Durham City Council Work Session - January 21, 2022

The Durham City Council held a work session on January 21, 2022, starting at 1:00 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton presided in Mayor O'Neill's absence (she was attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors). The meeting included council announcements, public comments, a presentation on a proposed nature preserve, discussion of several pulled consent items, and a detailed update on the Community Safety Department's alternative crisis response pilots.

Consent Calendar

• Items placed on consent included: approval of minutes; interlocal agreement with Durham County (item 2); United Way grant (item 3); contract with Community Home Trust (item 4); purchase of trucks (item 5); COVID-19 testing contract amendment (item 6); Welcoming America grant (item 7); and Connect and Protect grant (item 8).
• Items 2, 3, 4, and 6 were pulled for discussion. After discussion, item 3 was moved to the Governance & Agenda (GBA) agenda for further consideration; the remaining pulled items were approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anthony Scott (CEO, Durham Housing Authority): Encouraged DHA residents to apply for rental assistance through the city's new program by February 12 to avoid eviction. He reported that DHA residents owe over $1.3 million in back rent since the pandemic, with 370 households having applied for county assistance and $678,000 approved. Eviction notices will begin for those who do not pay, apply for assistance, or sign repayment agreements.
• Rachel Porter (registered but not present): She had signed up to speak about open positions in the Durham Police Department but was not in the queue.
• Jackie Wagstaff (former council member): Questioned the increase in COVID-19 testing contract costs, the lack of a chat feature in virtual meetings, and the deadline for signing up to speak. She asked why unvaccinated employees are not incentivized to get vaccinated and whether taxpayers bear the cost.
• Paul Wincoop: Spoke in support of the alternative crisis response pilot (item 10) and urged reallocating 15 frozen police vacancies to the Community Safety Department.
• Amade Borja (founder, Depressed While Black): Shared a personal story of a police wellness check and called for fully unarmed crisis response teams, opposing the co-response model that pairs clinicians with police.

Discussion Items

• Council Announcements:
  • Councilmember Reese warned of an approaching winter storm and urged residents to stay home.
  • Councilmember Johnson requested bringing a resolution supporting student loan forgiveness to the February 10 work session; she also reported that Durham Housing Authority’s downtown projects are lacking 60-80% AMI units due to funding gaps, and that a subcommittee on NIS recommendations would meet.
  • Councilmember Williams welcomed Fifth Third Bank as a new corporate partner and celebrated the reopening of Weaver Street Recreation Center.
  • Councilmember Freeman emphasized the need for rental assistance for tenants and deeper conversations about Section 8 and DHA properties.
• Ellerby Creek Waterbird Colony Dedicated Nature Preserve (Item 9):
  • Chris Dreps (Ellerby Creek Watershed Association) and Misty Buchanan (N.C. Natural Heritage Program) presented the proposal. The 900-acre city-owned parcel hosts a rare great egret nesting colony (one of only two in the Piedmont). They proposed making a portion a dedicated nature preserve, transferring development rights to the state while the city retains ownership and management. Flood abatement, water quality, and low-impact recreation were cited as benefits. Timeline: aim to complete by end of 2022. Council expressed strong support and directed staff to continue vetting.
• Pulled Item 2 – Interlocal Agreement with Durham County ($50,000):
  • Deputy City Manager Bertha Johnson explained the funds support the county's new Community Intervention and Support Services Department. Two initial programs will be funded: Campaign for Change (anti-gang/anti-drug tour in five neighborhoods) and Hayti Reborn Justice Movement (reentry and violence prevention). Councilmembers Reese and Johnson requested more transparency in future memos; the item was approved.
• Pulled Item 3 – United Way Grant Budget Ordinance (Walton Family Foundation):
  • Laura Khalil (Office on Youth) presented the $490,000 grant for a community engagement blueprint to improve educational outcomes for Black and Latinx youth. Eight local organizations lead the work, with no strings attached from the funder. Councilmember Caballero raised concerns about the Walton Family Foundation's history of supporting charter schools. Councilmember Freeman defended the local organizations' integrity. After debate, the item was moved to GBA for further discussion.
• Pulled Item 4 – Contract with Community Home Trust (Down Payment Assistance):
  • Reginald Johnson (Community Development) confirmed the $450,000 is for administering $6 million in loans, targeting 180 loans over three years (60 per year). Council expressed strong support for homeownership as wealth-building.
• Pulled Item 6 – COVID-19 Testing Contract Amendment:
  • Manager Page reported 85.3% of city employees are vaccinated; 374 employees participate in weekly testing. The contract extension (through June 2022) provides on-site testing at about $60 per test vs. $130-135 elsewhere. Council approved the amendment.
• Alternative Crisis Response Pilots (Item 10):
  • Director Ryan Smith presented a comprehensive plan with four pilots: (1) Crisis Call Diversion – embed clinicians in 911 call center; (2) Community Responder Teams – three-person unarmed teams (clinician, peer support, EMT) for nonviolent mental health/trespass/welfare check calls; (3) Co-Response Team – licensed clinician paired with CIT officer for higher-risk calls; (4) Care Navigators – follow-up teams to connect people to services within 48 hours. Estimated launch: June/July 2022. Staffing: nine current positions plus three from a federal grant. Council discussed reallocating 15 frozen police officer vacancies to the department. Councilmember Reese proposed exploring how the department could use additional staff, but Mayor Pro Tem Middleton noted the department did not request mid-year transfers and that the budget process would address needs. No consensus on immediate transfer; staff will bring resource requests in the upcoming budget.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Items: Items 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were approved. Item 3 (United Way grant) was moved to GBA for further discussion.
• Ellerby Creek Nature Preserve: Council directed staff to continue due diligence and work with the N.C. Natural Heritage Program toward a dedicated nature preserve.
• COVID Testing: The contract amendment was approved.
• Community Safety Pilots: The presentation was received; staff will propose additional resources in the FY2023 budget. The subcommittee on NIS recommendations (housing) will meet on February 1, 2022, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.