[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] Good evening, everyone. I'm Alan Joins, Mayor of Winston, Salem. It's my pleasure to call to water as meeting
[0:10] of the one in the Salem City Council and ask the City Clerk to call the roll please. Councillor
[0:15] Member Joiner. Present. Councillor Member Clark. Councillor Member Andrew Bowen.
[0:19] Here. Councillor Member Stipio. Present. Mayor Perth, him Adams. Councillor Member Taylor.
[0:24] Councillor Member Hall. Present. And Councillor Member Burke. Here.
[0:28] Thank you. Would you please join the City Council and me in a moment of silence.
[0:47] Thank you so much. Would you join the City Council and me in the pleasure of allegiance?
[0:55] The flag of the United States of America and some of the Republic for which it stands on the nation under God,
[1:03] indifisible, the liberty and justice for all of them.
[1:10] Thank you very much, Director Rick, recognize our Sergeant Arnold tonight. Lieutenant Ashley. Thank you for being with us tonight.
[1:16] And our fire marshal tonight is Bradley Watson. Thank you for being here as well. There you are right here.
[1:22] I'm going to turn the meeting over to Mr. Pate for his update. Thank you, Your Honor. Just a several
[1:28] things tonight. First let me ask ACM King if he would recognize our new fleet services director.
[1:35] Yep, glad to. Thanks, Pat. Good evening, Mayor Mayor. Mayor Perth and members of the council.
[1:40] I would like to introduce Angus Thomas, Angus, if you would mind standing up. Angus has been selected as
[1:46] a new fleet services director. So you may remember we have had that position. It's been vacant.
[1:50] This isn't it guys, left us early last year. And so Angus has been serving as interim director. Since that time,
[1:56] it has done a great job with us. Angus has been with the city since 2012, starting with the fleet department.
[2:02] As a fleet attendant, it has held all the positions all the way up to his former fleet manager position before transitioning into interim director role.
[2:08] So we are very excited about the expertise and leadership. Angus brings to the fleet services director position. So glad to have him aboard.
[2:15] Welcome, Angus.
[2:23] And then I like to ask ACM Voida to introduce our new interim human resources director.
[2:30] Yes, so if King and I feel to stand up, we have Dr. King of Cofield Jones joined us a couple of weeks ago
[2:35] as our interim human resources director. We had some internal staff have been keeping the department
[2:42] running and they've done a great job. But we were lucky enough to have King and I joined us.
[2:47] She has over 30 years of HR government experience. So we have reposted that position externally.
[2:55] That's on the street now. But very thankful to have Dr. Jones helping us out.
[3:00] So thank you very much for all of us, Angus.
[3:06] And then let me I'm going to call on our transition director Jeff Fransler to give a quick update on the status
[3:11] of the Edus Creek Brewer Pedestrian Cross Center.
[3:14] Thank you, Mr. Manager. And good evening Mayor Mayer, Mayor Protem Adams, members of the City Council. Jeff Fransler, director of transportation.
[3:21] As you may recall, I stood before you in January talking about some of the inquiries we had related to
[3:26] Clark and High School, the new Sheets Development and Navigating across the street parkway.
[3:31] And if you recall, I shared a graphic. This goes, no, I need to just let advances slide. This doesn't seem to be working.
[3:36] There we go. If you recall, I showed a graphic like this.
[3:42] Highlighting some of the initiatives in the area, some of our funded projects, some of the projects we
[3:46] continue to pursue funding for and then shown in yellow there, if you'll just hit the advance, but
[3:51] this should show us a little icon there that indicates what we committed to before school, which was to
[3:57] improve the crossing at Peter's Creek and Brewer, allowing folks to be able to cross
[4:02] Peter Creek Parkway with a protection of a traffic signal. And so since that time, of course,
[4:07] there's all good transportation projects. They're very complicated. They involve probably more
[4:11] parties than maybe they should, but we have to go work with into DOT to to gain some approvals because
[4:16] Peter Creek Parkway, as you've heard me mentioned many times, is not the city main type of facility.
[4:21] Slide please. But I'm happy to say today. This is what you may see. This was captured this afternoon
[4:26] by the DOT drone. And what you see there is fully-actuated all the way around pedestrian traffic signals
[4:33] and the available accommodating markings to allow for a pedestrian to navigate the corridor and
[4:41] orient yourself if you'll advance that should indicate kind of just orient yourself what we're dealing
[4:45] with. They're parking on Parkland High School being in the southwest quadrant there in the Sheets
[4:50] development in the south east quadrant there. And she's south east southwest, you get what I'm saying.
[4:56] But the bottom line there is navigating Pissary Parkway with a protection of a traffic signal can now
[5:02] be done at all four corners of the intersection. And just to show some of the improvement there, as I mentioned,
[5:07] we had to work with into DOT for express design on this. Typically these designs take much longer,
[5:12] but I'm happy to say that into DOT really stood strong. Instead of for us, they understood the call
[5:17] from this committee, from the comments we've heard from our community. And we allowed us to really
[5:21] equip this work. So just some of those of the work there, if you advance a slide, you'll see this is the
[5:26] connection that sheets put in with the sidewalk. Their frontage has a radio requirement through our
[5:30] site-plent development process. And then if you advance again, you'll just see some of the treatments there across
[5:35] the intersection navigating there. You see the pedestrians signals in the background there with the markings
[5:40] there in the foreground. And you'll notice a few more pictures to highlight some of the work. On each corner,
[5:44] if you'll advance the slide, you'll notice this is the treatment you'll see there with the push buttons
[5:48] and the pedestrian heads. Again, this is the protection under the protection of a traffic signal
[5:53] allowed you to push the button across. So all that to say today, if you'll advance one more time,
[5:59] this is what you'll see and you can navigate all four corners with an actual way to traffic signal that is
[6:04] independent of the hickler movement allows you to navigate that intersection much safer than you used to.
[6:09] So it's still some work to be done. You mentioned that we're still pursuing funding funding for those
[6:15] missing links of sidewalks on both P Street Parkway and Brewer Road. And they will continue to
[6:19] advocate for those to our MPO and other funding sources as they come available. But the bottom line is I
[6:24] appreciate the man who gave me a moment just to update this committee on what we were working on and I'm happy to
[6:28] say that we had a before school start to notice commitment. And as I say here today, you can either hit the
[6:33] button across P Street Parkway. So we made it, we made our goal and I'm happy to report back and I stand ready for
[6:38] questions. Thank you Mr. Transland. Questions of which fans were? That's great news. Thank you.
[6:44] Thank you Joe. We'll continue on the water utility customer confidence report is now available
[6:50] if you're interested. More than 20 years the drinking water in Forsyth County, Winston-Cylam has met or
[6:56] surpassed all water quality standards established by the EPA. That excellent record continues today with
[7:02] the 2024 water quality report which was recently published by the Winston-Cylam Forsyth County utilities.
[7:07] And it is available online if you want to get the particulars of that. So thanks to our utility department
[7:14] for continuing to provide us with excellent water and water quality. A couple of events I want to
[7:19] mention, I'll speak about this again later in the meeting, but the budget and performance management department
[7:25] will be providing the public with a couple of opportunities to learn more about the proposed
[7:29] budget that you'll hear about tonight. The first one is tomorrow. It may 20 from 537 at the call
[7:35] Russell Community Center and there will be another one on May 27 from 537 at the Little Creek Community Center.
[7:42] The neighborhood services department has been holding some open houses and they have one more
[7:47] left from 6 to 8 on Tuesday, May 20 at the Spring Street Community Center.
[7:54] The farmers provided the open house series as an opportunity for the public to learn more about
[7:58] the department services which include lending opportunities for homeowners, code enforcement, affordable housing,
[8:04] and more, and a variety of other services. The office of sustainability will host its monthly food
[8:10] for fault educational series on pantry management and reducing food waste on Thursday, May 22 at
[8:18] the crisis control. Classes free, but they ask participants to sign up and you can go on our website to do so.
[8:27] The Community Appearance Awards program will also be held coming up on May 28. It will be at the Old
[8:34] Salem Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 28 at 11 AM, Dr. Tracy Ryder and Associate Professor of Architecture
[8:40] at North Carolina State University will present on the importance of sustainable design. Community Appearance
[8:47] awards program is free and open to the public, but you again are asked to RSVP, this time Daniel Rankin
[8:53] at the Planning and Development Services Department and again you can find that on the website.
[8:58] And then just if you're interested, our employee medical task schedule, the city employee blood drive,
[9:03] or Wednesday to 28 from 10 to 230 at employee medical. A couple of recognitions. In addition to the
[9:11] new staff members we recognized a little earlier, May is mental health and awareness month,
[9:17] and talks about and dealing with the impact mental health has on many people in our community.
[9:22] But with the Salem Fire Department offers residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis
[9:27] services through the behavioral evaluation and response team, like effectively the bear team,
[9:33] and you can learn more about that team and their services on our website. They've just recently
[9:37] celebrated their two-year anniversary with the city and they've done thousands of calls in that time.
[9:44] I think over 4,500,000 calls. Wista and Transay made a triumphant return to the 2025
[9:52] Rodeo, Rodeo. They says pronounced Rodeo, but they don't spell it that way. Bus competition.
[10:00] Standard performances from all four participants, the team earned top honors and made their mark in the
[10:05] largest North Carolina state, Rodeo and history, which featured 94 skilled competitors from across the state.
[10:11] Representing Wista and Transay were operators, Anthony Mazzel, Justin Hayes, Jose Navara,
[10:18] and Corta Glenn. Their hard work, professionalism and dedication to the craft of safe,
[10:24] efficient transit services, or on full display across both regional and state competitions.
[10:30] And finally, as the last reminder, City Offs' will be closed on May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday.
[10:37] Well, that will stand ready to answer any questions to Mr. Pete.
[10:41] Seeing none, thank you, Mr. Pete. I appreciate that.
[10:44] We're now going to our agenda. I should point out that the meeting is being televised live tonight on TV 13
[10:51] and the City's YouTube page will be replayed tomorrow. Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. and again Wednesday night at 9 p.m.
[10:59] copies of our agenda, as well as videos, previous meetings are always available online at the City's website and just click on the
[11:06] watch meetings online option.
[11:09] The agenda is comprised of two parts, the consent agenda and the general agenda,
[11:13] and it's always the practice of the council to take the consent agenda to first order of business.
[11:18] Items on this agenda have been unanimously recommended by committee of the City Council
[11:22] or are being submitted in accordance with the staff of the City procedure.
[11:26] There will be no discussion of the items on this agenda unless the council member
[11:30] still requests in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and consider it individually.
[11:35] It is not removed from the consent agenda, it will be an active one motion.
[11:39] Council members, are there any items you wish to remove from the consent agenda?
[11:44] Seeing this, your motion. I move for approval of the consent agenda.
[11:49] Thank you, motion by Mayor Pro Team, Adams, and seconded by Council member Hall.
[11:53] All those have heard the motion please indicate by seeing aye.
[11:56] Aye.
[11:57] Any opposed? No, and that is unanimous. Thank you very much.
[12:01] We're now going to the general agenda, which includes a resolution opposing Senate Bill 257.
[12:08] There are two public hearings for zoning petitions. There's a discussion and approval of the
[12:12] City Service Board appointment as well as the proposed city budget, not for adoption but for
[12:19] a presentation. When the public hearing is called, persons in the council chamber will be given an
[12:24] opportunity to speak. If there is opposition to the public hearing zoning case,
[12:30] the proponents and opponents will be given 15 minutes for presentation and three minutes for
[12:35] a bottle. If no one wishes to seek, then the public hearing will be closed and the City Council
[12:40] will consider the aye. May we have item G1, please?
[12:46] Item G1, resolution of the Winston-Salem City Council opposing Senate Bill 257-2025,
[12:52] appropriations act. Section 43.5, pal Bill funds. Thank you.
[13:00] Tash, you're going to tell us how bad this will hurt us.
[13:09] Good evening, Mayor. Mayor, present members of the City Council. Unfortunately, yes.
[13:12] So the Senate appropriations bill that passed out of the Senate and went to the House
[13:16] included within it, removing pal Bill funding for all cities in North Carolina with the population
[13:23] above 150,000 in the biennium. For us, that's roughly $8.7 million a year, times two years.
[13:30] So that can do to us. Pal Bill funding is used both for our street resurfacing program from a
[13:36] capital perspective in terms of our, excuse me, our contracted resurfacing and it also supports
[13:44] our internal programs from a vegetation management perspective streets maintenance as well as sidewalk
[13:49] maintenance. So we are looking at the potential for more than $17 million worth of reduced funding
[13:55] over the course of the biennium. And as the City Manager has said previously, those things that get
[14:00] defunded in rally in one cycle often find themselves being defunded for a much longer period of time
[14:05] than we originally anticipated. If this funding were to be cut, they would have to be substantial cuts,
[14:13] both to the operating and capital budgets that we will be looking at over the course of the next few
[14:17] weeks. Or we would need to raise additional resources locally or tap significantly into general fund
[14:24] balance and order to make those differences. So the opposition to that section of the Senate budget
[14:31] is very specific to pal Bill funding. And again, what effect? Six or seven of the City's and North
[14:36] Carolina in addition to us. Stand ready for any questions you have related. Thank you. Any questions
[14:41] of your questions? Yes. This is attached. Could you go ahead again and state what areas
[14:46] specifically on the car as to what this money affects for every city that's going to be defunded?
[14:55] The one where it tells us about you said depaving and a resurfacing.
