleball.
I thought that was for all
people but evidently.
as a.
>> young people like as well
and there's a whole.
Group that's out there, I agree
that we need to.
Be working with the county
with.
Park and.
>> rec.
>> with access.
You mentioned some of the
locations where young people
have gathered and they gathered
at frankie's.
What was the last conversation
at all?
If we had worked for any case
as far as those passes being
available, we it was mentioned
that we passed out 200 passes
here, 250 passes there.
We said we have 3 to 500 youth
that's gathering.
So exactly who are those passes
going to an hour to pass is
going to the same you because
if they're going to the youth
that's through a generation
nation or through our current.
Program that's not the youth
that's out in the community.
So what is the real.
Connection and interaction?
I am.
Really hoping that versus say
that 9:00 pm is the number that
we really look at expanding the
programs that are led by teens
.
Authorities and we already have
the partnerships that are doing
that.
Work and that.
Goes beyond the ymca because as
was mentioned unfortunately
have closed a number of their
offices.
But also.
>> that's a certain that's a
targeted group of young people
that go into the ymca.
There are other groups out
there that are doing amazing
work on the ground.
There's a two week program that
happens at john smith every
year that directly invites
young men.
Into the space.
Young people should be the
ones.
>> that lead in this.
Versus adults thinking.
>> what we need young.
People to have.
Access to by the 9:00.
Time period.
To punish the majority.
For the incidences.
Which are real and the loss of
life is very real.
I don't.
More enforcement.
And trust the.
Cameras when we have had.
To have.
Arrest of our own law
enforcement.
>> is the answer.
I think it's more communication
with the.
Community that's being impacted
.
To say what.
>> they.
Would support.
>> and what they would like to
see.
Thank you.
>> council member mayfield.
Uh.
>> mayor, I was wondering if I
could just say one thing.
Um, to the council member, I
agree wholeheartedly with you
that we should not be making
these decisions alone, that we
include our youth.
I will share with you that
earlier this year in MARCH
after the incidents in birkdale
,our members of our team, our
community services bureau met
with teens under the safe
summer charlotte initiative
where we heard from youth what
they wanted to get some ideas
from them.
They had about 15 meetings um
the last one.
Being in MAY.
So we are trying to seek the
voices of the young people.
I was very impressed with a
young lady who spoke tonight.
I believe that that is a
critical component.
We do need to hear from our
young people.
So that would be part of what
we would do with this um
ordinance as well.
Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> council member mayfield
council member MR..
Aries thank you.
>> mayor thank you chief thank
you staff.
Really appreciate.
Uh the effort and always the
the broader goal at hand which
is to keep our residents safe
and to keep our are you safe?
And chief, I appreciate our
candid conversations.
Uh, although.
Different perspectives.
Right.
But that that is what is.
This is all about to make sure
we come to a comprehensive
solution that works for
everyone.
Um.
>> I had a few questions.
So I noted and I did.
I looked at the.
Memo before the council meeting
uh, tonight.
I noted.
Data indicating that across the
different times 9 P.M. 10 P.M.
11 P.M. There is little to no
net change in overall criminal
.
Activity involving 1617.
>> year olds.
If anything trending slightly
lower as the night progresses,
how would you expect the 9 P.M.
Curfew.
To change that data?
>> right?
We saw 30%.
For 9.
>> P.M., 30% for 10 P.M. And
29% for 11 P.M..
What what.
>> do you expect would change.
With the curfew?
Yes.
>> I think as we educate people
more as we talk about it we
will see that number go down um
to below what it is now 29%.
It's still I feel significant
because if it's my child and
they're part of that 29% I
would not want them victimize.
So our desire our hope is the
more we.
Educate the.
>> more we're out the more
officers are.
Talking to people about this
curfew that that number would
go down, victimization would be
reduced.
Thank you.
Um so.
When I was.
Looking at the memos looking at
the.
Studies and I did.
Just a quick chatgpt.
I and.
Those were the same studies.
Uh, reiterated to me to but.
i would love to see if there's
any.
More comprehensive studies out
there.
And particularly.
Not just positive and mixed but
also the negative studies.
I want to get a whole picture
right.
I think I want to.
>> I'm a data driven person.
I want to see what works and I
understand your concern.
This is specific I.
Uh um agree with my colleagues
that perhaps we look at local
data and see what works and
what doesn't work, but.
>> I.
Really would like to see more
studies, um, that are available
out there uh, rather than those
that are popular with other
cities.
Um.
>> but while.
On that topic.
Well, studies suggest that
curfews.
Often lead to an increase in
arrests.
Overall crime rates largely
have remained static throughout
.
So if overall crime doesn't
drop.
But juvenile.
Arrests go up.
Do do we think this is going to
be effective.
>> or proactive uh, public
safety strategy?
>> well, I think.
When you're.
Measuring success let's.
Say if.
>> there a pilot.
Program does happen or the
curfew is uh, voted upon, this
council would use uh.
what do you think is.
The indicator of success there
arrest or a drop down in crime.
?
>> success for us looks in two
ways one a reduction in
victimization.
Less juveniles being victimized
.
And yes less.
Crime period.
Um that are juveniles are
creating or anybody across the
city I think I've spoken
repeatedly that we want to make
charlotte one of the safest
large cities.
We want to reduce crime
whatever that looks like is
getting the crime numbers down.
So I think it's twofold
victimization and crime.
Thank you.
And um.
To two more sorry mayor I know
you said 2 or 3 minutes.
Uh.
>> but.
You're close.
Greg got it.
Thank you.
>> with the current.
Proposal creating uniform
rules.
I saw, uh.
And the statues.
Our ordinance, our current
ordinances with when it comes
to the.
Exception groups.
There is still h tier
interpretations there.
So I think.
We might have to revise that if
this council so decides to.
Do this curfew.
Because right now one of them
was like the errands running
errands.
Yes.
>> yeah there's a certain.
Curfew for a.
13 year olds for running
errands and then there's a
certain curfew for 17 under.
So if if um.
I just want.
>> to make sure that we're
consistent.
Right.
If it's, uh, blanket curfew for
.
17 under completely.
>> that it also would apply to
those.
Exceptions as well.
Sure.
>> um and then my.
Last question would be.
Uh.
>> how much.
Conversation has been had with
center city partners as we've.
Seen they've they've taken.
Um, an approach when it.
Comes to food.
Trucks.
>> uh, which I certainly
disagree with.
But given.
That a lot of this activity is
happening and their footprint
according to the memo that we
just.
Write not to say.
That it's.
>> not immune.
To just that area.
Um.
>> I would like to see what
what.
Prevents business districts or
private public partnerships
from sharing that load or
enforcing localized safety in
that way.
I think we had that interest
there already have been spoken
to center city partners
specifically about it, but
we've had.
Conversations with other.
Partners like bank.
>> of.
America fifth third bank.
Who want.
To who have asked me
specifically how can they help
and what kind of youth programs
can they provide or.
Support towards?
We have it in the.
Private sector.
Thank you chief.
And the last thing is I mean I.
>> have my 18 year old sister
here who wanted me to.
>> ask.
The.
Question but.
If she gets stopped by an
officer.
How are they going to.
Believe that.
>> she was at work?
Right?
She works at a tennis.
Court.
>> not volleyball courts at 9
P.M. Until nine 930 10 P.M. Um
kids are getting misjudged.
