Protest petition included in city's legislative agenda

The Greensboro City Council takes a vote on its legislative program tonight. Against the expectations of many of its proponents, the program includes a request that the NC General Assembly restore the protest petition requiring a super-majority of 75 percent of council members to approve a rezoning when a sufficient number of neighbors register their opposition. The provision was taken away from Greensboro residents by the the state legislature in 1971.

Here are a couple other choice items:

• "Notice for public hearings has long been provided through publication in newspapers of general circulation. In the 21st Century, effective means for providing notice are now available that are considerably less expensive to the local governments that must provide them. The city will seek legislation to authorize municipalities to use the option of electronic means to provide public notice for certain public hearings."

• "The city will support local legislation amending the city charter to provide that the Greensboro city attorney be appointed by and report to the city council as its legal advisor."

• "The city will support local legislation to amend the city charter to provide that the chief of the Greensboro Police Department be appointed by and report to the city council as its employee."

UPDATE, Dec. 2, 9:22 p.m.: Council voted by acclamation tonight to postpone consideration of the protest petition until January at the request of Mayor Yvonne Johnson, and then later voted unanimously to continue the entire legislative program until its Jan. 21 meeting.

After the first vote, Triad Real Estate & Building Industries Coalition President Marlene Sanford, along with Henry Isaacson and Marc Isaacson — a father and son legal team who argue many rezoning cases before council — stood up to leave. Before the meeting, the Isaacsons were greeted by District 3 Councilman Zack Matheny and District 5 Councilwoman Trudy Wade.

Just before the beginning of the meeting a protest petition supporter called me to predict that council would approve the legislative program after removing the item expressing support for restoring the protest petition. Mayor Johnson said she had been indundated with e-mails concerning the protest petition, and thought it best to have discussion about the pros and cons of restoring it before taking a vote.