[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6502868,"mediaKeyId","5708658-182cf33f826fb01d5fc00c3a33d2bcec","parentId",5708658,"title","Charlotte council approves MOU to join regional transit authority, agrees to follow-up on appointment rules","audioSeconds",4876,"startMs",572000,"endMs",5448000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708658-182cf33f826fb01d5fc00c3a33d2bcec&start=572&end=5448","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708658-182cf33f826fb01d5fc00c3a33d2bcec/thumbnail_572000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6502868/Charlotte/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/Charlotte-council-approves-MOU-to-join-regional-transit-authority-agrees-to-follow-up-on-appointment-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502868-bc3eb24f6cb5680cf2175c47f7767f54/orig.mp4?Expires=1770919484&Signature=mBQCyP8ydgMGmPLIy4l4lKAkRCxxAI3XahO~cuNkBu-XG~5yyL6E5HV9zi2vmmKLFn8wI0uINc7OjL0G3FEqV-79pRNrZ2JcHoqAhRotQ12mx2TTbCBT0Usz9dbl72pb472EvvDgxaXretMedFeV5x9g~N-spXkSQcc4Jnq6E-tywRXhvItxCeITm~YGPM0wFZeiAP7nqPejbavOGhAo5aOwvJDTU08Iclevjc6WW47jNQm-UvKx-A0Ow09T-Ry5nqZaRrLwtkT~SReB0RRhP4t1vbiO9yVtdj3uIsvoX1Pe~pBTr29ePkpBhmG2BptWwJAavNtBPMfChbHW9WWenA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charlotte","date","2025-09-03T14:42:36Z","article","Charlotte City Council voted on Tuesday, Sept. 2, to approve a memorandum of understanding intended to align the city’s appointment process with a new regional transit authority created under the state’s PAVE Act, council members said. The motion passed 8-3.

The MOU sets a shared timeline for receiving applications and making appointments to the 27-member authority established by the PAVE Act and adds a provision requiring at least one transit rider be appointed by the city and county. Council members said passage of the MOU does not remove the city’s ability to vet applicants or to replace its appointees later.

Councilmember Ed Driggs (District 7), chair of the Transportation Planning & Development Committee, said his committee recommended the MOU 4–1 and asked the full council to approve the agreement while continuing work on how the city will apply the statute’s qualification language. “By voting for the MOU now, you’re not limiting your ability to engage on behalf of constituents about concerns that they may have,” Driggs said. He told colleagues the state law sets deadlines that will require the region to begin standing up the authority by January and for municipal appointments by December.

Why it matters: the PAVE Act requires a board and a set of studies to be in place by early 2026 if the authority is to receive and administer a half‑cent sales tax proposed for the November ballot. City staff and council members said approving the MOU now preserves Charlotte’s seat at the table while giving the council time to define the screening process, candidate rubric and other local priorities before appointments are finalized.

What council debated and decided

Committee background: Driggs said the transportation committee had a “robust conversation” in which members noted the MOU largely restates procedural parts of the statute and that it establishes a timeline for applications and appointments. Driggs said the committee endorsed the MOU with the caveat that staff and the council attorney will bring back guidance on how to interpret the statute’s requirement in paragraph d (that trustees “shall have demonstrated experience or qualifications” in fields such as law, finance, engineering, public transportation, urban planning, logistics, government, architecture or economic development).

Legal interpretation: Anthony Fox, interim city attorney, told councilmembers that the PAVE Act (the state law creating the authority) includes the paragraph d membership requirement but does not define how narrowly or broadly to interpret categories such as “public transportation.” “It will be for this body to determine whether or not that experience meets what this body believes to be demonstrated experience and qualifications,” Fox said. He said the attorney’s office will research definitions and comparable examples and return with a memo to help the council set a rubric.

Transit-rider representation: The MOU specifically commits Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to appoint at least one transit rider to the authority board. Several council members — and a speaker from the public, James Lee — urged that the city prioritize appointees with lived transit experience. Lee said he had waited hours for buses and that riders who “live the experience” should be represented. Supporters of the MOU, including Councilmember Malcolm Graham, said the city can appoint multiple riders if nominees also meet the statutory categories (for example, a rider who also demonstrates experience in public transportation, planning or finance).

