Council Member At-Large· 2023-01-03–2027-01-04; exact dates from Ballotpedia John_Gianola page (assumed office and term end for the Nov 8 2022 council cycle); applied to the whole cycle, individual pages not read
Caitlin Cook
Charleston
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 8
- Total speaking time
- 18:20
- Avg per meeting
- 2:18
- Segments
- 302
Want every word Cook has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Cook said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Cato Park and Kanawha City pool repairs
Up to $2.3 million in city matching funds if the grant is awarded.
GoMart Ballpark condition assessment
$55,000 for the study; any future repairs would be separate decisions.
Mountaineer Food Bank takes over 748 Virginia Street West
Preserves the original ARPA investment; the food bank assumes the remaining obligations.
Committee discharge fight over Resolution 964-24
Trespass Enforcement Authorization Program
Unknown; officers may see modest added paperwork, and landlords could face liability questions.
New Fire Department Interceptor Vehicle
$89,103 combined for the truck and gear.
Charleston Police Department staffing and facilities
Closing the gap would cost roughly $10,000-$16,000 more per officer annually.
CDBG funds redirected to 915 Main Street demolition
About $300,000 in federal grant funds moved between accounts — no new city money.
Harm reduction policy
It could mean public health spending up front, with possible long-term savings if it prevents costly infections, but no cost estimates are given.
Holiday Citizen Appreciation Parking
The city forgoes meter revenue on those Saturdays.
Youth sports field access and Little League exclusions
About $4,000 for five games' field costs, per the speaker.
Increased fines for failure to pick up pet waste
Higher fines could bring more revenue to municipal court, but with only about two citations a year, the money is small — some members suggested a roughly $2,000 awareness campaign instead.
Vacant Ward 16 council seat
Quarrier Street handicapped parking zone
Medicare retiree health plan renewal
Roughly $2.4 million in annual premiums, with the city absorbing a 6.12% increase.
Flood response and state of emergency
Recovery costs were not quantified.
Animal cruelty impound and forfeiture procedures
Offenders can be ordered to reimburse shelter care costs, and faster adoptions reduce boarding expenses.
Aggressive dogs at large — fines and Dangerous Dog triggers
Fines rise from up to $50 to up to $150; owners of dangerous dogs may face insurance costs.
Preservation of historic Garnet school building
FY 2025-2026 General Fund Budget Amendment No. 7
$1.4 million budget adjustment, mostly for vehicles and equipment already approved.
Decisions during term (296)
Recorded while Cook was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Bill No. 8091 - Accessory dwelling unit and dwelling unit definition amendment
Bill No. 8092 - Vape and smoke shop zoning amendment
Bill No. 8093 - Handicapped parking zone on Quarrier Street
Bill No. 8094 - Stop intersection at Bridge Road and Walnut Road
Bill No. 8098 - All-way stop at Venable Ave SE and 44th Street
Bill No. 8099 - Street closure notice provisions
Approval of September 14, 2026 meeting minutes
Approval of Vandalia Health naming rights sponsorship agreement
Resolution No. 26-116 – Pool repair/replacement grant application
Resolution No. 26-117 – Amwins retiree health contract
Resolution No. 26-118 – FY 2026-2027 budget Amendment No. 4
Resolution No. 26-119 – Chief360 fire station alert system
Motion to discharge Bill No. 8079 (staggered council elections)
Motion to discharge Resolution No. 26-101 (expanded public speaking time)
Motion to discharge Bill No. 8080 (harm reduction policy)
Motion to discharge Bill No. 8073 (mayoral term limits)
Motion to discharge Bill No. 8070 (council term limits)
Motion to discharge Bill No. 8071 (municipal judge term limits)
Motion to discharge Bill No. 8072 (treasurer term limits)
Motion to discharge Bill No. 8088 (default roll call votes)
Voting record (27)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
approve the resolution
Resolution No. 26-111 – FY 2026-2027 General Fund Budget Amendment No. 3
approve the resolution
Resolution No. 26-114 – Mountaineer Food Bank Novation Agreement
Works for Mountaineer Food Bank, a party to the agreement.
Appointment of Jessica Hudson to Ward 18
approve the bill
nominate Jessica Hudson
approve the bill
approve the resolution
approve the resolution
approve the resolution
approve the resolution
approve the resolution
Bill No. 8076 - Parks and Recreation Fees Code Amendment
Motion to Table Discharge of Resolution No. 964-24 (Gift/Ethics Resolution)
Bill No. 8076 - A BILL to amend Chapter 82, Article IV, Section 82-125 of the Code of the City of Charleston, relating to the fees, rates, and charges for use of City owned parks and recreational faci
Resolution No. 26-064 — Budget Amendment No. 8, FY 2025-2026
Bill No. 8068 — Hunters Ridge Road 15-minute parking zone
Snodgrass amendment to budget (previous question)
Snodgrass police pay amendment — failed
Resolution No. 26-033 — FY 2026-27 budget adopted
Motion to Discharge Resolution No. 26-020 from Committee
the proper process was followed
Motion to Discharge Bill No. 8067 (Term Limits and Election Cycle Charter Amendment)
the committee process allows comment and amendment and was followed