[15:00] So if you look at the Powellville memo that has attached several bullet points, these come directly from the Powellville reports, so paving and resurfacing both in-house and contracted general streets maintenance that is done snow and ice removal curb and gutter installation and repair bridge maintenance is one that we have used the Lakeview Drive Bridge as an example of that traffic controls as well as sidewalk installation and maintenance and again it's roughly $8.7 million a year.
[15:29] We can accumulate it and spend it at different amounts, but it would affect you over the course of two years in the range of $17 million.
[15:36] One more question, Mayor.
[15:38] And this attach, if this goes through, where would we get the money from or how would we be able to finance these particular items that we've always had this funding for?
[15:55] In working with the city manager, again, you really have two choices you can cut services, but in order to maintain those realistically you would be looking potentially at an increase to the property tax rate north of two cents annually just to cover those.
[16:09] Wow, thank you.
[16:11] Significate.
[16:12] Thank you, Mr. Clark, you want to make a motion on this.
[16:14] And if there's a second, I would like to make sure.
[16:17] I move for approval of item G1.
[16:19] Second.
[16:20] Second, Mayor Pro Tim, go ahead, Mr. Clark.
[16:23] Yeah.
[16:25] The power money, when you buy gasoline, you pay tax.
[16:28] It's actually a little sticker I think on the pump that tells you how much.
[16:33] And it's called the power money named after Mr. Powell, whoever he was.
[16:38] But it goes to all the cities that have roads and that's most all of them.
[16:42] It's what a state participates in it.
[16:44] And I understand the need for additional revenue in the western part of the state.
[16:49] But I think the answer would be to take a little bit from everybody.
[16:53] Yeah.
[16:54] And kind of share of the pain versus picking on six cities and stripping us a 100% of our money.
[17:01] So I offer that comment.
[17:03] I'm not insensitive to the needs.
[17:06] But I certainly disagree particularly the state who gets, I think, most of it.
[17:11] You know, if everybody, again, shares the pain.
[17:14] Nobody gets hurt too bad.
[17:16] But for us to take an 18 million dollar hit with the astronomical.
[17:21] And with that, thank you, Ms. Clark.
[17:24] Thank you.
[17:25] We do have a motion a second.
[17:27] All those in front of the motion, please indicate the voting yes.
[17:30] Anyone want to post vote no.
[17:32] Thank you.
[17:33] That is unanimous.
[17:34] Take a council from Clark.
[17:36] Item G2, please.
[17:38] Item G2, public hearing and consideration of voting petition of grand view.
[17:43] From RS9 to GBL.
[17:45] Property is located on the north side of Yackenville Road between transit road and Stimpson
[17:51] Drive.
[17:52] Located in the northwest ward, planning board recommends the now of petition.
[17:57] And it was continued from April 21, 2025.
[18:00] Before we do the public hearing, I'm going to ask our director of planning development to
[18:04] Mr. Murphy to give us a report of the planning board, please.
[18:10] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[18:11] Good evening again.
[18:14] I'll pull the power point up.
[18:15] And we'll see if the clicker works now.
[18:17] This is a request of grand view to rezone 8.17 acres of property.
[18:23] Located on the north side of Yackenville Road between transit and Stimpson Drive.
[18:27] Located in the northwest ward.
[18:29] The request is to rezone the property to special use limited.
[18:34] Resoning is what the request is from RS9 to GBL general business limited use.
[18:41] And the two specific uses requested are stored services retail internal and stored services retail external.
[18:52] This is a subject property shown on the legacy growth management area plan map.
[18:57] It is located within GMA three.
[18:59] It is located just to the west of the Yackenville Road.
[19:04] This is a program view club activity center, which is a commercial area in that area and in the area plan that's recommended for commercial use.
[19:15] This is the subject property highlighted in yellow.
[19:19] Again, you see it is located on the north side of Yackenville, in between transit and Stimpson Drive.
[19:25] The commercial property directly to the west, the GBS, the LB, the HBS, LB, that is all part of the Yackenville.
[19:33] Ground view activity center that we'll see on the area plan map next.
[19:39] One more map.
[19:41] This is the subject property highlighted outline in yellow.
[19:45] It's primarily wooded.
[19:47] Again, on the west side of transit, you do see a nickel lake in a series of other lakes that go up to the north.
[19:56] So there is a dam that's located at the southern portion of.
[20:02] That lake.
[20:06] This is the west suburban area plan update, which was adopted by Council back in 2018.
[20:12] You do see the Yackenville Road.
[20:14] I said grant view club.
[20:16] Yackenville Road transit road activity center.
[20:19] They're indicated with the dark outline of on the north side of Yackenville Road is the commercial area.
[20:28] On the south side is a area for office and attached residential such as townhombs.
[20:35] You see the subject property is located just to the east of that with a recommendation of single family residential zero to eight units per acre.
[20:46] We'll go to a few photos of the site in the surrounding area.
[20:50] This is looking east along Yackenville Road.
[20:53] The subject property is to the left on this image.
[20:56] You see the zoning side.
[20:59] This is looking west along Yackenville Road.
[21:02] The subject property is to the right.
[21:04] That is Stimpson Drive there in the background and again on the south side.
[21:08] That would be the south side of Yackenville Road.
[21:12] This is looking west from the subject property.
[21:15] Looking kind of north in the northwest at the intersection of Michael Road and Dixie and a drive.
[21:21] The subject property would be in the background of the photographer behind the photographer.
[21:28] This is looking into the subject property from Michael Road to this is looking south.
[21:35] This is looking south across Yackenville Road from the subject property.
[21:39] That's a single family home.
[21:40] That is across the street on the south side of Yackenville Road.
[21:47] Again, since this is a limited user quest, there is no site plan.
[21:51] That is a purpose as part of this.
[21:54] In summation, the request is inconsistent with both for 245 and the west of Urban Area Plan update,
[22:01] which recommends concentrating commercial land uses within activity centers.
[22:06] The west of Urban Area Plan update specifically recommends single family residential zero date units per acre for the subject property.
[22:14] Moving this request could promote commercial strip development along Yackenville Road, heading further west.
[22:21] And improving the request would result in commercial encroachment into a single family neighborhood.
[22:26] Again, you've seen the images.
[22:28] This is an area recommended for single family and is just south of the lake that's associated with a single family development.
[22:38] The planning board heard this item at their March 13th, 2025 public hearing.
[22:43] There was significant opposition with multiple speakers at that meeting.
[22:47] The opposition was concerned that the project did not comply with the area plan that there was no site plan included.
[22:54] They were concerned about stormwater issues with the development.
[22:57] The potential reduction of property values and potential impacts associated with the existing dam.
[23:03] Following the public hearing, the planning board did vote five to two to recommend denial of this request to council.
[23:11] Access the planning board meeting.
[23:13] The petitioner has volunteered some additional conditions in discussing this with some of the neighbors.
[23:19] The attic conditions include preventing driveway access to the site from middle road.
[23:25] Requiring brick construction materials along the Yackenville and transit road frontages.
[23:30] And requiring additional metal fence to be installed along Yackenville Road and transit road.
[23:36] And that would be consistent with this exhibit.
[23:40] Again, all of these changes have been incorporated into the written consent conditions written consent to conditions in your packet and to the special use permit in your packet.
[23:49] Should you choose to recommend approval or not recommend approval to approve this.
[23:54] These conditions would become part of that approval.
[23:58] With that, I stand ready to answer any question.
[24:00] Question.
[24:02] Yes.
[24:03] Is this the site where the golf course is to be.
[24:07] No mayor pretend that is a little bit to further to the east.
[24:11] If we go back to the.
[24:14] If we go back to this image here.
[24:17] The transit.
[24:22] Well, it's doing me some good, but it's not doing you to go.
[24:26] The, the transit and Yackenville road intersection is on the east side of the subject property.
[24:33] If you went back down east.
[24:36] Ports Renaulta about a between a quarter and a half mile.
[24:41] That is where a grant you club road comes out into Yackenville.
[24:46] And the golf course was on the east side of grant you club road.
[24:52] You're in the vicinity.
[24:53] Yeah.
[24:54] And the lake in the water.
[24:59] I know that there have been issues down there for years about the water.
[25:04] The flooding.
[25:06] And how does all of that.
[25:08] Still water management in and of itself would be a requirement whenever they would come through for permitting.
[25:13] There is a condition of approval in your packet in the written consent conditions and the special use permit that would prohibit.
[25:21] I want to say on the first 250 or 300 feet of the property coming from the west to the east.
[25:28] So it's like underneath the dam.
[25:30] So it would it would prevent development there that would.
[25:35] Being a hazard area.
[25:37] So that portion is addressed to the condition.
[25:41] Actual storm water management would be handled through permitting if this were to be approved.
[25:45] So they would have to go through storm water as part of their permit.
[25:48] That would be a permitting permitting permitting permitting.
[25:49] So many process and they they couldn't discharge more than the right that they're currently distroving.
[25:55] Thank you Mr. Murphy.
[25:56] Any other questions?
[25:58] The additional conditions of the brick finier and the fence, were those cycle backs of the planning.
[26:07] They were not.
[26:08] They were things that were that the petitioner and the attorney for the petitioner worked with the neighbor's own.
[26:15] and offered additional conditions, so they actually ask us to revise the written
[26:21] consenting conditions, but that's not atypical. Sometimes that happens either at
[26:25] this meeting or between the time from the planning board and now based on things that
[26:30] they have heard. My opinion is that those, again, it's my opinion that those conditions
[26:37] were they to go back to the planning board would not alter the recommendation.
[26:41] I'm just surprised you didn't cycle it through again, because what we were asking
[26:45] to vote on is not what the planning board voted on them.
[26:53] Correct. That's 100% correct. I would refer to the attorney. There's not a requirement
[26:59] that they vote. I mean, where there are oftentimes conditions that are added
[27:03] between the planning board and the elected body based on testimony that they heard and
[27:07] or negotiations with the neighbors. Okay, this is a public hearing. We have a number of folks
[27:14] signed up to speak on it. You would have the proponents and opponents reach out 15 minutes
[27:19] for the proponents of Rini Adcock. All right, sounds good. If you give your name and address for the record,
[27:30] please. Mr. Mayor, Mayor Protem and members of Council. My name is Nick Blackwood,
[27:37] A24 Green Valley Road and Greensboro here on behalf of the petitioner. With me this evening,
[27:42] a Rini Adcock who's the HOA president for the neighboring Nickel Dam Homeowners Association.
[27:48] Also, I have Garrett Neal, who's our civil engineer and Matt Costello, who's the developer for this project.
[27:55] Do we have our presentation materials available? Okay.
[28:01] Mr. Murphy covered this in his presentation. So I'll briefly fly through this slide.
[28:17] I just wanted to highlight the zoning conditions that we proposed to address specific concerns
[28:23] heard from neighboring property owners at the planning board meeting. You can see those underlined
[28:28] initially when we submitted this application, we had a singular condition which prohibited
[28:34] e-use under the GB zoning district except for our proposed self-storage use. So everything else that
[28:40] you see on our list of zoning conditions was added in response to feedback that we heard from neighbors at
[28:47] neighborhood meetings. We held two neighborhood meetings, which I'll get into later in the presentation.
[28:51] And then again, the underlined conditions were zoning conditions added in response to concerns heard
[28:56] at the planning board meeting. And we'll have a slide coming up in a few minutes showing
[29:02] an illustrative sketch plan. And I'll reference back to some of these conditions. I think they'll be
[29:06] easier to see and understand on that sketch plan. So this slide, what we wanted to highlight
[29:14] with these highlighted areas, you'll see. So the subject property highlighted in red just west of
[29:20] transit road, the Activity Center, that was referenced during staff's presentation in blue.
[29:27] That's a mix of fairly various intensive commercial uses. You've got a grocery store,
[29:35] anchored retail center. There's another strips center to the west closer our property.
[29:40] Some professional office space to the south of Yadkenville Road. And then what you see highlighted in green,
[29:46] those are several hundred new homes that have been permitted and approved for construction.
[29:51] The lots of have already been plated. That community is under development as we speak.
[29:56] So just wanted to highlight some of the existing commercial activity and some of the groups.
[30:00] We're both in the area near this yet canvail transit intersection.
[30:08] As a reference, this is an illustrative sketch plan, and this is not a site plan specific request.
[30:15] So we are not bound by this site plan, however, what we wanted to show with this sketch plan is an overlay
[30:22] of how our written zoning conditions are going to impact our site plan when we get to that stage in the process.
[30:29] So just by virtue of this not being a site plan specific request, that does not do away with our obligation to prepare and submit a site plan for TRC review and approval.
[30:38] Our land use and the zoning determination is just not bound by that particular site plan.
[30:44] So what you may see some alterations to, configuration of the buildings and the footprints, but what you see in red start to the north.
[30:52] So that's a zoning condition where we are maintaining an 80 foot buffer between ours, our developed area and the nickel road.
[31:01] They were head to the north, up to the west and I will let ready add to this later in our presentation.
[31:09] As Mr. Murphy alluded to, we have, we have included a zoning condition to prohibit any development 300 feet within 300 feet of the western eastern part of Stinson Drive right away.
[31:21] So what we're trying to accomplish with that zoning condition is a preservation of the wooded area.
[31:27] In early discussions with the HOA, they had concerns about their dam.
[31:32] They, it's a privately owned, privately maintained dam. They're subject to state inspections annually.
