February 17 Council Meeting

Feb 17, 2026 | Blog

February 17 Council Meetings

Full agenda and attachments available at https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=9b14c60c-b85e-4532-bb05-000f479a0cb7&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The February 17 scheduled work session was cancelled due to the joint meeting of the Raleigh City Council and the Wake County Board of Commissioners scheduled for 6:00p.m. at the Wake County Justice Center,  Second Floor Conference Room, 300 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Harrison absent and excused as she is on maternity leave
  • Public comments focused on the Big Branch Greenway controversy, Stormwater problems, and homelessness and mental health
  • By a 6 to 1 vote (Councilor Lambert-Melton opposed), Council authorized staff to work on a text change requested by Morningstar Law Group to modify the minimum school lot area standard of 500 square feet per enrolled pupil contained in UDO Section 6.3.1.D.2.b. with additional mitigation controls, e.g., outdoor space requirements, traffic/circulation standards, and residential compatibility
  • Unanimously approved revised Rules of Procedure for Planning Commission, Design Review Commission, and Board of Adjustment
  • Council unanimously approved the review panel recommendations for $15.5M in funding for projects reviewed as part of the FY 26 Hospitality Tax Competitive Process
  • Unanimously approved the Work Plan of the Human Relations Commission
  • Unanimously approved actions on two “Unfit for Human Habitation” properties and unanimously approved liens on eight public nuisance abatements 
  • Unanimously approved 5 annexations
  • Transportation and Transit Committee will meet on 2/26 from 3-5pm in Council Chambers to discuss the Six Forks Road Corridor; no other committees have meetings scheduled
  • Councilor Jones will hold District E meeting on 3/11 from 6-8pm at La Cucina Italian Restaurant and Book Club meeting on 3/14 from 9:30-10:30am at New World Café.
  • Mayor Cowell announced that the State of the City presentation will be held on 3/18 at 5:30pm at the City of Raleigh Museum
  • Councilor Patton requested authorization for Raleigh Transit Authority to study the R Line and make recommendations about its future. She also asked for a staff report on how litter is managed in peer cities.

11:30 A.M. WORK SESSION (CANCELLED)

The February 17 scheduled work session has been cancelled due to the joint meeting of the Raleigh City Council and the Wake County Board of Commissioners scheduled for 6:00p.m. at the Wake County Justice Center,  Second Floor Conference Room, 300 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh.

CONSENT AGENDA

  • Passed unanimously

PUBLIC COMMENT

  • Public comments focused on the Big Branch Greenway controversy, Stormwater problems, and homelessness and mental health

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION

  • No Report

SPECIAL ITEMS

External Text Change Request

  • By a 6 to 1 vote (Councilor Lambert-Melton opposed), Council authorized staff to work on a text change requested by Morningstar Law Group to modify the minimum school lot area standard of 500 square feet per enrolled pupil contained in UDO Section 6.3.1.D.2.b. with additional mitigation controls, e.g., outdoor space requirements, traffic/circulation standards, and residential compatibility

Boards and Commissions Bylaws

  • Unanimously approved revised Rules of Procedure for Planning Commission, Design Review Commission, and Board of Adjustment

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER

Customer Experience Program Update

  • Staff provided an update on the Customer Experience solution, Ask Raleigh, replacing SeeClickFix. 
  • Questions were raised about the environmental impact of increased utilization of AI in the tool.

FY 26 Hospitality Tax Competitive Process – Funding Recommendations

  • Council unanimously approved the review panel recommendations

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION

  • Unanimously approved the Work Plan 
  • Discussed the request to remove the requirement that one member be under 21, but did not act on it

MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING

Unfit for Human Habitation

  •  700 Cooper Road – unanimously approved boarding up the property

Unfit for Human Habitation 90 Days Repair/Demolish

  •  3028 Olde Birch Drive – unanimously approved

Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens

  •  Unanimously approved adoption of liens for the following properties except for 1807 Sutton Drive and to direct attorney’s office to figure out options for the property owned by a defunct HOA
  • 8229 Clear Brook Drive
  • 1522 Eva Mae Drive
  • 1227 Falls Church Road
  • 5149 Jeffries Street
  • 3216 Julian Drive
  • 900 Peyton Street
  • 1807 Sutton Drive (paid off by owner)
  • 2132 Watkins Street
  • 2915 Woods Place

Petition for Annexation AX-33-25 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 4506 Louisburg Road & 4428 James Road (District B)

  •  Unanimously approved

Petition for Annexation AX-36-25 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 6515, 6617 Buffaloe Road and 5604 Kyle Drive (District B)

  •  Unanimously approved

Petition for Annexation – AX-40-25 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 2051 Dunn Road (District B)

  •  Unanimously approved

Petition for Annexation – AX-43-25 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 8013 Leesville Road (District E)

  •  Unanimously approved

Petition for Annexation – AX-45-25 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 10720 Falls of Neuse Road & 0 Westcott Drive (District B)

  •  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

  • Committee will meet on 2/26 from 3-5pm in Council Chambers to discuss the Six Forks Road Corridor  

REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

  • Councilor Jones will hold District E meeting on 3/11 from 6-8pm at La Cucina Italian Restaurant and Book Club meeting on 3/14 from 9:30-10:30am at New World Café.
  • Mayor Cowell announced that the State of the City presentation will be held on 3/18 at 5:30pm at the City of Raleigh Museum
  • Councilor Patton requested authorization for Raleigh Transit Authority to study the R Line and make recommendations about its future. She also asked for a staff report on how litter is managed in peer cities.