City Council - Regular Meeting

would like to call to order the Thursday, January 8th, 2026 Concord City Council meeting. Welcome everybody. It's good to have everyone with us tonight. If you would please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silent prayer 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. [clears throat] First up is the approval of the minutes. And I think we have four sets here from November 25th, December 9th, December 11th, and December 16th. Uh, do I hear a motion?

Motion to approve. Is there a second? All right, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. All oppose? No. That motion passes. We do have um one item that we need to add to the agenda tonight and that is our proclamation uh for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. Uh at this time I would entertain a motion to add that to the agenda. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I.

All oppose? No. That motion passes [clears throat] and that takes us into uh presentations and first up will be the uh proclamation which I will read to you now. Um whereas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired millions of Americans by becoming a visionary leader of the civil rights movement with the goal of creating a tolerant a society tolerant of all races, cultures, and nationalities. And whereas Dr. King's enduring contributions to America remind us that people should not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. And whereas the ideals of Dr. King and Concord's commitment to human rights are worthy of reflection and serve as a reminder that improving the quality of life for all members of our community is a responsibility of every citizen. And whereas the celebration of Dr. King's birthday is intended to honor an American who dedicated his life to the fundamental principles of freedom, opportunity, and equal justice for all. Now, therefore, Steven M. Morris, mayor of the and the city council of the city of Concord, to hereby encourage all citizens to rededicate themselves to the principles of respect for human rights and freedom, of belief in nonviolence, and of commitment to improving our community on January 19th, 2026, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Um,

thank you very much. And Betty, I know that you have been very involved in the committee to commemorate uh Dr. King's birthday. Are there any uh announcements of dates or activities you'd like to share with folks?

Uh, yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um, there's a quite a few events that will be taking place. The first one will be on Thursday the 15th at Grace Lutheran Church. It will be the wreath laying ceremony followed by the banquet on that Friday the 16th at 6 pm at the Laurette Center in Canapapolis. You can go online and type in uh MLK Cabaris and purchase tickets. And then there will be a parade in Dream Day on that Monday, the 19th in Canapapolis at the Laurate Center as well. And I would just like to thank all of the comm uh committee members. Um, if I believe there's some here, if you will please stand.

GREAT. [applause]

MAYOR, do you want to give them the proclamation? That that would be Yes, I would be happy to do that. Uh, Pastor Anthony and Jamon, if you all could come up and receive the proclamation. Sorry for you.

Uh here is is the proclamation as we heard earlier and certainly appreciate uh your efforts in working on this and encourage you to make any comments that you would like to add. Well, I would stock to the entire council for your support and the community as well. We look forward again to having uh a good opportunity to serve with um one another and our community. So, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Great. Thank you. [applause]

Okay. Next, we have a presentation of a retirement plaque to Sergeant Philip Carlton. Uh, if he would come forward at this time. How are you, sir?

Good, good. Congratulations. Uh, a few words about uh, Sergeant um, Carlton. Sergeant Philip Carlton has been a proud resident of Cabaris County since 1978. A 1992 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, he earned his associates degree from Central Piedmont Community College, laying the foundation for a long and distinguished career in law enforcement. He began his service with the Concord Police Department on January 12th, 1998. first assign assigned to B squad patrol. He served as an officer, master police officer, and field training officer. And in 2003 received the MAD and you may have to tell me what that we could do do different interpretations of MAD.

The mothers driving. Mothers against drunk driving. Excellent. [clears throat]

Uh he received that officer of the year award in 2006. He was promoted to sergeant. Since then, he has served as a patrol sergeant in every district and played a key role in the pilot program that established the department's permanent shift structure. His leadership has extended to specialty units, including criminal investigations, support services, and community outreach and education. His commitment to readiness and community safety is reflected in his involvement with the CPD dive team SWAT and his work as a community liaison. He has earned numerous certifications and recognition, including his advanced law enforcement certification, traffic crash investigation and enforcement certification, completion of the law enforcement management program at RCCC and the FBI LITA Trilogy Award. Outside of law enforcement, he's devoted to his family. He has been married to his wife Cindy for 27 years and they have two sons, Kyle and Garrett. He enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and playing cornhole. Maybe you could teach me to be a little bit more proficient at that. He is also an accomplished high school wrestling official and has been selected multiple times to officiate the North Carolina high school sate championships. Yes. Uh congratulations to you after learning everything that you are certified in and what you've done. I don't see how we can let you go. But you know, I'm sure that is different from the plan. But hopefully you will introduce uh folks that you might have with you here tonight and ask them to

stand as well. I have my mother with me. She's in the back. Um unfortunately my wife is in Houston right now. She just a trip she couldn't avoid. Uh and my oldest son is he's just starting out his career and couldn't and my youngest is he's same thing. Say they're just both we can't and they'll be for the retirement party. So that's what that's those are things to be proud of as well. They're working hard too. they're starting their careers and going. So, um, you know, it's been a great career. Uh, law enforcement has changed a lot. Some good, some bad, but it's it's been something I've dedicated my life to. Sorry.

