HIGHLIGHTS
- 45-day extension granted to Planning Commission on TC-12-21 regarding Accessory Commercial Units
- Community Engagement Manager Tiesha Hinton presented plans for a Community Engagement Board which will be operational in 2023, three years after City withdrew support from CACs. There will be some educational outreach about rezonings, which is positive, but it is not clear how citizens will be able to interact with regard to rezonings.
- Directed staff to research TNC companies or web-based technology solutions for shared ride travel from Downtown to Midtown. Decided not to explore bus service options which would be much better environmentally. Questions about equity if free “Uber-type” rides will be offered to some, but not all.
- Community Engagement Manager Tiesha Hinton presented results of Resident Feedback on City Council Terms and Compensation. Overwhelmingly favor 2-year terms, adding one district seat, and increasing compensation. No action taken.
- Without any discussion, council unanimously approved Scenario 2 for Council Redistricting to go to public hearing on March 1. Rationale not publicly discussed. No transparency. Two majority/minority precincts (01-25 and 01-46) moved to less diverse districts.
- Directed staff to draft a text change for establishing the location and regulation of food trucks and mobile vending on private property and in the public right-of-way and to expand permitted mixed-use zones to include RX zoning.
- Councilor Buffkin announced District Meeting on March 10.
- Covid numbers do not look good so a decision on going to in-person meetings starting March 1 has been deferred until February 15 meeting.
- A number of individuals spoke during public comments about the need for community engagement, lack of affordable housing, concerns regarding accessory commercial units in residential neighborhoods, and police violence.
- Rezoning Z-68-20: Hillsborough Street and Bagwell Avenue, at the northeast corner of the intersection (District D) – agreed to hold open the hearing until February 15 so that revised conditions can be submitted and a new public hearing scheduled
- Rezoning Z-21-21: 8916 Six Forks Road, east of the intersection of Six Forks Road and Strickland Road (District A) – Councilor Cox concerned about the precedent of allowing density in our watershed; Councilor Buffkin asked that hearing be held open until February 15 to get additional information.
- Rezoning Z-52-21: W. Morgan St, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Morgan Street and Harrington Street, one block west of the Raleigh Municipal Building (District D). Mayor Baldwin asked to hold open until February 15 so that negotiations on conditions can continue.
- Rezoning Z-53-21: Tryon Rd, on the north side of Tryon Road only, approximately 1/3 of a mile east of its intersection with Lake Wheeler Road (District D). Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning Z-69-21: Bloodworth, Davie, Hargett, Martin, Person, multiple parcels south and east of Moore Square (District C). Approved 7 to 1 with Councilor Cox in opposition.
- Text Change TC-15-21: Towing Yards. Councilor Cox expresses concerns about disproportionate impact on minority communities and suggests allowing rezonings on a case by case basis rather than a blanket text change. Councilor Buffkin asks staff to look at RPD towing contracts to allow tow yards outside the City and recommends holding this for 45 days to come up with a better solution.
AFTERNOON SESSION
- Mayor requested a moment of silence for Davin Olsen who managed PNC Arena for the Hurricanes for 20 years and who died Monday.
- Councilor Cox absent and excused.
RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL AWARDS
- City of Raleigh Cleantech Award Winners were recognized
- Partnership Raleigh Community Climate Intern Program won Cleantech Talent Development Award
- Titanium Enhanced Pavements Pilot Project won Cleantech Impact Transportation Award
- Additionally, the Engineering Services-Stormwater Division Flood Early Warning System was a finalist for the Cleantech Impact in Local Government Award, and the Raleigh Community Climate Action Plan was nominated for the Equity in Cleantech Award.
CONSENT AGENDA – approved unanimously – see details at end of document
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
- Planning Commission Report
Scheduled for public hearing on February 15:
- Unfit Building – Repair or Demolish – 1924 Edwin Drive (District C)
Scheduled for public hearing on March 1:
- Z-41-21 – Bloodworth Street, Cabarrus Street, Person Street (multiple parcels) (District C)
- Z-43-21 – Hargett Street, Salisbury Street, Martin Street, McDowell Street (multiple parcels) (District C)
- Z-56-21 – 2016 Cameron Street (portion) (District D)
- Z-59-21 – 2618 Wade Avenue (District D)
- Text Change TC-12-21: Accessory Commercial Units – Planning Commission requested 45-day extension – approved unanimously
- Text Change TCZ-58-21: Falls Valley Drive, southwest of the intersection with Coxindale Drive (District A) – March 1 public hearing date recommended – approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-77-21: 4501 Edwards Mill Road, located approximately 0.67 miles southwest of the intersection of Creedmoor Road and Glenwood Avenue (District E) – March 15 public hearing date recommended – approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-86-21: Rock Drive and Poole Road, at the northeast corner of the intersection, one mile east of New Hope Road (District C) – March 15 public hearing date – approved unanimously
SPECIAL ITEMS
- Community Engagement Board – presentation at https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/files/CB8NVM61C915/$file/20220201OCEj1JCEBFrameworkPresentation.pdf
- Something will be in place by 2023, which will be three years since the CACs have been operating without City support. And the councilors are actually saying that’s a good thing.
