City Council

287 November 13, 2023 The City Council of the City of Rocky Mount met this day in a regular session scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the George W. Dudley City Council Chamber of the Frederick E. Turnage Municipal Building with Mayor C. Saunders “Sandy” Roberson, Jr. presiding. Councilmembers present: André D. Knight, Reuben C. Blackwell, IV, Richard Joyner, T.J. Walker, Jr., Lige Daughtridge, Tom Harris and Jabaris Walker. Staff present: Keith Rogers Jr., City Manager; Kim Batts, City Clerk; Elton Daniels, Assistant City Manager; Brad Kerr, Public Works Director; Emilie Pinkston, Director of the Department of Development Services; JoSeth Bocook, Deputy Director of the Department of Development Services; Joel Dunn, Parks and Recreation Director; Felisa Hunter, Senior Human Relations Specialist; Brenton Bent, Water Resources Director; Gregory Cotten, Chief Technology Officer; Latasha Hall, Director of Business and Collections Services; Darvin Moore, Fire Chief; Michael Roupp, Assistant Chief of Operations; Robert Hassell, Police Chief; Abdul Baloch, Chief Internal Auditor; Mark Adcox, Video Production Specialist; Robin Cox, Communications Specialist; Kirk Brown, Communications and Marketing Director, Cornelia McGee, Community and Business Development Director; Kena Cofield-Jones, Director of Human Resources; Kream Mosley, Deputy City Clerk; Monica Brantley, Deputy City Clerk and Richard J. Rose, City Attorney. Security Officers: Corporal Clay Wilder, Sergeant Chris Williams, and Senior Police Officer Shawn Battle. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and requested all in attendance to stand for a moment of silent prayer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Councilmember Joyner, seconded by Councilmember Daughtridge, and unanimously carried that the minutes of the Regular Scheduled City Council meeting held June 26, 2023 be approved as submitted to the City Council prior to the meeting. APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA Mayor Roberson stated a request was made to add the following item to the agenda: • Consideration to request the 6% cost of living adjustment be removed from being a “tabled” item Motion made by Councilmember Joyner, seconded by Councilmember Blackwell and unanimously carried that the agenda be amended, as requested. COMMUNITY UPDATE BY CITY MANAGER City Manager Keith Rogers Jr. provided the following community update. The City Manager reported that: 288 • Thanked the Rocky Mount Fire Department as they were deployed last Thursday to help with the wildfire that occurred out in Henderson County • Stated the Jingle Mingle Artisan Market will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Imperial Centre and will feature art, jewelry, photography, pottery, artisan gifts, ornaments, and more • Stated this is a free annual event and it is made possible through the City’s partnership with the Imperial Centre as well as the Tar River Arts collaborative • Stated he would like to remind the community that the City facilities and offices will be closed on Thursday November 23rd and Friday November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING ROCKY MOUNT PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH TRACK TEAM “ROCKY MOUNT ROCKETS” FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE USATF NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPICS CHAMPIONSHIPS The Mayor welcomed and congratulated the Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Track Team “Rocky Mount Rockets” for qualifying for the USATF National Junior Olympics Championships. Motion was made by Councilmember Joyner, seconded by Councilmember Daughtridge and unanimously carried that the following Resolution R-2023-66 entitled RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING ROCKY MOUNT PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH TRACK TEAM “ROCKY MOUNT ROCKETS” FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE USATF NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPICS CHAMPIONSHIPS be adopted: RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING ROCKY MOUNT PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH TRACK TEAM "ROCKY MOUNT ROCKETS" FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE USATF NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPICS CHAMPIONSHIPS WHEREAS, USA Track & Field (USATF), is one of the most visible youth athletic development programs in the country, sponsoring state, regional and national track events for youth athletes across the United States; and WHEREAS, the team members who compete in the state, regional and national championship meets must qualify based upon individual and team performance, as well as stellar times recorded during the various local meets that lead up to the qualifications; and WHEREAS, the Rocky Mount Rockets, comprised of the following team members: Candrice Davis, Krystiana Knight, and Nakiyah Wilson, based on their state and regional performances, qualified for the nationals; and WHEREAS, the members and the events for which they qualified are as follows: Candrice Davis - 3000, 1500, and 500 meters; Krystiana Knight - 800, 400, and 200 meters; and Nakiyah Wilson - 3000, 1500 and 500 meters; and WHEREAS, Candrice Davis was the individual 13-14 Girls USATF NC state champion in the 3000, 1500, and 800 meters; and the individual 13-14Girls USATF regional champion in 3000 meters; and