Raleigh City Council Regular Meeting - June 3, 2025

The Raleigh City Council met on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in afternoon and evening sessions. The evening agenda featured a public hearing on the FY2025-26 proposed operating and capital budget, along with public hearings and decisions on municipal service district contracts, a street closing, and two rezoning cases. The meeting included extensive public testimony on budget priorities, police and firefighter compensation, Vision Zero, and tree planting, followed by council actions including approval of service district contracts, denial of one rezoning, and continuation of another.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Octavia Rainey spoke on three subjects: (1) advocated for equal starting salaries for fire and police departments; (2) urged inclusion of $300,000 for Fourth Ward redevelopment in the budget, describing the city's historical treatment of Fourth Ward as neglectful; (3) referenced past displacement of 1,000 residents.
• Ruffin Hall (President/CEO, Dix Park Conservancy) expressed support for the manager's recommended budget, thanked the city for its support of Dix Park, and invited the community to the opening of Gibson Play Plaza at Dix Park on June 6-8.
• A speaker (name not fully captured) praised the budget for giving raises without a tax increase but opposed $750,000 for advanced planning for Nash Square renovations, citing tree removal concerns and referencing Moore Square's $13 million failure. Instead, the speaker supported planting 24,000 trees for the city's 240th anniversary.
• Ian Burnett advocated for expanding Raleigh's Vision Zero program, noting 35+ annual roadway fatalities, a third being pedestrians/cyclists, and an estimated $400 million annual cost to the city. Called for 10-15 additional FTEs for an interdepartmental Vision Zero group, stating the current $4 million budget is insufficient.
• Matthew Cooper (President, Raleigh Police Protective Association) expressed frustration over delays in the comprehensive pay study, stated that raising entry wages alone is insufficient, and that veteran officers need raises, not just bonuses. Argued the budget should not be balanced on city employees.
• Lawrence Yelly questioned the compensation study's methodology, noting it focused on salary only without benchmarking benefits (which he said add 50% to salary). He argued the $40 million salary adjustment is likely overstated, criticized city staff growth (8% faster than population), and called for a balance between workforce and taxpayer interests.
• Larry Helfund advocated for adding separation allowance for firefighters, noting nearly 500 emails on the issue. He stated the fire department is at least 200 positions short, has not added new positions since 2014, and that separation allowance is the same benefit police have had since 1987. Cited CDC and FEMA data on firefighter health risks.
• Mary Abrams (Wake Audubon) thanked the city for the Leaf Out Tree Plan and requested an additional $25,000 to launch a public-private partnership to plant 24,000 trees by 2032. Noted Raleigh lost over 1,300 acres of tree canopy between 2010 and 2020.
• Larry Miller (President, Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative) spoke in support of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) as the service provider for the Downtown Municipal Service District, citing DRA's ambassador program, social worker services, security patrols, economic development, and event activations.
• David Meeker (downtown resident) endorsed DRA, stating downtown needs a coordinated organization like DRA to compete with other districts, and that his properties are glad to pay the additional tax.
• Skip Hill (Highwoods Properties) supported renewing DRA as the service provider, praising the staff's talent and investment in downtown.
• Anna Grace Fitzgerald (downtown resident and business owner) expressed gratitude for DRA ambassadors, noting their de-escalation work, safe walks, and support for small businesses.
• Gregory Brown (Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation) endorsed the Hillsborough Street MSD provider, highlighting work on traffic flow, parking meters, and clean and safe programs.
• Mahadev Prasad Raj (business owner on Hillsborough Street) praised the MSD team for responsiveness and cleanliness.
• Shepard Fountain, Avery Salmon, and William McGee (neighbors) opposed rezoning Z-19-24 (Edenburgh Road) due to concerns about commercial creep, loss of housing stock, and an eight-year timeline for converting a model home office to residential. They preferred the existing R6 zoning.
• Bill Mitchell (Athens Woods HOA board member) opposed rezoning Z-43-24 (Athens Drive) from R4 to RX, citing incompatibility with surrounding low-density residential, potential for 67 apartments, traffic hazards near Athens Drive High School, stormwater concerns, and precedent for overdevelopment.

Discussion Items

• FY2025-26 Proposed Budget Public Hearing: Council heard public testimony but did not take a vote during the hearing. The public hearing was closed after all speakers.
• Downtown Municipal Service District: Council held a public hearing on selecting the Downtown Raleigh Alliance as the service provider. Following testimony, a motion was made and seconded to authorize staff to work with DRA on a contract. The motion passed unanimously.
• Hillsborough Street Municipal Service District: Council held a public hearing on selecting the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation. A motion to authorize a five-year contract passed unanimously.
• Street Closing STC-08-2024 (Clover Lane): Staff presented a proposal to close approximately 0.31 acre of right-of-way for a development that includes a multi-use path and emergency access. No opposition testimony; council approved unanimously.
• Rezoning Z-19-24 (Edenburgh Road): After a continued public hearing, the applicant (Charles Walker) described revisions including a trigger for construction of a single-family home on 109 Edenburgh within one year, and removal of the parking lot within 90 days after the design center use ends. Council members questioned the complexity of 18 conditions and the eight-year timeline for office use. Opposition speakers reiterated concerns about commercial creep and loss of housing. Council discussed that the proposed OX zoning would reduce density from potential eight townhomes to three single-family homes, with one used as a model home/office. A motion to deny (adopt consistency statement and deny the zoning amendment) passed unanimously.
• Rezoning Z-43-24 (Athens Drive): The applicant (Arthur Gordon) described a vision for mixed-use development with a community garden and affordable housing, but only one condition was proposed. Staff noted the property is currently zoned R4 and requested RX-3 would allow up to 67 units, inconsistent with the future land use map (low-scale residential). Council members expressed concerns about density, parking, open space, and compatibility with the neighborhood. Councilor Jones moved to continue the case to July 1, 2025, to allow the applicant to consider additional conditions and talk with neighbors. The motion passed.

Key Outcomes

• Down town MSD contract: Approved (unanimous) to authorize staff to negotiate with Downtown Raleigh Alliance.
• Hillsborough Street MSD contract: Approved (unanimous) to authorize a five-year contract with Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation.
• Street Closing STC-08-2024: Approved (unanimous).
• Rezoning Z-19-24 (Edenburgh Road): Denied (unanimous). Council adopted the consistency statement dated June 3, 2025, and denied the zoning amendment.
• Rezoning Z-43-24 (Athens Drive): Continued to July 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. to allow the applicant to revise conditions and engage with neighbors.