OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Durham City Council Meeting - November 21, 2022

City Council — Monday, November 21, 2022
BodyDurham, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, November 21, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:30

We are ready.

0:32

All right.

0:32

Happy Monday, everybody.

0:34

Happy Monday.

0:35

Welcome to City Council Chambers here and for our City Council meeting on Monday, November 21st, 2022, here at 7 p.m.

0:46

in Durham, North Carolina, in our council chambers in City Hall.

0:50

Welcome to you all who are joining us here.

0:53

Uh, and welcome in person and those who have joined us uh via the internet.

0:59

I want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving coming up this week.

1:04

Um, just a moment of gratitude.

1:07

And as we enter into this space, I'd like to ask for a moment of silent meditation.

1:24

Thank you so much.

1:25

Now I call on Councilwoman uh Dujana Freeman to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:32

Thank you.

1:32

If you're if you'll join us in standing and pledging to the flag.

1:56

Madam Clerk, if you will call our role.

1:59

Recording in progress.

2:01

Mayor O'Neill.

2:03

I am present.

2:03

Mayor Pro Tem Middleton.

2:05

I'm here.

2:05

Madam Clerk, would you check and see if your microphones are on?

2:10

It's not on.

2:11

I think they have to do something in the control room.

2:14

There we go.

2:16

Let's start again.

2:17

Mayor O'Neill.

2:18

Present.

2:18

Your Pro Tempor Middleton.

2:20

I'm here.

2:20

Councilmember Caballero.

2:22

Here.

2:22

Councilmember Freeman present.

2:24

Councilmember Holsey Hyman.

2:26

Present.

2:26

Councilmember Johnson.

2:27

There.

2:28

Councilmember Williams.

2:29

Present.

2:30

Thank you.

2:30

All right.

2:31

We have one ceremonial, well, two actually ceremonial items this evening.

2:35

One, the first will be coming for a day of remembrance for road track and traffic victims proclamation that will be uh read by Councilwoman Hosey Hyman.

2:46

The second will come for from our mayor pro Tim.

2:50

I believe he's received an award for the city.

2:59

To my colleagues, to our residents in the community in the audience today, I will be reading the proclamation.

3:07

Where all Durham residents deserve to travel safely regardless of whether walking, biking, rolling, using transit, or driving or riding in a car.

3:17

And whereas during the past five years from 2018 through October 2022, 149 individuals lost their life in motor vehicle crashes in Durham, including 33 people walking and one person riding a bike.

3:34

And whereas we remember all the people killed and seriously injured in Durham streets, roads, and acknowledge the crucial work of emergency services.

3:43

And whereas the city council adopted a Vision Zero resolution in September of 2017, affirming the city's commitment to eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries.

3:55

And whereas the City of Durham continues to invest in the traffic safety measures and work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for safer streets and road design.

4:05

And whereas we call upon all Durham drivers to do their part by committing to safe driving practices, including not driving while distracted or intoxicated.

4:17

And whereas the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims adopted by the UN General Assembly as the appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families is commemorated on this third Sunday of November each year.

4:34

Now therefore, I Elaine Mayor, excuse me, whereas I Elaine M.

4:39

O'Neill Mayor of the City of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November 20th, 2022 as day of remembrance for road traffic victims in Durham, and hereby urge all residents to take note of this observance.

4:53

Witness by my hand in a corporate seal of the city of Durham, North Carolina, this 21st day of November 2022.

5:02

And is anybody here to Yes, Miss Alison Simpson is with us on the internet, I believe.

5:10

Yes.

5:11

Hi, can you hear me?

5:12

Yes, ma'am.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████30%
Land Use and Annexation█████████████████████21%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Traffic Safety██████6%
Legislative Agenda Implementation█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Land Use Planning████4%
LGBTQ Rights███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Durham City Council Meeting - November 21, 2022

The Durham City Council met on Monday, November 21, 2022, at 7:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial items, announcements, consent agenda approval, a ward redistricting decision, and five public hearings on zoning and annexation matters. All votes were unanimous (7-0) unless noted.

Ceremonial Items

  • Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Proclamation: Councilmember Hyman read the proclamation declaring November 20, 2022 as the Day of Remembrance. Alison Simpson, whose husband was killed in a traffic crash, spoke in support, thanking the council and urging continued action for street safety.
  • National League of Cities Digital Cities Award: Mayor Pro Tem Middleton announced that Durham placed third in its population category (250,000–499,999) for digital platforms. Chief Data Officer Frederick Raven accepted the award, thanking staff and council.

Announcements by Council

  • Councilmembers offered condolences and remarks on recent tragedies: the Raleigh holiday parade incident, the Colorado Springs LGBTQ club shooting, the University of Virginia shooting, and local violence. Several members urged community unity and public health measures (flu/COVID boosters).
  • Mayor O'Neill apologized for issuing a proclamation referencing the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, rescinded it, and announced new guidelines barring future proclamations on foreign territorial conflicts.
  • Councilmember Caballero announced his upcoming trip to Israel as part of a delegation and requested excused absences for December 5 and 8, which were approved (7-0). Mayor O'Neill also received an excused absence for December 5 (7-0).