WHEREAS, Krystiana Knight was the individual 8U Girls USATF NC state champion in the 800 meters; the individual 8U Girls USATF regional champion-in the 800, 400, and 200 meters and earned USATF All- American honors in the 800, 400, and 200 meters based on her performance at the national championships; and WHEREAS, Nakiyah Wilson was the individual 11-12 Girls USATF NC state champion in the 3000 and 1500 meters and the individual 11-12 Girls USATF regional champion in the 1500 meters; and WHEREAS, the youth athletes performed in a manner that distinguished them individually and collectively as a team and brought credit not only to themselves, but to their families, their city, and their community; and  289 WHEREAS, also contributing to the team's success was their outstanding coaches, Mark Davis and Chris Knight, who provided leadership and coached the team members caring for them like family and guiding them through their various meets and the support of their parents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Mayor C. Saunders Roberson, Jr. and the Rocky Mount City Council hereby congratulate the Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department's Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department's youth track team "Rocky Mount Rockets"; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall be spread upon the pages of the minutes of this proceeding and a copy shall be presented to each team member and the coaches who were instrumental in winning this phenomenal championship. Each team member and coach were presented with an official copy of the Resolution. SPECIAL RECOGNITION/APOSTLE ALICE MCKNIGHT DICKENS The Mayor honored and recognized the memory of Apostle Alice M. Dickens, founder of God’s United Churches of Deliverance (GUCOD) Agape Fellowship Churches of Deliverance. He presented her family and church members with a certificate honoring and recognizing the memory of Apostle Alice M. Dickens for her love and dedication to the Rocky Mount community. The family of Apostle Dickens joined the Mayor and City Council for a photograph. Council Comments: Blackwell – • Stated he knows they just presented a plaque to the memory of a phenomenal powerful woman who moved Rocky Mount in so many ways that have never been recognized • Stated Apostle Alice McKnight Dickens took care of people that other people did not care about before it became fashionable to do so • Stated she opened up her home, her church, her neighborhood • Stated she was a pioneer, the first black female pastor in Rocky Mount and she built the building right across the street from the Event Center • Stated as far as he is concerned she paved the way and vision for where Rocky Mount should grow to • Stated she has always been a star prayer warrior • Stated she always said “no matter what it looks like, I report victory” • Thanked her family and her church for carrying out her vision International Ministry that touches people from around the world with love, hope, compassion, solid word, enthusiasm, always standing with the people, always doing what is right • Stated he appreciates her power and impact and appreciates her family and church for carrying it forward 290 PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC The Mayor opened the meeting for petitions from the public and outlined guidelines for public petitions. He called on the following individuals for public comment and a brief summary of comments is outlined below: Dr. Kim Koo • Stated last Saturday she attended an event to unveil a North Carolina historical marker at the Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church • Stated the marker is titled Equal Rights League and states that newly freed people in 1866 rallied at Hammond’s Hill here for voting rights, fair wages and self-defense • Stated the marker reminds people that what happened in the past is still very relevant to us in the present 150 days later as we have not achieved any of the goals outlined in the marker • Stated she does not see fair wages as attested by the current struggles of the sanitation workers and other City employees • Stated if any members of Council claim to have any humanity left, work to make lives of your workers better and give them the raises they need • Requested that Council pass a resolution supporting an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza Nathlyn Ohree • Stated she is concerned and requesting transparency, she would like to know the reason for the City Councilmembers tabling the discussion of the City workers pay increase last month • Stated the citizens want to know how much is available for pay increases especially for the sanitation workers • Stated at this point in time there seems to be an effort from some to avoid the issue, first by staging an absence from the City Council meeting and second by tabling a discussion that could easily shed some light on the situation for a simple pay increase for our City workers • Stated the citizens are watching and praying that Council will come to a reasonable agreement Richard Petway • Stated everyone must stand and fight together for the City workers to get their fair share • Stated if Council has a conscience, then he would like to know how they can say no to the City workers Mumtaz Shaik • Stated currently the working class is caught in an unprecedented cost of living crisis and are no longer willing to accept crumbs for long hours of breaking work with increased