[31:37] So they had concerns not necessarily with respect to our project, but any development of this property as it would impact their dam.
[31:45] And again, I'll let running speak to that later.
[31:48] But our project works without need for development of that western portion of property.
[31:53] So to provide some assurance to that homeowner's association, we wanted to include a zoning condition, confirming that we're not going to disturb any any of that area within 300 feet of the Stinson Drive right away.
[32:05] You also see the dashed red line along the ad can bill and transfer, showing the approximate fence location that was a zoning condition added after the planning board meeting.
[32:16] It was referenced previously.
[32:18] So this, the whole purpose of this sketch is just to give you a better understanding of how our written zoning conditions overlaid over the property will impact our site design during that site planning process.
[32:30] The council, if I could just interject just for a quick second, I appreciate the reference of this sketch plan.
[32:34] Remember, this is unlimited use request and there's no site plan attached to this.
[32:38] I understand the references for illustrative purposes, but just understand anything you're seeing on here that's all for does not know written conditions.
[32:45] We have no ability to hold the petitioner.
[32:47] That's just want to make that distinction that this is an illustrative plan.
[32:50] Typically we limited use cases. We don't get into this kind of discussion to just want to make that clear for the record.
[32:56] Thank you.
[32:58] That's correct and what we're trying to show here is what you're seeing in the red cross hatch area that more or less outlines our our self imposed development restrictions.
[33:07] By virtue of those red zoning conditions.
[33:09] What you see in the south eastern portion where the buildings are layout.
[33:12] That's the area subject to change when we go through site planning and that may involve some rotating of the buildings.
[33:19] Layout and things like that, but nothing significant as far as the actual use of the property.
[33:26] And again, just for illustrative purposes, this is actually a very similar facility located here in Winston.
[33:31] Just to give you an idea of what the final product would look like as intended by Mr. Castellic.
[33:37] If the zoning is approved and he closes on the property.
[33:43] One of the primary concerns that we heard from neighbors.
[33:47] Again, I'll get into our neighborhood outreach component here in a second.
[33:51] It was existing traffic on transit and you had to build particularly during the morning and afternoon hours when Reagan high school is is coming in a session and when folks are going home.
[34:03] So what I wanted to show with this slide.
[34:07] And at the top figure that 373 trips per day that you see that's a figure taken from your staff report as currently zoned the properties entitled for development of up to 39 lots.
[34:18] And that traffic figure, the 373 trips per day, that is in connection with those 39 single family lots as the property could be developed today.
[34:27] So in hearing that traffic was one of the primary concerns of neighbors existing traffic wanted to include this slide just to reiterate that this is the proposed self storage use is a very low traffic generator.
[34:40] During the AM and PPM peak hours we're looking at about 13 trips in and out of this in and out of this facility and 74 daily trips.
[34:50] So in comparison to what you're seeing with the as permitted 373 daily trips this were to be developed for single family use.
[34:59] We feel that our proposed self storage use is a better fit for this area given the existing traffic concerns.
[35:10] We did hold two neighborhood meetings we had a preliminary discussion with planning staff before we submitted an application.
[35:18] We understood that this was an active area and this may be a zoning case that that neighbors took some interest in.
[35:24] So before we submitted any zoning application we held a preliminary to zoom meeting with folks within a 1000 foot radius.
[35:31] So we enhanced mailing radius wanted to get a good idea good picture of what folks in the area would think about this.
[35:39] That's when we met Rini and we developed a good relationship with Rini and his homeowner's association.
[35:44] Again the impacts to the dam traffic and just general aesthetic impacts on neighboring properties with the three primary concerns that we heard during that initial meeting.
[35:54] Once we submitted the zoning application we held it in person meeting the same three concerns with the primary concerns that we heard at that meeting.
[36:03] But what those meetings allowed us to do was work with Rini and his homeowner's association and come to.
[36:10] Come to a point where we think this is a best case in area for our development and for those neighbors along in the nickel dam community.
[36:22] So with this slide and I ask Rini to come up and join me now.
[36:26] So what you're seeing again in red that's the subject property what you see in yellow is that privately and privately maintained dam that Rini's homeowner's association takes care of.
[36:38] But thank you Nick my name is Rini Adcock I live at 344 off town I'm the president of the homeowner's association for the property directly above this property in red.
[36:53] When we first heard about rezoning of course we were very concerned and we gathered as a community and we talked about how all the property around us is being sold and developed.
[37:06] We thought about all the things it could be going into this space and we as a community have decided this is the best case scenario for us.
[37:17] The purpose of our homeowner's association is to maintain and protect our lake and our dam we were found we came together in 2013 know 2002 and I've lived there for 25 years.
[37:35] We have acre lots above surrounding the lake we pay dues and our goal is to manage the lake in this property.
[37:45] We have yearly inspections about the state.
[37:49] What we appreciate so much about this project is that the developer is interested in working closely with us with our concerns.
[38:01] They're willing to give a third of this property right below the dam to keep it trees nature.
[38:10] That goes along with a lot of the city plans and goals to keep natural spaces natural and it also protects anything below the dam so that that's very interesting to us we would manage and oversee that property below the dam our goal is to keep a trees just like it is right now natural area.
[38:35] Something else they have said that they will do is give a 80 foot buffer between us and this storage unit on the corner.
[38:44] I've counted I went and counted out what 80 feet does it's a nice bit of buffer between our neighborhood and this new project.
[38:54] We were concerned about what it would look like we said we'd love natural colors not me on signs and stuff like that they've worked very closely and telling us how it will blend with the neighborhood.
[39:07] We're very concerned about the traffic on trans to and I can be a road it's a very busy area with the school traffic.
[39:15] This particular project is a low impact traffic project.
[39:20] I think probably the lowest type of traffic you get is from a cemetery which is right on the other side of this property.
[39:28] Storage units probably the next lowest.
[39:31] We like keeping the traffic list lowest possible.
[39:38] Trying to think some other things that we have found to be important.
[39:43] So basically our community in our home association is a 100% unified and saying this for this community is the best case scenario.
[39:57] Back in 2013 there was a petition to make it multifamily use.
[40:01] We fought that we got over 300 petition saying this is not a good idea.
[40:08] We feel liable for that lake and the more foot traffic you have going around the lake the more liability we have.
[40:15] We want to keep that foot traffic down it's exactly a mile around the lake and we have people walk that every single day.
[40:22] You put a bunch of homes down there you have all those kids who are coming up to the lake that becomes a liability for us.
[40:29] So for all those reasons we think this is a best case scenario for that property.
[40:35] And Councilmember Hall we appreciate your site visit you came out and looked at what we were talking about and discussed it and showed real interest so we're glad you're our word representative.
[40:49] Thank you for check out.
[40:51] Mr. Neal had signed up do you want him to speak now or.
[40:54] I think Garrett was speaking rebuttal and address specific questions of accounts anything else you want to add for sure just a couple of other points with the two minutes we have remaining.
[41:05] I wanted to touch on the comprehensive plan in the area plan.
[41:09] Understanding staff's recommendation and the call for this property to be low density single family use.
[41:15] We do feel like there are some points in the area plan that that align with what we're proposing here.
[41:20] Namely preserving is a substantial amount of environmental sensitive force at area.
[41:25] As you heard from many it is a sensitive area environmentally.
[41:29] It is a home under association has concerns not only with our potential development but any development of that property and I think that our ability.
[41:37] By virtue of our self storage use to carve out that western third of our property.
[41:43] It really makes a big difference as far as it's homeowners associations comfort level and our ability to preserve a significant portion of that property is under stir barrier.
[41:54] This is a low intensity commercial use that will serve as a transition of sorts between the existing activity center that grocery store anchored retail center and some of the existing single family neighborhoods to the west of the site.
[42:10] I would like to ask you a question.
[42:16] All right thank you all here from the opponents now you have 30 minutes.
[42:22] 15.
[42:25] Sorry.
[42:27] Thank you.
[42:29] Thank you very much.
[42:33] Ryan Dovel please.
[42:36] Good evening.
[42:38] Thank you.
[42:41] I promise I won't take all 30 minutes that I was going to give.
[42:46] I'm here today.
[42:47] I'm from what's in say I'm 724 South Green Street.
[42:50] I'm here today on behalf of Mr. Aubrey Stimson.
[42:53] My name is Mr. Poff.
[42:57] And actually it happens to be my client's great grandfather.
[43:03] I've lived there for quite some time and seen the development of Poffdown and they've also seen what makes Poffdown special and appealing for folks.
[43:11] We saw the development that was going on on the bottom of the slide that we looked at earlier.
[43:16] People want to live in Poffdown.
[43:18] on as the offer, and what popped on as the offer for a lot of folks is the historic charm,
[43:24] the rural nature. One of the things that's cool about Winston Salem, for me as a younger
[43:30] person, was that the compactness of the region, it's walkability, it's a livability, it's great.
[43:36] We're a pretty compact city for our size. It's one of the things that makes it special and
[43:41] then likable, but it's also a challenge, because we have to be responsible with what we choose to do
[43:46] with the relative, we smaller amount of land that we have to work with compared to others.
[43:51] And so that's why on behalf of my client and I, we're here to urge the council to adopt
[43:57] the boards of recommendation from March, and to conclude that ultimately this use while
[44:03] I would commend the Grand View folks for their efforts. I think they've gone above and beyond what
[44:09] most people would be expected to do in the situation. They've listened to many concerns,
[44:14] but ultimately there's only so much that they really can do given that this is a rezoning
[44:20] application to take something that was supposed to be low-density housing and instead be
[44:25] a storage facility. And so, having, you know, commending them for their efforts, I would say,
[44:31] this is simply not the fit for a puffdown. Once you start urban sprawl, it can be difficult to
[44:38] wrangle that in. So this is a decision that you're making not just for right now and the people that
[44:43] live in puffdown right now, but for the next 250 years, it's been 250 years since it was found at almost
[44:51] so I would urge the council to consider that and urge the council to deny the petition. Thank you.
[45:00] Anyone else for the opposition that would like to be heard?
[45:05] All right. We'll go back to the proponents. You'd have three minutes for a rubuddle, if you would choose to use any of that.
[45:16] Again, this is a Nick Blackwood aid of four green valley road in Greensboro.
[45:21] I think as to the conformity with the area plan and the complaint, those plans are certainly beneficial and should
[45:29] to guide your thinking, but they're not set in stone and are really kind of goalpost and a framework for considering these types of requests.
[45:37] So I think in these sorts of circumstances, when you look at what's actually been developed on the ground adjacent to us in that commercial activity center,
[45:45] the fact that this property fronts a major thoroughfare and there have been a number of zoning conditions added to address the reasonable concerns of neighbors in the area.
[45:54] I think this is a good fit and if the standard is that the next developer come through and present a project that addresses point by point that concerns that they heard from the neighbors and provides a neighboring homeowner's association with a comfort level
[46:09] and with a fix to a problem that they first saw regardless of how the property was developed.
[46:16] It might not be such a bad thing.
[46:19] So, thanks. Thank you very much. And with the opposition, like to all friends saying, during rebuttal, thank you.
[46:27] All right, I will close the public hearing and recognize council member Hall.
[46:33] Thank you, Mayor joins. So this has been quite some time of learning of this particular item, including doing a site visit.
[46:47] The petitioners did reach out to me in my office numerous times and I can assure you that I have met with them the phone call zoom.
[47:02] We've exchanged emails and of course welcome me for a site visit.
[47:10] I tried to make sure that this is something that maybe they did not want to do.
[47:16] Particularly when I heard this is going to be another storage unit, because I was like, that's always in these is another storage unit.
[47:26] And so I did, I really did. And I have spent quite some time just trying to peel back the layers of this project.
[47:36] One of the things that stuck out to me, there was several, but one of the things that stuck out to me in particular was kind of going above and beyond.
[47:48] In reaching out besides, I think that 500 foot radius and I think they did 1,000 feet of trying to do some outreach and making sure that they notified folks that were in close livability to the project site.
[48:02] In addition to that, also in trying to find some common ground with the neighbors.
[48:11] And having been a past HOA president, I do not envy you.
[48:18] But I also know how important it is for homeowners to feel comfortable and to feel like they do have a voice when development is near.
[48:34] I did not necessarily see where a negotiation like this could take place in the future, particularly with being able to get lots of there, what I would call demands or concerns met by the petitioner.
[48:53] I did ask the president of the homeowners association if these needs or demands were not met with they still be on board and the answer was no.
[49:08] Special Sproul can happen, it just can, development happens is not always a bad thing to happen, we need development.
[49:18] But we don't always have a folks that are willing to be able to meet residents where they are and what is important to them.
[49:27] And that is what struck me about this in addition to all of the outreach that they did do.
[49:35] And reaching back out to opposition to folks who were opposed to this at the planning board meeting.
[49:42] And the attempts in which they reached out so they said they said emails and I was like I like to see the emails.
[49:48] And they provided me with those emails.
[49:51] And so again, I tried and at every point that they were tested, they were able to come back with a response.
[50:01] And I believe it was favorable. I asked to get names of members for the homeowners association that were on board with this I got that.
[50:09] And so because of that.
[50:12] And more.
[50:14] I actually do move for approval.
[50:18] One the statement of consistency for approval of this item.
[50:22] And two.
[50:24] W-3-6-4-3.
[50:27] Second.
[50:29] Second.
[50:30] May I vote to him?
[50:31] No, for a second.
[50:33] Any further.
[50:35] Mr. Murphy.
