The Florence City Council voted on a series of ordinances and resolutions Wednesday, approving a fiscal-year budget amendment, awarding accommodations-tax grants, adopting a sewer master plan and passing multiple recognition resolutions while deferring several development and eminent-domain items to executive session.

Council approved Ordinance Bill No. 2025-38, the second reading of an amendment to the city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. The council adopted the amendment by voice vote; no roll-call tally was read into the record. During discussion, Councilman Zach McKay asked about a recent one-time trash-pickup assistance provided to the neighboring city of Lake City. City staff told council the city sent two trucks and two to three personnel to remove commercial dumping there at an estimated cost of about $4,000, and that Florence will invoice Lake City for that expense. The city attorney and staff said any further assistance would be brought to council for approval.

The council adopted Resolution No. 2025-30, formally approving the Sewer Collection System Master Plan. Council members said the item had been discussed previously but was not voted on at that earlier meeting; the group moved and approved a motion to adopt the plan.

On funding, the council approved the Accommodation Tax Committees recommendations. Tim Norwood presented the committee report stating 24 organizations requested a total of $1,399,000; the committee funded 22 organizations for a combined total of $880,750. Council approved the appropriation by voice vote.

The body passed a set of recognition and proclamation resolutions by voice vote, including:
- Resolution No. 2025-34, recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Florence, presented with remarks by Alan Bridal, director of the Alternatives to Violence program;
- Resolution No. 2025-35, honoring Reverend Dr. Ralph W. Canty Sr. for decades of service to the community; and
- Resolution No. 2025-36, a civility pledge for elected officials.

The council also approved a resolution required for a developer using abandoned-building tax credits for property at 262 West Chavez Street (Resolution No. 2025-37), confirming the buildings long-term vacancy as part of the tax-credit process. That resolution passed by voice vote.

On land-use and annexation matters, council approved the second-reading ordinance to annex and zone the third phase of the Smithfield Subdivision (Bill No. 2025-40) to RG-3 zoning. Staff described the phase as about 60 lots and estimated the subdivision as a whole contains roughly 180 to 200 lots; the planning commission had recommended unanimous approval and staff concurred. Council also introduced Bill No. 2025-41, a first-reading annexation and NC-6.2 zoning for an infill parcel at 922 West Sumter Street; staff said the parcel is vacant with a small accessory structure and that water and sewer are generally available in the area.

Several downtown redevelopment and economic development items, including conditional grant/development agreements and a proposed eminent-domain authorization related to an expansion of an existing fueling facility, were listed for discussion in executive session and were not decided in open session. Council members said buffers and aesthetic treatments would be required if fueling infrastructure is included in future plans.

No recorded roll-call vote tallies were read into the public record for the voice-vote actions. The council moved several listed planning and legal items into executive session for legal advice and personnel matters at the end of the meeting.

Votes at a glance (as described in council discussion):
- Ordinance Bill No. 2025-38 (FY2025-26 budget amendment): approved (voice vote). Note: staff reported ~ $4,000 one-time expense for trash pickup in Lake City; Florence will invoice Lake City.
- Resolution No. 2025-34 (Domestic Violence Awareness Month): approved (voice vote).
- Resolution No. 2025-30 (Sewer Collection System Master Plan): approved (voice vote; item had been discussed previously but not voted on).
- Accommodation tax appropriations (committee recommendations): approved; 22 organizations funded, $880,750 total from $1,399,000 requested (voice vote).
- Resolution No. 2025-36 (Civility pledge): approved (voice vote).
- Resolution No. 2025-37 (vacancy confirmation for 262 West Chavez): approved (voice vote).
- Ordinance Bill No. 2025-40 (Annex and zone Smithfield Subdivision third phase, RG-3): approved (voice vote).
- Ordinance Bill No. 2025-41 (Annex and zone 922 West Sumter Street, NC-6.2): introduced (first reading).
- Several redevelopment, conditional-grant and eminent-domain items (Res. Nos. 2025-38, 2025-39, 2025-40 as listed on the agenda): referred to executive session; no open-session vote recorded.

The council concluded by moving into executive session to receive legal advice on several pending items and to discuss personnel matters. Council members said they would return after the break for executive session deliberations.