HIGHLIGHTS
- Councilor Silver was absent and excused.
- The Work Session focused on Artificial Intelligence
- Public Comment topics included GoRaleigh, the importance of neighborhood diversity especially for public schools, homelessness, public-private partnerships, bike lanes, and the City budget. Six of eight speakers showed up.
- Brookside Drive Safety Initiatives – Did not vote on Street Cross-Section Alternative which would have provided a two-way cycle-track on the east side, and on-street parking along the west side of Brookside Drive and agreed to stick with original authorization for bike lanes on both sides without parking.
- Unanimously agreed to discontinue the Mayor’s Committee on Compassion and established a temporary special committee consisting of Mayor Cowell, Mayor Pro Tem Forte, and Councilors Jones and Branch to recommend structural and other revisions to City Council advisory boards and commissions. They will review nominating committees, possible consolidation, communication with council, Community Engagement Department support, terms of service, and budgets and will report back by July 1. Mayor Cowell also suggested including CACs in the discussion. Councilor Branch asked for an update on CACs because he has been contacted by people in District C who are interested in resurrecting some of the defunct CACs and Councilor Jones reported there was nothing to report at this time.
- Staff provided an update on RPD’s recent efforts to address crime in downtown as well as updates on the progress made to enhance the public realm. In response to Councilor Harrison asking about an update on Glenwood South, Chief reported that noise continues to be an issue that they are working on but crime has gone down.
- Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens – unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-31-24: 901 Nowell Road, approximately 800 feet north of the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road (District D) – unanimously agreed to hold the hearing open until April 15 so that Councilor Harrison can speak with the applicant.
- Rezoning Z-40-24: 2340 Compassionate Drive; approximately 800 ft north of Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School (District C) – unanimously approved
- Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-41-24: 3616 Louisburg Road, on the south side of Louisburg Road (District B) – unanimously agreed to hold the hearing open until April 15
- Growth & Natural Resources Committee will meet on 3/25 at 4pm
- Safe, Vibrant, & Healthy Communities Committee will discuss impact on resident quality of life from nearby commercial activity at their May 27th Committee meetinh
- Transportation & Transit Committee will meet from 3-5pm on March 27th.
- Councilor Patton will hold office hours on April 10th from 6-8pm, location TBD
- Mayor Cowell will present the State of the City address on 3/26 at the Contemporary Art Museum
- Mayor Cowell has been meeting with Wake County mayors to discuss potential impacts of changes to Federal funding, especially on transit. They will be submitting a letter to the NC federal delegation expressing their concerns about potential impacts.
- Councilor Jones will hold a District E meeting on April 16th from 6-8pm at La Cucina. The District E Book Club will start a new book called Ethics in Government
- Councilor Branch will hold a District C Town Hall on April 16th at 6:30pm at Barwell Road Community Center
- Councilor Harrison’s next DDNA (District D Neighborhood Alliance) meeting will be April 19th with a focus on trees and Raleigh’s status as a biophilic city
A. 11:30 A.M. WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Artificial Intelligence – Information and Impacts
- During the work session staff provided an overview of AI; benefits and risks associated with AI; and steps City staff is taking to integrate AI technologies into the work of local government.
B. 1:00 P.M. REGULAR SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Pledge of Allegiance
C. CONSENT AGENDA
- Details at end of document
- Unanimously approved
L. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Rules of Decorum for Public Comment
2. Voice Mail Public Comment
- Topics included GoRaleigh, the importance of neighborhood diversity especially for public schools, homelessness, public-private partnerships, bike lanes, and the City budget.
- Six of eight speakers showed up
M. PUBLIC COMMENT MATERIALS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL
N. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
1. Planning Commission Report
- The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on April 1, 2025, at 7pm:
- Rezoning Z-38-24 – 1400 Edwards Mill Road (District D)
- Rezoning Z-45-24 – 7015 & 7019 Litchford Road (District A)
- Rezoning Z-46-24 – 4349 & 4353 Pearl Road (District C)
- Rezoning Z-49-24 – 3716 & 3800 Pearl Road (District C)
2. Rezoning Z-35-24: 4409 Creedmoor Road, north side of Creedmoor Road across from the intersection with Crabtree Valley Avenue (District E) – scheduled 4/15 public hearing
3. Rezoning Z-53-24: John P “Top” Greene Community Center; North of Martin Luther King Jr. Bloulevard, between S East Street and S Bloodworth Street (District C) – scheduled 4/15 public hearing
4. Text Change TC-8-24: Townhouse Building Type Clarifications – scheduled 4/1 public hearing
O. SPECIAL ITEMS
1. Brookside Drive Safety Initiatives – Street Cross-Section Alternative
- Did not vote on staff’s revised pavement striping design which would have provided a two-way cycle-track on the east side, and on-street parking along the west side of Brookside Drive and agreed to stick with original authorization for bike lanes on both sides without parking.
2. Advisory Boards and Commissions – Retreat Follow Up
- Unanimously agreed to discontinue the Mayor’s Committee on Compassion and established a temporary special committee consisting of Mayor Cowell and Councilors Jones, Branch, and Lambert-Melton to recommend structural and other revisions to City Council advisory boards and commissions. They will review nominating committees, possible consolidation, communication with council, Community Engagement Department support, terms of service, and budgets and will report back by July 1. Mayor Cowell also suggested including CACs in the discussion. Councilor Branch asked for an update on CACs because he has been contacted by people in District C who are interested in resurrecting some of the defunct CACs and Councilor Jones reported there was nothing to report at this time.
P. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. Downtown Progress
- Staff provided an update on RPD’s recent efforts to address crime in downtown as well as updates on the progress made to enhance the public realm.
- In response to Councilor Harrison asking about an update on Glenwood South, Chief reported that noise continues to be an issue that they are working on but crime has gone down.
Q. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens
- Unanimously approved
2. Rezoning Z-31-24: 901 Nowell Road, approximately 800 feet north of the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road (District D)
- Rezoning Z-31-24: 901 Nowell Road, approximately 800 feet north of the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road (District D) – unanimously agreed to hold the hearing open until April 15 so that Councilor Harrison can speak with the applicant.
3. Rezoning Z-40-24: 2340 Compassionate Drive; approximately 800 ft north of Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School (District C)
- Unanimously approved
4. Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-41-24: 3616 Louisburg Road, on the south side of Louisburg Road (District B)
- Unanimously agreed to hold the hearing open until April 15
R. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
1. No Items Pending
S. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
- Item 24-01: United Development Ordinance Forestation Requirements
- Growth & Natural Resources Committee will meet on 3/25 at 4pm
T. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
1. No Items Pending
- Safe, Vibrant, & Healthy Communities Committee will discuss impact on resident quality of life from nearby commercial activity at their May 27th Committee meetinh
U. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
- Item 24-03: West Raleigh Blue Ridge Traffic Issues
- Item 24-04: Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Annual Report Follow-Up
- Transportation & Transit Committee will meet from 3-5pm on March 27th.
V. REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
1. Individual Reports from the Mayor and Council Members
- Councilor Patton will hold office hours on April 10th from 6-8pm, location TBD
- Mayor Cowell will present the State of the City address on 3/26 at the Contemporary Art Museum
- Mayor Cowell has been meeting with Wake County mayors to discuss potential impacts of changes to Federal funding, especially on transit. They will be submitting a letter to the NC federal delegation expressing their concerns about potential impacts.
- Councilor Jones will hold a District E meeting on April 16th from 6-8pm at La Cucina. The District E Book Club will start a new book called Ethics in Government
- Councilor Branch will hold a District C Town Hall on April 16th at 6:30pm at Barwell Road Community Center
- Councilor Harrison’s next DDNA (District D Neighborhood Alliance) meeting will be April 19th with a focus on trees and Raleigh’s status as a biophilic city
W. APPOINTMENTS
1. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission – One Regular Vacancy
2. Board of Adjustment – One Alternate Vacancy
3. Design Review Commission – One Alternate Vacancy
4. Environmental Advisory Board – Two Regular Vacancies
5. Planning Commission – One Regular Vacancy
6. Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board – Three Regular Vacancies – Ad Hoc Nominating Committee Follow-Up
7. Stormwater Management Advisory Commission – One Regular Vacancy
X. NOMINATIONS
1. Historical Resources and Museum Advisory Board – Two Regular Vacancies
2. Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Centers Authority – Three Regular Vacancies
Y. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Z. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY CLERK
1. Minutes – Various
AA. CLOSED SESSION
1. Enter Closed Session
BB. OPEN SESSION
1. Return to Open Session
2. Adjourn Meeting
C. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consent Agenda Process
2. Extension of Utility Service – Outside City Limits – 4013 Tryon Road – Developer Request
3. Extension of Utility Service – Outside City Limits – 2405 Ivydale Drive – Developer Request
4. General Obligation Bond Anticipation Note Programs
5. General Obligation Refunding Bonds Series 2025ABC
D. CONSENT AGENDA – PETITION ANNEXATIONS
1. Petition Annexation- AX-02-25- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5000 & 0 Louisburg Road (District B)
E. CONSENT AGENDA – REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Municipal Service Districts
2. Business Investment Grant Program – Economic Development
F. CONSENT AGENDA – GRANTS
1. Grant Award – National Recreation and Park Association – Million Coaches Challenge Grant
G. CONSENT AGENDA – CONTRACTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES
1. Professional Services – GoWake/GoRaleigh Access Transit Facility- Stantec
2. Professional Services – On-Call Master Services Agreements for Professional Services – Multiple Vendors
3. Professional Services – Master Services Agreement for On-Call Stormwater Engineering Services – WK Dickson & Company, Inc., – Amendment No. Five
4. Professional Services – Group C Sidewalks Project – Stewart Engineering, Inc. – Amendment No. Four
5. Contract Services – Access Control System Upgrades – Performing Arts Center – Brady Integrated Security, Inc.
6. Contract Services– On-Call Master Service Agreement for Pressure Washing Services – Multiple Vendors
7. Lease Amendment: RPD Warehouse Storage Lease at 1210-101 Corporation Parkway
H. CONSENT AGENDA – ENCROACHMENT REQUESTS
1. 611 West South Street – Multiple items
I. CONSENT AGENDA – BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND TRANSFERS
1. Solid Waste Services Equipment Purchase
J. CONSENT AGENDA – BIDS
1. Bid Award – Citywide Lining and Pipe Rehabilitation Project – Applied Polymerics, Inc.
2. Bid Award – Leesville Road Community Park and Strickland Road Neighborhood Park Improvements – Engineered Construction Company
3. Bid Award – Barwell Road – Roadway Improvement Project – Conti Civil, LLC
4. Bid Award – Lake Wheeler Road Improvement Project Rifenburg North Carolina, LLC
5. Public Bid Waiver – E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant Filter Belt Press Reconditioning – Alfa Laval Incorporated
K. CONSENT AGENDA – TRAFFIC
1. No Parking Zone – 100 Woodburn Road