Durham City Council Work Session - December 20, 2024

The Durham City Council held its final work session of 2024 on December 20, 2024, from approximately 1:00 p.m. to 3:31 p.m. The meeting featured farewell tributes to outgoing City Manager Wanda Page, public comments on fluoridation, gun violence, youth investment, code enforcement retaliation, senior housing conditions, and eviction diversion funding. Council discussed performance audits of the HART program and ADA compliance, debated the city's policy on distributing tents to unsheltered residents, and considered proposed revisions to the deer bow hunting ordinance.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–4 and 6–10 were placed on the consent agenda by the City Manager (numbered items: 1 – Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority appointment; 2 – Racial Equity Commission appointment; 3 – HART program performance audit; 4 – ADA Title II governance audit; 6 – contract for property appraisal services; 7 – parking facilities maintenance contract; 8 – HUD cooperative agreement; 9 – U.S. Department of Labor grant amendment; 10 – professional services contract for dam inspection; 11 – citizen matter from Jared Rist).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jared Rist urged the council to suspend the city's water fluoridation program, citing a September 24, 2024 federal court ruling that the current 0.7 mg/L level poses an unreasonable risk to human health, particularly reduced IQ in children. He distributed copies of the 80-page ruling.
• Minister Paul Scott called for investigation into the sources of guns used in youth homicides, referencing the T Heart Amendment used in Baltimore, and urged the council to prioritize violence prevention. He quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a line from the film Boys in the Hood.
• DeWarren Langley (online) congratulated outgoing City Manager Wanda Page and requested strategic financial investment in programs for young Black men, stating that without resources they will continue to face disconnection and limited opportunities. He asked the council not to keep talking abstractly about youth violence.
• Isaac Woods alleged retaliation by city public works and code enforcement officials for his outspokenness about inequality in sewer services on Artmore Drive. He claimed a certificate of compliance for a new house was wrongly denied due to a nonexistent wall, that a separate property was flooded by public works dumping 1.8 million gallons of water, and that permits were revoked after work was completed. He asked for the retaliation to stop and for a council meeting on the matter.
• Regina Mays reported unsafe conditions at the Witted Building senior residence, including a water shutoff from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., two property managers in one month, and a fire door that had been chained and bolted, requiring fire department removal. She requested support for the residents and noted a meeting scheduled for the next day from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Emily Wilkes (Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church) clarified that a $475,000 city allocation for coordinated entry eviction diversion was intended for July 2022–July 2025 but ran out eight months early due to rising rents (from around $675 to over $3,000). She warned of increased displacement and property tax increases being passed to renters, and asked for emergency funds to cover rent assistance until at least July 2025.

Discussion Items

• HART Program Performance Audit (Item 3): Audit Services Director Jermaine Bruinton presented the audit, which found that the fiscal year 2025 call-response target of 52% appeared ambitious given the 25% actual rate in FY24, and that 128 service records (1.1% of those sampled) were not completed within the 24-hour documentation goal. Community Safety Director Ryan Smith responded that current response rates are higher (53.5% for community response team calls, 75% for crisis call diversion) and that they are improving co-response rates (12%). He credited City Manager Page for creating one of the best programs in the country. Council praised the program and noted its role in diversifying public safety responses. Councilmember Rist asked about a podcast series (Trade-offs, “The Fifth Branch”) that features the program.
• ADA Title II Governance Performance Audit (Item 4): Dr. Bruinton reported three findings: lack of clear direction on ADA coordinator responsibilities, undetermined permanent departmental ownership, and practices not aligned with the transition plan and self-evaluation. The ADA coordinator role is currently vacant and resides in the Equity and Inclusion Department. Director of Equity and Inclusion Sharon Williams explained that some actions (e.g., updating the public portal) are complete, while others require coordination across departments and will be completed by 2025-2026. Councilmember Cook expressed support and highlighted the need for better resources for residents with disabilities.
• Unsheltered Population and Tent Distribution Policy: Councilmember Cook raised the issue of a pause on tent distribution by the HART team, which occurred after concerns were expressed by HSAC (Homeless Services Advisory Committee) members. She requested that the pause be lifted until a formal encampment policy is in place, citing cold weather and shelter capacity limits. Deputy City Manager for Public Safety Bo Ferguson explained that the pause was an administrative decision based on concerns that the distribution was not vetted by HSAC. Council debated, with Mayor Pro Tem Middleton suggesting the city use its own buildings as temporary shelter, and Councilmembers Caballero and Baker supporting Cook's request. Mayor Williams opposed taking formal action without more data, noting that HSAC, the county, and other partners are involved. Director of Community Safety Ryan Smith confirmed the department has a small supply of tents. No formal vote was taken; the mayor stated that staff had heard the concerns and would address them with urgency.
• Deer Bow Hunting Ordinance Revisions (Item 5): Quincy Holcutt from the Treyburn HOA spoke in support of the proposed revisions (reducing minimum property size from 5 to 2 acres and easing buffer requirements), emphasizing that any culling would be very controlled on limited private properties. Councilmember Cook expressed safety concerns, particularly about reducing the buffer for arrow release from 250 feet to 60 feet near dwellings, and noted that no other large North Carolina cities allow bow hunting. Councilmember Rist supported giving a timely answer to residents. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton asked about alternatives to culling (e.g., fertility control); Deputy City Manager Ferguson noted that a 2013 review found no scientifically proven alternatives. The item was placed on the January 2025 GBA (business meeting) agenda for further consideration.

Key Outcomes

• HART Program Audit: Report accepted; no formal action needed. Staff will continue to refine forecasting and documentation practices.
• ADA Audit: Report accepted; staff will implement recommendations by the stated deadlines (some by summer 2025, others by January 2026).
• Deer Bow Hunting Ordinance: Moved to the January 2025 GBA agenda for discussion and potential vote.
• Tent Distribution Policy: No formal directive issued. The council expressed support for allowing HART staff to provide tents in emergency situations, but the mayor emphasized that staff should handle the matter with urgency and in coordination with HSAC and other partners. The current pause on city-funded tent distribution remains until staff returns with further guidance.
• Outgoing City Manager: The council honored Wanda Page with speeches and a standing ovation. Page thanked the council, congratulated incoming City Manager William Bowman Ferguson, and gaveled the meeting adjourned for the last time after 37 years of service.