City Council Zoning Meeting - Regular Meeting

Charlotte, how we win. Today you have business leaders, you have political leaders, you have educators, you have community leaders. And I would also note that you have the governor and the secretary, and again, political city and county officials. They didn't just court you, right, and recruit you and send a welcome letter. They showed up. And that's what we do here in Charlotte. We show up. We show up together. And I think that is something that's very special here in this community that we're excited to have you be a part of. Charlotte, as you heard, is one of the largest, the largest, second largest financial community, not in just the region, but in the country. And you heard that 3,800 of those jobs are financial jobs, which, again, the most important part for us is there's a lot more room for growth here in this market. So as we close here today, we assure you that this community, this business community, is about building winning cultures. of which you're a part of. Sports, again, back to being close to me, team is a big part of that. And not only do you have the team of people in this room, of everyone sitting in here and standing back here, but there's a team of people outside of here that's waiting to ensure your success. And that's why, again, we're happy to have you here. So to everyone, again, in closing, who made today possible, we thank you. There's a lot of people who've made today look great in this amazing facility. We thank you. We are proud of this moment. We are proud, more importantly, of what it means to what's next. And we want to welcome you, Mr. Atsuka-san, to the SMBC executives. You guys have been leading a winning organization for decades, but one that's been having meaningful change and impactful change. And we are here to ensure your support and success in this transition. So officially, welcome. Welcome to this city. Welcome to this region. Welcome to Charlotte. We are going to win together, and we're excited about that. So we will close, conclude the... Thank you. We are going to conclude the program now. There will be light refreshments in the back. We're going to have some photos up here. And most importantly, please get to know each other and welcome our newest residents of Charlotte. Thank you. Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Buzz driving is drunk driving.

Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. You know that's the exercise. Clap once. All right, we're almost ready. So thank you. Today has been a day that I'm sure several of you probably already know about this, but it's something that I think is special when you are in the ability to be serving the community no matter when it happens to you. But today, I just want to recognize that we just lost Eddie Knox, who was the mayor of Charlotte for many, many years, many more than me. And just to have him be a presence and what he had done in our work and all of the things that were happening. You know, he and I believe Harvey Gantt was the next mayor, and then that... He was still working. He was a lawyer. He was someone that really loved this community. All of it, not just the parts that were up north. But he made it possible for many of us to do things that we didn't do. But I knew an Eddie Knox. I knew him when I was just a first staffer person in the city. And I wanted you to be sure to know and understand that he was the kind of person that cared deeply about our city, our state, but he carried a lot more apologies and thoughts to NC State where he went to college. And I just think that when we have these kinds of opportunities to say something out of order, to just have a quiet moment for the plan that he is, the man that he has been, the mayor that he was, and the person that can make something happen all the time. So with that, if we would just take one minute He has a wife and children, and I want to make sure that they understand that we are standing with him and really make sure that we understand that he was a great person and did so much for our city. Thank you very much. If you will bow for just a few minutes.

Well, thank you all.

Eddie Knox was the 49th mayor of Charlotte. That says a lot for all of us and all of him. Thank you very much. So with that, we're going to go ahead and begin the City Council business meeting. And we're going to start with our invocation, an expression that we use of inspiration followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation is intended to solemnize our proceedings We celebrate religious diversity in our community, including those without a religious faith. Tonight, I would like to ask Council Member Arias to give our invocation.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Let us pray. Let us take a moment to pause together. As we begin tonight's meeting and as we prepare for the important responsibility of appointing an interim mayor, I invite everyone to take a breath and settle into a moment of reflection, a moment to remember why we are here and who we serve. In my own way, I pray for one path over another, for wisdom instead of haste, for clarity instead of confusion, for cooperation instead of division, and for commitment to people over profit in every decision we make. I offer that simply as our hope, one that welcomes every belief system, every tradition, and every way of making meaning. We gather at a time when the world is facing real adversity, conflict, uncertainty, and hardship are touching communities near and far. These challenges remind us that leadership requires steadiness, humility, and a deep respect for the dignity of every person. Tonight, may we practice thoughtful reflection and discernment, listening carefully, weighing our choices responsibly, and choosing the course that best serves the people of Charlotte. May we remember that our work is not abstract. It affects real lives, real families, and real neighborhoods. May we approach disagreement not as a barrier, but as an opportunity to understand one another more fully. As we take up the work before us, may we do so with fairness, integrity, and a shared commitment to putting people first. And for those who do not pray, may these words simply be a wish for peace, clarity, and unity as we begin. Thank you.

Thank you very much. You please stand if you choose for the flag of the United States of America.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, everyone.

I want to begin with introductions. Good evening. And thank you all for joining us in person. And for those watching online for our June, this 22nd business meeting of this year's, um, let's begin with introductions of the diets and we will start with our city clerk.

Good evening, Stephanie Kelly, city clerk.

Good evening, Andrea Leslie fight city attorney.

Good evening, Dimple Ashmera. At large. Good evening, Victoria Watlington. I have the pleasure of serving you as a member at large.

Good evening, Joy Mayo, representing District 3. Good evening, and welcome to District 1, Dante Anderson, District 1.

Marcus Jones, City Manager.

Vi Louse, Acting Mayor.

Good evening, everyone.

James Mitchell, Mayor of the Hotel. Acting Mayor.

Acting Mayor.

Good evening. Kimberly Owens, representing District 6.

Malcolm Graham, District 2. Ed Driggs, District 7.

Thank you for joining us. LaWanna Mayfield, Council Member at Large.

Good evening. J.D. Masuera-Arias, proudly representing the Eastside, District 5.

Good evening. I'm Renee Johnson, and I have the honor of representing District 4. Thank you, everyone.

Thank you, everyone. Now, we go next to the mayor and city council's consent item questions and answers. We use Marie, who is an absolute whiz at this. And so we're going to begin this. And so we'll have the consensus items through 25 through 59. So Marie, will you help us out there?

Yes, thank you, Mayor. And I had an opportunity to speak with a couple of you, but I was wondering, at this point, is there any other questions on any of the consent items?

Thank you. All right. So our consent items. May I have a motion to approve the consent items, Agenda 25 through 59. All in favor, please raise your hands.

We have a motion. So moved. I'm sorry.

Second. Second. Okay. And then we have, after this consent item, we're going to approve this consent item as we go through this.

So, Mayor, you have a motion and a second.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor.

All in favor. Anyone in disagreement or not in agreement? Anyone else? All right. So, thank you. We're now in consideration for the consent agenda items that were done. Okay. Now we have a few things that we'd like to introduce. First, I'd like to ask Council Member Mayfield to develop and recommend a very special time. Let's see. I want to recognize Ms. Mayfield.

Thank you so much, Mayor. And I would like for our members of our Charlotte Pride community and or Charlotte Black Pride to please stand. because I have the honor of presenting a proclamation thanks to our mayor. So y'all. Whereas Charlotte is home to a vibrant and diverse community among which are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer LGBTQ citizens. who have positively shaped the cultural, business, civic, faith, and social fabric of the city throughout its history. And whereas Charlotte Black Pride and Charlotte Pride have been creating visibility for and promoting a positive image of LGBTQ Carolinians for more than two decades, And whereas the month of June is traditionally celebrated as LGBTQ Pride Month honoring the iconic Stonewall riots of June 1969 and the first Christopher Street Liberation Day March in 1970. in New York City, largely organized by LGBTQ people of color, transgender people, and young people. And whereas Charlotte's LGBTQ citizens first attempted to organize gay liberation movement organizations as early as 1971, with Charlotte's first Pride events finally, excuse me, held in 1981 and the ensuring decades inspiring the creation of Charlotte Pride in 2000 and whereas Charlotte Black Pride was founded in 2005 with the mission to promote LGBTQ pride primarily for, but not limited to, members of the black community while building social awareness, embracing spirituality, and celebrating the diversity that exists within our community. And whereas in July, black members of the LGBT community and their allies would gather to celebrate the history, culture, achievements, aspirations, and dreams during the annual Charlotte Black Pride Week, culminating in Charlotte Black Pride's annual celebration, Blacktivism, You Belong Here, and whereas this August, Charlotte Pride will carry forward a 45-year tradition of pride events in Charlotte as it hosts the largest annual LGBTQ community event in our city and one of the largest in the Southeast, creating significant cultural, health, and economic empire impact. Now, therefore, I, our mayor, by Alexander Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte, do hereby proclaim June 2026 as LGBTQ Pride Month in the City of Charlotte and encourage all citizens to join us in this special observance. Witness her hand, the official seal, the City of Charlotte.

Thank you for that. We have one more proclamation this evening, and I'd like to turn it over to Council Member Anderson.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Whereas vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease causing loss of pigment from areas of the skin resulting in irregular white spots or patches, and whereas vitiligo affects more than 2 million Americans between 0.004 and 2.28% of the population worldwide, and even higher in certain regions, it can appear at any age and can affect all people regardless of gender, race, and ethnicity. And whereas while the condition is not typically associated with physical pain, the psychological and the social effects can be significant for many affected individuals, especially children and those with darker skin. And whereas approximately 15 to 25% of people with vitiligo also are affected by at least one other autoimmune disorder. And whereas researchers and medical professionals are working to better understand and treat vitiligo, although there is currently no known cure, treatments are available that can help with especially if begun early and used consistently. And whereas the mission of the leaders of the North Carolina Vitiligo support community and its members is to support and empower individuals with Vitiligo as well as educate, advocate, and spread awareness. And whereas the North Carolina Vitiligo support community and its leaders have been designated by the Global Vitiligo Foundation to host the 2026 World Vitiligo Day USA Conference from June 26th through June 28th in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking a decade of resilience, strength, And whereas the city of Charlotte encourages people to increase awareness, understanding, and support individuals with vitiligo in communities throughout the city. And whereas the city of Charlotte encourages citizens to increase awareness, I think that's the same line. Therefore, now she, Mayor Alexander Lyles, acting mayor, does hereby proclaim the month of June 2026 as Vitiligo Awareness and Education Month. And it is signed in her hand. And I would love for you all, Ms. Carter and friends, if you would come down, I'd love to present this to you.

Oh, I love that we're taking pictures now. Is that new? Yeah. I like it.

That concludes our our awards and recognitions for tonight and we will.

May I might to take over right now you know my may I know this is not on not on our agenda, but today we want to take a moment to recognize you for extraordinary service to the city of Charlotte and its residents for more than 3 decades of public service.

It's more. It's more. Wait a minute.

I'm just getting started.

Hold on.

For more than 30 years, Mayor Lyles has helped shape Charlotte's future through nearly every level of local government leadership from budget director, assistant city manager to city council, mayor pro tem, and ultimately mayor. You leaders have served this city from as many perspective or such deep commitment to public service. Her leadership helped establish a strong financial foundation for Charlotte. And as mayor, she guided this city through a period of tremendous growth, and transformation. She championed investments in affordable housing, transportation, workforce development, public safety, economic development while advancing major initiatives such as Charlotte 2040 Comprehensive Plan, Safe Charlotte, and the Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative. Mayor Liles has always been a leader who brings people together. Her integrity, vision, and collaborative approach has strengthened Charlotte and inspired countless residents, community leaders, and public servants. On behalf of the Charlotte City Council, and the people of 879,000 who call Charlotte home, we extend our deepest gratitude for her distinguished service, exceptional leadership, and unwavering dedication to this community. Now, Mayor, we have a few tokens of appreciation we'd like to present to you today. First, okay, where are we at? There we go. First, we have... After all these years of helping guide Charlotte's direction, it seemed only fitting. And we found it put your name on a sign. And we like to inspire others in all our transportation projects. This one needs to be delivered on time and no schedule for the meeting.

All right.

We also have a skyline view. As a reminder of this city that you have God shaped and your legacy you have built. We also have another special recognition. Is Mr. Walter Byers? Walter, can you come forward please? Can you go to that microphone so everybody would know the special recognition that you've given to our mayor?

Oh, you can go to the top one, right behind you.

Good evening, everyone. evening my name is walter bowers i have the privilege of serving as the director of the governor's office charlotte covering 17 counties as far west as lincoln and as far east as uh sampson county i'm here this evening with the distinct honor and privilege of presenting one of north carolina's highest civilian honors the order of the longleaf pine to an extraordinary public servant. Now, I need everybody to know that the governor did come down to see Mayor Lyles personally, but she was too busy for him. But no, scheduling didn't work out, but we said together that, you know what, it was too important. We thank God for her amazing staff that came represented her but we wanted to personally present this tonight the order of the longleaf pine is an award that has been given to individuals across the state of north carolina individuals such as michael jordan and steve smith senior but also individuals like carl bailey jr who served as a fire fighter here in the state of north in the city of charlotte uh saving lives recipients join a distinguished tradition of servant leaders whose dedication has strengthened our state and improved the quality of life for generations of North Carolinians. Mayor Liles has devoted her life to public service, and we're thankful for that. As our first African-American woman elected mayor of Charlotte, as our first African-American woman elected mayor of Charlotte, She broke barriers while demonstrating that leadership is ultimately measured not by titles, but by service. She was our mayor during COVID-19. She was our mayor during the protests of 2020. She was our mayor as we continue to push for affordable housing. She's been our mayor as we continue to push for workforce development and opportunities. She set the city of Charlotte up along with her amazing coworkers on the city council for greater things ahead. So tonight, we recognize not only her years of service, but a legacy of leadership that has touched countless lives and helped shape the future of our city and state. Therefore, Mayor Liles, on behalf of Governor Josh Stein and the people of North Carolina, it is my honor to present to you the Order of the Longleaf Pine, in recognition of your distinguished service and your enduring contributions to the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina. And Mayor Liles, here's what you get everywhere you go. you get a chance to toast everyone that you meet with the following. Here's to the land of the longleaf pine, the summer land where the sun doth shine, where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great. Here's to the down home, the old north state. Congratulations and thank you for your service.

