On the agenda: Hickory 20260721 - City Council Action Agenda - July 21, 2026.pdf — flock camera (Jul 21)

A = Approved, A1 = Approved First Reading, A2 = Approved Second Reading, D = Deferred,
NA = No Action, PH = Authorized Public Hearing, AD = Approval Denied
ACTION AGENDA
Hickory City Council
76 North Center Street
I.

Call to Order

II.

Invocation by Reverend Sandi Hood, Peace United Church of Christ

III.

Pledge of Allegiance

IV.

Special Presentations

V.

July 21, 2026
6:00 p.m.

A.

Proclamation Recognizing Hickory High School Girls State Championship Soccer Team.
(Exhibit IV.A.)

B.

Recognition of Assistant Public Services Director Caroline Kone, as Professional
Engineers of North Carolina (PENC) Government Engineer of the Year.

Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Loren Barrett, 1910 Waterbury Ct, Hickory discussed concerns with flock cameras.
Jacob Darden, 1655 20th Ave Dr NE, Hickory discussed concerns with flock cameras.
Eric Bywaters, 360 1st Ave SW, Hickory discussed the preservation of the Stanford Skate
Park and the importance of the park.
William Sturm, 3702 16th Street NE, Hickory discussed a partnership to help repair Sandy
Ridge Baptist Church parking lot when all the new development across the street is
completed.
Mr. Shoup, 221 15th St SE, Hickory discussed the preservation of the Stanford Skate Park.

VI.

Approval of Minutes

A

A.

Regular Meeting of June 16, 2026. (Exhibit VI.A.)

A

B.

Special Joint Meeting of June 30, 2026. (Exhibit VI.B.)

VII.

Reaffirmation and Ratification of Second Readings. Votes recorded on first reading will be
reaffirmed and ratified on second reading unless Council Members change their votes and so
indicate on second reading.

A2

A.

Budget Revision Number 22. (First Reading Vote: Unanimous)

A2

B.

Consideration of Rezoning Petition 26-04 for Property Located at 3440 Eller Drive, Newton,
Containing Approximately 5.56-Acres. (First Reading Vote: Unanimous)

VIII.

Consent Agenda: All items below will be enacted by vote of City Council. There will be no separate
discussion of these items unless a Council Member so requests. In which event, the item will be
removed from the Consent Agenda and considered under Item IX.

A

A.

July 21, 2026

Acceptance of the 2025 Bulletproof Vest Program Grant. (Exhibit VIII.A.)

Staff requests City Council’s acceptance of the 2025 Bulletproof Vest Program Grant to
help fund the purchase of bulletproof vests for police officers. The City of Hickory will
receive up to 50% reimbursement for each vest purchased.
A

B.

Acceptance to install speed cushions along 5th St SE from 2nd Ave SE to 8th Ave SE and
along 3rd Ave Dr SE from 5th St SE to 8th Ave SE. (Exhibit VIII.B.)
Staff request Council’s acceptance and approval to install speed cushions along 5 th St SE
from 2nd Ave SE to 8th Ave SE and along 3rd Ave Dr SE from 5th St SE to 8th Ave SE after
receiving a completed petition from property owners along 5 th St SE with regards to the
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. Speed cushions are a type of traffic calming
measure like traffic tables but allow emergency vehicles to travel more efficiently.

A

C.

Acceptance of Change Order #1 with Elite Infrastructure Group (Exhibit VIII.C.)
Staff requests City Council’s acceptance of Change Order #1 with Elite Infrastructure
Group for a contract deduction in the amount of $194,077.50 for the Hickory SW Water
Extension Project.

A

D.

Acceptance of amendment to the Professional Engineering Services Agreement with
Freese & Nichols, Inc for the Springs Road Transmission Main (Exhibit VIII.D.)
Staff requests City Council’s acceptance of an amendment to the Professional Engineering
Services Agreement with Freese & Nichols, Inc., for the Springs Road Transmission Main
to include a water model calibration task, in the not to exceed amount of $100,000.00.

A

E.

