City of Greensboro Meeting Minutes - Final

City Council Work Session

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Plaza Level Conference Room
300 West Washington Street
Greensboro, NC
Present:
  • Mayor Nancy Vaughan, 
  • Councilmember Marikay Abuzuaiter, 
  • Councilmember Sharon Hightower, 
  • Councilmember Hugh Holston, 
  • Councilmember Zack Matheny, 
  • Councilmember Tammi Thurm, 
  • and and Councilmember Goldie Wells 
Absent:
  • Mayor Pro-Tem Yvonne Johnson 
  • and Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann 
Also Present:
  • City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba, 
  • Deputy City Manager Chris Wilson, 
  • City Attorney Chuck Watts, 
  • and and Deputy City Clerk Victoria Howell 

A.
Call To Order

  

Note: These City Council minutes are a general account of the June 29, 2023 work session meeting. For full details of discussions, the meeting video can be located on the City of Greensboro website at https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/government/city-council/council-meetings.

This City Council work session of the City of Greensboro was called to order at 2 p.m. on the above date in the Plaza Level Conference Room of the Melvin Municipal Office Building.

Mayor Vaughan confirm Councilmembers in attendance; and stated Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson and Councilmember Hoffmann were absent. 

B.
Presentations

  

B.1
2023-471 Emergency Services Response During Weather Events 

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City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba provided an overview of the item; and introduced staff. 

Deputy City Manager Chris Wilson recognized Duke Energy District Manager, Hank Henning, Duke Energy Internal Meteorologist, Joy Covington and Greensboro Deputy Fire Chief Dwayne Church; and spoke to hurricane season; and to city protocols. 

Mr. Henning, spoke to storm properness; highlighted Duke Energy processes; and vegetation management.

Ms. Covington made a PowerPoint Presentation (PPP); spoke to electricity demands and reliability; to climate change; to a 24/7 support system; highlighted pre-storm predictions; incident management team engagement; spoke to public information and liaison officers; to monitoring conditions; to initial damage assessment; to prioritized restoration; and to updating customers. 

Discussion took place regarding customer communication; outage maps; automated system updates; a Duke energy application; social media updates; and underground powerlines.

Ms. Covington continued the PPP; spoke to expanding solar panels and renewables; and to grid strengthening and investments. 

Councilmember Matheny entered the meeting at 2:41 p.m.

Discussion continued regarding high impact areas; pole replacements cost; transformers; response times; and streetlights. 

Deputy Fire Chief Church made a PPP; spoke to severe storm preparation and response times; to public preparedness; to communication and education; to emergency kits; to the City application Guilford Emergency Alert Notification Infromation (G.E.A.N.I.); to storm planning timelines; and to weather briefings.

Discussion continued regarding public access to information. 

Councilmember Matheny requested staff to create a QR code for public access. 

(A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation is filed in Exhibit Drawer F, No. 27, which is hereby referred to and made a part of these minutes.)

B.2
2023-472 Policy Initiative: Accessory Dwelling Units – Understanding and Application

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Planning Director Sue Schwartz recognized staff; made a PPP; highlighted Council strategic priorities; spoke to attainable housing; to dwelling units; and to housing diversity.

Greensboro Planning Manager, Chris Andrews continued the PPP; outlined the land development ordinance; provided graphics and examples of dwellings; spoke to pre-approved plans; to challenges and barriers; to an existing ordinance; provided an overview of parking; public perceptions; the design and permit process; and pre-fabricated dwellings.

Discussion took place regarding short term rentals.

Mr. Andrews continued the PPP; outlined the next steps; and a potential timeline.

(A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation is filed in Exhibit Drawer F, No. 27, which is hereby referred to and made a part of these minutes.)

B.3
2023-473 Policy Initiative: Housing Diversity - 2023-473

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Ms. Schwarts made a PPP; spoke to housing diversity; to challenges and barriers; outlined density, existing conditions and hurdles; spoke to market demands; to the Adoption of the GSO 2040; to next steps; highlighted mixed residential homes; and periodic updates. 

Mayor Vaughan left the meeting at 3:51 p.m. and returned at 3:53 p.m.

Discussion ensued regarding mixed residential homes; muilti-family homes; and food deserts.

(A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation is filed in Exhibit Drawer F, No. 27, which is hereby referred to and made a part of these minutes.)

C.
Adjournment

  

Mayor Vaughan voiced concern regarding Council meeting disruptions; and a new policy.

Discussion continued regarding public comments; and state statues.

Moved by Councilmember Wells, seconded by Councilmember Abuzuaiter, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried by affirmation.

The City Council Adjourned at 4:18 p.m.

 

___________________________                        ____________________________

Nancy Vaughan, Mayor                                        Victoria L. Howell, Deputy City Clerk

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