Highlights
- Unanimously approved request of $4095 each from Councilors Jones and Patton for Raleigh/Wake Council of the Blind
- Unanimously authorized revision of Stormwater Regulations to Reflect State Statutes through the text change process
- Two cases (Willow Street & Woodside Drive) reveal gaps in the street closure process which staff has started working on. Councilor Patton agreed to take the issue into the Transportation & Transit Committee 4/24 meeting. Unanimously approved.
- The estate of the late Ms. Virginia Parker directs $50,000 to the Raleigh Police Department K9 unit as a designated bequest – unanimously approved.
- As a follow-up to the January retreat, staff is proposing new names for Key Focus Areas in the Strategic Plan (Transportation & Transit, Community Safety, Economic Development & Innovation, Organizational Excellence, Housing and either Quality of Life or Creative Life & Culture). Councilor Lambert-Melton suggested it would be helpful to align focus areas with Council Committees. Mayor Cowell asks where Sports would fit. Councilor Harrison suggests some tweaks as well. Consensus not to add additional committees but maybe try to consolidate the 7 Key Focus Areas into 4 Committees. Plan will come back to Council in June.
- Employee Classification and Compensation Study Update – Consultant will deliver 485 job descriptions in the next few weeks. Council won’t see bottom line numbers until after proposed budget is presented.
- Economic Development & Innovation Committee did not meet.
- Unanimously accepted Growth & Natural Resources Committee recommendations that staff should bring options for forestation requirements to the Planning Commission for a text change. Councilor Harrison highlighted City achievements with regard to the environment in acknowledgment of Earth Month. Agreed to discuss a number of topics at the May meeting, including a status update on the UDO Text Change prohibition on invasive species, and the recent illegal removal of a tree barrier that means the neighbors no longer have a sound barrier or a visual barrier.
- Safe, Vibrant & Healthy Communities Committee will meet May 27 to discuss noise issues when commercial and residential co-exist.
- Council unanimously approved recommendations from the Transportation & Transit Committee to revise the approval thresholds of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program to 60% for on-street and to 50% for neighborhood input as indicators for project support. Council directed staff to proceed with the Falls River Avenue – 3 project.
- Councilor Patton will hold office hours on 4/10 from 6-8pm with location to be determined. She asked staff about a “Key to the City” type recognition program.
- Mayor Cowell announced that the Taskforce on Boards & Commissions will be meeting on 4/15 at 9am in Room 305 of the Municipal Building. She also made two nominations as requested to the Raleigh Housing Authority.
- Councilor Jones is holding a District E meeting on 4/16 from 6-8pm at La Cucina. Her book club will meet on 4/19 from 9:30 – 11:30am at the Oberlin Regional Library.
- Councilor Branch is having a town hall on 4/16 at 6:30pm at Barwell Road Community Center. The Mayor plans to attend and other councilors are welcome.
- The City Manager also reminded everyone that the new Police Chief will be sworn in on April 2 at 6pm at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School.
- Business Investment Grant – Ralliant Corporation – unanimously approved
- Petition Annexation- AX-02-25- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5000 & 0 Louisburg Road (District B) – unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-38-24: 1400 Edwards Mill Road, at the intersection of Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill Road (District D) – lots of discussion regarding traffic and walkability; unanimously agreed to hold until April 15 afternoon meeting
- Rezoning Z-45-24: 7015 & 7019 Litchford Road, being Wake County PINs 1717943115 and 1717942277 – concerns about need for traffic calming; unanimously approved holding until April 15 afternoon meeting
- Rezoning Z-46-24: 4349 & 4353 Pearl Road, approximately 700 feet east of the intersection of Pearl Road and Camelot Village Avenue (District C) – unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-49-24 3716 and 3800 Pearl Road; southwest of the intersection of Rock Quarry Road and Pearl Road (District C) – unanimously approved
- Text Change TC-8-24: Townhouse Building Type Clarifications – This text change seeks to clarify that a townhouse can be on a single lot, or there can be multiple townhouses on a lot.; unanimously approved
A. 1:00 P.M. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Pledge of Allegiance
B. CONSENT AGENDA
- Details at end of report
- Unanimously approved after discussion about H2 – delaying Pullen Park repairs until January
J. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
1. Planning Commission Report
- The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on April 15, 2025, at 1 pm:
- Rezoning Z-31-24 – 901 Nowell Road (District D) (Held open from March 18 meeting)
- Rezoning Z-35-24 – 4409 Creedmoor Road (District E)
- Rezoning Z-53-24 – John P. “Top” Greene Community Center (District C)
- Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-41-24 – 3616 Louisbury Road (District B) (Held open from March 18 meeting)
2. Rezoning Z-39-24: Honeycutt Road, approximately 200 feet north of the intersection of Falls of Neuse Road and Honeycutt Road (District A) – unanimously deferred scheduling of public hearing to allow revisions to conditions that are in conflict with the UDO
K. SPECIAL ITEMS
1. Council Contingency Item
- Unanimously approved request of $4095 each from Councilors Jones and Patton for Raleigh/Wake Council of the Blind
2. Text Change Authorization – Staff Initiated – Unified Development Ordinance – Revise Stormwater Regulations to Reflect State Statutes
- Unanimously approved
3. Citizen Initiated Street Closing Petitions – Non-Conforming with Existing Policy – Special Cases
- These two cases (Willow Street & Woodside Drive) reveal gaps in the street closure process which staff has started working on. Councilor Patton agreed to take the issue into the Transportation & Transit Committee for 4/24 meeting. Unanimously approved.
L. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. Acceptance of Gift – Bequest to the City of Raleigh – Police K9 Unit
- The estate of the late Ms. Virginia Parker directs $50,000 to the Raleigh Police Department K9 unit as a designated bequest – unanimously approved.
2. Strategic Planning Update
- As a follow-up to the January retreat, staff is proposing new names for Key Focus Areas in the Strategic Plan (Transportation & Transit, Community Safety, Economic Development & Innovation, Organizational Excellence, Housing and either Quality of Life or Creative Life & Culture). Councilor Lambert-Melton suggested it would be helpful to align focus areas with Council Committees. Mayor Cowell asks where Sports would fit. Councilor Harrison suggests some tweaks as well. Consensus not to add additional committees but maybe try to consolidate the 7 Key Focus Areas into 4 Committees. Plan will come back to Council in June.
3. Employee Classification and Compensation Study Update
- Consultant will deliver 485 job descriptions in the next few weeks.
- Council won’t see bottom line numbers until after proposed budget is presented.
M. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. No Items Pending
N. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
1. Item 24-01: Unified Development Ordinance Forestation Requirements
- By a split vote (2-1), the committee recommends that Council authorize a text change for creating a minimum 30% forestation requirement (down from 40%) for commercial lots and residential lots of greater than one acre in the Urban Watershed Protection Overlay District (-UWPOD), with the understanding staff will bring back options for residential lots smaller than one acre that may include: i) full exemption from the forestation requirement; or ii) a reduced forestation percentage.
- Unanimously accepted Growth & Natural Resources Committee recommendations that staff should bring options for forestation requirements to the Planning Commission for a text change.
- Councilor Harrison highlighted City achievements with regard to the environment in acknowledgment of Earth Month.
- Unanimously agreed to discuss a number of topics at the May meeting, including a status update on the UDO Text Change prohibition on invasive species, and the recent illegal removal of a tree barrier that means the neighbors no longer have a sound barrier or a visual barrier.
2. No Items Pending
O. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. No Items Pending
- Will meet May 27 to discuss noise issues when commercial and residential co-exist.
P. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
1. Item 24-04: Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Annual Report Follow-Up
- Council unanimously approved.2. Item 24-03: West Raleigh Blue Ridge Traffic Issues
- By unanimous vote, the committee recommends reporting the item to the full Council with a recommendation for no action.
3. No Items Pending
Q. REPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
1. Individual Reports from the Mayor and Council Members
- Councilor Patton will hold office hours on 4/10 from 6-8pm with location to be determined. She asked staff about a “Key to the City” type recognition program.
- Mayor Cowell announced that the TaskForce on Boards & Commissions will be meeting on 4/15 at 9am in Room 305 of the Municipal Building. She also made two nominations as requested to the Raleigh Housing Authority.
- Councilor Jones is holding a District E meeting on 4/16 from 6-8pm at La Cucina. Her book club will meet on 4/19 from 9:30 – 11:30am at the Oberlin Regional Library.
- Councilor Branch is having a town hall on 4/16 at 6:30pm at Barwell Road Community Center. The Mayor plans to attend and other councilors are welcome.
- The City Manager also reminded everyone that the new Police Chief will be sworn in on April 2 at 6pm at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School.
