City Council - Regular Meeting

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Welcome to the uh special meeting for January 20th, 2026. I call this meeting to order. We had a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. So move. Have motion. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Council to go into close session to consult with an attorney as allowed by North Carolina gen statute 143-318.11 A3 and regarding the acquisition of property as allowed by NCGS143-318.11a. Do I have a motion? Have a motion. All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes. We'll go to close session.

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We're returning from close session. No action was taken during our close session. Uh council, can I get a motion for adjournment? So move. So move. Have a motion. All those in favor say I. I.

I. Oppose. Close session is adjourned. Thank you. I'll call to order the January 2026 meeting. Appreciate your all's patience with us. We are running a little bit behind this afternoon. So, thank you for your patience on that. I would start with a moment of silence, please. If you would enable to stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you so much. Um, I would like to welcome everyone who has joined us today. We're always happy to have you with us. We do follow a written agenda which is available on our website at sisburyc.gov/aggendas. GV/aggendas. City Council meetings are broadcast on WSRG, our local [snorts] government TV station, which is available on Spectrum channel 16 and Hotwire channel 394. Meeting air times are posted on the station's website at wsrgtv.com. You can also watch current and past city council meetings on demand from the city's website at salsburyc.gov/videos. Before we go into adoption of the agenda, I would like to turn over to city manager Mr. Jim Green for some recognitions.

Mayor, members of council, good evening and thank you for all being here today. Uh, mayor, members council, it was a a very busy weekend, but a a great weekend of celebrations. I'd like to call up our community engagement director, Miss Anne Little, uh, and recognize an and her team for really leading all of the events surrounding MLK weekend. Uh, I thank an and Michael and their whole team working closely with the human relations commission. Uh, just an outstanding weekend. And I just wanted to kick off this meeting with an sharing some of the activities and uh the attendance numbers that we had. So Ann, [snorts]

welcome Ann and welcome Michael. Thank you.

Thank you city manager green mayor and council. Good evening. Um, as you know, um, last, uh, weekend, well, actually, uh, yes, over the last weekend, our human relations commission led a communitywide celebration, uh, of events honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Uh, this year's theme was Mission Possible continues, uniting our community. I am joyous to share that engagement that participation for the three events topped 1,000. Uh I'm also delighted to be able to share that we received $14,500 in sponsorships and donations. And that allowed the Human Relations Commission to ensure that all of the events that we held this weekend were free, that there was no cost for anyone to attend or participate.

Good evening, mayor and council. Um, I would also like to thank the community sponsors who helped fund uh the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration this weekend. This year's sponsors include Food Lion, Novant Health, Kataba College, Livingstone College, Trinity Oaks, Lutheran Services, Ryan County, and the city of Salsbury. We would like to thank all their sponsors and donors for their tremendous support. There are also several groups and organizations that we'd like to thank. As mentioned, the Salsbury Human Relations Commission um played a huge part in the uh weekend's events. There are 12 awesome individuals led the planning and coordination of all the weekend's events with the leadership of the human relations commission chair Matthew Beaver. We'd also like to recognize our human relations commission council leaison council member Jackson um and thank him for his support. Next, we'd like to thank the Salsbury Youth Council. They were a tremendous help tremendous help to many aspects of the celebration weekend. Not only did they assist with the parade and the resource fair on Saturday morning, they also helped reset the civic center for the breakfast on Saturday afternoon. In addition to the In addition, the students were part of the celebration breakfast program yesterday and helped clean afterwards. Again, thank you to the Salsbury Youth Council, their parents and guardians, and the city staff adviserss who are Quesisha Brown, Jennifer Sylvia, and Jamal Davis. Last but not least, we would like to thank the Omega Sci-Fi Fraternity Incorporated Tao Alpha Chapter for all of their assistance. These group of men walked in the parade on Saturday, stayed for the entire resource fair, and helped move tables and chairs in preparation for the breakfast. We would like to thank all the groups and community me community members who assisted with participated in, and or attended the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

celebration events. Thank you. And so I also want to share with council and with our community. Team Salsbury cheerfully, graciously, generously supported all of the events. They filled backpacks. They grilled hot dogs. They served food. They greeted guests. They set up facilities. They picked up items. They shared time. They shared equipment. They cleaned floors. They emptied trash. They cleaned bathrooms to ensure that our guests had a comfortable place to fellowship. They ensured our safety. We had staff show up at the civic center on a day off Monday at 5 a.m. to ensure that we would have ample time to set up for the breakfast and that community groups would have an opportunity to practice. We had three departments participate in the parade. We had 10 departments represented at the community resource fair. Leonard Hy, Matthew Miller, and Ricky Walls from our public works staff ensured that there was a grill, propane and and utensils and cooked hot dogs to feed the guest at the community resource fair. Delando Clowny and the civic center staff just provided exceptional service and flexibility throughout the weekend. Um I am thankful for the community engagement team. They rallied on more than one occasion to make sure that things got done. Jason Parks, Becky Lane, Quesa Brown, and Michael Brooks.

Uh the awesome community engagement team. And I am thankful and proud of the work that they did. And I have to give special thanks to Michael Brooks for his steady and empowering leadership throughout the weekend. So they say that uh uh organizations take on the traits of their leaders. And so if you missed it, city manager Jim Green and assistant city manager were right on the front line. They were serving hot dogs, chips, doing whatever they needed to do to help serve and engage this weekend. And I was struck, I was moved, I was very proud when city when I saw city council in the parade. If you missed it, our city council chose to walk along MLK along the MLK Avenue parade route and they were smiling and greeting and engaging with the community. So, I just want to say thank you to everyone who had a hand in the celebration weekend planning and coordination. I want to thank our community. I want to thank our community for coming out this weekend. And I want to thank our community for continuing to live and to be and to imp embody the theme of mission possible uniting our community. So, thank you council. Thank you city manager green. Thank you community. Thank you,

mayor, members of council. Again, just great work by team. You hear many were involved, private sector, local government, and uh just an outstanding weekend. Appreciate Ann and Michael uh sharing that. Uh next, I'd like to invite our transit director up. Uh yesterday was uh a big day for a new service, our microtransit policy, ah our microtransit uh pilot. And um even though we're just two days in, I wanted Rodney to come and just share how it's gone the first couple days with our partner downtowner. Rodney,

thank you. Um good afternoon, Mayor Sheffield and council. Thank you for this opportunity to update you on our uh Salsbury Connect, our new ondemand microtransit service. Um we did launch on a holiday MLK day. So historically um on holidays uh ridership trips are down because a lot of businesses um schools, government facilities, medical facilities are closed. So day one was Monday. U we have 45 trips were taken on our microtransit and our 88 pair of transit there are seven trips. Day two, as of right around I think I got an email four o'clock, um those trips almost doubled on the micro transit side. They went from 45 to 78 and the 88 power transit went from 7 to 56 and we still have a few hours left in the day to get those numbers up. So, um a lot of great things there on the microtransit side. Um 15% of the riders who did leave um a review on the app um received five stars. most said it was comfortable ride, friendly driver and staff and the vehicle was clean. So all five stars um there were some opportunities for learning. Um one um we we need to we are currently working for a comprehensive solution with the VA medical um center for um our vets who do not have access to a smartphone or computer. So we're working to make sure those veterans do have transportation and they can take advantage of our microransit service. um RCCC, Ryan Cabarash Community College. Um we continue to work on a smooth transition with their source programs as well. And the source program um if some of the folks in the audience are on council don't know, those are students who have a disability who are attending Rowan Cabaris Community College. So they use our service to get to and from school every day. So again, overall very sounding success for our first day and and I look forward to better and bigger things in the future. Great. Thank you, Rodney.

Thank you, Rodney. Thank you very much. Great news. And mayor, members of council, thank you for allowing me to have staff share, uh, some good reports with council to start off.

Thank you so much, uh, Mr. Green. Uh, and before we do an adoption of the agenda, we do have an adjustment to the agenda. This time, I would turn that over to city manager Mr. Green and call director Philip Lucadoo up please. I'll turn it over to you, Mr. Green. It is involving around agenda item number eight. Yes, mayor, mayor, members of council. Uh, and I'll, uh, let our, u land development, uh, services director, Philip Lucadoo, discuss this in more detail, but, uh, on your agenda tonight is item 8, which is a reszoning request for approximately 35.88 acres located at 1810 Enan Church Road. And uh we've had a request from the developer to redraw withdraw this item and I'd like to turn it over to Mr. Ladoo to share that. I think that the developer is here tonight also to share that request and I'd also like to ask our city attorney to discuss the process for that withdrawal. [snorts] Uh Mr. look. Go ahead,

Mayor, members of council. So, when we arrived at the at city hall tonight, we met with the developer and he expressed an interest in withdrawing his petition to continue to work on plans uh a different uh development program for that property. Uh and so we advised him that the process at that point would be to withdraw and to then resubmit a uh if he so chose a a resoning request subsequent reszoning request that will go through all the normal procedures for notice the community meeting uh courtesy hearing at planning board and then um and then appear back before this board with whatever that uh development program would be. So that's uh that's what he expressed as his intention. um the process is that they need to in writing request that and so I think he's here he can speak to a little bit more about uh particulars of of uh their plans but that is the process that we need to follow. So we need to actually get it in writing he can make that request to you and then we need to get it in writing uh to officially have the withdrawal. Mayor, members of council, if I can just um add to that, once we get it in writing once the notice goes out, it's published and everybody shows up for the hearing, it's up to council, so the petitioner can withdraw it, but council has to approve that withdrawal. So in addition to having it in writing, we would need council to approve of the petitioner withdrawing that. And so depending on how quickly you can get it in writing would depend on whether you can take action on that withdrawal tonight or rather defer the public hearing till the next meeting and then take action on the withdrawal. Um so just keep that in mind and we can hear from the the petitioner just to make sure that uh the procedural pieces are followed. Yeah, we're withdrawing because we're going to change the plan and come back with bigger lots and go through the whole process again with the

neighborhood meetings with everybody like was suggested by planning. So, how do I'll turn it back to you. I I would propose this um the the formal motion would be one to table you would table this until later in the meeting. Uh, so we need a motion to table this until to provide the petitioner enough time to get us something in writing if that can be done tonight. And I I'll look to the petitioner to see if you can get us something in writing to with saying you're withdrawing the petition tonight or you can defer consideration of this until the next meeting which would allow the petitioner two weeks to get something in writing. It would be difficult to get it in writing tonight.

