HIGHLIGHTS
- Longtime City Clerk Gail Smith was honored at her last meeting upon her retirement
- Public Comments focused on negative impacts of Missing Middle and other rezoning actions that will harm existing neighborhoods, difficulties in engaging with the City, concerns about Shaw University’s rezoning request
- Recommended gathering information from each Board/Commission about how they want to meet (virtual or in-person) and how they want to accommodate public input so that budget and staffing implications can be assessed, reviewed, and implemented where feasible
- City Attorney continues to contend that virtual comments are illegal at in-person Council meetings despite the fact that both Cary Town Council and Durham City Council allow this
- Unanimously approved moving public comments from 7pm on first Tuesday of the month to some time after the afternoon Council work session on the second Tuesday with a three-minute guarantee per speaker. Asking staff to bring recommendations on timing and when it would occur.
- Mayor motions to send back to Community Engagement Board for further discussion the live voicemail comment, increased awareness of public comments, and Rules of Decorum and Code of Conduct. Approved 5 to 3 with Councilors Melton, Jones, and Patton voting no.
- New Bern Avenue BRT – construction scheduled for 2023 contingent on federal funding
- Unanimously approved consultant selections for Southern Station Area Planning and Western Area Corridor Planning
- Unanimously approved RFPs for Affordable Housing Developments at 4314 Poole Rd and 15 Summit Ave
- Approved ~$2.5M of ARPA funds for Community Health Initiative Grants Phase Two
- Unanimously approved Report and Recommendation of the Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board
- Unanimously approved Report and Recommendation of the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities
- Annexations – three approved; two held open
- Rezoning – three approved; four held open
- Draft Anti-harassment Ordinance – approved 7 to 1 on first vote with Councilor Black opposed; will be brought back for final vote at next meeting as required by SB300 as it categorizes offenses as misdemeanors
WORK SESSION
More Homes, More Choices – Engagement Summary
- Key Themes
- Affordability
- Community Engagement
- Environment
- Infrastructure
- Neighborhood Character
- Options
- Retain
- Repeal
- Reform
- Possible next steps
- Discuss policy objectives
- Identify short-, mid-, and long-term options for addressing resident concerns
- Monitor and report on housing unit production related to recent text changes
AFTERNOON SESSION
Consent Agenda – details at end of report
- Approved unanimously
Public Comment
- Octavia Rainey explaining threats that were made to her by City staff, including the former Police Chief, about public comments
- Diana Fenves spoke about Wake County Smart Start, including their 25th anniversary celebration in May
- Gene Alston feels that City money is not going where it’s needed most, e.g., lack of bus shelters in certain neighborhoods, importance of serving all children
- Matthew Brown expressed concerns about proposed transit overlay district and impact of resulting rezoning on historic neighborhoods and naturally occurring affordable housing
- Charity Lail regarding concerns about impact of transit overlay district rezoning on gentrification and existing communities
- Chris Crew on need for more public input into City decisions – people should come first rather than planners and developers – concerns about impact of BRT and TOD on established neighborhoods
- Kim Underwood regarding concerns about negative impacts of transit overlay district rezoning on existing communities, including gentrification
- Helen Tart expressing concerns about negative impact of Missing Middle on existing neighborhoods, including gentrification, traffic impacts, and affordable housing
- Diana Christine Zenchenko about City’s April 21 Earth Day event and impact of current development practices on our environment
- Kesha Monk citing Livable Raleigh on the importance of community engagement and in comparison pointing out deficiencies with ability to engage with the City on Shaw University case and other issues.
- Eugene Myrick with concerns about City’s signage rules and inability to comment on Shaw University case, inability to email the Mayor, and inability to have their voices heard. Asked if councilors have to recuse themselves from cases where the applicant has helped fund their campaign.
- Jenny Harper on the importance of saving Raleigh’s historic and cultural assets, including honoring existing Historic Overlay Districts
- Paul Zipin on confusion surrounding rezonings in conjunction with New Bern BRT. Also commented on historic buildings threatened by Shaw University’s requested rezoning. Asking for more clarity.
- Hwa Huang regarding City’s efforts to stifle free speech, importance of community engagement with regard to Shaw’s rezoning request, and conflicts of interest with regard to CJ Mann serving on Planning Commission.