For being part of these teen.
Teen um takeovers.
How are.
How is.
Cmpd going to.
Promise that they're not
misjudged for being on the road
after work?
So I think we approach it the
same way we do with any other
interaction we have with the
public.
We can do a voluntary contact
where we go up to the person,
talk to them um and then just
try to determine ascertain what
their age is and also to you
know, call their parents
whatever the case MAY be.
um, if we cannot determine the
person's age then we can't
violate them, right?
We cannot say that they're in
violation of the youth
ordinance.
We do our best to try to.
Determine that information and
quite naturally if a youth is
telling us they just got off
work and we look in the car, we
see that they have an apron
maybe come in from work and
they say I'm going home.
Our officers are very
reasonable.
We have that discretion to be
able to say okay, this person
is doing something meaningful.
They're not out getting in
trouble and that they're headed
home.
We're not again, I don't think
I can say it enough that we are
not going after.
Youth who are doing the right
thing.
We are trying.
>> to reduce victimization.
We are.
>> trying to reduce crime
across.
The board.
>> so we will take every
measure we can do.
To do.
>> that and.
>> educating um our team I
think is really important to
make sure.
>> that that happens.
Thank you chief.
And last thing manager I saw
that map of youth opportunities
COUNCILMAN Gap in district.
Five so we should talk about
that.
Thank you.
And I think obviously if there
were additional.
questions chief I assume you
would take questions that are
made offline.
Um, to just go in, you know,
in.
Writing or not.
Council member johnson.
Thank you.
>> um, MR. Jones.
>> or.
Council member MAY I'd like to
get a hard copy of that math.
>> that.
We great.
Thank you.
Um.
>> chief, thank you for your.
Presentation and thank you for
the intent to reduce violence
and and stop the teen takeovers
.
>> since we've.
>> been talking about this, has
there been any reduction in the
teen takeovers?
Yes, ma'am.
We have had a reported 40 teen
takeovers.
Um, and seven of those were I'm
sorry, three of them we were
able to prevent to get ahead of
and so we are starting to see
where that number is going
down.
I think the word is getting
out.
I think parents are hearing
what we are talking about and
they are encouraging their
young people not to be in.
>> those.
Places or they're making sure
that they're not part of teen
takeovers.
Okay.
>> so there has been a
reduction in the point of this
curfew is to reduce those teen
takeovers, right?
yes, ma'am.
It's been a reduction since we
have been talking.
>> about it.
>> right.
Thank you.
>> um.
>> is curfew.
Violation probable.
Cause for a traffic stop?
Um.
>> thank you.
>> councilmember johnson.
And so in order for an officer.
>> to.
Conduct a traffic stop, they
would have to have reasonable
suspicion.
Um, that means reasonable,
articulable and specific facts
along with the inferences from
those facts that a crime has or
is about to be committed.
And so in order to determine
whether or not they are facts
that the curfew is about to be
violated, the officers, for
example, would have to see a
juvenile out and try to make a
visible um assessment of their
age and if that child were to
appear to be less than for
example the change to 17 if
they appear to be a minor, that
would be reasonable suspicion
for an officer to pull that car
over.
Okay.
Thank you.
Um.
Kind of off topic and is the.
Smell of.
Marijuana.
>> still probable.
Cause there's for, uh, even if
it's legal, cbd is still
probable cause to search the
car.
Yes.
>> okay.
>> the sight.
And order of marijuana is still
probable cause to search and
there was new case law.
Forgive me for not recalling
that name right now, but there
was a case as recently as last
winter that.
>> the north carolina.
Court of appeals affirmed that
sight or odor of marijuana is
probable cause.
>> to.
Search even with the existing
is existence.
Excuse me of legal cbd and hemp
products.
Okay.
All right.
That's a hope.
You all know.
>> okay.
All right.
Um, next.
Um.
>> we.
>> um I.
>> would agree with the pilot.
I'd like to see us taking more
action.
I spoke to someone today.
Thank you, doctor stewart.
>> for the work you're doing.
I thought I spoke to a
community.
Partner.
>> um, who's.
>> going to.
I think be running the schools
out charlotte program.
And so I think we need more
programs.
Like that.
>> I'd like to see this going
to the intergovernmental
committee so we can bring
county partners cms, uh
partners to the table perhaps
putting a date of birth on this
.
uh.
>> children's id and then we
can look at um, more graduated
uh, curfew if we needed to um,
another thing a youth summit
council.
>> member.
Brown we know that she had a
great youth summit.
I think this would be a great
time for us to bring youth.
Together and.
Maybe, uh, doctor stewart's
department manage something
like.
>> that or.
Okay, good.
Already in the works.
Good.
Yeah.
We need some.
We need that right now.
Thank you.
It was a youth who spoke today.
She she'd be great as well.
Um, yeah, I'd like to see a a
pilot program.
Before we implement the curfew
.
Um, let's look at partnership.
More partnership grants.
Um.
Intergovernmental committee.
Um more.
Opportunities.
>> um.
For third spaces, a youth
summit and bringing youth on.
Board perhaps.
To volunteer to to uh look at
social media because we know we
don't want this to impact the
students who are trying to work
and date and do normal.
Teenage stuff.
I think that.
They would be on.
Board in helping.
>> us.
So they.
>> could.
Get involved.
>> through that youth summit
through volunteering and
reporting where these teen
takeovers are being held.
You know, they could we could
have a.
Hip hop hotline or tip website
or something.
>> like that.
I think.
This is the time to engage the
youth.
And really help us.
We have.
Heard that just talking about
this and addressing this the
teen takeovers are already
reduced.
So I think more.
Outreach and engagement with
the community um is our
solution.
Um uh through a pilot program
and then let's revisit after
there's been some uh we
established baseline data.
Before the.
Pilot and perhaps report back
after six months on.
Juvenile violent incidents,
arrest teen takeover events.
Repeat offenses and um, just
overall activity.
Thank you.
That's all I have.
>> thank you.
Council member johnson, council
.
>> member graham.
And then council member driggs.
Uh, thank you, MR. Mayor.
Uh, I didn't have a 9 P.M.
Curfew.
I had two street.
>> lights.
.
>> right.
Um.
>> I will be on the tennis
court and I'll be riding that
bike as fast as I can.
To get home because I know if I
didn't make it there was
accountability at the end of
that ride.
And so I want to thank you for
your leadership in bringing
this forward.
Uh, this is a part of a crime
reduction strategy.
Big picture going back council
member wally tim and you met
two years ago in my basement
and there was a shooting on new
year's eve.
Right.
And we've been looking at a
wide variety of ordinance to
update, to enhance, to ensure
that we are doing everything
possible to curb crime.
And this is yet just another
example for the record there's
already the youth or um
ordinance.
Right?
I think we should say that this
is nothing new.
We're just amending it to
reflect current environment.
Uh what's happening on the
ground I think um I agree with
my colleagues that it should be
a pilot program narrowly
tailored youth led.
Right.
Uh, and then secondly, there
are a wide variety of
organizations in the community
that see shine kennedy up there
does a great job bringing 300
kids together.
Um, cambridge is doing this
charlotte so 1st SEPTEMBER
fifth family oriented for the
youth mothers fathers grandma
moms grandfather all coming
together a safe environment
great activity.
Uh, I'm doing the tennis camp
for 80 kids SEPTEMBER 12th.