Timing, studies and control of assets: City Manager Marcus Jones and staff explained that the PAVE Act requires several studies to be delivered to the authority by Jan. 1, 2026, and that tax revenue would not transfer to the authority until October 2026 if voters approve the ballot measure. Jones said municipalities have some latitude under the statute and that the MOU is meant to align appointment timelines so the authority can be stood up if the referendum passes. He also said the council retains the ability under state law to remove and replace its designees in the future.

Dissent and requests for more work: Councilmember Renee Johnson — who voted no in the committee and again opposed the measure in the full council — said residents’ concerns raised in public comment were not yet addressed and urged the council to complete more outreach and to resolve substantive policy issues before approving the MOU. Councilmember LaJuana Mayfield also said she had not received answers to some questions and opposed moving forward without more detail. Several other council members said they supported approving the MOU now while committing the transportation committee and staff to additional work on candidate qualifications, community engagement and fare and service details.

Vote and next steps: The motion to approve the MOU was moved by Councilmember Evan Peacock (District 6) and seconded (second not specified in the record). The council recorded the motion as approved by a voice/hand count, with a tally reported in the meeting as 8 in favor and 3 opposed. Councilmembers and staff said the committee will return with a report and with recommended language and procedures to clarify how the city will evaluate applicants and what information will be collected during the application process. The application window described in the MOU runs from early September through early December, with trustee appointments scheduled between Nov. 8 and Dec. 12.

Public comment and outreach: Staff and several council members said a broader public-engagement and information program remains needed before the November referendum. Councilmembers suggested a working group of council members and a schedule of workshops and public briefings to respond to community questions about board composition, small-business participation, “orphan roads” funding and anti-displacement policy preferences.

What the MOU does not decide tonight

Council and staff repeatedly emphasized that approving the MOU does not finalize the city’s appointees, change the statutory membership formula, or transfer revenues. The council expressly reserved the right to set a local rubric for judging whether applicants meet the statute’s “demonstrated experience or qualifications” requirement and to remove or replace appointees after they are seated.

Ending

Council leaders said they will return to the transportation committee and the full council with a staff memo on the legal interpretation of the statute and with a proposed candidate rubric. The MOU’s approval moves Charlotte into the regional coordination timeline required by state law; the referendum on a new sales tax remains a separate public vote scheduled for November.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Committee Wrap-Up Meeting - September 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Charlotte City Council voted on Tuesday, Sept. 2, to approve a memorandum of understanding intended to align the city’s appointment process with a new regional transit authority created under the state’s PAVE Act, council members said. The motion passed 8-3.","taxTitle","Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina","taxId",4848,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6502863,"CATS leaders outline security upgrades after fatal attack; cite staffing, technology and mental‑health gaps",7234,6337000,13571000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708658-182cf33f826fb01d5fc00c3a33d2bcec&start=6337&end=13571","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708658-182cf33f826fb01d5fc00c3a33d2bcec/thumbnail_6337000.jpg","/articles/6502863/Charlotte/Mecklenburg-County/North-Carolina/CATS-leaders-outline-security-upgrades-after-fatal-attack-cite-staffing-technology-and-mentalhealth-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502863-c66bf384376f4fa9e027e18798a0de11/orig.mp4?Expires=1770919484&Signature=RjOh9xyd2s9ZUWcJtxy40av7QowVD7LqSylCv~xY1YxxBT4~w36pq9GojR1I4NA4BY3ksGuvXb~qXOLtt0ZDaNSxQO2Fq8SCu3rSawb5DANb3w26pFMbbCHL-~LTs7JRi71ml6Klcmb9lFJBB1TvosahY5TtNDrtSIh8eW~4SC0mmFqOL~NS6xADL48-unEs~7~hxXwUSaaSqWqCQj3RQ03CestBFSP4g6KVsqjAz49P6BcT4sKVIDcW6aE~FiJLn6O9liEp0S4OIJsgUHmLUuljiDc2I2KlgEDXxmxI-Mw7WfJBMMp7OGEGp2vrtSOFdnWAVr-o831Jw3omlptChA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) CEO Brent Cagle and CATS’ newly hired chief of safety and security, Eric Osnes, briefed the Charlotte City Council on Sept. 2 about security changes at the transit agency following a fatal assault on the light rail on Aug. 22.

Cagle opened the presentation by expressing condolences for the victim, whom he named in the meeting as Irina Zierutska, and summarized steps CATS has taken in recent months: a shift from a corporate‑security model to a transit‑policing approach, consolidation of security contracting, an increase in security spending and upgrades to cameras and other infrastructure.

