Full agenda and background materials at
HIGHLIGHTS
- NOTE: After returning from Closed Session Mayor Cowell announced City Council directed the City Attorney to draft a six-month moratorium ordinance on data centers for Council’s consideration.
- A public hearing on the moratorium will be held at the October 6 meetingCouncilor Lambert-Melton was absent and excused from the work session.
- During the Work Session, staff provided an update on current water resources, future needs, and potential new resource options. Mayor Pro Tem Harrison asked about policy options that could impact future water sources, future rates, as well as what conservation efforts can be put in place to help mitigate future growth and associated costs.
- Public comments focused on Z-43-25, data centers, teen curfews, heat islands, Glenwood South, preservation, civic engagement, and stormwater. Seven speakers did not show up, which meant they deprived the other speakers of some of their time since the number signed up restricted comments to two minutes each instead of three.
- Council unanimously authorized moving forward with a text change on the sign ordinance that would allow for more lines of copy and larger signs.
- Staff provided an overview of proposed updates to the Public Art Ordinance based on recommendations identified in the 2022 Public Art Strategic Plan. The changes would allow inclusion of design and planning costs into the total project costs, thus increasing the amount of the 1% for public art. These proposed updates will be brought back to October 6 Council meeting.
- Council approved a resolution by a 6-2 vote, with Councilors Forte and Branch voting against, to formally create a commission to support the City‘s Sister Cities partnerships.
- Staff will host a job fair on October 21 from 10am to 4pm.
- Council Retreat will be held from 12:30-5pm on 9/18 and from 9:30-2:30pm on 9/19.
- Unanimously approved work plan for Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, with more emphasis on pedestrian infrastructure.
- Unanimously approved work plan for Police Advisory Board.
- Unanimously approved 4 annexations, 3 rezoning requests, and one text change.
- No committee reports or scheduled meetings.
- Councilor Jones asked that Stormwater Management Advisory Commission review the UDO and stormwater regulations in conjunction with staff and make recommendations to strengthen where appropriate. She will hold District E Book Club meeting on 10/10 from 9:30-11:30am at The Continental and District E meeting on 10/14 from 6-8pm at La Cucina.
- Mayor Pro Tem Harrison announced DDNA (District D Neighborhood Alliance) meeting on 9/26 at 9:30am at the Crowder Center to discuss the Affordable Housing bond.
- Provided an update on how to report e-bike and scooter parking violations.
WORK SESSION
Water Supply
During the work session staff with Raleigh Water provided an update regarding current drinking water resources, future needs, and potential new water resource options. The information provided included current drought status, potential changes to the Water Shortage Response Plan, future water demand scenarios, new water resource projects and potential impacts of these projects. An update on regional water resource planning efforts through Wake One Water and the Triangle Water Supply Partnership was also presented.
Items under review include
- Reevaluating allowed exemptions
- Reevaluating implementation and recission triggers (strong El Nino signal)
- Reevaluating usage reduction goals
- Changing irrigation days to reduce system stress & during high demand
Mayor Pro Tem Harrison asked about policy options that could impact future water sources, future rates, as well as what conservation efforts can be put in place to help mitigate future growth and associated costs.
Included with the agenda materials is the Wake County One Water plan as well as the current Water Shortage Response Plan.
AFTERNOON SESSION
CONSENT AGENDA
- Unanimously approved
PUBLIC COMMENT
- Public comments focused on Z-43-25, data centers, teen curfews, heat islands, Glenwood South, preservation, civic engagement, and stormwater. Seven speakers did not show up, which meant they deprived the other speakers of some of their time since the number signed up restricted comments to two minutes each instead of three.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on October 6, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Street Closing STC-03-2025: Midtown Market Avenue (Resolution of Intent (Res. No. (2026) 803))
Rezoning Z-43-25: 6309 Litchford Road (District A)
Rezoning Z-50-25: 2233 & 2321 Capital Boulevard (District C)
Rezoning Z-56-25: 4020 Carya Drive (District C)
Rezoning Z-07-26: Western Boulevard (District D)
Rezoning TCZ-19-26: 3717 Edwards Mill Road (District E)
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on October 20, 2026 at 1 p.m.
