Durham City Council Meeting – March 2, 2026: Proclamations, Budget Outlook, and Crime Report Adoption
Durham City Council Meeting – March 2, 2026
The Durham City Council met on March 2, 2026, at 12:00 PM. The meeting began with ceremonial items, including a proclamation declaring March 12, 2026 as National Girl Scout Day and recognition of three GoDurham bus operators (Tremetta Springfield, Gregory Fudge, and Michelle Bowling) for achieving one million safe miles. Councilmembers delivered announcements covering the upcoming budget cycle, condolences for a fallen state trooper, and expressions of concern over international conflicts. The consent agenda was adopted 7-0, with item 12 (2025 Fourth Quarter Crime Report) pulled for separate consideration. Public comments focused on gun violence, community safety, infrastructure neglect, and budget priorities. The council later voted 7-0 to accept the crime report.
Ceremonial Items
- National Girl Scout Day Proclamation: Councilmember Cook read the proclamation, recognizing the 114th anniversary of Girl Scouts and the contributions of Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines (17,407 members). Two Girl Scouts, Kylie and Jaina, addressed the council, emphasizing leadership and community impact. Mayor Williams shared a personal anecdote about his involvement as a child.
- GoDurham Million Milers Club Recognition: Mayor Williams and Transportation Director Sean Egan honored three operators—Tremetta Springfield (12 years), Gregory Fudge (12 years), and Michelle Bowling—who each drove one million miles without a preventable accident. Egan highlighted their safety, dedication, and commitment to excellence.
Council Announcements
- Councilmember Rist thanked the Million Milers and noted the tragic death of Master Trooper Stephen Perry in a weekend crash, urging support for his family. He also expressed concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East and called for residents to contact federal representatives.
- Councilmember Cook thanked GRACE youth participants and mentioned the difficult budget retreat, emphasizing limited funds and the council’s commitment to priorities like fare-free buses. She encouraged public input.
- Councilmember Kopak (misspelled as Colback in transcript) highlighted the expansion of the Low-Income Homeowner Relief Program, wished observers of Lent and Ramadan well, and urged attendance at the March 16 budget hearing. He noted council priorities including fare-free buses, emergency home repair, eviction diversion, and immigrant defense.
- Councilmember Baker praised city workers, especially unionized bus drivers, and stressed the importance of unions and collective action for worker solidarity.
- Councilmember Burris celebrated Women’s History Month, recounted her participation in panels at the Conference of Minority Public Administrators, and reminded voters to cast ballots in the primary election. She also commented on the Middle East, quoting Tupac Shakur on war funding versus domestic needs.
- Councilmember Cook (additional) reflected on the budget challenges, noting it is her ninth and hardest, and linked local fiscal strain to federal spending on wars. She encouraged voting for candidates who prioritize people over war.
- Mayor Williams thanked all, reiterated support for the violence reduction plan, and announced community listening sessions on March 13 and March 20-21.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda (items 1–11 and 14) was adopted unanimously (7-0). Items included appointments, financial reports, grants, bond ordinances, and the low-income homeowner relief program agreement. Item 12 (2025 Fourth Quarter Crime Report) was pulled for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tiffany Swoop (Cornwallis community): Thanked council for engaging after recent crime but urged deeper community connection. Recommended studying crime reduction models in Birmingham, Baltimore, and Chicago. Emphasized seeing children as individuals, not statistics.
- Rafik Zaidi (Nation of Islam protocol): Criticized the city for not resolving the murder of a two-year-old (Manura Spirals, June 2023) and alleged that response would be faster if the victim were white. Cautioned against relying on Baltimore’s crime reduction model, noting crime there has surged.
- Amanda Wallace (resident): Strongly criticized the council for praising police and focusing on enforcement rather than addressing root causes (housing, childcare). She cited the NAACP’s historical link between modern policing and slave patrols, and asked why recommendations from the Safety and Wellness Task Force remain unimplemented.
- Anaya Henderson (NCCU student): Spoke as a social work student tired of gun violence. Described children living in fear and urged the council to treat gun violence as a public health emergency, investing in prevention, mental health support, and youth programs.
- Ab Harry (Duke University student): As a tutor at Weaver Street Recreation Center, he reported that youth in Cornwallis are anxious and afraid due to recent shootings. Called for working cameras, consistent presence, after-school programs, and trauma-informed mental health support.