“Last year we consolidated our security contract with Professional Security Services, or PSS,” Cagle said. “We increased spending on transit security from around $5,800,000 with the previous contractor to 3 times that where we are today at just under $18,000,000.”

What CATS told council

Security model and staffing: Cagle and PSS owner Lee Ratliff said the agency is moving to a transit‑policing model intended to give officers more training and operational flexibility than a standard contract‑guard model. Cagle said the PSS contract allows for roughly 218 personnel; Ratliff and Cagle told council that PSS had about 186 personnel and is actively recruiting to reach full staffing in the coming months.

Technology and infrastructure: Cagle said CATS is replacing older cameras with higher‑resolution units, evaluating blind spots and upgrading lighting at shelters and transit centers. The agency said it is completing condition assessments of the four main transit centers (Charlotte Transit Center, Rosa Parks, Eastland and SouthPark) and plans to incorporate security into facility upgrades.

Fare policy and enforcement: Cagle said CATS has been conducting a fare study and will propose initial fare‑policy recommendations; staff said fare validation and enforcement will be pursued as a three‑part effort: policy, technology and enforcement. Cagle explained that ticket validation on platforms works well for rail but not for buses, and officials said they plan to combine platform validators, handheld checks and dedicated fare inspectors to increase compliance and the perception of enforcement.

Staff review of the Aug. 22 assault and fare context: At the council’s request, staff reviewed video of the Aug. 22 assault and said the individual who later attacked the victim entered the transit system on a bus and “it does not appear that he presented a pass or a ticket,” Cagle said. Council members asked whether fare validators or more aggressive fare enforcement would have prevented the boarding; Cagle and Osnes declined to say such controls would have guaranteed a different outcome, but confirmed the agency will accelerate fare‑validation and enforcement efforts as part of a broader security approach.

Mental‑health challenges and partner response: Eric Osnes, CATS’ chief safety and security officer and a transit security veteran, told council that mental‑health crises are a major external challenge to transit safety. “A combination of impulsivity and hopelessness is a dangerous combination where suicide can be triggered at any time,” Osnes said, adding that similar behavioral dynamics can lead to violence against others. He emphasized that transit agencies cannot substitute for the broader public‑health and social‑service system and urged deeper cross‑sector partnerships.

Operational and partnership actions: Officials outlined a suite of measures CATS is pursuing, including increased camera coverage, de‑escalation training, a reassessment of fare‑collection tactics (decoupling fare enforcement from security), expansion of the bus ambassador program and closer coordination with Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) and social‑service partners. Cagle said the agency had requested and will seek a mutual‑aid agreement with CMPD to make it easier for contracted security and CMPD to operate across adjacent areas beyond CATS property.

Data, audits and oversight: Cagle said CATS recently completed its triennial Federal Transit Administration audit with three non‑safety findings (none were safety repeat findings), and that the Transportation Security Administration has conducted threat and vulnerability assessments for transit facilities. Councilmember requests for incident data were acknowledged and staff said they are working with CMPD to compile and release accurate incident counts and trends.

Council reaction: Councilmembers expressed condolences and pressed staff on specific questions: how many dedicated fare inspectors are currently in the field; how quickly PSS will reach full staffing; whether platform or station design changes could improve safety; and what non‑police behavioral responses and crisis‑service options are in place. Councilmembers repeatedly urged more investment in mental‑health crisis response and clearer, public‑facing information about what riders should do in an emergency.

Ending and next steps: Cagle said CATS will provide the requested incident data and a publicly available appendix with tactical steps included in the presentation. Staff also told council the same briefing will be presented to the regional MTC tomorrow and that CATS will pursue additional partnerships with county social‑service agencies, non‑profits and CMPD. Officials and councilmembers said no single change will eliminate risk; several councilmembers urged a sustained, cross‑sector effort to expand crisis response, improve infrastructure and accelerate the agency’s staffing and technology plans.","Interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle and CATS’ chief safety officer told council the agency has shifted from a corporate security model to a transit‑policing model, increased security spending to about $18 million and is upgrading cameras, training and fare enforcement. Officials said external issues — notably mental‑health crises — remain the system’s","actionData","errors"]

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Charlotte council approves MOU to join regional transit authority, agrees to follow-up on appointment rules

CATS leaders outline security upgrades after fatal attack; cite staffing, technology and mental‑health gaps