Durham City Council Work Session: April 5, 2024

The Durham City Council met in a work session on April 5, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in the committee room, marking the first time in four years the council convened in this space. Mayor Williams presided, and all council members were present. The meeting included announcements, a presentation from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), discussion of several pulled consent items, and public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Item #4 (Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation Grant) – Pulled by Councilmember Cook for discussion. Approved at end.
• Item #5 (Third amendment to contract with Housing for New Hope) – Pulled by Councilmember Cook; discussion on HUD funding. Approved.
• Item #6 (First amendment to interlocal agreement with DPS for PAL program) – Pulled by Councilmember Cook; discussed program success and future funding. Approved.
• Item #7 (ARPA reinvestment partner funding for 312 East Umstead Street) – Pulled by Councilmember Cook; discussed project budget, affordability period (30 years), and potential for permanent affordability. Approved.
• Item #12 (Fiscal year 2025–2027 employee benefits) – Pulled by Councilmember Caballero; explanation of self-insured plan and cost trends. Approved.
• Item #15 (Contract with Durham City Skating LLC to operate Wills Roller Skating Rink) – Pulled by Mayor Pro Tem Middleton; discussed pricing and city fee structure. Approved.
• Item #16 (Governor's Crime Commission grant for HART program) – Pulled by Councilmember Cook; discussion on grant-funded positions. Approved.
• Item #24 (Supplemental agreement for Amtrak station parking lease) – Pulled by Councilmember Cook; discussed parking space reduction and future public space use. Approved.
• All other consent items (1-3, 8-11, 13-14, 17-23, 25, 31-32) were approved without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• DeWarren Langley (Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation) – Expressed urgency for city investment in boys and young men of color, citing personal experience with gun violence (a bullet entering his brother’s home and the murder of his cousin). He stated the foundation has received no financial commitment from the city or county despite eight years of documented impact.
• Jeremy Berger – Reflected on a 2016 shooting he witnessed, noted the perpetrator is now incarcerated in Wake County. He referenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech and linked gun violence to broader social needs. He also raised the ongoing issue of the city’s response to the Gaza conflict and the council’s time spent on that issue.

Discussion Items

• Park Dedication UDO Text Amendment (proposed by Councilmember Cook) – Cook requested to add a resolution to the April 18 work session to initiate a UDO text amendment requiring public park dedication in new residential developments. Several council members expressed concern about bypassing the Joint City-County Planning Committee (JCCPC) process and lack of prior consultation. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton and Councilmembers Caballero and Rist urged bringing the idea to JCCPC first for discussion with planning staff. Cook did not receive four thumbs‑up for immediate introduction and agreed to continue conversations and potentially bring it back at a later work session.
• Bloomberg Center Grant for Paper Streets (Item #4) – Andrew Hall (Assistant Budget Director) and Lindsay Gavin (Innovation Manager) explained that the grant funds a two‑year project to reimagine over 600 paper streets (approximately 150 acres) in marginalised communities. The project will include a fellow from the community and an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Councilmembers expressed enthusiasm for potential pocket parks or open space uses.
• Housing for New Hope Contract (Item #5) – Colin Davis (Homeless System Manager) clarified that the city applied for HUD’s special NOFO for unsheltered individuals in 2022 but was not awarded; in 2023 only the annual NOFO was offered, which was funded. Councilmembers thanked staff for their work.
• PAL Program with Durham Public Schools (Item #6) – Reginald Johnson (Community Development Director) described the program, funded with CDBG‑COVID dollars, to address learning loss. Councilmember Cook praised the program’s success and asked about making it permanent. Johnson said the department will evaluate using future CDBG allocations.
• 312 East Umstead Street Project (Item #7) – Amber Bond (Reinvestment Partners Board Chair) presented the renovation of a historic building into 17 affordable units (30-60% AMI). Councilmembers discussed the 30‑year affordability term. Councilmember Baker advocated for permanent affordability; Tanya Wolfram (COO of RP) noted the nonprofit’s mission to maintain affordability beyond 30 years but acknowledged capital needs. Reginald Johnson noted the city is studying models for permanent affordability. The item was approved.
• Employee Benefits (Item #12) – Alex Doberstein (IBA consultant) explained the city’s self‑funded health plan with stop‑loss insurance and a 4% cost increase, well below market trends. Councilmembers commended the benefit and noted broader health care challenges.
• Wheels Skating Rink Contract (Item #15) – Richard Batten (Parks and Recreation Business Manager) and Lauren Fink (United Skates) discussed the contract, which includes a capital investment from United Skates and reduced entry fees (e.g., $8 Friday family nights). Councilmembers emphasised the cultural importance of Wheels and the need for affordable access. The contract requires “Wheels” to remain in the facility’s name.
• HART Program Grant (Item #16) – Ryan Smith (Community Safety Director) explained that two grant‑funded positions (LCSW and EMT) will be housed administratively in the Police Department but operate under HART. The two‑year grant may be extended by one year.
• Amtrak Station Parking Lease (Item #24) – Sean Egan (Transportation Director) described the plan to surrender the gravel overflow lot (40 spaces) for public space linked to the Durham Rail Trail. Replacement parking will be sought with partners. Councilmembers supported the beautification and trail connectivity.

Key Outcomes

• The council did not approve immediate introduction of the park dedication UDO text amendment resolution; Councilmember Cook will continue discussions.
• All pulled consent items were ultimately approved after discussion.
• A motion to excuse Councilmember Caballero from the April 18 work session was passed.
• The council received the DCHC MPO annual report presentation. Councilmembers raised concerns about membership dues, federal funding formulas, and the need for equitable project distribution. The MPO director committed to reviewing the funding policy and clearing project backlogs.
• Christopher N. Perlstein was nominated to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission.
• The agenda was settled with a motion and second, and the meeting adjourned.