- Kevin McGyver (Chair, Durham County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council): Criticized the council for not showing up in affected communities. He noted that only Mayor Williams responded to his email. Asked for more direct engagement and investment in existing programs like GRACE.
- Kanaya Don (Udez Bay) (resident, Central Park District): Highlighted infrastructure inequities: while his sidewalk was repaired quickly, open sewage issues persist in Oxford Manor and on Fayetteville Street. Argued for a true community violence intervention plan that includes ecological design (green infrastructure, improved lighting). Calculated that 2025 homicides cost $24 million, and urged investing in independent violence interrupters and youth employment.
- Donald Hughes (online): Challenged the mayor’s dismissal of commentators, citing James Baldwin and Jesse Jackson as essential voices. Stated that the budget is a moral document and urged investing in youth, jobs, mentorship, and affordable housing. Suggested pausing participatory budgeting if needed to fund violence prevention.
Discussion Items
- 2025 Fourth Quarter Crime Report (Item 12): The item was pulled from the consent agenda for separate consideration. Mayor Williams introduced it, and after public comments, the council voted 7-0 to accept the report. No additional discussion by council members is recorded in the transcript.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda adopted (7-0) for items 1–11 and 14.
- Item 12 (2025 Fourth Quarter Crime Report) adopted (7-0) after being pulled for separate vote.
- Council directed staff to promote the Low-Income Homeowner Relief Program.
- Mayor Williams announced community listening sessions on March 13 and March 20-21 as part of the Violence Reduction Initiative, encouraging public participation in developing a local framework.
- No other votes or formal directives were recorded.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Great to have everyone here in City Hall tonight. If you will, um Madam Clerk, if you will, go ahead and call the role. Mayor Williams. I'm here. Mayor Pro Tem Caballero. Here. Councilmember Baker. Here. Councilmember Burris. Here. Councilmember Cook. Here. Councilmember Kopak. Here. Councilmember Rist. Here. Thank you. Thank you. If you will, please join me on a moment of silence. Thank you. At this time, I'll pass it over to Councilmember Rist for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If it is your practice, I invite you to rise with me and uh recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you so much. I pledge allegiance to the plan of the United States of America. And to republic on which it stands one nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right. We'll start off with our ceremonial items tonight, starting with our proclamation, National Girl Scouts Day. Wow. We'll be read by Councilmember Cook. Do we have a representative from the Girl Scouts? There we go. Hello. All right, good evening, everyone. Read the proclamation, whereas March 12th, 2026 marks the 114th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the largest and most impactful leadership program for girls in the world. The Girl Scout movement began on March 12th, 1912, when Juliet's Juliet Daisy Gordon Lowe, a native of Savannah, Georgia, organized a group of eighty 18 girls and provided them with the opportunity to develop physically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. And whereas, for over a century, Girl Scouts of the United States of America has advanced its mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Today, more than 50 million women, trailblazers, visionaries, and leaders, are Girl Scout alums who have made the world a better place. And whereas, girls say that Girl Scouts supports their mental health and is an accepting, secure space where they feel free to be themselves and where leaders and other girls are sources of support during difficult times. Girl Scouting is a powerful force for social connection and creates positive and uplifting national and global network among girls. Girl Scouts play an indispensable role in engaging girls both in and after school and through out-of-school programming and experiencing that expand their world and allow them to tap into their inner community builder, innovator, change maker, and leader. And whereas, at a time when civic education is missing from many schools, Girl Scouts engage girls of all grade levels in civics programming that deepens their understanding of community action, demo democracy, and government, prepares them for a lifetime of civic engagement, and motivates them to take action on issues that are important to them. Girl Scouts offers girls 21st century programming and science, technology, engineering, and math, and outdoors, entrepreneurship, and beyond, helping girls develop invaluable life skills, and whereas, as a member organization of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts is a part of an international sisterhood of 10 million girls and young women in 152 countries and is committed to offering girls more opportunities to engage with communities worldwide, making meaningful global connections, and exploring global citizenship. Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines serves 17,407 girl and adult members across Central and Eastern North Carolina. Now, therefore, I, Leonardo Williams, mayor of the City of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March 12th, 2026 as National Girl Scout Day in the City of Durham and encourage residents to join in celebrating the 114 years of civic engagement and providing girls a secure and clear inclusive all-girl space to hone their skills and develop leadership abilities. Witness my hand in the corporate seal of the City of Durham, North Carolina. This is the second day of March 2026.
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