City Council 2026 08 04

GASTONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING City Council Chamber - City Hall - Gastonia NC Tuesday, August 4, 2026 6:00 PM ITEM A: INVOCATION - Councilman Demetri 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 - July 21, 2026 Attachment ITEM E: AWARDS, CEREMONIES, AND PROMOTIONS E.1: Proclamation Recognizing the Week of August 2 - 8, 2026 as National Farmers Market Week Recipient: Ms. Emily Thomasson, Gastonia Farmers Market Manager Presenter: Councilwoman Donyel Barber Attachment ITEM F: PRESENTATIONS F.1: Presentation of Project Information from 2026 Summer Interns Presenters: Ms. Hasia Allen, Ms. Megan Caroll, Mr. Owen Sloan, and Ms. Nicole Tran 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: Arts Committee Action Items: Consideration of Resolutions to Approve the Committee's Recommended Approval of the Following Distribution of Fiscal Year 2026-27 Arts Committee Funding: (1)  $50,000 for Grants, Up to $20,000 for Community Engagement Events, and $30,000 for Public Art; (2) Up to $11,000 for the Max Dowdle Mural; and (3) Up to $2,500 for Fall Festival, Up to $1,000 for Christmas in the City, Up to $5,000 for Gaston MAX, Up to $7,500 for the Performing Art Show, and Up to $4,000 for the Visual Art Show Presenter: Councilwoman Jennifer M. Stepp, Chairwoman Attachment ITEM I: CONSENT AGENDA I.1: Proclamation Recognizing Mr. Thane Robert Kendall's Retirement and 15 Years of Distinguished Service at Greater Gaston Baptist Association Attachment I.2: Resolution to Recognize Funds Received from the Surplus Sale of Transit Buses in the Amount of $8,730 with Budget Amendment 2720003 Attachment I.3: Resolution to Approve a Contract with Williams Electric Company to Provide Additional Workforce Resources on an As-Needed Basis for the Electric Division Attachment I.4: Consideration to Adopt the Proposed Mayor/Council Travel Policy ITEM J: REGULAR AGENDA J.1: Public Hearing and Consideration of a Resolution to Authorize an Economic Development Agreement for Project Metro to Provide a Standard Level One Local Incentive Grant Presenter: Ms. Kristy Crisp, Director of Economic Development Attachment J.2: Consideration to Approve a Lease Agreement with the United States Postal Service (USPS) for Designated Parking in the City Owned Parking Lot Located Beside Chester Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Presenter: Mr. Michael C. Peoples, City Manager J.3: Citizen Committee Appointments Presenter: Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gallagher 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 September 1, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting, City Council Chambers, City Hall @ 6:00 p.m. *** September 7, 2026 -- Labor Day -- City Offices Closed ***