Durham City Council Work Session – January 22, 2026

The Durham City Council held a work session on January 22, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM after a brief closed session and technical delays. The meeting included public comments, discussions on street repairs, a security equipment amendment for public housing, a controversial contract with Peregrine Technologies for police data integration, and presentations on Falls Lake nutrient rules and the Digital Equity Plan. No final votes were taken; key items were deferred to the regular business meeting on February 2, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–19 were on the consent agenda. Items 4 (street repairs and repaving 2026 bond), 9 (second amendment to interlocal agreement for security equipment with Housing Authority), and 10 (contract with Peregrine Technologies for police operations platform) were pulled for separate discussion. The remaining consent items were approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jacqueline Wagstaff (in person) criticized council decorum, stating that the mayor and council members disciplined the public but behaved similarly toward each other. She urged the council to reevaluate how they operate.
• Victoria Peterson (in person) questioned the use of COVID-19 relief funds, claiming the city received about $50 million and the county $60 million. She requested a full accounting of funds distributed to organizations and asked for a report on interest earned on those funds. She also expressed support for police technology later in the meeting.
• Gregory Williams (in person) spoke about street safety and design, noting collaboration with NCDOT on Roxboro-Mangum redesign. He shared personal experiences of injuries from a rear-end collision and a crash involving his girlfriend, urging the council to take design decisions seriously.
• Richard Davis (in person) recounted the death of his son, Isaiah Davis, killed on November 13, 2025, on Guest Road by a speeding driver with a history of reckless behavior. He submitted a petition with 300 signatures demanding action on speeding on Guest Road and called for arrow boards and speed devices.
• Multiple online and in-person speakers opposed the Peregrine Technologies contract (Item 10), raising concerns about surveillance, data sharing with ICE, predictive policing, and ties to Palantir. Speakers included Brittany Price, Paul Barton, Nandi, Poet Williams, Raina Rosenko, Lindsay, May M., and Jen Wickman. They urged the council to reject the contract and instead invest in affordable housing, youth programs, and community resources.
• Victoria Peterson (in person, final comment) strongly supported the Peregrine contract, citing high crime statistics in Durham (33 murders, 113 rapes, over 10,000 total crimes in the prior year). She expressed frustration with opponents and called for more police resources and cameras.

Discussion Items

• Item 4 – Street Repairs and Repaving 2026 Bond: Councilmember Baker asked whether repaving would incorporate traffic calming elements per NACTO guidelines. Clint Blackburn (Environmental and Street Services) confirmed that the transportation department reviews streets for bike/walk plans and adds speed cushions or restriping as applicable. Councilmember Baker also commented on the broader need to reduce auto-dependency and improve street design. Councilmember Williams thanked staff and noted the ongoing joint city-county Bike and Walk Plan update, expected to identify 25 priority intersections, roads, off-road elements, and gaps.
• Item 9 – Security Equipment for Housing Authority: This item amended an interlocal agreement to procure security equipment (cameras, locks, door hardware, lighting) for Price-Still Place and Cornwallis Road communities, funded by participatory budgeting. Victoria Peterson questioned which housing units would receive equipment and urged clarification. Staff (Yvonne Scoggin, Ashanti Brown, Carmen Ortiz) explained the grant was voter-approved and required additional funds for unexpected infrastructure needs (e.g., elevator camera upgrades, cellular service for remote feeds). Councilmember Cook asked about ongoing costs and delays; DHA stated they are working to absorb maintenance costs. Councilmember Williams (liaison to DHA) praised the cross-jurisdictional collaboration.
• Item 10 – Peregrine Technologies Contract: The main discussion (preceded by extensive public comment). Councilmember Cook moved to place the item on the General Business Agenda (GBA) for the February 2 meeting, noting she would not support the contract. Councilmember Baker expressed caution but also raised concerns about guardrails; Councilmember Williams (Mayor) voiced strong support for the technology. Councilmember Caballero said she would vote no, citing risks of federal data sharing and distrust of current national politics. Councilmember Freelon said she was leaning no. Chief of Police provided a lengthy explanation, stating Peregrine is not surveillance software but a data integration tool to speed investigations; she denied that the system would be shared with ICE absent a court order. The mayor noted that DPD’s technology team had recommended Peregrine after due diligence and that the city is collaborating on a violence reduction plan. No vote taken; item placed on GBA.

Presentations

• Falls Lake Nutrient Strategy Rules – Michelle Wolf (Environmental and Street Services) presented an overview of the state rulemaking for Falls Lake, a reservoir impounded in 1981. She explained the two-phase rules (stage 1 implemented, stage 2 paused) and key issues: new development stormwater controls (strict phosphorus standard), existing development reduction requirements, wastewater discharge caps, and a potential petition by the Upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA) to adopt alternate rules. The city pays about $160,000/year for UNRBA membership. A petition could be filed as early as April 2026. Councilmember Williams (council’s UNRBA rep) noted the city’s wastewater plants have exceeded nutrient reduction targets. The presentation highlighted that new rules are expected by 2027, with possible legislative intervention if 10 objections are filed.
• Digital Equity Plan Update – Patrice Carroll (Digital Inclusion Program Manager) and Laura Fogle (Digital Durham) presented progress since the plan’s endorsement in 2021. Durham has reached 94.4% broadband adoption and 97% device ownership. Four community-based organizations (Durham Literacy Center, Stanford L. Warren Library, StudentU, Families Moving Forward) will implement the Digital Navigator program via ARPA funding, with a kickoff on February 25. The presentation noted upcoming challenges: AI literacy, cybersecurity, and the funding cliff as ARPA ends in 2026. Durham has been recognized as a National Digital Inclusion Trailblazer for four consecutive years.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda items 1–3, 5–8, 11 were approved; items 4, 9, and 10 were pulled for discussion and placed on the General Business Agenda for the February 2 meeting.
• Public hearings for items 14–19 (zoning and annexation) were scheduled for the next meeting.
• The council will consider a potential petition to the NC Environmental Management Commission regarding Falls Lake rules; staff will update city lobbyists.
• The Digital Equity Plan update was received; council members expressed support and acknowledged the need for sustainable funding.
• No binding votes were taken on the Peregrine contract, street repairs amendment, or security equipment amendment; those will be voted on February 2.