Welcome everybody.

We will convene the meeting.

And uh, first item we you will see that Councilor Branch is all by his lonesome down here.

Uh Mayor Bertem Harrison is absent and excused, as is Counselor Jones.

So I will ask if Mitchell Silver can uh lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

And I know we've got some visitors here.

So uh Rebecca Dixon from Community Engagement is going to share the Raleigh Summer Youth Employment Program ambassadors.

Good afternoon, Mayor Cowell, City Manager Adams David, and Council members.

The Raleigh Summer Youth Employment Program is a forty-three-year-old City of Raleigh workforce initiative that hires and develops youth ages 15 to 18, providing work experiences while equipping them with essential professional and life skills.

One of our very own used to be a former Raleigh Summer Youth, Mr.

Clay Brench.

Four years ago, I started the Raleigh Summer Youth Ambassadors.

So our Raleigh Summer Youth Ambassadors are returning participants who serves as youth leaders and representatives of the program.

They support our outreach efforts, volunteer at local community centers, and strengthen their leadership and civic engagement all through the year.

It doesn't just provide a job, it provides mentorship, guidance, and real world experience.

Serving as an ambassador and alumni alliance member has allowed me to grow as a leader and use my voice to encourage others.

So I definitely want to mention that and highlight that as well.

But definitely congrats.

It's state air because we're going to take a picture.

All right.

Next we have the consent agenda.

There were no items polled, so do we have a motion for the remainder?

Move for approval.

Okay.

All right.

All in favor of the motion, aye.

Aye.

All opposed, nay.

And that is unanimous.

Next, we have the report and recommendation of the planning commission.

Good afternoon, Madam Mayor, members of council.

My name is Bynam Walter.

I work in the planning and development department.

I'm joined this afternoon by Nicole Bennett, the chairperson of the Planning Commission.

And we have some items to report out to you.

There are a number of holidays ahead in March and April.

And you have uh one item already scheduled for your March 17th afternoon meeting for public hearing that's a petition annexation.

There's nothing currently on your April 7 afternoon or evening public hearing schedule.

We are recommending two items for your next meeting, March 17th and four for April 7th.

As you can see, we have a lot of items coming out at once, and we are trying to help you manage this.

This is certainly at your discretion.

We've just made some suggestions based on what we've uh heard about the requests during planning commission review.

Uh numerically, and first on the agenda, rezoning uh this is actually a text change of zoning conditions on South New Hope Road.

This is uh the commercial portion of Old Town.

It's uh right at 60 acres.

The request is consistent with the future language map and the comprehensive plan.

There's a split vote there from Planning Commission.

Uh but a recommendation for approval nonetheless, and we are suggesting your evening public hearing uh April 7 for this request.

The next item is two lots on Trailwood Drive.

This is just under three acres, uh consistent with future landings map and the comprehensive plan, a unanimous approval recommendation from the planning commission.

Again, a suggested public hearing for your evening April 7 meeting.

C 3125 is at 516 North Blunt Street.

This is less than an acre.

This is also consistent with the comprehensive plan and the future land use map.

RHGC recommends approval.

The Raleigh Historic Development Commission reviewed this is in a local district and planning commission by split vote recommended denial.

Again, suggesting an evening uh April 7th public hearing.

Z 3725 on Avent Very Road.

This is an assemblage of parcels, just under nine acres and consistent with the future annuals map and the conference plan.

Planning commission recommends approval unim unanimously here.

We are suggesting a public hearing of March 17.

I understand from the applicant that they may wish to and they may have already been in touch with you directly, wish to defer your acting to set the public hearing to your next meeting so they could revise before the public hearing opens.

And then finally, uh oh no, there's probably one more.

Z forty twenty-five.

This is Wake Forest Road and Morticity Drive, again under two acres, consistent with the comprehensive plan, future leadings map.

Uh the Historic Development Commission also reviewed here.

This is in a local district, and there is a uh contributing structure on the property recommending denial, planning commission rec recommending approval, and we are suggesting an evening public hearing date here of April 7.

