Durham City Council Work Session - March 24, 2025

This work session of the Durham City Council was held on March 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM (though the transcript begins with "March 20th"). The meeting covered routine approvals, public comments, pulled consent items, and major presentations on Vision Zero and the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. The council also voted on several items and entered closed session at the end.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 – Durham City-County Environmental Affairs Board appointment (approved)
• Item 2 – Mayor's Council for Women appointment (approved)
• Item 3 – Flexible Work Arrangements Performance Audit (approved)
• Item 4 – FY 2025-26 Budget Development Guidelines (pulled, discussed, then discharged)
• Item 5 – Revised Code of Ethics for Durham City Council (pulled, referred back to procedures committee)
• Item 6 – Purchase contract with Context Systems Inc. for council chambers broadcast equipment overhaul (suspended rules, approved unanimously; amount not to exceed $353,679.59)
• Item 7 – Sandy Ridge Station multifamily housing revenue bonds (pulled, discussed, discharged); total project $42 million+
• Item 8 – Sandy Ridge Villas multifamily housing revenue bonds (approved on consent)
• Item 9 – License agreement with Touch Phrase Development LLC DBA Julota (approved)
• Item 10 – Purchase contract for SCBA upgrade (approved)
• Item 11 – Stagville Memorial Public Art funding (approved)
• Item 12 – Solid waste management rollout cart storage building construction contract (approved)
• Item 13 – Condemnation action for easement at 5727 Grandale Drive (approved)
• Item 14 – Street and utility acceptances (approved)
• Item 15 – Street and utility acceptances, Constitution Drive (approved)
• Item 16 – Vision Zero Action Plan Presentation and Approval (presented, no vote taken; to be considered at next regular meeting)
• Item 17 – Contract amendment with Hazen and Sawyer for Western Intake Partnership (approved)
• Item 18 – Professional engineering services contract amendment with HDR Engineering (pulled, discussed, discharged)
• Item 19 – Amendment 3 to contract with EMA Resources Inc. for biosolids handling (pulled, discussed, discharged)
• Presentation – Draft Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan (presented, no vote; feedback requested)
• Closed Session – Motion to hold closed session pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11A6 to consider an employee; motion approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• DeWarren Langley (Executive Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation) – Stated that Durham has the highest average private sector wage in NC at $97,531. Urged investment in career pathway programs for boys and young men of color, noting their program participants secure internships with average salaries of $69,071.
• Jacqueline Wagstaff (Vice Chair, Housing Committee, Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People) – Spoke in support of residents of Veranda at Witted (senior building). Raised safety concerns including broken doors, vagrants, unsanitary conditions, and lack of maintenance. Urged city to investigate contractors and take action.
• Helen Pereira (Witted resident) – Described safety and sanitation issues: no maintenance staff, people sleeping in storage and stairwells, broken locks, trash removal nearly stopped. Feared for rodents and homeless people.
• Rhoda Blunt (Witted resident) – Reported leaking windows requiring towels, and people sleeping in storage room across from her apartment for months without management action.
• Regina Royster (Witted resident) – Said they've fought for six years for door repairs; vagrants live in the building, needles, drug use. Asked for help to feel safe.
• Pastor Ann Jacob (Vice President, Tenant Association at Veranda) – Said unauthorized people enter the building, drugs are used and sold, smoke through vents affecting seniors on oxygen or with asthma. Pleaded for action to let seniors live in peace.
• James Chavis (District One co-facilitator) – Promoted disaster preparedness training; urged the city to support community readiness, noting Asheville's struggles after a disaster.
• Regina Mays (Durham resident) – Stood in solidarity with Witted residents, thanked council members who visited, and highlighted the difficulty for seniors to attend meetings (transportation, Access Van application takes 21 days). Asked council to come see conditions themselves.
• Charlita Burris (DHA resident, women of history) – Criticized the city for not holding landlords accountable, noted increasing homelessness and crime in Edgemont Park area, and urged council to visit neighborhoods.
• Stella Adams (Chair, Housing Committee, Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People) – Reported walking through Veranda: alleged fixed doors easily popped, unlocked apartments, urine and feces in hallways, mattresses in stairwells, and drug cooking odors. Asked the city to incorporate property management accountability into affordable housing deals.
• Katie Ross – Spoke on the proposed ethics rules. Referenced a March 23, 2023 meeting where she claimed council members wrongly censured Dr. Holsey Hyman based on false claims by a disgruntled developer. Criticized those who failed to apologize.
• Nicole Thompson (DDI) – Spoke on Item 4 (Budget Guidelines) asking to maintain the downtown BID rate at 7 cents per $100. Cited DDI's 32-year track record, downtown challenges (remote work, safety, affordability), and the need for continued investment.
• Sean Umstead (business owner) – Supported keeping the BID rate at 7 cents. Said Durham is at an inflection point and should invest in downtown to remain competitive.
• Justin Sacco (board chair of DDI, via Tiffany Bay Shore) – Read statement supporting 7 cents for expanded DDI role to address safety, underutilized storefronts, and activate public spaces.
• Mike Woodard (former council member and state senator) – Urged keeping the BID rate at 7 cents based on his experience designing the BID; said DDI has been a good steward and the rate is wise investment in a healthy downtown.
• Chris Perelstein (community member) – Commented on Vision Zero: thanked council for supporting a coordinator and action plan, emphasized need for continued political and financial support, especially to work with NCDOT on dangerous state-owned roads.
• John Talmage (Executive Director, Bike Durham) – Supported Vision Zero action plan, thanked staff, noted the plan is a milestone but requires culture change and partnership with NCDOT.
• Karthic Sunder (on Parks and Rec plan) – Commended the plan's emphasis on equity, noted property revaluation could increase city revenue by 74%, urged investing in parks to reduce gun violence based on research.

