Thanks on the mayor of Great City of Estonia. On behalf of the City Council myself, I'd like to welcome you to September 16th, 2025 meeting. I will now call the meeting to order. First up, we'll be our invocation in location by Councilwoman Steph.
If you were so inclined, I would ask you to bow your head with me as we begin our meeting with the prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come together tonight with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our city.
We ask your blessing on this meeting and I'm all who are gathered here.
You know the burdens we care, the weight of recent events and tragedies in our region, our state and our country.
We ask you to ease the hurt and bring the good out of these horrible acts of violence and disregard of why that only you can.
We praise specifically for the family's affected by loss that is unimaginable for most of us.
We pray against the divisions and the discord that are hurting our country and causing strain and pain among us.
God, you know the challenges we face, but you promised to never leave us, or forsake us,
and we ask you to lead us through difficult times.
We ask for your healing hand over our city, our state, and our country.
Grinas hearts of love and kindness help us to see one another, not as enemies, but as neighbors,
as brothers and sisters, sharing one community.
Show us ways to come together, even when we differ, so that unity and peace may not take
group here. Where there's confusion or conflict, we ask that the truth always be revealed.
We ask that impure motives would be made clear. And where there are voices working
against the good of our community, the unity, integrity, and light prevail. We pray for
your blessing on our citizens and your mercy on those who are suffering. Let us be used as your
instruments to minister and find solutions. Protect our staff and our first responders as they
strengthen them, show them, and bless their families.
And we ask you, grant this council wisdom and disarmament,
may we never leave through selfish ambition,
but through honesty, fairness, and humility,
may we be faithful stewards of the trust given to us,
and may our efforts bring hope, harmony,
and our brighter future for all.
Let us listen with respect, speak, with care,
and work with courage to do what is right for all people.
May truth and fairness guide our decisions,
and make peace, love, and unity grows stronger in our community, and your name we pray
Amen.
Mr. Stoke,
and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, in the visible
liberty and justice for all.
Excuse the Mayor Pro Tim for the seat means meeting.
Second.
We have a motion.
Second.
we have the adoption of the agenda, everybody should have the agenda in front of you, are there any corrections,
additions, collisions to the agenda? Having done? And I have a motion to accept it.
So moved. We have a motion. Can I have a second? Second.
We have a second by Councilwoman Barber, all those in favour?
She nanomiss. Next up, we have the approval of the minutes. We have one set tonight.
It was from our regular city council meeting on September 2nd, 2025.
Can I have a motion to approve those?
We have a motion by councilwoman, little John.
We have a second.
We have a second by councilwoman's step.
All those in favor?
It's unanimous.
First up, we're going to have a proclamation,
Recognizing September 28th, 2025,
as good neighbor day.
And I usually don't want to take a shot here,
Mr. Dan Elman.
Okay, Mr. Bill Radcliffe, Mr. Zion McKinsey, and Ms. Tiffany Wiley, and our presenter will be Councilwoman Step.
Now, I'm going to come on up.
So thank you for being here tonight with us.
And I'm going to read the proclamation, and then we're going to get our picture taken.
All right, so this is for our good neighbor day.
Whereas, the noblest human concern is concerned for others, and that concern leads to the understanding, love, and respect that builds cohesive families and communities, and whereas, for most of us, this sense of community is nurtured and expressed in our neighborhoods, where we give each other an opportunity to share and feel part of a larger family.
And whereas, the City of Gastonia recognizes the importance of fostering compassion and
respect in ourselves and for our neighbors.
And whereas, the United States government has designated September 28th of each year as
National Good Neighbor Day.
Now therefore, I Richard Frank Smayer and the City Council of the City of Gastonia here
by Proclaim September 28th, 2025 as good neighbor day in Gastonia and we call upon the
residents of this city to make a special effort on that day to demonstrate what being a good
neighbor is all about through acts of kindness and making people feel welcome. In witness
there, I have here on to set my hand and calls to the city of Gastonia to be a fixed. This is
16th day of September in the year of our Lord,
2025 signed by the Honorable Richard Franks Mayor
and attested by Susan Gives City Clerk.
So I've got one first.
All right, thank you.
And would you either be like a person from the title?
You have to speak to me.
Thank you so much for the proclamation.
I want to introduce myself for anybody
that doesn't know me.
My name is Corelli Chavez.
And as the new neighborhood program administrator,
I have the privilege of working closely with recognized communities and community leaders,
such as these wonderful people here, and I've seen first-hand just how deeply they care about their neighbors
and how hard they work to make sure that their communities are our communities that they're proud to call their home.
So that kind of spirit of care and connection is what I think makes a good neighbor, and so I'd like to invite to just a few of them
to share what to the ACE program and what being a good neighbor means to them.
Just very briefly.
Thank you.
Mr. Mayor, City Council members.
My name is Bill Radcliffe.
I'm the president of the Bethesda Oaks H.O.A.
and we were one of the founding communities of the ACE program.
And we first of all want to thank you for the program.
It has been a great collaboration between the city and our residents
on both directions and when we appreciate it.
also want to thank you for the proclamation.
It is nice when city and citizens can work together
and I think this proclamation is supporting that effort and thank you.
Good evening.
I'm Dan and I'm with Laura Lee's community and I want to just reiterate what he just said
because we really feel that that relationship that we have with the city is really what makes us
as strong as we are, Carelli has stepped into the big shoes
that Tyler Davis left behind.
And she inherited a lot of communities.
Prior to she came into it, and she has been just
wonderful, so supportive as we feel with many in the city
that work with us all these years.
What I want to share with you, though,
is what we have done, we're blessed to have in our neighborhood,
really caring neighbors, and it's not just for today,
but something that we see here around.
One particular example I'd like to give is
a couple years ago, a tree fell on one of our neighbor's house
and his sat there and his sat there and we were wondering,
you know, what could we do?
What's going on?
Why are they getting it done?
Well, it turns out they're having a lot of serious financial problems,
health problems.
So we just knocked on the door and said,
can we help in any way?
And they were, you know, reluctant at first,
but they said okay, that was three years ago.
Since then, we, one of the neighbors takes care of their,
they have an acre of property.
They mow their lawn, the trees are kept trimmed.
Anyway, that we can help.
It turns out that the husband in the family
was very, very ill, has passed away.
But what we did and what we continue to do
is something that can be done by all of us here.
And again, with the support that we've had
in the city, we just can't go wrong.
So thank you for your support.
Before we get a picture I'd like to make a motion that we accept the
Proclamation as presented we have a second by council on the little John all those in favor
Next up, we have a proclamation recognizing September the 20th, 2025, as Gaston recovery day.
The recipient will be Dr. Juan De Jones. She is the executive director of a safe place
and powerment network incorporated. Presenter will be Councilwoman Daniel Barber.
good evening. It gives me great honor to present this
proclamation to Dr. Jones, if you'll step forward and
whomever you'd like to come with you at this time to
receive this proclamation.
Good evening.
Hey, you forgot your brother. You got to get your brother.
Okay. This proclamation reads,
whereas National Recovery Month is observed every
September to increase awareness and understand and
mental health and substance use disorders and to celebrate the people who recover.
And whereas countless gas and county residents have been impacted by addiction and mental
health challenges and the power of recovery has helped many rebuild their lives and re-engaged
with their communities.
And whereas the city of Gastonia recognizes that recovery from substance use and mental health
challenges is a journey that strengthens individuals, families, and communities and supports
efforts that reduce stigma, expand access to treatment, and promote recovery for all.
And whereas community events like Gaston County Recovery Walk brings together individuals,
families, providers, and allies to walk in solidarity, celebrate recovery, and connect
local resources and support, as well as help foster hope, promote wellness and remind us that recovery
is possible for everyone. Now therefore, be it resolved, I Richard Franks, Mayor of the City of
Gastonia and the City Council of the City of Gastonia do here by proclaim September 20th,
2025 as Gaston recovery day. In the City of Gastonia and encouraged all citizens to participate
in the annual gas encounter recovery walk to be held this Saturday, September 20, 2025.
In witness thereof, I have here and to set my hand and calls the seal of the City of
Gastonia to be a fix.
This is the 16th day of September in the year of our lower 2025 sign by our mayor, Richard
Franks, an attested by our city clerk Suzanne Gibbs.
Thank you for all of your work that you do all year long to address the needs of those
who have substance abuse disorders as well as those who are violent mental health.
So, this is just one day that in our community that we're highlighting these issues, but certainly this is something that you are on the front lines, you and your team are on the front lines of each and every day. So, if you all would join me in congratulating them for the work that they do all your long, at this time with a round of applause. Thank you. And I'm sure she'll share some more information about this Saturday's recovery well. Congratulations.
So much, Psalms 118 and 23 says, this is the Lord's doing and it's marvelous in his sight.
And that's where my heart is.
This is not my doing.
I stand here as a representative of so many who's doing this work.
And so I want to say I want to guide first and to the may and city council and everybody here.
Thank you so much for acknowledging this day.
not so much, it's me, but this day, the day that we are going to highlight so many that
is on the ground, doing the work, but I came to Gastonia, it didn't look like Gastonia
needed me, but as I said still, I saw where I could be best suited, and the first thing
I did was did an assessment, because I didn't just want to duplicate services, I wanted
to know where I really was needed, and mental health and substance use, I felt like I
to really be of an impact.
So thank you so much to everyone who's doing the work.
Thank you to my family, my friends.
Thank you to my staff, not just the staff,
that's current, but the staff that has come before them
because it's been many, that's helped me get to help us get here.
Saturday will be at Irwin Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We have over 50 vendors, food trucks, we have youth,
We give it backpacks away hygiene kits, we're just going to make it a day, that we highlight
those who are doing the work, and that's one of the things that I saw was that so many
people are really touching the lives of one addict, so many people touch that, the paramedic
such it, police touch it, and that's, I mean, the primary care, substance use, DSS, the school
system, so many of us touch that life, but not a lot of us know about with the services
in the supports are.
So that's what I aim to do, and I'm so grateful that on the 20th, it's Gastonia's
Recovery Day, and it's a day that I will always celebrate.
Thank you so much for this honor and privilege to be a part of this work.
Thank you.
And while we're assembling for a picture, if I get a motion to accept this, proclamation.
Second. Next up,
we have a proclamation recognizing October the 5th through the 11th of
the 2025 As Fire Prevention Week. The recipient is Mr. Brady Bass. He's our deputy fire chief
and our presenter is Caltson, make a seat of this.
Thank you, Mayor.
Chief Welch, I want to come on up here as well,
please, since you're here.
If you don't mind,
good evening, everyone.
I'd like to read this proclamation.
Whereas the City of Gastonia is committed to ensuring
the safety and security of all those living in and visiting
our city, whereas fire remains a serious public safety
concern both locally and nationally and the presence of lithium-ion batteries in many household
devices introduces unique fire risks and whereas most of the electronics use in homes daily
include smartphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, e-scooters and toys are all powered
by lithium-ion batteries which if misuse damage or improperly charged can over-he start a
fire or explode. And whereas the National Fire Protection Association reports an increase in
battery-related fires, underscoring the need for public education on the safe use of lithium-ion
batteries. And whereas residents should follow three key calls to action by only listed products,
charge batteries safely and recycle them responsibly to prevent battery-related fires.
And whereas lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy in a small space and improper
use such as overcharging using off-brand chargers without safety certification or exposing
batteries to damage can result in fire or explosion. And whereas the proper disposal and recycling
of lithium-ion batteries help prevent environmental hazards and reduce fire risk in the home and in the community.
And whereas the city of Gastonia first responders are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of fires through prevention,
safety education, and community outreach.
And whereas the 2025 fire prevention week theme charge into fire safety,
safety. Again, charge, and so fire safety. Lithium ion batteries in your home serve
to remind us of the importance of using charging and recycling lithium ion batteries
safely to reduce the risk of fires and homes and in our communities. Now, therefore, the
mayor and council of the city of Gastonia do hereby proclaim October 5th through the 11th,
2025 as fire prevention week. In the city of Gastonia and urge all citizens to protect their homes
and families by heating their important messages of fire prevention week 2025, and to support
the many public safety activities and efforts of North Carolina's fire and emergency services.