You just scheduled the annexation public hearing for this that goes with this rezoning Z 4225 on Hodge Road.

This is less than an acre.

It's in the midst of the Bank's 20 PD or the Hodge Road assemblage.

Um this is consistent with the future annuals map and the comprehensive plan.

Planning commission recommended unanimous approval, and we are suggesting a March 17 public hearing date for this to go with go along with that annexation.

What questions could I answer, or would you like to ask uh Commission Chairmember Bennett before you take make your decisions?

Yeah, thank you.

Questions from Ms.

Walters or Bennett?

Just which one was the one that you wanted to held?

Avent ferry.

Gotcha.

Yes, uh Councilor Silver.

I don't have a question.

I do have a comment.

My understanding is it is uh the Chair's last meeting on March 10th.

Uh Nicole, I want to thank you for your six years of service on the Plan Commission.

Uh extremely professional, smart, insightful.

You come to meetings prepared.

Uh we will miss your leadership and as chair uh for at least about the year.

I just want to thank you for your contribution of making Raleigh a better place.

Uh and I just appreciate your leadership and professionalism on the Planning Commission and beyond.

So just wanted to personally thank you.

You will be missed.

But I do know you're moving on to another role at the Raleigh Housing Authority, and I'm sure they're going to be blessed by your presence and intelligence as well.

And I second that.

Thank you.

That's a unanimous yes.

You will have the pleasure of uh Chair Bennett's company one more time.

She will be here on the 17th to report out the town.

I'll repeat it again then.

Okay.

Counselor Patton.

Yeah.

Yes, agreed, Chair Bennett.

You'll be sorely missed and the city owes you a debt of gratitude.

Um but I would be remiss if I didn't let if we let you off the hook without answering for some of the conversations that might have been had at the last meeting.

Um I'm particularly interested in the split vote about the OX in um the Blind Street one.

Yes.

Can you speak to the conversation that was had there?

Sure.

We had a lot of conversation about that one.

Um thank you all for your comments.

Um came down to uh because the case was consistent with the comprehensive plan.

It it came down to whether or not we thought um there was extraordinary detriment or extraordinary public benefit.

Um those of us who voted recommended denial um were concerned about the impacts to the adjacent properties, particularly the shared um driveway.

Um there were some lots of concerns about noise and light.

There was lots of um discussion about conditions that might have an enforcement issue on the city's um part.

Um there was some discussion about whether or not um the applicant had coordinated with the community um sufficiently.

And the those of us who um wanted to recommend approval didn't disagree with any of that, but they didn't think the detriment rose to the level of extraordinary since the case had been determined consistent with the comprehensive plan.

So that was really the gist of the conversation.

Got it.

Okay.

And then so there were you were not left with an uh sense that there weren't any particular the conditions that that if offered would have changed the sentiment of the commissioners who voted against the.

I don't think so.

Okay.

Can I scope follow up?

Yep.

Um, because I know you you won't be here at the planning, I mean at a public hearing.

Could this have been a restaurant back right right now with this current zoning?

That's what the applicant told us.

That it could be a restaurant.

So the current use the current zoning here is office mixed use, which would not allow a restaurant outside of a mixed-use building as I understand it.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

Okay.

Other questions?

Just one other one, maybe for staff on the um hope one.

It's seems very strategically targeted to get a grocery store at some point in the process.

And um just haven't seen conditions that were quite so like use specific.

So I just want to make sure those are those are considered to be enforceable and allowable.

Yes.

The um that was a condition that the applicant voluntarily offered.

Uh we did work to try to adjust the language to help ensure that it would be enforceable.

Okay.

So with if there's no other conversation, I'm happy to um pull the avent ferry case out, bring that back as a special item to set the public hearing at the next meeting, and approve the remainder as recommended by staff.

Second.

Okay.

Any further discussion?

All in favor of the motion.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed, nay.

Great.

Thank you.

Okay.

Then that brings us to the report and recommendation of the city manager.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

Just one item today in our brief agenda, and that is a property acquisition at 313 East Martin Street.