Report and Recommendation of the Planning Commission
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council meeting on April 4, 2023 at 1:00pm:
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP-1-22 – Dix Edge Area Study Final Report
- Rezoning Z-53-22B — S Wilmington St, and Water Works St (District D)
- Rezoning Z-55-22 — Johnson Street (District D) (Held open from 03/07 meeting)
- Rezoning Z-75-22 — Edwards Mill Road (District E) (Held open from 03/07 meeting)
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council meeting on April 4, 2023 at 7:00pm:
- Comprehensive Plan Amendments CP-12-21 – Southeast Special Area Study Final Report
- Rezoning Z-59-22 — Shaw University (Districts C & D)
- Rezoning Z-67-22 — 7910 Skyland Ridge Parkway (District E)
- Rezoning Z-72-21 — Lake Wheeler Road, Mercury Street, Maywood Avenue (District D)
- Rezoning Z-79-22 — 6119 Corporate Ridge Rd, 0 Hillsborough St (District D)
- Rezoning Z-87-22 — Four properties – bounded by W Davie St, S Salisbury St, W Cabarrus St, and S McDowell St. (District D)
- Text Change TC-1-23: Stormwater Management Regulations – scheduled for April 18 Public hearing
Special Items
- Rezoning Z-16-20: Hodge Rd, south of the intersection of Poole Road and Hodge Road (District C) – public hearing deferred to April 4 by a 7 to 1 vote with Councilor Jones opposed
- Advisory Board and Commission Meeting Formats
- Recommended gathering information from each Board/Commission about how they want to meet (virtual or in-person) so that budget and staffing implications can be assessed, reviewed, and implemented where feasible
- Allow voicemail public comments at Board and Commission meetings at Chair’s discretion
- City Attorney continues to contend that virtual comments are illegal at in-person Council meetings despite the fact that both Cary Town Council and Durham City Council allow this
- Public Comment Period Recommendations
- Recommendations from Community Engagement Board
- Add additional meeting for public comment only in the evening
- 3-minute guaranteed time limit per person – City Attorney advises against this as it could prolong meeting time
- Play voicemail public comments live – City Attorney advises against playing or reading public comment as she believes it constitutes de facto remote participation which she says is illegal (even though it clearly isn’t)
- Increase awareness of public comment period – Community Engagement Board will explore further and return with recommendations
- Create enforceable elements to Council Code of Conduct – City Attorney advises that there already are enforceable elements – Community Engagement Board will explore further and return with recommendations
- Mayor motions to move public comments from 7pm on first Tuesday of the month to some time after the afternoon Council work session on the second Tuesday with a three-minute guarantee. Asking staff to bring recommendations on timing and when it would occur. Unanimously approved.
- Mayor motions to send back to Community Engagement Board for further discussion the live voicemail comment, increased awareness of public comments, and Rules of Decorum and Code of Conduct. Approved 5 to 3 with Councilors Melton, Jones, and Patton voting no.
Report and Recommendation of the City Manager
- Bus Rapid Transit Program Update
- New Bern Avenue – construction scheduled for 2023 contingent on federal funding
- Southern and Western Corridors at about 10% design
- Southern Station Area Planning – Consultant Selection
- Unanimously approved
- Western Corridor Area Planning – Contract for Consultant Services
- Unanimously approved
- RFPs for Affordable Housing Developments at 4314 Poole Rd and 15 Summit Ave
- Unanimously approved
- Community Health Initiative Grant Phase Two Recommendations (ARPA funds)
- $1,200,000 to assist in the construction of Beacon Point, a planned community serving commercial real estate development in Southeast Raleigh
- $177,406 to Southeastern Wake Adult Day Care for Increased capacity for current programming, completing renovations, and enhancing Adult Day Care/Adult Day Health programming
- $1,000,000 to purchase a larger permanent facility for the Brentwood Boys and Girls Club
- $130,363 for refurbishments (paint, carpeting, flooring, and removal of dated brown panels) for three Raleigh Clubs – Raleigh Girls Club (RGC), Raleigh Boys Club (RBC), and Washington Elementary School Boys & Girls Club (WE)
- $491k left over and staff will return with recommendations for remaining funds
Report and Recommendation of the Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board
- Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board-Annual Workplan
- Unanimously approved recommendations
Report and Recommendation of the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities
- Mayors Committee for Person’s with Disabilities – Annual Workplan
- Unanimously approved recommendations
- Councilor Black asks that consideration be given to how people with disabilities can participate in public comments
Public Hearings
- Petition Annexation – AX-32-22- Contiguous inside ETJ – 5100 Forestville Road (District B) – unanimously approved with delayed effective date
- Petition Annexation – AX-35-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 4301 Whitfield Road (District C) – unanimously approved
- Petition Annexation – AX-21-22- Contiguous inside ETJ – 7640 Oak Hill Drive (District B) – Councilor Patton suggesting an area study similar to SE Area Study and moved to hold the public hearing open until May 2 evening meeting awaiting a development agreement – motion unanimously approved