I watched Joe Bruno last night, so don't worry about it. I already know what the program is. I don't know what to say. I really don't. I guess I'm a softie. It's hard. I always tell people I grew up with really five brothers, and they were hard on me all the time. But nothing could be harder than not knowing what you can do if you tear enough, if you want to do it enough, if you're strong enough and you compete enough. And I want you, every one of you in this room, to understand this city is absolutely one of the most astounding places that we can be. We go all over the state, this country. You don't see the people coming out and saying, oh, I'll give the mayor a pack. Something, anyway. But I just want you to know that it has been an honor to be in this community. It's been an honor to work with the people in this organization. Um, it is an honor to know that the city has the ability to do whatever we choose to do because it is the right thing to do and be. And I'm not going to stop at this. I know that I am very, very happy because I do get to see my kids. They go to school close by here and I will be able to do a lot of things that I've never even thought about. But after all of that, I will still be in Charlotte. And that's what's going to make the difference. Charlotte is the place to be for everyone in this country. We can see it coming. And I just hope that when we do see it coming, we make it better than ever, ever, ever. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I don't know if my kids are watching me, but tell them hello.

Thank you.

Okay. I think I have to go right back into a public forum. It doesn't have as much as the other things. So we're now going to open the public forum. I would like to thank all... you all for joining us, and on behalf of the entire City Council, I ask that all speakers and audience members be civil and courteous in the use of their language. Speakers are encouraged to address the council and should refrain from responding to audience members. Likewise, audience members shouldn't be courteous of each speaker and not yell out or interrupt those speakers. We want to ensure that everyone has a chance to be heard. Now, since we have been fairly busy lately, We're going to have an opportunity that maybe some will like and maybe others will not. Since there are more than 10 speakers, each speaker will have one minute to address the council. Thank you. Okay, I'm sorry. I thought it was one. Just for this. Okay, for the public forum. Okay, so we will have two minutes to speak and address the council. So thank you. I'm going to call on the first speaker, who is Avante Jackson.

Hello, good evening.

Good evening. Good evening.

My name is Avonte Jackson, and I am a trucker's advocate. I am a heart transplant recipient. I am a CDL instructor, and I am the owner for CDL Shorty D4D. I'm here today to speak about trucking infrastructure and transportation issues. that directly affect public safety, economic growth, and the movement of goods throughout our city. First, we must address the bottleneck traffic in Charlotte, North Carolina. Major corridors such as I-77, I-85, I-485 experience heavy congestion daily. Truck drivers moving freight through these areas face delays that increase operating costs, reduce efficiency, create safety concerns for each and every one on the road. Charlotte continues to grow And however, our infrastructure must grow with it. Second, I believe that the city should collaborate with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to improve public education on how to safely share the road with semi-trucks. Many drivers do not understand truck blind spots, stopping distances, wide turns, or safe following distance. Better education for teens and adults could reduce preventable crashes, and it could save lives. Third, we must talk about truck driver compensation and fair pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 excludes many truck drivers from overtime protection. Truck drivers are essential to our economy, yet many work long hours without fair compensation for detention time, delays, and unpaid labor. Supporting the fair pay for truck drivers strengthens the workforce and helps retain skilled professionals in this industry. Fourth, we need to prioritize female truck driver safety. Many truck stops and parking areas, especially here in Charlotte, lack proper lighting, security, and safe access to rest facilities. As more women enter the trucking industry, safety requirements must be part of the conversation. There was a young black woman in Louisiana named Kormesha Thomas that was found, unfortunately, unalive in her semi-truck overnight with her family. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Linda Byers. And Faith Sanders could come down, please. Faith Sanders and Linda Byers.

She did just do that. I don't know if she's here, but she said to me.

If you'll give us your name, please. I am Linda Byers. I am a native in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I live in District 1. Forgive me, I don't feel well today. Good evening, Mayor. You'll be missed. And City Council, thank you for allowing me to be here today. My question tonight is simple. Is District 1 forgotten? I am here tonight to address the growing concerns surrounding safety and quality of life for seniors and long-time residents in uptown Charlotte. As our city continues to grow and develop, it is important that we do not overlook the people who have helped build and sustain these communities for decades. These concerns are not new. In 2024, we raised concerns about parking, congestion, and the impact of new development on our neighborhood after the city adopted a private street to support apartment development. At that time, we warned about the burden this would place on longtime residents, especially seniors living on fixed incomes. Unfortunately, those concerns were not adequately addressed. Now in 2026, what began as concerns over parking and traffic has escalated into much deeper issues of safety, privacy, noise, disturbances, during quiet hours, loitering, and declining quality of life. These are not isolated concerns. In just a few weeks, a community petition addressed these concerns. And we raised over 200 signatures just in a few weeks. And these are people who are going through the same things. These are leaders and people who live in the city of Charlotte. That's going through quality of life issues.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, is miss miss Juneteenth here? Okay. I don't think that we can see her yet.

So I mean a question.

May I ask a quick question? I know at one point, since we only have two minutes, if speakers have written remarks, they're able to give them to the clerk. But I think we might not have mentioned that at the beginning. So I do believe even with the first speaker, they had additional comments. So just wanted to make sure that you all know, If your two minutes runs out and you have additional comments, our clerk would gladly capture that so that we can get the full information because what is shared is presented to counsel in the form of a memo.

Thank you, Ms. Mayfield. I appreciate that. Okay, so we don't have faith yet, and so we'll go to Jeff Cross. Mr. Cross?

Mr. Cross?

Thank you, Acting Mayor.

Thank you.

Council. My name is Jeff and I am a member of the Charlotte Metro Democratic Socialists of America. We understand last meeting you got a bit irritated with how your constituents engaged the democratic process. You told us that your hands are tied as the state has laws limiting your ability to stop data center construction. You told us we need to contact our state reps, vote for Democrats in the midterms, and work through nonprofits to craft unique policies to comply with the state government. How could you say that with a straight face? Our state is famously gerrymandered. The people of Charlotte have voted blue and are left with minoritarian rule. We cannot simply vote harder, especially when the Democratic Party permits snakes like Tricia Cotham and Carla Cunningham to run and betray their voters after elections. Our state government is structured to deny our working class a voice. But you, the City Council of Charlotte, still can and should represent us. That means standing up for our well-being, our environment, our jobs and our way of life. We demand that you take action and implement every measure possible to prevent current and future data center construction. Your decision to resist or comply with state law imposed on us by exploitive corporations and developers will be remembered by your constituents when you ask for their votes next year. Thank you for your time. I cede the rest of mine.

Our next speaker is Jack Adams.

Good evening, everybody. Good evening, council. Good evening, acting mayor. My name is Jack Adams, and I have been a Charlotte resident since July of 2019. Now, three weeks ago, on June the 3rd, I rode my e-bike to Uptown area for the very first time. I have been empowered by our infrastructure as well as the green energy shift to try to minimize the use of my car by bus, train, bicycle. However, When I was riding southbound on Elizabeth Avenue towards Hawthorne Lane, just around the corner here, I noticed that the bike lane ended before reaching the intersection. Now, anyone that's taken the tram long enough understands that Elizabeth Avenue has tramway tracks for the Lynx Gold Line in order to pass through that road. So unfortunately, as I was shifting towards the main load from the bike lane, my front wheel caught onto the tramway track and I face planted onto the road at 20 miles an hour.

Where was I? Oh yeah.

So I woke up at the emergency department at Novant Health with huge scrapes on my joints and face. You can see a little scarring at the distance. A broken nose and a laceration on my eyebrow requiring stitches. Now thankfully, my wounds have healed, the pain is gone, and last Saturday I was able to get replacement glasses. Now as an avid bus rider, I believe in a future where alternative modes of transportation in Charlotte are not only accessible, but encouraged. I want everyone to have all the options they can. However, for the safety of cyclists near the Gold Line, I encourage the city to add a dedicated bike lane across the entire Gold Line. Now, the Department of Transportation has spoken to me earlier today to reassure me that there are measures to be done about this, so I look forward to cooperating with them as well as the City Council as well. Thank you all, and I hope you have a great night.

Thank you. I want to get in as many of the people that signed up to speak and so I'm going to start with two speakers because we have podiums on both sides of the room and then we can have them come down and then we'll have one person to speak and then we'll just go that and make it a little bit faster for all of us to be successful to be heard. Our next speaker is Annabel Rodriguez and Ashton McGrady and either side that you choose. Annabelle. Hi, can you give me your name please?

Good evening, Chair, Commissioner, and City Council members and partners of the community. My name is Annabelle Rodriguez, and I am current president of NARAP Charlotte, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. And tonight, I am here to present to you the 2025 Hispanic Home Ownership Report that I will hand over to Annabelle. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the key findings from the 2025 Hispanic Home Ownership Report published by NAHREP. The report highlights historic milestones. Hispanic households added 441,000 new homeowners in 2025, bringing a total of Hispanic homeownership holds nationwide to a record of 10.2 million. Hispanic families account for virtually all net of home ownership growth of the United States. That's a 92.7% through our census. Hispanic families accounted for virtually all of the net here in the US. The nation's trends matter, especially here in Mecklenburg County. In North Carolina, It being my home for the past 25 years has approximately 1.3 million Latinos representing 12% of the state population. The Latino home ownership rate in North Carolina is 50.2% of Hispanic households that are responsible for more than 16% of the growth in the past year. I am gladly here to represent the Hispanic homeowner and visionary of what our city is. I appreciate the time. I definitely appreciate the inclusivity and I hope you have a wonderful evening.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Ashton McGrady and David Roboloso.

I may not get it completely right.

Good evening. My name is David Roboloso. Laundry is something that we all take for granted. We never give it any thought until it piles up and we have nothing left to wear. For many of us procrastinators, it might be a choice. But if we don't have a choice, for some folks, laundry piles up, not by choice, but because they have to juggle their living expenses. Many families don't have washers and dryers at home, so they use a laundromat, and going to the laundromat takes money. We get creative when we live in a shoestring budget, but you can only recycle so much of your dirty laundry. Parents might not say anything, but the kids notice. They sense it, they feel it. Imagine wearing the same shirt several times without being washed. There's entire families living in cars, in storage units, in hotels, and the kids still have to go to school Imagine the stigma that young students have to overcome. A simple chore becomes a barrier to self-confidence, self-esteem, and learning. That is why Operation Clean Health is launching the inaugural National Back to School Free Laundry Day this August in Charlotte. My vision is for Charlotte to be the birthplace of a national movement. And that is why I created a website, NationalFreeLaundryDay.org. Our goal is simple, helping students start the school year with clean clothes, self-confidence, and dignity. But this is bigger than just one day or just one laundromat. There are approximately 60 laundromats in Charlotte and nearly 30,000 laundromats across the country. Imagine the impact of communities across the country dedicated just one day each year helping young students start school prepared and confident. Tonight, I am asking for your support, your partnership, and your help in spreading the word. Together we can demonstrate how a small act of service can have a profound impact. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Yumaka Anki on CATS improvements. Okay, and Evan, show thesis. Housing, thank you.

Esteemed counselors, last month Mayor Lyles announced the Housing Innovation Challenge, tasking students from 10 universities across the Charlotte-Mecklenburg metropolitan area to develop new and innovative solutions to meet Charlotte's growing housing need. But tonight I question if this innovation is really a weaseling around the rules of a restrictive regulatory framework established by a group of individuals who implemented it to isolate themselves in the city's sprawling suburbs. That is to say that the housing crisis will not be solved through a distorted sense of innovation, but through the elimination of regulatory and zoning requirements imposed by the past century of white flight and urban renewal that intentionally made housing scarce and development uncompetitive. As the value of land has increased dramatically and suburban resistance to growth mounts, developers are forced to turn back inwards to urban cores to satisfy the needs of the market. This fundamentally is a good problem to have. The obstacle they face, however, is zoning restrictions such as setbacks, maximum lot-to-footprint ratios, minimum parking requirements, and double stairwell requirements, which severely limit the types of housing they can permit and build. While the Unified Development Ordinance has made significant strides in reforming this regulatory framework, I am here to ask the City to go further. I am asking the city to eliminate setbacks in maximum footprint ratios for all levels of residential and commercial zoning under the UDO and to expand the ability to apply for a minimum parking waiver to all levels as well. This will make smaller parcels of land appealing to developers and enable small developers to expand the types of construction they can provide to the market at lower cost, which is then passed on to the consumer. Eliminating these restrictions will accelerate housing construction, clear up confusing rules, and increase affordability across the city. Thank you, and thank you, Mayor Lyles, for your service.

Has UK Ante come in? Okay, our next speaker is Megan Finsel.

Megan Benson. Yeah.

And the next one, if we could have the second person come down, Gabriel Kajak. Gabriel. Hey.

Good evening. My name is Meg Fensel. I serve as co-chair of Charlotte's Vision Zero Task Force, and tonight I'm speaking on behalf of Sustained Charlotte. I wanted to read all the 41 names of people who have been killed in Charlotte in traffic crashes this year since January 1st, but I won't have time, so I'm going to start since the last time we came to you in March. These are not statistics. These are loved ones. Terry Lee Clark, age 43. Julian Allen, 35. Sophie Klippel, 23. Danelle Devone Dixon, 49. Naomi Summers, eight. Aiden Lynn Garcia, 34. William Angelo Primos, 28. Christopher John Shea, 54. Jonathan Michael Manetti-Race, 35. Bobby Joe Skidmore, 39. Carlos Jamel Michelina, 32. Pablo Daniel Martinez De La Torre, 24. Aaron Linwood McIntosh, 32. Luis Anthony Chigasola, 39. Elijah Smoot, 30. Luis Vasquez Reyes, 33. Keegan McKenney, 22. Adrian Melo Escobar, 17. Asleti Herrera-Ramirez, 17. Vandita Mehta, 52. Roosevelt Davis III, 55. Edwin Jose Flores, 54. Frank Leon Dent, 64. Katherine Lamberth, 38. Angelina Naomi Chicas, 17. Caden Riley Molitas, 18. Johnny Wesley Mason IV, 53. I'd now like to pause for a moment of silence for us all to remember these individuals, these neighbors of us all. We urge you to implement the red light camera pilot immediately rather than waiting until 2027 because every week matters. Every week we lose at least one more neighbor to traffic violence. Every week someone loses someone they love. Thank you. Thank you.