Who has to sign it?

Okay. In that case, if we can't get the So, the petitioner would need to sign the with the request to withdraw and then it would be up to city council. So, if that's the route you want to go, then council can make a motion to defer consideration of this until the February, give you the date, third meeting. Um, and we want to be specific about that because this has been properly noticed. Folks are here for this. If you take action to defer consideration to the next meeting, we do not have to then renotice the meeting because everyone has noticed that it will be heard at the next meeting. If we get the petitioner to uh in writing withdraw the application, the action for council to take in the next meeting would be to allow the petitioner to withdraw. That's a long way of saying if that's the route you want to take, the motion that somebody needs to make is a motion to defer consideration of this item until the February 3rd meeting at 6:00 p.m.

I'll make that motion to defer action until the February 3rd meeting. Council, we have a motion. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes to defer the to the February 3rd meeting uh to get information back from the developer.

And just for the sake of the public, I I'll explain that again. This has been moved to the next meeting. The petitioner has indicated he is going to withdraw this in writing. So between now and the next meeting, the petitioner would get us a request to withdraw it in writing. You're welcome to come back to the February 3rd meeting. If the petitioner has done that, council's decision will be whether to allow that withdrawal. Um, so again, we'll hear this on the third and there may not be much to it if the petitioner has withdrawn. Any questions? I know that's procedural questions procedurally. Make sure he knows that. Yeah.

So, he can't change his mind. I mean, they can't decide to come back and So correct, February 3rd. If we don't get a request to withdraw it, we'll have this hearing at the next meeting.

Okay. If we get a request to withdraw it, then the item before council will be whether you're going to allow it to be withdrawn. Our our um ordinance says that once we've noticed a hearing that c it's then council's hearing to to cancel or not. Petitioner has to ask council to do that. Before we send the notices out, a petitioner has a right to withdraw their hearing. Whether it's before the notices go out or after the notices go out. Once it's withdrawn, as Mr. Look at said, the process starts over from the very, very beginning.

Got you. So, um, we have passed a motion to defer agenda item number eight to the February 3rd council meeting. Okay. Anything else, Mr. Ladoo? Mr. Green. Anything else? No, ma'am. That's it. Thank you, Mayor and Council. All right. Thank you, council. With that, we will uh move on to uh agenda item number four, [clears throat] adoption of the agenda as amended with deferment of item number eight. Council, do I have a motion?

I make a motion to adopt the agenda as presented, but amended uh agenda item number eight. If you guys could exit quietly, we'd appreciate it. Thank you. If you could exit quietly, we would appreciate it. Council, we have a motion um to adopt the agenda presented. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion passes. Thank you, councel.

Agenda item number five, mayor to proclaim the following observances. National Day of Racial Healing, January 20th, 26. Catholic School Week, January 25th through the 31st of 2026. And School Choice Week, January 25th through the 31st of 2026. Uh, agenda item number six, council to consider the consent agenda. The council did receive the consent agenda prior to the meeting. Uh, council, do you have any concerns or items you would like to remove from the consent agenda? If not, I would uh accept a motion to adopt the consent agenda as presented. I'll make that motion.

Council, we have a uh motion for the consent agenda. All those in favor say I.

I. Any oppose? Motion passes. Thank you. Moving on to agenda item number seven. Um and again, I will just remind the public if you signed up for either two of the public hearings, one has been deferred. the other one. There is a actual public hearing on the agenda for item number nine. So, I will now open the floor for public comment. Each speaker will have three minutes to address council. The rules of procedure for public comments are located on the table in the back of the lobby and at the speaker table. Before we begin, I want to reference item 11 and the rules of procedure. Speakers will be courteous in their language and presentation. Personal attacks will not be tolerated and will be deemed out of order. I encourage speakers to be courteous in their language and respectful of council members, staff, and members of the public. Thank you, Connie. I'll turn it over to you,

Mayor. Our first speaker is uh Mr. William Woodruff.

Welcome, Mr. Woodruff. Thank you very kindly. Should I stand or sit? If you could sit, please so we could hear you better in the mic. Thank you, sir.

Good evening, council members and city attorney and city manager. My name is William Woodruff. I live at 1331 Maxwell Street here in Salsbury. I've been a permanent resident here since 2009 when I purchased my home on Maxwell Street. My family has lived in Salsbury for over a hundred years. The reason I'm here is uh I am deeply concerned about the situation that is existing in the Briner apartment complex. I have two family members that live in [clears throat] Briner Crossing apartment complex. It has been brought to my attention and I truly believe that there is a campaign in progress of not renewing existing leases or cancelling existing leases. and they're doing so by um saying that the rent has not been paid on time and there is no rearage and I've been personally involved with communicating with the management uh ownership in that complex concerning a a family member. Um, it starts with a letter from the management company saying that your lease is being terminated for lack of paying rent either on time or uh not the correct amount. Uh, I have been in communication with him. I've set submitted three consecutive letters to the management company based on letters that my family member has received. None of those

letters that I submitted to them have been returned or acknowledged. Uh they continue to send ex uh letters saying that your lease has been terminated. Turn in your you have 10 days to turn in your keys. Uh and if you don't do it, a legal action will be taken. I suspect that some of those folk that are getting these letters are not aware of their legal um rights in this and aspect. And I believe in my personal opinion they're doing so in order to get people out of that complex to raise the rent. said, "I'm personally aware of at least three different instances where folk have received these kinds of letters, and it's deeply concerning, and I say ultimately that the city of Salsbury will be involved in any legal uh litigation that as a result of what the management owners are trying to do over at Brena Crossing uh complex. And I'm pretty sure that city council has not been aware of what's going on. And I believe that something should be done, at least some uh uh investigation started uh by the city council as to what the their intentions are in terms of uh uh evicting illegally some of the residents at Brener Crossing. Uh

thank you, Mr. Woodruff. You have three minutes, so Okay. Thank you so much for bringing that to our attention. Thank you, honey. Mayor, our next speaker is Miss DD Wright.

Welcome, Miss Wright.

Thank you so much. Happy New Year, Madame Mayor, Council. I'm usually here to bring a concern, but I thought I would, one of my New Year's resolution was to say be positive. And with that, I want to take this moment and this opportunity to thank the city and especially underscore an little and her team for this weekend. It was a wonderful celebration. Was happy to participate. Mr. Green, you kind of stole my thunder, but that's okay. I just want to let you know that um as a citizen, not as my organization, the West End neighborhood organization, uh not as the organization, but as a citizen, and I've been coming here for the last 30 plus years, and I just want to be positive and wanted to thank you and especially Ann, you and your team. I know you didn't know it was coming, but I just wanted to go on record to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Wright. Connie, mayor. Our final speaker is Mr. Joshua Ham Shurmer. Welcome, Miss Shurmer.

Hey, good evening, Mayor, Council, City Manager Green, and other staff. First and foremost, foremost, thank you for your time this evening and your continued efforts to better Salsbury. I'm [clears throat] Joshua Helm Shurmer, president of the Salsbury Professional Firefighters Local Union 2370. Like I've mentioned before, I've have the honor of serving the hardworking men and women of this department as a voice. One that tries to bridge the gap between administration and our lower ranks ranking fire personnel. And one that comes to you to make sure that our personnel have the best working conditions and have the opportunity to prosper while at work as well outside of work. [snorts] Not too long ago, we had 11 firemen caught in an explosion on Laurel Street. Three of which that are still out to stay on workers comp and two on light duty and still struggling with after effects of an explosion. To say the least, we're grateful because this could have been way worse than it was. This is part of the job for us. We want the difficult calls. That's why we'll always put the citizens of Salsbury first before any of our own. This incident shows that we need some to do something. We need more personnel. We need more apparatuses. Every shift since that incident, there have been numerous people being mandatory to work on top of personnel volunteering their time to fill in the position so the citizens are covered. And sometimes we still come up short, but that's just how it goes. I know that we have trucks on the way, but it takes four years to be ordered. We need to start thinking, well, it takes four years to get them after they're ordered. We need to start thinking about the next order today. We only have two ladders left as reserves. No engines at the moment. We're struggling. If one of our engines goes down tonight, we have to put them on a ladder, and that doesn't work as well as our normal operations. What I'm trying to accomplish here is to

be an asset to you all, just like I'm an asset to our chiefs of this department. My goal is to bring more value to our fire department so we aren't wasting taxpayer dollars training and hiring personnel every six months and stop the bleeding of other issues that come from the people that are not staying here. The last time I was here, I spoke about a public safety pay plan, one that puts our firefighters on the same wavelength as our amazing police officers. We want public safety to mean public safety, not police and fire under public safety. You have the plan already for what you do for our police department. Do you realize that a police officer makes $11,000 and $11,446 more than a fireman? The mid-range of that same pay scale has a $15,000 difference. And this is with all ranks. It's not just about money. Police officers also have the benefits after they retire, but the new fire personnel don't. My question to you all is why is that? Because we go to the same cause and expected to be perfect every time someone needs us. Under a public safety pay plan, we combat all these issues. We get the people to stay and invest themselves into Salsbury. My question to you all is, are we worth it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Sherman. Connie Mayor, that's all of our speakers this evening.

Thank you, Connie. I will close the public comment section. and we will move on down the agenda. As a reminder, agenda item number eight has been deferred to the February 3rd council meeting. So that will take us to agenda item number nine. Council to consider the voluntary annex of 3.47 47 acres located at 3120 Statesville Boulevard and identified on tax map 329, parcel 021 and 022 to be effective January 20th, 26 and adopting an ordinance amending the land development district map to reszone the parcels from residential mixed use and Rowan County commercial business industrial to residential mixed use with a conditional district overlay. Somehow I managed to say all that and it's my pleasure to introduce our presenter tonight, planning manager Victoria Baiff. Welcome, Victoria.