In witness where I have here on to set my hand and calls the official seal of the city of Gastonia
to be a fix. This, the 16th day of September in the year of our Lord,
2025, this population is signed by our Mayor Richard Franks and attested by Susan Gibbs,
our city clerk. I'd like to present this to our fire chiefs and thank them for all of their service
and keeping us safe and teaching us these things because batteries are everywhere.
There are no cell phones that you're holding in your hand. So no one that safety and
Celebrating this is great so I'll open it up to our chiefs here if anyone wants to speak and present this to you
I'll speak briefly the information for the proclamation came from the NPA
So that's that was put out when when we had the proclamation printed
a month ago three weeks or a month ago
Our crews are on the scene right now in Laura Lane of the lithium battery fire
So it came in about 530
and the occupant is being transported to the hospital.
He just had some inhalation of the smoke from the batteries.
It's ironic that it came up.
I had even forgotten that we had the battery information
in the proclamation.
That's a rhyme.
I could make a song.
So it's crazy.
So our cruiser seal on the scene now of that lithium battery
if our own eight street right off a lower lane,
he should be fine.
The paramedics were intriguing him as I left,
just before the council meeting, and came here.
Thank you for the proclamation.
And far pervention week, this is actually the month
that our crews go out and they try to hit all of the classrooms,
all the schools, a lot of daycares during this month,
then a special event, like at Lowe's and Home Depot,
things like that, they'll have special things,
Spire related this month.
Thank you all and thank you for your support.
We'd like to say thank you for your support.
We couldn't do our job without the support from you all in management.
We've got a great fire department and just thank you for your support.
And remember, fire safety is everyone's job.
Not just a fire department.
And Mary, if I may, I'd like to make a motion to accept the
Proclamation as written and presented.
Next up, we have a Proclamation Recognizing
recognizing October the 5th through the 11th, 2025, that's public power week.
The recipient is Mr. Adrian certain he is our division manager of electric utilities.
The presentation will be by Council and Jim Gallagher.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, appreciate that.
This population is for the public power, which Gastonia is part of.
It is crucial component in our city and towns across North Carolina.
contributing to the overall health of communities by providing reliable electricity,
excellent local service and pump restoration.
North Carolina has more than 70 public power cities in towns
are among the 2,000 across the country.
And most North Carolina public power cities in towns have electric providers
for more than 100 years.
The city of Gastonia maintains 536 miles of distribution lines and 10,168 streetlights.
I didn't know we had that many. 11 substations in over 31,000 customer accounts.
Whereas public power meets the electric needs of 54 million Americans that's 1 in 7
Electric utility customers are served by public power.
North Carolina's public power utilities are a valuable community asset that contribute
to the well-being of the community and provide economic development and opportunities.
And I like to say that whenever we have our lights go out, these guys respond quicker than
Duke does.
They are phenomenal.
And these are the alignment back here.
These guys are the champions.
They go out when it's raining and they've got to go up in those poles and fix their
everything. They're the men. We're as North Carolina's public power utilities are dependable
institutions and provide excellent service and commitment to the community. Now, therefore,
beat resolved that the mayor and council of the City of Gastonia and North Carolina
do hereby proclaim the week of October 5 to 11, 2025 as public power week. And the City of Gastonia
joins other North Carolina public power communities as well as all public power systems in the United
States and celebration of public power. In witness their love, I have here two set my hand
and cause the official seal of the city of Gastonio to be fixed this 16th day in the year of our
Mr. Certain and just tell these guys, thank you very much.
Is you got some words to say?
Thank you.
Thank you, guys, for recognizing public power week.
I will say that we're going to be at the fall festival, so we invite everybody to come out and pay us a visit.
And I'll let my guys introduce them.
Thanks, Brandon Phillips, I'm a crew supervisor, and I appreciate all your support.
Thank
you.
Jonathan Jenkins, Association Technician. Thank you.
Jaglong say, Lantek Bauer. Thank you.
I'd like to give him a round of applause.
I'd also like to make a motion that we accept this
profumation and then we'll take the photo.
So...
Hello.
Next up, we'll have the Municipal Government Citizens Academy emotional video and program update.
It's currently Shavins. She is our Abrahood
Corelli.
Thank you.
Our neighborhood program administrator. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate that. You guys get the pleasure seeing me up here twice tonight.
So, the Citizens Academy is a program designed to give residents, business owners, and city
of Gastonia employees, and inside look as to how the city operates.
So over the course of six months, participants meet city leaders, tour facilities, and they
learn directly from department heads about the services and resources that the city of Gastonia
has to offer.
So, this program builds stronger community connections and helps participants better understand and engage with local government and this year to help promote the upcoming Academy class a short promotional video was developed by our own marketing department and it features recent graduates kind of sharing their experience with the Academy and
And some takes a take away from the program.
So the video includes a brief introduction
about the Academy's purpose, program eligibility,
and encourages participants of both residents
and city employees.
So I would like to play that video here
for you all if I can remember how to do this.
And the marketing department did a wonderful job.
Jessica Roberts did amazing.
She did an amazing job.
So if you see me crunching, it's because I have to hear my voice.
It's my own voice.
Sorry, it's loading.
I'm just definitely not right.
Okay. We're thinking...
We've played this earlier.
From right here, boys.
We're being executed.
Honestly, I was working right before the meeting.
Five minutes from the board.
Our IT department loves to do maintenance on our systems on Tuesday evenings, and so I'm hoping
that this is not attached to that, it's what I'm hoping.
But the file is on the seed drive, so it shouldn't have affected anything.
It's from there.
Can we do public expression and come back to the video?
Just a suggestion.
Is
it rebooting Mary?
Yes.
I had to re-log in, so, and it's waking up.
But if you have your YouTube login, and we have, and how, okay.
It's not.
I'm going to go see if the driver, the version that's
So my thumb drive will play.
We can.
Well, while we're waiting on that.
I can barely chop this.
Very.
You probably heard the saying, knowledge of how to do it.
Something's happening.
What if I told you that power is right at your feet?
Is you just had to walk away.
You're going to restart it,
and volume should be up already.
This is the video I promised.
Hi, I'm currently Chavez.
You've probably heard the saying, knowledge is powered.
Well, what if I told you that power is right at your fingertips?
Introducing Citizens Academy, your chance to step inside local government, meet department
leaders, tour facilities, and even get a chance to write along with the Gastonia Police.
These guys were like half-notch as far as information.
Am I giving a part of Citizens Academy was actually the police right along?
And now I really looked forward to that. I just learned a lot from her and I feel like I got to
see a lot of different sides of policing.
the other thing that was really neat learned was how the city of Gastonia runs its own
electric and water system that was so neat. It was good to know that they like
put out a lot of money for this new system and the new system was like we're like
number one and the whole state of good water. I got inside the firefighter trucks. We we
went to a mini parade around the city and everybody was happy just like we felt like kids.
I think one of my best memories is
a ski shooting with Parks and Rec.
So I enjoyed the hands on experiences.
And what's nice too is that they do most of the work themselves.
So they're keeping the cost down for us citizens,
by not contracting it out to other companies.
They really know how to manage their talent
and try to keep the cost low for the citizens too.
I know you have questions about your city.
I know you want to talk to them about why this light
They're going fast enough for you on your daily traffic movement, you know, the boat tries
like you can just put it out and then they come get it.
So a lot of people didn't know what days they were.
Then they gave them the whole boat tries schedule for the whole year, you know, I know you have
a question about your city.
So if you have any questions about your city, you come here and you can get a answered.
I would just wish more people knew that it was available.
I think it's very easy and I'm guilty of this myself to complain about something or
people be like, I don't like XYZ about government, but a lot of people don't have a thorough
knowledge of it. I never did nothing like this before. I'm glad I did something for myself.
I feel good being a citizen. Very few people take it and we're a graduate. Most people are like,
I learn so much, you know, and they're looking to be, you know, they're kind of like the cities
ambassadors after that. Applications for the next session are open right now. Apply today and be a
part of the next class of change makers in our community.
A lot of it weren't for every finally got
it to work. So as I just said in the video, the 2026 Citizens Academy is open too, Gastonia residents,
business owners and city employees. So interested individuals can apply on our website space is limited.
So you know apply early and I really look forward to continuing to grow this program into welcome the next class of engaged community members and employees
Thank you for your time.
Next up. We will have public expression there are four people signed up and you will each have five minutes first up to be Teddy
Sure.
Good evening. So I'm a resident of Huntington Forest, over off of Hoffman Road, South
New Hope area, where they're doing a lot of construction and building. We've been advised
that there's going to be a new neighborhood getting put in. Three hundred to six hundred
houses, I don't really know. But our main concern is the round about that got installed just
last week, it is on about a quarter of a mile, length road.
We've got a stop sign from Hoffman to the next road in our neighborhood, and they put
around about right in the middle of it.
Any normal car, a small compact car, can go around it, but me and my husband, we pull trailers
every day for work, we have to drive over it.
Fire trucks have to drive over it.
buses are going over it. Nobody can easily go around this if they pull anything larger than a
compact SUV. We've got people already saying they've skipped their rims, their tires, it's
just not thought out. There's not enough room there for around about and I don't understand why
they didn't just put a stop sign for the neighborhood that is going to be then getting onto our road.
I encourage all of you if you have a trailer to go down that road and see how to navigate it.
And if you know of a way without hitting the curb, please let me know, because every morning on taking out their crossing cones, which they laughed at me.
We're hopping it, we're jumping it, we're scuffing up our tires, we're scuffing up the new round about that, it's only then there may be five days.
Everybody on our Facebook group is complaining about it. Nobody's happy about this round about and it just does not make sense to have it there
So that's pretty much our concern
We there's someone that's already said that they spoke with the fire Marshall today who said that it needs to be
Re-valuated it's not an appropriate size
Even though someone from the city has emailed me telling me that that's the standard size for a standard car
But trucks and any large vehicles have to drive over it. So it's a glorified circle speed hump
So I don't know why they didn't just put a speed hump speed hump
But yeah, that's about it. I wasn't planning on speaking tonight, so I don't have anything written out for my way
But thank you for listening and I hope that y'all re-valuate it
Tucker, can you
I'm looking at a map and what road is this on?
So it's right there at Leonard and Hickory Hollow, it's in the middle of that road in Leonard.
I just wanted to look at it on a map.
Thank you.
Next up, we'll have the first name Miss Phillips.
Last name Phillips.
Don't want to put you the name.
This is in reference to, I think, it's 2.7, the city ordinance for a center located in the residents, and
Mayor and Dear Council members. I'm here as a long time residents of Gastonia and a licensed home child care center provider.
We've been probably serving our community for 20, 21 years now, and throughout this time, I've
had to care for generations of children, help support mentor, fellow child care providers
in establishing and growing their own programs.
This is my husband, Paris, and recently, he left his job for 15 years working at IKEA
and Charlotte to help me.
We received a partial grant from the Division of Child Development to expand our home, so
We expanded our home about 1200 to 1300 square feet and creating a dedicated space which is solely
for child care.
This expansion was designed specifically to allow us to legally and responsibly serve more
families in need.
This alignment with that my husband, like I said, he left his job four time.
However, unless I see these local ordinance are updated to reflect the House Bill 412 session
on our 2025-36, which was passed effective July 1st, 2025.
We may be unable to utilize the grant as intended,
putting us at risk of having to repay those funds
and undermine an liability to serve.
Governor Josh Stein officially signed that into law
on that effective date.
House Bill 412 constitutes a significant step forward
in a child care regulatory reform.
For example, it relaxes certain side group size requirements
allowed on providers to care for more children
while maintaining the central staff to child care ratio.
It also includes us increase in maximum group sizes
that benefits both infant and toddler and vitamins
with a lot of parents are struggling with right now.
It permits lead teachers, credentials, flexibility,
recognize five years of documented teaching, experience,
and equivalent to holding a North Carolina Early Child
Health credential.
This change supports providers who bring deep experience, even the lack of form more credentialing.
It also includes reforms to building and facilities regulations helpful to home-based
providers, which we are always ignored, such as simplifying occupancy, classification in
the line, residential childcare spaces with the residential code framework, by updating city
to reflect the state levels reforms to Council would be with enable us to offer, I mean, other qualified providers to use the grant funding as designed for expanding services rather than being forced to return the money.
meet better local demand for affordable quality child care, support working families who depend on reliable home-based child care,
strengthening the local economy as a home child care providers, small business operators, reinvest in our community.
