City releases summary of RNC contract ahead of Monday vote

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The City of Charlotte released an executive summary of what it said would be two contracts related to the city's hosting the 2020 Republican National Convention.

The move Sunday night comes as members of the City Council traded jabs over what financial liability the contract does or does not place on the city for costs over an expected $50 million federal grant.

The debate was prompted by Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera, who said Friday afternoon she would vote against the city hosting the convention due to potential costs taxpayers would have to shoulder.

Ajmera's comments quickly triggered criticism from Councilmen Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston, who accused their colleague of lying, and Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt, who said Ajmera was looking for an "easy out."

Bokhari is a Republican. Egleston and Eiselt are Democrats.

According to the executive summary, if the city's convention-related costs exceed the expected $50 million of the federal grant, the host committee will pay for the excess.

The excess amount would exclude the cost of assets that the police chief believes would have value to the city after the convention.

PREVIOUS: Charlotte councilmen call Ajmera's reason for opposing RNC 'patently false', 'fiction'

As the debate unfolded Friday, City Attorney Bob Hagemann refused to release details of the contract, claiming a provision of the North Carolina Public Records Act allowed the city to keep the details secret.

Attorneys for WBTV sent Hagemann a letter late Friday afternoon disputing his interpretation of the law.

Council members will vote on whether or grant preliminary approval of the contracts - contingent upon the Republican National Committee's decision to hold the convention in the Queen City - at a special meeting Monday afternoon.

PREVIOUS: Charlotte Mayor calls special city council meeting to 'consider taking action' on hosting RNC

Nearly 130 speakers have signed up to speak about the city hosting the convention.

The RNC is expected to make a formal decision on where to hold its quadrennial event this week at its summer meeting in Austin, TX. WBTV will have a crew at the meeting and will bring you live updates as they happen.

You can read the entire executive summary below.

In this agreement, the RNC would be able to use the convention center rent-free, the city would provide police, fire and other services, "alterations" could be be made to the Spectrum Center and the convention would provide insurance covering convention-related losses.

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