[50:38] Let me know for a comment then I got a question.
[50:42] I was very concerned with this was voted down by both the planning staff and the planning board.
[50:48] Then we have learned that what we're presented is not in fact what they voted on.
[50:52] And I would respectfully suggest in the future if there are significant changes that they cycle back through.
[51:00] Now.
[51:01] And he said that.
[51:03] The 80 foot buffer.
[51:04] I think he was a red check area.
[51:07] And then the area of West of the dam.
[51:12] That is that is.
[51:15] Are those conditions part of it?
[51:18] Yes, or they are.
[51:19] Okay.
[51:21] Thank you.
[51:22] Okay. Thank you.
[51:23] Customers.
[51:24] Yes.
[51:26] Thank you.
[51:27] Mr. Mayor.
[51:29] Mr. King.
[51:30] Mr. Murphy.
[51:32] Is it correct that if we make this change to GBL?
[51:36] And that project does not go through then.
[51:39] New zoning for that land is now GBL.
[51:43] And there's no guarantee at this time that that particular project that was proposed will go through correct.
[51:52] If the property is on GBL it will be subject to the conditions and uses that you approve tonight.
[51:59] So should this be approved the only use that they would have would be store services retail internal and store services retail external.
[52:08] And all of the conditions of approval that are in the special use permit and written consent conditions are binding on the property.
[52:17] So while these, you know, while this project in and of itself could fall through anyone who would acquire the property after that would be subject to the same conditions and limitations on use.
[52:31] Whatever we agree to tonight.
[52:33] Correct.
[52:34] Thank you.
[52:36] We do have a motion and a sucker to approve this project.
[52:39] All those in favor of the motion please indicate by voting yes.
[52:42] Anyone opposed?
[52:43] No.
[52:49] And the motion passes seven in favor want to pose.
[52:52] Councilor Bow and the voting against.
[52:55] Thank you very much.
[52:56] Councilor Hall item G3.
[53:00] Item G3 public hearing and consideration.
[53:04] In just an afternoon before.
[53:06] I want to think one that I found.
[53:09] Starting petition of one of four progress LLC and one of four progress court.
[53:12] To LLC from GBS to GBL properties located at the Northwest intersection of progress lane progress court.
[53:17] Located in the North ward planning board recommends approval of petition.
[53:22] Thank you, this is a public hearing yes or anyone to counsel chamber who is opposed to this rezoning.
[53:29] Seeing no one out of credit.
[53:30] going out to clear the public hearing closed and I'll recognize Mayor Potim Adams for a motion
[53:33] of seats ready.
[53:34] Yes.
[53:35] I'm hopeful approval of one statement, a consistency for approval of this item, and two
[53:41] W of three, six, four, six.
[53:43] Is there a second?
[53:45] Second.
[53:46] Second, by customer work.
[53:48] Thank you very much.
[53:49] Any further discussion?
[53:51] If not, all of us in favor of the police vote, yes, anyone opposed vote, no.
[53:57] That is unanimous.
[53:58] Thank you very much, Mayor Potim.
[54:01] Item G4.
[54:03] G4, resolution acknowledging the results of the civil service board elections, the selection
[54:09] by the police and fire chiefs, and appointing the fourth member to the civil service board.
[54:13] Thank you.
[54:14] Mr. Surveyor, would you allow to title a little bit on this report?
[54:17] Yes, so last month Council approved and amendment to the ordinance that created the civil
[54:22] service board to allow for an electronic voting option.
[54:27] As a reminder, for anyone watching the civil service board is comprised of five members
[54:33] to that are elected by the police and fire departments, respectively.
[54:37] One member is jointly selected by the police and fire chief, one member appointed by City Council,
[54:43] and then those four will come together to select their fifth board member.
[54:47] That electronic election happened at the end of April, and the results have been certified,
[54:54] those certified results are included in your Council packet.
[54:57] The police department elected Brent Moyer, and the fire department elected Kelly Emerson.
[55:03] The police and fire chiefs have jointly selected Edward Hasmer as their joint representative on
[55:09] the board, and then the mayor has recommended Reverend Dr. Herbert Herbert Miller as the
[55:15] Council's appointee.
[55:16] So if approved and Council is supportive of that appointee, then those four members were working
[55:23] to try to schedule a meeting with those four in June, so hopefully they can get together
[55:27] in June to select that fifth member, and then have that board into full effect in July.
[55:32] Any questions, Mr. Mayor Portem?
[55:37] Are we on track, so far as our timeline is concerned to get this pretty much wrapped up, so
[55:43] we can start to do the business of what it's supposed to do?
[55:48] I can't speak to the original, I don't know what the original timeline is, I might look to the attorney
[55:54] for that.
[55:55] But in terms of the internal timeline we've set forth over the last couple of months, yes, we're
[56:00] moving along, that was one of the reasons we wanted to bring that amendment last month to
[56:04] allow for that electronic voting option to accelerate that process so we can have everybody
[56:11] in board so that board can get their orientation and start meeting as necessary.
[56:15] Thank you.
[56:16] So the action we're asking Council tonight is basically to approve Reverend Miller as our representative
[56:22] on there, so I would certainly entertain a motion for that.
[56:25] I'm vote for approval of item G4.
[56:27] Second.
[56:28] Second, by Councillor Taylor, would you like to be a 30?
[56:32] Yes, I was just going to thank you, Mayor Jones.
[56:35] Good evening, Council members.
[56:36] Mayor Portem, I just wanted to address your question.
[56:38] Yes, we are on track.
[56:41] Initially, when we first started out on this target date was to be right where we are.
[56:48] I think we've done a pretty good job in terms of the fact that we've had to do some technical
[56:51] correction is initially to the bill and the ordinance in addition to our setback earlier
[56:56] this year of the cyber attack, we've continued to press forward so we could get this board in
[57:01] panels.
[57:02] Thank you.
[57:03] I would do have a motion on the floor, and second, all those in favour of please indicate the vote
[57:07] in yes, anyone opposed vote?
[57:09] That's unanimous.
[57:10] Thank you, Council members.
[57:12] Item G5.
[57:14] Item G5, city manager's presentation on the city of Winston Salem proposed fiscal year 2025, 2020.
[57:21] Any six budget?
[57:22] Let's take it.
[57:23] Thank you, Mayor.
[57:28] Members, Mayor Portem, members of the council.
[57:30] I know this is the day that you're always looking absolutely forward to getting the next
[57:36] year's budget.
[57:37] This is one of the most important things I believe council does.
[57:40] Each year is setting the priorities for the upcoming fiscal year as a part of your budget
[57:46] process.
[57:47] I know that you've got a series of work sessions and public meetings set up to talk about
[57:54] these things.
[57:55] This is going to be just a short overview of what's in the budget as we do have a budget work
[58:01] session for the public tomorrow night, and for you to get the budget so you'll have that to review
[58:07] before we start the finance budget work sessions on Wednesday.
[58:13] You have already spent a considerable amount of time reviewing the needs of the community, reviewing
[58:20] the needs that staff have brought before you, reviewing needs of various stakeholders in the community, and
[58:26] have worked to establish strategic priorities based on those needs.
[58:32] We've had a lot of conversations with different folks, and I think we've all come back to the same conclusion
[58:37] of the priorities that you have selected, and that are shown in this budget as key issues
[58:42] for this community.
[58:43] I'm going to go over those just briefly.
[58:45] The first one of the four of those strategic priority areas is good government.
[58:52] With respect to this point back to fiscal planning, making sure that we are keeping our physical
[58:59] house and order, I think everybody knows that that's a vital piece of what's going on.
[59:04] Our fund balance amounts from a low six years ago of about 10 percent.
[59:09] We're now up to about 20 percent, and our unreserved fund balance.
[59:13] That's our money that's set aside to make payroll before the taxes come in to be available in case
[59:20] of emergency or some unforeseen need, emergency need that comes into the city.
[59:25] So that's a great position to be in to see that growing.
[59:29] Good government also means we want to be an employer of choice, which means we want to be
[59:33] consistently and adequately consistent and adequately compensating our employees for the work they do.
[59:39] You propose a new compensation or approve the new compensation study last year
[59:44] that we've implemented the first phases, and we will continue to work on that over the next several years.
[59:49] Actually, it'll probably be a continuous basis of working on that year over year to make sure that we're staying competitive in the marketplace.
[59:57] We want to make it a priority to recruit.
[1:00:00] And retain the highest quality staff that we can talent for to serve the residents of this community.
[1:00:11] So you'll also see in this budget when it's presented, some changes in our debt management programs.
[1:00:16] In terms of using more pages you go funding and less reliance on long-term financing, particularly for things that have a shorter lifespan, like a vehicle, or some of our maintenance activities that are ongoing.
[1:00:29] The second part of the priority is economic prosperity.
[1:00:34] You may significant amount of progress over the past year, particularly in the housing and economic development programs.
[1:00:40] You adopted a housing affordable housing RFP process for multi-family and scatter lot single-family housing that is successfully working to get those folks in front of the federal government for live-tech projects and the single-family homes moving so that we can put people in those.
[1:00:58] You have constructed more than 200 affordable housing units over the past couple of years.
[1:01:05] Another issue of part of this economic prosperity in this budget you will see in emphasis on our homeless issue.
[1:01:12] So there is a second position that we've regalicated to be a homeless outreach coordinator to serve our needs in that area, which tend to be thing to be growing more each and every day.
[1:01:26] Since 2020 you've created 2,700 new jobs in this community and had over a billion dollars in commercial and industrial development.
[1:01:34] We want to continue those trends.
[1:01:36] Things like our speculative building reviving loan program will help us do that.
[1:01:42] That is in place and will continue to be in place.
[1:01:45] We are also ready to do one of the top 100 best places to live.
[1:01:49] Again, because of our amenities and environment, transportation networks and other things that are going on.
[1:01:55] So those are all included and continued in this economic prosperity, including the need to try to make sure that the community as a whole, everyone in the community has access to economic prosperity and the ability to grow.
[1:02:10] The third area is community advocacy and engagement.
[1:02:15] This is, as has already been mentioned in the eyes, becoming a much more prevalent issue that we're going to have to continue to focus on and looking to deal with our value relationships with our key partners, particularly our state and federal folks.
[1:02:31] You've had many discussions with those.
[1:02:34] We've talked about one of the issues with the state government just recently on the Palbil tax.
[1:02:39] The Palbil was a senator that actually introduced that tax back in Leah in the 50s, I believe, or 60s.
[1:02:45] So that that is ongoing and as a need that we have.
[1:02:49] Over the past several years, you have secured significant amounts of federal funding for capital projects like the grounds running a park expansion of the bare program for mental and behavioral health services for buying electric vehicles for parts of our city.
[1:03:05] We want to fully including our bus system.
[1:03:09] We want to continue those partnerships.
[1:03:13] Choice neighborhoods is one of the key areas that we will continue to be focusing on over the next several years and we've had several discussions about that.
[1:03:20] Our transportation infrastructure and programs to support housing and homelessness are all key parts of this advocacy and engagement.
[1:03:28] We're looking to foster specific pride and strengthening relationships with folks in our community, particularly our nonprofit partners who are also facing a lot of these same pressures from the state and federal government that we're facing, unfortunately.
[1:03:43] The fourth area is livable communities.
[1:03:46] Global communities is our enhancing our residents sense of overall safety, maintaining neighborhood appearance and supporting the amenities and programs that make this city a community of choice.
[1:03:59] Along these lines, we've had a couple of things that are that are prominent like the real-time prime center, which is seen on the screen, which continues to track.
[1:04:08] All over the country and from internationally to look at how we are providing that service and using those services.
[1:04:16] We also have expanded the drone program in our police department, all of these efforts and including the bare team.
[1:04:22] All of these efforts are to make our community safer and to free up our public safety officers to do the things that they're trying to do.
[1:04:32] We also are looking at enhanced housing rehabilitation programs and looking at trying to help people make sure that their homes are in good shape.
[1:04:41] Our last several years since 2020 we've spent 68 million dollars in recreation and parks and public assembly facilities in this community.
[1:04:51] This year moving forward, we've got another 19 million in plans to work on projects for this upcoming year.
[1:05:02] So out of those four areas that we just talked about, just bring it down to one more level in terms of water, we're looking at in terms of our budget priorities.
[1:05:09] So that we've discussed and will continue to discuss.
[1:05:13] Coming on employer of choice, we know that it's important for us to maintain the salary and benefits that are necessary to track the best talent to our community.
[1:05:22] maintaining our current service levels and particularly in transit services.
[1:05:27] We went and did the transit bid last year.
[1:05:31] We brought back that right to council is that here's what it's going to cost to restore the services that the community had the desire to do and then here's what it's going to cost.
[1:05:40] For us to get out of the whole that we were in because we were using ARPA funds and fund balance to actually subsidize the transit program.
[1:05:49] So that is a major area that you'll see us talk a lot more about over the next couple of weeks.
[1:05:54] Straight through in our financial position.
[1:05:56] Again, we've talked about that.
[1:05:58] We want to make sure that we're in a spot that we'll always have the funds available and that you'll know what we're.
[1:06:04] We're spending our funds on and that we can maintain our credit ratings.
[1:06:09] And then finishing our currently funded capital projects.
[1:06:12] It's been a priority of this council before I came and I think it will be a priority is to meet the obligations that you've laid out in front of the community to do those projects that we've.
[1:06:22] Issued bonds for or have asked to be approved in bond referendum and at some of our other net financing.