So there's a lot of people in
this community love to work.
With you.
>> doctor stewart, to ensure
that there's balance between
the ordinance narrowly tailored
uh.
Youth led.
Um pilot program which is again
pilot your work is ongoing and
it can't be done when there's
an issue on the table it has to
be done when no one's looking
in terms of being very
intentional about working with
our youth, we solve the problem
about proximity.
We have a school in every
district in the city and the
county middle schools, high
schools on weekends when the
football season is over the
gyms are empty, the fields are
empty, the track is empty year
round.
There has to be a way for us to
rally around this community.
Getting the resources necessary
to do proper program throughout
the year for our.
Kids, right?
>> and so we can't do it when
there's a shooting or a
stabbing.
We can't do it when there's a
teen take over.
We got to do it because it's
the right thing to do.
And so I just encourage us to
move.
Forward.
>> uh, parallel with working
with doctor steward to ensure
that we're doing everything
that we can to include others
churches, nonprofits, to
schools, uh, mecklenburg county
because they have parking.
Rec we have.
Rec centers.
Right.
But more importantly, boy,
there's schools throughout the
county high school, middle
school.
That's on weekends.
Are you know.
Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> council member graham
council member driggs.
You're the final.
Discussant.
Caboose.
Uh, chief, um, takeovers.
Are a problem.
>> we asked you to do something
about it.
You're proposing this?
I think our strong inclination
should be to back you up.
You're the expert in these
matters.
Uh.
>> we are making you
responsible for success.
So, uh.
I will certainly, uh, want to
see us proceed with a curfew.
Um.
>> I will say that, uh, some of
this comes down to how you
imagine it's going to.
Work and.
I believe that some people are
painting a criminal eyes and
they're they're painting.
>> uh, a really.
Difficult picture in practice.
What I imagine happens here is
that young people.
Kind of go.
>> about their business.
They probably fall under said
these exceptions, uh, they're
not going to be accosted and
stopped on the street because
they will be kind of presumed
to be out, uh, legitimately.
You can't judge a person's age
just by looking at them.
And so not only do you not have
the resources, I just don't
think it's your intent to go
around and challenge.
>> every individual.
And I'm willing personally.
>> to trust that.
So uh.
That means that uh on.
The other hand, when you see
something that your officers
recognize as being something
dangerous that could be taking
shape and they want to go up
and do something about it,
they've got they can't just
walk up to those kids and say
guys, you know, please go home
and the kids just stick their
tongue out right?
And so I envision this as a way
of the officers if necessary.
Uh.
>> requiring somebody who isn't
cooperative uh, versus the
ordinance to go home.
Or to leave.
And then uh, so that's kind of
a question of how you expect
that.
Will work.
And uh, I have thought also
about the pilot idea.
Uh.
>> and I agree that something
like that needs to happen.
My only issue about a pilot as
you think about this is how
long right?
So if you realize that over the
span of a year there's a cycle,
right, that there are different
conditions in the different
seasons.
Uh, so do you do a pilot for a
year that sounds like a long
time or do you do a pilot for
six months?
Not sure.
So uh, one possibility I
thought of is we go ahead.
We implement.
This curfew and then we just
get ongoing reports ongoing.
We we listen for complaints or
for for feedback from the
community at any time we can
change it.
This council has the authority
at any time if.
>> we don't like the way.
It's going to just change it.
So it MAY not be that the pilot
is busy.
I'm not at all opposed to it.
I'm just saying in practice I
wonder if we should just start
down this road and uh and sort
of see how we go.
Uh, and I do think that we can
get the kind of information
that is suggested from you.
We can hear about how many
instances there have been uh or
uh how many of these takeovers
were averted.
Is it working?
Uh, the problem with data is
this is not very scientific.
I think the data from another
community is a.
Different mix, uh, and
different circumstances and at
a different time before
takeovers became vogue uh, is
is not going to be a good
guidepost was the best
guidepost for us is what
happens uh, as we start here
uh, and you know, if there's a
backlash immediately and we get
a whole lot of reports of kids
saying oh my GOD, you know, uh
,I was I was in handcuffs
because I'm 16, you know, I'm
sure that would cause a lot of
us to think again.
So, uh, please keep working on
this.
I look forward to how you
process what you heard tonight
.
Uh, I just want you to know
that I do support, uh, what
you're doing and the idea of a
curfew.
Thank you.
Thank you, council member
driggs.
Chief patterson, do you have
any other comments?
And then I don't want to invite
any other discussion because I
think everyone who has asked to
be heard has been heard.
We want to make sure there's no
other business from council but
chief, do you have any other
comments?
>> I would.
Just close by saying that.
>> I've.
Listened to everything that
council members have stated.
Um thank you so much for your
input.
Um, at this time if if it's
agreeable to you we'd like to
explore the specific provisions
of.
>> a.
Pilot and.
Also talk.
>> about.
The partnerships that would
become as a result of it.
So if that is okay with the
council to proceed in that
manner we would like to do
that.
Yes.
>> anything from council okay.
Thank you.
>> yeah fine.
Question whether you want to
move forward with the pilot is
that moving forward with this
9:00 time or we're saying
separate we're moving forward
with the pilot first to start
that conversation.
Are you interpreting the yes
from this council as changing
the current 11 P.M. Curfew time
down to 9 P.M.?
Yes.
>> I'm interpreting that we
move forward with a 9 P.M. So
that we can gather data on a 9
P.M. Curfew.
Then I am a no.
I am fine with us moving with
the pilot I am not supporting
under any circumstance us
moving that time down to 9 P.M.
As we're going back into the
school time because a lot of
what we have seen.
Has happened over the summer
not during the school period.
So to even move forward with it
it is concerning.
So we do.
Not have an action.
Item tonight as I understand
it.
Chief, you will make the.
Suggestions that you've made
just now.
You'll make those proposed
changes.
It will come back to us for an
action item at that point
there.
>> will presumably be a vote on
a motion.
So I.
Think we are finished in chief
.
Um, is there anything new?
Thank you.
>> just would you like to.
>> I don't think she's alone in
her interpretation.
But I think we've got a time
for a motion on that.
>> and a.
>> time for an action item
there.
With mayor.
>> we're not talking about a
motion.
What the chief just asked for
is a nod from this council for
her to continue down this path
that she started on.
What I am sharing is the
concern that I have is the path
that she has.
Chosen is a dual path of both
adding to 9 P.M..
And looking at a pallet that
is.
We've heard multiple variations
of that conversation.
So in order to be clear since
it is the manager's
responsibility to implement.
Council's.
>> objective through staff.
I am not saying.
>> that.
I am signing off of this staff
.
Member to institute a 9.
>> P.M..
She can't she she's.
One that is what I I just ask
for the clarification of if
your.
Interpretation is to move
forward with both.
9:00 and a pallet.
.
>> there is no.
Action from this council
tonight based on what's before
us.
Now there.
Presumably will be.
Something further that's
presented to us.
Perhaps at that point.
>> there will be a motion and
then there'll be a discussion.
Of that if there's.
a second.
So I think for tonight what
we've had is an information.
Session and I presume the
chief.
>> will come.
Back to us.
Uh, and.
Propose some type.
>> of motion that will take up
at that point and we'll have a
full discussion of the merits
of that item.
Yes, sir.
Okay with that thank you chief,
I appreciate we.
