City of Charlotte Announces Interim Mayor

WOW. >> MAN GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW THAT TO EX THE EXERCISE CLAP. WHAT'S THAT?

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ALMOST READY. >> SO THANK YOU.

TODAY HAS BEEN A DAY THAT I'M SURE SEVERAL OF YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS

SPECIAL WHEN YOU ARE IN THE ABILITY TO BE SERVING THE COMMUNITY NO MATTER WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU.

BUT TODAY I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE JUST LOST EDDIE KNOX WHO IS THE MAYOR OF

CHARLOTTE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS MANY MORE THAN ME. AND JUST TO HAVE HIM BE A PRESENCE AND WHAT HE HAD DONE

IN OUR WORK AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, HE AND I BELIEVE HARVEY GANTT WAS THE NEXT MAYOR AND

THEN THAT HE WAS STILL WITH WORKING HE WAS A LAWYER.

HE WAS SOMEONE THAT REALLY LOVE THIS COMMUNITY ALL OF IT NOT JUST THE PARTS THAT WERE UP NORTH BUT HE MADE IT POSSIBLE

FOR MANY OF US TO DO THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T DO. BUT I KNEW EDDIE KNOX.

>> I KNEW HIM WHEN I WAS JUST A FIRST STAFF OR PERSON IN THE CITY AND I WANTED YOU TO BE SURE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND

THAT HE WAS THE KIND OF PERSON THAT CARED DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CITY OUR STATE. BUT HE CARRIED A LOT MORE

COLLEGES AND THOUGHTS TO NC STATE WHERE HE WENT TO COLLEGE AND I JUST THINK THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE KINDS OF

OPPORTUNITIES TO SAY SOMETHING OUT OF ORDER TO JUST HAVE A QUIET MOMENT OR THE PLAN THAT

HE IS THE MAN THAT HE HAS BEEN THE MAYOR THAT HE WAS AND THE PERSON THAT CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

SO WITH THAT IF WE WOULD JUST TAKE ONE MINUTE FOR AN HOUR YOU KNOW HE HAS A WIFE AND CHILDREN AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE STANDING WITH HIM AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS A GREAT PERSON AND DID SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

A FEW ABOUT FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL. EDDIE KNOX WAS THE 49TH MAYOR OF CHARLOTTE THAT SAYS A LOT

FOR ALL OF US AND ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH AN

INVOCATION, AN EXPRESSION THAT WE USE OF INSPIRATION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THE INVOCATION IS INTENDED TO SOLEMNIZE OUR PROCEEDINGS.

WE CELEBRATE GREAT RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING THOSE WITHOUT A RELIGIOUS FAITH.

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER ARIAS TO GIVE OUR INVOCATION. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. LET US PRAY.

LET US TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE TOGETHER AS WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S MEETING AND AS WE PREPARE FOR THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY OF

APPOINTING AN INTERIM MAYOR, I INVITE EVERYONE TO TAKE A BREATH AND SETTLE INTO A MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND A MOMENT TO REMEMBER WHY WE ARE HERE AND WHO WE SERVE.

IN MY OWN WAY I PRAY FOR ONE PATH OVER ANOTHER FOR WISDOM INSTEAD OF HASTE FOR CLARITY INSTEAD OF CONFUSION, FOR

COOPERATION INSTEAD OF DIVISION AND FOR COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE OVER PROFIT AND EVERY DECISION WE MAKE.

I OFFER THAT SIMPLY AS OUR HOPE.

ONE THAT WELCOMES EVERY BELIEF SYSTEM, EVERY TRADITION AND EVERY WAY OF MAKING MEANING.

WE GATHER AT A TIME WHEN THE WORLD IS FACING REAL ADVERSITY CONFLICT, UNCERTAINTY AND HARDSHIP ARE TOUCHING COMMUNITIES NEAR AND FAR.

THESE CHALLENGES REMIND US THAT LEADERSHIP REQUIRES STEADINESS, HUMILITY AND A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON.

TONIGHT MAY WE PRACTICE THOUGHTFUL REFLECTION AND DISCERNMENT, LISTENING CAREFULLY WEIGHING OUR CHOICES RESPONSIBLY AND CHOOSING THE

COURSE THAT BEST SERVES THE PEOPLE OF CHARLOTTE.

MAY WE REMEMBER THAT OUR WORK IS NOT ABSTRACT IT AFFECTS REAL LIVES, REAL FAMILIES AND REAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

MAY WE APPROACH DISAGREEMENT NOT AS A BARRIER BUT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER MORE FULLY AS WE TAKE UP THE WORK BEFORE US.

MAY WE DO SO WITH FAIRNESS, INTEGRITY AND THE SHARED COMMITMENT TO PITTING PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST.

AND FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT PRAY, MAY THESE WORDS SIMPLY BE A WISH FOR PEACE, CLARITY AND UNITY AS WE BEGIN.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU PLEASE STAND IF YOU CHOOSE FOR THE FLAG TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE

FLAG UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO OTHER STANDS ONE NATION

UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

OH, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH INTRODUCTIONS. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US IN PERSON AND

FOR THOSE WATCHING ONLINE FOR OUR JUNE 22ND BUSINESS MEETING.

THIS YEAR'S LET'S BEGIN WITH INTRODUCTIONS ON THE DAIS AND WE WILL START WITH OUR CITY CLERK.

>> GOOD EVENING, STEPHANIE KELLY, CITY CLERK. >> GOOD EVENING, ANDREA.

LESLIE BY CITY ATTORNEY SCREAMING DIMPLE AJMERA AT LARGE.

GOOD EVENING VICTORIA WATLINGTON I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING YOU AS A MEMBER AT LARGE.

GOOD EVENING JOY MAY REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT ONE DAUNTING ANDERSON DISTRICT ONE MARCUS JONES CITY MANAGER VILSACK MAYOR.

>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

JAMES MITCHELL MAYOR ACTING MAYOR. GOOD EVENING.

>> KIMBERLY OWENS REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX MALCOLM GRAHAM DISTRICT TWO AT DRINKS DISTRICT SEVEN. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LUANA MAYFIELD COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE. >> GOOD EVENING JD MUST WEAR IDEAS PROUDLY REPRESENTING THE EAST SIDE DISTRICT FIVE.

>> GOOD EVENING I'M RENEE JOHNSON AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING DISTRICT FOUR. >> THANK YOU EVERYONE.

NOW WE GO NEXT TO THE CITY.

THIS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONSENT ITEM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

WE USE MARIE WHO IS ABSOLUTELY AT THIS AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THIS AND SO WITH THEM

WE'LL HAVE THE CONSENSUS ITEMS THROUGH 25 THROUGH 59.

SO MARIE, WILL YOU HELP US OUT THERE?

>> YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND I HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH A COUPLE OF YOU BUT I WAS WONDERING AT THIS POINT IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON

ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SO OUR CONSENT ITEMS MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AGENDA 25 THROUGH 59.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS TO READ A MOTION.

>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW. SO SECOND. SECOND. OKAY.

AND THEN WE HAVE AFTER THIS CONSENT ITEM WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE A CONSENT ITEM AS WE GO

THROUGH THIS WE NEED TO SO MAYOR MAYOR MAYOR, YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> YEAH.

ANYONE AND WE DISAGREEMENT OR NOT AN AGREEMENT.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND CONSIDERATION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT WERE DONE.

OKAY, NOW WE HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD TO RECOMMEND TO DEVELOP AND RECOMMEND A VERY SPECIAL TIME.

LET'S SEE MR. RYAN, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MR. MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR MEMBERS OF OUR CHARLOTTE PRIDE COMMITTEE COMMUNITY AND OR CHARLOTTE

BLACK PRIDE TO PLEASE STAND BECAUSE I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING A PROCLAMATION THANKS TO OUR MAYOR SO YOUR

WHERE WHEREAS CHARLOTTE IS HOME TO A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY AMONG WHICH ARE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,

TRANSGENDER AND LGBTQ CITIZENS WHO HAVE POSITIVELY SHAPED THE CULTURAL BUSINESS, CIVIC FAITH

AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE CITY THROUGHOUT IS HISTORY. >> AND.

WHEREAS CHARLOTTE BLACK PRIDE AND CHARLOTTE PRIDE HAVE BEEN CREATING VISIBILITY FOR AND PROMOTING A POSITIVE IMAGE OF

LGBTQ CAROLINIANS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. AND.

WHEREAS, THE MONTH OF JUNE IS TRADITIONALLY CELEBRATED AS LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH HONORING THE

ICONIC STONEWALL RIOTS OF JUNE 1960 NINE AND THE FIRST CHRISTOPHER STREET LIBERATION

DAY MARCH IN 1970 AND NEW YORK CITY LARGELY ORGANIZED BY LGBTQ PEOPLE OF COLOR, TRANSGENDER

PEOPLE AND YOUNG PEOPLE. AND.

WHEREAS, CHARLOTTE'S LGBTQ CITIZENS FIRST ATTEMPTED TO ORGANIZE GAY LIBERATION

MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS AS EARLY AS 1971 WAS CHARLOTTE'S FIRST

PRIDE EVENTS FINALLY GIVES ME AND HELD IN 1981 AND THE ENSURING DECADES INSPIRE ME THE

CREATION OF CHARLOTTE PRIDE IN 2000. AND.

WHEREAS CHARLOTTE BLACK PRIDE WAS FOUNDED IN 2005 WITH THE MISSION TO PROMOTE LGBTQ PRIDE

PRIMARILY FOR BUT NOT LIMITED TO MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHILE BUILDING SOCIAL AWARENESS, EMBRACING

SPIRITUALITY AND CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AND.

WHEREAS, IN JULY BLACK MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND THEIR ALLIES WERE GALLUP GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY CULTURE

ACHIEVEMENTS AS FOUR RACES AND DREAMS DURING THE ANNUAL CHARLOTTE BLACK PRIDE WEEK CULMINATING IN CHARLOTTE BLACK

PRIDE'S ANNUAL CELEBRATION BLACK TIP ISM YOU BELONG HERE AND.

WHEREAS THIS AUGUST CHARLOTTE PRIDE WILL CARRY FORWARD A 45 YEAR TRADITION OF PRIDE EVENTS

IN CHARLOTTE AS IT HOSTS THE LARGEST ANNUAL ANNUAL LGBTQ COMMUNITY EVENT IN OUR CITY AND

ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE SOUTH EAST CREATING SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC EMPIRE IMPACT NOW THEREFORE I

I'M HERE BY ALEXANDER LYLES MAYOR OF CHARLOTTE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2026 AS LGBT Q

PRIDE MONTH IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN THIS SPECIAL OBSERVANCE WITNESS HER HAND THE OFFICIAL SEAL THE CITY

OF CHARLOTTE THANK YOU.

DON'T WANT TO GO SO THANK YOU

FOR THAT. WE HAVE ONE MORE PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING AND I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER

ANDERSON THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

WHEREAS VITILIGO IS AN AUTO IMMUNE SKIN DISEASE CAUSING LOSS OF PIGMENT FROM AREAS OF THE SKIN RESULTING IN IRREGULAR

WHITE SPOTS OR PACK PATCHES. AND.

WHEREAS, VITILIGO AFFECTS MORE THAN 2 MILLION AMERICANS BETWEEN 0.004 AND 2.28% OF THE

POPULATION AND WORLDWIDE AND EVEN HIGHER IN CERTAIN REGIONS IT CAN APPEAR AT ANY AGE AND CAN AFFECT ALL PEOPLE

REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RACE AND ETHNICITY. AND.

WHEREAS, WHILE THE CONDITION IS NOT TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSICAL PAIN, THE PSYCHOLOGIC CALL AND THE SOCIAL EFFECTS CAN

BE SEEN DIFFICULT FOR MANY AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND THOSE WITH DARKER SKIN.

AND. WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 25% OF PEOPLE WITH VITILIGO ALSO

ARE AFFECTED BY AT LEAST ONE OTHER AUTO IMMUNE DISORDER. AND.

WHEREAS RESEARCHERS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE WORKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND TREAT THAT ILLEGAL ALTHOUGH THERE IS

CURRENTLY NO KNOWN CURE, TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE THAT CAN HELP WITH RE PIGMENTATION

ESPECIALLY IF BEGUN EARLY AND USED CONSISTENTLY. AND.

WHEREAS, THE MISSION OF THE LEADERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA VITILIGO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND

ITS MEMBERS IS TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH VITILIGO AS WELL AS EDUCATE ADVOCATE AND SPREAD AWARENESS.

AND WHEREAS, THE NORTH CAROLINA VITILIGO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND ITS LEADERS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE GLOBAL THAT A

LEGAL FOUNDATION TO HOST THE 2026 WORLD VITILIGO DAY USA

CONFERENCE FROM JUNE 26TH THROUGH JUNE 28TH.

AND CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA MARKING A DECADE OF RESILIENCE, STRENGTH AND BEAUTY. AND.

WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE ENCOURAGED JUST PEOPLE TO INCREASE AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH VITILIGO IN

COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND.

WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE ENCOURAGED JUST CITIZENS TO INCREASE, I THINK THAT'S THE SAME LINE.

THEREFORE NOW SHE MAYOR ALEXANDER LYLES, ACTING MAYOR

DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JUNE 2026 AS VITILIGO A

AWARENESS AND EDUCATION MONTH AND IT IS SIGNED IN HER HAND.

>> AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL MISS CARTER AND FRIENDS IF YOU WOULD COME DOWN I LOVE TO

PRESENT THIS TO YOU

OH, I LOVE THAT WE'RE TAKING PICTURES NOW I'M SENDING YOU

YEAH, I LIKE IT.

SHE THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROJECT

OUR AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS FOR TONIGHT AND WE WILL MISS.

MAY I LIKE TO TAKE OVER RIGHT NOW?

YOU KNOW MY MAYOR I KNOW THIS IS NOT ON NOT ON OUR AGENDA BUT TODAY WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR

EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND ITS RESIDENTS FOR MORE THAN THREE

DECADES, DAYS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. OH, HELLO. THAT'S MORE IT'S MORE IT'S MORE WOMEN. I'M JUST GETTING STARTED.

HELLO. >> FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, MERE LYLES HAS HELPED SHAPE CHARLOTTE'S FUTURE THROUGH

NEARLY EVERY LEVEL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP FROM BUDGET DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO CITY COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM AND ULTIMATELY MAYOR.

FEW LEADERS HAVE SERVED THIS CITY FROM AS MANY PERSPECTIVE OR SUCH DEEP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

HER LEADERSHIP HELPED ESTABLISH A STRONG FINANCIAL FOUNDATION FOR CHARLOTTE.

AND AS MAYOR SHE GUIDED THIS CITY THROUGH A PERIOD OF TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION.

SHE CHAMPIONED INVESTMENTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY,

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE ADVANCING MAJOR INITIATIVES SUCH AS CHARLOTTE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAVE

CHARLOTTE AND THE MAYOR'S RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVE. MAYOR LYLES HAS ALWAYS BEEN A

LEADER WHO BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

HER INTEGRITY, VISION AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH HAS STRENGTHENED IN CHARLOTTE AND INSPIRED COUNTLESS RESIDENTS,

COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS. ON BEHALF OF THE CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE 879,000

CALLS CHARLOTTE ON WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR HER DISTINCTIVE SERVICE EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND A WAVE AND DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY.

NOW MAYOR, WE HAVE A FEW TOKENS OF APPRECIATION WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY. FIRST OKAY WHERE WE ARE. >> THERE WE GO.

>> FIRST WE HAVE AFTER ALL THE

YEARS OF HELPING GUIDE CHARLOTTE'S DIRECTION IS SEEM ONLY FITTING. AND WE FOUND IT.

PUT YOUR NAME ON A SIGN AND WE LIKE TO INSPIRE OTHERS AND ALL IN ALL THAT TRANSPORTATION PROJECT THIS ONE NEED TO BE

DELIVERED ON TIME AND THOSE SCHEDULE FOR THE MAYOR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A SKYLINE VIEW

AND AS A REMINDER OF THIS CITY THAT YOU HELP GUIDE, SHAPE AND YOUR LEGACY, YOU HAVE BUILT.

WE ALSO HAVE A.

NOW THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION IS MR. WALTER BYERS.

WALTER, CAN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE?

>> OH, MY.

>> CAN YOU GO TO A MICROPHONE SO EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO OUR MAYOR WANTED TO

THE TOP TOP RIGHT BEHIND YOU TO.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS WALTER BOWERS.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CHARLOTTE COVERING 17 COUNTIES AS FAR WEST AS LINCOLN AND AS FAR EAST

AS SAMPSON COUNTY. I'M HERE THIS EVENING WITH THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING ONE OF NORTH CAROLINA'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN

HONORS THE ORDER OF THE LONGLEAF PINE TO AN

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SERVANT. NOW I NEED EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR DID COME DOWN TO SEE MAYOR LYLES PERSONALLY,

BUT SHE WAS TOO BUSY FOR HIM. BUT BUT NO SCHEDULING DIDN'T WORK OUT.

BUT WE SAID TOGETHER THAT YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS TOO IMPORTANT.

WE THANK GOD FOR HER AMAZING STAFF THAT CAME AND REPRESENTED HER.

BUT WE WANTED TO PERSONALLY PRESENT THIS TONIGHT.

THE ORDER OF THE LONGLEAF PINE IS AN AWARD THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS MICHAEL JORDAN AND STEVE SMITH, SENIOR BUT ALSO INDIVIDUALS LIKE CARL BAILEY JUNIOR WHO SERVED AS A

FIRE FIGHTER HERE IN THE STATE OF NORTH IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

SAVING LIVES RECIPIENTS JOIN A DISTINGUISHED TRADITION OF SERVANT LEADERS WHOSE DEDICATION HAS STRENGTHENED OUR STATE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY

OF LIFE FOR GENERATIONS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS.

MAYOR LYLES HAS DEVOTED HER LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT AS OUR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN

ELECTED MAYOR OF CHARLOTTE, AS OUR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED MAYOR OF

CHARLOTTE.

>> SHE BROKE SHE BROKE BARRIERS WHILE DEMONSTRATING THAT LEADERSHIP IS ULTIMATELY MEASURED NOT BY TITLES BUT BY SERVICE.

SHE WAS OUR MAYOR DOING COVID 19.

>> SHE WAS OUR MAYOR DURING THE PROTESTS OF 2020. SHE WAS OUR MAYOR.

AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SHE'S BEEN OUR MAYOR AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR WAR. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES.

SHE SET THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE UP ALONG WITH HER AMAZING COWORKERS ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR GREATER THINGS AHEAD.

SO TONIGHT WE RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY HER YEARS OF SERVICE BUT A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP THAT HAS TOUCHED COUNTLESS LIVES AND HELPED SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND STATE.

THEREFORE A MAYOR ALLOWS ON BEHALF OF GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN AND THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT TO YOU THE ORDER OF THE LONGLEAF PINE.

IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND YOUR ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND MAYOR

LOUSE, HERE IS WHAT YOU GET EVERYWHERE YOU GO. YOU GET A CHANCE TO TOAST EVERY

ONE THAT YOU MEET WITH THE FOLLOWING HERE'S TO THE LAND OF THE LONELY FIND THE SUMMER LAND WHERE THE SUN DOVE SHINE WHERE THE WEAK GROW STRONG AND THE STRONGER ARE GREAT.

HERE'S TO THE DOWN HOME THE OLD NORTH STATE.

CONGRATULATIONS THAT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU DON'T NEED OKAY.

OKAY. I WATCHED JOE BRUNO LAST NIGHT SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

I KNOW WHAT THE PROGRAM IS. >> I HAVE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

>> I REALLY DON'T. >> I GUESS I'M A SOFTY. IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW?

>> SO I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE I GREW UP WITH REALLY FIVE BROTHERS AND THEY WERE LIKE HARD ON ME ALL THE TIME BUT NOTHING COULD BE HARDER THAN

NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU TEAR ENOUGH IF YOU WANT TO DO IT ENOUGH, IF YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH AND YOU CAN COMPETE ENOUGH.

AND I WANT YOU EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM TO UNDERSTAND MAN THIS CITY IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE MOST ASTOUNDING PLACES THAT WE CAN BE. WE GO ALL OVER THE STATE.

THIS COUNTRY YOU DON'T SEE THE PEOPLE COMING OUT AND SAYING OH, I'LL GIVE THE MAYOR A PAT

OF SOMETHING ANYWAY BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE IN THIS ORGANIZATION.

IT IS AN HONOR TO KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO DO WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING

TO DO AND BE AND I'M NOT GOING TO STOP AT THIS. I KNOW THAT I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY BECAUSE I DO GET TO SEE MY KIDS.

THEY GO TO LOVE SCHOOL CLOSE BY HERE AND I WILL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'VE NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT.

BUT AFTER ALL OF THAT I WILL STILL BE IN CHARLOTTE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. CHARLOTTE IS THE PLACE TO BE.

THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE CAN SEE IT COMING.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT WHEN WE DO SEE IT COMING WE MAKE IT BETTER THAN EVER, EVER, EVER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SACRIFICE I.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF MY KIDS ARE WATCHING ME BUT TELL THEM HELLO.

OKAY.

I THINK I HAVE TO GO RIGHT BACK INTO A PUBLIC FORUM AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THIS MUCH AS THE OTHER THING.

SO WE'RE NOW GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC FORUM.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL I ASK

THAT ALL SPEAKERS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS BE CIVIL AND COURTEOUS IN THE USE OF THEIR LANGUAGE.

SPEAKERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND SHOULD REFRAIN FROM RESPONDING TO AUDIENCE MEMBERS.

LIKEWISE, AUDIENCE MEMBERS SHOULD BE COURTEOUS OF EACH SPEAKER AND NOT YELL OUT OR INTERRUPT THOSE SPEAKERS.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO BE HEARD.

NOW SINCE WE HAVE BEEN FAIRLY BUSY LATELY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

AN OPPORTUNITY THAT MAYBE SOME WILL AND SOME WILL LIKE AND MAYBE OTHERS WILL NOT.

SINCE THERE ARE MORE THAN TEN SPEAKERS, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. >> THANK YOU.

I'M OKAY. >> I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE. >> IT'S JUST FOR THE APPLAUSE FOR THIS. OKAY. FOR THE PUBLIC FORUM. OKAY.

SO WE WILL HAVE TO PICK TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

SO THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO CALL ON THE FIRST SPEAKER WHO IS AVONTE JACKSON

TRUCK DRIVER AND HE HELLO.

>> GOOD EVENING THIS EVENING MY NAME IS DEVONTE JACKSON AND I AM A TRUCKER'S ADVOCATE.

I AM A HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT.

I'M A SEEDLESS STRUCTURE AND I AM THE OWNER FOR A CDL SHORTY D FOR D. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT TRUCKING INFRASTRUCTURE AND

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

FIRST WE MUST ADDRESS THE BOTTLENECK TRAFFIC IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA MAJOR CORRIDORS SUCH AS I-77 85 I-45 EXPERIENCE HEAVY CONGESTION

DAILY TRUCK DRIVERS MOVING FREIGHT THROUGH THESE AREAS FACE DELAYS THAT INCREASE OPERATING COSTS, REDUCE

EFFICIENCY, CREATE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR EACH AND EVERYONE ON THE ROAD.

CHARLOTTE CONTINUES TO GROW AND HOWEVER OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MUST GROW WITH IT.

SECOND, I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION ON HOW TO

SAFELY SHARE THE ROAD WITH SEMI-TRUCKS. MANY DRIVERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND TRUCK BLINDSPOTS STOPPING DISTANCES WIDE TERMS OR SAFE

FOLLOWING DISTANCE BETTER EDUCATION FOR TEENS AND ADULTS COULD REDUCE PREVENTABLE CRASHES AND IT COULD SAVE LIVES.

>> THIRD, WE MUST TALK ABOUT TRUCK DRIVER COMPENSATION AND FAIR PAY.

THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938 EXCLUDES MANY TRUCK DRIVERS FROM OVERTIME PROTECTION. TRUCK DRIVERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR ECONOMY.

YET MANY WORK LONG HOURS WITHOUT FAIR COMPENSATION FOR DETENTION TIME DELAYS AND UNPAID LABOR.

SUPPORTING THE FAIR PAY FOR TRUCK DRIVERS STRENGTHENS THE WORKFORCE AND HELPS RETAIN SKILLED PROFESSIONALS IN THIS INDUSTRY.

FOURTH, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE FEMALE TRUCK DRIVERS SAFETY. MANY TRUCK STOPS AND PARKING AREAS ESPECIALLY HERE IN CHARLOTTE LACK PROPER LIGHTING

SECURITY AND SAFE ACCESS TO REST FACILITIES AS MEN AS MORE WOMEN ENTER THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

AND THERE WAS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN IN LOUISIANA NAMED COMMISSION THOMAS THAT WAS FOUND UNFORTUNATELY ON ALIVE IN HER SEMI TRUCK OVERNIGHT WITH

HER FAMILY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT. YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA BYERS AND FAITH SANDERS. >> COULD COME DOWN PLEASE.

>> FAITH SANDERS AND LINDA BYERS.

>> YOU CAN SPEAK TO ONE OF THEM.

YOU CAN DO IT.

HE DIDN'T JUST HEAR ME.

>> IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> I AM LINDA BYERS.

I AM A NATIVE IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.

AND FORGIVE ME, I DON'T FEEL WELL TODAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. YOU'LL BE MISSED.

THANK. AND CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.

MY QUESTION TONIGHT IS SIMPLE. IS DISTRICT ONE FORGOTTEN?

I AM HERE TONIGHT TO ADDRESS THE GROWING CONCERNS SURROUNDING SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS AND

LONGTIME RESIDENTS IN UPTOWN CHARLOTTE. AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND DEVELOP, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT OVERLOOK THE

PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED BUILD AND SUSTAIN THESE COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES. THESE CONCERNS ARE NOT NEW.

>> IN 2020 FOUR WE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT PARKING CONGESTION AND THE IMPACT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AFTER THE CITY ADOPTED A PRIVATE STREET TO SUPPORT APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT AT THAT TIME WE WARNED ABOUT THE BURDEN

THIS WOULD PLACE ON LONG TIME RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY SENIORS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES.

UNFORTUNATELY THOSE CONCERNS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. NOW IN 2026 WHAT BEGAN AS

CONCERNS OVER PARKING AND TRAFFIC HAS ESCALATED INTO MUCH DEEPER ISSUES OF SAFETY, PRIVACY, NOISE DISTURBANCES

DURING QUIET HOURS, LOITERING AND DECLINING QUALITY OF LIFE.

THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED CONCERNS.

IN JUST A FEW WEEKS A COMMUNITY PETITION ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AND WE RAISED OVER 200 SIGNATURES.

JUST IN A FEW WEEKS.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THINGS.

>> THESE ARE LEADERS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE THAT'S GOING THROUGH QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> IS MR. MISS JUNETEENTH HERE? >> YEAH.

OKAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN SEE HER YET.

SO SHE IS I MEAN A QUESTION MAY A MAN. MAY I ASK A QUICK QUESTION?

I KNOW AT ONE POINT SINCE WE ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES IF SPEAKERS HAVE WRITTEN REMARKS THEY'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM TO THE CLERK.

BUT I THINK WE MIGHT NOT HAVE MENTIONED THAT AT THE BEGINNING SO I DO BELIEVE EVEN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER THEY HAD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW IF YOU ARE TWO MINUTES RUNS OUT AND YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS I

WOULD GLADLY CAPTURE THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET THE FULL INFORMATION BECAUSE WHAT IS SHARED IS PRESENT IT TO COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF A MEMO.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY.

SO WE DON'T HAVE FAITH YET AND SO WE'LL GO TO JEFF CROSS.

MR. CROSS THANK YOU.

ACTING MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. >> MY NAME IS JEFF AND I AM A

MEMBER OF THE CHARLOTTE METRO DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA.

>> WE UNDERSTAND LAST MEETING YOU GOT A BIT IRRITATED WITH HOW YOUR CONSTITUENT ENGAGED THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

YOU TOLD US THAT YOUR HANDS ARE TIED AS THE STATE HAS LAWS LIMITING YOUR ABILITY TO STOP DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION.

YOU TOLD US WE NEED TO CONTACT OUR STATE REPS, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE MIDTERMS AND WORK THROUGH NONPROFIT EFFORTS TO CRAFT UNIQUE POLICIES TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE?

OUR STATE IS FAMOUSLY GERRYMANDERED.

THE PEOPLE OF CHARLOTTE HAVE VOTED BLUE AND ARE LEFT WITH MINORITARIAN RULE.

WE CANNOT SIMPLY VOTE HARDER OR ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PERMITS SNAKES LIKE TRICIA COTTAM AND KARLA

CUNNINGHAM TO RUN AND BETRAY THEIR VOTERS AFTER ELECTION AS OUR STATE GOVERNMENT IS

STRUCTURED TO DENY OUR WORKING CLASS A VOICE. BUT YOU THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHARLOTTE STILL CAN AND SHOULD REPRESENT US.

THAT MEANS STANDING UP FOR OUR WELL-BEING, OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR JOBS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE.

WE DEMAND THAT YOU TAKE ACTION AND IMPLEMENT EVERY MEASURE POSSIBLE TO PREVENT CURRENT AND

FUTURE DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION.

YOUR DECISION TO RESIST OR COMPLY WITH STATE LAW IMPOSED ON US BY EXPLOITATIVE CORPORATIONS AND DEVELOPERS

WILL BE REMEMBERED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN YOU ASK FOR THEIR VOTES NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I SEE THE REST OF MINE.

>> AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACK

ADAMS. HEY, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

GAMING CONSOLE GAMING. ACTING MAYOR.

MY NAME IS JACK ADAMS AND I'VE BEEN A CHARLOTTE RESIDENT SINCE JULY OF 2019.

NOW THREE WEEKS AGO ON JUNE THE 3RD I RODE MY BIKE TO UPTOWN AREA FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

I HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED BY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS THE GREEN ENERGY SHIFT TO TRY TO MINIMIZE USE OF MY CAR BY BUS TRAIN, BICYCLE.

>> HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS RIDING SOUTHBOUND ON ELIZABETH AVENUE TOWARDS HAWTHORNE LANE YOU KNOW JUST AROUND THE CORNER HERE I

NOTICED THAT THE BIKE LANE ENDED BEFORE REACHING THE INTERSECTION.

NOW ANYONE THAT'S TAKING THE TRAM LONG ENOUGH UNDERSTANDS THAT ELIZABETH AVENUE HAS TRAMWAY TRACKS FOR TWO LINKS.

GOAL LINE IN ORDER TO PASS THROUGH THAT ROAD.

SO UNFORTUNATELY AS I WAS SHIFTING TOWARDS THE MAIN LOAD FROM THE BIKE LANE MY FRONT WHEEL CUT ONTO THE TRAMWAY

TRACK AND I FACE PLANTED ONTO THE ROAD AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. WHERE WAS I? OH YEAH.

SO I WOKE UP AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT NOVANT HEALTH WITH HUGE SCRAPES ON MY JOINTS AND FACE.

YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE SCARRING IN THE DISTANCE A BROKEN NOSE AND A LACERATION ON MY EYEBROW REQUIRING STITCHES.

NOW THANKFULLY MY WOUNDS HAVE HEALED.

THE PAIN IS GONE. AND LAST SATURDAY I WAS ABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT GLASSES. NOW AS AN AVID BUS RIDER I

BELIEVE IN A FUTURE WHERE ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION CHARLOTTE ARE NOT ONLY ACCESSIBLE BUT ENCOURAGED.

I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE ALL THE OPTIONS THEY CAN. >> HOWEVER, FOR THE SAFETY OF CYCLISTS NEAR THE GOLD LINE I

ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO ADD A DEDICATED BIKE LANE ACROSS THE ENTIRE GOLD LINE. NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS SPOKEN TO ME

EARLIER TODAY TO REASSURE ME THAT THERE ARE MEASURES TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO COOPERATING WITH THEM AS WELL AS THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL. >> THANK YOU ALL.

AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU.

I WANT TO GET IN AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND SO I'M GOING TO START WITH TO SPEAKERS BECAUSE WE HAVE PODIUMS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE ROOM AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THEM

COME DOWN AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ONE PERSON TO SPEAK AND THEN WE'LL JUST GO THAT AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT FASTER FOR ALL OF

US TO BE SUCCESSFUL LEADER. BE HEARD.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNABEL RODRIGUEZ AND ASHTON MCGRADY. AND EITHER SIDE THAT YOU CHOOSE

ANNABEL SO IT'S I CAN YOU GIVE

ME YOUR NAME PLEASE? >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIR.

COMMISSIONER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PARTNERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

MY NAME IS ANNABEL RODRIGUEZ AND I CURRENT PRESIDENT OF NORTH CHARLOTTE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS.

AND TONIGHT I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE 2025 HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT THAT I WILL HAND OVER TO.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE KEY FINDINGS FROM THE 2025 HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT PUBLISHED BY NAR REP.

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS HISTORIC MILESTONES HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS

ADDED 441,000 NEW HOMEOWNERS IN 2025 BRING IN A TOTAL OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP HOLDS

NATIONWIDE TO A RECORD OF 10.2 MILLION HISPANIC FAMILIES ACCOUNT FOR VIRTUALLY ALL NET

OF HOMEOWNERSHIP GROWTH OF THE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S A 92.7% THROUGH OUR CENSUS. HISPANIC FAMILIES ACCOUNTED FOR

VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE NET HERE IN THE U.S. THE NATION'S TRENDS MATTER, ESPECIALLY HERE IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

IT BEING MY HOME FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS HAS APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION LATINOS REPRESENTING

12% OF THE STATE POPULATION. THE LATINO HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE IN NORTH CAROLINA IS 50.2% OF

HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 60% OF THE GROWTH IN THE PAST YEAR.

I AM GLADLY HERE TO REPRESENT THE HISPANIC HOMEOWNER AND VISIONARY OF WHAT OUR CITY IS.

I APPRECIATE THE TIME. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE INCLUSIVITY AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ASHLEY MCGRADY AND DAVID ROBLE.

ALSO I MAY NOT GET IT COMPLETELY RIGHT. WILL DO BOTH.

THE GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DAVID ROBLE ALSO. LAUNDRY IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED.

WE NEVER GIVEN ANY THOUGHT UNTIL THE POLLS UP AND WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO WEAR.

>> FOR MANY OF US PROCRASTINATORS IT MIGHT BE A CHOICE BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

FOR SOME FOLKS LAUNDRY PILES UP NOT BY CHOICE BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO JUGGLE THEIR LIVING EXPENSES.

MANY FAMILIES DON'T HAVE WASHERS AND DRYERS AT HOME SO THEY USE A LAUNDROMAT AND GOING TO THE LAUNDROMAT TAKES MONEY.

>> WE GET CREATIVE WHEN WE LIVE ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET BUT YOU CAN ONLY RECYCLE SO MUCH OF YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY.

PARENTS MIGHT NOT SAY ANYTHING BUT THE KIDS NOTICE. THEY SENSE THEY FEEL IT. IMAGINE WEARING THE SAME SHIRT

SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT BEING WASHED.

THERE'S ENTIRE FAMILIES LIVING IN CARS AND STORAGE UNITS AND MOTELS AND THE KIDS STILL HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

IMAGINE THE STIGMA THAT YOUNG STUDENTS HAVE TO OVERCOME. A SINGLE CHORE BECOMES A

BARRIER TO SELF-CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM AND LEARNING. THAT IS WHAT I OPERATION CLEAN

HEALTH IS TO LAUNCH THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL BACK TO SCHOOL FREE LAUNDRY DAY THIS AUGUST IN CHARLOTTE.

MY VISION IS FOR CHARLOTTE TO BE THE BIRTHPLACE OF A NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND THAT IS WHY I

CREATED THE WEBSITE NATIONAL FREE LAUNDRY DAY.ORG.

>> OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE HELPING STUDENTS START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH CLEAN CLOTHES, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND DIGNITY.

BUT THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST ONE DAY OR JUST ONE LAUNDROMAT.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 60 LAUNDROMATS IN CHARLOTTE AND NEARLY 30,000 LAUNDROMATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IMAGINE THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

DEDICATED JUST ONE DAY EACH YEAR HELPING YOUNG STUDENTS START SCHOOL PREPARED AND CONFIDENT.

TONIGHT I AM ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR HELP IN SPREADING THE WORD.

TOGETHER WE CAN DEMONSTRATE HOW OUR SMALL ACT OF SERVICE CAN HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT.

>> BUT OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YOU

MARKER NOT ON KEY. I'M ON KATZ IMPROVEMENT MEETING.

>> OKAY. AND EVAN SURE THESIS HOUSING.

THANK YOU.

>> ESTEEMED COUNCILORS LAST MONTH MAYOR LYLES ANNOUNCED THE HOUSING INNOVATION CHALLENGE TASKING STUDENTS FROM TEN UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE

CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG TROPICAL ZION AREA TO DEVELOP NEW AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MEET CHARLOTTE'S GROWING HOUSING NEED.

>> BUT TONIGHT I QUESTION IF THIS INNOVATION IS REALLY A WEASELING AROUND THE RULES OF A RESTRICTIVE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ESTABLISHED BY A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO

IMPLEMENTED IT TO ISOLATE THEMSELVES IN THE CITY'S SPRAWLING SUBURBS.

THAT IS TO SAY THAT THE HOUSING CRISIS WILL NOT BE SOLVED THROUGH A DISTORTED SENSE OF INNOVATION BUT THROUGH THE ELIMINATION OF REGULATORY AND

ZONING REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY THE PAST CENTURY OF WHITE FLIGHT AND URBAN RENEWAL THAT INTENTIONALLY MADE HOUSING SCARCE AND DEVELOPMENT

UNCOMPETITIVE AS THE VALUE OF LAND HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AND SUBURBAN RESISTANT TO RESISTANCE TO GROWTH MOUNT'S

DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPERS ARE FORCED TO TURN BACK INWARDS TO URBAN CORES TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE MARKET.

THIS FUNDAMENTALLY IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. >> THE OBSTACLE THEY FACE HOWEVER, IS ZONING RESTRICTIONS

SUCH AS SETBACKS MAXIMUM LOT OF FOOTPRINT RATIOS, MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND DOUBLE STAIRWELL REQUIREMENTS WHICH SEVERELY LIMIT THE TYPES OF

HOUSING THEY CAN PERMIT AND BUILD.

WELL THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN REFORMING THIS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.

I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY TO GO FURTHER.

I AM ASKING THE CITY TO ELIMINATE SETBACKS AND MAXIMUM FOOTPRINT RATIOS FOR ALL LEVELS OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL

ZONING UNDER THE UDL AND TO EXPAND THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR A MINIMUM PARKING WAIVER TO ALL LEVELS AS WELL.

THIS WILL MAKE SMALLER PARCELS OF LAND APPEALING TO DEVELOPERS AND ENABLE SMALL DEVELOPERS TO EXPAND THE TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION THEY CAN PROVIDE TO THE MARKET AT LOWER COST

WHICH IS THEN PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER. ELIMINATING THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL ACCELERATE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION CLEAR UP CONFUSING RULES AND INCREASE AFFORDABILITY ACROSS THE CITY.

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU MAYOR LYLES FOR YOUR SERVICE AS YOU

COOK AND TO COME IN. OKAY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN STANSELL. >> MEGAN YEAH, GREAT.

YEAH.

AND JUST MAKING I THINK IT IS JUST FOR THIS AND THE NEXT ONE IF WE COULD HAVE THE SECOND PERSON COME DOWN GABRIEL.

>> KAI JACK GABRIEL HEY, GOOD EVENING.

>> MY NAME IS MIKE FENSTER.

I SERVICE CO-CHAIR OF CHARLOTTE'S MISSION ZERO TASK FORCE AND TONIGHT I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE.

I HAD WANTED TO READ ALL THE 41 NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN CHARLOTTE IN TRAFFIC CRASHES THIS YEAR SINCE JANUARY 1ST.

BUT I WON'T HAVE TIME SO I'M GOING TO START SINCE THE LAST TIME WE CAME TO YOU IN MARCH. THESE ARE NOT STATISTICS.

THESE ARE OUR LOVED ONES. TERRY LEE CLARK AGE 43. JULIAN ALLEN 35.

SOPHIE KLIPPEL 23. DANIEL DAVON DIXON 49. NAOMI SUMMERS EIGHT.

AIDEN LYNN GARCIA 34. WILLIAM ANGELO PRIMOS 28. CHRISTOPHER JOHN SHEA 54.

JONATHAN MICHAEL MORETTI RACE 35. BOBBI JO SKIDMORE 39. CARLOS JAMAL MITCHELL GINA 32.

PABLO DANIEL MARTINEZ DELATOUR 24. AARON LINWOOD MCINTOSH 32. LOUIS ANTHONY CHEGA SOLA 39.

ELIJAH SMOOT 30. LUIS VASQUEZ REYES 33. KEEGAN MCKENNEY 22.

ADRIAN MELLO ESCOBAR 17 AS LETTY HERRERA RAMIREZ 17 FAN DIETER MATA 52 ROOSEVELT DAVIS

THE THIRD 55 EDWIN JOSE FLORES 54 FRANKLY ON DENTE 64 KATHRYN LAMBERTH 38. ANGELINA NAOMI CEJKA 17.

CADEN RILEY MOLITOR 18.

JOHNNY WESLEY MASON THE FOURTH 53.

I NOW LIKE TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR US ALL TO REMEMBER THESE INDIVIDUALS THESE NEIGHBORS OF US ALL.

WE URGE YOU TO IMPLEMENT THE RED LIGHT CAMERA PILOT IMMEDIATELY RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL 2027 BECAUSE EVERY WEEK MATTERS.

EVERY WEEK WE LOSE AT LEAST ONE MORE NEIGHBOR TO TRAFFIC VIOLENCE EVERY WEEK SOMEONE LOSES SOMEONE THEY LOVE. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HELLO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS GABRIEL JOSEPH KENDRICK ULTRA.

I AM A DESIGNER WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON A CONCEPT I GENUINELY BELIEVE COULD HELP STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S A REAL GAP IN HOW THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVES CLEAR AND VERIFIED PUBLIC INPUT.

>> COMMISSIONERS AND BOARDS OFTEN STRUGGLE TO GET RELIABLE FEEDBACK BEFORE MAKING BIG DECISIONS.

FOR REGULAR CITIZENS FINDING THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND HAVING THEIR VOICE HEARD IS STILL WAY TOO DIFFICULT.

BETWEEN SCATTERED WEBSITES, PUBLIC FORUMS AND LONG HEARINGS IT'S HARD FOR ANY PERSON TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

I DEVELOPED SOMETHING CALLED THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE COMMUNICATOR A SECURE VERIFIED PLATFORM THAT PUTS ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN ONE SIMPLE APP

WHILE ALSO GIVING LEADERS A TOOL CALLED PUBLIC PULSE.

WITH PUBLIC PULSE, THE GOVERNOR OR A COUNTY BOARD CAN QUICKLY SEND A POLL ON ANY PROPOSED PROJECT LIKE A NEW DATA CENTER

OR A REFORESTATION PLANT AND WITHIN DAYS RECEIVE CLEAR VERIFIED STATISTICS FROM REAL CITIZENS ONLY NO BOTS, NO GUESSING JUST ACTIONABLE DATA

THAT HELPS LEADERS SEE WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS ACTUALLY WANT AND PRIORITIZE ACCORDINGLY.

>> FOR CITIZENS IT BECOMES MUCH EASIER TO STAY INFORMED AND SHARE THEIR OPINION WITHOUT HAVING TO HUNT THROUGH COMPLICATED WEBSITES OR

REARRANGE THEIR SCHEDULE FOR A HEARING.

FOR LEADERS IT MEANS FASTER, MORE CONFIDENT DECISIONS BACKED BY REAL PUBLIC INPUT WITH THE ABILITY TO CLEARLY EXPLAIN

THOSE DECISIONS TO THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC.

SO PLEASE, I WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO SEE THIS BRIDGE OF INTUITION BUILT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND OUR GOVERNMENT. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS COULD HELP BRING THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

TO YOU AND SHED LIGHT FOR EVERY PERSON WHO ISN'T IN THIS MEETING ALL CURRENTLY SO YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE ME AT EACH OF THESE MEETINGS UNTIL THIS HAPPENS.

SO WE THE PEOPLE MAY EDUCATE OURSELVES IN OUR LOCAL POLITICS WITH EASE AND YOU THE ELECTED CAN FEEL SAFE IN YOUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAY PRIMACK

AND LEAH SARA SALISBURY LIVE. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS CHRISSY MATTHEWS AND I'M A MEMBER OF CHARLOTTE METRO DSA. TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN CITY COUNCIL ENACTED THE CURRENT MORATORIUM

THEY EXPRESSED THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT LIMITS THE CITY COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO REGULATE DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION. CONSIDERING THE CITY COUNCIL ATTEMPTED TO WASH ITS HANDS AND

CLAIM THAT THE POWER TO RENT THESE RESTED SOLELY IN THE HANDS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS A FEW POTENTIAL POLICY REMEDIES.

I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO UTILIZE THE CURRENT MORATORIUM TO ACTIVELY CONSIDER NEW MEASURES THAT IMPEDE FUTURE DATA CENTERS.

WHILE THE CITY'S RESTRICTIVE DOWN ZONING NOTHING PREVENTS THE CITY FROM ADJUSTING THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO HALT FUTURE FACILITIES.

ADDITIONALLY, ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ZONING RULES THAT ARE BEING UTILIZED TO PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION OF FUTURE ICE DETENTION CENTERS SUCH AS IN GREENSBORO.

UNDER THAT ADJUSTMENT THE CITY ADDED A NEW LAND USE CATEGORY AND PROHIBITED SUCH FACILITIES FROM OPERATING WITHIN A HALF A MILE OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY SPACES.

EVEN DURHAM JUST VOTED TO EXTEND ITS CURRENT MORATORIUM BY ANOTHER TEN MONTHS.

IF THESE ADJUSTMENTS CAN HALT THE CONSTRUCTION OF ICE DETENTION FACILITIES, CAN WE NOT USHER IN SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS ON DATA CENTERS?

>> MORE IMPORTANTLY, DOES THE CITY COUNCIL NOT HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO ENACT SUCH RESTRICTIONS?

IT'S NO SECRET THAT CERTAIN LOBBYING GROUPS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DISMAY OVER THE REJECTION OF BOTH THE I-77 EXPANSION AND DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION.

SO COUNCIL WILL YOU TAKE THE STEPS THAT ARE CLEARLY NEEDED TO PREVENT THE OPERATION OF A FACILITY KNOWN TO CAUSE DEFINITE HARM TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS OR YOU SUPPORT THE

LOBBYING GROUPS AND CORPORATIONS WHO STAND TO GAIN FROM CAUSING THAT HARM?

>> THANK YOU.

AS HAS LAYLA IS LAYLA AVAILABLE? >> YES, I'M RIGHT HERE. OKAY. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. EVENING CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LAYLA SAY AND I'M CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT YOU AND CC AND A MEMBER OF THE CHARLOTTE METRO DSA.

AS A YOUNG STUDENT WHOSE FUTURE IS INVESTED IN THE WELL-BEING OF THE CITY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE CITY AND STATE ARE MORE OR LESS NEGLIGENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR

INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIFICALLY THE RUSH OF DATA CENTERS WITHIN CHARLOTTE.

MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THE LACK OF A LONG TERM VISION SURROUNDING THIS NEWER TECHNOLOGY.

CORPORATE CHURN SUCH AS I HAVE DONE LITTLE TO MOTIVATE PROFIT AND BUILD A STRONGER ECONOMY OR HELP CITIES LIKE CHARLOTTE

CREATE STABLE GROWTH. >> DESPITE STATE PRESSURE TO STOP DOWN ZONING THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE NEEDS TO MAKE AN EFFORT AGAINST ONGOING DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT.

THE 150 DAY MORATORIUM HAS BEEN A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE CITY BUT ITS EFFECT IS ONLY MOMENTARY. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IS ABOUT INVESTMENT FOR THIS CITY

BY BUILDING NEW DATA CENTERS TO SUPPORT AI. WE LATCH OURSELVES ON TO THIS FAILING TREND WHEN OUR SPACES COULD BE BETTER SPENT EVEN FOR A COMMERCIAL SPACE.

DATA CENTERS PROVIDE LITTLE IN TERMS OF CREATING LONG TERM JOBS FOR THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

>> THE COMMUNITY HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THAT WE DON'T WANT TO RAISE RESOURCES ON DATA CENTERS MANY OF WHICH ARE UNFINISHED OR EMPTY WITHIN THE US.

WHY SHOULD OUR CITY FOLLOW A TECHNOLOGICAL TREND THAT SHOWS ITSELF TO BE COMPLETELY ECONOMICALLY VIABLE? COMMERCIALLY ZONED SPACES NEED TO BE USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

THAT WILL PROVIDE MATERIAL BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY OF CHARLOTTE.

THAT'S WHY I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DELAY AND STOP THE CONSTRUCTION OF DATA CENTERS IN OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARSON

COHEN OF ON TEN YEAR ALICE I'M SORRY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMARA

ALICE. >> PLEASE COME IN. I SAY TAKE YOUR TIME AND CARSON COVE, WOULD YOU COME?

CARSON COHEN THANK YOU.

AND I'M TELLING HER TO COME UP THIS YEAR.

GOT SIX. >> GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS TAMARA ELISE AND THERE'S A TYPO.

I ACTUALLY REPRESENT DISTRICT ONE. >> OH, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TAMARA ELISE.

A NONPROFIT BUSINESS OWNER, ARTIST AND ADVOCATE OF OVER TEN YEARS AND CHARLOTTE NATIVE.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT NOT ONLY AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE BUT AS A TWO TIME SURVIVOR OF SUICIDE LOSS.

I'M LOSING TWO KINGS IN MY LIFE MY FATHER AND MY BROTHER. JUNE IS MENTAL MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH MONTH AND FOR ME THIS

MONTH IS A REMINDER THAT SAFETY IN OUR CITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT CRIME STATISTICS.

IT IS ABOUT EMOTIONAL MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES. >> AND I DO HAVE TO ASK ONCE AGAIN I HEARD THIS QUESTION

BEFORE IS DISTRICT ONE BEING FORGOTTEN IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS GROWTH WHEN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE OVERWHELMED BY VIOLENCE,

NOISE INSTABILITY AND CONSTANT DISRUPTION? IT IMPACTS MORE THAN OUR SENSE OF PEACE.

IT IMPACTS OUR MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

CHRONIC STRESS BECOMES A PART OF DAILY LIFE ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS, FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND STABILITY.

TOO OFTEN ESPECIALLY MEN FOR MEN, MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES GO UNSEEN UNTIL THEY BECOME CRISIS.

THE ENVIRONMENTS WE LIVE IN OUR SAFETY, OUR PEACE AND OUR SENSE OF STABILITY PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THAT. DISTRICT ONE IS CHANGING

RAPIDLY BUT MANY LONG LIFE RESIDENTS ARE FEELING FORGOTTEN.

IN 2024 CONCERNS WERE RAISED ABOUT PARKING CONGESTION AND THE IMPACT OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT AFTER PRIVATE STREETS WERE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT APARTMENT GROWTH.

TODAY THOSE CONCERNS HAVE GROWN TO MUCH DEEPER ISSUES INCLUDING SAFETY, PRIVACY, LOITERING, OVERCROWDING, INCREASED TRAFFIC

AND INTENTIONAL NOISE DISTURBANCES DURING QUIET HOURS ESPECIALLY ON WEEKNIGHTS WHEN RESIDENTS HAVE TO WORK, RAISE AND CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

RESIDENTS DESERVE TO FEEL SECURE IN THEIR HOMES TO HAVE THEIR BOUNDARIES RESPECTED AND TO STEP OUTSIDE WITHOUT FEELING

UNMONITORED, CROWDED AND DISPLACED.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CARSON THANK YOU. >> HEY. HEY. MY NAME IS CARSON COHEN.

I DO WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SENATOR AND WORKER PAY.

BUT FIRST MERRILL'S I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE.

I FIRST BECAME FAMILIAR WITH YOU AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER AND YOU WERE OUT THERE PROTESTING WITH US. YOU WERE IN THE STREETS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I DO WANT TO SAY THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE POSTS ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT THERE'S A $24 HOUR

MINIMUM WAGE FOR THE SANITATION WORKERS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO WALK 5 TO 10 MILES PER DAY.

REPEATEDLY LIFT, CARRY, PUSH AND PULL UP TO 75 POUNDS.

WORK OUTDOORS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE EXPOSURE TO DUST FUMES, CHEMICALS UNEVEN PAVEMENT.

LOUD NOISE AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT. BEGIN SHIFT AT FIVE.

BEGIN SHIFT AT A.M. WHEN NO SET IN TIME. OVERTIME MAY BE REQUIRED WHICH IMPLIES TO ME THAT THEY'RE

WORKING MORE THAN 40 HOURS A WEEK. SO I JUST ASK THAT THOSE SANITATION WORKERS IN THIS CITY WHERE WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WHO

PASSED VOTING FOR SANITATION WORKERS I ASK THAT WE PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THOSE SANITATION WORKERS AND RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR THEM CURRENTLY.

IT IS $16 PER HOUR.

I AGAIN I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW YOU DID A LOT OF LOBBYING IN RALEIGH TO GET THE PTA THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE A

LOT OF BUS SHELTERS FOR PEOPLE OUT HERE STRUGGLING PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO WORK AND ALL THAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> IF WE COULD JUST GIVE HER ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE PLEASE. ALL RIGHT.

TONIGHT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO THE MAYORAL VACANCY.

THE COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED BY BALLOT AND HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR BALLOTS TO THE CLERK.

ANY NOMINEE RECEIVING SIX OR MORE VOTES IS AUTOMATICALLY APPOINTED IF NO NOMINEE RECEIVED AT LEAST SIX VOTES.

A RUNOFF WILL BE NECESSARY AND COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE TONIGHT TO DETERMINE WHO WILL BE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD.

ALL APPOINTMENTS WILL BE RECORDED IN THE OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THIS MEETING. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS?

5 minutesNO, I DON'T THINK WE NEED FURTHER.

THAT'S THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO START PLANNING WITH OUR PLANNING COMMISSION. MADAM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE POSITION ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THE INCUMBENT WILL RUSSELL HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED. >> THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> AND WILL.

I GUESS THAT'S ALL WELL. >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

>> SO LET'S START OFF WITH OUR NEXT STEP.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM SEVEN APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE MAYORAL SEAT VACANCY?

YES WE DO. >> WE HAVE ANY? YES, MA'AM.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 30 SPEAKERS. >> RUDY HOW MANY? 30.

30 EXCUSE 30 SPEAKERS AND WE CAN SPEAK SPEAKER WILL HAVE TO ONE MINUTE. ONE MINUTE. OKAY. OKAY.

OH, OKAY. YES.

JUST GET TEN PEOPLE IN ONE MINUTE FOR THESE. ONE MINUTE PLEASE.

WE NEED SOMETHING TO CHANGE BECAUSE WHEN YOU ALL READY?

READY.

LET'S DO THIS GARLAND GREEN. WOULD YOU WOULD YOU PLEASE COME DOWN AND SPEAK?

AND LINDA LOCKMAN BROOKS, IF YOU WOULD TAKE ONE OF THE SIDES AND COME DOWN AND SPEAK IF YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

>> THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE. ONE MINUTE. I'M SORRY. ONE MINUTE.

FIRST OF ALL, MAYOR LYLES, JOB WELL DONE. GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO BRING TWO POINTS TO YOUR CONSIDERATION. I'M GOING TO BE REAL QUICK AND TO THE POINT ON THEM IS WE HAVE

ENJOYED TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND PROSPERITY FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THAT, IN MY OPINION WE NEED TO

BUILD A BRIDGE TO RALEIGH. THEY ARE NOT THE ENEMY. THEY ARE GOING THROUGH CHANGE. WE'RE GOING THROUGH CHANGE.

THIS COULD BE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY WHEN YOU'RE VOTING DENIAL I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE PERSON THAT YOU FEEL MIGHT

BE BEST TO LEAD THIS FORWARD. SECONDLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CRISIS MANAGEMENT.