So I respectfully urge the Council to promptly adopt the local ordinance,
Revision that aligns with House Bill 412 session on 2025-36. This alignment is vital and enshrined
Continuity compliance and community support for our childcare providers like myself and I just want to say thank you for your dedicated services and considering this important request
And I'll be glad to answer any questions share more about our program or
to participate in any discussions to facilitate this update or anything dealing with childcare
in our community to help others because when Walker Reed was in office as well, we went
to get the city to change the ordinance from 8 to 12 as well, me and another child care provider.
So this is my second time doing this and I hope Joe Gates and the zoning and all of them are not sick of me
because they probably are seeing a million and one emails to everything for me.
But this is something I'm always the voice for other child care providers in the community.
Me and my husband, we always help, we always give back and order for us not to have to pay those funds back.
And that's what we're asking for.
And also I have a wait list.
I've had a wait list for years and it continues to grow.
So and people constantly check on it every month or every other month.
And so we need to help these families and get some of them out of the wait list and, you know,
for them to provide for the quality child care.
Thank you.
Thank you, man.
We don't normally have discussions and questions during public expression, but I will ask our city
attorney because on our agenda package tonight, we do have a section that is addressing that
is by taking that language out, is that bringing us up to what she was speaking about, what
the governor of his son, that's correct.
So they should be good, as well.
If we approve it, they should be good up to you all,
but yes, that's the best way.
If we approve it, you have to do as approve it.
Thank you.
Next
up, we have our committee reports.
The first up will be the Recreation Advisory Commission
Report and Councilwoman Barber.
There's the chairperson of that committee,
and she will give us the report.
Thank you, Mayor Franks.
We had a meeting last month, the recreation and rise
recognition, met last month and...
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Councilwoman, I totally forgot.
We have two more people.
Mr. Stubbs, Tony Stubbs.
Thank you, Councilwoman Stubbs.
Good evening, Council members.
Thanks for not getting appreciate that.
I just want to address the city council of pertainence of petition that I'm going for my neighborhood.
I'm getting some resistance, but it's very well-needed.
So I'm going to talk about foot, but I'm going to kick that down.
But I want to speak about that gas.
I don't need to go whatever it is that transportation needs some work.
It seems that though the transportation is only based upon, I guess, city council hours
because I guess from six to seven people work beyond those hours and after seven
clock there's no transportation nowhere for anyone.
So that needs to be rethought and just like, you know, the services for the land field, whatever it is, it's a place where you go dump the trash.
You've got those little cards that certain stores that people can purchase.
But over here, the transit area, that's the only place you can purchase, you know, one of those things for the guests and go.
That would should be the same implement, not only at the DSS, the health department.
Other locations work, it can be provided for other folks, because these, this gas
don't even go service for those cars, it's only there Monday through Friday.
People who need access Monday through, excuse me, I like to curse.
Damn near, you know, seven days a week, but it's only restricted to Monday through Friday.
And there's a very minimal amount of riots here on the Saturday, you know, so that needs
to be reached out to.
And I want to speak about me helping the homeless to, and I appreciate you all honoring
the folks ahead of me.
That's something that's very getting ready to come up front again with the, the, the, the,
the weather getting ready to go.
I could see a lot's being done about this green way the child getting ready to implement.
You spend a lot of money on that.
But be an example, more so.
Just like Charlotte is with the house.
I can't think of the name.
Roof above.
You know, being an example, I see there's a lot of construction here.
Now I'm a new resident here.
I might as well conform to a lot of ways here, but being an example, because there's a lot
of construction being implemented, but there's no implement to help those who are less
housed.
I don't know what's being done when it gets cold.
I wouldn't hear what's driving trucks during all that time, but now I'm here, and I want
to be a part of a change, so that's why I'm trying to adjust the committee about those
issues actually three, but thank you all for giving me the time and hopefully we can come
together to work at these issues because it's
not a ratio issue, a ethnic issue, it's a community
humanity issue and that's what I just want to address.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you, sir.
Next up, Glenn Silver.
Good evening, Mr. Mayor.
City Council.
On a positive note, first of all, my name is Glenn Silverman. I live in Ward 2,
as many of you know, and I want to take a moment to bring something to the public attention
for this evening, first an item of a positive recognition. On Sunday, I was invited to
I'm fortunate to participate in the NAACP branch for the number 5394 breaking bread event as well attended by many of the persons up on the dice this evening.
The reason I wanted to bring this to the public attention tonight is that it was a prime example of a public and private partnership.
And both the city got to utilize or provide some resources from police officer security
and the use of the road of the civilian.
And the public are non-profit organization, the NAACP branch chapter that's here, hosted
the event, as well attended, learned a lot, got to meet a lot of individuals, both in my community
and others across the city of Gastonia, and Gaston County is a whole.
So I see that the President, Sean Bates, showed up tonight.
I didn't want to steal his thunder or anything, but since you didn't sign up to speak,
I'll give you the thumbs up and props for all that.
That kind of good stuff.
The reason I thought I mentioned that is a partnership,
and the other reason that I came out tonight to speak,
is that as I got a copy of the agenda in my email,
is that I did not see anything in the agenda regarding the ongoing works that City Council
and subcommittees should be doing regarding the homeless.
As I talk to my friends and neighbors, all throughout not just Ward 2, but the city
is a whole,
the quest, one of the main concerns, other than of course, development, traffic
and safety issues is regarding homeless.
As many people I talked to, I have found and heard many different opinions from our residents.
What I ask of the City Council tonight is to re-engage and keep on the agenda.
Your work, working towards the partnerships, both public and private, to resolve and work towards a solution for the homeless issues that we have here in the city.
When I was in service, they taught us about leadership.
Leadership is about providing purpose, direction, and motivation.
I ask and charge you all here, and I know this is an election year,
and we've got a couple of months until there may be some changes to the guard.
But these items should not fall off of the agenda between now and then,
so that you can kick it to the curb and just let things go and be someone else's problem.
You all have been elected or selected to serve in these roles.
I ask you to fill your purpose.
Keep your directions moving forward and motivate those around you by being an example for
all of our residents.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Councillor Wong-Warp.
You're welcome.
Okay.
Let's try this again.
Let's try it.
All right.
Thank you.
As I stated, the Recreation Advisory Commission met last month.
Didn't have a really a longer agenda, and we only had one action item.
But I would like to share that I'm meeting open up discussing pick-up all, which we know
it has become very popular here in our community, and we were fortunate to have guests at
meeting last month, who are avid players of pickleball. So our staff is in the process of
Explore options for
You know, creating a more consistent structure and procedure for all of our facilities as it relates to pickleball, so that no matter which facility you go to within a city, whoever is seeking to play pickleball, confying uniformity in what is being done, so just kind of wanted to throw that out more information about that is in your packet.
The one item that we did have for action and it was voting unanimously from the Commission
7 to 0 was about our proposed fee schedule that was presented by staff and again, there
are multiple pages in your packet which outlines the fee schedule so we're proposing going
from a 14-page document to a four-page document
not consolidating those fees.
And in your packet, you'll find that we're looking at changing
or simplifying the athletic fees, standard standard.
Making the shelter interface more standard
as well as the hours, all the inclusive fees
facilities as well as field rentals and adding walk e-read third part into the
free schedule. And I will say since the Irwin Center pull opened last year or
20 that was 2023. So that's been two years since open. I've received a lot of feedback
and I'm sure some of you all have, too, as relates to the fees to get into the pool.
So naturally, when Irma Center pool reopened, the same format for Lumberger pool was implemented
for Irma, which is two sessions, which about three hours of peace, and the cost of $4 per
and that's because Lombur is a highly used pool and people are just accustomed to going to that pool.
So the same format was implemented for early.
So the committee has been discussing really for two years about how we can alleviate the burden of a lot of the parents and the children,
As well as volunteers and people hanging around the pool, you know, kids are constantly asking for money to get into the pool.
So what was decided by the commission was to create an all day pass.
And I understand it's, you know, it's not, it's a $2 difference.
But $2 is better than, you know, nothing.
And again, it's less than $8.
So for child, we'd like to stay in the pool all day,
it's $6 a six-dollar pass versus coming out after paying
for what I was going back to in the pay for it.
So again, and that's because Earl Pool is not as highly
utilized, so they have the capacity to do that compared
to Lomburker.
So that's the only thing that I wanted to point out
that was decided by the Commission.
And hopefully you all have had an opportunity.
And if you have any questions, we do have our staff here
that can answer any questions that you may have
about the peace schedule.
Councilor Warren will jump.
Two more questions.
Yeah, we got questions.
In the last two years, and I'm going to say,
you say, in since 2023, what has been the attendance
at the pool, trying to and after we implement it, you know, before and before, I'm sure
the occupancy, you know, to the things that they have.
Well, actually, and of course, they can give the most specific numbers, because that's
something that we were interested.
So we do know that it is, is we see the more utilization prior to the old, but it's just still
not at the same level as lab program.
Locker will tell all those sessions.
Irwin is fortunately at the time.
We typically can have 50 to 100 kids daily.
Irwin, whereas we have a lot more at Locker.
We sell out the sessions at Locker.
Two dollar reduction.
Because I'm just saying, I'm looking for both sides.
This is our economics.
Really.
It's a portability or a lot of the kids and I know that we say they just want to hang out
But if you really look at, I wonder what they would be hanging out at the pool of the band's streets.
So yes, $2,
how about the hours where if you, how would you look to see $4 for the whole day?
I mean, because we think $2, that's not a lot, but it is.
It really is.
I can tell you this, things right now that it looks like it's only yours, they can
on the court.
And I know we go on into the winner, but we think it at least correctly, really, about
the next summer.
I mean, we're not making a lot of money on kids when they're doing this summer, but we're
there for us to have a consistent base at four dollars, they're blind, they're an
editor when I don't think it's on her.
I think that the reason it's in there is because of the two sessions and two different prices so that multiple kids can swim.
And since if we ever have, if we ever reach capacity, that's why this is in here.
Now, it's up for you to decide if you want to change our fees.
But that's why we have a break in price for all day at Irwin.
No, I trust me, I get it.
And I'm just saying, you know, we can say that, oh, my God, it's for Israel, it's six dollars.
The six dollars for a parent, it's on the baby level, the system, it has three kids.
We're talking about $18 in a day.
And literally, I remember going to the food that's not that they love going to every day.
I'm just looking at this city, it's not going to go broke.
After a lot of the other resources that somebody else has mentioned it.
For us to say, okay, I pass for $4 and I know you've got to be consistent.
Whatever you do over here, you have to do over there.
All I'm saying is that, why don't we do $4?
Because even with us, they don't take cash, right?
I think that they, that wasn't issued a first year, but they did come up with a solution
to be able to accept.
So you do exist.
We have a method to accept cash, yes.
I would suggest $4 instead of $6.
A lot of the payments that really utilize, that they have more than one or two kids.
And I'm just looking at it from an economic standpoint.
We talk about a lot of people that I'm just saying,
it is all about an economic standpoint.
And I think that we help, it's not going to break the city
for us to lower it to $4, especially looking at some of the expenditures
that we pay at the leisure.
And I'm just saying 18 million on the trail,
they're proud of the mountain.
We talked about keys and we talked about the summer and we'd be in proactive, I'm saying economically, I've had a lot of people at my board that you say $6 and it may not sound like a lot, but it is because they have more than two and three keys.
I think that we can handle $4 being the rate at Labyrinth or just be consistent, but I would ask for it to be reduced to four.
Well, I think the, and I, I hear it, you know, what you're saying. I think the issue is,
you want about fairness between my burger and Irwin. So making a difference for Irwin,
and that's, you know, we could have, we had a lengthy discussion about this.
And so that's when we came up, the committee came up with the $6.
But again, I know you mentioned about because we couldn't, right, we wouldn't be able to do a $4 situation at Lumber because, again,
then that would mean there would be children and families who would not be able to enjoy the pool because if you pay for it all at the beginning,
they're going to stay in the whole time.
So it doesn't allow for a new group of people to be able to get in.
So you're definitely going to, you know, at Lombard, you're going to even pretty much have that in place
because it's going to max out two sessions for dollars each.
Right. And I'm looking at kids, but it's not going to get this one.
So I would rather max out, let kids, for dollars all up, we can do it.
But we have a lot of kids that's not even going to get to because of that too long.
That's all I'm saying is that.
I'm not questioning that, I'm just hungry, I'm making sure I'm under sugar, I don't.