R. APPOINTMENTS
1. Board of Adjustment – One Alternate Vacancy
2. Design Review Commsision – One Alternate Vacancy
3. Environmental Advisory Board – Two Regular Vacancies
4. Historical Resources and Museum Advisory Board – One Regular Vacancy
5. Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board – Three Regular Vacancies
6. Planning Commission – One Regular Vacancy
7. Stormwater Management Advisory Commission – One Regular Vacancy
S. NOMINATIONS
1. Design Review Commission – One Regular Vacancy
2. Human Relations Commission – One Regular Vacancy
T. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
U. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY CLERK
1. Minutes
V. CLOSED SESSION
1. Enter into Closed Session
W. OPEN SESSION
1. Return to Open Session
2. Recess Meeting
X. 7:00 P.M. EVENING AGENDA
Y. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Business Investment Grant – Ralliant Corporation – unanimously approved
2. Petition Annexation- AX-02-25- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5000 & 0 Louisburg Road (District B) – unanimously approved
3. Rezoning Z-38-24: 1400 Edwards Mill Road, at the intersection of Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill Road (District D) – lots of discussion regarding traffic and walkability; unanimously agreed to hold until April 15 afternoon meeting
4. Rezoning Z-45-24: 7015 & 7019 Litchford Road, being Wake County PINs 1717943115 and 1717942277 – concerns about need for traffic calming; unanimously approved holding until April 15 afternoon meeting
5. Rezoning Z-46-24: 4349 & 4353 Pearl Road, approximately 700 feet east of the intersection of Pearl Road and Camelot Village Avenue (District C) – unanimously approved
6. Rezoning Z-49-24 3716 and 3800 Pearl Road; southwest of the intersection of Rock Quarry Road and Pearl Road (District C) – unanimously approved
7. Text Change TC-8-24: Townhouse Building Type Clarifications – This text change seeks to clarify that a townhouse can be on a single lot, or there can be multiple townhouses on a lot.; unanimously approved
Z. ADJOURNMENT
1. Adjourn Meeting
B. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consent Agenda Process
2. Raleigh Housing Authority – Bond Issuance – Burrell Lofts (Hoke Street Apartments)
3. Raleigh Housing Authority – Bond Issuance – Tryon Flats
C. CONSENT AGENDA – PETITION ANNEXATIONS
1. Petition Annexation AX-03-25 (Deferral) – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 4200 Landover Lane (District B)
2. Petition Annexation AX-31-24 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5300 Daleview Drive (District C)
D. CONSENT AGENDA – REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Fiscal Year 2026-30 Consolidated Plan and Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Action Plan
E. CONSENT AGENDA – GRANTS
1. State of North Carolina – Hazardous Materials Regional Response Team – Cooperative Agreement
F. CONSENT AGENDA – EASEMENTS
1. Easement Request – Randleigh Farm, 7800 Battle Bridge Road – Water and Sewer Extension – Gander Development
G. CONSENT AGENDA – CONTRACTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES
1. Interlocal Agreement – Concept of Operations Study – Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Extensions – Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)
2. Professional Services – Master Services Agreement for On Call Engineering Services – Highfill Infrastructure Engineering, P.C. – Amendment Number Two
3. Professional Services – Master Services Agreement for On Call Engineering Services – Dewberry Engineers Inc. – Amendment Number One
4. Professional Services – NCDMV Site, 1100 New Bern Avenue – Abatement and Demolition Design – SM&E – Amendment Number Two
5. Contract Services – E. M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant Ozone Generator System Project – Veolia Water Technologies Treatment Solutions USA Inc.
6. Contract Services – Resource Recovery Division Landscape Services – Davis Landscape, Ltd.
7. Contract Services – On-call Stormwater Control Measure Inspection Services – Various Vendors
H. CONSENT AGENDA – BIDS
1. Bid Award – Carolina Pines Avenue Street Improvements Project – Cardinal Civil Contracting, LLC
2. Bid Rejection – Pullen Park Lake Howell Retaining Wall Repairs
3. Public Bid Waiver – Convention and Performing Arts Center Facilities – Escalator Modernizations – Schindler Elevator Corporation
I. CONSENT AGENDA – TRAFFIC
1. Multi-way Stops
2. Mixed Use Loading Zone – 500 Fayetteville Street
3. No Stopping No Standing Zone – Dillard Drive
4. Two Hour Parking Time Limits – 500 East Martin Street