Thank you, mayor. Good evening, council members. Um, tonight we have an annexation and resoning coming from Chanda Zafar. She has petitioned to have 3120 States full boulevard reszoned and annexed. The property includes two parcels. One is located in the ETJ and the other in the county. The properties are located at the corner of Enan Church and Statesville and this will be a contiguous resoning. The annexation would have minor to no impacts to our departments, although fire has recommended adding a fourth firefighter to engine 4 should this be developed. The undeveloped recurring revenue um for this property is 8 76 and the estimated uh revenue once developed would be approximately 67,376. The annexation petition has been processed in accordance with state statutes and city ordinances. Are there any questions regarding the annexation before we move on to the resonings?

Council, any questions from Miss?

Go ahead, Victoria. All right, we have reszoning petition RZCD 20225-06-000023. The parcels are currently zoned RMX and commercial business industrial CBI. The applicant is requesting that it be reszoned to RMX residential mixed use with a conditional district overlay. The parcel is surrounded by other properties that are zoned CBI and general residential GR3. Nearby properties are used for residential purposes and uh with a few that are undeveloped. The property is partially wooded and slopes down gradually towards Statesville Boulevard. It does not have wetlands, a blue line stream or 100year flood plane on the property. The master plan accompanying the resoning request proposes a campus style mixeduse complex that's comprised of two buildings. One will have 30 multifamily units and that's the one that's fronting in a church road and the other will have 26 multifamily units and 8,494 square ft of commercial space on the ground floor. That's the one that will be fronting states Boulevard. This is the proposed landscape plan and they have also provided building elevations. This will be the building that fronts Statesville and this will be the elevation uh for the building that will front Enan Church Road. These are some renderings that have been provided by the developer. Developers requesting um three design alternatives. An alternative to section 5.12. A uh this section requires a primary entrance on street facing facades. Um in these buildings along

Statesville, they're going to have several small tenant spaces. So they'll have several different doors and not one primary door. And then along the Enan Church Road building frontage, there are apartment complexes where the entrances will be in a stairway interior to the structure. So there won't be any primary entrance fronting that um street either. Uh another uh requirement of this section is display windows along the ground floor. The applicant has proposed display windows on the commercial portion, but of course along those sides that will have multifamily, you would not want display windows along those those sides of the structure. The next design alternative is to section 5.12.b of the LDO. Um they have provided this section requires you to choose from a list of architectural features. They've provided four architectural features on the building fronting Statesville, but only two on uh the one fronting Ian Church. So, they're just requesting um a few less on that side. Then finally to section 10.4.8 of the LDO. This is our parking section. The ordinance requires that um in mixed that mixeduse buildings in the RMX district have their parking located in the side or rear yard. However, the building that front statesville will have parking in front of it. Staff finds that the proposed site plan is in compliance with policy forward 2040 policies 5.6.5 6.5 Ensuring adequate open space in new developments to complement residential

development. Policy 5.1.1 increasing the overall supply of housing to accommodate growth and changing demand. And finally, policy 7.2.5 supporting infill development of retail, office, and mixed use land use. The future land use map has this property designated as future neighborhood for the parcel that's currently in our journey in our zoning jurisdiction. The one that's in the county of course does not have a designation from our future land use map as of yet. The future neighborhood place type is consistent with the RMX district. However, staff is actually recommending that should this resoning be approved, uh the future land use map place type be assigned to neighborhood activity center for both of these parcels as it seems to fit the location and the development um much better than the future neighborhood. The master plan was reviewed by the city's technical review committee on July 17th, 2025. TRC recommended approval subject to all of comments, all of the comments being addressed and they were upon resubmitt. Planning board held their courtesy hearing on November 10th, 2025. Planning board found the request to be consistent with the forward 20 240 comp plan and also recommended approval. Are there any questions before going into public hearing?

Council, any questions before the public hearing? Okay, I I will open the public hearing. Uh just a reminder, um we have any questions, we can wait till after the public hearing to ask those. So, I will open the public hearing for anyone who wants to speak for or against this annexation as well as the um change in resoning. You want to speak? Just you come up to the desk. Hello.

I'm Leanne Palace. Um I live on Wood Leaf Road. Um was here for the one that got postponed. Um but I'm going to just um point out some of the same issues um with this. Uh it's going to affect the intersection on Woodle Leaf Road. Um it's going to affect the surrounding [snorts]

uh communities that are there. Uh there's nothing of this magnitude anywhere in our area. Uh most of the houses are single family houses. No, multif family um apartments kind of that this is. Um I still don't think it fits our area. um trying to keep our county, Steel County, um probably a mile and a half from this. We have 40 acres of farm. We have cows, bees, horses, um animals right there. Again, it's the opposite side of the road, but I just don't feel that we need this many apartment complexes in the county um just to protect our wildlife and our our farm animals that are in that area. The more we keep building, the less farmland, the less county we're going to have. That's all I have. Thank you, Miss Palace. Anyone else to speak for or against?

Hello. Welcome.

Good evening. Uh my name is Nick Overcash. I also live uh further down uh Woodleaf Road. And to echo what Leanne just said, uh I also have horses and I am concerned about the additional traffic on Woodleaf Road, but also just concerned about the um neighboring residential homes that are right there on Enan Church Road close to this reszoning request and um how that type of uh intensity is inconsistent with the established neighborhoods of West Cliff and those few 10 to 20 homes that are right there on Church Road that'll bump up uh against this resoning. Uh as Leanne mentioned, I was also here for the 1820 Church Road resoning. So just want to say that uh anytime we're looking at you know destroying forestry or farmland, there's uh a good environmental impact and you know displaces multiple different types of wildlife uh that can have a threatening impact on livestock and agriculture and horses. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Okash. Welcome.

Thank you. My name is Russell Swiss. Good. I live at 2720 Enon Church Road and I guess mine's more or less from a concern situation with traffic and everything. Enon Church Road has become a racetrack right now. We've got cars which I've looked at at night from these other apartments that are going down Highway 70. They're coming out of there and they're testing their cars going up and down in E9 Church Road and then they break and then they go around a sharp curve down there and and their mufflers have got all of these loud mufflers and everything. in. But anyway, my concern is is Highway 70 becoming apartment row or what down through there? The city has just saturated the area back in behind I'm trying to think of there across from the Dollar General, the name of that service station. You got apartments there. You got apartments uh coming up on the other side of the road. They're building some right now. And it's my understanding there's going to be apartments going on further out. on Highway 70 where they've cleared beyond uh just before you get to Hurly School Road on the other side of the road back in there is an area cleared out. It's I've done some research and found out that there's some apartments that are supposedly supposed to be in that area. So, is this a situation where you're just going to continue to go on down Highway 70 and make it all apartments and and those apartments there at 31, I believe it's 3120 uh Statesville Boulevard. And I can imagine what that's going to do to the traffic coming down on Church Road, much less coming out on Woodleaf Road where I would assume one day y'all going to put a stoplight there. And then the next

thing it's going to be road construction. And then it's going to be taxes for a bond issue, maybe for more schools, does all of that. And then the next thing is we need to raise raise your taxes. It's just the normal situation that you look for in the future. [snorts] That's it. Thank you, Mr. Swiss. Good. Yes, ma'am. Anyone else speak for or against? Hello. Hey. Um, my name is Melinda Pasley. I'm sorry,

Melinda Pasley. Hi.

I'm at 2630 Enon Church Road. I'm kind of right behind where this is going to be going. I don't know if any of you have been to that intersection or not when it comes out to Ian and Church Road, but I'm not sure how they're going to have any visibility coming out to be honest with you because there is an incline there. Um, I will say twice, twice just this week pulling out from Enan Church to get on Stville Boulevard, I was almost ran into. I creep out into that intersection every single time. I'm just waiting for one of my teenagers to get hit. And now we're going to add more to it. More people adding to this with this development. Not only that, it doesn't even fit the aesthetic of our neighborhood. I mean, there are a couple with oneacre lots, but I think the majority of us here have five, six, seven, eight, 10 acres. It does not fit the community. And again, just, you know, it took me a long time to figure out a place to live with two younger kids. just did the thing. What do I think about when we moved there? It was selective. It was a fixer upper, but is what I could afford. And I love where we are in the community right now, but adding to it, creating I'm all for diversity, but I don't think this is the place to put it on top of people with many farms and farms and people who do actually farm. It does not fit the aesthetic in any form. So definitely against um and I would

like to state I'm not sure why the surrounding area is not notified of these kind of actions that are being taken. Just wanted to add that in there because to be honest with you, I wasn't aware of either one of those except for driving by the intersections and seeing public notice signs. But just again, I would really like you consider the aesthetic of the neighborhood and and where you putting this in the community and again that intersection with that incline. I don't see how they're going to see you're adding a whole bunch of chaos to that surrounding area as as especially with the traffic. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else to speak for or against? Uh, good evening, city council and madame mayor. Uh, my name is Greg Melat. I live at 1545 West Ridge Road, uh, just down the road from this proposed development. And this is the first day I'm hearing of this development. Um, and I'm kind of glad I stayed here uh because I was here for the other development, but um I just want to provide some professional comments here on this uh for plan. Um and also, you know, for this lot, I I drive by this a few times a week. I go to the park down there, uh the Salsbury Community Park, and um I cross over or make a right hand turn on Statesville Boulevard. Um, so I'm quite familiar with the the landscape there and and uh I'm a light, by the way, I'm a licensed design professional in the state of North Carolina and um so I do land design all the time and uh um I'm just shocked to to see this application come through with like a four-story apartment

building, multiple units there with a you know asphalt parking lot there and um it's a rural area and I can honestly say that this development does not fit in with the existing neighborhood and you know the surrounding areas. Uh and I think it would be a negative to build this as proposed. Um it's just uh it was it would look very odd here. Um [snorts] I mean this type of development, you see this in downtown urban grids. Um, I I actually would recommend to the developer to withdraw the application and look for another parcel within the city of Salsbury in the downtown urban core because that's what the city of Salsbury needs is infill development there like like this mixeduse development um you know on some vacant um you know properties there um because there's some you know vacant uh I guess old commercial properties that aren't really active. anymore and this type of development would really be an asset for those type of properties. So, and I always recommend to municipalities, you know, kind of kind of keep your your city cities and your your your rural areas rural areas because it's uh just in the long run it just benefits everybody. Uh but that's a whole another conversation. Um, also, uh, just real quick, um, with this current application, is the developer prepared to prepare or pay for construction improvements at the intersection, like proposing a traffic light and, you know, crosswalks and, you know, handicap ramps, additional curbing, additional storm drainage, you know, traffic markings. Um, it's a substantial amount of money to do that

at this intersection and I didn't see anything on the plan. So, um, if this were to go through as is. Thank you. I don't think that'd be, uh, fair for the taxpayer to foot that bill. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. [clears throat] Anyone else to speak for or against? Hello. Good evening. [clears throat]