Consent Calendar

  • All 30 consent agenda items were approved unanimously (7-0) without discussion. Key items included:
    • Appointments to various city boards and commissions.
    • ARPA grants: $840,000 to Student U for The Pearson Project kitchen renovation; $179,200 to Provident1898, LLC for Black Wall Street Hub.
    • $200,000 contract with Open Table Ministry for White Flag non-congregate emergency shelter.
    • Contracts for refuse trucks, tree removal, water/sewer projects, and water treatment plant chemicals.
    • Various infrastructure and professional service contracts.

Discussion Items

  • Ward Redistricting (Item 8): The council selected Option 1 as the new ward reapportionment plan after a presentation from staff and a memo from the city attorney. Former councilmember Jacqueline Wagstaff spoke, advocating for a broader conversation about expanding the council to nine members and moving to a true ward system. The council noted the legal requirement to redistrict and that the current system is not a true ward system. Option 1 was adopted (7-0), and an ordinance to that effect was also adopted (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 32 – Consolidated Annexation (Guess Road/St. Albans Court): Applicant Jared Edens requested a deferral to January 3, 2023, citing unresolved contractual issues with the property owner. Council granted the continuance, keeping the public hearing open. Cassandra Lee, a community member, deferred her comments to the continued date.
  • Item 34 – Zoning Map Change (1402 Holloway Street): Applicant Dana LeBerg presented a for-profit project to build 28 apartment units, with 14 (50%) designated as affordable. He stated the project aims to help break the cycle of generational poverty. Councilmembers praised the affordable housing commitment and asked about potential city incentives. The item was approved unanimously.
  • Item 35 – Consolidated Annexation (Rhododendron Sewer and Lots): Chad Abbott, representing the applicant, spoke in support, noting the property is surrounded by city land and that neighborhood meetings had no opposition. The council approved both motions unanimously.
  • Item 36 – Zoning Map Change (NCCU 24/7 Collaborative Learning and Resource Center): Eric Davis and Brittany Eker presented the project, a student collaboration and research center with retail space. Councilmembers asked about community access and accessibility for students with disabilities. The project was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved 7-0.
  • Ward Redistricting: Option 1 adopted 7-0; ordinance adopting new boundaries adopted 7-0.
  • Excused Absences: Councilmember Caballero (Dec 5 & 8) and Mayor O'Neill (Dec 5) approved 7-0.
  • Item 32 (Guess Road Annexation): Continued to January 3, 2023, public hearing remains open.
  • Item 33 (Durham Elementary School F): Zoning change and consistency statement adopted 7-0.
  • Item 34 (1402 Holloway Street): Zoning change and consistency statement adopted 7-0.
  • Item 35 (Rhododendron Annexation): Annexation and zoning ordinances adopted 7-0.
  • Item 36 (NCCU 24/7 Center): Zoning change and consistency statement adopted 7-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:44 PM.

Meeting Transcript

We are ready. All right. Happy Monday, everybody. Happy Monday. Welcome to City Council Chambers here and for our City Council meeting on Monday, November 21st, 2022, here at 7 p.m. in Durham, North Carolina, in our council chambers in City Hall. Welcome to you all who are joining us here. Uh, and welcome in person and those who have joined us uh via the internet. I want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving coming up this week. Um, just a moment of gratitude. And as we enter into this space, I'd like to ask for a moment of silent meditation. Thank you so much. Now I call on Councilwoman uh Dujana Freeman to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. If you're if you'll join us in standing and pledging to the flag. Madam Clerk, if you will call our role. Recording in progress. Mayor O'Neill. I am present. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton. I'm here. Madam Clerk, would you check and see if your microphones are on? It's not on. I think they have to do something in the control room. There we go. Let's start again. Mayor O'Neill. Present. Your Pro Tempor Middleton. I'm here. Councilmember Caballero. Here. Councilmember Freeman present. Councilmember Holsey Hyman. Present. Councilmember Johnson. There. Councilmember Williams. Present. Thank you. All right. We have one ceremonial, well, two actually ceremonial items this evening. One, the first will be coming for a day of remembrance for road track and traffic victims proclamation that will be uh read by Councilwoman Hosey Hyman. The second will come for from our mayor pro Tim. I believe he's received an award for the city. To my colleagues, to our residents in the community in the audience today, I will be reading the proclamation. Where all Durham residents deserve to travel safely regardless of whether walking, biking, rolling, using transit, or driving or riding in a car. And whereas during the past five years from 2018 through October 2022, 149 individuals lost their life in motor vehicle crashes in Durham, including 33 people walking and one person riding a bike. And whereas we remember all the people killed and seriously injured in Durham streets, roads, and acknowledge the crucial work of emergency services. And whereas the city council adopted a Vision Zero resolution in September of 2017, affirming the city's commitment to eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries.

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