stress and pressure placed on them to produce more for less • Requested that Council tell the public why they are blocking their demand for a 15 percent wage increase after recklessly implementing 36 and 27 percent increases for police and first responders without debate and with racial preferences written all over these staggering increases • Stated Mr. Jones, the spokesperson for his team seeking a living wage, has been muzzled, silenced and suspended from work • Stated Mr. Jones faced a cruelty of power in his unwavering support of a just cause, he is not a villain but a City hero Curmilus Dancy • Congratulated everyone who was re-elected  291 • Stated they are elected by the people and he has a hard time seeing who they are accountable to so he would like to know James Wrenn • Stated he has been a resident of Edgecombe County since 1980 • Congratulated the Rocky Mount Rockets track team • Stated he is here today to speak on behalf of the sanitation workers, last meeting Arnie Jones delivered a petition signed by a number of sanitation workers asking for an increase • Stated a number of those workers that signed the petition according to public records are making $36,753 yearly contrary to the report put out by WRAL that starting pay for sanitation workers in Rocky Mount was $40,000 • Stated after Arnie Jones delivered the petition, the City made efforts to terminate him • Stated now they are putting Arnie Jones in the same position they put Alexander Evans in in 1978 • Stated they call for justice and reinstatement for Arnie Jones Cooper Blackwell • Stated the NAACP and the members of the community stands before Council to express their concern with the sanitation workers • Stated it is with a heavy heart that they have to address the Council again about an issue that they feel like is not just a budgetary issue but an issue of equality and justice, an issue of fairness • Stated at the last Council meeting the decision to table the matter left the community bewildered and upset • Stated he commends Councilmembers Knight, Blackwell and Joyner for being steadfast in their commitment to ensuring that the compensation and treatment for the sanitation workers is a top priority • Stated their courage has to serve as a reminder to the rest of Council that the privilege that is bestowed upon each of them that they have made commitments to support all City workers not just a select few • Stated the City Manager increased the salaries for police by 36 percent then the fire department by 27 percent in less than 60 days but it has been well over 100 days now and they have been here week after week for sanitation with no avail • Stated they have seen the pay study and they know it is possible, they just have to figure out how to make it work • Stated the NAACP is going to be here every time with the community members until they see something done so they urge Council to make something happen tonight and make a fair action Crystal Wimes-Anderson • Congratulated everyone for being back in their positions • Stated there are a lot of citizens that do not have a voice in the community and they are the youth so she is here to speak on their behalf • Stated back in March of 2022, she sent an email to Edgecombe County and Nash County about the conditions of the schools and the things that were happening regarding gang activity, drug paraphernalia ending up in the elementary schools • Stated she is aware that there are many Council members that are now on the transition team and she asks that as this transition takes place they ask Nash County Public School System to be transparent about what is going on in the school system and how they can get services for their children • Stated when she sent the letter over a year ago, they would not allow her to be part of the parent advisory team until she put her child back in a school that she deemed unsafe • Stated they need to take the time to sit with the youth and see what is really going on as some children do not feel safe at school or at home 292 • Stated they can talk about affordable housing and economic development but when are they going to talk about youth development Adrienne Copland • Stated there are rules that are read at the beginning of every public petition for decorum but it is interesting that it seems like over time the rules do not apply to Council as a whole • Stated the same rules should apply to Council as well, that the same respect that is required of the citizens should be required of Council • Stated everyone should try to keep it civil and work together and real unity can come from that Theresa Alston Stokes • Thanked everyone who came out and voted for her in this past election • Stated she could not understand how Rocky Mount could have a municipal election including the Mayor’s race and 3 City Council seats and had a lack of publicity • Stated she hopes in the future that when they do have elections or whenever the census is here that the citizens will be informed • Stated as a Mayor and as a Councilmember it is your responsibility to serve the citizens, if you are not serving the citizens then who are you serving • Thanked everyone for their support for her first time running and she plans to be back in 4 years Bronson Williams • Stated there is too much good in the City that goes unnoticed because people choose to champion ideas or positions that would divide versus connecting • Stated months ago there were individuals