My name is Alvin Merritt. I'm at 1635 West Ridge Road, the intersection of Enon and Woodle Leaf. I'm in the eyesight. Uh I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. I moved down here North Carolina in 2010 and I chose Salsbury because I was tired of the big city life. Um, I'm a retired firefighter with disability, so I have a power to that. I ride through the town. And right now, I'm okay because not so much traffic, but with the proposals, my concern will be my safety because there are no sidewalks. And the sidewalks once you get down to Stville are so rough, it knocks the power off my power uh power chairs. So, I got to take it apart right there. push the plug back in and keep on going. I used to ride wood all hallway way down the hill back up and come the back way to the food line and I didn't I had no fear but I'm afraid with all this traffic from the apartments and commercial this that and the other I'm praying for my life without a sidewalk now and I came to celebrate because it was a rural town not a big city. I'm worried about crime now. I know everybody's got their crime, but I like the little bit of crime that we do have compared to a big city because when I heard about Charlotte, every day you hear about something going on down there. And I didn't like Charlotte. Actually, I went to Charlotte for a year, trying to grow for a year, High Point for a year, back to Charlotte for about another year, and then sell it right here in Saltbury. So,

I I like Sbury the way it is. I don't need the big developments and commercial stuff. Um, again, I worry about my safety when I'm on my power chair with the extra traffic and my understanding when I moved down here had the I think it was stop signs initially and they had accidents from that corner. Now they got the stop light and still have accidents. So again, I'm worried about my safety with more traffic. So that's about all I really push is my safety and the fact that I like the rural part. And how about if we if nothing else can we wait and let these other developments that you're building now on 70 fill up with people before we go throw something else up that won't be full for years to come. That's about all I have to say.

Thank you, Mr. Thank you. Anyone else to speak for or against? Seeing no one, I'll go ahead and close the public hearing and ask Miss uh Baleiff to come back up. Um council, any discussion, question? Mr. Ba, Mr. Green, anything to add? Uh, Miss Baleiff can answer any questions council may have and mayor, would you like me to address some of the comments that were made in the public hearing? Yes, I'm sure that that's probably some of our questions. Okay. Thank you.

Um, in regards to the noticing um comment, we do follow the procedures laid out in our ordinance which do extend beyond state statute minimum requirements for noticing. Um, we send out mail notices to property owners within 250 ft of the subject properties as well as the posted notice that goes on the property itself. Um, and then of course the newspaper ad um that's in the paper in regards to the traffic improvement uh questions. Um so the we have NC DOT and Salsbury DOT both on uh our preapp meetings and on TRC meetings. So they are fully aware of any new incoming development and do make comments. Um, this did not trigger, this development did not trigger a TIA under our current standards.

Oh, sorry, traffic impact analysis. [laughter] Um, but the DOT engineers and our traffic engineer do look at the project and let the developer know if they're going to require any improvements as a result of the project. I do not believe this one triggered any. Um they do have to provide sidewalk which they are doing so. Um so they will have sidewalk along their frontage the frontage of their property along and church and state school. Are there any other questions that you might have?

Yeah. [clears throat] I know you said that the notice was sent to the residents. How many notices? How many notices did we receive back?

We don't receive anything back. We do put our um contact information in there. So, if the residents who receive the notices want to call or if they want to pass information on to their neighbors, then they can give our office a call and we'd be happy to answer their questions. Um on this one, I don't believe we received any calls. Um the other Enan Church Road project, we do get some calls and customers come in about that one, but I don't believe we received any calls on this particular um project. Excuse me. There's no conversation from the gallery.

Um question. I saw somewhere it said two buildings, but they needed a three. What was that growing? Oh, um you may be referring to the um three architectural feature features that are required. Is that what you were what it was? Okay. Yeah, they're required to have three architectural features for each building um out of the list of required design um features. And they're on the second building that faces an church, they're only going to have two. Okay. What type of It's supposed to be 26 unit and 30. Yeah. 30 in one and then 26.

Is it um geared towards any um is it for the elderly? Is there any conditions? Is it for disabil? Not that I'm aware of. Just market rate as far as I'm aware. Is the developer here at all? Sure. Yes, they can. They are here. You would like to have them If it's up to council, if that's Yeah. If we have questions that can be answered, we would we would welcome that. [clears throat]

Hey, welcome. If you could give us your name, it'd be great. Good evening. Um, I'm Brett Oliver of Oliver Design Studio. I am the landscape architect and project planner um representing the developer and I'm Vic Smith with Erskin Smith architecture the architect on project the owners not okay I I had a question pertaining to the apartment units what type of renters were you planning to it's standard market rate is what she's uh plans and there are uh handicap units in there to meet the uh uh ADA requirements that we have

and is there any plans to uh sidewalks or anything for I mean I just I think I did see something about parks and some other stuff as well. There's uh this development within itself is a very walkable small community. There's um open space. There's a larger quote unquote mini park and there's also a smaller park with a playground, pavilion and courtyard area. Um there's sidewalks throughout the entire site as well as um we're ti adding a sidewalk along Enan Church Road and we're tying into the existing sidewalk along Statesville Boulevard. Okay. And I I I did drive in that area and it is kind of of a congested area. Is there going to be lighting as well? You're placing any type of lighting for that for night.

There likely will be outdoor lighting in the parking lot. It's not represented on the site plan at this level. We typically don't get into that much detail. And I will also add that there is quite a bit of uh screening including uh landscaping and a uh screen fence along the property lines adjacent to the uh residential.

Okay. And we did have a uh community meeting uh back about six months ago with and had probably about 20 different people come in and look and talk to us about what they and suggested and uh one of the ladies right next to the building on Enoch Road. Uh she just was asking about that building and so we've adjusted a few things to meet her her needs or what she was asking to meet. [snorts] The fence being one of those comments that was brought up during the neighborhood meeting was that they have the fence around. Yes, sir. Is it a type of a a gated to get into the compartment complex? Going to be like a gated community.

There there's no no permanent gate. It's it's open. There's an entrance on Enon Church and Statesville Boulevard, but no no gate. Were the aesthetics considered uh based any on the surrounding infrastructure for for the buildings? Buildings? Yes. I'm sorry, what was the question? Were there any concerns about the design of the buildings as it related to the surrounding?

Uh we working with what the owner had asked us to do. We weren't really because it's not a singlestory building. We didn't have the aesthetics of uh I mean it's brick to match not to match what's going on at the adjacent buildings but they are brick and uh hardy flank siden buildings and so it's uh it's standard residential design is what we're doing.

So any feedback you got back from the community meeting it was just um a fence. There was u I did put a list together and submit it to um the city after we had the community meeting, but off top of my head, there was um concerns about visibility from the adjacent residential lots and the traffic along Enon Church. More focused on the speed with the gentleman brought up earlier that people are racing up and down the the road, which I didn't really feel this design made better or worse. It's kind of a different issue altogether. Um and there was also concern about trees and landscaping and I we had that rendering that was brought up there earlier. Um and we will we following the ordinance for landscaping and doing some additional within the site just for aesthetics. Um I guess my concern would be everyone that came up that spoke on public comment just stated that they didn't hear anything or didn't receive anything. Um so that's a little concerning to me. um that you know very big on community, very big on community voices uh being at the table. Um I would love to see that list if we have that list to see some of those other concerns um that community may have stated uh during that time and that time that meeting happened um to try to understand did we really capture do enough to really get the community input um from where where we at this point. that list was was submitted with the um TRC submitt and and residdle as well. So um I I can see that it's distributed again if necessary.

And if type of retail is it um what's your idea as far as the retail? I understand you have some retail businesses. What what type of business you trying to It's just it's small there might be like a hair salon or a coffee shop or just small business. It's not it's only 8,000 square foot. It's just the the front the bottom front of the building that faces Statesville Avenue. And so it's just we're looking at small uh infield type businesses in there. So it could be an accountant. I mean it's there's nothing no major change or anything like that would to go into it unless Starbucks could or something to. So

okay. How many retail business were you thinking that? Uh there's like seven or eight, but about 1,200 square feet, something like that. Yeah, there's seven units. Seven seven units, right? And the 8,000 square foot. I'm sorry. Six retail units. Um about 8,800 square foot total between the six of those. So they're a little just small small spaces. Do you have any retail um businesses interested already have contacted you? Not at this time. It's very early.

Council, any other questions um for the representatives right now? I mean, mine would still be the concern of the community input. I know you stated that you had a community meeting six months ago or so. Um that would be my biggest area for concern, like more input from community. Gotcha. Um, thank you guys. Uh, Miss Ba, if we could get you back up here, please. Thank you. So, council questions for Miss Ba. Do what what would trigger a traffic um TIA, I think you called it, traffic impact analysis.

Um, that's a timely question. you will be receiving a a text amendment uh that will be coming to you soon regarding our triggers for a TIA. Um right now they go by what NC do's trigger for a TIA is which is 3,000 trips per day which in staff's opinion is a rather large trigger. Um because since I have been here, I don't think any of the developments that have come through have triggered one. Um we have requested one for a reasonzoning, but um we cannot mandate it per our ordinance for a byite development unless our ordinance says so. So there will be a text amendment actually it's on its way to you soon regarding that lowering the threshold for a study to be done on traffic.

Okay. Go ahead.

So So how would that work considering these are both DOT roads? Neither of these roads are Sisbury roads. So how does that work in this scenario? Um well in this one it would be irrelevant because this one is already in the process. So they would not even if the text amendment comes to you next month, this one would not be subject to that um due to state statutes. Um but any new development that comes in after that text amendment would be approved with a lower threshold for a study for a traffic study um they would be subject to that being in our jurisdiction. Um and our traffic engineer would coordinate with DO DOT which they already do but um we are limited in what we can require being that our threshold is so low. Um our traffic engineer when the text amendment comes she can explain to you in a little bit further detail and much better than I can um about the traffic improvements that would be required as a result of the study. Gotcha. And um I know that this was was this part of the conversation through the planning board, the traffic was that part of the because that's been part of the that's been the majority of the conversation. I would say this evening as far as

there was concerned outside of I just don't want it. There was there's legit concern. There's traffic concerns here. We only had, I believe, one member of the public speak at planning board and um planning board did not have a lot of traffic concerns. Um no, I'm sorry. The public hearing is closed. I'm sorry. The public hearing is closed. There's no conversation from the gallery. We appreciate your respect for the policy. Thank you. Um, Mr. Green.