[1:06:29] We want to focus on getting those projects done and completed for the folks that are waiting for those before we move on to new projects.
[1:06:38] Just real quickly in terms of the employee of choice.
[1:06:42] I want to remind council that we've done a lot of things in that area with your help.
[1:06:46] We have done an employee survey so we've gone out to listen to all of our employees to find out what things we're doing well, what things they would like to see us improved.
[1:06:55] We have and if you see the survey results there on the employee of choice.
[1:07:00] We've exceeded national bench marks and those areas in 83% of the questions asked benchmark questions.
[1:07:07] Nine of ten employees want to finish their career with the city and eight out of ten would recommend the city as an employer through their family and friends.
[1:07:16] As we've talked about you spent a lot of time helping us with employee compensation and in benefits and we want to maintain keeping that.
[1:07:23] You just adopted a resolution to extend our health insurance program for next year at which is one of the best health insurance programs.
[1:07:32] I think of any provider, look, remember, provider in the country.
[1:07:36] And then employee vacancies.
[1:07:38] As you've seen in the retreat in other places, we're doing a tremendous job of actually hiring folks.
[1:07:43] Our vacancy rate is probably half of what it was just two years ago.
[1:07:49] We're making strides and almost every department and there's just a few places that we're still seeking folks out.
[1:07:55] So if you do want to be a police officer, a police department is doing a great job of recruiting, we're actually gaining police officers, but we do have vacancies there that we're still working to fill.
[1:08:04] We believe we might have the biggest request ever in this upcoming class that's going to, it's about to happen.
[1:08:10] And then the other areas, CDL drivers, we are continuing to look for folks that have CDL license that have the ability and the capability and the desire to work in the field to provide services to our community.
[1:08:23] Another big issue that we've probably spent a fair amount of time continuing to talk about is property reevaluation.
[1:08:31] Just as a reminder, this is a state mandate and activity.
[1:08:35] The state requires every county to reassess all the properties under a certain period of time.
[1:08:43] Some communities do it more often than we do.
[1:08:47] I was used to doing it on an annual basis before coming back to North Carolina, but we're doing it on a four-year basis here.
[1:08:53] So the good news is over the past four years, even though you have no control over what the assessments are at all as a city council.
[1:09:02] The value of homes in our community has grown substantial.
[1:09:06] So folks have higher wealth in their homes than they did four years ago by far.
[1:09:13] So if you're looking to sell your house, that's a great thing.
[1:09:17] The website of that one is if you're looking to buy a house, housing is much more expensive than it was four years ago.
[1:09:22] The CDL map does show the blue, it's kind of the cool areas which would show the lower amounts.
[1:09:29] Greens are showing a higher amounts, the yellows and the reds are the highest.
[1:09:33] So as you go towards red, that's your highest area of evaluation growth.
[1:09:38] So you can see in what is most of our residential areas in the community there is a lot of growth and values that has been shown there.
[1:09:46] Residential values are going faster than commercial and industrial values.
[1:09:51] Again, you have no controller with that, but that doesn't mean that there will be some shift in the tax burden from our commercial and industrial side to the residential side.
[1:10:01] So folks, like you and I that own homes, we will see just based on a revenue neutral rate and increase in our property bills in this upcoming year.
[1:10:13] Let me talk a little bit about the local economy.
[1:10:20] We was kind of leaning into that as we said our values are going up, you can see residential construction permit values from 23 to 24 as increased substantially.
[1:10:29] We're hopeful to see that trend continue in 25.
[1:10:32] And our non-residential square footage again, a big jump from 23 to 24.
[1:10:37] That goes back closer to the normal trend that you would have hoped to have seen there in redevelopment and new development.
[1:10:45] So there's some major projects going on, the grounds being one of those, which is a huge redevelopment project in our community.
[1:10:51] That hopefully will meet many benefits for us in the long term.
[1:10:56] And people want to come to our community, the amenities that are here are attracting folks like NASCAR and the clash, which came during the past year.
[1:11:04] And brought up tremendously successful event to Bowman, great stadium and to our community.
[1:11:10] We are a very much a desirable place to live.
[1:11:13] And as we talked about, little ability, ranks as one of the top places to live and the people that are coming to town verify that fact that people want to live here.
[1:11:27] Another issue that's in this budget that we'll need to talk about is the uncertainty.
[1:11:31] There is quite a bit of concern over what's happening with the economy and how that will ultimately play out.
[1:11:38] As you can see on the map here, the GDP for the first quarter of 25 was actually lower.
[1:11:44] It was a negative amount for the first time in quite some time.
[1:11:48] Our sales tax growth has been fairly anemic.
[1:11:52] So our retail sector is feeling the burden of things like tariffs and bugs perception as to whether they should be spending money or not.
[1:12:03] So even if those are short term, places where we'll be with their economy, it does impact this budget and how we're going to make it through this budget.
[1:12:13] And what we're doing is that the government, major uncertainty we talk about several times is federal and state funding.
[1:12:19] We know about the the Palbil funding for roads as a major issue from the state.
[1:12:25] There are some other issues that the state is looking at that might impact us as well.
[1:12:29] On the federal side, we know that the preliminary budget that went out shows significant cuts in many of the areas that they support in the community, including homelessness.
[1:12:39] We're helping with the on-house housing and development activities.
[1:12:43] Our whole range of assistance programs that go on to help folks in this community have a good quality of life or all right now on the chopping blocks.
[1:12:55] And we're going to have to see what that impact is going to be.
[1:12:59] This budget and we've talked to when many of you about it, we are assuming they're going to receive significantly similar state and federal revenues as we have in the past, but we'll have to plan for if those don't come in.
[1:13:15] But we do need those revenues desperately to support the programs that you've got going in the community, so it's going to be very difficult to not have those in place.
[1:13:26] Scott will give you a whole lot more detail starting on Wednesday about all the numbers in the budget, but this is just a real quick overview of what's going on.
[1:13:35] Our total net budget proposed for next year is 727 million dollars.
[1:13:41] Some cave also on that, some accounting changes that we made that are driving that number up higher than they would otherwise such as paying off some of our least debt amounts.
[1:13:52] So that that but that payoff will actually result in typically over a million dollars a saving per year for the future.
[1:14:01] We're going to overall budget 38% or a little over 36% is dedicated to environmental health 22% roughly to public safety.
[1:14:11] That management is about 13% and transportation just under 10%.
[1:14:16] So that's 80% of your budget.
[1:14:19] We're going to have a lot of environmental health, which is basically utilities and sanitation, public safety, police fire emergency management.
[1:14:26] Your debt, your capital projects are ongoing and transportation transit that's transit and your roads projects.
[1:14:35] We just look at the general fund, which is what the property tax primarily supports public safety is 52% of the general fund.
[1:14:43] And I can talk about public safety and again, I know nobody likes to pay more than they're doing, but every dollar this paid over half of that goes to public safety, the support public safety in this community.
[1:14:55] Environmental health in the general fund is about 10% community and economic development, transportation.
[1:15:00] And recreation and culture together account for about 22%, they're all about 7%, each. So again, that's 80% of your budget in the general fund. 50% for public safety, environmental health sanitation about 10, and then you've got parks, transportation and community development and your planning and other activities.
[1:15:20] You will see a lot of major changes on how we do debt and we'll go to end a more detail with that on that and the various programs and services that we provide in the budget work sessions.
[1:15:31] The major revenues that support this budget are property tax that about 31% charges for services or about 28% and that's again, you need a lot of bills primarily.
[1:15:43] There's 17% reserve appropriations in this budget and that's again to pay off some of our leasing programs and to deal with some of the capital projects that we have ongoing.
[1:15:55] And then a% are federal and state revenues. Those four sources, again, that's 90% of your overall budget.
[1:16:04] And looking at the top area there, property tax and how that's going to be impacted.
[1:16:12] You will see in 2425, we're showing you what the current rate is, 72 and a half cents. This budget is balanced with a tax rate of 57.5 cents, which is a 15 cent reduction from the current rate.
[1:16:28] So while the tax rate is going down, this is not a revenue neutral budget. Unfortunately, if you want to provide the same level services that we've been providing, we're going to be additional tax revenues.
[1:16:42] The biggest one there is the transit fund, as we mentioned multiple times in terms of a revenue neutral, it's about 2.2 cents higher than the revenue neutral rate, just for the transit fund.
[1:16:53] So again, provide the services that are going on there. I know that we'll have lots of discussions on transit.
[1:16:59] There's lots of models out there that people are looking at in terms of micro transit activities doing basically a overarching type services.
[1:17:11] Some of our sister communities are doing some of those issues. We're looking at all of those options.
[1:17:17] The ones that increase the service by using smaller buses and more point to point tend to have increased increases the ridership, but also increases are cost.
[1:17:28] And the federal government doesn't support those at the same way that they support the FTA.
[1:17:33] But what our advocacy efforts might very well be is to work with the federal government on changing how the FTA works so that we can provide a more efficient service at a better price.
[1:17:44] The debt service fund is basically revenue neutral and so the general fund is also not revenue neutral.
[1:17:51] 2.6 cents in additional funding in the general fund that is primarily about 30.
[1:17:59] Well, a little over half of that is allocated to services in personnel cost.
[1:18:04] And the other half is to maintain its projects that were previously debt funded that need to be funded on a page to go basis.
[1:18:12] And again, I'm sure we'll have lots of discussions about those charts and how what that means for individual residents.
[1:18:20] In terms of the other fees and revenues that we have out there, water sewer has been recommended by the utility commission to go about 5%.
[1:18:28] Which is less than we've done in the last couple of years, but it is a little higher.
[1:18:33] Our solid ways to disposal, that's what you have to pay at the tipping fee at the landfill needs to go up dollar per ton.
[1:18:40] Our stormwater rates are proposing increased by 4% again trying to stay with inflation.
[1:18:46] And there are a variety of parks and recreation fees, many of which have not been looked at in 10 or more years that are just not consistent with the market.
[1:18:55] And so there's some revenue changes there that will go with you in detail.
[1:19:00] They don't tend to have a whole lot of impact budget as a whole, probably just for those individual users in some of those areas.
[1:19:09] So in looking at all of that part of the issue is, what are we not able to do in this budget?
[1:19:16] And there's quite a bit that we can't do that.
[1:19:19] Both you've asked about, that the community has asked about in terms of enhanced services or community facilities.
[1:19:26] That our staff and departments have requested in terms of new personnel ability to provide services that the community, again, is asking them for in terms of needs.
[1:19:36] Many things will have to be addressed in future budgets.
[1:19:41] A couple of areas there in economic prosperity is that affordable housing area.
[1:19:45] We have set aside 5 million in this year and there's another 5 million in next year's budget or this upcoming years budget.
[1:19:52] So you can take you with a lot of tech and the single family home program that you've put in place.
[1:19:59] So we will be able to get through this year with those funds, but then you're going to have to look at what is the priority of funding that in the future and going forward.
[1:20:09] The ability area, a big one for us is street resurfacing.
[1:20:12] We have maintained the funds that we had set aside for street resurfacing last year, which included some slight increases in that.
[1:20:22] So when we don't lose the power bill funds, that would still be in place.
[1:20:26] But I can tell you that we're probably about $4 million short of where we need to be on an annual basis in terms of bringing our resurfacing schedule down to a level that would be comparable to other communities.
[1:20:38] Roughly probably a 30 to 35 year schedule of when things would be resurfaced as opposed to probably at least double that right now.
[1:20:49] And I have a case in engagement area.
[1:20:52] There's been a loss.
[1:20:53] We do not have additional federal funding, what's we call the ARPA funding.
[1:20:57] So there is a significant number of community agencies that are asking for funds from the city from continuing those programs and some of the existing programs.
[1:21:06] There is no new funding for community agencies in this budget.
[1:21:11] So the funding for agencies that we've traditionally supported are there.
[1:21:16] But there's a lot of needs out there beyond that.
[1:21:19] That doesn't even include new things that people are asking about on our daily basis.
[1:21:23] Capital campaigns and other activities in the community.
[1:21:27] Those are not included in the budget.
[1:21:31] And the advocacy and engagement will also need to continue looking at transit and transportation as I've mentioned and how we can advocate for the federal government to continue and the state government to continue providing funds.
[1:21:43] In the good government area there's facility renovations and replacements.
[1:21:47] We appreciate everybody taking the tour and looking at some of our facility conditions.
[1:21:52] We do have money that we're cobbling together to pay for a facility assessment.
[1:21:59] So that we can identify what are the highest priority needs.
[1:22:03] We already know that the yard needs to be taken down back to to the to the bare ground.
[1:22:10] So we're already looking at how we're going to move individuals out of that.
[1:22:14] Those facilities and a better facilities.
[1:22:17] But we're there are also many other facilities.
[1:22:19] Many of you talk to me about your parks and recreation facilities in some of the communities.
[1:22:23] The fire stations and many of our areas older fire stations.
[1:22:27] There are a lot of facilities that we have that are not in the condition that I think you want them to be in and that the community wants them to be in their proud as a community.
[1:22:37] We also have things like the like Bowman Gray where we've got the significant amount of new activity going on there that also requires significant investment in those facilities to make sure that they're.
[1:22:49] I won't call them sight of the art but at least they're at comparable levels so that we can continue to attract those kinds of events.
[1:22:56] There's deferred maintenance that we need to deal with in many areas.
[1:22:59] We need to maintain our compensation packages.
[1:23:03] All of this needs to be done in an environment of staying financially sustainable and modernizing our equipment and systems.
