Durham City Council Work Session - March 5, 2026

The Durham City Council held a work session on March 5, 2026, addressing a range of topics including community safety, infrastructure capacity, and community development funding. Key discussions focused on the Goose Creek wastewater capacity issue, the Fayetteville Street Corridor revitalization project, and a lease renewal for city offices. Public comments highlighted concerns about gun violence, homelessness, and the impact of the wastewater capacity restrictions on local developers.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was settled with items 1–9 and 11 approved on consent, items 10 and 12 moved to the General Body Agenda (GBA), and items 15–17 placed on the GBA public hearing. Items 13 and 14 were presentations.
• Item 10 (Golden Belt lease extension) was pulled by Councilmember Cook and moved to GBA for further discussion.
• Item 12 (amendment to contract with Haiti Promise CDC) was also moved to GBA.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Isaac Woods (Artmore Drive resident) expressed frustration over the city's failure to provide water, sewer, and street paving since 1987, calling for costs to be covered by bond funds rather than property assessments. He stated residents have paid $4 million in taxes since annexation.
• Richard Davis (father of a hit-and-run victim) criticized the district attorney's handling of his son's case, noting 13 charges across four counties resulted only in an ankle bracelet. He demanded accountability and better communication from the justice system.
• Shannon Krebs (Oakwood Park neighbor) raised concerns about repeated encampments in the park, citing trash, needles, and drug use. She asked for a clear plan and equitable distribution of encampments across city parks, noting that residents are often framed as unsympathetic.
• Angel Dozier (Hayti community member) spoke in support of the Hayti Promise CDC but urged deeper consideration of community engagement and respect. She also criticized the use of the term "bamboozlement" and asked for accountability.
• Sharita Burris (resident) described experiencing gunshots on her birthday and urged the council to move beyond workshops to direct action for youth, employment, and community safety.
• Mr. Fryer (youth advocate) called for immediate youth employment programs and criticized the city for relying on corporations rather than local talent, stating that many youth feel disillusioned.
• Mr. Chavis questioned a sign reading "No outside drinking" at City Hall, asking for clear explanations to the public.
• Victoria Peterson criticized the city for canceling a zoning meeting without proper notice, leaving over 1,000 residents confused. She also raised concerns about downsizing zoning and development.
• Greg Williams (Bike Durham) read a statement from Richard Davis reiterating demands for road safety improvements on Guest Road, including radar signs and increased patrols.
• Thomas Hennessy (developer) stated that the Goose Creek LTI was "borderline unconstitutional taking of property rights" due to lack of notice, and criticized the city's communication.
• Transperi (developer) said the LTI severely hindered his ability to develop properties until 2029, calling the lack of direct mailings unacceptable.
• John Warcilo (developer) noted that his project was flagged only by chance, and that the LTI affects dozens of local investors, not just large developers.
• Blake Anderson (developer) described the shock of learning about the LTI after Christmas, stating that he had spent hundreds of thousands on design fees for projects now stalled.
• Victoria Peterson (on item 12) opposed moving funds from St. Joseph's Historic Foundation to Hayti Promise CDC, calling it corruption and questioning the lack of a clear plan.
• Amanda Wallace (resident) opposed the amendment, arguing that the city should not extend timelines without clear results, and cited historical urban renewal failures.

Discussion Items

Wastewater Collection System Capacity (Item 14)

• Don Greeley (Water Management) presented an overview of the city's wastewater system, including a history of investments, the new hydraulic model, and the discovery that the Goose Creek basin is at 100% capacity, leading to a Letter to Industry (LTI) in December 2025.
• The LTI restricts new development in the Goose Creek basin until capacity upgrades are completed, with Phase 1 expected by 2029 and Phase 2 by 2030. Two other basins (LRB Creek and Lick Creek) are at 78% and 67% capacity, respectively, but not expected to require LTIs.
• Councilmembers and public speakers expressed frustration over the lack of direct notification to property owners and developers. The city acknowledged that the LTI was only sent to the Home Builders Association and a voluntary email list, not to all affected property owners.
• Staff outlined plans to accelerate the design and construction of three major outfall projects (total estimated cost ~$30 million) and to improve communication by potentially using mailings and working with the Register of Deeds.
• Councilmember Baker asked about the policy shift in 2015 that made the city responsible for major capacity upgrades instead of developers. Greeley confirmed that the city now bears the burden, which contributed to the delay.
• Councilmember Cook questioned whether the city could accept a higher risk of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) to avoid LTIs, but staff explained that regulatory risk and potential fines were significant.
• Mayor Pro Tem Caballero urged treating the situation as an emergency and requested regular updates.

Fayetteville Street Corridor Project (Item 13)

• Joshua Gunn (Economic Development) presented a detailed overview of the Hayti Promise CDC's work under the ARPA award, including expenditures, governance, and compliance. The CDC has spent $853,000 of the $10 million allocation, with $5.4 million under contract. No city staff salaries are paid from the grant.
• The presentation addressed questions about the slow start, noting that the CDC was newly formed and needed time to establish nonprofit status, hire partners, and comply with federal procurement rules.
• Councilmember Burris raised concerns about the lack of a full-time executive director, the use of consultants, and the fact that the CDC was a new organization receiving large sums. She also noted that a board member's credit card was accidentally auto-populated in QuickBooks, leading to a reimbursement.
• Councilmember Cook asked about the risk assessment and whether the contract requirements had been met. The City Attorney confirmed that the risk assessment was done at the outset and that the administration has done its own re-evaluation.
• Councilmember Baker asked about the role of Central Pines Regional Council, which was contracted to help residents access existing property tax relief programs. Staff explained that Central Pines was chosen for its expertise in handling personal information.
• Several public speakers criticized the CDC's lack of transparency and questioned the decision to move funds from St. Joseph's Historic Foundation. Others defended the board's volunteer efforts and the complexity of the work.
• Mayor Williams emphasized that the $10 million is only seed money and that the city is committed to catalyzing further investment in the corridor.

Golden Belt Lease (Item 10)

• Councilmember Cook pulled Item 10, questioning the need for a five-year lease at nearly $2.4 million when the city has underutilized space in City Hall. Deputy City Manager Gina Propes explained that the space is Class A and used for community-facing departments, and that the city is actively working to right-size its space portfolio. The item was moved to GBA for further discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Settlement: Items 1–9 and 11 approved on consent; Items 10 and 12 moved to GBA; Items 15–17 scheduled for GBA public hearing.
• Closed Session: Council approved a motion to hold a closed session for attorney-client consultation regarding two legal matters (Timothy Evans v. City of Durham and a property damage claim).
• Item 10 (Golden Belt Lease): Moved to GBA for further consideration; Councilmember Cook requested more information on space utilization.
• Item 12 (Haiti Promise CDC Amendment): Moved to GBA after discussion; councilmembers expressed mixed views on the pace of spending and governance.
• Wastewater Capacity: Staff committed to accelerating the Goose Creek outfall projects, improving communication to property owners, and providing quarterly updates to council. The council directed staff to explore innovative procurement and construction methods to expedite the work.
• Fayetteville Street Corridor: The council acknowledged the complexity of the project and the need for transparency. No formal action was taken, but the presentation served as a basis for the upcoming GBA item.