OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council FY2027 Budget Work Session - June 1, 2026

City CouncilMonday, June 1, 2026
BodyRaleigh, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, June 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:44
Transcript — Verbatim
10:07

Are we Sadia Satar?

10:10

Is she yes?

10:12

Somebody.

10:13

You get you get me today.

10:14

Okay.

10:14

Nick Sadler budget management services.

10:17

We are happy that we are at the first budget work session for the FY 2027 budget.

10:24

We've got a couple of or three budget notes that we want to um share with you.

10:30

These budget notes were requested over the past year.

10:34

The first one is from Councilmember Melton, wanting us to bring information back on a permanent band stage and public art at City Plaza.

10:44

The second one came from Councilmember Harrison asking about the urban tree projects in parks, recreation, and cultural resources.

10:53

And then finally, three of you at the April 6th budget work session asked three separate questions that you wanted us to do some follow-up on solid waste services.

11:03

So we're going to go through those budget notes.

11:04

We also have staff here from those various departments that can answer deeper questions if there are any.

11:12

So first with the band stage, um, there was a very detailed memo that was in your agenda packet that went through the different designs for the band stage as well as the art the public art that is being um that was being shared there.

11:28

Essentially, we're looking at a range of two million if we are going with the permanent uncovered stage at the 1.85 with the low-level art to 3.6 million for a more permanent covered stage at 2.85 million with the highest level of public art.

11:45

So there is um some mixing and matching there that if you decide to move forward with this that you can you can do.

11:52

Um at this time, um obviously this was not included in the FY 2027 capital improvement plan.

12:00

So if um council wishes, we can re-prioritize, you can reprioritize the capital projects that are proposed.

12:09

Um adjust revenue to pay for this depending on what you would like, or we can include this in consideration um for funding in the FY 2028 capital budget.

12:21

Happy to answer any questions that I can.

12:23

Councilor Lambert Melton.

12:25

Sure, I just want to provide thank you very much.

12:26

I want to provide a little additional context.

12:28

This was not a specific request from me.

12:31

I personally do not have a heightened interest or disinterest in a bandstand.

12:35

This did come from the economic development innovation committee.

12:38

It was part of the public realm study and recommendations and an ongoing discussion we were having with the downtown Raleigh Alliance and just general discussion around what improvements should we make to the Fayetteville Street corridor, and one of the um discussions we had that kept sort of rising to the top was a bandstand in city plaza area to sort of activate that space, and and we had referred it out of committee with a recommendation that we seek a budget note, so that's where we landed here.

13:09

Um it has been some months since we've had that conversation, and I really haven't heard much about the bandstand since then.

13:16

I'm I'm assuming it is still a priority for downtown Raleigh Alliance.

13:20

Um, and so this is where we landed.

13:22

Um, I I don't know what it would seem we would want the covered stage, I would think, because I think the point was for it to also double as seating for our folks that are out there eating lunch and visiting at the convention center and whatnot.

13:38

And so that's obviously bumping us into the more expensive option.

13:41

So I guess it's just we got to figure out if we're gonna prioritize it and how we're gonna pay for it.

13:47

Councillor Potton.

13:48

Yeah, hi, thanks.

13:49

Um, I'll say for my colleagues, I think my instinct, and we we can discuss more is to ask us to be programmed into the 28 fiscal year budget rather than asking for a reprogramming of this budget that's um almost speaked.

14:04

So that's kind of where I'm at now.

14:06

Council branch.

13:59

Yeah, I would agree about physical year to an A, but I have a couple questions that can hopefully help direct that.

14:14

My first question is who would program this?

14:17

Like who would maintain how would it operate?

14:23

So Councilmember Limbert Melton may talk a little bit about what was discussed in the committee.

14:28

However, I think from ours from a programming perspective, it would be a shared responsibility and a joint partnership between us and DRA to kind of make sure that number one, we're not competing and conflicting with anything that any events that we have programmed as part of our lineup each year, and then two that we're not competing with anything that Beale King has set aside for DRA.

14:49

So I would think it would be a partnership.

14:51

Jonathan, did you all get that far into conversation in the committee?

14:55

Yeah, I mean, we talked about um in an ongoing effort to provide more flexibility in that area.