Appreciate your presentation
and that takes us to uh
anything else.
>> from the manager.
All right.
Our next policy item is
amendments to the charlotte
streets map and charlotte
streets manual for item seven.
Is there a motion for.
Approval a and.
B second.
Is there any discussion.
?
All right.
All in favor of approving the
motion for a and b and item
seven which is amendments to
the charlotte streets map and
charlotte streets manual as
described in that item seven
please raise your hand any
opposed.
All right.
>> there's one opposed.
Oh all right that takes us to
the other policy item which is
um our next item is parking on
sidewalk ordinance.
Amendment for item eight.
Do I have a motion to adopt an
ordinance approving an
amendment to chapter 14 article
four, section 14 dash 130 of
the city code as recommended by
the budget, governance and
intergovernmental relations
committee.
Is there a.
>> motion so moved?
Second.
>> any discussion council
member mayfield and then
council.
Member johnson.
Thank you MR. Mayor.
>> I have.
>> a.
Question for staff.
I want to get.
Clarification on.
This sidewalk as.
Far is.
Where does the policy language
land when it comes to these
scooters and these other forms
of transportation that are
currently blocking sidewalks?
And if there is a bike lane
you're starting to see them
show up in the bike lanes as
well.
So exactly how does this know
parking on sidewalks help in
area and in community.
Where sidewalks are now?
See other forms of mobile
transportation.
Uh thank you.
Council member mayfield lisa.
Flowers with.
>> the city.
>> attorney's office.
So scooters and.
E-bikes and uh, regular
bicycles are.
Allowed to park on the
sidewalks.
There are.
Uh.
>> permit requirements.
For our.
>> e-bike and.
E-scooter providers.
that require them to educate
riders of where to park.
Um, they're supposed to leave
four.
>> feet.
Space for pedestrians.
Um.
>> we they're supposed to they
get a complaint.
They're supposed to, uh, remove
that scooter or move it within
an hour.
Uh.
>> we also have provisions that
allows the.
Director of transportation to
revoke a permit if we get lots
of complaints or reduce the
number of bikes and e-bikes, uh
,e-scooters that they can.
Have.
>> um, in the right of way the
there is that so the scooters
and bikes can park and can ride
on the sidewalks.
This just addresses the
driveways and and impeding the
sidewalk at driveways where
vehicles cannot block the the
drive the sidewalk.
So we're really looking at
mainly residential area and I
had mentioned previously that
we are building smaller units
and also shorter driveways but
we're also allowing development
happening on much more narrow
streets.
So there's no on street parking
.
The driveway itself is a short
driveway so part of the vehicle
MAY be blocking the sidewalk.
So I want I'm thinking of the
individual that's in the
motorized wheelchair.
Uh and when they're trying to
get exercise go out to the um
community how that's actually
going to be enforced with the
number of neighborhoods that we
have and the number of
neighborhoods that we keep.
And pullback.
How effective this is going to
be when our policy language has
created shorter driveways and
vehicles are blocking the
driveway.
I just want to understand how.
Enforcement would.
>> look on that.
We did look into uh driveway
length so we have a minimum in
the youdo for driveways.
They have to be a minimum of
ten feet ten feet wide and 20ft
long.
Um and that was done
specifically to avoid the issue
of of.
Vehicles impeding sidewalks.
Cars of course have gotten
larger and so but it still will
cover a full sized vehicle.
Um smaller vehicles you MAY.
>> be.
Able to fit to most to two car
garages are going to be at
least.
20ft wide and the driveway is
going to also.
Be that.
Wide so that that uh provides
some more.
But the bottom line is that
it's an ada violation to block
the sidewalk.
The the issue.
With the scooters and things
like that it would be a
separate type ordinance that if
we.
>> you know, we can certainly
look.
At making it an ordinance
instead of in our permits.
But right now our ordinance um
provides an exception for bikes
and e-scooters and e-bikes.
thank you, council.
Member johnson.
Thank you.
>> if it's an thank you for
that information, if it's an
ada violation that's the
exception in the ordinance.
Excuse the violation.
.
>> no no again our our permit
requirements are that um they
should be educating their
riders.
Uh, we can we can look at what
they're providing on their, uh
,app to make sure that they're
doing that.
Uh.
>> they also are to provide 24
seven support.
So anybody rider non rider the
city can contact them when
they're when they see something
that's not right um either
parking or somebody speeding
driving recklessly that that
sort of thing they can report
that.
Who is to the right to report.
To whom.
.
>> well they can call 311 um
but they can also call the
there's provisions on the app
on the I forget who it is that
here who we have um.
It's uh line like for instance
lime they should have something
on their website that provides
a number for a rider or non
rider to report and then in the
app they also have those those
provisions to.
Where you can report a problem
.
Are you.
>> talking about.
>> scooters scooters and
e-bikes.
>> or e-bikes.
no okay so.
No my concern you talked about
residential driveways needing
to be 20ft.
Um the same information from
sarah hazel uh, the full size
car is 16 to 18ft.
So only one if the driveway is
closed or if they don't um
excuse me garage where they.
>> don't.
Have a garage.
Only one full sized car can fit
in that driveway.
That's correct.
So we just can't.
>> have it both ways.
We just don't get to have it
both ways where we're building
so much density.
Shorter driveways.
No parking on the street.
Uh, density and then not
allowing.
Residents to be able.
>> to park in their driveway.
Without a code violation.
So I won't.
>> be.
Supporting this for.
>> that reason.
You know, this is a very
expensive city.
Um, more than sometimes more
than one person or one family
live in a home.
And they have cars.
So I think.
That I think we.
Should be more focused on
scooters.
On the sidewalk.
Um, my husband almost got hit
by someone riding.
>> a scooter.
On the sidewalk so I think
that's a priority and I get the
.
>> whole.
Ada violation.
i don't know what the solution
is but I won't support.
Um.
>> fining individuals who.
>> are.
Parking in their.
Driveways when we know our.
>> ordinance.
Uh only allows for a minimum or
is.
>> it maximum.
Is this.
>> max is a minimum minimum.
And some.
>> developers are only building
.
Minimum standards.
Uh.
One car.
>> in the driveway.
So that's my comment.
Thank you.
Will there.
>> any other comments or
questions and I would ask you
to clarify one thing.
You referenced the ada in there
and just how does the.
Americans with disabilities.
Act fit into this discussion?
>> because I don't know if that
was clear.
Right.
>> so sidewalks are one of our
programs, services and
activities that we provide.
Um.
>> if we.
Provide a sidewalk.
We should be making sure that
those sidewalks are not.
Uh obstructed.
And the current ordinance gave
a.
Uh exception for parking and
driveways.
So we had to to we had a
disconnect between the two
between 14 dash 130 and 14 dash
2016 um 14 dash 2016 deals with
illegal parking.
14 dash 130 is more about
operation um but it also says
parking.
Um so vehicles could not drive
on the sidewalks or park on the
sidewalks under 14 dash 130
unless they were in a.
Driveway which made it
difficult for cmpd to.
Enforce.
>> council member mia yes.
Uh thank you, mayor harrington
.
Thank you for that
clarification.
In terms of why this amendment
I mean this ordinance needs to
be amended.
Um, because I have received
some complaints from residents
there.
Um.
>> either they.
>> are pushing a wheelchair or
are on a wheelchair or.
Trying to.
>> push a.