IT WAS REALLY NOT TALKED ABOUT IN THE HALF AN HOUR INTERVIEWS IS NOT 11 PEOPLE MURDERED ON THE LIGHT RAIL.

THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENED. AND SO ASK YOURSELF WHO IS THE BEST CANDIDATE TO HANDLE CRISIS

MANAGEMENT? WHO CAN PICK UP THE MICROPHONE AT A TIME OF CRISIS AND DELIVER FOR OUR CITY? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, MS.. BROOKS, GOOD EVENING.

>> I'M LINDA LOCKMAN BROOKS AND FIRST OF ALL, MAYOR LYLES, THANK YOU.

8 minutesTHANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE ON COUNCIL AND AS MAYOR WE APPRECIATE YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S NEXT.

I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND A CIVIC VOLUNTEER WHO'S LIVED IN CHARLOTTE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

I'VE KNOWN ROB HARRINGTON FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE WORKED WITH HIM ON THE BOARD OF THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG LIBRARY

FOUNDATION, THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG LIBRARY SYSTEM IS FOCUSED ON ACCESS FOR ALL CITIZENS AND REALLY FOCUSED

ON ACCESS TO EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC RESOURCES.

SINCE 2019 ROB HAS SERVED AS CO-CHAIR OF THE COMMON SPARK CAMPAIGN RAISING FUNDS FOR THE

NEW MAIN LIBRARY IN CENTER CITY WHICH WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON MAY 1ST, 2027.

ROB IS A LEADER WHO BRIDGES MY COLLEAGUE JUST SAID WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT CRISIS AND THEY WILL COME.

>> ROB IS CALM AND A CRISIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU ARE OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN

HARLOW FOLLOWED BY ERIC NORMAN.

>> THIS YEAR NO ONE'S GOING TO CHANGE THE ROLE TO THREE MINUTES ONE.

RECLAIMING MY TIME THE CLIMATE. >> ALL RIGHT, MR. MANAGER. MR. TONY CLARK. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.

JUSTIN HARLOW WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT LEADER? WHO SHOULD BE OUR NEXT MAYOR?

I THINK THAT NEXT LEADER IS CARRIE RAISED IN CHARLOTTE AND KIM'S GRADUATE CARRIE IS THE PRODUCT THAT YOU ALL SAID THAT YOU WANTED YOU WANTED A PARTNER.

YOU WANTED SOMEONE WHO CROSS THE SECTORS OF NONPROFIT FIT PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC SECTOR.

SHE'S BEEN THAT PARTNER FOR YOU.

SHE HAS CHAMPIONED YOUR BONDS, YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

10 minutesSHE HAS LED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT HAVE CREATED JOBS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE FIRST LYN'S MISSION IS WHERE ARE IS SOMEONE WHO DOES THE WORK AS YOU LIKE TO SAY?

MR. GRAHAM THIS ELECTION TONIGHT IS MORE THAN A NAME WITH SIX HANDS BEING RAISED FOR THEM.

BUT IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AS A COUNCIL, AS AN INSTITUTION AND WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO LEAD THIS CITY PRO-BUSINESS NOT ENOUGH PRO

COMMUNITY, NOT TOO MUCH. YOU'VE GOT A DECISION TO MAKE.

THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FRANK.

SHE'S UP HERE, YOU SAY THERE YOU ARE. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

AND WE TRY TO GIVE YOU THE HIGH SPEED RAIL VERSION OF MY THREE MINUTE SPEECH. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR LYLES, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS ERIC NORMAN.

I'M A FORMER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CAROLINA'S LGBT COMMUNITY CAROLINA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT CURRENTLY UNINCORPORATED PART OF DISTRICT TWO.

I WATCHED ALL FIVE INTERVIEWS LAST THURSDAY NIGHT AND TO MAKE DISCHARGE I WHY YOU EACH CHOSE TO TALK TO I HAD A TOP THREE A

CARRIE COOKE STATE SENATOR CALEB THEO DAUGHTRY AND MAYOR PRO TEM JAMES MITCHELL WHAT I

DO NOT WANT TO SEE IS CALVIN AND CARRIE BEING BLOCKED FROM RUNNING FOR A FULL MAYOR TERM NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

THEY ARE OUR FUTURE AS THE TRANSITION TO NEW LEADERSHIP. SO MY CHOICE FOR EVERYTHING

THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE CHARLOTTE BUSINESS INCLUSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHERE I ALSO SIT AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LGBT

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JAMES MITCHELL SHOULD BE THE INTERIM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT SPEAKERS

ARE VANESSA MITCHELL AND JASMINE ALLEN BURNETT HAS NEVER

NOW LET US KNOW HE'S GETTING TOO MUCH.

WE JUST KEEP GOING. YEP AND THAT'S OKAY.

YOU SEE WE WAY NO YOU OH MY BAD

I THOUGHT YOU ARE WAITING ON PANETTA I'M JASMINE ALLEN.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR LYLES MY HEART AND SOUL ARE WITH YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE AS JUSTIN SAID, YOUR SACRIFICE FOR THIS CITY.

IT'S ALL THE BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU. I'M HONORED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF CARRIE COOK FOR INTERIM MAYOR OF CHARLOTTE.

I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING CARRIE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS AND SHE AND I HAVE BECOME CLOSE COLLABORATORS WITH HER LAUNCH OF HER NONPROFIT EMPOWER

HER MIT AS A VOLUNTEER AND AS A PARENT OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND IS SOMETHING OUR CITY NEEDS NOW MORE THAN EVER A LEADER WITH THE EVIDENCE BASE OF PUTTING

CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS FIRST CARES WHAT I CALL A LEADER AMONG LEADERS. SHE DOESN'T SEEK THE SPOTLIGHT.

SHE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS TO SHINE THROUGH HER NONPROFIT SHE'S HELPED DEVELOP AND MENTOR GENERATIONS OF YOUNG

WOMEN AND GIRLS BY BUILDING NOT JUST PROGRAMS BUT LONG LASTING LEADERSHIP PIPELINES AND INSPIRATION FOR CHARLOTTE'S YOUTH.

>> WHAT CARRIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE NICOLE GRACE RENEÉ AND MINDY MITCHELL

HENSON.

>> GOOD EVENING MAY ALLOW AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL MY NAME IS NICOLE GRACE FORMERLY KNOWN AS NICOLE RAYNER PROFESSIONALLY

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHARLOTTE CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS AND I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE CHARLOTTE BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

I AM HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPOINT MAYOR PRO TEM JAMES MITCHELL AS CHARLOTTE VOTE MAYOR LET ME TO MY SUPPORT

IS BASED ON VOTING AND EXPERIENCE I SERVED ON THE CHARLOTTE PEOPLE.

IT INCLUDES AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, A COMMITTEE JAMES HELPED ESTABLISH AND LATER WORKED WITH THEM THROUGH MY ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP WAS NEVER

SILENT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS I TOLD YOU TO CONFLICT AND HE SHOWED UP AND HE LISTENED AND WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO SUPPORT CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY AND

BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. CHARLOTTE NEED EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP I CAN TAP IN AND LEAD EFFECTIVELY FROM DAY ONE

BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HIM. I BELIEVE JAMES MITCHELL HAD THE INTEGRITY, EXPERIENCE COMMITMENT NOT TO IT CONTINUE MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO A POINT GAME MATTER AS CHARLOTTE NEXT MAYOR THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE MS. HENSON YES MY

NAME IS MINDY MILLS HENSON AND I AM PAST PRESIDENT OF NAMI CHARLOTTE CURRENTLY SERVE AT

THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO THROW MY ENDORSEMENT FOR MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL. OH, I MET HIM 14 YEARS AGO AS A

MEMBER OF NEIGHBORS CHARLOTTE WHERE HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

12 YEARS LATER HE IS STILL AN ACTIVE PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

HE SHOWS UP, HE ANSWERS THE PHONE WHEN WE CALL HE GIVES US HIS CELL PHONE.

HE WAS THERE FOR US WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO IN COVID COMING OUT OF COVID INFORMING US ALWAYS ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT WERE

AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND HOW WE COULD ALL SURVIVE.

HE WORKS FAITHFULLY WITH US AND IS A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ALL IN THIS AREA NOT JUST WOMEN.

HOW DIFFERENT WE WOULD BE IN THIS COUNTRY IF ALL OF OUR LEADERS HAD THE COMPASSION THAT JAMES MITCHELL HAS?

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE ROCHELLE,THE GALA STEWARD AND HOPEFULLY I'M SORRY I'M NOT GETTING THE RIGHT PART OF THE MIDDLE NAME.

>> AND HANNAH HAZAN. WILLIAM, I'M SORRY WE HAVE JASMINE RIGHT.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ROCHELLE STEWART AND I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF NAVA CHARLOTTE.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS.

I AM HERE TONIGHT TO GIVE FULL SUPPORT AND ENDORSEMENT TO BEAR PRO TEM THAT'S ALL.

AS COUNCIL CONSIDERS THEIR APPOINTMENT THIS EVENING FOR MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING SUPPORTER,

ADVOCATE AND CHAMPION FOR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS IN CHARLOTTE.

HE HAS CONSISTENTLY HELPED WOMEN TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE, THAT THEY HAVE VISIBILITY AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL HAS NOT ONLY SUPPORTED NABIL SHAATH CHARLOTTE AND WORDS BUT HE SHOWS UP, HE SHOWS UP FOR MEETINGS, EVENTS, LISTENS TO

WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS NEEDS MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL UNDERSTANDS THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL BUSINESSES

LARGE CORPORATIONS MUST WORK FOR ESTABLISHED COMPANIES.

SMALL BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, MINORITY BUSINESSES.

HE RECOGNIZES THAT CHARLOTTE IS STRONGEST WHEN OPPORTUNITY IS EXTENDED ACROSS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YES.

GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM HANNAH HASSAN.

I HAVE SHARED COMMUNITY WITH KARI COOK IN MANY CAPACITIES THROUGH THE YEARS AND I'VE LEARNED WHAT MUST MOST OF YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT HER.

>> KARI IS AN INCREDIBLY STAR.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, KARI COOK IS A CHARLOTTE NATIVE WHO WAS EDUCATED IN CHARLOTTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SHE WENT TO VANCE HIGH SCHOOL WHEN AS A NINTH GRADER SHE HELPED LEAD THEIR BASKETBALL TEAM TO A CHAMPIONSHIP THEY NICKNAMED HER THE FLOOR GENERAL BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE COURT FROM ALL THE ANGLES.

19 minutesSHE WAS ABLE TO INSPIRE HER TEAMMATES. AND EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS AN UNLIKELY LEADER, THEY TRUSTED HER.

SHE TRUSTED THEM AND THAT IS HOW SHE WILL SHOW UP AS MAYOR A FLOOR GENERAL TO THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF OUR COUNCIL I INVITE YOU TO ENVISION A BEAUTIFUL CHARLOTTE

STORY WITH ME WITH CARRIE COOK AS YOUR MAYOR WHILE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU YOU BEGIN TO SEE YOUR VISION FOR THE CITY ACTUALIZE WITH A MAYOR WHO

ISN'T AFRAID OF COMING INTO A NEW TEAM AND COLLABORATE EVERY LEADING YOU WORK TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE BODY TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL CHARLOTTE TEENS COUNCIL I

CHALLENGE YOU TO TAKE A COURAGEOUS STEP AND INVEST IN CHARLOTTE IN A PURPOSEFUL AND POWERFUL WAY. >> LET'S GET OUR GENERAL IN THE

GAME TERRYVILLE AND CLEVELAND HERE WE HAS THE BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE HERE WITH HER TODAY ALL PULLING FOR THE MAN.

Q THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW WE HAVE MS.. MS.. MR. YOUNGBLOOD.

MR. YOUNGBLOOD IS THAT YES. I RECEIVE AN OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WONDER WHO IS SITTING NEXT TO. >> GOOD EVENING MR. LISLE.

CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL FIRST OF ALL MY NAME IS WILLIAM YOUNGBLOOD.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS AND STRONG ENDORSEMENT MY FRIEND ROBERT HARRINGTON A LITTLE BACKGROUND

MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ROB WAS WHEN WE BOTH SERVED AS TRUSTEES AT FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN CHARLOTTE AT THIS TIME WE ALSO HE ALSO

VOLUNTEERED VOLUNTEERED HIS SERVICES AS THE OFFICIAL LEGAL COUNSEL TO THE CHURCH VOLUNTEER AND TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE CHURCH CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH ROB ON MANY ISSUES INVOLVING MEMBERS

INCARCERATIONS OF THIS ENVIRONMENT. AND SO MY THOUGHTS WHEN PREPARING THESE COMMENTS IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW ME KNOW MY PAST.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ROB'S PASSION. THAT'S THE ONE MESSAGE I WANT TO GET ACROSS THE BOARD IS PASSION. HIS REPUTATION AS AN HONEST, HONEST PERSON WITH GREAT CHARACTER.

I THINK CHARACTERS IMPERATIVE TO WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND SURELY NEED TO BE HAVE MORE OF AND BE ABOUT AND THAT'S WHAT ROB EXCEL THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU MOLLY BARKER THEY

ARE MY GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS

MOLLY BARKER AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF GIRLS ON THE RUN INTERNATIONAL.

I STARTED THE ORGANIZATION RIGHT HERE IN CHARLOTTE 30 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR. SINCE THEN I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING FIRSTHAND AND THE PROFOUND

IMPACT AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP CAN HAVE ON COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. AND BECAUSE OF THAT I'VE LEARNED TO RECOGNIZE TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP WHEN

I SEE IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO KERRY COOKE INVITED ME TO SERVE ON A PANEL FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND SHE FOUNDED CALLED EMPOWERMENT A NONPROFIT THAT

PARTNERS GIRLS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH 12 WITH MENTORS WHO HELP THEM DISCOVER THEIR STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL.

WHAT I WITNESSED WAS AMAZING THOSE GIRLS WERE NATURALLY DRAWN TO CARRY. THEY TRUSTED HER.

THEY KNEW THEY MATTERED AND HER PRESENCE AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT MUCH OF MY LIFE AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE, I CAN TELL YOU THIS KIDS KNOW THEY KNOW REAL

WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER IT. OVER THE YEARS I'VE SEEN HER AUTHENTIC SPIRIT SHOW UP EVERYWHERE.

SHE BRINGS THE SAME THING TO EVERY ROOM SHE ENTERS LIGHT OPTIMISM, GRITTY RESOURCEFULNESS AND THE DEEP DESIRE TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHELSEA

EVANS. >> OH, COOL.

COOL. >> FOLLOWED BY MELINDA THERE DON MCVEY, THE FADED VOTER.

THANK YOU, PEYTON. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M CHELSEA EVANS.

OKAY. DO I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR SELECTING ROB HARRINGTON AS INTERIM MAYOR

MET ROB BELL TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS AN INTERN AT ROBINSON BRADSHAW DURING THAT SUMMER I LEARNED THAT ROB WAS NOT JUST AN EXCELLENT AND ACCOMPLISHED LAWYER HE WAS ALSO DEEPLY

INVOLVED IN THE CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY THROUGH BOARD SERVICE AND PRO BONO WORK.

ROB WAS NOT INVOLVED JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ADDING ACTIVITIES TO HIS RESUME.

HE WAS TRULY INVESTED IN CHARLOTTE AND WANTED TO DO HIS PART TO MAKE THE CITY A GREAT PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE CAN THRIVE.

>> I WAS STRUCK BY HIS GENUINE COMMITMENT AND VIEWED HIS CAREER AS THE BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT A LAWYER SHOULD BE A CHAMPION OF AND AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

ONCE I JOINED THE FIRM AS AN ASSOCIATE ROBIN GREEN TO ME THAT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BE DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO MY LEGAL CAREER.

HE IMPLORED ME TO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE CALLING WHILE FOCUSING ON THE CAREER HE REMINDED ME THAT AS LAWYERS WE HAVE A MORAL AND PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.

HE EXHIBITS ALL OF THE QUALITIES I WILL MAKE AN EFFECTIVE AND EXCELLENT AND ARE A MAYOR.

HE'S LEVEL HEADED, DEDICATED AND HARDWORKING.

HE'S WARM, HE'S GENUINE. HE'S TRULY A CONNECTOR WHO SEEKS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A WAY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SEEN AND HEARD WHILE ALSO MAKING A DECISION.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

AND SO YOU SEE SOUTH SHE SPEAKS THE LENDER.

THANK YOU.

I KNOW THE STEPS ARE REALLY MY

NAME IS ROLLING TO ME VADEN AND AS YOU CAN TELL NOVO IS REALLY BEHIND MR. MITCHELL WE'VE HAD

SOME REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCES AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN BIGGER DEVELOPMENTS, LARGE DEVELOPMENTS IN CHARLOTTE.

HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN SMALL DEVELOPMENTS.

HE IS ALWAYS THERE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON. HE'S BEEN A CHAMPION OF WOMEN.

HE SHOWED US THINGS WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE COULD DO.

HE SHOWED US OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE COULD HAVE.

HE PARTNERED WITH CHARLOTTE SOME YEARS AGO WITH AN INITIATIVE THAT WE HAD CALLED POWER PLAYERS DESIGNED TO

REALLY SHOW SMALL AND WHEN I SAY SMALL I MEAN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE ME WHO ARE SOLOPRENEUR AS BUSINESS

OWNERS WHO MAYBE HAVE 10 OR 15 EMPLOYEES, HOW TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY TO DO BUSINESS WITH

THE CITY WHICH IS AN AVENUE THAT MANY OF US DON'T EVEN THINK IS AVAILABLE TO US.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IS ALL INCLUSIVE FOR ALL BUSINESSES BUT PARTICULARLY MINORITIES.

>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM SPENCER

AND THEIR NEW VAL VOLTAIRE'S. HEY EVERYBODY SAM SPENCER PROUD DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL TONIGHT.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT LIGHTNING STRIKES. THE NEXT MAYOR, WHOEVER THEY ARE IN THIS ROOM, YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR CITY

AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO FEEL LIKE LIGHTNING STRIKES THINGS THAT COME OUT OF NOWHERE, EVENTS THAT GET A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE

CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY'S ATTENTION BUT ARE REALLY RARE THINGS THAT DON'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN INCLUDING OF COURSE MAYORAL VACANCIES.

SO WHOEVER IS MAYOR NEXT, I REALLY WANT TO IMPLORE YOU TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT THE PERSISTENT PROBLEMS THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES, THE

THINGS THAT ARE TRULY WRONG IN OUR COMMUNITY THINGS LIKE MAKE FENCE ALL TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE CAN'T BE LOSING 40,

50, 60 PEOPLE TO MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS EVERY YEAR.

SO INSTEAD I WANT YOU TO CHANGE YOUR FRAME OF REFERENCE INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS.

THINK ABOUT WHAT TREVEON SHORTER'S CALLS AS A FRAMING.

THINK ABOUT THE ASSETS, THE THINGS IN CHARLOTTE THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT, THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO CHAMPION AND CELEBRATE AND I HOPE YOU PUT ALL OF YOUR EFFORT BEHIND THEM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEN LOU BUD VALADARES AND FOLLOWED BY AL

AUSTIN ALLEN AND ONE OF MY

FIRST STEPS I FEEL LIKE I'M DOWN HERE A LOT. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR LIVES WE

LOVE YOU MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL I'M AL LOST AND FORMER CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCILMAN AGAIN LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MAYOR PRO-TEM JAMES MITCHELL FOR THE INTERIM MAYOR. JAMES BRINGS 25 YEARS OF

ELECTED OFFICIAL EXPERI SINCE YOU ELECTED HIM TO BE YOUR MAYOR PRO TEM. HE HAS DEEP INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CITY

GOVERNMENT AND THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD. JAMES HAS BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFIT AND OTHER ELECTED BODIES.

JAMES HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WHICH ELEVATED CHARLOTTE ON A NATIONAL STAGE MOST

IMPORTANTLY, JAMES CAN STEP INTO THIS ROLE ON DAY ONE WITHOUT A LEARNING CURVE.

PLEASE VOTE FOR JAMES SMUDGY WE ARE PROUD OF YOU BROTHER.

>> KEEP PUSHING. >> ALL RIGHT.

IS ANTOINE DENNARD IN THE BUILDING?

IS HE IS THERE? OKAY. WOULD YOU PLEASE COME DOWN AND

STEP YOU AND STEPHANIE JOYNER ARE YOU AS WELL PREPARED TO COME DOWN, MISS JOYNER?

THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.

29 minutesALL RIGHT. >> MR. DENNARD YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING. AS THE 2026 BOARD CHAIR FOR LIVING IN AND ALSO A PARTNER

WITH YOU TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF BROOKDALE STILL IN THEIR HOMES.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT KAREN COOK.

FOR 17 YEARS I HAVE WATCHED KERRY NO MATTER THE STATUS OR BACKGROUND PROVIDE A LEVEL OF PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM WHILE

MEETING, GREETING AND WORKING WITH EVERYONE AND TRULY TRYING TO FIND PROBLEM SOLVING SOLUTIONS TO HELP EVERYONE FOR

EXAMPLE THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT FUND SHE LED AN INVESTMENT AN INITIATIVE TO HELP RESIDENTS OF AND LIVING IN FIND JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

AND SO I PLEASE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER KERRY COOKE AS OUR NEXT ED ROMERO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHRIS JOYNER GOOD EVENING,

MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE JOYNER AND I'M HERE TO BRING THE JOY TONIGHT.

BUT I'M A BUSINESS OWNER, MINORITY AND SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE AND COMMUNITY LEADER.

I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MAYOR PRO TEM JAMES MITCHELL. I HAVE KNOWN JAMES FOR OVER 18

YEARS AND JAMES HAS ALWAYS DEMONSTRATED UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY. HE UNDERSTANDS THE CURRENT ISSUES WE FACE, THE PROCESSES

THAT DRIVE OUR GOVERNANCE AND THE KEY PLAYERS INVOLVED NO LEARNING CURVE HE OFTEN MAKES DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT MAY

NOT ALWAYS BE POPULAR YET HE REMAINS STEADFAST IN HIS COMMITMENT TO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED HIS DEDICATION WHETHER IT WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHARLOTTE BUSINESS INCLUSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUPPORTED

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO SERVED AS A PANELIST FOR THE METRO LINE FOR MINORITY CONTRACT IS ASSOCIATION.

JAMES HAS BEEN THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HE IS A LEADER WHO IS PROVEN PASSIONATE AND PREPARED.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. CHERRY'S BLACKMON AND MATTY

MARSHALL. YES. YES.

FOR THIS MAN THERE'S MATTY. OKAY. YEAH.

SO YOU JOIN US.

GOOD EVENING. I'M SURE HE'S BLACKMON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE

CARRIE COOKE IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS OUR INTERIM MAYOR.

MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW CARRIE AS A STRATEGIC LEADER WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD ACROSS SEVERAL OF CHARLOTTE'S PRIORITY AREAS.

BUT WHAT MAKES CARRIE TRULY SPECIAL IS THAT SHE IS BOTH A VISIONARY LEADER AND A NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR.

SHE UNDERSTANDS POLICY SYSTEMS AND GOVERNANCE YET REMAINS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES OF THE PEOPLE.

IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO SPEAK TO CARRIE'S LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO THE CREATION AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

LONG BEFORE HOUSING BECAME A HEADLINE ISSUE, CARRIE WAS DOING THE WORK SHE HAD TO ADVISE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS ON NOAH PRESERVATION EFFORTS

ADVOCATED FOR CHARLOTTE'S HOUSING TRUST FUND AND SERVED ON THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

SHE HAS CONVENED FAITH LEADERS PARTNERED WITH NONPROFITS LIKE THE WESTSIDE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE HER TO BE THE IDEAL CHOICE TO SERVE AS INTERIM MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. >> MARSHALL YES, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR LAST.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND YOUR SERVICE AS A MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH

CAROLINA. >> I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING ALSO THE COUNCIL

MEMBERS HERE AND THE STAFF BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE SO PART OF UPLIFTING ALL HUMANITY WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU.

I WATCH YOU ALL EVERY MONDAY COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND CELL PHONE.

SO I'M UP ON WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. AND I THINK WITH THREE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BOARD YOU'VE

DONE TREMENDOUS WORK BUT YOU DON'T OFTEN GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT ENOUGH FOR THAT.

NOW YOU'VE TAKEN ABOUT FOUR OUR MAYOR PRO TEM WHICH I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE THAT VOTE.

JAMES MARGIE MITCHELL AS THE NEXT INTERIM MAYOR I WOULDN'T

34 minutesMISS YOU IN EXPERIENCE ADDRESS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT MAGIC. >> THANK YOU. IT WAS APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GINA ESQUIVEL AND TANYA ARCHER IS A

LABOR PARTNER. >> PLEASE. THANK YOU.

I'M HERE. >> TANYA THANKS.

MISS MAY FEEL YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU ON ALL MARE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I HAVE THE SAME MAYOR LYLES.

I GREW UP WATCHING YOUR LEADS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ROB HERRINGTON.

35 minutesMY NAME IS GINA ESQUIVEL, LONG TERM COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND BUSINESS OWNER.

I KNOW ROB HERRINGTON SINCE BACK IN THE 2000S AS A RECENT IMMIGRANT.

I LOOK UP TO THOSE SHOWING UP FOR COMMUNITY IN A GENUINE WAY SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T SEEK POLITICAL GAME POWER OR EVEN VISIBILITY.

I'VE SEEN MR. HIRING TO MOVE THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY QUIETLY GET INTENTIONAL IN WHERE AND HOW THEY SHOW UP, HOW HE SHOWS UP.

ROB CAN LITIGATE ANYTHING AND WE KNOW CHARLOTTE NEEDS A STRONG NEGOTIATOR IN TERMS OF

HIS CAR CITY OR CHALLENGE WE NEED SOMEONE STEADY WHO KEEPS CHARLOTTE AUTHENTIC PERSON ALIVE.

THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT ROB HARRINGTON. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DANIEL. THANK YOU.

PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR LYLES AND CITY COUNCIL.

I'M A PRACTICING ATTORNEY HERE IN CHARLOTTE AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE MECKLENBURG BAR ASSOCIATION.

MY NAME IS TONYA ARCHER AND I'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH ROB HARRINGTON OVER MANY YEARS ON COMMITTEES AND BOARDS.

ROB ROB MAY BE A NEWER FACE TO THIS ARENA. HE'S NOT NEW TO THE CHARLOTTE AND LEGAL COMMUNITIES.

YOU'VE NOW HEARD HIM SPEAK PASSIONATELY ABOUT RESOLVING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES CURRENTLY FACING OUR CITY.

YOU'VE SEEN A SLICE OF HIS ABILITY TO MANAGE A MEETING AND TO RESOLVE CONTENTION THROUGH HIS BRAND OF OBJECTIVE, CALM AND TRANSPARENT LEADERSHIP.

AS AN ATTORNEY AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER, HE SIMULTANEOUSLY HOLDS ROLES IN CORPORATE LAW, NONPROFIT BOARDS AND CIVIC INSTITUTIONS, REFLECTS DEEP CROSS-SECTOR ENGAGEMENT.

IN FACT, MANY OF OUR REGION'S BEST CIVIC LEADERS HAVE SERVED AS LEADERS WITHIN THE LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION INCLUDING DISTRICT ATTORNEY SPENCER MERRIWEATHER,

SHIRLEY FULTON, ARETHA BLAKE, TAYARI BAKER. TONY LATHROP. MEL WATT.

FRANK EMERY, DIANE BAILEY AND LONG TIME ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY THOMAS POWERS.

ROB HARRINGTON STANDS AMONG THESE NAMED LEADERS.

AND WHAT SETS HIM APART IS THAT HIS ROLE THE EXTENSION OF HIS LONG HISTORY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THEY SUPPORT ROB HARRINGTON, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MARCIA

BARNES TO TANYA ADAMS ADVANCE.

THANK YOU. A GOOD EVENING. HELLO. MY NAME IS MARCIA BARNES.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES SOMEONE EFFECTIVE IN PUBLIC LEADERSHIP IT COMES DOWN TO TWO THINGS A SERVANT'S HEART AND THE ABILITY TO GET RESULTS.

KERRY COOK HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED BOTH.

FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES KERRY HAS INVESTED IN CHARLOTTE BY BRINGING TOGETHER BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, EDUCATORS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SOLVE COMPLEX CHALLENGES.

SHE HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO OUR CITY'S FUTURE.

MANY HERE CAN AGREE THAT THIS IS KERRY'S CALLING THROUGH EMPOWERMENT.

SHE HAS HELPED MORE YOUNG WOMEN,MORE YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS, CONFIDENCE AND OPPORTUNITY.

AS FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREENLIGHT FUND CHARLOTTE, SHE IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS AND BROUGHT PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, KERRY HAS SHOWN UP FOR THIS COMMUNITY LONG BEFORE SEEKING ANY TITLE.

SHE LEADS WITH HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, COMPASSION AND COMPETENCE.

THAT COMBINATION IS RARE AND IS WHY I STRONGLY SUPPORT KERRY COOK FOR MAYOR PRO TEM. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

Q. >> GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. GREETINGS. I'M TITANIA ADAMS.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE HISTORIC WEST HAM PARTNERS.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, I'M A NATIVE CHARLOTTE TEEN 62 YEARS AND 11 MONTHS I WANT TO RAISE HERE.

>> I'M MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL AT CHARLOTTE REC RECREATION CENTER PLAYING AND LAID ON IT IN THE PEWS THE EASTERN WALL

CHURCH HE SERVED THE COMMUNITY THEN HE SERVED THE CHURCH THEN AND HE YOU'VE HEARD ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT HIS BODY

OF WORK WHERE HE'S BEEN INVOLVED, HOW HE'S BEEN INVOLVED.

>> HERE'S WHAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD.

HE IS TRULY A SERVANT LEADER BECAUSE EVEN WHEN GOING THROUGH PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES, WHETHER IT WAS RAISING TWO BEAUTIFUL GIRLS WHICH YOU DID A GREAT JOB

WITH THE BLESSINGS GOING THROUGH THE MARRIAGE TRIALS THAT WE'VE ALL GONE THROUGH AND EVEN LOSING YOUR MOTHER AND

THEN GOING THROUGH YOUR OWN HEALTH BATTLE WITH CANCER WHICH I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK WHEN YOU FLAT ON YOUR BACK AND YOU GOING THROUGH CHEMO AND YOU WOULD

RATHER ALMOST BE DEAD AND GO THROUGH IT. >> YOU DID IT WITH GRACE AND STYLE. I REPRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM AND IF YOU WILL NOT BRING HIM IN

THE IN KIRKUK IS IT SHE'S THE

FUTURE IS THAT THAT THAT WAS

THE PHRASE IS YOU DON'T GET A DOUBLE DIP I DON'T THINK YOU HEAR ALL RIGHT YOU KNOW SHE'S A ROCK STAR GRANDMA SO LET'S GO

WITH S.Y. MASON WATSON AND CARLOS DAVIS.

>> DAVIS AND CARLOS MILLER AND

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LET ME YEAH.

>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS I AM S.Y. MASON WATSON

AND ON BEHALF OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS OF THE MECKLENBURG COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS PRESIDENT AT THIS AUSPICIOUS

ORGANIZATION. WE ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY REGARDING OUR MAYOR PRO TEM

RECENT CONTROVERSIAL VOTE AND EARLY CONCERNS REGARDING OUR G LEAGUE.

>> HOWEVER, THIS IS A CRUCIAL TIME FOR THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND ALL OF US WHO CALL THE QUEEN CITY HOME WHO WORK HERE

RAISE FAMILIES HERE, BUILD BUSINESSES HERE, BECOME EDUCATED HERE, WHO VOTE HERE AND ENGAGE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

WE NEED CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP AND THE ASSURANCE THAT OUR CITY WILL PROSPER FROM A MAYOR THAT WILL WORK TO PROMOTE WHAT IS BEST FOR HER CITIZENS.

WE SUBMIT THERE IS ONLY ONE APPLICANT WHO IS BEST SUITED TO SEAMLESSLY ASSUME THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF CHARLOTTE AND WORK

THAT IS MAYOR PRO TEM JAMES MITCHELL AND THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. >> HI, MAYOR. HI.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? WHAT'S GOING ON? EVERYTHING.

ANNOUNCER HOW Y'ALL DOING? >> CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR?

I WANT YOU TO REPEAT AFTER ME. ACCESSIBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY THAT IS WHAT MAYOR

PRO TEM JAMES MITCHELL HAS DONE FOR ME AS A MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND DONE FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

HE'S MADE HIMSELF ACCESSIBLE NOT ONLY TO ME AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND GIVING ME AND MANY OTHERS OPPORTUNITIES BUT EVEN

MORE IMPORTANTLY ACCESSIBILITY TO HIM AS A LOT OF YOU ALL ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE DONE FOR ME HE'S ALSO DONE SO I IMPLORE ALL

OF YOU ALL AS HE HAS DONE THAT FOR ME PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AS HE SITS SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU ALL AND HOPEFULLY WORK TOGETHER

WITH YOU ALL AS THE INTERIM MAYOR. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COMMISSIONER FERRIS FOLLOWED BY

MARISA KUMAR.

>> MM HMM. SHE WAS IN THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE WITH HER? YES. THIS WHAT ABOUT ME?

MARISSA? >> GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR ALLOWS COUNCIL MEMBERS MY NAME IS COMMISSIONER FERRIS, OWNER OF ANOINTED FLOORING IN CHARLOTTE.

WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS OVER 20 YEARS AND SERVE THE SOUTHEAST.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL WHO HAS SUPPORTED MY BUSINESS FOR OVER 11 YEARS.

>> YEARS AGO A CONTRACTOR USED OUR COMPANY'S CREDENTIALS FOR AN AWARD OF A PROJECT BUT REFUSED TO HIRE US.

WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL HE PICKED UP THE PHONE, CALLED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION OF THEN CHARLOTTE

HOUSING AUTHORITY WHICH IS NOW OLYMPIA. AND HE GOT IT RESOLVED.

HE DIDN'T LISTEN. >> HE TOOK ACTION. BEYOND THAT, HE'S CONSISTENTLY CONNECTED ME TO VALUABLE

RESOURCES AND GIVEN SOLID BUSINESS ADVICE.

THIS KIND OF ADVOCACY IS NEEDED IN THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND OF OF ALL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE'RE SERVING THE PEOPLE.

>> THANK YOU. HI. >> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU, MAYOR MAYOR LYLES FOR YOUR SERVICE AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. MY NAME IS MORRIS KUMAR.

I'M A PAST CHAIR OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A FORMER PRESIDENT OF NOBLE.

I WORK ALONGSIDE BUSINESS OWNERS, EXECUTIVES, ENTREPRENEURS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN OUR CITY.

A DECADE AGO CHARLOTTE WAS LISTED 50TH IN ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND MORE RECENTLY THAT RANKING HAS RISEN TO 38.

SMALL BUSINESSES ACCOUNT FOR 50% OF JOBS IN AMERICA. AND A RECENT SMALL BUSINESS DATA AUDIT AND INTELLIGENCE

REPORT FOR CHARLOTTE SHOWED THE BANK THAT SMALL BUSINESSES IN CHARLOTTE WITH FEWER THAN 500 EMPLOYEES ACCOUNT FOR 680,000 JOBS 680,000 JOBS.

STRENGTHENING THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THESE SMALL BUSINESSES IS CRITICAL TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES

AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

>> I SUPPORT MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL BECAUSE HE'S SPECIAL. HE'S ACCESSIBLE AND WILL FOCUS

ONLY ON THIS BECAUSE HE'S NOT STANDING FOR MAYOR AFTERWARDS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE TAMMY NICHOLS AND AND JEFF AND SARA

LEE.

THIS IS HELLO MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS TAMMY NICHOLS AND I HAVE A QUESTION.

DO YOU THINK YOUR SKILLS ON CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER MAYOR THAN AN OUTSIDER WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH

STAFF WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY?

WHAT ABOUT COUNCIL PRIORITIES THAT YOU CREATED?

WHO WOULD KNOW THAT BETTER THAN YOU?

I COULD GO ON AND ON. BUT THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING MAYOR PRO TEM JAMES MITCHELL BECAUSE WHEN YOU VOTE FOR JAMES

YOU'RE NOT JUST VOTING FOR THE NEXT MAYOR BUT YOU'RE VOTING FOR YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

PLEASE. >> GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR LYLES AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE SLATE AND I AM A NEW RESIDENT TO CHARLOTTE.

IT DID NOT TAKE ME LONG TO KNOW JAMES MITCHELL.

I HAVE WITNESSED THE IMPACT OF HIS LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HE SUPPORTS.

MY DAUGHTER NICOLE GRACE HAS SERVED ON BOTH THE CHARLOTTE BUSINESS INCLUSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE

LEADERSHIP WITH ELBOW. >> ONE THING BECAME CLEAR JAMES MITCHELL IS THE LEADER WHO

CONSISTENTLY SHOWS UP, LISTENS AND SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE WORKING TO STRENGTHEN THIS CITY.

LATER SHEP IS MEASURED NOT ONLY BY WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH BUT BY

TRUST AND RESPECT YOU EARN FROM OTHERS.

JAMES MITCHELL HAS EARNED THAT TRUST.

THANK YOU. THANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SOLEDAD.

THANKS SO. >> MADAM CLERK.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO RECEIVE AN OVERVIEW AND ENTERED IN INSTRUCTIONS OF OUR BALLOT PROCESS FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL WHERE THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE

SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

THE FOLLOWING FIVE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR AND HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE BALLOT BEFORE YOU.

THOSE NAMES ARE AS FOLLOWS CAROL COGDILL HARRY COOK,

ROBERT HARRINGTON JAMES MITCHELL JR AND CALEB.

>> THE ADDRESS. THE FIRST CANDIDATE TO RECEIVE SIX COUNCIL MEMBER VOTES WILL

BE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT BY THIS COUNCIL IF NO CANDIDATE

REACHES SIX VOTES ON THE FIRST BALLOT.

THE TWO HIGHEST VOTE GETTERS WILL PROCEED TO A SECOND BALLOT AND ALL OTHERS WILL BE ELIMINATED.

IF THERE IS A TIE FOR THE SECOND HIGHEST VOTER VOTE GETTER EACH OF THOSE TIED FOR SECOND PLACE WILL PARTICIPATE

IN A RUNOFF TO DETERMINE WHO WILL COMPLETE AGAINST THE HIGHEST VOTE GETTER.

IF NECESSARY, ALL VOTES FOLLOWING THE SECOND BALLOT WILL BE CONDUCTED BY BALLOT.

AT THIS TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH NCG S 168 DASH 63 THE COUNCIL

WILL NOW VOTE TO SELECT THE NEXT MAYOR BY APPOINTMENT.

AT THIS TIME PLEASE MARK YOUR BALLOT FOR ONE CANDIDATE.

AFTER MAKING YOUR SELECTION PLEASE SIGN YOUR BALLOT AND PLACE IT IN THE ENVELOPE AND HAND IT TO THE CLERK.

AS TIMES WILL COME ACROSS AROUND THE DAIS STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, IT

SHOULD BE NOTED STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

MOVING ACROSS THE DAIS COUNCIL MAY PROCEED WITH THE REMAINDER OF ITS BUSINESS WHILE THE CLERK'S OFFICE TALLIES THE VOTE.

THANK YOU.

NUMBER EIGHT. >> OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW THIS TO BE THE PART OF OUR PROCESS AND

WHAT WE'RE DOING AND SO I'M PRETTY MUCH SEE THE CLERK IS HANDLING THIS AND PROVIDING IT FOR FURTHER ACTION.

>> SO IT'S JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. THE ATTORNEY DID JUST NOTE WE CAN CONTINUE SO THAT MEANS WE CAN GO TO NUMBER EIGHT WHICH IS THE PUBLIC HEARING CORRECT? >> CORRECT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY. DO YOU WANT GO TO THE PUBLIC

HEARING JUST. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MISS MAY FEEL ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE CONTINUE TO

OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DILWORTH METHODIST CHURCH SO THAT SOUTH HISTORIC LANDMARK

DESIGNATION AND THEN WE'LL JUST KEEP GOING? YEAH.

YOU KNOW IF THE COURT FINISH ALL THAT UP SO THE DID EVERYONE UNDERSTAND AND SO WE'RE NOW

OPEN TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DO I HAVE A MOTION HEARING, SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR TO SPEAK? WE DO THAT THEN WE CAN HAVE ONE

PEAKER WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND SPEAKER THAT WE DID NOT GET TO. SORRY.

IS THIS JEFF HERNANDO? >> THERE YOU ARE.

THANK YOU SO MR..

MR. WARREN HERE FOR.

>> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL. SO AWESOME TO BE HERE WITH YOU ON THIS HISTORIC NIGHT AND NOW WE GET TO TALK ABOUT A HISTORIC BUILDING.

I AM THE OWNER OF LYDIA HALL AND ON CLEVELAND LLC THANK YOU

FOR CONSIDERING THE DESIGNATION OF THE DE WORTH METHODIST METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK. JAMIE AND I HAVE ALWAYS

BELIEVED THAT OUR BUILDINGS TELL A STORY AND CREATE A UNIQUE SENSE OF PLACE.

THEY CAN BE CHALLENGING TO PRESERVE BUT THEY ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY REWARDING.

WE ARE HONORED TO SERVE AS STEWARDS OF THE DOORS METHODIST CHURCH THE OLDEST CHURCH BUILDING IN DILWORTH AND A CHERISHED PART OF THIS

COMMUNITY'S FABRIC FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS.

OUR HOPE IS THAT THIS BUILDING CONTINUES TO STAND AS AN ICONIC GATEWAY INTO HISTORIC DOVER FROM THE RAPIDLY GROWING SOUTH END.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT IT TO REMAIN A GATHERING PLACE AND AN ANCHOR FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

AS CHARLOTTE CONTINUES TO GROW AND THE HISTORIAN NERI PACE PRESERVING PLACES LIKE THIS BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

THESE STORIED LANDMARK OAKS REMIND US WHERE WE CAME FROM.

CONNECT US TO OUR SHARED HISTORY AND HELP MAKE CHARLOTTE THE SPECIAL CITY. IT IS TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR HELPING PRESERVE THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF CHARLOTTE'S HERITAGE. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO CIRCUIT AND THEN A SECTION. WE HAVE A MOTION ALREADY MADE.

I'M SORRY I COULDN'T HEAR YOU. >> I WANT TO MAKE.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING IN A SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. >> THE MOTION. WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE HAD A SPEAKER.

NOW IT IS IF THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS MAYFIELD? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SO THIS IS A CONSISTENT CONCERN.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A THIS ALONG WITH TWO OTHER HEARINGS TONIGHT ALONG WITH THE ADOPTION

VERSUS UTILIZE IN THE PROCESS WHERE WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN AT THE NEXT MEETING IS WHEN WE HAVE

DECISION I THINK IS CONCERNING WHETHER IT'S THIS DESIGNATION OR THE OTHER TWO WHEN WE HAVE BOTH ITEMS ON THE SAME AGENDA.

I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THIS ONCE THAT DOES NOT CREATE THE SPACE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

TO HAVE A HEARING ON THE SAME EVENING AS A DECISION VERSUS THE PUBLIC HEARING BE IN A SEPARATE DECISION LIKE WE DO

WITH OUR ZONING WHERE WE HAVE A HEARING AND LATER WILL HAVE THE DECISION.

I AM NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE PRESENTING TO US.

ANY DISCUSSION WHERE WE ARE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING AND A DECISION ON IT ON THE SAME EVENING IN THE SAME AGENDA ITEM.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS OF MS.. MAYFIELD. I WANT TO WARN OF MADAM MAYOR. I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT.

I SEE COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON'S HAND IS UP BUT I DID CONFER WITH THE ATTORNEY AND WE NEED TO CLOSE THE HEARING AND MAKE A MOTION BEFORE WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE PARTICULAR ITEM. >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, MADAM.

>> SO YOU HAD A MOTION IN A SECOND? YEAH.

SO NOW MOVING TO DISCUSSION. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO OUR NEXT STEP ON THIS ONE WOULD BE A VOTE THE VOTE BECAUSE WHERE ARE WE DISCUSSING

THIS MISQUOTE? >> I THINK I'M SORRY.

THE MOTION WAS TO CLEAR OUR HAND UP AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT FOR THE VOTE TO CLOSE IT THOUGH BECAUSE THERE'S A DOES JOHNSON DID YOU HAVE THOUGHT YOU AND I'M WAITING FOR THE ATTORNEY TO

SIT HERE IN CITY AND MAKE A MOTION FOR ACTION AND THEN THE DISCUSSION FOLLOWS THAT MOTION AND IT COULD GO.

>> YES, I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION TO CLOSE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC HEARING THE MOTION IN A SECOND VOTE ON THE CLOSE OF PUBLIC HEARING.

>> OKAY.

SO WE ALREADY HAVE FIRST AND SECOND.

>> I'M TRYING TO LISTEN BUT THAT I HEAR MORE THE MORE VOICES THAN I HAVE EARS OUT

THERE WITH A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COULD WE VOTE ON THAT SO THAT THE PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED? >> RIGHT. OKAY.

MS.. MS. MAYOR, WERE YOU. OKAY.

SO SO THOSE HAVE THE VOTE ON THIS LIKE ALL IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WANT NOT OPPOSING. OKAY. >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND NOW WITH THAT MS. MOTION MADAM MAYOR, OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HEARING BEFORE THE APPROVAL BUT CITY ATTORNEY I

NEED TO MAKE A MOTION OR SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. CORRECT? YES.

O I MAKE A MOTION FOR PART B OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JUNE 22ND 2012 SIX.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

THAT'S JAMES JOHNSON. THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE CITY MANAGER FOR REGARDING WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD FOR THE CONCERN SHE SHARED.

SHE DID SHARE THAT LAST MONTH.

I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT THAT IS OUR PRACTICE, OUR COMMON PRACTICE WITH ALL OTHER MOTIONS. >> SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?

SURE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS WAY HISTORICALLY THE CITY HAS HANDLED THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH EXCEPTION OF DURING COVID.

SO THE GOVERNOR AT THAT TIME PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR JURISDICTIONS TO DO EXACTLY

WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD IS SAYING AFTER THAT WAS LIFTED. WE JUST WENT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS PROCESS.

BUT IF IT'S THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY. IT'S A MOTION. OKAY.

SO I MEAN YOU IN I MEAN I WOULD THINK WHEN YOU SAY THIS IS THE WAY WE HANDLE IT YOU JUST MEAN THESE PROPERTY DECISIONS

BECAUSE OTHER HEARINGS IF WE HAVE A HEARING ON THE BUSINESS AGENDA AGAIN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COVID, THIS IS THE WAY THAT

WE'VE HANDLED THESE PARTICULAR HEARINGS.

BUT AGAIN, IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TWO STEP PROCESS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO. OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM THEN?

I MEAN I CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ONE UNTIL NEXT.

WELL, NO, WE SEPTEMBER IS ALL RIGHTS FOR SEPTEMBER.

WE DEFERRED THE DECISION TONIGHT THEN IT WILL BE THE NEXT BUSINESS MEETING WOULD BE SEPTEMBER, AUGUST, AUGUST AS WE OFTEN DO WE HAVE A MOTION WE

DON'T KNOW. OKAY I MEAN I'LL MAKE THE MOTION IF I GET A SECOND I GUESS SECOND YEAH I'D LIKE TO

MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER TO AUGUST BEFORE THE SIDE UNTIL THE DECISION. THE DECISION? YES.

SO WE'VE GOT SEVERAL MORE THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME KIND OF CALIBER OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND I WONDER IF WE COULD

DO THEM IN A WAY THAT ALL OF THEM ARE DONE AND INCLUSIVE BUT OKAY SO THEN A MOTION TO DEFER ALL OF THE DECISIONS AND UNTIL

AUGUST MARE WHEN MARRIED YES I WOULD LIKE US WE DON'T I WOULD

LIKE US TO HAVE A PROCESS MOVING FORWARD SO WE'RE NOT JUST PICKING ONE ITEM AT A TIME OR TWO ITEMS RANDOMLY SO IF WE

CAN REFER THIS TO THE COMMITTEE WHERE WE COME UP WITH A PROCESS AND IF IF IT'S THE COUNCIL'S WILL TO HAVE A HEARING AND

DECISION A MONTH APART, WE CAN DO THAT.

I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING IT SORT OF ON THE FLY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ESPECIALLY

HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION BECAUSE TIME IS MONEY THAT'S FAIR.

>> SO IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO MOVE THIS TO THE B ANY COMMITTEE FOR A PROCESS SO THAT WE HAVE

CONSISTENCY MOVING FORWARD? >> YEAH I ACCEPT IT.

IT'S JUST THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MAYFIELD HAS SHARED THAT CONCERN CONSISTENTLY AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT COUNCIL'S CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED.

SO I DO I WILL ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT. >> THANK YOU.

SECOND ALL RIGHT, SO THEN WHAT HAPPENS? >> WHAT'S HAPPENED?

SO THAT WAS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WHICH WAS TO DEFER THERE WAS A MOTION TO DEFER AND THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT SO VOTE ON THE

MOTION TO DEFER IT OR SCUSE ME MOTION TO SEND IT TO BCR FOR FURTHER STUDY SO THAT THAT'S THE FIRST MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? I DID SECONDED. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. >> SO BUT ON THAT THE CENTER I'M SORRY I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M VERY CLEAR I HEAR THE COMMITTEE REFERRAL THIS SPECIFIC ITEM THOUGH IT'S

DEFERRED THIS SPECIFIC ITEM AND REFER THE BROADER ISSUE TO COMMITTEE OR NO NO.

>> WHAT IS THE BROADER ISSUE NOW JUST THE BROADER BROADER ISSUE THE VOTE TODAY AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM?

>> YEAH, THAT'S OKAY. >> OKAY.

MOTION IN THE SECOND IS TIME TO VOTE.

OKAY ON TO RIVER RIGHT WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE FOR THE NEXT THIS BEFORE WE CAN SEND IT TO LEGAL TO THE DILWORTH METHODIST

CHURCH SO HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND MADAM MAYOR ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED INFORMATION AT

THIS POINT OF INFORMATION WE HAVE A AN AMENDMENT AN AMENDED VOTE TO SEND THIS THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT MS..

MAYO'S BROUGHT UP NUMEROUS TIMES OF HAVING BOTH A AND B THE HEARING AND THE VOTE SENT TO BGEA.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON NOW NOT ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT. SO YOU DO HAVE A FIRST MOTION AND A SECOND SO WE CAN VOTE TO SEND THIS TO BTR RIGHT NOW.

>> SO YOU CALL FOR THE VOTE.

WELL I DID BUT IT'S NOT DO YOU WANT TO VOTE SO I DID.

SO DO YOU ALL IN FAVOR ANYONE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE DO HAVE SO NOW WE'RE BACK MADAM MAYOR TO THE MY ORIGINAL MOTION WHICH WAS TO MOVE TO

ADOPT AND I AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT PART B AND IT WAS PROPERLY SECONDED RIGHT SO WE'VE DONE AND IF YOU LOOK AT

THE REST OF YOUR AGENDA THERE ARE SOME OTHERS THAT ARE DOING A BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR GENERAL FUNDS AND OTHERS BUT WE'RE

GOING TO PASS THAT UNTIL YOU HAVE A NEW PROCESS RIGHT STEP ONE AND WE CAN VOTE ON AGENDA ITEM. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO THE NEXT ITEM LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER 8 TO 88.

>> WE STILL WON'T BE AND B WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE BUSINESS AGENDA FOR I'M SORRY 13 IS

THERE MOTION MEETING 80 8DBDB YES JUST BE YOU HAVE YOUR MOTION YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A

SECOND YOU SEE THE MOTION IN A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPRENTICESHIP BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

ANY OPPOSED AND I WANT TO POSE HERE IN NO OPPOSITION AND

OPPOSES SO WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT HOUSE THAT WE'RE HAVING THE FORD HOUSE AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK ANY ISSUES OR

QUESTIONS WITH US MORE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IF THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, MADAM CLERK SECOND, IF YOU HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC

HEARING AND IF THERE WAS DISCUSSION IT WILL NEXT CALL AND EVALUATE ALL IN FAVOR FAVOR

RAISE YOUR HAND. ANYONE OPPOSE MS. MAYFIELD THANK YOU MS.. >> MCPHAIL I WAS RAISING MY HAND IN SUPPORT OF CLOSING IN

4 minutesCLOSING THIS ONE, THE ORIGINAL QUESTION OF CLOSING THE HEARING IS UNANIMOUS. OKAY, I GOTCHA.

I WILL MAKE UP THEIR MOTION TO OKAY MOVE TO ADOPT ADOPT B

WHICH IS TO APPROVE SECONDED. ALL RIGHT.

AND IT IS GOING TO HAVE A MOTION AND OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HANDS. ANYONE OPPOSE THIS MAYFIELD SO THAT COMMITTEE OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO I'M ABLE TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A NUMBER OF COUNTIES.

>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS, MADAM CLERK MADAM CLERK HOW FAR AWAY ALONG ON THE TALLY OR DO WE HAVE TIME TO

TALK MORE ABOUT YOU HAVE TIME TO IF YOU WANT TO FINISH THESE HEARINGS THEN WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

WE HAD MOST OF THE MOTION.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION IN A SECOND.

A SECOND ALREADY IS WHEN WE'RE NOT HEARING ON THIS AND WHEN Y'ALL THE MOTION SO THERE WAS A MOTION TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IT WAS SECOND HERE AND NOW MADAM MAYOR, I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE OR YES ON THE SPEAKER AT THE MOTION TO A PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT AN

ANNEXATION ORDINANCE WITH EFFECTIVE DATE OF JUNE 22ND 2026 TO EXTEND THE CORPORATE

LIMITS TO INCLUDE THIS PROPERTY AND ASSIGN IT TO THE CITY DISTRICT COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE ALL IN FAVOR TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT THERE

IS ALREADY A MOTION IN A SECOND AND ONE OPPOSED TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SO YEAH, MOVED TO ADOPT B TO APPROVE.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE'VE JUST GOT A SECOND TO ADOPT IN THE TEN B ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ANY

OPPOSITION HEARING ALL IN FAVOR.

>> ALL IN FAVOR ANY OPPOSED YOU WANT TO POST MAYFIELD OKAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

6 minutesSO LET'S GO BACK TO THE CLERK AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.

>> WE JUST GOT TO GOING TO GIVE THAT HAVE ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A PACKAGE THAT WAS JUST SENT TO ME AND I'VE JUST OPEN IT UP AND IT READS NO ONE RECEIVED SIX VOTES.

TURN THIS OVER NOW TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE NEXT STEPS AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL, YOU WILL YOU WILL RECEIVE A ANOTHER BALLOT.

YOU WILL ONCE AGAIN NEED TO SELECT ONE CANDIDATE FOR THIS RUNOFF BALLOT AND THE NAMES ON

THE RUNOFF BALLOT ARE THE NAMES ARE KERRY COOK AND ROBERT

HARRINGTON.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET ME LET ME LET ME BE CLEAR. I'M SORRY.

SO NO ONE RECEIVED SIX I WANT TO READ THE TALLY OUT. >> OKAY? OKAY.

OH, WE GOT TO DO THAT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. SO I WAS OKAY.

HAROLD COGDILL RECEIVED TWO VOTES.

HARRY COOK RECEIVED THREE VOTES.

ROBERT HARRINGTON RECEIVED FOUR VOTES.

JAMES MITCHELL RECEIVED TWO VOTES.

>> SO YOU'RE TO HIGHEST VOTE GETTERS ARE ROBERT HARRINGTON WITH FOUR, KERRY COOK WITH THREE.

NEITHER OF THEM RECEIVED SIX VOTES SO HITS COUNCIL VOTING AGAIN TO DETERMINE THE HIGHEST

8 minutesVOTE GETTER SOMEONE WILL NEED TO REACH SIX IN ORDER TO BE APPOINTED THAT CLEAR IS MAN THANK YOU.