Great. Understand. Yeah. So, let me read this plaque to you. Uh, this is presented to Philillip Martin Carlton in recognition of over 28 years of faithful, loyal, and dedicated service to the city of Concord Police Department. Um, dated February 1st, 2026. Congratulations. Yes. Yeah. Hold that so he can get it on the picture. [applause] Great. Thank you very much and best best wishes.

Yes. And yes, Okay. And at our work session on Tuesday night, uh, we recognize Mark Rosie Kaine for over 30 years of service as well as Keith Cter character. Carricker for over 31 years of service. So congratulations go out to them as well. Um we covered our independent auditors report on Tuesday night and so we move now to departmental reports and uh happy to hear from parks and recreation bond update.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. I'm call on Sheila, our parks recreation director, to come up and give the monthly report to council on our projects.

Good evening, mayor, members of council, Mr. Payne, Miss Kochinsky, Miss Jenkins. Um, tonight I'll provide the bond update for January. We have an update to our financial information. We had an increase in investment earnings, which increased our available fund um balance to a little over $1.7 million. Projects that are completed, we have a total of two that are completed. The McGinness Aquatic Center and Dorton Park. Projects that are currently under construction. We have three projects that are currently under construction. First is Marvin Caldwell Park. Construction continues um for this bond project. The picture to the top right you can see is the clear span has been installed. That is for the covered basketball courts. The bottom right you can see the forming of the splash pad and you will notice that the plumbing installation has started. The building to the left is the new amphitheater, the Robert Matthysse Amphitheater. And you can see the new band shell that is installed over the new amphitheater. The top left is the new restroom building. And if you notice the arch, that is the cover that will be between the two buildings and it will mirror the band shell for the amphitheater. Next is Jim Ramsur Park. The main line sewer has been completed for this project. Currently to date, we have over 52,000 cubic yards of field that has

been brought into the site to help level and um raise the site for the next um construction development for this project. The next thing I'd like um the underground detention sales have been delivered to the site. And if you notice the picture on the bottom left, you can see the sales. This is the underwater detention system that will be installed under the parking lot. It has been delivered. And I just want to kind of give you an idea of the size of that. If you notice the conx um next to it, you can kind of see the size of those sails that will go in under the parking lot. Next is the Academy Gibson Athletic Fields. Construction continues on this project. They are adding and working on the subbase and drainage for the turf field. the picture in the top left, you can see where they're working on the drainage for the turf field. Um, renovations to the existing buildings at Mallister Web and Gibson are still underway. And we are also, um, the bottom left picture, you can see where they're beginning to install footers and outline of the new storage building for this site. Next projects we have a total of um the next project which will come to council will be the next project that is out for construction and that will be the Dave Phillips park. We are finalizing permitting at this point or now next step will be completion of the bid documents and our plan is to have this project out to bid by February. This will be the next project brought to council for construction approval for

the contract. Projects in design. We have a total of five projects that are in design. First is the Academy Gibson skate park pump track sculpture garden. This project we are finalizing design. This should be the next project that is brought to council for final design approval for us to move to the next step which will be permitting and getting ready for bidding. Popular tent trail head park. This um design is internal and we continue with design for this project. Engineering has submitted the um grading plan for the parking lot to Duke Energy for approval. [clears throat] Next is Hartzel Park. We continued design for this project. The picture in the bottom right is the installation of the new prefab restroom building that is on this site to replace the one that burned. Currently, we are waiting on the CO from the county. Once that is received, we will open this to the public. Wilson Street Park. Again, this project is also being designed internally. We have completed the tree inventory for this site. Next will be some tree removal um for this site based on the tree inventory and our city arborist and his inspection of the trees that are um need to be removed. Once those are removed, then we will go back and look at the site plan to continue to identify the location of amenities. Next is WW Flow Park. We continue to work with the firm McAdams who will be the design firm for this project. We continue to work on the scope for that design. Once that's completed, we'll be

able to bring that back to council for final design approval to move forward with design for this project. Also tonight on council's consent agenda is the request for two grant applications that will also be a part of this um bond project and that's the part of park and recreation trust fund grant and the LWCF LWCF which is the land water conservation fund. Our last project for design is the Academy Recreation Center and we hope to begin design for this project in FY27. Timeline. There has been an adjustment to the timeline um for five total of six projects um five that have been moved out one to one to seven months and that's based on the design schedule and being prepared for bidding and internal construction administration. And one project um actually has been moved up two months um because of where we land as far as construction and design and I'll be glad to answer any questions questions for Sheila.

Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. [clears throat]

Okay, we now uh move to our public comment um portion of the meeting. uh would like to to read the statement explaining that initially. This portion of our meeting is our time to recognize persons requesting to be heard and provides an opportunity for anyone wishing to address the city council to do so. Each person will receive three minutes to address the council. This is a time of listening for the council. The subject will be noted and if it requires action or a request, the city manager will note as such and provide steps for any required response or afteraction. Uh we ask that everybody leave their contact information with the city clerk in order to facilitate communication. And we have three people that have signed up to speak tonight. And our first speaker is Deborah Spear.

Hi again. I own a business on Market Street, as you all know, and I'm still trying to get the signage ordinance changed so that those of us on Market Street can have a sign on Union Street. Our businesses are dying. Market Street and Spring Street feel like we are stuck in the worst HOA in the world. There are banners and signs out there for other businesses that are breaking the ordinance rules, but they remain there. Heaven forbid my sign should be a foot off my building and code enforcement is down there within minutes. Um, we I have a dumpster next to my building and according to code enforcement, they don't even know who it belongs to. It's constantly got garbage around it. Lori has seen it. I'm out there all the time sweeping, cleaning. Uh, it smells. I've been told that it was going to be moved across the street at the end of October. It's past the end of October. It's still there. People come down the walkway. I watch them. They do this to see where businesses are. because there's a sign that says more businesses and they don't see one because the dumpster's there. Half the time it's on the sidewalk. Today it got moved off the sidewalk. I don't understand how there can be a dumpster there and nobody knows who it belongs to. Somebody's paying for it. Um I have brought this up before where somebody is letting their dog poop on the walkway. This happened uh at the artwalk and then it happened again um when we had small business Saturday. Ashlin from Market 94 and I both called the city and said someone needs to come and clean this. The response was I had to go and clean it. I am not I'm tired of cleaning up. I am tired of being the the designated cleaning person down there. Ashlin and I

went out and tried to clean the poop. All we did was make it worse. I ended up putting up a giant sign that said, "The city will not clean this. Please be careful. There's poop all over the walkway." Um, eventually somebody did come out because I put the sign up right in front of three officers and I said, "Call code enforcement." Um, it's ridiculous. I shouldn't have to clean it. When there's poop out there, someone from the city should come and clean it. We just lost two more businesses. Two more are talking about closing. Um, I'm from Niagara Falls, New York. I would like everybody to go home tonight and Google a video about Niagara Falls so you can see what is going to happen to downtown Concord because I lived through it. I lived through businesses moving out because there was no business, which is what's happening here. It's a ghost town. The businesses move out, the rent gets jacked up, people can't move in, and then it's going to look like Niagara Falls. It is terrible. And this is a cute little town. I have had businesses all over the country in cute little towns and this has been the worst. I I don't know. I I I'm at a loss.

Thank you. Okay. Our next speaker is Kesha Sandage.

Good evening everybody. I've spoken in many forums as such, but never at this one. So, give me some grace. Um, I'm raising a concern about the city's uh update to personnel policy 5.10. I'll say that again. 5.10, which allows city employees to run for or hold office on Cabaris County School Board while restricting other positions in other offices like maybe Canapapolis or uh maybe another school board somewhere. and it seems very intentional um and is the reason why that's a concern for me. My concern is not about the school board though um but about the fairness and the legal risks that only carving out one ability to run for office um specific to whatever reason that might be is very concerning and should be raising some eyebrows for each and every single one of you. When it comes to encouraging our employees to engage in civic activities right now, every single last one of your employees can only run for school board here in Cabaris County. What if they live in Canapapolis and want to be on that school board? What happens there? And can anybody tell me when this happened, why it happened, and if there's anything going to be done about changing that? I want you to know how discriminatory that looks. It looks like it was carved out for a specific individual and for a specific party. This is a nonpartisan board. This is a non-partisan board and you are telling your employees that they can only run for school board and that just changed in 2023. I wonder why. I am hoping that after tonight, you guys will look into this policy. And if you want to be fair to