Mr. Green. Mayor, you're free at any point to involve our police department to clear the room as needed. Okay. I think that uh we can proceed right now and thank you.

Is there anything else that um Council, any other questions for Miss Baiff? So, I feel like we're in this weird spot. So, what what what is the um like what are the options, let's say, here that um we are not for this? If we vote against it, what are the consequences? I know there's certain things that happen. So, can you kind of tell us what

what options we have? And Mr. blacks brought up, you know, um, feeling like that we should have more community input by the developer with the actual community they're they're trying to be part of. U, we have concerns about the intersection. What What are our options?

Um, well, there's typically three options with a conditional district resoning. You can approve as is. Um you can request um further conditions be put on the development which the petitioner would have to agree to um and they have to be fair and reasonable conditions. Um then you can of course deny it. If you deny uh the reasonzoning, our state laws have changed to where the cities, municipalities cannot require um a waiting period, which our ordinance, we do have another [snorts] text amendment um coming towards you soon to be in compliance with that state statute. Um but our ordinance did have a one-year waiting period if your reasonzoning was denied. So, since the state statutes have changed, that is no longer in effect. And if it was denied tonight, they could reapply tomorrow um for anything. Could I make a suggestion of something that has been done in the past with the city council and I don't know if it if it's an option or not, but when we've uh in the past when we've reached a um situation like this, we've uh the mayor appointed a council committee of two council members that were willing to serve and just do a little bit more research on it um and bring it back at the next council meeting just for a vote um or of s suggestion. Just an idea if we aren't ready to vote for or against.

Yes. But it's up up to the council or if you'd prefer to vote tonight or send it back to the staff. Mr. Green, any suggestions?

Yes, ma'am. And and I was just talking with the city attorney and please jump in here and uh you u on the earlier Enan Church Road, you delayed that uh for the process. You could also delay this one if council uh wants to [snorts] have someone work with staff to address these questions and bring it back. That's something that council can certainly do. or if council wants to instruct staff to gather some more information and bring it back, we can do that. So, delaying it uh and jump in here please, on on process for that, but that's something you certainly can do.

My only comment would be if you establish [clears throat] a council committee, even if it's just two, you've established a public body and you'd have to notice every meeting that the committee had. So, if you have concerns or questions that you want addressed, I would encourage you to have that conversation here and give staff some direction about what information you'd like brought back to fill in some of the gaps um and address some of the concerns that we've seen. Um you're certainly welcome to establish a committee. It would just again have to be publicly noticed every time that that the committee got together to talk about this. Well, and I do um recognize the planning board voted unanimously in favor of this and it has the approval of staff and the um also uh in our forward 20 240 comprehensive plan. It's um consistent with that. So that's our dilemma. I guess the question I would have is just the the new TI um policy would it affect if it was in this case I know it can't be for this but I would be curious to see whether or not in this situation had we if it was already in place at this time would there be any changes and I would like to know what those changes would be.

Um I would probably have to get in contact with our transportation department and have our traffic engineer run some numbers. she actually ran the the numbers on the other development, but not this one for me. Um, so I don't have those numbers and I'd have to look at the text um to see what would trigger. My guess is um it would probably trigger a traffic study. There's different levels in our or in our proposed language. There's tier one, tier two, tier three. My guess is this one would probably be a tier one or a tier two. Um, I don't think it would trigger a full-blown traffic impact analysis, but I'd have to check the language to be sure.

Well, I I think I'll just share my perspective. I I think the community has got some real concerns. Um, obviously, we need to pay attention to that, but we also, you know, want to make sure that we're developing properly. We do have concerns. Miss Kuds, to your point, the planning board did approve it. It does kind of follow our 24 plan. So, my personal preference, and again, it's at council's pleasure, is um could we delay this uh to try to get some of the more feedback? What are some compromises that could happen so that um you know, everybody's not fully happy, but we've got something we can all live with because that's you know, what a compromise is. So that'd be my preference if we would do that. But again, council, it takes all of us to to make that decision. So that's just kind of my input. I'd welcome your all's input.

I would agree with that. Yes. Abs. Absolutely. Uh that's where I stand. Um I think the I think the developers could do a little more to get some more input along with staff to see um because we can clearly see that it's deeper, more concerns that we really need to look into. Um, so I will agree with you, Madam Mayor. I agree. I think I think it may have been misplaced because of the same kind of area. The reason why I say that because they did talked about getting playgrounds and fences, so they have talked to the community, but it doesn't seem like it may be the whole entire community and maybe they maybe it's opportunity to talk to everybody about that instead. Gotcha. So, um, Graham, how do we um we just need a motion to

either you make one of two motions. one to defer consideration to a specific date or to defer consideration indefinitely. Um, and then the staff would bring it back and probably want to renotice a public hearing again on it. So again, if you want to put it on a specific date to give a timeline to get that feedback and bring it back, you could do that. I don't know if we're able to forecast what that would involve. Well, I I would before you assign a date, um let me clarify what council is looking for in regards to community meeting, a community meeting, community input because that itself does take notice to to allow everybody to have time to get letters out. And so if we go to the very next meeting, they're probably not going to have time to get reasonable notice in between um for another to hold another community meeting. And in regards to that, what what is council's idea of the neighborhood, the community meeting? Obviously, it it appears that 250 feet is not what council maybe or the neighborhood deems to be adequate. What what should we direct the applicant [snorts] to do in regards to what is a suitable neighborhood notice? Is it all of Enan Church or

and this is a different one because it's not all in the city limits. So the densities are different. Uh there's graduated differences in in their zoning for density. We we respect that. That's why we have those different layers. Um council um any recommendations, Mr. Green, any recommendations?

I I would just say the developer, you know, time is going to cost, you know, I don't want to be too long. I mean, it's not fair to them if we do prove that the time is down long and now the cost has gone up because we had to wait. So I don't want to put them in that situation as well. I mean it has gone through planning board. It has been approved. I mean you know suggested and it has met the conditions. So it's not like it's in violation but it's just some concerns with citizens that we want to make sure that everyone's compliance but I don't want to be too long. So whatever that may be to get an opportunity

members council just to to give time to get the notices out, pull the meetings together and report back to council at a minimum of 30 days, but I think that 45 to 60 days is probably more appropriate. I don't know how that works for the developer and the developer's deadlines, but um it is going to take some time to schedule the meeting and to get that input and work with the developer. Council any u proposed timeline based off of that

be my recommendation we uh give developers 60 days. Um that would be my recommendation given the time and if it's any time between then before then then we can get it back on the agenda. Council consistence on that. I say a little bit short 45. It it did meet some comm we did have community members meet 60 I think is a little bit longer. I think um 45 might be more reasonable. 30 is too

if we give 60 days but we can get it back in 45 days. We could still put it on the agenda. Correct. Yeah, I mean if if they're able to hold the meeting um another community meeting and get their input um get it back us get it back to staff in time then yes we can readvertise um it just so in my opinion it would be you have up to 60 days to do the necessary things that we're asking um but if it comes back faster than then we can get it on the agenda. On the agenda, correct, Mr. Green?

Yes, we we can do it as as quickly as possible. And I don't know if the developer has concerns on that 60 days, but again, uh we can push it up. Uh again, I'm Vic Smith. Uh we're we're seven months into this uh process right now. Uh we've 4560. I'm I'm not sure, you know, what how that really affects us. I guess one of my biggest concerns is how far do you want us to take this? Other than that, we had our community meeting. We uh put out notices to the people around it so that for the meeting and so how far do we need to go? Are we going two miles down the road? We going 10 miles down the road? Uh you know what what's our requirement? And so then the 45 or 60 days depends on, you know, what we've got to get out there, the letter. Uh again, we're seven months into the process. So, we're just trying to to figure out where we are, what we're doing with this. And so, I mean, I we probably could do it in 45 days. Um, you know, but shorter the better, but at the same time, it's not because we we've got to set up a meeting. We've got to get probably a month or what, 30 days that we'd have to notice for people.

I would say minimum 10 days notice. 10 days, right? And so we're just, you know, a little concerned on how much longer it's going to take. And, you know, of course, we would we'd love to have the approval, but we're also uh we want to set up whatever we can for the to meet the council's requirement. So, so if you can give us a little guidelines on the length of time and how far we have to go past the property to for the people in the community.

I think six, my opinion, I think 60 is probably fair because then you're going to have to take that feedback, you got to notice it, then you're going to have to come back to um planning department. So 60 days is is a actually short window in that time frame. So I think 60 is a fair day. But council, I would ask you all voice concerns about who was noticed. So how far do we want to push that notice in this particular situation? Any Victoria, Mr. Green, any recommendations? I would look to Victoria again to talk about what we require now and a recommendation.

Um, currently it's 250 ft. Um, that's above the state minimum and At this point, I would probably recommend a maximum of 400 to 500. I would not go anywhere beyond 500 because that's it gets to a point where, you know, certain people were noticed, but then that one person that was just beyond it, they they're saying, why didn't I get a notice and why didn't and we we can't notice the whole city. That's the whole purpose behind the posting of the property with the sign. So that people who live in the neighborhood, they drive by and they see the sign and so they have the information as well. So most of these most people, not all of them, may drive by Statesville or Enan Church. Most of the people that live in that vicinity could see the sign. Um and then it's also in the newspaper. I don't know how that much many people read the newspaper nowadays, but um [snorts] the the letter's purpose is to ensure that notification gets to the people most directly affected. So the mainly the adjoining property owners or people across the street to ensure that those people do receive notice. the posting is there to go beyond that 200 feet, 250 feet. So that we're not noticing the entire city. Um, but my my recommendation would not be to go beyond 400 to 500 feet in noticing requirements.

And and then of course you would and this would be just for the community meeting and they would put up a sign. So that doesn't limit to just the people in X amount of footage from attending. They do not put up a sign, but we could I'm sure the developer could put up a sign. That's not a part of the community meeting requirements. I'm sure they could. We do assign when we notice public hearing. Yes, ma'am. Yes, Mr. Green.