PLEASE SELECT ONE NAME ONE NAME AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DO

ONCE YOU'VE SELECTED YOUR CANDIDATE YOU CAN PROCEED WITH THE REMAINDER OF YOUR BUSINESS

WHILE WE TALLY ALL OF THE SHE

GIVES ME STATEMENTS SHE MAKES

THESE I LIKE TO TURN TO AS IT YEAH SHE JUST SITTING AND SHE

TRIED TO HE SAID SHE DOESN'T OH SHE SAID YOU DON'T HAVE MY FEELINGS I HAVE TO DO IT WITH RETIREES I MEAN DOES SHE I MEAN

SHE'S SINCE MY FIELD HAS HER BALLOT SHE'S ALREADY MARKED IT. LET'S SEE THE MARKET. >> SHE HAS A SUBMITTED TERM. IT IS SHE HAS TO SUBMIT THAT.

SO WHEN SHE LEFT THE DICE SHE

SIGNED IT. SO THIS IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE KILLED.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A MAJOR SPEAKING THE

POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION.

YOU CAN CONTINUE TO MADAM

MAYOR, IF IT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE, YOU CAN PROCEED WITH THE REMAINDER OF YOUR BUSINESS UNTIL THE TALLY THE FATALITY. >> SO WHAT'S HAPPENING?

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO ITEM 12 PALETTE REAL RED LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM AND ORDINANCE REVISION.

OUR NEXT POLICY ITEM IS FOR THIS ITEM AND FOR ITEM 12 DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT A ADOPT

A RESOLUTION AND APPROVING SAFETY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO IMPLEMENT A PALLET AUTOMATED RED LIGHT

RUNNING ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND A B TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING

THOSE AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 14 ARTICLE FOUR OF THE CITY CODE.

>> SO I AND B SECONDLY I HAVE A MOTION FOR BOTH A AND B.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS AND THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO FIRST OF FOREMOST THANK THE MEMBERS OF MY COMMITTEE OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE WHICH ARE SEE THEM AS MIRROR OF MYSELF.

I SEE A METRO L C M GRAHAM AND C M DRIGGS AND WE WORKED PRETTY ARDUOUSLY ON THAT ON THIS

PARTICULAR LINE ITEM GIVEN OUR VISION ZERO GOALS AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC AROUND THE

INJURIES AND UNFORTUNATELY DEATHS AS IT RELATES TO THE HIT KILLER ACCIDENTS AND SO WE'VE WE'VE DONE GREAT RESEARCH WITH

OUR PEER CITIES BOTH HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

AND WE LANDED ON THIS PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL ATTACK OUR OUR HIGHEST OUR HIGHEST TEN INTERSECTIONS THAT

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE THESE ACCIDENTS AND SO WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WE ALSO ARE AS WE STAND UP THIS

PROGRAM WE'RE ALSO STANDING UP A DATA DRIVEN PERSPECTIVE SO WE'LL GET CONSTANT UPDATES AS IT RELATES TO THE ACCIDENTS,

THE POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS IN OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY TWEAK AS WE GO THROUGH THIS 12 MONTH PILOT.

SO LIKE TO THANK MY COMMITTEE FOR THEIR GREAT WORK ON THIS AND HOPEFULLY THE COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT SO WE CAN ADVANCE

SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY STRONG ISSUE WITHIN OUR CITY. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT BUSINESS IS ABOUT TIME TRAVEL AND OH, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS.

YES. >> I THINK IS SO POPULAR I THOUGHT VOTING WAS LIKE I DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WAS GOING TO BE OPPOSED BUT I ME TRY.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S A YES.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. OKAY.

AND WE HAVE A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR ANYONE OPPOSE MS. JOHNSON? >> DID YOU HAVE YOUR. I DID. I'M IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY.

13 minutesSO NOW THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM B ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE OF I'M SORRY WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE

INTO THE BUSINESS SECTION OF OUR AGENDA FOR ITEM 13.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,000 FROM APPRENTICESHIP AND SEE NOR

AND NOR IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES, APPRENTICESHIPS AND THAT'S ITEM

A AND ITEM B IS ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $12,000 TO THE GENERAL GRANTS FUND MOVE

TO APPROVE A AND B A MOTION FOR A AND B IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, WE WILL GO ON TO OKAY.

>> ALL IN FAVOR COULD I COULD COME IN MOTION ALL IN FAVOR. NOT A MOTION.

I'M SORRY I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.

CAN I BEFORE WE VOTE I THANK YOU.

>> I JUST WANT IT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MR. ROTTEN.

14 minutesJAMES AND I HAD THE ABILITY AND THE PLEASURE TO GO OUT AND SPEND TIME WITH OUR SOLID WASTE WORKERS LAST WEEK AND THEY

PRESENTED ME WITH THEIR STRATEGIES, THEIR AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY NEED FUNDING AS WELL AS HOW THEY

ACTUALLY SUPPORT AND UNDERGIRD THEIR EMPLOYEES FROM HAVING A FOOD BANK RIGHT THERE ON THE PREMISES TO WORKERS RECEIVING

THEIR GED AND BEING USHERED THROUGH PROGRAMS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO THEY REALLY LEAN IN AND

RODNEY DOES A FANTASTIC JOB NEXT YEAR AROUND THIS TIME HOPEFULLY A MONTH PRIOR TO WE WILL LEAN INTO THEM AND AS IT

RELATES TO BUDGET OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE WITH NEARLY A MILLION PEOPLE THEY ONLY HAVE 12 STREET

SWEEPERS AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THE DISTRICT REPS BUT I'M CONSTANTLY GETTING REQUESTS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS ASKING WHY ARE THE STREETS SWEPT MORE

15 minutesFREQUENTLY WITH 12TH STREET SWEEPERS THEY CAN ONLY HIT ONE AREA ON AN ANNUAL BASIS JUST

BASED ON OUR FOOTPRINT AND SO THEY HAVE SOME OTHER NEEDS AS IT RELATES TO TRUCKS AND TECHNOLOGY FEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO A GREAT LEADER.

THEY'RE REALLY LEANING INTO HIS EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU.

I'M SURE THEY WILL APPRECIATE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO ITEM OH IF WE VOTED ON THIS ONE, LEAVE LET'S GO AHEAD AND SAY ALL RIGHT, I'LL FAVOR ALL

IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED SO ANYONE NOT OPPOSE.

>> ALL RIGHT SO OUR NEXT BUSINESS ITEM IS FOR AN INITIAL FINDINGS OF RESOLUTION OF 2026 STORM WATER CONSTRUCTION PERIOD FINANCING FOR ITEM 14.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN INITIATIVE AN INITIAL FINDING RESOLUTION THAT MAKES CERTAIN

STATEMENTS OF FACT CONCERNING THE STORM WATER CONSTRUCTION PERIOD FINANCING AND ADOPT A, B AND C SECOND MOTION FOR A, B

AND C ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE ALL IN FAVOR ANYONE OPPOSED? SO WE WILL GO TO THAT.

THE NEXT ONE IS OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS THE NEXT BUSINESS ITEMS IS FOR THAT AND IT'S FOR ITEM 15 IS THERE A

MOTION NOW THAT MAY MOVE APPROVE A 12 SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL FROM A THROUGH F ANY DISCUSSION?

ALL RIGHT. PURSUANT TO GENERAL STATUTE 168 US 70 5AI MUST RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS VOTE. I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID.

IT SEEMS TO YEAH RECUSAL CUZ MYSELF OR SO ARE YOURSELF. THANK YOU.

I WAS LIKE WHY WOULD ANYBODY ACCUSE ME RIGHT NOW? >> YEAH WHAT'S THE POINT?

SO YES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE OF VICTORIA WATLINGTON SO ALL IN FAVOR?

>> OH NO MOTION NECESSARY. NO MOTION NECESSARY IS RECUSAL CUZ. >> OH YOU'RE GOING TO RECUSE YOURSELF. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT LET'S GO THAT THE NEXT ITEM SO THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S THE VOTE ON THE NEXT ITEM I MEAN THE ITEM THAT WE HAVE THE ITEM PAPER OUT THE WELL HERE WE GO A THROUGH IF

THAT'S ALL WE GO ON ALL OF READY FOR THAT.

SO ANYONE HAVE PROPOSED A THROUGH ANY A FAVOR ALL IN FAVOR.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> OKAY YES ALL RIGHT THE NEXT BUSINESS IDEA IS FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUND REFERENDUM FOR ITEM 16.

IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE SUCH OF THE THREE BOND ORDERS REQUIRED FOR A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND REFERENDUM

WHICH INCLUDES $280 MILLION OF TRANSPORTATION BONDS, $20 MILLION OF NEIGHBORHOOD

IMPROVEMENT BONDS AND 125 MILLION OF HOUSING BONDS DO WE

HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A AND B SO I HAVE A MOTION FOR A AND B IS THERE ANYONE THAT HAS AS IT WAS DISCUSSION OR NOT MS.

WATLINGTON OR TO ONE 6870 5 A.M. RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS VOTE.

ALL RIGHT THERE'S A RECUSAL WITH MS. WATLINGTON ANYTHING ELSE ANYONE ELSE YOU WERE PREPARED TO VOTE?

ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND. I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE THINGS EASY IS AND THIS WHO'S OPPOSED?

NO ONE IS OF COURSE ONE OPPOSED. >> SO I DON'T HAVE ANY OPPOSED.

OKAY. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS UNIVERSITY CITY MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT BOUNDARY EXPANSION THE NEXT BUSINESS ITEM IS FOR THAT

UNIVERSITY CITY BOUNDARY EXPANSION FOR ITEM 17 IS THERE THEIR MOTION FOR APPROVAL? >> SO I'M I'M A JOHNSON SECOND

SECOND I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION HEARING NONE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION ANYONE OPPOSE THAT

HEARING? >> ALL RIGHT 18 THE NEXT ITEM IS TO ACCEPT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FUNDING FOR THE ROBINSON CHURCH ROAD WIDENING PROJECT FOR ITEM 18.

19 minutesIS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MANAGER AS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT A CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT OF $52,000 FROM HABITAT FOR

HUMANITY FOR THE CHARLOTTE REGION FOR THE APPROVAL AND THE SAME THING WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A AND B SECOND AND A SECOND ALL

IN FAVOR PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANYONE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ITEM IN BUSINESS AND A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF MID HILL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE NEXT ITEM IS AN IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS ITEM?

>> TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE SECURITY IN LOCAL GAMING WITH THE TOWN OF M.L.

FOR CONSTRUCTION A SANITARY SEWER LINES AND A WATER STORAGE SECOND? >> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE ARE NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND THEN ONE OPPOSED. STAFF AND ARE YOU OKAY? THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM IS 20 IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED RESTATED LEASE FOR THE BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> WE HAVE A SECOND AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MS.. MISS MAYFIELD. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

SO AS WAS MENTIONED TO US WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED WHEN THIS CONVERSATION WAS FIRST PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, THEY

INITIAL UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT CHAPTER SPORTS WAS GOING TO BE

PURCHASING THIS LAND WE HAD SOME CHANGES.

THE LAND WAS THEN CONVEYED OVER TO THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE. TO ME ONCE THAT CONVEYANCE HAPPENED THAT WAS A NO CONVERSATION.

THE CHALLENGE I HAVE OF WHICH ONE I AM NOT SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL

COMMUNITY BENEFIT IN THIS IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL VENUE SPACE THAT'S GOING TO BE AROUND 40

400FT SEATING WE HAVE NUMEROUS VENUE SPACES AROUND THE CITY BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT UPTOWN WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN OF WHICH

ARE AS DEEPER A CONVERSATION LEADER OF OUR ATTORNEY THINK OF ORLANDO STUDIOS I THINK THE

FACT THAT FLORIDA RESIDENTS GET A DISCOUNT AT ORLANDO STUDIOS AND OR DISNEY FOR US TO APPROVE YET ANOTHER PROJECT WHERE WE

ARE BASICALLY LEASING THIS OUT FOR A DOLLAR FOR THEM TO BUILD ON WITHOUT ANY CLEAR COMMUNITY

BENEFITS MEANING WE HAVE CONCERTS AND WE HAVE LOCAL EVENT SPACE. WE HAVE A BIG EVENT THAT'S

COMING IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS IF THIS SPACE WAS ALREADY BUILT BUT THINK OF OTHER CONCERTS OR

EVENTS THAT MAY BE COMING TO THE CITY THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO NEGOTIATION TO IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT I HAVE A

CONCERN ABOUT WE ALREADY HAVE A 30 PLUS YEAR COMMITMENT WITH THIS PARTICULAR PARTNER.

ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE A CONVERSATION OF HOW THIS BENEFITS OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND IT SHOULDN'T BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

SO I DO HAVE CONCERNS OF US ALLOCATING THIS CORNER OF LAND

WITHOUT THERE BEING A VERY CLEAR COMMUNITY BENEFIT. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I FEEL ALL RIGHT, MR. GRAHAM AND MISS I'M SORRY MISS KIMBERLY WAS NEXT IF MR. GOING

THAT'S WHY THANK YOU SO I WAS JUST GOING TO SPEAK BRIEFLY IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT I, I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD'S CONCERNS.

I DO NOT SHARE THOSE CONCERNS AND I WONDER IF MR. HEATH WOULD YOU STEP TO THE PODIUM AND MAYBE HELP US ADDRESS OR IS THERE SOMEONE BETTER SUITED SO WELL GOOD.

CAN I I JUST I HAD A QUICK QUOTE I HAD UNDERSTOOD FROM MR.

HEATH THE NEGOTIATED BENEFITS HAD COME UP FRONT IN THE ORIGINAL LEASE AND IF I SPEAK AN UNTRUTH AND PLEASE SOMEONE CLARIFY IT SO FOR ME TO REOPEN

IT OVER THIS SMALL SECTION OF LAND IS IN MY ESTIMATION BAD FAITH AND I WOULD BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH US NEGOTIATING LIKE THAT ONCE

WE'VE ALREADY NEGOTIATED TO GO BACK BECAUSE THE SMALL SLIVER IS GOING TO BE ADDED.

I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT INTO THE ROOM SO I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.

>> MADAM MAYOR, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE MR. HE SPEAKS I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DISCUSSION OF WHAT THIS PROJECT

WAS AND WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME MISINFORMATION REGARDING A DISCUSSION ABOUT FAITH WHERE WE

STARTED SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION.

>> IF I MAY QUICKLY ZOOM OUT TO 2024 SO THE IDEA OF A STADIUM ANNEX OR WHAT WE'RE NOW CALLING

A PERFORMANCE VENUE WAS ALWAYS CONTEMPLATED AS PART OF THE FRAMEWORK DURING THE 18 MONTHS THAT WE WORK TO NEGOTIATE AROUND THE KEY BUSINESS TERMS THAT YOU REQUIRED AS WELL AS

THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT. IT WAS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT ONE OF THE OWNER ELECTED PROJECTS WOULD BE A PERFORMANCE VENUE SO THERE'S THERE'S

NOTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERFORMANCE VENUE THAT'S NEW.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PERFORMANCE

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL STADIUM AND DISCUSSION?

>> THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE BECAUSE THIS LAND WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL WAS PRESENTED TO US AS IF THAT BUSINESS WAS GOING TO OWN IT.

THERE WAS JUST RECENTLY THAT WE HAD THAT WE LEARNED THAT THIS LAND WAS BEING CONVEYED TO THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A PARTIAL CONVERSATION.

>> SO IF I COULD ZOOM OUT ON THE TRIANGULAR PARCEL WHICH IS A BIT OF A SEPARATE CONVERSATION IT WAS UNDERSTOOD LAST YEAR THAT HAVING ACCESS TO

THE TRIANGULAR PARCEL WHICH IS LESS THAN A QUARTER ACRE WHICH WAS OWNED BY NCDOT AT THE TIME WAS VERY IMPORTANT AS AN ENABLER FOR THE PERFORMANCE VENUE LAST YEAR WE HAD A LOT OF

CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT WAS THE PATH TO GAIN SITE CONTROL MAYBE THE CITY WOULD BUY IT, MAYBE THE TEAM WOULD BUY IT.

WE WENT BACK AND FORTH A NUMBER OF TIMES.

ULTIMATELY NCDOT DEEMED THAT THAT SMALL PARCEL TO BE SURPLUS BASICALLY A REMNANT PARCEL OF NO VALUE TO THEM SO THEY

TRANSFERRED THAT TO US AT NO COST WHICH WE BELIEVE THEN AND BELIEVE NOW WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST OUTCOME THAT WE COULD HAVE HAD.

SO WE RECEIVED THAT AT NO COST AND I WOULD JUST MAKE ONE OTHER COMMENT ABOUT THE PARCEL. I DID WALK WITH THE PARCEL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WITH OUR REAL ESTATE TEAM AND THEY

AFFIRMED THAT ON A STANDALONE BASIS THE PARCEL REALLY ESSENTIALLY IS ON BUILDABLE. SO OUR VIEW IS WE RECEIVED A

PIECE OF PROPERTY NO VALUE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S ON BUILDABLE AND IT'S A LOGICAL STEP FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE TO PUT IT INTO

THE LEASE TO ENABLE A PROJECT THAT WILL ALLOW THE TEAM TO ACTIVATE ON A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE WHICH IS $150

MILLION INVESTMENT BY THE TEAM IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR INVESTMENT.

>> MADAM I HAVE NOW SO FAR SIX FIVE PEOPLE TO THAT WISH TO

PEAK TO THIS ITEM SO I THINK THIS I'M KIMBERLY WAS YOU DONE

OKAY AND THEN MS. SANDERS AND THEN MR. CARSON AND MG IS

BEFORE ME AND I'M AFTER GRAHAM OKAY IF I REMEMBER. >> ALL RIGHT. GRAHAM THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THIS YEAR AND DISTRICT TWO IT'S REALLY, REALLY SMALL 0.24 ACRE

PROPERTY WALKED IT TO WITHOUT GETTING TIRED AT ALL.

IT'S REALLY REALLY AWESOME BECAUSE YOU'RE IN GREAT SHAPE I THINK THAT IS TRUE TO AND YOU

KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME BEFORE THE ED COMMITTEE BACK AND IN OCTOBER HERE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING AS A

PART OF THE BROADER DEAL WE GET IN ESSENCE A 4200 SEAT PERFORMANCE CENTER NO COST TO

THE CITY AT ALL. THE LAND HAS BEEN DONATED TO THE CITY. WE CAN'T BUILD ON IT AT ALL.

I WALKED IT. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT FOR SURE AND THE BENEFITS WE

GET BECAUSE OF THE CENTER IS 80 TO 100 EVENTS NIGHT PER YEAR

WHICH SUPPORT WORKERS UBER DRIVERS THOSE SHOWING UP TRANSPORTING PEOPLE TO THE

FACILITY HOSPITALITY WORKERS, HOTELS ETC. IT CREATES JOBS.

THEY CREATE CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES OPERATION OF THE FACILITY ITSELF. IT SUPPORTS HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM AND DID I MENTION THAT

IT'S VERY, VERY SMALL PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THAT WE DIDN'T PAY ANYTHING FOR IT WAS GIVEN TO US

AND WE WANTED TO ABSORB IT INTO A LARGER PROJECT FOR GREATER COMMUNITY GOOD CAROLINA PANTHERS ARE A PARTNER OF OURS.

OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS HOW THE STADIUM IS BEING RENOVATED TODAY. THIS IS YET A BABY STEP TOWARDS

COMPLETING THE GOAL IN ADDITION WE ALL TALKED ABOUT AT LEAST FROM THE EDI PERSPECTIVE OF CREATING A ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WITHIN THAT SECTOR OF

THE COMMUNITY. AGAIN WE TAKE A GIANT STEP FORWARD TO DO THAT WITH THE SMALL PORTION OF LAND THAT WE

CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WATCHING IT IT HAS NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VALUE FOR US AS RELATES TO COMMUNITY

BENEFITS. I THINK THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE STRUCK WITH THE PANTHERS EARLY IN THE YEAR LAST YEAR WITH THE PROVIDED DEAL IS

INCLUSIVE OF THIS TYPE OF SMALL PROPERTY AND IT SO I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND I HOPE

THE COUNCIL WILL APPROVE IT. >> ALL RIGHT, MS. ANDERSON, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

I WAS IN THOSE MEETINGS WHEN I SEE THEM GRAHAM WAS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY AND COMMITTEE AND NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AS WAS MENTIONED, THIS IS A VERY SMALL TRIANGULAR PARCEL. THIS WAS A PART OF THE OVERALL DEAL WHERE WE DID DISCUSS

COMMUNITY BENEFITS AS WELL AS OTHER OPPORTUNITY FEES AND RECENTLY NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

AND DEEMED IT AS A REMNANT AND AND THEN A SURPLUS AND THEN HANDED OVER TO US AND SO THAT

WASN'T AN ACTION THAT WE TOOK PROACTIVELY THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL WAS DECIDED YOU KNOW THIS

PERFORMANCE VENUE, THE PERFORMANCE CENTER WHICH WE WILL EFFECTIVELY BEGIN GETTING WITHOUT ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT

AT ALL ALSO FILLS A GAP IN TERMS OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS FOOTPRINT WITHIN THE CITY

OF CHARLOTTE TO ATTRACT PLAYS AND OTHER VENUES AND OPPORTUNITIES ENTERTAINMENT

OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE RIGHT SIZE, THE BUILDING.

AND IN ADDITION, AS MR. GRAHAM MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THIS SITS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIRD WARD WHICH IS BEING REVITALIZED

IN THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS STOOD UP JUST A YEAR AGO THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING LIGHT AND

VITALITY TO THIS SPACE NOT ON A DIME OF THE CITY AND THAT OFTEN HAS HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN ABOUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

>> ALL RIGHT, MR. JOHNSON. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

MR. HEATH, WHAT IS THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE LAND OF THE TRIANGULAR PARCEL?

YES, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 10,500FT AND THEN WE GET A REAL ESTATE VALUE FOR THAT.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE AN APPRAISAL OF THAT PARCEL. OKAY. SO I THINK THAT'S THE CONCERN.

I KNOW WE'RE CALLING IT A REALLY SMALL PIECE OF LAND BUT 10,500FT OF REAL ESTATE OR OF LAND DOES HAVE SOME VALUE WHEN

WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS, EMPLOYEE PARKING OR AFFORDABLE PARKING SHARED RIGHT DROP OFF AND PICK UP OR EVEN A

SPACE FOR THE DISPLACED VENDORS FROM OTHER AREAS OF TOWN.

SO THERE IS VALUE POTENTIALLY I THINK THE CONCERN FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE CONCERNED IS THAT

WE'RE GIVING A PIECE OF LAND TO AN ENTITY THAT COULD OTHERWISE AFFORD IT.

SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SHARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON WE GET THREE AND A HALF WITH COUNCILMEMBER WATLINGTON COUNCILMEMBER DRIGGS AND COUNCILMAN MAYFIELD.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AND I APPRECIATE MR. HEATH CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK AND A CONTINUATION TODAY BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR

OR AT LEAST HAS BEEN UP UNTIL THIS POINT WHETHER OR NOT THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL WAS A PART OF THE BROADER CONVERSATION.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD FROM YOU LAST WEEK, THIS PARCEL WAS ALREADY IN THE CONVERSATION.

BUT THE THE WAY THAT THE THE TEPPER GROUP WAS GOING TO COME UPON THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL WAS NOT CLEAR.

>> IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES.

WE KNEW AND WERE ON RECORD IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR THAT THE TRIANGULAR PARCEL WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ENABLE THIS PROJECT.

WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE COULDN'T KNOW WAS HOW SITE CONTROL WOULD BE GAINED AND WHERE WE ENDED UP IN IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME WHICH THE STATE

TRANSFERRED THAT TO US AT NO COST. >> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THAT IS HELPFUL FOR ME. I WILL SAY THAT IN GENERAL I DO THINK THAT IT'S TIME FOR US TO RAISE THE BAR JUST IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATION.

I DO I DO OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT DEAL POINT AT THE BEGINNING BUT IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE THERE IS A PORTION OF THIS THAT MAYBE THE COUNCIL

DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WE WERE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON WITH THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF THE INFORMATION, WHETHER IT WAS THE TYPES OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT ACTUALLY

COULD HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE BEYOND THE STADIUM ITSELF OR WHETHER IT WAS THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PARCEL OR WHATEVER IT WAS.

SO I HOPE THAT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THIS AND NOTHING ELSE IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN LOCKSTEP EARLIER ON

IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATION. THAT SAID, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WAS ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BROADER CONVERSATION IN AND

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE GOT IT IN FRONT OF YOU BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEN WERE THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WERE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE OVERALL NEGOTIATION?

YES, THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS WERE MANY AND THEY WERE NOTEWORTHY JUST TO NAME A FEW 27% MWC GOAL ASSOCIATED WITH

CITY FUNDING THE SEVEN CITY USE STAYS SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

FOR VETERANS AT RISK YOUTH AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.

INCREASED ENGAGEMENT WITH HPC USE AND THOSE ARE INCREMENTAL TO ALL OF THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT THE PANTHERS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS

INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF TICKETS THAT ARE GOING TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR THE STADIUM. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO AGAIN, JUST LIKE I SAY, IF THERE'S TWO VENUES I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY BENEFIT PARTICULAR TO THE OTHER VENUE AS WELL. >> BUT POINT TAKEN.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DRIGGS THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM I THINK THIS IS A

VALID DISCUSSION IN PRINCIPLE BUT IN THE WRONG CONTEXT. >> THIS IS A VERY BIG PICTURE

RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE TEAM.

MR. TEPPER IS INVESTED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND I THINK THE IDEA THAT A 4200 SEAT VENUE IS NOT

AN ASSET TO THE CITY OR A BENEFIT TO THE CITY IS A MISNOMER. WE PURSUED THIS RELATIONSHIP.

I REMEMBER EARLY ON IN THE FIRST CONVERSATIONS AND WE HAD A VISION ACTIVATION, AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT A LOT OF

VERY DESIRABLE THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND THEN THIS BUYER CAME ALONG WITH HIS CAPACITY TO JUST DECIDE TO BUILD THE 4200 SEAT VENUE AND

NOT NEED TO PARTNER WITH US OR ASK FOR ANYTHING.

AND THIS PARCEL IS JUST SO SMALL AND I REALLY HATE TO THINK THAT WE'RE KIND OF DISTURBING OUR RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE TEAM, THE OWNER AND ALL OF THE BIG THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN CHARLOTTE OVER THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION. SO I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WHEN THERE'S

SOMETHING MORE MEANINGFUL AT STAKE.

BUT 27% COMMITMENT ON SMALL BUSINESS ALONE IS HUGE IN COMPARISON TO 10,000FT OF LAND.

SO REALLY LET'S JUST KEEP SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THIS WHEN I HOPE APPRECIATE THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH

TEMPER SPORTS AND LET THIS ONE PASS AND IF NECESSARY ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHEN THERE'S MORE AT STAKE WE CAN TALK IT OVER.

THANK YOU. SO IF WE MAY, SEAN, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BRING UP THIS PARCEL ON THE BIG SCREEN

SO THE VIEWERS CAN CAN SEE WHAT WE WERE REFERRING TO SO WHY ARE WE DOING THAT?

I'M A YEAR TO COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR PATEL SAYS THERE IT'S A STEP TAPPER ACQUIRED THE TEAM IN 2018.

THE PANTHERS VALUE HAS DOUBLED DESPITE THE CHALLENGING PERFORM ITS RECORD OF 36 WIN 80 LOSSES

DURING THIS OWNERSHIP. SO FOR US TO SAY TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS

ALTRUISTIC WHAT HE'S DONE HE'S A BUSINESS PERSON AND AS A BUSINESS PERSON AND HE HAS MADE MONEY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL

I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT I ASK BUT ANY OTHER LOT BECAUSE IT'S CHALLENGING TO HEAR THAT THIS

IS SUCH A SMALL SPACE NOTHING CAN BE BUILT ON IT YET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A 4400 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY ON IT SO YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH.

>> THE CHALLENGE THAT I HAD IS THE FACT OF THE TRANSPARENCY OF WE STARTED A CONVERSATION THAT

FULL COUNCIL WAS AWARE THAT CONVERSATION C IT WAS IN DISCUSSION AND GAVE THE IMPRESSION IF THEY BOUGHT THE

LAND THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD DO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE ACCESS WITH IT. I'M LIKE OKAY I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THE MOMENT THAT CONVERSATION CHANGED BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED YOU AND STAFF HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS.

>> YOU MAY HAVE EVEN PRESENTED IT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT WAS WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO ALL OF US FROM AS A DECISION TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT CONVERSATION

CHANGED FROM HIM OWNING IT TO THE CITY NOW OWNING IT AND A CITY THEN GIVING IT TO HIM.

THERE WAS NO CONVERSATION OF EXISTING THAT COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

IT IS NOT A COMMUNITY BENEFIT TO ME TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 20% DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATION FOR EVERY SMALL

BUSINESS WHICH WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF THEM TODAY.

SO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE WORK ON A YEAR $600 MILLION CONTRACT SO THAT'S NOT A COMMUNITY BENEFIT YET WHEN WE

THINK ABOUT THE UBER DRIVERS AND OTHERS LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AGO SOME OF THEM WERE SAYING PEOPLE CAME DOWN BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

THAT THEY ARE HAVING UPTOWN REGARDING PARKING BEING TICKETED IT BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING TOO LONG WAITING FOR SOMEONE.

SO AGAIN WE CAN'T KEEP PLAYING A SEESAW GAME.

I JUST ASK THE QUESTION REGARDING WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT.

THE ANSWER CAME BACK TO ME WHERE WE DID THAT ON THIS OTHER PIECE PERFECTLY HONEST I DON'T CARE I ASKED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL, THIS LITTLE

TRIANGLE THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS TRIANGLE THAT'S TOO SMALL FOR US TO BUILD ON YET WE'RE BUILDING A 4400 SPACE

BEING YOU ON IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT SO I WANT THERE TO BE CLARITY AND

NOT MISINFORMATION OR A CHALLENGE FOR ANY OF US TO ASK THE QUESTION BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WHAT WE GET TO DO.

SO DON'T I DON'T APPRECIATE IT BEING MENTIONED.

WELL HE IS SUCH A GOOD PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNER. HE HAS A BUSINESS OWNER.

WE CREATED A BUSINESS CONTRACT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION ON WHERE THE CITY IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE EVEN MORE, THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A CONVERSATION OF HOW THIS BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY BE THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER FOR CITY MANAGER SO ON MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THE I THINK WE HAVE THIS PARCEL

ON THE SCREEN AND I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND TRYING TO

SAY AT THIS EARLIER EARLY ON THE DISCUSSION WAS AROUND THE STADIUM ANNEX THAT MORPHED INTO

THIS PERFORMANCE VENUE AND WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED BOTH IN

COMMITTEE AND WITH THE COUNCIL THAT QUARTER OF AN ACRE OF A

PARCEL IS NOT WHAT THE VENUE IS GOING TO BE BUILT ON THE MOST

THE TOTAL ACREAGE ON THE TOTAL FOOTPRINT REQUIRED FOR THE PERFORMANCE VENUE IS APPROXIMATELY TWO ACRES.

IT'S ONLY REALLY A VERY TINY PORTION OF THE TRIANGULAR PARCEL THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE TWO ACRES.

IT WAS ALWAYS CONTEMPLATED THAT GETTING THAT WATER AN ACRE OR

TWO TO ADD TO IT WAS IMPORTANT NCDOT OWNED IT AND THE QUESTION

WAS IN ORDER TO BUILD THIS THING OUT AND MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL THAT QUARTER OF AN ACRE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS.

41 minutesONE OPTION WOULD BE THAT TSC WOULD BUY THE QUARTER ACRE TO ADD IT TO THE REST OF THE FOOTPRINT AGAIN THE ENTIRE

FOOTPRINT IS WHERE THE PERFORMANCE VENUE WILL BE BUILT NOT THE CORNER OF AN ACRE AND IT JUST SEEMED TO BE VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE T.

S E OWNED THAT CORNER AN ACRE AND THEN 20 YEARS FROM NOW IF THERE WAS NOT A MUSIC VENUE

THEN AND THAT HAD TO COME BACK TO THE CITY IN SOME WAY IT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT THE CITY WOULD OWN

ALL OF IT AS OPPOSED TO ALL BUT A QUARTER OF AN ACRE. SO AGAIN STARTED OFF AS A STADIUM AND WENT TO THIS

PERFORMANCE VENUE BUT I THINK WHAT'S KEY IS THAT QUARTER ACRE MAKES THE PERFORMANCE VENUE WORK BUT IT'S NOT WHERE THE

PERFORMANCE VENUE WILL BE BUILT. THANK YOU.

CITY MANAGER COUNCIL MEMBER ASMIR THANK YOU.

O THIS WILL BE A LEASE THE CITY WILL STILL OWN THE OWNERSHIP WILL STILL HAVE THE OWNERSHIP OF THAT QUARTER ACRE

OF LAND. SO I, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE THE MARKET VALUE RIGHT IF WE WERE TO LAZY TO SELL ONE HOW MUCH

WOULD WE GET AS PART OF THE LEASE PAYMENT? I THINK THAT WAS WHAT COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON WAS ALLUDING TO.

I GET IT THAT THERE WAS NO APPRAISAL DONE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A FOR SALE TRANSACTION, RIGHT?

THIS IS A LEASE TRANSACTION. BUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS WHAT IS THE VALUE THAT WE COULD GET IF IT WAS OTHER THAN

TEPPER SPORTS I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET CLARIFICATION ON WHAT IS

THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE LEASE FOR THAT SPACE.

>> SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE WE DO NOT HAVE A MARKET APPRAISAL ON IT.

IF YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE VISUAL JUST THE SHAPE OF IT NOT JUST THE SIZE.

SO VERY SMALL SIZE LESS THAN A QUARTER ACRE WHICH IS SMALLER THAN THE AVERAGE SIZE OF A LOT FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN

MECKLENBURG COUNTY THE SHAPE OF IT ALSO POSES SOME MAJOR CHALLENGES ON A STANDALONE BASIS.

SO OUR REAL ESTATE TEAM WAS VERY CLEAR WITH THE VERY DIRECT QUESTION I HAD FOR THEM WHICH WAS WHAT OPPORTUNITY FOR

DEVELOPMENT COULD WE HAVE IF WE ATTEMPTED TO DO SOMETHING ON A STANDALONE BASIS? AND THE ANSWER BACK WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR THIS PARTICULAR

TRIANGULAR SHAPED PARCEL IS ESSENTIALLY ON BUILDABLE ON A STANDALONE BASIS. SO WHEREAS I WOULDN'T SUGGEST

IT HAS ZERO VALUE I WOULD SUGGEST IT HAS VERY INSIGNIFICANT VALUE RELATIVE TO WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE OVERWHELMING BENEFITS

ASSOCIATED WITH JOB CREATION SALES AND PROPERTY TAX, TOURISM BENEFITS NOT JUST TOURISM TAXES

BUT ALSO INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK AT RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND HOTELS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM 80 TO 100 SHOWS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AND THEN ALSO JUST THE IDEA OF

UPTOWN ACTIVATION AND VIBRANCY.

SO IN OUR VIEW THE BENEFITS WERE SO OVERWHELMING THAT THE RELATIVELY INSIGNIFICANT COST SO TO SPEAK ASSOCIATED WITH IT WERE NOT MATERIAL.

>> SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VALUE IS IT MAY NOT BE AS

VALUABLE FOR US AS A STANDALONE BUT THIS IS GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK THE DEAL FOR THE OTHER PARTY.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE VALUE COMES,RIGHT?

SO WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN FOR THE HUGE VALUE THAT THEY ARE GETTING?

I THINK THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO.

ARE WE GETTING ANYTHING EXTRA IN TERMS OF OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS OR HIGHER LEASE PAYMENT?

WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE GETTING BECAUSE THIS PROJECT PERFORMANCE VENUE PROJECT WOULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THIS WE JUST

TRIANGLE SPACE THAT IS THERE RIGHT? I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS HOLISTICALLY. THERE IS ALREADY A PARCEL THAT CITY OWN OTHER THAN THE

TRIANGLE SO WE ARE GIVING THEM SORT OF A LAND ASSEMBLAGE THAT IS MAKING THIS PERFORMANCE VENUE POSSIBLE. >> I THINK TWO QUICK POINTS.

ONE I WOULD SAY IF WE OWNED THIS TRIANGULAR PARCEL IN 1990, IT WOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE 25 ACRE CAMPUS LEASE IF

WE OWN TO THIS PARCEL IN 2013 WHEN WE RENEGOTIATED THE LEASE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE 25 ACRE CAMPUS IF WE OWNED IT IN 2024 IT WOULD HAVE BEEN

PART OF THE CAMPUS. RIGHT NOW IT'S BASICALLY SIDEWALK A LITTLE BIT OF PATCH OF GRASS AND SOME TREES.

SO WHAT OUR BELIEF HAS BEEN ALL ALONG THAT EXTRACTING THE MAXIMUM VALUE FOR THE CITY OR THE CITY FROM THE 25 ACRE

CAMPUS SHOULD BE SOMETHING WE ARE AS EQUALLY EXCITED ABOUT AS THE TEAM ITSELF AND WE BELIEVE THE VALUE PROPOSITION HERE IS VERY COMPELLING FOR THE CITY

EXCUSE ME AND CALL THE QUESTION I KNOW MR. JONES AND WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE AGREED

THAT THIS SO WE WANT TO SPEAK MR. JOHNSON WE'LL GO HERE THEN WE'LL COME TO MR. WATLINGTON AND THEN WE'LL VOTE.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW WE VOTE AND THE VOTE DOESN'T WORK OUT. >> WE'LL VOTE AGAIN.

YES AND THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

SO MR. HEATH, WE APPRECIATE THE PLANS AS FAR AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WE HAVE YOU KNOW, WE'RE STEWARDS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.

SO I THINK THAT OUR PUBLIC WOULD EXPECT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.

SO WHEN THE STATE CONVEYED IT TO US, MR. JONES IS THERE A CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT THAT HAS OF A VALUE OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S

INCLUDED? NO, NO IT WAS DEEDED OVER AT NO COST.

THERE'S NO INDICATION OF OF MARKET VALUE HAD HAD WE BEEN REQUIRED TO HAVE PAID FOR THE PARCEL THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

I THINK A FAIR THING TO ASK IS THE MARKET VALUE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION FROM US AND FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT THE VALUE IS AS WE'RE LEASING THE PROPERTY FOR A DOLLAR.

AGAIN, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BEING SUCH A SMALL PROPERTY IT'S 10,500FT.

WE KNOW PARKING IS A CHALLENGE IN DOWNTOWN OR UPTOWN FOR ESPECIALLY FOR THE WORKERS WE TALK ABOUT THE WORKERS, THE

BENEFIT AND ALSO THE DROP OFF SPACE AND LIKE I SAID A SPACE FOR THE VENDORS SO THERE IS VALUE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AS MEYER SAID IT'S VERY VALUABLE

TO THE OTHER PARTY. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ASK THAT WE KNOW THE MARKET VALUE.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DEFER THIS UNTIL AUGUST BUT I'LL WAIT TO SEE.

I MEAN THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU. MS. WATLINGTON I HAVE MS.

WALLINGTON I HAVE FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

I WANT TO JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AFTER WE'LL HAVE A VOTE AFTER MS. WATLINGTON COMMENTS AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR MR.

HEATH YOU MENTIONED THE VALUE TO THE CITY OVERALL AND CERTAINLY I'M SURE MANY OF US AROUND THE DAIS SHARE THAT I DON'T WANT IT TO BE MS.

UNDERSTOOD THAT EXPECTING THAT THE VALUE PROPOSITION INCLUDES MORE THAN JUST SPECIFIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS

THAT WILL END UP BEING TOURISM REVENUE OR AN UBER DRIVERS FARE OR THAT KIND OF THING IS

SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE BROADER CITIES VALUE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE JUST LISTED.

>> IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS SESSIONS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S VALUE IS NOT

VIEWED AS UNNECESSARY OR AN INCONVENIENCE TO THE REST OF THE WORK.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AROUND THIS DAIS DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC VALUE RIGHT. >> I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT IT IS UNREASONED AT ALL BECAUSE WE

ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT THE BROADER PUBLIC ALSO SEES SOME BENEFIT WHEN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR

THAT. HOWEVER, THIS VOTE LANDS THAT FOR ME IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT WE NEED TO GET CLEAR AROUND HONESTLY, MY

PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VERSUS BROADER COMMUNITY.

THEY SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND WE'VE GOT TO STOP PUTTING OURSELVES IN THESE TYPE POSITIONS. SO ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW I'M ON I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A VOTE. >> SO MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO

MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION SECOND.

>> OKAY. >> AND WHAT IS YOUR MOTION TO DEFER AGENDA ITEM?

>> YOU DEFER THE FIRST COMMITTEE YOUR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING SO TO DEFER SO THE MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM AND

COME BACK IS ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.

DEFER. OKAY THAT'S 1234 SO THAT DOES NOT PASS.

>> OKAY ALL OF THOSE I ALL OF THE ADD 1234 YES 567123456

SINGLE FROM SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND THE SECOND A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND SO ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. >> I THINK WE HAVE A UNANIMOUS IN OPPOSED. >> I'LL POST. ALL RIGHT.

THREE WANT TO OKAY, THAT'S 50 MINUTES. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT PASSES THROUGH IT. OKAY.

KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE WE

GIVE A TALLY DO WE HAVE A TALLY?

ALL RIGHT, BILLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

MY QUESTION IS AFTER THIS IS OVER TO MORE I TO I CAN HEAR

THE RESULT. >> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'VE RECEIVED THE OPENING AND WE DO HAVE A PERSON TO JOIN THIS ORGANIZATION HAVING

RECEIVED SIX OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTES, THERE IS A MOTION TO APPOINT ROBERT HARRINGTON BY ACCLAMATION TO

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR UPON VACANCY BY THE OFFICE BY BYLAW.

SO I'M LEAVING TOMORROW SECOND.

OKAY DOING WELL BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY ADDRESS RIGHT AND JUST TO CLARIFY THE REQUESTS THAT

52 minutesACTION IS TO SERVE UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE ELECTED MAYOR DAY OKAY. >> SO ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE THAT.

SO WE'RE MOVING SO WE DO HAVE TO REGISTER TO VOTE. >> WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS ABOUT WE GOT A VOTE. ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY THE SECOND THING YOU SAY ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION FOR MR.

HARRINGTON PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE OPPOSE? >> NO, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SO REALLY SO WE HAVE A FEW

OTHER ITEMS BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO WE HAVE THIS ON AND TACKLE IT IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE. YES, 21 ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO ITEM 21. >> WE MOVE FOR APPROVAL MAX.

ITEM IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE C R T P CAN I REMEMBER THAT YOU KNOW THIS RIGHT NEXT ITEM IS AN

AMENDMENT TO THE C R T MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR EVERYONE PLEASE. >> WE'RE STILL HAVING OUR

MEETING. ALL RIGHT FOR ITEM 21 IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AMENDED

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE KAPO TO REMOVE THE MTC AND ADD MTC M P T A AS A MEMBER

MOVED TO APPROVE SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS. ANYONE OPPOSED ANYBODY OPPOSE?

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN OPPOSE. YEAH OKAY FOR ITEM 22 MR.

HAUER, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US DOWN HERE FOR ITEM 22?

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND RATIFYING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE AND THE M P T A FOR

THEIR JOINT UNDERTAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS TO FULFILL OBLIGATIONS UNDER

THE PAVE ACT AND ITEM B AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS AND CONTRACTS

INCLUDING FOR TRANSFER AND EXPEDITION AND TO OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT AND FULFILL THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS

UNDER THE PATH THAT PAY FOR GAP AND AUTHORIZE. >> SO I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT AND COMMENT. >> ALL RIGHT, MR. DRIGGS SO COLLEAGUES, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT

THIS NOW FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS.

THERE'S BEEN AN EXTENDED PROCESS OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN EMPTY AND THE CITY IN ORDER TO RESOLVE HOW CATS WILL WORK, HOW

TRANSIT WILL WORK FROM THE PERIOD PARTICULARLY FROM THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1ST TO JANUARY WHEN YEAH, BECAUSE MTA IS NOT

IN A POSITION TO OPERATE CATS YET CATS WILL CONTINUE TO BE OPERATED BY THE CITY BUT PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY RECEIVED FROM EMPTY TO WHICH THE PAYBACK

PROVIDES OWNS TRANSIT AND RECEIVES THE SALES TAX AND A

LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS SO AS I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION THERE WERE MANY ISSUES WHEN YOU GET DOWN INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW THIS WORKS

IT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY IN PLACES SO I WANTED TO PARTICULARLY RECOGNIZE MARCUS

JONES, LIZ FABS AND HANNAH BROMBERG OR ANDREA LESLIE FITE, SEAN HEATH, BRANT CAGLE AND PARTICULARLY KATHERINE CLODFELTER, OUR ATTORNEY FOR

THE OUTSTANDING WORK THEY DID TO ENGAGE WITH THEM TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES AND BASICALLY CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR OUR

CONTINUING COOPERATION WITH THEM TO AS WE ALIGN OUR LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT POLICIES WITH THEIR TRANSIT DECISIONS.

SO I DO MOVE TO APPROVE THESE AND RECOMMEND THEM TO COUNCIL.

>> WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE WITH WHICH TO THE COUNCIL IS THERE ANY MOTION ON ANY UNDERSTANDING? >> ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR ANYONE OPPOSED? >> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE. OKAY, KEEP GOING.

SO THIS CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS ITEMS VOTE FOR THIS EVENING.

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO OPEN WITH COUNCIL TOPICS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT ALL COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

WE WILL GO AROUND THE DAIS ONE BY ONE.

I ASK THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TRY TO KEEP THEIR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO THREE MINUTES AND

THEN WE HAVE SOME FUN STUFF TO DO.

YOU DID OKAY MR. HOWARD THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF EMPTY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHER MERCHANTS WHO HAVE JOINED US AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S SEE IT NOW. IT'S COUNCIL TOPICS AND WE'LL START WITH MS..

JOHNSON. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. IT ALLOWS AS YOU PREPARE TO STEP DOWN AT THE END OF JUNE I

WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECADES OF TIRELESS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE SERVING TOGETHER ON THIS COUNCIL.

WE'VE NOT ALWAYS AGREED ON EVERY POLICY BUT THAT'S THE VERY NATURE OF HEALTHY DEMOCRACY AND A VIBRANT CITY.

YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BREAK BARRIERS AS OUR FIRST BLACK FEMALE MAYOR COUPLED WITH DEEP INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE HAS

LEFT AN UNDENIABLE MARK ON THE QUEEN CITY'S HISTORY. YOU SACRIFICED TREMENDOUSLY FOR THIS ROLE.

I WATCHED YOU DURING COVID. YOU WERE HERE DAY AND NIGHT SO I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. I PRAY THIS NEXT CHAPTER BRINGS

YOU PEACE, JOY AND THE WELL-DESERVED UNINTERRUPTED TIME WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HISTORIC LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SACRIFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> OKAY, MR. EYES, WHAT DO YOU YES, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

>> WE'RE GOING AROUND THE DIOCESE. >> OKAY. GOT IT. GOT IT.

58 minutesANYBODY MISSED THAT? WELL, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON'S REMARKS.

>> I JUST REALLY WANT TO PAUSE AND HONOR SOMEONE WHOSE LEADERSHIP HAS SHAPED IN CHARLOTTE IN WAYS THAT WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS.

OUR MAYOR BILL LYLES, YOU NEVER SIMPLY HELD IN OFFICE.

YOU CARRIED A STRONG RESPONSIBILITY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE AS MAYOR OF OUR CITY. YOU'VE OPENED DOORS, EXPANDED OUR POSSIBILITY AND SHOWN OUR

CITY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN DIGNITY, STEADINESS AND SERVICE GUIDE EVERY DECISION.

AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, WE SHARE AN ALMA MATER, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE. >> ANYONE WHO HAS WALKED THOSE HALLS KNOWS THE VALUES THAT

PLACE INSTILLS SERVICE, REFLECTION AND A BELIEF THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT BEING IN FRONT BUT ALSO ABOUT LIFTING OTHERS UP.

MAYOR LYLES, YOU'VE EMBODIED THOSE VALUES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

YOUR SERVICE HAS LEFT A MARK IN THAT CITY IN THIS CITY NOT JUST IN THE SKYLINE AND OR IN THE BUDGET BOOKS BUT IN THE LIVES

OF RESIDENTS WHO SAW THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN YOUR LEADERSHIP.

SO YOU HAVE SHOWN US WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY TO LEAD WITH HEART AND TO LEAD WITH THE BELIEF THAT CHARLOTTE'S BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD.

ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATION, YOUR TRAILBLAZING EXAMPLE AND YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF CHARLOTTE.

WE ARE BETTER BECAUSE YOU SERVED.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO I ACTUALLY HAVE COUNCIL

TOPICS SO FOR THE MANAGER SO AND I WILL I'VE ALREADY TOLD

YOU WE'VE HAD I GUESS WE'VE HAD OUR COVER SO NUMBER ONE I WANT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY I'VE ALREADY SHARE.

I WANT US TO SPEAK TO OF WHICH WE DID REFER TO BY OUR THE HEARINGS AND DECISIONS ON THE

SAME EVENING ALSO I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WE

JUST HAD AND THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK ACTUALLY THE ATTORNEYS OFFICE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP WITH.

I GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF ORLANDO STUDIOS AND FLORIDA AND WHAT IS ABLE TO DO WE A NUMBER OF OF US

HAVE HEARD IT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHERS. WE ARE PRICING OUT OUR

RESIDENTS AS WE SEEK OPPORTUNE CITIES FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND VISIT AND WE TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED.

A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AMENITIES AND THE HABITS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CENTER CITY.

NUMBER THREE AND THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR OUR WATER EVEN THOUGH MR. CHARLES IS NOT HERE THIS IS A BIGGER CONVERSATION NOW I

THINK WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WE KNOW AS OF RIGHT NOW.

CUBA, NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA, PAKISTAN AND INDIA, VENEZUELA AND ZAMBIA HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED BLACKOUTS AND POWER OUTAGES.

WE KNOW THAT THE HAMAS CHANNEL IS CLOSED WHICH MEANS WE ARE

GOING TO HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH GETTING GAS WHICH MEANS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH ELECTRICITY.

THE WATER IS LIFE PHYSICALLY YOUR BODY CANNOT GO BEYOND THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER.

WE CAN GO WITHOUT FOOD AND OTHER THINGS.

WE CANNOT GO WITHOUT WATER. I WOULD ADD WE'RE ALREADY HEARING OTHERS SMALLER AREAS THAT ARE HAVING CHALLENGES.

WE'RE ROLLING BLACKOUTS AND POWER OUTAGES. I WANT TO GET AN UPDATE FROM

OUR CHARLOTTE WATER REGARDING OUR USAGE AROUND WIND, SOLAR OR

ANY ANYTHING THAT IS NOT ELECTRICITY INDEPENDENT AS FAR

AS THE OPTIONS IN CASE NOT EVEN IN CASE WHEN BLACKOUTS START MAKING THEIR WAY INTO OUR REGION.

2 minutesTHIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN BE REACTIONARY ON.

SO TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY UTILIZING TO ENSURE THAT OUR WATER WILL REMAIN

ACCESSIBLE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE HAVING AN UPDATE WOULD BE VERY

BENEFICIAL AND ALSO I JUST WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE BECAUSE THERE IS A PARTNER AND DEVELOPMENT

GET ENGAGEMENT MEETING THAT I WILL BE HOSTING COMING JULY 14TH WHERE WE ARE BRINGING OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS BOTH ON

THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT IN LARGER DEVELOPERS, SMALLER DEVELOPERS THEY HELP LOOK AT A PROPOSAL TO

BRING TO HOUSING A NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE AS WE THINK ABOUT THE TRUST FUND AND MOVING FORWARD AND ALLOCATION AND FOR

MANY YEARS THE FOCUS HAS JUST BEEN ON HOUSING EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.

SO WE'RE HAVING THE REAL CONVERSATIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS SERVICES PIECE AND WHAT DOES THAT REALLY LOOK

LIKE WITH THAT MAYOR I WENT THROUGH FIVE MAYORS IN SEVEN YEARS COMING IN UNDER MAYOR FOX

AND THEN THE CHANGES AND THE CHALLENGES I WAS ELECTED IN 2011 I BELIEVE YOU ARE PERSONALLY GOING TO 2030 AS A

LARGE MEMBER. YOU THEN RAN WE APPOINTED YOU RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS MAYOR PRO

TEM BECAUSE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT AND IN COMMUNITY

YOU RAN SUCCESSFULLY AS MAYOR AND HAVE STAYED IN THAT ROLE. THE CITY HAS A TREMENDOUS

WEALTH AND WITH GROWTH COMES A LOT OF GROWING PAINS.

YOU HAVE ENDURED A LOT FROM COMMUNITY AND IN PERFECTLY HONEST FROM YOUR COUNCIL.

SO WHAT I APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU

STILL KEPT SHOWING UP EVERY DAY SOME DAYS YOU AND NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE VERY SERIOUS

CONVERSATIONS YET I NEVER DOUBTED YOUR COMMITMENT TO

SERVICE EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON HOW WE GET THERE. >> I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT

YOU BROUGHT A VISION TO OUR CITY.

I PERSONALLY THINK YOU SHOULD ENJOY THIS TIME BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO RETIRE

BUT I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR GRANDBABIES ARE TO YOU. SO TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

ATTEND THEIR PLACE TO SPEND TIME IS SOMETHING A GIFT THAT

CANNOT BE CODIFIED BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH TIME GOD HAS FOR US.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US ALL THE GUIDANCE AND THE SERVICE AND I

TRULY PRAY THAT WHENEVER YOUR NEXT PART OF YOUR JOURNEY ELSE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT AND WHY. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR LYLES. MUCH WILL BE SAID ABOUT YOUR

SERVICE AND THE EVENTS IN CHARLOTTE DURING YOUR TIME IN OFFICE.

I BELIEVE YOUR POSITION IN THE HISTORY OF CHARLOTTE IS SECURE.

I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ON A PERSONAL NOTE WE GOT ELECTED AT THE SAME TIME WE WENT THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER AND ONE OF THE

MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF MY SERVICE ON COUNCIL HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOU SO I APPRECIATE APPRECIATE YOU.

>> I LOVE YOU AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR LYLES.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE TO FOLLOW.

YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SWEET EMOTION OUT OF MY COLLEAGUE.

SO YOUR DEPARTURE MARKS THE CLOSE OF A HISTORIC CHAPTER OF CHARLOTTE CIVIC LIFE.

YOU'VE HAD A TENURE THAT REFLECTS YOUR STEADY COMMITMENT TO EQUITY LONG TERM.

THIS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND AS YOU STEP AWAY FROM THE ROLE WE CARRY ON YOUR LEGACY AS ONE OF THE NEWER MEMBERS HERE, I

CAN SAY THAT WATCHING YOU LEAD DROVE ME TO WISH TO ALSO LEAD SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT INSPIRATION.

I ALSO ON A SOMEWHAT MORE COUNCIL TOPIC NOTE I WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT I TRULY BELIEVE AND I SAY TO THE CITY MANAGER

AND TO OTHERS WHO WILL LISTEN I BELIEVE THAT A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT PROCESS FOR FILLING VACANCIES SHOULD START WITH AN IMMEDIATE REFERRAL TO BEGIN AS

SOON AS THE NOTICE OF VACANCY IS RECEIVED. AND I SAY THAT AND I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE HEARD WHAT A A CLOWN CAR, A CIRCUS AND A SPECTACLE

ARE. OUR DISCUSSIONS WERE BEFORE THE TWO MINUTES WERE AFFORDED TO EACH OF THE 40 OR SO PEOPLE WHO CAME.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT UNIQUE IN NOT WANTING TO HAVE THAT BE THE LEGACY THAT WE LEAVE CHARLOTTE IS THAT WE CAN'T GET OUR ACT TOGETHER.

SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE US TO PERHAPS DO A POSTMORTEM AND BEGIN TO LOOK AT WHAT WE DID WITH THIS AND DOCUMENT IT FOR

FUTURE COUNCILS NOT TO BIND THEM BUT TO SHOW THEM WHAT WE FOUND USEFUL IN THIS PROCESS AND WHAT PERHAPS WAS NOT USEFUL.

I WILL SPEAK FUNDAMENTALLY FOR ME WHAT WAS MOST USEFUL WERE THE CONVERSATIONS I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE MORE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS WHERE I WAS ABLE

TO CANDIDLY INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND I APPRECIATE SUNSHINE LAWS DO NOT ABLE US TO DO THAT BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT WE HAD TO

DO THE TWO MINUTE WITH EVERYBODY WHO APPLIED.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS REALLY USEFUL FOR THE PUBLIC BUT I JUST THINK THAT BGR IS A GOOD PLACE FOR THAT TO BE DISCUSSED AND AGAIN TO DO THAT

SORT OF ANALYSIS OF THIS PART OF THIS PROCESS THAT WE DID AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> SHE GOES OKAY, RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND

MADAM MAYOR, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU. WHEN I APPLIED FOR MR.

MITCHELL'S VACATED SEAT AND WAS NOT APPOINTED YOU CALLED ME AFTERWARDS AND ENCOURAGED ME TO

RUN AND THINK ABOUT RUNNING AND HERE I AM AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING WITH YOU IN

THIS COUNCIL FOR NOW MY THIRD TERM BUT SPECIFICALLY WITH YOU IN THE COUNCIL AS MAYOR PRO TEM

FOR TWO YEARS AND THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE TIME INCLUDING WHEN WE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS GOING ON IN OUR CITY.

SO I'M HAPPY GOOD NEWS TONIGHT IS THAT YOU WILL BE HERE IN CHARLOTTE AND THAT WE'RE NOT THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE ISN'T LOSING YOU WHICH WAS FANTASTIC.

SO WE WILL SEE YOU AROUND AND I'M SURE YOU AND I WILL CONNECT.

I WANT TO JUST SPEAK ON TWO COUNCIL TOPICS. THE FIRST ONE IS JUST TO REMIND

HER THAT THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH WE WILL HAVE OUR CITYWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY SUMMIT FROM 6 TO 8 P.M..

IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE UNION STATION WEST IN AND MS. MAYO'S DISTRICT AND WE'LL HAVE A STATE

OF PUBLIC SAFETY FROM BOTH OUR CHIEF OF FIRE AND POLICE AND WE'LL HAVE VARIOUS PANEL

DISCUSSIONS FROM COVERING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PARTNERS, VIOLENCE PREVENTION

PARTNERS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SO ON.

SO PLEASE COME OUT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD RENT REGISTRATION FOR IT AND I'D LOVE TO HAVE AS MUCH ENGAGEMENT AS POSSIBLE.

THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND AND MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS

BACK THERE WAS A MULTI LAW ENFORCEMENT RAID AT THE GARDEN SUITES AN END IN DISTRICT ONE ON REAGAN DRIVE.

10 minutesIT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED, UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT OUR CHIEF DROVE AND HAD GREAT RESULTS.

BUT IN SUSTAIN THE EFFORT IN THAT CORRIDOR BECAUSE THE BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN SO ENTRENCHED

AND INCULCATE IT THAT THERE IS SUSTAINED EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON.

AND ONE HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND WHERE C AND PD OPERATED THEIR 20 26 QUEEN CITY SAFE INITIATIVE.

THEY'RE DOING IT MONTHLY IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THEN THEY COLLABORATE COLLABORATED WITH THE NORTH DIVISION WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR REAGAN DRIVE AND OTHER AREAS SPECIFICALLY THE SUGAR CREEK CORRIDOR BLACKWOOD AVENUE,NORTH TRYON STREET.

TOM HUNTER, A TONDO AND THESE ARE PLACES THAT ARE PLAGUED WITH NARCOTICS ACTIVITY, ALCOHOL RELATED ACTIVITY,

ASSAULTS, PROPERTY CRIME, HIGH CRIME CORRIDORS ETC. JUST THE

RESULTS OF THIS ONE EFFORT ON THE 19TH 168 TRAFFIC STOPS AND

ALSO PEDESTRIAN STOPS 61 CITATIONS, 25 ARRESTS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY NINE FIREARMS WERE SEIZED NEARLY $10,000 IN U.S.

CURRENCY RELATED TO DRUG ACTIVITY AND 538G OF NARCOTICS

WAS SEIZED ON AN EFFORT THAT WAS EFFECTIVELY 12 HOURS IN ONE AREA OF OUR CITY. >> SO TREMENDOUS EFFORT BY MPD.

I WANT TO SHOUT OUT DC BRIERLEY AND CAPTAIN JETER FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN THAT SPACE BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF WORK THIS IS THE

TYPE OF PROGRAMS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND UP IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN WE CAN CRACK AND BREAK

THROUGH THIS HARD SHELL OF OF OF NUISANCE CRIME AND CRIME

THAT IS IMPACTING OUR RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE AGING IN PLACE OVER IN HIDDEN VALLEY AND DERIDE IT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

SO I'M KIND OF ECHOING THE SENTIMENT OF COLLEAGUES. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

I VERY MUCH ENJOYED OUR TIME IN DC TOGETHER AND THEN GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND STOPPING BY YOUR OFFICE AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS

HAS BEEN VERY IT'S BEEN FUN BUT ALSO ENLIGHTENING.

SO I'VE GOTTEN TO LEARN A LOT, A LOT ABOUT YOU AND ALSO ABOUT HOW TO BE A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT WE'VE SPENT TOGETHER AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOU.

>> I KNOW MY MOM'S PROBABLY JEALOUS YOU'LL BE SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS.

>> SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY. I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THAT I LOVE THAT BUT YEAH, I'M I'M SURE YOU WILL ENJOY THAT TIME

AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO ENJOY SPENDING MORE TIME WITH YOU AS WELL.

>> SO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> WELL MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE

EXTENDED PARTICULAR REMARKS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO SO WE JUST WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND THANK YOU

FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE WILL SEE YOU I'M SURE AROUND YEAH, I HOPE SO.

>> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT SO I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT MY SON IS BUILDING A HOUSE UP IN HUDDERSFIELD SO MY TAX RATES WILL GO DOWN. >> THAT'S ONE THING.

SO OUR DID YOU GET CHICKEN

NOODLE? YOU KNOW I GUESS I'VE JUST DONE TOO MUCH TRUTH FOR THE DAY SO

BUT THERE I REALLY WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I HOPE TO DO IS TO

14 minutesENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE TO SAY JOE'S DID THAT THING FOR ME YESTERDAY AND I

WANT YOU TO KNOW I USE TRANSPARENCY AT LEAST FIVE TIMES THE BUT THAT WAS WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND AND NOT AS YOU

KNOW IT'S IT GETS HARDER THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IT JUST GETS FLAT OUT HARDER. I THOUGHT THE SAME THING I THOUGHT I'M GOING TO DO ALL OF

THIS AND IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT AND EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL AND IT THE HARDEST JOB THAT I'VE EVER HAD BECAUSE IT INVOLVES PEOPLE AND IT

INVOLVES PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

BUT DARKNESS SO YOU KNOW HOW I'VE PICKED UP THE BOOK ON A

LONG TIME AGO WHEN DOUG DALTON VILLAGE WASN'T REALLY THAT PLACE AND I STARTED READING THAT BOOK AGAIN AND STARTED

STARTED TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES I REMEMBER AND WHAT THEY SAID AND WHAT THEY DID AND THIS I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY

GOOD TO SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST SO BUSY RUNNING ALL THE TIME.

BUT WE HAVE THOSE ISSUES I MEAN JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GREEN WHAT IS THAT HOTEL GARDEN IN AND SWEET

AND AND THE LADY THAT THE HOUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE USED AS A YOU KNOW IT'S A DUMP ANYWAY SO

YOU KNOW LOTS OF THAT BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK WHAT WE ALL SHOULD DO IS CONGRATULATE OURSELVES ON BEING ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS AGENDA AND BE ABLE TO GO HOME.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU SAY I HAVE OH, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY HOW ARE YOU HAD SAID SHE DID IT ALREADY SO

THAT SAMPLE WAS HIDING BEHIND THIS AREA. YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE WASN'T DONE.

>> I WAS I WAS I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY AS WE SAY FAREWELL TO

YOU, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 18 MONTHS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO AND THOUGH WE'VE HAD

A LOT TO COVER IN TERMS OF ADMINISTRATION AND THESE KINDS OF THINGS, WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE'VE GOT TO WE'VE GOT TO

LOOK FORWARD AND WE'VE GOT TO LIFT OUR GAZE, IF YOU WILL, TO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERING FOR THE CITY THOUGH WE WILL HAVE AN INTERIM OR A PERIOD WITH AN INTERIM MAYOR WE

CANNOT USE THIS TIME TO REST ON OUR LAURELS.

WE VERY MUCH STILL HAVE ALL OF THE PRESSING DEMANDS OF A GROWING CITY AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO EACH AND EVERY ONE

OF US KIND OF PICKING UP AND TAKING UP OUR PARTICULAR CHARGE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DRIVE THIS CITY FORWARD BECAUSE CERTAINLY WILL NEED TO HELP ON

BOARD OUR INCOMING INTERIM MAYOR. BUT EACH AND EVERY PERSON HERE IS A LEADER IN THEIR OWN RIGHT AND SO WE'VE GOT TO COME

TOGETHER AND HELP HELP LIFT UP OUR NEW LEADER AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I HOPE THAT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO PIVOT TO AS WE COME BACK FROM OUR BREAK IN AUGUST.

>> OKAY. I AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR THE SACRIFICES BUT I THINK THE BIGGER THINGS IS TO YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD TO

SACRIFICE A LOT ESPECIALLY KWAMI, AISHA AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENABLE SOMEONE TO SERVE.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY FOR THEIR SACRIFICES FOR ALL THIS YEARS AND I KNOW THAT

BABIES ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING SOME TIME WITH YOU. I RAN INTO THEM AND THEY JUST WANT THAT UNDISTURBED TIME SO I

CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT AND I.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER YOURS WILL BE THE SAME. >> I MEAN KIDS LOVE AND ADORE. >> WE DO HAVE ONE MORE.

>> I KNOW. NO, NO, NO.

OH, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO THE END OF THIS ITEM?

NO, NO, NO. >> I WANT TO EMBARRASS YOU LIKE OKAY.

OKAY. SO SERVING WITH YOU PROBABLY ANYBODY ELSE I REMEMBER YOU A BUDGET DIRECTOR THAT I REMEMBER

YOU ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND THE FIRST TIME YOU CAME IN RALPH WAS I WAS ADDICTED TO ABOUT YOU SAY SMUDGY YOU

TELEPHONE BILL IS TO HER OH YEAH WE HAD A FEW MINUTES BACK AND YOU TAUGHT ME THERE THAT

YOU GOT TO STAY OUT OF THE NEWSPAPER. >> THAT'S THAT WAS THE NUMBER TWO THING.

NEVER LET THE NEWSPAPER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND SO I WOULD I WOULD SAY WHEN

WHEN I STARTED APPRECIATE YOUR SKILLS IS WHEN I'M MORE RESULTS DRIVEN.

BUT YOU TAUGHT ME THE ART OF THE PROCESS THAT IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PROCESS YOU HAVE GOOD RESULTS AND I WANT TO ECHO WHAT

EVERYONE SAID IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE ABOUT BE PROUD OF IF YOU JUMP ON THE 14TH LARGEST CITY BUT NOW IS YOUR TIME. >> YOU NEED TO BE SELFISH.

IT'S BEEN TIME YOUR GRANDCHILDREN SPEND TIME WITH YOU BOTH CONTINUE TO WORK ON YOU STAND IN THE CITY, TELL YOU

HEY TALENT YOU SEE WHERE YOU LIVE, WHAT YOU SAY MOVIES RIGHT?

>> WOW. >> SCHOOLS DON'T TELL HIM NOTHING. >> YOU WON'T GET THAT WATER. I'M GOING TO MISS YOU, MAYOR.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO DO ONE MORE THING AND THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE DID WITH THE CLERK THIS AFTERNOON.

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS AND HAD THIS CHANCE.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE HAVING I THEY'VE BEEN I HAVE.

AND ASKING YOU AS A DRAFT ON THE SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR THE CITY CLERK THAT YOU APPROVE OF DURING OUR MEETING TIME AND

THAT WE WANT TO MAKE DOCUMENT THIS SO THAT WE CAN GET EVERYTHING ON WAY WORKS AND SO FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF HER ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

CONDUCTED ON 20TH JUNE 22ND 26, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A SALARY ADJUSTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 8% FOR THE CITY CLERK IN

RECOGNITION OF HER CONTINUED SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE IN FULFILLING THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF HER OFFICE.

SO LAST YEAR I HAD TO DO THIS REPORT. >> YEAH AND IT WAS JUST DECKED UP FOR REPORT I MEAN BUT I

THINK NOW I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE STAFF PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW WELL THE STAFF CAME IN AND

NOW WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR IT SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, I HEARD SOMETHING AND WE GOT A PROCESS OUT OF IT.

>> HEY, THAT'S A WIN AND FOR ANYONE TO SAY WE DO I HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION ON THIS. NO, MADAM MAYOR, GREAT JOB.

WE JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE? JULY 2ND SLAPPERS THANK YOU. JULY THE 4TH.

SORRY. OH, IS 4TH OF JULY. I'D LIKE TO DO LIKE JULY. >> YES, YES, YES.

26, 2026. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. >> MOTION TO ADJOURN SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR, MAYOR.

THANK YOU

 

OKAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND

WELCOME, EVERYONE. AS THE MAYOR

PRO TEM I WILL CALL THIS

MEETING TO ORDER AND ASK FOR

INTRODUCTION BEGINNING WITH OUR

CITY CLERK >> BILLY TINES

DEPUTY CITY CLERK ANDREA LESLIE

WHITE CITY ATTORNEY. GOOD >>

AFTERNOON. VICTORIA WATLINGTON

AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF

SERVING YOU AS A MEMBER AT

LARGE JOY MAIL REPRESENTING

DISTRICT THREE KIMBERLY OWENS

REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX >>

MALCOLM GRAHAM DISTRICT TWO AND

DRIGGS DISTRICT >> SEVEN. GOOD

AFTERNOON. WE WANT TO MEET THE

OLD COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE.

GOOD AFTERNOON JD MS. SWEAT

ARIAS DISTRICT FIVE >> RENEE

JOHNSON AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF

SERVING DISTRICT FOUR. OKAY.

THANKS EVERYONE. AT THIS TIME I

WILL STEP AWAY AND ALLOW THE

COUNCIL TO ELECT A CHAIR PRO

TEM. IS THERE A MOTION TO

APPOINT A CHAIR PROTEIN >> I

WILL TAKE? IS THERE A MOTION TO

MAKE FEEL MOTION TO APPOINT

COUNCIL MEMBER GRAHAM. IS THERE

A SECOND SNACK ABOUT COUNCIL

MEMBER WATLINGTON. ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN TO SAY

AND I WILL RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY. AND WE TURN IT OVER NOW

TO CHAIR PRO-TEM COUNCILMAN

GRAHAM

. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THE

INTERVIEW FORM IS PART OF THE

CITY COUNCIL'S PROCESS

FULFILLING THE VACANCY OF THE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. EACH ENTER

THE INTERVIEWER WILL BE ASKED A

SERIES OF QUESTIONS BY THE CITY

COUNCIL AND EACH INTERVIEW WILL

ALSO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL AND

THE PUBLIC WHEN RESPONDING. NO

APPOINTMENT DECISION WILL BE

MADE TODAY THE CITY COUNCIL

WILL CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT

OF THE NEXT MAYOR, MAYOR AND A

PUBLIC FEATURE MEETING ON NEXT

WEEK. AT THIS POINT I WOULD

LIKE TO TURN THE MEETING OVER

TO THE CITY CLERK AND THE CITY

ATTORNEY. WELL THEY WILL REVEAL

THE PROCEDURE FOR TODAY. THANK

YOU, CHAIRPERSON GRAHAM. BY WAY

OF BACKGROUND, THE BALLOTS FOR

NOMINATIONS >> OR PROVIDED TO

COUNCIL MEMBERS ON TUESDAY JUNE

16TH, 2026 AT 12 NOON THE

BALLOT SHOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS

NOMINATED OF UP TO THREE

NOMINEES WERE RETURNED TO THE

CLERK'S OFFICE. RESULTS WERE

TALLIED AND BASED ON THE

NOMINATIONS THE TOP FIVE

NOMINEES FROM ALL COUNCIL

MEMBERS WERE CONTACTED FOR

INTERVIEWS. THE TOP FIVE

NOMINEES I WILL READ THEM AT

THIS TIME AND THIS IS NOT IN

ORDER OF THE TOP VOTE BUT

RATHER IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS HARRELL

COGDELL KERRY COOKE, ROBERT

ROBERT TERRANCE AND EXCUSE ME

JAMES MITCHELL JUNIOR AND

SENATOR CALEB FOR THE ADDRESS.

AT THIS TIME EACH OF THE

INTERVIEWEES HAVE BEEN THEIR

NAMES HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO A

CUP AND AT THE TIME >> OF THE

INTERVIEW THEY WILL BE CALLED

FORWARD BASED UPON RANDOM

DRAWING BY MADAM CLERK. MR.

CHAIR PRO-TEM AND SO AT THIS

TIME AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A

TABLE PLACED AT THE CENTER OF

THE ROOM. EACH INTERVIEWEE WILL

SIT WILL BE SEATED THERE AND

THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE

AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK

QUESTIONS. YOU ALL WILL HAVE AN

OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT ONE

QUESTION FROM THE COMPILATION

OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL CAME

UP WITH INDIVIDUALLY AND WE

JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD STICK

WITH THE SAME QUESTION FOR EACH

INTERVIEW. YOU DO NOT DEVIATE

PLEASE FROM THAT FROM THAT LIST

OF QUESTIONS AND SIMPLY STICK

WITH THE SAME QUESTION WITH

CANDIDATE ONE THROUGH FIVE.

OKAY, I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR

ANY QUESTIONS OTHERWISE I'LL

TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU MR.

CHAIR PRO-TEM. ANY >> QUESTIONS

FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY? I

RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER

WALLINGTON. THANK >> YOU. JUST

FOR CLARITY, THE QUESTION THAT

WE PICKED DOES NOT HAVE TO

NECESSARILY BE ONE WE

INITIATED. THAT >> IS CORRECT.

AS LONG AS YOU STICK WITH THE

SAME QUESTION THROUGHOUT THE

PROCESS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL >>

MEMBER JD THANK YOU CHAIR

PRO-TEM. SO JUST TO CLARIFY OUT

OF OUT OF ALL THE LIST HERE IT

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SUMMARY

QUESTION BUT IT COULD BE ANY OF

THE QUESTIONS. GREAT QUESTION

COUNCILMEMBER OUR AUDIENCE THE

SUMMARY QUESTION WAS AN

OVERVIEW OR A COMPILATION OF

THE THE THEMES OF QUESTIONS BUT

AND EACH CANDIDATE RECEIVED THE

SUMMARY QUESTION. THEY DID NOT

RECEIVE THE INDIVIDUAL

QUESTIONS BUT YOU SHOULD CHOOSE

FROM THE INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS

LISTED BELOW. THANK YOU MADAM

ATTORNEY. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR

THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE CITY

CLERK? COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

GRANTS CLERK AT ONCE WE FINISH

THIS SPACE. ARE WE GOING TO ASK

ALL OF THE CANDIDATES TO STEP

ACROSS THE ROOM SO THAT WE HAVE

THE OPPORTUNITY BASED ON THE

NUMBER THAT OUR CLERK POURS SO

ALL OF THEM WILL BE ADVISED TO

STEP RIGHT ACROSS. THANK YOU

FOR WHOEVER YES, THE CANDIDATES

WILL BE PLACED IN A SEPARATE

ROOM WITHOUT SCREENS SO THAT

THE QUESTIONS WILL REMAIN

SEQUESTERED. THEY WILL REMAIN

SEQUESTERED DURING THE PROCESS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, EACH

CANDIDATE WILL SIT AT THE TABLE

FACING THE COUNCIL COUNCIL

MEMBERS WILL HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY THAT QUESTIONS OF

EACH CANDIDATE AT THE

CONCLUSION OF THE QUESTIONS

EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE PROVIDED

A ONE MINUTE TO ADDRESS THE

CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC TO

PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

THAT THEY WANT CITY COUNCIL TO

KNOW REGARDING THEIR

APPLICATION TO BE MAYOR. WE'RE

GOING TO TRY TO LIMIT EACH

SESSION TO 30 MINUTES. THERE

WILL BE A FIVE MINUTE WARNING

WHEN YOUR TIME IS COMING TO AN

END TO ALL THE CANDIDATES.

THERE YOU SEE THE FIVE MINUTES

WHEN YOUR FIVE MINUTES IS UP. I

WILL I'LL LET YOU >> KNOW FOR

SURE. FINISH YOUR THOUGHTS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO CUT YOU OFF

MID-SENTENCE BUT FINISH YOUR

THOUGHTS AND THEN YOUR TIME

WILL BE OVER. OKAY? ALL RIGHT.

DECORUM AGAIN. WE ASKED THE

MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE TO SIT

AND LISTEN QUIETLY THIS IS THE

COUNCIL'S TIME TO HEAR

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM THE

POTENTIAL CANDIDATES COUNCIL

MEMBERS I HOPE THAT YOU WERE

GIVING YOURSELF PROPORTIONATELY

IN TERMS OF THE RULES THAT WE

PUT IN PLACE IN REFERENCE TO

THE QUESTIONS AND I HAVE ONE

QUESTION ON THE FLOOR AT THE

TIME DIRECTED TO THE TEMPORARY

CHAIR WHO ACKNOWLEDGED MEMBERS

TO TO SPEAK. LASTLY THERE MAY

BE A SOME TWO DECISION POINTS

THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AFTER ALL

THE CANDIDATES HAVE GIVEN THEIR

PRESENTATION. THOSE ARE

RELATIVELY PROCESS QUESTIONS

FOR FOR THE COUNCIL AS WE

APPROACH MONDAY NIGHT BUT I

THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE ON THE

SAME PAGE ONCE WE LEAVE THE

MEETING. SO BEFORE WE ASK THE

CANDIDATES TO EXCUSE

THEMSELVES, ARE THERE ANY

QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY? IS

THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT

SOMEONE WANT TO RAISE FOR THE

COUNCIL? SO AT THIS TIME WE'RE

GOING TO ASK THE CANDIDATES TO

LEAVE THE ROOM AND THEN MATTER

OF FACT IT MIGHT BE THE FIRST

TIME, MADAM CLERK, TO DRAW THE

FIRST NAME FOR THAT PERSON CAN

ACTUALLY STAY. SO LET'S SEE

IT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST TWO

AND THAT HAS TO BE WITH US. YOU

GOT THAT? THANKS. BECAUSE THE

STAFF PERSON IS GOING TO BACK

UP. OKAY, >> CALEB, THE DRESS

SENATOR COME FORWARD. THANKS.

THANKS TO EVERYONE. WE'LL SEE

YOU SHORTLY. IN ORDER TO MAKE

WELCOME TO THE CHARLOTTE CITY

COUNCIL MEETING, THIS IS A

SPECIAL MEETING TO HEAR FROM

YOU. QUESTIONS THAT MANY OF MY

COLLEAGUES ASKED ABOUT YOUR

CANDIDACY TO BE THE TEMPORARY

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE

FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS. YOU

HAVE 30 MINUTES. THERE WILL BE

A FIVE MINUTE WARNING A ONE

MINUTE WARNING. WHEN THAT ONE

MINUTE IS UP YOU HAVE A MINUTE

TO MAKE ANY CLOSING REMARKS TO

THE COUNCIL. WELCOME AGAIN. THE

FLOOR IS OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. OKAY, I'M GOING TO

START COUNCILMEMBER OKAY. THANK

YOU, MADAM ATTORNEY AND WELCOME

AND CONGRATULATIONS. I'LL GET

RIGHT INTO THE QUESTIONS WHAT

CONCERNS, IF ANY, DO YOU THINK

THE PUBLIC MIGHT HAVE ABOUT

YOUR APPOINTMENT AS MAYOR AND

HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THOSE

CONCERNS? ADDITIONALLY, WHAT

STRENGTHS AND EXPERIENCES DO

YOU BELIEVE MAKE YOU

WELL-SUITED FOR THIS ROLE?

YEAH. EXCUSE ME AND THANK YOU

COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING ME

HERE AND FOR THE QUESTIONS. I

THINK PART OF IT IT'S A

QUESTION I'VE GOTTEN IS

OBVIOUSLY A TERM OF AGE YOU

KNOW A QUESTION I'VE GOT AND 32

YEARS OLD. SO HOW IS IT

POSSIBLE FOR SOMEBODY 32 TO

COME INTO THIS PROCESS AND

REALLY HELP COUNSEL AND TO THAT

I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT

WAYS TO MEASURE EXPERIENCE. I

THINK A LOT OF YOU ALL HAVE

SEEN ME ESPECIALLY COME UP

WITHIN CITY POLITICS BUT TO

ALSO APPLY MYSELF TO SERVICE

WHEREVER THAT SERVICE MAY BE

NEEDED. I THINK THAT WE HAVE

DIFFERENT WAYS OF MEASURING

SAID EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE

POLITICAL CIRCLES WHETHER IT IS

THE BLACK POLITICAL CAUCUS,

WHETHER IT IS EXPERIENCE WITHIN

THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR WORKING

WITH BIG AND BROAD AND

SOPHISTICATED ORGANIZATIONS

WORKING AND MANAGING THESE

TEAMS. SO I THINK PART OF THE

QUESTION AND PART OF THE ANSWER

IS REALLY THE QUALITY OF THE

EXPERIENCE INSTEAD OF HOW LONG

HAVE YOU BEEN HERE AS I'VE

TRIED NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU

TRY TO GROW A BEARD AND LOOK

GROWN. NONE OF THAT WILL QUITE

HELP UNLESS YOU'RE HERE

ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK. AND SO

I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S

PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING I'VE

HEARD ANYWAYS, >> THANK YOU.

AND ADDITIONALLY WHAT STRENGTH

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU BRING TO

THE POSITION? I THINK PARTIALLY

JUST YOU KNOW TO HELP OUT WITH

THERE ARE MANY EXPERIENCE

PEOPLE NOT WITHIN ONLY FOLKS

THAT ARE GOING FOR THE INTERIM

ROLE BUT EVEN ESPECIALLY OUR

COUNCIL. BUT I THINK EXPERIENCE

ALSO HAS TO BE MARRIED WITH

FORESIGHT THE MANY OF THE

PROBLEMS THAT THE CITY AND EVEN

THE STATE FACE ARE THINGS THAT

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR

QUITE A WHILE. I'VE WORKED IN

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PAST DECADE

OR SO AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAS THE

ABILITY TO REALLY CHANGE

SOCIETY. AND SO I FEEL LIKE

WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE SEEN OTHER

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE, WE

CAN MARRY THAT WITH SOME OF THE

THINGS THAT I'VE BROUGHT UP AND

ALSO JUST THAT BECAUSE THE

OBVIOUS ONE IS THE RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE STATE. I THINK THERE'S

OFTENTIMES THAT GAP BETWEEN

UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FRIENDS

OVER IN RALEIGH AND THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF

CHARLOTTE AND I THINK THOSE

FOLKS DO UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I

THINK I CAN HELP TO KIND OF

MARRY THAT DIVIDE AND MAKING

PEOPLE REALIZE THAT LISTEN,

CHARLOTTE IS IMPORTANT TO THE

STATE. WE HAVE 30% OF THE GDP,

THE MAJORITY OF GROWTH AND VICE

VERSA. WE HAVE A GOVERNING

STRUCTURE THAT'S PREDICATED ON

A GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WANTS

TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF

CHARLOTTE AND SO KIND OF

MARRYING THOSE THAT DUALITY IS

SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE ABLE

TO HELP WITH. THANK YOU. I

THINK. THANK YOU CHAIR PRO TEM

GRAHAM THANK YOU, SENATOR. AS

CHARLOTTE CONTINUES TO GROW,

WHAT SPECIFIC ACTIONS WOULD YOU

PRIORITIZE TO ENSURE GROWTH

THAT BENEFITS ALL RESIDENTS AND

HOW WOULD YOU HOLD PUBLIC

PRIVATE AND INSTITUTIONAL

PARTNERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR

MEASURABLE PROGRESS? YOU YEAH

ONE THING IS THE THE OFTENTIMES

THE PLATITUDES THAT WE SAY AND

THE PHRASES HAVE TO BE MARRIED

WITH A SPECIFIC METRIC THAT WE

ARE MEASURING IT'S NOT ENOUGH

JUST FOR A CORPORATION OR A

PRIVATE ENTITY TO SAY THAT

THEY'RE HERE AND HERE FOR THE

BEST INTERESTS OF CHARLOTTE.

BUT IN TURN THAT HAS TO LOOK

LIKE HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE WE HOW

MANY MEMBERS FROM CMS HAVE WE

GOTTEN TO GET AN INTERNSHIP

FROM A CORPORATION? SO OUR ASKS

AS A CITY AND CONSTITUENTS OF

SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS

HAVE TO BE GETTING SPECIFIC ASK

FROM THESE CORPORATIONS. AND

PART OF IT IS JUST TO

UNDERSTAND THAT LISTEN

EVERYONE'S PROGRESS IS DEPENDED

ON EACH OTHER. THERE'S NO

CORPORATION THAT'S HERE THAT'S

NOT DEPENDENT ON THE GROWTH OF

CHARLOTTE. HAVING SHAREHOLDER

VALUE IS NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE

TO HAVING FOLKS THAT ARE

WORKING CLASS BEING ABLE TO

PROGRESS THEMSELVES. SO I DO

THINK RELATIVE TO OTHER CITIES

AND EVEN OTHER STATES CHARLOTTE

HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF MARRYING

THOSE TWO IDEALS AND WE'RE JUST

AT ANOTHER IMPASSE WHERE WE

NEED FOLKS THAT CAN COME IN AND

SPEAKS TO BOTH SIDES WHETHER

IT'S WORKING CLASS GRASSROOTS

ORGANIZATIONS AND ALSO OUR

CORPORATE PARTNERS. BUT THE

VERY POINTED ANSWER I WOULD

GIVE IS THERE HAVE TO BE

SPECIFIC METRICS RELATIVE TO

THE COMPANY SLOGANS THAT WE'RE

USED TO HEARING. THANK YOU.

SOME SUBSEQUENTLY FOLLOW UP.

IT'S A FOLLOW UP HOW WOULD YOU

APPLY THAT THEORY TO WHEN IT

COMES TO CHARLOTTE AIRPORT AND

AIRPORT WORKERS? YEAH, I THINK

LISTEN, AS WE HAVE CONTINUING

NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHARLOTTE

DOUGLASS AIRPORT THERE HAVE TO

BE SPECIFIC ASKS ESPECIALLY FOR

CORPORATIONS. AGAIN, WE HAVE TO

FIT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE

ACTUAL LAW LIKE THEIR STATE LAW

THAT MANDATES HOW CHARLOTTE

DOUGLASS AIRPORT AND HOW

AMERICAN AIRLINES ARE TO

CONDUCT THEMSELVES AND WHAT

POWER THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF THE

PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE HIRING.

AND PART OF OUR JOB ESPECIALLY

HAVING THE CHARLOTTE DOUGLASS

AIRPORT IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY

ALSO REALIZE THAT LISTEN, FOLKS

HAVE TO COME VISIT THE AIRPORT

AND WHETHER YOU TRAVEL OR NOT

IS DEPENDENT ON HOW YOU'RE

DOING ECONOMICALLY AND WHETHER

IT'S CHARLOTTE IS A GREAT PLACE

FOR YOUR KIDS TO BE IN TERMS OF

CMS. AND SO AGAIN, YOU CAN'T

GET OVERLY SPECIFIC BECAUSE

THAT'S JUST FRANKLY HOW STATE

LAW IS WRITTEN. BUT I THINK WE

HAVE TO BE STRONG ON OUR SIDE

IN THE CHARLOTTE DOUGLASS

AIRPORT TO HAVE SPECIFIC ASK

THEMSELVES FROM AMERICAN

AIRLINES WITHOUT US

OVERSTEPPING STADIUM >> COUNCIL

MEMBER MAYFIELD AND BEFORE SHE

STARTS I JUST WANT TO REMIND

THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE

FOCUSED ON THE QUESTIONS THAT

WE ALL AGREED UPON AND ANY

FOLLOW UP QUESTION HAS TO BE

GERMANE TO THE INITIAL QUESTION

THAT HAS BEEN ASKS

COUNCILMEMBER >> WALLINGTON. I

JUST ALSO WANT TO AS A PROCESS

CHECK POINT OUT FROM A TIME

STANDPOINT THAT YOU ARE LIMITED

TO 30 MINUTES SO JUST BE

MINDFUL ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU'RE

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS >> YOU

LIMITED 30 MINUTES YOUR 15

MINUTES INTO IT AND WE WANT TO

GET AROUND THE TABLE SO I WON'T

TAKE UP ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME.

COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD

COUNCILMEMBER I ASSUME HERE

THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WE HAVE

ONLY 30 MINUTES STOPPING AS

WELL. SO IF AGAIN IF YOU CAN

START OUT IN A DIFFERENT

DIRECTION FOR THE SECOND OR

THIRD CANDIDATE TO ENSURE THAT

EVERYONE GETS THEIR QUESTIONING

. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO

OKAY, SO COUNCILMEMBER

MAYFIELD, WHERE WE'RE STARTING

HIS TIME US RIGHT NOW STARTING

>> AT 23 MINUTES. OKAY STARTING

>> RIGHT SO WE STOP WE STOP HIS

TIME. DON'T LISTEN. WE JUST HAD

THIS CONVERSATION >> STARTING

FROM 12:00. RIGHT. >> ALL

RIGHT, SO THE DIRECT COMMENTS

TO THE CHAIR AND THE CHAIR WILL

MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ARE ON

THE SAME ACCORD. COUNCILMEMBER

MAYFIELD, THANK YOU. THANK YOU

FOR JOINING US TODAY. HOW DO

YOU PLAN TO MAINTAIN YOUR

EMPLOYMENT AND DO THIS VOTE AS

IT TAKES UP A SIGNIFICANT

AMOUNT OF >> TIME? YEAH, I

THINK IT'S JUST REFLECTIVE OF

WHAT I'VE HAD TO DO. I'M NOT

DEPEND ON ANYONE ELSE BUT

MYSELF. SO ALL OF THE SORT OF

POLITICAL WORK THAT I'VE ALWAYS

HAD TO DO HAD TO HAVE

MAINTAINED A JOB WHILE I DID

IT. AND SO YEAH, JUST

CONTINUING TO ESPECIALLY WITHIN

LISTEN TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS

IS A ROLE WHERE I HAVE TO BE IN

RALEIGH FOR HALF THE TIME BEING

ABLE TO BALANCE PRIVATE SECTOR

RESPONSIBILITIES, EVEN FAMILY

RESPONSIBILITIES. AND IT'S JUST

SOMETHING I'M ACCUSTOMED TO.

WELL WHEN I INTERNED FOR THE

CITY OF CHARLOTTE, YOU KNOW AS

MANY FOLKS WOULD KNOW I HAD TO

BALANCE GOING TO CLASS MAKING

SURE I MADE IT HERE ON TIME,

GOING TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE JUST SORT OF

PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVICE AND

GOVERNING AND SOMETHING THAT

YOU'VE DONE FOR 1015 YEARS, YOU

HAVE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO

BALANCE AND TO EXCEL AT BOTH.

>> AND COUNCILMEMBER DRAKE'S

THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING.

AFTERNOON. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE

A MORE ORDERLY COUNCIL PROCESS,

HOW WOULD YOU WORK OUTSIDE OF

MEETINGS TO HELP COUNCIL

IDENTIFY PRIORITIES AND ACHIEVE

CONSENSUS? YEAH. PART OF IT IS

GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON THE

PRE-WORK THAT YOU DO BEFORE YOU

COME TO THE DYESS. I THINK PART

OF MY RESPONSIBILITY HAS TO BE

HAVING FORESIGHT TO SPECIFIC

TIMELINES OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

THIS WEEK IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE

TALKING ABOUT DATA CENTERS BUT

WHERE DO WE SEE THE DISCUSSION

OF DATA CENTERS OVER THE NEXT

SIX MONTHS? OKAY. HOW CAN WE

WORK BACKWARDS TO ENSURE THAT

THIS TOPIC IS DISCUSSED AT THIS

COMMITTEE MEETING? HOW CAN WE

ENSURE THAT WE HAVE PRIVATE ONE

ON ONE MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE

WEEK WITH COUNCILMEMBERS THAT I

CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR

GOALS? I THINK THAT PART OF THE

PROCESS IS WHERE I WOULD LEAN

ON PRE MEETINGS PRE PREPARATION

SO THAT YOU KNOW SORT OF

DISCUSSIONS ON THE DIAS ARE

ABOUT GETTING TO A FINAL

OUTCOME AND NOT JUST SORT OF

DRIFT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMES FROM AROUND >> CENTER TO

ADDRESS. NICE TO SEE YOU. A

RECENT RESCISSION OF THE I-77

PROJECT RECOMMENDATION

REFLECTED STRONG PUBLIC

ENGAGEMENT AND DIFFERING

PERSPECTIVES ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. WHAT

DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE

NEXT STEP IN ADDRESSING

CONGESTION AND MOBILITY

CHALLENGES ALONG THE I-77

CORRIDOR? AND HOW WOULD YOU AS

MAYOR ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS

MEANINGFUL INVOLVED IN THE

PROCESS? >> YEAH, IT GOES TO

SOME OF THE PREPLANNING THAT

COUNCILMEMBER DRIGGS JUST ASKED

ABOUT. I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH

THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF EVEN I-77

IS FOR EXAMPLE, YOU DIDN'T GET

PUBLIC INPUT ON THE SPECIFIC

MAPS UNTIL WE WERE ALMOST AT

THE FINISH LINE. AGAIN, THIS IS

THAT FORESIGHT AND THAT

PREPLANNING THAT WE NEED TO GET

BACK TO. IF WE HAD MORE

COMMUNITY INPUT BEFORE A

PROBLEM CAME TO MANIFEST ITSELF

YOU START TO REALIZE THE GOALS

OF THE COMMUNITY AND EVEN THOSE

WITHIN TRANSPORTATION SECTORS

THE BUSINESS LINES ETC. AREN'T

TOO FAR OFF. YOU GIVE YOURSELF

TIME TO HAVE A COMPROMISE AND

TO HAVE A SOLUTION THAT THE

BOTH COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE

ELSE CAN AGREE ON. AND SO THAT

PRE-WORK IT'S A LOT OF WORK BUT

THAT IS NEEDED AND I THINK AN

AREA WHERE YOU SAW THAT FAIL

WAS THE I-77 DISCUSSION TOO

WHERE EVERY CONVERSATION WAS

FOLLOWED BY WE NEED AN ANSWER

IN 2 OR 3 WEEKS. AND I DON'T

THINK THAT WAS NECESSARILY

FAIR. BOTH FOR NCDOT I DON'T

THINK IT'S DEFINITELY FAIR FOR

THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND

ANYONE INVOLVED IN THIS

DISCUSSION COMES FROM THE

RADISSON. GOOD AFTERNOON AND

WELCOME. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT

IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING

THE CITY RIGHT NOW AND YOU CAN

ONLY PICK ONE. I KNOW WE HAVE A

PLETHORA. YEAH. I WOULD SAY TO

THE EXTENT THAT THE MAYOR,

MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL

CAN WORK COHESIVELY ON THE SAME

GOALS. COUNCILMEMBER I DON'T

THINK THERE ARE SPECIFIC POLICY

PROBLEMS THAT CITY COUNCIL

CAN'T SOLVE. AGAIN, WE ARE THE

14TH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA.

WE ARE THE FASTEST GROWING CITY

IN AMERICA. WE ARE A

DESTINATION TO JOBS, TO

EDUCATION. OUT OF THE 157

PEOPLE MOVING HERE EVERY DAY,

40% OF THAT IS ACTUALLY USC

CHARLOTTE GRADUATES. WE HAVE

THE RESOURCES ALREADY HERE. SO

WHETHER IT'S AFFORDABLE

HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,

CHILD CARE I BELIEVE THAT THE

CITY OF CHARLOTTE WORKING

COHESIVELY WITH STAFF AMONGST

OURSELF WITH THE MAYOR AND

MAYOR PRO TEM CAN ACTUALLY

SOLVE A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

AND SO YEAH, I THINK I THINK IT

HAS TO BE JUST HOW COHESIVELY

WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT

THERE'S A SPECIFIC POLICY WE

CAN'T FIGURE OUT. >>

COUNCILMEMBER MAYO, ARE YOU

PREPARED? YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE MEETINGS

>> ARE EFFICIENT WHILE STILL

ALLOWING ROBUST DEBATE WITH

DISCUSSION? >> YEAH. IN LARGE

PART FOLLOWING THE ALREADY

EXISTING POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES THAT ARE SET IN

PLACE I THINK PART OF MY

TRAINING GROUND WAS MANAGING

SOME OF THE BLACK POLITICAL

CAUCUS MEETINGS WHERE YOU HAVE

MANY PERSONALITIES AND MANY

PEOPLE WITHIN THE POLITICAL

SPECTRUM. BUT ENSURING THAT

LISTEN, I WANT ROBUST DEBATE.

WE WANT EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO

HAVE THEIR VOICE THERE TOO. BUT

THERE ARE ACTUAL POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES. WE'RE GETTING AN

EXAMPLE OF THAT FROM SENATOR

GRAHAM HERE ABOUT THE

RECOGNITION FROM THE CHAIR

NEEDING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR

PEOPLE TO PRESENT THEIR ACTUAL

IDEAS. AND THERE'S NOT MEANT TO

SILENCE CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS

OR FOLKS BUT IT IS MEANT TO

HAVE ORDER. SO I WANT A ROBUST

DEBATE. BUT PART OF THAT HAS TO

BE A SPECIFIC POLICY AND

PROCEDURE THAT WE ALL HAVE TO

FOLLOW. >> THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER WELLINGTON. THANK

YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON,

SENATOR. CHARLOTTE'S PRIORITIES

ARE NOT NEW CONVERSATIONS >>

BUT THE TOOLS, PARTNERS AND

SCALE OF THESE CHALLENGES LOOK

VERY DIFFERENT THAN THEY DID

EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO. CAN YOU

WALK US THROUGH A SPECIFIC

EXAMPLE OF WORK YOU'RE DOING

RIGHT NOW OR HAVE DONE IN THE

VERY RECENT PAST THAT DIRECTLY

CONNECTS TO ONE OF THESE

PRIORITIES? YEAH. I THINK WITH

EVERY SINGLE POLICY THEY ALL

INTERCONNECT. BUT WITHIN THE

STATE SENATE LISTEN, I'M ON THE

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND SO

WE ARE LOOKING THROUGHOUT THE

STATE TO SEE HOW TRANSPORTATION

POLICIES, HOW WE PROPERLY FUND

SPECIFIC PROJECTS. AND I'M SURE

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AS OF

RECENTLY TRANSPORTATION NOT

ONLY A RECENT I-77 DECISION BUT

THE TRANSIT BILL WHICH I

SUPPORTED HAVE BEEN BIG TOPICS

THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING. AND

SO I THINK IT REALLY HELPS TO

HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN BE ABLE TO

MANEUVER THROUGH THE STATE

POLICIES AND NCDOT AND TO

CONTINUE TO HELP COUNCIL AND

THE CITY AT LARGE TRY TO

MANEUVER THROUGH THROUGH THESE

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. LISTEN,

AS THE PAVE ACT PASSED, THIS IS

20 YEARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO

HAVE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN

TRANSPORTATION. THE CITY OF

CHARLOTTE WILL NOW BE A

TRANSPORTATION HUB BECAUSE OF

THE TRANSIT TAX. AND SO PART OF

THAT IS YOU NEED SOMEBODY WITH

A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE

PAYBACK WHICH I DID VOTE FOR

AND HOW TO DO THINGS LIKE

ENSURE AND PUT ON THE SAME

BOARD AS THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

AND SO YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY

SAY TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN THE

BIGGEST DISCUSSION POINT AND

HAVING EXPERIENCE AND NOT ONLY

A TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE BUT

ALSO APPROPRIATIONS FOR

TRANSPORTATION AT THE STATE

LEVEL WOULD DEFINITELY KIND OF

INFORM MY POSITION. >>

COUNCILMAN KASHMERE WELCOME

SENATOR. THE NEXT MAYOR WILL

PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING

THE SELECTION OF CHARLOTTE'S

NEXT CITY MANAGER. HOW WOULD

YOU ENSURE CITY COUNCIL IS

MEANINGFULLY INCLUDED IN THAT

PROCESS? AND WHAT STRUCTURE

WOULD YOU PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE

SURE CITY STAFF IS PROACTIVE,

TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATIVE

WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND

RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY IN

COMMUNITIES THAT OFTEN FEEL

DECISIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT

THEM? >> YEAH. I MEAN

COUNCILMEMBER GOING BACK TO

SOME OF THE EARLIER POINTS

ABOUT PRE-WORK, WE'RE GOING TO

CONTINUE BUT GOING BACK TO SOME

OF THE EARLIER POINTS ABOUT

PRE-WORK, I THINK IT'S THAT

MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT

COUNCIL SETS UP THE GOALS IN

TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT WITHIN

THE PROCESS. I THINK OFTENTIMES

WHERE WE GET INTO SORT OF

DISAGREEMENTS AND DEVIATE FROM

CERTAIN POINTS IS WE'RE

ACTUALLY ARGUING ABOUT

DIFFERENT GOALS THAT WE WOULD

HAVE AND SO SOMETHING LIKE

COMMUNICATION AND COUNCIL INPUT

IS AN ACTUAL GOAL AND WE NEED

TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S REFLECTED

WITHIN THE METRICS THAT WE SET

UP WHEN INTERVIEWING FOR A NEW

CITY MANAGER. AND I THINK

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE

ULTIMATELY YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO

BEHAVE AS GOOD AS THE METRICS

THAT YOU SET UP. AND I THINK IF

YOU SET THAT UP AHEAD OF TIME

YOU'LL HAVE MEANINGFUL

ENGAGEMENT WITH AN ASSORTMENT

OF CITY MANAGERS. IF YOU SET UP

THE METRICS TO HAVE CITY STAFF

OR EXCUSE ME CITY COUNCIL HAVE

INPUT AN ACTUAL DISCUSSION IF

IT'S THERE IN THE METRICS THE

OUTCOME WILL REFLECT THAT AS

WELL. SO I THINK ALL OF THE

PRE-WORK AND THE METRICS

SETTING IN THE BEGINNING AND

THE GOAL SETTING IS THAT MUCH

MORE IMPORTANT TO ACTUAL FOLLOW

UP DISCUSSION AND TRYING TO

FIGURE OUT WHO BEST TO APPOINT.

>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO ASK THE

QUESTION AND I WANT KIND OF

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEMBERS MALE

QUESTION WHICH IS WHAT IS YOUR

PHILOSOPHY ON COMMITTEE WORK

AND THE ROLE COMMITTEES SHOULD

PLAY IN SHAPING POLICY? YEAH, I

THINK I HAVE A PRETTY BIASED

PERSPECTIVE BEING IN THE SENATE

BUT I THINK THE COMMITTEE IS

WHERE THE MAJORITY OF POLICY

MAKING SHOULD BE DONE. I THINK

ULTIMATELY EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER

IS ELECTED SO EVERY SINGLE

PERSON NOT ONLY HAS A VOTE HAS

A RIGHT TO SAY SOMETHING WHEN

IT COMES BEFORE THE DYESS,

ETC.. BUT I THINK THE CRITICAL

SPECIFIC POINTS SHOULD BE

DEBATED AND THERE SHOULD BE

ALONG A ROAD TO GIVE WHENEVER

YOU HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE

COMMITTEE. SO PHILOSOPHICALLY

MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE MAJORITY

OF WHERE MY EXPERIENCE HAS COME

FROM WHERE YOU KICKBACK THINGS

TO THE COMMITTEE TO DO THE WORK

AND BRING IT BEFORE COUNCIL.

BUT I THINK COUNCIL HAS EVERY

RIGHT TO DISCUSS EVERY SINGLE

TOPIC AND IF FOLKS DECIDE TO

KICK IT BACK TO COMMITTEE OR

THEY SEE A PROBLEM WITH HOW HOW

SPECIFIC COMMITTEE KIND OF DOES

ON A SPECIFIC ITEM, THEN THEY

HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO SO. BUT

I THINK FOR THE SAKE OF

ORGANIZATION. BUT THERE ARE

OBVIOUSLY ESPECIALLY THE BIGGER

ISSUES DATA CENTERS, I-77 AND

ETC. THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE

ALL FIGURED OUT WITHIN

COMMITTEE AND HAVE EVERY RIGHT

TO BE DISCUSSED WITHIN THE

DYESS CONTRACT. WE GOT 14

MINUTES SO WE'LL WE'LL JUST

TAKE RANDOM QUESTIONS FROM

COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT MAY HAVE

FOLLOW UPS. AND I RECOGNIZE MR.

MAYOR, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION

THAT I WOULD NOT WANT YOU IN >>

THE FORMAT MAIL. THANK YOU,

CHAIR. ACTUALLY I WOULD LIKE TO

GO BACK TO LAGUARDIA'S OR

COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD'S

QUESTION ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYMENT.

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE QUITE GOT

ENOUGH WITH AND TO HAVE THAT OR

SO ARE YOU CAN YOU TELL US MORE

ABOUT LIKE WITH YOUR CURRENT

EMPLOYMENT HOW YOU THINK THIS

TIME WILL BE SPENT BECAUSE I

MEAN BEING THE MAYOR EVEN BEING

ON COUNCIL IS A LOT AND HAVING

A FULL TIME JOB. SO HE GAVE US

A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE. ARE YOU

SELF EMPLOYED? I DON'T FEEL

LIKE I REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE

ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. YEAH,

I THOUGHT THE COUNCILMEMBER

WANTED A GENERAL RESPONSE.

RIGHT NOW I DON'T WORK ANYWHERE

ELSE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE

TERM. I CONSULTED FOR

TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES SMALLER

COMPANIES BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS

WHAT I DO FULL TIME IN THE

STATE SENATE AND THAT'S HOW

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF

JUGGLE EVERY SINGLE POLICY,

MAKE ALL MY COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT VERY

COMMON IN RALEIGH BUT I'M THERE

FOR EVERY SINGLE COMMITTEE

MEETING AND I GUESS

COUNCILMEMBER APOLOGIES IF I

CAME UP SHORT IN THAT ANSWER.

MY MY ANSWER WAS MORE SO TO

REFLECT THAT ALL THE TIME ALL

THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN

INVOLVED IN POLITICS EVEN WHEN

I WORKED AT DIFFERENT BANKS

ETC. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO

MANAGE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO SHOW

UP TO BPC MEETINGS. I'VE ALWAYS

BEEN TO SHOW UP HERE WHEN I

WORKED IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE

FOR UNDER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU THE MORE

SPECIFIC BUT THE BROADER HOW I

KIND OF VIEW OF SOME OF THESE

THINGS. APPRECIATE >> THAT.

THANK YOU. YEAH. JUST WANT TO

REMIND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO

FOCUS ON THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE

ON THE PAPER. IF THERE'S A

FOLLOW UP TO A QUESTION THAT'S

ALREADY BEEN ASKED, I THINK

THAT'S APPROPRIATE. WE JUST

WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SOME

CONSISTENCY FOR ALL THE

CANDIDATES THAT THAT WE'RE

INTERVIEWING RECOGNIZE MS..

WALLINGTON AND THEN MR. DRAKE'S

AFTER MS.. WALLINGTON AND MS.

JOHNSON IN THAT. Q >> THANK

YOU. I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO

THE QUESTION SPECIFIC TO THE

THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING

RIGHT NOW OR HAVE DONE. CAN YOU

JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE

SPECIFIC >> EXAMPLE? WALK US

THROUGH A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF

WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. SURE. OR

IT CAN BE NOW OR IN THE RECENT

PAST JUST KIND OF GIVE US THE

FRAMEWORK. WHAT WAS THE

SITUATION WHAT ACTION DID YOU

TAKE? WHAT WAS YEAH. SO EVEN AS

OF LET'S JUST SAY A FEW WEEKS

AGO THERE WAS A BILL THAT I

INTRODUCED CALLED THE COACHES

CARE ACT WHICH ATTEMPTED TO GET

MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR

EVERY SINGLE COACH IN NORTH

CAROLINA AS A REQUIREMENT. AND

SO YOU KNOW ONE THING IN TERMS

OF BEING COHESIVE AND WORKED

WITH OTHER DIFFERENT PARTNERS

>> BEING IN THE SUPER MINORITY,

YOU DON'T HAVE A GREAT

PROBABILITY OF PASSING A

SPECIFIC BILL. BUT DUE TO THE

RELATIONSHIPS THAT I HAVE

WITHIN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

BOTH OF THE CORNER OFFICES AND

MANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS,

WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE COACHES

CARE ACT AND GET ADOPTED BY THE

NATIONAL EXCUSE ME THE NORTH

CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

ASSOCIATION AND THEY MADE IT A

REQUIREMENT VOTED 18 TO 0 TO

HAVE EVERY COACH IN NORTH

CAROLINA HAVE THAT AS A

REQUIREMENT THAT THEY NEED TO

TAKE THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST

AID. I'M SURE A LOT OF US SHARE

THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS A VERY

BIG IMPORTANT ISSUE WITHIN

SOCIETY UNDERLIES BOTH THE

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,

HOMELESSNESS ALL OF THESE

ISSUES INTERTWINED WITH MENTAL

HEALTH. BUT THAT'S JUST AN

EXAMPLE OF WORKING WITH

DIFFERENT PARTNERS. NAMI WAS

AMONG THE BIGGEST PARTNERS THAT

HELPED OUT AND WORKING WITH

REPUBLICANS THAT WERE

SYMPATHETIC TO MAKE THAT A BILL

AND AGAIN AND A SUPER MINORITY

AS A DEMOCRAT AND A FRESHMAN.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JOYCE

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND TO

BE CLEAR, WE CAN ASK ANOTHER

QUESTION FROM THIS LIST. IS

THAT RIGHT? SO SIR, HOW

IMPORTANT ARE INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONS TO THE CITY'S AGENDA

AND WHAT ARE WAYS YOU AS MAYOR

WOULD WORK WITH OUR

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS TO

ACHIEVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR CITY?

YEAH. OUTSIDE OF THE TACTICAL

CONTINUOUS MEETINGS THAT YOU'LL

NEED BOTH WITH MEMBERS OF THE

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE STATE

SENATE, THE HOUSE CMS COUNTY

COMMISSION. I THINK PART OF

THAT IS LISTEN, TRUST COMPOUNDS

THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU'VE BUILT

WITH CERTAIN FOLKS WHETHER IT'S

IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ULTIMATELY COMPOUNDS AND I

THINK WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE ROLE AS

DOING THINGS LIKE HAVING

CONTINUOUS MEETINGS, HAVING

VERY BLUNT DISCUSSIONS WHETHER

IT'S REPUBLICANS OR FOLKS THAT

SEEMS IN ORDER TO TALK ABOUT

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE CITY,

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOU

DON'T HAVE MISSION CREEP AND

YOU DON'T CREEP INTO MAYBE A

CMS GOAL THAT THAT IS THERE?