your employees, be fair to allow for them to run for public office in all situations outside of this council. It is very inappropriate for a city worker to run for and be elected to serve on this town council, however, or council. However, it is not inappropriate for them to serve on county commission, Canapapolis school board, Rowan County School Board. Again, um just really concerned about that and would love for some feedback as to how that happened, when it happened, and if there were specific reasons why that happened. and um also make sure that our public is aware of what this council is making decisions off of. I'll say it again, that sounds very intentional and very purposeful to be beneficial for one person and one party. Thank you guys for allowing me to speak tonight.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Orlando Jacobs. Good evening. Good evening, mayor and council members. I am speaking regarding agenda items 8 and nine which authorize imminent domain for two parcels located in historic community 145 Hemlock Street Southwest valued at 45,000 and 75 Young Street Southwest valued at $58,730 for a combined public acquisition cost of $95,730 for the state of purpose of affordable housing. In my opinion and based on campaign messaging, near the election, newly elected council member Alvarez Santana ran on a platform that emphasized housing that working families can actually afford and protecting long-term residents from being priced out. I'm sorry, priced out as Concord grows. I want to raise a concern about how affordability will be ensured under current North Carolina law. North Carolina General Statute 42-14.1 prohibits cities and counties from enacting or enforcing rent caps or rent control. That means the city cannot legally limit future rent increases once housing is developed. Residents understand affordable housing to mean relief from high rents and long-term stability. Without permanent enforceable protections, affordability may be temporarily and these properties could eventually become market rate housing. When imminent domain is used, especially in a historic community, the public benefit must be clear and lasting. I respectfully ask the council to explain how affordability will be enforced, for how long, who enforces it, and what happens when any affordable period expires. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Great. Thank you. Okay, [clears throat] that completes all the people that have signed up for u open public comment tonight. Was there anyone that was missed? Uh if not, we'll move on to our next item, which is uh we have several public hearings. Uh the first [clears throat] public hearing is to conduct a public hearing to consider adopting a resolution on the matter of closing the right of way of two unopened areas at the intersection of Hermitage Drive Southeast and Winfield Boulevard southeast. The proposal includes the abandonment of the right ofway of two unopened areas at the intersection of Hermitage Drive Southeast and Winfield Boulevard Southeast. Um, I do not have anyone signed up to speak in this public hearing, but I will open the public hearing uh and invite anybody to the podium that wishes to speak on this matter. Seeing no one, we will close the public hearing and council. Um, we have uh I'm going to turn this over to Valerie for the legal part of that. We have Is this a two-part thing we need to vote on? We just just need to vote on the on on the one. So, at this time, I would entertain [clears throat] a motion to adopt a resolution uh on the closing of the rightway of two unopened areas at the intersection of Hermitage Drive Southeast and Winfield Boulevard Southeast.

I'll make a motion. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Okay. All in favor, please say I. I.

All oppose? No. That motion passes. Uh, next up, we have a public hearing to consider adopting an ordinance annexing plus or minus 13.4 acres at 7201 Trail Road. Uh pin number 4691-41-2998 owned by Calmat Corporation. Also 7205 Trail Road owned by Vulcan Lands Incorporated and 508 Cessna Road owned by Gerald and Kimberly Henson. Uh at this time I will open the public hearing. Uh and first we have signed up to speak is Denise Howlet.

I could yield to Suzanne first. Absolutely. I saw some little arrows after I said that that I think directed me to do that. Yeah.

Good evening, Mayor Morris, members of council. My name is Suzanne Todd. Adam Milani's attorney John Snson Horton Charlotte and I'm here today on behalf of Bulk and Materials Company and the annexation requested for the about 14 and a half acres. Um the properties are contiguous. All of the property owners did in fact sign the annexation application. Uh I want to introduce Denise Howlet. She is the manager of community community and government relations for Vulcan materials as well as key uh members of the leadership team are here tonight too on behalf of Vulcan. So I'm going to turn it over to her to just give you a quick presentation. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you. Thanks Suzanne.

Okay. Good evening Mayor Morris and honorable council members. Thank you all for providing me with a little bit of time to speak about Fulcan's annexation and the request we have for you today. As you all may know, Cabaris Quarry has been a proud member of the local community for the past four decades. The Cabaris Quarry team works very hard to be a good neighbor and this is exemplified by our strong relationships with local businesses and organizations in the community. What we do is provide highquality construction materials that maintain the regional's critical infrastructure and we take pride in that as well as supporting schools, first responders, and nonprofits across Cabaris County for these past 40 years. Ultimately, Vulcan strives to be protective of people, property, and the environment. Our cabaras quarry consistently meets or exceeds local, state and federal regulations. And simply put, our cabaris quarry, we do the things the right way, the right time, and for the right reason. We call that the Vulcan way. So to continue our efforts in the community, we filed an application to annex three parcels of land that Suzanne mentioned earlier. All three of these parcels will be contiguous to city limits and will have no impact on city utilities, services, or infrastructure. The annexation area will not require water, electricity, sewage, trash pickup, or construction of new roads. And it will also have no impact on local schools. Our goal for this annexation is that it become part of an overall 142 acre

overburden extension in the future. And for your awareness, overburden is the natural earthn material above and around the hard rock that we mine. Once it's removed, it's typically stored on site or hauled away. Our overburden, most of it is currently stored on site and we're working on a proposal to extend the existing overburden area. The proposed overburden extension will not increase production or market demand and will actually keep thousands of trucks off the road by keeping the storage on site. Activating this adjacent land also does not introduce other permitted uses such as warehouse and distribution that could operate in per perpetuity. The extension area also will not have any structures or permanent lighting and we will extend the vegetated BMS that currently screen our site today. We expect that the overburden will be filled in periodically in a period of about 10 to 15 years and the end result will be a fully vegetated natural area. So this annexation is the first step in the process for us. We also filed a resoning application along with our annexation application to reszone the 142 acres to industrial 2 and we aim to go in front of the planning commission in their February meeting for that. So because our proposal is only for overburden extension, drilling and blasting will not occur in the extension area. And to ensure that we will apply for a special use permit that will limit our use of the acreage to just overburden storage.

