HIGHLIGHTS
- Consent agenda items will be reviewed with council before meetings in future.
- Hearings that needed to be rescheduled due to insufficient notice will now be heard at a special council meeting on Tuesday, January 24, at 5pm. And staff has put in place new processes to prevent future problems.
- Councilor Harrison asked that committee meetings be scheduled in February even though nothing has yet been assigned to any committee. Councilor Jones supported that, but it wasn’t clear how this was resolved.
- Approved City sponsorship for Urban Land Institute 2023 Carolinas Conference, which will be held February 22-24 at Raleigh Convention Center.
- City Council Retreat seems to have been designed to make community engagement difficult. First day will be in Durham and will not be live-streamed or recorded.
- Councilor Harrison presented a number of affordable housing ideas to deal with our housing affordability crisis in the short-term, medium-term, and longterm.
- Councilor Jones asked for a schedule of work session topics.
- Councilor Black asked that a system be put in place for fair housing complaints to be investigated by City of Raleigh. Also recommended possible changes to City website to encourage community engagement.
- Councilor Patton asked for a staff report about wireless internet in City facilities, including fire stations.
- Mayor Baldwin named Mayor Pro Tem Branch as liaison to Sister Cities and Councilor Forte as liaison to Appearance Commission. Sepi Saidi resigned from RDU AA. Nina Szlosberg Landis will be nominated at next meeting.
- Gail Smith will be retiring as City Clerk after 51 years of service, effective March 31, 2023, with a farewell celebration in April.
- Public comments focused on housing affordability.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Consent Agenda – see details at end of document
- B2 pulled for discussion by Councilor Patton to understand options for disposition of surplus property at 411 Morson Street. Staff explained that money from sale would go toward Affordable Housing. Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood wanted to buy the property in order to relocate historic houses, but their bid was not the highest. The higher bid was approved unanimously.
- Consent agenda items will be reviewed with council before meetings in future.
Report and Recommendation of the Planning Commission
Currently scheduled public hearings:
January 17, 2023, 1:00 p.m
- Petition Annexation AX-26-22 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 8031 and 8101 Louisburg Road (District B)
- Petition Annexation AX-32-22 – Contiguous inside ETJ – 5100 Forestville Road (District B)
- Rezoning Z-37-22 – Plainview Drive & Polly Street (District C)
- Rezoning Z-52-22 – Globe Road (District E)
- Rezoning Z-68-22 – W Jones Street & N Boylan Avenue (District D)
- Rezoning Z-71-22 – 849 W Morgan St (District D)
February 7, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
- Rezoning Z-64-21 – Baileywick Road (District A)
March 7, 2023, 7:00 pm
- Rezoning Z-67-21 – North Hills Assemblage (District A) (Held open from December 6 meeting)
Recommended for January 17, 1pm – approved
- Text Change TC-8-22: Self-Service Storage in Office Park (OP-) Zoning District
- Text Change TC-6-22: Treatment Plants
60-day extension requested – approved
- Rezoning Z-24-22: E Whitaker Mill Road and Iron Works Drive, at the northeast corner of E Whitaker Mill Road and Atlantic Avenue (District C)
Recommended for February 7, 7pm – approved
- Rezoning Z-17-21: E Whitaker Mill Road and Bernard Street, the northwest corner of the intersection of E Whitaker Mill Road and Bernard Street (District E)
- Rezoning Z-41-22: Old Milburnie Road, west side, east of I-540 (District B)
- Rezoning Z-64-22: 4424 Lead Mine Road, located at the intersection of Lead Mine Road and Philcrest Road (District A)
- Rezoning Z-74-22: Levister Court, east of the intersection of Fayetteville Street and Levister Court (District D)
- Rezoning Z-76-22: Jones Franklin Road, northeast of the intersection of Jones Franklin Road and Dillard Drive (District D)
Public Hearings to be Rescheduled – will hold a special meeting on January 24 at 5pm to deal with these, except that Z-46-22 and Z-57-22 will be heard on January 17
- Rescheduling of Various Public Hearings – Defective Public Notice – Originally Scheduled for January 3
- Petition Annexation – AX-1-22- Contiguous Outside ETJ – 6720 Rock Quarry Road (District C)
- Petition Annexation – AX-21-22- Contiguous inside ETJ – 7640 Oak Hill Drive (District B)
- Dix Edge Area Study Final Report and Comprehensive Plan Amendment
- Rezoning Z-72-21: Lake Wheeler Road, Mercury Street, Maywood Avenue, east of Lake Wheeler Road and west of S. Saunders Street (District D)
- Rezoning Z-2-22: Rock Quarry Road, at its intersection with Whitfield Road (District C)