- They are planning to do some educational outreach about rezonings, which is positive, but it is not clear how citizens will be able to interact with regard to rezonings.
- Neighborhood Traffic Management Program – Authorize 2022 Traffic Calming Projects – 2020 Project List Waivers
- 2022 project priority list approved
- Policy thresholds waived for 14 streets
- Neighborhood Traffic Management Program – Policy and Program Changes
- Traffic Calming Balloting approved unanimously
- Traffic Calming Awareness approved unanimously
- Allowance of traffic calming outside of the NTMP approved unanimously
- Speed Limit Reductions approved unanimously
- Midtown to Downtown Shuttle
- Reviewed transportation options from Midtown to Downtown for visitors and special events
- Direct staff to research funding opportunities for a dedicated Express Route from Downtown to Midtown via St Albans Drive. Service could start in the Spring of 2022 – put on back burner
- Direct staff to research TNC companies or web-based technology solutions for shared ride travel from Downtown to Midtown. RFQ scheduled to be released in late February of 2022 – passed 6-1 with Melton dissenting
- Iglesia La Semilla Nonprofit Funding Request
- Had already approved $10k initial funding.
- Staff have found organization to be in good standing to receive funding, despite the fact that they are headquartered in Durham, which should make them ineligible. They also didn’t provide a list of their Board of Directors as required.
- The additional $46,504 was nevertheless approved unanimously.
- Community Engagement Update – Resident Feedback- City Council Terms and Compensation
- Overwhelmingly favor 2-year terms, adding one district seat, and increasing compensation. No action taken.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
- Wake Bus Rapid Transit Northern Corridor Major Investment Study with HDR, Inc.
- Unanimously authorized the City Manager to execute Wake BRT: Northern Corridor Major Investment Study with HDR, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $500,000
- Introduced new Director of Department of Equity & Inclusion – Dr. A. Hamilton
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE STUDY GROUP ON COUNCIL TERMS/SALARIES AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT/PARTICIPATION
- Final Report – City Council Redistricting
- Without any discussion, council unanimously approved Scenario 2 for Council Redistricting to go to public hearing on March 1. Rationale not publicly discussed. No transparency. Two majority/minority precincts (01-25 and 01-46) moved to less diverse districts.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
- The Committee recommends upholding staff’s recommendation regarding streeteries and pedlets as recommended:
- Extend the waiving of fees through FY23 and FY24
- Eliminate the application fee altogether
- Establish a 50% reduced cost encumbrance fee not to exceed $1,500 no sooner than FY25
- Establish a 100% encumbrance fee not to exceed $3,000 no sooner than FY26
- It is understood that staff will consult with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and report to the City Council prior to the enactment of the fee structure.
- The Committee further recommends the study of expanding sidewalk width be referred to the Transportation and Transit Committee.
- All above approved unanimously
- The Committee recommends that the Council direct staff to draft a text change for establishing the location and regulation of food trucks and mobile vending on private property and in the public right-of-way and to expand permitted mixed-use zones to include RX zoning. Approved 6-1 with Councilor Forte dissenting
- Next meeting 2/22 at 1:30pm
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
- Still discussing Omnibus Text Change Program
- Wild and Exotic Animals referred back to full Council. Councilor Knight recommends this be discussed at a future council meeting with presentation by legal staff. Approved unanimously.
- Next meeting 2/22 at 4pm
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE
- Next meeting 2/22 at 11:30am to discuss hotel purchase and the future of white flag to make it more proactive
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
- No meeting currently scheduled for February
REPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
- Black History Month recognized by several councilors and by City proclamation.
- Councilor Buffkin announced a district meeting on March 10 with Police Chief Patterson and specific discussion about recent anti-semitic incidents in District A. Tiesha Hinton will also present on Community Engagement.
- Councilor Melton wants staff to look into Social Districts. Approved unanimously to go to Economic Innovation and Development Committee.
- Mayor Baldwin appointed Councilor Knight as City representative to Upper Neuse River Basin Association Board of Directors.
- Covid numbers do not look good so a decision on going to in-person meetings starting March 1 has been deferred until February 15 meeting.
- Mayor Baldwin appointed Councilor Melton as liaison to Raleigh Little Theatre Board.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
- Potential Revisions to Ordinance for Towing from Private Lots – The City Attorney’s Office has prepared a text change that includes the following amendments to Section 12-7015 of the City Code as follows:
- Increases the distance from where a vehicle may be towed to a storage lot within the City to 15 miles from 10 miles. (The distance requirement remains 10 miles if the vehicle is towed to a lot outside of the City.)
- Reduces when simultaneous written authorization is required from a property owner or manager for a specific tow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to better reflect times where apartment complexes typically have management staff on-site.
