City Council Meeting: October 12, 2026
Meeting recording
- Meeting
- City Council Regular Meeting
- Date
- Monday, October 12, 2026
- Location
- Council Chambers, City Hall, 132 W. Virginia Ave.
This is a staff-prepared summary to help residents follow the meeting. It is not the official record. The agenda, the agenda packet and, once Council approves them, the official minutes are on the City’s CivicClerk page for this meeting. The time links open the recording at that point.
Meeting summary
City Council met Monday, October 12, 2026, in Council Chambers. Council adopted an update to the water shortage conservation ordinance, accepted a $2,508,900 state offer for lead and copper service line work, adopted the Stormwater Master Plan, and awarded the natural gas line relocation contract for the NC-274/NC-279 project. Select a time to jump to that part of the recording.
Opening and agenda
- Call to order: Mayor Becky S. Smith called the meeting to order 12:59. Pastor John Harper gave the invocation 13:26, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance 14:11.
- Agenda: Council voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented 14:33.
Recognitions and presentations
- Students of the Month: Principals and counselors recognized October students for traits such as perseverance, respect and responsibility from Bessemer City High School 15:54, Bessemer City Middle School 19:00, Tryon Elementary 21:28, Bessemer City Primary 27:10 and Bessemer City Central Elementary 32:53.
- Land Development Code update: Consultant Karen Mallo reviewed the assessment and recommendations phase and the next phase, drafting the new code language 47:45. Topics included North Carolina limits on “downzoning” 52:39, the state’s end of mandatory minimum parking requirements starting January 1, 2027 58:52, longer vested rights for permits (up to 7 years), moving the Planning Board out of quasi-judicial recommendations 1:04:14, plain-language standards, and an AI-assisted review of the current code text 1:01:27.
- Stormwater Master Plan: Jared Wright and Daniel Johnson of McGill Associates summarized the Stormwater Master Plan, funded by the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) 1:14:58. The plan uses a citywide computer model and a field survey of about 5,600 drainage structures 1:18:19 and recommends three priority projects:
- Area 1, Sunset Drive (reservoir and water treatment plant): hybrid swales and culverts to keep water from overtopping the road, estimated $200,000 to $250,000 1:22:45.
- Area 2, Downtown North (E. Main Ave. and 9th/10th streets): a larger retention basin and a 60-inch culvert, estimated $500,000 to $700,000 1:24:43.
- Area 3, Downtown South (E. Georgia Ave. and 8th to 11th streets): culvert replacements and ditch channel restoration, estimated $250,000 to $330,000 1:25:45.
Public comment
- One resident spoke 42:38. He thanked Council for recent bulk trash cleanups, objected to the City Attorney interrupting a speaker at a previous meeting 43:19, raised privacy concerns about Flock license plate reader cameras 44:19, and repeated his request that City vehicles be numbered 45:30.
Consent agenda
Council approved these items in one unanimous vote 47:35:
- Minutes of the September 14, 2026 regular meeting and the September 29, 2026 work session.
- Closing the 100 block of W. Pennsylvania Ave. and the 100 block of S. 12th St. for the Veterans Car Show on Saturday, November 14, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Closing the 100 blocks of E. and W. Virginia Ave. and of N. 11th and N. 12th streets for the Christmas in the City festival, parade and tree lighting on Sunday, November 22, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- A capital project grant ordinance for $510,000 for the Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) study.
Council actions
- Water shortage conservation: Unanimously adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 52 of the Code of Ordinances to add a stage, giving staff more flexibility to start conservation measures during a shortage 1:13:28.
- Lead and copper service lines: Unanimously approved a resolution accepting NC DEQ’s $2,508,900 funding offer for the lead and copper service line inventory and replacement project 1:14:07.
- Stormwater Master Plan: Unanimously adopted the City of Bessemer City Stormwater Master Plan, which also meets the state grant closeout requirements 1:30:22.
- Natural gas line relocation (NCDOT U-6078): Unanimously awarded the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Appling Boring Company, Inc. ($146,202.90), to relocate high-pressure gas lines for the NC-274/NC-279 realignment 1:32:28.
City Manager’s report
- Fire station funding: The City received an additional $136,000 from the state budget for the new fire station project, on top of the $2.15 million state grant secured earlier 1:33:48.
- Around the city: Trunk-or-Treat on October 31 downtown 1:34:24; the Citizens Academy finished session 4 on police and code enforcement 1:34:31; new solar digital speed signs on Main Ave. near 13th St. 1:34:56; tilt-wall construction under way for “Project GT” in Southridge Business Park 1:35:16; and the first “What’s Happening in BC” coffee conversation at the Kiser Center 1:35:35.
- Next work session: Starts early, at 2 p.m. 1:36:28, with the Terracon Phase II brownfields assessment of the proposed fire station property, a title search update from the City Attorney, and personnel policy revisions 1:37:00.