City Council Meeting August 18, 2026

Full agenda and background documents available at https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=e2c19671-8dd7-491d-8ff6-08959a989029&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

HIGHLIGHTS

Proposed teen curfew ordinance will be available on the City website and will come back on September 15 to allow for public comment.
Johnny Lee Chapman III was introduced as Raleigh’s first Poet Laureate.
Public comments focused on the proposed teen curfew, surveillance cameras, Z-43-25, infrastructure, greenways, water restrictions, noise ordinance, and the City’s permit parking program.
Eight of the 40 people who signed up to speak did not show up; those who did were allowed one minute each which resulted in most of the speakers being cut off mid-sentence.
Unanimously approved moving forward with a text change to facilitate the creation of more childcare facilities, including possible economic incentives.
Mid-Year Council Retreat will be held at Lions Park on 9/18 from 12-5pm and on 9/19 from 9am to 3pm. Agenda topics include Planning & Land Use, Downtown, Innovation and Technology, Revenue Outlook, Housing, and Grant Management.
Chief Boyce updated Council on how RPD is using Flock cameras. He emphasized safeguards, including that they do not provide any information to ICE.
Annexation request regarding data center was withdrawn by applicant. Three other annexations were approved and one will be held for two weeks.
Two rezonings approved, 2 held open, and one denied. Comprehensive Plan approved and Text Change approved.
No Committee meetings scheduled.
Mayor Pro Tem Harrison asked that a summary of the process for making data center decisions be made public
Councilor Jones will hold her District E Community Meeting on 9/9 from 6-8pm at La Cucina. Her Book Club will meet on 9/12 from 9:30-11:30am at the Continental
Councilor Patton will hold office hours on 8/19 from 6-8pm at Bedford Food & Drink
Councilor Forte asked for staff action on e-bikes and scooters that are left all over the City
Councilor Patton asked for a resolution to allow Council to appoint County representatives to Boards and Commissions if County Commissioners do not take action in a timely fashion.
Unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the City Council’s Policy regarding appointments made to the City’s Land Planning Boards and Commissions

WORK SESSION

Youth Engagement Update

During the meeting staff provided an update on past, current, and ongoing engagement with youth, teens, and young adults. The joint presentation from Community Engagement, Parks & Recreation, and Raleigh Police also included a proposed plan on operational and programmatic enhancements to engage with these groups.

Youth Protection and Curfew Ordinance

During the July 7 City Council meeting, Council had directed the City Attorney to draft a youth curfew ordinance for consideration and discussion focused on that.

RPD Chief Boyce noted that teenagers were involved, either as victims or perpetrators, in the July 4 shootings.

Proposed curfew ordinance covers those under 18 years of age from 11pm to 5am. Exceptions could exist for a variety of reasons, including employment, emergency, public events like the State Fair, concerts, sporting events, etc.

During an encounter, a police officer would have to verify age and check if exemptions apply.

Council work session was running over so agreed to start 1pm afternoon meeting with a resumption of this conversation.

Councilors asked lots of questions about whether this would help solve existing problems, whether it could result in racial profiling, and what unintended consequences have been seen in other communities that have enacted curfews. It was emphasized that a curfew would be only one tool.

The ordinance is available on the City website. City Attorney and City Manager suggest this come back on September 15 to allow for public comment.

AFTERNOON SESSION

RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL AWARDS

Raleigh Poet Laureate

Johnny Lee Chapman III was introduced as Raleigh’s first Poet Laureate.

During the two-year appointment (2026-2028), the Laureate will serve as an ambassador for Raleigh’s literary and creative communities, encouraging residents to read, write, perform, and appreciate poetry and the spoken word.

CONSENT AGENDA

Unanimously approved

PUBLIC COMMENT

Public comments focused on the proposed teen curfew, surveillance cameras, Z-43-25, infrastructure, greenways, water restrictions, noise ordinance, and the City’s permit parking program.
Eight of the 40 people who signed up to speak did not show up; those who did were allowed one minute each.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION

The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council meeting September 1:

• Rezoning Z-9-26 – 5925 Glenwood Avenue (District E)
• Rezoning Z-18-26 – 6904 and 0 Poole Road (District C)

Rezoning Z-17-26: 5507, 5511 Hillsborough Street & 0, 5508 Western Boulevard, located at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Western Boulevard (District D)

Public hearing scheduled for 9/15

SPECIAL ITEMS

Rezoning Z-12-26 Rock Quarry Road, South side of Rock Quarry Road, 675 feet west of the Wall Store Road Intersection (District C)

