HIGHLIGHTS
- Budget work session focused on public engagement, capital improvement program, and long-term financial planning
- Work Session focused on an overview of the Stormwater program. Raleigh has $920M in known stormwater capital improvement needs. Current FY25 pay-as-you-go CIP = $13.9M (66-year delivery). Add ongoing Debt Finance & Grant strategy (25-year delivery)
- Public Comments focused on inappropriate rezoning request and Incompatible Land Uses around Historic Glenwood Brooklyn Neighborhood, parking, homelessness and need for an alternative response team, pedestrian safety, and funding requests.
- Rezoning Z-54-22: Peace and West Street Assemblage – Waiver of 24-month Waiting Period approved 5 to 3 with Councilors Harrison, Patton, and Jones opposed.
- Downtown Investment Opportunities – 2-Hour Free Parking Pilot Update – Unanimously approved keeping pilot program through the end of 2025; will review data in the Fall and possibly discuss in Transportation and Transit Committee at some point.
- Unanimously approved the Dix Park 10-Year Implementation Plan with Councilor Silver’s insistence that concessions be added.
- Officer who was wounded in shooting has been moved out of ICU
- Staff working to deal with weather issues forecast for 2/19-20
- Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens – both resolved
- Demolition of Unfit Building – unanimously approved two-week hold to discuss with community
- Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 – Educational Assets – Lindenwood Education System – unanimously approved for City attorney to talk with Wake County Attorney about this issue and bring back in May
- Petition Annexation AX-24-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5901 Jefferey’s Grove School Road and 5829 Creedmoor Road (District A) – unanimously approved
- Petition Annexation AX-28-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 3716, 3800 Auburn Church Road (District C) – unanimously approved
- Petition Annexation AX-29-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2312 & 2316 Trawick Road, 2315 Andor Place (District C) – unanimously approved
- Petition Annexation AX-30-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2900 Creech Road (District C) – unanimously approved
- Street Name Change SNC-01-2024: Section of Chester Road, to be renamed Pettiford Road – unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-04-24: 5009 Louisburg Road, approximately 200 feet south of the intersection of Fox Road and Louisburg Road and south of I-540 (District B) – unanimously approved
- Development Agreement DA-1-25: 5009 Louisburg Road (Rezoning Case Z-04-24) – unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-20-24: 721 Chappell Drive; approximately 1/5 mile south of the intersection of Avent Ferry Road and Chappell Drive (District D) – unanimously approved
- Transportation & Transit Committee will meet on 2/27 from 3-5pm
- Councilor Jones announced her next District E meeting will be 3/12 from 6-8pm at La Cucina and Book Club will meet 3/15 from 9:30-11:30am at Oberlin Regional Library. Councilor Jones asked when Council will follow up on retreat discussion about Boards and Commissions and City Manager said this has been scheduled for an April work session. Councilor Jones also noted that she is still trying to schedule meetings regarding CACs.
- Mayor Cowell motioned to reduce public comment time on the second Tuesday from 3 to 2 hours. It passed 5 to 3 with Councilors Harrison, Patton, and Jones opposed. She also asked for an update from staff and the City Attorney about ideas for dealing with panhandling.
- Councilor Patton will hold her next meeting on Thursday, 3/13, from 6-8pm, location TBD.
- Councilor Silver also welcomed an update on panhandling as did Mayor Pro Tem Forte and Councilor Lambert-Melton
FEBRUARY 17 BUDGET WORK SESSION
A. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
B. AGENDA
1. FY2026 Budget Engagement Results
2. FY2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program Preview and Long-Term Financial Planning
- March 10—Classification & Compensation Study, HR Benefits (includes Separation Allowance Report)
- April 7—Enterprise departments present FY26 operating and capital budgets and Annual Grants
- May 20—Budget and Management Services present the City Manager’s proposed FY26 Operating Budget and complete FY26-30 Capital Improvement Program
FEBRUARY 18 WORK SESSION AND AFTERNOON SESSION
A. 11:30 A.M. WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Stormwater Program Overview
- During the work session staff presented an overview of how capital improvement needs are identified and prioritized through watershed planning, community engagement, and application of other innovative planning tools.