- Rezoning Z-38-22: 7640 Oak Hill Drive, located approximately 0.3 miles northeast of the intersection of Buffaloe Road and Forestville Road (District B)
- Rezoning Z-43-22: 405 Clover Lane, both sides, east of Wake Forest Road (District C)
- Rezoning Z-46-22: 4900 Old Poole Road, located at the southeast intersection of Old Poole Road and South New Hope Road (District C)
- Rezoning Z-53-22: S Wilmington Street, Summit Avenue, Water Works Street near the intersection of Water Works Street and Summit Avenue (District D)
- Rezoning Z-54-22: Peace and West Streets, on the northeast corner of the intersection of Peace Street and West Street, approximately 400 feet west of Capital Boulevard (District D)
- Rezoning Z-55-22: Johnson Street, on the south side of Johnson Street, between St. Marys Street and Boylan Avenue (District D)
- Rezoning Z-57-22: McLean Drive/Old Wake Forest Road Assemblage, approximately 0.2 miles northeast of the intersection of Old Wake Forest Road and Falls of the Neuse Road (District A) (TO BE RESCHEDULED)
- Rezoning Z-62-22: Crosslink Road, west side, approximately one-quarter mile south of intersection with Dandridge Drive (District C) (TO BE RESCHEDULED)
Special Items
- Rezoning Z-65-22: Willard Place, east of N Boylan Avenue, bounded by Willard Place and Hillsborough Street (District D) – Staff recommends deferring the case until January 17, 2023 so the applicant can submit revised zoning conditions. Revised conditions still not received; staff recommends deferring to January 17 – approved unanimously.
- Rezoning Z-75-22: Edwards Mill Road, northwest side, approximately one quarter-mile from the intersection with Glen Eden Drive (District E) – Staff recommends February 7 public hearing – approved unanimously
- Urban Land Institute – Sponsorship Opportunity – 2023 Carolinas Conference – Mayor encourages attendance and asks Planning Department to fund so staff and council members can attend at reduced fee. Will be held February 22-24 at Raleigh Convention Center.
Report and Recommendation of the City Manager
- Preserve at Gresham Lake – Additional Gap Funding approved unanimously
- City Council Retreat scheduled for January 27-28 – reviewed draft agenda (see below). Councilor Harrison reminded everyone that Community Engagement Board is interested in opening up community centers asap to community groups and that is on the agenda for discussion at the retreat. Agenda dates, times, and locations will be published to facilitate attendance by the community. Councilor Patton asked how people can watch. Friday meeting will not be live-streamed, but Saturday will be. Councilor Melton requested that Saturday’s meeting be held at a location for maximum accessibility, with many favoring Hunt Library at NCSU’s Centennial Campus.
- City Manager recognized and thanked Damien Graham, Communications Director, who is leaving after eight years.
Report from the Mayor and City Council
- Councilor Harrison presented some affordable housing ideas to deal with our crisis in the short-term, medium-term, and longterm.
- Councilor Jones asked for schedule of work session topics. Got confirmation that rent at City-owned hotel is $1000/month.
- Councilor Black asked that a system be put in place for fair housing complaints to be investigated by City of Raleigh. Recommended possible changes to City website to encourage community engagement.
- Councilor Patton asked for a staff report about wireless internet in City facilities, including fire stations.
- Councilor Melton mentioned federal funding opportunities.
- Mayor Baldwin named Mayor Pro Tem Branch as liaison to Sister Cities and Councilor Forte as liaison to Appearance Commission. Sepi Saidi resigned from RDU AA. Nina Szlosberg Landis will be nominated at next meeting. Announced that Gail Smith will be retiring as City Clerk after 51 years of service, effective March 31, 2023, with a farewell celebration in April.
Report and Recommendation of the City Clerk
- Surplus Property – Authorization to Sell – 508, 510 and 514 South East Street – approved 7 to 1 with Councilor Black opposed.
EVENING SESSION
Public Comment
- Octavia Rainey on Fair Housing Hearing Board and Duke Energy’s rolling blackouts.
- Bob Gilbert on Affordable Housing — community land trusts, tax incentives for preserving Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing
- Woody Biggs on Glenwood South Crime
- Frank Hielema on misapplication of the Missing Middle text change — cited an example of increasing density while decreasing housing affordability and harming the environment. Asked that it be repealed.
- Terry Henderson on how Missing Middle text change hurts housing affordability and should be repealed
- Dwight Spencer thanking City for supporting transit workers.
- Moe Hazin on several issues with a property near him, including not being notified adequately about changing zoning from R-4 to R-6.
