Highlights from September 20 Council meetings

Sep 20, 2022 | Blog

September 20 City Council Work Session & Afternoon Session

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Neither Nicole Stewart nor Patrick Buffkin were on hand for the work session about community engagement
  • Community Engagement Board will meet the second Wednesday of every month at 4:30pm at One Exchange Plaza, Suite 100
  • David Knight went on quite a tirade saying he will never meet with CACs and doesn’t think council members or staff should either. I guess he doesn’t know that Mayor Baldwin has met recently with the Mordecai CAC. Knight characterized CACs as illegal and criticized the fact that they used to vote on rezoning requests, which was part of their remit. They no longer vote on rezoning requests, but they do invite developers to present and discuss proposed rezonings. He said they were unelected and should not weigh in on decisions about other people’s properties. I guess that means the Planning Commission, also unelected, shouldn’t be weighing in on rezoning requests either. You really have to see it to believe it.
  • Voicemail Public Comment – Beginning with the September 20 City Council regular meeting, residents will be able to phone in ahead of meetings and leave up to a three-minute voicemail message.  Comments provided via the voicemail feature will be uploaded to Board Docs approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the City Council meeting. But there’s no guarantee that anyone will listen to them and the public will not hear the voicemail messages, so this isn’t a solution to the issue of citizens being able to participate remotely in an in-person meeting as happens in Cary.
  • Six Forks Road Transportation Issues referred to Transit & Transportation Committee
  • Authorized staff to execute a loan agreement with CASA in the amount of $2,000,000 for assistance with the acquisition of Grosvenor Gardens, a “naturally occurring affordable” apartment building on Hillsborough Street
  • Unanimously approved pedestrian safety changes downtown
  • Rezoning Z-67-21: North Hills Assemblage – applicant still working on draft conditions and will come back to council meeting on October 4 to set date for Transit & Transportation Committee’s meeting. Sounds like Council will avoid voting on this controversial issue until after the election.
  • Rezoning Z-81-21 and CP-6-22 held until October council meeting to allow for discussion between applicant and neighbors
  • Z-5-22: Semart Drive, north of Peace Street between Capital Boulevard and Halifax Street (District C) – approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting because the conditions do not adequately protect the train station building
  • Rezoning Z-9-22: Cabarrus and Davie, in the block bound by Cabarrus Street, Davie Street, Dawson Street, and West Street (District D) – Councilor Cox has heard from many citizens concerned about loss of historic properties and suggests renaming “Raleigh Historic Development Commission” to “Raleigh Historic Preservation Commission.” As usual, his comments are ignored and rezoning is approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting.
  • Z-11-22: Buck Jones, east side, between its intersections with Barclay Drive and Norman Place (District D) – deferred to October 18 to allow additional conversation between applicant and neighbors
  • Rezoning Z-12-22: Dawson and Martin, at the southeast corner of the intersection (District D) – held for two weeks to discuss saving the historic building housing The Berkeley Cafe
  • Rezoning Z-14-22: Glenwood Ave, on the west side of Glenwood Avenue between its intersection with West Jones Street and Willard Place (District D) – approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting

WORK SESSION

  • Community Engagement Overview and Update

https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/files/CJFLKN548F5E/$file/20220920OCEWorkSessionStaffPresentation.pdf

  • Community Engagement Board meets the second Wednesday of every month at 4:30pm at One Exchange Plaza, Suite 100
  • David Knight went on quite a tirade saying he will never meet with CACs and doesn’t think council members or staff should either. I guess he doesn’t know that Mayor Baldwin has met recently with the Mordecai CAC. Knight characterized CACs as illegal and criticized the fact that they used to vote on rezoning requests, which was part of their remit. They no longer vote on rezoning requests, but they do invite developers to present and discuss proposed rezonings. He said they were unelected and should not weigh in on decisions about other people’s properties. I guess that means the Planning Commission, also unelected, shouldn’t be weighing in on rezoning requests either. You really have to see it to believe it.
  • Council approved a no-bid contract to one of Mayor Baldwin’s former employers for expensive, specialized equipment for the Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park.

AFTERNOON SESSION

  • Mayor Pro Tem Stewart absent and excused

Special Awards

  • 2022 Housing North Carolina Awards – East College Park

Consent Agenda

  • See full list at end of document
  • Councilor Cox pulled I-1 regarding no bid contract on Gipson Play Plaza for very expensive, specialized equipment. Still approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting.

