December 2, 2025 City Council Meeting
Full agenda and attachments available at https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=43aaeb63-4f0b-48ad-bc00-3357ca051f99&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mayor Cowell provided some updates on last night’s fire at the Convention Center. No injuries reported. Sprinklers did go off in the building which caused some damage. Shimmer wall is okay. Still assessing damages overall. Cybersecurity conference which was supposed to start Wednesday now plans to relocate. All downtown events are ongoing. Expressed thanks to Raleigh Fire Department and Convention Center staff.
- Unanimously approved a Tax Increment Reimbursement Program
- Unanimously adopted recommendations to provide Raleigh Engagement Network benefits to Citizen Advisory Councils (CACs)
- Unanimously approved 2026 Meetings calendar
- Unanimously approved modifications to existing Residential Parking Permit program regarding types of residences allowed, fees, etc.
- Unanimously approved staff recommendations regarding technical team member appointments to Reflecting Raleigh initiative to update Comprehensive Plan
- District E – Dec 10 meeting moved to Willow House Coffee at 6pm with RPAC; Book club on 12/13 from 9:30-11:30 at Panera on Glenwood
- Requested more information about potentially modifying City’s existing non-smoking ordinances to eliminate exceptions not required by State law and extend non-smoking prohibitions to e-cigarettes or vaping. Will revisit at January 6 Council meeting.
- Public comments focused on a smoking ordinance
- Unanimously approved five rezoning requests and held three until January 6 at applicants’ requests.
AFTERNOON MEETING
CONSENT AGENDA
- Unanimously approved after discussion of several items
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Rezoning Z-26-25: Leesville Road, at the intersection of Englehardt Drive and Leesville Road (District E) – public hearing scheduled for 1/6/26
Rezoning Z-33-25: Gresham Lake Road, east of I-540 (District A) – public hearing scheduled for 1/6/26
Rezoning Z-34-25: North Hills, at the interchange of I-440 and Six Forks Road (District A) – public hearing scheduled for 1/6/26
Text Change TC-1-25: Omnibus 2023, 2024 Readoption – public hearing scheduled for 1/6/26
SPECIAL ITEMS
Tax Increment Reimbursement Program
- Adopted unanimously
Resolution – Raleigh Engagement Network City-provided Network Benefits & Citizen Advisory Council Update – unanimously adopted the following:
- Purchase media kits and continue to upfit community centers with new technology;
- Implement the Zoom solution;
- Implement the items in the Success Plan;
- Implement the additional items as noted; and
- Work with Raleigh Citizen Advisory Councils and other Citizen Advisory Councils to join the Raleigh Engagement Network prior to the implementation above.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
Public Notice of Official Meetings – Annual Schedule of Regular Meetings – Calendar Year 2026
1. City Council meeting schedule for calendar year 2026. The schedule includes the traditional monthly meeting cycle, outlined as follows:
- First Tuesday sessions at 1:00 and 7:00 P.M.
- Second Tuesday work session at 4:00 P.M. and Public Comment session at 7:00 P.M. (with exception of July, December)
- Third Tuesday lunch work session at 11:30 A.M. and regular session at 1:00 P.M
- Traditionally, one (1) City Council meeting has been scheduled for July and December to provide for a break in the meeting schedule. During these months, Public Comment will be scheduled for the first Tuesday meeting at 7:00 P.M.
- Exception – Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3. Council will meet on Wednesday, November 4. The proposed schedule includes meeting times and location for the various Council Committees.
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2. Annual Strategic Planning Retreat. Dates being considered are Friday, January 23 – Saturday, January 24.
3. The annual budget review schedule.
City Council Pre-Budget Work Sessions (Mondays):
- February 16, 2026, 4:00 P.M.
- March 9, 2026, 4:00 P.M.
- April 6, 2026, 4:00 P.M.
- Presentation of Proposed Operating Budget and Proposed Capital Improvement Program: May 19, 2026.
- Public Hearing on budget proposals: June 2, 2026, 7:00 P.M
- City Council Budget Work Sessions (Mondays):
June 1, 2026, 4:00 P.M.
June 8, 2026, 4:00 P.M.
June 15, 2026, 4:00 P.M.
June 22, 2026 (if needed) 4:00 P.M,
June 29, 2026 (if needed) 4:00 P.M.
Residential Permit Parking Program (RPP)
- Unanimously approved modifications to existing program regarding types of residences allowed, fees, etc.
Comprehensive Plan Update – Reflecting Raleigh – Technical Teams – Appointment of Members
- Unanimously approved staff recommendations regarding team member appointments
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report – Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025
- Unanimously accepted
MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING (AFTERNOON SESSION)
Rezoning Z-23-25: Gorman Street, at the intersection of Burt Drive and Gorman Street (District D)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-27-25: 721 & 725 Grove Avenue, at the intersection of Scarlet Maple Drive and Grove Avenue (District D)
- Held open until next meeting at applicant’s request
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
- No report
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
- No report
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
- No report
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
- Next meeting will be January 22, 3-5pm
REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
- Next District D Neighborhood Alliance meeting (DDNA) will be January 17
- No District C meeting until January
- District E – Dec 10 meeting moved to Willow House Coffee at 6pm with RPAC; Book club on 12/13 from 9:30-11:30 at Panera on Glenwood
- District A will meet in January
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Smoking Ordinance – City Council Follow Up
- Requested more information about potentially modifying City’s existing non-smoking ordinances to eliminate exceptions not required by State law and extend non-smoking prohibitions to e-cigarettes or vaping. Will revisit at January 6 Council meeting.
EVENING SESSION
PUBLIC COMMENT
- 17 people signed up to speak; 13 showed up. Comments focused on smoking ordinances.
MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
FY 2026-2027 Federal Annual Action Plan
- Octavia Rainey was the only speaker and expressed numerous concerns about the process
Demolition of Unfit Buildings
1910 W Millbrook Road (A)
1908 W Millbrook Road (A)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-9-25 Western Boulevard, northeast of the intersection with Blue Ridge Road (District D)
- Held until January 6 to allow possible addition of conditions
Rezoning Z-11-25 2230 South New Hope Road, north of its intersection with Rock Quarry Road (District C)
- Held until January 6 at applicant’s request to allow more discussion with neighbors
Rezoning Z-20-25: Brier Creek Town Center PD, at the intersection of Arco Corporate Drive and Macaw Street (District E)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-28-25: Sanderford Rd, located at the intersection of Rock Quarry Road & Sanderford Road (District C)
- Unanimously approved
Petition Annexation – AX-25-25 – Contiguous Outside ETJ – 2816 Hodge Road (District C)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-30-25: Hodge Road, approximately 1/2 mile south of the intersection of Poole Road and Hodge Road (District C)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning TCZ-32-25: Jeffreys Grove School Road Assemblage, west of the intersection of Jeffreys Grove School and Creedmoor Roads (District A)
- Unanimously approved
Text Change TC-3-24: Historic Preservation and Raleigh Historic Development Commission
- Unanimously approved