Because our operation is regulated by state and federal agencies, we'll also be adding this extension property to our existing mining permit for the overburden storage that controls and regulates all the adherances that we have today and would then continue onto this new property. The annexation request brought forward today is not only important to us, but it's also in terms of our neighbors so that they understand our larger project proposal in the future. I want to thank you again for your time and I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have about this project tonight. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, I do not have anyone else uh signed up to speak for or against this project, but I will offer that opportunity at this time if there's anyone that did not sign up. Seeing no one, we will close the public hearing. Uh council, [clears throat] you've heard the comments in the public hearing and the discussion that we had on Tuesday night. Um are there any questions or further discussion? If not, I would entertain a motion to adopt the annexation ordinance uh as set out uh previously and set an effective date for January 8th, 2026.

I'll make that motion, sir, that we accept. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Okay. Hearing none. All in favor, please say I.

All oppose, no. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Uh we now will conduct a public hearing to consider adopting an ordinance amending article three, zoning amendments and hearing procedures. Article five, subdivision plats, site plans, and construction documents. and article 14 definitions of the Concord development uh ordinance. Um so at this time I will open the public hearing. Um I do not have anyone signed up to speak for or against uh this item. Is there anybody that failed to sign up that would like to speak? If not, we'll close the public hearing. uh council, you heard the discussions [clears throat] and the explanation that we had on this uh item as well on Tuesday night. Or is there any further discussion or questions? Uh if not, I would entertain a motion.

This one does have this one does have steps. This one does have so I'll let you explain that part. Because this is a zoning regulation, there are statutory steps that have to be followed. The first thing that you would need to consider is your suggested statement of reasonleness and consistency. That is on your screens in front of you. You will see three bullet points. The first two bullet points that are in blue were adopted unanimously by the planning and zoning commission and would tend to support approval. Uh if you are leaning towards not approving these changes, then you would substitute the second bullet point and the third bullet point.

I may be a little bit confused. Okay, so the first two before we take the first two and the third if if you're against if you're against you would take the first and the third. So you would substitute the third for the second. Now, understand I'm slow, but I'll get there eventually. Okay, council members, do are there any any dis any questions? Um, so do I hear a motion that uh we approve the [clears throat] proposal as submitted?

Great. I'll second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Uh, are is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. I'll oppose. No. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. And the second step to this is to approve or deny the proposed amendments. Okay, which Jennifer stated it correctly the first time and I did not. No, this is the second part to it. Right. Yeah. Right. The first thing what you just said I think I was skipping the first part was your statement of consistency. Right.

Right. So that's you're you're saying this is consistent with the the things that we already have in place the land use plan and so on and um and that it's reasonable and in the interest of the public. So you you're doing those things. And the second step is to actually adopt the changes that were presented. Okay. Do we need that two separate motions? Yes sir. That's always going to be two separate motions. We're really going to work this one out. So, we we did the first one already. Thank you. Okay. And now we need a motion to approve or deny the proposed amendments. All right. At this time, I would entertain a motion to approve the amendments.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. All oppose? No. That motion passes. Thank you. Okay, moving now to the uh next item. Uh we heard on Tuesday night uh to consider authorizing the city manager to execute a contract between the Concord ABC board and the city of Concord Police Department. Is there anything to to add at this time?

No, Mr. Mayor. I mean, council heard the presentation and answered some questions. Chief Hughes was up and provided that explanation. This is updating um the contract from 1996. Um and in return, you see for the $200,000 a year with an escalator 5% a year, the uh Concord Police Department would provide those services for the ABC uh board. Uh we would hire another officer. And just for the record, these funds are ABC uh dollars that are uh from ABC spirit sales across the county. These are not property tax uh dollars that would be used to pay for those police officers. Okay, council members, do you have any questions? Uh, if not, I would entertain a motion to authorize the city manager to execute a contract between the Concord ABC board and the city of Concord Police Department.

So move, mayor. I second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor, please say I.

All oppose, no. That motion passes. Next up, we have consider adopting updated rules and regulations for the Concord Pageant Regional Airport. Uh we went through those at length on Tuesday as well. Uh are there any additional questions or comments? Okay. Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to adopt the updated rules and regulations for the Concord Pageant Regional Airport as presented. Motion to adopt.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. [clears throat] All oppose? No. That motion passes. Uh next up we have considering consider adopting updated general aviation minimum standards to encourage and promote the consistent provisions of highquality commercial general aviation aeronautical activities available to the public at the Concord Pageant Regional Airport. Uh and we once again talked about those uh on Tuesday night. Any questions? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to adopt the updated general aviation minimum standards for the Concord Pageant Regional Airport.

Okay, we have a motion and we have a second. Uh, any discussion? All in favor, please say I.

