HIGHLIGHTS
- MAB asks for a timeline for four-year staggered terms without a ballot referendum or with a ballot referendum in March. Also wants consensus on whether to add at-large and/or district seats and when, and suggests hiring a pollster to gauge public opinion
- Public comments focused on housing issues, crime, and gentrification.
- Public Hearing on City Budget scheduled for June 6
- Text change to Mordecai NCOD will be held for two weeks for further discussion
- Approved $5000 for Consult Your Community Small Business Fair
- Half of the $450k in proceeds from sale of 322 W. Davie Street assigned to Affordable Housing and half to streetscape improvements – approved 5 to 3 with Forte, Jones, and Branch in opposition
- Social District Ordinance Pilot Update – voted 7 to 1 with Councilor Forte opposed to extend boundaries further into Warehouse District with some carve outs, expand operating hours effective August 15, improve sustainability, and enhance marketing. Mayor wants to expand into Moore Square as well, but staff points out issues for RPD based on the activity in the area.
- Unanimously approved $4M in funds for more Affordable Housing small-scale rental units
- Unanimously approved $2.9M to acquire properties for Affordable Housing near transit
- City Manager presents $1.26B budget – public hearing to be held June 6 – Includes four cent property tax increase for 2022 Parks Bond as well as increases in water and sewer, stormwater, and garbage fees.
- All public hearing items approved except that Rezoning Z-47-22: Computer Drive is delayed until July 5 for further discussion and Rezoning Z-87-22: Four properties on the northern half of the block bounded by W Davie St, S Salisbury St, W Cabarrus St, and S McDowell St. is delayed until June 6 in the afternoon for new conditions to be submitted as is Rezoning Z-91-22: Ileagnes Road Assemblage, south of Carolina Pines Avenue.
- Economic Development and Innovation Committee meets at 1:30pm on May 23
- Growth and Natural Resources Committee meets at 4pm on May 23
- Councilor Melton asked for $10k from council contingency fund to jumpstart City of Raleigh Museum event about Hip Hop – approved unanimously
- Councilor Black suggested adding campaign financing reform to election discussion and raised issue of traffic calming concerns in District A – asked for review of the process in manager’s report
- Mayor Pro Tem Branch requesting $5k from Council Contingency for Enloe students to compete in an event at MIT – approved unanimously
- Councilor Jones asked if UDO requires developers to plant native species. Staff says invasive species are prohibited.
- Councilor Forte – Homelessness Task Force had first meeting – want to change name and enhance outreach efforts
- Councilor Harrison reminder about DDNA meeting at 9:30am at Crowder center
WORK SESSION
Municipal Election Opportunities – Continued Discussion
- https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/files/CRVKA350DD17/$file/20230516CAOPotentialCharterAmendmentsWorkSessionStaffPresentation.pdf
- September 5 is the latest deadline if Council wants to move forward with a primary or change from two-year terms to four-year terms
- Despite the results of their own survey, some councilors seem to be moving to adding staggered four-year terms (two-year terms were preferred in the survey), adding an at-large councilor in 2024 (adding a district councilor rather than an at-large councilor was preferred), and adding more districts in 2026 (people want more districts sooner).
- Councilors Black and Harrison calling for referendum; some issues could be decided by referendum and others not
- Councilor Harrison expressing preference for additional district seats in 2026, but not additional at-large seats. Also concerned about costs of running primary and election
- Board of Elections representative explains they don’t have software to run Ranked Choice Voting and would have to manually count. Also discussed cost impacts of various scenarios.
- MAB suggests hiring a pollster to gauge public opinion
- MAB asks for a timeline for four-year staggered terms without a ballot referendum and with a ballot referendum in March. Also wants consensus on whether to add at-large and/or district seats and when
AFTERNOON SESSION
Consent Agenda – details at end of document
- Several items pulled, remainder approved unanimously
- D2 – 411 Morson Street – Disposition of Public Property via Upset Bid Process – pulled by several councilors who had concerns about continued use as a parking lot and confusion about process in general – unanimously approved holding to get more information
- G3, G4, and G5 pulled by Councilor Jones for clarification about low bids and changing scope of work – unanimously approved after staff explanation
- I2 pulled by Councilor Jones for clarification about cost increases – unanimously approved after staff explanation
Public Comment
- Octavia Rainey spoke about Downtown Raleigh Alliance and its creation with federal dollars after Black businesses were wiped out of Downtown. Also concerned about impact of New Bern TOD on Black community. Emphasized importance of taking into account AMI when discussing affordable housing. Raleigh is becoming a city of haves and have nots.
