May 19 City Council Meeting

May 19, 2026 | Blog

Highlights

  • City Council will begin budget work sessions on June 1, 2026, and will hold work sessions each Monday in June until the FY2026-27 Proposed Budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) are adopted.
  • A 1.7 cent property tax increase is proposed. The $13M projected deficit has been closed, but this increase will cover public safety, downtown parking, and council priorities. This will include 23 additional police officer positions – the first increase since 2017, 12 additional firefighter positions – the first increase since 2015, and six additional Emergency Center call takers over the next three years. Also includes $2M for downtown parking, $3M for Dix Park and 8.75 FTE for Dix, as well as six additional staff in Planning and Development, and six additional staff in Solid Waste Services. The Engagement Network will also expand to allow CACs to continue to bring the community together. 
  • There will also be increases in stormwater fees, water fees, and solid waste services fees. Some of this will cover weekly yard waste collection which will replace seasonal leaf collection.
  • A public hearing on the FY2026-27 Proposed Budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will be held on Tuesday, June 2. Individuals that desire to speak during the public hearing must sign-up by 3.00 pm on Friday, May 29. Instructions to speak at the public hearing will be posted on the City website.
  • Public comments focused on poverty, stormwater, preservation, and trees.
  • Wake Bus Rapid Transit – Northern Corridor – Unanimously endorsed the study findings, including the identification of both Midtown Alignment 6 and the Triangle Town Center 3 as the Locally Preferred Alternatives.
  • Unanimously approved the annual work plans for the Arts Commission and Public Art and Design Board.
  • Council introduced and adopted the second reading of the two bond orders, voting separately on actions to authorize $101,500,000 for Affordable Housing Bonds and $101,500,000 for Transportation Bonds.
  • Four annexations and four rezonings unanimously approved. One rezoning held open until 6/16 for further discussion of conditions.
  • Traffic Calming Policy Updates will be discussed next Thursday, May 28, from3-5pm at the Transportation and Transit Committee.
  • Councilor Jones announced several meetings – District E monthly meeting on June 10 from 6-8pm at La Cucina, book club on June 13 from 9:30-11:30am at New World Cafe, and a virtual meeting about the sewage spill on May 21 from 6-7pm

CONSENT AGENDA

  • Unanimously approved

PUBLIC COMMENT

  • Comments focused on

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION

The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on June 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.:

  • Statutory Public Hearing – Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget
  • Rezoning Z-43-25 – 6309 Litchford Road (District A)
  • Rezoning Z-01-26 – W Martin Street, Commerce Place, & W Davie Street (District C) (Held open from May 5 meeting) (1 min, 20 secs remaining in support; 8 mins remaining in opposition)
  • Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-02-26 – 4601 Creedmoor Road (District E) 

The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on June 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

  • Petition Annexation AX-37-25 – 3900, 4024, 4020, 4016, 4017, 4008, 4000, 4013, 0, 4025, 4004, 4012, and 3904 Jones Ridge Trail; 4205 Aquarius Lane (District B)
  • Rezoning Z-44-25 – Jones Ridge Trail (District B upon annexation)

Rezoning Z-3-26 617 West Jones Street and 117 Glenwood Avenue, Near Southwest Corner of Intersection of Glennwood Avenue and West Jones Street (District D)

  • Public hearing scheduled for June 16

Rezoning Z-5-26 New Bern Avenue Assemblage, Along the New Bern Avenue BRT Corridor from Downtown to North Raleigh Boulevard (District C)

  • Public hearing scheduled for June 16

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER

Wake Bus Rapid Transit – Northern Corridor – Major Investment Study

  • Unanimously endorsed the study findings, including the identification of both Midtown Alignment 6 and the Triangle Town Center 3 as the Locally Preferred Alternatives.

Proposed Operating and Capital Improvement Program for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2026

  • The City Manager and staff presented the FY2026-27 Proposed Budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). 