All oppose? No. That motion passes. Uh, next up is consider authorizing the city manager to execute a change order in order number one, apron and taxi lane rehabilitation at the airport. Uh, once again, we talked about that Tuesday night as well. Are there any questions? Uh if not, I would entertain a motion to authorize the city manager to execute the change order number one in the amount of $116,560 with an additional 15 days [clears throat] and to approve the budget amendment which is attached.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please say I.

All oppose, please say no. That motion passes. Next up is consider authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute a professional service agreement with the Wilson Group Architects, PA. Uh, we also talked about this on Tuesday night and the construction of a new hanger at the airport at no expense to the taxpayers. And Dirk is shaking his head yes on the back row back there. I complimented him on that earlier today. Um, but are there any questions on that item? Uh if not, I would entertain a motion to accept the recommendation and authorize the city manager to execute a professional services contract with the Wilson Group Architects PA in the amount of $852,6514. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All right. All in favor, please say I.

All oppose? No. That motion passes. Uh, next up, item six is to consider authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute a contract with JD Goodrrim Company Incorporated for the construction of the Laurel Park pump station elimination. Uh once again, we talked about that extensively on Tuesday night. Uh are there any additional questions? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute a contract with JD Goodram Company incororated for $849,89920 for the Laurel Park Pump Station elimination. Okay, we have a motion [clears throat] and a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor, please say I.

All oppose? No. That motion passes. Next is item seven. Consider authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute a change order with Cinderella partners up to $250,000 and utilize retained earnings for to pay for the additional cost. Uh and this is for uh repairs and renovations at the Rocky River Clubhouse. And we talked about that Tuesday night as well. Any questions? Um, if there are none, then I would entertain a motion to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute a change order with Cinderella Partners up to $250,000 and use retained earnings to pay for the cost. I'll make that motion, mayor. But also like to say that it's good that we have that retained earnings to use for that and it's not coming out of taxpayer dollars or any of our budgetary type funds. So that's that's awesome the way they've done that and it continues to be a a great place to go for people outside of our community and our community. So it's a showplace and let's take care of it like we have and keep it going.

Great. Thank you, sir. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Uh any discussion? All in favor, please say I. All oppose? No. That motion passes. Uh next up is consider adopting a resolution authorizing an imminent domain action for a parcel located at 145 Himmlock Street Southwest. U once again, we discussed this at length on Tuesday. Does anyone have any questions? Valerie, was there anything you wanted to add? No, sir.

Great. Okay. Hearing hearing none, I would entertain a motion. Can I ask a question really quick? Um, so I know we heard earlier about that. Is that something where we would have to take back and discuss or we're still going to make that motion today? You're talking about the question during public comment.

Correct. I think that probably the city manager and I I don't certainly want to speak for him but probably can provide answers to those questions that were asked. Um, you know, I think as we discussed on Tuesday night regarding neighborhood blight and the the fact that these are deteriorating structures and that sort of thing. Um um and there are things in place that will define that whether that turns out to be a rental property or whether that is a [clears throat] a homeowner project through we build. Uh I think all of those are possibilities.

Yeah, I think like you said, Mr. Mayor, that that is to be determined as far as the final disposition of the property. The first step, of course, is acquiring it and stopping the deterioration and the blight in the community. Uh but certainly there are options whether the city itself and we do u build homes, renovate homes with federal funds that we receive. We also partner of course with we build uh and we have provided land to them to build homes which they have a community uh land trust that would keep that property affordable in perpetuity and there's clauses the city would have in place uh if we do deed restrictions and then certainly there's also the option of partnering with Habitat. So all of that is to be determined. Uh if the city uh if we did not do it internally the city then certainly that action would have to come back to council for us to dispose of that land and provide it to we build andor Habitat or another agency whether it's uh forprofit or nonprofit uh to build the affordable home. But certainly that is the intent to keep this property affordable.

It seems to me that the we can't answer the questions asked until we actually own the land. And this is the first step in a long process. So I would be in favor of this. Great.

So just just to be clear based on the comment here. So I completely understand the the why we want to do this and I'm also transparent where on Tuesday I mean I am in support because I know the the back process and what it takes and also if you don't do it I mean it can actually be worse. But it's just more for pointing that out to the citizens so that they have that transparency and really understand that if we don't do it, there's still another avenue where someone else can do it and it will be worse. So I just want to make sure that we do point that out that of course there's there's nothing concrete and for sure now, but as you stated, Lloyd, there is that intent to make sure that we still do put that in place. Okay.

And I think I'll add to that what is concrete and in place is the goal of the sit of the council. So I would disagree that there's not something concrete and in place because that was our that was the discussion and even the only reason that we actually took this on. We've never done this before. So this is kind of the first step. I think to Valerie's point on Tuesday night. I think you brought up Valerie of that piece of it. So yes, we don't have it in writing yet, but what is concrete is that is that piece of it and the city has to your point deed restrictions and mechanisms in place that it does guarantee that it stays in affordability from a perpetuity perspective because that is that was the only reason this council took on the even the consideration of doing it. So I hope that gives you clarity. I think we talked a little bit about that on Tuesday night, but good to expand on that.