Hello, city council members. My name is Gabriel Joseph. I am a designer who's been working on a concept I genuinely believe could help state and local leaders communicate with their constituents. Right now, there's a real gap in how the government receives clear and verified public input. Commissioners and boards often struggle to get reliable feedback before making big decisions. For regular citizens, finding the right information and having their voice heard is still way too difficult. Between scattered websites, public forums, and long hearings, it's hard for any person to stay informed and engaged. I've developed something called the North Carolina State Communicator, a secure, verified platform that puts essential services in one simple app while also giving leaders a tool called Public Pulse. With Public Pulse, the governor or a county board can quickly send a poll on any proposed project, like a new data center or a reforestation plant, and within days receive clear, verified statistics from real citizens only, no bots, no guessing, just actionable data that helps leaders see what their constituents actually want and prioritize accordingly. For citizens, it becomes much easier to stay informed and share their opinion without having to hunt through complicated websites or rearrange their schedule for a hearing. For leaders, it means faster, more confident decisions backed by real public input with the ability to clearly explain those decisions to the media and the public. So please, I want nothing more than to see this bridge of intuition built between the people and our government. I truly believe this could help bring the voice of the people to you and shed light for every person who isn't in this meeting hall currently. So you can expect to see me at each of these meetings until this happens. So we, the people, may educate ourselves and our local politics with ease, and you, the elected, can feel safe in your decision-making process. Thank you very much, y'all. Have a good one.

our next speaker is capri matthews and la lia sarah

Good evening. My name is Kripsy Matthews, and I'm a member of Charlotte Metro DSA. Two weeks ago, when city council enacted the current moratorium, they expressed that the state government limits the city council's ability to regulate data center construction. Considering the city council attempted to wash its hands and claimed that the power to prevent these rested solely in the hands of the General Assembly, I would like to suggest a few potential policy remedies. I would urge the council to utilize the current moratorium to actively consider new measures that impede future data centers. While the state has restricted down zoning, nothing prevents the city from adjusting the Unified Development Ordinance to halt future facilities. Additionally, adjustment to zoning rules that have been utilized to prevent the construction of future ICE detention centers, such as in Greensboro. Under that adjustment, the city added a new land use category and prohibited such facilities from operating within a half a mile of residential and community spaces. Even Durham just voted to extend its current moratorium by another 10 months. If these adjustments can halt the construction of ICE detention facilities, can we not usher in similar restrictions on data centers? More importantly, does the city council not have the political will to enact such restrictions? It's no secret that certain lobbying groups have expressed their dismay over the rejection of both the I-77 expansion and data center construction. So council, will you take the steps that are clearly needed to prevent the operation of a facility known to cause definite harm to your constituents, or you support the lobbying groups and corporations who stand to gain from causing that harm. Thank you.

Has Layla, is Layla available?

Yes, I'm right here. Okay, there we are. Thank you. Good evening, City Council. My name is Layla Sayah, and I'm currently a student at UNCC and a member of the Charlotte Metro DSA. As a young student whose future is invested in the well-being of the city, I'm concerned about how the city and state are more or less negligent in the management of our infrastructure, specifically the rush of AI data centers within Charlotte. My greatest concern is the lack of a long-term vision surrounding this newer technology. Corporate trends such as AI have done little to motivate profit, build a stronger economy, or help cities like Charlotte create stable growth. Despite state pressure to stop downzoning, the city of Charlotte needs to make an effort against ongoing AI data center development. The 150-day moratorium has been a step in the right direction for the city, but its effect is only momentary. The bottom line is that AI is a bad investment for this city. By building new data centers to support AI, we latch ourselves onto this failing trend when our spaces could be better spent. Even for a commercial space, data centers provide little in terms of creating long-term jobs for the city of Charlotte. The community has repeatedly stated that we don't want to raise resources on data centers, many of which sit unfinished or empty within the U.S. Why should our city follow a technological trend that shows itself to be completely economically infiable? Commercially zoned spaces need to be used for infrastructure that will provide material benefits to the people and the economy of Charlotte. That's why I'm speaking today, to urge the City Council to do everything possible to delay and stop the construction of data centers in our beautiful city. Thank you very much.

Our next speaker is Carson Cohn of Timya Elise. I'm sorry. Our next speaker is Timra Elise. She's coming down. I see. Take your time. And Carson Cohn, would you Cohn? Carson Cohn, thank you. And...

Good evening. My name is Tamara Elise. And there's a typo. I actually represent District 1.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. My name is Tamira Elise, a nonprofit business owner, artist, and advocate of over 10 years and Charlotte native. I stand before you tonight, not only as a resident of District 1, but as a two-time survivor of suicide loss, losing two kings in my life, my father and my brother. June is Men's Mental Health Month, and for me, this month is a reminder that safety in our city is not just about crime statistics, it is about emotional, mental, and environmental well-being of our communities. And I do have to ask, once again, I heard this question before, is District 1 being forgotten in the midst of all this growth? When neighborhoods are overwhelmed by violence, noise, instability, and constant disruption, it impacts more than our sense of peace. It impacts our mental health as well. Chronic stress becomes a part of daily life, especially for seniors, families, and young people trying to find stability. Too often, especially for men, mental health struggles go unseen until they become crisis. The environments we live in, our safety, our peace, and our sense of stability play a major role in that. District one is changing rapidly, but many long life residents are feeling forgotten. In 2024, concerns were raised about parking congestion and the impact of a new development after private streets were adopted to support apartment growth. Today, those concerns have grown to much deeper issues, including safety, privacy, loitering, overcrowding, increased traffic, and intentional noise disturbances during quiet hours, especially on weeknights when residents have to work, rest, and care for their families. Residents deserve to feel secure in their homes, to have their boundaries respected, and to step outside without feeling monitored, crowded, and displaced. Thank you. Thank you.

Carson, thank you.

Hey, hey. My name's Carson Cone. I do want to speak about sanitation worker pay, but first, Mayor Lyles, I want to thank you for all your service. I first became familiar with you after George Floyd's murder, and you were out there protesting with us. You were in the streets, and I appreciate that. I do want to say the city of Charlotte, posts on their website that there's a twenty four dollar minimum wage for the sanitation workers this is not the case the ones that are supposed to walk five to ten miles per day repeatedly lift carry push and pull up to seventy five pounds work outdoors in all weather conditions have exposure to dust fumes chemicals uneven pavement loud noise and heavy equipment begin shift at 6.15 a.m. with no set end time. Overtime may be required, which implies to me that they're working more than 40 hours a week. So I just ask that those sanitation workers in this city where we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who passed fighting for sanitation workers, I ask that we please look out for those sanitation workers and raise the minimum wage for them currently. It is $16 per hour. Mayor Lyles, again, I want to thank you for your service. I know you did a lot of lobbying in Raleigh to get the MPTA. That's going to provide a lot of bus shelters for people out here struggling, people trying to get to work and all that. So thank you so much. If we could just give her one more round of applause, please.

All right. Tonight, The city council will make appointments to the planning commission and to the mayoral seat vacancy. The council members voted by ballot and have submitted their ballots to the clerk. Any nominee receiving six or more votes is automatically appointed. If no nominee received at least six votes, a runoff will be necessary. And council will be asked to vote tonight to determine who will be appointed to the board. All appointments will be recorded in the official minutes of this meeting. Madam clerk, could you please announce the results? I don't think we need further. That's the planning commission. Sorry. We don't want to do that. We're going to start with our planning commission.

Madam mayor and city council for the position on the planning commission. The incumbent will Russell has been reappointed.

Thank you. Congratulations to Will. I guess.

I'm sorry. You didn't have to say it like that.

Okay. All right.

So let's start off with our... Next step. Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers signed up to speak on item 7, appointment to fill the mayoral seat vacancy? Yes, we have 30. Do we have any?

Yes, ma'am. We have approximately 30 speakers.

How many? 31. Excuse me. 30 speakers, and each speaker will have one minute. One minute. Okay. Okay.

All right. Are you ready? Let's do this. Um, Garland green. Um, would you, would you please come down and speak? And Linda Lockman Brooks, if you would take one of the sides.

and come down and speak. You have two minutes. Thank you. One minute? One minute. I'm sorry. One minute.

First of all, Mayor Lyle's job well done. Greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

I want to bring two points to your consideration. I'm going to be real quick and to the point on them. We have enjoyed tremendous growth and prosperity for the last 10 years. In order to continue that, in my opinion, we need to build a bridge to Raleigh. They are not the enemy. They are going through change. We're going through change. This could be a golden opportunity. When you're voting tonight, I ask you to consider the person that you feel might be best to lead this for. Secondly, I want to talk about crisis management. It was really not talked about in the half an hour interviews is not 11. people murdered on the light rail, things like that happen. And so ask yourself, who is the best candidate to handle crisis management? Who can pick up the microphone at the time of crisis and deliver for our city? Thank you.

Thank you very much.

All right, Ms. Brooks. Good evening, I'm Linda Lockman Brooks. And first of all, Mayor Lyles, thank you. Thank you for all your years of service on council and as mayor. We appreciate you and look forward to what's next. I'm a business owner and a civic volunteer who's lived in Charlotte for over 30 years. I've known Rob Harrington for over 20 years and have worked with him on the board of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system is focused on access for all citizens. and really focused on access to education, workforce development, and civic resources. Since 2019, Rob has served as co-chair of the Common Spark Campaign, raising funds for the new main library in Center City, which will open to the public on May 1, 2027. Rob is a leader who bridges. My colleague just said we were concerned about crisis, and they will come. Rob is calm in a crisis.

Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Justin Harlow, followed by Eric Norman.

No one's going to change the rule to two minutes? One. One.

I claim my time, I claim my time. All right, Mr. Manager, Ms. Attorney, the clerk, good to see you all. Madam Mayor, thank you for your sacrifice and your leadership. Justin Harlow, who should be the next leader? Who should be our next mayor? I think that next leader is Carrie Cook. Raised in Charlotte and a CMS graduate, Carrie is the product that you all said that you wanted. You wanted a partner. You wanted someone who crossed the sectors of non-profit private sector and public sector. She's been that partner for you. She has championed your bonds, your infrastructure. She has led workforce development programs that have created jobs in this community. A people first lens, Mr. Masuera Arias. Someone who does the work, as you like to say, Mr. Graham. This election tonight is more than a name with six hands being raised for them. But it says something about who you are as a council, as an institution, and where you're trying to lead this city. Pro-business, not enough. Pro-community, not too much. You've got a decision to make. This is about the future of our city, and it's not just about an interim.

Thank you. Our next speaker is... There you are. Thank you.

Good evening, everyone. I'm going to try to give you the high-speed rail version of my three-minute speech.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Lyles, members of council, and city staff. My name is Eric Norman. I'm a former small business owner in the community. I'm an active member of the Carolinas LGBT Community, Carolinas Chamber of Commerce, and I'm also a resident currently of unincorporated part of District 2. I watched all five interviews last Thursday night. And to make this short, while you each chose a top two, I had a top three. Kerry Cooke, State Senator Caleb Theodore, and Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell. What I do not want to see is Caleb and Kerry being blocked from running for a full mayor term next election cycle. They are our future as the transition to new leadership. So my choice For everything that's going on right now with the Charlotte Business Inclusion Advisory Committee, where I also sit as the representative of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, James Mitchell should be the interim.

Thank you. Thank you. Our next speakers are Vernetta Mitchell and Jasmine Allen.

Yeah, but now it's not here.

We're waiting on you.

Oh, my bad. I thought y'all were waiting on Bernetta.

I'm Jasmine Allen. Good evening. Mayor Lyles, my heart and soul are with you as you move forward. And I appreciate, as Justin said, your sacrifice for this city. It's all the better because of you. I'm honored to speak in support of Carrie Cook for interim mayor of Charlotte. I've had the privilege of knowing Carrie for more than 15 years, and she and I have become close collaborators with her launch of her nonprofit, Empower Hermit. As a volunteer and as a parent of a young woman who participated in the program, what I've witnessed firsthand is something our city needs now more than ever. A leader with the evidence base of putting Charlotte residents first. Carrie's what I call a leader among leaders. She doesn't seek the spotlight. She creates opportunities for others to shine. Through her nonprofit, she's helped develop and mentor generations of young women and girls by building not just programs, but long-lasting leadership pipelines and inspiration for Charlotte's youth. What Carrie... Thank you very much.

Our next speakers are Nicole Grace Renea and Mindy Mill Henson.

Good evening, Mayor Lyles and members of City Council. My name is Nicole Grace, formerly known as Nicole Rainer professionally. I am the president of the Charlotte Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and I currently serve on the Charlotte Business Advisory Committee. I am here today to encourage you to appoint Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell as Charlotte's first mayor, next mayor. My support is based on first-hand experience. I served on the Charlotte Business Inclusion Advisory Committee, a committee James helped establish and later worked with him through my advocacy leadership with Nova Charlotte. Throughout those years, I saw a leader who consistently showed up. He listened and worked collaboratively to support Charlotte's business community and bring people together. Charlotte needs experienced leadership that can step in and lead effectively from day one. Based on my experience working with him, I believe James Mitchell had the integrity, experience, commitment necessary to continue moving our city forward. Thank you very much. I respectfully encourage you to appoint James Mitchell as Charlotte's next mayor. Thank you. Thank you for your time and your service.

Ms. Henson? Yes, my name is Mindy Mills Henson and I am a past president of Navajo Charlotte, currently serve at the national level for the National Association of Women Business Owners. I'm here tonight to throw my endorsement for Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. I met him 14 years ago as a member of Navajo Charlotte. where he was a strong advocate on behalf of small businesses. 12 years later, he is still an active part of our organization. He shows up, he answers the phone when we call, he gives us his cell phone. He was there for us when we were trying to figure out what to do in COVID, coming out of COVID. informing us always about the resources that were available through the city of Charlotte and how we could all survive. He works faithfully with us and is a huge advocate for small businesses all in this area, not just women. How different we would be in this country if all of our leaders had the compassion that James Mitchell has.

Thank you. Our next speakers are Rochelle Nogala Stewart, and hopefully, I'm sorry, I'm not getting the right part of the middle name, and Hannah Hassan.