AND SO I THINK COUNCILMEMBER

CONTINUOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH

THESE PARTNERS OF OURS BUILT

THROUGH TRUST AND YEARS OF

KNOWING FOLKS LIKE WHETHER IT'S

CMS BOARD. STEPHANIE SNEE

WHETHER IT'S A MARK JEREL

WHETHER IT'S A SENATOR PHIL

BERGER, JUSTIN HALL OR EVEN THE

GOVERNOR AND THESE ARE FOLKS

THAT WE'VE BUILT RELATIONSHIP

OVER THE TIME THAT HAVE BOTH

BEEN IN RALEIGH AND IN

CHARLOTTE. MR. CHAIRMAN, I

FOLLOW UP FOLLOW UP. DO YOU

THINK OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH

OTHER GOVERNMENTS CURRENTLY ARE

GOOD >> MORE SO SEE IT AS AN

OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME BETTER

BUT ONLY BECAUSE LISTEN, I'M ON

BOTH ESSENTIALLY SIDES WITH

RELATIONSHIP WITH COUNCIL

MEMBERS HERE TO HEAR A SPECIFIC

CITY PERSPECTIVE BUT ALSO IN

RALEIGH GETTING AN

UNDERSTANDING FROM SOMEBODY

LIKE A SENATOR PHIL BERGER OF

WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUT

OF A CHARLOTTE. AND SO FROM MY

VIEWPOINT MAYBE I JUST SEE IT

AS THE GAP IS NOT THAT WIDE.

RALEIGH UNDERSTANDS THAT 30% OF

THE STATE'S GDP IS CHARLOTTE

THE MAJORITY >> OF THE REASON

WHY PEOPLE COME HERE WE HAVE

900,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN

CHARLOTTE DURING PEAK HOURS

DURING THE WEEK IT'S ABOUT 2

MILLION FROM THE FOLKS THAT

LIVE HERE. SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND

THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. BUT I

THINK THERE'S JUST BEEN MORE OF

A COMMUNICATION AND A GAP THAT

EXISTS TO WHERE WE GET INTO

THESE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS WHEN

I THINK AGAIN BACK TO PRE-WORK,

BACK TO RELATIONSHIPS THOSE

THINGS CAN BE MENDED. THANK

YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON

>> THANK YOU. CHARLOTTE ADOPTED

AN ORDINANCE IN 2024 RELATED TO

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THOSE

POLICIES AND CHARLOTTE'S

OVERALL APPROACH TO

HOMELESSNESS? YEAH, I THINK

PART OF IT IS THE SHORTCOMING I

THINK WAS NOT NECESSARILY DOING

ENOUGH BUT NOT ONLY FROM THE

CITY PERSPECTIVE. I THINK WHEN

I HAVE VIEWED OUR ESPECIALLY

OUR HOMELESS POPULATION I THINK

THE SHORTCOMINGS HAVE BEEN NOT

ENOUGH INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL

HEALTH. AND LET ME PREREQUISITE

BY SAYING THIS IS NOT SOMETHING

THAT THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE CAN

DO ALONE ESPECIALLY IT EVEN HAS

THE POWER OF FUNDS TO REALLY DO

A LOT OF AND SO OUT OF A CITY

ORDINANCE I WOULD HAVE LIKED

MORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH A COUNTY

TO CONTRIBUTE TO ADDITIONAL

BEDS IN ORDER TO COUNTERACT

SOME OF THE CITY ORDINANCES. SO

I THINK JUST TO ANSWER IT

DIRECTLY, I THINK I WOULD HAVE

WANTED MORE OF THE

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PORTION OF

IT. I UNDERSTAND THE

CONSTRAINTS THAT THE CITY OF

CHARLOTTE HAS BUT I THINK THE

COUNTY CONTINUOUSLY

CONTRIBUTING TO IT OUR

HOSPITALS MORE INVOLVED WITH

THAT DISCUSSION. THE ONLY THING

I WOULD PROBABLY POINT TO BUT

I'M VERY WELL AWARE OF

ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBERS

BEING ASKED TO DO MORE WHEN YOU

KNOW THE CONSTRAINTS OF CITY

GOVERNMENT RELATIVE TO EVERYONE

ELSE. >> I CAN'T REMEMBER

ANDERSON AND THEN WE'LL DO A

TIME CHECK. >> THANK YOU. HOW

DO YOU SEE YOUR RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL

AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN

PRACTICE WHEN YOU DISAGREE WITH

THE BODY THAT APPOINTED YOU?

AND LAST PART OF THIS IS HOW DO

YOU SEE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH

THE MANAGER ON A DAY TO DAY

BASIS? YEAH, I THINK WITH

COUNCIL WE'RE A GROUP OF

COLLABORATORS >> AND I SEE THAT

THE INTERIM MAYOR HAS TO PLAY A

FACILITATOR ROLE. ULTIMATELY

YOU ALL ARE THE ONES THAT ARE

MAKING THE POLICY ESPECIALLY

NOW THAT WE'RE POST-BUDGET

SEASON. AND SO PART OF MY JOB

HAS TO BE A UNDERSTAND ENDING

YOUR SPECIFIC GOAL AND THEN HOW

CAN I HELP TO PUSH THAT

FORWARD? HOW DO YOU DO THAT? IT

HAS TO BE THROUGH THINGS LIKE

WEEKLY MEETINGS. I HAVE TO

UNDERSTAND WHAT SPECIFIC ITEMS

YOU'RE ACTUALLY PERSONALLY

PASSIONATE ABOUT. THERE ARE

CERTAIN MAYBE DISCUSSIONS THAT

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO

CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH. AND I THINK

THAT'S REFLECTED IN WHAT WE'VE

DONE IN RALEIGH. LISTEN, THE

POLICY DISAGREEMENTS ARE EVEN

WIDER OBVIOUSLY ESPECIALLY WITH

DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES.

BUT EVEN A DEMOCRAT IN

ASHEVILLE IS NOT THE SAME AS A

DEMOCRAT IN CHARLOTTE AND

ESPECIALLY ONE FROM THE

MOUNTAINS FOR EXAMPLE. AND SO

THAT EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME

LISTEN, EVEN THOUGH WE SHARE

THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY YOU

DISAGREE ON X, Y, Z BUT ARE

PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS THING. SO

MY JOB IS LIKE HOW CAN WE FIND

THE COMMON AREAS THAT WE DO

AGREE ON AND HOW CAN WE JUST

WORK ON THOSE ITEMS INITIALLY?

SO THAT LOOKS LIKE I MEAN I

HAVE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL

INDIVIDUALLY. I HAVE TO HAVE

RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOU ALL

INDIVIDUALLY AND TO REALIZE

WHAT'S IMPORTANT SPECIFICALLY

TO YOU AND CITY MANAGER

PORTION. AGAIN, YOU ALL SET THE

POLICY. I'M PRETTY MUCH MY

RESPONSIBILITY A SETTING THAT

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY

MANAGER WHO DELIVERS ON THAT

POLICY DAY TO DAY OBVIOUSLY TO

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY OF

CHARLOTTE. AND SO PART OF MY

JOB IS TO BE THAT COMMUNICATION

BETWEEN YOU ALL AND THE CITY

MANAGER. OF COURSE YOU HAVE

YOUR INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIPS

BUT I SEE IT AS A DAILY

COMMUNICATION THAT HAS TO BE

DONE WITH CITY. LISTEN, WHEN I

CHAIRED THE CHARLOTTE EQUITABLE

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION I

LEARNED FIRSTHAND THAT YOU

CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CITY

STAFF ESPECIALLY HELPING. AND I

UNDERSTAND DESPITE THAT MAY BE

SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION

ESPECIALLY WITH COUNCIL. BUT

PART OF MY JOB HAS TO BE THAT

DIPLOMATIC CONNECTION BETWEEN

YOU ALL AND THE CITY MANAGER.

ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE FIVE

MINUTES LEFT. COUNCILMEMBER

WALLINGTON HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO

FOLLOW UP ON ON THE PREVIOUS

QUESTION IN REGARDS TO

INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONSHIPS. YOU'VE YOU'VE

SPOKEN QUITE A BIT ABOUT YOUR

DIFFERENTIATOR BEING THAT

YOU'VE GOT RELATIONSHIPS HERE

AND IN RALEIGH YOU ARE A

SITTING SENATOR. GIVEN THAT

THAT IS REALLY THE CHARGE OF A

OF A GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBER IS

TO TAKE THE NEEDS FROM THE

LOCAL COMMUNITY TO THE TO THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY. CAN YOU HELP

ME UNDERSTAND WHY WHY THAT

SKILL SET IS NEEDED HERE IN THE

MAYOR'S OFFICE VERSUS WHERE

YOU'RE ALREADY SITTING? YEAH. I

MEAN WHEN IT COMES TO

CONSTITUENT CONNECTIONS LIKE

AGAIN YOU ALL DEAL WITH

CONSTITUENTS, YOU GET ELECTED

BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS SO IT'S

NOT NECESSARILY ON THAT FRONT.

PART OF IT IS JUST CONNECTING

THOSE INTERESTS IN RALEIGH

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY RALEIGH IS

THE STATE AUTHORITY THAT

DETERMINES A LOT OF TIMES WHAT

CITY FOLKS ARE, WHAT POLICY

THEY ARE TO THINK ABOUT. AND I

THINK THERE'S JUST HAS BEEN A

DISCONNECT BETWEEN RALEIGH

PRIORITIES AND THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLIES AND WHETHER IT'S THE

CITY OF CHARLOTTE, IT'S NOT

ONLY CHARLOTTE AS WELL. AND SO

THAT'S MORE SO WHERE I'M

LEANING ON IN TERMS OF

CONNECTIONS WITHIN RALEIGH IT'S

NOT NECESSARILY THE CONSTITUENT

PART BECAUSE YOU ALL REPORT

BACK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS

WELL. SO I THINK LISTEN, THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SHOWN THAT

THERE IS A WILLINGNESS TO GET

INVOLVED IN CERTAIN WHAT I

WOULD DEEM AS CITY AREAS OR

CITY ORDINANCES POLITICS THAT

YOU ALL SHOULD BE CONCERNED

ABOUT. AND SO WHAT MY JOB I

WOULD SEE PARTIALLY THERE IS

THE GUYS SOME OF THOSE

CONVERSATION ONES BECAUSE THERE

MAY BE A DISCONNECT THERE BUT

YOU KNOW COMMA ALSO I DO THINK

IT'S A SPECIFIC SKILL SET AND

EXPERIENCE THAT YOU NEED EVEN

AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. I'M

SURE YOU ALL GET ANNOYED WITH

ALL THE COMMENTS ABOUT NEEDING

BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND

BUSINESS AND THAT'S THE SAME

THING AS THE CITY AS WORKING IN

POLITICS. IT'S NOT THERE'S A

VERY VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

REPORTING BACK TO CONSTITUENTS

TAKING THEIR EVERY SINGLE

EMAILS AND NECESSARILY WORKING

WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND

OTHER SHAREHOLDERS. AND SO

THAT'S MORE SO WHAT I WOULD

POINT TO IS JUST THE EXPERIENCE

IN RALEIGH RELATIVE TO THOSE

FIGURES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP

NOT THE CONSTITUENT PART

BECAUSE WE ALL GET ELECTED BY,

YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS. >>

OKAY. ANY MORE QUESTIONS THAT

WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE AROUND

THE THREE MINUTE MARK I WOULD

IMAGINE YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE

ALL OF IT SO SO IF YOU WANT TO

GIVE YOUR CLOSING ONE MINUTE

STATEMENT IF THERE'S NO OTHER

QUESTIONS WE'LL RECEIVE THAT

RIGHT NOW AND THE FLOOR IS

YOURS. YEAH. LISTEN, I REALLY

APPRECIATE THE TIME AND

ESPECIALLY THE TIME YOU ALL

HAVE TAKEN A BIT OF A LAST

MINUTE TO COME UP WITH A POLICY

AND PROCEDURE TO DO INTERVIEWS

AND SO I. I REALLY APPRECIATE

YOU ALL TAKING THE TIME. AT THE

END OF THE DAY I THINK WHEN

THIS ROLE HAD COME UP I SAW A

NEED TO SERVE WITH YOU ALL. I

HAVE INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. I HAVE

PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE

THAT'S LISTENING FROM START TO

FINISH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

TO GET INVOLVED TO TO TRY TO

UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. AND

I SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR

A PERSON TO COME IN AND WORK

WITH YOU ALL ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL

GOALS AS WELL. I THINK THAT

AGAIN MUCH LIKE THE TWO MINUTES

THAT I HAD SHARED SORT OF MY

PRIORITIES ARE NOT TO COME IN

ON AN 18 MONTH RUNWAY TO TRY TO

REORGANIZE THE CITY OF

CHARLOTTE. BUT I HAVE THE

EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CITY

STAFF FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS I

HAVE WHETHER IT'S COMMUTED FROM

UCC TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE

CITY POLITICS, WHETHER IT'S

HAVING CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS

FORCE ME TO TAKE THE PACKET

HOME ON THURSDAY AND MAKE SURE

I'M AS PREPARED AS COUNCIL

MEMBERS ON MONDAY WHEN I WAS IN

SCHOOL. THAT EXPERIENCE HAS LED

ME TO A PLACE WHERE I THINK I

CAN MANAGE SOME OF THOSE

RELATIONSHIPS NOT ONLY WITHIN

CITY STAFF WITH YOU ALL AND

OTHER FOLKS WITHIN GOVERNMENT.

AND SO I DO THINK I'M THE MOST

PREPARED IN ORDER TO DO THIS.

AND I DO HOPE THAT I GET YOUR

SUPPORT. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU

FOR THE TIME AND THE QUESTIONS

AND THE EXPERIENCE AS WELL. >>

THE SENATOR I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR YOUR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I

WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR

COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE

HERE IN CHARLOTTE AS WELL AS IN

RALEIGH. AND I WANT TO THANK

YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO

SPEAK WITH THE COUNCIL TODAY.

LIKEWISE. THANK >> YOU, ROBERT.

AND THANK YOU. >> WE WILL DRAW

ANOTHER NUMBER >> HERE. I >>

DREW CAREY COOK FROM OUR

UNDERSTANDING THERE'S BEEN AN

AGREEMENT TO YIELD THE TIME TO

HAROLD COGDILL. >> WHAT DOES HE

HAVE A PLACE STRUCK QUESTIONS

TO THE CHAIR. THE CHAIR WILL

COMMUNICATE IT TO THE ROOM SO

WE WON'T HAVE THIS CROSS GOING

FORWARD. SO DOES HE HAVE A

CONFLICT IS THE QUESTION? YES,

MR. CHAIR. HE HAS A CONFLICT.

IS >> THE COUNCIL WILLING TO

MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR

PROCESS TO ALLOW HIM TO GO OUT

OF ORDER? COUNCIL MEMBER MAYO I

MAKE A MOTION >> TO TRY TO MAKE

A MOTION TO DO THAT OR TO

AMEND. >> SORRY YOU WERE

LOOKING AT ME CRAZY. YEAH I

MAKE A MOTION >> TO AMEND THIS

FOR HAROLD COCKTAILS. IS THERE

A SECOND TO THAT? IS THERE ANY

DISCUSSION IN REFERENCE TO

THAT? MY ONLY QUESTION IS DOES

ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE IN

AGREEMENT WITH THAT? I WAS TOLD

IT WAS OKAY. OKAY. FIRST MOTION

ON THE TABLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY

I. I, I DON'T OPPOSE ONE PLEASE

INVITE MR. CALDWELL TO THE

ROOM. I KIND OF KNOW HE'S TAKEN

HIS SON TO DISNEY WORLD. OH.

THIS AFTERNOON AT 4:00

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I KNOW,

SIR. SO YOU WILL BE

DISAPPOINTING. THAT'S THAT'S A

PRIORITY FOR MY FAMILY FIRST

FOR SURE. I DON'T REMEMBER

JOHNSON BEING A COMFORTABLE

ARRANGEMENT COMES FROM JOHNSON.

SO AS FAR AS THE FOLLOW >> UP

QUESTIONS WHEN WE HAD 2 OR 3

QUESTIONS DID SOMEONE KEEP

TRACK OF LIKE WHO ASKED THOSE

NEXT QUESTIONS? OKAY. OKAY. ALL

RIGHT. THANK >> YOU. THEN WE'RE

GOING TO START ON THIS SIDE OF

THE ROOM FOR MR. CALDWELL AND

AGAIN LIMITED TO THE QUESTIONS

ON THE TABLE. ANY FOLLOW UPS I

WILL PERMIT AT THIS GERMANE TO

THE INITIAL QUESTION AND I

THOUGHT THE FIRST ROUND WENT

PRETTY WELL AUTOMOBILE

ARLINGTON JUST >> TO CLARIFY

THE FOLLOW UPS THAT CAME AFTER

ALL OF THE ORIGINAL QUESTIONS

WERE ASKED. THOSE ARE TO WAIT

UNTIL AFTER, CORRECT? YES.

YEAH. IT'S MR. COUNTY COUNCIL

MEMBER RIGHT. AND SHOULD OUR

SECOND QUESTION BE THE SAME

NECESSARILY AS THE FIRST LIKE

FOR EACH CANDIDATE FOLLOW UP?

NONE OF THE SECOND QUESTION

THAT WE CAN YES EVERYTHING

SHOULD BE UNIFORM BASED ON THE

QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE ALL

DECIDED. SO THAT'S MEMBER JD

I'M >> SORRY THE SCOPE ARE YOU

THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER DRIVES?

I'M JUST SAYING THE BULK

QUESTIONS WE ASKED TO REPLY ONE

WHEN IT'S OUR TURN ANOTHER ONE

AFTERWARDS SHOULD THAT SECOND

QUESTION THAT WE ASKED BE THE

SAME FOR EACH CANDIDATE? YES.

YES. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER JD AND

THEN WE HAVE A KIND OF IN FRONT

OF US SO LET ME GET JD AND THEN

I'LL GET MR. ANDERSON CHAIR PRO

TEM FOR CLARIFICATION. SO THE

PREVIOUS QUESTION I'LL ASK THAT

QUESTION BUT THEN WHEN WE HAVE

THE OTHER ROUND I CAN ASK THE

FOLLOW UP QUESTION AND CORRECT

YES, THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING

TO JUST MAKE THE LAST QUESTION

FOR MS.. ANDERSON THEN WE'RE

GOING TO GIVE OUR TIME TO THE

TO THE CANDIDATE. THANK YOU.

AND I >> HAD A QUESTION I WAS

TRYING TO ASK IT BEFORE THE

CANDIDATE CAME IN. BUT IN THE

LAST ROUND CITY ATTORNEY THERE

WAS A QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED.

YEAH. THANK YOU, SIR. IN THE

LAST ROUND THERE WAS A QUESTION

THAT WAS ASKED THAT HAD SOME

PRESUMPTION IN IT ABOUT ONE OF

OUR EMPLOYEES AND I DID NOT

HAVE THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO

THAT QUESTION OR THIS MEETING.

SO I DID KNOW I UNDERSTAND THE

LEVEL OF APPROPRIATENESS OF

THAT QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO

MAKE SURE WE'RE OKAY. I'M

SAYING I UNDERSTAND IT WAS LET

ME HEAR IT. OKAY. BUT I THINK

THE QUESTION IS TO ME OR HER >>

KNOW THAT SHE'S CITY ATTORNEY.

I JUST WANT TO I HAD NO PRIOR

KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRESUMPTION OF

THAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF

MY COLLEAGUES DID OR NOT, BUT I

CERTAINLY HAVE NOT HAD THAT

INFORMATION. I WANT TO

UNDERSTAND THE APPROPRIATENESS

OF ASKING THAT QUESTION IN >>

LIGHT OF THE TRANSITIONS THAT

COULD HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE

ORGANIZATION. PERHAPS WE CAN

ZOOM OUT TO TO MODIFY IT TO

REFLECT IF THERE'S ANY >> ANY

TRANSITION. THERE CAN BE A

NUMBER OF TRANSITIONS WITHIN

THE ORGANIZATION. SO YES OR

KNOW >> BECAUSE I SAID WILL

THERE WAS A VERY DIRECTIVE

LANGUAGE THERE THAT AGAIN I WAS

NOT AWARE OF. OKAY. SO AND I

WOULD RECOMMEND TRANSITIONS IN

THE ORGANIZATION AS OPPOSED TO

SINGLING OUT A SINGLE POSITION.

DOES EVERYONE HAVE THAT KNOW

THAT AND FOR THE QUESTION

RIGHT. WELL I HATE TO TOP OF

PAGE TWO BULLET NUMBER TWO. ALL

RIGHT. TOP OF PAGE TWO. AND

AGAIN WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS

ALLOW ONE MORE QUESTION ON THIS

TOPIC AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO

FOCUS BACK ON THE CANDIDATE

INTERVIEW COUNCIL MEMBER MAY

MAYFIELD THANK YOU. WHERE ARE

WE? TOP OF PAGE TWO BULLET

NUMBER TWO WHAT IS THE ACTUAL

QUESTION BEGINS WITH THE NEXT

MAYOR WILL PLAY >> AND WHAT WAS

THE ISSUE I'M SORRY I COULDN'T

KEEP UP WITH THAT. WHAT'S THE

ISSUE WITH THAT? NO WE GOT IT

BULLET I DON'T I DON'T

UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE EITHER. SO

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

BECAUSE NOW THE QUESTION HAS

BEEN ASKED AND NEEDS TO BE

ASKED AGAIN. I JUST NEED TO

KNOW WHAT WORD OR LINE ARE WE

CHANGING IN THIS RATHER THAN

RATHER THAN SINGLING OUT THE

SELECTION OF CHARLOTTE'S NEXT

CITY MANAGER PERHAPS WE WOULD

JUST SAY SELECTION OF CHARLOTTE

NEXT LEADERS AND NOT SINGLE OUT

OF SPECIFIC POSITION. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT SO MIGHT

ALL RIGHT SO WE'RE GOING TO

PIVOT BACK TO THE CANDIDATE

THAT WE CAN INVITE MR. CALDWELL

IN AND THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY,

MR. CHAIR PRO TEM JUST QUICKLY,

MA'AM, INSTEAD OF WILL PLAY

MIGHT PLAY YOU MAY OR MIGHT.

RIGHT. >> OKAY. WE'RE ALL GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOOD. IF THE

MANAGER WAS PROBABLY WORRIED

MR. CALDWELL, YOU FOR THAT DAY.

MR. CALDWELL, WELCOME TO THE

INTERVIEW FOR THE INTERIM MAYOR

POSITION. I'LL WE THANK YOU FOR

TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH US

TODAY. YOU HAVE 30 MINUTES FOR

YOUR PRESENTATION. EACH COUNCIL

MEMBER WILL BE ASKING

QUESTIONS. WE ASKED YOU TO BE

MINDFUL OF YOUR TIME LIMITS IN

TERMS OF YOUR RESPONSES AND

DIDN'T FULLY CAPTURE WHAT YOU

WANT TO SAY FOR SURE. LASTLY,

AFTER YOUR 30 MINUTES IS DONE

YOU'LL GET A FIVE MINUTE

WARNING FROM THE CLERK. YOU'LL

GET A MINUTE WARNING FROM THE

CLERK AND THEN WHEN THAT MINUTE

COMES OFFICIAL UTILIZE ALL OF

IT. FINISH YOUR THOUGHT. YOU

HAVE TO STOP ABRUPTLY. FINISH

YOUR THOUGHT AND THEN YOU GET A

MINUTE CLOSING ARGUMENT. FIRST

QUESTION IS COUNCIL MEMBER ASH

MAYOR THANK >> YOU. WELCOME MR.

CONDO. THE NEXT >> MAYOR MIGHT

PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING

THE SELECTION OF CHARLOTTE'S

NEXT CITY LEADERS. HOW WOULD

YOU ENSURE OUR CITY COUNCIL IS

MEANINGFUL INCLUDED IN THAT

PROCESS AND WHAT STRUCTURE

WOULD YOU PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE

SURE OUR CITY STAFF IS

PROACTIVE, TRANSPARENT AND

COMMUNICATIVE WITH COUNCIL

MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS

ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT

OFTEN FEEL DECISIONS ARE MADE

WITHOUT THEM? I BORROWED THAT

FROM MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER

JD AND COUNCIL MEMBER EZRA. THE

FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION I

WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD

IT CORRECTLY HOW WOULD I PLAY A

>> ROLE MIGHT PLAY? I DID NOT

SAY IT'S DEFINITE THAT'S GOING

TO HAPPEN BUT YOU MIGHT PLAY A

ROLE IN SHAPING THE SELECTION

OF CHARLOTTE'S NEXT CITY

LEADERS WHETHER THAT'S

ATTORNEY, THE MANAGER, THE

CLERK >> AND I'M JUST

INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING HOW

WOULD YOU APPROACH THAT PROCESS

TO ENSURE THAT COUNCIL IS

MEANINGFULLY ENGAGED AND

RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO

OFTEN FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE

PROCESS? THANK YOU >> VERY MUCH

COUNCIL MEMBER AS MAYOR AND

COUNCIL MEMBER GRAHAM THANK YOU

AND TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY

COUNCIL I APPRECIATE AND I'M

HUMBLED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO

COME HERE AND TO HAVE THIS

CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU. I'M A

BIG BELIEVER IN INCLUSIVE

GOVERNMENT. I'M A BIG BELIEVER

IN INCLUSIVITY. I'M A BIG

BELIEVER IN AND WANTING TO HEAR

FROM ANYONE THAT HAS A VESTED

INTEREST IN DECISION MAKING FOR

THIS BOARD. I'M GOING TO BACK

UP FOR JUST A MOMENT AND HOW

MUCH TIME DO I HAVE FOR THIS

QUESTION FOR YOU AS MUCH TIME

AS YOU WANT TO ANSWER IT BUT

ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD

LIKE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION AND

YOU'RE OKAY. I'M SAYING LET ME

JUST 30 MINUTES GET RIGHT TO

IT. HAVING SERVED ON THIS BOARD

I RECOGNIZE THIS ACCOUNT

MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

COUNCIL MAKES THE DECISIONS

ABOUT POLICY IN THIS COMMUNITY

EACH AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER

IF I WERE TO BE GIVEN THE

OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS

INTERIM CAPACITY I WOULD MAKE A

CONSCIENTIOUS EFFORT TO REACH

OUT AND FORGE A RELATIONSHIP,

OPEN UP A CHANNEL OF

COMMUNICATION WITH EACH AND

EVERY MEMBER ON THIS BOARD. FOR

THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD AN

OPPORTUNITY SPEAK TO I

APOLOGIZE. I'LL MAKE MORE

EFFORT TO REACH OUT AND TALK

WITH YOU. I AM COMMITTED TO

DOING THAT. I THINK IT'S VERY

IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY BE

ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN

DECISION MAKING I THINK IS IS

FUNDAMENTAL AND DEMOCRACY

SOMETIMES IS MESSY. I MEAN

DECISIONS DON'T JUST OFTENTIMES

JUST GET MADE WITHOUT SOME

DEBATE DIALOG DISCUSSION AND

DISSENT. SO I THINK THAT IT IS

VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN A AN

INCLUSIVE MANNER IN WHICH AND

CULTURE IN WHICH YOU ARE

ARRIVING AT YOUR DECISIONS.

EVERYBODY HAS A VOTE. EVERYBODY

HAS A VOICE AND I THINK IT'S

VERY IMPORTANT THAT >> THAT

COMMUNICATION ALSO IS TAKING

PLACE NOT JUST AT THE MEETING

OR ON A MONDAY AT THE DYESS BUT

THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS

TRUST BUILDING. WE'RE WORKING

TOWARDS COMMUNICATING WITH EACH

OTHER OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING

AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP THE

DECISION MAKING PROCESS AS THIS

BOARD MOVES FORWARD TO GET TO

THE CHALLENGE THE ISSUES THAT

IT FACES. COUNCILMEMBER

WELLINGTON THANK YOU. GOOD

AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON,

COUNCILWOMAN CHARLOTTE'S

PRIORITIES >> ARE NOT NEW

CONVERSATIONS BUT THE TOOLS,

PARTNERS AND SCALE OF THESE

CHALLENGES LOOK VERY DIFFERENT

THAN THEY DID EVEN FIVE YEARS

AGO. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH A

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WORK YOU

ARE DOING RIGHT NOW OR HAVE

DONE IN THE VERY RECENT PAST

THAT DIRECTLY CONNECTS TO ONE

OF THOSE PRIORITIES? >> WELL,

LIKE I SAID, COUNCIL SETS

PRIORITIES. I KNOW THAT THERE

ARE A NUMBER OF PRIORITIES FOR

STABILITY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC

SAFETY I HEAR VERY MUCH FROM A

LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS. I CAN

SPEAK FROM MY OWN PERSONAL

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE >> THAT

PUBLIC SAFETY IS SOMETHING THAT

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ENGAGE

WITH IN VARIOUS WAYS FOR 35

PLUS YEARS FROM BEING A

PROBATION OFFICER TO BEING A

PROSECUTOR TO NOW BEING A

LAWYER. I HANDLE CRIMINAL

DEFENSE MATTERS AND I AM

ENGAGED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT

WAYS WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

WITH HOW POLICY IS BEING

DEVELOPED FROM OVER AT THE

COURTHOUSE. AND I THINK WHAT'S

IMPORTANT IS AND I SAW THIS

RECENTLY I ATTENDED A PUBLIC

SAFETY FORUM AT THE CHURCH I

ATTEND AND IT HAD SEVERAL

ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LAW

ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TALKING

ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. AND ONE

THING I THOUGHT WAS ALL OF THAT

IS GREAT BUT EVERY ONE OF THESE

INDIVIDUALS ARE REACTING TO

SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY

HAPPENED OR ALLEGED TO HAVE

HAPPENED. SO IF YOU REALLY WANT

TO GET AT SORT OF THE

UNDERLYING AND CORE ISSUES OF

PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU REALLY GOT

TO PEEL THE LAYERS OF THE ONION

BACK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND

GET AHEAD OF IT AND TALK ABOUT

HOW WE'RE BEING INTENTIONAL

ABOUT ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH

AND MENTAL ILLNESS, ABOUT HOW

WE'RE ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE

ABUSE, WHETHER OR NOT

INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT

AND ALSO HOW WE'RE WORKING WITH

THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN WE HAVE

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS THAT

ARE CITY EMPLOYEES HOW THOSE

INDIVIDUALS ARE REALLY FOCUSED

ON BUILDING BRIDGES WITH THE

COMMUNITY I THINK ARE

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. YES,

PROTECTION IS CRITICALLY

IMPORTANT FROM A POLICE OFFICER

PERSPECTIVE BUT SO IS SERVING

AND PART OF THAT IS FORGING

THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE

COMMUNITY. THAT'S JUST PUBLIC

SAFETY. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT

THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES. THE

AFFORDABILITY PIECE IS A REAL

ISSUE. WE'VE GOT TO BE MINDFUL

OF THE LANE CITY GOVERNMENT

TRAVELS IN WHAT CITY GOVERNMENT

CAN AND CAN'T DO. BUT WE ALSO

HAVE TO BE OPEN MINDED TO BE

INNOVATIVE, TO THINK ABOUT TO

LOOK BOTH INTERNALLY AT HOW WE

MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME

OF THE WHETHER IT'S FEES THAT

ARE BEING CHARGED, WHETHER IT

IS UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS

THAT ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY

NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT HAS

TO OCCUR. HOW DO YOU FIND THAT

RIGHT BALANCE? SO I THINK

THAT'S A A COMPLEX QUESTION

THAT REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT OF

DEEP DIVE AND I HOPE

COMMISSIONER WALLINGTON

ADDRESSED IT IN SOME WAY AND IN

A, YOU KNOW, SATISFACTORY WAY.

>> FOLLOW UP QUICKLY. OKAY.

WELL, BECAUSE MY FOLLOW UP WAS

GOING TO HAPPEN AFTERWARDS LIKE

I DID BEFORE I JUST WASN'T SURE

IF I SHOULD ASK IT NOW OR IF >>

IT'S GERMANE TO YOUR FIRST

QUESTION. VERY QUICKLY VERY

QUICK RESPONSE. I'M MINDFUL OF

YOUR TIME. YEAH. >> CAN YOU

GIVE US A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE?

THINK OF A PARTICULAR

SITUATION. WHAT ACTION YOU TOOK

AND WHAT WAS THE RESULT? MY

QUESTION IS SPECIFIC TO A

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WORK THAT

YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW OR HAVE

DONE IN THE VERY RECENT PAST.

CAN YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH A

SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE SPECIFIC

>> CIRCUMSTANCE AROUND ONE OF

THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS? OKAY.

WELL, I'M GRAVITATING BACK ONLY

BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROFESSIONAL

WORK I DO EVERY DAY. PUBLIC

SAFETY FOR INSTANCE, THERE WAS

A RECENT BILL ARENAS LAW. I'M

SURE EVERYONE HERE IS VERY

FAMILIAR WITH IT. I THOUGHT IT

WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO TRY

TO BRING TOGETHER THOSE PEOPLE

STAKEHOLDERS THAT WOULD BE

IMPACTED BY THAT. I DID WORK

WITH SOME MEMBERS HERE THE

DIOCESE IN REACHING OUT TO

THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND TALKING

WITH THEM ABOUT THIS, HOW THIS

IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR CITY,

HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT

INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IS THIS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE

INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY OR IS

THIS GOING TO INCREASE

INCARCERATION BECAUSE

INCREASING INCARCERATION WHEN

YOU'RE NOT GETTING AT THE CORE

ISSUES THAT'S DRIVING WHY A

PERSON IS BEING INCARCERATED IS

NOT NECESSARILY CREATING A

SAFER COMMUNITY. SO TO LOOK AT

TRY TO PUT TOGETHER SOME

ALTERNATIVES SO INPUT CAN BE

PROVIDED TO THE STATE

LEGISLATURE TO AND TO HAVE THAT

CHANCE TO MEET WITH SOME

MEMBERS ON THIS DAIS AS WELL AS

JUDGES AS WELL AS LAW

ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS,

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME

TOGETHER AND HAVE A VERY

COLLECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE

CONVERSATION. I THOUGHT THAT

THAT THAT YIELDED A MESSAGE

THAT WE COULD SEND BACK TO

RALEIGH. COUNCILMEMBER MAYO, >>

THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH FOR

JOINING US. CERTAINLY. HOW DO

YOU ENSURE MEETINGS ARE

EFFICIENT WHILE STILL ALLOWING

ROBUST DEBATE AND DISCUSSION?

>> WELL, I CAN I GO BACK TO

HAVING CHAIRED THE BOARD OF

COUNTY COMMISSION AND BOTH AS

CHAIR AND MANY TIMES AS VICE

CHAIR. I THINK >> AS REALLY

IMPORTANT TO GIVE IT GIVE

INDIVIDUALS EVERYONE AN

OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR SAY.

BUT I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE TO

BALANCE THAT WITH BEING

RESPECTFUL OF TIME. YOU HAVE AN

AGENDA. THERE ARE CERTAIN

SPECIFIC THINGS THAT ARE ON AN

AGENDA AND I IT IS MY PERSONAL

BELIEF THAT WHEN WE ARE

DEBATING DISCUSSING AN AGENDA

THEN ANYTHING WITHIN THE

PURVIEW OF PARAMETERS OF THAT

AGENDA ITEM IS VERY MUCH

PERMISSIBLE. BUT WHEN THE

CONVERSATION GRAVITATES AWAY

FROM THAT OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF

THAT PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM IF

I'M BEING BLUNT THAT WHOEVER'S

CHAIRING >> THAT NEEDS TO CALL

THAT OUT OF ORDER AND NEEDS TO

RE AND NEEDS TO BRING THE FOCUS

BACK TO THE DECISION THAT'S

SITTING IN FRONT OF THE BOARD

TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT IS VERY

IMPORTANT. IF THE COUNCIL'S

DECISION AND A DESIRE IS TO

LOOK AT CHANGING POLICY AROUND

HOW MEETINGS OCCUR I RECALL

COUNCIL HAD SORT OF A CLEAR

POLICY ABOUT HOW MEETINGS ARE

>> ARE GOVERNED. YOU KNOW

THAT'S CERTAINLY COUNCIL'S

PREROGATIVE AND AS INTERIM

MAYOR I WOULD BE VERY OPEN TO

THAT. IT IS WHATEVER YOU AS

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WANT TO

DO IF THERE IS A MAJORITY WILL

TO DO THAT. NOW I DO THINK ONE

OF THE THINGS I DO RECALL THAT

WAS CHANGE WHILE I WAS CHAIR OF

THE COUNTY COMMISSION WAS AT

THAT TIME ONLY THE CHAIRMAN OR

COUNTY MANAGER COULD PUT AN

AGENDA ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FELT LIKE

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DISCUSS

CERTAIN THINGS. WE CAN NEVER

GET TO CERTAIN THINGS. AND SO

THE ISSUE WAS REFERRED TO THE

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. THE

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED

IT DIALOGED ABOUT IT AND CAME

BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND

THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS IF MORE

THAN HALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE

BOARD WANTED TO SUPPORT ADDING

AN AGENDA ITEM TO THE AGENDA

AND THEY COULD GET SUPPORT FROM

SIGN OFF FROM THE MAJORITY OF

THE MEMBERS IT WOULD TAKE >> TO

PASS THAT AGENDA ITEM. THEN

THAT AGENDA COULD BE THAT ITEM

COULD BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA.

IN OTHER WORDS THERE WERE FIVE

VOTING FIVE CARRIED THE DAY AS

OPPOSED TO SIX IF FOUR OUT OF

FIVE WANTED TO DEBATE DISCUSS

THAT PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM

THEN THAT ITEM WAS GOING TO

MAKE IT ON THE AGENDA. THAT IS

A POLICY THAT COUNCIL HAS EVERY

RIGHT TO REVIEW LOOK AT. I

THINK IT NEEDS TO BE

THOUGHTFUL. IT NEEDS TO BE

THOUGHT OUT. YOU NEED TO RUN

THROUGH SCENARIOS TO SEE WHAT

MAKES SENSE. BUT THAT'S

CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I AS

IF I WERE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES

SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY I

WOULDN'T HAVE OBJECTION TO AND

WOULD QUITE FRANKLY SAY

ABSOLUTELY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT

LOOK AT IT AND BUT I THINK

WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT ANY

COMMITTEE AND BY THE WAY, THERE

WERE A LOT OF WORK MY

EXPERIENCE IN SERVING ON

BOARDS, PUBLIC AND OTHERWISE.

MOST OF THE WORK IS DONE AT A

COMMITTEE LEVEL. YOU HAVE TWO

COMMITTEES COME BACK WITH

RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER HAVING

DONE DEEPER DIVE STUDIES. YOU

NEED A DIVERSE GROUP OF THOUGHT

SERVING ON COMMITTEES IF YOU

PUT A DIVERSE GROUP OF THOUGHT

ON COMMITTEES AND ENTRUST THAT

COMMITTEE WITH THE LEADERSHIP

OF A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD THAT

THEIR SKILL SET, THEIR

EXPERIENCE AND THEIR PASSION

ALIGNS WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT

THAT COMMITTEE THEN I FIRMLY

BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO FLUSH OUT A LOT

OF THE THE DETAILS ABOUT A

PARTICULAR ISSUE BEFORE IT

ARRIVES AT A BOARD MEETING AND

THAT RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO

OFTENTIMES CARRY PRETTY HEAVY

WEIGHT WITH THE ULTIMATE BOARD.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ALSO HAVE

SOME TRUST IN YOUR COLLEAGUES

>> A TIME CHECK AND THEN

COUNCILMEMBER. 17 MINUTES MR..

I'M SORRY I'M TALKING TO THE

MEMBER ANDERSON. WELL, WELCOME

MR. COCKTAIL AND I LOVE YOUR

PASSION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WELCOME YOU TO OUR CITYWIDE

PUBLIC SAFETY FORM NEXT

WEDNESDAY ON THE 24TH. IN YOUR

OPINION, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST

CHALLENGE FACING THE CITY RIGHT

NOW? AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO

HAVE A LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY AND

CHOOSE ONE. I KNOW THERE'S A

MYRIAD YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM BUT

IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT

NEVER WOULD BE GREAT. THAT IS A

TOUGH QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER

>> TWO I'M SURE IT WAS DESIGNED

TO BE THAT WAY. IT IS REALLY

HARD TO SAY ONE BECAUSE RIGHT

NOW TO BE VERY CANDID, WE HEAR

A LOT OF CONVERSATION. THERE'S

A LOT OF COMMUNITY NOISE ABOUT

THINGS THAT ARE VERY BIG. I

MEAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

INTERGENERATIONAL

TRANSFORMATIONAL TYPE OF OF OF

ISSUES THAT THIS BOARD IS GOING

TO BE HAVING TO DEAL WITH OVER

THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS WHETHER

THAT OBVIOUSLY IS I-77, WHETHER

THAT'S RENEWAL OF LEASES, THE

LEASE OF THE AIRPORT. THERE ARE

A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT ARE

BEING I CAN'T SAY THAT EITHER

ONE OF THOSE IS THE BIGGEST

ISSUE. I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST

ISSUE AND PERHAPS I'M BEING

NAIVE OR OVERLY OPTIMISTIC BUT

IF THIS IF THIS BOARD FIGURES

OUT A METHOD OF GOVERNING IN A

WAY THAT EVERY PEOPLE ARE

TRUSTING EACH OTHER BETTER,

PEOPLE ARE LISTENING. I'M A

FIRM BELIEVER IN A COUPLE OF

PRINCIPLES. SEEK TO UNDERSTAND

BEFORE BEING UNDERSTOOD. MAKE A

FRIEND BEFORE YOU NEED A

FRIEND. I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY

IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY HAVE A

PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'RE HERE FOR

THE RIGHT REASON. WE'RE HERE TO

SERVE AND WE'RE HERE TO TRY TO

MAKE THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS ABOUT

THE GREATER GOOD OF THIS

COMMUNITY AND I KNOW YOU'RE

ASKING FOR ONE PARTICULAR

ISSUE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO PUT

AFFORDABILITY WHICH IS

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT OVER

PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH IS ALSO

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WHICH

TRANSPORTATION IS ALSO

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I JUST

CAN'T SAY THAT THERE'S ONE I

CAN SAY THAT IF THERE'S IN MY

MIND ONE LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW

WE CAN DO IT IN A CONSENSUS

BUILDING COLLECTIVE RESPECTFUL

MANNER IN A THOUGHTFUL MANNER

THAT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF

ALL. COUNCILWOMAN OWENS, THANK

YOU. A RECENT RESCISSION OF THE

I-77 PROJECT RECOMMENDATION

REFLECTED STRONG PUBLIC

ENGAGEMENT AND DIFFERING

PERSPECTIVES ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. WHAT

DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE

NEXT STEP IN ADDRESSING

CONGESTION AND MOBILITY

CHALLENGES ALONG THE I-77

CORRIDOR? AND HOW WOULD YOU AS

MAYOR ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS

MEANINGFULLY >> INVOLVED IN THE

PROCESS? THE FIRST THING I

WOULD DO IS TRY TO REACH OUT TO

EACH ONE OF YOU, SIT DOWN, TALK

TO YOU AND LISTEN TO YOU AND

TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR

PERSPECTIVE IS, WHAT YOUR

THOUGHTS ARE AND WHAT YOUR THE

LOGIC AND RATIONALE IS TO WHY

YOU HAVE THE POSITION YOU HAVE.

BUT I WOULD NOT STOP THERE.

THAT WOULD JUST BE THE

BEGINNING. I WOULD WANT TO HEAR

FROM CITY STAFF FROM THE CITY

MANAGER'S OFFICE, FROM THE CITY

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I'D WANT TO

HEAR FROM OUR LOCAL DELEGATION.

I'D WANT TO HEAR FROM THE STATE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

SECRETARY AND OBVIOUSLY

LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I WOULD WANT TO HEAR FROM

COMMUNITY LEADERS. I WOULD WANT

TO HEAR FROM THOSE IMPACTED BY

THE CURRENT DESIGN. I WANT TO

HEAR FROM THOSE FROM THE THOSE

THAT ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS.

I WOULD WANT TO HEAR FROM FROM

ANYONE THAT HAS A VESTED

INTEREST WHICH IF YOU LIVE IN

THIS REGION YOU HAVE A VESTED

INTEREST. THIS IS ONE OF THE

BIGGEST DECISIONS THAT WILL BE

MADE BY OUR REGIONAL

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

AUTHORITY FOR GENERATIONS TO

COME. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I

THINK WE'VE GOT TO BE SERIOUS.

WE'VE GOT TO BE PRAGMATIC AND

UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE URBAN

CORE. WE HAVE UNIQUE

CIRCUMSTANCES, UNIQUE NEEDS,

UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT DON'T

EXIST IN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS

OF THE STATE. WE HAVE TO FIGURE

OUT HOW IN A IN A CONSENSUS

BUILDING WAY TO SHARE THAT

MESSAGE WITH LEADERSHIP AND

REALLY URGE LEADERSHIP IN

RALEIGH TO NOT MAKE DECISIONS

THAT COULD ADVERSELY IMPACT

THIS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS

TO COME. I MADE TRANSPORTATION

THAT IS A MAJOR TRANSPORTATION

CORRIDOR. WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS

RIGHT. BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT TO

UNDERSTAND WHAT LIMITATIONS AND

RESTRICTIONS WE HAVE AND

IMPLICATIONS FOR NOT HEARING

WHAT RALEIGH IS SAYING AND I

DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. I DON'T

SIT HERE AND TRY TO SAY I'M

SITTING UP HERE APPLYING FOR A

POSITION AND TALKING TO A TEN

PEOPLE. ALL OF WHICH HAVE MORE

INFORMATION HAVE BEEN IN

MEETINGS, BEEN BRIEF, HAD

COMMUNICATIONS WITH

STAKEHOLDERS WITH COMMUNITY

LEADERS, WITH DOT OFFICIALS.

EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOWS MORE

THAN THE FIVE OF US SITTING OUT

THERE AND IF WHOMEVER SITS IN

THAT CHAIR IS NOT WILLING TO

LISTEN TO YOU ALL AND LISTEN TO

THIS COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT

SOME SHORT SIGHTED DECISIONS >>

COULD GET MADE AND WE NEED TO

REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE

THINKING IT THROUGH. WE NEED TO

MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE

COMMUNICATING IN A WAY THAT IS

NOT ELEVATING. IT IS NOT

ALIENATING BUT IT IS TRYING TO

HELP CONVEY AND MOVE FORWARD

THE MESSAGE OF CHARLOTTE AND

WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS COMMUNITY

. COUNCILMEMBER DRAKE'S. THANK

YOU, MR. CHAIR. THERE ARE FOUR

MORE OF US SO JUST THERE ARE

FOUR MORE OF US. SO I JUST WANT

YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR ANSWERS

SO THAT YOU CAN GET DOWN IN THE

TIME CONTRACT >> IN. ALL RIGHT,

MR. COCKTAIL, IN ORDER TO

ACHIEVE A MORE ORDERLY COUNCIL

PROCESS, HOW WOULD YOU WORK

OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS TO HELP

COUNCIL IDENTIFY PRIORITIES AND

ACHIEVE CONSENSUS? I THINK

MAYBE COUNCILMAN ANDREAS I

TOUCHED ON THAT BEFORE. I THINK

REACHING OUT AND TALKING WITH

AND HAVING I DON'T KNOW

STANDING A CUP OF COFFEE WITH

EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD ON A

VERY REGULAR BASIS IS

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. URGING

MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD TO TALK

TO THOSE THAT THEY KNOW THEY

MAY NOT AGREE WITH MAYBE THEY

DON'T AGREE WITH THEM BUT TALK

WITH THEM COMMUNICATE WITH THEM

IN AN OPEN AND HONEST WAY. AND

I DO FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS

THIS BOARD OR ANY BOARD

FUNCTIONS MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU

DON'T YOU DON'T JUST ARRIVE AT

A MEETING NOT KNOWING WHERE

WE'RE HEADED, WHAT WE'RE DOING,

WHERE IS THE CONSENSUS? SO ONE

THING AND I KNOW THIS MAY BE

OUT THERE IN SOME WAYS BUT I

BELIEVE IN INNOVATIVE THINKING.

I BELIEVE IN CREATIVE THINKING.

JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE

IT THIS WAY DOESN'T MEAN YOU

ALWAYS HAVE TO DO IT THAT WAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I OFTEN ASK I

THINK ABOUT THE I'M A LAWYER

OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS KNOW THAT A

COURT OF APPEALS OFTENTIMES

HOLDS COURT IN OTHER LOCATIONS.

THEY'VE HELD COURT IN

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, THEY'VE

HELD COURT AND LAW SCHOOLS

AROUND THE STATE. IS THERE ANY

REASON THAT THIS BOARD COULD

NOT MEET IN A DISTRICT WHEN

EACH AND EVERY DISTRICT AND

ROTATE THROUGH THE DISTRICTS

AND GIVE THE LOCAL DISTRICT

REPRESENTATIVE AN OPPORTUNITY A

SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO

HIGHLIGHT WHAT ISSUE A

CHALLENGE IN THAT DISTRICT

EXISTS. AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO

I DON'T WANT TO COME HERE TO

THE GOVERNMENT CENTER TO TELL

YOU ABOUT IT. I WANT EVERYBODY

TO COME OUT TO WHERE I AM AND

SAY LOOK, HERE IS WHAT I'M

DEALING WITH IN THIS DISTRICT

AND HAVE A MEETING THERE WHERE

THE COMMUNITY INPUT WILL BE I

BELIEVE WILL BE GREATER BECAUSE

YOU HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO GET

TO A COUNCIL MEETING WHEN THE

COUNCIL MEETING IS FIVE MINUTES

DOWN THE ROAD. NOW OF COURSE

THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE

LOGISTICS TO THAT. THEY WOULD

HAVE TO BE THOUGHT GIVEN TO

THAT. YOU'D HAVE TO COORDINATE

THAT WITH CITY STAFF. BUT IT IS

SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT SHOWS

THE COMMUNITY WE CAN MOVE

OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING AND

MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE. THANK

YOU. COUNCILWOMAN MAYFIELD, >>

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR

JOINING US TODAY AND TAKEN OUT

OF TIME. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO

MAINTAIN >> YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND

DO THIS ROLE AS IT DOES TAKE UP

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME?

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER

MAYFIELD. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY

RIGHT. AT LEAST COUNCILMAN

GRAHAM KNOWS WHEN I SERVED

BEFORE I SAID OH MY GOD, THIS

IS VERY TIME CONSUMING. I DID

NOT QUITE FRANKLY I WAS 30

YEARS OLD OR SO. I DIDN'T

REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH IT WAS. I

HAVE I'M AT A LITTLE DIFFERENT

PLACE IN LIFE. I HAVE A FAR

MORE STABLE LAW PRACTICE RIGHT

NOW. I CURRENTLY SHARE OFFICE

SPACE WITH THE FIRM HERE. I'VE

ALREADY HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH

THAT FIRM. I'LL PROBABLY JOIN

THAT FIRM OR AT LEAST GO IN

COUNSEL OF COUNSEL WITH THAT

FIRM IF I WERE SELECTED WHICH

WOULD GIVE ME MORE SUPPORT AND

MORE OTHER LAWYERS PARTNERS

THAT COULD HELP ME TO COVER

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD

NEED TO HAVE COVERAGE ON

BECAUSE AS LAWYERS WE HAVE TO

BE CERTAIN PLACES SOMETIMES BUT

YOU HAVE TO HAVE COLLABORATIVE

WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT IS

SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND I THINK

WITH THIS POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP

IF THIS WERE TO WORK OUT I

COULD FIND THAT RIGHT BALANCE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JD.

THANK YOU MR. COCKTAIL.

CHARLOTTE IS A GROWING CITY BUT

TOO OFTEN THAT GROWTH IS NOT

REACHING EVERYONE EQUALLY AND

WORKING FAMILIES ARE BEING LEFT

BEHIND. HOW DO YOU BALANCE

BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND

PEOPLE FIRST AND ENSURING OUR

PRIVATE PARTNERS ARE WORKING

COLLABORATIVELY TO CLOSE

SOCIOECONOMIC GAPS? THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER I THINK THAT IS

REALLY THE QUESTION THAT COMES

UP QUITE A BIT. THAT IS NOTHING

NEW. THAT HAS BEEN AND A TOPIC

OF CONVERSATION FOR 30 YEARS OR

SO SINCE I'VE BEEN AROUND. I'M

A BIG BELIEVER THAT BALANCE IS

IMPORTANT. YOU EVERY DECISION

IS GOING TO BE UNIQUE AND YOU

CAN'T ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE

LOUDEST VOICE. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS

LISTEN TO THE LOUDEST VOICES

WHETHER THEY'RE IN YOUR

DISTRICT OR WHETHER THEY ARE

JUST EMAILING YOU TO DEATH.

YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S

IN THE GREATER GOOD. YOU ALSO

CAN'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT

CAN WRITE THE BIGGEST CHECKS.

YOU CAN'T. I DON'T THINK THAT

JUST BECAUSE YOU WRITE A BIGGER

CHECK OR YOU HAVE A LARGER

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE THAT YOU

LISTEN TO THAT PERSON, YOU GIVE

THAT ANY MORE WEIGHT THAN

ANYBODY ELSE. THERE IS GOT TO

BE INTENTIONALITY IN DECISION

MAKING WHICH REQUIRES EXTRA

EFFORT ON ALL OF OUR PART TO

UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES. I'VE

HEARD THE DEVIL'S IN THE

DETAILS TYPE OF QUOTE I'VE

HEARD YOU GOT TO YOU KNOW, GET

DOWN TO THE NUANCES OF IT AND I

HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR

QUESTION. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU

THAT FIVE MINUTES LEFT. ONE

QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER

JOHNSON. THANK >> YOU. WHAT

CONCERNS OF ANY DO YOU THINK

THE PUBLIC MIGHT HAVE ABOUT

YOUR APPOINTMENT AS MAYOR AND

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE

CONCERNS? ADDITIONALLY, WHAT

ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AND

EXPERIENCES DO YOU BELIEVE MAKE

YOU WEALTH THE MOST WELL-SUITED

FOR THIS ROLE? THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. I GOT

TO GO BACK AND SAY TO COUNCIL

TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION I GOT

TO SAY THIS. I'M A LAWYER. I

REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS. OKAY. I

DO NOT REPRESENT CORPORATE

ENTITIES. I DO NOT HAVE ILL

WILL TOWARDS THE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. I

LISTEN. I'M THERE NOT GOING TO

FALL ON DEAF EARS BUT I

UNDERSTAND I DON'T REPRESENT

THE CORPORATE INTERESTS. I

REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS I HAVE

NOW FOR 28 YEARS. I THINK

UNDERSTANDING THE THE PLIGHT I

STARTED I GOT TO SAY I STARTED

AS A COACH WITH A FOUR YEAR

COLLEGE DEGREE WORKING IN A

CONVENIENCE STORE BECAUSE THAT

WAS IT THAT ERA THAT WAS THAT

TIME. IT WAS A RECESSION AND IT

WAS TOUGH. I HAD TO MOVE FROM A

CONVENIENCE STORE TO FINALLY

FINDING A JOB WITH STATE

GOVERNMENT AND PROBATION.