that said money should not be spent on a Judicial Center but just last week people were praising an elected official for bringing $8.5 million into this community • Stated that he questions if people want a Judicial Center or not • Stated he does not know what it is going to take to move this City forward but division is not the answer Nehemiah Smith, Jr. • Stated if there is injustice in conditions, in wages and in treatment of people those things must be addressed • Stated he wants people to understand what a 15 percent raise across the board really means • Stated the pay for sanitation workers in Rocky Mount is already above the state and national averages • Stated he advocates for things when they make sense but 15 percent across the board means everyone in here would have to increase their taxes in order to pay for it Anita Cooke • Stated she has a community petition that has 56 names in it that are all within a quarter mile radius of 2947 Old Battleboro Road Mayor Roberson informed her the public hearing for that property is not scheduled for tonight, but they will go ahead and hear her comments so they can be entered into the record. • Stated she has permission to speak on behalf of the individuals that she has signatures for • Stated they feel this type of utilization of this property would change the character of their local area  293 • Stated this type of construction would lead to more traffic and the influx of people will cause issues such as increased noise, safety issues, possibly increased crime, and reduction in property values • Stated there was just a fatality at the crossroads in October when a girl collided with an 18-wheeler • Stated if they are selling these properties and it is intended to be a senior village then when the senior passes away and the property is left to their heirs then it can no longer be a senior village • Stated if this is approved, the community will lose what little bit of peace and quiet that they have left since being annexed into the City limits Antoinette Cutler • Stated you cannot talk about coming together and working together when you bring confusion into a place • Stated she is here today on behalf of Mr. Jones, who not only stood up for himself but stood up for others • Stated he has a voice and he had a job and he was doing it • Stated they are still waiting to hear about the 15 percent increase CONSENT AGENDA Motion was made by Councilmember Harris, seconded by Councilmember Daughtridge, and unanimously carried that the Consent Agenda, items 9(A) through 9(F), be approved as follows and more specifically: A. SURPLUS PROPERTY DISPOSAL/ELECTRONIC AUCTION That the list of personal property proposed to be declared surplus and sold at electronic auction be placed on file in the office of the City Clerk as BD-2023-14 and Resolution No. R-2023-67 entitled RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CERTAIN PERSONAL PROPERTY AT ELECTRONIC AUCTION be adopted. B. PROJECT ORDINANCES/AMENDMENTS 1. Ordinance No. O-2023-113 entitled GRANT PROJECT ORDINANCE/FY 2024 TRANSIT RURAL OPERATING GRANT, 2ND ROUND - Appropriates grant funds ($400,000) from the North Carolina Department of Transportation in the Public Transportation Fund to cover additional fuel costs for Tar River Transit’s rural service. It was noted that no additional City funds are required for the use of these funds and that a grant project ordinance was required to appropriate the funds for their intended use. 2. Ordinance No. O-2023-114 entitled GRANT PROJECT ORDINANCE/ ARPA NC SCIENCE MUSEUMS GRANT - Appropriates grant funds ($127,043) from the NC Science Museums Grant funded by the American Rescue Plan Act to be used for eligible purposes for the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum & Science Center. It was noted that a grant project ordinance was required to appropriate the funds for their intended use. 3. Ordinance No. O-2023-115 entitled GRANT PROJECT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT/FEDERAL FORFEITURE FUNDS – Appropriates additional revenues received from Federal Forfeiture Funds in the amount of $200,868 in the Public Safety Fund. It was noted that that a grant project ordinance was required to appropriate the funds for their intended use. 4. Ordinance No. O-2023-116 entitled CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE/ SUNSET PARK RENOVATION – Appropriates $1,260,000 in the Capital Development Projects Fund (total includes $500,000 grant from Land and Water Conservation Fund; $500,000 grant from NC Parks 294 and Recreation Trust Fund; $100,000 grant from NC Recreational Trails and the City’s match in the amount of $160,000) C. FY 2024 INSTALLMENT FINANCING/REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION – EQUIPMENT The City Council was provided with a reimbursement resolution declaring the City’s official intent to reimburse expenditures incurred in connection with the replacement of equipment to be included in FY 2024 installment financing as follows: Replacement of Equipment – (Lenco Bearcat; Pierce Enforcer Heavy Duty Rescue; Backhoe, Two (2) Dump F750 Crew Cabs, Front End Loader, Rear Loader, Steel Recycling Transport Trailer, Tandem Dump Truck, Tractor/Mower, Wheel Loader, Crawler Dozer, WWTP Rectangular Clarifiers Festoon, WWTP Gear Box, Remote Slope Mower, Tornado Regenerative Air Sweeper, Compact Excavator, and Leaf & Debris Collector - $4,885,000) The Council was advised that it is customary