Public Comment

  • Voicemail Public Comment – Beginning with the September 20 City Council regular meeting, residents will be able to phone in ahead of meetings and leave up to a three-minute voicemail message.  Comments provided via the voicemail feature will be uploaded to Board Docs approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the City Council meeting. But there’s no guarantee that anyone will listen to them and the public will not hear the voicemail messages, so this isn’t a solution to the issue of citizens being able to participate remotely in an in-person meeting.
  • Christina Jones on community engagement failures of this council
  • Joe Mavretic on East Gate Park funding
  • Octavia Rainey on taxes
  • Kim Crawford on Raleigh Wake Partnership and Homeless Crisis Response System

Report and Recommendation of the Planning Commission

  • The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council meeting on October 4, 2022:
    • Z-62-21 – 1325, 1335, 1341 Chester Road (District D)​
    • Z-15-22 Washington St (District D)​
    • Z-16-22 N Boylan Ave & Hillsborough St (District D)​
    • Z-17-22 Hillsborough St & S West St (District D)​
    • Z-20-22 Pleasant Valley Rd (District A)​
    • Z-31-22 Harrington St (District D)​
    • Z-35-22 Crest Rd, Varsity Dt, Collegeview Ave (District D)​
    • Z-36 Lynn Rd & Ben Bur Rd (District A)
  • The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council meeting on October 18, 2022:
    • TCZ-26-22 Olde Birch Dr (District C)​
    • Z-30-22 Dawson St & Lane St (District D)
  • Rezoning Z-21-22: Rock Quarry, set back approximately 1,000 feet southwest of Rock Quarry Road, approximately 0.5 miles driving distance from Barwell Road (District C) – November 1 public hearing date recommended
  • Rezoning Z-23-22: 308 Bashford Road, on its south side, one quarter mile east of Strother Road (District D) – October 18 public hearing date recommended
  • Rezoning Z-39-22: 5017 Forestville Road, at the northeast corner of its intersection with Buffaloe Road (District B) – October 18 public hearing date recommended
  • Text change to zoning conditions TCZ-44-22: Tryon Road, east of the intersection of Tryon Road and Gorman Street (District D) – October 18 public hearing date recommended
  • Rezoning Z-49-22, 4902 Memory Road, approximately 0.25 miles from the intersection of Memory Road and East Millbrook Road. (District A) – October 18 public hearing date recommended
  • Rezoning Z-56-22 909 Rock Quarry Road at the southeast corner of the intersection of Rock Quarry Road and Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard (District C) – October 18 public hearing date recommended
  • Rezoning Z-80-21: 9500 Forum Drive, on the north side of Forum Drive, approximately 450 feet west of Old Lead Mine Road (District A) – November 1 public hearing date recommended
  • Rezoning Z-22-22: Boylan Avenue and Hargett Street, northeast corner (District D) – November 1 public hearing date recommended
  • Rezoning Z-29-22: E Millbrook Rd, Paddock Dr, northwest of the intersection of E Millbrook Rd and Falls of Neuse Rd (District A) – November 1 public hearing date recommended

Special Items

Report and Recommendation of the City Manager

  • Affordable Housing – Authorized staff to execute a loan agreement with CASA in the amount of $2,000,000 for assistance with the acquisition of Grosvenor Gardens, a “naturally occurring affordable” apartment building on Hillsborough Street, which CASA will preserve as affordable housing to low- to moderate-income households, where not less than 29 units will have rents not exceeding the established Fair Market Rent as determined and updated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and an additional 29 units will have rents not exceeding 30% of the annual income of a single person household at 80% of the area median income as determined by HUD annually.
  • Pedestrian Safety Improvements – Downtown Raleigh Speed Limit Reductions from 35 to 25 and Channelization Changes eliminating right turns on red at several locations.

