Durham City Council Work Session - August 29, 2023
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Durham City Council Work Session - August 29, 2023
The Durham City Council held a work session on August 29, 2023, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in City Hall. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including a crime report, police satisfaction survey, soil testing updates at parks, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) progress, and an annual update on Bull City United. The council also approved several consent items, heard public comments, and debated the formation of a task force on the proposed SCAD (Structured Community Assessment Document) amendment.
Consent Calendar
- Motion to approve the city manager's priority items (agenda items 11, 24, 25, and oral update on soil testing) passed unanimously.
- Motion to approve the city clerk's priority items (rescheduling agenda items 3 and 17 to September 21, 2023) passed unanimously.
- The consent agenda (items 1, 2, 4–16, and 25) and public hearings (items 21–24) were approved by a unanimous vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- James Chavis (PAC 1) expressed frustration that Sharon Williams, Director of the Equity Inclusion Department, did not attend a PAC meeting. He stated she earns $106,000 and questioned accountability. He submitted a letter to the city manager and asked for her attendance at the next PAC meeting.
- Jackie Wagstaff (via internet) rebutted comments made by Mayor Pro Tem Middleton at a previous meeting, asserting that the public understands the SCAD document and accusing the council of being in the pockets of developers. She warned that voters would respond at the polls.
- Benita Green (Executive Director, Merrick Moore Community Development Corporation) spoke in support of the ARPA-funded Merrick Moore Community Preservation Project, which includes home repairs, energy upgrades, flood prevention, food assistance, and technology training for seniors.
- Chris Dreps (Land Protection Director, LRB Creek Watershed Association) expressed support for the Merrick Moore project, stating the association has partnered with them on flood prevention and other initiatives.
Discussion Items
2023 Second Quarter Crime Report (Agenda Item 11)
Chief of Police presented the quarterly crime statistics:
- Part one violent crime down 7% overall; rape up 31%; robbery down 24%; aggravated assaults with firearms increased.
- Part one property crime up 20%, driven by a 153% increase in motor vehicle theft (Kia and Hyundai models).
- Homicide clearance rate at 82.6% as of the presentation.
- Staffing at 77.8% sworn (22% vacancy), 80.3% non-sworn (19% vacancy).
- Shot Spotter data: 759 published alerts, average response time 4 minutes 51 seconds, 12 arrests directly resulting.
- Council commended the department for clearance rates and innovative use of Shot Spotter, and discussed strategies for addressing crimes targeting the Hispanic community and juvenile offenders.
Police Satisfaction Survey (ETC Institute)
Jason Morado presented results from the sixth survey:
- 517 completed surveys, margin of error ±4.3%.
- Satisfaction increased in 8 of 14 major categories compared to 2021.
- 41% strongly trust DPD (up 9 percentage points); 36% very confident (up 7 points).
- 25% believe officers stop people based on race (down from 38%); 16% of Black respondents reported personal discrimination (down from 12% overall).
- Top priorities: crime prevention, police visibility, and emergency response times.
Soil Testing at City Parks (Oral Update)
Deputy City Manager Keith Chadwell reported:
- All field work and lab assessments completed; results submitted to NC DEQ.
- Threshold of concern: 400 parts per million lead in bare soil.
- Parks with elevated samples: Walltown Park (8 samples), East Durham Park (8), Northgate Park playground (1 – closed), Lion Park (1), East End Park (1 public area, 2 in fenced former facility).
- Playgrounds with fabric liners and mulch were not tested; two without liners (Northgate and East Durham) were tested, with Northgate showing one exceedance.
- Awaiting DEQ review; council stressed using maximum protection standards, not minimum.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update
Deputy City Manager Bertha Johnson reported:
- 34 proposals approved (May 2022), 23 contracts executed; $1.68 million spent.
- $48.1 million obligated, $33.7 million unobligated.
- $10 million from Durham County matched for affordable housing; $20 million affordable housing projects approved.
- Council discussed technical assistance for community organizations, capacity building, and plans for unobligated funds (to be held for affordable housing).
