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Record of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, January 6, 2026
BodyRaleigh, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:55:19

Transcript — Verbatim
10:59

Welcome to the meeting of the Raleigh City Council.

11:05

As always, we have our Pledge of Allegiance first.

11:07

And Councillor Branch, are you willing to lead us?

11:31

I also wanted to announce at the beginning of the meeting that we had arranged for the Mayor Pro Tem uh to be split between 2025 and 2026.

11:44

So Councillor Fort uh has ably served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2025.

11:51

We will now be passing the baton to uh now Mayor Pro Tem Harrison and just appreciate her serving in that role.

12:00

And I know that Councillor Fort will provide backup for anything uh that we need, but thank you.

12:08

And then I also, before we get to the consent agenda, just wanted to make a motion to reorder tonight's agenda uh the public hearing agenda to move rezoning case Z thirty-four twenty-five North Hills to the beginning of the agenda.

12:25

Uh item one versus item five, um, and that is for tonight at seven o'clock.

12:34

So mayor so mayor, you clarified it'll be the first public hearing this evening at seven.

12:40

Correct.

12:41

It'll be the first item on the agenda tonight for the public hearing.

12:44

Second.

12:45

Okay.

12:46

And uh all in favor of that motion, aye.

12:49

Aye.

12:49

All opposed, nay.

12:50

And we will notify all members of the public who have signed up to speak of this change so they know we'll to get there early.

12:57

Okay.

13:00

All right.

13:00

Uh with that out of the way, the consent agenda, and uh, it's my understanding that there have been no items pulled from consent.

13:09

So is there a motion?

13:13

Second.

13:14

Okay.

13:14

All in favor of that motion, aye.

13:17

Aye.

13:17

All opposed, nay.

13:18

All right.

13:19

So eyes have it.

13:23

All right.

13:24

Uh next, getting to the right page.

13:28

We have the report of the planning commission.

13:33

Happy New Year, Mayor and City Council.

13:35

It's great to be with you, Biden Walter.

13:37

Planning and development.

13:39

We have one item on the report of the planning commission this afternoon for your consideration.

13:45

There are uh a couple of holidays of note in January for your reference.

13:52

Uh there are some items scheduled for public hearing at your next meeting on the 20th in the afternoon, but nothing scheduled yet for uh no public hearing scheduled yet for your February meetings.

14:05

The item coming out of planning commission is 516 North Blunt Street.

14:10

This is one lot.

14:11

It's uh less than half an acre.

14:13

The request would go from an office mixed use district to a commercial mixed use district.

14:18

The historic overlay would remain in place, and the three-story height limit would continue.

14:25

The request is consistent with a comprehensive plan and the future land use map.

14:29

The Raleigh Historic Development Commission recommends approval.

14:32

Planning Commission did not make a recommendation prior to their deadline for review.

14:47

You could extend the planning commission deadline for review before setting the public hearing, so you could give them an additional 45 days, which would allow them an additional two meetings for discussion.

15:00

The item that they would have discussed on December 9th had been modified.

15:03

There were revised conditions for their consideration.

15:06

Alternatively, you may uh choose at this time to set a public hearing without a recommendation from Planning Commission, in which case we would suggest February 3.

15:19

Questions?

15:20

Um, not a question, just um planning commission can do the task that we asked.

15:26

I'm fine with giving them an extension on this.

15:29

Yep.

15:31

All right.

15:32

So we have a motion and a second.

15:34

All in favor of that motion.

15:35

Aye.

15:36

Aye.

15:36

All opposed, nay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Land Use And Zoning█████████████████17%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Public Safety██████████10%
Community Engagement████████8%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Public Transportation█████5%
Affordable Housing████4%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026