We have Ken Bowers from Planning and Development here to walk you through that presentation.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

Here to give you a brief overview of a proposed acquisition of a strategic piece of property on the east side of Moore Square.

Overview is that this is a property has been a long time property under the ownership of the Hadley family.

In 2024, the Loden team, who at the time were uh had been selected as redevelopment partners for the city property Moore Square had negotiated an agreement to acquire the property with an option to do so within three years of the execution of the agreement.

That agreement was negotiated such that it could be assigned to the city.

Um which was uh fortuitous since Loden is out of the picture and now we have the opportunity to take over that option.

And staff is recommending that we exercise the option and purchase the property at the negotiated price of 3.4 million.

These are the terms of that option.

Uh the clock started ticking on March 11, 2024, which is we are here uh very close to the next uh milestone deadline.

Uh there are option payments that have been made already in years one and two.

Um and in year to continue it, you would either have to make the year three option payment or exercise the option.

The key uh thing at the bottom of this table is that if we do not uh exercise the option between now and March 11th, the price to do so will go up by 200,000.

So there is a uh monetary benefit to acting quickly.

And in terms of the benefit to the overall redevelopment prospects of uh Moore Square, the sort of orangey color is what the city currently owns.

The Hadley property is shown in blue, and you can see that um it takes a big bite out of what is potentially a very attractive assemblage of property on the east side of Moore Square and its inclusion uh would yield to would um facilitate much better development outcomes uh for the future redevelopment of this area.

So our next steps um we have been working with uh the market research firm, real estate consulting firm, Varsi Elco and their subconsultants architecture firm LS3P to market test some different development scenarios.

We would expand that work uh to include this additional property and look at positioning the east and south sites for a future solicitation.

We also are planning in the near term to re-release a request an RFI, which is a request for input, information, and interest um in these properties that would help inform that future solicitation.

And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Bowers.

Questions on this one?

Council Frank.

Oh yeah.

Um, I support this and definitely um believe we should move forward.

My question is um with us owning this property, is there a way for us to go and re subdivide or realign this because there's a lot of different parcels the way it looks.

And I think as we move forward with the RFI showing it as one whole property instead of multiple little properties may help make a draw a bit of a picture of it all being together.

Yes.

So what one of the um the key outcomes of the next steps of working with RCLCO and LS3P is to essentially figure out what's an efficient layout on the site, and then we could have the opportunity to recombine the property.

But until we do those physical test fits of building types on the site, we don't know where to draw the lines.

But once we have that determined, um that would allow us to do exactly what you are requesting, and uh which would be an excellent idea.

Okay.

All right.

And did you have a comment?

Yeah.

Um so just um just to kind of like draw this all out.

So there's been press recently that kind of says affordable housing is not happening.

But so just to kind of again draw it out.

If we if we purchase this and we move swiftly to purchase this, we own that whole block, and so our priority of bringing affordable housing to the core of downtown is more likely to be realized if we action this today.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Okay.

Yeah, and I just want to thank you for your work on this.

And I think you in anticipation of a of a positive vote.

Um I mean, this is an easy choice and to echo counselor patent.

And to echo counselor Patton, we are all for affordable housing here.

The city is moving forward with affordable housing downtown.

We will find a new partner, and I am excited now that we have this parcel that it will be even better than before.

So thank you.

All right.

Other commentary.

All right, we need a motion.

Move for approval approaches.

Is that a good enough?

I mean, okay I didn't know whether we need to say authorize the city manager to execute uh documents.

But yes.

Uh uh so move we had a motion and a second.

Okay.

All in favor, aye.

Aye.

All opposed, nay.

And that is unanimous.

Thanks.

And that concludes my report today.

All right.

Uh we next have report and recommendations of the various committees.

And uh we did have an amendment to the uh agenda for the Transportation and Transit Committee, which met um on Thursday, February 26th.

Yes, that's right.

Transportation and transit committee meeting uh met last week.

We heard um updates.

We heard some uh old and but also more elaborated information regarding the Six Works Road project and the just sort of road and traffic conditions that are present on the corridor today.