I'm sorry, we have Jasmine. Good evening, Mayor and members of the City Council. My name is Rochelle Stewart and I'm a local business owner and immediate past president of NABO Charlotte, the National Association of Women Business Owners. I am here tonight to give full support and endorsement to Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell as Council considers their appointment this evening for Mayor. Pro Tem Mitchell has been a longstanding supporter, advocate, and champion for women business owners in Charlotte. He has consistently helped women to ensure that they have a voice, that they have visibility, and a seat at the table. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell has not only supported Navajo Charlotte in words, but he shows up. He shows up for meetings, events, listens to women business owners' needs. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell understands that economic development and workforce development for all businesses, large corporations must work for established companies, small businesses, women-owned businesses, minority businesses. He recognizes that Charlotte is strongest when opportunity is extended across the business community. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Yes, go right ahead.

Good evening. I am Hannah Hassan. I have shared community with Carrie Cook in many capacities through the years. And I've learned what most of you probably already know about her. Carrie is an incredible leader. But more than that, Carrie Cook is a Charlotte native who was educated in Charlotte public schools. She went to Vance High School. And as a ninth grader, she helped lead their basketball team to a championship. They nicknamed her the floor general. Because she was able to see the court from all the angles. She was able to inspire her teammates. And even though she was an unlikely leader, they trusted her. She trusted them. And that is how she will show up as mayor, a floor general. To the distinguished members of our council, I invite you to envision a beautiful Charlotte story with me. With Carrie Cook as your mayor, while working alongside you, you begin to see your vision for the city actualized. With a mayor who isn't afraid of coming into a new team and collaboratively leading, you work together as a collective body to continue to improve the lives of all Charlottians. Council, I challenge you to take a courageous step and invest in Charlotte in a purposeful and powerful way. Let's get our general in the game. Can Carrie's Village please stand up? Carrie has a beautiful village here with her today. Y'all please stand up. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Now we have Mr. Youngblood. Mr. Youngblood. Is that?

Yes. Where is he? Okay.

Thank you so much. I wonder who is sitting next to you. Go ahead.

Good evening, Mayor Lyle, Charlotte City Council. First of all, my name is William Youngblood. Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts and strong endorsement of my friend, Rob Harrington. A little background. My first opportunity to work with Rob was when we both served as trustees at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church here in Charlotte. At this time, he also volunteered his services as the official legal counsel to the church, volunteered, and to the board of directors. For several years, I had the privilege of serving as the church chair of the board of directors and worked very closely with Rob on many issues involving members and considerations of the environment. Considering my thoughts from preparing these comments, it was very clear to me that many of you all don't know me, don't know my past, but I want to talk to you about Rob's passion. That's the one message I want to get across about his passion, his reputation as an honest, honest person with a great character. I think character is imperative to what we're going through, and Charlotte needs to have more of and be about. And that's where Rob excels. Thank you.

Thank you. Molly Barker. Oh, my goodness.

Good evening. My name is Molly Barker, and I'm the founder of Girls on the Run International. I started the organization right here in Charlotte 30 years ago this year. Since then, I've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact authentic leadership can have on communities across this country. And because of that, I've learned to recognize transformative leadership when I see it. Several years ago, Carrie Cook invited me to serve on a panel for the organization she founded called Empowerment, a nonprofit that partners girls in grades 6 through 12 with mentors who help them discover their strength and leadership potential. What I witnessed was amazing. Those girls were naturally drawn to Carrie. They trusted her. They knew they mattered in her presence. And as someone who has spent much of my life around young people, I can tell you this. Kids know. They know real when they encounter it. Over the years, I've seen her authentic spirit show up everywhere. She brings the same thing to every room she enters, light, optimism, gritty resourcefulness, and the deep desire to make positive change. Thank you.

Thank you very much. All right. The next speaker is Chelsea Evans Akua, followed by Melinda

Good evening. I'm Chelsea Evans-Okiagu. I come before you today to voice my support for selecting Rob Harrington as interim mayor. I met Rob about 10 years ago when I was an intern at Robinson Bradshaw. During that summer, I learned that Rob was not just an excellent and accomplished lawyer. He was also deeply involved in the Charlotte community through board service and pro bono work. Rob was not involved just for the sake of adding activities to his resume. He was truly invested in Charlotte and wanted to do his part to make the city a great place where all people can thrive. I was struck by his genuine commitment and viewed his career as the blueprint for what a lawyer should be a champion of and an advocate for your community. Once I joined the firm as an associate, Rob ingrained in me that it's not enough to be dedicated entirely to my legal career. He implored me to not lose sight of the calling while focusing on the career. He reminded me that as lawyers, we have a moral and professional obligation to serve our communities. He exhibits all of the qualities that will make an effective and excellent interim mayor. He's level-headed, dedicated, and hardworking. He's warm. He's genuine. He's truly a connector who seeks to bring people together in a way where everyone feels seen and heard while also making a decision. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. I know those steps are really long.

My name is Melinda McVaden, and as you can tell, NABO is really behind Mr. Mitchell. We've had some really great experiences. And I will tell you this. He's been involved in bigger developments, large developments in Charlotte. He's been involved in small developments. He is always there for the small business person. He's been a champion of women. He showed us things we didn't even know we could do. He showed us opportunities that we didn't know we could have. He partnered with Charlotte some years ago with an initiative that we had called Power Players designed to really show small, and when I say small, I mean small, business owners, business owners like me who are solopreneurs, business owners who maybe have 10 or 15 employees, how to... be considered by the city to do business with the city, which is an avenue that many of us don't even think is available to us. It doesn't matter. It is all inclusive for all businesses, but particularly minority. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Sam Spencer and Banu Valdez.

Hey everybody, Sam Spencer, proud District One resident. Hope y'all are doing well tonight. I wanna talk to you tonight about lightning strikes. The next mayor, whoever they are in this room, there's gonna be a lot of things that happen in our city, and some of them are gonna feel like lightning strikes, things that come out of nowhere, events that get a disproportionate amount of the city and our community's attention, but are really rare, things that don't happen that often, including, of course, mayoral vacancies. So whoever is mayor next, I really want to implore you to work with the council to think about the persistent problems, the structural issues, the things that are truly wrong in our community, things like Meg Fensel talked about, because we can't be losing 40, 50, 60 people to motor vehicle accidents every year. So instead, I want you to change your frame of reference. Instead of thinking about the problems, think about what Trabian Shorters calls asset framing. Think about the assets, the things in Charlotte that we want to support, the things that we want to champion and celebrate, and I hope you put all of your effort behind them. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Banu Valadares, and followed by Al Austin. Alan Antoine.

I had no idea. He looks nice. He always looks nice.

I feel like I'm down here a lot. Good evening, Mayor Lowes. We love you. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, we're so proud of you. Thank you, members of council. I'm Al Austin, former Charlotte City Councilman. Again, let me thank all of you for your service to the city of Charlotte. I am here to support Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell for the interim mayor. Thank you. James brings 25 years of elected official experience. You elected him to be your mayor pro tem. He has deep institutional knowledge of our city government and the challenges and opportunities ahead. James has built strong relationships across neighborhoods, businesses, nonprofit and other elected bodies. James has served as president of the National League of Cities, which elevated Charlotte on a national stage. Most importantly, James can step into this role on day one without a learning curve. Please vote for James. President Smudgy, we are proud of your brother. Keep pushing.

All right. Is Antoine Dennard in the building? Yes, he is.

Okay.

Would you please come down? And Stephanie Joyner. Are you as well prepared to come down?

Where is Stephanie?

Ms. Joyner? She's coming. There we go. Thank you. All right. Mr. Denard.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Good evening. As the 2026 Board Chair for Livian and also a partner with you to help the residents of Brook Hill still in their homes, I'm here to support Carrie Cook. for 17 years, I have watched Carrie no matter the status or background. provide a level of passion and enthusiasm while meeting, greeting, and working with everyone, and truly trying to find problem-solving solutions to help everyone. For example, through the Green Light Fund, she led an investment and an initiative to help residents of Olivia find jobs and opportunities. And so I please ask you to consider Carrie Cook as our next interim mayor. Thank you.

Joiner?

Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of council. My name is Stephanie Joiner, and I'm here to bring the joy tonight. But I'm a business owner, minority and small business advocate, and community leader. I'm here to advocate for Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell. I have known James for over 18 years and James has always demonstrated unwavering commitment to our city. He understands the current issues we face, the processes that drive our governance, and the key players involved. No learning curve. He often makes difficult decisions that may not always be popular, yet he remains steadfast in his commitment to what is best for our community. I have personally experienced his dedication, whether it was the establishment of the Charlotte Business Inclusion Advisory Committee, supported workforce development, and also served as a panelist for the Metrolina Minority Contractors Association. James has been there every step of the way. So I would like to say he is a leader who is proven, passionate, and prepared. Thank you.

Thank you.

All right. Charisse Blackman and Maddie Marshall.

There's Maddie.

There's Maddie. Okay. Yeah, see you.

Nice choice.

Good evening. I'm Cherise Blackmon, the executive director of the Westside Community Land Trust. And I am here today because I believe Carrie Cook is uniquely qualified to serve as our interim mayor. Many of you already know Carrie as a strategic leader with a proven track record across several of Charlotte's priority areas. But what makes Carrie truly special is that she is both a visionary leader and the neighbor next door. She understands policy systems and governance, yet remains deeply connected to the everyday experiences of the people. In particular, I want to speak to Carrie's longstanding commitment to the creation and preservation of affordable housing long before housing became a headline issue Carrie was doing the work. She has advised neighborhood leaders on NOAA preservation efforts, advocated for Charlotte's Housing Trust Fund, and served on the city's Affordable Housing Committee. She has convened faith leaders, partnered with nonprofits like the West Side Community Land Trust, and I personally believe her to be the ideal choice to serve as interim mayor.

Thank you. Thank you. Ms. Marshall?

Yes. Good evening, Mayor Lyles, and I want to say thank you for all your years of service and your service as a mayor of the great city of Charlotte, North Carolina. I want to start off by thanking also the council members here and the staff. Because you all are also part of uplifting all humanity with dignity and respect. And we gratefully appreciate you. I watch you all every Monday, committee meetings and so forth. So I'm up on what you've been doing and what you have accomplished. And I think with three city council members on board, you've done tremendous work. But you don't often give yourself credit enough for that. Now, you've taken a vote for our Mayor Pro Tem, which I strongly encourage you to continue that vote for James Smudgy Mitchell as the next interim mayor. I witness... An experienced trustee.

Thank you, Maddie. Thank you. We needed a little bit of that, Maddie. Thank you. It was appropriate.

Thank you. All right. Our next speaker is Gina Esquivel and Tanya Archer.

Gina. Gina.

Please.

Thank you.

Down here. Tanya. Thanks, Ms. Mayfield. You're doing a great job. I'm trying to help you out.

Honorable Mayor, council members, I have to say Mayor Lyles, I grew up watching you lead. Thank you so much for your service. I'm here to support Rob Harrington. My name is Gina Esquivel, long-term community advocate and business owner. I know Rob Harrington since back in the 2000s as a recent immigrant. I look up to those showing up for community in a genuine way, someone who didn't seek political gain, power, or even visibility. I've seen Mr. Harrington move through this community quietly, yet intentionally aware in how they show up, how he shows up. Rob can litigate anything, and we know Charlotte needs a strong negotiator. In times of scarcity or challenge, we need someone steady who keeps Charlotte authentic person alive. That's why I support Rob Harrington. Thank you. Thank you.

Tanya, thank you. Please. Good evening, Mayor Lyles and City Council. I'm a practicing attorney here in Charlotte and a proud member of the Mecklenburg Bar Association. My name is Tanya Archer, and I've worked tirelessly with Rob Harrington over many years on committees and boards. Rob may be a newer face to this arena. He's not new to the Charlotte and legal communities. You've now heard him speak passionately about resolving the affordable housing, public safety, and transportation issues currently facing our city. You've seen a slice of his ability to manage a meeting and to resolve contention through his brand of objective, calm, and transparent leadership. As an attorney and a community member, he simultaneously holds roles in corporate law, nonprofit boards, and civic institutions reflecting deep cross-sector engagement. In fact, many of our region's best civic leaders have served as leaders within the local bar association. including District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, Shirley Fulton, Aretha Blake, Tayati Baker, Tony Lathrop, Mel Watt, Frank Emery, Diane Bailey, and longtime Assistant City Attorney for the City, Thomas Powers. Rob Harrington stands among these named leaders, and what sets him apart is that his role will be extension of his long history of community engagement. Please support Rob Harrington. Thank you.

Thank you. Marsha Barnes. Jetanya Adams.

Ms. Barnes.

Good evening. Hello, my name is Marsha Barnes. When I think about what makes someone effective in public leadership, it comes down to two things, a servant's heart and the ability to get results. Carrie Cook has consistently demonstrated both. For more than two decades, Carrie has invested in Charlotte by bringing together businesses, nonprofits, educators, elected officials, and community leaders to solve complex challenges. She has been a strong advocate for housing, economic development, public safety, and transportation. issues that are critical to our city's future. Many here can agree that this is Carrie's calling. Through empowerment, she has helped more young women and girls build leadership skills, confidence, and opportunity. As former executive director of Green Light Fund Charlotte, she identified community needs and brought proven solutions to support children and families. Most importantly, Carrie has shown up for this community long before seeking any title. She leads with humility, integrity, compassion, and competence. That combination is rare, and it's why I strongly support Carrie Cook for Mayor Pro Temp. Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening. Greetings. I'm Jetanya Adams. I'm the Executive Director and Founder of the Historic West End Partners. But not only that, I'm a native Charlatan, 62 years and 11 months. I want to raise here. I met Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell at the West Charlotte Recreation Center playing and later on in the pews of East Stonewall Church. He served the community then, he served the church then, and you've heard all these wonderful things about his body of work, where he's been involved, how he's been involved. Here's what you haven't heard. He is truly a servant leader because even when going through personal difficulties, whether it was raising two beautiful girls which you did a great job with the blessings going through the marriage trials that we've all gone through and even losing your mother and then going through your own health battle with cancer which i've been through and i know what it's like to work when you flat on your back and you're going through chemo and you would rather almost be dead than go through it you did it with grace and style i represent male protein and if you will not bring him in Then Carrie Cook is it. She's the future.

That was funny.

She's going to get her double dip. All right.

You know, she's a rock star. So let's go with S.Y. Mason-Watson and Carlos Davis.