City attorney and I were just discussing that 250 or whatever it may be, and I'll let him share. I guess I' I'd be concerned about imposing additional requirements with respect to distance for this. The point is to have a community meeting. Um I think posting the site to say when that community meeting is would be a good um first step to get people that drive by there if we're concerned about the traffic impact. People that drive by there all the time will be able to see that. And with respect to the notice requirements, you don't have to there is no notice requirement for the community meeting as far as how many days out it has to be. So, um I think that some reasonable period of time to allow people to see it and arrange their schedules to go to the meeting to uh express their concerns to the developer and so that then if there's something that uh that can be fixed, it can be worked into the conditional district that's brought back. Um you could do the same mailed notice uh for the community meeting that you did before and have the additional requirement of it be posted to get that feedback. Uh there's the folks that have spoken tonight will be looking out for this. The developer is probably wise to talk to those folks after the meeting and and make sure that they've got contact information so we can get that feedback to address some of these concerns. Um so that's the notice for the community meeting. With respect to the notice for the next public hearing, we just have to have at least 10 days, no more than 25 days notice. So 60 days, I there's a lot to happen within those 60 days, but I think it could be done if it's not delayed. So have the community meeting as soon as possible. Perhaps send out notices like we sent out before. I'm wary about changing the requirement, our ordinance for each case. Um but if you want more input, have the community meeting, allow people an opportunity to do that and then renotice it to bring it back and um address the concerns that have been raised tonight which are I think related

to uh traffic and whether or not it sort of fits within the overall community at Enan Church Road and Statesville Boulevard and Woodleaf Road and the western part of the city. And then so our request is that uh developer get further in touch with the community and see what the the missing needs are that conversation if I'm recapping this correctly for the council. My question is when within in in 60 days was the the date that we all seem to head nod on. Um would when that comes back do we have to have another public hearing or did this because something will change we hope I guess

right it depends on if anything changes um if nothing you've satisfied the public hearing requirement with respect to this plan if anything about the plan changes you would have to have a new public hearing to allow people to have input on that okay plan and that degree of the change comes into effect there I mean you could put conditions on this tonight um because we've had the public hearing, we've gotten the input that we need, but if they come with a totally different plan, I think it would be wise to have another public hearing to get that feedback. So, it sounds like we're um do we need a motion or we're just saying that's what's what we're doing.

I would suggest a motion to defer consideration of this particular reasoning and annexation um for a period of not more than 60 days. council. Um, anyone want to make that motion? I think Excuse me. And that is um 3120. Please,

no conversation from the gallery. Please trying to trying to follow here. I think you could just make a motion to defer consideration of item number nine for no more than 60 days. I make that motion. All right, we have council, we have a motion. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes to defer this for 60 days for further community input. And developers, you do have some people who want to make some comments. It'd be great if you guys could grab those folks. Okay. And we're going 400 ft from the property. No, we are staying within our regular compliance of the notice. Okay. But I think the sign is something that we are requesting that you guys put in the property. All right. Sounds

great. Thank you. Thank you all so much. Thank you community members for voicing your concerns. Um and uh we will see uh what feedback and collaboration we get in 60 days. Thank you all. Council, moving on to agenda item number 10. council to receive an update on the Monroe Street School. Presenters are code enforcement manager Mike Catillo and Livingstone College vice president for external relations um Pete Teague, but I don't think Pete Teague's here. So, we'll turn it over to you, Michael. Welcome. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim, and council. Good evening. [clears throat] I'd like to take a couple minutes just to uh update council um on the progress of the Monroe Street School and the [clears throat] uh the renovation work. Um, like with every code enforcement activity, uh, this is a key focus uh, on healthy, safe, and engaged neighborhoods and to eliminate blight by continuing to work with property owners uh, and neighborhoods to enforce nuisance minimum housing regulations and pursue redevelopment opportunities for substandard and vacant properties. On September 16th, uh, last year, 2025, um, excuse me, you may recall the June 17, 2025 meeting, you received an update from code enforcement on the conditions of the Monro Street School. At that time, the structure was unsecured and being accessed by the general public and suffering from severe deterioration. On September 16, 2025, we once again shared an update and reported that Livingstone had boarded and secured all windows and doors and any other accesses to the structure. At that meeting, we also heard from Livingstone staff that the roof work uh was due to start on October 10th, 2025. Since that September 16 meeting, there have been reports of uh some of the boards had either fallen off or being removed and the structure being unsecured. Once reported to Livingstone staff, they acted swiftly and all the boards uh were replaced within a couple hours of it being reported to st Living Stone staff. [clears throat] Since then, there's been a delay uh to the October 10 start time that was mentioned at this the September 16 meeting due to the contractors dealing with material shortages uh for the work to begin not being readily available. Due to that delay, the the road uh excuse me, due to that delay, the roof

work uh did not begin till approximately December 9th uh 2025 and is still ongoing. A 90-day [snorts] extension has been issued um for the completion of the replacement of the roof as well as windows and doors. Um that delay began, excuse me, that extension began on 1216, 2025 and will be reinspected once again on uh March 16th, 2025. Mayor and Council, um I would like to invite uh Mr. Russell SM, associate VP of facilities uh facilities management and capital projects up uh to share a more detailed update and to go over some of the current images of the work and discuss some future work with council. Mr. Smire, [snorts]

welcome Mr. Smire. Thanks for joining us. Thank you. How you doing? Good. [clears throat] the higher desk. Uh, too [snorts] tall. Um, it's okay. I'm too short. So, here we go. Um, thank you. So, my name is Russell Smeire. I'm the associates vice president of facilities for Livingstone. Uh, began working with them back in September and, uh, upon common there uh, understood that this process was kind of already in process. Uh since that time we have what am I clicking? Okay.

Yeah. So there are some pictures here that you can see of the uh roof work that has taken place at Mon Street School. Um we are probably be wrapping this up uh toward the end of the month after talking with the contractors. Um, a couple things just to be aware of is that we have some a couple skylights that uh in working with the historic uh district uh in regards to uh doing everything the proper way. Um there's a couple skylights that we just covered for now until we get into the next phase. Um and um also some terracotta that's there that we'll hold and and hold that and wait for instructions. Um but where we are right now, our goal is really to in in restoring this is really to do three things. Um we are looking to really expand our academic footprint uh with this process. um and to also to be able to uh enhance our community engagement uh returning the school back to its active and meaningful use. Uh then the other thing that uh we want to think through is that we want to make sure that we are um we can we're ensuring the environment is safe and supports. And so with within the building there is some um lead paint uh some Avestas uh some mold and just debris that needs to be removed. Uh I have already reached out and gotten received one quote back today waiting on two others uh for the testing of that material and then also uh the cost to remove that and abate that space so that we can actually get inside of the building and access it properly and investigate and then determine the window replacement would be the next

step. Um so currently right now as we speak that's where we stand. Um I think uh the important thing is is to make sure that we're covering the envelope of the building and then the next stage would involve us of course testing getting the baitment removed. Then we can go in and be better have a safe place to go in and plan and design the next step. So that's where we stand right now. U open questions. Any questions from mayor or council? Have you established a timeline for that?

Yes. So, yeah. So, we're moving as quickly as we can. We want to be we want the abatement uh and the uh the to be completed. Um I think it's we're we're shooting for April 30th is our goal is to have all of that completed and and flipped and then at that point uh it allows us to take the next stage. And we have to also understand that the the windows are going to be uh we having to follow the guidelines based on uh the historic restoration and and response from there. Do you already have the uh specifics regarding the windows? No. What they have to be?

No, we don't. See, that's the the challenge is we don't have safe access until we get there. Yeah. So, we're trying to follow the right stages and protect uh and do things the right way. Mayor, council, the the abatement work here is is what's going to be monumental. Um someone who's been in the building, there's lots of um dangerous and harmful toxins inside the building. So the abatement work is is once we get past the abatement portion of the work, then we can safely access the inside of the building and Livingstone staff can probably provide a better timeline on the completion of the project then. Thank you.

Um could I ask mayor, could we um ask for an update maybe by the end of April um just to find out what's happening? You know, I it's not only an important historic building for us and of course the school is so important to us, but also it it is such a blight to the neighborhood that we I feel like we need to make sure that we stay on top of um seeing that everything progresses. Mayor [clears throat] and council, I also like to add that um I've had my challenges with Living Stone and trying to enforce ordinance since September, since Mr. Smar has come on. Um that has been a complete 180. I have a direct line to Mr. Smeire, we text, we were just texting earlier. Um we're [snorts] working together. Um we've kind of developed a partnership and going into this. So, um I I think uh I feel like an update in April would probably be a good idea.

Good. Okay. Mr. Green, do you feel like that's Yes. Yes, ma'am. And I I'll let uh Mr. Catella also uh he's talked about the partnership and we appreciate that. There's some other code enforcement issues, some other buildings that I know you're working with them all also on, including some demolition.

Sure. So, just this morning, I received I haven't told you this yet. I received the demo permit application for a um living stone uh owned property over on warehouse drive which is in pretty bad condition. Um so uh I expect that permit to be approved sometime next week and demolition work to begin on that project and that is another huge uh demolition project.

Well, I I think we're all very appreciative of the partnership, Mr. SM. Thank you. And and Living Stone um recognizing the concerns of the neighborhood and then being able to partner to keep moving um Living Stone's needs along. I know that you guys are expanding uh very rapidly. It's it's needed. Your enrollment's doing great. So um to be able to provide more spaces while you know following the code and then if the demo of this building helps move that forward, that's great. But then saving the Moro Street school is very important to the whole community. So we appreciate that partnership. Anything else, council? No,

we appreciate it. Just continue to build out that miracle on Monroe Street and continue that partnership with the city of Salsbury. We look forward to see great things over there on Monro Street in the West End and throughout our city. So we appreciate Livingstone. Appreciate you, Mike. Uh continue staying on top of things and we look forward to the update in April. So, we will work on that uh update and uh my understanding by then the hope is to have the roof complete and the abatement nearly complete and that'll allow you then to get in and uh look at windows and doors. Is that correct?