- Funds must be committed by December 31, 2024, and expended by December 31, 2026.
Bull City United Annual Update
Crystal Harris (Director, Durham County Community Intervention and Support Services) presented:
- Program expanded to six census tracts via interlocal agreement with city.
- Staffing: 12 current staff, 4 vacancies.
- 2,789 mediations conducted in FY 2022-23, preventing potential shootings.
- 37 shootings in target areas; Cornwallis had the most (9 shootings, 3 homicides). South Side had zero homicides.
- 75 participants currently; 40% employed, 18% in school, 29% on probation; no participants arrested or incarcerated during the year.
- New partnership with Duke University Hospital Violence Intervention Program; 4 staff trained.
- Professional development conference held August 2023 with 250 attendees.
Task Force on SCAD Amendment
Mayor proposed a task force to engage the community on the proposed SCAD amendment, with Councilmembers Freeman and Williams as liaisons. After discussion, the council voted on the motion:
- Councilmember Johnson opposed, citing concerns about process and lack of a clear charge.
- Mayor Pro Tem Middleton expressed confusion about the task force’s purpose.
- Councilmember Freeman supported a task force limited to SCAD, not broader land-use issues.
- A vote was taken; the motion passed with 4 votes in favor. The task force will be formed with volunteers from the community and the council liaisons.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of manager’s and clerk’s priority items, and consent agenda.
- Task force on SCAD amendment approved by a 4-? vote; Councilmembers Freeman and Williams to serve as liaisons; community volunteers will be contacted.
- ARPA update: Staff directed to hold $3.7 million unobligated for affordable housing projects; continue technical assistance to grantees.
- Soil testing update: City to await DEQ review before determining remediation; council emphasized community engagement and maximum protection.
- Crime report and police satisfaction survey noted; no formal votes taken.
- Bull City United update received; no formal vote.
Meeting Transcript
The live stream has started. Forty-five seconds to air. Happy Thursday, everybody. Good afternoon. We would like to call the Durham City Council work session to order for this the 24th day of August 2023 at 1 p.m. here in City Hall. We certainly want to welcome all of you who have chosen to join us in person today, and we want to welcome those who are on remotely as well. If you will please call the roll. Good afternoon, Mayor O'Neill. I am here. Mayor Protem Middleton. I'm here. Councilmember Gaillo. Councilmember Freeman present. Councilmember Holsey Hyman. Councilmember Johnson. Here. Councilmember Williams. I will start briefly with one announcement. Two of our council colleagues uh had unexpected uh things to happen in their regular lives and regular course of business as we all do. And so we will not have with us today um councilwoman Hosey Hyman as well as Councilman uh Williams. And if I would like to entertain a motion for their excused absences. So move. Second. All right. It's been moved by Councilwoman Freeman, seconded by Councilwoman uh Johnson. All those who are in favor, would you sign by saying aye? Aye. All those opposed have the same right. And Councilwoman Caballero has joined us as well, so we definitely have a quorum. Welcome to you all. I'll now turn to my left to see if Councilwoman Johnson has any announcements she'd like to make. Um the participatory budgeting um budget delegate celebration happened last night at the American Underground, um where we celebrated the folks who have been working so hard over the last couple of months to put our participatory budgeting um program together. It was a really great event. Super fun to hang out with those folks and celebrate their work. Um and also the incredible work of our staff um and interns who have been um putting our our PD cycle together over the course of the year. Voting is starting next month. Um in September, it will run for an entire month, September um into October. And just want to encourage everybody to get out and vote. We have a lot of really amazing community projects, all resident generated and resident-driven ideas and development. Um really looking forward to see what folks seeing what folks have come up with for this year and um putting those projects into motion. So remember to vote and participatory budgeting. Um we'll send out the information as soon as the voting period opens. Looking forward to another um great year of PD. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Johnson. Now looking to my right to see if we have any announcements from my colleagues on this end. All right, great. I will have another matter this in our in that portion of our agendas to talk about the task force that we were talking about the other on Monday night. I have spoken with Councilwoman Freeman and Councilwoman Councilman Williams.
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