Stroller but they don't have an
access to safe sidewalks even.
Though sidewalks are built.
But they are.
Obstructed by a vehicle so this
.
Helps us address those.
Concerns, especially those with
special needs and families like
mine who are trying to.
Not trying to make sure that we
are using the infrastructure
that is there without having to
get outside where there might
be traffic moving traffic.
So I'll be supporting this.
Here there.
Any other questions or comments
from council members who have
not been hurt?
All right.
>> there has been a motion and
a second and discussion on the
uh motion to adopt an ordinance
.
Approving an amendment.
>> to.
Chapter 14.
>> article four, section 14
when 30 city code is
recommended by the budget.
Governance and.
>> intergovernmental relations
committee.
Uh, all in favor.
Please raise.
>> your hand.
All opposed?
Okay.
>> the ayes have it.
It passes.
Okay.
We move to our business agenda.
And our first business item is
for the youth diversion program
interlocal agreement for item
nine is there a motion
reflected in our um agenda a
motion to adopt a resolution
authorizing the city manager.
Or his.
>> designee to negotiate and
execute a revenue inter local
agreement with mecklenburg
county through which the city
will receive funding to support
the.
Youth diversion program?
So moved.
Again is there a discussion?
Yes I do.
Council member mia.
Yeah this is a no brainer.
Uh, the youth diversion program
I mean we talked about the
opportunities for our youth.
Uh, what I wanted to highlight
with the youth diversion
program that this program has
served more than 5000 young
people and more than 90% have
stayed out of trouble in the
following year.
And this is great.
Uh.
>> and this tells me that
prevention can work.
So I will be supporting this
and I appreciate the work
that's gone into this.
Is there.
>> any other discussion thank
you council member.
Hachimura all right we have a
motion and a second we have
discussion all in favor of the
item the motion please raise.
>> your.
Hand any opposed.
Alrighty councilmember johnson
.
>> did uh.
I'm in favor in favor.
Okay great.
That takes us through our
business agenda.
Our um next item is.
Appointments and tonight city
council will make an
appointment to the make
appointments to the community
relations committee.
Council members voted by ballot
and have submitted their
ballots to the clerk.
Any nominee receiving six or
more votes is automatically
appointed if no nominee
received at least six votes, a
runoff will be necessary and
council will be asked to vote
tonight to determine who will
be appointed to the board.
All appointments.
Will be.
Recorded in the official
minutes of this meeting.
MADAM Clerk, could you please
announce the results of the
ballot?
Yes.
>> so the appointments for.
>> the community relations
committee, um zachary clay well
received uh.
Six votes and alexis healing.
Received eight votes.
Alexis.
>> good.
So is there.
Any further.
Um.
>> action required by this?
>> you know.
Just that.
Okay.
Alexis.
We're all right.
We had the board.
Happy to.
>> have us vote.
Is there a motion by
acclamation or otherwise?
>> she made a motion.
And jenny made the second.
Okay.
>> any further discussion?
All in favor.
Raise your hand.
>> excuse me.
I have something.
Oh, yeah?
Yep.
>> I just wanted to bring up,
um, congratulations to, uh,
doctor healing.
>> for her.
Pending appointment.
I do want.
>> us to look at what it takes
for city staff to be on board
and commission.
Certainly their residents.
We want them to participate.
I would not.
>> want to discourage any staff
member from simply.
Attending these.
Meetings at any time.
So MR. Manager, I would love to
kind of just talk about what we
can do to.
um to make sure that we're
encouraging and enabling.
That uh, certainly.
Understanding that we want to
create equal access with
everyone.
In the community.
But I love.
>> to see.
Staff wanting.
>> to.
Be um.
>> a part of.
>> these boards, but I think
there's a way that we MAY be
able.
>> can beef it.
Up and enhance how that works.
So thank you.
>> sorry for inadvertently
putting you on.
.
Any other.
>> council member johnson.
I agree and I sent an.
Email in writing is that.
Appropriate or.
I think we should have a.
Policy on city staff on.
Uh boards.
>> and commissions.
Also I think that there's um
opportunity for influence.
And impact.
So I that's just my uh and it's
nothing against alexis I think
she does a phenomenal job.
.
But the fact that she is an
executive level employee I
think there could be some
concern from the public.
So I'd like to see a policy on
that as well.
Thank you.
Any further comments?
All right.
All in.
>> favor of the motion.
Please raise.
>> your hand.
Any opposed?
Yeah.
>> opposed or.
Councilmember johnson opposed.
Are you oppose opposed okay.
All right that takes us.
Through the appointments and
that takes us to mayor and
council topics um, in order to
ensure that all council.
Has the opportunity to speak,
we will go around the dais
once.
We'll go around the dias once
uh, one by one I ask that each
council member try to keep
their comments to our end for
questions to three.
>> minutes.
But also note that we have a
closed session.
Scheduled for tonight so it MAY
be all the more important that.
We try to keep our comments to
three minutes.
Staff will respond to questions
or topics with a written report
to council prior to the next
business meeting.
If that report is sufficient to
address the question or issue.
That would ensure that our
meeting time and agenda items
are focused on upcoming
decisions rather than just
report outs.
This will help ensure effective
meetings and discussions should
a council member feel that an
action is needed or further
discussion is required with the
entire council, the council
member would then make a
request.
>> to.
Add the item.
To a.
Future strategy.
Session agenda I will ask if
there is any objection.
>> if there are no.
Objections staff.
Would schedule the item for the
future meeting.
This approach will create a.
Framework to.
>> help keep meetings running
smoothly.
As a reminder um rule four d of
the mayor and council rules and
procedures provides for adding
items to council meetings and
not council and not committee
meetings unless there are other
questions.
Please let's uh, get started
and I'm going to go in some
order and I think I'm going to
go from the inside out uh, this
time I'll start on this side
and come to uh, mayor pro tem.
Okay.
Uh thank.
>> you mayor and council I just
have two quick and one is a
thank you to.
Cdot and to the city manager.
We just had a very successful
ribbon cutting with uh, kiosks
,digital kiosk, pilot program
.
We start off in district two
with COUNCILMAN Graham and I
would like to thank, uh, staff
for working so hard.
Make sure we put them in the
right away.
We're going to roll out a total
30 and they've been a six
doors.
Six corridors opportunity as
well as a msd.
So kudos to to you city manager
and to see that secondly uh my
next town hall meeting will be
saturday SEPTEMBER 26th.
The title of it will be forward
together as we talking about
how we going to empower uh sb
uh businesses and city
charlotte let them know we
still behind them and we're
going to make sure they can
still be successful uh in our
community starts at 11 uh 11
and 12 of course is my favorite
luncheon networking and we
should wrap up around.
230 here at the government.
Center on saturday, SEPTEMBER
26th.
Thank you mayor.
Thank you mayor pro tem council
member owens.
Thank you.
>> mayor appreciate the
opportunity.
I have two comments one a
comment of.
Gratitude and.
>> second of somber recognition
.
First the gratitude I.
Want to.
Um.
>> lift up the city staff and
community.
>> partners.
Um and.
First responders all of.
Whom have.
Worked tirelessly and quickly
to support cleanup efforts
after the.
Storms from.
>> this.
Past weekend.
Oh.
>> we had multiple trees down.
>> in district six and.
I'm sure that was.
>> the.
Story across our districts.