Public Hearings

  • Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens — approved
  • Petition Annexation – AX-12-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 8009 Leesville Road (District E) – approved unanimously
  • Petition Annexation – AX-15-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2520, 2524, 2526 Prince Drive (District D) – approved unanimously
  • Petition Annexation – AX-16-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 4704, 4600, 4516, 4512, 4508 Lead Mine Road (District A) – approved unanimously
  • Rezoning Z-67-21: North Hills Assemblage, located at the intersections of I-440 at Lassiter Mill Road, and Lassiter Mill Road at Six Forks Road (District A) – applicant still working on draft conditions and will come back to council meeting on October 4 to set date for Transit & Transportation Committee’s meeting. Sounds like Council will avoid voting on this controversial issue until after the election.
  • Rezoning Z-81-21: Rock Quarry Road and Wall Store Road, on the west side of the intersection of Rock Quarry Road and Whitfield Road. (District C) – hold until October 4 meeting to allow for more conversation between applicant and neighbors
  • Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP-6-22: Camelot Village Avenue Extension (District C) – hold until October 4 meeting to allow for more conversation between applicant and neighbors
  • Z-5-22: Semart Drive, north of Peace Street between Capital Boulevard and Halifax Street (District C) – app approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting because the conditions do not adequately protect the train station building
  • Rezoning Z-9-22: Cabarrus and Davie, in the block bound by Cabarrus Street, Davie Street, Dawson Street, and West Street (District D) – Councilor Cox has heard from many citizens concerned about loss of historic properties and suggests renaming “Raleigh Historic Development Commission” to “Raleigh Historic Preservation Commission.” As usual, his comments are ignored and rezoning is approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting.
  • Z-11-22: Buck Jones, east side, between its intersections with Barclay Drive and Norman Place (District D) – deferred to October 18 to allow additional conversation between applicant and neighbors
  • Rezoning Z-12-22: Dawson and Martin, at the southeast corner of the intersection (District D) – held for two weeks to discuss saving the historic building housing The Berkeley Cafe
  • Rezoning Z-14-22: Glenwood Ave, on the west side of Glenwood Avenue between its intersection with West Jones Street and Willard Place (District D) – approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting
  • Text Change TC-5-22: Roadway Construction, Nonconformities, and Signage – approved unanimously
  • Text Change TC-2-21: Parking Structure Screening and Lighting – approved unanimously
  • Text Change TC-18-21: Accessory Structures – approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting
  • Text Change TC-21-20: Miscellaneous Zoning Permits – approved unanimously

Report and Recommendation of the Economic Development and Innovation Committee

  • ARPA funding opportunities will be discussed on 9/27 at 1:30pm

Report and Recommendation of the Growth and Natural Resources Committee

  • No report in Mayor Pro Tem Stewart’s absence
  • Next meeting scheduled for October; 9/27 meeting cancelled

Report and Recommendation of the Safe, Vibrant, and Healthy Community Committee

  • Next meeting at 11:30am on 9/27 to discuss Municipal Service Districts and unsheltered community and day shelters and Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness

Report and Recommendation of the Transportation and Transit Committee

  • Will meet on 9/22 at 3pm to discuss Boylan Heights parking concerns

CONSENT AGENDA

  • Consent Agenda Process
  • Federal HOME American Rescue Plan Allocation – Annual Housing Action Plan Amendment
  • Sale of City-Owned Property – 4220 Lake Boone Trail – University of North Carolina Health Care System / UNC Rex Hospital
  • Grant Application – NC Department of Environmental Quality – Stormwater Infrastructure – Rose Lane Area Neighborhood Flooding
  • Grant Award – Volkswagen Settlement Phase 2 Transit and Shuttle Bus Program
  • Contract Services – Financial Consultant Services – Raftelis Financial Consultants
  • Contract Services – Health Insurance Stop Loss/Reinsurance Coverage – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC Inc.
  • Contract Services – Raleigh Water Collection System Condition Assessment – Vision NC, LLC
  • Contract Services – Chemical Root Control Services – Duke’s Root Control – Amendment No. 1
  • Office Space Lease – 19 W. Hargett Street – Fire Department
  • 126 Penmarc Drive – Stormwater Drainage
  • Wilders Grove Stream Restoration Project – NC Land and Water Fund Grant – Contract Amendment
  • Raleigh Youth Summit – Sponsorship – HealthyBlue NC
  • Public Bid Waiver- Dix Park Gipson Play Plaza- Multiple Vendors
  • Speed Limit Reductions – Beaufain Street, Vendue Range Drive, Charleston Park Drive, Edenburgh Road, Glen Burnie Drive, Godfrey Drive, Hopper Street, Ortega Road, & Town Drive