Great, John.

Yeah. And for maybe the citizens that may not know and maybe even staff, I'm not sure. Um Lloyd, our city manager is very good about followup as far as so questions we have from the public as we read as Mayor Mars read beforehand doesn't go like, "Okay, we'll decide it. Thanks. We raised our hand in a back room somewhere by conversation." Uh it actually goes out to where it it's public knowledge. It's very transparent. and he gets back with the people that have questions. Uh even though as that came up we may not we pretty much answered that question already. I want to speak for Lloyd but uh he is good about getting back and make sure we have transparency with our citizens. So thank you. Okay. Any other questions or comments? Um, seeing none, I would entertain a motion to adopt the resolution authorizing an imminent domain action for a parcel located at 145 Himmlock Street Southwest. Mayor

So moved. Okay, we have motion and second. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I.

All oppose, no. That motion passes. Uh, next up is item number nine, which is the same situation. U authorize a resolution authorizing a imminent domain action for a parcel located at 75 Young Street Southwest. Uh, once again, we talked about that on Tuesday night. same uh predicament as the other parcel we just talked about. Are there any questions?

No question, just a correction. I guess we all overlooked it. So, under number nine, the address that in question or in subject matter is 75 young, but in the recommendation, it has 145. It should be 75. Typographical error. It should be 75. 75 Young should be in the actual motion. Thank you, Betty. Um, any other discussion? Okay, hearing none, I would entertain a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing an imminent domain for a parcel located at 145

at 75 Young [clears throat] Street Southwest. I'll second that, mayor. Okay, we have a motion and a couple of seconds. Um, any discussion? Uh, hearing none. All in favor, please say I. All opposed? No. That motion passes. And we move to item number 10, which is the 2026 state legislative goals. Uh, we talked about those Tuesday night as well. Um, I'll turn it over to the city manager for any additional comments on that.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, we did talk about it on Tuesday night. Of course, council has seen uh the draft of this a couple different times, provided input to me, which I have included in the document. And as you stated, Mr. Mayor, on Tuesday night, not only providing this to our legislative delegation in Raleigh, but also other entities locally that require or request rather a copy of our legislative goals. for example, the chamber each year wants that uh so they can put it as part of their advocacy goals. Uh and so I would provide that to the chamber as well. So be happy to answer any questions council may have, but it would be the intent that uh we share this with our legislative delegation, meet with them if they are available to discuss it uh and any concerns they may have with anything contained within uh the document.

Thank you, sir. And you know, I will say that that this is what we'll use kind of as our guideline as we interact with folks throughout the year, all of us. Um, I think that uh certainly at any time during the year, there may arise additional items that we might want to add. So, it's certainly uh something that we can go back and take a look at later on as well. Are there any questions? If not, I would entertain a motion to adopt the 2026 state legislative goals as presented. Okay, we have a motion.

And a second. Any discussion? Okay. [clears throat] All in favor, please say I. I. All oppose? No. That motion passes. Uh, next we move to our consent agenda. Uh as is normal, we have a number of items uh within our consent agenda of a fairly routine uh manner. And so at this time, I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Mr. Mayor, if I can speak before the

Yes, sir. Um, I want to continue to say looking through this, there's a there's a ton of grants and um, better things for the city that are included. So, as the staff is here, I want to say thank you on behalf of the whole council. You continue to go out and uh, look for grants and sometimes it's a special airport. Durk's a good job on that. But we look for grants, look for ways to pay for things to better our city and better what we have for our citizens inside and out. And uh I'm really impressed with that continually in the consent agenda that we are taking that initiative as a group you're taking that. So thank you. Appreciate [snorts] those comments. Very valid. Any others?

Okay. If not, I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented.

Okay. We have a motion and a second. Um, are there any additional comments or discussion? If not, all in favor, please say I. All oppose, no. Uh, that motion passes. Uh, we move next to matters not on the agenda. Uh, first up is a report from our transportation advisory committee. LJ, do you have anything? That's not LJ. That's the other one. Philip, I'll get it straight one day. Good evening, Mayor.

The uh the Transportation Advisory Committee did not meet in in December. They will resume their meetings uh later this month in January. Great. Thank you, sir. Okay. Next up is Metropolitan Transit Committee. Now I got the right right guy up here.

Put all the TE's up front. Good evening, Mayor, members of council. Mr. P, Mr. Gchinsky, and Miss Jenkins. Um, the MTC did not meet in December. However, the new uh regional public transit authority did have their first meeting on December 12th. Um, and elected officers and that's sort of a a flowing process as I mentioned last month that we're continuing to monitor. The MTC will meet in January because as they're transitioning legally, kind of both boards are meeting. So, I'm assuming each month there'll hopefully be new things to learn. Lloyd may learn things. I may learn things through other channels as they kind of evolve and we'll see if we have a role in the new organization or if it'll be sort of a listenonly mode and if that's changed from kind of the last 20 year structure. So we'll keep you posted on that front.