- Approved unanimously.
- Senate Bill 300 and Proposed City Code Amendments – Senate Bill 300 (“SB 300”) made changes to the way in which certain ordinances are enforced. In light of those changes, the City Attorney’s Office is recommending revisions to the City Code to eliminate misdemeanor penalties where SB 300 now prohibits them and to reinforce that criminal enforcement remains available for other City Code provisions.
- Will come back on February 15 for adoption.
EVENING SESSION
- Joint Hearing with the Raleigh Historic Development Commission – Historic Landmark Applications – rescheduled for February 15 due to lack of quorum from RHDC
- 2822 Van Dyke Avenue, Pitysmont
- 1322 Mordecai Drive, Mordecai Whitehall House
PUBLIC COMMENT
- Mike Lindsay on CACs – did not speak because his slides weren’t available even though they were submitted on time; he will sign up for another time
Danielle Mankessi on BREATHEMariah Kern on Till and Walker Hate Crime Act- Christina Jones on community engagement and lack of replacement for CACs
- Tim Niles shared the City’s own video touting CACs, but the sound didn’t start playing until well into the video
- Lisa Hughet speaking against Accessory Commercial Units
- Edgar Vergara thanking Council for approving funding for Iglesia La Semilla’s Covid outreach efforts
- Haley Kinsler on police violence and accountability.
- Hwa Huang on police violence
- Josh Bradley on need for affordable housing; trickle down doesn’t work!
- Jeremy Gilchrist on policing and gentrification.
- Brandon Scicluna on community safety
- Cole McMullin on RPD and military equipment
- Edie Jeffreys on CACs and community engagement
- Merrilee Jacobson on community engagement and CACs
- Larry Helfant on CACs and community engagement
- Shane Collins against TC-12-21 and TC-11-21
Andrew McFeaters on RPD salaries- Jane Harrison on community engagement
- Laura Ritchie on CACs
PUBLIC HEARINGS
- Street Closing STC-11-2021: Portions of Granite Quarry Drive Right-of-Way (District C) – approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-68-20: Hillsborough Street and Bagwell Avenue, at the northeast corner of the intersection (District D) – agreed to hold open the hearing until February 15 so that revised conditions can be submitted and a new public hearing scheduled
- Rezoning Z-21-21: 8916 Six Forks Road, east of the intersection of Six Forks Road and Strickland Road (District A) – Councilor Cox concerned about the precedent of allowing density in our watershed; Councilor Buffkin asked for more information and that hearing be held open until February 15.
- Rezoning Z-52-21: W. Morgan St, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Morgan Street and Harrington Street, one block west of the Raleigh Municipal Building (District D). Neighbors have requested that the case be sent to committee so that conditions can continue to be negotiated. Councilor Cox points out that the UDO needs to address proximity of tall buildings to each other. Councilor Forte asks to hold open two weeks for further negotiation. Resident pointed out that HOA President had a conflict of interest. Mayor Baldwin asked to hold open until February 15.
- Rezoning Z-53-21: Tryon Rd, on the north side of Tryon Road only, approximately 1/3 of a mile east of its intersection with Lake Wheeler Road (District D). Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning Z-69-21: Bloodworth, Davie, Hargett, Martin, Person, multiple parcels south and east of Moore Square (District C). Approved 7 to 1 with Councilor Cox in opposition.
- Text Change TC-15-21: Towing Yards. Councilor Cox expresses concerns about disproportionate impact on minority communities and suggests allowing rezonings on a case by case basis rather than a blanket text change. Councilor Buffkin asks staff to look at RPD towing contracts to allow tow yards outside the City and recommends holding this for 45 days to come up with a better solution.
CONSENT AGENDA
- Consent Agenda Process
- Donation of Surplus Property – Raleigh Fire Museum
- Sale of Surplus Property
- Petition Annexation – AX-31-21- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 7003 Buffaloe Road (District C)
- Professional Services – Wildcat Branch Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project – Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc. – Amendment No. 1
- Professional Services – On Call Engineering Services – Kimley Horn – Amendment No. 2
- Contract Services-Annual Biometric Screenings-WakeMed Hospitals- Amendment No. 2
- Street Closing STC-12-2021: Portions of Mid Lakes Drive and Holly Lane
- Street Closing STC-08-2021: Portions of W. Lenoir Street and W. South Street
- Bid Award – Optimist Pool HVAC Replacement – Comfort System USA (MidAtlantic), LLC
- Bid Award – Lake Woodard Annex Renovations – Riggs-Harrod Builders, Inc.
- Commercial Loading Zone – 100 South Harrington Street
- Traffic Schedule Updates
- Speed Limit Reductions – Cumberland Street, Eva Mae Drive, Citris Glen Drive, Vico Terrace, Entheos Lane, Woodfox Court, & Ferdilah Lane
- No Parking Zone – 600 Watauga Street