Yeah, exactly.

Good evening. Madam mayor and Charlotte city council members. I am S Y Mason Watson. And on behalf of the African-American caucus of the Mecklenburg county democratic party, I stand before you as president of this auspicious organization. We are keenly aware of the concerns in the community regarding our mayor pro temps. recent controversial vote and earlier concerns regarding R.J. Lieber. However, this is a crucial time for the city of Charlotte and all of us who call the Queen City home, who work here, raise families here, build businesses here, become educated here, who vote here and engage in the political process. We need continuity of leadership and the assurance that our city will prosper from a mayor that will work to promote what is best for her citizens. We submit that there is only one applicant who is best suited to seamlessly assume the office of the mayor of Charlotte and work. That is Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell. And thank you, Madam Mayor, for your service.

Thank you. All right.

Hi, Mayor Lyles.

Hi, how you doing?

What's going on?

Everything and nothing.

Council, how y'all doing?

Doing good.

Do me a favor. I want you to repeat after me. Accessibility. Accessibility. And opportunity.

Opportunity.

That is what Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell has done for me as a minority small business owner and done for many people in this community. He's made himself accessible not only to me as a business owner in giving me and many others opportunities. But even more importantly, accessibility to him. As a lot of you all on this council have done for me, he's also done. So I implore all of you all, as he has done that for me, please remember that as he sits side by side with you all and hopefully work together with you all as the interim mayor. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Kamisha Ferris, followed by Marais Kumar.

I think she was on the business advisory committee.

Yes, business advisory.

Maurice. Good evening, Mayor Lowells, council members. My name is Kamisha Ferris, owner of Anointed Flooring in Charlotte. We've been in business over 20 years and serve the southeast. I'm speaking today in support of Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, who has supported my business for over 11 years. Years ago, a contractor used our company's credentials for an award of a project, but refused to hire us. When I brought this to Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, he picked up the phone, called the director of construction of then Charlotte Housing Authority, which is now Olympia, and he got it resolved. He didn't listen. He took action. Beyond that, he's consistently connected me to valuable resources and given solid business advice. This kind of advocacy is needed in the small business community. I encourage the council to engage more deeply in the community and of all communities because we're serving the people. Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, good evening, thank you Mayor Lyles for your service and to the council members for your time today. My name is Maurice Kumar, I'm a past chair of the City of Charlotte Business Advisory Committee and a former president of NABO. I work alongside business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in our city. A decade ago, Charlotte was listed 50th in economic mobility. And more recently, that ranking has risen to 38. Small businesses account for 50% of jobs in America. And a recent small business data audit and intelligence report for Charlotte showed the BAC that small businesses in Charlotte with fewer than 500 employees account for 680,000 jobs. 680,000 jobs. Strengthening the bridge between the city and these small businesses is critical to improve workforce opportunities and economic and social development.

I support Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell because he's accessible.

He's accessible. And he'll focus only on this because he's not standing for mayor afterwards. Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Our next speakers are Tommy Nichols. And Jeff and Shara Lee.

Hello, Mayor, City Council. My name is Tommy Nichols. And I have a question. Do you think your skills on City Council would make you a better mayor than an outsider? With your relationships with staff, working relationship with the city manager and the city attorney, what about council priorities that you created? Who would know that better than you? I could go on and on, but that's why I'm supporting Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell. Because when you vote for James, you're not just voting for the next mayor, but you're voting for you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, please Good evening mayor Lyles and members of the City Council My name is Charlotte Lee and I am a new resident to Charlotte It did not take me long to know James Mitchell I have witnessed the impact of his leadership through the people and organizations that he supports I My daughter Nicole Grace has served on both the Charlotte Business Inclusion Advisory Committee as well as the leadership with NAWBO. One thing became clear. James Mitchell is the leader who consistently shows up, listens, and supports the people working to strengthen this city. Leadership is measured. not only by what you accomplish, but by trust and respect you earn from others. James Mitchell has earned that trust. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, so Madam Clerk, we are now going to receive an overview and instructions of our ballot process from our city attorney. I'm going to turn it over to our city attorney as well.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you for your incredible service to our community. Council, the following five candidates have been nominated for the Office of Mayor and have been included in the ballot before you. Those names are as follows. Harold Cogdell, Harry Cook, Robert Harrington, James Mitchell Jr., and Caleb Theodorus. The first candidate to receive six council member votes will be eligible for appointment by this council. If no candidate reaches six votes on the first ballot, the two highest vote getters will proceed to a second ballot and all others will be eliminated. If there is a tie for the second highest voter, vote getter, each of those tied for second place will participate in a runoff to determine who will compete against the highest vote getter. If necessary, all votes following the second ballot will be conducted by ballot. At this time, in accordance with NCGS 160A-63, the council will now vote to select the next mayor by appointment. At this time, please mark your ballot for one candidate. After making your selection, please sign your ballot. place it in the envelope, and hand it to the clerk. Ms. Hines will come across around the dais, starting with Council Member Johnson. Thank you. Starting with Council Member Johnson and moving across the dais. Council may proceed with the remainder of its business while the clerk's office tallies the vote. Thank you.

Okay.

We're going to allow this to be the part of our process and what we're doing, and so you can pretty much see the clerk is handling this and providing it for further action.

So, Mayor, for clarification, the attorney did just note we can continue, so that means we can go to number 8, which is the public hearing, correct?

Correct.

Thank you. Okay.

Do you want to go to the public hearing? I'm just trying to figure out. Ms. Mayfield, are you suggesting that we begin to open the public hearing on the Dilworth Methodist Church South Historic Landmark designation? And then we'll just keep going. I don't know if we can finish all of that up. So did everyone understand?

So we're now open to open the public hearing.

Do I have a motion? Second. Do I have a motion and a second? All in favor?

We have a speaker. We have one speaker. We have one speaker, Madam.

We have one speaker that we did not get to. Sorry. Is this Jeff Tanando? Mm-hmm.

There you are, thank you, sorry.

Hello, city council. Hi. So awesome to be here with you on this historic night. And now we get to talk about a historic building. I am the owner of Layluja Hall and on Cleveland LLC. Thank you for considering the designation of the Dilworth Methodist Church South as a local historic landmark. Jamie and I have always believed that our buildings tell a story and create a unique sense of place. They can be challenging to preserve, but they are also incredibly rewarding. We are honored to serve as stewards of the Dilworth Methodist Church, the oldest church building in Dilworth, and a cherished part of this community's fabric for more than 110 years. Our hope is that this building continues to stand as an iconic gateway into historic Dilworth from the rapidly growing south end. More importantly, we want it to remain a gathering place and an anchor for the community for generations to come. As Charlotte continues to grow in an extraordinary pace, preserving places like this becomes even more important. These historic landmarks remind us where we came from, connect us to our shared history, and help make Charlotte the special city it is today. Thank you for your consideration and for helping preserve this important piece of Charlotte's heritage. Thank you all.

Thank you very much.

We have a motion.

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you.

Madam Mayor, we have a motion to close public hearing in a second.

We have a motion and a second. We had a speaker. Now it is if there's any discussion.

Is there any discussion?

Ms. Mayfield. Thank you, Madam Mayor. This is a consistent concern. The fact that we have this along with two other hearings tonight along with the adoption versus utilize in the process where we have the public hearing and then at the next meeting is when we have decision. I think it's concerning whether it's this designation or the other two when we have both items on the same agenda. I have already mentioned this once. That does not create the space for community engagement to have a hearing on the same evening as a decision versus the public hearing being a separate decision like we do with our zoning where we'll have a hearing and later we'll have the decision. I am not going to be supporting this, but we need to have a real conversation about staff presenting to us any discussion where we are having a public hearing and a decision on it on the same evening in the same agenda item. Thank you.

All right, you've heard the comments of Miss Mayfield.

Morning, morning, Madam Mayor. I don't want to interrupt. I see Council Member Johnson's hand is up, but I did confer with the attorney, and we need to close the hearing and make a motion before we can have discussion on the particular item. Okay.

All right, Madam. So you've had a motion and a second. Yeah. So now move into discussion.

All right. So our next step on this one would be? The vote. The vote. Are we discussing this? I think I saw Johnson had her hand up, and I'm not sure what for.

We didn't vote to close it, though.

Ms. Johnson, did you have?

I'm waiting for the attorney to make a decision. Make a motion for action, and then the discussion follows that motion.

Yes, you need to vote on the motion to close the hearing.

Close the public hearing. The motion in second. Vote to close the public hearing.

Okay, so we already have first and second. I'm trying to listen, but I hear more voices than I have ears.

There was a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Could we vote on that so that the public hearing is officially closed? All right.

Okay, Ms. Mayo, were you? Okay, sorry. Let's have the vote on this. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand.

Anyone not opposing? Okay.

All right.

And now we need to move to the discussion about the hearing before the approval. But, City Attorney, I need to make a motion, or someone needs to make a motion to adopt the ordinance, correct?

Yes.

So I make a motion for Part B of Agenda Item Number 8 to adopt the ordinance with an effective date of June 22, 2026. All right.

You've heard the motion. Is there any discussion?

Yes. Ms. Johnson. Thank you. I wanted to follow up with the city manager regarding what Council Member Mayfield, the concern she shared, she did share that last month. I would agree with that. That is our practice, our common practice with all other motions. So can you speak to that?

Sure. Thank you, Council Member Johnson. is that this is the way historically the city has handled these public hearings, with the exception of during COVID. So the governor at that time provided the opportunity for jurisdictions to do exactly what Council Member Mayfield is saying. After that was lifted, we just went back to the previous process. But if it's the will of this council to do something differently, you can do something differently.

Okay. So, I mean, I would think when you say this is the way we handle it, you just mean these property decisions? Because other hearings, if we have a hearing.

On the business agenda, again, with the exception of COVID, this is the way that we've handled these particular hearings. But, again, if the council would like to have a two-step process, that's something that the council can do.

Okay.

Thank you.

all right is there any further discussion on this item and i mean i miss johnson can i make a motion to defer this one until next well known will be september september we deferred the decision tonight then it would be the next business meeting would be september august august do we have a motion Okay. I mean, I'll make the motion if I get a second. I get a second. Yeah. I'd like to make a motion to defer to August. Defer this item to? The decision. The decision. Yes.

So we've got several more that are pretty much the same kind of caliber of what they're doing. And I wonder if we could do them in a way that all of them are done and inclusive. Okay.

So then a motion to defer all of the decisions.

until August. I would like us to have a process moving forward so we're not just picking one item at a time or two items randomly. If we can refer this to the committee where we come up with a process and if If it's the council's will to have hearing and decision a month apart, we can do that. I just don't feel comfortable doing it sort of on the fly because I do not know how this would impact some of the projects that are especially historic landmark designation because time is money. That's fair. So if you're okay with the friendly amendment to move this to any committee for a process so that we have consistency moving forward.

Yeah. I accept. It's just that Councilmember Mayfield has shared that concern consistently. And I'd like to know that Council's concerns are being addressed. So I will accept that amendment. Thank you.

Second.

All right. So then what happens?

So that was a friendly amendment to the substitute motion, which was to defer. There was a motion to defer and there was an amendment. So vote on the motion to defer it or excuse me, motion to send it to BGIR for further study. So that's the first motion on the floor. Is there a second for that? I did second. Okay. All right. So vote on that. I'm sorry.

I just want to make sure I'm very clear. I hear the committee referral. This specific item, though, it's defer this specific item and refer the broader issue to committee? No, no, no.

What is it? The broader issue. No, just the broader issue. It's the broader issue. We can vote today.

And we can move forward on this item today.

Yeah, that's right.

Okay.

We have a motion and a second. It's time to vote. Okay. To refer.

All right. We'll call for the vote. Okay. Before we move on to the Dillworth Methodist Church South Historic Landmark designation. All in favor, please raise your hand.

Madam Mayor, just a point of information. At this point of information, we have an amended vote to send this particular issue that Ms. Mayo has brought up. numerous times of having both A and B, the hearing, and the vote sent to BGIR. That's what we're voting on now, not item number eight. That's right. So you do have a first motion and a second, so we can vote to send this to BGIR right now.

Call for the vote. Well, I did. I thought, do you want the vote? So I did. So do you all in favor? Anyone opposed? Nope. All right. Thank you very much. We do have a motion.

Madam Mayor, to my original motion, which was to move to adopt agenda item number eight, part B. And it was properly seconded.

Right. So we're done. And if you look at the rest of your agenda, there are some others that are doing a budget ordinance for general funds and others. But we're going to pass that until you have a new process, right?

Is that what I'm saying? We can vote on agenda items.

All right. So the next item. Let's go to item number eight.

Eight B.

Eight B. Yeah, because she was wrong. A and B. We will now move to the business agenda for item 13. Is there a motion?

8B. 8B.

8B. 8B. Just B.

We have a motion and a second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor of apprenticeship building grant program? All right. Okay.

Any opposed?

Anyone oppose? Hearing no opposition, Ms. Mayfield opposes. So we'll go to the next house that we're having, the Ford House as a historic landmark. Any issues or questions with that? Move to close the public hearing if there are no speakers. Madam Clark?

Second.

I have a motion to open and close the public hearing. Any discussion?

All in favor?

All in favor? Is anyone opposed? Ms. Mayfield. Thank you, Ms. Mayfield.

I was raising my hand in support of closing the hearing.

Closing this one.

The original question of closing the hearing is unanimous.

Okay. I got you.

All right.

Okay. Move to adopt B.

It is still approved.

Second. Second.

All right. Do you have a motion and a second? All in favor? Raise your hands. Anyone opposed? This may feel good. So that concludes. All right.

FOR NUMBER 10, IF THERE ARE NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS, MADAM CLERK.

MADAM CLERK, HOW FAR ARE WE ALONG ON THE TALLY, OR DO WE HAVE TIME TO TALK MORE ABOUT...

IF YOU HAVE TIME, IF YOU WANT TO FINISH THESE HEARINGS, THEN WE CAN GIVE YOU THE RESULTS.

YEAH, I DID MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION AND A SECOND. AND A SECOND ALREADY.

We're not hearing on this end when y'all are motioning.