for the City to purchase items to be financed in advance and subsequently reimburse the expenditures with financing and the U.S. Treasury requires that a resolution declaring the City’s intent to reimburse expenditures be adopted in advance. Resolution No. R-2023-68 entitled RESOLUTION DECLARING OFFICIAL INTENT OF THE CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT TO REIMBURSE EXPENDITURES MADE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT was adopted. D. FY 2024 INSTALLMENT FINANCING/REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION – CONSTRUCTION OF A TRANSFORMER CONTAINMENT BUILDING The City Council was provided with a reimbursement resolution declaring the City’s official intent to reimburse expenditures incurred in connection with the construction of a transformer containment building to be included in FY 2024 installment financing as follows: Construction of a Transformer Containment Building – $275,000 The Council was advised that it is customary for the City to purchase items to be financed in advance and subsequently reimburse the expenditures with financing and the U. S. Treasury requires that a resolution declaring the City’s intent to reimburse expenditures be adopted in advance. Resolution No. R-2023-69 entitled RESOLUTION DECLARING OFFICIAL INTENT OF THE CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT TO REIMBURSE EXPENDITURES MADE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A TRANSFORMER CONTAINMENT BUILDING was adopted. E. MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT/PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS ON SUNSET AVENUE AT RIVER DRIVE The City Council was provided with a municipal agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for pedestrian crossing improvements on Sunset Avenue at River Drive. The agreement provides funding in the amount of $215,000 (90% federal funds; 10% state funds). It was noted that no local match is required. The City will be responsible for design costs, estimated  295 at $25,000, which will be funded from Powell Bill funds. The agreement (C-2023-16) was approved and the Mayor was authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. F. RE-BIDS (recommended for approval) The City Council was provided with the following re-bids for consideration: 1. Bids were received and opened July 25, 2023 for Booker T. Lighting/Sound/Project Upgrades. The solicitation was posted on the City’s purchasing webpage, the HUB website, and the North Carolina Interactive Purchasing System website. All necessary legal requirements were implemented and the bid tabulation is on file in the office of the City Clerk as BD- 2023-21. Bid was awarded to Barbizon Lighting, Inc @ total cost of $142,228.24 and a purchase order will be issued in accordance with City Council’s award. 2. Bids were received and opened July 6, 2023 for a Two Way Load Management Switch. The solicitation was posted on the City’s purchasing webpage, the HUB website, and the North Carolina Interactive Purchasing System website. All necessary legal requirements were implemented and the bid tabulation is on file in the office of the City Clerk as BD-2023-22. Bid was awarded to Sensus USA @ total cost of $259,745 and a purchase order will be issued in accordance with City Council’s award. ANNEXATION NO. 333 – CULPEPPER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP [BETHLEHEM ROAD] The Mayor called on the City Manager or his designee to provide an explanation of the feasibility study prepared in connection with the annexation. Mrs. Emilie Pinkston, Director of the Department of Development Services explained the report and concluded by recommending approval of the annexation. A copy of the report is on file with Annexation No. 333 in the office of the City Clerk. Councilmember Joyner asked if the community meeting had already taken place. Mrs. Emilie Pinkston responded that this is the public hearing for the annexation and the request for the feasibility study was heard at the previous Council meeting. Councilmember Harris stated that there was a community meeting regarding this matter. The Mayor opened a public hearing relative to Annexation No. 333 and no one from the public appeared. The Mayor closed the public hearing. Motion was made by Councilmember Joyner, seconded by Councilmember Jabaris Walker, and unanimously carried that receipt of the feasibility study be acknowledged and that Ordinance No. O-2023- 117 entitled ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT/ANNEXATION NO. 333 – CULPEPPER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 296 [BETHLEHEM ROAD]) be adopted. The City Council was advised that the property will be located in Ward 6. PUBLIC HEARING/REZONING REQUEST The Mayor opened a public hearing relative to the following rezoning request recommended for approval and found in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan by the Planning Board: • Request by Grey Berry [WH Culpepper Limited Partnership LLC, representative] to rezone a +45.55-acre site located on Bethlehem Road having PIN 373907585974, from A-1 (Agricultural District) and Nash County R-30 (Single- and Two-Family Residential District) to R-6 (Single-Family Residential District) Emilie Pinkston, Director of Development Services, gave an overview of the request. No one from the public appeared and the Mayor declared the public hearing closed. Motion was made by Councilmember Joyner, seconded by Councilmember