Clinton public meetings in 2025

Regular Council Meetings

The City Council will conduct a public hearing on a rezoning request for 0.66 acres at 200 Northeast Boulevard, changing the land use from residential to highway commercial. Two additional public hearings will consider special use applications for indoor recreation facilities at 200 and 357 Northeast Boulevard. New business includes reviewing a recreation sponsorship and naming rights policy, budget amendment(s), and pay plan amendment(s). The meeting also addresses appointments to the Planning and Zoning Board and the Board of Adjustment, and updates on downtown projects.

• Public hearing on rezoning 0.66 acres at 200 Northeast Blvd from R-8 Residential to HC-Highway Commercial
• Public hearing on special use request by Environmental Justice Community Action Network for an indoor recreation facility (<1,000 people) at 200 Northeast Blvd
• Public hearing on special use request by Ibrahim Awawdeh for an indoor recreation facility (<1,000 people) at 357 Northeast Blvd
• Consideration of Clinton Recreation Sponsorship & Naming Rights Policy
• Consideration of budget amendment(s)

The council unanimously reappointed City Manager James Duncan and City Attorney Joel Starling. It also unanimously approved rezoning 0.66 acres at 200 Northeast Boulevard from R-8 Residential to HC-Highway Commercial. A special‑use permit was approved for Environmental Justice Community Action Network to operate an indoor recreation facility for fewer than 1,000 people at the same address, while a similar request by Ibrahim Awawdeh at 357 Northeast Boulevard was denied.

• Reappointed City Manager James Duncan (unanimous)
• Reappointed City Attorney Joel Starling (unanimous)
• Approved rezoning of 0.66 acres at 200 Northeast Blvd from R-8 to HC-Commercial (unanimous)
• Approved special‑use permit for Environmental Justice Community Action Network indoor recreation facility (<1,000 people) at 200 Northeast Blvd (approved)
• Denied special‑use permit for Ibrahim Awawdeh indoor recreation facility (<1,000 people) at 357 Northeast Blvd (denied)
• Re‑elected Mayor Pro Tem Marcus O. Becton (unanimous)
• Approved minutes of November 5, 2025 meeting (unanimous)

Regular Council Meetings

The Clinton City Council will consider several agenda items, including budget amendments and temporary closures for holiday events. Public hearings will address code changes for itinerant merchants. The council will also discuss a resolution supporting state juvenile‑justice funding and a possible scope change for the Phase IV Downtown Revitalization Project.

• Approval of budget amendments
• Closing City Market parking lot for the “Christmas Carousel” Dec 11‑13, 2025
• Street closures for the “Clinton‑Sampson Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Parade” Dec 13, 2025
• Public hearing on text amendment to Section 14‑221 of the City Code updating registration requirements for itinerant merchants
• Consideration of amending the scope of Phase IV Downtown Revitalization Project

No items were presented for other business. The mayor and a councilmember made brief remarks about the recent election and community engagement. A motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Pro Tern Becton, seconded by Councilmember Ruggles, and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:11 PM.

• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Regular Council Meetings

The Clinton City Council will discuss and vote on several items, including budget amendments and a one‑year lease with U‑Care for the property at 309 Lisbon Street. Public hearings will be held on a special use request for an accessory apartment at 122 Colonial Drive and on two code amendments concerning itinerant merchants. Resolutions to award surplus K9 units to their handlers will also be considered.

• Public hearing on a special use request by Randy Wiggins for a 20 × 20 ft accessory apartment at 122 Colonial Drive (R‑8 Residential District)
• Public hearing on a text amendment to Section 14‑221 of the City Code to update registration requirements for itinerant merchants
• Public hearing on a text amendment to Section 14‑222 of the City Code to define itinerant merchants
• Consideration of approving budget amendments
• Consideration of a lease with U‑Care for the property at 309 Lisbon Street for one year, with automatic renewal options

The council unanimously approved the September 2 minutes and adopted three proclamations for Fire Prevention Week, National American Indian Heritage Month, and World Polio Day. It also unanimously approved a special‑use request for a detached accessory apartment at 122 Colonial Drive and a budget amendment that increases both expenditures and revenues by $27,255. Finally, the council declared K9 Brembo surplus and awarded the dog to Sergeant Christian A. Simmons.

