Durham City Council Work Session Summary – January 6, 2023

The Durham City Council held a work session on January 6, 2023, at City Hall. The meeting included public comments on bicycle infrastructure, gun violence, development standards, and a nuclear weapons resolution, followed by presentations on ARPA-funded housing, the homeless continuum of care, and the DCHC MPO annual report. The council settled the agenda and adjourned to a closed session.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Phil Remer (506 Harrier Court, Durham) urged the council to prioritize dedicated bicycle paths separate from car traffic, especially a route between Duke University and UNC. He criticized the 2017 Bike and Walk Implementation Plan as insufficient for safety and distance.
• John Tay Dunstan (Durham County resident and taxpayer) expressed anger about gun violence in Wellons Village on New Year's Day. He argued that ShotSpotter technology was ineffective in his neighborhood, called for increased police patrols funded by reallocating the ShotSpotter budget, and suggested deputizing community members or involving the ATF to remove automatic weapons from young people.
• Donna Stanback (online) raised concerns about new development sites lacking fire and EMS coverage and not meeting newer ordinances. She urged the council to leverage proffers from developers to address gaps.
• Vicky Ryder spoke in support of the resolution endorsing the ICAN Cities Appeal for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), framing nuclear weapons as a local safety, public health, and economic issue. She urged Durham to join over 600 mayors in supporting the appeal.
• Libby Johnson (Elizabeth M. Johnson) supported the resolution, noting that an estimated $14.4 million in federal tax dollars leaves Durham annually for nuclear weapons, funds that could be used for local humanitarian needs. She emphasized the resolution is not unilateral disarmament but a call for international negotiations.
• Eric Johnson supported the resolution, calling nuclear weapons an existential threat and stating that a council vote in favor would send a message of hope to global and local communities. He noted the threat extends to all life, including non-human.

Discussion Items

Resolution in Support of ICAN Cities Appeal (Item 1)

Mayor Pro Tempore Middleton thanked the speakers and clarified that the resolution is not about unilateral disarmament but is an international campaign. The item was included on the consent agenda.

ARPA Project Re-entry Housing Support (Item 3) and Transitional and Independent Housing (Item 4)

Alex Protzman, Founding Executive Director of Life Skills Foundation, described a program providing housing and wraparound supports (therapy, job coaching) for youth aging out of foster care (ages 18–25). Two apartment buildings in Durham house about 200 young adults. ARPA funds will support continued operations and rent assistance. Councilmembers expressed strong support and interest in visiting the program.

Contract with Made in Durham (Item 6 – Pulled)

Councilwoman Freeman pulled this item to clarify program details. Adrian Graham Scott (Office of Economic and Workforce Development) explained that the Made in Durham/Bulls program serves ages 18–24 in partnership with NC Biotech and Durham Tech, focusing on biotech training. Infrastructure plans include a clean room. The program is currently running with a new class. Councilwoman Freeman requested expanding age ranges to include 14–16-year-olds and noted the program's value.

Affordable Housing Deep Dive: Durham Homeless Continuum of Care (Item 8)

Reginald Johnson (Community Development Director) and Colin Davis (Homeless System Manager) presented an overview of the homeless system. Key points:

• The Continuum of Care includes coordinated entry, emergency shelters, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and street outreach. The city serves as lead agency and funder.
• White Flag program (emergency motel rooms when temperatures drop below 32°F) housed 42 people (24 adults, 18 children) during December’s cold snap, with additional overflow from Urban Ministries and Families Moving Forward.
• Annual city funding: ~$2.2 million (ESG, CDBG, HOPWA, dedicated housing fund). HUD provides ~$1.9 million. One-time COVID funds (ESG-CV) totaled $2.6 million for rapid rehousing and homeless prevention.
• Challenges: fair market rents set by HUD not keeping pace with market; landlords reluctant to accept third-party payments; lack of data system integration; long average time from homelessness to permanent housing (six months longer than 2017).
• Councilmembers Johnson, Williams, Freeman, Middleton, Holsey-Hyman, and Mayor O’Neil asked about metrics (number served, wait times, mental health needs, aging population). Council requested a wish list for the upcoming budget, data on fair market rent benchmarks, and advocacy for federal changes to allow direct stipends.

DCHC MPO Annual Report (Item 9)

Doug Placzynski (Executive Director, DCHC MPO) presented the annual report. The MPO coordinates transportation planning for Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties. Upcoming work includes corridor studies (US 70), Triangle Bikeway study, travel demand modeling, transit planning, and a Safe Streets for All grant application. The MPO will transition to Triangle J Council of Governments on July 1, 2023, with a modest cost increase (10–15% or $30,000–$40,000) for Durham. Councilmembers expressed support and appreciation.

Key Outcomes

• The council unanimously approved a motion to accept the city attorney’s priority item (closed session).
• The council unanimously approved a motion to hold a closed session at the end of the meeting (pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) for attorney-client consultation in the case of Darrell Howard v. City of Durham, et al.).
• The council unanimously settled the agenda: items 1 through 7 on consent, items 10 through 13 for general business.
• No substantive votes were taken on presented items; they will be considered at future regular meetings.
• The meeting adjourned to closed session at approximately 3:08 PM.