Town Council

Town Hall TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Town Council Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Meeting Minutes - Final Mayor Pam Hemminger Council Member Michael Parker Mayor pro tem Karen Stegman Council Member Amy Ryan Council Member Jessica Anderson Council Member Adam Searing Council Member Camille Berry Council Member-Elect Melissa Council Member Tai Huynh McCullough Council Member Paris Miller-Foushee Council Member-Elect Theodore Nollert Council Member-Elect Elizabeth Sharp Monday, December 18, 2023 7:00 PM RM 110 | Council Chamber Language Access Statement In-Person Meeting Notification View the Meeting • View and participate in the Council Chamber. • Live stream the meeting - https://chapelhill.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx • Spectrum is replacing 1998 encoder that transmits programming to cable channel 18. It remains offline until complete. • Participate in a voluntary demographic survey before viewing online or in person - https://www.townofchapelhill.org/demosurvey Parking and Entry • Parking is available at Town Hall lots and the lot at Stephens Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. • See http://www.parkonthehill.com for other public lots on Rosemary Street • Town Hall is served by NS route and T route, and GoTriangle Routes of Chapel Hill Transit. • Entrance on the ground floor. • Please do not bring signs. Page 1 of 6 Town Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 18, 2023 ROLL CALL All Council Members were present. Present: 12 - Mayor Pam Hemminger, Council Member Jessica Anderson, Council Member Camille Berry, Council Member Tai Huynh, Council Member Michael Parker, Council Member Amy Ryan, Council Member Paris Miller-Foushee, Council Member Adam Searing, Council Member Karen Stegman, Council Member Theodore Nollert, Council Member Melissa McCullough, and Council Member Elizabeth Sharp OTHER ATTENDEES Town Manager Chris Blue, Deputy Town Manager Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Deputy Town Manager Loryn Clark, Town Attorney Ann Anderson, Affordable Housing and Community Connections Director Sarah Viñas, Public Works Director Lance Norris, Community Safety Public Information Officer Alex Carrasquillo, Police Officer Britt, Fire Marshal Chris Covington, Executive Director for Strategic Communications Susan Brown, Fire Chief Jay Mebane, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Shenekia Weeks, Mayoral Assistant Jeanne Brown, Police Chief Celisa Lehew, Senior Ombuds Anita Badrock, Parks and Recreation Director Atuya Cornwell, Assistant to the Town Manager Ross Tompkins, Interim Library and Cultural Arts and Community Director Meeghan Rosen, Planning Director Britany Waddell, Technology Solutions Director Chris Butts, Emergency Management Coordinator Kelly Drayton, Assistant Clerk Brenton Hodge, Aquatic Specialist Robb English, Assistant Clerk Matthew DeBellis, Town Clerk And Governance Services Director Sabrina Oliver, and Deputy Town Clerk Amy Harvey. OPENING Mayor Pam Hemminger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and reviewed the agenda. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Welcome: Mayor Pam Hemminger Mayor Hemminger called the special meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and said that the agenda included honoring out-going Council members, choosing a new Mayor pro tem, and swearing in the new Mayor and Council members. All Council members were present, with Mayor pro tem participating virtually. 0.01 Moment of Silence for Eric Montross. [23-0881] Mayor Hemminger asked for a moment of silence for Eric Montross who passed away today. He was a valuable member of our community and UNC says, he's one of the best ambassadors they've had. He was a volunteer coach and did many things for the children and families in our community. 2. Comments by Members of the 2021-2023 Council 3. Resolutions of Appreciation Page 2 of 6 Town Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 18, 2023 a. Council Member Tai Huynh [23-0867] Council Member Miller-Foushee read a resolution honoring Tai Huynh, who had been a Council Member since December 2019. The resolution outlined Council Member Huynh's background and experience before joining the Council and listed the numerous activities, projects, and policy decisions that he had been involved with as a Council Member. It thanked him for his outstanding service to the people of Chapel Hill and his willingness to serve as an elected leader. Council Member Huynh said that serving as a Council Member had been the honor of a lifetime, and he thanked Chapel Hill voters for giving him the opportunity. He also thanked his Council colleagues, Town staff, and community members for working together and building a stronger community despite experiencing a global pandemic. He congratulated incoming Council members and commented on the monumental task that was before them. This resolution was adopted. b. Council Member Michael Parker [23-0868] Mayor pro tem Karen Stegman read a resolution honoring Michael Parker, who had served as a Council Member since December 2015. The resolution outlined his background and experiences before joining the Council and listed the numerous activities, projects, and policy decisions that he had participated in during his time in office. The resolution thanked him for his outstanding service to the people of Chapel Hill and his willingness to serve the community as an elected leader. Council Member Parker thanked voters for allowing him to have eight of the most rewarding years of his life. He thanked Town staff, Town employees, and his family. He said that Chapel Hill's values were what made it special and that he hoped the Town would continue its quest for social equity, affordable housing, affordable transit, and environmental protection. He gave particular thanks to Mayor Hemminger for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution was adopted. c. Mayor Pam Hemminger [23-0869] Mayor-Elect Jessica Anderson read a resolution honoring Pam Hemminger, who had served as Mayor since December 2015. The resolution included a long list of