I think we got some interesting insights about where the actual pinch points are and where the most impactful improvements will be, um, although those are uh going to be outside of our sphere of control.

Um then we also got a sneak preview of the major investment study about North BRT, but that will be coming that information will be coming more fulsomely to the full council in the coming months.

And um so with all that said, we'll just report this out of committee with no action taken.

So moved.

Right.

Thank you.

Um do we need a second for that?

No.

The chair says it's out with no action.

We're good.

Okay, okay.

Thank you for chairing that and for the public input.

Okay.

Uh we'll do any and there's no more committee report, so we will start down here with Council Branch on the uh report of mayor and council.

I just want to thank all the residents who did their civic duty yesterday.

Um that's why we're here today on Wednesday for our meeting.

And um I look forward to us continuing to move the city forward.

That's all I have because I'm tired.

Yep.

Congratulations, uh, Councilor Branch.

And I have uh no further report.

On our report other than I want to thank both staff and my colleagues for enduring my training for the past uh 16 weeks.

Um my Saturday morning is going to be relatively free uh after completing that major race.

Uh so I just want to thank everyone for their support and well wishes.

Got back Monday and look forward to having a year off before I endeavor to run another marathon.

So thank you all.

Um wanted to lift up a couple good things from the consent agenda this week.

Um we authorized a contract for maintenance services along several um interchanges.

And so those that will include mowing, litter pickup, and debris removal, and like particular shout out, because um Mitchell Mill Road is included in that, and that is an area where I've gotten a lot of constituent feedback.

So they'll be glad to know about that.

Uh and we also authorize an interlocal agreement with the town of Wake Forest to make the um user experience more seamless so that you know we worry so you don't have to, is we want to make sure that when you call 911, it just needs to work, and that interlocal agreement will help ensure that happens.

Um so those are the two things I wanted to lift up and then one new item.

I wanted to ask if we could send a topic to committee to um economic development and innovation committee.

It's a sort of two-pronged energy question.

So one bucket is that I think there is some council interest in the city's energy use.

So how are we um managing and thinking about our energy use related to EAT uh AI?

Also, how is like the electrification of the fleet um shifting to energy use as opposed to fuel use?

Um how are we thinking about like impacts to moving into newer buildings that are lead certified and how that might impact our energy costs, et cetera.

So there's sort of the city's energy use bucket, and then a second bucket of this energy strategy question is around like data centers, how um peer cities are preparing for pressures of data centers in their um corporate limits, and then in our case, also how are we preparing our water policies to be responsive to data centers that might not be inside our corporate limits but on our water supply.

So are you asking for a committee item or a work session?

A committee committee item.

Unless I'm open to you nudging me differently.

I think that's probably work session would probably get to the better conversation to to respond to the questions that you've asked.

Okay.

Yeah.

A work session is fine with it.

Okay.

And then if something comes out of that work session, you can refer it to community.

But to initiate the conversation, staff has already started working on a lot of this, so it would be really helpful to have a work session.

Okay.

That's a fine tool for me too.

Okay.

No report other than to say if anyone wants to see a real marathon metal, it is in Metro Councilmember Silver's office.

I got to see it go through the metal detector upstairs.

And it was exciting.

So had opportunity to do a couple of proclamations.

One was for the In Living Color closing reception over at Dix, and that was a wonderful art installation.

And the folks were really, really excited about the partnership with the city and looking forward to working with us, I think again in the future, but it was a fantastic event, standing room only, and a lot of uh really good support for some of our local artists, which was incredible.

Um and then also Councilmember Branch and I attended a Black History program and we did a proclamation honoring Dr.

Brazil Robinson, who was a former president of St.

Augustine's College and or University, and is 105 years old, so he did not attend the event, but um got the proclamation and that was very well received.

I did buy one photo uh Counselor Fort from the Living in Color, which is going to be hanging in the office to support those artists.

So I agree it was uh amazing show with lots of great local talent.

Uh okay, so that concludes uh that.

