Raleigh City Council Regular Session: June 17, 2025

The Raleigh City Council met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, for a work session at 11:30 AM and a regular session at 1:00 PM. The council approved consent agenda items (except one pulled), heard public comments on diverse topics, deferred a controversial rezoning, authorized financing for affordable housing, adopted a new strategic plan, and conducted multiple public hearings on annexations and rezonings.

Consent Calendar

• Approved as a block all consent agenda items except G1 (Lichtin Plaza at the Performing Arts Center Renovations – bid award to Berry Building Group, Inc.). Councilor Silver, after reviewing a revised illustration, moved to approve G1, which passed unanimously.
• Consent items included: Federal 2026-30 Consolidated Plan; City Code revisions on street activity; several annexations; contracts (Wake Transit Plan, John Chavis Memorial Park, Hillsborough Street MSD, Downtown MSD, janitorial services, Oakwood Cemetery lease); budget amendments (Dix Park Conservancy donation, FY2025 year-end amendments); bid awards (Lichtin Plaza, Glenwood Avenue at Washington Street intersection improvements, DE Benton Water Treatment Plant carbon); traffic schedule updates; parking codification for Oberlin Road; mixed-use loading zone at 200 North Harrington Street; Glenwood South Safety Pilot parking modifications.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mama Kai Sanders advocated for family-friendly downtown businesses and youth entrepreneurial accelerators, proposing pop-up shops at the convention center and a new activity center at Triangle Town Center.
• Nikki W. raised concerns about Juneteenth celebration cancellation at Dix Park (citing weather assumption) and called for rescheduling; also demanded reparations for Fourth Ward, public toilets for unhoused residents, and criticized governmental agendas.
• Octavia Rainey accused the city of systematic discrimination against Fourth Ward in District D, alleging that 25 projects were funded elsewhere while Fourth Ward received only three urban renewal projects; requested a work session with churches and funding for the Fourth Ward reunion.
• Misa Saltari condemned the bomb threat against a synagogue and argued that conflating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism allows Israel to commit atrocities; called for condemning Israeli military actions.
• Hanadi Ali urged the council to pass a ceasefire resolution and sanction Israel, citing a death toll of 39,000 and ongoing war crimes.
• Athena Wallon requested traffic calming and bike lanes on Brookside Drive and advocated for creek erosion rehabilitation as part of stormwater management and green infrastructure.
• Brian McGuinness (firefighter) expressed support for the fire department and drew on his Marine veteran experience to condemn the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Discussion Items

• Planning Commission Report – Z-70-22 (Glenwood Avenue, Lake Anne Drive, Winchester Drive): Staff recommended deferral to July 1, 2025, to allow the applicant to submit signed conditions. The condition creating a third-party "ombudsman" for stormwater oversight was debated. Chair Blanny Miller noted Planning Commission approved 8–1 despite staff enforceability concerns. Councilor Silver questioned whether the condition mitigated an impact; applicant Isabella Maddox said it was a neighborhood-requested stormwater engineer role. Council voted to defer the case to July 1.
• Special Items – Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds: Montessori School of Raleigh withdrew its public hearing request after deciding to pursue alternative bond refinancing.
• City Manager Report – Triangle Square Predevelopment Bond Issuance: Staff presented a request for local approval of bonds from the Public Finance Authority of Wisconsin to finance 468 affordable units (180 senior, 288 family) at 60% AMI, with $9.3 million in bond financing for predevelopment. Council approved the mayor executing a local approval letter (unanimous).
• City Manager Report – 15 Summit Avenue Affordable Housing Development: Staff recommended CASA as developer for an 11-unit veterans housing project (with Operation Coming Home) using tiny-home design, with a city subsidy of $368,573 in gap financing. Units: 4 at 30% AMI, 4 at 50% AMI, 3 at 60% AMI. Council approved unanimously.
• City Manager Report – FY26-29 Strategic Plan Adoption: Christina Leos presented the plan with seven key focus areas (Community Safety, Economic Development & Innovation, Environmental Resilience, Housing, Organizational Excellence, Quality of Life, Transportation & Transit) and 49 initiatives. Councilors discussed metrics, committee alignment, and connection to big-picture projects. Council adopted the plan unanimously.
• Public Hearings:
  • Public Nuisance Abatements (3 properties): Approved liens for cleanup on 3423 Marsh Lane Way, 2928 O'Kelly Street, 3605 Satellite Court.
  • Unfit for Human Habitation – 5716 North Hills Drive: 90-day repair-or-demolish ordinance adopted.
  • Petition Annexations: AX-05-25 (Barwell Road, 27.7 acres, 216 townhomes) – District C; AX-07-25 (Mitchell Mill Road, 14 townhomes) – District B; AX-11-25 (Corporate Center Drive, 237 apartments) – District D; AX-17-24 (Tarheel Clubhouse Road, 225 single-family homes) – continued to July 1; AX-11-24 and AX-08-25 (Globe Road parcels) – both approved.
  • Rezonings: Z-14-24 (Tarheel Clubhouse Road, R6 with conditions) – continued to July 1; Z-44-24 (Avent Ferry Road, R6 with conditions, 19 units) – approved; Z-54-24 (Louisburg Road, R6 with conditions, added stub street condition) – approved; Z-16-24 and Z-06-25 (Globe Road, R6 with single-family per lot) – both approved.
• Employee Highlights: City Manager highlighted Nikki Jones (new ACM) as ECU Distinguished Alumnus and Carrie Painter receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Venue Management.
• Council Reports: Councilmembers noted Juneteenth events, condoled the drowning death of Adrian Basilio, recognized Gun Violence Prevention Month, and discussed the need for communication on the leaf collection program change.
• Appointments: Rachel Boone appointed to Human Relations Commission (regular); Ariel Co-Correct appointed to Raleigh Historic Development Commission (regular). Other vacancies carried over.
• Closed Session: Council entered closed session to discuss public safety plans and an honorary award; no actions reported out.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: All items approved except G1, which was later approved unanimously.
• Z-70-22 (Glenwood Ave): Deferred to July 1, 2025, for signed conditions.
• Triangle Square Bond Authorization: Approved (vote unrecorded, unanimous).
• 15 Summit Avenue (CASA): Approved conditional gap financing of $368,573 (vote unrecorded, unanimous).
• Strategic Plan FY26-29: Adopted (vote unrecorded, unanimous).
• Public Hearings: All nuisance abatements, unfit housing, annexations (except Tarheel Clubhouse continued), and rezonings (except Z-14-24 continued) were approved by recorded voice votes, generally unanimous with occasional one dissenting vote on a few annexations.
• Deferrals: Z-70-22 and Z-14-24/AX-17-24 (Tarheel Clubhouse) continued to July 1, 2025.