At the January 27, 2026, regular meeting, the Lancaster City Council received a transformative design presentation for the Gay Street corridor, advanced major infrastructure projects, and bid farewell to a long-serving colleague. The meeting was marked by the emotional resignation of District 5 Council Member Taylor due to health reasons, though she remained to vote through the end of the session. Council also approved over $1 million for the Arch Street sidewalk project, authorized grant requests for police vehicles and the Lindsay Pettus Greenway extension, and directed staff to research regulations for food truck operations before permitting them on city property.
Detailed Agenda Summary
Special Presentation: Gay Street Woonerf Design
Chris Betancourt of Kimley-Horn presented a design concept for the 100 block of West Gay Street, introducing the “Woonerf” or “living street” concept. This design prioritizes shared public space over vehicular traffic, featuring a curbless level surface, underground utilities, and enhanced landscaping to facilitate festivals and daily pedestrian use.
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Concepts: Two variations were presented: Concept 1 featured traditional architectural elements like brick arches and a “Red Rose” gateway, while Concept 2 utilized modern materials like steel and sculptural seating.
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Discussion: Mayor DeVenny expressed a preference for Concept 1. Council members discussed the “chicken or the egg” dilemma regarding investing in streetscapes while adjacent buildings remain dilapidated. Council Member Sowell requested a review of the original 2020 Master Plan to revisit cost estimates and goals. No vote was taken as this was a conceptual presentation.
Citizen Comments
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Charlene Hunter: Criticized Council Member Taylor’s attendance record in 2025 and questioned the decision to keep city offices open during recent winter weather when other agencies closed.
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Curtis Watson: Expressed support for the Gay Street improvements but urged Council to enforce codes on dilapidated buildings to attract investors to the area.
Resignation of Council Member Taylor
In an unexpected turn following the approval of minutes, Council Member Taylor announced her immediate resignation from the District 5 seat, citing deteriorating health. She expressed love for her colleagues and the city she has served for decades. The Mayor and Council thanked her for her long tenure of public service. Despite the announcement, Taylor remained seated and participated in voting for the remainder of the meeting.
Monthly Reports
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Departmental Praise: Mayor DeVenny shared a commendation from a veteran Walmart truck driver regarding the professionalism and speed of Lancaster Police, Fire, and EMS during a recent accident on the bypass.
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Finance: Finance Director James Absher reported that auditors are working to complete the 2023 audit by February, noting a nationwide shortage of auditors has slowed the process.
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HR: The city currently has 181 employees with ongoing vacancies primarily in the Police Department.
Council Appointments
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Standing Committees: The Mayor announced committee assignments, including appointing Council Member Harris as Finance Chair, Council Member Hood as Police Chair, and Council Member Miller as Public Works Chair.
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Board Appointments: Council voted unanimously to reappoint various members to city boards. Specifically, Kendrick Cunningham was appointed to the Board of Electrical Examiners. For the Landmarks Commission, Council appointed Curtis Watson, Connor Tindal, and Porsha Mango Brown.
Budget Calendar
Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Calendar. Key dates include a departmental goals meeting on February 28 and the presentation of the budget request document in mid-April.
CDBG Arch Street Sidewalk Project
Council awarded the contract for the Arch Street sidewalk project to Little Mountain Builders of Catawba County, LLC, in the amount of $1,092,131.50.
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Discussion: Staff explained the cost exceeded the original $800,000 estimate due to inflation and DOT requirements for crosswalks. The funding gap will be covered by ARPA funds and General Fund reserves.
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Action: The motion passed unanimously, with the stipulation that the contract execution is contingent upon the contractor completing their federal SAM (System for Award Management) registration.
Commercial Food Trucks at Old Post Office
Staff sought direction regarding a request from a commercial vendor to use the Old Post Office parking lot.
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Discussion: Council members expressed hesitation regarding daily commercial use due to liability concerns, trash, and competition with brick-and-mortar restaurants.
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Action: Council directed staff not to proceed with daily permits yet but to research regulations and ordinances to govern food trucks, potentially focusing on special events like “Food Truck Fridays” rather than permanent placement.
Resolutions
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Resolution 26-01 (Fort Lawn Pump Station): Council approved an agreement for the City of Lancaster to perform bi-weekly inspections and maintenance on the Town of Fort Lawn’s new sewer pump station. The City will be reimbursed for labor and equipment plus a 10% administrative fee.
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Resolution 26-02 (Police Vehicles): Council authorized a request to the SC House of Representatives for a $650,000 appropriation to purchase and equip new police vehicles. Chief Roper noted the fleet is aging, with 14 vehicles currently exceeding 100,000 miles.
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Resolution 26-03 (Greenway Extension): Council authorized a request for a $3.4 million state appropriation to extend the Lindsay Pettus Greenway to the Springdale Recreation Center.
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Resolution 26-04 (Mutual Aid): Council updated the mutual aid agreement with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, formalizing protocols for cross-jurisdictional assistance.
Ordinances
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Ordinance 26-01 (Budget Amendment – 2nd Reading): Council unanimously approved the second reading of an amendment to remove the separate pay scale for police and fire recruits, allowing the city to advertise higher starting salaries to remain competitive.
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Ordinance 26-02 (Annexation – 1st Reading): Council approved the first reading to annex a 0.12-acre parcel at 468 Elm Street. The annexation was required for the property owner to reconnect water service after a period of disconnection.
Executive Session
Council entered executive session to discuss an economic development matter regarding “Project Philadelphia.” No action was taken upon returning to open session, and the meeting was adjourned.
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