- Donna Bailey on role of builders in supporting candidates like Mayor Baldwin who are exacerbating our housing affordability and homelessness crisis.
- Ashley Pierrot on need for better protection for abortion clinics.
- Joseph Ellerbee on water quality
- Joshua Bradley on need to get moving on buffer zones for abortion clinics, and on the need to build public housing and to prioritize people over money.
- Tim Niles on insult to the community by holding a public meeting (Day 1 of Council Retreat) in a location that will not allow for it to be live-streamed or recorded. Also spoke about how to get around inclusionary zoning.
- Kimberly Muktarian asking for City support for anti-lynching prevention campaign.
- Mary Lumpkin on the need for buffer zones for abortion clinics.
- Jamial Black on need for affordable housing and more power for the Fair Housing Hearing Board.
- Shane Collins on need to increase first responder pay and to increase engagement between citizens and developers.
- Tony Quartararo on City’s lack of support for white flag shelters.
- Brian Burnett on need for more City support for small businesses. Mayor asked that the topic be added to retreat agency.
- Sergey Kesel on inadequacy of building inspectors.
- Polina Voronsky on issues with building inspectors.
- Haley Kinsler on issues with low income housing, the RFP proposal process, and the great need for housing for 30% AMI and those who are unhoused.
- Wanda Gilbert-Coker supporting comments from Haley and Josh and several others. Requesting that HUD come and investigate the Raleigh Housing Authority and Raleigh’s Housing and Neighborhood department. Asked for subpoena power for Fair Housing Hearing Board. Mayor pointed out that Councilor Black had asked for that to be investigated at the afternoon meeting.
Public Hearings
- Street Closing STC-10-2022: Spring Street/East Street Right-of-Way — approved unanimously
- Street Closing STC-11-2022: Sawyer Road Right-of-Way — approved unanimously
Consent Agenda
- Consent Agenda Process
- Disposition of Surplus Property – 411 Morson Street – Negotiated Offer and Upset Bid Process
- Petition Annexation – AX-19-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2801 Barwell Road (District C)
- Petition Annexation – AX-36-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2001 Pacific Drive (District A)
- Petition Annexation – AX-37-22- Non-Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2708 Sadie Hopkins Street & 2705 Landis Street (District D)
- Petition Annexation – AX-38-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 8916 Six Forks Road (District A)
- AX-2-22- Contiguous Outside ETJ – 1605 Rock Drive, 5805 Poole Road (District C)
- Business Incentive Grant Program – Economic Development – Public Hearing Required
- Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization – Locally Administered Projects Grant Award
- Easement Acquisition – 1000 Rock Quarry Road – State of North Carolina
- Sublease Agreement – DHIC Murphey School Property – 224 Polk Street
- Contract Services – GoRaleigh / GoRaleigh Access Operating Contract – RATP Dev USA, Inc.
- 1624 Proctor Road – Delivery Kiosk
- 416 Oberlin Road – Monitoring Well
- 5500 Kingwood Drive – Sidewalk
- 1205 East Lane Street – Water Service Connection
- Budget Amendment – Joslin Gardens Annual Donation
- Budget Amendment – Appropriation of Right-of-Way Closure Revenue
- Ricochet Drive Gravity Sewer Installation Project
- Bid Award – Winchester Drive Extension – Carolina Sunrock, LLC
- Bid Rejection – E.M. Johnson and D.E. Benton Video Surveillance Upgrade – Bitting Electric, Inc.
- Speed Limit Reductions – Bentgrass Drive, Centipede Trail, Broomsedge Court, Dandelion Court, Tifton Drive, Wheatcross Place, and Wildoat Place
- Bus Zone – 300 Hillsborough Street
Draft Retreat Agenda
Friday, January 27, 2023, 10:30am – 7:30pm
- Team Building/ How you see your role/ How you define success
- Affordable Housing Bond & Programs 101/ Accomplishments
- Tour of Affordable Housing, Transit Project (Willard Street Apartments)
- Gun Violence Interceptor Program Update – NAACP and Moms Demand Action
- State of Crime Report by RPD Chief
- Transit Discussion with Jarett Walker
- Social Networking with Durham City Council and CMO
Saturday, January 28, 2023, 9am – 4:30pm
- Community Engagement board Updates & Public Comment Options
- Budget and Finance Outlook
- Strategy and Innovation
- Council Priorities for the Upcoming Year
- Legislative Agenda
- Operational Update by the City Manager
- Closing Remarks
Raleigh Highlight Tour – Options
- Bio-Energy Recovery Project
- BRT – New Bern Avenue
- Dix Park
- Downtown South
- Park/Community Center