Raleigh City Council Meeting – June 16, 2026: Proclamations, Zoning, Affordable Housing, and Water Restrictions
Raleigh City Council Meeting – June 16, 2026
This regular meeting of the Raleigh City Council took place on June 16, 2026, and included a proclamation for National Waste and Recycling Workers Week, public comments on children's rights, redevelopment, and housing conditions, and action on multiple rezoning, annexation, and affordable housing items. The council also received updates on Sister Cities, water restrictions, and transit performance.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved with no items pulled.
- Meeting minutes from earlier in June were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mamakai Sanders cited Governor Stein's Whole Child Health and Well-Being Month proclamation, providing statistics: 63% of NC children experience health problems; only 37% of 3–5 year olds are ready for school; 41% of fourth graders read at grade level; NC ranks 32nd in the 2026 Kids Count data book. She urged council to consider the impact of city policies on children.
- Wisdom (child) described being told to leave his non-electric kick scooter outside city buildings, while his mother's cart was allowed. He stated he felt disrespected by security and staff, and requested better training on respecting children.
- Jason Cross expressed interest in serving on the Planning Commission, Design Review Committee, or Board of Adjustment, noting his background as a town planner.
- Octavia Rainey called for a reevaluation of redevelopment areas, stating that infill development has produced $500,000+ homes in areas originally torn down for redevelopment, with no affordable housing. She said she is taking concerns to a meeting with the Black Caucus in DC.
- Athena Wallen advocated for protecting creeks and natural ecosystems, warning that development up to easements, tree removal, and impervious surfaces harm water quality and wildlife. She urged immediate attention to riparian buffers.
- Nikki W. described unsafe conditions at The Studios at 2800 (Junction Point COS), stating she was served an eviction notice after speaking publicly. She said she was placed in a unit between drug dealers and faced smoke and safety issues. She called for accountability and noted that she was told to return to shelters she had left.
Discussion Items
- Sister Cities Update (Symmetria Jones, Mary Claire Freeman, Minu Lee): Staff proposed four recommendations: modify affiliation process, adopt criteria for new partnerships, evaluate current five partnerships, and establish a Sister City Board Commission. The organization also requested approval of a work plan and formalization of a partnership with Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea. Council debate focused on the board commission recommendation; some members preferred to separate that item. A motion to approve the work plan, adopt Gangseo as the next sister city, and adopt all recommendations except the board commission (which was removed as a friendly amendment) passed 5–3.
- East Cabarrus Redevelopment Affordable Housing (Pat Dawson): Local Post selected to develop 28 affordable units on city-owned sites, with units at 60% AMI or below. Total city subsidy of $1,239,762. Council unanimously authorized conditional commitment, budget transfer, and a 75-year ground lease.
- Water Restrictions Update (City Manager): Stage 1 restrictions were issued April 20; May compliance was good, but June usage is trending above limits. If non-irrigation day use continues to exceed targets, staff will ask the council on July 7 for authority to move to Stage 2 (which prohibits hand watering). Staff noted that some neighboring communities have already enacted Stage 2.
- Raleigh Transit Authority Annual Report (Jen Truman): The FY26 report showed a 42% ridership increase (1 million more trips than 2019), 137 miles of frequent service, and recognition as the #2 mid-size transit agency by APTA. The FY27 work plan includes safety, policy reviews, and performance monitoring. Council approved the report and work plan unanimously.
- Raleigh Convention Center Naming Rights (Mara Kraft): A 15-year agreement with Atlantic Union Bank worth approximately $9 million. The bank has branches in Raleigh and plans more. Council approved unanimously.
- TEFRA Hearing – Briar Creek Apartments (Scott Brimer, Kristen Kirby): A 291-unit 100% affordable project at 60% and 80% AMI financed with tax-exempt bonds. The city has no financial obligation. Council gave the required approval unanimously.
- Street Name Change: The portion of Church at North Hill Street will become The Bridge at North Hill Street, effective Dec. 31, 2026.
- Public Nuisance Abatements: Three properties (1316 Carp Road, 2351 Maybrook, 227 South Person Street) had nuisance abatement liens confirmed. Unanimous approval.
- Annexations: Four parcels were annexed: 204 Chatterson Drive (AX 826), 3027 Rock Quarry Road (AX 1026), and 69/69.50 Blue Run Lane (AX 1126) – all with effective date June 16, 2026, and approved unanimously.
- Rezoning – 319 Hex Street (Z 3925): Continued from May 19. Applicant revised conditions but later requested deferral to August 18 to address height/setback questions. Council granted deferral with 4 minutes of public comment per side upon return.
- Annexation & Rezoning – Jones Ridge Trail (AX 3725 & Z 4425): Requested deferral to July 7 to add conditions for fire department contribution and tree planting. Council agreed.
- Rezoning – UNC Rex Hospital (Z 4825): Campus master plan rezoning on 60+ acres; reduces maximum entitlement from 24 million to 9.7 million sq ft, with heights ranging from 7 to 20 stories. First projects: heart and vascular tower and central energy plant. Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning – West Jones & Glenwood (Z 326): Two parcels rezoned from OX-3 to DX-20 to complete an assemblage. Removes North Boylan NCOD. Planning Commission recommended 8–2. Council approved unanimously, deeming it an amendment to the future land use map.