BELIEVE ME, I FIRMLY UNDERSTAND

THE DIFFICULTY THAT SO MANY

PEOPLE ARE HAVING IN PARTICULAR

WITH AFFORDABILITY NOT FEELING

SAFE IN COMMUNITIES. SO BALANCE

IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. NOW

YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER I

HAVE WITH REGARD TO EXPERIENCE

I DO BELIEVE THAT I AM MORE

EXPERIENCED THAN ANY OF THE

OTHER APPLICANTS AND SERVING IN

PUBLIC OFFICE. I HAVE MORE

YEARS OF SERVICE IN PUBLIC

OFFICE. I HAVE ACTUALLY CHAIRED

A PUBLIC BODY BOARD THE AND I

DON'T MEAN JUST THE CHARLOTTE I

MEAN THE BOARD OF COUNTY

COMMISSION. I CHAIRED THE

CHARLOTTE HOUSING AUTHORITY

BOARD. I CHAIRED THE CHARLOTTE

HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD AS IT

WENT THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATION

TO AND LIVING ON. I HAVE

WORKED. I'VE WORKED AS OR

CHAIRED THE GOVERNANCE

COMMITTEE FOR THE REAL ESTATE

FOUNDATION FOR NORTH CAROLINA

AT&T FOR FOR SOME YEARS. I

THINK THAT YOU HAVE A TOUGH

DECISION TO MAKE A VERY TOUGH

DECISION. I DON'T ENVY YOU AT

ALL. YOU'RE VERY GOOD PEOPLE. I

SPEAK HIGHLY OF EACH AND EVERY

PERSON OTHER FOUR PEOPLE THAT

ARE BEING CONSIDERED AT AT

LEAST THREE OF THEM I'VE KNOWN

FOR YEARS. I THINK THAT FINDING

LISTENING AND I GO BACK TO CORE

PRINCIPLES AND THAT'S WHAT I

REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT. WHO

ARE YOU AT YOUR CORE RATIONAL,

PRAGMATIC. I LISTEN. I DON'T

FORGET WHERE I CAME FROM AND MY

EXPERIENCE IN LIFE AND HOW I

GOT TO WHERE I AM. WE DIDN'T

JUST ARRIVE HERE TODAY. YOU GOT

TO CONSIDER HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

YOU ALSO GOT TO CONSIDER THE

EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT YOU DON'T

HAVE CONTROL OVER AND HOW THEY

CREATE PARAMETERS AND

CHALLENGES. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS

A WAY TO FIND A SOLUTION. THIS

IS I REALLY FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT

THERE'S A WAY YOU FOUND A

SOLUTION. WHAT I HOPE TO BE

ABLE TO DO IF GIVEN THE

PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN THIS

CAPACITY IS TO HELP FACILITATE

THIS BOARD TO FIND IN THOSE

GOOD SOLUTIONS FOR THIS

COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND WHAT

CONCERNS OF ANY DO YOU THINK

THE PUBLIC WHAT IT WAS A PART

OF THE SAME QUESTION AND WHAT.

WHAT CONCERNS YOU DO I GET A

MINUTE. OKAY. OKAY. >> I KNOW.

NO, YOU GOT A MINUTE? WHAT

CONCERNS, IF ANY, DO YOU THINK

THE PUBLIC MIGHT HAVE ABOUT

YOUR APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM

MAYOR AND HOW DO YOU ADDRESS

THOSE CONCERNS? I DON'T KNOW

WHAT CONCERNS THE PUBLIC WERE.

I REALLY DON'T. I'M SURE I'M

NOT LIKED BY EVERYONE. I'M

CERTAIN OF THAT. I'M SURE THE

OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT LIKED BY

EVERYONE. I'M FAR MORE

CONCERNED ABOUT BEING RESPECTED

THAN LIKED AND I WILL DO

NOTHING TO COMPROMISE MY

INTEGRITY. OKAY. SO WE HAVE ONE

MINUTE BEFORE YOUR CLOSING

ARGUMENT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE

IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ONE

MINUTE CLOSING ARGUMENT FOR

SURE. IS THERE A FOLLOW UP?

NOPE. ALL RIGHT. LEMON OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

TO DO YOUR AS I'VE SAID, THIS

IS A TOUGH DECISION. I DON'T I

ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO PICK

SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU LIKE THEM.

I ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO PICK

SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU'VE YOU

KNOW, HAVE SOME YOU'VE ALIGNED

WITH THEM ON A POLITICAL ISSUE

HERE OR THERE. I ENCOURAGE YOU

TO LOOK AT THE QUALIFICATIONS,

THE SKILL SET, THE EXPERIENCE

OF THE APPLICANTS. FINE. ASK

YOURSELF WHO DO YOU THINK YOU

COULD WORK WITH? WHO DO YOU

THINK WILL BE A MODERATE,

SENSIBLE, COMMONSENSE VOICE

THAT WON'T GO OUT? SPEAK ON

BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE

WHEN THE COUNCIL HAS NOT

AUTHORIZED THAT. AND I'M NOT

SUGGESTING ANYONE HAS BUT I'M

SAYING YOU WORK WITHIN THE

PARAMETERS THAT AS AS A CHAIR

OF A BOARD OR AS MAYOR YOU WORK

WITHIN THE PARAMETERS THAT YOUR

GOVERNING BODY PERMITS YOU TO

WORK WITHIN. WHO DO YOU THINK

YOU COULD FINISH YOUR THOUGHT?

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE

OPPORTUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE

COUNCIL I WANT TO THANK >> YOU

FOR YOUR PUBLIC LEADERSHIP.

COUNCIL MEMBER COMMISSIONER.

I'M PRACTICING LAW IN THIS

COMMUNITY FOR A NUMBER OF

YEARS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR

INTEREST IN THIS OPPORTUNITY

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US

TODAY. THANK YOU ALL AND THANK

YOU FOR INDULGING MY SCHEDULE.

I THANK YOU. >> IT'S JUST.

LET'S TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS.

YES. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >>

YOU

MAY

SUGGEST >>

WE'RE BACK LIVE WITH THEM WITH

THE FEET. >> OKAY. >> ALL

RIGHT. WELCOME BACK TO THE

CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

OUR NEXT CANDIDATE IS MAYOR PRO

TEM JAMES MITCHELL. TONIGHT

FROM INSIDE OUT. AND LOOK AT

THAT POINT. WE'LL START WITH

YOU AND THEN WE'LL COME THIS

WAY. START WITH YOU. THAT WAY

EVERYONE CAN. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MAYOR PRO TEM MITCHELL. GOOD

AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. WELCOME TO

THE CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL

INTERVIEW FOR THE INTERIM MAYOR

POSITION. YOU WILL HAVE 30

MINUTES IN TOTAL. EACH

CANDIDATE EACH COUNCIL MEMBER

WILL ASK QUESTIONS THAT'S BEEN

PRE-PREPARED. THERE MAY BE A

FOLLOW UP TO THOSE QUESTIONS.

YOU WILL GET A FIVE MINUTE

WARNING WHEN YOUR TIME IS ABOUT

TO EXPIRE. YOU'LL GET A ONE

MINUTE WARNING WHEN YOU'RE

RUNNING OUT OF TIME. FINISH

YOUR THOUGHT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO

STOP ABRUPTLY FINISH YOUR

THOUGHT AND THEN AT THE

CONCLUSION YOU'LL GET A ONE

MINUTE CLOSING. STATEMENT TO

THE COUNCIL. WE'RE GOING TO

START INSIDE OUT. SO WE'RE

GOING TO START WITH

COUNCILMEMBER OWENS AND THEN

WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER

ANDERSON. ONCE WE COMPLETE THAT

SLIDE, COUNCILMEMBER OWENS, THE

FLOOR IS YOURS. OKAY. THANK

YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER MITCHELL,

THE RECENT RESCISSION OF THE

I-77 PROJECT RECOMMENDATION

REFLECTED STRONG PUBLIC

ENGAGEMENT AND DIFFERING

PERSPECTIVES ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. WHAT

DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE

NEXT STEP IN ADDRESSING

CONGESTION AND MOBILITY

CHALLENGES ALONG THE I-77

CORRIDOR? AND HOW WOULD YOU AS

MAYOR ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS

MEANINGFULLY INVOLVED >> IN THE

PROCESS? WHILE I THINK THAT 77

IS GOING TO TAKE REALLY STRONG

LEADERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP FROM

NOT ONLY ME BUT FOR THIS TIRED

COUNCIL, I THINK NUMBER ONE, WE

LEARN FROM WHAT WE DID EARLIER

THAT THE PUBLIC WAS WERE NOT

INVOLVED OR THE PUBLIC WERE NOT

MADE AWARE NOT MADE AWARE OF

WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO

OCCUR. SO AS MAYOR, IF

UNFORTUNATE WOULD BE ME. I

THINK THE FIRST THING WE WE

NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE HAVE

THE RIGHT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE

ROOM. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS

MAKE SURE THIS COUNCIL IS FULLY

AWARE OF ALL THE RAMIFICATIONS

AS IT RELATES TO US, SAID

MICHELLE. I THINK IT WAS VERY

CLEAR THAT THE DESIGN WAS A BIG

ISSUE. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT IS

THE DESIGN TO SOLVE THE TRAFFIC

PROBLEM. I THINK THERE WAS

CONVERSATION ABOUT COMMUNITY

BENEFITS AND COMMUNITY

ALLOCATION. WE NEVER EXPLAINED

ARTICULATED TO THE NEIGHBORS

WHAT WHAT COULD BE THE BENEFITS

OF THAT COMMUNITY ALLOCATION. I

THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO

HAVE A DIFFERENT DIALOG WITH

NCDOT BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY IT

WAS A PROBLEM THAT WE HAD TO

FACE THAT THE CREDIBILITY WITH

LAWS THE WAY NCDOT HANDLED THIS

PROJECT I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE

TO TELL YOU WE DO HAVE A I-77

TRAFFIC ISSUE HOW WE THIS HOW

WE SOLVE IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO

BE A COLLABORATION OF THIS

COMMUNITY THIS CITY COUNCIL AND

NCDOT COME UP WITH TO KNOW THE

PROS. BUT LET ME TALK ABOUT THE

TOUGH VOTE WE HAD AS COUNCIL. I

THINK IT WAS A 6 TO 5 VOTE AND

SO I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF

RESCINDING THE RESCINDING. IT

HAS TO BE A NEW MODEL THAT WE

PUT FOR FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO

SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. COUNCIL

MEMBER DRINKS GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMAN.

IN ORDER >> TO ACHIEVE A MORE

ORDERLY COUNCIL PROCESS, HOW

WOULD YOU WORK OUTSIDE OF

MEETINGS TO HELP COUNCIL

IDENTIFY PRIORITIES AND ACHIEVE

CONSENSUS? OKAY >> GREAT. SO

YOU KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER I HAVE

TO PLAY TOO MUCH

TRANSFORMATION. I'M A PEOPLE

PERSON AND I BELIEVE HAVING A

ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH

COUNCIL MEMBERS ON A MONTHLY

BASIS ALLOW THAT DIALOG AND

THAT COMMUNICATION AND SET WHAT

I WILL CALL A NEW CULTURE FOR

US A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION,

A CULTURE OF UNDERSTANDING, A

CULTURE OF LISTENING, HAVING

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, HAVING

DEBATE IS NOT WRONG. DIVERSITY

IS OUR STRONG SUIT. I THINK AS

AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND AS A

MAYOR I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT

THAT THAT DOOR STAYS OPEN AND

IT STAYS OPEN FOR A COLLECTIVE

CONVERSATION AMONG US ALL. I'M

ONE TO TRULY BELIEVE AND DO IN

A COUNCIL MEETING. WE SHOULD

ALLOW MORE OPPORTUNITIES. SO TO

ME MAYOR AND COUNCIL TOPICS

SHOULD BE THE SECOND AND FOURTH

MONDAY OF THE MONTH. I THINK

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE

GOING TO GET THE POLICY AND THE

THINGS WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH,

WE HAVE TO EMPOWER OUR

COMMITTEES AND MAKE SURE OUR

COMMITTEES ARE DOING THE REAL

WORK WHICH IS POLICY. I'VE BEEN

AROUND A LONG TIME AND I'M AND

I'M WOULD TAKE WHAT I THINK THE

BEST PRACTICES AND THE BEST

PRACTICE I THINK TO LEAD IS ONE

BY TRUST ONE THROUGH

COLLABORATION AND ONE BY

BUILDING CONSENSUS. I THINK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD, >>

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR OFFERING YOURSELF UP FOR

THE POSITION. HOW DO YOU PLAN

TO MAINTAIN YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND

DO THIS ROLE AS IT DOES TAKE UP

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME?

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MAYFIELD.

SO COUNCIL MEMBERS I WOULD SAY

SINCE 1999 I'VE HELD TWO JOBS.

I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO

HAVE A REAL JOB WORKING FOR

SOME TOP COMPANIES LIKE BARTON,

MALLOW, RJ LEEPER, MCFARLAND

AND THE SAME TIME TO BE ABLE TO

DO THIS JOB AS A PART TIME. AND

SO I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT MY

EMPLOYEES HAVE SEEN VALUE ALLOW

ME TO SERVE. AND SO I THINK

BEING MAYOR OF THE 14TH I DO

CITY I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A

JOB AS BUSINESS DEVELOPER FOR

MCFARLAND AND I WILL CONTINUE

TO PRIORITIZE, MAKE SURE I GET

MY WORK DONE. BUT MORE

IMPORTANT I HAVE THE TIME AND

ENERGY. I TELL PEOPLE I WORK

TWO JOBS ONE IS 40 HOURS FOR

MCFARLAND, THE OTHER THE 70

HOURS FOR THE CITIZENS OF

CHARLOTTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JD

. THANK YOU. CHAIR GRAHAM THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MITCHELL.

CHARLOTTE IS A GROWING CITY.

BUT TOO OFTEN THAT GROWTH IS

NOT REACHING EVERYONE EQUALLY

AND WORKING FAMILIES ARE BEING

LEFT BEHIND. HOW WOULD YOU

BALANCE BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY

AND PEOPLE FIRST AND HOW WOULD

YOU ENSURE THAT OUR PRIVATE

PARTNERS ARE COLLABORATIVE

PARTNERS AND CLOSING

SOCIOECONOMIC GAPS? >> THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER JD SO

COUNCIL MEMBERS I'M ACTUALLY

ADDRESSING IT AT THE TOWN HALL

MEETING I'M HAVING SATURDAY

JUNE 27TH AND IT'S MADE OF

NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS AND AND

DEVELOPERS. AND THE TITLE IS

COME BE A PRO LESS DEVELOPED

CHARLOTTE TOGETHER. I DO THINK

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF

THE PILLARS WE HAVE IN OUR

COMMUNITY IT IS CORPORATE, IT

IS POLICYMAKERS AND IT'S MORE

IMPORTANTLY IT'S US CITIZENS.

AND SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO

FIND WAYS TO BRING THEM

TOGETHER. AND SO PART OF THE

CONVERSATION I WANT TO HEAR

FROM A CITIZEN WHAT IS SMART

GROWTH? WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION

OF NIMBYISM? AND THEN WHAT DOES

COMMUNITY BENEFITS LOOK FROM

YOUR PERSPECTIVE? AND THE

CONVERSATION WITH DEVELOPERS IS

ABOUT WHY ARE YOU DEVELOPING

CHARLOTTE AND WHAT DOES

DEVELOPMENT MEAN TO YOU? IS IT

DRIVEN BY PROFIT OR IS IT

DRIVEN BY MAKING CHARLOTTE A

BETTER COMMUNITY FOR ALL? BUT

LET'S BE VERY CLEAR WHAT OUR

MAIN RESPONSIBILITY HAS TO BE

AND THAT'S TO THE 879,000

CITIZENS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW TO

CALL CHARLOTTE HOME. SO WE NEED

TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TOWN HALL

MEETINGS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE

TO HAVE OPEN DIALOG AND MAKING

SURE THAT EVEN OUR ZONING OUR

ZONING PRACTICE IS A WONDER WE

NEED TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE HEAR

FROM NEIGHBORS A LOT. IT'S LIKE

THE COMMUNITY MEETING IS JUST A

CHECK MARK. IT'S NOT REAL

DIALOG. AND SO I WOULD BE THE

FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU MAYBE WE

DO DEFER IT TO TPD. LET'S LOOK

AT OUR ZONING PRACTICES AND

MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

VOICES ARE HEARD AND HEARD

EARLY. I WOULD TELL YOU USING

MY EXPERIENCE 14 MEMBERS OF

DISTRICT REP AND NOW AT LARGE

IT WAS ALWAYS INSULTING TO ME

WHEN A DEVELOPER WOULD COME AND

THEY'D NEVER EVEN PICK UP THE

PHONE CALL THE DISTRICT REP. I

WOULD NICELY TELL THEM YOU

RECALL COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON

COUNCILMAN J.D. WAS IN DISTRICT

FOUR AND FIVE. AND SO THERE HAS

TO BE A DIFFERENT CULTURE AND A

DIFFERENT WAY THAT US CITIZENS

FEEL LIKE THAT WE ARE WORKING

ON OUR BEHALF. AND I WOULD TELL

YOU MEMBER WE NEED TO PROVIDE

WHAT I CALL STABILITY AMONG US

CITIZENS. WHAT WE WILL SUPPORT

AND WHAT WE WILL NOT SUPPORT.

AND I THINK IT'LL MAKE SHOT A

BETTER PLACE FOR ALL US

CITIZENS TO CALL HOME. >>

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON THANK >>

YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR

WILLINGNESS TO SERVE CAST

MEMBERS AS WHAT CONCERNS IF

ANY, DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC

MIGHT HAVE ABOUT YOUR

APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM MAYOR

AND HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS THOSE

CONCERNS? WOW. OKAY. I THINK

THE FIRST CONCERN HE MAY HAVE

DOES HE STILL HAVE ENOUGH

ENERGY IN THE TANK TO DO THIS

JOB FOR 18 MONTHS AND THAT I

WOULD SAY YES, I DO. YOU KNOW,

COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, WE ARE

PUBLIC SERVANTS SO WE'RE NOT

PERFECT SERVICE. AND SO WE ALL

GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES AND AT

TIMES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

DIFFERENT DIFFERENT

CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF US

CITIZEN. I WILL HOPE TO OVER MY

OVER MY YEARS OF SERVING THE

PUBLIC THERE'S BEEN ONE THING

THAT PEOPLE HAVE FELT TOWARD ME

AND THAT IS I LOVE CHARLOTTE

MORE THAN MYSELF. OKAY. SO >>

THAT LEADS TO THE SECOND PART.

ADDITIONALLY, WHAT STRENGTHS

AND EXPERIENCES DO YOU BELIEVE

MAKE YOU WELL-SUITED >> FOR

THIS ROLE? AND HOW >> MANY

MINUTES I HAVE SOMEONE DO THIS

QUICKLY. >> YEAH, 21 MINUTES

LEFT. 21 MINUTES LEFT. SO LET'S

TALK ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP

BECAUSE I TRULY THINK WHEN YOU

ARE PREPARED TO WORK IN YOUR

COMMUNITY YOU MUST DO WHAT I

CALL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. SO

I'VE BEEN A GRADUATE OF

LEADERSHIP CHARLOTTE, A

GRADUATE OF FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP

GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF POLITICAL

LEADERSHIP AND HAVE TAKEN SOME

COURSES JOHN F KENNEDY AT

HARVARD AND THEN LESTER. LET'S

TALK ABOUT JUST THE TRACK

RECORD 14 YEARS BEEN A DISH YOU

GREW UP IN DISTRICT TWO AND NOW

BE COMING BACK SINCE 2015 AT

LARGE. I LOVE BEING THE

CHEERLEADER FOR CHARLOTTE,

NORTH CAROLINA. THE CITY HAS

GIVEN ME SO MUCH AND IT'S MY

WAY OF REPAIRING SAYING THANK

YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE.

SO COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON, THE

ENERGIZER BUNNY STILL ENERGIZE?

I STILL THINK THERE THERE'S

TOUGH ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO

HANDLE BUT I THINK I WANT TO DO

IT FROM A DIFFERENT WAY. I WANT

TO DO IT FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE

OF ALL THAT LEADERSHIP DOES IN

THIS ROOM. WE ALL BRING

DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND

I JUST WANT TO BE THE CAPTAIN

OF THE TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT

OUR TEAM IS PERFORMING AT THE

LEVEL THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE

OF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU LEARN

SOMETHING FOR THE 18 MONTHS OF

THE LEADERSHIP THAT I COULD

BRING TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER

ANDERSON CAN'T QUITE. WE'RE

GOING INSIDE OUT. ALL RIGHT. >>

OKAY. WELCOME, MR. MITCHELL.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MANSOUR,

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE

BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING OUR

CITY RIGHT NOW? PUBLIC SAFETY.

OKAY. I THINK WE HEARD LOUD AND

>> CLEAR, COUNCILMAN ANDERSON,

THAT THIS COMMUNITY DOES NOT

FEEL SAFE. AND SO IF THAT'S

YOUR PERCEPTION, IT WILL BECOME

YOUR REALITY. SO I'M GLAD THE

CURRENT MAYOR DECIDED WE NEED

TO HAVE OUR OWN PUBLIC SAFETY

COMMITTEE WHICH YOU CHAIR. I DO

THINK PUBLIC SAFETY THEN

TOUCHES ON ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT. IT TOUCHES OUR

NEIGHBORHOODS. IT IT IT'S A

SELLING CAR. THE PEOPLE SAY I

WANT TO MOVE CHARLOTTE CARS IS

SAFE. AND SO I DO THINK OUR

BUDGET SPEAK VERY LOUDLY. I

PRIORITIES AS IT RELATES TO

PUBLIC SAFETY 10% PAY INCREASE

BUT ALSO WE HOPE THAT THE

FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE 320 FULL

OPEN POSITIONS WE HAVE TO BE

FILLED AND THEN I THINK PUBLIC

SAFETY ALSO IN A WAY A VISION

ZERO WE GET TOO MANY CRASHES

THAT TAKEN PLACE >> IN OUR

COMMUNITY PUBLIC SAFETY

NEIGHBORS WE TALKED ABOUT

DOWNTOWN AND IN PROVIDENCE 51

WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEWEST

CAMERA AND REAR CAMERA. >>

PUBLIC SAFETY HAS TO BE OUR

NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE

NEXT 18 MONTHS AND I'M

FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TO BE YOUR

INTERIM MAYOR. I WILL MAKE SURE

IT'S A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE

NEXT 18 MONTHS. NOT SAYING

DON'T HAVE OTHER ONES BUT YOU

SAY THAT NUMBER ONE IS PUBLIC

SAFETY >> COUNCIL MEMBER MALE

THANK >> YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR

PRO TEM HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE

MEETINGS ARE EFFICIENT WHILE

STILL ALLOWING ROBUST DEBATE

AND DISCUSSION? OH NO I THIS IS

A GOOD ONE. OKAY SO FIRST OF

ALL LET ME SAY SOMEHOW WE NEED

TO TAKE ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT

THE THE WORK HAS DONE ON THE

MEETING ON THE MEETING DECORUM.

THERE'S A LOT OF ITEMS THERE

THAT I THINK THAT NEED TO COME

FORWARD. SO I DON'T KNOW DO WE

FORWARD IT TO THE BGR COMMITTEE

BUT IT IS A LOT OF WORK SO SO

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO

IMPROVE. WE NEED TO START

MEETINGS ON TIME MUCH AS WE CAN

CONCERNED THAT MOST OF US MIGHT

HAVE ANOTHER JOB OR OTHER

OBLIGATIONS. SECONDLY I THINK

THERE NEEDS TO BE A DECORUM THE

WAY WE RESPECT ONE ANOTHER WHEN

WE HAVE CONVERSATION. THIRDLY,

I HOPE WE CAN GET TO THE POINT

WE HAVE TIME ALLOCATION HOW

LONG WE CAN SPEAK FOR. I THINK

IT HAS WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE

DECORUM AS CITIZENS COME IN UP

BUILDING. I DON'T MIND THE

PASSION FROM CITIZENS BUT I

THINK ALL OF US FEEL A LITTLE

UNCOMFORTABLE. IT'S BEEN

BORDERLINE DISRESPECT FOR AND

SO HOW HOW DO IT ONE TIME

EMBRACE WE WANT TO FEEL YOUR

PASSION BUT WE NEED YOU TO

RESPECT THE BUILDING YOU IN A

TALK TO US AND SHARE YOUR IDEAS

IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL WAY YOU

KNOW ONE THING I WOULD SAY BUT

AT MEETINGS WE HAVE TO FIND A

WAY THAT WE HAVE DISAGREEMENT.

WE DO IT PROFESSIONALLY AND SO

IN MY MIND I WOULD SAY BECAUSE

I'M A BASKETBALL PLAYER I THINK

WE NEED TO HAVE A HUDDLE. SO IF

YOU AND I HAVE A DISAGREEMENT,

HOW CAN WE HELP BEFORE THE

SCHEDULE MEETING? AND SO WE

CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT A PERSONAL

ATTACK BUT WE COME FROM

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SO

HOW DO WE EMBRACE ONE ANOTHER

DIFFERENCES THAT MAKES THE TEAM

BETTER REALLY WANT ONE LAST

IDEA AND I WANT TO JUST THROW

THIS OUT BECAUSE ONE THING THE

MEETING TO CALM TALK ABOUT IS

HOW WE STATE THE GROUND RULES

FOR THE BEHAVIOR WE'RE GOING TO

ACCEPT AT THE VERY BEGINNING >>

AND THAT WAY EVEN OUR AUDIENCE

WILL UNDERSTAND OUR

EXPECTATIONS. HOW YOU HAD TO

ACT IN THE CHAMBER. COUNCIL

MEMBER WALLINGTON >> THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON

CASSIE. MY WALLET CHARLOTTE'S

PRIORITIES >> ARE NOT NEW

CONVERSATIONS BUT THE TOOLS

PARTNERS AND SCALE OF THESE

CHALLENGES LOOK VERY DIFFERENT

THAN THEY DID EVEN FIVE YEARS

AGO. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH A

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WORK YOU

ARE DOING RIGHT NOW OR HAVE

DONE IN THE VERY RECENT PAST

THAT DIRECTLY CONNECTS TO ONE

OF THESE PRIORITIES? >> AND SO

I'M HAPPY TO DO A CHEAT SHEET

BECAUSE I KNOW IS FIVE OF THEM

GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE DO

IT CHEAP, SEE GREAT

NEIGHBORHOODS WELL MANAGE

GOVERNMENT SAFETY, COMMUNITY

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING,

WORKFORCE AND BUSINESS

DEVELOPMENT. SO LET ME TAKE ONE

THAT I'M PROBABLY MORE

PASSIONATE ABOUT DOES WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT AND I DO REMEMBER

AND COUNSEL MY GRANDMOTHER

PROUD WE MIGHT BE DONE WITH TO

HEAR AROUND THIS TIME BUT I

MWAPE GOT STRUCK I AM BE IMDB

PROGRAM A LAWSUIT WAS FILED

AGAINST IT AND SO WE SHOT AHEAD

>> TO MAKE A CHANGE TO HIS

PROGRAM AND THEN WE SAY HOW ARE

WE GOING TO SET UP ANOTHER

PROGRAM THAT WILL ADDRESS A

SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE

COMMUNITY? AND SO WORKING WITH

STAFF WE CAME UP TO NEW CBA

PROGRAM SHALL THE BUSINESS

INCLUSION CODE WE WERE

COMMITTED AND I WAS COMMITTED

TO MAKE SURE OUR SMALL BUSINESS

AND TO BUSINESS STILL HAD A

VOICE IN A COMMUNITY BUT HAD A

VOICE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO

CHAMPION. PEOPLE GOING CAN

UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THE NEW

PROGRAM AND SO HERE WE ARE

TODAY CBA IS PROBABLY NOW SEVEN

YEARS OLD. CBA PROGRAM NOW HAS

REACH ALMOST $1 BILLION IN

MINORITY PARTICIPATION AND SO

COUNCILMAN WATLINGTON, I WOULD

TELL YOU THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP

AND WORKING WITH STAFF AND

STAKEHOLDERS IS ABOUT BEING A

LEADER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE

ALL THE RIGHT ANSWER SOMETIMES

YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME THE

CHALLENGES. SOMETIMES YOU HAD

TO BE STRONG IN YOUR

CONVICTION. YOU WANT A

DIFFERENT RESULT FOR PEOPLE WE

SERVE IT AND SO THAT'S JUST ONE

EXAMPLE OF HOW EVEN DATE TO

THIS DAY BUT NOT THE BUSINESS

PROGRAM IS THRIVING WHEN

SEVERAL YEARS AGO THEY WERE

QUESTION WAS CHARLOTTE EVER

EMBRACE MINORITY COMPANIES

AGAIN >> THANK YOU

COUNCILMEMBER SAMIR THANK THE

NEXT MAYOR MIGHT PLAY A MAJOR

ROLE IN SHAPING THE SELECTION

OF CHARLOTTE'S NEXT CITY

LEADERS HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE

CITY COUNCIL IS MEANINGFULLY

INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS AND

WHAT STRUCTURE WOULD YOU PUT IN

PLACE TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY

STAFF IS PROACTIVE, TRANSPARENT

AND COMMUNICATIVE WITH COUNCIL

MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS

ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT

OFTEN FEEL DECISIONS ARE MADE

WITHOUT THEM? >> SO LET ME

TACKLE THE FIRST ONE. SO IF I'M

INTERIM MAYOR HEAR ME LOUD AND

CLEAR, JANE MUCH IMMATURE YOUR

NAME WOULD NOT BE ON THE BALLOT

2027 SO I HAVE THE ULTIMATE TO

ULTIMATE FREEDOM. I JUST

DEVELOP IN THE LEVEL OF PEOPLE

AROUND THIS TABLE. AND SO LET

ME APOLOGIZE IF WHEN I SET OUT

MY VISION OF MY COMMITTEES THAT

IT OFFENDED SOME PEOPLE IT WAS

NOT TO OFFEND YOU BUT IT WAS TO

SAY I BELIEVE EACH AND EVERY

ONE OF YOU SHE HAD THE

OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A

LEADERSHIP ROLE ON CHARLOTTE

CITY COUNCIL. SO MY FIRST THING

WITH YOU >> MY QUESTION IS LET

ME BE VERY >> SPECIFIC WHEN I

TALK ABOUT NEXT CITY LEADERS

I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR DIRECT

REPORTS LIKE THE ATTORNEY, THE

MANAGER AND THE CLERK OH, I'M

SORRY. I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU

SAID SO. REPEAT IT AGAIN AND

MISS ASMIR. YES. >> THE NEXT

MAYOR MIGHT PLAY A MAJOR >>

ROLE IN SHAPING THE SELECTION

OF CHARLOTTE'S NEXT CITY

LEADERS AND CITY LEADERS. YES.

THE THREE THAT WE WERE

RESPONSIBLE FOR I'M WITH. YES.

SO >> HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THAT

THE PROCESS IS TRANSPARENT,

COMMUNICATIVE AND PROACTIVE

WHERE COUNCIL IS MEANINGFULLY

ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS RIGHT.

AND THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SORRY I

WAS THINKING ABOUT THE 11 YEAR

OLD. WE HAD THREE PEOPLE WE

KNOW WE RESPONSIBLE FOR. WE

SHOULD HAVE THEIR EVALUATION ON

THAT SCHEDULE. WE NEED TO DO A

BETTER JOB OF BEING PROACTIVE

AND SO ONE IDEAL I HAD IS HAVE

QUARTERLY WHAT I CALL 90 DAYS

CHECK IN. SO WE GOT THE CITY

MANAGER WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO

HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE KNOW

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CITY

CLERK. WE HAVE A BGR COMMITTEE

THAT WE CAN REFER THIS ITEM TO.

SO THE BGR COMMITTEE WOULD TALK

ABOUT THE EVALUATION OF SCORING

AND THE DATE WE HAD TO BE

RESPECTFUL OF EVERYBODY TIME WE

GOT WORK COMMITMENTS, WE HAVE

FAMILY COMMITMENTS AND WE GOT

OTHER COMMITMENTS OUT THERE IN

THE COMMUNITY AND SO TO ME THE

WORST THING WE DO RIGHT NOW

IT'S ALWAYS WE LOOK AT THAT

CALENDAR AND IT POPS UP LIKE

NEXT MONDAY FROM 2 TO 5 WE HAVE

A CITY CLERK EVALUATION.

PROACTIVE AND COMMUNICATION >>

HAS TO IMPROVE IN A WAY I WOULD

LIKE TO IMPROVE IT ON A 90 DAY

LOOKAHEAD SCHEDULE. HOW ARE WE

GOING TO DO THAT BY THE WAY

SOME BE REFERRED TO THE BGR

COMMITTEE. WHAT CRITERIA WE'RE

GOING TO USE GOES TO THE BGR

COMMITTEE SO LET'S ENSURE ALL

THE WORK IS ON THE COMMITTEE

AND LET'S WORK ON ME BEING

PROACTIVE ON SCHEDULING THESE

EVALUATION THAT FITS COUNCIL'S

>> SCHEDULE. OKAY LET'S DO A

TIME CHECK. TEN MINUTES. GREAT

THREE SECONDS. SO RAISE YOUR

HANDS AND I'LL RECOGNIZE ANYONE

WHO WANTS TO ASK A QUESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER JD COUNCIL

COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON THANK

YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR GRAHAM >>

COUNCILMEMBER MITCHELL ONE

SECOND. >> HOW DO YOU BALANCE

OUT THE PRIORITIES AND PROTECT

THE LOCAL AUTHORITY THE CITY OF

CHARLOTTE HAS ON AIRPORT BUT

ALSO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS

OF AIRPORT SERVICE WORKERS?

THANK YOU. SO I DID HAVE OR A

REFERRAL ACTUALLY PUT IN TO

KIND OF ADDRESS THE AIRPORT AND

UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT GET SENT

TO THE AISLE ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. SO LET

ME SHARE MY THOUGHTS. ONE IS

AND I GIVE COUNCILMEMBER OWENS

CREDIT WE WERE AT BREAKFAST IN

POLITICS AND WE HEARD FROM TWO

COMPANIES A, B, M AND PROSPER

ABOUT THE WORKING CONDITIONS

OUT THERE. AND COUNCILMEMBER I

WANT TO SAY THAT PARTICULAR

TIME DIDN'T NEED TO BE A

SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT THAT WE

NEED THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE AS

IT RELATES TO THE WORKING

CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT WE

HAVE TO LET CITIZENS KNOW THAT

WHEN WE HEAR YOUR CONCERNS AND

CONDITIONS YOU HAVE PROTECTED

IN THE AREA OF POLITICS I MEAN

PUBLIC SAFETY, WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT WE NEED TO HAVE A

PLAN. AND SO MY THING AT THAT

PARTICULAR TIME MAKES ME ALLOWS

SO SHE CAN REFER IS TO A JOB

FAIR WITH A B M EMPLOYEES TO

REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN

IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE CAN

WE ASSIST THEM IN GETTING MORE

OPPORTUNITIES AT THE AIRPORT WE

HEARD ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY

CONCERNS. WELL WE GOT A PUBLIC

SAFETY COMMITTEE AND SO HOW CAN

WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE REAL

CONCERNS AT THE AIRPORT? I

THINK AND THIS IS MY MOTTO I

THINK DOING NOTHING DOES NOT

SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS AND IT

DEFINITELY NOT SOLVE THE

PROBLEMS THAT WE HEAR IN THAT

AIRPORT COUNCILMEMBER MAYO AND

NOW WE'RE INVITED TO ATTEND A

CONFERENCE JUST THIS PAST

SUNDAY TALKING ABOUT THE

AIRPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR

MINORITY COMPANIES CHARLOTTE WE

WAS THERE TO SUPPORT THEM IN

CHARLOTTE. WE RECENTLY

CHARTERED TO HAVE AN AIRPORT

MINOT ADVISORY COUNCIL ALONG

WITH THE CITY IN NEW YORK. WE

WERE PROUD TO BE THERE, WAS

PROUD TO REPRESENT. BUT YOU

KNOW WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT

IS MINORITY BUSINESSES. THE

AIRPORT HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO

SO THEY CAN SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.

AND SO COUNCILMEMBER MAYO AND I

WAS WAS PROUDLY SITTING UP

THERE AND AS THEY SAY

CHARLOTTE, WE HAVE A NEW

CHAPTER AND YOU COULD JUST SEE

THE JOY AMONG MINORITY

COMPANIES HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR

THREE YEARS TO GET THIS CHARTER

>> AIRPORT. IT'S AN ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS A

TRANSPORTATION BUT WE NEED TO

MAKE SURE OUR AIRPORT REACHED

CERTAIN GUIDELINES THAT THE

CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO

ESTABLISH THAT MAKE SURE THE

EMPLOYEES ARE TAKING CARE OF >>

THE THANK YOU. HOW >> DO YOU

SEE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND WHAT

DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE

WHEN YOU DISAGREE WITH THE BODY

THAT HAS APPOINTED TO YOU? HOW

DO YOU SEE YOUR RELATIONSHIP >>

WITH THE MANAGER THE CITY

MANAGER ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS?

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MOST

IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP IS THE

LEVEL OF PEOPLE AROUND THIS

TABLE. THE MAYOR DOESN'T HAVE A

VOTE SO THE MAYOR THE BEST

THING POSSIBLE TO FACILITATE

AND CREATE A CULTURE THAT

PEOPLE CAN BE HONEST AND

THERE'S DIALOG COUNCIL MOMENTS

AND I WILL SAY THAT'S WHY THE

ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WE WILL

ESTABLISH WILL HELP THAT TRUST

BE BUILT BUT ALSO AGAIN ON THE

STANDING OF WHAT DO WE NEED TO

DO AS A COUNCIL TO MOVE

FORWARD. I THINK THE CITY

MANAGERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

STAFF THE STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR IMPLEMENTING THE POLICIES

THAT 11 THOSE AROUND THIS TABLE

RAISE OUR HAND AND TELL THEM TO

WORK ON. AND SO HAS IT BEEN A

DIFFERENT CULTURE? I THINK

THERE'S BEEN FRUSTRATION FOR

ALL OF US OF HOW THINGS HAVE

BEEN MOVE AND HOW WE ARE BEING

HEARD. COUNCILMAN, HOW'S THAT

GOING TO BRING YOU? WHAT I'M

USED TO AND THAT IS USED TO

TOUGH LOVE PEOPLE WORKING WITH

PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE

UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MORE

POWER WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

I'VE NEVER BEEN SOMEONE WHO

NEEDS ATTENTION OR WHO LIKES TO

GRANDSTAND AND I THINK IS MAYOR

IS MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT YOU'RE

11 FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING

TOGETHER YOU'LL LOVE THEM FEEL

COUNTED. YOU CAN COME TO TALK

TO THE MAYOR ON PRESSING ISSUE

AND I HAVE TO BE OPEN AND TO

LISTEN TO THAT LET ME TELL YOU

ONE THING TOO I THINK HELPS SET

THAT IS OPEN DIALOG. WHEN WE

HAVE MEETINGS HERE AT 5:00 WE

DO AGENDA REVIEW OR A CITY

COUNCIL MEETING. IT'S IMPORTANT

THAT THIS COMMUNITY LOOKS AT US

AND SAY THAT IS THE COUNCIL IS

WORKING TOGETHER NOT FOR THE

OWN INDIVIDUAL AGENDA BUT FOR

US TO CITIZENS. FIVE >> MINUTE

WARNING HAS BEEN GIVEN

COUNCILMEMBER WALLINGTON IT'S

UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER ADDRESSES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AS A

FOLLOW UP TO THE PREVIOUS

QUESTION REGARDING

INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONSHIPS, MR. METRO, YOU

>> ARE CURRENTLY THE MAYOR PRO

TEM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

AND THE CAPO ALTERNATE GIVEN

WHERE YOU ALREADY SIT WHY WOULD

YOU BE MORE >> VALUABLE IN THE

MAYOR'S SEAT? IT IS ALL OF THE

ROLES THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE

>> SO COUNCILMEMBER TO FIRST OF

ALL I THINK THERE'S OTHER

LEADERS ON THIS TABLE THEY CAN

FIT THE ROLE OF MAYOR PRO TEM

CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AND COUPLE OUT THAT'S NUMBER

ONE. NUMBER TWO, I THINK MY

LEADERSHIP STYLE AND LEADERSHIP

SKILLS IS PERFECT FOR THIS

TRANSITION PERIOD WE HAVE IN

THIS IS A TRUE TRANSITION

PERIOD AND >> SO I HOPE YOU ALL

WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE THERE'S

SOMEONE WHO WILLING TO DO THE

WORK WHO'S WILLING TO MAKE SURE

WE ARE DEVELOP AND HAVE

LEADERSHIP ABILITIES TO GROW

AND SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO PUT

THIS CITY FORWARD INSTEAD OF

HIMSELF. I DO NOT THINK IN ALL

MY 20 SOME YEARS OF SERVING

THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SELFISH.

I TAKE PRIDE IN DEVELOPING

OTHER PEOPLE AND SO I WOULD

LIKE TO SAY THAT AFTER 18

MONTHS THE LEVEL YOU ALL WOULD

BE BETTER LEADERS THIS CITY

COUNCIL BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THAT. WE

SET OUT TO DO IT AS RELATES TO

OUR PRIORITIES AND I THINK I'M

SUITED BEST. COUNCILMAN

WATLINGTON LEADING THIS TEAM TO

ACCOMPLISH THOSE OBJECTIVES.

COUNCILMEMBER >> DRAKES WILL

GET THE LAST QUESTION AND THEN

I THINK WE SHOULD BE READY FOR

THE ONE MINUTE CLOSING

STATEMENT UNLESS THERE'S ANY

OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER DRAKE >> THANK

YOU MR. CHAIR. HOW IMPORTANT

ARE INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONSHIPS TO THE CITY'S

AGENDA AND WHAT ARE WAYS YOU AS

MAYOR WOULD WORK WITH OUR

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS TO

ACHIEVE OUTCOMES >> FOR OUR

CITY? THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

JUDY. SO I THINK THAT ME NEEDS

TO BE CALL IN MEETINGS BETWEEN

COMMITTEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

MARK DERA'A, SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR

STEPHANIE SNEED QUARTERLY

MEETINGS I THINK WE HAVE

DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS AND

HISTORIC SOCIAL CLUB THE CITY

COUNTERPARTS DISSIPATION WE HAD

DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS WITH THE

MUSEUMS AND WITH THE TEACHER

VILLAGE. WE GAVE $1 MILLION AND

THEN AND THEN COUNCIL

MAJORITIES. I THINK THERE'S TWO

OTHER RELATIONSHIPS THOUGH WE

NEED TO MAINTAIN. SO I WOULD

LIKE US TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT

DAY IN RALEIGH. WE NEED TO MAKE

SURE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH

ROLLINS ARE RESPECTED FROM

RALEIGH AS WELL AS US. I'M

GOING ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GO

IN MARCH WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL

RELATIONSHIPS AND LC BECAUSE I

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS

VERY IMPORTANT. COUNCILMAN

RODRIGUEZ I HAVE ALWAYS WAS

BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE

THREE GOVERNING BODIES IN THIS

COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER

SCHOOLS WILL BE BETTER. THE

COUNCIL WOULD BE BETTER AND THE

CITY WOULD DEFINITELY BE

BETTER. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY

LAST PRESSING QUESTIONS BEFORE

THE CLOSING STATEMENTS SAYING

NONE FOR SHOW US FOR A MINUTE.

GIVE US YOUR CLOSEST STATEMENT.

WHAT >> CHAIR PRO-TEM I'M JUST

GOING TO GO BACK TO SOME I LEFT

YOU ALL WHEN I DID MY TWO

MINUTE SPEECH AND I TALKED

ABOUT THE FOUR CS SO I WANT TO

REITERATE THEM OF I'M SO

HONORED TO GET YOUR SUPPORT ON

JUNE 22ND AND THE FIRST C IS

COLLABORATION AND SO I TALKED

ABOUT I WANT TO CREATE A

CULTURE IS ABOUT COLLABORATING

MEETING WITH THE MAYOR ONE ON

ONE AND SEEKING YOUR INPUT.

SECOND IS ABOUT OUR COMMITTEES.

WE NEED TO EMPOWER OUR

COMMITTEES TO DO THE REAL WORK

AND SO I WOULD LIKE THE

COMMITTEES TO HAVE THEY STAND A

MEETING ON THE FIRST MONDAY AND

THEN YOU DETERMINE WHAT I CALL

A SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING. WE

HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO

GET >> THE WORK DONE. COMMITTEE

ASSIGNMENTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

SO I SEEK YOUR INPUT. I JUST

WANT TO HAVE CHAIRS AND VICE

CHAIRS ON EACH COMMITTEE

DISCUSSES ABOUT INCREASE IN

LEADERSHIP CAPACITY ON THIS

COUNCIL THOROUGHLY WAS ABOUT

COMMUNICATION. WE NEED TO DO A

BETTER JOB BEING PROACTIVE WHAT

I COMMUNICATION ENGAGING WITH

OUR COMMUNICATION AND SHARING

OUR RESULTS THE LESSONS AS

CITIZENS WHO WE NEED TO WORK

FOR EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK

YOU CHAIR PRO-TEM FOR THIS

OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU

COUNCIL >> MEMBER FOR PORT TOWN

MITCHELL I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR YOUR CIVIC LEADERSHIP FOR

ALL THESE YEARS. THANK YOU FOR

YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF

CHARLOTTE AND THANK YOU FOR

APPLYING FOR THE INTERIM MAYOR

POSITION. WE APPRECIATE YOUR

LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> THANK

YOU. THANK YOU ALL. WHO'S UP

NEXT? COUNCILMEMBER ORLEANS

YOUR NEXT >> KNOW ROBERT

HARRINGTON ROBERT HEARING

ROBERT HARRINGTON IS NEXT >> OH

MY GOOD >> YOU BETTER THAN I >>

KNOW I DO TOO. YEAH. HUH. OH,

TRUTH BE TOLD, I DIDN'T USE THE

RESTROOM ONCE BUT I GOT TO TAKE

ANOTHER TWO MINUTE BREAK. I'LL

JUST ABOUT I DON'T WANT TO STOP

NOBODY AND FOR THAT I'M GOING

TO DO ONE MORE JUST TO MORE

ROBERT AND THEN CARRIE THIS

BREAK FOR TWO MINUTES THREE

MINUTES AFTER ROBERT >> YOU

WANT A BREAK

FROM MAYOR >> POSITION FOR THE

CITY OF CHARLOTTE IN TOTAL YOU

WILL HAVE 30 MINUTES. MEMBERS

OF THE COUNCIL ACTS QUESTION

THERE MAY BE A FOLLOW UP

QUESTION THAT'S GERMANE TO THE

QUESTION THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY

EXTRA YOU YOU WILL HAVE A FIVE

MINUTE WARNING WHEN YOUR TIME

IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE A MINUTE

WARNING WHEN YOUR TIME IS

ALMOST DONE WHEN YOU GET TWO

MINUTES WARNING JUST FINISH

YOUR THOUGHT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO

STOP OR PROPERLY AND THEN AT

THE END YOU'LL GET A ONE MINUTE

CLOSING ARGUMENT TO SUM UP YOUR

CASE. AND SO IF MRS. JOHNSON IS

READY WE'LL START FROM THAT

SIDE. I WILL WORK OUR WAY

AROUND THE DYESS COUNCILMEMBER

JOHNSON THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >>

THANK YOU. AND

THANK YOU. HELLO. OH, THANK

YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. >>

ABSOLUTELY. WHAT CONCERNS, IF

>> ANY, DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC

MIGHT HAVE ABOUT YOUR

APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM MAYOR

AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THOSE

CONCERNS? AND THEN THERE'S A

SECOND PART. SO HE SAYS OKAY,

NO. SO ON THE FIRST >> PART I

MEAN I THINK I AM ONE OF THE

FINAL FIVE WHO HAS NOT SERVED

IN ELECTED OFFICE AND IS NOT

SERVED IN GOVERNMENT PER SE.

AND I THINK THAT RAISES I WOULD

IMAGINE THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND I

THINK IT BRINGS OPPORTUNITIES

RIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE SERVED IN

A NUMBER OF POSITIONS FROM THE

NORTH GARDEN BAR ASSOCIATION TO

LEADING THE BOARD OF THE

CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG PUBLIC

LIBRARY SYSTEM. AND SO I'VE GOT

A GOOD DEAL OF EXPERIENCE IN

THE AROUND THE PUBLIC SECTOR

AND IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR BUT I

WOULD EXPECT THAT TO BE A

QUESTION AND I THINK THE

ANSWERS ARE THAT I'VE HAD GOOD

EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CITY

AND COUNTY AND LIBRARY AND ALSO

WORKING WITH PRIVATE SECTOR.

THANK YOU. ADDITIONALLY, WHAT

STRENGTHS AND EXPERIENCES DO

YOU BELIEVE MAKE YOU THE MOST

WELL-SUITED FOR THIS ROLE? I

THINK >> IT DOVETAILS

COUNCILMEMBER WITH WHAT I SAID

JUST NOW. I THINK I'VE I THINK

WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE, YOU

KNOW, SORT OF BRINGING ALL OF

THOSE EXPERIENCES TO BEAR

PARTICULARLY IN THIS INTERIM

PERIOD WOULD BE HELPFUL. I

DON'T HAVE POLITICAL

ASPIRATIONS BEYOND THIS AND I

THINK YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL SAID

OF COURSE THAT WE WILL NOT RUN

FOR RUN FOR MAYOR. BUT I THINK

THIS INTERIM PERIOD GIVES US AN

OPPORTUNITY TO WORK INTERNALLY

SOME WITHIN THE COUNCIL TO MAKE

SURE THAT ALL THE COUNCIL

MEMBERS VOICES ARE BEING HEARD

AND THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS

FEEL THAT THEIR VOICES ARE

BEING HEARD AND THEN MOVING OUT

FROM THERE MAKING SURE THAT THE

PUBLIC BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION AND

VIEWPOINTS. I THINK MY

EXPERIENCES UP TO NOW IN MY

LIFE EXPERIENCES HELPED ME TO

DO THAT AND I'M EAGER TO BRING

THOSE SKILLS TO BEAR ON THE

CURRENT SITUATION IN THANK YOU

COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER

JD THANK >> YOU CHAIR GRAHAM

THANK YOU MR. HARRINGTON.

CHARLOTTE IS THE FASTEST

GROWING CITY BUT OFTEN TIMES

THAT GROWTH IS LEAVING BEHIND

WORKING FAMILIES. HOW WOULD YOU

BALANCE BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY

AND PEOPLE FIRST AS WELL AS

ENSURING OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS

ARE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS AND

CLOSING SOCIOECONOMIC GAPS?

YEAH. YES I WOULD START.

COUNCILMEMBER WITH THE WITH MY

EXPERIENCE SO I HAVE SPENT MY

CAREER HERE IN WHAT I WOULD

CALL THE BUSINESS SECTOR. I

MEAN I HAVE BEEN A PRACTICING

ATTORNEY HANDLING PRIMARILY

BUSINESS MATTERS. I'VE ALSO

BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE

COMMUNITY AND THAT GOES FROM I

THINK THE FIRST ORGANIZATION I

WAS INVOLVED IN HERE WAS

PROBABLY FRIENDSHIP CHURCH. THE

SECOND PROBABLY RIGHT AROUND

THE SAME TIME WAS WHAT WERE

THEN SEIGLE AVENUE PARTNERS

WHICH IS NOW FREEDOM SCHOOL

PARTNERS. SO I'VE I HAVE SPENT

MY CAREER CERTAINLY THE LAST 30

YEARS OF IT BRIDGING THOSE GAPS

AND MAKING PLAIN TO YOU KNOW,

PARTNERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THOSE

ISSUES. I DON'T SEE THAT DIVIDE

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CONCEDE

THAT THERE'S A DIVIDE BUT IN

THOSE DIFFERENT POCKETS OF THE

COMMUNITY THE NEED TO WORK

TOGETHER AND AS WE GROW I AGREE

WITH YOU. I THINK IT IS

PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT WE

DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE

SURE THAT YOU KNOW, WORKING

CITIZENS AND CITIZENS,

PARTICULARLY FAMILIES WHO HAVE

BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS

AREN'T LOST IN THE GROWTH. WE

NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE

SHINY NEW THINGS DON'T

OVERWHELM THE THINGS THAT HAVE

BEEN HERE AND THE THINGS THAT

ARE DISTINCTIVE ABOUT

CHARLOTTE. I THINK IT'S A

BALANCING ACT, RIGHT? I MEAN IT

IS A BALANCING ACT BECAUSE THE

FACT THAT WE ARE THERE'S

SOMETHING ABOUT THE CITY THAT'S

DRAWING WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS

100 IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA,

100 WHATEVER A DAY THERE'S

SOMETHING WE'RE DOING RIGHT

HERE THAT PEOPLE SEE ON THE

OUTSIDE. I THINK WE NEED TO

CELEBRATE THAT MAINTAIN THOSE

ENGINES THAT DRIVE THE GROWTH.

BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU

THAT YOU KNOW AND I CAN SEE IT

IN THE WORK THAT I DO AND HAVE

DONE IN VARIOUS CIVIC

ORGANIZATIONS AND WE NEED TO

MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T GET

LOST. THANK >> YOU. COUNCIL

MEMBER MAYFIELD >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OFFERING

YOURSELF FOR THIS PARTICULAR

WELL HOW DO YOU PLAN TO

MAINTAIN YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND DO

THIS ROLE AS IT DOES TAKE UP A

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT >> OF TIME?

A COUNCILMEMBER >> I SUSPECT

THAT'S ALMOST AN UNDERSTATEMENT

THAT IT TAKES UP A SIGNIFICANT

AMOUNT OF TIME. YOU KNOW, I'M

FORTUNATELY COME TO A POINT IN

CAREER AND A PLACE OF WORK

WHERE MY PRIORITY IS GETTING

THIS JOB DONE WELL AND THAT

TAKES TIME AND I KNOW IT TAKES

TIME. YOU KNOW, I, I COULDN'T

TOLERATE THAT FRANKLY. I THINK

THE FOLKS THAT I HAVE WORKED

WITH COULDN'T TOLERATE HAVING A

PUBLIC FIGURE WHO IS NOT DOING

WHAT HE OR SHE BUT THEY NEEDED

TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO

THAT HAS TO BE THE PRIORITY OR

YOU JUST DON'T DO IT.

COUNCILMEMBER DRAKE, THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD

AFTERNOON. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE

A MORE ORDERLY COUNCIL PROCESS,

HOW WOULD YOU WORK OUTSIDE OF

MEETINGS TO HELP COUNCIL

IDENTIFY PRIORITIES AND ACHIEVE

CONSENSUS? >> SO I THINK YOU

KNOW, WHEN I STEP BACK AND LOOK

AT THE SITUATION, LOOK AT THE

COUNCIL, LOOK AT THE YOU KNOW,

JUST THE STRUCTURE. YOU KNOW,

THE FIRST THING IS THE

OVERRIDING THING IS TRUST IS

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN PRESERVE

TRUST AMONG THE ENTIRE GROUP. I

THINK THAT TO ME THAT'S THE

PURPOSE FOR THE ORDERLINESS.

YOU KNOW, YOU YOU THIS BODY

IT'S VITAL TO OBVIOUSLY IT'S

VITAL TO CHARLOTTE THAT THIS

BODY BE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE

AND CREATE NOT JUST THE REALITY

BUT THE PERCEPTION OF THAT. I

THINK WE YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO

BE ATTENTIVE TO PRIOR TO

MEETINGS OR OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS

HAVING THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

WORK THE WAY THE COMMITTEE

STRUCTURE SHOULD WORK. AND

THAT'S WITH, YOU KNOW,

LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEES

THAT IS ENERGIZED ABOUT WHAT

THEY'RE DOING. IT'S YOU KNOW,

CONSIDERING COMMITTEE

STRUCTURE. YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU

HAVE, YOU KNOW, ENGAGED AND

WE'VE HAD THIS IN THE PAST VICE

CHAIRS. BUT THE COMMITTEE

STRUCTURES GOT TO WORK AND

PEOPLE HAVE TO TRUST THE

MEMBERS HAVE TO TRUST THAT THE

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE WILL WORK.

AND THEN FOR MEETINGS THERE,

YOU KNOW, I'VE MY SOME OF MY

COLLEAGUES WOULD SAY I'VE DONE

TOO MUCH OF THIS IN MY CAREER

BUT I'VE CHAIRED A LOT OF A LOT

OF MEETINGS. AND I THINK THERE

IS A NECESSARY TASK AND

NECESSARY SKILL TO MAKING SURE

THAT VOICES ARE HEARD AND THAT

FOLKS, YOU KNOW, ARE

RECOGNIZED, THAT MOTIONS ARE

ORDERLY, THAT PROCESS IS

FOLLOWED. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A

DETAILED PROCEDURE, YOU KNOW,

FOR THIS COUNCIL THAT I BELIEVE

YOU ALL REVISITED IN JUNE. I

WOULD SAY JUNE 8TH OF THIS

YEAR. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S LAID

OUT THERE AND I KNOW THE

OVERLAY TO THAT IS ROBERT'S

RULES AND THE OVERLAY TO THAT

IS THE CITY CHARTER WHICH HAS

SOME PROVISIONS. BUT I THINK WE

HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE AND IT'S

NOT FOR THE MECHANICS OF

FOLLOWING IT UP BECAUSE THAT'S

HOW YOU CREATE TRUST. IF PEOPLE

UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS TO BE

HEARD IN MEETING AND FOLLOW

THAT PROCESS, WE HAVE TO BE

ATTENTIVE TO THAT. BUT AGAIN

I'D STEP BACK FROM THAT AND SAY

BOTH A REASON FOR THAT AND AN

OUTCOME IS TRUST AND WITHOUT

TRUST YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH

ANYTHING EFFECTIVELY. THANK

YOU. COME FROM NEW ORLEANS.