We will go on to appointments.

Good afternoon.

Uh I did not participate in a marathon, uh, so that's my accomplishment.

Umly, no city council action necessary here.

As a reminder, your police advisory board has one slot designated uh to for an individual appointed by the police chief.

So uh term of existing member in that slot, Derek Hicks is expiring.

Um police chief Rika Boyce is has reappointed Mr.

Hicks for another term.

And then first on the ballot, uh bicycle and pedestrian advisory commission, one regular vacancy.

Uh Uija UGA Sway uh received eight votes, so would be appointed.

Planning commission, one regular vacancy, Trashana Sanchez received um and actually, I'm sorry, since Councilmember Jones is absent today, um is actually seven votes or six votes, I'm sorry, since her vote would not count today.

Planning commission, one regular vacancy, Trishana Sanchez received six votes, so would be appointed.

And then substance use advisory commission, one regular vacancy, council member Jones nominated Brooklyn Price.

Uh and then under nominations, no new announcements today.

Okay, thank you.

All right, report and recommendation of the city attorney.

Good afternoon, Mayor and members of council.

We're joined today by Jennifer Emu.

Rhabs with Nimu.

Nemo.

So I'm sorry, emo.

Jennifer is managing partner of advocacy for the Ferguson group and is a part of our federal advocacy team.

I'm going to turn it over to Jennifer.

Thank you, Karen.

She's like, all right, come on, emo.

I'm like, all right, McDonald, you got it easy.

Nobody's mispronouncing your name.

Uh Madam Mayor and members of the City Council.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to be here.

I really appreciate it.

Um wanted to give you an overview today about um the firm, um, the Ferguson group, uh uh sort of intro to your team and what to expect and working with a um you know federal advocate uh in Washington DC.

So just a little bit of background about the Ferguson group.

We've been around since 1982.

Um when Bill Ferguson created the um the Ferguson group, it was uh it was very specific that he wanted to uh uh create a place where we would represent local governments.

So look representing local governments is exactly what we do.

We have um we provide federal advocacy and grant services to over 200 entities in over 30 states, including cities, counties, towns, and other national organizations, um as well obviously um communities here in uh North Carolina.

We uh have a very robust grants division um since 20 uh sorry, since 2015, yes, our we've helped our clients uh secure six point five billion dollars in federal funding.

Um and then once um earmarks came back in fiscal year 2022, we've helped our clients uh secure over 350 million dollars in federal earmarked funding.

So this is your team.

Um again, uh Jennifer Emo.

I am the managing partner of advocacy at the firm.

I have been at TFG for 24 years now.

I am originally from Charlotte.

I went to UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad and Wake Forest for law school.

Um I practice law for a little bit in Charlotte and then um and then started up in uh DC in uh 2020.

I always say 2022, and that's absolutely false.

2002.

Um and really my focus has been representing communities in North Carolina.

It's um I feel like I'm doing you know public service work in the private sector, and um it really is a true honor.

Um the other team member, Zach Israel has been with us for over 10 years.

He's a principal at the firm.

Uh Jeff Burke has been with us a couple of years.

We got him off the hill.

He worked on the Senate um uh not for North Carolina Senator, he actually worked for independent uh Senator Angus King from Maine.

Um and then Dan Miglin is our grant specialist, and Dan actually lives in North Carolina.

Um I represent I've represented the town of Mooresville for the entire 24 years that I've been here.

Dan was the grant writer for the Mooresville Police Department.

He then started his own consulting company, and then I hired him to be part of our grants team.

So he's actually here in North Carolina.

So that's your team.

The one thing about TFG is we really do all work together.

So um, while these are your uh individual points of contact, you have access to the expertise of all of our um of all of our professionals.

Uh we've got folks that have specific expertise in water and natural resources, environmental work, uh, transportation, housing, et cetera.

So if there's ever an issue that one of us is not um you know fully informed on, we tap the expertise of our uh of our partners.

So what are we gonna do for the city?

We look at federal advocacy kind of in three different blocks.

