City Council

GASTONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING Gaston County Courthouse - Public Forum Room - Gastonia, NC Tuesday, January 20, 2026 6:00 PM ITEM A: INVOCATION - Councilman Demetrios Koutsoupias ITEM B: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Mayor Richard Franks ITEM C: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA ITEM D: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES D.1: Regular City Council Meeting - January 6, 2026 Attachment ITEM E: AWARDS, CEREMONIES, AND PROMOTIONS E.1: Recognition of the Ashbrook High School Varsity Football Team for an Undefeated Regular Season and for Winning the Big South 5A/6A Conference Title in October 2025 Recipient: Coach Darius James Presenter: Councilwoman Donyel Barber Attachment E.2: Proclamation Recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month Recipients: Mrs. Bettye Canada, Pastor Carolyn Dewberry, Pastor Wilbert Davis, Pastor Daimon Rawlinson, Pastor Pat Parker Reid, and Ms. Tasha White, Ebonyfest Juneteenth Committee Presenter: Mayor Richard Franks Attachment ITEM F: PRESENTATIONS F.1: NC One Water Annual State Conference Award for Best Tasting Water for Second Consecutive Year to City of Gastonia Two Rivers Utilities Recipient: Mr. Ed Cross, Division Manager, Water Treatment Presenter: Mr. Don Garbrick, PE NC One Water Attachment F.2: Presentation and Update of Gaston County Opioid Settlement Initiatives Presenters: Mr. Quentin T. McPhatter, ICMA-CM, Assistant City Manager  Ms. Stephanie Jamoulis, Prevention Strategies Manager-Public Health, Gaston County Ms. Abigail Newton, Assistant Health Director-Public Health, Gaston County Attachment ITEM G: PUBLIC EXPRESSION - IN ORDER TO KEEP WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION, EACH PERSON WILL BE LIMITED TO BETWEEN TWO TO FIVE MINUTES SPEAKING TIME. THIS TIMEFRAME MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. ITEM H: COMMITTEE REPORT(S) H.1: Public Safety Committee Action Item 2.C: Presentation and Consideration of Proposed Drone Ordinance 2.D: Consideration of a Resolution Declaring Weapons as Surplus and Trading in Same Pursuant to G.S. 143-129.7 in Conjunction with Weapons Authorized for Trade Pursuant to Court Orders and as Unclaimed Property Presenter: Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gallagher Attachment ITEM I: CONSENT AGENDA I.1: Resolution to Set the Public Hearing Date for February 17, 2026 for the Closure of a Portion of Adams Avenue and Robinson Street (unopened) and an Alleyway (10 feet in width) Located on the North Side of Parkdale Avenue and on the South Side of Garrison Boulevard and Third Avenue Attachment I.2: Resolution to Authorize The City of Gastonia to Submit a Helene Recovery Fund for Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Application in 2026 for Linwood Springs Park in the Amount of $500,000 Attachment I.3: Resolution to Recognize Revenue from the Sale of 608 N. York Street (PID 103911) as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Income in the Amount of $186,000 with Budget Amendment 2620017 Attachment I.4: Resolution to Recognize Revenue from The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Coaches Training Grant for Coaches and Volunteers to Support Training Implementation in the Amount of $2,500 with Budget Amendment 2620026 Attachment I.5: Resolution to Recognize Revenue from The North Carolina League of Municipalities Safety Grant to go Towards the Purchase of Thirteen Security Cameras at The Active Adult Center in the Amount of $5,000 with Budget Amendment 2620027 Attachment  I.6: Resolution Granting an Easement to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC for the Gang Operated Air Break Switch (GOAB) Pole at Substation 18 Located off Deep Forest Ct. Attachment I.7: Resolution Recommending Award of Contract to Carolina Power Systems Under G.S. 143-129(e)(3) for the Installation of a Redundant Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) at Long Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Amount of $1,236,627.23 Attachment I.8: Gastonia ABC Board Travel Policy Update Attachment ITEM J: REGULAR AGENDA J.1: Public Hearing - Jake Long Road (RZ File #202500476 & ANX File #202500206) Subject hearing involves a request for annexation and rezoning for a portion of tax parcel 223581 for approximately 0.456 acres from Gaston County R-1 (Single-family Limited Residential) to RS-12 (Single-family Residential, minimum 12,000 sq. ft. lots). The subject property is located at 606 Camp Rotary Road and is owned by Steven A. Broom and Kristin L. Epley Presenter: Ms. Maddy Groce, Senior Planner Attachment J.2: Presentation of Proposed Downtown Gastonia/Active Adult Center Sign at the Corner of S. Broad St. and Main Avenue and Consideration of a Resolution Approving Proposed Budget Amendment #2620028 Presenter: Mr. Michael C. Peoples, City Manager Attachment ITEM K: CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT - Presentation: Mr. Eric Edgerton, City Attorney ITEM L: CITY MANAGER'S REPORT - Presentation: Mr. Michael C. Peoples, City Manager ITEM M: CITY COUNCIL'S REPORT - Presentation: City Council Members ITEM N: ANNOUNCEMENTS - Presentation: Mayor Richard Franks ITEM O: ADJOURNMENT ALL INTERESTED PERSONS WISHING TO COMMENT SHOULD APPEAR AT THE PUBLIC HEARING. INDIVIDUALS REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS WHEN ATTENDING THIS MEETING AND/OR IF THIS INFORMATION IS NEEDED IN AN ALTERNATIVE FORMAT BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY, SHOULD CONTACT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, LOCATED IN CITY HALL AT 181 S. SOUTH STREET, TELEPHONE: (704- 866-6786), FAX: 704-836-0022) OR BY EMAIL: JUDY.SMITH@GASTONIANC.GOV. THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AT LEAST 72 HOURS' NOTICE PRIOR TO THE MEETING TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS.  UPCOMING MEETINGS February 3, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting, City Council Chambers, City Hall @ 6:00 p.m. February 17, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting, Public Forum Room, Gaston County Courthouse @ 6:00 p.m.