April 7 & 8 City Council Meetings

HIGHLIGHTS

Councilors Jonathan Lambert-Melton and Christina Jones were absent and excused from the April 7 Budget Work Session.
Fee increases for Fiscal Year 2026 are proposed for Raleigh Water (~$1.91/month), Stormwater (~$0.57/month), and Solid Waste Services (~$1.85/month). Final approval of all rate increases will take place upon adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Bulk pickup would no longer be free, but would be $35
Councilor Jones absent and excused from April 8 meetings
Yard Waste Center – Organics Management Feasibility Study — Staff proposes a short-term pilot at the City’s Yard Waste Center to collect and process food waste. Council is considering three options – drop-off locations, third party collection, and City of Raleigh collection
Loose Leaf Collection Program – Program Overview, Challenges, and Recommendations – residents are not happy with current service. Staff presented four options – no changes, enhance the existing program, privatize the service, or enhance yard waste collection. Councilor Lambert-Melton said he didn’t like any of the options because money would be better spent on housing the homeless. The consensus seemed to be to explore an enhanced yard waste collection.
Public comments focused on the environment, transit, affordable housing, childcare, parks, preservation, bikes, and international issues. 20 speakers were signed up; 16 showed up; 4 did not.

April 7 Budget Work Session

A. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR

B. AGENDA

1. FY2026 Agency Grant Recommendations

2. Raleigh Water Enterprise

A 3.5% monthly fee increase for Fiscal Year 2026 is proposed for the median residential customer, which is about $1.91 more per month

3. Stormwater Management Enterprise

4. Solid Waste Services Overview

Final approval of all rate increases will take place upon adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget

April 8 Afternoon Work Session

A. 4:00 P.M. WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR

1. Yard Waste Center – Organics Management Feasibility Study

In 2025, staff engaged SCS Engineers, environmental consultants and contractors, to conduct an Organics Management Feasibility Study to explore potential food waste processing and collection services for Raleigh residents. During the work session staff reviewed recommendations provided by the Organics Management Feasibility Study.
25% of what goes into the landfill (25k tons/year is food waste)
Staff proposes a short-term pilot at Yard Waste Center. Council considering three options – drop-off locations, third party collection, and City of Raleigh collection

2. Loose Leaf Collection Program – Program Overview, Challenges, and Recommendations

Due to the growth of the City over the years, the current loose leaf collection program has been unable to keep pace with the demand for service and also customer service expectations. During the work session, staff presented information on the current loose leaf collection and yard waste programs, challenges with each program, and seek Council input on other options focused on improved service predictability and increasing service levels.
Loose Leaf Collection Program – Program Overview, Challenges, and Recommendations – residents are not happy with current service. Staff presented four options – no changes, enhance the existing program, privatize the service, or enhance yard waste collection. Councilor Lambert-Melton said he didn’t like any of the options because money would be better spent on housing the homeless. The consensus seemed to be to explore an enhanced yard waste collection.

April 8 Evening Public Comment Session

A. 7:00 P.M. EVENING AGENDA

B. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR

C. PUBLIC COMMENT

1. Rules of Decorum for Public Comment

2. Voice Mail Public Comment

Public comments focused on the environment, transit, affordable housing, childcare, parks, preservation, bikes, and international issues. 20 speakers were signed up; 16 showed up; 4 did not.

D. MATERIALS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL

E. ADJOURNMENT

1. Adjourn Meeting