I can still do a half day before dollars.
They can do a half day before dollars.
We're giving them the opportunity to play two more dollars to stay done.
Oh, day.
To stay in the whole day.
They still afford our price.
Yes.
That's what I want to make.
Make sure I understand.
Yeah, I can still afford ours.
Councilman, Consentious.
I have another question on not the pool, really.
If you want to stay on the pool.
Well, if I'm hearing you correctly, Councilwoman is that they're saving $2.
Because if they go, and it's kind of a, even at Irwin is the same as Lomburger.
Irwin is underutilized, so this could be more utilization for them.
But if line burger is over-utilized, if we don't do an increase, it's going to keep kids from going,
because like you said, if they pay $4 without the $2 increase, then that child that hits their,
I'm just gonna say eight o'clock in the morning, I don't know what time it up.
But at eight o'clock in the morning, they can stay there literally all day for four bucks.
And then the $2 is just going to kind of differentiate whether that parent wants their child staying there half a day or for all day.
I'm going to add to it.
I think that we looking at this is just one dimensional.
But when we look at youth violence prevention, let me tell you, these kids that are at Irwin or at Lion Burger,
I would rather for all of them to stay there and let's max out than I don't mind as the devil's workshop for them to be in the community.
It's a two-fold thing.
It is this is an opportunity for kids to come and they fellowship and they would day friends.
And I'm looking at it. The money, honestly, is not going to break the city.
So, if we have a chance to take more kids off the street and allow them, I'm just saying
financially, and I know we're looking at both.
I will still wrap up max out that kids, you realize line burger, and more kids get to
be over here at Irwin Center, it's because we've had influx in some crime, and I just
look at it.
It's really crime prevention as well, okay?
So, I'm just saying, let's not look at it as just one way, it's economics and it has to do with juvenile crime.
If you know where they are and they have in fun and we can reduce it and less max out, kids doing something positive,
let's do it because it's not going to break.
Yes.
I don't think anyone, I don't think anyone would disagree with that.
And clearly understand it exactly where you're coming from.
I think it was just about the fairness, because you have to consider both pools, and, again,
it is a little cheaper, and I believe that was basically the rationale of the committee.
They're looking at both pools and again saying, okay, because we don't have those complaints
with live where we don't have people complaining that, okay, they get out after paying
a $4, didn't they got the pay for lots to get back?
They don't have those issues because both sessions are so down.
But at Earlwyn, there are children who look like an opportunity to stay all day.
So, as opposed to them having the pay, $4 to get back in, they're only having to get the
$2 or to pay the $6 to be able to stay in all day.
I think it was just the committee looking at both parks, both pools, both situations, and deciding
what's fair, you know, overall for both.
And I get it, and I'm just looking at it, it's not affordable.
I'm just going to say it, because some parents, and I know we're saying it was only $2, let me tell you
dollars go a long way. And I'm just saying that $4 across the board, everybody can max out
and guess what some more children are going to be able to stay away from the Delva's workshop.
Staying out, luxury is pooled that we have over there in the splash park and it's maxed out
on both ends. But we're really talking about just money that to be honest with you, we ain't going
Yes, based on all of the money that we spend in, and I know I'm being stuck in.
But I would rather invest in some children, make it $4 over here and $4 over there, and
let kids just have a wonderful summer, because there's a lot of people that's not going
to be able to afford that extra, too.
Okay, we're going to move on, I'm going to ask you a question.
Councilman, excuse me, just one suggestion, because I'm looking at the last page that has everything
summarized. The session for the pool is two and a half hours correct. Yes. Is it possible? Just
I include that in this, because this is what's going to be posted on the website or that way it's clear, where it just is swimming pools,
Lomburga Park and Irwin Center, but says the first session, whether there's no detail.
We can put the session tops.
And then I just wanted to say thank you very much for putting this kind of cleaning it up, condensing it, because before it was pages and pages and pages,
And I know you made a lot of comparisons to some of the other municipalities, and it seems to match up.
So this helps a lot because, you know, as a parent, you want to sound up, you look here.
Okay, boom, this is what it's going to cost.
So that helps tremendously.
I do have one question.
Can you just quickly, in a minute, just explain the difference.
And I get the individual registration.
You have a sound that you want to play to evolve.
This is a price city, non city.
Can you explain the team part of it, is it me as a coach getting 10 kids together that are amazing at baseball and bringing them to Gastonia and plan and paying that fee or just explain that part of it?
I'm a let Ryan step up and talk about that real quick.
So, generally we don't allow, we don't have open leeks, but there are occasions in which we do.
And so this fee schedule is designed to be able to cover that should we run into a scenario where we have that.
But the team registration would be a situation, for example, our 13 to 18-year-old basketball age divisions are open leagues in which people are allowed to come together.
Now, in our lower leagues, we do a draft to try to keep teams even and play equitable.
But should we run into that event, this fee schedule covers that?
Okay.
So you just put it in your just in case.
You got to correct.
Thank you.
Now I have a question that just, when council would get CBS to ask, because I mean,
this is over 50 years ago, and they in myself, because we used to write our bikes to line
burner from South Gaston, so the full is only up to two and a half hours in the morning
and two and a half hours in the afternoon.
That's right.
we have we have daycare before we open and then we have a session and then we have another
session and then you can rent it after hours for a party.
So when you say daycare, that's for citizens.
We open it up for different daycare throughout the city.
Oh, daycare.
Daycare.
That's just like the boys and girls club, they utilize early on pools so they have their
Okay, so we're not utilizing it just five hours a day.
It's broke out.
Okay.
Thank you.
I got a question to add to that.
So when the day cares are there, no one but kids can come.
No, because in the morning we do lessons with the day care.
So we're teaching them how to swim safety.
So what time is that?
I think that starts at 10.
So, I'm just thinking, I'm going to be honest with you, I had no idea until Councilman
Soup said it, but you got kids right and walking, I want to get there, or 30 minutes
to get there, and they paying for dollars for two and a half, I mean, I just can't believe
that it's only two and a half hours, I mean, because you know, I'm just saying, I'm way
back in the day. And you know, kids, they all, they long. But all I'm saying is that
they cares operate earlier. Why punish your regular citizens? Let the day care since
their kids get there early to get there a little early at nine o'clock. Maybe to do some lessons
but let regular children who are out of school get more time. Because they've walking a distance
to ride and bikes and for somebody to even pay $4 for $2.5, I was, that don't even, one of
the challenges and, you know, we could remember some years ago, well, and this has been
recent, one of the challenges is a lifeguard.
So we struggle with getting lifeguards to cover the pools.
So that's another issue when you're talking about extending time, we already struggle to get
light-garced to cover the times that we are open for both, for both clues.
So, on this issue of the problems, I want to take a little brief, the action item for this
committee report is that we adopt the Steve Schedule as proposed.
proposed yes and that would include because in the in the in the fee schedule it still shows
or reflects the old policy for Irwin and what we're proposing or what the committee is putting
forth is as opposed to $4 per session it would be $4 you know for the first step but if a child chooses
or if someone chooses to be there all day is a six dollar pass.
That's what's being proposed.
And the way I look at that is they're saving two dollars.
Because if they wanted to do both sessions, the way it has been.
I mean, we can discuss this till the cows come home.
At this point, would you like to make this in a formable motion?
Sure, so I move that we approve the new fee schedule that's been presented, which includes
with the change of as opposed to two for dollar sessions for Earl when we have a for
dollar session or a choice of a six dollar all day passed, that's what's been brought forth from the committee.
But that's in conjunction with everything else that's in all of the time.
The entire, yes, the entire fee schedule.
Oh, no.
We have a lot of questions, hang on, hang on.
We have a motion to have a second that we'll have some discussion.
And this is effective January 1st, 26.
Now, would you have a problem, Councilwoman, in the recreation committee, that if we
sought some contributions from local businesses and churches,
towards, you know, like some scholarships.
Well, that's what's been done in the past,
that Irwin has so that Neil helped alleviate for the kids
who can afford it.
There'll be some money there that can help.
That has been done in the past.
Thank you.
So, in the other discussion, my discussion is,
so there is something different at Irwin than it is at
So Lambert was not going off for that $2.
No.
Okay, so my point exactly.
It's not going to be a principle.
So there, we'll, that's not consistency.
Correct.
We're not doing business assistance.
It's going to be $4 for both sessions.
Or we can drop it.
That's all I'm saying.
This is just, this comes from the committee.
Right.
I know I understand.
I would rather for the committee because what we're saying
that I asked for last year, they said no, whatever you do over at Lamberga, you got to do over at Earl Wilson, but that's not what we, that's not this motion.
Well, that's because again, more discussion has come forth, this was presented.
I received feedback again this year, presented that feedback in the meeting, and this was the conversation that the committee had and this is what the committee recommended.
a six dollar pass as opposed to requiring people to pay another $4.
And the kids at Earl were going to save two bucks.
We're going to stay there all the time.
Instead of paying eight, they're going to be paying six.
But I'm just saying, we save that so they're going to save two.
I'm talking about folks that cannot afford.
So if we're not going to be consistent with both of them,
why don't we just make it four dollars at Earl?
We can continue to discuss, we're all, we're all coming back to the same thing.
Let me clarify something with our Parks and Rec director and Councilman Barker.
So in this thing, the motion that you just made, we're keeping it at $4 per session at Lumber.
And we need to do that because if we did it for $6, we know that that would increase in children
would not be having access to line burger because they would say, oh, I can stay all day for $6 instead of $8.
And by doing it for $6 for all day at Irwin Center that gives us the opportunity to utilize and increase the participation at Irwin Center.
And then there's also for the kids who do not have money, there is a system in place to help those with that $2.
Okay.
I think we opened up a can of worms because if I'm a parent and I take my kids over there,
I'm asking for my child to stay over here for $6 because we're not being consistent.
And that right there is so important. I'm telling you.
within, then, no, I'm just going to have to stay as it is.
Yeah, I would stay as it is.
No, but at least they can, you take it back to your committee and just say, if we're
not going to be consistent, it's easy for us just to say, those kids over here can afford,
let it be $4 all day long.
And you know what, let's keep the same thing over here at Lambergapark.
But as people listening to us, you've got to believe some parents going to come over
to Lambert Gapark and say hi on whatever y'all doing over there y'all got to do it here. So we set
my sales up again this was discussion from the committee and this is what they're proposing.
No no I understand that but I'm saying don't you think we set my sales up if we're not
going to be consistent on whatever we do over here we must do over here we set my sales up for
You know some parents are going to challenge that.
And they're going to be, because it's been challenged
because people at Irwin is already been challenged
when it's been challenged in a different way.
Because you have people at Irwin that are patrons of Irwin
that are complaining about paying $4 for each session.
So because of those complaints, and because we
taking the committee was taken into consideration that there are children who may not be able
to afford $8. The discussion and the compromise was $6. They can choose, they can still
do $4. For one session, or they could choose to do all day past $4.6.
And that way, there's
some it up, but just to make sure so the people that are listening to us and the parents that are out there, there is a mechanism to help alleviate the cost, correct.
Okay, so that's, I mean, I'll donate a couple of months.
And that's what has happened in the past.
There's a, there's a, there's a problem.
No, Irwin, Irwin Center, community members have stepped up and contributed.
Because we don't have a problem at Irwin.
I mean, I've never heard of it.
I mean, I'm, yeah, I've never heard of it.
So we have a call to question.
We have a motion on the floor.
We have a second, all those in favor of the opposed.
No amendments to it, all those in favor.
All those opposed.
Moving on.
Okay, thank you, Mayor Franks.
And then, of course, I left item just was announcements from
Christine about upcoming events, and which was just presented
for information, only in that concludes my report.
Thank you, ma'am.
Next up, we'll have the public safety committee report,
and that'll be Councilor Galifon.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, appreciate that.
We had several items that came up.
And one of the items that we did vote on was for the proposed ordinance
to amend the sidewalk dining standards to clarify the rights of committees and the public
inside-wall dining during operation hours and the committee field of some questions at
all.
If you'd like to see the ordinance, it is on page 4.
So it is there for you to read.
I like to make a motion that we accept the ordinance that was presented by our lawyer, Erx.
And we have a motion, can we have a second, have a second about councilwoman's step, and we'll have the discussion.
The describe with this is like a new downtown and you walk in and I'm just saying, can you make this come a lot?