None
Staff asked that the public hearing for Z-19-26 be cancelled so that it can be properly noticed and sent to Planning Commission. Unanimously approved.
Rezoning Z-15-26: 7600 Falls of Neuse Road, 1,200 feet south of the intersection of Falls of Neuse and Strickland Roads (District A)
- Public hearing scheduled for 10/20
Rezoning Z-22-26: Bragg Street & South East Street Assemblage, located at the intersection of Bragg Street and South East Street (District C)
- Public hearing scheduled for 11/4
SPECIAL ITEMS
External Text Change Request
Council authorized moving this forward. It is a public – or external – request for a text change to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The applicant, Walker Abbott with the Parker Poe law firm, is requesting modifications to two limitations associated with Custom Signage Plans as outlined in UDO Section 10.2.21.G. Specifically, the proposed amendment would increase the current limit of 5 lines of copy per sign to 10 lines of copy per sign. In addition, the applicant seeks to raise the maximum sign area for low-, medium-, and high-profile ground signs, as well as tract identification signs, from 100 square feet to 300 square feet within Custom Signage Plans. A Custom Signage Plan establishes site-specific signage regulations for a defined geographic area, is subject to eligibility and procedural requirements, and requires Planning Commission or Design Review Commission recommendation and final approval by City Council.
Public Art Strategic Plan – Public Art Ordinance
Staff provided an overview of proposed updates to the Public Art Ordinance based on recommendations identified in the 2022 Public Art Strategic Plan. The changes would allow inclusion of design and planning costs into the total project costs, thus increasing the amount of the 1% for public art. These proposed updates will be brought back to October 6 Council meeting.
Raleigh Sister Cities – Update
Pursuant to Council actions approved in June, Staff presented a resolution to formally create a board or commission to support the city‘s Sister Cities partnerships. Staff also presented a proposed timeline to accomplish all approved recommendations. Council approved the resolution by a 6-2 vote, with Councilors Forte and Branch voting against.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
- Staff will host a job fair on October 21 from 10am to 4pm.
- Council Retreat will be held from 12:30-5pm on 9/18 and from 9:30-2:30pm on 9/19.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
- Council unanimously approved the work plan, with more focus on pedestrian infrastructure.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE POLICE ADVISORY BOARD
- Council unanimously approved the work plan.
MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Demolition of Unfit Building – Property Lien
- Confirmed lien against 1908 W. Millbrook Road
Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens
- Confirmed liens against the following properties
- 117 Ashe Avenue (D)
- 619 Cumberland Street (C)
- 1417 E Martin Street (C)
- 322 Grand Avenue (D)
- 6715 Johnsdale Road (A)
- 321 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (C)
- 1700 New Bern Avenue (C)
- 3117 Woods Place (D)
Petition Annexation AX-15-26 – Non-contiguous Inside ETJ – 4329 Mitchell Mill Road (District B)
- Unanimously approved
Petition Annexation AX-21-26 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 6300 Triangle Town Boulevard (District B)
- Unanimously approved
Petition for Annexation AX-23-26 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 2334 Andor Place (District C)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-12-26: Rock Quarry Road, South side of Rock Quarry Road, 675 feet west of the Wall Store Road Intersection (District C)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-17-26: 5507, 5511 Hillsborough Street & 0, 5508 Western Boulevard, located at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Western Boulevard (District D)
- Unanimously approved
Petition Annexation AX-17-26 – Contiguous, Outside ETJ – 6918 Poole Road (District C)
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-18-26: 6918 Poole Road, south side of Poole Road approximately 0.48 miles west of Hodge Road (District C)
- Unanimously approved
Text Change TC-4-26: Minor and Exempt Subdivision Regulations
- Unanimously approved
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
- Councilor Jones asked that Stormwater Management Advisory Commission review the UDO and stormwater regulations in conjunction with staff and make recommendations to strengthen where appropriate. She will hold District E Book Club meeting on 10/10 from 9:30-11:30am at The Continental and District E meeting on 10/14 from 6-8pm at La Cucina.
- Mayor Pro Tem Harrison announced DDNA (District D Neighborhood Alliance) meeting on 9/26 at 9:30am at the Crowder Center to discuss the Affordable Housing bond.
REPORT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
- Provided an update on how to report e-bike and scooter parking violations.