Durham City Council Meeting - January 5, 2024: Federal Funding, Ceasefire Resolutions, and EBOP Update
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Durham City Council Meeting - January 5, 2024
The Durham City Council met on January 5, 2024, at 3:15 PM in City Hall. The meeting included council member announcements on federal climate funds and small area planning, a legal update on an amicus brief for COVID-19 business interruption insurance, a consent agenda with several pulled items, extensive public comments on the Israel-Hamas war and calls for a ceasefire resolution, a presentation on the Equal Business Opportunity Program (EBOP), and discussion of the Ward 3 appointment process. The council set the agenda, approved consent items, and voted to proceed into closed session.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda included 23 items covering approval of minutes, appointments, contracts for road improvements, sidewalk repairs, transit projects, zoning changes, and a citizen matter. Items 3 (Resolution in support of black teens in crisis), 7 (contract amendment for pavement management), and 12 (sidewalk repairs contract) were pulled by council members or a resident. The council voted to set the agenda with these items pulled.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Yotam Kahana (Durham resident) urged the council to address anti-Semitism and property destruction by pro-Palestinian protesters, asserting the war is between Israel and Hamas, not Palestinians, and that the council should focus on local issues.
- Leslie St. Dre (Mothers for Ceasefire, Durham Beyond Policing) urged passage of a permanent ceasefire resolution, stating that U.S. tax dollars fund war crimes, and cited over 30,000 Palestinian deaths, including 11,000 children. She called the situation a genocide.
- Raina Rusenko (Jewish descendant of Holocaust survivors) supported a ceasefire resolution, argued that Israeli policies continue oppression, and urged divestment from Israel and investment in local needs like housing and healthcare.
- King Sage (East Durham resident) expressed disappointment in the council's lack of urgency on a ceasefire, said the genocide is clear, and urged adoption of the UE 150 draft resolution.
- Anna Ordubani (co-chair NC Green Party, Jewish Voice for Peace, Mothers for Ceasefire) called for a ceasefire, stated one child dies every 10 minutes, and urged council to look beyond media narratives.
- Ranya Mustri (co-director NC Environmental Justice Network) noted Durham's pioneering stance against police militarization and urged adoption of a ceasefire resolution, stating over 30 cities nationwide have done so.
- Toby Liban (Jewish non-Zionist) supported a permanent ceasefire, said tax dollars should fund local needs like affordable housing.
- Blue Miller (Southern Vision Alliance, Student U) said the war began in 1948, not October 7, and called Gaza a moral litmus test. He asked the council to pass a resolution.
- DeWarren Lingley (on behalf of Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation) requested partnership and resources for programs supporting boys and young men of color, noting graduates earn $66,479 on average.
- Maya Ganam (Durham resident) asked for transparency on the timeline and process for drafting a ceasefire resolution, criticized the claim that ShotSpotter is preventive, and urged raising worker wages.
- Dr. Marie Garlock (16-year resident, educator) urged a ceasefire resolution, said 1,200–1,400 killed in Israel and nearly 30,000 in Gaza, and called for ending the hierarchy of life.
- Mo Brady (Durham resident) asked for a ceasefire resolution, said the violence has been ongoing since 1948, and urged divestment.
- Victor Iquiza (not fully transcribed) and Jasmina Nogo (survivor of Bosnian genocide) spoke in support of a ceasefire, with Nogo stating over 22,000 Palestinians killed, 10,000 children, and 1.9 million displaced.
- Marion Lambert (resident) deferred to her daughter to speak about the first-time homebuyer assistance program.
- Blair Carrington (lifelong Durham resident) raised concerns about the down payment assistance program, stating she applied in 2022 and again in September 2023 but received no response.
- Katie Crow (pastor, Trinity Avenue Presbyterian) asked the council to be agents of healing for traumatized local communities, especially Jewish residents who may feel pain and rejection.
- Rev. Emily Wilkes (citizen) called for a ceasefire resolution, argued that city councils play a role when the federal government is unresponsive, and urged fighting all forms of hate.
- Ricardo Correa (pastor, Ministerio Monte Sinai) opposed council involvement in international matters, argued it is outside the scope of local government, and urged focus on local issues like youth gun violence, gentrification, and school safety. He read names of local homicide victims.
Discussion Items
- Councilmember Ruth requested a work session presentation on efforts to access federal funds for climate sustainability, noting a one-time opportunity with multiple sources. Deputy City Manager Wimbush confirmed staff tracks grants and applied for many; she agreed to bring an update to a future work session with any needed resources.
- Councilmember Baker proposed a discussion on small area planning, possibly via a resolution. Councilmembers debated whether to bring it to JCCPC first. Councilmember Caballero suggested JCCPC; Councilmember Freeman wanted the conversation at a work session. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton concurred with starting at JCCPC, noting resolutions are aspirational.