So there was a motion to open and close the public hearing. It was seconded and now, Madam Mayor, I believe you're going to call for a vote.

Yes. On the motion to a public hearing to adopt an annexation ordinance with the effective date of June 22, 2026 to extend the corporate limits to include this property and assign it to the City District Council District 5.

All in favor to open and close the public hearing.

All right. There is already a motion and a second. Is anyone opposed to closing the public hearing? All right. Thank you very much.

We are moved to adopt B, just to approve. All right.

Second.

Second to adopt 10B. 10B. Any questions or comments? Any opposition? Hearing none. All in favor?

All in favor? Any opposed?

All in favor?

Just one opposed from Mayfield. Okay. Thank you. All right.

All right. All right. So let's go back to the clerk and see where we are. All right, so we have a package that was just sent to me, and I've just opened it up, and it reads, no one received six votes. Turn this over now to our city attorney for the next steps.

At this time, council, you will receive another ballot. You will once again need to select one candidate for this runoff ballot, and the names on the runoff ballot are...

The names are Carrie Cook and Robert Harrington.

Let me, let me, let me be clear. I'm sorry. So no one received six. I want to read the tally out. Okay. Oh, we got to do that before we move forward. Okay. Harold Coddale received two votes. Harry Cook received three votes. Robert Harrington received four votes. James Mitchell received two votes. So your two highest vote getters are Robert Harrington with four, Carrie Cook with three. Neither of them received six votes. So hence council voting again to determine the highest vote getter. Someone will need to reach six in order to be appointed. Is that clear? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Please select one name.

One name.

Once you've selected your candidate, you can proceed with the remainder of your business.

Mayfield, turn to us then.

She said she doesn't have it. Oh, she said you don't have Mayfield?

What's right there?

I mean, does she mark?

Mayfield has her ballot. She's already marked it. Has she already marked it? Yes.

She has to submit it.

She has to turn it in.

She has to submit it.

She said so when she left the diocese.

I don't know that at all. I can fix it.

Huh?

And if she signed it.

It's just like, that's how it works, right? You don't have.

Billy's caring. All right, let's keep them. We don't have enough. Keep giving.

Madam Mayor, if it's counsel's pleasure, you can proceed with the remainder of your business until the tallies are tallied.

Okay.

So what's our next?

All right, let's go to item 12, pallet rear light camera program and ordinance revision. Our next policy item is for this item. And for item 12, do I have a motion to adopt a resolution approving safety committee's recommendation to implement a pilot automated red light running enforcement program for a period of one year and a B to adopt an ordinance approving those amendments to chapter 14, article four of the city code. Second, we have a motion for both a and B. Any other comments or questions?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just want to first and foremost thank the members of my committee, of the safety committee, which are CM Ajmera, myself, CM Mitchell, CM Graham, and CM Driggs. We worked pretty arduously on this particular line item, given our Vision Zero goals and some of the comments that you heard from the public around the injuries and, unfortunately, deaths as it relates to vehicular accidents. And so we've done great research with our peer cities, both here in this great state of North Carolina, but also throughout the country, and we've landed on this pilot program that will attack our highest ten intersections that unfortunately have these accidents. And so we feel very good about the program. And we also are, as we stand up this program, we're also standing up a data-driven perspective. So we'll get constant updates as it relates to the accidents, the potential reductions, and other things that we can potentially tweak as we go through this 12-month pilot. So I'd like to thank my committee for their great work on this, and hopefully the council will support so we can advance something that is a very strong issue within our city. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

All right, thank you. Our next business item. I'm Devon. Oh, we have to vote on this? Yes. I think it's so popular, I thought it was voting. I know, right? I didn't think anyone was going to be opposed, but I may try. All right.

We have a motion on the floor.

Second. And we have a second. All in favor? Anyone opposed? Ms. Johnson, did you have your hand up? I did. I'm in favor. Thank you so much. Okay. So now the next item is item B, adopt a budget ordinance.

I'm sorry.

We're now going to move into the business section of our agenda for item 13. Is there a motion to accept a grant in the amount of $12,000 from Apprenticeship NC and the North Carolina Community College System for solid waste services, apprenticeships, and... That's item A. And item B is adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $12,000 to the general grants fund.

Move to approve A and B. Second.

Do we have a motion for A and B? Is there any discussion? All right.

If not, we will go on to move on in favor.

Madam Mayor, can I make a quick comment? A motion all in favor. Madam Mayor.

I'm sorry. I was just going to make a quick comment before we vote. Thank you. I just wanted to give a huge shout out to Mr. Rodney Jameson. I had the ability and the pleasure to go out and spend time with our solid waste workers last week. They presented me with their strategies, their areas of opportunity where they need funding, as well as how they actually support and undergird their employees. from having a food bank right there on the premises to workers receiving their GED and being ushered through programs and other opportunities. And so they really lean in, and Rodney does a fantastic job. Next year around this time, hopefully a month prior to, we will lean into them as it relates to budget opportunities because throughout the city of Charlotte, we're nearly a million people. They only have 12 street sweepers and I don't know about some of the district reps but I'm constantly getting requests from the neighborhoods asking why aren't the streets swept more frequently with 12 street sweepers they can only hit one area on an annual basis just based on our footprint and so they have some other needs as it relates to trucks and technologies and things of that nature but just wanted to give a shout out to a great leader there really leaning into his voice. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Okay, thank you. I'm sure Rodney will appreciate that. All right, so item. Have we voted on this one? Let's go ahead and see.

All in favor?

All in favor? Anyone opposed? All right, so our next business item is for an initial findings of resolution of 2026 stormwater construction period financing. For item 14, is there a motion to adopt an initial finding resolution that makes certain statements of fact concerning the stormwater construction period financing? That's item B.

Adopt for A, B, and C. Second.

We have a motion for A, B, and C. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? Anyone opposed? So we'll go to that. The next one is our general obligation refunding bonds. The next business item is for that, and it's for item 15. Is there a motion?

Madam Mayor, move approval A through F. Second.

We have a motion of approval from A through F. Any discussion? All right.

Pursuant to General Statute 168-75A, I must recuse myself from this vote.

I couldn't hear what you said. You can't recuse yourself. Yes. Accusal. Accused myself. Or yourself.

Or yourself. Thank you.

I was like, why would anybody accuse me right now? What's the point? Yes, we have a motion to approve our Victoria Watlington. So all in favor?

Oh, no motion necessary. No motion necessary. Accusal.

It's an accusal. Oh, you're going to recuse yourself. Thank you. All right, let's go to the next item. Let's vote on the next item. I mean, the item that we had that we were talking about.

Here we go.

A through F. That's what we got on all already for that. So anyone of pros, A through F, any additional? All in favor. All in favor. All in favor. You did. Yes.

All right.

The next business item is for the general obligation bond fund referendum. For item 16, is there a motion to introduce such of the three bond orders required for a general obligation bond referendum or which includes $280 million of transportation bonds, $20 million of neighborhood improvement bonds, and $125 million of housing bonds. Do we have a motion to approve A and B? Second. We have a motion for A and B. Is there anyone that wants discussion or not? Ms. Watlington.

Persuade to 16875A.

I must recuse myself from this vote. All right. There's a recusal with Ms. Watlington. Anything else? Anyone else? Are you prepared to vote? All in favor, raise your hands. I think this is probably one of the things. Who's opposed? No one is opposed.

Anyone opposed? I don't have any opposals.

Okay, the next item is University City Municipal Service District Boundary Expansion. The next business item is for that University City Boundary Expansion. For item 17, is there a motion?

Move for approval. Second. Council Member Johnson second it.

Second. All right, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion? Anyone opposed? All right, 18. The next item is to accept Habitat for Humanity funding for the Robinson Church Road widening project. For item 18, is there a motion to authorize the manager as designee to accept a contribution amount of $52,000 from Habitat for Humanities for the Charlotte region for the Robertson Church. We have a motion for A and B. Second. Second and a second. All in favor, please let me know. Anyone opposed? All right. The next item in business, interlocal agreement with the town of Mint Hill for construction of water and sewer infrastructure. The next item is an interlocal agreement. Is there any questions concerning this item?

More to adopt the resolution authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute it in a local agreement with the town of Mindy Hill for construction of sanitary sewer lines and a water storage. Second.

All right, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. Anyone opposed? Okay, thank you. The next item is an amendment to the amended restated lease for the Bank of America Stadium.

Move for approval.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Ms. Mayfield.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. So as was mentioned to us when this was presented, when this conversation was first presented to Council, the initial understanding was that Tepper Sports was going to repurchase this land. We had some changes. The land was then conveyed over to the city of Charlotte. To me, once that conveyance happened, that was a new conversation. The challenge I have, of which, one, I am not supporting this because there is no additional community benefit in it. This is for an additional venue space that's going to be around 4,400 square feet seating. We have numerous venue spaces around the city, but when we look at uptown, whether or not we can, of which I'll ask deeper conversation later of our attorney, think of Orlando studios. I think of the fact that Florida residents get a discount. at Orlando Studios and or Disney for us to approve yet another project where we are basically leasing this out for a dollar for them to build on without any clear community benefits meaning we have concerts and we have local event space we have a big event that's coming in a couple of months if this space was already built but think of other concerts or events that may be coming to the city. The fact that there was no negotiation to identify a community benefit, I have a concern about. We already have a 30-plus year commitment with this particular partner. Any opportunity that we have to at least have a conversation of how this benefits our local community, I think we should take from the very beginning, and it shouldn't be an afterthought. So I do have concerns of us allocating this corner of land without there being a very clear community benefit. Thank you.

Thank you. All right, Mr. Graham. I'm sorry, Ms. Kimberly was next. That's fine. Thank you.

I was just going to speak briefly in favor of the amendment. I appreciate Council Member Mayfield's concerns. I do not share those concerns, and I wonder if Mr. Heath, would you step to the podium and maybe help us address, or is there someone better suited?

Sure.

Could I ask? I had understood from Mr. Heath that the negotiated benefits had come up front in the original lease. And if I speak an untruth, then please someone clarify it. So for me to reopen it over this small section of land is, in my estimation, bad faith. And I would be very uncomfortable with us negotiating like that once we've already negotiated to go back because the small sliver is going to be added. I just wanted to put that into the room. So I will be voting in favor of the amendment.

Madam mayor, just for clarification before Mr. Heath speaks, I would like for you to go back to the original discussion of what this project was and what was presented to council, since there seems to be some misinformation regarding a discussion of bad faith, where we started so that we can have a transparent conversation.

If I may quickly zoom out to 2024. So the idea of a stadium annex or what we're now calling a performance venue was always contemplated as part of the framework. During the 18 months that we worked to negotiate around the key business terms that you required, as well as the community benefits, it was always understood that one of the owner-elected projects would be a performance venue. So there's nothing associated with the performance venue that's new. there's nothing that's associated with the community benefits that were put in place that would be impacted by the construction of a performance. What was the original owner in discussion?

The original owner of the, because this land, when it was presented to council was presented to us as if that business was going to own it. It was just recently that we had, that we learned that this land was being conveyed to the city of Charlotte. So we're not going to have a partial conversation.

So if I could zoom out on the triangular parcel, which is a bit of a separate conversation, it was understood last year that having access to the triangular parcel which is less than a quarter acre, which was owned by NCDOT at the time, was very important as an enabler for the performance venue. Last year, we had a lot of conversations around what was the path to gain site control. Maybe the city would buy it, maybe the team would buy it. We went back and forth a number of times. Ultimately, NCDOT deemed that small parcel to be surplus, basically a remnant parcel of no value to them. So they transferred that to us at no cost, which we believe then and believe now was the absolute best outcome that we could have had. So we received it at no cost, and I would just make one other comment about the parcel. I did walk with the parcel a couple weeks ago with our real estate team, and they affirmed that on a standalone basis, the parcel really essentially is unbuildable. So our view is we received a piece of property at no value. for something that's unbuildable, and it's a logical step from our perspective to put it into the lease to enable a project that will allow the team to activate on a requirement that you put in place, which is $150 million investment by the team in exchange for our investment.

Madam Mayor. I have now, so far, five people that wish to speak to this item, so I think Ms. Kimberly was first. You're done? Okay. And then Ms. Anderson? Graham is before me. And then Ms. Johnson?

No. Madam Mayor, Graham is before me, and I'm after Graham, if I remember.

All right. Graham?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. This hospital is in District 2. It's really, really small. 0.24 acre property. I walked it to, without getting tired at all, it's really, really small.

Because you're in great shape.

I beg your pardon? That is true, too. And, you know, this is something that came before the ED committee, uh, back in, uh, in October. Uh, and we talked about this being as a part of the, the broader deal, we get in essence, a 4,200 seat, um, a performance center, no cost to the city at all. The land has been donated to the city. We can't build on it at all. I walked it. You can't do anything with it for sure. And the benefits we get because of the center is 80 to 100 events night per year, which support workers, Uber drivers who are showing up, transporting people to the facility, hospitality workers, hotels, etc. It creates jobs. It creates construction opportunities, operation of the facility itself. It supports hospitality and tourism. And did I mention that it's very, very small piece of property and that we didn't pay anything for it. It was given to us and we wanted to absorb it into a larger project for greater community. Good. Uh, Carolina Panthers are a partner of ours, a public private partnership. is how the stadium is being renovated today. This is yet a baby step towards completing the goal. In addition, we all talked about, at least from the ED perspective, of creating an entertainment district within that sector of the community. Again, we take a giant step forward to do that with a small partial of land that we can't do anything with. From my perspective, watching it, It has no economic development value for us. As it relates to community benefits, I think the agreement that we've struck with the Panthers early in the year, last year, with the broader deal, it's inclusive of this type of small property in it. So I'm very comfortable with it, and I hope the council will approve it.

All right. Ms. Anderson.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I was in those meetings when... CM Graham was the chair of the ED committee and navigated through this process. As was mentioned, this is a very small triangular parcel that was a part of the overall deal where we did discuss community benefits as well as other opportunities. And recently, North Carolina Department of Transportation deemed it as remnant and i.e. surplus, and then hand it over to us. And so that wasn't an action that we took proactively. That was something that at the state level was decided. This performance venue, the performance center, which we will effectively be getting without additional investment at all, also fills a gap in terms of our entertainment and arts footprint within the city of Charlotte to attract and other venues and opportunities, entertainment opportunities, that might not have the right size building. And in addition, as Mr. Graham mentioned, this sits right in the middle of Third Ward, which is being revitalized. The Community Neighborhood Association stood up just a year ago There's an opportunity to bring light and vitality to this space, not on the dime of the city that often has been forgotten about over the last several years. So I will be supporting this as well. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

All right. Ms. Johnson. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mr. Heath, what is the total square footage of the land?