Can you describe what it is?
Would you like to do it?
So there was uncertainty about who has the right to enforce restrictions to who can be in a privately permanent dining area on city property.
kind of found to a gray area where people didn't know if the restaurant couldn't force, who could be there or the city itself had to do that.
So this clarifies that when a restaurant has a permanent outdoor dining area, they can, while they are open and using the space.
Restrict you can be there based on, usually where this came up was, based on people's behavior.
Someone's behaving in a disruptive fashion they can be asked to leave.
Are they going to have their, what do you call it, the stance, the distance, the extensions there?
I think Councilman Kasupius asked about that, but we did not get into that as a change in this ordinance.
Well, I-
I mean, they wouldn't have to have stances because we have a downtown drinking district, correct?
As long as the bar is participating in the downtown drinking district, I probably need to be a little more politically correct, but downtown drinking district.
social district, they can, as long as they have the clear club clear cup and the sticker
on it, they can walk anywhere, but if they don't participate, wouldn't they have to have the
stanchions?
We need to look into that, because since we weren't proposing to add anything regarding
separations between that or downing area, if we didn't look at that as an issue for this
But that's just we can certainly find out the answer to that question.
Because I mean I know by the liquor laws if you're going to expand past your footprint
you have to do a diagram and show it in all that.
But do we have any restaurant slash bars downtown that aren't part of the social distance?
It's Peter Will and who else.
I think Peter Will's in it.
I think the science started.
Peter Will is outside of it.
Well, no, it goes all the way to the ballpark.
But they still decide if they want to participate,
and some of them decided not to participate.
So why is the social district, some of the restaurants in water
did not choose to participate?
You don't automatically, you have to, like,
One of the people in the post-media.
Exactly.
Well, I was going to say, if they're not in that social district
conglomerate, then they should have to have
stanchions in a perimeter and all.
Or an ABC law unless it's changed.
And that's why we wouldn't put it in our ordinances,
because it'd be depletive of something that's already
required by ABC law, but that's correct.
And so they have to sign their building
if they're going to participate in the social district
and do a number of other things, so not all of them do.
But I'm going to say this came to my attention from two local business, and what we're talking about was not even a part of the conversation.
And nothing to do with alcohol.
It had something to do with homeless people, okay?
And it had nothing to do with drinking.
It was some people that were on
seeing sidewalk property legally.
And they were standing in front of the building.
It was more like they were being seen as maybe a threat.
So the business on recall the police,
but when the police got there, the police told them,
look, this is city sidewalk.
They are allowed to be on city sidewalk.
This is how this came to us.
Yeah, but this is just for the restaurants that are going to be dining outside and giving
them credence on what needs to be done, because you don't want somebody just walking
up to the area that you're going to be eating and just standing there staring at you and
your food.
I don't think that's very rude.
I mean, I think that's why this is in play, but I think most cities that haven't
this ordinance, do that type of thing.
We don't have it right now.
I haven't seen any outdoor dining so far.
No, where I know where this is, and I would suggest,
they, I would say that they would need those sources,
because to say that you got all of this,
you cross and over, really into people's right
to just be walking on the sidewalk.
Because this right here is very vague.
But if they're going to have alcohol, like the mayor would say, they're going to have to have
staunches, like you're saying, because the ABC law comes in the play.
No, they don't.
And I'm telling you, the two businesses that I'm talking about, they have ABC permits.
And nobody has no staunches out there.
Nobody.
Well, let me, let me rephrase a question to the attorney, man.
I don't know if any restaurant downtown that has outside the dining right now.
There you go.
I think it would be advantageous and more alluring to some of these businesses to have outdoor
seating.
Do we have any ordinances in place that address?
If I'm here incorrectly, we don't have anything that addresses outdoor dining.
We do.
We have a specific permit and so the ordinance that you're looking at here only applies with
permanent areas. I'm trying to have to name the specific business, but there is one very close
to City Hall across the street that does have some outdoor tables. I believe that's where
this came up. The answer to your question about what somebody not know that they shouldn't be in
the area is that the phrasing of this ordinance is that they have to remain in an area that they're
not permitted to be in. They have to be asked first to leave the area and then choose not to.
So that would be the protection against them unawares being in the area and then running
a fall of this ordinance.
And then that gives the police the authorization to ask somebody to move on down the road.
Correct.
Councilman Qsupius.
Yes.
Thank you.
Eric.
I think a lot of the questions about whether it needs to be a designated area or not apply to the
permit and process when a business comes and asks for the permit to allow the outdoor seating
correct.
So, some of those details could be ironed out in the permit process, and then this is just
to allow police to enforce if someone is just there hanging out during a normal operating
business hours.
Yeah, that's correct.
And there's a whole, if you all want to engage in the policy decision of whether you want
to reframe your outdoor dining ordinance to require vericates outlining where it is, you can
do so.
I mean, there are public policy considerations that you'd have to work through in that conversation,
and, like, do you want to eat up more of the public right of way by requiring those, but that's
again not the question that was in front of us for this ordinance.
Well, we have a, did you make that in front of a motion council?
Didn't.
Can we second this?
Is there any other discussion having here none?
All those in favor?
Gene Adams.
Okay, Mr. Mayor, the next one that we voted on for the public safety committee meeting was with
of Burton. She presented resolution to upgrade record rotation agreement to include updated
maximum pricing terms, better safety requirements such as increase insurance minimums,
separate storage requirements for electric and hybrid vehicles, and optimal separate storage
for commercial motor vehicles, and Laura's here.
She could feel questions as well, if you have any.
This ordinance should be on page eight, if you'd like to look at it.
Thank you for doing this.
I get maybe the calls complaining about getting total bills
will look less and a little.
So do you want to make that in a form of emotion count?
I do make it in a form of emotion.
We have a second.
I have a second.
My councilman, Consubius, now will have discussion.
Can you explain it?
Can you just splash it out what it is?
Sure.
So this is the agreement that the towing companies have to abide by when police call towers.
When police call tow trucks to an accident seen or whatever else has occurred out there.
And we need to remove vehicles from the roadway.
So we have a number of companies that are on what we call the rotation list,
and for them to sign up to get our business, they have to agree to these things.
And the last time we updated this was 2019.
So some things have changed, pricing got up a little and some things that we've improved with safety
requirements. Those are things being incorporated into this new agreement that we would propose
using going forward.
under this agreement, just question, because this came up in a discussion today, when
the record company chose the vehicle, the person who owns that vehicle can charge the
record company rentals like it's a rental, it's a new law under North Carolina statutes.
They are that car that sits on the record every day.
It's the rental.
It's some new law that you told my car to your pound.
I can charge you per day.
Can you just check with that Eric?
I'm just, I just saw it today.
I'm not heard of that, but we'll check.
There was a, I know in Laura will know more about this as well.
but there were several record laws that were proposed
in the last session.
Many of them did not actually end up going through it.
Yeah, I don't think it's that easy.
I do have one question.
In all the new rules, can we find the companies
that don't clean up the wrecks very well?
So when you run over a broken piece of something,
your tower goes flat?
that is not specifically covered in this contract. In fact, we allow them to charge
forclean up, but I would say that that might be covered by something, some other
ordinance about leaving something in the public right of way that we may be able
to find them for. If we knew that they did it, or obstructing a sidewalk or something like that.
He just in the affirmative that that was the only question I'd have is because that I can speak from experience two weeks ago
Flat tower
So we have a motion. We have a second any more discussion
Have you none all those in favor?
unanimous
Great. Thank you. Thank you
Lord appreciate it and Mr. Mayor the last thing I just want to say about the committee meeting
We have the real-time crime center in play and looks fantastic.
I think everybody's gone through a little tour there.
So I just wanted to say that is the end of our public safety committee meeting.
And I appreciate it and kind of did a great job.
Thank you, sir.
And if you haven't seen it to the general public.
Chief, is the public allowed to come down in that little committee room for a common area
and look through the glasses if they want to.
Okay.
I like this one.
Yeah.
I like this one.
That's right.
If they join the Citizens Academy,
it is phenomenal.
Next up, we'll have our personnel committee report by Councilwoman Donio Barber.
The
personnel committee met again a couple of weeks ago, and this is in reference to our
evaluation for our city manager. We met back during the summertime, and during that meeting,
we
interviewed the committee interviewed developmental associates
about their services that they provide for evaluating city managers as well as they discuss
their programs and their services for evaluating city attorneys as well.
At that meeting we decided to solicit other proposals so that we could be able to choose
from other or be able to make a more informed decision.
So we sought out four different agencies,
and we received two because the other two just didn't have
the capacity to be able to even accept even if this is the
direction we wanted to go.
They didn't have the capacity to complete the evaluation.
So, we met a couple of weeks ago and we interviewed the committee, interviewed a different organization, which we're familiar with, we became familiar with them when we were seeking our city attorney and that was Baker Tilley.
So, the committee voted to recommend that Council utilized the facilitator review process for the manager's evaluation.
as you all know, this should have happened in the spring which we all have discussed and know
that is a very difficult time. And now we have our city attorney that came on in the spring
as well. So there was some discussion with the personal committee that we wanted to be able
to have a different date to evaluate our manager anyway. So this was an opportunity to
to reset that process and be able to evaluate our manager in the file.
So this is something new for us with the City of Gastonia in the past.
We have not utilized an outside organization, consulting organization
to conduct our evaluation.
And I don't know about anyone else, but I have always founded, unsettling, and that's the word I use, the process that we use to evaluate our manager.
Because basically you have the manager's direct reports,
facilitating.
The process, which I wouldn't want to be in that, if I was there, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes to have to facilitate that process.
And we certainly don't want a manager, you know, that certainly is a conflict. And in my opinion, and that's just my opinion, direct reports, typically direct reports do not facilitate their managers evaluations.
And so we put in force this option to utilize a facilitator review process, which I've learned
a lot, exploring this option, one to assure accountability of our manager, making sure that
all voices are heard.
you know, in terms of council members, all voices I heard in a very structure and form a way
I voices I heard in terms of our expectations for our manager. Every year, our manager says,
and I won't quote because I know won't get it exactly right, but every year he says,
is, you know, it's a challenge because there are seven of us.
So he has seven different people, seven different, you know, ideas, thoughts, processes coming
at him a lot of times all at the same time.
So this, this will provide a more structured way of even receiving feedback from council.
Um, again, in a more structured way that is not only relate to our manager in a, in a
verbal capacity, but also in a written capacity.
So it ends in a formal report, so that again, it's clear what our expectations are, it's clear
to our manager.
It's even clear to us because it is in a written form.
So what is coming before you today is, again, the recommendation that council utilize a facilitated
review process for our manager's evaluation as opposed to
relying on his direct report as well as us as council members to try to
facilitate this process.
And that's the only action.
Are you making that a form of motion?
I'm making it in a form of a motion.
Do we have a second?
Second.
I have a second.
By Councilman Gallagher.
We'll have discussion now.
I think it's going to give us a new perspective.
You know, I mean, we've been doing the same way for so long, it's just we need some in terms of seeing how other cities do this and hopefully we can do it in a different manner on how to evaluate the city manager.
And I think it's going to give everybody an opportunity to speak and be heard.
I just think that the person who's going to lead it would provide us that sensibility.
And they'll be able to say, you know, this is what these cities have done, this is what, you know, we can do here.
Now, are they going to be able to get in contact with us prior and offer different ways on how to do this?
comparing our process to the process that is being offered to us, what I've discovered
is there should be about four different steps to complete this process to get a more comprehensive
and more thorough evaluation of the manager.
So is that prior to meeting us meeting?
Yes, yes, yes, so it would, that's like the last step.
So based on my exploration, it seems that of four critical steps, we're only utilizing one step.
And that's the implementation and the reporting piece.
Other pieces that we're missing is the planning and the design and development,
which is what you're speaking to, which is the feedback from us, you know,
us individually being interviewed and being able to provide that feedback.
And then of course ultimately delivering the performance data
facilitation so that someone is actually facilitating that process.
I think it's going to give us a better perspective.
Thank you.
Councilwoman.
Little John.
Or Mr. Stark.
Councilwoman, still.
Okay, I guess.
I guess I need a better explanation of what we've been doing.
What's going to be, can you explain more detail about what's going to be different
about the process we've been using for decades to this, you know, you said four steps, but
how's it going to be?
