OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council Regular Meeting - January 21, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, January 21, 2025
BodyRaleigh, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
1:19

Next we have the consent agenda, and I believe there was just one item polled, but do we have a motion?

1:27

Move to approve the consent agenda less than one item polled.

1:31

Second.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

Any discussion?

1:34

Not all in favor, say aye.

1:36

Aye.

1:37

All opposed.

1:38

All right.

1:39

And then the one item polled was G2, which was the Taverna Agora, and I believe Counselor Silver just had a few questions about that.

1:49

Well, first let me say I'm very supportive of adding a more of a downtown experience, particularly on Hillsborough Street.

1:56

I had a question about the pavers.

1:57

Uh there are some large trees.

1:59

There's currently mulch uh between the curb and the sidewalk.

2:02

I just want to make sure those trees will remain quite healthy.

2:05

I'm sure the applicant would not want anything to happen to those trees and replace them.

2:10

So just wanted to know are there permeable pavers being used?

2:13

Uh it wasn't noted on the application, so I just had that one question.

2:18

Sure.

2:18

Daniel King, uh City of Raleigh Transportation.

2:21

Uh yes, permeable papers will be used.

2:23

Uh they're also maintaining a five-foot clear area around the trees, and the platform itself will be elevated, and all of the installation will be done by hand and carefully monitored by our urban forestry group as that occurs.

2:35

Okay, with that clarification, I move for approval.

2:38

Second.

2:40

Uh any other discussion?

2:42

If not, all in favor of the motion say aye.

2:44

Aye.

2:44

All opposed, nay.

2:46

Motion passes.

2:48

Great.

2:48

Thank you.

2:50

Okay, that concludes uh the consent agenda.

2:54

We now have public comments.

2:56

And I believe we have six people who have signed up to speak.

3:01

Uh so first is Octavia Rainey.

3:07

Good afternoon.

3:08

I would like to speak about what happened in North Hills.

3:12

I have already called Barney Gaylor and Mr.

3:14

King to wish them to offer them my condolence.

3:18

Because as I told them, that is the situation that they could not control.

3:26

It was uncontrollable.

3:28

Gun violence is an issue.

3:30

And it's a big issue.

3:32

The thing that bothers me, it depends upon what side of town that it happens on.

3:38

That it gets more and more attention when the issue itself should be focused on gun violence.

3:47

Gun violence is the issue.

3:49

I don't care where you live, I don't care what color your skin is.

4:25

I don't know what we're doing about mental illness in this city.

4:29

How do we address that?

4:31

But it is a problem.

4:34

And it bothers me that when it happens on my side of town, it's a great big deal.

4:40

But if it happens on another side of town, well, it's a safe neighborhood.

4:44

No neighborhood is safe.

4:47

Guns are terrible.

4:50

They do kill people.

4:53

And I wish you would change your language when you talk about gun violence.

5:00

So you make it aware to everyone that I don't care where you in a place in a time anywhere, gun balance can happen to you.

5:10

And that's a serious problem.

5:12

So when it happens in my neighborhood, don't go on this binge.

5:16

But you should be going on a binge when someone is killed in the city of Raleigh by a gun.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████39%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Pending Litigation████████████12%
Public Safety█████████9%
Homelessness█████5%
Mental Health Awareness█████5%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Strategic Planning██2%
Employee Recognition██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council Regular Meeting - January 21, 2025

The Raleigh City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included a consent agenda, public comments, special items, a major update on the Raleigh CARES program, public hearings on nuisance abatements, and various appointments. The council approved a resolution to name an interstate interchange after Conan Morgan, authorized a contract for a crisis call diversion line, and addressed multiple community concerns.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the consent agenda (less one item polled) by unanimous voice vote. The polled item was G2 – an encroachment request for sidewalk pavers at 326 Hillsborough Street (Taverna Agora). Councilmember Silver asked about permeable pavers and tree protection; staff confirmed permeable pavers will be used and a five-foot clear area around trees will be maintained. The item was then approved by voice vote.
  • Other consent items included petition annexations, contract amendments, budget amendments, bid awards, and traffic changes (speed limit reductions, parking time limits, tow-away zones).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Octavia Rainey: Expressed concern about gun violence, urging the council to focus on the issue regardless of neighborhood. She noted the recent incident in North Hills and called for equal attention to violence in all areas. Also asked about mental health services and the hospitality industry's role.
  • Maida Lashawney: Addressed the deteriorating condition of fencing at the downtown dog parks (Nash Square and Moore Square). She requested permanent, safe fencing to prevent dogs from escaping into traffic. Council President Pro Tem Forte said a follow-up would be provided in the Friday manager's memo.
  • Mamakai Sanders: Reported attending all five district budget listening sessions (total participants less than 100, with 25-35% staff). Proposed three ideas: a welcome card with council and department contacts for new residents; a study on alternatives to the New Bern BRT (citing floodplain and heat island concerns); and moving the Raleigh Convention Center/Red Hat Amphitheater expansion to Triangle Town Center to create an entertainment hub.
  • Athena Wallum: Advocated for equitable use of public roadways, challenge of car-centric metrics for traffic calming, and integration of stormwater creek rehabilitation with urban development. Also noted the value of urban wildlife habitats.
  • Laura Harris: Urged the city to open more white flag shelters and drop-in warming centers during cold weather, especially when temperatures are above the current cutoff. Suggested using city-owned spaces like the convention center and gymnasiums. Called for the city to budget for staffed drop-in centers.
  • No voicemail public comments were received.