15:01

First, it would serve as a day-to-day function.

15:04

People can just use it, they can eat lunch there, they can work from there, and then the second part is these things like the live after fives or the sort of pop-up.

15:13

I think that they want to be able to do more programming there once we have the option, and so I think it would really function like we're seeing right now with these events.

15:22

Some of that are happening in Moore Square, and then some that do happen on Favel Street, but they have to bring in obviously a stage and everything.

15:28

Okay.

15:29

So with that and how to fill in this where it was going to go, I would say definitely let's move this to fiscal year 28 budget, but also look at partnerships and possibly sponsorships.

15:39

Yeah, that can help offset some of the costs into this as well.

15:44

Um, so that would be my um direction that I would give.

15:48

And could can I add one thing?

15:49

Yep.

15:50

We we didn't talk about the second option, the public art.

15:52

We have those two pedestals that are on Favel Street right now at City Plaza.

15:56

It's called City Flat.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation████████████████████████████████████████40%
Arts And Culture███████████████████████23%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████19%
Economic Development█████5%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council FY2027 Budget Work Session - June 1, 2026

The Raleigh City Council held a budget work session on June 1, 2026, to discuss three budget notes: a permanent band stage and public art at City Plaza, the urban tree canopy (Leaf Out) program, and solid waste services. Staff presented cost ranges, funding options, and comparative data. Council members debated priorities and funding mechanisms, with decisions deferred on some items pending further detail.

Discussion Items

1. Permanent Band Stage and Public Art at City Plaza

  • Staff Presentation: Options range from $2 million for a permanent uncovered stage with low-level art ($1.85M for stage, $150K for art) to $3.6 million for a covered stage with high-level public art ($2.85M for stage, $500K for art).
  • Councilmember Lambert Melton clarified that the request originated from the Economic Development Innovation Committee, not personally, and noted the Downtown Raleigh Alliance's interest. He suggested a covered stage for dual use as seating.
  • Councilor Potton favored programming the item into the FY2028 budget rather than reprogramming the current budget.
  • Council Branch agreed with FY2028 and asked about partnerships and sponsorships to offset costs. She also supported moving forward with public art sooner, possibly funded from FY26 fund balance.
  • Sarah Powers (Office of Raleigh Arts) explained the history of empty pedestals and the limitations of loaned art. Options for public art range from pre-made structures ($150K) to custom interactive installations ($500K).
  • Council consensus: Defer the band stage to FY2028; direct staff to return in fall 2026 with more detailed public art options and a funding mechanism.

2. Urban Tree Canopy (Leaf Out Program)

  • Staff Presentation: The Leaf Out program, aimed at planting 24,000 trees by 2032, has a first-year cost of $650,000. The city manager's recommended budget did not include funding. A $1 million state grant is approved but not yet finalized; it can only be used in certain census blocks and has three buckets: tree care, removal, and planting.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Harrison stressed the need for dedicated staff and immediate funding. He made a motion to fund the $650,000 for FY2027.
  • Councilor Patton seconded the motion but preferred funding without raising taxes, suggesting cuts elsewhere.
  • Councilor Lambert Melton opposed a tax increase and was unwilling to vote without a clear funding source.
  • Councilor Ford agreed, noting lack of funding plan.
  • Council Branch asked about a $500,000 capital budget item for urban tree canopy improvements, which staff clarified is separate (CIP) and could be leveraged.
  • City Manager proposed bringing back detailed options for funding at the next work session (June 8), using the grant, CIP funds, and departmental budget adjustments.
  • Outcome: Mayor Pro Tem Harrison withdrew his motion. Council directed staff to return on June 8 with specific funding sources and a breakdown of the grant's impact.

3. Solid Waste Services

  • Staff Presentation: Provided a list of comparable services from other NC cities, a 10-year rate history showing gradual increases (intentional to avoid spikes), and the split of general fund vs. user fees. Raleigh funds 99% of solid waste via user fees; other cities range from 17% to 99.7%.
  • Councilor Silver asked about compost programs; staff noted Cary has a food collection service through Compost Now, wrapped into fees, but promised further detail.
  • No action taken; information was for council reference.