So typically, as you know, we receive a survey, and we complete this survey,
which, you
know, is a struggle sometimes in front meeting that deadline to submit the survey, and
staff has to get on to us and remind us repeatedly to turn in the information with this process.
It's more of a 101 situation where we would individually be contacted in an interview by the evaluator.
So, about the firm that would be conducting the facilitating, the facilitators, what I mean to say.
So, we would individually have the opportunity to give that feedback, complete surveys,
but it'd be more tailored as opposed to being more standard to what would be in being more tailored.
In the past, I managed to always submit his accomplishments that would continue to be part of the process.
But that would be one of the ways that that would be different.
The proposal also included the opportunity to
conduct interviews with department heads and to be able to get their feedback.
So that would be another different component
compared to what we have done in the past.
So that was several different differences
in compared to what we've done in the past.
And then again, we walk away, in the past,
we walk away, we convey what our expectations are
and our manager is writing it all down.
But we don't have anything written to say, hey,
This is what we've agreed upon as to our expectations of what we expect to see, you know, until the next evaluation.
But in the end, we're all still in the same room.
Absolutely.
Don't over that information.
And talking about how it occludes.
It concludes with that.
Well, that's the final step is, of course, that written report.
What comes out of that, I mean.
Yes, we will continue to conclude with that meeting all in the same room and it would be a facilitated discussion.
That's California, a little job.
Well, mine is in the last 25 years, and I hope that Dr. Kerlin is not here.
That you all have used a system and so basically now, like the system was not working for you.
All I'm saying is that if I ask, and I know this is tonight, but Eric, the template that we
use to evaluate, because you're talking about the body that hires, does not evaluate.
I've been a part of many corporations, and you know, no, I'm just saying, no, I'm just,
Let me finish.
Okay.
Is that who hires the manager?
No, I'm just saying, we all know who hires the manager.
No, I'm just saying, I won't educate the public.
We hired the manager, but now we don't evaluate them.
That's who said we're not evaluate them.
No, we are looking to bring it outside to facilitate the salotating manager.
Don't talk.
Hey, wait.
When are you going to talk over each other?
Right.
And I want to clarify that.
Correct information.
So let me clarify.
Okay.
So we don't need outside facilitator to do what we've been doing because it's been working.
And now we're going to, again, now we just spoke about $2 and $4 and how much is this facilitator.
Now that's extra money.
We have never had to pay.
Okay, so now it's been going well, you've been on the council, you all have done a great job in evaluating.
So all I'm saying is that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
So if we're facilitating any evaluating, that is what corporate does when you hire somebody of this magnitude to run this entire city,
We can have a rubric that is weighted on the natural stewardship, strategic plan, execution, operations.
I mean, all of the departments, we need to talk to his direct reports.
Then we have those surveys that go out because it's about culture, it's about climate, and it's about all of the execution.
This body has done it for the last 25 years, and I'm gonna say this.
Yeah, I'll complain about it, but don't fail.
I love saying that.
I don't know.
I'm just asking.
And it has been difficult at times, but nobody said it's not.
It didn't cost us anything.
There you go.
So why you realized taxpayer dollars to do something that we've been doing?
And it's been working for us.
And now we, I don't know, 15, $16,000.
What that 15, 16,000 dollars can help a whole lot of kids swim.
It's the best asking other people in the community to write their hard earned money to help children.
And we got a city owned pool.
And now we're saying that what we have done for the last 25.
And I don't know Dr. Kirlen has been on this.
And Y'all have done a great job.
And it's been difficult, but guess what?
What do we all say?
This job right here, it is for us to be difficult
because he's the number one or she would be
the number one person in charge of this city
and it has been going well.
So why would we waste taxpayer dollars
and we in a climate right now of dollars this time
and we need to be fiscally conservative?
Yeah, but I don't think you understand the perspective
that you can gain for not just the one time
You can carry it forward.
You don't have to keep using them.
You can learn about how they do the processes
at other cities and utilize that in the future.
You'll get a different perspective.
Right now, I think using the same perspective,
it's almost like saying what Councilman Barber was saying
that they actually interview the direct reports to Michael.
And we would get information from them right now.
We don't have that kind of information.
But we don't even have what questions do you even ask?
This is a perspective that we're going to,
it's a professional organization that knows what they're doing.
They've done it in the past.
And it's something that we can gain in clean from.
That's what it's about.
I don't think it's something like,
oh, we're going to do this over the next every year.
We can do it for this year and then see what we can gain from it.
So we can use it for the following year.
I'm just saying that.
That's what I'm saying.
Yeah, it is 15, $15,000.
But in reality, it's something that's going to give us a good
perspective on how to move forward and help and make sure
everybody, not just here, but even the direct reports will
have input into this.
And that's something that's been missing.
Let's go to Councilman Kasupius and we'll come back.
Council on the little John. No question. No question.
Yes. Council on the little John.
So, so mine is this.
Jim, you worked for Wells Fargo.
Yes.
Council on the Gallagher.
I'm sorry.
Forgive me.
CEO, hires you or your VP.
Do they bring it outside agency to evaluate you?
They bring it outside agency to evaluate the CEO.
the CEO. The person's in charge of the organization. Yes. Okay, so let me ask you. Thank you for answering that. Have we been doing it successfully?
I'm just saying that we can learn more if we go a new route. I think it's going to help everybody on this board to see how, you know, the importance and to learn from another way. Right now, I think we're at that point.
No, I'm just, we definitely have a good, definitely.
The way we've been doing it is working, and it's been free.
And we're fiscal conservatives, correct?
So I'm going to say that the way we've been doing it works,
if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Because now you're saying for us to try something,
and that's in it has a $12,000 ram application,
and you all have been doing a great job in the last years,
Dr. Carolyn has been on this council, they have been doing this since I'm going to take it in the last 25 years.
But Dr. Carolyn did vote to bring this forward.
I understand that. That doesn't mean it's right. I've just had fiscal income start that we waste and tax pay of dollars because it has been working fine.
The way it's been done.
Yeah, but as you said, how does Wells Fargo pick a CEO?
Michael would be the CEO of this organization here.
Well, it's Fargo because they get better.
Because, but you ask, and that's how they do it.
They bring in an outside-
And they interviewed the board, and they also interviewed the people that have been selected.
That's how they do it.
That was the bad question.
No, that's not a bad question. That's a accurate question.
No, that's their process. That was their process.
Our process has never been like that.
So I'm saying, I apologize because we can learn.
I'm saying, let's save money.
I'm just saying, let's save money.
I'm going to put my, I'm on the personnel committee and I voted to bring this forward because
everybody knows that I think everybody should have the right to speak. It shouldn't be made
clear.
Me personally,
I'm not forced spending $12,000 because it's taxpayer's money because as the
I know how to evaluate people.
Last year was my first time evaluating in the system that we have.
The Rubik was pretty good.
And everything that I have seen from the presentations from Baker Tillis
and I can't remember the other one.
Council of Associates.
Yeah, developmental associates.
It's great organizations, but from my background, I don't need anybody to explain to me
how to do my job.
The people elected everybody on this diet, and to do the job of being fiduciary, responsibility,
the ability, main concern is the budget, second concern is management.
Like I said, I voted to bring this forward.
I'm not for having an outside source because the people entrusted us to run the city
and I agree with some of the things that Councilman Gallagher said.
I agree with a lot of things that Councilwoman Little John said.
But everything that these companies have proposed to us,
we could do internally the seven of us,
and not have to spend $12, $13,000.
So at this point, ma'am would you like to make this
in the form of emotion?
She already has, and we have a second.
I don't like to, do we have a second?
We do.
Yeah, Jim said.
I would like to entertain because, oh, I have here,
I'm not on this committee.
Oh, let me.
I'm not on this committee.
I'll have here or some notes.
I would like before I make a decision
to have the presentation that you guys got from the two companies
so that we could have more information.
I don't know if like I can make a decision.
I have really educated decision with the amount of information I have here.
I don't know if it was a miscommunication or not in I'm meeting,
but we talked about having
really before council in the committee deciding, ultimately, if they wanted to move forward with it.
And then we talked about sitting in this information and they never thought it's so, so we're going to entertain them to table if we get this information.
Ma'am, I would love to have an opportunity to sit down and talk to some people about different properties, yeah.
It would be a breakdown of communication and it was not sent to everyone, but we can't get it sent to sit down together.
Of course, whatever you want to antiquate it to be honest with you.
Would you like to pull your motion?
or table your motion, not necessarily pull it, but we need to, we need to either have it,
what's the correct term pull it or withdraw?
With withdraw the motion, then a motion to table the discussion.
Yes, so I will withdraw the motion.
And then you're making a motion to table it or continue it to a date certain, so you could either
pause it or set which council meeting you wanted to come back to you at.
So we'll pick in the next agenda.
We have a motion, a second, the amended motion, a motion.
Motion and all those in favor.
Or we're going to have a discussion.
I want to add something since we'm on table.
Can you bring forth attorney, Eric?
The last, I must say it's Jim,
It's been only at the tool that was used in the last couple.
So we have that information, but we also have the information now.
What we utilized for the last four or five city managers that we, because obviously it was working.
Okay, we can get that.
But that doesn't pertain to this.
Yeah.
I'm just asking email that.
Yeah.
That doesn't pertain to this.
No, yeah.
I'm just saying.
But yeah.
I'm just saying.
We have a motion, we have a second, we have information we need to get from city attorney, all those in favor of the motion that's presented.
We have to table it.
That's what I'm saying.
That motion.
It's unanimous.
So that concludes my report.
Thank you, man.
Moving on.
Next we have our consent agenda.
There are seven items on the consent agenda this evening.
Are there any questions regarding the consent agenda?
Mr. Mayor, I like to make a motion that we accept the consent agenda as presented.
We have a motion, can I have a second?
Second, we have a second by Councilwoman Barber and any discussion?
Consent agenda,
oh yeah,
Councilwoman Little John was just asking a question about I7 whether
they had sent out bids and that is our standard policy to have three bids before a contract
is awarded correct.
So, that was the beginning, so now, right?
For that amount, it would have been put out a bit now.
Now, how many responses I don't know.
It looks like it's five.
Okay.
So, having no other questions or discussion,
all those in favor?
Two Names.
Next up is our regular agenda.
On the regular agenda tonight, we have four items on the agenda.
Regular agenda.
The first one is a public hearing.
And a consideration of a resolution to close
Browcliffe Drive, an unopened street,
which lies between Laurel Lane and Doe Street.
And our presenter will be our city attorney, Eric Ederton.
And now open the public hearing.
Thank you, Mayor.
The materials that you have will include a map showing
the location of the unopened right away to be closed.
The only thing I'll flag for you here is that you recently or relatively recently closed
an unopened right of way across from this current section of unopened right of way.
As always, we've circulated this request to all of our departments to see if anybody had
concerns about either potential connectivity issues or public safety, and we did not receive
any objection or opposition from city departments?
Councilman Gallagher?
Eric, do we know what this guy's going to do?
So you get a build houses or townhouses there?
Do we know?
I don't know the specifics of the development,
but what I do know is that it is the same developer who owns
each parcel on either side of the unopened right away.
But I don't know if he has submitted any plans and in fact,
I doubt he would have if this right away hasn't been closed yet,
like they didn't even say. Thank you sir.
On this piece of property, I know somewhere in this area
there was a, it went for zoning for town homes. Is there a parcel that's close?
They're real nice. Yeah. Not on moral length. On moral length. I know those that are there,
but there was another piece of property, and I'm just trying to figure out if this is that piece of property.
It may be the, if you're looking at the map, if you have the map in front of you,
where our cliff drive is the right of where you're looking at closing now,
I don't know if the closure for a prior cliff circle,
which is across the street, may have been the other development that you've discussed,
but you did close the right of where you'd march immediately across from this one.
Okay, now that I see this other map, I don't think that is the partial that I've seen.
Any other discussion?
So, at that point, can I have a motion to approve this?
So moved.
You have to make a much surface, it's not a problem here.
Oh, that's right.
Can I make a motion?
Yeah.
Oh, it's right here.
Hold on.
We've got to make a motion to close public hearing and approve the resolution to close
by a curved drive and an open street which lies between Laurel Lane and Dewey Street.
We have a motion.
Can I have a second?
We have a second by councilwoman, step, all those in favor.
unanimous public hearing is closed.