Discussion Items

  • Special Item: Resolution of Support for Naming I-440/US-1/US-401 Interchange – Staff presented a resolution to name the interchange after Conan Morgan, a late community leader and political trailblazer. The council approved the resolution unanimously, with further steps needed through NCDOT.
  • City Manager Report: Raleigh CARES Update – Michelle Millet provided an extensive update on the Raleigh CARES (Crisis Alternative Response for Empathy and Support) program, including the Acorns unit (co-response), crisis call diversion line, and care navigation. A video highlighted the successful housing of a disabled veteran through Acorns. The council authorized a contract with Alliance Health (not to exceed $546,114) for a 24/7 crisis call diversion line and approved a budget transfer for program enhancements (training, an encrossed trailer for Acorns, and a program evaluation partner). The crisis call diversion line is expected to launch July 1, 2025, and care navigation in May 2025. The mobile crisis pilot is still in design with Wake County.
  • Council Retreat Preview – Michelle Millet outlined the agenda for the two-day council retreat (Friday and Saturday, January 24-25 at Method Road Community Center), covering strategic planning, legislative priorities, budget, community engagement, boards and commissions, annexations, affordable housing, and operational updates.
  • Introduction of New Assistant City Manager – City Manager introduced Nikki Jones, who previously served in Raleigh and most recently as interim city manager of Athens, Georgia. He will oversee a portfolio including housing and neighborhoods.
  • Milken Institute Announcement – The city manager announced that Raleigh was named the best performing city in the nation by the Milken Institute for 2025.
  • Public Hearings on Nuisance Abatements – Three properties were considered: 605 Bragg Street (total lien over $11,000), 1338 Crosslink Road (junk/trash), and 619 Cumberland Street (total lien over $40,000 since 2011). Council approved all three abatements after no public speakers. Councilmember Patton asked about mutual aid and tool-sharing programs; staff mentioned a new free tool rental program for property owners. Councilmember Harrison requested a memo on handling properties with high liens.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved (less G2) by voice vote; G2 approved separately.
  • Resolution for Conan Morgan Interchange: Approved unanimously.
  • Raleigh CARES Contract and Budget Transfer: Motion to authorize the city manager to execute the contract with Alliance Health and approve the budget transfer passed by voice vote.
  • Nuisance Abatements: All three properties (605 Bragg St, 1338 Crosslink Rd, 619 Cumberland St) approved for liens.
  • Appointments:
    • Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission: Michael Dunn appointed.
    • Environmental Advisory Board: Robert Bennett appointed.
    • Fair Housing Hearing Board: Daniel Lamar Grant King appointed.
    • Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board: Anna Rios appointed.
    • Human Relations Commission: Alternate vacancy carried over to next ballot.
    • Arts Commission: Tony Gadsden reappointed.
    • Human Relations Commission: Alicia Taylor elevated to regular member.
    • Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board: Hugh Fuller and Chang Wen Lu reappointed.
    • Raleigh Transit Authority: Byron Leake elevated to regular member; Colin Beamer nominated for alternate vacancy.
  • External Agency Appointments: Approved list of delegates; alternate for CAMPO and Central Pines Regional Council deferred to next meeting.
  • Minutes: Approved with one amendment (changed “Capital Area Greenway” to “Community Advisory Group”).
  • Closed Session: Motion to enter closed session for attorney-client privilege regarding potential claims (Warts and Construction and Home Quest Builders vs. City of Raleigh). No actions taken, and the meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Next we have the consent agenda, and I believe there was just one item polled, but do we have a motion? Move to approve the consent agenda less than one item polled. Second. Okay. Any discussion? Not all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed. All right. And then the one item polled was G2, which was the Taverna Agora, and I believe Counselor Silver just had a few questions about that. Well, first let me say I'm very supportive of adding a more of a downtown experience, particularly on Hillsborough Street. I had a question about the pavers. Uh there are some large trees. There's currently mulch uh between the curb and the sidewalk. I just want to make sure those trees will remain quite healthy. I'm sure the applicant would not want anything to happen to those trees and replace them. So just wanted to know are there permeable pavers being used? Uh it wasn't noted on the application, so I just had that one question. Sure. Daniel King, uh City of Raleigh Transportation. Uh yes, permeable papers will be used. Uh they're also maintaining a five-foot clear area around the trees, and the platform itself will be elevated, and all of the installation will be done by hand and carefully monitored by our urban forestry group as that occurs. Okay, with that clarification, I move for approval. Second. Uh any other discussion? If not, all in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. Motion passes. Great. Thank you. Okay, that concludes uh the consent agenda. We now have public comments. And I believe we have six people who have signed up to speak. Uh so first is Octavia Rainey. Good afternoon. I would like to speak about what happened in North Hills. I have already called Barney Gaylor and Mr. King to wish them to offer them my condolence. Because as I told them, that is the situation that they could not control. It was uncontrollable. Gun violence is an issue. And it's a big issue. The thing that bothers me, it depends upon what side of town that it happens on. That it gets more and more attention when the issue itself should be focused on gun violence. Gun violence is the issue. I don't care where you live, I don't care what color your skin is. I don't know what we're doing about mental illness in this city. How do we address that? But it is a problem.

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