We had uh, no fewer than 23,000
outages of.
Power recorded in.
Mecklenburg county.
We had.
88 requests for trees impacting
roads.
Uh.
>> over the weekend.
.
>> uh, james burr.
>> ricky.
Gaither, uh michael.
Cruz and director rodney
jamison are all.
To be commended.
Uh, this is work that will be
ongoing over the next several
weeks to clean up the trees.
I'm particularly, uh,
appreciative.
Uh, there.
>> were many, many diversions
of routes coming from uptown
and I heard from a.
Lot of my constituents who
were.
Concerned but very.
Grateful to.
Have immediate um, storm
cleanup efforts.
I'll pivot then to.
A somber recognition.
>> I'd like.
>> to lift.
Up the fact that doctor gina
navarette was.
Um.
>> was unfortunately a victim
of a fall in chile uh, last
week and, uh, lost her life.
Um, gina navarette ran for.
District six.
Back in 2019 and I lift her up
in large part because I think
any of us who serve the.
Community deserve.
Recognition but particularly
folks who serve so tirelessly.
Um.
>> and really advocate for so
much.
>> of what makes charlotte.
Charlotte um doctor navarette
was an advocate for racial
justice for.
women's rights, advocated.
Consistently for the underdog
during covid.
Was a real force of nature.
And a presence out in the
community letting people.
Understand our mask mandate and
helping hand out masks.
Um, she more than just.
>> running for the city.
She she showed up for people
um, and.
Uh, was part.
>> of.
A small group of folks who did
the first women's MARCH here.
>> in charlotte.
I reached out to several of her
friends.
I had the opportunity to see
her speak on occasions.
>> and then also.
I had the great, um, foresight
to have voted for her myself.
But I.
Mentioned her because I think
that.
Those of us.
Who do.
>> serve in these capacities we
stand.
>> on the shoulders of those
who came before.
Us and um, particularly in my.
District where.
There was a change of.
Leadership um, she was one of
those first.
People who.
>> made it feel.
Possible that uh.
Particularly a latina.
Could could run in charlotte
and I believe she MAY have.
Made a path for councilmember
moss.
Where arias who we enjoy so
much up.
Here um, her friend wrote to me
that, uh, gina was an
inspiration and an activist
community.
She loved and cared for her
friends and pushed for a better
world.
All are struggling to process.
>> the sudden and
heartbreaking.
Loss and to accept a world
without her in it.
Um we.
Hold her son alex.
Especially close in our hearts
.
Uh, gina's husband died a year
ago and now with gina's passing
,alex is.
>> is alone.
And I just would suggest that
this.
Community continue to love and
support him.
And I do, uh, I just wish.
To just have a quick moment of
silence.
In recognition of the
contributions.
>> of.
Doctor gina navarette.
Thank you, councilmember.
Owens.
>> councilmember graham.
>> thank you, MR. Mayor.
I'd like to take this
opportunity to give a shout out
and and make an announcement.
Uh, the shout out to steve
bagwell and the men and women
of the charlotte regional
visitors authority for doing an
outstanding job last week in
hosting the um 41st annual
stellar award.
Um.
>> the community really came
out and show that out of over
14,000 tickets were sold, uh
was a sellout for the event.
Um, I want to thank the host
committee who did a tremendous
job.
Each had very, uh, difficult
task to do as relates to
performance and talent and
working with churches are
getting folks there certainly
want to thank all the local
sponsors, mecklenburg county
and others who kind of invested
in the show.
Um, a lot of people are asking
how can I see it?
Well uh it will air um AUGUST
30th at 8 P.M. On wbz-tv.
They'll be doing a one hour
preview show uh, of the red
carpet.
I think MR. Mayor, you MAY have
walked that carpet.
Pretty quick.
Pretty quick?
Yeah.
Uh.
>> yeah.
>> I'm was quick to uh so so
they'll do a pre-show at 8:00.
Uh, and then the 9:00 will be
the performance as well as this
airing nationally on bet the
same night sunday um uh the
30th at 10 P.M..
So if you didn't get a chance
to go to it, uh, you can watch
it, um, from the comfort of
your living room on AUGUST
30th, uh, on wb tv as well as
bet networks.
Uh, and pivoting to that uh
also will be hosting a town
hall meeting um, to kind of
talk about the um the economic
impact of travel tourism.
Sports and entertainment.
Uh, tuesday, SEPTEMBER 22nd uh,
is called destination charlotte
and we'll talk all things like
I said earlier travel tourism,
sports and entertainment a lot
of great.
Interest from our partners in
the community.
Uh crb yeah for sure.
Panthers hornets um the uh
atrium the politics of um uh
medical tourism right with the
pearl all these doctors coming
for visits and uh and training
all uh to charlotte's economy
as it relates to travel and
tourism.
So if you're available uh,
tuesday, SEPTEMBER 22nd, 6 to 8
P.M. At bojangles complex.
Thank you.
>> thank you.
Council member graham council
member driggs.
Thank you, MR. Mayor.
I just want to point out that,
uh, south charlotte partners
will be hosting the south
charlotte transportation summit
again this year and this is
quite a significant event.
It's attended by 150 to 200 uh
elected officials, government
and business leaders and
members of the public.
It goes far beyond just south
charlotte.
It's an interesting event to
take stock of what's going on
and what the views are of the
business community on
transportation that will take
place uh starting at 730 on the
29th of SEPTEMBER at the piper
glen country club in my
district.
Thank you.
And thank you.
>> I am.
Thank you.
>> council drakes.
In the.
>> morning council member
mayfield.
Yeah thank you mayor thank you.
Manager I have.
A question I believe a number
of us have received emails
regarding center city partners
new food vendor, street vendor
language.
What I want to know is
basically who gave them that
authority without conversation
comment though council I want
to understand if that was part
of.
The msd and if so.
Does that mean that all of.
Our communities.
That have.
>> a msd.
Whether that's university.
>> or south park have they
also.
Have the same authority to
identify cut off time because
community members are reaching
out to us?
Um.
>> I didn't necessarily have a
response to it because I read
about it in the news as well.
So I would like to know whether
any language we have signed off
on that gives that authority
and.
If not, what.
>> does that what should that
process.
Help look like?
I also want to just check.
In on.
Referrals.
>> I had.
Asked for a referral.
To uh.
Housing and neighborhood
services.
Committee to.
Add in.
The conversation around
co-living spaces based on a
number of emails we've received
from.
Residents that's not.
Something new in the.
community is actually been.
Happening for 20 plus years but
it is.
Starting to have.
A different.
Challenge as more corporate.
Spaces are corporate entities
are moving into.
That space.
As well as I think it will be
helpful to in housing and
neighborhood services along
with transportation to
continue.
The sidewalk.
Discussion meaning if we're
shortening the driveways and we
know that we have co-living
spaces where we can have
multiple vehicles at this one
property, what is our policy
language in our studio say to
keep up with the growth that
we're supporting and we're
encouraging and how that growth
is impacting new neighborhoods
as well as current.
Neighborhoods.
>> and last.
This is for all of our solid
ground.
So congratulations.
>> to our upshot.
League as.
Barry on.
>> solid ground one.
>> out.
Of the.
>> league of.
>> four teams.
.
>> it was your solid.
Ground that had.
Its first member to.
Actually be.
Tapped for the wnba going to
indiana for indiana.
Michelle but.