[1:23:13] You will see that what has been funded this end of system is our HRIS or human resources information system package is being updated this year.
[1:23:22] We've made a tremendous amount of IT changes this past year because of the cyber attack so there are things that are ongoing but there are many more that need to be dealt with.
[1:23:32] As we mentioned there will be a series of budget workshops, public information sessions and public hearings and here is a list of those.
[1:23:40] I'm not going to read them all to you but starting tomorrow.
[1:23:43] We will have the first budget public information system at the Carl Russell Center and a Wednesday you'll have your first committee to hold budget workshop.
[1:23:52] I know that's that's probably a lot even in I said I'm trying to do just a quick summary.
[1:23:57] There will be a lot more discussion in this.
[1:23:59] You'll have a full budget and a CRP package for you to take home and hopefully not put you to sleep but give you some good reading and we look forward to working with you all not getting this budget approved.
[1:24:13] Thank you.
[1:24:14] Thank you Mr. Payton. Any questions that we don't deal with tonight before we get into hearings?
[1:24:19] Just one.
[1:24:20] Mr. Payton when you were saying again that we work or may not be able to invest or assist with the nonprofits.
[1:24:31] Again we've heard the figures of the Powell bill and their others community development block grant whatever.
[1:24:37] Give me a rough estimate for the public.
[1:24:42] But just because we need to get people to start thinking about.
[1:24:47] We didn't create this situation.
[1:24:50] So therefore we're left to try and figure it out and hold the household.
[1:24:56] So what does that number look like so far as those programs that you listed again or stated homeless initiatives and whatever.
[1:25:07] As we mentioned in the council in the past we when we looked back this year we had about 90 million dollars worth of.
[1:25:14] The number again.
[1:25:15] 90 million dollars worth of federal funds that we were looking at that we were in some phase of hoping that we would get.
[1:25:24] But had not received those funds yet from ongoing basis or probably a little less than that some of that includes some grants and some one time funds.
[1:25:33] And that doesn't count the Powell bill money that Scott just mentioned which is another 17 million in the Bayon M that we may not get.
[1:25:43] There are some other things that are going through in the state side but the emergency management funds if those.
[1:25:49] If disaster assistance funds don't come you know you hope and pray that that doesn't happen to you but we are now in the tornado alley for North Carolina and so there.
[1:26:02] There's a lot of incidents happen so we've got to have resources available to take care of that because right now we don't see a lot of.
[1:26:10] Help coming to us from those agencies or the state and the federal government to help us but so it's 90 million plus at least probably 20 million that we know of on the state level right now and that's not counting other things that that may be mandated on us coming out of the general assembly in this session.
[1:26:29] Thank you.
[1:26:30] Thank you.
[1:26:31] Thank you.
[1:26:32] Thank you.
[1:26:33] Thank you.
[1:26:34] Thank you.
[1:26:35] Thank you.
[1:26:36] Thank you.
[1:26:37] Thank you very much.
[1:26:38] I look forward to to reading through my first budget.
[1:26:41] I just wanted to show my appreciation for you mentioned the addition for another outreach.
[1:26:48] Coordinator for the homeless community with the possible passing of the state bill of.
[1:26:54] Thank you.
[1:26:55] Thank you.
[1:26:56] Thank you.
[1:26:57] Thank you.
[1:26:58] We'll look forward to further discussions.
[1:27:01] Next item, please.
[1:27:04] That was public comment period as it's a time that we set us that once from up.
[1:27:14] We invite citizens to speak to us one matter that are germane to city government.
[1:27:18] When the comment period is called, a speaker will give in three minutes for our comments.
[1:27:23] Give your name to address for the record and we do limit it to a total of 30 minutes and we will honor that time.
[1:27:29] Public comment should pertain to issues that are relevant to city government.
[1:27:34] City council members may not respond to public comments during the meeting, but may address them in a later date or ask to have to follow up.
[1:27:42] If necessary speakers are encouraged to be civil and courteous in their language and presentation.
[1:27:48] Those who want to be civil and courteous in their language or gestures or inappropriate behaviors are discouraged.
[1:27:54] Those engaging in such conduct may result in a for sure of their remaining speaking times.
[1:28:00] And individuals who continue to engage in such egregious behavior.
[1:28:04] After being told to cease to say, baby instructed to lead the meeting.
[1:28:08] speakers may use other avenues to address concerns such as personnel litigation and other confidential matters.
[1:28:15] And we regretfully appreciate that.
[1:28:17] I'll work hard to make sure you can understand me.
[1:28:20] Understand you had trouble listening other than I are hearing other than I mean.
[1:28:23] And so I'll do my best to speak a little clearer on that.
[1:28:26] We have a number of individual signed up and each one will get three minutes.
[1:28:31] The first signed up is Matthew Mayers.
[1:28:38] Thank you. I'll try not to use any nasty language.
[1:28:42] My name is Matthew Mayers. I live at 2844 Wesley and Lane.
[1:28:46] Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
[1:28:48] And I also want to express appreciation to the neighborhood services department, which did I think a masterful job at laying out the new system of allocating funds for affordable housing.
[1:29:00] It was beautiful. Also thanks to Mr. Pate for his presentation preliminary presentation of budgeting.
[1:29:07] That's more or less what I wanted to come to speak to you tonight about.
[1:29:14] It looks like we could be getting into some difficult times.
[1:29:18] And I don't know about you, but what I do when it looks like things are going to be rough is I look around and think, okay, what are the things I spend money on that I might spend money in a way that will save me money.
[1:29:30] That's how I often look at it.
[1:29:33] Luckily you do have in your possession a really good strategic plan from your sustainability director on how to go about your energy spending.
[1:29:45] I'm not sure exactly why it's not been put forward for a vote or an acceptance or anything like that.
[1:29:51] It was called a plan but it looks more like I don't know what a series of recommendations hopefully not to be lost on a shelf.
[1:30:00] So, Mr. Pate just presented briefly a budget that looks like it's going to be just shy of seven hundred and eight million dollars.
[1:30:11] You might consider maybe spending one of those millions on some projects that could be extracted from that report to give everybody kind of a sense of what that means.
[1:30:23] Let's say you're going to put out a $5 bill and a $2 bill and another $2 bill and a quarter in a penny in a penny.
[1:30:30] I'm saying spend one of those pennies on the sustainability projects, especially the ones that the director identified as money saving.
[1:30:42] A suggestion, if I might, you have the rest of this year before probably the electrical taxes or tax incentives go away. They are available to non-taxed entities like cities.
[1:30:58] I might, and a lot of, you know, hold onto that money on buying vehicles that are cheaper to maintain and cheaper to run.
[1:31:05] Save us all a little bit of money over the longer term.
[1:31:10] And I'll just leave you with a little saying that sometimes people have and that is when is the best time to plant your shade tree.
[1:31:18] I think we know right, it's 20 years ago.
[1:31:21] And what, when is the next best time to plant your shade tree is today.
[1:31:25] Thank you very much.
[1:31:27] Thank you, Matthew.
[1:31:28] Bob Butler.
[1:31:40] Bob Butler, 80 high range road, London, Dairy New Hampshire.
[1:31:42] Good evening, city leadership, both appointed and elected.
[1:31:45] And the most humble and respectful way.
[1:31:48] Thank you for your hospitality and kindness.
[1:31:50] You have a beautiful city rich in history.
[1:31:52] And I'm deeply grateful for the welcome.
[1:31:55] I'm here as a guest of local 682 visiting from the lift for your die state of New Hampshire,
[1:32:00] where old men winner is still reminding us of who's in charge.
[1:32:03] Needless to say, I'm loving the North Carolina weather.
[1:32:06] Because I'm not a citizen resident or taxpayer of your community.
[1:32:10] I will not presume to do, to tell you what to do in your house at your podium or in your chambers.
[1:32:18] That is not my place.
[1:32:20] This is your home.
[1:32:21] And I have too much respect for the integrity of local government and the burden you carry as elected leaders and officials.
[1:32:29] What I offer tonight is simple perspective, qualified by experience.
[1:32:34] My only goal is to provide insight that might help you make a decision in the best interest,
[1:32:38] about the citizens of Winston-Salem and her firefighters.
[1:32:42] I come with facts that I will leave you with truth.
[1:32:45] Your firemen share the intramunicable experience of living the passion of its life to its top,
[1:32:51] while performing their sacred and selfless service to mankind.
[1:32:55] They sacrifice their youth.
[1:32:57] They sacrifice their innocence.
[1:32:59] They sacrifice their health.
[1:33:01] They sacrifice their time, both precious and finite.
[1:33:04] They sacrifice their energy and their effort.
[1:33:07] They sacrifice it all for others.
[1:33:10] And they sacrifice it all for each other.
[1:33:13] Your firemen experienced the highest highs in the lowest lows.
[1:33:18] Low is so low that it leaves a residue on the soul.
[1:33:22] They witness death, destruction and suffering at levels so intimate that words will forever fail to explain.
[1:33:29] But out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls.
[1:33:32] You know this.
[1:33:33] Your firemen, like all firemen, are the light at the tip of the candle.
[1:33:38] They burn hot and they burn bright.
[1:33:40] They burn for you and they burn for them.
[1:33:44] The men of the men and women of the American fire service,
[1:33:47] who stand in the breach between life and death, save and loss.
[1:33:52] They don't need praise.
[1:33:54] They don't even need a thank you.
[1:33:57] That's not what this is about.
[1:33:59] Excuse me.
[1:34:00] What they need more than anything is support.
[1:34:03] Your support.
[1:34:05] Support from their leaders.
[1:34:06] Support from their decision makers.
[1:34:08] And most of all, support from the citizens they have sworn to protect.
[1:34:12] Up to including the last full measure of devotion.
[1:34:16] In a country whose in a country whose government is of the people by the people and for the people.
[1:34:22] May God bless you.
[1:34:24] And guide you when you're governant.
[1:34:26] Thank you very much for your hospitality.
[1:34:28] Thank you Mr. Butler.
[1:34:29] Charles?
[1:34:31] Charles?
[1:34:32] Go in, please.
[1:34:38] Charles, go in.
[1:34:39] When 18th in the contributes, Emma.
[1:34:41] Council members, it evening.
[1:34:44] I'm a proud captain of the Winston.
[1:34:46] I'm a fighter.
[1:34:48] I have served this city for 26 years.
[1:34:50] During that time I recruited several firefighters.
[1:34:52] firefighters including my own son, who had offers from two other departments to chose
[1:34:56] Winston-Salem because of the benefits and the legacy of our family service.
[1:34:59] For the past ten years, during my recruitment efforts, every single conversation
[1:35:04] with prospective firefighters that I've had, I've did one thing I've emphasized is
[1:35:09] our shiktower crew because it reflects how the city respects the reality of our
[1:35:13] 24-hour shifts, the physical and mental toll of this job and the family sacrifices
[1:35:18] as it requires. That's it time has not just been the selling point it's been a
[1:35:21] lifeline. Now there's a proposal on the table that would change all of that.
[1:35:25] It proposal that would gut the sick time benefit making it nearly impossible to recruit
[1:35:29] and even harder to retain quality firefighters. I've already watched recruiting
[1:35:33] numbers dropped from the thousands to the hundreds. If this pass is, it could
[1:35:36] drop even further and our department will suffer a manpower loss it hasn't
[1:35:39] seen as 112 year history. Let me get personal for a moment. My wife has a
[1:35:44] cancer survivor. Her immune system is weak and during COVID, despite every risk
[1:35:48] I continue to serve this city. I mask up. I got vaccinated. I wore a gear on
[1:35:52] every call. I got sick. While taking every precaution, I still
[1:35:57] infected my wife. And because I had earned that sick time, I was able to
[1:36:01] take the time I needed to recover and the encirf my wife and daughter
[1:36:04] when they need to be the most. That sick time was not a luxury it was a necessity.
[1:36:08] The risk we face on this job are not hypothetical. They are real and deeply
[1:36:12] personal. Now imagine what will happen under this new policy to my son
[1:36:17] and the many young firefighters who joined because of those same benefits.
[1:36:20] What happens when they get injured on a call. When they have a sick child at home
[1:36:23] and no time left to care for them. Under the new proposal, it would take nine
[1:36:27] weeks to recruit just one day of sick time. Nine weeks. To compare us to a
[1:36:32] standard 40 hour work we can play is unfair and unjust. We work 24 hour shifts.
[1:36:38] That means that one shift we work the equivalent of three days with someone else.
[1:36:42] We are not 40 hours employees. We are firefighters.
[1:36:46] We respond. We protect. We sacrifice and we do it with our
[1:36:50] hesitation. What's worse, this proposal seems to overlook North Carolina General
[1:36:55] Statue 95-25. 143. In North Carolina State Statures of the Farms employers
[1:37:00] must keep accurate records and hours worked and ensure fair wage and our standards.
[1:37:04] This statute supports the fundamental idea that time work should be time earned.
[1:37:08] If we are held to a different standard of work, 24 hour shifts, weekends, nights,
[1:37:12] holidays, then while we are not earning time at a rate that reflects that reality.
[1:37:17] Council, I ask you to please think about what's really a stake here.
[1:37:21] Morale, recruitment, retention, family. Please don't cripple out the
[1:37:26] department. Don't make it hard to serve the people that we love.
[1:37:29] Thank you. We earn every hour we get. Thank you.
[1:37:32] Thank you.
[1:37:34] We will rivers.
