February 3, 2026 City Council Meetings

FEBRUARY 3 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Full agenda and attachments available at:

https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=aed3b569-ddb1-46e9-91a5-2b21c55679e0&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

HIGHLIGHTS

• Increased Council Contingency funds from $150k to $198k for FY26
• Granted $132,850 to the Tar River Land Conservancy for watershed protection
• Transportation & Transit Committee will discuss Six Forks Road on 2/26 at 3pm

AFTERNOON SESSION

CONSENT AGENDA

• Item C.4.b pulled by Stormie Forte, and she was recused. Council approved Consent agenda.
  

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION

• No action
  

SPECIAL ITEMS

Additional Resources – Council Contingency – Appropriation of Prior Year Reserves

• Unanimously approved adding $48,000 to the Council Contingency budget in FY26 with the source of funding being FY25 Capital Reserves. The FY26 Council Contingency budget currently totals $150,000 and is  allocated equally between all City Council members.; this will bring the total to $198,000 with a revised allocation of $24,750 for each Councilor.
  

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER

Belvin Watershed Protection Project

• Unanimously approved $132,850 to the Tar River Land Conservancy from the Watershed Protection Program to permanently preserve the 277-acre Belvin property which includes 8800 feet of streams that drain directly into the Ledge Creek arm of Falls Lake.
  

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION

Raleigh Rainwater Rewards Program – Updated Policy

• Unanimously approved the updated Raleigh Rainwater Rewards (R3) Policy as recommended by the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission (SMAC) with an effective date of July 1, 2026. Changes to the policy are required to update, clarify, or remove outdated policy language and elements, reflect current market  conditions, improve program accessibility to the public, and integrate efficiencies to streamline project reviews.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUBSTANCE USE ADVISORY COMMISSION

Annual Report and Annual Workplan

• Unanimously approved the annual work plan for fiscal year 2025-26.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE

• No report/no items pending
• Next meeting…

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

• Unanimously approved the Transportation and Transit Committee recommendation that the Council restore the previous process for administrative processing of street closure applications pursuant to City standards as it existed prior to changes adopted by Council in 2025.

REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

• Mayor Pro Tem Harrison – will be on maternity leave until mid-March.
• Councilor Jones – Community meeting: La Cucina Italian Restaurant, 2/11, 2026 6-8  pm, 6552 Glenwood Ave. Book club: 2/14 meeting at New World Café, 5900 Duraleigh Rd, from 9:30-11:30 am.
• Councilor Branch
• Mayor Cowell
• Councilor Silver
• Councilor Patton
• Councilor Lambert-Melton
• Councilor Forte

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY 

Minimum Housing Code Ordinance Review

• The City Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the City’s Housing Code Enforcement staff, reviewed Raleigh’s Minimum Housing Code. The results of that review were presented, including an overview of Raleigh’s  existing enforcement process, tenant protections, complaint process, and education and outreach efforts. In addition, the City provides funding to the Blanchard Community Law Clinic at Campbell University Law School. Rick Glazier, Director of the Clinic, will be present to provide an overview of the clinic’s work related to housing and tenant issues.

Settlement Report

• State law requires that certain matters be reported in City Council minutes when resolved. To meet that statutory requirement, the City Attorney’s Office prepared a memorandum summarizing those matters and recommended that the City Council receive the memorandum as information. The memorandum can be viewed at https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=8304
  

OTHER

• A motion was approved to ask City staff to contact Wake County regarding a possible partnership to save the Athens Drive library for the community. Stormie Forte objected.

EVENING SESSION

Jane Harrison was absent and excused.

Rezoning Z-33-25: Gresham Lake Road, east of I-540 (District A)

• Unanimously approved