volunteer and elected positions that Ms. Hemminger had held prior to becoming Mayor. It noted her deep understanding of local government, expertise in financial management, and passion for social justice and the environment. The resolution listed numerous projects, initiatives and policy decisions that the Town had undertaken during Mayor Page 3 of 6 Town Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 18, 2023 Hemminger's two terms in office. It thanked her for her outstanding service to the people of Chapel Hill and for her willingness to serve as an elected leader. Mayor Hemminger said that serving the community that she loved had been an honor and a privilege for which she would always be grateful. She mentioned some of the Council's efforts and plans that had moved the Town in a more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable direction. Everything had been done with an eye toward making the Town an inclusive place where everyone could participate and thrive, she said. Mayor Hemminger stated that the real power of the Mayor's Office was in convening groups and bringing stakeholders with unique perspectives together to find solutions. The Town had been blessed to have local leaders, community partners, and hard-working staff who had helped to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, and she praised Chapel Hill resident Jeanne Brown, in particular, for being behind the successful Food for Students program. She said that she would be eternally grateful to Ms. Brown for "holding up the light to make sure we were doing our absolute best". Mayor Hemminger stated that success required setting an inclusive vision, creating a plan of action, and constantly persisting. She said that she was proud of what the Town had accomplished during her eight years in office and was looking forward to seeing what the new Mayor and Council would do. A motion was made by Council Member Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council adopt R-1, R-2, and R-3. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Council Member Stegman did not vote. 4. Oath of Office for 2023-2025 Mayor-Elect. This matter was read into the record. a. Mayor-Elect Jessica Anderson [23-0870] Orange-Chatham District Judge Joal Brown administered the oath of office to Mayor-Elect Jessica Anderson. Following that ceremony, Pam Hemminger congratulated Mayor Anderson and turned several items, such as the Mayor's gavel, over to her. RECESS. (3-5 minutes) Following a brief recess, Mayor Anderson called the meeting back to order so that the new 2023-2027 Council Members could be sworn into office. 5. Oaths of Office for 2023-2027 Council Members-Elect Page 4 of 6 Town Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 18, 2023 This matter was read into the record. a. Council Member-Elect Melissa McCullough [23-0871] North Carolina State Senator Graig Meyer administered the oath of office to Council Member-Elect Mellissa McCullough. b. Council Member-Elect Theodore Nollert [23-0872] North Carolina State Senator Graig Meyer administered the oath of office to Council Member-Elect Theodore Nollert. c. Council Member-Elect Amy Ryan [23-0873] Orange-Chatham District Judge Joal Brown administered the oath of office to Council Member Amy Ryan. e. Council Member-Elect Elizabeth Sharp [23-0874] District Court Judge Paul Trevor Sharp, retired, administered the oath of office to Council Member-Elect Elizabeth Sharp. 6. New Business a. Election of Mayor Pro tempore. [23-0875] The new Council members took their seats at the dais and the Council voted unanimously to elect Council Member Amy Ryan as Mayor pro tem. A motion was made by Council Member Miller-Foushee, seconded by Council Member Berry, that the Council elected Amy Ryan as Mayor Pro-Tempore. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Karen Stegman did not vote. b. Appointments for Various Council Liaisons and Representatives [23-0876] The Council voted unanimously to adopt a list of various Council liaison and representative appointments. A motion was made by Council Member Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council adopted the Appointments for Various Council Liaisons and Representatives. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Karen Stegman did not vote. c. Amend the 2023-24 Council Calendar. [23-0877] Mayor Anderson explained that Council meetings start at 6:00 p.m. (rather than 7:00 p.m.) in 2024 so that they could end earlier. A motion was made by Council Member Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council adopt R-4 that amended the 2023-24 Council Calendar. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Karen Stegman did not Page 5 of 6 Town Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 18, 2023 vote. 7. Closing Comments Mayor Anderson thanked her family and friends for their unwavering support and the public for placing trust in her. She thanked departing Council Members as well and congratulated the new ones. She praised Pam Hemminger, in particular, for her dedication, hard work, and steadfast leadership over eight years. Mayor Anderson said that the Town was at a pivotal moment in its evolution and was not immune to the nation's climate, housing, and affordability challenges. Implementing the Town's Complete Community vision could address those challenges and build on and improve what everyone loved about Chapel Hill, she said. She noted the importance of embracing change, including the way in which Town government worked. Mayor Anderson said that one of her primary goals would be to foster a more informed, collaborative, and inclusive policy-making process. That would include making changes in how the Town engaged the public, making sure that more people could participate, and enabling the public to easily track the Town's progress toward achieving its goals, she said. "With your support and participation, I'm confident that we can overcome our challenges, embrace opportunities, and write a new, inspiring chapter in the story of Chapel Hill," she said. 8. Photograph 2023-2025 Council ADJOURNMENT This meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. Page 6 of 6