The Raleigh City Council convened on January 6, 2026, to address a diverse agenda including routine approvals, infrastructure updates, public safety staffing, and significant rezoning decisions. Key topics included the recovery efforts following a recent fire at the Raleigh Convention Center, a status report on the new City Hall construction, the selection of a developer for the Duplex Village affordable housing project, and the authorization to sell renewable natural gas credits. The Council also engaged in public hearings regarding land use changes in West Raleigh and Downtown, committee restructuring, and tobacco control ordinances.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda, which included the adoption of the December 2025 meeting minutes and instructions regarding the handling of a potential claim.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Support for 516 N. Blunt St. Rezoning: Members of the Planning Commission and City Council expressed full support for granting an extension to the Planning Commission to review the item.
  • Convention Center Fire Update: Speakers expressed deep gratitude to the First Responders, the Complex Team, Insurance Providers (Alliant, Zurich), and City Departments for their rapid response and resilience in managing the aftermath of the December 1st fire.
  • Duplex Village Development: Public comments expressed strong support for the proposal as a fulfillment of the City's promise regarding affordable housing along transit corridors.
  • Environmental Credits Sale: Councilmembers expressed interest and pride in the Bioenergy Recovery Facility's success in producing Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for the Go Raleigh bus fleet and the potential revenue generation from selling Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs).
  • Police Advisory Board: Community members commended the Board's trauma-informed approach and community engagement events like "Anatomy of a Traffic Stop" and the "Trunk or Treat" event.
  • Zoning 925-4500 (Western Blvd):
    • Speaker Jen Truman expressed full support for the rezoning, citing the need to revitalize the blighted Kmart site and its potential as a transit-oriented development.
    • Speaker Jason Barron (Applicant's Counsel) expressed support for the rezoning and accepted the trade-off of removing the Special Highway Overlay District 2 (SHOD 2) in exchange for a 15-foot protective yard.
    • Speaker Kate Dixon expressed support for the development but strong opposition to the removal of the SHOD 2 overlay. She argued that the 25-foot buffer is critical for environmental resiliency, runoff mitigation, and canopy retention given the history of tree loss from NCDOT widening projects.
    • Speaker Athena Wall expressed support for the redevelopment but full opposition to the removal of the SHOD 2. She emphasized that the comprehensive plan mandates wide forested buffers along freeways and that the proposed 15-foot yard (or dispersed planting) does not provide the same ecosystem services or safety margins as the existing 25-foot requirement.
    • West Raleigh CAC (via email) expressed support for redevelopment but concern regarding the loss of the SHOD 2 protective yard, citing increased flood risk and water quality degradation.
  • Zoning 925-27 (Grove Ave): Council expressed support for the revised tenant notification conditions designed to protect naturally occurring affordable housing residents from displacement.
  • Tobacco Ordinance: Council expressed a preference for the stronger State Model ordinance over the Wake County model due to its explicit enforcement mechanisms.