And just so the public knows on all three items that we have on public hearings, there were nobody was signed up to speak.
Next up, we'll have item J2.
It is a public hearing of the Unified Development Ordnance Amendment, file number,
2-0-2-5-0-0-3-5-4.
Subject hearing involves a request to amend section 2.7 terms defined in this ordinance and chapter 13 subdivisions of the unified development ordinance to update definitions for compliance with North Carolina general statutes and clarify language as it pertains to compliance with the comprehensive transportation plan the CTP and our presenter is Mr. Joe Gates. He is our assistant planning director director to declare the public hearing open.
Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council, for let me be here tonight. As the Mayor just explained,
we do have some tax amendments here this evening and you actually heard from one of our
proponents trying to driving some of the need for the change Ms. Miranda Phillips. And so,
if I may, I'm going to break this up into two sections and we'll kind of go over what those
So, in section one, we're working in what we call our definition section 2.7, and we're really just looking at modifying two definitions that are currently in our ordinance.
So, the first one, we'll have to do with the child care centers located within a residence or known as CLIR, and then the second one would be a modification to the manufacturer goods class two, just to be more clear on the kind of the breakdown of our sections.
and how we use those NAI CS codes.
And so on the screen and should be in your packet,
the first one that we are proposing would be
to apparently remove the number of children.
So the right now the ordinance limits it from 3 to 12.
As we started finding out more about how the ordinance
is updated at the state level,
and we reviewed the ordinance.
Instead of always trying to play catch up with the state and modify as needed, we felt
that by actually just deleting a portion of the ordinance and basically now it reads
that if the state of North Carolina is going to license them, then the city will essentially
follow suit.
So that way we don't have to change every time it makes it very easy to take in those changes
that you heard about earlier during public expression and it does not change any of our
supplemental regulation. So those things would still be in place like our folks are used to and
basically allows the state licensing process to continue as it as it kind of ebs and flows.
And so that's part one of the definition. And part two is really just a clarification. So a couple
months back, if you remember we went through several, at least I think at least one or two meetings
where we dealt with different, sorry, lost my train of thought there, different manufacturing
for asphalt plants and so we've kind of got staffed with, okay, we've talked about asphalt
plants, what does it say about concrete and other types of development and so we went
through and so some of the sections and the notes in there were very specific to one type
of concrete manufacturing and so basically what these red lines and the other lines are doing
is pulling that number out that number 3, 2, 7, 3 so that's kind of the big umbrella prefix
for all kind of concrete manufacturing. So again, a portion of it was in there, just this
clarifies it spells it out and gives it a name. So before I move on to the next section, are there
Any questions about those two definition changes?
Yes, sir.
Joe, is this going to help that lady?
Yes, yes.
So, she contacted our office.
She actually had come in for a permit.
To do some property expansion, then when we got to talk to her and see what is this in relationship to. She mentioned the house bills and the recent legislation that had passed and so when we went and looked at our ordinance, okay, yeah, that there's a conflict here that we need to resolve and that's how we're here today. Yes, sir.
And it would also say any future changes that the state does, but basically it's saying here as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services.
So, they can change their laws, and this basically, as I say, as long as the state is given you a license, the limit to it.
Yes, sir.
Thanks.
Moving on to section two.
So, section two, we're going to be looking at chapter 13, and specifically the section that discusses how we work with developments as it pertains to the CTP, which is known as our comprehensive transportation plan.
and other plans that the state approves.
And so, as you guys know that every sub-division,
every site plan, every time we look at one of these projects,
we have a corresponding map that's online,
that developers can look at, and that our staff
is constantly updating and modifying.
And so, as we go through this process,
the state often will have different levels.
So the comprehensive plan is kind of the kind of the high level
this a road to go in this general area let's say right and then as you get down to the
step then that is a finer tuned list and funding mechanism and so the proposal that is in here
what that would allow us to do that who expand staff's ability to if we know there is a project or
a program that the state is working on that we can identify we can reference it and then specifically
require that on a plan. So if there's right of way that needs to be done and say the
CTP just says, oh, it's somewhere in this general area, but then now that there's, there
might be an actual plan, we can go one level down, get very specific and that. So adding this
language gives us more tools in the toolbox to be using all the things that are at our ability
to be. To make sure the projects that we have the right of way that gets reserved is as accurate
and the precise as the informational else.
I have a question on that.
Yes, sir.
So when I read the
reserve of the part of such public way
for street purposes and establishing
an appropriate building set back lines,
therefore consistent with what you're wanting to propose.
For all intents and purposes, the map act is dead.
And when you say, setting back all these, you know, 1,000 foot ramp, how is that going
to affect?
Because the DOT is also said that in the near future, which we all know that we don't know
what that means,
that North Carolina DOT is not going to approve anything that is outside
of what has already been set forth, as far as right ways,
how does this affect that?
Sure, I'll let you see a little speak to that.
Good evening, Mayor and Council.
So the map typically applies to future corridor
that is identified for a new network.
What the CTP and what we're talking here
is for existing network within the city.
If there is a subdivision that comes through,
and let's say, for example, it's a 60-foot wide
way today. We're traveling on it, but future expansion requires a 80-foot right away. So what
this ordinance chains allows us is the ability to go back and require the private sector
to reserve that right away. So the map it does not impact this because that's typically
for a dotted line on the map. This is more than a dotted line. We had a real life situation
And when we reviewed a preliminary platform for duplex off of Union
Rev, the CTP dictated certain amount of right away.
I think it was 100 feet.
The applicant was willing to put 50 foot right away
from the center line towards their property,
but we also found out that NCDOT had a much more refined design
done through the step, which required
now a little bit more right away.
So, we ran into this legal dilemma because our ordinance doesn't really specify step.
The applicant started throwing legal tantrum with us.
So we had to go through this to make it clear, even though it was within our rights to
require it, because everything falls under CTP, we didn't want to go through that legal
trouble.
It would better off amending our ordinance clarifying it, setting that expectation clear
for the applicants, which is why we're doing this.
It was at the piece of property where the building got built, it was already built it and they had to go back and say take half your, that's not okay.
Joe shaking his head now.
It's one of the projects, but without naming the name.
Thank you, sir.
Any other questions?
I would like to state that the Planning Commission has reviewed these updates and text amendments and unanimously voted for their approval on their September meeting.
And staff is, thus find the request to be consistent with the 2025 comprehensive plan, as well as any other applicable
duly adopted plans and is recommending approval.
Can we have a motion to approve as presented?
We have a motion, we have a second, all those in favor.
If you need to make a motion to adopt the statement that the system seen in the
this ordinance is consistent with the Gastonia 2025 comprehensive plan and any
applicable do we adopt a small area of plans in this reasonable and in the
public's interest. Thank you, ma'am.
So we have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor?
It's unanimous. Public hearing is closed. Next up is item J3. It's a public hearing for the
twenty-fifty comprehensive plan update, presenters,
Mr. Sue Seald and the Paul Plany Director.
This is a public hearing that will be opened
and has been requested to be continued
until the October 21st Council meeting.
I declare the public hearing open,
and can I have a motion to continue this
until the October 21st Council meeting.
Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to
continue the public hearing until October 21, 2025 at that city council meeting.
We have a motion.
Do we have a second?
Second.
We have a second by Councilman Kasupius, all those in favor?
Who's prepared to show you the website where he's located on for the public to be until that next week?
Yeah, the public hearing is continued as you noted for the October 21 meeting.
We had the draft plan on our website.
If you go to gastronia and see.gov on the front page, it's on the first banner that kind
of circulates on the website.
You can click it as a flipbook, read through it.
We've also added a common form for public to go in, read the complaint and add their feedback.
We also posted on social media, actually there's quite a bit of feedback.
we're receiving.
Not directly to the con plan, but everything else we're doing in the city.
In a way is a positive feedback because what I read through those comments was the desire
to have quality growth.
And I think the comprehensive plans set us to do that down the road.
So we'll continue to receive those feedbacks.
Thanks to all of you for meeting with us in small groups and sharing your feedback.
we're also in the process of printing some hard copies for you so you can review it
between now and their dops and meeting have to answer any questions you may have in
questions and thank you for printing that for us older folks who like to have hard
copies so back we have a motion we have a second in the other discussion thank you
This makes sure everybody was on board here, didn't want to just make anybody upset.
Public session is closed, public hearing is closed.
Well the public hearing is, yeah, continued, but for our part here it's closed.
Item J4, Citizens Committee appointment, our presenter will be Mr. Councilman Jim Gallagher.
I like to submit the name Cassandra Longerway.
She's already served on the Community Development Citizens Advisory Board and she has indicated
our willingness to continue and I put her name forward.
We have a motion.
Do we have a second?
We have a second by Councilwoman Little John, all those in favor of this appointment.
It's unanimous.
Did we want to go into closed session after we do all of our reports or do it now?
Okay.
Just want to make sure everybody's cool with that.
We'll have our city attorneys report.
As you said, Mayor, we're going to have a close session, so I'll save my updates for that close session.
City manager's report.
Thank you, Mayor.
Members of Council.
A few items for you.
I'll just go ahead and address the Leonard Road roundabout, and I'll believe
Tucker Johnson was able to talk to the few folks that attended the night.
And there's been a lot of conversation with the developer who has installed that traffic
calming device in right now is scheduled to remove and replace with something more
accommodating.
So, hopefully those neighbors will be able to have a better, served, traffic calming device
on the Leonard Road.
So, we'll try to communicate that, but that was just this afternoon discussed with engineering
Another item for you that was sent to you electronically was the request for proposals for the
code whether shelter or warming center facility use in operational services.
This is out in the public.
It's due back to housing and community engagement department for at a September 26th that
to a clock.
First United Methodist Church voted September 2nd to not host the Cold Weather Shelter this year.
So staff did a great job quickly, assembling along with input from our partners, this request for proposals, and that is out on the street right now for consideration and hopefully we'll come back to you after we were able to process those proposals as they're submitted.
to close out the cooling station, we'll bring this to your attention, and I will submit this to you in electronic form.
There were nine days that the cooling station was operated indoors.
There were nine days that it was operated outdoors. There were 28 days that it was closed.
Between July 15th and September 12th, I believe.
as whenever you had voted to continue through, total cost to operate into that being
16,400 dollars. So it is now finished and we are staff as moving forward with the adult
recreation center moving into one or seven south broad street and hopefully we'll have that
facility ready for the public very soon.
It's part of the AMI project.
If you do get calls from any of your constituents, we are actively doing the lead and copper inventory.
So there are folks out and about that are our contractors that are completing that lead and copper
inventory is required by the federal government.
Some good news today, Electric City's selected Dendria's, the middle for the fall radio ad campaign
and we'll be running that here very shortly for free for the city of Gastonia so congratulations
to her.
I did send out some letters to the federal delegation about the CDVG and Home Funds and the
request would be for the Mayor to execute and submit to our federal delegation to try to
protect our CDVG and Home Funds and that is in concurrence with the unanimously approved
advocacy agenda that you have in place, resurfacing is ongoing, we should be delivering three
different greenway sections to you by the end of this year.
Highland Branch, Katava Creek, and Mary Edustrie, all of those projects have been going
for quite some time and we'll be great to get that into public use.
And then on another note, I guess to any of you goes peppers, have made the playoffs and that
will be Saturday and Sundays at Timber 20th and 21st.
So go out as you can to support the local team.
We have to answer any questions.
Any questions?
Have you done? We'll start with Councilwoman Barbara.
Thank you, Mayor Franks. I am so excited that payment is happening in war at six. Finally we have
been patiently waiting, and there have been some areas that have been paid, but there was
one area that was just, woo, if I got one more call about someone's front alignment being
knocked out, coming down fifth avenue.
I thought I was scream, so I'm very excited
and appreciate the patience of our residents
along fifth avenue, West fifth avenue.
And we're very thankful for being able to write on a smooth road.
We're looking forward to it.
What quite done, all the way done by the time I left this morning.
But once I, so we see, we see the light at the end of the tunnel,
just one to throw that in.
Several bus attended settlers, several day of service,
they held that, they did not hold it on 9, 11,
but they had it on Friday, which was September 12th,
myself, Councilwoman Steph, Mayor Franks,
as well as Councilman Consupius attended,
and it was a great event.
It was lovely seeing the fifth graders of Sattler, Elementary, and everyone was so welcoming
and we certainly appreciated the honor that they gave to all of our public service staff,
not just for the city, but across the county.