Um it's legislative, regulatory, and funding, and I'll get into each one of those.

So legislative.

Of course, a lot of what happens at the federal level impacts you at the local level, and we want to make sure that your staff is aware of any issues that may impact the city of Raleigh.

Um we want to uh we provide regular reporting on these particular issues, and again, there's a lot of economies of scale here because we look at the you know legislative um process really through the lens of local government.

We are we are discerning what is going was happening you know at the federal level that may have that local impact.

So we're always looking at bills that are introduced that um could impact the city, and we want to make sure that you're aware of those and you have the opportunity to weigh in, either it's in you know it's favorably or in opposition.

Um so you know, one of the things we've already done, and and Mayor, you um uh highlighted this particular um issue, but there was a um there's a coalition of local government organizations that work to uh that included National League of Cities, U.S.

Conference of Mayors, NACO, et cetera, that um work together to um uh to draft and have introduced the Basics Act, which really are the um what local governments want and and planning organizations want in a transportation authorization bill.

Um we have a transportation authorization bill that needs to be reauthorized this year.

Um it obviously has the support of National League of Cities, Conference of Mayors.

We uh drafted a letter uh to Congresswoman Ross to make sure that she was aware of the bill and aware of the city's support.

So that's just an example of um, you know, just giving you the opportunity to weigh in.

There's broad.

That's one quick question.

Oh, yes, of course.

One of the thoughts is do we go to our uh weigh in to our entire North Carolina delegation versus just our local uh Congresswoman?

Uh how do you think about that?

Yeah, I typically try to steer people to stay within the districts that you know that represent them as well as obviously the Senate.

Um, it's it's fine to communicate that.

I just don't know how much it's paid attention to, to be perfectly honest with you.

Okay.

Yeah.

Um and if there were ever a time that we really needed to get um additional support from other members of Congress, I would say let's you know, sort of save that outreach for when we really need their help, right?

So I usually try to stick with the delegation and then you know make exceptions as needed.

Um there's broadband legislation that's passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that has um some significant federal preemption of local authority.

Um, you know, I what we've heard actually now is that that bill is probably not going anywhere.

Um, but it's important for you know your delegation to know that it's there and if it comes up, then you know what your uh position is on it.

Um we also uh can um uh draft or promote um legislation or amendments to legislation.

So if there is an issue um that it you know that would um you know necessitate literally a an act of Congress, um we can certainly work with you all to uh draft that legislation or an amendment to legislation to make sure that you are your your interest is um is protected there at the federal level.

So that's on the legislative front.

Um regulatory, also what happens with the federal agencies often impacts local governments.

So there's often um notices of proposed rulemaking, and um and so what we want to do is make sure that you're aware of the proposed rulemaking and then give you an opportunity to comment.

So a recent one was that the Treasury Department has um has released a proposed rule about developing a new reporting system for programs that run out of the Department of Treasury.

Well, that includes ARPA money, the state and local fiscal relief fund.

And the concern that a lot of the local government organizations have, like conference mayors in National League of Cities, is that what if they apply apply these new um reporting uh requirements retroactively to state and local fiscal relief fund reporting and what what impact might that have on the local level?

Well, there's a lot of um you know duplicative effort and um frankly just additional you know, administrative effort if it is uh it is applied retroactively.

So we give you the opportunity to comment on things like that.

Um then you know, if something does occur that is um uh problematic within the federal agencies, you know, we it it is good for your delegation to know.

Um they can't always do anything uh necessarily about it unless they're in the party of the agency, you know, if it's the same party, they may be able to sway some um uh decisions, but it is important for them to know how uh agency action is impacting you at the local level.

Okay, so that is legislative and regulatory.

Um the next is funding.

I mentioned um, you know, there's several ways to get uh uh federal funding down to the local level, as you all know.

Um there's um formula funds, there's competitive grant funds, and then of course there's also um the earmarking process.

Um so we uh offer the opportunity for you to participate in the appropriations process, whether it is ensuring significant funding for uh priority programs.

So for example, in the last um in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process, there were serious concerns about funding levels for CDBG and home.

