May 3 2022 City Council Meeting

May 3, 2022 | Blog

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Once again a last minute change from in-person to virtual meeting due to Covid outbreak among staff.
  • All public hearings will be continued to May 10 at 4pm except for Floodplain Maps which is referred to Planning Commission with recommendations needed in time for public hearing on May 17.
  • Unanimously passed Eviction Assistance Program Partnership with Campbell Law School
  • Community Engagement Board approved
  • Employee Compensation – Follow Up to Cost of Living Adjustment – Expenditures are outpacing revenues so likely will need tax increase to adequately fund additional raises (already currently looking at 2 cent increase so this would require additional increase or could removing some items). Plan to bring in consultant to study shifts.
  • Recommendations of the Study Group on Council Terms/Compensation – extending terms and adding council seats will be left for next council to deal with in January 2023, except for increasing compensation which should go into budget to be effective for next council
  • Approved extension of conditional gap financing funding commitments totaling $7,163,979 for the development of 344 affordable rental units in three rental housing developments: Lake Haven, The Preserve at Gresham Lake, and The Terrace at Rock Quarry.
  • Economic Development & Innovation Committee meeting in person on 5/10 at 1:30pm to discuss ACUs (Accessory Commercial Units) and on 5/24 at 1:30pm (Social Districts)
  • Growth & Natural Resources Committee scheduled to meet on 5/24 but may cancel if no agenda items arise from 5/17 council meeting
  • Looking for date to schedule Safe, Vibrant, & Healthy Communities Committee meeting to discuss MSDs (Municipal Service Districts)
  • Transportation and Transit Committee will meet on 5/26 at 3pm to discuss Capital North Corridor
  • District B community meeting on 5/12 at 7pm at Abbotts Creek Community center
  • Public comments focused on citizen engagement, affordable housing, and hybrid meetings.

AFTERNOON SESSION

RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL AWARDS

  • Bike Month

CONSENT AGENDA – unanimously approved – see details at end

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION

  • Planning Commission Report – many items scheduled for May 17, but no details in Board Docs
  • Rezoning Z-45-21: Navaho Drive, beginning 150 feet west of Wake Forest Road (District A) – approved 2-week deferral to allow changes with regard to tenant notice and affordability wording before setting public hearing
  • Rezoning Z-73-21: 10909, 10913 Leesville Road, located approximately 0.4 miles north of the intersection of I-540 and Leesville Road (District E) — approved public hearing on 6/21
  • Rezoning Z-92-21: Nowell and Corporate Center, between Corporate Center Drive and Nowell Road north of their intersections with Chapel Hill Road. (District D) – approved public hearing on 6/21

SPECIAL ITEMS

  • Eviction Assistance Program – Partnership with Campbell Law School
    • Three years of funding ($100k per year)
    • Serving Raleigh residents living at or below 200% of the poverty level
  • Legal representation and community education
  • Emphasizing collaborative approaches to resolving conflicts
  • Referrals received from Legal Aid of North Carolina and other community nonprofits and agencies serving low-income people
  • At least one lawyer supervising up to eight (8) law students each semester
  • A fund administered by a third party to provide financial assistance for the resolution of some disputes
  • Councilor Cox asks if this can be tied into an effort to help complete applications for avoiding evictions
  • Follow Up – Recommendations of the Study Group on Council Terms/Compensation
    • Transition from 2-year to 4-year terms;
    • Adopt staggered terms whereby all District City Councilors are elected on one side of the cycle and the Mayor and all At-Large City Councilors are elected on the other side of the cycle;
    • Increase total compensation for the Mayor and City Council;
    • Direct staff to develop and implement a comprehensive voter engagement program; and
    • Increase City Council size [to] nine members by adding an additional district seat.
  • Public survey showed support for compensation increases and adding a district seat but not for four-year terms
  • Council discussed either putting these recommendations on 2022 ballot to go into effect at 2024 election or leaving for next council to deal with, except for compensation which should go into budget to be effective for next council – decided to not put on 2022 ballot

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER

  • Tax Credit Application – Funding Recommendations – Approved extension of conditional gap financing funding commitments totaling $7,163,979 for the development of 344 affordable rental units in three rental housing developments: Lake Haven, The Preserve at Gresham Lake, and The Terrace at Rock Quarry.
  • Update on yard waste collection enhancement project
  • Will discuss proposed tax increase in two MSDs at next meeting
  • New Assistant City Manager Nyki Hill introduced

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE

  • Meeting in person on 5/10 at 1:30pm (ACUs) and on 5/24 at 1:30pm (Social Districts)

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

  • 5/24 at 4pm, but no items on agenda

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT, & HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE

  • Looking for date to discuss MSDs

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE

  • 5/26 at 3pm to discuss Capital North Corridor

REPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

  • Councilor Cox – District B community meeting on 5/12 at 7pm at Abbotts Creek Community center
  • Mayor Baldwin