Great. Thank you. Next up, Concord Canopapolis Transit Commission. So we were scheduled to meet in December originally and in theory present to you at the work session about our new service provider contract. Um, we are still in the midst of um, ongoing negotiations for best and final offers and I've actually expanded that to all four finalists in an effort to try to leverage the best combination of um, skill and practice and price. And so we anticipate having that concluded by the end of this month and then having everything come before you next month, but I won't promise it now. Okay. But we do need to have that settled by April. So it will be here shortly. Great. Thank you, sir. Okay. Central Regional Council. No reports.

Okay. Water and sewer authority of Cabaris County. We did not meet in December. We meet next week. So, I'll have a report next month. Great. Thank you. Uh we build Concord.

Good evening, Mr. Chair, council members, Miss Kochinski, Miss Jenkins, and of course, Mr. Payne. Um, I don't have a report today. Um, all is the same as it was last month. This came quick since the first Thursday was the first. [laughter] But I do want to share something. I get notes all the time. I get the privilege of going to every closing and being able to touch people. But um I'm just share a quick little small note with you. This is not one of the longer ones that I usually get. It just says really simple simply, dear Dr. Graham, I want to thank you and the we bill and thank you and we bill for supporting my friend Lissa with her home ownership journey. You all are so kind and down to earth. I attended her closing and will never forget your words to her. You are supposed to be here. I also appreciated the story you shared about your mother and inspired me to also want more for myself. You said other people like the city were involved. That's you. You, you. I thank them too. It is a great program. You will see me again. Again, thank you all for making her dreams come true to own a home. Sincerely, Reanetta Smith. Lissa is the first community land trust homeowner at Lincoln Street Town Homes, ensuring to my brother 99 years of affordability.

So many of us won't be here for that. Um, and so I'll just leave you with what I always tell folks. Um, what happens after 99 years? So, you'll figure it out. Thank you. Okay. Next up, Public Art Commission.

Welcome.

Thank you. Good evening, everybody. Um before I get started, I want to recognize and thank Clarett in the IT department. He uh recently moved all our shared folders uh to SharePoint, which helped us improve our ability to talk and share information with all with each other on the commission. Okay. As far as projects, um, for our bus project, uh, a call for artist submissions was released on Monday and has been publicized on social media and with other regional art agencies. Um, so hopefully we'll get a lot of response from that. And we've gathered installation cost estimates from some um vinyl wrap vendors and a finalist for that job will be selected in the next few weeks. Next steps for this project are to gather up the artists entries that we receive and convene an art selection panel to determine the winners for that project. Um next project is the signal box project. The NC DOT has been contacted and they've given us parameters to follow for approving installation on art on stateowned signal boxes. So that's on the way. Um vinyl wrap vendors have also been contacted for that project. And the next steps for that one are to determine the best box locations for the art and release a call for artist submissions for the downtown, excuse me, for the downtown streetscape sculptures. All four current artists have submitted agreements and invoices to extend the display of their art to

March 2027. So, the ones that are there now will be there for another year plus a few months. Um, for the ongoing mural grant program, we're looking for proposals for our upcoming grant cycle. Uh, so this is like a shameless plug for uh if you know anybody that an artist or a property owner that would like a mural, please let us know. And proposals are due February 1st for this cycle. And then finally, [clears throat] we've been working on our annual work plan for the upcoming fiscal year and should have something to uh present to you all sometime soon. And that's all unless there's any questions.

Great. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Next up is Concord United Committee. Mr. Mr. Mayor, we had were told that they were uh coming tonight to provide their annual report. I don't see any uh of their co-chairs here to provide that report. We'll follow up with them and see if they something occurred perhaps and maybe they'll come next month. All righty. Thank you. Okay. We move now to general comments by council members. Uh if anyone has anything they would like to discuss or share. Okay. Yes, ma'am.

I just want to say it's been very a blessing, I guess, to see three men stand up here from a retirement perspective and every one of them talked about how good this city's been to them and their families and that just is not that is not something that I take lightly. So, I just I just want to say we're in the business and we're doing government and we're doing all these things, but um this is we're a family here and I just really appreciate seeing that this city has changed people's lives and that they get to walk out of that door with a retirement. So, I just kind of wanted to end on that.

Thank you. That is an excellent note to end on. Uh, I will mention that uh, Councilman Crawford is not with us tonight because he is on vacation. So, you know, sometimes people wonder if somebody's ill, but he's doing fun things, so we wish him well. Also, uh, any other general comments. Okay, hearing none, we do not have need of a closed session tonight. So, at this time, I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. Okay. And there is a second.

All in favor, please say I. We stand adjourned. Thank you.