- Eugene Myrick thanked councilors for voting down Z-54-22
- Kieran Shanahan (former Councilor) spoke about the importance of prioritizing public safety in the City budget
- Richard Todd Wilson spoke about homelessness and gentrification, poor bus service, traffic issues, and crime
- Delmonte Crawford spoke on housing issues and reparative justice.
- Kim Holmes spoke about construction yard behind her home
- Matthew Brown spoke against Transit Overlay District impacts on historic neighborhoods and suggested developing surface parking lots instead
- Kris Door asking for details on Phase II of Forest Ridge Park and expressing concern about uneven spending on parks across Raleigh with too much emphasis on Dix Park and too little support for District B parks
- Valerie Smith spoke asked for more support for affordable housing and homelessness
- Wisdom Chance speaking about mental models and systems thinking
- Momma Kai Sanders speaking about homelessness
- Brea Perry spoke against increased funding for RPD, in favor of a livable wage for city workers, and in favor of more funding for Affordable Housing and quality public transportation, as well as a crisis response team separate from RPD
- Nique Williams spoke against ACORNS
Report and Recommendation of the Planning Commission
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on June 6th, 2023 at 7:00pm:
- Public Hearing for the Proposed Operating and Capital Budget
- Rezoning Z-01-23 — Northwest of the intersection of Rock Quarry Rd. and Barwell Rd. (District C)
- Rezoning Z-16-20 — Hodge Road Assemblage (District C)
- Rezoning Z-93-22 — South Wilmington Street Assemblage
- Annexation Petition AX-12-20 – Hodge Road Assemblage (District C)
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on June 20th, 2023 at 1:00pm:
- Rezoning Z-02-23 — Northeast of the intersection of Litchford Rd. and Old Wake Forest Rd. (District A)
- Rezoning Z-03-23 — Northeast of the intersection of Alexander Town and ACC Boulevards (District E)
- Rezoning Z-11-23 — Northeast of the Kent Road and Kaplan Drive intersection (District D)
- Rezoning Z-59-22 — Shaw University (Districts C & D) (Held open from May 2 meeting)
- Text Change TC-19-21: Protective Yards – scheduled June 6 public hearing
- Text Change TC-1-22: Mobile Retail – scheduled June 6 public hearing
Special Items
- External Text Change Request – Mordecai Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Districts – 10′ Building Separation –approved holding two weeks for more discussion – vote was 7 to 1 with Councilor Jones opposed
- Appropriation from Contingency – Consult Your Community Small Business Fair – unanimously approved $5000
- Sale of Surplus Property – Upset Bid Process – 322 W. Davie Street – approved $450k winning bid with half the proceeds assigned to Affordable Housing and half to streetscape improvements – approved 5 to 3 with Forte, Jones, and Branch in opposition
- Social District Ordinance Pilot Update – voted 7 to 1 with Councilor Forte opposed to extend boundaries further into Warehouse District with some carve outs, expand operating hours effective August 15, improve sustainability, and enhance marketing. Mayor wants to expand into Moore Square as well, but staff points out issues for RPD based on the activity in the area.
Report and Recommendation of the City Manager
- Announced Employees of the Year
- Small-Scale Rental Development Program – Funding Recommendation — Approved a commitment of $1,300,000 in 2020 Affordable Housing Bond funds to Southeast Raleigh Promise (SERP) for the construction of 27 affordable rental housing units on 10 City-owned lots, in addition to the City’s previous commitment of $2,000,000 in Bond funds made in Fiscal Year 2022-23; approved a commitment of $700,000 to CASA for the construction of a 9-unit supportive housing development at 601 Method Road; and authorized the associated transfer of funds up to $4,000,000 in total.
- 2020 Affordable Housing Bond – Contract to Purchase 1609, 1611, 1617 & 1619 New Bern Avenue – unanimously approved $2.9M for affordable housing near transit
- Proposed Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2023 – $1.26B total – public hearing will be June 6 – budget work sessions begin June 5 and will be held on Mondays at 4pm. Includes four cent property tax increase for 2022 Parks Bond as well as increases in water and sewer, stormwater, and garbage fees.