Acceptance of a Resolution Authorizing the City to apply for North Carolina Department of
Transportation Funds for intersection improvements at 4th Street and Main Avenue
(Exhibit VIII.E.)
Staff requests City Council’s acceptance to apply for North Carolina Department of
Transportation Funds for intersection improvements at 4 th Street and Main Avenue in the
amount of $248,950 with a city match of $43,150.

A

F.

Approval of a Cemetery Deed Transfer from Pamela Abernethy Parlier and spouse, Judson
Timothy Parlier, to Robin Chapman Meade and spouse, Samuel Dean Meade, Located in
Oakwood Cemetery, Section 56, Plot G, Cemetery Lot Number 4, Space 001 and 002.
(Prepared by Jason A. Knight, Attorney at Law). (Exhibit VIII.F.)

A1

G.

Budget Revision Number 1. (Exhibit VIII.G.)
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

July 21, 2026

To appropriate a total of $45,223 from General Fund Balance to roll forward
appropriations to the Parks Recreation and Sports Tourism Department for the
following activities: $21,699 in Enrichment activities, $8,240 for the Bill McDonald
scholarship, and $15,284 for Senior Games.
To appropriate $94,573 in General Fund Balance in FY25-26 unspent activity
funds for the Hickory Library towards Library programming expenses in FY26-27.
To appropriate $153,094 in State Revolving Funds towards an amended
professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols for additional
engineering services for the Springs Road Transmission Main Project.
To transfer $143,300 in Aviation Walk funds towards construction administration
and engineering services for the EMAS project at the Hickory Airport.
To appropriate $13,428 in General Fund Balance towards a legal services
agreement with Smith Rogers PLLC for the Hickory Police Department. These
funds are from the State Unauthorized Tax money program and are received and
reside in General Fund Balance until the time of appropriation for specific uses
under state guidelines.
To appropriate $10,000 in donations from General Fund Balance received in FY2526 to the Public Art Commission.
2

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

13.
14.

To appropriate $11,954 in donation revenues towards Parks and Recreation
programming expenses.
To appropriate $6,101 in donation revenue towards Parks and Recreation Senior
Games programming.
To appropriate $5,000 in donation revenue towards landscaping improvements at
Hickory City Park.
To Amend the Hickory Metro Convention Center Project budget to reconcile actual
revenues received.
To appropriate $402,006 in insurance reimbursement revenues to be used for
various capital improvements at the Hickory airport.
To appropriate a total of $34,300 in Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant funds
towards the purchase of bulletproof vests at the Hickory Police Department.
$17,150 will come from federal funds while the 50% local match of $17,150 was
budgeted in Police’s operating funds.
To transfer $1,500,000 in Claremont revenues in the Capital Reserve Fund
towards the McLin and Lyle Creek Capital project for various expenses.
To appropriate $770,000 in Water and Sewer Fund Balance towards the purchase
of 47.80 acres of land beside the Hickory Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant.

IX.

Items Removed from Consent Agenda

X.

Informational Items

XI.

New Business
A.

A1

Public Hearings
1.

Consideration of the Rezoning Petition 26-05 for Property Located at 929 9th Street
Dr NE from Industrial (IND) to High Density Residential (R-4) – Presentation by
Planning Director, Brian Frazier. (Exhibit XI.A.1.)
Staff requests for Council’s consideration of Rezoning Petition 26-05. Legacy
Home Builders NC, LLC owns the property at 929 9th Street Dr NE, Hickory NC.
Vitality Gladish has submitted a petition to rezone the property from Industrial
(IND) to High Density Residential (R-4). The intention is to gain approval to
construct a duplex. The Hickory Regional Planning Commission held a hearing on
June 24, 2026, to consider the petition and acknowledged the petition’s
consistency with the Hickory by Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Based upon
its findings, the Hickory Regional Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend
approval of the petition.
Notice of the public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general
circulation in the Hickory area on July 11th, and July 18th, 2026.

B.
A

July 21, 2026

Departmental Reports
1.

