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Record of Proceedings

Durham City Council Work Session: Lead & Copper Rule and Ceasefire Resolution Discussion - 2024-02-09

City Council Work Session — Friday, February 9, 2024
BodyDurham, North Carolina
SessionCity Council Work Session
DateFriday, February 9, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:20

We are now streaming.

0:22

One minute till broadcast, thirty seconds till an intro.

2:24

Good afternoon.

2:25

Welcome to City Hall.

2:27

It's great to see everyone here.

2:29

And we will call this meeting to our order at one o'clock, and I am on the wrong agenda.

2:38

One moment.

2:41

All right, Madam Clerk, if you will, please call call the roll.

2:44

Thank you, Mr.

2:45

Mayor.

2:45

Mayor Williams.

2:46

I'm here.

2:47

Mayor Pro Tim Middleton has requested an excused absence for today.

2:51

Councilmember Baker?

2:52

Here.

2:53

Councilmember Caballero has also requested an excused absence.

2:56

Councilmember Cook?

2:57

Here.

2:58

Councilmember Freeman.

2:59

Present.

3:00

Councilmember Rest.

3:01

Here.

3:01

Thank you.

3:04

I believe we have to uh uh excuse Councilmember uh Hobby Cobb Caballero.

3:12

Uh so we can go ahead and do that now before we get into the rest of the agenda.

3:16

I'll entertain a motion.

3:17

So moved.

3:19

Second.

3:19

It's been moved and properly seconded.

3:21

All in favor, please show by your uh hand.

3:25

Thank you.

3:27

Councilmember Caballero, you are excused if you can hear me.

3:32

Who better?

3:34

Yeah, I feel better.

3:36

All right.

3:37

Um council.

3:42

Yes.

3:43

Thank you.

3:43

I just wanted to let you know I have to cut out at four.

3:47

Um catch up a late.

3:50

Hopefully we won't be here by four, but heard.

3:55

Restaurant lingo, I hear you, sorry.

3:58

All right, yes, ma'am.

3:59

Council member.

4:02

Um, I need to request a an absence for the next work session, which is February 22nd.

4:07

I'll be at my school of government training.

4:11

All right.

4:17

Second.

4:19

All in favor of uh council member cook being excused.

4:24

Please show by your hand.

4:27

All right, thank you so much.

4:28

You are you will be excused.

4:32

Any other yes, Councilmember Baker.

4:34

Thank you, Mr.

4:34

Mayor.

4:35

Um, just a couple announcements.

4:36

Uh one is that um I was glad to um attend your request and with with Councilmember Baker and actually Councilwoman Freeman yesterday.

4:44

The kickoff celebration for the hundredth anniversary celebration for Durham's Parks and Wreck.

4:48

Our um our department started a hundred years ago with a budget of fifty four hundred dollars, and now is a twenty million dollar plus program that provides education, outreach, uh, recreation, healthiness, and opportunities for parks and trails and community centers.

5:03

So it's an amazing department, and I look forward to celebrating the hundred years during this year and hope you all will be part of those celebrations.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████████21%
Procedural███████████████████19%
International Development█████████████████17%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████13%
Public Safety████████8%
Community Engagement█████5%
Human Rights█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Racial Equity███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Durham City Council Work Session: Lead & Copper Rule and Ceasefire Resolution Discussion

The Durham City Council convened a work session on February 9, 2024, at 1:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included routine approvals, a presentation on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revision, and an extensive public comment period on a proposed resolution regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The council heard from dozens of residents expressing diverse and passionate views, but took no formal vote on the resolution, which will be considered at the next meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the consent agenda, which included: approval of city council minutes; appointments to various boards and commissions; departmental reports; and resolutions, including the conveyance of surplus properties to Durham Community Land Trustees, Inc.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public comments centered on the proposed ceasefire resolution (Item 46). Speakers expressed both support and opposition.

  • Support for a Strong Ceasefire Resolution: Many residents, including community organizers and faith leaders, urged the council to adopt a strong resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. They requested that the resolution:
    • Explicitly name the situation a "genocide" and call for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
    • Demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
    • Call for the lifting of the siege on Gaza to allow sufficient humanitarian aid.
    • Support the release of all hostages held by both sides.
    • Call for the U.S. to resume funding for UNRWA.
  • Opposition to the Resolution: Several speakers expressed opposition, saying the resolution was one-sided, failed to condemn Hamas, and risked fueling anti-Semitism. They cited the October 7th attacks and the need to protect Jewish residents. A few argued that the city should not take a stance on international matters.
  • Mayor Williams highlighted the process of drafting the resolution, including a meeting with "intellectual rivals" from different faith traditions, and acknowledged the difficulty of the issue.

Discussion Items

  • Lead and Copper Rule Revision Presentation: Director Don Greeley of the Water Management Department presented an overview of the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revision. Key points included:
    • Durham's water is lead-free at the treatment plant, and a corrosion control program using zinc orthophosphate minimizes lead leaching.
    • The city must complete a service line inventory by October 2024, covering over 96,000 service lines.
    • The city has a $30 bill credit proposal to encourage residents to self-identify service line materials, which could save significant costs compared to city-led verification.
    • A public engagement campaign will launch in the coming months, including a web map for residents to check their service line status.
    • The city received a $1 million grant from the state for inventory work and expects more funding.
    • Council members discussed prioritization of grant funds for low-income, disabled, and senior residents.
  • Ceasefire Resolution: The council discussed the resolution, with several members making statements. Councilmembers Cook and Baker were acknowledged for their leadership in drafting the resolution. The council will continue discussion at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • The council approved the consent agenda.
  • The council approved the city manager's priority items, including a closed session at the end of the meeting.
  • The council heard public comments on Item 46 but took no vote, scheduling further discussion for the next meeting.
  • The council received the Lead and Copper Rule presentation and will consider future actions, including the $30 bill credit, inventory verification contracts, and a service line replacement plan.

Closed Session

  • The council voted unanimously to enter a closed session for attorney-client consultation regarding the handling or settlement of two lawsuits: Daryl Howard v. City of Durham et al. and Daryl Dowdy et al. v. City of Durham.

Meeting Transcript

We are now streaming. One minute till broadcast, thirty seconds till an intro. Good afternoon. Welcome to City Hall. It's great to see everyone here. And we will call this meeting to our order at one o'clock, and I am on the wrong agenda. One moment. All right, Madam Clerk, if you will, please call call the roll. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Williams. I'm here. Mayor Pro Tim Middleton has requested an excused absence for today. Councilmember Baker? Here. Councilmember Caballero has also requested an excused absence. Councilmember Cook? Here. Councilmember Freeman. Present. Councilmember Rest. Here. Thank you. I believe we have to uh uh excuse Councilmember uh Hobby Cobb Caballero. Uh so we can go ahead and do that now before we get into the rest of the agenda. I'll entertain a motion. So moved. Second. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor, please show by your uh hand. Thank you. Councilmember Caballero, you are excused if you can hear me. Who better? Yeah, I feel better. All right. Um council. Yes. Thank you. I just wanted to let you know I have to cut out at four. Um catch up a late. Hopefully we won't be here by four, but heard. Restaurant lingo, I hear you, sorry. All right, yes, ma'am. Council member. Um, I need to request a an absence for the next work session, which is February 22nd. I'll be at my school of government training. All right. Second. All in favor of uh council member cook being excused. Please show by your hand.

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