A 1.7 cent property tax increase is proposed. The $13M projected deficit has been closed, but this increase will cover public safety, downtown parking, and council priorities. This will include 23 additional police officer positions – the first increase since 2017, 12 additional firefighter positions – the first increase since 2015, and six additional Emergency Center call takers over the next three years. Also includes $2M for downtown parking, $3M for Dix Park and 8.75 FTE for Dix, as well as six additional staff in Planning and Development, and six additional staff in Solid Waste Services. The Engagement Network will also expand to allow CACs to continue to bring the community together. 

There will also be increases in stormwater fees, water fees, and solid waste services fees. Some of this will cover weekly yard waste collection which will replace seasonal leaf collection.

Materials for the FY2026-27 Proposed Operating and Capital Improvement Program will be made available on the Budget and Management Services Department webpage.

City Council will begin budget work sessions on June 1, 2026, and will hold work sessions each Monday in June until the FY2026-27 Proposed Budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) are adopted.

A public hearing on the FY2026-27 Proposed Budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will be held on Tuesday, June 2. Individuals that desire to speak during the public hearing must sign-up by 3.00 pm on Friday, May 29. Instructions to speak at the public hearing will be posted on the City website.

Residents that may wish to review the budget in paper format may do so by visiting the Office of the City Clerk, 222 West Hargett Street, Suite 207.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE RALEIGH ARTS COMMISSION

  • Unanimously approved the annual work plans for the Arts Commission and Public Art and Design Board.

MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING

November 2026 Elections – Bond Referendum – Affordable Housing and Transportation Bonds

  • Following the public hearing for the 2026 Bonds, Council introduced and adopted the second reading of the two bond orders, voting separately on actions to authorize $101,500,000 for Affordable Housing Bonds and $101,500,000 for Transportation Bonds; and voting once for the passage of a resolution calling for a bond referendum with related actions. 
     
    In addition, Council directed the City Clerk to mail or deliver a certified copy of resolution calling for a bond referendum to the Wake and Durham County Boards of Elections by May 22, 2026; and directed the City Clerk to timely publish the final bond orders as adopted in The News & Observer, the first notice of referendum in The News & Observer, and the second notice of referendum in The News & Observer.

Raleigh-Knightdale Annexation Agreement

  • Unanimously approved 

Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens

  • Staff asked to pull both back in order to properly notify
  • 660 Coleman Street (C)
  • 4117 St James Church Road (C)

Petition for Annexation – AX-29-25 – Contiguous, Outside ETJ – 7929 Ligon Mill Road (District B)

  • Unanimously approved 

Rezoning Z-35-25 Ligon Mill Road, West side of Ligon Mill Road, North of Louisburg Road Intersection (District B upon annexation)

  • Unanimously approved 

Petition for Annexation – AX-04-26 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ, 3800 Jones Sausage Road (District C)

  • Unanimously approved 

Petition for Annexation – AX-5-26 – Non-Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 511 Strother Road (District D)

  • Unanimously approved 

Rezoning Z-15-25: A portion of Randleigh Farm, at the intersection of Auburn Knightdale Road and Battle Bridge Road (District C)

  • Unanimously approved 

Rezoning Z-37-25: Multiple addresses along Avent Ferry Road, Broadwell Drive, Sure and Steadfast Court, and Chappell Drive (District D)

  • Unanimously approved 

Rezoning Z-39-25: 319 Heck Street, located at the intersections of Oakwood Avenue, Idlewild Avenue, and Heck Street (District C)

  • Held open until 6/16 for further discussion of conditions

Rezoning Z-53-25: 5601 Six Forks Road, approximately 500 feet north of the intersection of Millbrook Road and Six Forks Road (District A)

  • Unanimously approved 

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE

  • No Report/No Items Pending

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

  • No Report/No Items Pending

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE

  • No Report/No Items Pending

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE

  • Traffic Calming Policy Updates will be discussed next Thursday, May 28, from3-5pm.

REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

  • Councilor Jones announced several meetings – District E monthly meeting on June 10 from 6-8pm at La Cucina, book club on June 13 from 9:30-11:30am at New World Cafe, and a virtual meeting about the sewage spill on May 21 from 6-7pm