Durham City Council Meeting - April 17, 2024
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Durham City Council Meeting - April 17, 2024
This meeting of the Durham City Council, held on April 17, 2024, opened with several ceremonial proclamations and included council member announcements, a consent agenda, public hearings, and votes on zoning and funding items. Notable outcomes included the defeat of the Wake Olive Apartments annexation and rezoning, unanimous approval of the Trellis Durham RTP conversion, and approval of the FY2024-2025 annual action plan and related grants.
Ceremonial Items
- Durham Parks and Recreation Centennial Celebration: Mayor Williams proclaimed April 28, 2024 as DPR Centennial Day. Director Wallcut accepted the proclamation, noting the department's history and commitment to equity and innovation.
- National Public Safety Telecommunications Week: Proclamation for April 14-20, 2024 honoring emergency communications staff. A representative thanked the council.
- Firefighters Day: Proclamation for May 4, 2024 as Firefighters Day, recognizing the Durham Fire Department’s 32,771 calls in 2023. Chief Zoldos introduced the most senior and most junior firefighters.
- Black Maternal Health Week: Proclamation for April 11-17, 2024. Mayor Williams shared a personal story; a community advocate spoke about racism, not race, as the cause of disparities and urged community support.
- Alcohol Awareness Month: Proclamation for April 2024, citing local youth alcohol use data and the link between alcohol and opioid overdoses. Dr. Wanda Boone thanked the council and highlighted Durham’s collaborative work on substance use.
Council Member Announcements
- Councilmember Cook: Reflected on Passover, linked the ongoing genocide in Gaza (191 days, 13,800+ children killed) to local shootings (five shot, one 16-year-old killed). Urged solidarity and action on affordable housing and gun violence.
- Councilmember Baker: Supported Cook’s remarks, condemned the bomb threat at the Durham County Main Library targeting an LGBTQ+ event, and affirmed solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
- Councilmember Harriero: Thanked colleagues, noted the opening of senior games, and praised the Mayor’s State of the City address.
- Councilmember Freeman: Highlighted the opening of North Durham and East Durham Farmers Markets, and acknowledged community resilience.
- Councilmember Rist: Expressed devastation over the shootings, thanked police Chief Andrews, described a ride-along with Officer Green, and noted participation in a Tri-Tennis training event.
- Mayor Pro Tem Middleton: Offered condolences for the shooting victims, criticized condescending responses to gun violence, called for tangible local policy action, and reminded that celebrations are muted by ongoing violence.
- Mayor Williams: Recounted a high-low week: a successful State of the City address, then a phone call about the shootings while at a leadership forum where he confronted biased rhetoric. Announced a “Durham is Dope” T-shirt fundraiser for mentor organizations. Praised Chef Tammy Moore for feeding the community near the shooting site.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda (items 1–32, including routine approvals, contracts, grants, and resolutions) was adopted unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 15 – Wills Roller Skating Ring Contract: Gideon Bueno opposed the contract with United Skates of America, citing a reduction in skate floor space and a low rental rate ($22,000/year) compared to Durham median rent. He urged collaboration with the Wheels Resident Committee. Council approved the contract unanimously.
- Item 31 – Resolution in Support of Immigrant Communities: Councilmember Caballero introduced the resolution. Representative Urtalo and Pablo Friedman (Governor’s Advisory Council for Hispanic Latino Affairs) spoke in favor, emphasizing the need for local action on immigrant safety and expanded driving permits. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Item 27 – Wake Olive Apartments: Multiple residents (Tina Motley Pearson, Robin Barefoot, Emily Chambliss, Katie Ross, Emily Green, Wanda Allen, Tammy Sway, Rebecca Freeman, Gary McLean, Pam Williams, Pamela Andrews, Tom Freeman) spoke in opposition. Concerns included environmental degradation, sediment runoff, blasting damage, well contamination, traffic congestion, school overcrowding, lack of sidewalks/bike lanes, overburdened emergency services, and inconsistency with the comprehensive plan. The applicant’s attorney, Neil Ghosh, presented proffers including 13 affordable units (7 at 60% AMI, 6 at 80% AMI for 30 years), EV charging, green building, and a 10-foot multi-use path. Council discussion focused on the project’s isolated location, lack of mixed-use, and environmental impacts. The motion to approve failed (2-5, with Mayor Williams and Mayor Pro Tem Middleton voting in favor).
- Item 29 – FY2024-2025 Annual Action Plan: Dr. Haley Cunningham and Linia (Coalition to End HIV in Durham) spoke in support of increased funding for HIV housing and supportive services, citing high HIV rates and disparities in Durham. They requested $1 million for the coalition. The council approved the plan and related grant ordinances unanimously.
- Item 30 – Substantial Amendments to Prior Annual Action Plans: No public speakers. The amendments reallocated CDBG funds and added Granville County to the HOPWA service area. Approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Item 27 – Wake Olive Apartments (Annexation and Rezoning): Extensive deliberation. Councilmembers expressed concerns about the project’s consistency with the comprehensive plan, lack of mixed-use, walkability, and environmental justice. The applicant requested a continuance to explore adding commercial uses, but the council proceeded to a vote. The motion to approve the annexation, rezoning, and utility extension agreement failed 2-5.