Public hearing scheduled for 9/15

Rezoning Z-14-26 Gorman Street Assemblage, 530 feet south of the intersection of Western Boulevard and Gorman Street (District D)

Public hearing scheduled for 9/1

Rezoning Z-19-25: 405 & 416 Dorothea Drive, in Downtown Raleigh, bounded by West South Street, South Dawson Street, Western Boulevard, and South Saunders Street (District D)

Public hearing scheduled for 9/1

Text Change Authorization Request – Daycare Amendments

Unanimously approved moving forward with the text change to facilitate the creation of more childcare facilities, including possible economic incentives.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER

Mid-Year Council Retreat

Retreat will be held at Lions Park on 9/18 from 12-5pm and on 9/19 from 9am to 3pm.
Agenda topics include Planning & Land Use, Downtown, Innovation and Technology, Revenue Outlook, Housing, and Grant Management.

Flock Cameras

Chief Boyce updated Council on how RPD is using Flock cameras. He emphasized safeguards, including that they do not provide any information to ICE.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE RALEIGH HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Unanimously approved work plan

MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING

Unfit for Human Habitation

2725 Poole Rd (ETJ) – unanimously approved City action to board up property

Public Nuisance Abatement – Property

Unanimously approved the following :

660 Coleman St (C)
1011 Oberlin Rd (D)
900 Peyton St (C)
4117 St. James Church Rd (C)
813 N West St (D)

Petition Annexation – AX-06-26 – Contiguous to Satellite, Inside ETJ – 4424 Mitchell Mill Road (District B)

Applicant asked that public hearing be held open until March so they can get more information on costs; Councilor Patton asked that it be held open for two weeks to get more information and her motion was unanimously approved.

Petition Annexation – AX-07-26 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2900 Barrington Drive (District C)

Unanimously approved

Petition Annexation – AX-09-26 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 3101 Jones Sausage Road (District C)

Withdrawn by applicant. Lots of unfavorable public sentiment about potential data center.

Petition Annexation – AX-14-26 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5700 Fox Road (District B)

Unanimously approved

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

Rezoning denied. Branch, Harrison, Jones, and Forte voted to deny; Cowell, Silver, Lambert-Melton, and Patton voted to approve. Because of 4-4 split vote, nothing changes, but applicant may resubmit at any time.

Rezoning Z-51-25: 4804 & 4808 Spring Forest Road, approximately 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Louisburg Road/US-401 and Spring Forest Road (District B)

Hearing will be held open until September 1 for applicant to submit new conditions

Petition Annexation – AX-44-25 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ (partial), Outside ETJ (partial) – 12301 & 7652 Leesville Road, 3321 Shady Grove Road (District E)

Approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Patton and Jones voting against the rezoning.

Rezoning Z-54-25: 12301, 7652 Leesville Road and 3321 Shady Grove Road, at the Durham/Wake County boundary, approximately ½ mile south of the intersection of Leesville Road and Shady Grove Road (District E)

Approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Patton and Jones voting against the rezoning.

Rezoning Z-08-26: 5525 & 5605 Rock Quarry Road, approximately .2 miles west of the intersection of Rock Quarry Road & Barwell Road (District C)

Applicant agreed to hold until September 1 to allow for conditions to be discussed.

Rezoning Z-16-26 308 North Boylan Avenue, at the southwest corner of the intersection of North Boylan Avenue and North Street (District D)

Unanimously approved, including removal of property from NCOD.

Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP-01-26: Old Crews Road, between Buffaloe Road and Old Milburnie Road (District B)

Unanimously approved

Text Change TC-1-26: School Lot Area Amendment

Approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Jones and Patton opposed.

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

No Report/No Items Pending

REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Cowell
Mayor Pro Tem Harrison asked that a summary of the process for making data center decisions be made public
Councilor Lambert-Melton
Councilor Forte
Councilor Silver
Councilor Patton
Councilor Branch
Councilor Jones

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY

Resolution Establishing the City Council’s Policy Regarding Appointments Made to the City’s Land Planning Boards and Commissions

The City’s Land Planning Boards and Commissions may, in certain circumstances, have concurrent review authority over rezoning and other land development applications. Given this concurrent review, the draft resolution proposes policy guidance regarding dual appointments to the City’s Land Planning Boards and Commissions . The Land Planning Boards and Commissions include: the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Raleigh Historic Development Commission, and the Design Review Commission.

≈