Of the triangular parcel?

Yes.

It's approximately 10,500 square feet.

And do we get a real estate value for that?

We do not have an appraisal of that parcel.

Okay. So I think that's the concern. I know we're calling it a really small piece of land, but 10,500 square feet of real estate or land does have some value. When we talk about community benefits, employee parking or affordable parking, shared ride, drop off and pick up, or even a space for the displaced vendors from other areas from uptown. So there is value potentially. I think the concern for those of us who are concerned is that we're giving a piece of land to an entity that could otherwise afford it. So that's all I wanted to share. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Johnson. We've got three in the hopper, Council Member Watlington, Council Member Driggs, and Council Member Mayfield.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. And I appreciate Mr. Heath's conversations last week and the continuation today, because I do think it's a little bit unclear, or at least has been up until this point, whether or not this particular parcel was a part of the broader conversation. From what I understood from you last week, this parcel was already in the conversation, but the way that the Tepper Group was going to come upon this particular parcel was not clear. Is that correct?

Yes. We knew and we're on record in October of last year that the triangular parcel was very important to enable this project. What we didn't know, what we couldn't know was how site control would be gained and where we ended up in is what we believe is the best possible outcome, which the state transferred it to us at no cost.

Thank you for that. That is helpful for me. I will say that in general, I do think that it's time for us to raise the bar just in terms of negotiation. I do obviously know that we spoke about deal points at the beginning, but it definitely feels like there is a portion of this that maybe the council doesn't feel like we were able to weigh in on with the benefit of all of the information, whether it was the types of community benefit that actually could have been negotiated for this particular piece beyond the stadium itself, or whether it was the fair market value of the parcel or whatever it was. So I hope that what we've learned from this, if nothing else, is that we have an opportunity to make sure that we are in lockstep earlier on in terms of negotiation. That said, it sounds like this was already accounted for in the broader conversation. And I don't know if you've got it in front of you, but I think it would be helpful to understand what then were the community benefits that were already included in the overall negotiation.

Yes, the community benefits were many, and they were noteworthy. Just to name a few, 27% MWSBE goal associated with city funding, the seven city use days, support for small business capacity building programs, community programs for veterans, at-risk youth, and low-income residents, increased engagement with HBCUs. And those are incremental to all of the civic engagement activities that the Panthers have been doing for years. including thousands of tickets that are going to community organizations on an annual basis for the stadium.

Thank you for that. So again, just like I say, if there's two venues, I would have loved to see a little bit more specific community benefit, particular to the other venue as well. But point taken. Thank you.

Council Member Driggs.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I think this is a valid discussion in principle. but in the wrong context. This is a very big picture relationship we have with the team. Mr. Tepper has invested billions of dollars, and I think the idea that a 4,200 seat venue is not an asset to the city or a benefit to the city is a misnomer. We pursued this relationship, I remember, early on, the first conversations, and we had a vision activation, an entertainment district, a lot of very desirable things that could happen And then this buyer came along with his capacity to just decide to build the 4,200 seat venue and not need to partner with us or ask for anything. And this parcel is just so small. And I really hate to think that we're kind of disturbing our relationship with the team, the owner, and all of the big things that are going on in Charlotte over this particular question. So I hope we can have this conversation when there's something more meaningful at stake, but 27% commitment on small business alone is huge in comparison to 10,000 square feet of land. So really let's just keep some perspective on this one. I hope appreciate the benefits that we have from our relationship with Tepper sports and, and let this one pass. And if necessary, On another occasion, when there's more at stake, we can talk it over. Thank you.

So, if we may, Sean, I think we're going to try to bring up this parcel on the big screen so the viewers can see what we're referring to. So, while we're doing that, I'm going to give it to Council Member Mayfield.

Thank you, Mayor Poteau. So, as David said earlier, Tepper acquired the team in 2018, the Panthers' value has doubled despite the challenging performance record of 36 wins and 80 losses during his ownership. So for us to say, to give the impression that it was altruistic what he's done, he's a business person. And as a business person, he has made money. As an elected official, I'm going to ask the same questions that I ask for any other lot because it's challenging to hear that this is such a small space. Nothing can be built on it, yet we're talking about building a 4,400 square foot facility on it. So you can't have both. The challenge that I had is the fact of the transparency of we started a conversation that full Council was aware that conversation see it was in discussion and gave the impression if they bought the land. This is what we would do it would have been to have access with it. I'm like okay, I don't have a problem with that the moment that conversation changed because as you mentioned. You and staff had multiple conversations. You may have even presented it to the Economic Development Committee. The first time I saw it was when it was presented to all of us as a decision to have a discussion on. That conversation changed from him owning it said the city now only and the CD they're giving it to him there was no conversation of extended community benefits it is not a community benefit to me to say you're going to have 20% development participation every small business which we heard from a lot of them today to have the opportunity to do the work on a freaking 600 million dollar contract so that's not a community benefit Yet, when we think about the Uber drivers and others, less than three months ago, some of those same people came down because of the financial challenges that they are having uptown regarding parking, being ticketed because they're sitting too long waiting for someone. So again, we can't keep playing this seesaw game. I just asked the question regarding what is the community benefit? The answer came back to me, well, we did that on this other piece. Perfectly honest, I don't care. I asked about this particular person. This little triangle that we keep talking about, this triangle that's too small for us to build on. Yet we're building a 4400 space venue on it because we want to entertainment district. So I want there to be. clarity and not misinformation or a challenge for any of us to ask the question. Cause guess what? That's what we get to do. So don't get, I don't appreciate it being mentioned. Well, he's such a good public private partner. He is a business owner. We created a business contract. I'm just saying that if there's going to be a conversation where the city is going to contribute even more, there should also be a conversation of how this benefits our community.

Thank you, Council Member Mayfield. City Manager?

Mayor, members of council, I think we have this parcel on the screen. And I think what's important, and Sean said this earlier, early on the discussion was around a stadium annex that morphed into this performance venue and When this was discussed both in committee and with the council, that quarter of an acre of a parcel is not what the venue is going to be built on. What's the total acreage, Sean?

The total footprint required for the performance venue is approximately two acres. There's only really a very tiny portion of the triangular parcel that would be used for the performance venue.

Those two acres, it was always contemplated that getting that quarter of an acre to add to it was important. NCDOT owned it. And the question was, In order to build this thing out and make it successful, that quarter of an acre was really important. There were a couple of options. One option would be that TSC would buy the quarter of an acre to add it to the rest of the footprint. Again, the entire footprint is where the performance venue will be built, not the quarter of an acre. And it just seemed to be very complicated. if TSE owned that quarter of an acre, and then 20 years from now, if there was not a music venue, and that had to come back to the city in some way, it would seem like it would be better that the city would own all of it as opposed to all but a quarter of an acre. So, again, started off as a stadium annex, went to this performance venue, but I think what's key is That quarter of an acre makes the performance venue work, but it's not where the performance venue will be built.

Thank you, City Manager. Council Member Ajmer.

Thank you. So this will be a lease. The city will still own the ownership. It will still have the ownership of that quarter acre land. So... I guess what I'm trying to figure out, what would be the market value, right? If we were to lease it to someone, how much would we get as part of the lease payment? I think that was what Councilmember Johnson was alluding to. I get it that there was no appraisal done because this is not a for sale transaction, right? This is a lease transaction. But what we would like to see is what is the value that we could get if it was other than Tapper Sports. I think that's a question that I would like to get clarification on. What is the fair market value of the lease for that space?

So as I mentioned before, we do not have a market appraisal on it. You can see here in the visual, just the shape of it, not just the size. So very small size, less than a quarter acre, which is smaller than the average size of a lot for a single family home in Mecklenburg County. The shape of it also poses some major challenges on a standalone basis. So our real estate team was very clear with a very direct question I had for them, which was what opportunity for development could we have if we attempted to do something on a standalone basis? And the answer back was crystal clear. This particular triangular-shaped parcel is essentially unbuildable on the standalone basis. So whereas I wouldn't suggest it has zero value, I would suggest it has very insignificant value relative to what we believe are overwhelming benefits associated with job creation, sales and property tax, tourism benefits, not just tourism taxes, but also individuals that work at restaurants and bars and hotels, that will benefit from 80 to 100 shows on an annual basis, and then also just the idea of uptown activation and vibrancy. So in our view, the benefits were so overwhelming that the relatively insignificant cost, so to speak, associated with it were not material.

So just to follow up on that, I understand that the value is, it may not be as valuable for us as a standalone, but this is going to make or break the deal for the other party. So that's where the value comes in. So what are we getting in return for the huge value that they are getting? I think that's what ultimately we are trying to get to. Are we getting anything extra in terms of other community benefits or higher lease payment? What is it that we are getting? Because this project, performance venue project, would not happen without this triangle space that is there, right? I think we have to look at this holistically. There is already a parcel that city owned other than the triangle. So we are giving them sort of a land assemblage that is making this performance venue possible.

Two quick points. One, I would say, if we owned this triangular parcel in 1990, it would have always been part of the 25-acre campus lease. If we had owned this parcel in 2013, when we renegotiated the lease, it would have been part of the 25-acre campus. If we'd owned it in 2024, it would have been part of the campus. Right now, it's basically sidewalk, a little bit of patch of grass, and some trees. So what our belief has been all along, that extracting the maximum value for the city, for the city, from the 25-acre campus should be something we are as equally excited about as the team itself. And we believe the value proposition here is very compelling for the city.

Excuse me. And call the questions. Mr. Jones, we have some people that have already want to speak. Ms. Johnson will go here, then we'll come to Ms. Watlington, and then we'll vote.

Thank you. If the vote doesn't work out, we'll vote again. Exactly. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mr. Heath, we appreciate the plans as far as economic development, but as elected officials, we're stewards of public dollars. I think that our public would expect for us to understand the market value of the property. When the state conveyed it to us, Mr. Jones, is there a conveyance document that has a value of the property that's included?

No, no. It was deeded over at no cost. There's no indication of market value. Had we been required to have paid for the parcel, this would have been a different conversation.

I think a fair thing to ask is the market value. I think that that's a fair question from us and from our constituents, that we should know what the value is as we're leasing the property for a dollar. Again, when you talk about being such a small property, it's 10,500 square feet. We know parking is a challenge in downtown or uptown, especially for the workers. We talk about the workers, the benefit, and also the drop-off space, and like I said, a space for the vendors. So there is value. Like Council Member Ashmira said, it's very valuable to the other party. So I think that that's a fair and transparent ask, that we know the market value. I would suggest that we defer this until August, but I'll wait to see. I mean, that's just my thoughts. Thank you.

Ms. Watlington. I have a follow-up question. I want to just say we're going to vote after, we'll have a vote after Ms. Watlington's comments.

I just want to be clear. Mr. Heath, you mentioned the value to the city overall, and certainly I'm sure many of us around the diocese share that. I don't want it to be misunderstood that expecting that the value proposition includes more than just specific economic development dollars that will end up being tourism revenue or an Uber drivers fair or that kind of thing is separate and apart from the broader city's value of some of the things that were just listed. It's critically important to me that when we have these conversations, that the general public's value is not viewed as unnecessary or an inconvenience to the rest of the work. I don't think anybody around this dais doesn't understand the economic value. I also don't think that it is unreasonable because we are public servants to expect that the broader public also see some benefit when there is an opportunity for that. However, this vote lands, that for me is the fundamental thing. principle that we need to get clear around. Honestly, my patience is wearing thin with these conversations around economic development versus broader community. They should come together and we've got to stop putting ourselves in these type positions.

All right, so now I'm going to ask for a vote.

Mayor, I would like to make a substitute motion to defer this item for further discussion.

Second. Okay. And what is your motion?

To defer agenda item. To defer this item.

Sorry, I couldn't hear what you were saying. So to defer. So the motion to defer this item and come back. All in favor, please raise your hands.

Okay.

That's one, two, three, four. So that does not pass. Okay. All opposed. All right. All of these. And one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Move approval.

Second.

All right.

You have a motion to approve and a second, Madam Mayor.

We have a motion to approve and a second. So all in favor, please raise your hands. All right. Okay. I think we have a vote.

Anyone opposed? All opposed. All right. Three, one, two, three. Okay.

That's 50 minutes of my life.

I can't do that. All right, so that passes.

Do we have a tally?

Do we have a tally? All right, Billy. Thank you for your patience.

I'm going to kiss after this is over. Two more hours.

All right, so we've received the opening, and we do have a person to join this organization. Having received six or more council members' votes, there is a motion to appoint Robert Harrington by acclamation to the office of mayor upon vacancy by the office by bylaws. So moved. I'm leaving tomorrow.

Go ahead. Second.

But we do need to have the city attorney address.

And just to clarify, the requested action is to serve until the expiration of the elected mayor's term. There you go.

Okay. So moved. All right. We have that. So we're moving. So we do have. Do we get to vote?

What happens next? We vote. Got to vote. Got to vote.

All right. So now I'm going to say all in favor of this motion for Mr. Harrington, please raise your hands. Thank you very much. Anyone opposed? No. Thank you. All right. So really. So we have a few other items, but I don't think that we have much opportunity to tackle it. Do we want to continue? Yes.

All right.

Let's go to item 21. Move for approval, ma'am. The next item is an amendment to the CRTP.

You know this, right?

The next item is an amendment to the CRTP Memorandum of Understanding.

Everyone, please. We're still having our meeting.

All right. For item 21, is there a motion to authorize the mayor to execute an amended memorandum of understanding for the CARPO to remove the MTC and add MTC MPTA as a member? Yes, ma'am.

Move to approve.

Second. Motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing no discussion, all in favor, please raise your hands. Anyone opposed? Anybody opposed?

We don't have anyone opposed. Okay.