Public Hearings
- Unfit for Human Habitation – approved unanimously
- Petition Annexation – AX-1-23 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 7624 Pinecrest Rd. (District E) – approved unanimously
- Petition Annexation – AX-2-23 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 2508 Prince Drive (District D) – approved unanimously
- Petition Annexation – AX-3-23 – Contiguous Inside ETJ -7425 Buffaloe Road (District B) – approved unanimously with delayed effective date to June 2024 with water and sewer hookups allowed in the interim
- Petition Annexation – AX-5-23 – Contiguous Inside ETJ- 5909, 6009,13,17,19,23,25,51,0 Rock Quarry Rd (District C) – approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-41-22: Old Milburnie Road, west side, east of I-540 (District B) – approved unanimously
- Petition Annexation – AX-21-22- Contiguous inside ETJ – 7640 Oak Hill Drive (District B) – approved unanimously with delayed effective date to June 2024 with water and sewer hookups allowed in the interim
- 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) – approved unanimously
- Forestville Road Park Property Development Agreement – approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-47-22: Computer Drive, east of Barrett Drive, west of I-440, and north of Wake Towne Drive (District E) – Councilor Jones moves to defer until July 5 – approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-67-22: 7910 Skyland Ridge Parkway, at the northwest corner of the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Skyland Ridge Parkway (District E) – approved 7 to 1 with Councilor Black opposed
- Rezoning Z-87-22: Four properties on the northern half of the block bounded by W Davie St, S Salisbury St, W Cabarrus St, and S McDowell St. (District D) – applicant requests deferral to June 6 in the afternoon to submit new conditions
- Rezoning Z-91-22: Ileagnes Road Assemblage, south of Carolina Pines Avenue – Councilor Harrison moves to hold until June 6 in the afternoon – approved 7 to 1 with Councilor Black opposed
Report and Recommendation of the Economic Development and Innovation Committee
- HBCU economic development roundtable at 1:30 on May 23
- Stormwater Management regulations will be discussed in June
Report and Recommendation of the Growth and Natural Resources Committee
- May 23 at 4pm on omnibus text changes
Report and Recommendation of the Safe, Vibrant, and Healthy Community Committee
- No items pending and no meeting
Report and Recommendation of the Transportation and Transit Committee
- No items pending and no meeting
Report from the Mayor and Council
- Councilor Melton asked for $10k from council contingency fund to jumpstart City of Raleigh Museum event about Hip Hop – approved unanimously
- Councilor Black suggested adding campaign financing reform to election discussion and raised issue of traffic calming concerns in District A – asked for review of the process in manager’s report
- Mayor Pro Tem Branch requesting $5k from Council Contingency for Enloe students to compete in an event at MIT – approved unanimously
- Councilor Jones asked if UDO requires developers to plant native species. Staff says invasive species are prohibited.
- Councilor Forte – Homelessness Task Force had first meeting – want to change name and enhance outreach efforts
- Councilor Harrison reminder about DDNA meeting at 9:30am at Crowder center
CONSENT AGENDA
- 411 Morson Street – Disposition of Public Property via Upset Bid Process – Assignment of Purchase Contract
- Petition Annexation – AX-08-23- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 3132 & 0 Tryon Road (District D)
- Grant Award – NC Department of Public Safety – Helo Aquatic Rescue Team Training Site
- Utility Construction Agreement – NCDOT (U-5748) Louisburg Road at Ligon Mill, Mitchell Mill, and Perry Creek Roads Intersection Improvements
- Professional Services – Program Management Services Agreement for NCDOT Coordination – Kimley Horn Associates, Inc.
- Professional Services – Master Services Agreement for On-Call Stormwater Engineering Services – W.K. Dickson and Co., Inc., Amendment No. Three
- Professional Services – Master Services Agreement for On-Call Engineering Services – Brown and Caldwell Inc., Amendment No. 4
- Contract Services – Composting and Hauling Services – McGill Environmental Systems of NC, Inc. – Amendment No. Nine and Contract Services – Biosolids Landfill Services – Waste Industries, LLC – Amendment No. Three
- Street Closing STC-01-2023: Hammond Center Drive Right-of-Way
- Budget Amendments and Transfers – Transit Operating and Grant Adjustments
- Budget Amendment – Fire Apparatus Replacement
- Bid Award – State Street Water and Sewer Improvements Phase 2 – Park Construction of NC, Inc.
- Bid Award – Twin 72-inch Diameter Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Replacement and Rehabilitation – Park Construction of NC, Inc.
- Bid Award – Bridge Repair – Lee Construction Company of the Carolinas, Inc.
- Speed Limit Reductions – Arsenal Avenue, Benehan Street, Calvin Road, College Place, E. Forest Drive, Groveland Avenue, Hawthorne Road, Hillcrest Road, Calloway Drive, and Weybridge Drive
- Commercial Loading Zone Expansion – 200 West Lane Street
- Controlled Residential “I” Permit Parking – 700 North Bloodworth Street