• Approved September 2 minutes (unanimous)
• Adopted Fire Prevention Week proclamation (unanimous)
• Adopted National American Indian Heritage Month proclamation (unanimous)
• Adopted World Polio Day proclamation (unanimous)
• Approved special‑use request for accessory apartment at 122 Colonial Drive (unanimous)
• Adopted FY2025‑2026 budget amendment #3, increasing expenditures and revenues by $27,255 (unanimous)
• Declared K9 Brembo surplus and awarded to Sergeant Christian A. Simmons (unanimous)

Regular Council Meetings

The City Council will consider a special use request for an accessory apartment and vote on accepting two Asset Inventory and Assessment grants for water and sewer. The body will also discuss budget amendments and the adoption of Shamrock Drive as a city street.

• Public hearing: Special use request for accessory apartment at 300 Millbrook Avenue
• Resolution to accept Asset Inventory and Assessment Sewer Grant (AIA-W-0314) and Water Grant (AIA-D-0319)
• Resolution to accept Shamrock Drive as a city street between Pierce Street extension and Sunset Avenue
• Proposed crosswalk installation from Shamrock Plaza to Immanuel Baptist Church
• Street closures on October 31, 2025, for 'Halloween on the Square'

The City Council unanimously accepted a $150,000 State Reserve Grant to fund a sewer asset inventory and assessment. It also approved a second $150,000 grant for a water asset inventory, and authorized a special use accessory apartment at 300 Millbrook Avenue. Additional actions included writing off uncollectible water and sewer bills, setting spring and fall clean‑up weeks, rescheduling the November council meeting, and adopting Shamrock Drive as a city street.

• Approved $150,000 State Reserve Grant for sewer asset inventory (unanimous)
• Approved $150,000 State Reserve Grant for water asset inventory (unanimous)
• Approved special use request for accessory apartment at 300 Millbrook Ave (unanimous)
• Wrote off unpaid water and sewer billing accounts (unanimous)
• Designated Spring Clean‑up Week (April 13‑17, 2026) and Fall Clean‑up Week (Oct 19‑23, 2026) (unanimous)
• Rescheduled November 4, 2025 council meeting to November 5, 2025 (unanimous)
• Accepted portion of Shamrock Drive as a city street (unanimous)
• Approved First Responders Appreciation Day proclamation (unanimous)

Regular Council Meetings

The City Council removed the closed‑session item, approved the July 1 minutes, and unanimously passed three text amendments to the Land Development Ordinance: updating prohibited signs in Section 6.5, defining tobacco and hemp retail in Appendix A, and adding special requirements for those retailers in Section 4. The council also approved street closings for the Annual Square Fair and Barbecue Cook‑off and adopted two budget amendments, all by unanimous vote.

• Removed closed session from agenda (unanimous)
• Approved July 1, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
• Amended Section 6.5 prohibited signs (unanimous)
• Amended Appendix A to define tobacco and hemp retail (unanimous)
• Amended Section 4 special requirements for tobacco/hemp retail (unanimous)
• Approved street closings for Annual Square Fair and Barbecue Cook‑off (unanimous)
• Adopted two budget amendments (unanimous)

Regular Council Meetings

The council approved the minutes from June meetings and proclaimed July as Park and Recreation Month. It adopted resolutions to award surplus police badge and weapon to a retiring officer, to allow facsimile signature devices for financial documents, and to close East Main Street for a Battle of the Badges event. The council also appointed Greg Thornton to the Planning and Zoning Board and reappointed Perry E. Solice, Jr. to the ABC Board. All actions passed unanimously.

• Approved June 3 and June 17 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Proclaimed July as Park and Recreation Month (unanimous)
• Declared police badge and Glock Model 45 pistol surplus and awarded to Lt. Stokes McKoy (unanimous)
• Authorized use of facsimile signature machines for checks, drafts, and pre‑audit certificates (unanimous)
• Closed East Main Street from Simply Brewed Coffee Company to Professional Eye Care on Aug 9, 2025, 9 AM‑3 PM for Battle of the Badges (unanimous)
• Appointed Greg Thornton to Planning and Zoning Board, term until Jan 2028 (unanimous)
• Reappointed Perry E. Solice, Jr. to ABC Board, term until Aug 2028 (unanimous)

Special Meetings

The council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager, Finance Director and Public Works Director to act on a $446,720 lead service line inventory project. It also adopted three FY2024‑2025 budget ordinance amendments and two project‑fund amendments for the Alleyway Grant and Highway 24 relocation. Finally, the FY2025‑2026 budget ordinance, fee schedule, and a 0.34 ¢ per $100 ad valorem tax rate were adopted unanimously.