THANK >> YOU, CHAIR. AFTERNOON.

IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU. THANK

YOU. THE RECENT RESCISSION OF

THE I-77 PROJECT RECOMMENDATION

REFLECTED STRONG PUBLIC

ENGAGEMENT AND DIFFERING

PERSPECTIVES ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. WHAT

DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE

NEXT STEP IN ADDRESSING

CONGESTION AND MOBILITY

CHALLENGES ALONG THE I-77

CORRIDOR? AND HOW WOULD YOU AS

MAYOR ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS

MEANINGFULLY INVOLVED IN THAT

PROCESS? >> SO I'LL START WITH

THE END OF THAT COUNCILPERSON

COUNCIL MEMBER. I THINK THE THE

ENGAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC IS

VITAL. YOU KNOW WE CAN'T DO

ANYTHING WITHOUT HEARING THE

VOICES OF THE PUBLIC. I THINK

THE YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO

QUESTION THAT THERE'S A

CONGESTION THERE CONGESTION

PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE

METROPOLITAN AREA. BUT THERE'S

A PARTICULAR CONGESTION PROBLEM

ON 77 SOUTH TWO TO A TO ADDRESS

THAT PROBLEM TAKES YOU KNOW WE

HAVE THE REGIONAL AREAS WITH

THE CAR WITH CARPOOL BUT IT

ALSO TAKES THE LEGISLATURE HERE

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE

MEANINGFUL DIALOG WITH THE

LEGISLATURE WITH COMMUNICATION

GOING BOTH WAYS. RIGHT. AND SO

IT IS THE NEED FOR CHARLOTTE TO

BE IN FACT A MUNICIPAL AREA, A

MUNICIPAL PLACE THAT THAT IS

TREATED WITH INTEGRITY. BUT

IT'S ALSO THE REALIZATION THAT

FUNDING AND A LOT OF CONTROL

EMANATES FROM RALEIGH AND AND

FOR THAT MATTER FROM

WASHINGTON. SO I THINK WE HAVE

TO I DON'T THINK ANY OF THESE

ARE SIMPLE PROBLEM. I THINK

COMMUNICATION IS VITAL. I THINK

FINDING A WAY TO REENGAGE IN AN

APPROPRIATE WAY IN THE PROCESS

OF DEVELOPING 77 SOUTH IS IS

IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT HAS TO

BE DONE. I THINK IT IS AN

IMMEDIATE PRIORITY FOR WHOEVER

HOLDS THIS ROLE AND I THINK WE

HAVE TO BE ATTENTIVE TO THE

PUBLIC. WE HAVE TO AND PART OF

BEING ATTENTIVE TO THE PUBLIC

IS COMMUNICATING BOTH THE CITY

BUT ALSO IMPORTANTLY THE STATE

AND THE YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATING

FULLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH THE

CITIZENS. THERE'S A WHOLE I

MEAN WE ALL KNOW THERE'S A

WHOLE LOT OF BACKGROUND HERE,

RIGHT? THERE ARE YEARS AND

YEARS OF BACKGROUND HERE THAT

ARE REAL TO PEOPLE AND THEY'RE

REAL TO PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW OR

MY AGE. AND SO HOW WE ADDRESS

THOSE CONCERNS OF GETS BACK TO

TRUST AGAIN THE TRUST AS WE GO

FORWARD IS IS IS IMPORTANT. BUT

I DO THINK WE HAVE TO REENGAGE

IN THAT DISCUSSION AND FIGURE

OUT HOW WE HANDLE THOSE

CHALLENGES OF TRANSPORTATION

FROM YOU KNOW, MIDDLE OF MIDDLE

OF CHARLOTTE TO THE SOUTH

CAROLINA BORDER. WE CAN'T

IGNORE THAT ISSUE. COUNCILWOMAN

ANDERSON, THANK YOU AND

WELCOME. THANK YOU. IN YOUR

OPINION, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST

CHALLENGE FACING OUR CITY? AND

I ASK THAT WITH THE

UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE MANY

CHALLENGES. BUT IF YOU COULD

FOCUS ON ONE THAT YOU BELIEVE

IS THE BIGGEST ONE, I'D LIKE TO

HEAR FROM YOU ON THAT. YEAH, I

THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S A BROAD

ISSUE THAT INVOLVES

AFFORDABILITY. YOU KNOW,

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE

ISSUES THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER

WITH COUNCIL MEMBER OF HOW WE

MAKE SURE THAT A PROSPEROUS

CITY THE PROSPERITY IS SHARED

AS BROADLY AS IT SHOULD BE. I

THINK AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IN

THE MIDDLE OF THAT. IF WE'RE

GOING TO STRESS ON ONE I THINK

IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S AFFORDABLE

HOUSING AND THE THINGS THAT

REVOLVE AROUND THAT. SO

SERVICES FOR FOLKS IN THE

POCKETS WHERE WE'RE YOU KNOW,

STRUGGLING WITH RESIDENTS WHO

CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING ANYMORE.

BUT THERE'S A THERE ARE A BUNCH

OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT I

KNOW ARE ADDRESSED TO SOME

EXTENT IN THE BUDGET. I MEAN I

THINK WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON

THOSE ISSUES AT LEAST IN THE

YOU KNOW, THE BOND PROPOSAL FOR

AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE

REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER, I THINK

THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY

IMPORTANT FOR WHOEVER TAKES

THIS ROLE TO ENGAGE ON BEHALF

OF THE CITY AND WITH THE

COUNCIL ON IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE

VITAL. THE SUCCESS OF THAT IS

VITAL BUT I THINK ITS

AFFORDABILITY COMBINED WITH

I'LL USE THE WORD INCLUSION BUT

BY INCLUSION I MEAN THAT THAT

ALL OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE A REAL

CHANCE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE

PROSPERITY OF THE CITY WHILE

MAINTAINING THE PROSPERITY OF

THE CITY. IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO

A SECOND I WOULD SAY OF COURSE

AT ALL TIMES PUBLIC SAFETY

BECAUSE NONE OF THIS IS

POSSIBLE WITH OUR PUBLIC

SAFETY. I KNOW THE BUDGET

INCLUDED AT LEAST A STRONG

START TOWARDS, YOU KNOW,

POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND

FIRE. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT

CAN BE LEFT OUT OF ANY EQUATION

BECAUSE THE CITIZENS LOOK TO US

FOR THAT. >> COUNCILMEMBER

MAYO, THANK YOU. >> GOOD

AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW

WOULD YOU ENSURE >> MEETINGS

ARE EFFICIENT WHILE ALSO

ALLOWING ROBUST DEBATE AND

DISCUSSION? GREAT QUESTION. I

THINK THE I THINK THAT LARGELY

GETS BACK TO TRUST AGAIN BUT

ORDER RIGHT I THINK YOU HAVE TO

THERE HAS TO BE A AND THERE IS

I MEAN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE

PROCEDURES AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT

WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US RUNNING

MEETINGS EFFICIENTLY,

EFFECTIVELY AND ACCORDING TO

OUR PROCEDURES IS THE SURE

THAT'S WHY THE RULES EXIST SO

THAT YOU KNOW THE PROCESS TO BE

HEARD YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY

TO BE HEARD. YOU KNOW, I THINK

THERE THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE

SHOULD WE THAT THAT COUNCIL AND

LEADERSHIP SHOULD SEND TO

APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES. YOU

KNOW, WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES

THAT CAN BE MORE ROBUSTLY

ADDRESSED IN THE COMMITTEE

STRUCTURE BUT I THINK OVERALL

AND I GUESS I'LL ADD ANOTHER

THING COMMUNICATION RIGHT? SO

YOU KNOW ONE ON ONE I WOULD

INTEND TO BE IN THIS BUILDING

AND AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS AS

THE DEFAULT RIGHT IN I HOPE

THAT WE CAN CREATE A YOU KNOW,

SORT OF CREATE OR CONTINUE A

PROCESS WHERE MANY OF US ARE IN

HERE BECAUSE BEING ABLE BEFORE

MEETINGS BETWEEN MEETINGS TO

TALK AND TO TALK EVEN YOU KNOW,

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DISAGREE AT

TIMES IN MY CAREER IS FRANKLY,

YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW, PUT A KID

THROUGH COLLEGE LARGELY ON

DISAGREEMENTS. THAT'S WHAT WE

DO. BUT RESPECTING

DISAGREEMENTS AND BEING ABLE TO

WORK THROUGH THEM TO SOME

RESOLUTION THAT TAKES TIME. IT

TAKES INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS

AND IT TAKES ORDERLY MEETINGS

AND PROCESS AND ACCUSTOMED TO

WORKING ON THAT FROM YOU KNOW,

THE I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE

BAR ASSOCIATION BUT THAT WAS

14,000 LAWYERS FROM ACROSS THE

STATE WITH A BOARD OF

APPROXIMATELY 30 WHO ARE

LAWYERS. RIGHT. AND SO NOT ONLY

DO THEY HAVE OPINIONS BUT THEY

EXPRESS THEM AND LEARNING HOW

TO MANAGE THAT PROCESS, WORKING

TOGETHER TO MANAGE THAT PROCESS

BY THE RULES WE HAVE

PROCEDURES. WE JUST NEED TO

MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING THEM

. COUNCILMEMBER WALLINGTON,

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR

BEING HERE. WELCOME. PERHAPS

FOLLOWING UP ON YOUR BAR

EXPERIENCE OR YOU CAN CERTAINLY

PICK SOMETHING ELSE. >>

CHARLOTTE'S PRIORITIES ARE NOT

NEW CONVERSATIONS BUT THE

TOOLS, PARTNERS AND >> SCALE OF

THESE CHALLENGES LOOK VERY

DIFFERENT THAN THEY DID EVEN

FIVE YEARS AGO. CAN YOU WALK US

THROUGH A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF

WORK YOU ARE DOING NOW OR HAVE

DONE IN THE VERY RECENT PAST

THAT DIRECTLY CONNECTS TO THESE

PRIORITIES? >> COUNCILMEMBER

TWO THE PRIORITIES SPECIFIC TO

CHARLOTTE OR IN GENERAL TO

CHARLOTTE. SO I THINK THE MOST

RECENT EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD IN

CHARLOTTE IN THE YOU KNOW THE

PUBLIC SECTOR WAS AS CHAIR OF

THE THE BOARD OF THE THE

LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AND

WE WORKED THROUGH A NUMBER OF

ISSUES. I MEAN WE GO THROUGH A

PROCESS PERIODICALLY I WON'T

SAY EVERY YEAR BUT PERIODICALLY

WITH THE COUNTY ON CAPITAL

PRIORITIES IN WHERE YOU KNOW

LIBRARY FACILITIES NEED TO BE

CONSTRUCTED OR RENOVATED. YOU

KNOW, OTHERWISE WORKED ON THE

DEDICATION OF OF YOU KNOW HUMAN

RESOURCES OF PEOPLE TO

PARTICULAR IDEAS. I MAINTAINED

A PROCESS I WILL SAY I STARTED

THE PROCESS BUT I MAINTAINED A

PROCESS WHERE WE WERE IN

COMMUNICATION WITH, YOU KNOW,

STAFF SENIOR STAFF AND OTHER

TRUSTEES WHO WE SELECTED

BECAUSE THEY HOPEFULLY

REPRESENTED THE CITY WELL AND

IT WAS A DIVERSE IN EVERY SENSE

OF THE WORD BOARD ON PURPOSE TO

MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING

THE FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS

ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT

THEY NEED IN FAST GROWING NEW

AREAS AND WHAT THEY NEED ON

BETTY FORD ROAD. YOU KNOW, WE

INVESTED AROUND THAT TIME IN

THE YOU KNOW, BETTY FORD

REGIONAL WHICH WE CHANGED THE

NAME OF TO HONOR A CITIZEN. BUT

THAT'S A IT'S A PROCESS OF

COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC

AND THEN WORKING INTERNALLY TO

MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE EFFECTIVE

IN GETTING IT DONE. I THINK MY

LIBRARY EXPERIENCE IS PROBABLY

THE CLOSEST IN THAT SENSE

EXPERIENCE PUBLIC SECTOR IN

CHARLOTTE AND OBVIOUSLY I'VE

DONE STUFF WITH THE BAR

ASSOCIATION THAT STATEWIDE BUT

AGAIN YOU'RE THERE, YOU'RE

WORKING WITH AND I THINK IT

WOULD BE I THINK IT WOULD BE

HELPFUL HERE THAT EXPERIENCE OF

WORKING WITH PEOPLE FROM ACROSS

THE STATE AND WITH WORKING YOU

KNOW, NOT AS A, YOU KNOW,

LOBBYIST WE HAVE OUR OWN

LOBBYIST, RIGHT. BUT WORKING

CONSCIOUS OF THE GOALS OF FOLKS

IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO HAVE

VARIOUS OPINIONS ABOUT

CHARLOTTE AND VARIOUS NEEDS IN

THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND I

WOULD REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO

ENGAGING THAT. SO I WOULD SAY

THAT THE EXPERIENCE IS

CHARLOTTE IS PRIMARILY LIBRARY

BUT I THINK THE SKILL SET IS

DEVELOPED FROM A RANGE OF OTHER

EXPERIENCES. I HOPE THAT

INTEREST. >> THANK YOU. TIME TO

13 MINUTES AND 40. OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER SHAMIR, THANK

YOU. WELCOME, MR. HARRINGTON.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

SERVICE ON THE WAR IN CHARLOTTE

>> AS WELL AS THE LIBRARY. SO

THE NEXT >> MAYOR MIGHT PLAY A

MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING THE

SELECTION OF OUR DIRECT REPORTS

WHETHER THAT BE A MANAGER OR

CLERK OR THE CITY ATTORNEY. HOW

WOULD YOU ENSURE OUR CITY

COUNCIL IS MEANINGFUL INCLUDED

IN THAT PROCESS AND WHAT

STRUCTURE WOULD YOU PUT IN

PLACE TO ENSURE CITY STAFF IS

PROACTIVE, TRANSPARENT AND

COMMUNICATED WITH ALL COUNCIL

MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS

ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT

OFTEN FEEL DECISIONS ARE MADE

WITHOUT THEM? OH GREAT QUESTION

I THINK AND THANK YOU COUNCIL

MEMBER. I THINK THE

COMMUNICATION ON THOSE ISSUES

AND YOU KNOW NONE OF THIS IS

EASY RIGHT? I MEAN THAT'S WHY

WE'RE HERE. THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS

DEVOTE SO MUCH TIME TO THIS TO

COMMUNICATION ON ALL OF THOSE

ISSUES IS KEY THERE. YOU KNOW,

I'VE NOT BEEN THROUGH A PROCESS

OBVIOUSLY OF SELECTING A

MANAGER OR CITY ATTORNEY BUT

THE THE VOICES IN THIS ROOM

HAVE TO BE INVOLVED

MEANINGFULLY BECAUSE IF THEY'RE

NOT YOU SET UP A PRESCRIPTION

FOR FOLKS NOT TO FEEL A PART OF

THE PROCESS AND IN ANY

SITUATION LIKE THAT YOU RUN THE

RISK OF YOU KNOW, CREATING

YOU'RE SETTING SOMEONE UP FOR

FAILURE. RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S

ONE OF THE KEYS FOR WHOEVER IS

THE NEXT MAYOR IS TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE INTENT GOING INTO THE

PROCESS IS THAT VOICES BE

HEARD. SOMETIMES THAT TAKES

LONGER, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU

MIGHT HAVE TO WORK THROUGH

DISAGREEMENTS. YOU MIGHT HAVE

TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF

QUESTIONS. THE OUTCOME THERE IS

BETTER AND SO I WOULD LOOK FOR

CERTAINLY TO INVOLVE THIS BODY

AND LOOK FOR APPROPRIATE WAYS

TO INVOLVE THE BODY SO THAT YOU

HAVE A VOICE IN NOT JUST A A

YOU KNOW, A VOTE. OKAY. WE

PROBABLY GOT ABOUT 11 MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE FLOOR IS OPEN

>> FOR GENERAL QUESTIONS FROM

THE PAPER. I RECOGNIZE

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON AND

COUNCILMEMBER JD YOU'RE IN Q

THANK YOU. CHARLOTTE ADOPTED AN

ORDINANCE IN 2024 RELATED TO

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THOSE

POLICIES AND CHARLOTTE'S

OVERALL APPROACH TO

HOMELESSNESS? I THINK WE NEED

TO CONTINUE TO TO DEVOTE THE

RESOURCES TO THE UNDERLYING

CAUSES AND THAT'S I'M SURE THAT

AS COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE

COUNTY AND THE AREAS THAT THE

COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WORKS IN IN

YOU KNOW, HUMAN SERVICES, HUMAN

RESOURCES, HUMAN SERVICES I

THINK WE THE BALANCE TO THAT IT

BALANCE IS PROBABLY THE WRONG

WORD. I THINK WE NEED A VIBRANT

CITY ACROSS THE BOARD. I THINK

WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF FOLKS

WHO ARE TEMPORARILY UNHOUSED

AND YOU KNOW AND REALIZE THAT

THEY'RE NOT THE ENEMY, THAT

THEY ARE FOLKS WHO ARE IN A

SITUATION THAT WE'RE BLESSED

NOT TO BE IN AS WE SIT HERE

TODAY. SO WE HAVE TO BE

COMPASSIONATE AND WE HAVE TO

PUT THE RESOURCES WE HAVE TO

YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY AND I

THINK I CAN HELP IN THIS

PROCESS WE HAVE TO COMBINE THE

RESOURCES AND PERHAPS HELP TO

GUIDE THE RESOURCES OF THE

PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE AND

NONPROFIT SECTORS AND WORKING

ON THESE ISSUES AND THEN BOTH

FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE YOU KNOW,

FIND THEMSELVES ON THE STREETS

AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE USING

THOSE AREAS, WE NEED THE NOT

JUST THE PERCEPTION BUT THE

REALITY OF SAFETY. AND SO I

THINK IT'S BALANCING THOSE

THINGS SO THAT WE ARE ATTENTIVE

TO THE NEEDS THESE ARE OUR

NEIGHBORS, RIGHT? BUT WE ALSO

ALL HAVE TO FEEL INCLUDING

THOSE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE TO

FEEL SAFE IN OUR VARIOUS AREAS

. COUNCILMEMBER JD A

COUNCILMEMBER MAY FEEL THANK

YOU >> THANK YOU CHAIR GRAHAM.

CHARLOTTE'S AIRPORT IS ONE OF

OUR CITY'S MOST IMPORTANT

ECONOMIC ENGINES. HOW WOULD YOU

PROTECT CHARLOTTE'S ROLE IN

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE

AIRPORT WHILE ALSO ASSURING

AIRPORT SERVICE WORKERS BENEFIT

FROM ITS SUCCESS? I'LL TRY A

GREAT QUESTION. I'LL TRY >> TO

TAKE THAT IN SOME ORDER. I MEAN

I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO

SHOW THAT WE ARE NOT GOOD BUT

EXCEPTIONAL STEWARDS OF THAT

BUSINESS BECAUSE WE ARE AS AS

ANY CITY LIKE US THAT OPERATES

AN AIRPORT WE ARE AT RISK KNOW

WITH RALEIGH AND I DON'T MEAN

THAT ADVERSARIAL TO RALEIGH BUT

WE ARE AT RISK. WE'RE IN A

STATE WHERE RALEIGH HAS THAT

TYPE OF CONTROL AS MOST STATES

AND WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF, YOU

KNOW, ACTIONS BY WASHINGTON.

AND SO YOU KNOW, IT IS A IT'S

AN ECONOMIC DRIVER AND IT'S A

YOU KNOW, MUNICIPAL IS AN ISSUE

OF MUNICIPAL INTEGRITY THAT WE

CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE

THE AIRPORT AND THAT WE OPERATE

IT IN AN EXCEPTIONAL MANNER

WHICH I THINK WE HISTORICALLY

WE HAVE. I AGREE THAT WE NEED

TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUALLY BE

LOOKING AT THE SUPPORT THAT WE

PROVIDE FOR ALL OF OUR

MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES INCLUDING

THOSE AT THE AIRPORT. BUT WE

HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, MINDFUL

OF AGAIN STRETCHED FROM THE THE

BUSINESS SECTOR TO THE

NONPROFIT SECTOR TO THE THE

RELIGIOUS SECTOR. WE'VE GOT TO

BE MINDFUL OF THE BALANCE OF

MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECT AND

PRESERVE THAT ASSET WHILE ALSO

MAKING SURE THAT WE TREAT THE

EMPLOYEES THERE AND OUR OUR

TEAM MEMBERS THERE WITH RESPECT

>> AND COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD,

COUNCIL MEMBER DRAKE, THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS A

REALLY LONG QUESTION BUT I'M

GONNA TRY TO CONDENSE IT SO >>

IF APPOINTED INTERIM MAYOR >>

HOW WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AND

MANAGE ANY ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARISE

FROM YOUR EMPLOYMENT CLIENTS

BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP OR

FINANCIAL INTERESTS

SPECIFICALLY IF THERE IF YOUR

CLIENT PROFESSION REQUIRE YOU

TO FREQUENTLY RECUSE YOURSELF

ON MATTERS KNOWING YOU DON'T

HAVE A VOTE BEFORE THE COUNCIL,

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO MODIFY

OR STEP AWAY FROM THE VOTE OR

FROM THAT ROLE TO ENSURE THAT

THE PUBLIC HAS A FULLY ENGAGED

AND INDEPENDENT MAYOR >> THANK

YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER I GREAT

QUESTION FOR SOMEONE SITTING IN

MY POSITION OF CONTINUING TO

WORK MY INTENTION IS VERY MUCH

TO REMAIN WITH THE CAVEAT THAT

I THINK I GAVE TO COUNCILMEMBER

EARLIER ABOUT THIS HAS GOT TO

BE THE PRIORITY. YOU CAN'T DO

THIS JOB WHEN IT'S NOT THE

PRIORITY. I THINK I BELIEVE TO

THE EXTENT THERE ARE CONFLICTS

THEY CAN BE MANAGED. I THINK

THEY WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, FEW

AND FAR BETWEEN BUT THEY'RE

IMPORTANT WHEN THEY ARISE. I

THINK WE HAVE TO WORK OUR I

WOULD HAVE TO WORK MY WAY

THROUGH THE PROCESS TO MAKE

SURE THAT THEY ARE IN FACT

MANAGEABLE. BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE

GOT EXAMPLES OF YOU KNOW,

RICHARD BEN ROOT WAS MAYOR AND

WAS CONTINUING PRACTICE AND I

THINK THAT THAT IS A VERY

SUCCESSFUL MAYOR. I BELIEVE

MAYOR GRANT WAS CONTINUING TO

WORK AS TIME ALLOWED AS AN

ARCHITECT DURING HIS TIME. I

BELIEVE MAYOR MCCRORY CONTINUED

TO YOU KNOW, WITH THE

CONNECTION EMPLOYMENT WITH DUKE

ENERGY. I THINK THERE IS A

MODEL HERE IN PERHAPS ONE OF

THE THINGS THAT'S HELPFUL FOR

FOR FOR ALL OF THE LAWYER JOKES

OUT THERE IT'S HELPFUL TO

LAWYERS IS YOU KNOW, THIS IS

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO THAT

THE QUESTION OF ETHICS AND

BEING THOUGHTFUL AND BEING

CAREFUL NOT TO SAY ANYONE ELSE

DOES IT BUT IT IS A PART OF THE

PROFESSION. IT'S WHO WE ARE. SO

I WOULD I WOULD I THINK IT'S A

MANAGEABLE SITUATION AND I'D

LOOK FORWARD TO MANAGING IT. I

WOULD EAR ON THE SIDE OF

PROTECTING THE CITY'S INTEREST

IN GETTING THE JOB DONE. BUT

YOU KNOW, MY INTENT AT THIS

POINT IS TO TO MAINTAIN MY

PARTNERSHIP WITH ROBINSON ROGER

>> THE STRIKES. THANK YOU. HOW

IMPORTANT ARE INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONSHIPS TO THE CITY'S

AGENDA AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE

ALLUDED TO THIS BUT WHAT IN

PARTICULAR ARE WAYS THAT YOU AS

MAYOR WOULD WORK WITH OUR

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE OUTCOMES

FOR OUR CITY? I THINK I GOT

THAT I WAS I WAS MAKING SURE I

LOOKED AT WAS ATTENTIVE TO THE

TIME I MEAN I THINK THERE IS A

YOU KNOW HIERARCHY IS THE WRONG

WORD THERE THERE'S A LIST OF

PARTNERS THAT WE NEED TO, YOU

KNOW, WORK WITH. THEY PROBABLY

WE HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH

THEM BUT I WOULD WANT TO JUMP

INTO THAT IMMEDIATELY.

OBVIOUSLY MECKLENBURG COUNTY IN

OUR YOU KNOW, DOVETAILING AREAS

OF OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE CITY,

MAKING SURE THAT THOSE CONTINUE

TO WORK WHICH I THINK IS

COMMUNICATION WITH YOU KNOW

CHAIR JARELL AND JEREL AND

OTHERS MAKING SURE THAT WORKS

AND THEN THERE'S YOU KNOW THE

HOST OF OTHERS IF YOU SORT OF

WORK YOUR WAY OUT FROM THE YOU

KNOW THROUGH THE REGION YOU

KNOW THE WORK THAT WE'RE NOW

DOING WITH YOU KNOW STANDING UP

WATCHING BEING STANDING UP

PARTICIPATING AND STANDING UP

THE METROPOLITAN PUBLIC TRANSIT

TRANSIT AUTHORITY THE WORK THAT

WE DO ON A TRANSPORTATION LEVEL

WITH CART PRO THE REGIONALISM

BOTH THE COMBINATION OF

REGIONALISM THE CHARLOTTE

METROPOLITAN AREA AND THE

SHARED INTERESTS OF

MUNICIPALITIES AND PARTICULARLY

LARGE MUNICIPALITIES AS WE GO

TO RALEIGH AND WE'RE HAVING

DISCUSSIONS OR DEBATE OR

HOWEVER YOU WANT TO FRAME IT

HAVING IT'S NOT JUST CHARLOTTE,

IT'S NOT JUST RALEIGH, IT'S NOT

JUST GREENSBORO. IT IS THE

SHARED INTERESTS OF

MUNICIPALITIES AND THE SHARED

INTERESTS OF THE THIS

INCREDIBLE ENGINE FOR THE STATE

THAT IS THE CHARLOTTE AREA. SO

I'VE NAMED A FEW OF THE

ENTITIES BUT I THINK

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF

THOSE PARTNERSHIPS IS IS VITAL

TO ACCESS. WE SHOULD NOT BE IN

THIS ON OUR OWN AND WE ARE >>

THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER

QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER AS

MAYOR AND THEN I THINK WE'RE

RUNNING CLOSE TO IT. WE'VE >>

GOT THREE MINUTES AND THEN YOU

GET TO CLOSING ARGUMENT FOR ONE

SO YOU GOT UNTIL THE FOUR

MINUTES LEFT. >> YES. I JUST

WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON

COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD'S

QUESTION ABOUT OUR YOU KNOW,

PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT ESPECIALLY

IN YOUR CASE. SO I JUST WANT TO

MAKE SURE YOU SAID THAT YOU

WOULD PRIORITIZE THE COUNCIL

WORK RIGHT. AND DID YOU SAY >>

YOU YOU WERE WILLING TO STEP

AWAY FROM YOUR PRIVATE

EMPLOYMENT OR YOU WOULD

MAINTAIN THE OWNERSHIP

INTEREST? I WOULD >> MAINTAIN

YEAH. NO, I RECOGNIZE THE

PRIORITY OF THE CITY FOR MY OWN

INTERESTS AND FOR THOSE THAT

YOU KNOW I'VE WORKED FOR ALMOST

30 YEARS AROUND YOU KNOW THE

THE DAMAGE TO YOURS REALLY SORT

OF SENSE OF SELF AND

PROFESSIONALISM IF YOU DON'T DO

THIS WELL IS IRREVERSIBLE. SO

THE FOCUS HAS TO BE DOING THIS

WELL AND THE ADVANTAGE IN DOING

THAT IS IT'S AN 18 MONTH, YOU

KNOW, ROLE AND ONE THAT YOU

KNOW, I WOULDN'T BE RUNNING FOR

REELECTION TO. SO IT'S A

DEFINED PERIOD WHERE YOU

REALIZE THAT YOUR NUMBER ONE

TASK IS SERVING THE COUNCIL AND

THE CITIZENS OF OF CHARLOTTE

BUT I WOULD MY INTENT IS TO

STAY WITH THE WITH THE FIRM

OKAY THANK YOU. AND YOU ARE A

PARTNER, RIGHT? YES. THANK YOU.

OKAY. SAYING THAT THERE THERE

MORE NO MORE FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOU HAVE A ONE MINUTE CLOSING

ARGUMENT. WELL, THANK YOU, MR.

CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW I TAKE

THE OPPORTUNITY VERY, VERY

SERIOUSLY. CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN

INCREDIBLY GOOD TO ME IN MY

FAMILY. I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY

IN PAYING THAT FORWARD AND I

THINK THIS IS PERHAPS THE

ULTIMATE WAY OF PAYING THAT

FORWARD. AS I SAID THE OTHER

DAY WHEN I HAD MY SHORT SPEECH

BEFORE THE BEFORE THE COUNCIL

COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION

AND TRANSPARENCY FIGURING OUT

HOW TO WORK TOGETHER IN AN

ORDERLY CONTINUE TO WORK

TOGETHER IN AN ORDERLY MANNER I

WOULD HOPE WOULD BE HALLMARKS

OF THIS 18 MONTHS AND I SEE

THIS EIGHT MONTHS AS YES THERE

ARE GOING TO BE IMMEDIATE

PRIORITIES BUT ALSO AS A BRIDGE

FROM NOW UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTED

MAYOR HOPING TO PUT THIS CITY

IN THE NEXT ELECTED MAYOR AND

COUNCIL'S HANDS IN FANTASTIC

SHAPE. I APPRECIATE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ALL

TODAY AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR

ALL THAT YOU DO. MR. HARRINGTON

>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR

LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT

TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOUR

WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER THIS

OPPORTUNITY. AND ON BEHALF OF

THE COUNCIL, WE THANK YOU FOR

YOUR TIME. THANK >> YOU. THANK

YOU. >> LAST BUT NOT LEAST

MISCARRY >> COOK LET'S TAKE

THIS LET'S TAKE FIVE MINUTES.

WE'LL BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES

>> 

. OKAY? YEAH, YEAH. AS >> SOON

AS MS.. WALLINGTON RETURNS,

WE'LL GET STARTED AGAIN. OKAY.

YOUR WORK A SECOND OR TWO AND

AFTER THE LAST SPEAKER THERE'S

TWO PROCESS QUESTIONS THAT WE

HAVE TO GO THROUGH. THEY SHOULD

GO >> RELATIVELY QUICKLY SO WE

WILL SEE >> ON MONDAY. YES.

JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE

ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT HOW

WE'RE GOING TO PROCESS WHAT WE

DO. AND THEN I SHOULD HAVE

BROUGHT MY TENNIS SKILLS WITH

ME TO THE LEFT STRAIGHT FROM

HERE AND TO GO TO THE TENNIS

COURT. I'M PLAYING TENNIS

INDUSTRY COUNCIL MEMBER JD'S

DISTRICT TODAY A VETERANS PARK

>> I DON'T I HAVE TO THAT'S I

GOT TO BE THERE AT 6:00 >>

ALTHOUGH I HAVE A VETERANS PARK

AND I LOVE THE PIZZA >> IN THE

>> BACK AND THE UNIVERSITY

MIGHT BE ON YEAH OH YEAH I WAS

IN >> COURT AND NOT KNOW >> ALL

RIGHT I THINK WE HAVE EVERYBODY

HERE SO WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE

MEETING BACK TO ORDER I THINK

EVERYBODY IS HERE. WE HAVE ONE

MORE SPEAKER AND AFTER THE

SPEAKER AGAIN WE HAVE TWO QUICK

PROCESS ITEMS. WE JUST NEED TO

MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S

CONSENSUS IN THE ROOM IN TERMS

OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD SO WE'RE

READY FOR MR. >>

WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. RIGHT

WHEN YOU TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY

>> TO WELCOME YOU TO THE CITY

COUNCIL INTERVIEWS FOR THE

TEMPORARY MAYOR POSITION, WE

APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN

APPLYING. YOU WILL HAVE A TOTAL

OF 30 MINUTES EVERY COUNCIL

MEMBER WILL HAVE A ROUND OF

QUESTIONS. THERE MAY BE A

FOLLOW UP QUESTION OR TWO FOR

CLARIFICATION. THE CITY CLERK

WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET

YOUR FIVE MINUTES WARNING AND

THEN YOU'LL GET A ONE MINUTE

WARNING ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED,

DON'T FEEL FREE THAT YOU HAVE

TO STOP ABRUPTLY FINISH YOUR

THOUGHT AND THEN YOU'LL GET A

ONE MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT

TOWARDS THE END. OKAY? OKAY.

AND SO COUNCILMEMBER SAMIR >>

WELL WELCOME. MS. COOK THANK

YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO THE NEXT MAYOR >> MIGHT PLAY

A MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING THE

SELECTION OF OUR DIRECT REPORTS

SO WE HAVE THREE DIRECT REPORTS

MANAGER, CLERK AND ATTORNEY. >>

SO HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE CITY

COUNCIL IS MEANINGFUL INCLUDED

IN THAT PROCESS AND THAT

PROCESS IS PROACTIVE,

TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATING

WITH ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND

RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY IN

COMMUNITIES THAT OFTEN FEEL

DECISIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT

THEM. >> THANK YOU FOR THE

QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN AJMERA

AND THANK YOU FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU ALL

TODAY. I APPRECIATE THIS CHANCE

TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT MY

CANDIDACY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT

THE ROLE THAT THE MAYOR PLAYS

WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE

CITY CLERK AND RESIDENTS AND

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL

STAKEHOLDERS MORE BROADLY I

MEAN I THINK THERE'S A KEY

EMPHASIS ON TRUST, ON

TRANSPARENCY, ON CONSENSUS

BUILDING AND THOSE ARE THE

THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE

THROUGHOUT MY LIFE AND

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER. ON

BUILDING TRUST, ON BUILDING

RELATIONSHIPS I'M BUILDING

CONSENSUS AND COALITIONS WITH

DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE

ACROSS THIS COMMUNITY FROM THE

EAST SIDE TO THE WEST SIDE FROM

NORTH TO SOUTH. I HAVE BEEN IN

COMMUNITIES AND I THINK A

REPUTATION THAT I'VE HAD AS

BEING BOTH GRASS TOPS AND GRASS

ROOTS WHICH I VIEW AS A

STRENGTH BECAUSE I CAN CONNECT

AND WALK WITH THE FOLKS ACROSS

OUR COMMUNITY >> HAND IN HAND,

BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS,

UNDERSTAND AND TALK WITH

RESIDENTS. BUT ALSO I CAN SIT

WITH EXECUTIVE LEADERS AND ASK

FOR THEIR INPUT AND ASK FOR

THEIR CONCERNS. BUT THE BIGGEST

THING THAT I KNOW THAT'S

IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US IS FOR

OUR CITY TO SUCCEED AND FOR OUR

RESIDENTS TO HAVE QUALITY OF

LIFE. AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT

THAT FOR OUR CITY TO SUCCEED,

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE TRUST. WE'VE

GOT TO HAVE TRANSPARENT AC.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE EFFICIENCY

AND WE HAVE TO DELIVER RESULTS.

AND SO I AM SOMEONE WHO WOULD

WORK WITH THE THREE DIFFERENT

ENTITIES THAT COUNCILWOMAN

AZUMA MENTIONED TO DELIVER

RESULTS BUT TO DO IT TOGETHER

WITH YOU AND TO EMPOWER YOU AND

THE ROLES THAT YOU HAVE AS

COUNCIL TO LEAD I THINK THAT'S

REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK

IT'S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN. I

THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ALL ARE

WANTING TO ADVANCE AND NOT

BRING YOU A FULLY BAKED PLAN

BUT COME TO YOU FOR EARLY

ITERATION FOR EARLY FEEDBACK,

FOR OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD

SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT WE CAN

ALL BE PROUD OF. AND SO THAT'S

YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT

THE WAY IN WHICH THE MAYOR

OPERATES WITH COUNCIL AND

INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND

EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. LAST

NIGHT MY DAUGHTER SAID MOMMY,

WHAT DOES THE MAYOR DO? I SAID

THE MAYOR IS A BRIDGE IN A LOT

OF WAYS AND YOU HAVE TO BE A

BRIDGE OF INFORMATION. YOU HAVE

TO BE TRUSTED AND TRANSPARENT

AS A BRIDGE. I DON'T WANT TO GO

OVER ANY BRIDGES THAT I DON'T

TRUST. AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE

RELATIONSHIPS, WHEN YOU'RE ABLE

TO WORK WITH FOLKS, WHEN YOU'RE

ABLE TO INCLUDE PEOPLE IN A

PROCESS AND GALVANIZE PEOPLE

AND BUILD CONSENSUS, THOSE ARE

THE WAYS THAT I HAVE LED AND

BEEN KNOWN TO LEAD ACROSS OUR

CITY FOR OVER TWO DECADES AND

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO

DO. >> COUNCILMEMBER WALLINGTON

GOOD AFTERNOON. >> CHARLOTTE'S

PRIORITIES ARE NOT NEW

CONVERSATIONS BUT THE TOOLS,

PARTNERS >> AND SCALE OF THESE

CHALLENGES LOOK VERY DIFFERENT

THAN THEY DID EVEN FIVE YEARS

AGO. CAN >> YOU WALK US THROUGH

A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WORK YOU

ARE DOING RIGHT NOW OR HAVE

DONE IN THE VERY RECENT PAST

THAT DIRECTLY CONNECTS TO ONE

OF THESE PRIORITIES? MM HMM.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK

YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

COUNCILMEMBER WATLINGTON. I'LL

JUST TELL YOU I'M VERY EXCITED

ABOUT THE AREAS OF STRATEGIC

FOCUS THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED

SINCE YOUR RETREAT IN MARCH

BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE AREAS

WHETHER IT'S SAFETY, WHETHER

IT'S HOUSING, WHETHER IT'S

WELL-MANAGED GOVERNMENT, GREAT

NEIGHBORHOODS OR PLANNING AND

INVESTMENT ARE AREAS THAT I'VE

WORKED IN OVER THE COURSE OF MY

CAREER AND AREAS THAT I'VE

WORKED IN HAND IN HAND WITH

RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. AND SO

JUST TO GIVE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE

AS REQUESTED, YOU KNOW OVER THE

LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I'VE DONE

A COUPLE A NUMBER OF

SIGNIFICANT THINGS I'D SAY

RELATED TO HOUSING AND TO

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AND SO

LET ME JUST TALK JUST FOR A

MINUTE ABOUT THAT. A FEW YEARS

AGO I SERVED ON THE CITY'S

AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE

WHEN WE WERE ADVANCING SEEING

OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FROM TO

THINK ABOUT A CONTINUUM OF CARE

FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO NOT

JUST THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED,

NOT JUST THOSE IN THE MISSING

MIDDLE, NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE

MOVING INTO OWNERSHIP BUT

REALLY THINKING ABOUT THAT

CONTINUUM AND WHAT WE NEED TO

DO TO ADVANCE AN OPPORTUNITY

FOR ALL OF OUR PEOPLE NO MATTER

WHERE THEY ARE IN TRYING TO

FIND HOUSING AND BUILD THEIR

LIFE HERE IN OUR CITY. AND SO

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WAYS

THAT I'VE ENGAGED ONE AGAIN

WORKING WITH CITY LEADERS,

WORKING WITH OTHER INTERNAL AND

EXTERNAL PARTNERS, BUILDING

COLLABORATIONS, WORKING WITH

FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING TO BUILD

AND DEVELOP MORE HOUSING IN OUR

CITY, WORKING TO INCREASE THE

HOUSING TRUST FUND ALLOCATION,

THINKING ABOUT INNOVATIONS AND

WAYS WE USE THOSE DOLLARS AND

WAY WE SUPPORT AND INCREASE THE

SUPPLY OF HOUSING PRESERVING

OUR NOAH RIGHT. SO MAKING SURE

THAT OUR NATURALLY OCCURRING

AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS IN

COMMUNITIES. AND SO THOSE ARE

THINGS THAT I'VE DONE BUT I

ALSO CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE

WEST SIDE CHARLOTTE LAND TRUST

BOARD. AND SO CONTINUING TO

ADVANCE THE WORK THERE HAVE

DONE THAT ALSO IN AN INFORMAL

CAPACITY AS AN ADVISOR. >> AND

SO ADVANCING HOUSING ISSUES SO

THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS

COMMUNITY EVEN IF YOU ARE ON

THE FRONT END OF BEING UNHOUSED

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER

PARTNERS LIKE THE COUNTY AND

OTHERS WHERE YOU NEED A

CONTINUUM OF CARE TO SUPPORT

OUR RESIDENTS WHETHER IT'S

MENTAL HEALTH OR OTHER SERVICES

COUNTY SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR

RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A

QUALITY OF LIFE HERE. AND SO

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE CORE

AREAS THAT YOU ALL HAVE

OUTLINED AS YOUR PRIORITIES

I'VE BEEN WORKING IN ALL OF

THOSE AREAS BUT THOSE ARE SOME

SPECIFICS I'D GIVE YOU AROUND

HOUSING. THE LAST THING I WOULD

SAY IS THAT YOU KNOW, I'VE

PARTNERED OVER A NUMBER OF

YEARS, A COUPLE OF DECADES NOW

TO WORK ON THE CITY'S CAPITAL

INVESTMENT PLAN. AND SO WHEN

YOU TALK ABOUT INVESTMENTS IN

STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND

HOUSING, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON

THE FRONT LINES OF LEADING OUR

ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING

CAMPAIGNS TO INVEST IN OUR AREA

SO THAT WE HAVE SHARED

PROSPERITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT

TO ME BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE

HOUSING THAT'S CONNECTED TO

TRANSIT, THAT'S CONNECTED TO

SIDEWALKS, THAT'S CONNECTED TO

WORK THAT ALLOWS OUR FOLKS TO

LIVE, WORK AND PLAY HERE IN A

WAY THAT EVERYBODY CAN BENEFIT

FROM. AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED

ABOUT THAT AND GRATEFUL THAT

YOU'VE OUTLINED IT AS ONE OF

YOUR CORE PRIORITIES MOVING

AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER MAILE >>

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW

WOULD YOU ENSURE MEETINGS ARE

EFFICIENT WHILE STILL ALLOWING

ROBUST DEBATE AND DISCUSSION?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

COUNCILMEMBER MAYO. I THINK

OVER THE YEARS WHAT I'VE BEEN

ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE IN

LEADERSHIP ACROSS PUBLIC,

PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS

IS JUST SOMEONE WHO IS AN

ACTIVE LISTENER BUT ALSO A

LEADER AND A FACILITATOR. SO

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GOVERN IN

ROOMS, BE A STRONG FACILITATOR,

BE SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY A PART

OF PARLIAMENTARY AND WHO SAYS

OKAY, WE'VE GOT A PROCESS,

WE'RE GOING TO STICK TO OUR

PROCESS AND WE'RE GOING TO

DRIVE THAT PROCESS FORWARD TO

DELIVER RESULTS FOR THE PEOPLE

THAT WE'RE DELIVERING THEM FOR.

AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT

EFFECTIVE MEETING FACILITATION,

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MEETING

ITSELF. IT'S ABOUT AGAIN

RELATIONSHIPS TRUST AND

TRANSPARENCY. IT'S ABOUT

COLLABORATION AND BUILDING

CONSENSUS. AND THAT'S HOW I'VE

SHOWN UP IN OUR COMMUNITY TO

WORK WITH RESIDENTS, TO WORK

WITH DIFFERENT LEADERS. AND

IT'S HOW I WOULD WANT TO SHOW

UP WITH EACH OF YOU IF GIVEN

THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH YOU

IN THAT WAY BECAUSE THAT'S THE

WAY THAT WE ADVANCE THINGS WITH

WITH PRIORITY THAT WITH THE

PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SET

UP. AND THAT'S THE WAY WE

ADVANCE THEM IN A WAY THAT'S

BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE

AGAIN EVERYBODY WANTS US TO

SUCCEED HERE SO STRONG TRUST

AND TRANSPARENCY ALLOWING FOR

DISCUSSION AND DIALOG TO TAKE

PLACE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT A

MEETING SO THAT THERE'S SOME

GALVANIZING AND SOME RAPPORT

AND SOME CONSENSUS OR SOME

TRUST AROUND WHAT WE CAN DO

TOGETHER. AND THOSE ARE JUST

REALLY ACTIVE LISTENING AND

FACILITATION BUILDING CONSENT.

THOSE ARE JUST CORE TENETS OF

GOVERNING WELL AND CONTINUING

TO LEAD TO MEET THE MOMENT. AND

I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S

BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE I

FINISHED THIS THIS PROGRAM BUT

GOING BACK TO EVEN SERVE AT ON

THE BOARD AT THE UMC CHAPEL

HILL SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT I

MEAN WE TRAIN LOCAL LEADERS TO

BE EFFECTIVE. AND SO THAT WAS

AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY OWN

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY AND

ALLOWED ME TO LEARN WAYS TO

LISTEN AND LEARN AND LEAD BUT

ALSO NOW BEING A PART OF

HELPING TO TRAIN OTHER

MUNICIPAL LEADERS TO LEAD

EFFECTIVELY. THOSE ARE THE

THINGS THAT I'VE CONTINUED TO

DO THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AND

IT'S WHAT I'D WANT TO BRING TO

MEETING FACILITATION AND TO

HELP AND TO GALVANIZE THIS

GROUP AS WE CONTEND WITH THE

ISSUES OF THE DAY TO SUPPORT

OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

ANDERSON. >> THANK YOU AND

WELCOME. THANK YOU. IN YOUR

OPINION, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST

ISSUE OR CHALLENGE FACING OUR

CITY TODAY? AND I ASK THAT WITH

THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE

LOTS OF CHALLENGES. BUT IF YOU

CAN PICK THE ONE THAT YOU

BELIEVE IS THE BIGGEST AND

SPEAK TO THAT. >> SO THE

BIGGEST ISSUE >> AND I WOULD

REFRAME IT ALSO AS THE BIGGEST

OPPORTUNITY FACING OUR CITY IS

WE'RE A WORLD CLASS CITY. THE

SECRET IS OUT AND WE'RE

GROWING. SO OUR GROWTH THE 150

PLUS PEOPLE A DAY WHO ARE

COMING HERE BALANCING THAT

GROWTH IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES

SHARED PROSPERITY FOR ALL OF

OUR RESIDENTS AND A WAY THAT WE

MAKE INVESTMENTS IN CORRIDORS

AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY

IN A WAY THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING

TO DRIVE THIS FORWARD WITH NOT

ONLY THESE CORE PRIORITIES BUT

WITH THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

AND WITH THE PRIORITIZING

RESIDENT VOICE AND THE BRINGING

IN OF CROSS-SECTOR

STAKEHOLDERS. THAT'S THE

BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY AND

CHALLENGE THAT I SEE BECAUSE IF

YOU DON'T DO THAT WELL YOU RISK

LOSING LOSING FOLKS OR LEAVING

FOLKS BEHIND AND YOU RISK

ASKING YOURSELF CAN OUR LOCAL

TEACHERS CAN OUR FIREFIGHTERS,

CAN OUR NURSES, CAN OUR EMS

WORKERS, CAN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

COALITION LEADERS AND NONPROFIT

LEADERS AND WORKING FAMILIES

BUILD A QUALITY OF LIFE HERE?

AND I BELIEVE THEY CAN AND WILL

CONTINUE TO BUILD A QUALITY OF

LIFE HERE. IF WE MANAGE GROWTH

WELL IN AND SUPPORT GROWTH THAT

IS THAT PROVIDES BENEFITS FOR

ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR

SHARED PROSPERITY IN THAT

GROWTH. COUNCILMEMBER OWENS >>

THANK YOU, CHAIR. GOOD

AFTERNOON. IT'S NICE TO SEE

YOU. THE RECENT RESCISSION >>

OF THE I-77 PROJECT RECOMMENDED

REFLECTED STRONG PUBLIC

ENGAGEMENT AND DIFFERING

PERSPECTIVES ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. WHAT

DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE

NEXT STEP IN ADDRESSING

CONGESTION AND MOBILITY

CHALLENGES ALONG THE I-77

CORRIDOR? AND HOW WOULD YOU AS

MAYOR ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS

MEANINGFULLY INVOLVED IN >>

THAT PROCESS? >> COUNCILWOMAN

OWENS I APPRECIATE THE

QUESTION. AND YOU KNOW, WE HEAR

FROM RESIDENTS THAT CONGESTION

IS A CONCERN. WE ALSO HEAR FROM

RESIDENTS AND WE UNDERSTAND

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS THAT THEY

WANT QUALITY OF LIFE AND THEY

WANT THEIR VOICES HEARD ON

THESE ISSUES. AND SO AS WE

THINK ABOUT THE NEXT STEP AND

THE PATH FORWARD AGAIN I'M

GOING TO GO BACK TO TRUST. SO

BUILDING TRUST WITH COMMUNITIES

SO THINGS HAPPEN WITH PEOPLE

AND NOT TO THEM. I'M GOING TO

GO BACK TO TRANSPARENCY AND BE

AN OPEN IN DELIBERATIONS AS A

GROUP AROUND THIS DAIS BUT ALSO

OPEN WITH THE PUBLIC IN THE

PROCESS. I'M GOING TO GO BACK

TO RELATIONSHIPS. SO THE

RELATIONSHIPS THAT THAT I'VE

BUILT OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES

PLUS WITH LEGISLATIVE

DELEGATIONS AND WITH

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

ORGANIZATIONS I MEAN GOING OUT

AND CONTINUING TO FIND A WAY TO

ADVANCE TOGETHER IS IMPORTANT.

SO WHETHER IT'S CALLING MEMBERS

OF THE PTA OR KRYPTO OR CALLING

ON REGIONAL MAYORS, CALLING ON

OTHERS TO SAY ALL RIGHT, WE

NEED TO SIT AROUND THE TABLE

AND IDENTIFY HOW WE'RE GOING TO

ADDRESS THE DEMANDS THAT WE

HAVE WITH OUR GROWTH AND THE

DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE SO PEOPLE

CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY A QUALITY

OF LIFE HERE. AND WE HAVE TO DO

THAT STRATEGICALLY BUT IT HAS

TO BE PEOPLE FIRST AND PEOPLE

CENTERED. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I

WOULD SAY. I MEAN I AM FIRMLY

SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING SURE OUR

NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE

CONNECTIVITY, MAKING SURE FOLKS

CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE

NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY BUILT.

BUT ALSO BALANCING THAT WITH

OUR GROWTH DEMANDS. AND SO I

THINK A PATH FORWARD IS TO SAY

WHEN WE COME BACK AROUND THE

TABLE AND NOTHING IS IN MY

CAREER I'VE LEARNED THAT YOU

GOT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT AND

YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO YOU KNOW,

SORT OF THERE'S A PUSH AND PULL

AND THERE'S A DYNAMIC IN PLACE

WHERE NOBODY WILL GET 100% OF

EVERYTHING THEY WANT. BUT I'VE

BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH

DIFFERENT GROUPS AND SAY HOW DO

WE BUILD A COALITION ADVANCE A

SOLUTION AND DELIVER RESULTS

FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT EVERYBODY

CAN LIVE WITH AND THAT

EVERYBODY WILL BE PROUD OF IN

SOME WAY? EVERYBODY WON'T GET

100% BUT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES

TO LEAD AND GOVERN IS TO FIND A

SOLUTION AND FIND A PATH >>

FORWARD. COUNCILMEMBER DRAKES,

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD

AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. IN

ORDER TO ACHIEVE A MORE ORDERLY

COUNCIL PROCESS, HOW WOULD YOU

WORK OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS TO

HELP COUNCIL IDENTIFY

PRIORITIES AND ACHIEVE

CONSENSUS? I WOULD WORK OUTSIDE

OF THE PROCESS DOING THE THINGS

I'VE BEEN DOING FOR MY ENTIRE

LIFE WHICH ARE SHOWING UP

LISTENING ACTIVELY LEADING

INTENTIONALLY BUILDING

COALITIONS ACROSS SECTORS,

WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

AGAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND

WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS

WORKING WITH LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD

GROUPS, WORKING WITH CORPORATE

PARTNERS, WORKING WITH

NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS, WORKING

WITH ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT IT

TAKES TO GET THINGS DONE. I

MEAN THAT'S HOW I WOULD SHOW UP

TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE

PROCESSES. IT'S IT'S THE WAYS

THAT I'VE ALWAYS SHOWN UP WITH

COMMUNICATION WITH ACTIVE

LISTENING TRUST, TRANSPARENCY

AND ALSO AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

THAT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE

ANSWERS SO I DON'T HAVE ALL THE

ANSWERS. YOU ALL ARE LISTENING

TO YOUR DIFFERENT

CONSTITUENCIES AND REPRESENTING

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND

THAT'S A DIFFICULT PROCESS. BUT

THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND

THROUGH BEING OUT HEARING FROM

FOLKS ADVOCATING I MEAN YOU

REALLY IN THIS ROLE HAVE TO BE

SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO PICK

UP THE PHONE, GO TO RALEIGH, GO

TO WASHINGTON, GO TO THE PLACES

AND SIT WITH THE PEOPLE EVEN

WHEN YOU DISAGREE AND SAY HOW

DO WE GET TO A POINT AND A

PLACE OF AGREEMENT TO ADVANCE

CHARLOTTE'S PRIORITIES FOR

CHARLOTTE'S PEOPLE? AND SO I

THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING

THAT I'VE DONE IN MY CAREER IS

CALLING ON STATE LEGISLATIVE

DELEGATIONS WHETHER IT'S

BUSINESS GROWTH AND EXPANSION,

WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION AND

SUPPORTING OUR TALENT PIPELINE,

WHETHER IT'S INVESTMENTS IN HOW

WE THINK ABOUT GROWING OUR

CITY. I MEAN ALL OF THOSE

THINGS ARE THINGS THAT I'VE

DONE AND I'M COMFORTABLE TO DO

ON DAY ONE AND THEY WOULD BE AN

EXTENSION OF THE WORK THAT I'VE

ALREADY DONE. THANK YOU. I

THINK AT THE TIME CHUCK. ALL

RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD,

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR JOINING US TODAY. HOW DO

YOU PLAN TO MAINTAIN YOUR

EMPLOYMENT AND DO THIS ROLE AS

THIS DOES TAKE UP A SIGNIFICANT

AMOUNT OF TIME? WELL, I'VE

RECENTLY TRANSITIONED FROM

EMPLOYMENT AND SO I'M AT A

GREAT PLACE IN MY LIFE AND PART

OF THIS WAS THE IMPETUS OR THE

CATALYST TO SAY WHAT'S NEXT?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NEXT?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SERVE

NEXT? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO STEP

IN NEXT? SO RECENTLY I LED

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE

FED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE

INVESTMENTS AND ANALYZE DATA

AND INFORM MONETARY POLICY TO

SUPPORT COMMUNITIES ACROSS

ACROSS SIX STATES AND THEN WORK

WITH FOLKS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY

AROUND BEST PRACTICES, AROUND

SOLUTIONS, AROUND LOW INCOME

COMMUNITIES BEING BETTER

CAPITALIZED AND BETTER

SUPPORTED WITH BUILDING

CAPACITY AND MAKING INVESTMENTS

EVERYTHING FROM SKILLS AND

ACCESS TO JOBS TO NON-SCHOOL

BASED BARRIERS AROUND HOUSING,

TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION THOSE

THINGS. AND SO MY CAREER HAS

BEEN ONE THAT SPANNED PUBLIC

PRIVATE NONPROFIT GRASSROOTS

SECTORS AND NOW I'M AT A PLACE

IN MY LIFE WHERE I'VE TAKEN A

PAUSE TO EVALUATE WHAT IS THE

NEXT STEP. SO I AM ABLE TO

FULLY DEVOTE MYSELF TO THIS

ENDEAVOR WITH YOU ALL IN

ADVANCING THE PRIORITIES. OF

COURSE I HAVE A FAMILY AND SO

THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE

FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR ME. BUT

I VERY MUCH AS I HAVE ALWAYS

DONE LEAN IN TO LEADING AND

DIFFERENT AREAS OF MY LIFE AND

IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO LEAN IN

TO LEAD WITH YOU IN THIS SEASON

KNOWING THAT THERE IS AN

INTERIM PERIOD AND THEN VOTERS

WILL NEXT FALL CHOOSE THEIR

NEXT MAYOR. BUT THERE'S AN

INTERIM PERIOD TO HELP SUPPORT

AND ADVANCE THE ISSUES THAT WE

ALL CARE ABOUT FOR CHARLOTTE

TEENS TO SUCCEED. AND >>

COUNCILMEMBER JD THANK >> YOU

CHAIR GRAHAM THANK YOU MS.. COX

FOR BEING HERE. CHARLOTTE IS A

GROWING CITY BUT TOO OFTEN

GROWTH IS SHAPED AND LEAVING

FOLKS BEHIND ESPECIALLY WORKING

FAMILIES. HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE

BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND

PEOPLE FIRST AND ENSURING THAT

OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS ARE

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS AND

CLOSING SOCIOECONOMIC GAPS? >>

YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION

AND THANK YOU FOR FOR IT.