Discussion Items

• Item 4 – FY 2025-26 Budget Development Guidelines (BID Rate) – DDI and business owners argued to maintain the 7-cent rate. No council questions; item discharged without changes.
• Item 5 – Revised Code of Ethics – Councilmember Cook raised three issues: (1) language implying that calling out unethical behavior couched as opinion could lead to backlash; (2) assumption that council members always speak in official capacity unless stated otherwise; (3) missing provisions on interactions with staff. Discussion ensued; referred back to procedures committee for further wordsmithing with timeline to pass before summer break.
• Item 7 – Sandy Ridge Station Bonds – Councilmember Caballero requested detailed breakdown of funding sources. Staff explained: $5 million from new bond funds, $1.8 million ARPA, $16.8 million tax credit equity, $2.5 million Fannie Mae, etc. DHA COO provided update on federal voucher funding (three billion increase nationally). Council confirmed 30-year affordability. Bond terms clarified: city approval required by federal law but bonds are DHA's obligation. Item discharged.
• Item 18 – Western Intake Partnership Program Manager Amendment 4 – Councilmember Cook asked about water rights from Jordan Lake and benefits of partnerships with Chatham, Pittsboro, etc. Staff explained that Jordan Lake is cheapest supply, partnership allows future cost-sharing, and the project is on track for phase two. Item discharged.
• Item 19 – Biosolids Contract Amendment 3 – Councilmember Riss asked about PFAS monitoring in biosolids applied to agricultural land. Staff reported state now requires landfill testing; DWM is studying future methods to reduce/destroy PFAS. Councilmember Cook asked about contractor personnel shortages causing production delays; staff said contractor resolved issues but need backup outlets. Item discharged.
• Presentation: Vision Zero Action Plan – Coordinator Lauren Grove presented the final draft, including crash data: 10% of roads (high-injury network) account for 74% of fatal/serious crashes; Black residents disproportionately impacted (36% of population, 53% of serious injuries); pedestrians are 2% of crashes but 26% of fatalities. Plan focuses on safe systems approach, quick build program, speed management, and data dashboard. Council asked about exclusions of highways, prioritization of high-injury corridors, and aligning with TPO regional plan. Councilmember Middleton emphasized urgency on speeding already being addressed. No vote taken; approval expected at next full meeting.
• Presentation: Draft Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan – Total park acreage low compared to peers. Department has 5 guiding principles: Fairness First, Rooted in Community, Foresight, Bull City Great, Stewardship. Over 2,050 community touchpoints. 96% of programs free. Priority actions include increasing half-penny allocation, developing 15-year land acquisition plan, improving Wi-Fi and reservation software, and exploring partnerships with schools and developers. Council discussed deferred maintenance, equity metrics, and need for a pricing policy. Mayor Williams expressed support for increasing half-penny to a penny. No vote; plan to return for adoption later.

Key Outcomes

• Approved (items 1-3, 6, 8-15, 17): All consent items not pulled were approved. Item 6 approved with unanimous vote after suspending rules.
• Discharged (items 4, 7, 18, 19): Pulled items were discussed and discharged without further action.
• Referred (item 5): Code of Ethics sent back to procedures committee for revision; target to pass before summer recess.
• Presentations: Vision Zero Action Plan and Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan received feedback; both to return for formal votes at future meetings.
• Closed Session: Motion approved to enter closed session for personnel matter.
• Next Steps: Budget discussions ongoing; Vision Zero plan will be on next regular meeting agenda; Parks plan to be finalized after council input.