By Jessica Coates
jessica.coates@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — At their Tuesday meeting, the Council will hear from several city and community boards, get an update on Fibrant and consider adopting an ordinance that would allow another Cheerwine Festival to take place.

Women for Community Justice — represented by Andria Cantrell, Anthony Smith, Nan Lund, Regina Dancy and Latasha Wilks — will give a presentation to Council regarding the Salisbury Grass Roots Stop the Violence report.

According to the submitted agenda item request form, the report will detail the “process of engaging the community in formulating categories of concerns and solutions to reduce violence in the Salisbury-Rowan area.”

Some of those categories include mitigating violent crime, civic engagement and community stewardship.

The presentation will also include the results and findings of the community deliberations that Women for Community Justice has facilitated.

The Community Action Team — represented by Dee Ellison, Anne Little, Courtney Davis, Olen Bruner and Rod Kerr — will give the Council an update on its efforts to “identify and develop specific, measurable action plans” with regard to youth opportunities, public safety, community relations and workforce development.

Both organizations requested the ability to make their presentations to Council.

Other items on the Council’s agenda include:

• Council will receive an update on Fibrant.

Councilmember Tamara Sheffield requested at a previous City Council meeting that the Council and the public receive regular updates on the state of Fibrant.

This presentation, which will be done by interim Fibrant head Evans Ballard, will be the first of those requested regular updates.

• Council will consider adopting an ordinance that would declare temporary street closures for the soon-to-be-announced 2018 Cheerwine Festival.

The 2018 Cheerwine Festival is scheduled to take place May 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to a slideshow that will be presented to Council.

The slideshow also indicates that many of the same activities offered at last year’s festival will be brought back, including a kids’ zone and multiple musical acts throughout the day.

The festival will once again take place on Main Street and will run from East Bank Street to Liberty Street.

• Council will hear a presentation and hold a public hearing regarding 2018-2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program funds.

Between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, the city will receive approximately $410,000 in CDBG and HOME program dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

According to a flyer circulated by the city, citizen input is “encouraged” to help determine how the money should be spent.

“A portion of these funds may be used for neighborhood improvements and public service funding to benefit low- and moderate-income people and help revitalize neighborhoods,” the flyer said.

Only the West End, East End, Park Avenue and Jersey City neighborhoods will be eligible for that portion, but there will be other portions that can be used citywide.

The City Council meeting will take place at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 217 South Main St.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.