- More information on the citywide stormwater program is available on the city website as part of the Reflecting Raleigh: The Next Comprehensive Plan update. The website page Weathering the Storm: Stormwater Management and Priorities includes a Stormwater Dashboard for current trends and initiatives. In addition, the Reflecting Raleigh meetings on Stormwater included a presentation by Ted Brown, who is a nationally-recognized stormwater expert as well as a conversation between the chair of the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission staff: Stormwater: State of the City in Raleigh
- Raleigh has $920M in known stormwater capital improvement needs. Current FY25 pay-as-you-go CIP = $13.9M (66-year delivery). Add ongoing Debt Finance & Grant strategy (25-year delivery)
- Councilor Harrison asked for an update on the impact of PFAS (forever chemicals) on our water supply.
B. 1:00 P.M. REGULAR SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Pledge of Allegiance
C. CONSENT AGENDA
- Full details at end of document
- Unanimously approved
H. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Rules of Decorum for Public Comment
2. Voice Mail Public Comment
- Public Comments focused on inappropriate rezoning request and Incompatible Land Uses around Historic Glenwood Brooklyn Neighborhood, parking, homelessness and need for an alternative response team, pedestrian safety, and funding requests.
I. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
1. Planning Commission Report
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on March 4, 2025, at 7pm
- Z-12-24 Old Milburnie Assemblage
- Z-36-24 9000 & 9004 Litchford Road
- Z-37-24 326 Chapanoke Road
- Street Closing STC-05-2024 — East Whitaker Mill Road Right-of-Way
*Legal Notice: STC-05-2024 – Resolution of Intent (Resolution 2025-647 — STC-05-2024)
2. Rezoning Z-31-24: 901 Nowell Road, approximately 800 feet north of the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road (District D)
- scheduled 3/18 public hearing
3. Rezoning Z-40-24: 2340 Compassionate Drive; approximately 800 ft north of Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School (District C)
- scheduled 3/4 public hearing
4. Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-41-24: 3616 Louisbury Road, on the south side of Louisbury Road (District B)
- scheduled 3/18 public hearing
5. Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP-5-24: 3104 Southall Road, between Skycrest Drive and Southall Road (District B)
- scheduled 3/18 public hearing
J. SPECIAL ITEMS
1. Rezoning Z-32-24: 4020 Sumner Boulevard, at the intersection of Sumner Boulevard and Wake Hills Lane (District B)
- scheduled 3/4 public hearing
2. Rezoning Z-54-22: Peace and West Street Assemblage – Waiver of 24-month Waiting Period
- Waiver approved 5 to 3 with Councilors Harrison, Patton, and Jones voting against.
3. Downtown Investment Opportunities – 2-Hour Free Parking Pilot Update
- Unanimously approved keeping pilot program through the end of 2025; will review data in the Fall and possibly discuss in Transportation and Transit Committee at some point.
K. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. Dix Park 10-Year Implementation Plan Update
- Unanimously approved the Dix Park 10-Year Implementation Plan. This Plan outlines a revised project schedule to support park development. It also proposes a series of studies to prepare for the Department of Health and Human Services transition off the campus. Finally, as the park evolves, the partnership between the City and the Conservancy must adapt as well. To address this, the Plan suggests that the Leadership Committee form a governance task force to review the current Memorandum of Agreement. The task force will recommend updates on the roles and responsibilities of both parties, the composition of the Leadership and Community Committees, and a process for amending the Master Plan. These recommendations will return to Council at a future meeting for consideration.
- Councilor Silver insisted that concessions be included as part of the 10-year implementation plan.
