City Council Business Meeting on 2026-02-23 5:30 PM - Feb 23, 2026

meeting

Charlotte City Council 2h 58m 2 speakers 5 agenda items transcribed 2 months ago official recording ↗

▲ 0

Transcript

jump: agenda · speakers · find in transcript

Transcript

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

How does the meeting open and who is introduced at the City Council call to order?

Vi Lyles 0:00

We've never made it a big thing of you need to conform to how corporate America says you need to look. You could still be who you are and still be very professional.

Vi Lyles 0:17

had plenty of clients that have encountered it or they would say hey LaMonica let's make sure I do a little bit more as a laid-back professional look when I go into the interview and then BAM I'm gonna surprise them with who I really am.

Vi Lyles 1:19

yourself. You don't have to conform to what society says you need to look like. You can just be as beautiful as you are wearing your natural hair and you can still have a CFO job if you want.

Vi Lyles 1:59

and I want her to understand that her natural hair is beautiful. She doesn't have to always wear weaves. If that's an option, you can, but just remember that your foundation of what God has made you into is just as beautiful and you can wear your natural hair as much as you like, any way that you like.

3:51

Thank you.

Vi Lyles 4:18

¶¶

Vi Lyles 5:27

Thank you.

5:57

Thank you.

Vi Lyles 6:15

Thank you.

Logan Creech 8:28

Thank you.

9:19

Bye.

Vi Lyles 10:01

Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Thank you very much. I'd like to now call the run of our business meeting, the Charlotte City Council business meeting, call to order. We are going to begin with introductions. I want to say good evening and thank you all for joining us here in person and for those watching online for our February 23rd business meeting. Let's begin with introductions with our clerk and we'll come around the dais. Good evening, Stephanie Kelly, City Clerk. Good evening, Andrea Leslie-Fight, City Attorney. Good evening, Dimple Ajmera, at-large member. Good evening, I'm Victoria Watlington, and I have the pleasure of serving you as a member at-large.

Vi Lyles 10:53

Joy Mayo, representing District 3. Dante Anderson, District 1.

Marcus Jones 10:58

Marcus Jones, City Manager.

Vi Lyles 11:00

Vi Lyles, Mayor. Good evening, everyone. James Mitchell, Mayor Pro Tem. Kimberly Owens, representing District 6.

JD Masueta-Arias 11:07

Malcolm Graham, District 2. Ed Driggs, District 7. JD Masueta-Arias, proudly representing the East Side, District 5.

Vi Lyles 11:17

Okay, good evening. I'm Renee Johnson, and I have the honor of representing District 4. Do we have everyone? Everyone's had the opportunity to do this. We begin our meetings with an invocation, an expression, or inspiration followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. This invocation is intended to solemnize our proceedings to make sure that we are working together. We celebrate religious diversity in our community, including those without a religious faith. Tonight we'll have Council Member Owens to deliver our our invocation. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everyone. As we gather here today for the City Council meeting, let us take a moment to reflect on our shared purpose and responsibility to this community we cherish.

Vi Lyles 12:07

We stand at a pivotal moment in our city's history, one that challenges us to embody the values of integrity, service, and solidarity. In these times when divisions can easily take root, it becomes ever more crucial that we reaffirm our dedication to building a stronger, more cohesive community. The legacy of our past decisions still echoes within our neighborhoods, reminding us of the importance of careful thought and compassion in all that we do. Many of our communities have felt the impact of choices made for reasons that may not have prioritized their needs, and it's our duty to address those past harms. Let us strive to do what is right, even if no one is looking. Each one of us holds the capacity to effect positive change and to be a source of hope for our residents.

Vi Lyles 12:54

As we deliberate today, let us commit to listening to the voices of those who have been marginalized and to ensuring that our decisions reflect our community's values. Together, let us weave a tapestry of trust and connection, acknowledging the diversity that enriches our city. As we move forward in our discussions and decisions, may we invoke a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and genuine care, recognizing that our collective strength lies in our unwavering commitment to one another. Amen.