COUNCILMEMBER I, I THINK

BALANCING BUSINESS FRIENDLY

WITH PEOPLE FIRST IS THE

EPITOME OF WHO I'VE HAD TO BE

OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER.

AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT

BALANCING THE OPPORTUNITY TO

TALK WITH CORPORATE PARTNERS,

WHETHER IT WAS WHEN I STARTED

LONG AGO LONG BEFORE THIS CITY

STARTED TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC

MOBILITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL

WHEN I BUILT PROGRAMS THAT

INVESTED IN YOUNG GIRLS IN THIS

CITY AND INVESTED IN YOUTH IN

OUR CITY AND BROUGHT CORPORATE

PARTNERS TO THE TABLE TO SAY

YOU HAVE TO BE A PART OF

BUILDING OUR LOCAL TALENT

PIPELINE. I MEAN THAT WORK

EXISTED LONG BEFORE SOMEONE

TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED TO WORK

ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN THE

CITY AND THEN IT JUST CONTINUED

FROM THERE. SO THE BALANCE OF

SAYING HI CORPORATE PARTNERS,

WE NEED YOU. WE CAN'T DO THIS

WORK TO THE EXCLUSION OF YOU.

WE NEED YOU AROUND THE TABLE

FOR THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES. BUT

WE ALSO WE'RE WE'RE HERE FOR

OUR PEOPLE AND SO OUR PEOPLE

HAVE TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE AT

THE TABLE MAKING DECISIONS,

DRIVING DECISIONS, PUTTING

FORWARD INPUT. AND I'LL JUST

GIVE YOU EXAMPLES OF WHEN I'VE

BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. ONE OF

THE RECENT EXAMPLES WAS WHEN I

LAUNCHED GREENLIGHT FUND

CHARLOTTE AND WAS ABLE TO

GALVANIZE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC

PRIVATE NONPROFIT PARTNERS

PARTNERED WITH THE CITY AND THE

COUNTY TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN

IN WORKFORCE AND LAUNCHING THE

CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT

OPPORTUNITY CHARLOTTE AT THE

GOODWILL OPPORTUNITY CAMPUS SO

THAT NEIGHBORS COULD HAVE JOBS

IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE

FINANCIAL STABILITY AND

SECURITY ALSO HELPED TO LAUNCH

FINANCIAL SECURITY. KELTY,

WHICH IS A COALITION OF FOLKS

WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE

FAMILIES CAN BUILD A LIFE HERE

AND WHEN WE'RE ALLOWING AND

MAKING SURE THAT THOSE

OPPORTUNITIES ARE POSSIBLE,

YOU'RE WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO

WE HAVE TO SAY CORPORATE

PARTNERS. WE NEED YOU SIDE BY

SIDE WITH US IN THIS BECAUSE

MANY OF THE CORPORATE PARTNERS

ARE EMPLOYING THE RESIDENTS OF

THIS CITY. AND SO WHEN YOU

THINK ABOUT THE CHANCE TO

INVEST IN THINGS LIKE THE

CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT

OPPORTUNITIES, INVEST IN YOUTH

ADVOCATE PROGRAM AND

ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE WHICH

WAS ANOTHER THING THAT WE

LAUNCHED AND IT WAS IN A FEW OF

YOU ALL'S DISTRICTS AND THE

PROGRAM HAS NOW EXPANDED ACROSS

THE CITY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO

BRING TOGETHER THOSE STRONG

PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITY WITH

COUNTY, WITH PRIVATE SECTOR

STAKEHOLDERS WHOM WE'RE ALSO IN

THOSE COLLABORATIONS TO HIRE

OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE SURE

THEY HAD A PATHWAY TO FINANCIAL

SECURITY. THOSE ARE THE THINGS

THAT I'VE CONTINUED TO DO

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AND I

THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT

BALANCE. SO I'VE ALWAYS TRIED

TO BE A CONSENSUS BUILDER, A

TRUST BUILDER, SOMEONE THAT

LEADS WITH SERVANT LEADERSHIP

QUITE FRANKLY AND A HEART FOR

PEOPLE BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND THE

DYNAMICS AND THE DIFFERENT

STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE TO BE

AROUND THE TABLE TOGETHER. >>

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER

JOHNSON THANK YOU. THANK YOU

FOR I'M SORRY. THANK YOU FOR

YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. FOR

MY QUESTION I'M SORRY WHILE

YOU'RE LOOKING >> FOR YOUR

QUESTION, I'M GOING TO INJECT

ONE MORE THING TO COUNCILMEMBER

JADE'S POINT AND YOU KNOW, THIS

IS JUST A REALLY POINT A POINT

OF PRIDE BECAUSE WHEN I THINK

ABOUT THE PARTNERS THAT WE'VE

WORKED WITH ANNIE CHARLOTTE AND

THE CHARLOTTE BILINGUAL

PRESCHOOL IN OUR BRIDGE FOR

KIDS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER

PARTNERS AND HIRED LOCAL

PARENTS TO BE EDUCATORS AND BE

NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS AND TO BE

LEADERS. I MEAN THOSE TYPES OF

COLLABORATIONS WITH PUBLIC

PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS

I MEAN I'VE JUST REALLY >>

GAINED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF

RESPECT AND PRIDE TO BE ABLE TO

WORK WITH FOLKS ACROSS EAST

CHARLOTTE AND BRING PROGRAMS

AND INVESTMENT INTO AN AREA

THAT SOMETIMES HAS NOT ALWAYS

RECEIVED THAT INVESTMENT. THANK

YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR

YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. TO

SERVE. WHAT CONCERNS, IF ANY,

DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC MIGHT

HAVE ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENT AS

INTERIM MAYOR AND HOW WOULD YOU

ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS? AND

THERE IS A SECOND PART >> OF

THE OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT

QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON

CONCERNED IS WHAT I'VE HEARD TO

COMMUNITY AND WHAT I'VE ALSO

HEARD >> TO BUSINESS. AND SO

YOU KNOW I FIND THAT TO BE AN

INTERESTING BALANCE OF CONCERNS

AND A GOOD MIX QUITE FRANKLY

BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE TRUST

ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT

STAKEHOLDERS. AND SO FOR PEOPLE

TO SAY SHE'S TO COMMUNITY SHE'S

BEEN ORGANIZING ON THE GROUND,

SHE'S BEEN LEAD A NONPROFIT,

SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS AND FOR

OTHER PEOPLE TO SAY SHE IS TO

BUSINESS SHE'S BEEN AT THE

CHAMBER, SHE'S BEEN AT THE FAIR

AND SHE'S BEEN AT THESE PLACES.

I MEAN I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE

WOULD ASPIRE TO HAVE IN A

LEADER WHO HAS SAT AT THE

TABLE, WHO HAS ADVANCED ISSUES,

WHO KNOWS WHAT PEOPLE ACROSS

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ARE

LEANING INTO, WHO HAS

RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THOSE

DIFFERENT GROUPS. I MEAN I

THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON

THAT IS UNIQUELY SERVED IN THIS

MOMENT AND I HAVE THOSE

RELATIONSHIPS SKILLS AND

EXPERIENCES. AND AGAIN I'M

GOING TO GO BACK TO TRUST

RELATIONSHIPS, TRANSPARENCY AND

CONSENSUS BUILDING BECAUSE

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I

THINK ARE IMPORTANT AND THE

CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE WOULD

SAY I THINK ARE THE VERY THINGS

THAT WOULD HELP US BE

SUCCESSFUL TOGETHER FOR SURE I

WOULD THINK IT'S OKAY, LET'S DO

A TIME TRACK. COUNCILMEMBER

DRAKES IS OUT THERE BEING Q >>

IF I CAN I'M SORRY I THINK SHE

INTO THIS. WHAT WAS THE SECOND

PART? I'M SORRY. I THINK SHE

ANSWERED IT SO WE MIGHT BE ABLE

TO MOVE ON. BUT ADDITIONALLY

WHAT STRENGTHS AND EXPERIENCES

DO YOU BELIEVE MAKE YOU

WELL-SUITED FOR THIS ROLE?

YEAH. OKAY. THANK >> YOU. SHE

ANSWERS THAT PART. >> OH OKAY.

HAVE SOME MEMBER THAT'S WHEN

MIKE ISN'T >> GOING TO. AND DO

YOU WANT TO BE Q. YEAH. ALL

RIGHT. SO COUNCILMEMBER DRAGS

COUNCILMEMBER JUSTICE IN Q AND

I DON'T SEE ON THE OTHER HAND

COUNCIL MEMBER JD. SO HOW

IMPORTANT ARE INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONSHIPS TO THE CITY'S

AGENDA AND WHAT ARE WAYS YOU AS

MAYOR WOULD WORK WITH OUR

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS TO

ACHIEVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR CITY?

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK

YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DRIGGS. I

MEAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ARE

INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND GOING

BACK TO YOU KNOW 20 YEARS AGO

WHEN I MOVED BACK TO CHARLOTTE

AFTER COMPLETING MY STUDIES

COMING IN TO BGR MEETINGS AND

SITTING AROUND AND MAKING SURE

I'M HEARING THE ISSUES OF THE

DAY AND STILL CONTINUING

CONTINUING TO DO THAT TODAY HAS

ALLOWED ME TO BUILD

RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITY

LEADERS, WITH COUNTY LEADERS,

WITH SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS, WITH

STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS

AND FEDERAL DELEGATIONS. AGAIN

WITH REGIONAL MAYORS AND

COLLEAGUES IN LOCAL PLANNING

AND TRANSPORTATION AND

INVESTMENT ORGANIZATIONS. AND

SO DOING THAT WORK OVER A

NUMBER OF OF OF YEARS HAS

REALLY JUST PROVIDED AN

OPPORTUNITY TO BE THOUGHTFUL

WITH PARTNERS, TO BE FEARLESS

AS AN ADVOCATE FOR CHARLOTTE'S

ISSUES AND CHARLOTTE'S

PRIORITIES. SO WHETHER IT WAS

TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW WE

CONTINUE TO LEAN INTO EMERGING

INDUSTRIES AROUND LOGISTICS OR

TRANSPORTATION OR ENERGY OR ANY

NUMBER OF THINGS YOU KNOW,

WORKING TOGETHER WITH

COLLEAGUES WITH REGIONAL

MAYORS, WITH YOU KNOW, OTHER

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION GROUPS

STATE FEDERAL GROUPS THAT'S

REALLY IMPORTANT. SO

INTER-GOVERNMENTAL IS SOMETHING

THAT I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO

CONTINUE TO DO REALLY WELL TO

ADVANCE CHARLOTTE'S PRIORITIES

AND CHARLOTTE'S ISSUES. AND

IT'S SOMETHING I'M COMFORTABLE

WITH. I'M COMFORTABLE PICKING

UP THE PHONE. I'M COMFORTABLE

GETTING ON THE ROAD. I'M

COMFORTABLE LEANING IN AND

HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH

PEOPLE WHO AGAIN SOMETIMES HAVE

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND

EXPERIENCES. BUT AT THE END OF

THE DAY YOU DO THAT BECAUSE FOR

ME IT'S ABOUT BEING AN ADVOCATE

FOR OUR PEOPLE AND MOVING OUR

ISSUES FORWARD. AND I'M VERY

MUCH ALIGNED WITH THE CORE

ISSUES AND PRIORITIES THAT YOU

ALL HAVE OUTLINED AND WOULD BE

EXCITED TO SUPPORT THOSE AND

PICK UP THE PHONE AND BE A

CHIEF ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY AND

FOR OUR PEOPLE. OKAY. SO THE

FIVE MINUTE WARNING WAS GIVEN A

MINUTE AGO SO YOU PROBABLY GOT

ABOUT FOUR MINUTES LEFT. OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON'S IN Q

AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER JD

CHARLOTTE >> ADOPTED AN

ORDINANCE IN 2024 RELATED TO

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THOSE

POLICIES AND CHARLOTTE'S

OVERALL APPROACH TO

HOMELESSNESS? >> THANK YOU

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON FOR THE

QUESTION. SO AGAIN I'M GOING TO

GO BACK TO A COUPLE OF THINGS

WITH HOUSING AND THINKING ABOUT

IT ON A CONTINUUM. SO WHEN WE

START WITH OUR UNHOUSED

NEIGHBORS, I THINK WE DO HAVE

TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE POLICIES

THAT INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF

HOUSING AND PROVIDE HOUSING FOR

OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE

THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE PARTNERS

THAT ARE AROUND THE TABLE AND

THINK INNOVATIVELY ABOUT HOW WE

CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES

AROUND OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS AGAIN

COMING BACK TO THE QUESTION IS

HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH OTHER

FOLKS GOING BACK TO COUNCILMAN

DRIGGS QUESTION

INTERGOVERNMENTAL. AND SO THE

COUNTY HAS A BIG PART IN THIS.

AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF

THE REASONS THAT OUR NEIGHBORS

ARE UNHOUSED INCLUDING MENTAL

HEALTH AND OTHER CHALLENGES.

AND SO YOU KNOW, PART OF PART

OF MY THOUGHTS ARE AROUND YES,

WE HAVE TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND

OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE

HOUSING SUPPLY. WE HAVE TO

ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR

STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD A

CONTINUUM OF CARE TOGETHER SO

THAT WE CAN MOVE NEIGHBORS FROM

BEING UNHOUSED INTO HOUSING

STABILITY. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO

THINK ABOUT NOT JUST HOUSING

STABILITY BUT ECONOMIC MOBILITY

AND OPPORTUNITY. SO ONCE

SOMEBODY IS STABLE, HOW DO THEY

NOW PARTICIPATE IN MARKET RATE?

HOW DO THEY NOW PARTICIPATE IN

HOME OWNERSHIP LATER ON DOWN

THE LINE? AND THERE ARE SO MANY

PARTNERS GOOD PHENOMENAL

PARTNERS IN THIS COMMUNITY

FROM, YOU KNOW, DREAM KEY

PARTNERS TO OTHER DEVELOPERS

AND PARTNERS TO A NUMBER OF

HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS HABITAT

CHARLOTTE, I MEAN A NUMBER OF

HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS PUBLIC

AND PRIVATE PARTNERS AND

NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO ARE

WORKING TO ADVANCE ISSUES. I

MEAN YOU'VE GOT LIZ CLASEN

YOU'VE JUST GOT SO MANY LEADERS

AROUND THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE

DOING WORK AROUND HOUSING AND

BUILDING AND BRINGING PEOPLE

TOGETHER WHO HAVE BEEN DOING

THE WORK FOR YEARS. AND SO I

THINK JUST CONTINUING TO

ADVANCE THOSE ISSUES IS

IMPORTANT. >> COUNCILMEMBER JD

AND THEN PROBABLY A QUICK

RESPONSE CONTRACT 1,030,000 >>

FOR CHARLOTTE'S AIRPORT IS ONE

OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC

ENGINES. HOW WILL YOU ENSURE

THAT CHARLOTTE CONTINUES TO

PROTECT THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE

BUT ALSO PROTECTING AIRPORT

SERVICE WORKERS AND THEIR

CONDITIONS? >> THANK YOU FOR

THE QUESTION COUNCILMEMBER JD.

SO CHARLOTTE'S AIRPORT IS A

TREMENDOUS ASSET FOR OUR CITY

AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO LIVE,

WORK AND PLAY AND BE MOBILE.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE ISSUES

AND OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW A

COUPLE OF THINGS AT PLAY. ONE,

YOU'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO

THINK ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT THE

WORKERS WHO WORK AT THE

AIRPORT. I RECOGNIZE THE TIME

IS RUNNING SHORT TO YOU HAVE AN

OPPORTUNITY. WE DON'T WANT TO

WAIT UNTIL WE GET 18 MONTHS

FROM NOW TO REALLY GET INTO THE

DETAILS OF RENEWING THIS LEASE

AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING

TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT

THERE'S SATISFACTION EARLY

SATISFACTORY, SATISFACTORY

AGREEMENT AMONGST ALL THE

PARTIES. SO I THINK JUST AGAIN

TRUST TRANSPARENCY, ENGAGEMENT,

EARLY UNDERSTANDING THE

TREMENDOUS ASSET THAT THE

AIRPORT IS UNDERSTANDING THAT

WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH

WORKERS ABILITY TO LIVE HERE

AND BUILD A LIFE HERE. I THINK

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN THE

BALANCE HERE. BUT AGAIN WE'RE

FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A CITY

WITH AN ASSET LIKE OUR AIRPORT.

AND SO A COMBINATION OF

CONSENSUS BUILDING THOUGHTFUL

PROCESSES AND NEGOTIATIONS

SUPPORTING WORKERS ABILITY TO

LIVE HERE AND BUILD A LIFE HERE

AND BEING THOUGHTFUL WITH

ADVANCED PLANNING THAT ALLOWS

US TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE

INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED FOR

OUR CITIZENS TO ENJOY THIS CITY

IS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS

IMPORTANT HERE. OKAY. VERY

GOOD. OKAY. SO YOU HAVE A

MINUTE TO SHARE WITH THE

COUNCIL AND IN CLOSING

THOUGHTS. >> WELL, I >> JUST

WOULD SAY THANK YOU. I THINK

WE'RE IN A MOMENT WHERE MY

SKILLS, MY HEART, MY

EXPERIENCES IN THE WAY THAT

I'VE LED ARE REALLY UNIQUELY

POSITIONED TO HELP US MOVE

FORWARD. AND SO I DON'T I DON'T

BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY AROUND

THIS TABLE IS NOT HERE FOR

CHARLOTTE'S BEST INTERESTS. AND

WHILE THERE ARE DIFFERENT

CONSTITUENCIES AND DIFFERENT

ISSUES AND DIFFERENT GROUPS,

WHAT I DO BELIEVE IS THAT WE'RE

ALL HERE NOW IN A UNIQUE MOMENT

TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE AND

BALANCE THE GROWTH AND

OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS CITY WITH

THE WAYS IN WHICH EVERYBODY CAN

SHARE IN THE BENEFITS OF THAT

GROWTH IN THAT PROSPERITY. AND

SO I'M A CHARLOTTE I WAS RAISED

IN CHARLOTTE. MY MOM IS YOU

KNOW, MY SCHIRO >> AND WE GREW

UP IN COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON'S

DISTRICT. I BOUGHT MY FIRST

HOME IN COUNCILMEMBER GRIMM'S

DISTRICT AND YOU KNOW, HAVE

DONE ORGANIZING AND WORK IN

COUNCILMEMBER WATLINGTON

DISTRICT. I'VE ORGANIZED WITH

FOLKS IN COUNCILWOMAN ASHMAN'S

DISTRICT. AND SO LAST WEEK OR

LAST MONTH I SPOKE TO AN

ECONOMIC CLUB IN COUNCILMAN

DRIGGS DISTRICT. I MEAN I'M

JUST REALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY

TO SHOW UP IN SPACES AND PLACES

ACROSS THE CITY AGAIN WITHOUT A

TITLE. I DID THIS LONG BEFORE

THERE WAS EVER A TITLE

ASSOCIATED WITH IT BECAUSE I

JUST BELIEVE IN AND I LOVE OUR

CITY. I HAVE IMPORTED A HUSBAND

INTO THIS CITY. WE HAVE WE HAVE

HAD TWO CHILDREN HERE AND IT'S

>> JUST A GREAT JOY TO CONTINUE

TO BUILD A LIFE HERE AND I'D

LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO DO

THAT FOR FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WELL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR

LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT

TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND FOR

SHOWING UP AND SHOWING UP TODAY

AS A CANDIDATE AND WE

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

HEAR FROM YOU TODAY. >> THANK

YOU ALL SO MUCH. COUNCIL WE

HAVE TO WE HAVE TO PROCESS

QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD TAKE

RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME

RIGHT? SO HERE WE GO. THE FIRST

QUESTION IS TO TO DETERMINE THE

NUMBER OF NOMINEES ON THE

BALLOT FOR JUNE 22ND. I WAS

SUSPECT THAT WE'RE ADVANCING

ALL FIVE CANDIDATES. IS THERE

CONSENSUS ON THAT? CORRECT.

OKAY. THE SECOND QUESTION IS TO

DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF VOTES

REQUIRED TO PROCEED. SUBSEQUENT

BALANCE IF NECESSARY I.E.

OBVIOUSLY HAVE A CANDIDATE GET

SIX VOTES. THEY ARE OUR WINNER.

IF A CANDIDATE DOESN'T GET SIX

VOTE, ARE WE IN AGREEMENT THAT

THE TWO TOP VOTE GETTERS WILL

MOVE FORWARD FOR A RUNOFF?

COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON THEN

COUNCILMEMBER MAYFIELD, THANK

YOU. THANK >> YOU. SO I JUST

WANT TO COMBINE THIS WITH WHAT

WE HEARD FROM CITY ATTORNEY I

BELIEVE ON MONDAY. SO I'M OPEN

TO THIS DISCUSSION. BUT SHOULD

WE THINK ABOUT A THRESHOLD OF

VOTES? RIGHT. AND SO IF FOR

EXAMPLE, SOMEONE GETS FIVE

VOTES AND THEN THE NEXT PERSON

CLOSEST GETS TWO VOTES. SHOULD

WE THINK ABOUT A THRESHOLD OF

YOU HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE, YOU

KNOW, THREE OR MORE VOTES OR

FOUR MORE VOTES TO ADVANCE? IS

THIS A QUESTION I WANT TO PUT

OUT A PUT OUT HERE. CLEARLY I

HOPE WE CAN GET THE SIX AND

THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY

ABOUT THIS. BUT AS WE TRY TO

PREPARE THE PROCESS AHEAD OF

TIME SO WE DON'T HAVE CONFUSION

ON MONDAY. THANK YOU. >> SO WE

HAVE MAY FOR YOU AND WELLINGTON

AND Q THANK >> YOU. SO ON THE

SAME LINE AS FAR AS THE

THRESHOLD I'VE SHARED WHEN WE

HAD SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION I DO

THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A

THRESHOLD FOR ME THAT THRESHOLD

IS FIVE OR MORE. SIX IS THE

MAJORITY. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE

WOULD BE ABLE TO GARNER SUPPORT

OF MORE THAN SIX FOR THE

INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL BE

STEPPING INTO THIS ROLE. I

DON'T THINK THREE IS THE NUMBER

FOR US TO GET TO FOUR

CONVERSATION ON MONDAY. I WOULD

HOPE THAT WE HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY AND CAN IDENTIFY

OUR MAJORITY OR BETTER FOR

INDIVIDUAL I KNOW WAS STATED

THAT IF A SIX THEY

AUTOMATICALLY GET IT.

PERSONALLY I'M LOOKING FOR

SEVEN AND NINE IF NOT CONSENSUS

OF 11. THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE

BIT MORE DIFFICULT BUT SIX IS

THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD. I THINK

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO

BETTER THAN SIX FOR THIS PERSON

IS GOING TO BE STEPPING IN. SO

I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE

A THRESHOLD. I JUST DON'T THINK

IT SHOULD BE AS LOW AS THREE.

RIGHT. JUST REMIND THE COUNCIL

THERE WILL BE 11 VOTES CAST IT

ON MONDAY NIGHT. SO THAT'S OUR

FIVE FOLKS. SO I THINK YOU NEED

TO TAKE THAT INTO

CONSIDERATION. COUNCILMEMBER

WALLINGTON, THEN COUNCILMEMBER

DREIFUS THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER ESMERALDA CHIN >>

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND MAYBE

THIS >> WHAT YOU JUST SPOKE TO

MAYBE ADDRESSES MY QUESTION.

MADAME ATTORNEY, CAN YOU JUST

REMIND US OF WHAT YOU

RECOMMENDED IF ANYTHING LAST

TIME IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF

NOMINATIONS FOR THE DIA >> FOR

THE DAY? DR. WATLINGTON THANK

YOU FOR THE QUESTION. FOR THE

DAY OF EACH COUNCILMEMBER I

RECOMMENDED THAT EACH

COUNCILMEMBER WOULD HAVE ONE

VOTE AND THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD

IN REFERENCE TO COUNCILMEMBER

MAYFIELD'S POINT I SUGGESTED

THAT AT A MINIMUM THREE TO KEEP

IT TO KEEP IT MOVING FORWARD TO

ADVANCE TO SUBSEQUENT BALANCE

BALLOTS IF REQUIRED. IT

CERTAINLY IS COUNCIL'S

PLEASURE. >> OKAY SO WITH THAT

I WOULD I WOULD SUPPORT KEEPING

IT AT THREE SIMPLY BECAUSE IF

WE EACH ONLY GET ONE VOTE AND

YOU GET MORE THAN I'M JUST NOT

SURE HOW THAT WOULD EVEN WORK

IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST

FIVE THAT MEANS ONLY TWO PEOPLE

COULD EVEN BE IN CONTENTION AND

THAT MEANS THE OTHER PERSON

LOST. SO >> I'M SAYING IF IF IF

YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO

HAVE FIVE OR 6 OR 7 TO GET IT

AND WE EACH ONLY CAST ONE VOTE

IF ONE PERSON HAS FIVE AND THEN

THE OTHERS HAVE THREE AND THREE

FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MEANS WE ARE

AWARDING OR I DON'T SAY

AWARDING WE'RE APPOINTING A

MAYOR WITH LESS THAN A COUNCIL

MAJORITY VOTE AND THAT DOESN'T

FEEL PROCEDURALLY CORRECT?

CORRECT. SO >> I, I WELL I

CONCUR WITH THAT. COUNCILMEMBER

DRAITSER THANK YOU. THE NEXT

I'M SORRY AND THEN COUNCILMAN

AS MAYOR AND I THINK I SAW A

MALE AND GO UP I'M QUITE

COMFORTABLE OF >> THE DRESS SO

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT SORT OF

THE CONTINGENCIES HOW THE

NUMBERS COULD PLAY OUT RIGHT

RIGHT. IF YOU HAD TWO PEOPLE

THAT HAD FOUR VOTES FOR EXAMPLE

AND SOMEBODY HAD THREE THEN YOU

WEREN'T YOU BRING THE TWO

FORWARD IF SOMEBODY HAS SIX

RIGHT AWAY THEIR CHOSEN WHAT

ABOUT FIVE THREE AND THREE. >>

RIGHT. THAT'S FINE. YEAH SO

THAT'S >> A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE

NOW YOU DON'T HAVE A BASIS

RIGHT? YOU COULD HAVE A RUNOFF

BETWEEN THE TWO THREE GETTERS

TO DETERMINE WHO IS IN RIGHT

AND THEN RUN THEM AGAINST THE

TOP THREE. RIGHT. I MEAN THAT

WOULD STRIKE ME AS BEING THE

BEST WAY TO DO THAT. AND I

THINK WITH THAT WE'VE PROBABLY

COVERED THE BASES. I'M NOT SURE

THERE'S A I MEAN IT WOULD BE

WEIRD, RIGHT? 11 VOTES AND IF

ALL FIVE OF THEM GET TO OR

SOMETHING >> COULD HAPPEN

THOUGH. SO I GUESS AS I SAY YOU

BRING FORWARD THE TOP VOTE

GETTER OR THE TWO TIED TOP VOTE

GETTERS AND IF PEOPLE ARE TIED

AT LESS THAN THE TOP YOU THEN

RUN THEM OFF AGAINST EACH OTHER

AND TRY TO GET IT NARROWED DOWN

THAT WAY. YEAH. OKAY. SO

COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR SO >> I

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM

CLEAR ON WHAT WHAT MR. DRAKE

SAID SO YOU ARE NOT SUGGESTING

ANY THRESHOLD >> CORRECT? WELL

I'M LOOKING AT THE POSSIBLE >>

NO I'M JUST SAYING I GUESS I'M

JUST SORT OF YEAH, I AGREE. I

AGREE WITH YOU. IF YOU HAVE IF

YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE

NOBODY GOT SIX RIGHT SO THEN

OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE

A TOP PERSON YOU MAY HAVE A TIE

FOR THE TOP, YOU RUN THOSE >>

TWO. I GET IT. I JUST I JUST

WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR.

YOU ARE NOT SUGGESTING A

THRESHOLD AND I AGREE WITH THAT

APPROACH WHERE THERE IS NO

THRESHOLD BUT MAYBE JUST THE

TOP THREE ENDS UP OR >> I

REMEMBER HOW DID WE DO WITH

EMPTY DID WE EMPTY A PROCESS? I

KNOW THERE WERE FOUR I JUST

WANTED TO IF THE ATTORNEY CAN

IF YOU'VE GOT SIX BECAUSE THE

EMPTY >> PROCESS WAS IT WASN'T

EASY RIGHT? APPOINTMENT

PROCESS. I WANT TO SEE IF WE

COULD REPLICATE THAT FOR THE

FINAL ROUND. SO THE CHALLENGE

>> WELL EXCUSE ME COUNCIL

MEMBER AS MAYOR HAS THE FLOOR

SO SO WE CAN HEAR ATTORNEY THE

ONE >> NOTEWORTHY DISTINCTION

BETWEEN THE EMPTY PROCESS AND

THIS PROCESS IS THAT EACH

COUNCIL MEMBER ONLY HAS ONE

VOTE. YOU >> HAD MULTIPLE VOTES

FOR THE FINAL ROUND. WE ONLY

HAD ONE >> MEETING OH >> YEAH

AFTER THE INTERVIEW >> BUT YOU

WERE VOTING FOR DIFFERENT

CATEGORIES, RIGHT? THAT'S FAIR

AND IN THIS INSTANCE AT ALL

TIMES EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL

HAVE ONE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER

MALE HAS THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.

I'D ACTUALLY LIKE >> TO MAKE A

MOTION REGARDING THIS SO I

WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE WHEN

WE'RE DOING OUR FIRST ROUND OF

BALLOT FIVE WE DO THE TOP TWO

VOTE GETTERS AND IF THERE IS A

TIE THAT WE DO A RUNOFF BETWEEN

THOSE TWO >> IS TO TO DETERMINE

WHO WILL >> BE YOU KNOW WHAT

THE TOP VOTE GETTER AND THEN

WE'RE JUST HAVING TWO PEOPLE GO

AGAINST EACH OTHER IF WE HAVE

TO GO TO AROUND TWO >> THERE'S

A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SO

SECOND, JUST A COMMENT I MADE

>> YOU CAN OH I DISCUSSION. ALL

RIGHT. I'M ASKING FOR A

CLARIFICATION. WELL >> PLEASE

ADDRESS THE CHAIR SO WE CAN ALL

HERE. RIGHT, RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT

THAT'S WHAT THAT'S THE PURPOSE,

RIGHT? SO IT'S BEEN PROPERLY

MOVED. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY

SECOND COUNCILMEMBER DRAKE HAS

A COMMENT. >> SO JUST SO I

UNDERSTAND CLEARLY RIGHT. IF

YOU HAVE A TOP VOTE GETTER AND

YOU HAVE A TIE FOR SECOND

PLACE, THEN WHAT I'M SUGGESTING

IS YOU HAVE A RUNOFF BETWEEN

THE TWO SECOND PLACE PEOPLE IN

ORDER TO DETERMINE THEN WHO

WILL RUN OFF AGAINST THE TOP

VOTE GETTER. YES. ALL RIGHT. SO

IS THAT YOUR MOTION? YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. SO OKAY, I'M >> IN

FAVOR OF THAT. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON IS

RECOGNIZED. COUNCILMEMBER OWENS

IS. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO OH, SO

SO IN THAT SCENARIO IF WE HAVE

AND I'M NOT SURE IT HAPPENED

BUT IF WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT

HAVE FIVE VOTES, HOW WILL WE

ADVANCE FROM THAT IN THE MIDST

OF YOUR IN YOUR MOTION THAT

THERE'S 11 VOTES BEING CAST IS

I UNDERSTAND BUT IT STILL IS

THIS IS MATH. TWO CANDIDATES

COULD GET FIVE AND THERE COULD

BE TWO CANDIDATES WITH FIVE ONE

CANDIDATE WITH ONE. SO I'M JUST

ASKING IN >> THE FACE OF THIS

MOTION CITY ATTORNEY HAT HOW

WOULD THAT WORK >> IF I TO >>

TURN THIS RECOGNIZE THANK YOU

MR. CHAIR. THE FIVE AND FIVE

WOULD THEY WOULD THEY WOULD

RUNOFF TO SELECT THE MAYORAL

CANDIDATE THE THE LET'S SAY THE

THIRD HIGHEST VOTE GETTER WOULD

WOULD FALL OFF AND IT WOULD

JUST BE THE TOP THAT ONE

PERFECT I JUST WANTED TO HAVE

CLARITY SO CLEAR ON MONDAY >>

THE MATH. RIGHT. EXACTLY.

EXACTLY. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMEMBER MAY FEEL THANK

YOU. SO THE SCENARIO THAT I'M

CONSIDERING IS THE SIX FIVE TO

ME SIX >> FIVE IS BECAUSE

THAT'S WHERE WE LAND MORE OFTEN

THAN NOT I DON'T THE ADD TO ME

THAT'S A ONE OFF BECAUSE WE'RE

11 MEMBERS TO ME THAT WILL BE

THE TOP TWO I DON'T THINK FOR

THIS PARTICULAR POSITION THAT

WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR MAYOR OUT

OF FIVE CANDIDATES THAT BY THAT

ONE VOTE AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD

BE APPOINTED MAYOR. I FEEL LIKE

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A FIVE AND

WE'RE AND WE HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THE TOP

TWO, THEN IF IT'S A65 VOTE WHEN

IT'S ALL DONE AND AS ALL 11

COUNTED THAT THAT SIX FIVE ARE

THE TWO THAT WOULD GO TO THE

RUNOFF. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO

TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT CLEAR.

BUT THERE'S MORE CLARITY. SO I

I'M NOT I'M SAYING I'M NOT

SAYING WHAT I BILL AND MAKE

SURE YOU CAPTURE I AM SAYING

CLEARLY THAT I DO NOT THINK FOR

THIS PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITY

WHEN WE ARE APPOINTING A MAYOR

THAT THE STANDARD SIX OUT OF 11

SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE

APPOINTED IF WE HAVE AND THIS

IS ONLY IF WHEN THE VOTES COME

IN IF WE HAVE A65, THEN THOSE

TWO SHOULD BE IN THE TOP TWO. I

THINK WE SHOULD GIVE OURSELVES

AT LEAST THE OPPORTUNITY OF

HAVING A CHOICE OF TWO AND NOT

JUST SAY WELL OUT OF 11 MEMBERS

SIX CHOSE THIS PARTICULAR >>

PERSON SO THIS SHOULD BE THE

PERSON THAT OR EVEN OF IS SIX

FOUR AND ONE PERSON ABSTAINED.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT

WE DO HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY

TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE

IDENTIFYING WHO WE THINK IS THE

MOST APPROPRIATE RIGHT NOW TO

SERVE IN THIS ROLE OF OUR CITY.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK DOING

THE MINIMUM THE BARE MINIMUM OF

SIX OUT OF THE 11 WHICH IS OUR

MAJORITY FOR THIS PARTICULAR

WELL IN A DREAM WORLD WE WILL

BE CLOSER TO EIGHT NINE IF NOT

FOR CONSENSUS IF IT IS A SAMPLE

AND EXAMPLE OF A65 TO ME THAT'S

THE TOP TWO AND THOSE WOULD BE

THE TWO THAT WE CHOOSE BETWEEN

FOUR RUNOFF. SO I JUST WANTED

TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD THAT IN

THE MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER

OWENS >> SO MY QUESTION HAS

MORPHED A BIT IN LIGHT OF THAT

COMMENT AND I'M PROCESSING

THAT. BUT FOR ME IF YOU DO HAVE

A65 FOR ME THAT DOES NOT

SUGGEST THAT YOU WOULD THEN GO

TO A RUNOFF BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD

THOSE 11 VOTES AND YOU WOULD

JUST CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE A65

POTENTIALLY THAT >> WAS THE

RUNOFF. SO THAT THAT IS THE

RUNOFF. SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT

WE NOT ADVANCE FOR A

SUPERMAJORITY FOR FOR YOU TO DO

A SIMPLE MAJORITY AS WE DO OUR

VOTES. I THINK IT IS IT IS

COMMENDABLE THE ASPIRATION THAT

WE WOULD HAVE A DEGREE OF

CONSENSUS AROUND US. I THINK IT

WOULD SERVE THE CITY WELL IF WE

WERE ALIGNED AND WE WERE TO

COMMUNICATE WITH ONE VOICE AND

WE DID ACHIEVE UNANIMITY. BUT I

DON'T WANT TO HANDICAP US TO

CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE A REPEAT

SIX FIVE VOTE AS YOU ADVANCE

THOSE TWO PEOPLE TO A RUNOFF, I

WOULD I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE

MAINTAIN THE MOTION WHICH I

BELIEVE IS ON THE FLOOR THAT IT

WOULD BE A SIMPLE MAJORITY AND

WE WOULD ADOPT MR. DRIGGS

LANGUAGE WITH RESPECT TO WHAT

WOULD HAPPEN WERE WE TO HAVE A

FIVE AS THE AS THE DOMINANT AND

THEN THE OTHER VOTES SPLIT

BETWEEN PARTIES THAT WE WOULD

SORT IT THE WAY THAT HE

SUGGESTED. THANK YOU CHAIR >>

AND THEN AFTER THAT SCENARIO

PLAYS COMES INTO PLAY WE CAN

ALSO HAVE ANOTHER VOTE TO

ACCEPT THE THE THE NOMINEE BY

CONSENSUS AND WHICH I THINK WE

SHOULD DO RIGHT NO MATTER WHO

WHO THE WINNER IS BECAUSE I

THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT

THAT WE DO THAT RIGHT. SO WE

CAN WE CAN DO THAT. I THINK

THAT'S APPROPRIATE BECAUSE I

MEAN >> I THINK IT'S JUST

PROTOCOL, RIGHT? THAT'S FOR

SOMEBODY TO JUST DO IT RIGHT

MAKE THAT MOTION SO

COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON, JUST >>

A POINT OF INFORMATION. CAN THE

CLERK READ WHAT THE MOTION IS

THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON >>

THE MOTION MADE BY MS.. MAIO

SECOND BY MAY FEEL WAS TAUGHT

TO VOTE GETTERS MOVE FORWARD

AND IF WE HAVE THE TIME WE DO A

RUNOFF. OKAY. AND THAT'S RIGHT.

COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON HAS THE

FLOOR. THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHY I

WAS ASKING BECAUSE I JUST HEARD

SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT

DIFFERENT. YEAH. I THOUGHT I

THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS THE

MOTION. RIGHT. BUT THEN I JUST

HEARD I WANT TO SORT OF MAKE

SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE

HERE. THE TOP VOTE GETTER WILL

ADVANCE CLEARLY IF THERE'S A

TOP VOTE GETTER AND THEY DON'T

GET SIX. BUT I JUST HEARD THAT

THEN THE REST OF THEM WOULD

HAVE A RUNOFF TO SELECT THE TOP

TWO. THAT'S ONLY IF THERE'S A

TIE. >> IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE

WERE >> ALL ON THE SAME PAGE

BECAUSE I JUST HEARD SOMETHING

DIFFERENT. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER

DRES JOHNSON AND EVERYONE HAVE

A QUESTION. SO I WANT TO

CLARIFY TOP VOTE GETTER LESS

THAN SIX, RIGHT? YOU GOT A

RUNOFF. OKAY. THEN THAT PERSON

RUNS AGAINST THE SECOND HIGHEST

VOTE GETTER. IF THERE'S A TIE

FOR SECOND PLACE THEN YOU HAVE

A RUNOFF BETWEEN THOSE TWO TO

TO DETERMINE WHO WILL RUN OFF

AGAINST THE FIVE VOTE GETTER

FOR THE FINAL OUTCOME. SO I'M

NOT SURE THE MOTION CAPTURES

THAT DOES IT? I >> DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN I CAN I CAN ADD THAT TO

IT EXCEPT >> THAT BUT THEN THE

AMENDMENT OKAY GO THROUGH THE

CHAIR SO WE SO WE CAN EVERYONE

CAN KIND OF KNOW WHAT WE'RE

DOING RIGHT >> NOW. YOU STILL

HAVE OKAY THANK YOU CHAIR

PRO-TEM YOU'RE DOING A GREAT

JOB. OH, I LIKE TO. Q SO THE

CLERK HAS CAPTURED THE ELEMENTS

OF COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON'S

QUESTION ABOUT THE MOTION? >>

YES. THE TOP VOTE GETTER THEY

GET LESS THAN SIX THAT PERSON

IN THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL WILL

HAVE A RUNOFF. >> SO THAT'S

INCORPORATED IN THE MOTION

THAT'S ON THE FLOOR. SO LET ME

ASK A QUESTION I THINK THIS

CLARIFIES IT, COUNCILMAN SO YOU

HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. IF

SOMEONE HAS IF THIS FOR THREE

TWO AND THEN A TIE AT ONE THEY

DON'T HAVE A TIEBREAKER. IT'S

ONLY IF THE SECOND PLACE HAS A

TIE. IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE

ONLY ADVANCING THE TOP TWO.

OKAY. SO IF THE BOTTOM NUMBER

IS A TIE, THEN THAT'S WE'RE NOT

ADVANCING THAT. OKAY. SO THAT'S

THE CLARIFICATION. IT'S NOT AN

AUTOMATIC TIE BREAKER. IT'S

ONLY IF THE SECOND PLACE HAS A

TIE. THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ARE >> WE ALL GOOD?

HAVE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS?

ARE WE READY FOR THE VOTE? YES.

AND YOU READ THE MOTION ONE

MORE TIME >> SO AND NOW I GOT

YOU A LITTLE BIT BUT THE TOP

TWO VOTE GETTERS OR THE TOP

VOTE GETTER THAT IS LESS THAN

SIX THOSE TWO PEOPLE WILL HAVE

A RUNOFF IF THERE IS A TIE. >>

OKAY. IF I MAY MAY I MEAN MAY I

TAKE A STAB SO IF WE HAVE A TOP

VOTE GETTER WHO HAS LESS THAN

SIX THAT TOP VOTE GETTER WILL

ADVANCE IF THE SECOND PLACE IS

A TIE. THAT'S RIGHT THERE WILL

BE A RUNOFF BETWEEN THE SECOND

PLACE >> TO TWO PEOPLE TWO

CANDIDATES IN THE SECOND PLACE

AND THE WINNER OF THAT RUNOFF

WILL VANCE AGAINST THE TOP VOTE

GETTER. THAT'S RIGHT. IS THAT

CORRECT? >> THAT IS THE MOTION.

WE ALL GOOD? YEAH. WE'RE READY

TO VOTE ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR SAY I I ALTHOUGH >>

SUPPOSE THE AYES HAVE IT. LAST

ITEM IS PROCESS, RIGHT? SO IT

IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE

BALLOTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO

THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE

BEGINNING OF THE 530 MEETING.

THERE IS NOT A OH RIGHT. ALL

RIGHT, MADAM ATTORNEY, HELP ME

OUT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THIS

IS A LITTLE >> BIT DIFFERENT

THAN YOUR TYPICAL PROCESS FOR

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THE

PROPOSAL IS THAT THE BALLOTS

WOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE

BEGINNING OF YOUR 530 MEETING.

YOU WILL HAVE A HARD COPY

BALLOT AND ENVELOPE. YOU WILL

FILL OUT THE BALLOT. YOU WILL

TURN IT INTO THE CLERK'S OFFICE

OR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE

CLERK'S OFFICE WILL BE PRESENT.

YOU WILL TURN IT IN. THE

MEETING WILL BEGIN. THE CLERK'S

OFFICE WILL TALLY WHILE THE

MEETING IS IS ENSUING AND WILL

PREPARE A REPORT. IT WILL BE

PROVIDED TO MADAM MADAM MAYOR

TO READ THE RESULTS AND IF WE

HAVE A WINNER WE HAVE A WINNER.

IF NOT WE WILL PROCEED AS WE'VE

OUTLINED HERE TODAY. >> OKAY.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE

DISCUSSED EARLIER AND I JUST

WANT COUNCIL INPUT THERE ARE

THERE WILL BE PUBLIC SPEAKERS

COMING TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE.

THE QUESTION IS SHOULD WE WAIT

UNTIL AFTER THEY MAKE THEIR

PRESENTATION TO VOTE OR DO YOU

GUYS WANT TO VOTE AT THE

BEGINNING OF THE MEETING?

THAT'S JUST A QUESTION FOR THE

FLOOR. SO I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL

MEMBER ALWAYS RAISE YOUR HAND.

I'LL GET YOU COUNCILMEMBER

OWENS COMES FROM MEMBER JD

MEMBER AS MAYOR AND. Q JUST A

QUESTION YES OR NO A PROCESS.

>> THANK YOU CHAIR. I AM IN

FAVOR OF A WAITING AN ACTUAL

VOTE UNTIL WE'VE HEARD FROM THE

COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT THE

COMMUNITY HAS PROBABLY FELT A

BIT OF DISINTERMEDIATION AND WE

NEED TO DO ALL WITHIN OUR POWER

TO HELP THEM FEEL INCORPORATED

INTO OUR PROCESS. AND SO VOTING

BEFORE WE'VE HEARD FOR THEM

SEEMS CONTRARY TO THAT. SO I

WOULD BE A FAN OF NOT DOING

THAT COMES MY MAJORITY >> SHORT

AND SWEET. I AGREE WITH THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASHMERE WORK

AND HOUSE MEMBER ANDERSON.

QUESTION I'M >> SORRY, JUST A

QUESTION BECAUSE I JUST LOOKED

AT THE AGENDA. SO WHEN IS THAT

TAKING PLACE IN THE SPACE OF

THE AGENDA >> AND AND THE

REASON WHY I ASK IS IF IT'S NOT

AT THE APPROPRIATE SPACE IN THE

BEGINNING SHOULD WE DELIBERATE

AROUND WHETHER WE SHOULD MOVE

IT UP SO RESIDENTS AREN'T

SITTING HERE ALL NIGHT AS WE

CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS AGENDA.

LET ME I AGREE WITH THAT. THE

>> CLERK HAS BEEN RAISING HER

HAND FOR A WHILE SO LET'S HEAR

FROM HER AND THEN WE'LL COME

BACK OUT TO >> COUNCIL MEMBER

ANDERSON'S QUESTION IS ITEM 22

ON THE AGENDA WHICH IS THE PART

OF THE AGENDA WHERE YOU

NORMALLY WOULD HAVE

APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND

COMMISSIONS BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE

AN APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING

COMMISSION ALSO THAT NIGHT I

WAS JUST ALSO GOING TO ADD THAT

AS OF THIS MOMENT WE DON'T HAVE

ANY SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED

UP TO ITEM 22 JUST YET. HOWEVER

TODAY IS THURSDAY AND PERSONS

COULD SIGN UP TO SPEAK TO THAT

AGENDA ITEM BETWEEN NOW AND

MONDAY OR EVEN AT THE MEETING

FOR THAT MATTER. SO I JUST

WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT

INFORMATION. I HEARD

COUNCILMEMBER MALE COUNCILMAN

ANDERSON THANK >> YOU. OKAY.

I'M IN QUEUE. YES. OKAY. MALE

CAN CAN. MADAM CLERK WHEN WOULD

YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE

POTENTIALLY ADD THIS? I'D

RATHER BE RESPECTFUL OF

RESIDENTS TIME AND START THE

PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE MAYOR

INTERIM MAYORAL RACE AND THEN

WE HAVE OUR VOTE SO THAT YOU

KNOW PEOPLE HAVE OTHER THINGS

TO DO IN THE EVENING THEY CAN

WHEN WE WHAT WILL BE YOUR

RECOMMENDATION LOOKING AT THE

AGENDA >> PERHAPS IF NOT AFTER

THE PUBLIC FORUM BECAUSE YOU

ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC FORUM THAT

NIGHT. SO >> THERE WILL BE YOU

KNOW WE HAVE PROBABLY AT LEAST

15 PEOPLE OR CLOSE TO 15 PEOPLE

SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC FORUM

ON MONDAY AND PERHAPS AFTER

THAT OR >> EITHER AT THE TIME

OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT IN

THAT AREA ONE OF THOSE TWO

THINGS BUT THERE IS A PUBLIC

FORUM SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY AT

530. >> OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER

DREW, I'M NOT VERY COMFORTABLE

AND SO I'M SORRY. THANK YOU >>

AGAIN, I'M REVIEWING THE AGENDA

WHICH I DID EARLIER. SO WE DO

HAVE A PUBLIC FORUM BUT THIS

PARTICULAR ITEM IS NOT UNDER

THE SECTION OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

AND SO I JUST RAISE THAT

BECAUSE WE HADN'T DISCUSSED

THAT THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF

HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS

PARTICULAR ITEM. SO I JUST WANT

TO MAKE SURE AND IN THE PUBLIC

HEARING SECTION HERE IS IT'S

NOT LISTED >> IT IS NOT A

PUBLIC HEARING. HOWEVER IT IS

AN AGENDA ITEM AND THE PUBLIC

CAN SPEAK TO ANY ITEM ON YOUR

AGENDA IF THEY SIGN UP IN IT IN

ADVANCE. WELL AT THE MEETING

EVEN IT'S JUST AN AGENDA ITEM

YOU KNOW THE TITLE NUMBER 22 SO

THEY COULD POTENTIALLY SOMEONE

COULD SIGN UP TO SPEAK. >> I

UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. I JUST

WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE FACT

THAT WE ACTUALLY HADN'T HAD

THAT DISCUSSION AS A BODY

AROUND THIS ACTION. SO THANK

YOU. SO >> I SUGGEST THAT WE

KIND OF MOVE IT UP ON THE

AGENDA RIGHT AFTER THE PUBLIC

HEARING THAT WHERE WE WAIT AND

WE CAN ALSO DO THE OTHER

APPOINTMENT I THINK IT'S ONLY

ONE AT THE SAME TIME WE JUST

HAVE THAT ON THE AGENDA SO THE

PUBLIC WON'T BE WAITING THERE

ALL NIGHT. THAT'S MY

RECOMMENDATION. COUNCILMEMBER

DREX YOU'RE ON. YEAH, I >>

AGREE WITH THAT MR. CHAIR. I'M

JUST WONDERING HAVE WE

PUBLISHED THAT AGENDA >>

ALREADY? YES. ALL RIGHT. SO

THEN >> WHAT ACTION DOES IT

TAKE BY US IF ANY FORMALLY TO

JUST MOVE IT UP? >> CITY CLERK

>> IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF

COMMUNICATING THAT TO THE

MANAGER'S OFFICE INTO STRATEGY

AND BUDGET. I DON'T KNOW THAT

THERE'S NECESSARILY A NEED TO

REPUBLISH THE AGENDA JUST TO

MOVE AN ITEM UP. WE COULD JUST

MAKE THEM AWARE OF COUNCIL'S

DESIRE TO CONSIDER THIS AT A

EARLIER TIME IN THE MEETING. >>

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER JUDY

COUNCILMEMBER OWENS THEN WE'RE

GOING TO CLOSE OUT THE

DISCUSSION. COULD I FOLLOW UP A

QUICK FOLLOW UP FOR

COUNCILMEMBER DRIGGS? SO >> IF

SOMEBODY WANTED TO SIGN UP AND

THEY CAME AND WE HAD ALREADY

DONE IT I MEAN IT'S A TECHNICAL

ISSUE BUT SOMEBODY COULD SHOW

UP LATER IN THE MEETING SEEING

22 AND THEN BE TOLD OH NO, THEY

ALREADY DID THAT. SO I JUST

WANTED >> TO BE SURE THAT WE

OBSERVED THE RIGHT PROCEDURE.

IN FACT, COUNCILMEMBER OWENS SO

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION OF

THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN YOU

CLARIFY THAT POINT AND WHAT IS

BEST PRACTICE? DOES IT MAKE

MORE SENSE TO PUBLISH THAT TO

OBVIATE THE NEED FOR SOMEBODY

ARRIVING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO

SPEAK IN LIGHT OF COUNCIL'S

DECISION TODAY I WOULD HIGHLY

RECOMMEND REPUBLISHING THE

AGENDA WITH DIRECTING THE

MANAGER'S OFFICE AND TEAM AND

STAFF TO REPUBLISH TO THE

AGENDA WITH IT BEING MOVED

HIGHER UP IN THE AGENDA. YEAH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT

COUNCILMEMBER JD THEN WE CAN

KIND OF CLOSE THIS

CONVERSATION. WE DON'T NEED A

MOTION BUT IF WE COULD JUST CAN

THIS GET CONSENT? WELL, WE CAN

GET CONSENSUS. IS THAT THE

DIRECTION OF COUNCIL? YES,

AFTER THE PUBLIC FORM TO BE

CLEAR. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU

BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A

SUGGESTION TO GET OUR

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM TO DISPERSE

THIS AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA

CHANNELS TO ENSURE THAT ALL

CONSTITUENTS ARE AWARE THAT

THEY CAN SPEAK. OKAY. THAT

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. ALL RIGHT.

SO NO VOTES NECESSARY JUST

CONSENSUS. MADAM ATTORNEY.

MADAM CLERK, WE'RE ALL ON THE

SAME PAGE AGAIN. SO EVEN WHEN

WE IF THERE IS A RUNOFF YOU

WILL GET ANOTHER BALLOT AS WELL

TO MAKE SURE AND THE ENVELOPE

YOU MARK THEY'LL GO BACK AND

THEY'LL CALCULATE AND COME OUT

AGAIN AND GIVE IT TO THE MAYOR

AND SHE WILL MAKE THE

ANNOUNCEMENT. ALL RIGHT. MOTION

TO ADJOURN. SECOND I'M GOING TO

RECOGNIZE COMES FROM A

MAJORITY. THEN I WANT TO TAKE

YOUR MOTION. THANK YOU. JUST TO

CLARIFY >> AND THIS IS IF

THERE'S A RUNOFF, IT'S GOING TO

BE DONE MONDAY THE 22ND. RIGHT?

IT'S ALL DONE. OKAY. SAME

NIGHT. OKAY. AND >> ACCEPTING A

NOMINATION. RIGHT. OKAY. ALL

RIGHT THEN. OKAY. BIG DAY,

EVERYONE. SECOND COUNCILMEMBER

MAKE THAT ALSO KIND OF A MOTION

TO ADJOURN. I DID. MAY 2ND THE

SECOND I SAID YES. LET'S GO

HOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR

>>