[1:37:38] Then evening, I'm William Rivers 2840 North Glen Avenue,
[1:37:49] Wednesday.
[1:37:51] We have to ask you to take the signs down, please.
[1:37:57] Would you please remove the signs?
[1:37:59] Good evening.
[1:38:00] I'm not allowed.
[1:38:01] Mayor.
[1:38:02] I'm sorry.
[1:38:04] I'm sorry.
[1:38:06] Just a second.
[1:38:07] I'm sorry.
[1:38:08] We don't allow the signs in the council chamber.
[1:38:10] Sergeant arms, would you please?
[1:38:21] Thank you very much. Please go ahead.
[1:38:23] Sorry about that. Thank you.
[1:38:24] Not enough of those. Don't you over there.
[1:38:26] Good evening.
[1:38:28] Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim.
[1:38:30] Members of the council.
[1:38:32] I'm Captain William C. Rivers.
[1:38:34] I'm sorry.
[1:38:35] And I'm proudly served.
[1:38:37] The city was selling for almost a decade.
[1:38:40] Tonight, I'd like to discuss my concerns for the
[1:38:43] Dressy Cuss of our way to benefit.
[1:38:45] Specifically, I seek vacation time.
[1:38:48] I'm coming to you not only as a newly promoted officer in our ranks,
[1:38:51] but also as one of the employees who have to head.
[1:38:54] We've had to utilize these benefits on several occasions
[1:38:57] throughout my tenure.
[1:38:59] There are many.
[1:39:00] But the one that cuts close to me is.
[1:39:03] The death of my baby brother.
[1:39:05] Due to census gum violence.
[1:39:06] On January 23, 2021.
[1:39:08] I was actually on shift when he passed.
[1:39:10] And I had to take eight shifts.
[1:39:12] All of you utilize the combination of sick leave.
[1:39:14] Vacation and FMLA.
[1:39:16] But even that wasn't enough.
[1:39:18] Because the city went on the record.
[1:39:20] Another 43 more homicides that same year.
[1:39:23] Making it a record at that time.
[1:39:25] Many of which I knew the victims personally and their families.
[1:39:29] And some of even which I responded to.
[1:39:32] Covenant others.
[1:39:33] While I was going through the same pain.
[1:39:35] I've broken bones.
[1:39:37] Contracted infectious diseases.
[1:39:39] And even battered COVID-19 on two separate occasions.
[1:39:42] Second of which.
[1:39:43] Randomly extremely ill.
[1:39:45] All about serving in a capacity as a firefighter in a city of whistle.
[1:39:52] Resistured.
[1:39:53] I like to think that my voice is just a representation of everybody else that works.
[1:39:59] 24 hours shift.
[1:40:01] As a third of their life at the fire station.
[1:40:05] We do our job.
[1:40:06] And we are not exempt from life happening.
[1:40:08] We're not exempt from injuries.
[1:40:10] The illnesses of things happen in that home.
[1:40:11] And I am the real life example of that.
[1:40:13] And it's been good to me up until this point.
[1:40:15] I really appreciate everything that you all have done.
[1:40:17] I've done and fought for up until this point.
[1:40:21] But the truth is, is that possibly under the new.
[1:40:26] Before rates had they been adopted then.
[1:40:29] I may not even be an employee here because the amount of time required.
[1:40:34] What I'm trying to say is that time office is not a luxury to us.
[1:40:38] It provides a means to decompress and gives us the ability to recover and heal.
[1:40:42] Please recognize that no matter how traumatic the calls are on shift.
[1:40:45] No matter how early in the morning they start.
[1:40:48] We still hold an obligation to maintain our high level readiness for the entire 24 hour period.
[1:40:54] And this creates a higher level of mental fatigue and burnout.
[1:40:58] This affects mental health.
[1:41:00] And I've been just serving community and the public effectively.
[1:41:04] I understand that something has to be done.
[1:41:06] But can we please come to table when.
[1:41:09] Find a better resolution in this.
[1:41:12] That's not something to message that our first responders and communities that we serve,
[1:41:15] that our well-being is under value or that the service being taken.
[1:41:18] There are services being taken for granted.
[1:41:21] Please consider and vote no for this proposal.
[1:41:23] And let's put our heads together.
[1:41:24] Come up with a more powerful resolution because we're on the same team.
[1:41:28] Thank you, Captain.
[1:41:30] There's Regan's please.
[1:41:33] There's Regan's.
[1:41:47] Liz Regan's 135 wide-up drive King North Carolina.
[1:41:50] Good evening mayor.
[1:41:51] Mayor Pratem City Council members.
[1:41:53] I'm fire fighter Regan's.
[1:41:54] I've been with Winston Steylon for four years.
[1:41:56] But my journey didn't start in 2021.
[1:41:58] I applied in 2019 and I failed because I did not yet understand what it took to be a firefighter.
[1:42:04] After that failure, I committed myself fully to serving this city.
[1:42:08] This city.
[1:42:09] I trained hard to carry that 24 foot ladder to lift that patient to drag a person from a burning home.
[1:42:16] So I ask you when the time inevitably comes in my 30 year career that I blow out my knee.
[1:42:22] Or I tear my shoulder because we can't afford to efficiently staff fire truck for people.
[1:42:27] What time am I going to use?
[1:42:29] Next time I get pneumonia and the flu and nor virus back to back from daily exposures and nursing homes and shelters.
[1:42:35] What time am I supposed to use?
[1:42:37] I don't have much time in this department.
[1:42:39] And under this proposal, if I get badly hurt or sick, I'll burn through my time in months and I'll be left with nothing.
[1:42:46] We already miss holidays, birthdays, important milestones with our families.
[1:42:51] Unlike the 40 hour employee, we don't get to come home and share our daily experience with our loved ones.
[1:42:56] Around dinner table, we work 56 hours.
[1:42:59] And it's in one of the most demanding careers out there.
[1:43:02] Burnouts and injuries they aren't in if they're win.
[1:43:05] What this proposal tells me is that the city manager's office doesn't really value what we sacrifice to do this job.
[1:43:11] That our well-being and dedication is more of an inconvenience.
[1:43:15] I want to remind the council of this department's own standard.
[1:43:19] One team committed to excellence.
[1:43:22] Cutting our sick time in half isn't excellence.
[1:43:26] Staffing life-saving apparatus with only three firefighters isn't excellence.
[1:43:31] Taking trucks out of service, route within pay 30 minutes of overtime, it's not excellence.
[1:43:36] Those are shortcuts and shortcuts in our job get you killed.
[1:43:39] I ask you to hold yourself to the same standard we're held to, not just for us, for the citizens we serve in the families.
[1:43:45] We risk our lives for every single day.
[1:43:48] We've lost excellence and I hope we can become one team again and find it.
[1:43:51] So please vote no on this proposal.
[1:43:53] Thank you.
[1:43:54] Thank you.
[1:43:59] I stand parallel in there, will we please?
[1:44:02] Ashton Barnello 1528, Mallory Circle.
[1:44:11] Good evening, Mayor.
[1:44:12] I'd like to start by asking everyone in this room a few questions.
[1:44:18] Raise your hand if you have ever seen a body so mangled that you weren't even sure it was a human being.
[1:44:26] Raise your hand if you've ever held a lifeless child in your arms after trying to have to
[1:44:31] resuscitate it back to life.
[1:44:34] Only to give that child back to the parents with the worst news imaginable.
[1:44:41] Raise your hand if you've ever been in such a hazardous environment that you weren't sure if you're going to make a home
[1:44:46] year family at the end of the day.
[1:44:48] Thank you.
[1:44:50] That is just a snippet of the very tough job that we face on a regular basis.
[1:44:57] The true definition of equity refers to fairness.
[1:45:00] Injustice in the distribution of resources, opportunities, and treatment, not necessarily giving everyone the same thing, but giving each person what they need to have equal access or outcomes.
[1:45:13] What the manager's office is proposing is the opposite of true equity. It's trying to bring the fire department to an equal playing field with other departments when we work more hours.
[1:45:24] We spend more time away from our families. We get exposed to more hazards and cancers than anyone else thus shortening our lifespans.
[1:45:34] Let me be clear. Perception is everything.
[1:45:38] And the perception is that this is not about equity. This is about single-handedly and repeatedly attacking the fire department.
[1:45:49] The first with budget cuts, the forces and the minimum staffing, and now a proposal to cut our benefits by more than half.
[1:45:56] Let me ask you all this. If you had a son or daughter or spouse working for this department, do you think this proposal is fair?
[1:46:06] Do you think this will help our recruitment or retention crisis?
[1:46:10] Does it align with the mission set of making Winston-Salem Fire Department a destination fire department?
[1:46:17] As a firefighter for this city and the spokesperson as a union president, I will tell you all, I am tired.
[1:46:25] I am tired of firefighters calling me and telling me they are done mentally.
[1:46:29] They want to leave this department or worse, they want to leave the fire service because they are beat down and feel undervalued.
[1:46:37] I am tired of tenured firefighters telling me they don't want their sons or daughters to work here.
[1:46:42] It breaks my heart and at the same time it engages me.
[1:46:46] What I am not tired of is being an advocate and a voice for these brave men and women behind me.
[1:46:51] I will never tire for fighting for their rights and for what they rightfully deserve.
[1:46:56] I will never tire or deter from our overall mission set of making this fire department a destination fire department.
[1:47:02] I hope you all make the right decision and choose to back your firefighters and risk their lives to save yours.
[1:47:08] You never know when you or a loved one will need us. Thank you.
[1:47:12] Thank you.
[1:47:16] Angela Dicks.
[1:47:19] Angela Dicks.
[1:47:23] Thank you Mayor and Mayor Pertham and members of the council.
[1:47:30] As the president of the minister's conference of the same vicinity, I stand here before you today on behalf of our coalition of faith leaders.
[1:47:38] Compheld by ethical obligations.
[1:47:41] More conviction and civic responsibility to ensure that these brave men and women are treated with fairness and respect.
[1:47:50] We're here to respectfully urge you to reconsider the proposed city budget, particularly the provisions impacting the dedicated men and women of the one sitting fire department.
[1:48:01] Reposed changes to seek and vacation time or cruel.
[1:48:05] I'm not only an equitable.
[1:48:07] They threaten to revoke time that has already been nightfully armed by our first responders.
[1:48:13] And let us be clear as well.
[1:48:15] But that's not right. It's wrong.
[1:48:17] This is unjust.
[1:48:19] Our social justice committee has diligently engaged with those impacted and further more investigate the reason behind these changes.
[1:48:26] We've heard traveling justifications.
[1:48:28] Some suggesting that leadership representation lacks diversity or that certain voices are not seasoned enough,
[1:48:35] respectfully.
[1:48:36] We disagree.
[1:48:38] Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Perry.
[1:48:40] We have met with seasoned committed firefighters who reflect the racial and culture diversity of our city.
[1:48:46] We also have been introduced to younger new members of the department,
[1:48:50] whose dedication and passion underscore the right feature of once this thing looks emergency services.
[1:48:55] Their commitment is not hindered by their age or background.
[1:49:00] It is strengthened by their courage and integrity.
[1:49:03] The Minister's office has listened reflected and now speaks with unified convention a fair just formal formula for the best.
[1:49:12] Most must be protected and restored.
[1:49:15] Anything less diminishes the value of those who risk their lives for our safety and since they disheartened message to our entire community.
[1:49:22] The professional firefighters association is advocating for equitable sick and vacation time,
[1:49:27] which is not a luxury as we heard many times.
[1:49:29] But an necessity.
[1:49:31] Attequate sick time allows our firefighters to recover from illness and injury ensuring that they are fit for duty and able to protect our community effectively.
[1:49:39] The demanding nature of their work exposes them to traumatic events and high stress situations.
[1:49:44] Making sufficient recovery time, crucial for their mental health and overall well-being.
[1:49:48] Fair vacation time provides this dedicated individuals with the opportunity to rest, recharge and spend time with their families,
[1:49:55] reduce their stress and improve their overall well-being.
[1:49:58] This is crucial for maintaining a strongly effective fire service.
[1:50:02] The ability to disconnect from intense pressures of their jobs is essential for preventing burnout.
[1:50:07] Managing PTSD and promoting a health healthy work life balance.
[1:50:11] We said in full solidarity with the firefighters of the same in their efforts to secure these essential benefits.
[1:50:17] Upon and we call upon you.
[1:50:19] I would like to represent it to do what just as what is just an animal.
[1:50:23] Please do not balance this budget at the expense of our invaluable first responders.
[1:50:28] But let us compensate the employees for the work they do.
[1:50:31] Thank you for your time.
[1:50:33] And you made that you made your decisions to be guided by justice, wisdom and the spirit of service.
[1:50:38] Thank you all.
[1:50:39] Thank you, Beth.
[1:50:43] Just before that one.
[1:50:44] That one.
[1:50:45] Excuse me if I'm just for now tonight.
[1:50:50] Thank you, Mayor.
[1:50:51] It's okay.
[1:50:52] I'm used to it.
[1:50:54] Mayor.
[1:50:55] Mayor Pro Tem.
[1:50:56] Council members.
[1:50:57] My name is Christopher Delalas.
[1:50:58] I'm a resident of the city once the sale in the south ward.
[1:51:02] I'm also a captain for the city once sale.
[1:51:04] I've served this city proudly for 12 years.
[1:51:07] I think here tonight.
[1:51:09] Just strongly oppose the city managers proposal to cut our leave benefits.