And the uh president's budget request had um had actually uh uh either zeroed out or or significantly limited funds to those very important programs to local governments.

Uh fortunately Congress funded those programs um at at least level of funding, so um we sort of dodged a little bit there, but it is important for your folks to know which of these programs are you know of great importance to the city.

Um we also have individual earmark requests, so actually Congresswoman Ross's office is accepting uh project requests for earmarks.

Uh her deadline is actually this Friday.

Um so uh we've got um uh sort of template forms for uh projects if the um city decides to move forward on earmark requests.

Um and then of course uh we've got competitive grants.

Um and you know, Dan is our uh grants person on staff, but he really will sort of just run point on certain programs.

So that another question there.

Do you feel like the city of Raleigh that we have adequate grant writing capacity here or do you have observations on that?

Sorry, I went the wrong way.

I don't know how to get back.

Well, let me just do this.

Okay.

I don't know the answer.

Here we go.

Sorry about that.

So I'll let you know.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, whoever did that.

So I don't know the answer.

But I mean, I know that you all have been really successful in competitive grants, securing competitive grants in the past.

We just need to make sure that you're aware of all of the opportunities that avail themselves.

And you know, you've got grant writing capacity, I'm sure within, but we also have, you know, we can help with grant writing.

We basically, under the contract that we have, we do everything up to actually writing the grant.

We do review the grant, get congressional support, all of that as part of our contract.

But if we were to add specific grant writing, um we could do that as a separate task order.

We also have grant administration capabilities, so that could be done as well.

Do you and again I have I have no reason to think that the city of Raleigh hasn't been successful or you know done everything we need to do here, but how would a city council know that we're being aggressive enough and you know taking enough shots at basket to actually get revenue and how how we're doing against our peers.

That that's a great question, and that's something as we um sort of as we're working to to develop the relationship and we kind of get a little bit more in the weeds.

Um we actually have the capability to look at how you are all are faring um with respect to federal grant funds compared to communities of of like size.

So we're just we that's something that we can do.

We just we we haven't really gotten there yet.

Yeah.

Um so just for your information too, um uh communications is is a is a big part of what makes federal advocacy successful.

Um we provide weekly uh reports to your staff and weekly and bi-weekly reports.

We also do TFG special reports.

Um, like for example, one of our most recent special reports was a review of the uh the project account or the accounts that are open to earmarking for fiscal year 2027.

Um legislative and regulatory updates.

I'm actually finalizing a memo today.

The um there's really significant bipartisan housing legislation in both the House and Senate.

And um and so we actually have a review of what's included in the House bill that's already passed, and this the Senate bill that was um the new text was just released earlier this week.

So we want to make sure that you're aware of what's included in those bills, and as we um see what works and maybe what doesn't work, we want to communicate that also to your delegation.

So that should come out pretty soon.

Um and then just so you all know we have biweekly calls with our local points of contact um within the city attorney's office, Karen and Brandon um join my team um uh every other week for a call and just update on what's happening here and um and what's happening at the federal level.

Um so what is next?

So tomorrow I'm meeting with your management team and department heads to discuss priorities for your uh 2026 federal agenda.

Uh basically what this federal agenda is is it's uh it's an overview of what your local uh priorities are, and it is a it's a process of developing this agenda, um, which you will have a part of.

Um we try to kind of start at the department level and work our way up to make sure that we capture everything that is um that's happening at the local level that we could be helpful with at the federal level.

Um so um meeting with them um uh tomorrow, and then um I'm sure we will have some follow-up meetings.

We'll finalize our draft for your review and approval.

Um we real we're working to try to identify some projects to submit in this uh appropriations process.

And then what that federal agenda is is it's it's really our work plan for the coming year.

Um that we understand that we can't always uh anticipate what's gonna happen at the federal level.

So just because something's not on the federal agenda doesn't mean that it isn't something that we can work on.

Again, that's just kind of our blueprint, our work plan.