- Rezoning – New Bern Avenue Assemblage (Z 526): Multiple motions were required. Motion 1 (1313 New Bern – Richard B. Harrison Library): Denied unanimously (current zoning allows up to 3 stories + TOD bonus). Motion 2 (325 East Edenton Street): Denied 5–3. Motion 3 (Remaining HOD properties: 307 and 311 East Edenton, 100 North Person, 15 South Bloodworth): Motion to deny failed (5 nays), then a motion to approve passed 7–1. Motion 4 (All remaining parcels not previously addressed): Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of consent agenda, meeting minutes, and numerous routine items.
- Sister City partnership with Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea, approved (5-3).
- Affordable housing project at East Cabarrus Street authorized with $1.24 million city subsidy.
- Water restrictions: Council will consider Stage 2 authority at the July 7 meeting.
- Raleigh Transit Authority FY27 work plan approved.
- Convention Center naming rights agreement with Atlantic Union Bank approved.
- TEFRA approval for Briar Creek Apartments.
- Multiple rezonings approved, with specific denials for Richard B. Harrison Library and 325 East Edenton.
- Deferrals granted for 319 Hex Street (to Aug. 18) and Jones Ridge Trail annexation/rezoning (to July 7).
- Council will explore a civility policy and report on urban renewal areas.
- Closed session held for an honorary award; nothing to report.
Meeting Transcript
Well, we'll do it. Well, we're not going to be able to do it. It starts now. Okay, welcome to the uh city council meeting and uh Councilor Brandt, can I ask you to help lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I'd like to ask uh Miss Gupta, the director of Solid Waste Services to come up. We have a proclamation to honor our solid waste services. Anything that you want to say before we kind of share some of the proclamation language. Well, thank you all for the work you do every day and also for coming here today. Um we just I think the entire council and city staff want to thank you for everything you do to keep our city clean, safe, um, the times on the whole East Coast with some of life, and I'm glad that over the practices and we've modernized, I remember what the solid waste services back when I was on council the professionalism you have, obviously, new director now, but just appreciate what you're doing. And we have a proclamation here, which I will uh present to the director, but um I will just read part of this, but it's uh the National Waste and Recycling Workers' Week is an opportunity for us to express gratitude for your hard work and commitment to support health safety and well-being every single day. We recognize the contributions of all of you who serve with integrity, um, work as a team and are your dedication to public service. Um so now, therefore, do I, Janet Cowell, mayor of the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, hereby proclaim June 15th through June 20th as National Waste and Recycling Workers Week. Can we grab a good point again? Sorry, I can all come up now. All right, uh, we have the consent agenda, and there were no items pulled. Uh, do we have a motion to approve that? So moved. Second. All in favor of that motion, aye. All opposed, nay. And that passes. Uh, and next we have public comment. And we've got uh six people signed up today, three minutes each. And the first is Mamakai Sanders. Good afternoon, y'all. It's another amazing day in paradise. Um, thank you for your attendance and listening today. Last May or June, I spoke about the decade of the child initiative. You also received a call from Dr. Dean Dean Diana Fishbine, a colleague of mine and a friend to both wisdom and I, who we refer to as Denny. We first met, um, we first met when Dr. Mary Haskett connected us, and she invited me to speak at the nation at the statewide leveraging North Carolina's assets to prevent child trauma conference. She co-hosted in April of 2023. Thank you, Megan, for inviting her to a conversation. I'm reminding you of this because at the beginning of this month, Governor Stein signed a proclamation declaring the month of June, whole child health and well-being month. I'd like to quote a few statements from it. Governor Stein starts with, whereas North Carolina's children are our greatest natural resource, it must be our state's priority and state's top priority in civic goals and public policies. A couple of paragraphs down, he provides some statistics. Sixty-three percent of North Carolina children experience physical, mental, and or social health problems and risks that threaten their daily functioning, development, and lifelong health. Only 37% of North Carolina's children ages three to five are on track, healthy and ready to start school. Only 41% of North Carolina fourth graders read at or above grade level. One in five North Carolina children have endured two to three adverse childhood experiences or ACEs, and one in ten have endured more than five, which can have lasting negative impacts on health, well-being, and development. FYI, as a state, as a state, we rank 32nd. In the 2026 Kids Count data book. Then the final paragraph states, whereas a roadmap provided by the Decade of the Child Initiative, crucial information based on the knowledge that early childhood experiences change our brains, change our brains in ways that make us more or less vulnerable to health pop health problems is available to guide North Carolina policymakers and the public to strengthen supports and increase the prevalence of positive and protective conditions for every child to be healthy and thrive. Then he commends the observance to all North Carolinians. Denny has been busy, y'all, because she recognizes that not that not all adverse childhood experiences happen at home. It's truly unfortunate you didn't provide any recognition a year ago. Now, while you might be thinking you're not responsible for creating and implementing policies that affect children, the way the city is developing does impact them, and so does the lack of emotional intelligence and social and emotional learning among some staff members coupled with outdated and oppressive policies throughout the city.
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