Jabaris Walker, and unanimously carried that Ordinance No. O-2023-118 entitled ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND MAP OF THE CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT was adopted. PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS The City Council received the minutes and recommendations from a Planning Board meeting held September 12, 2023. The following action was taken upon the recommendations of the Planning Board: A. PUBLIC HEARING/REZONING REQUEST The Mayor opened a public hearing relative to the following rezoning request recommended for approval and found in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan by the Planning Board: • Request by Race Trac, Inc. to rezone a +7.01-acre site having PIN 356214343819, located on Wesleyan Boulevard, southeast of the junction with Thomas Betts Parkway, from I-2 (Heavy Industrial District) to B-5 (Commercial Services District) Emilie Pinkston, Director of Development Services, gave an overview of the request. Mayor Roberson recognized the following who wished to speak on the item: William McKinney - • Stated he is an attorney at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd and he represents Race Trac • Stated this is a project that allows for more jobs, more entrepreneurship, a way to improve some of the traffic flow around the intersection • Stated they have been in ongoing discussion with the neighbor and they certainly respect Mr. Barnes and have appreciated the dialogue with him • Stated he thinks they have a fundamental difference of opinion about whether this development will be an improvement or not but he looks forward to continuing the good faith discussions • Stated if they receive approval, that would allow for the site plan to be subsequently reviewed Thomas Pearsall, Jr. -  297 • Stated they are looking to maintain an open dialogue with Mr. Barnes • Stated the site plan is still early on in the process and if approved they look forward to working through any items that may come up TW King - • Stated he represents Marion Barnes and his company Frontier Trader and Associates who deals with tanker trucks coming in and out of his facility • Stated some of these tankers carry propane and some carry liquid gasoline so there are very dangerous instrumentalities that are dealt with • Stated the development of this piece of property next door in their judgement is going to be a very difficult thing for this property as there have already been a series of accidents that have occurred at that intersection • Stated if you add more traffic coming out of the Race Trac location immediately next door, you can only anticipate that will get worse • Stated they do not have any information that has come from NC Department of Transportation so this property may be rezoned then Race Trac may not even be able to get the proper driveway permits • Stated they are concerned about safety and the fact that NC Department of Transportation has not acted and they hope that this rezoning request will be denied Councilmember Blackwell stated that when they rezone a piece of property they are rezoning it for the full possibility of the entire slate of allowable development options. TW King stated he absolutely agrees with that statement but the one he is speaking on is all that is currently before the board. Councilmember Blackwell asked for staff to provide their feedback. Emilie Pinkston, Director of the Department of Development Services, stated that the Planning Board considered the full range of uses that would be allowed in B-5 zoning district so an approved rezoning would allow all of the land uses that are approved within that B-5 district without consideration of any specific use and there were no conditions recommended by the Planning Board. Councilmember Daughtridge asked for some clarification as far as the North Carolina Department of Transportation getting involved only after it goes to approve the plans. Mrs. Pinkston confirmed that he was correct. Motion was made by Councilmember Harris, seconded by Councilmember Jabaris Walker and unanimously carried that the item be postponed for 30 days to give the parties involved time to come to an agreement before the matter is voted on at the Council meeting following the 30 day time period. APPOINTMENTS James Tharin requested to be moved to the Ward 4 vacancy on the Planning Board. Camilla Tucker was nominated for the Ward 7 vacancy on the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board. Motion was made by Councilmember Daughtridge, seconded by Councilmember Joyner, and unanimously carried that James Tharin be moved to the Ward 4 vacancy on the Planning Board. This unexpired 298 will expire on June 30, 2025; and Camilla Tucker be appointed to the Ward 7 vacancy on the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board. This unexpired term will expire June 30, 2025. No action was taken to fill the remaining vacancies on the City’s Boards, Commissions and Committees. CONSIDERATION OF 6% COLA TO BE REMOVED FROM BEING A TABLED ITEM (added in open meeting) Consideration to remove the 6% COLA from being a “tabled” item failed by a vote of 3-4 (Councilmembers Knight, Blackwell, and Joyner ayes; Councilmembers T.J. Walker, Daughtridge, Harris and Jabaris Walker nays). ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, by consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. ______________________________ Kim Batts City Clerk