Durham City Council Meeting Summary - December 20, 2023
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The Durham City Council met on December 20, 2023, at 1:00 PM. The meeting included a consent agenda, public comments, discussion of priority items, and a presentation from the Community Safety and Wellness Task Force. Key topics included a DACA amicus brief, a ceasefire resolution, worker wages, and the creation of an Office of Survivor Care.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1–19, 26, and 27 were approved, with Items 2 (Racial Equity Commission appointment) and 16 (Belt Street Stormwater Improvements) pulled for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jessica Sheffield (Eno River Association) presented the 2024 annual wild calendar and expressed holiday wishes.
- Isaac Woods alleged retaliatory and racist actions by the City Public Works Department regarding 905 Artmore Drive, stating that his new construction was compliant but being withheld. Deputy City Attorney Don O’Toole responded that a vertical slope posed safety concerns and that a professional engineer’s assessment was needed. Mayor Williams and Councilmember Freeman offered to meet with Mr. Woods.
- Online speakers (Quaid Weston, King Sage, Liv Lynn, Leslie Saint Dre, Denikwa Rambard, Nandi Smith) and in-person speakers (Lee Mortimer, Robert Guttman, Daniel Graber, Jerry Marcados, Mark Davidson, Shame Beku, Maya Gonem, Eric Johnson, Shiva Marvdashti, Elizabeth A. Rant, Blue Miller) addressed the council. The majority called for a permanent ceasefire resolution in Gaza, citing humanitarian concerns, and also urged raising city worker wages to $25/hour and fully funding the HARP program. Some speakers (Robert Guttman, Rabbi Daniel Graber) opposed the resolution, arguing it was outside the council’s purview and would increase division.
Discussion Items
- DACA Amicus Brief: Assistant City Attorney Ann Marie Tosco requested the council’s consensus to sign a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in the State of Texas v. United States case. The brief highlights the critical roles of DACA recipients (1,500 in the Durham-Chapel Hill area) in public safety, healthcare, and education. The council expressed unanimous support via a thumbs-up vote.
- Racial Equity Commission Appointment (Item 2): Councilmember Freeman requested an additional question on applicants’ racial equity training to ensure readiness. The council agreed to incorporate this into the interview process.
- Belt Street Stormwater Improvements (Item 16): Project Manager Antoine Williams provided a timeline: design completion by August 2024, bids in January 2025, construction completion by late 2026.
- Community Safety and Wellness Task Force Final Report: Co-chairs Xavier Case, Marcia Owen, and Asmond Johnson presented five recommendations: (1) staff unarmed crisis care responder pilots using frozen police vacancies; (2) distribute naloxone and train city employees; (3) expand harm reduction services; (4) produce an ethno-drama film on trauma in Durham Housing Authority communities; (5) fund a three-year pilot for an Office of Survivor Care within the Community Safety Department. The Prescriptions for Repair pilot (completed) engaged 30 survivors (11 shot, 19 family members of murdered) in 82 listening sessions. Reverend Alan Jones shared a personal testimony about his grandson’s murder and the need for survivor care. The council praised the work and expressed support for the Office of Survivor Care.
- Ward Three Vacancy Questionnaire: The council discussed the questionnaire and timeline. Applications close Thursday, December 21, at 5 PM. If no appointment is made, a special election would likely occur in November 2024. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton clarified that the city could call a special election if no election is scheduled within a reasonable time.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved with Items 2 and 16 pulled.
- Council authorized signing the DACA amicus brief.
- Racial Equity Commission appointment process will include a question about equity training.
- Belt Street project timeline noted.
- Task Force recommendations received; council committed to considering funding for the Office of Survivor Care in the upcoming budget.
- Ward three vacancy questionnaire to be posted immediately; applications due December 21 at 5 PM.
- Mayor Williams proposed a special council meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza and consider a potential council-authored statement, separate from the resolution proposed by UE150.
Meeting Transcript
Two minutes till broadcast. One minute till streaming. One minute till broadcast, we are now streaming. Recording stopped. Recording in progress. Good afternoon, Durham. Welcome to City Hall. Online and in person. Sorry. We will call this meeting to order at one PM. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Mayor Williams. I'm here. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton. Councilmember Baker. Here. Councilmember Caballero? Here. Councilmember Freeman present. And Councilmember Wrist. He's on the way. Thank you. Thank you very much. At this time I'll recognize comments by Councilmembers. I just quickly want to say, I hope everyone, as we head into the new year, has a restful holiday season. Uh I know there's a lot going on in the world that makes it hard for us to accomplish that. Um my faith tradition, we are in the middle of Advent. Um this last Sunday was dedicated to joy, and the upcoming one is peace, and so those are the thoughts and intentions I bring. Thank you. Um, if you hear gunfire to call nine one. It is absolutely critical that you dial nine one, whether you think it's real or not. Don't ask yourself, is it gunfire or not? Ask yourself if someone might be wounded somewhere. To every resident in this city, do not second guess yourself. If you and you don't have to live with the resignation that this is just the way things are in my neighborhood. Someone's life may be dependent upon it. Secondly, Mr. Mayor, I want to uh associate myself with Councilmember Caballero's wishes for the season for many uh this year. This is a season of light and expectancy and hope. Uh and we want to send best wishes out to the residents and citizens uh of our city. In my faith tradition, there's a song uh that we sing this time of year, and one of the lines says, truly he taught us to love one another. His law is love and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease. May it be so in this time and forever. God bless Durham. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Councilmember Ruth. Welcome.
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