HIGHLIGHTS
- Councilor Branch is absent and excused.
- Work session topics included updates on the 2022 Parks Bond, an update on Transportation Bonds, and an update on the next Comprehensive Plan.
- Several councilors expressed concerns about public support for future bonds — both because of the cost impact on individuals, many of whom are struggling, and because of how much has not been delivered from past bonds due to rising costs.
- Regarding the Comprehensive Plan update, Councilor Silver cautions that asking people what they want could be a problem because they may not be able to get what they want due to scarcity of land and continued growth.
- Public comments focused on the environment, rezoning cases, first responders, the budget, homelessness, engagement, bike lanes, and a skate park.
- 40 people signed up to speak during public comments; 12 were no-shows.
MARCH 11 AFTERNOON WORK SESSION
A. 4:00 P.M. WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. 2022 Parks Bond Update
- During the work session, staff with the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources and Engineering Services departments provided a status update on the 2022 Parks Bond projects including progress and future actions.
2. Transportation Bond Update
- Since 2005, four transportation bonds have been approved by Raleigh voters: 2005 ($60M), 2011 ($40M), 2013 ($75M) and 2017 ($206.7M), totaling $381.7M in investments in transportation infrastructure.
- Programmed annually through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), these investments seek to enhance the City’s roadways, sidewalks/multi-use paths, bicycle facilities and transit facilities. As staff has previously shared with Council, projects and programs in the 2017 Transportation Bond have had schedules and budgets significantly affected by COVID, construction and real estate cost inflation, and a highly competitive market for staffing and construction services. This has resulted in previous City Councils deferring some projects to reallocate monies to close funding gaps in other projects.
- During the work session, staff gave a presentation on the history of bond packages, the status of the 2017 Transportation Bond projects, and an update on the Lake Wheeler Road Improvements project.
- Increased costs are leading to changes and delays.
3. Reflecting Raleigh: An Update on the Next Comprehensive Plan
- As part of the state laws that govern municipal planning (NCGS 160D-501), a condition of applying zoning regulations within a municipal jurisdiction is that a municipality must adopt and maintain a comprehensive plan.
- The 2030 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Raleigh is a long-range policy document adopted and amended by the City Council. The Plan establishes a vision for the City, provides policy guidance for growth and development, and contains action items directed at the City to implement the vision. The 2030 Plan contains six strategic vision themes, which are referenced in every element, or chapter, of the document. The Plan is divided into four major sections: the Introduction and Framework, the Plan Elements, the Area Plans, and the Implementation.
- The 2030 Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009 and most recently updated in 2019. Planning and Development staff have initiated Reflecting Raleigh, the process to develop a new comprehensive plan for the year 2030 and beyond. During the work session, staff provided information about anticipated major themes and goals; project schedule; and a summary of activities and public input received to date.
- Councilor Silver cautions that asking people what they want could be a problem because they may not be able to get what they want due to scarcity of land and continued growth.
MARCH 11 EVENING PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION
A. 7:00 P.M. EVENING AGENDA
B. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Rules of Decorum for Public Comment
2. Voice Mail Public Comment
- Public comments focused on the environment, rezoning cases, first responders, the budget, homelessness, engagement, bike lanes, and a skate park.
D. ADJOURNMENT
1. Adjourn Meeting