- City Attorney's Office presented two priority items.
- First, Assistant City Attorney Tosco requested council authorization to submit an amicus brief to the NC Supreme Court in support of local restaurants seeking COVID-19 business interruption insurance coverage. The council previously supported a brief at the Court of Appeals stage. Councilmembers confirmed continued support.
- Second, a motion to hold a closed session for attorney-client consultation on a settlement demand for a yet-to-be-filed liability claim.
- Consent agenda pulled items:
- Item 3 (Resolution in support of black teens in crisis): Mayor Williams explained it was placed on the agenda without full council consent. Council agreed to move it to the next work session for language feedback.
- Item 7 (contract amendment for pavement management): Councilmember Baker noted the large amount spent on repaving and sidewalks ($16 million for repaving, $6 million for sidewalks) and raised questions about priorities and trade-offs.
- Item 12 (sidewalk repairs): Public commenter David Bradway urged continued funding for sidewalk repairs and construction, noting over $100 million in identified projects.
- EBOP Presentation by Deputy CFO Sheila Fawcett covered the program's purpose, disparity study history (last in 2014), goals (e.g., construction: 11% minority, 7% women), FY2023 annual report, vendor spotlight, and 2024-2026 priorities including data improvement, new ordinance rewrite, and outreach. Councilmembers asked about data gaps, progress toward goals, need for a new disparity study, and outreach to minority and women-owned businesses. Councilmember Freeman emphasized tracking minority women specifically. Councilmember Caballero asked about culturally competent outreach to Latino businesses; Andre Pettigrew (OEWD) described a Hispanic Entrepreneurs Advisory Committee and bilingual resources.
- Ward 3 Appointment Process: Council agreed to interview four finalists (Amanda Bohrer, Shalea Huggins, Chelsea Cook, Chaston Swain) on January 8, hold public comment on January 10, and convene a special meeting on January 16 at 9:30 AM to vote.
Key Outcomes
- Council confirmed continued support for the amicus brief to the NC Supreme Court regarding COVID-19 business interruption insurance.
- Council voted to move the resolution on black teens in crisis to the next work session for refinement.
- Council set the consent agenda, approving items not pulled (items 1-2, 4-6, 8-11, 13-18, 20-22, and the GBA public hearings).
- Council approved a motion to hold a closed session for attorney-client consultation.
- Council instructed staff to bring an update on federal climate funding opportunities to a future work session.
- Council selected four finalists for the Ward 3 vacancy and scheduled a special meeting for January 16 at 9:30 AM to vote.
- Council received the EBOP presentation and directed staff to continue work on a new disparity study and improved data collection.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to City Hall. Uh whether you're in person or online. Great to see everyone. Um I have a mask on because I've been sneezing, but no fever, tested negative for COVID. However, I think that folks should start masking me up anyway because there's something going around in this neighborhood. Uh so we'll wait till we get an official director from the health department, but we do know that there is something going around. Wish everyone would be safe out there. All right. We'll uh have a moment of silence here. No, that's the general body meeting. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Mayor Williams. I'm here. I'm here. Councilmember Baker. Here. Councilmember Caballero. Here. Councilmember Freeman. Is that Councilmember Rest. Present. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any announcements by our council colleagues? Yes. Councilmember Fabiero. Yeah. Thank you. Um Mayor. Good afternoon, everyone. We will be taking up the appointment if it's not listed. I I can't remember under other matters at the end. Thank you. Yes. Councilmember Ruth. Uh Mr. Mayor. Mayor Pratem, uh, Madam City Manager and uh City Council colleagues. As many of you all know, um, the two large stimulus bills passed by the Biden administration contain massive federal funds to address climate sustainability, environmental justice, and support for consumers in reducing carbon consumption. This is literally a one-time opportunity to access billions of federal dollars to address the city's goals for addressing climate change and creating a healthier environment for all residents. What's more, this is not just one grand opportunity, but rather multiple sources of funds across federal, several several federal agencies. It's critical that we here in Durham take advantage of this one-time opportunity and act now, given that with next year's presidential election, it's not clear the long-term availability of these of these federal funds. For that reason, I'd like to ask the city staff in collaboration with the environmental affairs board to come to an upcoming work session, ideally the next one if we can organize that, to share with the council the status of our efforts to access these federal funds. Um the multiple funding opportunities going forward, and what it will take for the city of Durham to maximize this fundraising opportunity. Thank you, Councilmember Ruth. Any other colleagues. Oh, are you you want to place on the agenda? I want to place on the well, I want to I want to I want to ask for a presentation on the next work session if we can and we can schedule that. I think it's a question for the staff in part.
openpublica.com