- 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) – unanimously approved motion to hold open until May 2 evening meeting
- Petition Annexation – AX-1-22- Contiguous Outside ETJ – 6720 Rock Quarry Road (District C) – approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Black and Harrison opposed
- Rezoning Z-2-22: Rock Quarry Road, at its intersection with Whitfield Road (District C) – approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Black and Harrison opposed
- Petition Annexation – AX-22-22- Contiguous to Satellite- Outside ETJ – 3540 Auburn Knightdale Road (District C) – Mayor Pro Tem Branch asks to hold until April 18 afternoon after SESSA (Southeast Area Study) presentation to Council – motion unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-69-22: Auburn Knightdale Road, located approximately 0.3 miles southwest of the intersection with Battle Bridge Road (District C) – Mayor Pro Tem Branch asks to hold until April 18 afternoon after SESSA (Southeast Area Study) presentation to Council – motion unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-41-22: Old Milburnie Road, west side, east of I-540 (District B) – applicant requests deferral until the afternoon of April 18 – motion unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-43-22: 405 Clover Ln, both sides, east of Wake Forest Road (District C) – Mayor Pro Tem Branch moved for deferral until the afternoon of April 4 – motion approved 7 to 1 with Councilor Jones opposed
- Rezoning Z-82-22: Mitchell Mill Road, on its north side approximately 1,000 feet west of Forestville Road (District B) – unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-86-22, 5308 Falls of Neuse Road, located approximately 0.3 miles north of the Falls of Neuse Road/Millbrook Road intersection (District A) – unanimously approved
Report and Recommendation of the Economic Development and Innovation Committee
- Working on an economic development roundtable with HBCUs
Report and Recommendation of the Safe, Vibrant, and Healthy Community Committee
- Meeting at 11:30 on March 28 to further discuss Z-54-22 at Peace and West
Report and Recommendation of the Transit and Transportation Committee
- One pending item – Committee will meet March 23
Report from Mayor and Council Members
- Councilor Patton – April 29 community bike ride at Horseshoe Farms Nature Preserve with Oaks and Spokes; would like staff to investigate how to incentivize uptake of housing vouchers; would like a NE Area Study
- Councilor Black is planning a community meeting next weekend but location and time not yet determined; spoke at SXSW last week in Austin and discussed similar City issues
- Mayor Pro Tem Branch got lots of feedback about traffic issues at his recent community meeting
- Councilor Jones holding community meeting from 6-8pm on April 5 at Lake Lynn; asked for details about issue where some people who wanted to speak about reparations during public comments were told they couldn’t speak and that there would be a public hearing on restorative justive/reparations. Councilor Jones asked who told those people they couldn’t speak and asked when a public hearing would be held. She did not get satisfactory answers to either question.
- Mayor Baldwin appointed Councilor Melton to serve as liaison to DHIC; asked for $10,000 for United Arts Council Gala from council contingency
Nominations and Appointments
- Councilor Patton asked that Community Engagement Board work with Boards and Commissions to clarify attendance expectations
- Councilor Jones asked that personal address information for members of Boards and Commissions be removed from the City website
Report and Recommendation of the City Attorney
- Draft Anti-harassment Ordinance – approved 7 to 1 on first vote with Councilor Black opposed; will be brought back for final vote at next meeting as required by SB300 as it categorizes offenses as misdemeanors
Report and Recommendation of the City Clerk
- Records Retention Schedule – Program Schedule – unanimously approved
Consent Agenda
- Sale of Surplus Equipment – Town of Selma, NC
- Sale of Surplus Equipment – City of Kannapolis, NC
- Modification of The Arbors and Milburnie Road Apartments Loans
- Petition Annexation – AX-41-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2004, 2008 Citation Drive (District C)
- Petition Annexation – AX-27-22- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5500 Rock Quarry Road (District C)
- Annual Action Plan – Fiscal Year 2023-24 – Public Hearing
- Professional Services – Master Service Agreements for On-Call Architectural and Engineering Design Services – Various Vendors
- Professional Services – Master Services Agreement for On-Call Engineering Services – AECOM Technical Services of North Carolina Inc., Amendment No. Two
- Contracts – Dix Park Conservancy Accessibility Improvements Right of Entry Agreement
- Contract Services – Solid Waste Services Single-Stream Recycling Processing and Marketing – Sonoco Recycling, LLC
- Contract Services – Solid Waste Services On-call Spill Response and Cleanup Services – Highlands Environmental Solutions, Inc.
- Budget Transfer – Old Wake Forest Road and Dixie Forest Road Improvement Project
- Multi-way Stops – Smallwood Drive at Cameron Street
- Speed Limit Reductions – Portside Lane, Anchorage Way, Nautical Lane, Longitude Way, and Latitude Way