[1:51:14] WSFD is already by the city manager's own presentation in April.
[1:51:19] Underpaid compared to our counterparts.
[1:51:21] Our benefits are strongest recruiting tool that we have.
[1:51:24] You cut that.
[1:51:25] What do we have left?
[1:51:28] If you pass this proposal.
[1:51:30] So these cuts will hurt recruitment.
[1:51:33] They're going to hurt retention.
[1:51:34] And they're going to put be the final nail on the coffin of the morale of this department.
[1:51:39] In my 12 years.
[1:51:40] The 2015 sick rate of cruel.
[1:51:42] When it was voted on and passed by the city council and help us.
[1:51:45] And bring us back in par with the rest of the city employees.
[1:51:49] What they did was double our banks.
[1:51:51] That didn't take an account.
[1:51:52] Members that had rolled over vacation in sick bank.
[1:51:55] It didn't take an account.
[1:51:56] Members of this department who had to have utilized their leave.
[1:51:59] One guy in my station lost his wife.
[1:52:02] It was out for six months.
[1:52:04] And then he had surgery.
[1:52:05] It was out for another six months.
[1:52:07] When he came back he had 40 hours.
[1:52:09] And he had served the city faithfully for over a decade.
[1:52:12] He got 80 hours.
[1:52:15] On April 29th.
[1:52:17] I went to the lead.
[1:52:18] One of the listening sessions with Miss Vosja.
[1:52:19] And I appreciate her for doing that.
[1:52:21] I wanted to understand their side.
[1:52:23] Maybe there was something I was missing.
[1:52:24] Maybe there was a benefit to this.
[1:52:26] So I went in there asking questions.
[1:52:29] I asked the question of will this help the city or hurt the city?
[1:52:33] I asked how many firefighters are we expected to lose over this?
[1:52:36] How much will it cost to recruit and train the replacements of those that we lose?
[1:52:41] Miss Vosja's unfortunately had to get the answer.
[1:52:44] We don't know.
[1:52:45] We don't have an HR director.
[1:52:47] So why are we going to vote on passing a resolution that we don't know if it's going to hurt us?
[1:52:53] This plan is also fails basic logic by equating a 40 hour employee with a 56 hour employee.
[1:53:01] It costs us three times as much as a 40 hour employee to take a day.
[1:53:05] I'll make a person for you.
[1:53:07] In the past several years my daughter has almost died three times.
[1:53:10] I've had to take nine shifts each time to care for a watchy lady in the NICU and the PICU.
[1:53:16] Under the current plan, I got that time back in nine months.
[1:53:20] The same as a 40 hour employee.
[1:53:22] Under the city manager's proposal plan, it would take me five years to get each of those times back five years.
[1:53:30] That's not equity.
[1:53:31] That's not inequality.
[1:53:33] That's short sightedness.
[1:53:35] Furthermore, the initial presentation by the city manager's office back in April had that they were going to convert our sick bank.
[1:53:44] On the meeting last Monday, they said that that was table incentive legal because there's possible legal repercussions because it violates Department of Labor both at a state and federal level.
[1:53:55] So if they didn't even think about that, why are we voting on it?
[1:53:59] Thank you, Captain.
[1:54:01] Would you have a two second or two second date?
[1:54:06] Okay.
[1:54:09] Good evening.
[1:54:11] I can't quite go to the last night for Tuesday.
[1:54:13] Okay.
[1:54:15] Okay. Thank you.
[1:54:16] No problem. It's a hard one.
[1:54:18] Brooke,
[1:54:20] Okay.
[1:54:22] Brooke,
[1:54:24] Brooke,
[1:54:28] forgot, my caller, because in the Lutheran tradition, a stole is a mark of a deacon in service.
[1:54:34] Reminds all of us and me that my calling is not to stand above or apart from the people I serve,
[1:54:40] but to stand with them, shoulder to shoulder. That's what brings me here tonight.
[1:54:45] I come here not as a representative of the dwelling at 502 North Broad Street, but as a member of a community
[1:54:51] bound together by shared struggle, sacred dignity, and deep love.
[1:54:55] At the dwelling, we are a church made up of people who know what it's like to live without shelter.
[1:55:00] Many of us have experienced homelessness, addiction, mental illness, reentry from incarceration.
[1:55:06] We worship together, we eat together, we serve together, and we lead together.
[1:55:10] At the dwelling, we don't just believe in housing, we believe in human dignity.
[1:55:15] And that's why every winter, we offer the only overnight emergency winter shelter in this city and county.
[1:55:23] When temperatures drop, when it's not safe to be outside, shelters are full.
[1:55:27] We open our doors because our people's lives are on the line.
[1:55:32] No one else is doing this.
[1:55:35] We are the only emergency shelter.
[1:55:38] In every year, we turn our couches, our sanctuary, and our hearts into safe spaces in homes for our community members.
[1:55:45] We know the data we know HUD funding is not maybe not coming.
[1:55:49] We see the rise in homelessness, we've experienced increased and demand in services.
[1:55:55] But I also know that without emergency winter shelter, our people will die.
[1:56:01] And I also know that without emergency winter shelter, that emergency doesn't go away.
[1:56:07] That burden shifts to the wonderful and brave people behind me, to our firefighters, to our police, to our jails, to our other emergency services.
[1:56:18] And when I also know that my people are valuable, there are veterans and parents and artists and some of them are city workers.
[1:56:26] There are people healing from trauma, people rebuilding their lives.
[1:56:29] And winter shelter is not just a roof over their heads, but it's a bridge to trust.
[1:56:35] Our community doesn't trust easily, but we build that over shared days in the winter.
[1:56:41] It matters most when it's coldest and darkest.
[1:56:44] Last winter, the dwelling provided overnight shelter for 645 unique individuals, men, women and children who would have otherwise been sleeping in cars, tents, or on sidewalks.
[1:56:56] People would have otherwise frozen.
[1:56:59] I'm not here to request charity, we know the budget is tight.
[1:57:03] I'm here because it's about partnership, we can't do this alone.
[1:57:07] We have been partners with the city on emergency winter shelter before, and we want to continue doing that.
[1:57:13] I want to thank Mayor Potent Adams and Council Member Andre Bowens,
[1:57:17] God Andre Bowen for helping us in being support in that.
[1:57:19] So as you consider your budget for the year, please consider my people.
[1:57:23] Thank you.
[1:57:23] Thank you.
[1:57:25] Thank you, children.
[1:57:28] Nick Chauders.
[1:57:32] Hi, there's Nick Chauders from 16 to 61 in light street.
[1:57:37] I'm here on behalf of the dwelling itself.
[1:57:38] I'm a part of the dwelling community, and I want to say a little bit about why it matters to me,
[1:57:45] but not just me to a lot of the people in our city.
[1:57:48] First of my came to the dwelling, I didn't know what to expect.
[1:57:51] I heard it was a church, but not like any church that I've ever grew up with.
[1:57:56] What I found was something different, something real.
[1:58:00] People laughing, eating together, praying, sharing stories,
[1:58:04] some of the homes, some did not.
[1:58:07] Some of my recovery, some were still in the middle of it.
[1:58:10] Some came with joy, others came with grief, but all of us belong.
[1:58:16] The dwelling is about fixing people, what's about seeing people, listening, showing up.
[1:58:21] Is a place where no one has to pretend to have it all together.
[1:58:25] It's a place where you're reminded that you're good enough just as you are.
[1:58:34] It's not just no Sunday mornings, it's hot meals, showers,
[1:58:37] help with the resources, shelter. Support when life gets heavy.
[1:58:41] It's music, storytelling, but more importantly, it's truth telling.
[1:58:46] I've seen people who are invisible, finally be seen.
[1:58:51] I've seen people get clean, I've seen people reconnect with their families,
[1:58:55] I've seen people found hope again.
[1:58:58] So there's really matters because it's a place where people find life again.
[1:59:02] If you're curious what that looks like, we have block parties, every Wednesday, starting in July,
[1:59:08] it's 6 o'clock, I'm joining us, but homelessness is hard for this city.
[1:59:13] We can't do it alone, and you can't either.
[1:59:16] So I'm not asking for initially partnerships, but friendships come be with us.
[1:59:21] So we're about to find it together. Thank you. Thank you very much.
[1:59:26] We have time for one more speaker, Cynthia Herson, Cynthia Herson.
[1:59:42] Greetings everybody, I don't know how to talk to him tonight because in some time. Thank you.
[1:59:48] I stand before you today, believing we live in a nation founded on the power of the idea that
[1:59:53] government exists to serve the people, not the other way around.
[1:59:56] I thank this fire department, and we do support you all.
[2:00:00] And in fact, they have kept our bid and standing because they cut on five twice in my apartment, because of the defense of stolen, they was there right on time.
[2:00:10] So I support them and there and deal with whatever they are doing.
[2:00:13] With the taxpayer, I have an unwavering right of the people to be heard.
[2:00:17] And y'all have a duty to want to hear and to let our voice be heard.
[2:00:22] We specced out to make decisions in our best interests.
[2:00:25] I elected a bishop, no, they must answer to the people and act with integrity.
[2:00:31] Democracy does not work.
[2:00:33] If we the people are kept in the dark.
[2:00:35] It does not work, if part of it is hoarded.
[2:00:38] By the fear, instead of sure, by the manning.
[2:00:41] Democracy cannot function unless the voice of the people is heard clearly.
[2:00:46] Loudly and un-obstructed.
[2:00:50] Every citizen, no matter where they come from, must have a seat at the table.
[2:00:54] And you are denying us a chance to sit at the table.
[2:00:58] When the people, the voice is silence and barriers are put up to keep folks speaking.
[2:01:04] They're true.
[2:01:05] That is not democracy.
[2:01:07] That is not America.
[2:01:09] Land of the for you.
[2:01:11] It must not be for psych County.
[2:01:14] We are here to demand accountability.
[2:01:18] We are here to demand accountability from the elected officials.
[2:01:24] Let's have transparency in every decision that affects our lives.
[2:01:28] It is the sacred right of the people to be heard without interference.
[2:01:33] When leaders are ill-responsible, when citizen can't speak, that's when democracy works.
[2:01:38] The way it should, that's when it puts like counting will be at its best.
[2:01:42] When my last time remaining, could hear y'all tell me who signed off on ball and being our property manager.
[2:01:51] It shall not research and get his reviews.
[2:01:56] They shall not research.
[2:01:58] The people who's here already has property.
[2:02:02] And they shall not check with those people to see how he has treated those people and his properties.
[2:02:07] We did not have a seat at that table.
[2:02:10] We were not included to a league sports outping in our who.
[2:02:14] And why we got to keep having so many different property manager.
[2:02:18] What is wrong with you all?
[2:02:19] That is your property.
[2:02:20] And why you all can give it over to us if you all do not want to take responsibility for it.
[2:02:25] But I'm going to tell y'all again, I refuse to be homeless.
[2:02:28] I refuse to let y'all.
[2:02:29] People, people sitting on your butt and letting us not have a voice at the table.
[2:02:35] You all are governed by us.
[2:02:37] Not you all come in us.
[2:02:39] You all need to recognize our place and stand it.
[2:02:42] And where y'all are elected to be.
[2:02:44] Where are your talk?
[2:02:45] Y'all better start messing with me.
[2:02:47] Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[2:02:48] Thank you.
[2:02:49] That is our public comment here at time.
[2:02:51] We do have a need for a closed session.
[2:02:54] I'm recognized with two carc for a motion please.
[2:02:56] Thank you, Mayor.
[2:02:57] I'm moving to the one side of the city council going to close session.
[2:03:01] I did not have a group president to knock on a general statute, 143 days, 318-11-8 4.
[2:03:06] So just because of matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses within the city of Mississippi.
[2:03:13] Sir, second.
[2:03:14] Second, by Mayor Proof Tim.
[2:03:16] All those of our evasion go in the close session please say aye.
[2:03:19] Aye.
[2:03:20] One vote is to go in the close session.
[2:03:31] Where are you?
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[2:19:30] My dear. My dear. My dear. My dear.
[2:20:30] My dear. My dear.
[2:28:30] Ca' dde'n bwythu, co'n ffys, i'n ffys, i'n ffys.
[2:28:42] Ryfyneld yn 0.
[2:28:44] Adi wedw'r ysigol i mwyn fwybly yn 11.
[2:28:51] Eydw'r ysigol i'r gwwayo fy ysigol i'r i'r.
[2:28:58] Mwyth, eu mwyth ebreu.
[2:29:00] Dydw'r i'r mae'n yn fel i'r cyfrfysio.
[2:29:05] I did.
[2:29:07] Dydw'r amydw'r ysigol i'r amydw'r amydwr,
[2:29:09] Ddefedd hyn o, ddefeddusa, yma hymnei, ddefeddusa.
[2:29:15] Mae protem, ddefeddusa, ddefeddusa.
[2:29:16] Mae bymnei, ddefeddusa.
[2:29:17] Mae wedi'n erw'n fel i'n cursus mae'n erw'n i'n Flis o a'r I.
[2:29:21] Ddefeddusa.
[2:29:22] Ddefo'n rwy'n eem, ddefeddusa.
[2:29:25] Ddefo'n yma yma protem, ddefo'n mefrica'n yma yma.
[2:29:30] Ddefeddusa, ddefo'n rwy'n llwydd o'r i'n llwydd pysnol.
[2:29:34] Ddefo'n ddefeddusa.
[2:29:36] Ddefo'n rwy'n llwydd pysnol.