It’s Up to City Council Now

Mayor, Councilors and staff,

I know that you are getting tired of hearing staff presentations about CACs over the last two years. With each presentation, you have approved certain benefits that further enhance the operation of CACs and clarify the working relationship with the City. On December 2, you will hear the outcome of the discussions and agreements of the task force that has been meeting regularly since Council first restored CACs in February 2022.

From the beginning of preliminary discussions at the January 2024 Council Retreat, CACs have been seeking a renewed partnership with the City with benefits that will assist the CACs in their successful comeback. Those included basic elements to enhance community outreach. Those elements are:

• • Funding (software for hosting hybrid meetings, mailings, miscellaneous)
  • Technical support (Best practice for hosting Hybrid meetings)
  • Equipment for Hybrid meetings (Zoom Licensing, Equip City Community Centers as needed)
  • City website addition to grow CACs (City web presence, a CAC Video, Finder map application)
  • Link to Leadership Academy graduates for increased Succession planning
  • Possible Staff support for new CACs

At the last staff presentation, all of these elements were deemed possible on the condition that the RCAC and its member CACs join the Engagement Network. On October 22, the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council (RCAC) unanimously voted to join the Raleigh Engagement Network based upon the current framework of tiered benefits that are being presented to you at the upcoming Council meeting.

The RCAC has done its part. It is now up to the Council to bring this across the finish line. Yes, the additional benefits outlined in the Tier approach carry a cost, but this is not because of the addition of the CACs. The additional cost burden is because the benefits are being applied across the entire Engagement Network so that other organizations can share those same benefits that the CACs have enjoyed in the past.

Please do not let this momentum be delayed based on a budgetary issue. Do not delay this proposal until the next budget cycle. Find the funds now so that the RCAC organization can grow and achieve full coverage across all areas of the City by bringing back or starting additional CACs.

The CACs provide the means for citizens to be involved in planning for the future of their community and, in turn, give the City another method of communication with its citizens. Let’s provide them with the tools and funds to complete their mission.