So very thankful to the principal who invited us to come and be a part of that.
So we look forward to that perhaps if they do that again next year.
Also, it was mentioned earlier by someone in public expression.
I was able to attend the NAACP's Breaking Brady Bed,
which was a candidate for him held at the Pavilion.
It was a beautiful day for the event,
and I was really excited about the turnout.
Folks that came out to hear from all of our candidates,
not just for Gaston, but all across the county.
So that was, I believe the first event in their early events to follow.
So thankful for that opportunity.
And we heard earlier about the Gaston recovery walk
that's taking place this Saturday, Irwin Center.
But there's also another opportunity, which I feel like is a critical event.
And I hope this is one of many.
It does say it's a series.
and that is the one pure one time fit no prevention intervention education series, much needed in our
community. That's going to be held this Saturday from 12 noon until 2 o'clock and I realize the time
complex but for anyone that may be listening to this or perhaps anyone that's in this room now that
It would be interested in that.
I feel like that is something we all
can benefit from learning more about the federal crisis
that is not only impacting communities across the nation,
but it is certainly impacting our community here locally.
And that's going to be held at 5800 Union Road here in Gastonia.
There is a number that you can call if you'd like to register for that event.
And that number is 9804373842.
Again, it's called 1pil 1 time Fittinal Prevention,
Intervention Education Series.
The number again is 9804373842 if you are interested
in registering for that event.
And that concludes my report.
Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am.
Um, no, this is actually, um, Stephanie Jackson, um, and the name of her, um, name of her
business.
I'm sorry.
I'd have to look it up.
I wrote everything down except that, um,
I want to say it's called pace.
I believe it's called pace services is the name of the, um, the organization.
the business that they do therapy in counseling, and they specialize in recovery and
mental health, behavioral health, alcohol, substance use disorders, and they're putting
on this event.
Madam Clerk, would you set the timer for three months for councilwoman steps if she doesn't
decide to take 10 minutes?
Okay.
How many years, man?
The school will start it up.
Weather's getting nicer, so lots of things are happening.
Attended the caffeine and conversation.
Councilman Cassipius was there.
We were at RyeCon, right across from City Hall.
We had some of the congressmen's Tim Moore's staff was there to talk about, twice they
can help locally with people and of course reports from our staff and others in the
downtown area.
have another one coming up up over the second that will be a little theater and it will be a candidate
form after the updates so that on your calendars it's 10 o'clock.
Went to the real time crime center ran opening. It's like something from movies we saw as a kid.
It's amazing. I think it's going to improve into crime dramatically.
So we're excited about that.
Kudos to Dr. Taylor and others for getting that done and thank you for Jeff Jackson for helping us get some funding for that
A lot of funding for that most of the funding for that get those pepper game. I'm employee E for appreciation day
I saw a lot of our boys out there that was a great time
also it did hope fast
Where we were doing things for those that are less fortunate homeless and making small which was an event
I was such a fun event
with a lot of our special abilities and neurodite
version population represented you all on the central
on executive committee went to the 9-11 service.
It's hard to put this been 24 years.
I was at station one.
I was a very humbling and somber, but good service.
Also I switched to some retired teachers,
several elementary, and then.
Friday night I worked the concession stand at Hunter House.
And I saw a couple of you there, I almost didn't think I was going to get up that next morning.
We didn't stop for hours, but it was good.
And then here that's how long and think, oh, how could that be so long ago that I was out there playing on that field?
But it was good to see people on our community.
And then of course, as many have mentioned, the NAACP event, a great inaugural event.
And I think it'll get bigger and better every year.
So thank you for them to them for doing that.
Quick, quick, quick little arts thing.
Art Guild visual official harvest shows happening right now September 15th through the October
10th and then the Gaston Concert Association has the limelighter system the 19th.
Courage you to buy tickets to the Gaston Concert Association. Some things coming up in October,
Gaston Dance is Autumn Gallo. She has the ways into the woods junior, the Banffall Concert,
Falk Concert from the Symphonic Man, and the Wolf Theatre's Little Shopper for her.
And then I would also encourage you to go downtown and to some of our other venues to watch
off music.
We have the rooster downtown.
They have open micro night to Mara 7 Beth Gattlin.
It's going to be doing her single release the next day at the 18th at 6.
A clock.
Beerus for breakfast, which is not breakfast time unless you eat late, is the 19th at 7.30 p.m.
And then plush will be there on September the 20th at 7.30.
So get out and support our artist and our businesses that are trying to bring our to our city and that concludes my report.
Thank you, ma'am.
Who jumped in and helped you and froze their hands off?
The mayor did. He jumped in and he froze his hands off getting drinks out of the cooler.
Council on the little John.
And we won.
Thank you.
Wonderful.
My report is very brief.
I want to give Kudos to Pastor Janice Mack,
power-word ministries that is located on and ward for.
She has come out to deliver meals from Smith-Sulfur,
Beastro to the homeless on Sundays.
That has been a tremendous help to help those
that are in need.
I had a unique experience on Sunday.
I know everybody up here was a part of the NAACP
breaking bread. It was so superb event. We'll attend it. On Saturday, I'm going to go back
in time, doing Rick Flair. I had the opportunity to meet the one and only Billy Gunn. We
had the United Pro-Restless, had an event in Gaston. We had about 418 people to come out and
really enjoy that event.
I heard a quick flick.
Yeah, I'll knock it up.
Here you go.
Call us.
I'll just think never answers.
That's it.
It was unique because I didn't realize how many people love wrestling.
And I want to say they showed up and showed out.
Also this weekend on Saturday is Council wants Barbara.
I alluded.
We have two awesome events.
And I know Stephanie Jackson and that is a fentanyl crisis.
And I will say to anybody out there, this list that has a brick and mortar restaurant, the health department actually came in to give us information on fentanyl crisis, especially if you in an area that you see a lot of traffic and not just that but the, the Narcan, the Narcan, they gave us Narcan gave us, you know, flowers, I mean, flyers to put up in our restaurants, but the information, but the
in our can if we ever encounter anyone.
And we do have an epidemic in our community.
On that, the Gaston Recovery Walk, obviously,
this weekend as well, I will be attending that.
Dr. Wanda received a proclamation.
Let's see what else.
The other, we have a young lady that is in Gaston County
schools that has been selected.
The number one basketball player in the state
North Carolina, and that is Miss Oshana Hollin, it goes to Cramer, do it Cramer High School,
and she has been playing some phenomenal basketball all summer long.
She has received full scholarship.
They have offered her full scholarship in Wake Forest University, and she is breaking records,
but she is an exceptional student athlete and has made our community especially the school system
look good, come from great family so we continue to cheer Oshana Hollin on to do great
thing and break a lot of other people's records this year and we have only because they told
to shout this out, I didn't go to Ashewood, but Ashebrook is playing South Point this weekend.
So the football coach just wanted me to shout that out. So y'all go out to the game.
South Point versus Ashebrook.
I think it's just a city manager, Adrian Miller, put you up to that.
No, he didn't. Councilman Gallagher.
Thanks, Mr. Mayor. First off, just want to say,
Once at a real-time crime center, got a coin.
Yay, it was real nice, Chief Bogdan and Tanya gave me a tour
and it gave me a shirt.
I don't know if you all got shirts,
but if you didn't get a shirt, you need to stop buying
and get one.
I don't know if they have your size.
Oh, there, the meachie, wow.
Well, say, oh, they do, they do.
Chief said they do.
Okay, I got four things to go through.
That's one, two, oh, on the real-time crime center,
a crime center chief just want to find out.
When this kind of sky net becomes self-aware,
who knows, maybe self-aware now.
Two, I was up at up the New Jersey.
I went to the 9-11 Memorial up there,
and a friend of mine, Vinnie DeFazio,
he worked at Canterford's Gerald,
and he passed away, and he's one of the people
on that wall there. It really was a good guy with a college with a fun, fun, good man.
Next up, I went to C. Jessie Cole and a banana ball at Yankee Stadium.
It was fantastic. It was a great, great time. Now, I get a whole bunch of people coming up to me going,
boy, we missed out. We don't have Jessie. I said, excuse me. I said, what's going on?
at Savannah's stadium right now.
They go, well, I don't know, I said exactly nothing.
I said the only thing that's going to hold Jesse
is stadiums like Yankees Stadium or the NFL, you know,
the Panthers Stadium where they're selling out 70,000 seats.
I mean, it's incredible.
If he was here, there's no way it would even sell out.
I mean, he couldn't fit us.
He find a different venue.
So he cut his teeth here, and now he's big time,
and I think he's going to take it worldwide.
So we'll say, and I think you have a chance to talk to him.
So he's a great guy, humble man.
Also,
people, listen up.
This is the most important message added.
Anything you've heard today.
out of anything you heard today. Free trash day is coming up starting Monday. That means
your job this weekend is to clean out that garage and clean out that attic and get
that stuff out to the curb and you're going to start on September 22nd. Be
ready. All right and that's the end of my report. Mr. Mayor, thank you. Thank you.
I
forgot, like you said, the most important thing that we had downtown Gastonia.
Sheelisius Smith did a huge beauty modeling gala at Gastonian Homes and it was well attended. It was awesome. It showcased it in how light it, jamco, Xena, all the beauty, you know, it's like a competition. A lot of the hairstyles, barbers, just fashion designers, she did an awesome job and she just got back this week.
She also participated in New York Fashion Week, so she is a gift to the city of Gastonia downtown and is doing some phenomenal things.
Before we get to Councilman Kasupius, he also sold out the stadium where the Red Sox played.
All right, I'd like to say thank you to the NAACP for hosting in our city, the breaking
bread event.
I also want to say thank you to Carreli with the ACE program.
She did a similar presentation at the Laurel East Community Watch, which was well attended.
I also got a chance to be on the WebEx for safe streets traffic calming policy, so something
You all can look forward to with traffic calming which brings me to the next point the Huntington Forest.
Thank you to staff engineers Michael for getting quick responses back to me.
I know that's a neighborhood in Ward 1 and they're concerned about it.
So thank you for that update and getting on it so quickly.
Thank you to our fire department for hosting the non-elev memorial.
I went to station 4.
And thank you to all of our public safety departments.
And the last one, I was able to go to the
royal family homestead.
Openhouse is the oldest guest and county residents in the county.
Great event, music, different vendors.
The show museum was there.
So it was great to attend.
And that's all I have.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
I attended a lot of those events that they have spoken.
but in experience, September 18, 2025, Gastonuconsert series, it's Petty Rewind at the Gastonuc
Rotary Pavilion, starts six o'clock, September 20th, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. it's habitat for
you humanity rock, the block at Highland neighborhood, in the Highland neighborhood, September
the 20th, 10 a.m. to 3, is a safe place in powerment network, Gaston recovery walk, September
22nd is Councilman Gallagher said, go clean out your garage, go clean out your building,
go clean out your attic, September 22nd through the 26th free bolt trash pickup.
September 24th at 10 AM at 3840 West Franklin Board Boulevard will be the Gastonia ABC
groundbreaking for the new store, September 25th at 6 p.m. is the Habitat for Humanity
Gaston Gala at the Gaston Country Club.
Also for everybody out there, this is a yearly event.
Is September 26th and 27th, there will be the black gold
mulch cells.
That will be a 3100 Duke Street.
It'll be Friday from 1 to 5 Saturday from 8 a.m.
to 12 p.m.
September 27th at 8 to 10 a.m.
Is a Firewood Cell at Ferguson Park.
that is 1401 golf course drive.
September the 29th is our City Hall at City Hall
will be the Arts Committee meeting.
That will begin at 530.
September the 30th, that 530 Central City
revitalization and housing community engagement committee
will meet at this mental conference room.
October the 7th at first assembly of God 777 South
Murdoch School Road will be the National Night out.
We have a meeting at City Hall, October the 7th, October the 12th, is Faith and Blue
Unity March.
Closing ceremony will be at Caramont, Health Park, and that will be from 5 to 6.30.
And I will entertain a motion to go into closed session.
Thank you.
on is we're going to close that ship for Sue and DeSection 143-318.1183 of the North Carolina General Statutes,
in order to preserve or turn it high privilege and give instructions to our city attorney concerning
to adjourn. Have a motion, have a second. Have a second. Have a second by Councilman Barber, all those in favour?
It's unanimous.