City of Belmont

The board discussed the development of the FY 26-27 work plan and received updates from various committees. Key outcomes included the approval of a facade enhancement grant for 3 N. Main Street and the formal adoption of the 2027 event calendar. The board deliberated on plans for the Garibaldi Festival, potential programming for the 2026 Bavarian Arts Project, and ongoing public art initiatives. Additionally, committee members focused on economic development efforts regarding downtown vacancies and formulated new strategies for enhancing stakeholder awareness and branding of the Main Street program.

The board reviewed the financial report, noting funding allocations for upcoming events and plans to streamline grant requests. Staff presented performance metrics from the recent concert series. Discussions centered on organizational governance, including potential structural changes to the relationship between the nonprofit and the Main Street program, as well as the importance of formalizing an MOU. Additionally, planning for a Literary Festival was discussed, covering venue challenges, author participation, and the need for further budget information before committing financial support to the event.

The City Council workshop addressed the approval of a Request for Proposals for professional advisory services concerning the long-term development strategy of the Stoke property. Additionally, the Council discussed an FK permit and lease agreement with Duke Energy regarding a city-owned parcel adjacent to the Belmont Rowing Center to preserve the potential for future development of a public paddling park.

The meeting served as a joint session between the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Board to initiate an update to the city's land development code. Discussions centered on hiring a consultant to guide the process, the importance of aligning the code with the comprehensive land use plan and recent state law changes, and strategies for public engagement, including upcoming surveys, listening sessions, and stakeholder outreach to ensure community feedback is prioritized.

The meeting included the presentation and approval of the May financial report. Staff provided updates on the Friday Night Live concert series and discussed entertainment cost estimates for the Bavarian Holiday Festival. The board approved the sponsorship of a corporate bed for the Belmont Community Garden and authorized a partnership with the Belmont Bookshop for the 2025 Literary Festival, including support for venue use and event infrastructure.