Key Outcomes

  • Band Stage: Deferred to FY2028 budget; public art options to be revisited in fall 2026.
  • Leaf Out Program: Motion withdrawn; staff to present funding options at the next budget work session on June 8, 2026.
  • Solid Waste: Information received; staff to follow up on compost program comparisons.
  • Next Steps: Public hearing on FY2027 budget on June 2, 2026; budget adoption deadline June 30, 2026; additional work sessions each Monday in June.

Meeting Transcript

Are we Sadia Satar? Is she yes? Somebody. You get you get me today. Okay. Nick Sadler budget management services. We are happy that we are at the first budget work session for the FY 2027 budget. We've got a couple of or three budget notes that we want to um share with you. These budget notes were requested over the past year. The first one is from Councilmember Melton, wanting us to bring information back on a permanent band stage and public art at City Plaza. The second one came from Councilmember Harrison asking about the urban tree projects in parks, recreation, and cultural resources. And then finally, three of you at the April 6th budget work session asked three separate questions that you wanted us to do some follow-up on solid waste services. So we're going to go through those budget notes. We also have staff here from those various departments that can answer deeper questions if there are any. So first with the band stage, um, there was a very detailed memo that was in your agenda packet that went through the different designs for the band stage as well as the art the public art that is being um that was being shared there. Essentially, we're looking at a range of two million if we are going with the permanent uncovered stage at the 1.85 with the low-level art to 3.6 million for a more permanent covered stage at 2.85 million with the highest level of public art. So there is um some mixing and matching there that if you decide to move forward with this that you can you can do. Um at this time, um obviously this was not included in the FY 2027 capital improvement plan. So if um council wishes, we can re-prioritize, you can reprioritize the capital projects that are proposed. Um adjust revenue to pay for this depending on what you would like, or we can include this in consideration um for funding in the FY 2028 capital budget. Happy to answer any questions that I can. Councilor Lambert Melton. Sure, I just want to provide thank you very much. I want to provide a little additional context. This was not a specific request from me. I personally do not have a heightened interest or disinterest in a bandstand. This did come from the economic development innovation committee. It was part of the public realm study and recommendations and an ongoing discussion we were having with the downtown Raleigh Alliance and just general discussion around what improvements should we make to the Fayetteville Street corridor, and one of the um discussions we had that kept sort of rising to the top was a bandstand in city plaza area to sort of activate that space, and and we had referred it out of committee with a recommendation that we seek a budget note, so that's where we landed here. Um it has been some months since we've had that conversation, and I really haven't heard much about the bandstand since then. I'm I'm assuming it is still a priority for downtown Raleigh Alliance. Um, and so this is where we landed. Um, I I don't know what it would seem we would want the covered stage, I would think, because I think the point was for it to also double as seating for our folks that are out there eating lunch and visiting at the convention center and whatnot. And so that's obviously bumping us into the more expensive option. So I guess it's just we got to figure out if we're gonna prioritize it and how we're gonna pay for it. Councillor Potton. Yeah, hi, thanks. Um, I'll say for my colleagues, I think my instinct, and we we can discuss more is to ask us to be programmed into the 28 fiscal year budget rather than asking for a reprogramming of this budget that's um almost speaked. So that's kind of where I'm at now. Council branch. Yeah, I would agree about physical year to an A, but I have a couple questions that can hopefully help direct that. My first question is who would program this? Like who would maintain how would it operate? So Councilmember Limbert Melton may talk a little bit about what was discussed in the committee. However, I think from ours from a programming perspective, it would be a shared responsibility and a joint partnership between us and DRA to kind of make sure that number one, we're not competing and conflicting with anything that any events that we have programmed as part of our lineup each year, and then two that we're not competing with anything that Beale King has set aside for DRA. So I would think it would be a partnership. Jonathan, did you all get that far into conversation in the committee? Yeah, I mean, we talked about um in an ongoing effort to provide more flexibility in that area. First, it would serve as a day-to-day function. People can just use it, they can eat lunch there, they can work from there, and then the second part is these things like the live after fives or the sort of pop-up. I think that they want to be able to do more programming there once we have the option, and so I think it would really function like we're seeing right now with these events.

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