Your charlotte crown will.
>> be playing in.
>> the championship.
On saturday in jacksonville.
So what does that mean for
those of us at home?
Bojangles thank you.
Steve thank you sean.
They are going.
To be.
>> hosting a watch.
Night party here at the
connector.
So we.
Want they're going to be
sending out.
Promotions starting tomorrow.
But want to make sure.
>> that.
Everyone knows come.
Out support.
Your women's basketball team.
They have a wonderful record.
Already again.
We made it to the championship.
The game.
Is saturday.
Night at.
Seven and there will be a watch
night.
Party that.
Will be.
Open to the.
Community for.
>> you.
To come.
>> out and.
>> support your.
Hometown team.
Thank you mayor we'll crown.
And glad you were.
Able to get that.
We were able to.
>> get that.
Connection worked with uh with
bojangles.
Thank you.
Council member.
Uh mayfield council member MR.
Areas.
Thank you.
>> mayor.
uh, I just want to.
Take uh.
2 or.
>> 3 minutes for quick.
District five updates.
Uh, and a broader thought.
So we.
Recently celebrated five
completed and soon to be
completed.
Fully funded.
>> strategic investment area
projects in the far east uh.
Delivering long.
Overdue infrastructure,
pedestrian connectivity and
safety improvements.
So thanks to this council and
the previous council and my
predecessor for really funding
these needed investments in the
far east of charlotte, we also
celebrated project 65 h new
community dental.
Clinic in charlotte.
Expanding access to care.
For immigrant.
Refugee.
>> uninsured and underserved
families.
And I'm incredibly proud that
district five went the entire
month of JULY without a single
traffic fatality.
Um, which I think that's huge
progress and we're going to
keep working towards safer
streets, uh, with the
collaboration of my colleagues
here and there's plenty more
coming starting SEPTEMBER.
Uh, thanks to some inspiration
from my colleague in district
six and in district seven, uh,
I will be launching cafecito
with jade every friday so
informal opportunities to grab
some coffee, sit down with
myself and talk about what's
happening in your neighborhood
some more to come on that and
uh to my constituents.
For thursday, SEPTEMBER 24th at
6 P.M. I'll be hosting a joint
town hall with state
representative jordan lopez at
the grove presbyterian church
on W.T. Harris boulevard.
Uh, we'll talk about what's
happening at both the city and
state level.
Um, how we both interact when
it comes to zoning, housing,
public safety.
And I also.
Want to leave us with one
thought.
As we continue conversations
around youth curfews,
restrictions on street vendors
and now restrictions on fruit
trucks.
Um, I think we need to tread
lightly whenever we expand
government control into our
communities uh, food trucks,
street vendors, young people
gathering and the lively
nightlife are not inherently
problems to solve.
I think they're a part of the
culture and energy that make a
big city feel alive, especially
as we continue to grow as a
city.
And of course we have a
responsibility to keep people
safe.
But we can make charlotte safer
without shutting charlotte
down.
So I don't believe more
restrictions should always be
our first answer.
And finally.
Um, to to uh complement with my
colleague and district six
council member owens mentioned
I do want to recognize the
passing of doctor gina
navarette, a latina leader who
ran for city council in
district six and was among
those who helped pave the way
for latino representation in
the city.
I MAY have had the privilege of
ultimately making history as
charlotte's first latino.
Council member, but history is
never made by one person.
There are people like doctor
navarette who open doors before
we ever get the opportunity to
walk through them.
So tonight I honor her and her
um, her son for being one.
Of those people in the family.
Uh, get this cancer passed.
MAY she rest in peace.
Thank you.
Council.
>> um thank you, councilmember
arias.
And also just thank you both
for the recognition and
remembrance of doctor navarette
,council member johnson.
Thank you, MR. Mayor.
I want to thank council member
graham for your leadership with
this stellar award and you're
being modest but I know there
was a heavy lift in the city,
so thank you.
It was a fabulous event so
thank you.
Thank you.
Um, I'd like to know MISTER
Manager.
Or mayor.
With the market changes and the
interest rates going up and
development slowing down, does
the city have a plan for
projects that are halfway
completed?
There or there are some in my
area that are blighted
properties code enforcement.
there's uh there's safety
hazards where um where people
can gather.
There's some.
>> pools that are half filled
and you know, we're getting
some.
Complaints so there's several
half finished.
Developments.
>> so I'd like to know if
there's a plan or if there.
Is a minimum time.
Where before the city gets
engaged or what is that plan if
we if.
>> we start.
>> to see.
More of.
>> of this um.
Because we.
>> want to avoid blighted
buildings and our um also
referral tracker we talked.
Before about a.
Referral tracker I think I.
Received the link.
>> but is that open to the
public and if not can it be
open to the public and I'd like
to see dates add it to that
referral tracker.
There is a referral.
That I.
Think that was sent regarding
infill development that we
talked about in 2023 and it's a
gray area if that was actually
addressed I think planning
staff would say it was not.
So I'd like to.
See um that on.
>> the tracker.
Along with the date that it was
referred and.
Um, I will be.
Holding a meeting.
With in.
>> the university city area.
I want to thank the city
attorney's office, uh.
For that for being willing to
come to talk about university
city data centers specifically.
I know they're they're, uh,
outside of the moratorium,
especially the large one.
But I invited, uh, the.
Current and future state
representatives because we know
that there are there are some
things our state partners can
do.
So I want to recognize that,
um, state representative elect
valeria lavie was here today
and jordan lopez.
Was and.
Was here also.
So thank you.
That's all I have.
Thank you.
>> council member johnson
council member mayo.
No.
>> we are going.
>> that way.
Okay.
Back to you.
>> if you want me to.
Know I'll just go.
Yeah.
>> um thank.
You for the opportunity.
>> to chat.
Uh, I just want to invite
everyone to attend my town hall
on.
SEPTEMBER 17th.
>> uh, the ripple.
Effect light rail housing and
investment.
Um, as.
We've seen.
With the blue line.
It has had a tremendous.
Positive and.
Negative impact.
On legacy residents.
Um.
>> you you know, been there
five, ten years.
You can see the change that
south in um has had and how
that continues to impact going
further down with the blue line
.
Um so we'll be.
Hearing from.
Different community groups
talking about um how are they
working with.
Development even along the blue
line.
>> we know uh right by yancey
avenue or.
Yancey road.
There is a rezoning.
For 15 acres that uh will be
happening soon.
This is part.
Of a.
>> larger issue.
About continued investment.
As a.
Result of.
Light rail expansion.
Uh, we'll also be talking about
the silver.
Line, uh.
Which is.
>> another part.
>> of my district.
>> so there there are a lot of
pros and cons and really just
trying to help empower the
community to get ahead.
So how.
>> do they have a seat at the
table?
We'll be.
Hearing a case study um from.
A project that.
Transforming nations forward is
doing.
>> where.
They are.
Hoping fingers crossed to have
an impact on the request.
>> for proposal.
um.
.
Regarding the project.
So that's a five.
Year in.
>> the making.
Um strategy which.
I think is how.
>> we're going to have.
To handle.
Things as a community if you
want to sit at the table.
We always.
>> talk about build your own
table.
And uh be part of that
conversation and that is
something that they have.
Done and excited to share about
that.
Uh, so.
It will.
>> be uh, SEPTEMBER 17th at cbi
community.
>> center.