The I think the probably the truth thing is that the abatement will be started. So, um I don't to say it'll be complete by then. The our goal is to have it initiated and started. So, um, just in all fairness, thank you. One other thing that I know council talked with Mr. Teague about was some type of long-term plan for the use of that building. It sounds like you're still looking at different opportunities, but do you think by uh April uh that process will be complete and you'll be able to share with council in the community the the long-term plans for that building?

I don't think it'll be complete by that time because we'll just be then getting full access to go in and address some things. But it is coming. Thank you, council. Anything else? Well, we appreciate the update. Thank you again for the partnership and we look forward to hearing even greater things in April. Thank you. Thank you, Michael.

Council, moving on to next agenda item, council to receive a p [clears throat] council to receive an update on capital projects. A presenter is our public works director, Chris Tester. Welcome, Mr. Tester.

Mayor, members, council for Mr. Tester kicks us off. I I just first like to thank him. Uh no uh action expected from council tonight. This is a project update. One, there are a lot of projects going on right now. Uh I hear a lot of questions from council and the community. Uh where is this project or that project? Uh many of these projects are very complicated. uh and we're working with different partners whether it's the DOT or or railroad or whatever it may be and so it it takes some time so appreciate council's patience but I I want to thank Mr. tester as well in the past. Wendy Brindle provided these uh updates for council. Of course, Wendy's retired, so uh Chris volunteered to to do this, so we appreciate him being here tonight, and we're happy to answer any questions. We have uh department directors uh in the audience as well if there's some specific questions on a project that we need their help on.

Thank you.

Thank you. volunteered volunte tomato tomato. Uh thank you mayor, thank you councel for the opportunity to uh update you on some of these projects. Um first of all I want to go through some uh strategic plan alignment. Like Mr. Green said there's a lot of projects we're going to go through. So we we touch on a a lot of the strategic plan with with this update. uh sustainable infrastructure. We'll continue to invest in infrastructure to plan for economical and economical and sustainable growth and uh properly maintain city assets for public safety. Complete public safety projects including facility upgrades and improvement to enhance emergency response and readiness. Cultural amenities support highquality parks and community spaces that enhance the quality of life and provide diverse amenities. And then economical and um economic and workforce development advance the downtown redevelopment and connectivity projects to encourage economical growth and tourism. So one of the first projects we're going to touch off is uh city park and Kelsey Scott restroom update. So, the current status on this is uh designs are complete, plans have been submitted to the city and the county for review, and uh we're anticipating uh permit approvals in the early spring. Our next steps are once we get approval, we will bid this project, bid both of these projects out. We anticipate starting construction around uh spring of 2026 with an estimated completion around fall of 2026. uh project purpose. This is to enhance park amenities for visitor experience and support ADA compliance and community accessibility. Here's kind of a current design layout of of the facilities that have been submitted to um to our planning and um to our land and development and city um

or county permitting. The next project we'll touch on is the Veterans Memorial Arch. Um the current status all the brick work is complete except for the cap and and engrave stones. The bail installation is currently pending. Right now we have uh adhesive compatibility testing going on for the capstones. And um this is this is basically they're trying to find the proper adhesive to adhere the capston to the bricks that aren't discoloring the not discoloring the capstones. and it's taken a a pretty good process to find that proper adhesive, but uh that's underway with the contractor that is um installing that. Uh next steps are to complete the caps and uh engrave this to basically install the stones, mount the bail, and uh resume the landscaping once all the stonework is finished. This project's purpose is to honor veterans with the lasting memorial and to ensure quality and durability by uh sequencing work to avoid rework and damage. And here's a current photo of of the actual um memorial arch. Next project we're going to touch on is the police department training facility. Uh the current status is we we posted an RFQ for um for this project and it is closed and the proposals are currently under review by uh multiple staff members from various departments. Uh why did we go with a design firm on this one is we're basically looking at a phased approach to make this uh to make manageable implementation of the of this future expansion to create a master plan that's shovel ready design so that we can position oursel well for grant opportunities uh to get accurate cost and phasing plans for solid budgeting

and to specialize basically have specialized expertise for rain safety and environmental controls. So the next steps will be to award a design contract and then begin design phasing and development of constructable of a construction schedule. The project purpose is to enhance the police training capabilities and improve public safety readiness through modern facilities. And this is just a conceptional plan of of that um training facility. Next project, Fiser Street Bridge. Uh the current status, so Historic Preservation Commission approved demolition in September of 2024. Norfick Southern approved demolition plans in March of 2025. The city approved a force account estimate in July of 2025 and requested that an agreement start agreement be drafted in August of 2025. We held a kickoff meeting in September 11th, 2025. Bid documents uh were prepared and um attached attached to a service contract. The city advertised the bids in December of 2005 and was ready to proceed. At the railroad's request, the bids were taken down and withdrawn until construction agreements were finalized. Uh when I asked the railroad how much longer we had till they were uh ready with this construction agreement, they basically told me the timeline could be a week or a year with no clear urgency. So our next steps are to await this execution of this construction agreement by NC Railroad and Northfor Southern. Uh again, we postpone the bid, so it's ready to be readvertised as soon as we have this construction agreement in place and we'll host a second pre-bid

meeting and proceed with the demolition. Project purposes address continued deterioration of the bridge and ensure compliance with the railroads requirements for a safe and timely removal. And this is a um basically a drawing of the approved uh structural removal plan. Next project [snorts] is the fuel site design. Uh current status blue one energy design is complete and submitted for building permits. Ali Williams Carmen and King plans have been submitted to zoning for uh zoning permits and uh addressing minor comments for TRC approval. building and zoning review um progression is run in parallel to maintain the schedule. The next steps will be to secure TRC approval and permits to which we will take and bid the civil construction out and also uh purchase the fuel system equipment through the omni contract um through blue one energy. Project purpose is to upgrade fuel infrastructure for operational efficiency and compliance, ensure reliable fueling capacities for our city fleet. Um, for a schedule overview, construction is anticipated following permit approvals and the timeline is dependent on TRC clearance. Here is the design that was submitted um to TR to to to our landing development as well as our um county building inspections. of of the layout for that project. 130 South Main Street. Current pro uh status of that is design development underway. Pre-constructive activities are uh in progress with the Bogle firm doing design drawings. Miles Mlen, our construction manager at risk are u basically reviewing those drawings for

uh a pre-construction review for constructibility and and uh value engineering. Ford AV has been uh introduced into the project for audiovisisual design and development and UES professional solutions have been integrated into the project for hazard hazardous material survey and design um to to basically what whatever kind of abatement uh for asbestous or other environmental um products that have to be removed from that building for the construction process. Uh next steps are complete the design phase and prepare a GMP so guaranteed maximum price and financing financial financing package for council to review later in 2026. Uh schedule overview currently Miles Mlen are predicting to have the GMP development completed by spring of 2026. Um and then we'll have plan reviews and and um financing approvals pending. Next phase will be construction begin after GMP acceptance and financial approval. Um the project purpose is to renovate a modern renovate and modernize a facility for improved functionality and community engagement. Here's [snorts] a rendering from um our architect Pete Bogle of of the exterior um which uh all these this exterior was what he utilized for his HPC approval, the Vanderford Basin. Um so current status of the Vanderford basin is the fence replacement has been complete. The uh interim base uh basin stabilization is uh being installed. The

drainage modeling is currently being looked at from SNME. Um this basin is has been known to have a lot of uh watering and dewatering issues. It becomes um issues during mowing season to be able to mow it properly. So, we've integrated a um soil engineering firm to to look at that and to figure out ways to create proper drainage so that the um so we can mow it and maintain it um without uh you know regularly throughout the season and not just have to wait for dry spells. Um the next steps are to finalize the contract and resolve the light and order ordinance partial issues, complete drainage design and support future construction and budgeting and finalize storm water signage with Miller Davis. Schedule overview the hardscape and benches and lighting are targeted for this fiscal year and landscape is anticipated in the fall of 2026. Purpose of this project is to improve storm water management and enhance community spaces with walking paths benches, lighting, and educational signage. Vanderford Basin confirmed funding to Blanch and Julian Robertson Foundation of 20,000, the Woodson Foundation of uh 10,000, and Salsbury Row and Community Town Foundation of 4500 totaling 34,500. funding gap currently is uh requesting up to 30,000 and CB CD BG [snorts] for the remaining construction cost and landscaping and uh the rendering below is from um our planning department Alyssa Nelson. Uh fire station number two current status Ramsey Berg and Smith architects have been contracted for the design. The budget alignment and redesign is currently in prog uh progress. The decontamination space and usability are

taking priority. Next step are to finalize the design, adjust the budget adjustments for budget compliance, prepare construction documents and uh timeline for council to review. The project purpose is to improve firefighter safety and operational efficiency, incorporate modern decontamination facilities to reduce health risk. Uh schedule overview design completion is targeted for later this fiscal year and construction phase beginning following council approval and final plans and budget. And there's a um the latest rendering I had of from um Ramsey Bergen Smith on on that concept. So for old fire station number three, uh the current status is the facility has been taken out of service with the new fire station 3 currently operational. The purpose uh or the proposal to approve for a uh building envelope condition assessment has has been uh initiated. The assessment will provide recommendations and cost estimate. Essentially what we're looking at is um basically taking a good overview of of that site, seeing whether um investment in demo, investment in um improving the building or investment in selling as is, what what makes the best sense for the city, what's what's the best return on investment essentially. Uh so that's what that assessment is currently doing is to um look at cost associated with um with all of those items. So, uh they've completed the visual inspection and uh we are waiting to receive the engineering report. Um the evaluations are like I said to sell the property as is to demolish and sell as a vacant lot or complete repairs and sell as an improved property. So the project purpose is to optimize

the optimize use of city assets and support economical development and opportunities while minimizing future maintenance costs. This is a um GIS view of of that site. I've highlighted the site itself. As you can see, there's um storm water utilities that are currently on the site. Um and we have the water and sewer utilities also s shown um just to um basically show that there's there's more there than just a building and some of those things have to be taken in consideration too of of uh whether that storm system needs to be upgraded um etc. So moving on to the main street streetscape project. Current status is design is complete. NC DOT are reviewing the final plans. This is the second submittal. The writerway certification is complete. Additional construction funds have been approved by the CRM PO. We're coordinating with Duke Energy for power pole upgrades. remaining utilities to be relocated during construction. The next steps are to complete NC DOT submittal agreements for additional funds. Secure construction authorization public information sessions prior to advertisement. Project purpose is to improve safety by converting four to three lanes. add on street parking, pedestrian bumpouts, um upgrade sidewalks, lighting, streetscape amenities, and replace aging infrastructure, signal, storm water, storm sewer, and water lines. Um funding snapshot provided by our transportation department. Current agreements, we have uh federal at just over um or just close to 7.5 million, a local match of uh 1.8.

