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 Nancy Hoffmann, 
  • Councilmember Hugh Holston, 
  • Councilmember Zack Matheny, 
  • Councilmember Tammi Thurm, 
  • and and Councilmember Goldie Wells 
Absent:
  • Mayor Pro-Tem Yvonne Johnson 
Also Present:
  • Interim City Manager Chris Wilson, 
  • City Attorney Chuck Watts, 
  • and and Deputy City Clerk Victoria Howell 

A.
Call To Order

  

These City Council Work Session minutes are a general account of the March 28, 2024 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 2:00 p.m. on the above date.

Councilmember Holston confirmed Councilmembers in attendance; stated that Mayor Vaughan and Councilmember Abuzuaiter would participate via Zoom; and Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson would be absent.

B.
Presentations

  

B.1
2024-194 State of Our Parks and Greenways

This item has attachments.  

Interim City Manager Chris Wilson introduced the item; and recognized staff.

Parks and Recreation Director, Phil Fleischmann made a PowerPoint Presentation (PPP); provided an overview of the state of Parks and Greenways; outlined maintenance challenges; spoke to Greenway connections and expansions; to the budget; to education and skill development; to the economic impacts; highlighted sports tourism; Plan2Play; GSO2040; spoke to City priorities; to the quality of life; to urgent unfunded maintenance and capital needs; outlined Parkland remediations; Property Acquisition; spoke to playground replacements needs; to the Hester Park tennis and pickleball courses; and to Guilford County Schools partnerships.

Planning and Project Development Division Manager, Shawna Tillary continued the PPP; highlighted Greenway planning; the design and acquisitions; construction efforts; the Feasibility Study; and community connections. 

Mr. Fleischmann continued the PPP; spoke to grants and matching funds; outlined City driven initiatives and strategies; spoke to private funding; to Greensboro Beautiful partnership; to community cleanups efforts; to Downtown Greensboro Incorporated (DGI) partnership; to City assets; to fund appropriations; to property taxes; to user fees and charges; and to bond packages. 

Parks and Recreation Commission Chair, ChesKesha Cunningham-Dockery continued the PPP; outlined the purpose and request; spoke to advocating for communities; to safety concerns; to tourism; to affordable housing; and to connecting with the community.

Discussion took place regarding the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year budget cycle; funding sources; playground, pools, and dock repairs; capital improvements funds; maintenance; safety concerns; and youth sports. 

Councilmember Thurm requested staff to move forward with resurfacing the tennis and pickleball courts at Hester Park. 

Discussion continued regarding current property tax; funding options; and public/private partnerships.

Councilmember Matheny entered the meeting at 3:04 p.m.

(A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation is filed in Exhibit Drawer G, No. 12, which is hereby referred to and made a part of these minutes.)

B.2
2024-195 Water & Sewer Utility Policy 

This item has attachments.  

Water Resource Director, Mike Borchers recognized outside representatives to present the item. 

Urban Planning and Design Group Manager, Chance Sparks made a PPP; spoke to the Greensboro utility extension policy; outlined a project overview; the current policy; North Carolina Community comparisons; spoke to the comprehensive plan; to annexation and feasibility studies; to combining policies; to health hazards; to an updated policy; provided the history of the item; an overview and intent of the changes; spoke to the City mission and values; highlighted strategic partnerships; spoke to expansion and private property impacts; to grant exceptions; to a master agreement; to the application and appeals process; to utility extensions; to interlocal government agreements; and outlined the next steps.

Discussion ensued regarding housing; interlocal agreements; planning processes; and mixed-use developments. 

Planning Director, Sue Schwarts spoke to fire response times; to housing needs; to road connections; to City services; and to affordable housing.  

Discussion continued regarding economic development; pipeline maintenance; and to utility extensions.

Mayor Vaughan left the meeting at 3:57 p.m.

Councilmember Matheny requested staff to keep Council informed regarding water and sewer extension updates; and requested a comparison document of changes regarding the water and sewer policy. 

Councilmember Thurm requested funds to be set aside from annual income for future maintenance issues. 

Discussion ensued regarding the general fund; and interlocal agreements.

Mr. Borchers stated staff would present the item at the April 16th City Council meeting. 

(A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation is filed in Exhibit Drawer G, No. 12, which is hereby referred to and made a part of these minutes.)

C.
Adjournment

  

Moved by Councilmember Hoffmann, seconded by Councilmember Matheny, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried by affirmation.

The City Council Adjourned at 4:04 p.m.

 

___________________________                        ____________________________

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

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