Mayor Vaughan spoke to the 2023 City of Greensboro Legislative Agenda; commended work by the Delegation in prior year requests; and recognized Intergovernmental Relations Manager, LaToya Caesar-Crawford.
Ms. Caesar-Crawford outlined the Greensboro Legislative items for review including the following items:
Requested Carry-over Legislative Items from 2021/22 Session
Civilian Traffic Investigators – House Bill 303
The City of Greensboro is requesting legislation that would authorize the City to employ civilian personnel to investigate traffic crashes, and to establish minimum standards for employment as a civilian traffic investigator.
Body Worn Cameras – Senate Bill 300
The City of Greensboro is requesting a modification of Section 132-1.4a(b1), to remove the language, “upon order of the court pursuant to subsection (b3) of this section”, referring to immediate disclosure of body worn camera footage to a personal representative of the deceased, the injured individual, or a personal representative on behalf of the injured individual; OR amend the language “personal representative of the deceased, the injured individual, or a personal representative on behalf of the injured individual” to INCLUDE local legislators.
HOUSING
Chronic Violators - Modification of G.S. 160A-200.1
The City proposes a modification of the term of enforcement as a rolling 12-month period instead of a calendar year (per 160A – 200.1d). This modification allows for the City of Greensboro to more effectively and efficiently ensure that its neighborhoods allow for a healthy and safe community and workforce. The City’s version of 160A-200.1 is codified in Section 17-3(c) of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
Conditional Rental Inspection Program - Modification of G.S. 160D-1207. Periodic inspections
The City of Greensboro is requesting state legislature that would allow for a Conditional Rental Inspection Program. To reduce blight and threats to public health, safety and welfare in our communities, the City would like to require that low-income units be maintained.
The program would allow for the following: if the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department receives a complaint regarding a housing unit through the Code Compliance Division, the Department shall request that an interior inspection of the rental housing unit identified in the complaint be conducted by a Department inspector using the general authority, process, and standards. If, after inspecting the rental housing unit the Department received the complaint on, the Department determines the rental housing unit violates the standards and causes the rental housing unit to fail inspection, the Director may require that any other rental housing units under the same ownership be inspected. In addition, if a pattern of safety violations exists on any housing unit, including three or more complaints in a 12-month period of time, the Department may require that any other rental housing units under the same ownership be inspected.
State Housing Fund
The City of Greensboro is requesting a state budget amendment to increase the allocation of funding set aside for the State Housing Fund. The fund was created in 1987 for the purpose of addressing “a shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary… housing available at affordable prices” and the importance of affordable housing to economic development.
The City of Greensboro is requesting that the General Assembly increase the State Housing Fund in alignment with the recommendations from the North Carolina Housing Coalition and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. This increase would provide for the creation of housing and increased economic development conditions for the City.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Disposition of unclaimed firearms - Modification of G.S. 15-11.2
The City proposes a modification of the statute to allow for the head or chief of law enforcement to order the disposition of the firearms collected by their City per their discretion. The City of Greensboro is currently collecting between 1200 – 1500 firearms yearly.
PUBLIC SAFETY/TRANSPORTATION
Speed Limit and Camera Enforcement for School Zones
a. Authority for 25 MPH speed limit city-wide by ordinance
The City proposes a modification of statute to 25 mph, to allow for the reduction of the speed limit, primarily for residential and local streets that are not already signed for a higher speed limit. Recommended in the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan, this change would drastically improve conditions for walking and biking on neighborhood streets and reduce the likelihood of severe or fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. The current standard for municipal speeds is set by General Statute is 35 mph.
b. Camera Enforcement for Speeding in School Zones
The City of Greensboro is requesting state legislation that would allow for a pilot program of camera enforcement for a designated elementary school, middle school, and high school.
EQUITABLE INVESTMENT/SUSTAINABILITY
Bingham Park – Site Remediation Funding
The City requests state funding in the amount of $32 million for full waste removal, backfill to street levels, and rebuild of stream banks.
In the late 2000’s, the City began planning efforts, in conjunction with the community, to redesign and improve the park.
However, in 2010 the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) designated the site as an inactive hazardous waste/pre-regulatory landfill, necessitating remediation prior to the completion of park improvements. The remediation option requested by the community has a total cost of approximately $39 million. The City is requesting funding (in addition to the allocated $8 million from NCDEQ) to implement the remediation option for full waste removal, backfill to street levels, and rebuild of stream banks.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Urban Investment and Remediation
The City is requesting $20 million to perform environmental cleanup for downtown sites that are abandoned and put them up for development opportunities.
Discussion took place regarding urban investment sites; private investments; pilot camera programs; school red light camera enforcement; and school zone funding with the Guilford County Board of Education.
Councilmember Hightower provided additional dialogue on Bingham Park; distributed flyers; provided an illustrative drawing; spoke to funding; and to informative meetings.
Discussion continued regarding chronic violations; disposition of firearms; and environmental cleanup needs.
Councilmember Matheny highlighted a previous request for the Downtown Business Improvement District; and spoke to self-petitions.
Discussion took place regarding civilian personnel; body worn cameras; transparency and efficiency; rental inspection program; current housing programs for persons experiencing homelessness; down payment assistance program; potential funding request; property investments state-wide; housing needs; local sustainability leadership; landlord and tenant concerns; and rental fees.
Council voiced appreciation for the support and work of the Guilford County Delegation.