The meeting opened with a ceremonial presentation of the Stanley Cup by Brian Fork, CEO of Carolina Hurricanes Holdings, who thanked the city for its long‑standing support. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the council addressed a pulled consent‑agenda item, received reports from the Planning Commission and City Manager, conducted public hearings on two rezoning cases, heard council member reports, and approved routine items.
The Stanley Cup winning Carolina Hurricanes. And we have Brian Fork here, the Chief Executive Officer of Carolina Hurricanes Holdings. If he just wants to say a few words, and we really appreciate you, Brian, coming to City Hall, allowing all of us to get up close and personal with the cup. Going back 30 years, it was this body that had the vision to step up and say we want to bring an NHL team to Raleigh, which was not as obvious of an idea as it is right now. And so we want to thank that crew from this body that did that. But then going back as recently as two and a half years ago and all along the way, you all in particular are stepping up and reinvesting and doubling down on having the hurricanes here, the arena that we play in, and giving us the opportunity to do these things, and then our ownership being able to partner with the city and say we want to do this and we want to do this for the long term. And if not for the vision of this body 30 years ago, and you all stepping up and having that vision to continue to believe two and a half, three years ago, we wouldn't be here doing this. And that's why I think the the watch parties that we had during the finals when the team was on the road and we've got 18,000 people in the arena, 12,000 people outside watching on a screen, red hats full, watch parties all around, and then 200,000 people showing up together at the parade downtown. Like what's that happened because what's special about this is yeah, we have an amazing hockey team that got it done and amazing staff, but that doesn't happen without the city and city councils for the last 30 years, the county, the county commission, the state, the hundreds of thousands of fans that we have that invest in the team on their own, our business partners. So this really doesn't happen without you guys. It doesn't happen without our community. It really is our community's championship, the city, the county, the state's championship. And so I just we're excited to be able to take it around town and the county and and let everybody see it because it is the collective win for all of us. So thank you very much. Obviously, worked and uh uh as an attorney and uh worked in the General Assembly, um, understands uh the politics of our state as well, and now is doing important work at Lenovo Center with this major renovation, uh you know, the concerts, and of course uh the hurricane season, which starts September twenty-ninth again. And uh so we just appreciate you. I do have a letter just uh uh of appreciation for you and everything you're doing for the city of Raleigh and the state of North Carolina, and then um would love if we could get a photo. Diving for the photo. Uh no. I'll come down here. Put them in the middle yard. Yeah, this is coming out a little bit. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Do we need I know the uh the couple exit the chamber, so do we need to pause for a moment while they the handlers come in? Okay, well, that is the handler right there. Other duties as assigned. All right. Well, uh, next we have the Pledge of Allegiance. Um Council Branch, if I can ask you to the United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Uh next, uh, we had one item pulled from the consent agenda by Councillor Silver on uh CiveB, I believe it was, right? Um does is there a motion on the remainder? Say. All in favor, aye. All opposed, nay. Okay. And then do we want to take up that item? Yes. Uh I appreciate staff of supplying a response. I know this is uh in terms of specifically, we understand the needs of Lake Wheeler. We understand that there was some additional work required by Department of Environmental Uh Quality. The concern that I have is that there is a transfer of five million dollars that's going from a project that money went from six forks into this project, and now uh some of the money from the old Wake Forest Road widening in particular is now being moved uh to the Lake Wheeler project. Uh I guess from my con the constituents who are very concerned about the traffic issues in that area. We've had many members of the public coming here. Just want to understand in terms of that five million. I understand the project for Wake F uh for Olwick Forest and Road may be moving forward at early 2027.