Um also I did want to add that um I work with a lot of communities that have um uh in North Carolina that have state lobbyists, and what we have found is a great sort of connectivity because a lot of times when we're sort of in project development discussions, right, for at the local level, um what has legs at the state level may not at the federal level and vice versa.

So you really are covering all of your bases by uh exploring opportunities at both the state and federal level because those are often not duplicative, right?

They are complementary.

So that's always um a good thing.

Uh want to maximize your success.

So this is my um contact information.

I'm happy to add anything, ask any questions.

Um, Karen, if you there was anything that you wanted to add.

I mean one counselor.

Well, I had two questions you answered my first with the next steps about the priority list.

Uh I was intrigued about the earmarks.

I was on the assumption that that is no longer a possibility.

You're saying that earmarks are now, I don't know if it's called something different, back on the table.

They're back.

Okay.

They're back.

They um came back in fiscal year 2022.

Um the and yes, they're and they're called something different in the House and Senate.

So I don't say it's community project funding in the House, congressionally directed spending in the Senate, but it's all just an earmark.

My question is just do you it's sort of guidance from from you and um city attorney's office on our level of activity and interaction with federal government.

I mean, last year I went up with an assistant city manager to lobby on transportation.

We met with all our as much of our delegation as we could, uh, which was actually quite uh and you know, when we were there, there was a lunch to interact.

I mean, so sort of what is an ideal cadence of interactions, both weighing in on executive branch, um, actively pursuing our legislative agenda, meeting with our uh members of our delegation, attending things, you know, or at a U.S.

conference of mayors trying to leverage these opportunities because anyway, uh any guidance y'all can give us to what is an ideal uh engagement look like, uh, that would be helpful.

And well, and I appreciate that's a great question because it brings up another thing that I'm gonna talk to um the team about tomorrow, but just for you all to be aware too.

So the basics act is a perfect example.

So I think you got that information from the Tom Cochran with the US conference mayors, right?

So US conference mayors, um, National League of Cities do an incredible job of monitoring these things, these you know, legislative activities and um and doing like sort of calls for action.

Um it is so important for you to communicate exactly how this like what seems like a national issue impacts this city, right?

Your your members of Congress need to understand how that really impacts their constituents.

So the so that communication is important, and a lot of that is by email at a staff level, frankly.

Now there are certain things that uh there's there will be appropriate times, I think, for you to come to Washington.

It's always it's good when you have a very specific ask, right?

So, like if you went and had talked about your specific transportation priorities, you know, maybe you went to DOT and and you know, whomever at DOT and also talked with the you know, right committees, et cetera.

Like that can all um that's all uh very important to do.

Um I like having um an opportunity to sort of walk the halls with folks and um especially like presenting the federal agenda so that your um members of Congress understand what your priorities are and sort of talking through those and then as needed come up on a specific issue.

Um when you're in DC, you know, if you ever need support, we're there.

Um, just so you know too, when you do hill meetings and agency meetings, we take care of all those logistics, um, provide talking points, leave behind all that good stuff.

So we try to make it as easy for you guys as possible.

No, that concludes my report.

Okay.

Uh, first off, the uh draft minutes for the February sixteenth budget work session and the February seventeenth regular session were included in your agenda materials.

Move for approval.

All in favor of the motion, aye.

All opposed, nay.

Uh, the results of the upset bid process for the disposition of a city owned parcel have concluded after five months.

So uh Council on September sixteenth, twenty twenty-five, council authorized a disposition of the parcel at eighty-nine eight eighty-nine nineteen hunting trail, declared it as surplus and off authorized it to be disposed of via the upset bid process that is finally concluded after multiple rounds of bids.

So staff is asking today for council to accept the bid and authorize the appropriate city officials and staff to execute all the documentation necessary to convey the property subject to review by the city attorney and city manager.

Second.

All opposed, nay, and that is unanimous.

Thank you.

That's all I have.

So moved.

Second.

All in favor of that motion, aye.

All opposed, nay.

And we are in to close session.

Okay.

Uh, the council met in closed session, and uh there is nothing to report out, and we are adjourned.