- Item 28 – Trellis Durham RTP (Zoning Map Change): The applicant requested rezoning to convert an existing extended-stay hotel into 122 multifamily units. Staff noted the project was consistent with the place type map and had received a unanimous 10-0 recommendation from the Planning Commission. Councilmembers expressed support for the adaptive reuse, though some noted the lack of affordability commitments. The project was approved unanimously.
- Item 29 and 30: Following public hearings, the council adopted the FY2024-2025 annual action plan and the substantial amendments to prior years’ plans, along with the associated grant ordinances (CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOPWA). All votes were 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- Wake Olive Apartments Annexation/Rezoning: Motion failed (2-5). Mayor Williams and Mayor Pro Tem Middleton voted in favor; Councilmembers Cook, Baker, Caballero, Freeman, and Rist voted against. The project will not proceed, and a one-year cooling-off period applies.
- Trellis Durham RTP Rezoning: Approved unanimously (7-0). The existing hotel will be converted to 122 apartments.
- 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan and Grants: Approved unanimously (7-0). The city will receive approximately $2,030,000 in CDBG, $1,300,000 in HOME, $180,000 in ESG, and $1,060,000 in HOPWA funds.
- Substantial Amendments to Prior Action Plans: Approved unanimously (7-0). CDBG funds were reallocated, and Granville County was added to the HOPWA service area.
- Resolution in Support of Immigrant Communities: Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Wills Roller Skating Ring Contract: Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7-0).
Meeting Transcript
All right. Uh and now I'll pass it over to Councilmember Freeman for this uh Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. It's our practice to stand to salute the flag. Say the flag. Thank you. All right. Um, Madam Clark, if you will please call the role. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Williams. Here. I'm here. Here. Here. Here. All right. And we have a few ceremonial items tonight. And we'll start with uh our parks and record Director Wallcut. Reading our Durham Parks and Recreation Centennial celebration. Today we proclaim, whereas on April twenty-eighth, nineteen twenty-four. A Durham City Council resolution recognized public recreations, stating playgrounds are essential to proper growth and citizenship. And whereas twenty twenty-four marks the one hundred year anniversary of public recreation in Durham. And whereas 2024 marks the 100-year anniversary of public recreation in Durham, celebrating Durham and Durham Parks and Recreations history while creating a vision of the future that prioritizes accessibility, inclusiveness, and innovation for all. And whereas DPR advocates for health and wellness, providing opportunities for physical activity, mental rejuvenation, and overall well-being. And whereas DPR is a steward of natural resources, promoting environmental conservation, exploration, and appreciation of the beauty of nature. And whereas DPR has demonstrated commitment to social equity, ensuring all individual individuals, regardless of circumstance or ability, have equitable access to recreation and park resources. Now, therefore, I, Leonardo Williams, mayor of the city of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 28th, 2024 as Durham Parks and Recreations Centennial Celebration in Durham, and let us honor Durham Parks and Rec for a century of service to our community, recognize its history, embrace its future, and reaffirm commitment to nurturing a vibrant community for generations to come. So witness my hand in the corporate sale of the city of Durham, North Carolina, this 15th day of April, 2024. Yes, share remarks. Thank you, Mayor Williams. Mayor Pro Tem, members of Council and Manager Page. On behalf of my current team that's here and all of DPR, and of course, all the past DPR team members, we stand on their shoulders and their legacy, and we're grateful for all their years of public service. I would just say history is a great teacher, and even though 100 years is a lot of years, we recognize that we have a lot of room to grow still, and we recognize that this centennial celebration is not a finish line, but we're just getting started. So appreciate it. Thank you. Let's give them a hand. All right, uh, the next one is our National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. There she is. Welcome, welcome. Payola, do you mind holding that so she can be in the picture? All right. Also, proclaiming, whereas emergencies can occur at any time that require police, fire, emergency medical services, or Durham Community Safety Heart. When an emergency occurs, the prompt response of police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and heart is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property. And whereas, since the safety of our police officers, paramedics, firefighters and heart is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from residents and visitors who telephone to Durham Emergency Communications Center, and whereas public safety communications officers and call takers are the first responders and most critical contact our residents and visitors have with emergency services. And whereas public safety communication communications officers and call takers are the single vital link for our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and heart by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information and ensuring their safety, and whereas public safety communications officers and call takers of the Durham Emergency Communications Department Center have contributed sustainable substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, treatment of patients, mental health prevention, and intervention, and whereas each public safety communications officer and call taker has exhibited compassion, understanding, and professionalism during the performance of their job in the past year. Now, therefore, I, Leonardo Williams, mayor of the city of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 14th through April 20th, 24 as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Durham, and hereby urge all residents and visitors to take special note of this observ observance in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our city safe. Witness my hand in the corporate seal of the city of Durham, North Carolina, this 15th day of April 2024. And before I pass over to Mike, I uh I know that I mean you all's records quite a bit because I see quite a bit. And I don't mind calling on our 911 center uh for support.
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