Joint City-County Committee Meeting Summary - June 10, 2025

This summary covers the Joint City-County Committee meeting held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at City Hall in Durham, NC, beginning at 9:32 a.m. Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton presided. The meeting included presentations and discussions on the Familiar Faces Initiative, the Coalition to End the HIV Epidemic, the Museum of Durham History, Durham Public Schools after-care, and future agenda planning.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the draft joint meeting minutes from February 11, 2025, with a revision: on page two, paragraph six, Commissioner Wallace clarified that a reference to the "state of youth report" should instead read "gang youth report." The motion carried without opposition.

Discussion Items

• Durham City-County Familiar Faces Initiative (45 minutes): Commissioner Wendy Jacobs introduced the initiative, which began in 2022 with the National Association of County Officials. Staff presented data showing that co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorder drive frequent interactions with the jail and emergency department. Key data: 76 neighbors accounted for 15% of all 2024 arrests, each arrested 11–36 times. A pilot program (April 2024) found that individuals face severe mental illness, substance use, and long-term unsheltered homelessness. Ryan Smith (Community Safety Director) described challenges: a neighbor took over 400 days to secure permanent supportive housing due to lack of appropriate shelter, slow benefits processing, and medication adherence issues. A strategic plan led by Community Solutions ("Built for Zero") will launch in July 2025 with a six-month intensive process, aiming for a full draft framework by December 2025. Councilmember Carl Rist urged moving from problem definition to action. Councilmember Javiera Caballero emphasized using existing data and empowering the consultant to act quickly.

• Coalition to End the HIV Epidemic in Durham (20 minutes): Dr. Hayley Cunningham, Lanae Foster, Dr. Jonathan Livingston, and others presented. They highlighted that Durham ranks 4th highest in North Carolina for people living with HIV, 4th for AIDS cases, and 6th for new diagnoses, with Black and Latino residents disproportionately affected. They cited fragmented systems, lack of data sharing, and a centralized intake process that they argued excludes people living with HIV. They proposed a community-led integrated system ("Harbor") combining housing, health, and support services, with an estimated $2.5 million over three years. They requested inclusion in upcoming housing and health planning. Commissioner Jacobs noted existing investments (HIV navigator, Lincoln Clinic, HOPWA funds) and that the city recently issued an RFP for HOPWA administration. Councilmember Caballero stressed that this effort must be embedded in the broader homeless strategic plan. Commissioner Wallace disputed the characterization of Durham's intake process as not a best practice, stating it follows the required continuum of care model.

• Museum of Durham History (20 minutes): Executive Director Patrick Mucklow presented. The museum welcomed over 16,000 visitors in the past year, engaged 4,000+ K-12 students, and has a $1.6 million economic impact. They requested: (1) $46,900 for the next phase of facility planning (revised program study, construction cost estimation, and operations budget modeling) for 500 West Main Street (current site with rail trail integration), and (2) $46,205 for operating support (cost-of-living adjustment and minimum wage increase to $21.90/hour for part-time staff). Commissioner Jacobs and Councilmember Rist supported the requests, citing the minimal cost and alignment with city-county priorities. Councilmember Caballero expressed concerns about ongoing operating subsidies and budget process timing, noting the requests came after the budget work session. Mayor Middleton suggested the $46,900 amount (under council's threshold) could be handled by the city manager through existing discretion. County Manager Ferguson agreed to work with city management to expedite if desired.

• Durham Public School After-Care Discussion (15 minutes): Councilmembers Caballero and Rist introduced the topic, noting fragmented after-school care for 12,000 K-5 students and the importance for workforce and child development. They requested a joint study and collaboration with DPS. Commissioners Burton and Jacobs supported the idea, highlighting challenges with capacity, waiting lists, and the need for needs-based rather than lottery-based access. Commissioner Burton offered to help. It was agreed to include this on the August 2025 meeting agenda with DPS representation.

• Agenda Setting for Meetings Starting in New Fiscal Year (10 minutes): Councilmember Caballero called for a more strategic planning process for joint meetings, including identification of shared priorities (homeless services, transit, after-care, economic development) and better alignment of budgets. Commissioner Jacobs reminded that a request for a joint city-county-DPS infrastructure working group from September 2024 had not been acted upon. Councilmember Rist suggested staff bring back a list of long-term priorities and a planned agenda for the next year. Staff will prepare proposals for the August meeting.

Key Outcomes

• The draft minutes were approved as amended.
• The Familiar Faces Initiative strategic plan with Community Solutions will commence in July 2025, with community listening sessions and a full draft by December 2025.
• The HIV coalition will be invited to participate in the upcoming strategic planning and HOPWA-related discussions; no immediate funding decision was made.
• For the Museum of Durham History: No formal vote; the city manager may consider using discretion for the $46,900 facility planning request. The operating support request will be revisited in the context of future budgets and sustainability planning.
• After-school care will be an agenda item for the August 12, 2025, joint meeting, with DPS participation requested.
• Staff will develop a proposed long-term agenda structure and list of shared priorities for the next fiscal year's meetings, to be presented in August.