Appointments to Boards and Commissions
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms) (Appointed by City Council)
At-Large (Council Appoints)

VACANT

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms) Appointed by City Council
Small Cities Project Area (Council Appoints)

VACANT

COMMUNITY APPEARANCE COMMISSION
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms) Appointed by City Council
Ward 2 (Williams Appoints)
At-Large (Council Appoints)

VACANT
VACANT

3

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms) (Appointed by City Council)
Caucasian (Council Appoints)
Caucasian (Council Appoints)
Caucasian (Council Appoints)
Other Minority (Council Appoints)
Other Minority (Council Appoints)
Alderwoman Patton nominated Danielle Walters
Representative on the Community Relations Council.

as

an

VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
Other

Minority

HICKORY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
(Term Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms with Unlimited Appointments) (Appointed
by City Council)
Burke County Representative (Mayor Appoints with Recommendation from Burke
County)
VACANT
LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms) (Appointed by City Council)
Ward 4 (Freeman Appoints)
Ward 5 (Dula Appoints)
At-Large (1) (Mayor Appoints)
At-Large (2) (Mayor Appoints)

VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT

PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms) (Appointed by City Council)
Ward 3 (Seaver Appoints)
At-Large (Mayor Appoints)

VACANT
VACANT

Mayor Guess nominated Bonita Ferretti as an At-Large Representative on the Public
Art Commission
RECYCLING ADVISORY BOARD
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 3-Year Terms) (Appointed by City Council)
Ward 3 (Seaver Appoints)
Ward 4 (Freeman Appoints)
Ward 6 (Patton Appoints)
At-Large (Council Appoints)
At-Large (Council Appoints)

VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT

UNIVERSITY CITY COMMISSION
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 2-Year Terms) (Appointed by City Council)
At-Large Not Including ETJ (Council Appoints)

VACANT

YOUTH COUNCIL
(Terms Expiring 6-30; 1-Year Terms) (Appointed by City Council)
Homeschool
St. Stephens High School
C.

VACANT
VACANT

Presentation of Petitions and Requests

XII.

Matters Not on Agenda (requires majority vote of Council to consider)

XIII.

General Comments by Members of Council, City Manager or City Attorney of a Non-Business
Nature

XIV.

Closed Session Per NC General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(1)(6) to consult with the attorney regarding
the following: (Action on these items, if any, will occur in Open Session)

July 21, 2026

4

1.
2.
X.

Approval of Closed Session Minutes of May 19, 2026, and June 30, 2026 - NCGS §143318.11(a)(1)
Discussion of a Personnel Matter - NCGS §143-318.11(a)(6)

Adjournment

*Hickory City Code Section 2-56. Public Address to Council:
“When conducting public hearings, considering ordinances, and otherwise considering matters
wherein the public has a right to be heard, when it appears that there are persons present desiring
to be heard, the Mayor shall require those opposing and favoring the proposed action to identify
themselves. Each side of the matter shall be given equal time. Those opposing the proposed action
shall be allowed 15 minutes for presentation, followed by 15 minutes for those favoring the action,
with the opponents then to have five minutes for rebuttal and the proponents to then have five
minutes for surrebuttal. Those persons on either side shall have the right to divide their allotted
time among them as they may choose. The Council, by majority vote, may extend the time for each
side equally. On matters in which the person desiring to address the Council does not have a legal
right to speak, the Council shall determine whether it will hear the person. The refusal to hear a
person desiring to speak may be based upon grounds that the subject matter is confidential, that
its public discussion would be illegal, that it is a matter not within the jurisdiction of the Council or
for any other cause deemed sufficient by the Council. Any person allowed to speak who shall depart
from the subject under discussion or who shall make personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks,
or who shall become boisterous while addressing the Council shall be declared out of order by the
Mayor, or by vote of the Council, and barred from speaking further before the Council unless
permission to continue shall be granted by a majority vote of the Council, under such restrictions
as the Council may provide.”

The City of Hickory holds all public meetings in accessible rooms.
Special requests for accommodation should be submitted by individuals
with disabilities at least 48 hours before the scheduled meeting.
Phone Services (hearing impaired) – Call 711 or 1-800-735-2962

July 21, 2026

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