• Approved Lead Service Line Inventory resolution, authorizing City Manager, Finance Director and Public Works Director (unanimous)
• Adopted three FY2024‑2025 budget ordinance amendments (unanimous)
• Amended Alleyway Grant Project Fund, increasing expenditures by $1,335 (unanimous)
• Amended Highway 24 Infrastructure Relocation Project Fund, transferring $293,489 and closing the project (unanimous)
• Adopted FY2025‑2026 budget ordinance with fee schedule (unanimous)
• Established ad valorem tax rate of $0.34 per $100 property valuation for FY2025‑2026 (unanimous)

Regular Council Meetings

The City Council approved the minutes of the May 6 and May 13 meetings unanimously. It unanimously approved a special use request for Sampson Community College to expand its trade and vocational school at 395 Enterprise Drive. The Council also unanimously adopted Ordinance #2025.06.01 to amend Appendix A of the Land Development Ordinance, allowing five lots in minor subdivisions, and Ordinance #2025.06.02 to amend Section 12.3.3 Plat Labeling Requirements.

• Approved May 6 & May 13 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved special use request for Sampson Community College expansion at 395 Enterprise Drive (unanimous)
• Adopted Ordinance #2025.06.01 amending Appendix A to allow five lots in minor subdivisions (unanimous)
• Adopted Ordinance #2025.06.02 amending Section 12.3.3 Plat Labeling Requirements (unanimous)

Special Meetings

The City Council approved the FY2025‑2026 budget ordinance. Council members agreed to increase council salaries and to raise paving and code‑enforcement expenditures. The council decided to keep the pool admission fee unchanged while raising youth athletics fees, and the mayor instructed the City Manager to send a letter to Senator Brent Jackson requesting $10,000,000 for the wastewater‑treatment‑plant expansion. The meeting was adjourned unanimously.

• Adopted FY2025‑2026 budget ordinance (no vote tally recorded)
• Council salary increase agreed: $600 for councilmembers, $650 for mayor pro tem, $800 for mayor
• Approved increase in paving expenditures
• Approved increase in code‑enforcement expenditures
• Consensus to leave pool admission fee unchanged and increase youth athletics fees
• Mayor instructed City Manager to send letter to Senator Brent Jackson requesting $10,000,000 WWTP assistance
• Adjournment motion passed unanimously

Regular Council Meetings

The council approved the minutes from the April meetings unanimously. It passed several proclamations—including National Public Works Week, National Police Week, Municipal Clerks Week, and Smoke Alarm Saturday—each unanimously. Finally, the council unanimously adopted an ordinance annexing the property on Martha Lane, extending the city’s corporate limits.

• Approved April 1 and April 15 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Adopted National Public Works Week proclamation (unanimous)
• Adopted National Police Week proclamation (unanimous)
• Adopted Municipal Clerks Week proclamation (unanimous)
• Adopted Smoke Alarm Saturday proclamation (unanimous)
• Annexed property along Martha Lane, extending city limits (unanimous)

Special Meetings

The City Council adopted a proclamation for the National Day of Prayer and formally received the 2023‑2024 financial audit. A motion was passed unanimously to contact North Carolina state legislators for assistance funding the city's limited water capacity and wastewater‑treatment‑plant expansion. The council also continued consideration of a 36‑lot subdivision plat and scheduled a meeting with NCDOT and the developer for April 28. The meeting was adjourned unanimously.

• Proclamation of National Day of Prayer (unanimous)
• Received 2023‑2024 financial audit (unanimous)
• Motion to contact state legislators for water capacity funding and WWTP expansion (unanimous)
• Continued consideration of 36‑lot subdivision plat until May 6 (unanimous)
• Scheduled meeting with NCDOT, developer, and staff for April 28 at 10:00 AM (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Regular Council Meetings

The City Council approved a special use permit for a tattoo studio at 919 College Street and adopted a zoning amendment to rezone 9.52 acres along West Elizabeth Street and West Morisey Boulevard from Light Industrial to Residential. It also approved contracts with Sampson Community College for SRO services and with Sampson County for fire protection, and voted to close the City Market parking lot and a section of Graham Street for Alive after Five concerts. Additionally, the council appointed a voting delegate for the CityVision NC League of Municipalities meeting.

• Approved special use permit for Luis Guzman tattoo studio (unanimous)
• Adopted rezoning amendment for 9.52 acres to R-8 Residential (unanimous)
• Approved SRO services contract with Sampson Community College ($14,135.60 + $50,000 vehicle) (unanimous)
• Approved fire protection contract amendment with Sampson County (unanimous)
• Closed City Market parking lot and Graham Street section for concert dates (unanimous)
• Appointed Mayor Pro Tem Becton as voting delegate for CityVision NC meeting (unanimous)
• Approved minutes of March 4, 2025 meeting (unanimous)
• Added walk‑on items (John Adams appearance, college presentation, contracts) to agenda (unanimous)