Discussion Items

  • Planning Commission Extension (516 N. Blunt St.): The Council discussed and voted to extend the Planning Commission's review deadline by 45 days for the requested rezoning from office mixed-use to commercial mixed-use.
  • Convention Center Fire Recovery: Staff presented an update on the December 1st fire damage. The facility utilized a mobile kitchen to maintain event capabilities while permanent repairs, including roof replacement and equipment removal (aided by a crane scheduled for Jan 16), are underway. The City Manager's Office proposed an expanded contract signing authority ($500k for construction) and budget transfer authority to expedite repairs without compromising procurement laws.
  • New City Hall Status: An engineering supervisor reported the project is 51% complete and on target for March 2027 completion. Highlights include the topping out ceremony, pre-fabricated facade installation, and adherence to diversity goals for subcontractors.
  • Duplex Village (Affordable Housing): Staff recommended the "Blue Ridge Atlantic" development team as the highest-scoring proposal for the East New Bern Avenue site. The project involves a partnership with the Raleigh Housing Authority to provide 35 deeply affordable units (project-based vouchers) and will require a $2.88M GAP financing commitment.
  • Environmental Credit Sale: The Waters Division presented on the sale of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) generated from the Bioenergy Recovery Facility. An auction is proposed to sell estimated credits worth $1.29M to fund operations and maintenance of the water/sewer enterprise.
  • Police Advisory Board Annual Report: Chair Mallory Rogers presented the 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Work Plan. The Board focuses on policy reviews (traffic enforcement, canine units), community engagement (training, "Coffee with a Cop"), and filling two vacant board positions.
  • Rezoning 925-4500 (Western Blvd): A public hearing was held regarding the rezoning of the former Kmart site from Commercial Mixed Use to a 20-story district with a 15-foot protective yard condition. The Planning Commission recommended approval. Council debated the merits of the reduced buffer versus the loss of the SHOD 2 overlay, with concerns raised about tree canopy loss and runoff.
  • Rezoning 925-27 (Grove Ave): A continued public hearing regarding rezoning from Residential 6 to Residential 10. Revised conditions were discussed, including 90-day notice and financial reimbursement for displaced tenants, covering both existing and future tenants.
  • Committee Reorganization: The Council discussed simplifying committee names to align with the Strategic Plan, renaming "Growth and Natural Resources" to "Housing and Environmental Resilience" and "Safe, Vibrant and Healthy Communities" to "Community Safety and Quality of Life."
  • Tobacco Control Ordinance: The City Attorney presented options to adopt either the State Model or Wake County Model tobacco ordinances. The Council directed staff to draft an ordinance based on the stronger State Model, which includes stricter enforcement and implementation requirements.
  • Appointments: Several board and commission vacancies were filled, including the Board of Adjustment, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, and Raleigh Histori Development Commission.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Harrison's District Updates: Requests for additional contingency funds to support nonprofits during the holiday season and contributions to the LGBT Center were discussed.
  • Former Leadership Memorials: The Council observed a moment of silence for former Mayor Tom Bradshaw and Governor Jim Hunt.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion: The agenda was reordered to move Public Hearing Item 925-4500 to the beginning of the public hearing section.
  • Vote: The Planning Commission review deadline for 516 N. Blunt Street was extended for 45 days (Unanimous).
  • Vote: The Consent Agenda was approved (Unanimous).
  • Vote: The authorization for expanded contract and budget transfer authorities for Convention Center repairs was approved (Unanimous).
  • Vote: The recommendation to select Blue Ridge Atlantic as the developer for the Duplex Village site was approved (Unanimous).
  • Vote: The resolution authorizing the sale of environmental credits (RINs) was approved (Unanimous).
  • Vote: The 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Work Plan for the Police Advisory Board was approved (Unanimous).
  • Vote: Rezoning 925-4500 (Western Blvd) was approved by a vote of 5-3, with the recommendation to adopt the zoning amendment and the proposed consistency statement.
  • Vote: Rezoning 925-27 (Grove Ave) was approved (Unanimous).
  • Vote: The committee names were updated to "Housing and Environment" and "Community Safety and Quality of Life" (Unanimous, after name correction).
  • Vote: The City Council directed the City Attorney to draft a tobacco control ordinance based on the NC DHHS State Model (Unanimous).
  • Vote: Several board appointments and reappointments were approved.
  • Action: The ADA Transition Plan public outreach meeting was launched to gather community input on sidewalk and curb ramp improvements.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the meeting of the Raleigh City Council. As always, we have our Pledge of Allegiance first. And Councillor Branch, are you willing to lead us? I also wanted to announce at the beginning of the meeting that we had arranged for the Mayor Pro Tem uh to be split between 2025 and 2026. So Councillor Fort uh has ably served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2025. We will now be passing the baton to uh now Mayor Pro Tem Harrison and just appreciate her serving in that role. And I know that Councillor Fort will provide backup for anything uh that we need, but thank you. And then I also, before we get to the consent agenda, just wanted to make a motion to reorder tonight's agenda uh the public hearing agenda to move rezoning case Z thirty-four twenty-five North Hills to the beginning of the agenda. Uh item one versus item five, um, and that is for tonight at seven o'clock. So mayor so mayor, you clarified it'll be the first public hearing this evening at seven. Correct. It'll be the first item on the agenda tonight for the public hearing. Second. Okay. And uh all in favor of that motion, aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. And we will notify all members of the public who have signed up to speak of this change so they know we'll to get there early. Okay. All right. Uh with that out of the way, the consent agenda, and uh, it's my understanding that there have been no items pulled from consent. So is there a motion? Second. Okay. All in favor of that motion, aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. All right. So eyes have it. All right. Uh next, getting to the right page. We have the report of the planning commission. Happy New Year, Mayor and City Council. It's great to be with you, Biden Walter. Planning and development. We have one item on the report of the planning commission this afternoon for your consideration. There are uh a couple of holidays of note in January for your reference. Uh there are some items scheduled for public hearing at your next meeting on the 20th in the afternoon, but nothing scheduled yet for uh no public hearing scheduled yet for your February meetings. The item coming out of planning commission is 516 North Blunt Street. This is one lot. It's uh less than half an acre. The request would go from an office mixed use district to a commercial mixed use district. The historic overlay would remain in place, and the three-story height limit would continue. The request is consistent with a comprehensive plan and the future land use map. The Raleigh Historic Development Commission recommends approval. Planning Commission did not make a recommendation prior to their deadline for review. You could extend the planning commission deadline for review before setting the public hearing, so you could give them an additional 45 days, which would allow them an additional two meetings for discussion. The item that they would have discussed on December 9th had been modified. There were revised conditions for their consideration. Alternatively, you may uh choose at this time to set a public hearing without a recommendation from Planning Commission, in which case we would suggest February 3.

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