Uh, right off old pine viewing
yancey road.
Right.
So right.
After blue.
Line people can get off at
scaly.
Bark and.
Walk uh, it's about seven
minute walk from.
There but a great opportunity
to really.
Start thinking.
Strategically about.
>> how do.
Transportation investments
impact future.
Residents and legacy residents
and how do we work.
Together.
>> uh, to make some of these
pain points not so painful.
So hopefully uh, people will
join.
>> us and.
>> I'm looking forward to chat
more about that.
Thank you.
Thank you council member mayo
doctor.
Whiteland thank.
You a.
Couple of things for me.
So firstly I just want to say
thank you to staff and to all
of the ac professionals that
participated in my town hall a
couple of weeks ago.
Um, regarding health care and
data centers and the impact
that that infrastructure has on
our labor.
Has on.
Our materials and the broader.
Community needs.
So we appreciate you bringing
your your time your your talent
to the room because that's what
it's going to take as we
deliver these policy solutions.
Um, these public forums are
always my favorite meetings
because I love to hear from the
residents because I truly.
Believe that it.
>> takes all of us.
And I.
Believe in personal agency to
change your environment.
Uh, one thing that struck me
today is I think about 77 is
it's clear that we agree on the
problem.
>> where.
People want congestion relief,
people.
Want mobility, people.
Want their neighborhoods
preserved and connected to
amenities.
Those are things that we can
agree on.
I think where I hear.
>> the voices diverge is on.
>> what.
the solution actually is.
And so I am hopeful that we are
able.
To from all sides take a good
faith effort at trying to back
up and say who are we trying to
be?
We spent a great deal of time
implementing our 2040 plan
years ago, and I believe it's
our northstar whether it's I-77
or transportation investments,
whether it's data centers,
whether it's housing or whether
it's public safety that.
Has to be our grounding
document.
And we should be producing
policy and a suite of policy
that works together that's
better than the sum of its
parts to deliver that vision.
And so I'm hopeful that we'll
be able to take a step back and
really understand where we're
trying to go so that we can
develop a solution that works
for everyone.
Uh.
>> we've got to lean on our
partners at the state.
Uh, we know that to do the work
correctly and to have the data
um, and the ability to assess
alternatives not just design
alternatives but true
alternatives to the approach
that we're going to need more
time.
And so I would implore all of
you who came out tonight to
reach out to ncdot to reach out
to governor stein, to reach out
to your legislative
representatives because what we
know that we need is in order
to make a quality product, we
need to be able to invest the
time.
To do it.
um, and so I look forward to
continuing down the path on
that one to actually deliver
something that we all want to
see.
Um.
>> and I hope that everyone
recognizes that this is just
one example of policy work
that's going to require a shift
from.
Incremental improvements to
truly revolutionizing how we
view our community and how we
view our policy that delivers
our future.
Um.
That's it for me.
Thank you, doctor watlington
and.
Finally, council member ajmera
.
Thank you, mayor harrington.
I have four things.
First, I also want to honor
doctor gina and everett.
Uh thank you councilmember lens
for, um, honoring her.
Uh, my heart goes out to alex
and her extended family and
friends.
I've had an opportunity to work
with her, uh, and I certainly
appreciated her passion that
she brought to the table.
And I loved how she would go
through trash cans and pick out
all the cans out.
Um, at almost every event that
I and I have been to where she
was there.
So, uh, my heart goes out to
her her friends and family.
Uh, second, I just want to
thank staff like councilmember
watlington said about.
Uh.
>> town hall.
I had my town hall last week.
Councilmember watlington as
well as councilmember massara
arias were there.
Thank you for coming.
Uh, we had more than 150
residents, uh, who joined us
for my annual state of our
environment town hall with the
focus on data centers, water,
energy and charlotte's future
and we heard from the industry
neighborhood advocates from
city staff, environment
advocates and I heard five
things very clear.
First, uh, protect our water.
Protect our.
>> water grid, protect our
neighborhoods and make sure our
growth pays its own way and
give residents a voice before
decisions are made, not after.
So as we go through this
process, I certainly look
forward to ensuring that now oh
we turn this feedback into
action in coming months.
Uh, next I want to talk about.
Up down up down street vendors
.
I know some of my colleagues
brought that up.
>> um I.
Support what cmpd is trying to
do which is to keep our uptown
safe.
But I'm having a hard time
understanding how limiting the
hours of small businesses will
result in reduction in violent
crime.
So, uh, I would like the
manager and cmpd to come back
to us with data behind this
decisions and alternatives that
allows us to protect public
safety without unnecessarily
hurting small businesses.
Um.
>> because if the problem is
crime then let's target crime.
i'm not convinced that a small
business or a few small
businesses should be a
collateral damage and that's
what's happening right now.
Uh, last but not the least, I
want to raise the issue of
predatory towing.
Andrea, thank you so much for
your memo.
Uh, I know we have had an
opportunity.
>> to chat.
About this.
I would like to refer our
towing ordinance to our safety
committee and our staff and the
city attorney to bring this
option to strengthen protection
against predatory towing.
What I have seen from our
residents and even our
communications.
Sent us an email last week
where residents are being
charged an inconvenience fee
for calling 911 and that should
never be the case.
People have a right to call 911
and they should not be charged
an inconvenience fee for
calling law enforcement.
That's unacceptable and I know
based on andrea's memo there
are other towns and
municipalities that have taken
stronger protections in place
to protect our residents.
Currently we have a $400 flat
penalty that doesn't account
for repeat offenders.
So uh, I would like us to look
into that to increase escalate
it for repeat offenders,
especially for bad actors and
um so the my scope that I would
like us to examine escalating
penalties for repeat offenders
protection for nighttime towing
because I know we have
different.
Protections for.
Daytime and not protections in
place for nighttime.
And that's where a lot of
predatory towing happens.
Um, prohibit or.
Stronger disclosure.
Requirements and and I know
there are certain bad actors
that the attorney's office is
taking the attorney general's
office is taking an action
against them.
If we can create a pathway for
us to refer some of these bad
actors to the attorney
general's office.
So that's all I have.
Thank you.
>> council member moura.
And on the referral request
let's let's um if necessary
talk a little bit.
>> more.
On that just to make sure that
we know exactly what's being
requested and.
I think I'm trying to frame
something.
Yeah I.
>> think the attorney knows uh
because it was in her memos she
sent it out last week and then
she also sent out an updated
memo to my answers with the
list of all the cities and
alternatives and she provided
to us with an options.
Let's see if we can we can try
to frame something.
For that.
>> see the.
Mayor I think.
That takes us through the.
Mayor and council's.
Comments and um I believe we
have expectation of a closed
session and I'd ask the city
attorney if you could read the
motion to go into closed
session so someone can follow
and make it.
Thank you.
>> mayor, MAY we have a motion.
To go into.
>> closed.
Session pursuant.
>> to in cgs 143, 318 2011 a
three.
To consult.
>> with the city attorney in
order to preserve the.
Attorney client privilege.
Between the attorney in the
matter of melissa boland versus
city of charlotte claim number
w004095294.
>> so my second.
Is second second.
Any questions otherwise.
>> all.
In favor raise your hand.
All against.
All right we will adjourn to
the.
Conference room.
And thank.
>> you to everyone for being.
>> here.
And staying with us throughout
the evening.
Appreciate it.
Okay okay.