2. Officer who was wounded in shooting has been moved out of ICU
3. Staff working to deal with weather issues forecast for tomorrow
L. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens – both resolved
2. Demolition of Unfit Building – unanimously approved two-week hold to discuss with community
3. Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 – Educational Assets – Lindenwood Education System – unanimously approved for City attorney to talk with Wake County Attorney about this issue and bring back in May
4. Petition Annexation AX-24-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5901 Jefferey’s Grove School Road and 5829 Creedmoor Road (District A) – unanimously approved
5. Petition Annexation AX-28-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 3716, 3800 Auburn Church Road (District C) – unanimously approved
6. Petition Annexation AX-29-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2312 & 2316 Trawick Road, 2315 Andor Place (District C) – unanimously approved
7. Petition Annexation AX-30-24: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2900 Creech Road (District C) – unanimously approved
8. Street Name Change SNC-01-2024: Section of Chester Road, to be renamed Pettiford Road – unanimously approved
9. Rezoning Z-04-24: 5009 Louisburg Road, approximately 200 feet south of the intersection of Fox Road and Louisburg Road and south of I-540 (District B) – unanimously approved
10. Development Agreement DA-1-25: 5009 Louisburg Road (Rezoning Case Z-04-24) – unanimously approved
11. Rezoning Z-20-24: 721 Chappell Drive; approximately 1/5 mile south of the intersection of Avent Ferry Road and Chappell Drive (District D) – unanimously approved
M. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
1. No Items Pending
N. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
1. No Items Pending
O. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
1. No Items Pending
P. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
- Committee will meet on 2/27 from 3-5pm
Q. REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
1. Individual Reports from the Mayor and Council Members
- Councilor Jones announced her next District E meeting will be 3/12 from 6-8pm at La Cucina and Book Club will meet 3/15 from 9:30-11:30am at Oberlin Regional Library. Councilor Jones asked when Council will follow up on retreat discussion about Boards and Commissions and City Manager said this has been scheduled for an April work session. Councilor Jones also noted that she is still trying to schedule meetings regarding CACs.
- Mayor Cowell motioned to reduce public comment time on the second Tuesday from 3 to 2 hours. It passed 5 to 3 with Councilors Harrison, Patton, and Jones opposed. She also asked for an update from staff and the City Attorney about ideas for dealing with panhandling.
- Councilor Patton will hold her next meeting on Thursday, 3/13, from 6-8pm, location TBD.
- Councilor Silver also welcomed an update on panhandling as did Mayor Pro Tem Forte and Councilor Lambert-Melton
R. APPOINTMENTS
1. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission – Two Regular Vacancies
2. Design Review Commission – One Alternate Vacancy
3. Human Relations Commission – One Alternate Vacancy
4. Planning Commission – Two Regular Vacancies
S. NOMINATIONS
1. Board of Adjustment – One Regular Vacancy
2. Environmental Advisory Board – Removal of Member
3. Fair Housing Hearing Board – One Regular Vacancy
4. Raleigh Transit Authority – Two Regular Vacancies
T. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
U. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY CLERK
1. Minutes – Various
V. CLOSED SESSION
1. Enter Closed Session
W. OPEN SESSION
1. Return to Open Session
2. Adjourn Meeting
C. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consent Agenda Process
2. Fire Station No. 1 Replacement – Construction Process – Authorize City Manager to Execute Certain Documents and Permits
D. CONSENT AGENDA – PETITION ANNEXATIONS
1. Petition Annexation – AX-09-24 – Contiguous Outside ETJ – 2801 Old Crews Road and 0, 3912, 4000, 4017, 4100 Old Milburnie Road (District B)
E. CONSENT AGENDA – EASEMENTS
1. Duke Energy Progress Easement Request – 936 Rock Quarry Road
F. CONSENT AGENDA – CONTRACTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES
1. Memorandum of Understanding – Mobility Management Program – Town of Cary, GoTriangle, Wake County, Harnett Area Rural Transit System, Johnston County Area Transit, Kerr Area Rural Transit System and CAMPO
2. Utility Construction Agreement (UCA) – NCDOT (U-4437) Blue Ridge Road Bridge and Hillsborough Street Grade Separation – City of Raleigh
3. Professional Services– On-Call Master Service Agreement for Design and Engineering Services – Multiple Vendors
4. Contract Services – Master Service Agreement – On Call Athletic Officiating Services – Contract Authorized with Various Vendors
5. Contract Services – Fire Sprinkler Inspection and Certification – Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP
G. CONSENT AGENDA – TRAFFIC
1. No Parking Zones – Line of Sight – Brooks Avenue
2. No Parking Tow Away Zone – Old Buffaloe Road
3. Two Hour Metered Parking – 200 South West Street