CONSENT AGENDA – unanimously approved

  • Donation of Public Art – Municipal Art Collection – Talley Trylon Sculpture
  • Donation of Art – Municipal Art Collection – Kiki Farish, Artist
  • Annual Action Plan – Fiscal Year 2022-23
  • Petition Annexation – AX-3-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 4520 Whitfield Road (District C)
  • Petition Annexation – AX-4-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 3900 Sumner Boulevard (District B)
  • Petition Annexation – AX-5-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 3909, 3915 Blue Ridge Road (District E)
  • Water and Sewer System Development Fee Update
  • Preliminary Assessment – Woodbridge Sewer Extension
  • NCDOT Municipal Agreement – Blue Ridge Road Widening (North)
  • Agreement – United States Geological Survey – Stream Gauge Network – FY21 to FY26 – Amendment No. 1
  • Interlocal Agreement – Wake County – Shared Transit Resources
  • Professional Services – Master Agreements for Parks Signage and Exhibit Design – Various Vendors
  • Contract Services – Customer Care and Billing Utility Bill Print, Mail and Related Services – Professional Mail Services Inc
  • Contract Services – Janitorial Services – Raleigh Union Station – R.W. Daniels dba ServiceMaster Professional Building Maintenance – Amendment No. 1
  • Microsoft Enterprise License Agreement – Dell
  • Street Closing STC-13-2021: Portion of Seaboard Avenue
  • 10805 Leesville Road – Storm Drainage Pipes
  • 905 Tryon Hill Drive – Balconies
  • Operating Budget Transfers – Vehicle Fuel and Maintenance
  • Bid Award – Convention Center Cooling Towers – Piedmont Service Group, LLC
  • Multi-way Stops – Brooks Avenue at Kilgore Avenue
  • Speed Limit Reductions – Loft Lane, Shadowlawn Drive, Thunderidge Drive, Seaspray Lane, Stormy Lane, Suntan Lake Drive, Antside Court & Cookwood Court
  • Passenger Loading Zone – 200 East Hargett Street
  • Valet Zone Removal – 400 West Hargett Street
  • Controlled Residential Permit Parking – Residential “H” Permit Expansion
  • Traffic Schedule Updates

EVENING SESSION

Christina Jones shared feedback from Midtown CAC regarding Z-45-21 rezoning and asking for stronger affordable housing conditions since naturally occurring affordable housing would be destroyed and replaced with market rate housing

Chantelle Miles presented data on virtual public comments and citizen engagement

Lisa Hughet spoke about deficiencies in providing affordable housing and asking Council to work with NCGA to change laws regarding inclusionary zoning

Rabekah Henderson did not show up

Jack Cozort spoke expressing concerns of neighbors near proposed development in Laurel Hills; Councilor Cox asked for staff input and they explained that this is an administrative action. Councilor Knight has scheduled meeting for May 9 to discuss with neighbors.

Polina Voronsky complained about city inspectors

Russ Gyurek also spoke expressing concerns regarding development in Laurel Hills

Sergey Kesel complained about city inspectors; Mayor Baldwin admonished the speaker for criticizing staff and alleging that they were being harassed

Jennifer Sikora shared complaints about crime and nuisances from Glenwood South; Mayor Baldwin said they are working on the problems.

Stephen Shaban also spoke expressing concerns regarding development in Laurel Hills

Kim Muktarian asking for support for an anti-lynching resolution and for a hate crime bill; Mayor Baldwin asked the City Manager to follow up.

Richard Johnson called out Councilor Buffkin for his transgressions

Kristen Havlik asked for a hybrid option meeting and more citizen engagement.

Allison Anthony was not on the call.

Cole McMullin called out Buffkin for claiming he has helped with affordable housing and also spoke out against tax breaks for developers while increasing taxes for residents.

Haley Kinsler called in from a demonstration in support of abortion rights and spoke out in favor of hybrid meetings.

Tatyana Albinder was not on the call

Joshua Bradley also called in from the demonstration and asked candidates to not accept contributions from donors who had supported the politicians responsible for the imminent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade. Also asked that no actions be taken until after a new council is elected since elections should not have been postponed until November.

Hwa Huang spoke about the need for hybrid meetings.

Evan Gothard also spoke expressing concerns regarding development in Laurel Hills and impact on endangered species. Mayor Baldwin encouraged attendance at May 9 community meeting.

Martha Brock spoke about Dix Park.

PUBLIC HEARING – All public hearings will be continued to May 10 at 4pm except for Floodplain Maps which is referred to Planning Commission with recommendations needed in time for public hearing on May 17.

  • Federal Emergency Management Agency Floodplain Maps – Effective July 19, 2022 – Refer to Planning Commission  and have recommendations in time for public hearing continued to Tuesday, May 17
  • Street Improvement Assessments – Sandy Forks Road Widening and Street Improvements – Confirmation of Cost
  • Rezoning Z-57-21: New Bern Avenue and Bart Street, at the southwest corner of the intersection of New Bern Avenue with Poole Road and Battery Drive (District C)
  • Rezoning Z-61-21: 316 W Edenton St, at the northeast corner of W Edenton St and N Harrington St (District D)
  • Text Change TC-20-21: Missing Middle 2.0 – More Homes, More Choices
  • Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP-15-21: Frequent Transit Areas