For item 22, Mr. Howard, would you please join us down here? For item 22 is there a motion to adopt a resolution approving and ratifying an interlocal agreement between the city of Charlotte and the MPTA for their joint undertaking and implementation of requirements to fulfill obligations under the PAVE Act. And item B, authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute all documents and contracts, including for transfer and expeditions of funds necessary to implement and fulfill the city's obligations under the PAV Act.

I'd like to second that and comment.

All right, Mr. Driggs.

So, colleagues, we've talked about this now for a number of months. There's been an extended process of engagement between MPTA and the city in order to resolve how CATS will work, how transit will work from the period, particularly from the period from July 1st to January. when, because MPTA is not in a position to operate CATS yet, CATS will continue to be operated by the city, but pursuant to authority received from MPTA, which the PAVE Act provides owns transit and receives the sales tax. A lot of work went into this. Ms. Owens, I appreciate your contribution. There were many issues. When you get down into the details of how this works, it gets a little tricky in places. So I wanted to particularly recognize Marcus Jones, Liz Babson, Hannah Bromberger, Andrea Leslie-Fight, Sean Heath, Brent Cagle, and particularly Catherine Clodfelter, our attorney, for the outstanding work they did to engage with MPTA, resolve these issues, and basically create a foundation for our continuing cooperation with MPTA as we align our land use and development policies with their transit decisions. So I do move to approve these and recommend them to council.

We have a recommendation to approve to the council. Is there any motion on any understanding? All right, all in favor? Anyone opposed? All right. We have one. Okay. Let's keep going. So this concludes our business items vote for this evening. Next, we're going to open with council topics. In order to ensure that all council has the opportunity to speak, we will go around the dais one by one. I ask that each council member try to keep their comments or questions to three minutes. And didn't we have some stuff to do?

Mr. Howard, thank you for being here tonight and for your leadership of MPTA. We look forward to working with you.

And the other members who have joined us.

And the other board members who are here.

Thank you very much. Let's see. Now it's council topics, and we'll start with Ms. Johnson.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mayor Liles, are you prepared to step down at the end? of June, I want to thank you for your decades of tireless service to the city of Charlotte. Serving together on this council, we've not always agreed on every policy, but that's the very nature of healthy democracy and a vibrant city. Your willingness to break barriers as our first black female mayor, coupled with deep institutional knowledge, has left an undeniable mark on the Queen City's history. You sacrificed tremendously for this role. I watched you during COVID. You were here day and night. So I thank you on behalf of the city. I pray this next chapter brings you peace, joy, and the well-deserved uninterrupted time with your grandchildren. Thank you for your historic leadership and your sacrifice. Thank you. Thank you very much for that. Really appreciate it.

Okay. Mr. Arias, what do you?

Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor.

We're going around the dais just in case anybody missed that.

Well, I also want to echo my colleague, Councilmember Johnson's remarks. I just really want to pause and honor someone whose leadership has shaped Charlotte in ways that will be felt for generations, our Mayor, Vile Lyles. You never simply held an office. You carried a strong responsibility as the first African-American woman to serve as mayor of our city. You've opened doors, expanded a possibility, and shown our city what it looks like when dignity, steadiness, and service guide every decision. And on a personal note, we share an alma mater, Queens University of Charlotte. Anyone who has walked those halls knows the values that place instills, service, reflection, and a belief that leadership is not about being in front, but also about lifting others up. Mayor Lyles, you've embodied those values every single day. Your service has left a mark in this city, not just in the skyline or in the budget books, but in the lives of residents who saw themselves reflected in your leadership. So you have shown us what it means to lead with integrity, to lead with heart, and to lead with the belief that Charlotte's best days are ahead. On behalf of a grateful city, thank you for your years of dedication, your trailblazing example, and your unwavering commitment to the people of Charlotte. We are better because you served.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So I actually have council topics. So for the manager, so, and I will, I've already told you we've had our conversations. So number one, I want what we've already, I've already shared. I want us to speak to, of which we did refer to BGIR, the hearings and decisions on the same evening. Also, I want us to think about the conversation we just had, and this is something I think actually the attorney's office will be able to help with. I gave the example of Orlando Studios in Florida and what it's able to do. A number of us have heard it from community members, small businesses, and others. We are pricing out our residents as we seek opportunities for people to come in visit and we talk about the revenue that's generated a lot of our residents are not able to take advantage of the amenities and the events that we have in our center city number three and this is going to be for our water even though miss Charles is not here this is a bigger conversation that I think we need to be paying attention to what we know as of right now Cuba Nigeria South Africa Pakistan, India, Venezuela, and Zambia have all experienced blackouts and power outages. We know that the Hamas channel is closed, which means we are going to have a challenge with getting gas. which means we're going to have a challenge with electricity. Water is life physically your body cannot go beyond 3 days without water we can go without food and other things we cannot go without water. I would and we're already hearing. Smaller areas that are having challenges with rolling. Blackouts and power outages I want to get a day from Charlotte water. regarding our usage around when solar or any, anything that is not electricity dependent as far as the options in case, not even in case when blackouts start making their way into our region. This is something that is already happening. this is not something we can be reactionary on. So to find out what we're actually utilizing to ensure that our water will remain accessible as long as possible, having that update would be very beneficial. And also I just want to give an update because there is a partner and development gate engagement meeting. that I will be hosting coming July 14th, where we are bringing our development partners, both on the capital investment in the development in larger developers, smaller developers. They help look at a proposal to bring to housing and neighborhood services committee. As we think about the trust fund and moving forward and the allocation. And for many years, The focus has just been on housing, even though we are housing and neighborhood services. So we're having the real conversations of the neighborhood services piece. And what does that really look like with that mayor? I went through five mayors in seven years coming in under mayor Fox and then the changes and the challenges I was elected 2011. I believe you were first elected in 2013 as an at large member. You then ran, we appointed you right off the bat as mayor pro town because of your experience in government and in community, you ran successfully as mayor and have stayed in that role. This city has seen tremendous growth and with growth comes a lot of growing pains. You have endured a lot from community and a perfectly honest from your council. So what I appreciate, I appreciate the fact that you still kept showing up every day. Some days you and I would have to have very serious conversations. Yet, I never doubted your commitment to service, even though we didn't always agree on how we get there. I appreciate The fact that you brought a vision to our city, I personally think you should enjoy this time because for some reason some people don't know how to retire. But I know how important your children and your grandbabies are to you. So to have the opportunity to attend their plays, to spend time, is something, a gift that cannot be codified because we never know how much time God has for us. So thank you for all the years that you have given us all the guidance and the service. And I truly pray that whatever your next part of your journey is, is everything that you want and more.

Thank you.

Thank you so much. Much will be said about, uh, Your service and the events in Charlotte during your time in office, I believe your position in the history of Charlotte is secure. I just wanted to tell you on a personal note, we got elected at the same time. We went through a lot together. We did. And one of the most rewarding aspects of my service on council has been working with you. So I appreciate you. I love you and I wish you all the best.

Thank you very much.

Mayor Lyles, that's a tough one to follow. You don't have to follow. It's a lot of sweet emotion out of my colleague. So your departure marks the close of a historic chapter in Charlotte's civic life. You've had a tenure that reflects your steady commitment to equity, long-term vision, community partnership. And as you step away from the role, we carry on your legacy. As one of the newer members here, I can say that watching you lead drove me to wish to also lead. So I thank you for that inspiration. I also, on a somewhat more council topic note, I will simply say that I truly believe, and I say to the city manager and to others who will listen, I believe that a clear and consistent process for filling vacancies, should start with an immediate referral to BGIR as soon as the notice of vacancy is received. And I say that, and I'm sure all of us have heard what a clown car, a circus, a spectacle our discussions were before the two minutes were afforded to each of the 40 or so people who came. I know that I'm not unique in not wanting to have that be the legacy that we leave Charlotte, is that we can't get our act together. So I would just encourage us to perhaps do a post-mortem in BGIR, look at what we did with this and document it for future councils, not to bind them, but to show them what we found useful in this process and what perhaps was not useful. I will speak fundamentally for me. What was most useful were the conversations I was able to have, the more in-depth conversations where I was able to candidly interview people. And I appreciate the Sunshine Laws do not enable us to do that. but I also don't think that we had to do the two-minute with everybody who applied. I don't know that that was really useful for the public, but I just think that BGIR is a good place for that to be discussed and, again, to do that sort of analysis of this part of this process that we did. And I thank you for the opportunity. Thank you.

Um, well, thank you, madam mayor and madam mayor, you know how I feel about you when I applied for, um, mr Mitchell's vacated seat and I was not appointed. You called me afterwards and, um, encouraged me to run and think about running and here I am. And I've had the pleasure of serving with you and this council for now, my third term, but specifically, with you and the council as Mayor Pro Tem for two years. And that was an incredible time, including when we had some incredible things going on in our city. I'm happy. Good news tonight is that you, you will be here in Charlotte and that we're not the city of Charlotte. Isn't losing you, which was fantastic. So we will see you around and I'm sure you and I will connect. Um, I want to just speak on two council topics. The first one is just the reminder that this Wednesday, June 24th, we will have our citywide public safety summit. from 6 to 8 p.m. It's going to be at the Union at Station West in Ms. Mayo's district. And we'll have a state of public safety from both our chief of fire and police. And we'll have various panel discussions from covering criminal justice system partners, violence prevention partners, and business community partners and so on. So please come out. We have a really good registration for it, and I'd love to have as much engagement as possible. The second thing I wanted to highlight is over this past weekend, and many of you may remember just a couple weeks back, There was a multi-law enforcement raid at the Garden Suites and Inns in District 1 on Reagan Drive. It was an unprecedented collaborative effort that our chief drove and had great results. But in sustained effort in that corridor, Because the behavior has been so entrenched and inculcated that there is sustained efforts that are going on and will continue to go on. And one happened this weekend where CMPD operated their 2026 Queen City Safe Initiative. They're doing it monthly in different neighborhoods, but then they collaborate. Collaborated with the North Division, which is responsible for Reagan Drive and other areas, specifically the Sugar Creek Corridor, Blackwood Avenue, North Tryon Street, Tom Hunter, Otondo. These are places that are plagued with narcotics activity, alcohol related activity, assaults, property crime, high crime corridors, etc. Just the results of this one effort on the 19th. 168 traffic stops and also pedestrian stops, 61 citations, 25 arrests, but more importantly, nine firearms were seized. Nearly $10,000 in US currency related to drug activity and 538 grams of narcotics were seized. on an effort that was effectively 12 hours in one area of our city. So tremendous effort by CMPD. I want to shout out DC Braley and captain Jeter for their efforts in that space. But this is the type of work. This is the type of programs we're going to have to stand up and other parts of the community. So again, we can crack and break through this hard shell of, um, of, of nuisance crime,

and crime that is impacting our residents in particular our residents who are aging in place over in hidden valley and derrida and other communities thank you madam mayor thank you madam mayor so um kind of echoing the sentiments of my colleagues it's been a pleasure working with you the last few months i very much enjoyed our time in dc together and then getting to know you and stopping by your office and having conversations has been very, it's been fun, but also enlightening. So I've gotten to learn a lot, a lot about you and also about and how to be a good representative. So really appreciate the time that we've spent together and look forward to seeing more of you. I know my mom's probably jealous. She'll be spending time with her grandkids. She doesn't have any.

I can lend her a few, though. She would love that.

But yeah, I'm sure you'll enjoy that time, and I'm sure they're going to enjoy spending more time with you as well. So I just want to thank you for your service.

Well, Madam Mayor, I have extended particular remarks a couple of months ago. So once again, I just want to echo the comments of our colleagues and thank you for your service. And we will see you, I'm sure, around.

I hope so. I mean, you know, at some point. So I'm not going anywhere. I don't know if you know, but my son is building a house up in Huntersville, so my tax rates will go down.

That's one thing. So I have to make sure.

Did you get chicken noodles there? You know, I guess I've just done too much truth today. So, but there... I really will tell you that one of the most important things that I hope to do is to engage with the community. I have to say, Joe did that thing for me yesterday. And I want you to know, I use transparency at least five times. But that was when I was young. And not as, you know, it gets harder. That's what I'm going to tell you. It just gets flat out harder. I thought the same thing. I thought, I'm going to do all of this, and it's going to be great, and everything's going to be wonderful. And it was the hardest job that I've ever had because it involves people, and it involves people that want to do the right thing but don't necessarily know how. I've picked up the book on a long time ago when Dalton Village was a really bad place and I started reading that book again and started talking about people whose names I remember and what they said and what they did and I think it would be really good to see some of the things that you don't think about because you're just so busy running all the time but We have those issues. I mean, just like the one that you're talking about, the green, what is that hotel? Garden Inn and Suites. And the lady that brought the house that's going to be used as a dump.

It's a dump anyway.

So, you know, lots of that. But right now, I think what we all should do is congratulate ourselves on being able to get through this agenda and be able to go home. I was just going to say, as we say farewell to you,

look forward to the next 18 months because we've got work to do and though we've had a lot to cover in terms of administration and these kinds of things we're at a point now where we've got to we've got to look forward and we've got to lift our gaze if you will to what we're supposed to be delivering for the city though we will have an interim or period with an interim mayor we cannot use this time to rest on our laurels. We very much still have all of the pressing demands of a growing city. And so I look forward to each and every one of us kind of picking up and taking up our particular charge so that we are able to drive this city forward because certainly we'll need to help on board our incoming interim mayor. But each and every person here is a leader in their own right. And so we've got to come together and help lift up our new leader as well as our community. So I hope that that is where we are able to pivot to as we come back from our break in August.

And I agree with what my colleagues have already said. Thank you for your service and for the sacrifices. But I think the bigger thanks is to your family. Because they have had to sacrifice a lot, especially Kwame, Aisha, and their families to enable someone to serve. So I want to thank the family for their sacrifices for all these years. And I know that babies are looking forward to spending some time with you. I ran into them. And they just want that undisturbed time. So I certainly recognize that. And I wish you all the best in your next chapter.

Yours will be the same. I mean, kids love and adore. We do have one more item. Oh, no, no, no. Oh, do you want to be the end of this item?

No, no, no. I won't embarrass you like everybody else.

Okay.