Additional funds approved, federal at uh 10.5, local match at 2.6 and public safety grant at 1 million. We're pending $400,000 from NC DOT traffic safety unit. Total funding is federal around $18 million and local match around 4.5 million. Schedule and key design features. to schedule. Construction is anticipated in the fall of 2026 pending funding authorization. Uh key features are replaceed age water line with two parallel lines, install duck banks for power and fiber, upgrade traffic signal cabinets, and uh add in pavement um auctions, streetscape enhancements, trees, lighting and trash recepticles. This is just a um overview of the the front page of the um this submitted 100% construction plans kind of showing the the um the area of of the construction that that'll take place from Hurra to car. So, Charles Salsbury train uh station, the depot, the current status is the CQ grant secured, municipal agreement approved in October of 2024. Property purchased and finalized in December of 2025. RFQ for design is advertised and closes on February 3rd, 2026. Immediate roof repairs um are currently underway to um and the remaining roof work will be included in in the renovation. When we say currently underway, we mean it's under design for for that roof repair. Um the next steps are to award the design contract and begin design phase uh which is expected

to take around a year. Develop renovation plans and streetscape improvements and coordinate with no and NC DOT rail division for project milestones. Project purpose is to expand the depot waiting room and improve multimodal access, support increase train ridership and reduce single occupancy vehicle use and enhance connectivity and economic development downtown. Funding snapshot provided by our transportation department uh CMAQ grant is 3.5 million used for the property purchase. The city match is 320,000 u fully expended. No additional city matches required unless scope changes. Uh schedule overview design phase approximately 12 months beginning uh again once we've selected the designer from the RFQ. Construction begins after design completion and funding authorization, public engagement information sessions prior to construction advertisement. Uh here's a rendering of of the depot. So, that's the projects I currently have uh on the list and uh open to any questions that you may have.

Not a thing going on. Nothing. Not a thing. Council, any questions, any of this? I appreciate the update, Mr. Green. Any

No, just again, thank you. And again, uh a lot lots going on. you at the last meeting heard about the transportation projects, Brener Avenue, Greenways, uh but uh wanted to keep you in the community up to date. A lot of work going into it, but with the complexity, these projects take some time. Even the bathroom projects, the first project Chris can tell you, staff evaluates, looking at maintenance issues, looking at vandalism issues, trying to make sure that um these projects are quality projects uh and addressing things that staff has to address. So, a lot of work going into all these.

Well, we appreciate it. Thank you for the update, Chris. [snorts] All right, council. Moving on to uh council consider appointments to various boards and commissions. Connie, I'll turn that over to you.

Thank you, mayor. I believe we may have one appointment for the historic preservation commission. So, council, now that we all kind of have our assignments, for lack of a better word, there as liaison, we can start getting these boards and commissions filled back up. I know we kind of just waited till we got um through who could be appointed to them as liaison. The Historic Preservation Commission does not have a liaison. Uh but we do have several u uh recommendations for one particular person from uh members of the staff and um board members as well as community members. Um, so I would propose as a motion to appoint John Pavonsky to the Historic Preservation Commission. So, uh, all those in favor say I.

I. Any oppose? Uh, so, welcome Mr. Pavonsky to the Historic Preservation Commission, Connie. Mayor, that's all we have for tonight. Gotcha. Um, Mr. Black, I know you're just well, you're back as liaison for HAC, so I know that you guys have a couple to uh appoint. So, we'll have Yeah, we do. Um and we bring them back uh next agenda. Great. Great. Thank you guys so much. Uh anything else, Connie? [clears throat] No, ma'am. All right. Great. Thank you, council. Uh moving on to agenda item number 413. Uh like Mr. Corer, city attorney's report.

Nothing for me tonight, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Uh moving on to city manager report. Mr. Green, mayor, members council like Chief Parnell to come up just for a 60-second update. You heard a lot about this past weekend that was very busy. Well, they're calling for a little snow event this weekend that is keeping staff very busy. Appreciate the work the chief uh and Chief Gant are doing. Chris Tester, Police Department, really all departments already working hard on planning for this event. Still a lot of unknowns, but let me turn it over to Chief Parnell, Mr. Tester, to give you a quick update.

It's a honor to be before you again, Mayor Council. Thank you. Um, we have been steadfastly watching the forecast. Uh there's a lot of north south uh variables as to what Salsbury and our area may receive, but it's always to be better prepared than underprepared. So we started our 72-hour preparation notifications this afternoon. Uh that's 72 hours before the storm. Uh and we are um uh again watching the forecast very closely. Uh we have a preparation uh organization meeting tomorrow at noon uh amongst our emergency management prep staff and and uh uh departments and uh we at the fire department have checked out all of our apparatus. We continue to do that. We check small engines and generators and we're usually prepared all the time, but we double check and triple check things when we know these kind of storms are coming. Uh and we we've uh set up uh our emergency operations center for the very first time uh at station three and so uh uh we'll we'll give that a good test it seems like this weekend.

Yes. Thank you. So uh we are coordinating um closely with emergency management and actively monitoring the weather events and the forecast. All snow response vehicles and equipment are fully prepped and staged. Uh this includes plows, trucks, salt trucks, loaders, skid steers, and motor graater. Uh brine machines are operational and ready. Brine delivery has already been scheduled for Thursday with uh pre-treatment of priority routes beginning on Friday. Snow plowing routes have been reviewed and updated. Um obviously our emergency routes will be our top priority um as if conditions worsen. Um public works crews will begin rotating on 12-hour shifts starting Friday afternoon uh to ensure continuous coverage throughout the storm. And we'll continue on those 12-hour shifts until um until everything's clear and we're ready to pull off of those uh emergency response equipment, including generators, chainsaws, and other storm response tools uh have been inspected, fueled, and are ready for deployment. So, we just want to make sure you know that we are in preparation mode, preparing for and going to do the best we can with whatever uh mother nature gives us this weekend.

Pray for no s, right, Chris? Don't say the sword. No s. No s. Gotcha. Thank you all so much. Mr. Green, anything else? Thank you both, mayor, members of council. Hope you have a good evening. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, council, on to uh council comments. So, I'll start with Mr. Jackson. I have no comment this evening. Good meeting. Thank you. Don't you think, Mr. Chair, Mr. McGloin? I would say good meeting. Nothing for today. Nope. Uh, just thank you to city staff. Continue to help uh move our city forward. We appreciate it. Wonderful weekend. Uh, look forward to continue building and making Salisbury even greater.

And I'd just like to say uh thank you again to all involved with the Dr. Martin Luther King events, the three events. In addition, we didn't know, we didn't have much of a notice, about two days notice that um the Buddhist monks will be be coming down on their walk u for peace down Main Street and come into city hall to be honored by this council. And um it was just an amazing wonderful weekend full of love and peace. And I just feel like um it was very important in a world sort of a world of turmoil that we're in right now to have something so wonderful going in go on for the people of Salsbury and thank you to staff and to uh volunteers everyone who was involved. It was wonderful.

Thank you. Um here's a comment. Um there was like this softball game this weekend. I think it was between uh the police department and the fire department. Um it was a fun game. I did get a chance to attend the whole game. Um the fire department did win this year. So there's two names on the trophy. The first year was a police department. The second was a fire department. So it's like starting over for the next one. So it was a fun day. A lot of families out there. A lot of good money was raised for Special Olympics. So thanks to both the Chiefs and all their teams for coming out and having fun. So, uh, that was that was fun. Again, it was a great weekend. It was very busy. Um, it stretched the entire team. The bandwidth was more than full. Um, but our cup did overflow with all the great things that came out of that. So, thank you all. Um, Jim, thank you for your leadership. U, it was just a great weekend. U, I'm still tired from the weekend. Um, and uh, but I one thing I did want to say is that I want I just want to thank the full council for showing up like it it means a lot not just to us like in how we form our bonds and and figure out how to work together, but it means a lot when people see us. We we do more than said here, right? and and I think it's good for folks to understand all of our involvement and you all genuinely care about the city and the folks that are here and the people who aren't even in the city, you care about them. So, I just want to personally thank you all for that. Um, again, it was a great weekend. Again, I want to thank people for their patience this evening. I know it takes a lot to move forward on things, so thanks for that. And then I will finish up with the announcements. We still have a lot going on. Uh so starting out, Salsbury City Council will hold its planning retreat

on Tuesday, January 27th and Wednesday, January the 28th, right here in the City Council chambers at City Hall located at 217 South Main Street. The session will begin at 8:30 a.m. on both days. These sessions are open to the public and will be available live stream at salsburyc.gov/webcast. For more information, call 704-638-5224. The Planning and Neighborhoods Department will host a drop-in community meeting regarding the draft of the South Main Area Plan on January the 29th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at City Hall located at 217 South Main Street. Community members will have an opportunity to review the plan and provide feedback. For more information, visit sisburyc.gov/main /main street or call 704-638-5311. The Historic Preservation Commission is preparing to update the design models used to review requests for work in the city's local historic districts. That includes the Brooklyn South Square, Ellis Street Graded School, North Main Street, West Square, and downtown. Community members are encouraged to take a survey to help identify community values and challenges. The survey is located on the city website at salsisburyc.gov/hpc and will close on January 30th. For more information, please call 6385311. The Salsbury Sculpture Show hosted by the Salsbury Public Arts Commission is returning for its 18th year. Artists are encouraged to submit their best outdoor sculptures to be included in the show. Salsbury neighborhoods are encouraged strongly to apply to host a sculpture in their community. The deadline for both artists and neighborhoods to apply is Friday, February the 6th. For more information, please visit

salsisburync.gov/sculpture show or call 704-638-524. And with that, um, unless somebody just wants to do some more work, I'm open for a motion for adjournment. Look, that was a five motions. Uh, all those in favor say I. Meeting is adjourned. Thanks everybody for your work.