Durham City Council Work Session – December 9, 2022

The Durham City Council held a work session on Thursday, December 9, 2022, starting at 1 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting featured presentations on the Go Durham Better Bus Project, the Durham County Transit Plan, and a package of development mitigation strategies for Southeast Durham. Council also heard public comments from residents of Artmore Drive who have been without city water, fire hydrants, and paved streets for decades. Multiple appointments to boards and commissions were made, and council expressed support for an infrastructure bond discussion and a joint meeting with the Planning Commission.

Announcements & Reports

• Mayor O'Neill highlighted the Durham Crisis Intervention Team's 15th annual recognition, reporting that 1,234 first responders have been trained through the CIT program since 2007. She also announced Durham's selection for the Partnership for Equitable and Resilient Communities (PERC) – a $5 million initiative (half from the partner, half city match) focused on housing access for justice-involved individuals and the elderly. The Bloomberg Harvard City Initiative was also announced for the coming year.
• Councilmember Johnson requested a resolution of support for the LGBTQ community in response to recent violence, to be brought at the next work session.
• Councilmember Freeman requested a staff update on Hey Tai Reborn and brought forward a proposal from Councilmember Hosley Hyman for a National Mentoring Month event in January, to be funded from council contingency funds. Council informally approved this.
• Councilmember Caballero asked that the Hey Tai Reborn update be scheduled when all members can be present.
• Councilmember Williams proposed a joint meeting between the City Council and Planning Commission; he will coordinate scheduling.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the consent agenda (items 1 through 15), which included approval of city council minutes, various appointments, ARPA projects (Latino Credit Union Resiliency Fund, Eviction Assistance Fund, Home and Neighborhood Preservation Initiative), a resolution to designate part of NC Highway 751 as Coach K Highway, contracts for housing services, hazard mitigation grant ordinance, and construction contracts for pipeline repairs.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Isaac Woods Sr. and Isaac Woods Jr. (Artmore Drive residents) described the lack of fire hydrants, city water, and paved streets despite annexation in 1987. They noted that one end of Artmore Drive has these services while the other does not. They cited higher insurance premiums, well contamination requiring costly filtration ($3,000/year per home), and a previous house fire that destroyed a home due to no hydrant. They demanded immediate action and a firm city policy to end the inequity.
• Richard Nunes (Artmore Drive resident) echoed the concerns, calling the situation a "shameful stain" on Durham and urging prioritization of water, sewer, fire hydrants, and road paving.
• Nellis Nunes was unable to unmute and did not speak.

Discussion Items

1. Go Durham Better Bus Project Update

Director Sean Egan opened with an apology for intemperate statements made in a prior memorandum, accepting responsibility and reaffirming his role to inform policy. Evian Patterson, Angel Dozier (Be Connected Durham), and Greg Sauer (WSP) presented a community-driven approach to improving bus stops, sidewalks, and transit corridors on Fayetteville Street and Holloway Street. Key points:

• The project engaged over 72% Black and Brown residents (first for a city survey) through community partners.
• Barriers identified include missing sidewalks, unsafe crossings, and poor bus stop amenities (lack of shelters, benches, lighting).
• Aspirational designs show transit stops with lean rails, branding reflecting neighborhood heritage, and improved crosswalks.
• The full project cost is $29 million; $5 million from Durham County Transit Plan and $3 million city contribution leaves a $21 million gap. A RAISE grant for the Holloway corridor will be re-submitted in February 2023.
• Council comments: Several members supported an infrastructure bond; Councilmember Williams noted the challenge of funding with limited revenue sources and called for state support. Mayor O'Neill and City Manager Page affirmed that an infrastructure bond discussion is planned for the spring 2023 budget retreat.

2. Durham County Transit Plan Final Recommendations

Ellen Beckman (Durham County) and Aaron Cain (DCHC MPO) presented the 20-year plan (through 2040) funded by a half-cent sales tax, vehicle registration fees, and rental car tax – total over $1 billion. Since the end of the light rail project, the plan shifts 85% funding from rail to buses. The plan's four themes: improving existing service (15-minute frequency, later hours, crosstown routes), getting projects done faster (paratransit, microtransit, bus stop upgrades), regional connectivity (commuter rail study, enhanced connections with Chapel Hill and Wake County), and better transit stops/stations (new transit centers in North Durham and East Durham). A new governance ILA adds the city to a staff working group. The plan will be considered by the MPO, GoTriangle Board, and County Commissioners in early 2023; a 28-day public comment period is open. Council raised questions about incorporating growth in Southeast Durham, coordination with universities, and the need for an online dashboard to track progress.

3. Development Concerns & Mitigation Steps Program

Sarah Young (City-County Planning), Ryan Eves (County Stormwater/Erosion Control), and Jody Morton (City Fire Marshal) presented strategies to address impacts from rapid development in Southeast Durham, particularly in the Lick Creek watershed (over 600 acres currently under land disturbance permits). Short-term actions:

• Restored early notification of annexation cases to county commissioners for public hearing input.
• Staff increased coaching of applicants; developers have offered proffers (e.g., enhanced buffers).
• Erosion control: increased inspections, use of flocculants, ground cover requirements, and a new erosion control technician hired.
• Blasting: complaints are down; of 95% of complaints are unfounded; city has one of the strictest blasting permit processes in the state; additional restrictions on a company (required inspector twice daily) were imposed. Mid-term: a text amendment to limit mass grading (phases capped at 50 acres) with a sliding scale for tree preservation (20 to 40% depending on phase size) is moving to Planning Commission in January. Erosion control ordinance amendments (double silt fence, stronger requirements for Triassic soils, stop work orders) will also go through state Sedimentation Control Commission. Potential well water testing for residents in the Lick Creek area was discussed but noted as costly (~$500/sample) and with no enforcement power.
• Council discussed the cost impact of phased grading on housing prices (estimated $15-20,000 per lot). Councilmember Caballero suggested phasing limits could be lowered to 35 acres for sensitive areas; staff indicated flexibility is needed to avoid prohibitive costs. Councilmember Freeman called the development mitigation work "one of the best policy wins" during her tenure.

Key Outcomes & Actions

• Appointments: The council appointed Raymond Trapp to the Durham Planning Commission, Tammy E. Hall to the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, and Ann Sutkowi-Sacawi Hemp Street to the Human Relations Commission (Caucasian/non-Hispanic person). The mayor’s Airport Authority appointment was referred back to staff.
• Mentorship Event: Council informally approved use of the council contingency fund to support National Mentoring Month event proposed by Councilmember Hosley Hyman.
• Legislative Agenda: Councilmember Williams urged that state support for infrastructure be included in the city's legislative requests; the city manager confirmed that an infrastructure bond discussion will be part of the spring budget retreat.
• Future Meetings: A joint work session with the Planning Commission will be scheduled; the regular council meeting for Monday, December 12 will include public hearings on three annexation and zoning items (Stellar View, 4150 Old Chapel Hill Road, Gear and Junction).
• Public Comment Response: Staff will continue to work with Artmore Drive residents; the mayor acknowledged the issue and directed that it be prioritized. No firm timeline was given.