 good evening, we'd like to call the Dash Council meeting to order Monday, October 16. And certainly want to welcome all of you that are in tennis with us this evening. If we could just take a moment for solid meditation, please. Thank you. I would ask councillor Brown to lead us into pledge as a clerk issue called, role, please. Mayor Bell present Mayor pro tem Cole McFadden. Council member Brown Council member councilmember David's councilmember Moffatt. Councilmember sure. This evening we have the distinct pleasure. Of recognizing one of our colleagues. Councilman Steve sure. And I would ask Miss Mary Henderson. Chair of the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association that she would join me. She's president. Okay let's go. Steve, do you mind joining us? Thank you mayor and good evening to everyone. I was honored to present our distinguished legislator award to councilmember Steve Shull in Wilmington recently at our annual North Carolina Parks Recreation and Cultural Resources Association annual conference. And this award recognizes an elected official of a federal, state, county or municipal government body. Who has demonstrated outstanding contribution to the general field of recreation and parks on a national, regional and or local level. And councilmember Shull was selected for this award because of the passion for open space and recreation that he has demonstrated during his tenure serving on the Durham City Council. And most notably councilmember Shull's efforts were instrumental in the recent approval and the inclusion of a one half penny tax in the city budget to address deferred maintenance of the city's parks and greenways. And of course I understand that it was a unanimous vote and that the entire council should be commended for that vote. So thank you very much for your support of parks and recreation. Councilmember Shull has also coached you soccer for over 20 years, some of you may not know that and championed the community trail watch program. He is a regular user of the trails and is even known to challenge staff and citizens alike to join him for runs. He serves as a city council representative to the open space and trails committee. Currently councilman Shull is working with city and business leadership to raise funds to develop a trails to trails project that would link several neighborhoods to downtown and other trails. He is an active representative to the recreation advisory commission that I just understand you call RAC. Attends special events and was a visible supporter during this Rhonda's department's successful CAPRA visitation for national re accreditation in 2013. So before I ask councilmember Shull to come forward and we represent this award and I'm so happy to be able to recognize him tonight. I would like to recognize a few other folks I think who have been instrumental with parks and recreation in the city of Durham. I'd like to represent to recognize RAC, our recreation advisory board and committee and I think some of you are here if you could stand and be recognized. Thank you so much. And as you know and many of you know that these citizen board members volunteer their time. They tirelessly work for the committee and for the citizens representing them and working toward improving their lives through parks and recreation service. So thank you very much and this group, our citizen board members are an integral and important part of our North Carolina Parks and Recreation Association so thank you so much for what you do. I'd also of course be remiss if I didn't mention and commend Rhonda Parker and her staff in the city of Durham Parks and Recreation Department for the fabulous job that they are doing and you know they work every single day for the citizens to improve their lives and to bring better quality of life to Durham so I commend them for the work that they've done. In fact I've seen Rhonda at a few conferences recently and each one of those she and her staff are wearing out the carpet to accept awards for the great work that they are doing here in Durham. Also as you know it takes a lot of folks to be successful and I'd also like to thank on behalf of I know Rhonda would like me to do this on behalf of Parks and Recreation of those other staff in the other departments that are so important to Parks and Recreation who really make a significant impact to help meet that Durham Parks and Recreation mission so I want to thank them and recognize them for the work that they do as well and now Rhonda do you want to do the great honor and pleasure. I'm here to present this award it's the North Carolina Recreation of Park Association Distinguished Legislator Award to Councilman Steve Shull 2014 this is a recognition of an outstanding contribution to the field of Recreation and Parks on the national regional state and or local level. Congratulations thank you. The Mayor Pro Tem likes me to speak for a long time. This is the first award I have received since I received the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriotism Award in high school it's so what I will say Ms. Henderson is it's kind of embarrassing to receive an award when I have such incredible colleagues I we have I have the most amazing colleagues and they are so supportive of Parks and Rec and all the essential services that we're providing the city but thank you so much to the North Carolina Association of Parks and Recreation to the Department of Parks and Rec for nominating me it was quite an honor the the hardest thing about this is getting up at 7 30 to be at the 7 30 in the morning Recreation Advisory Committee meetings that's the hardest part of the job I'm never there on time but the other members all are Parks and Rec you all know we have 60 some parks 33 miles of trails got swimming pools and spray grounds got high ropes courses and rec centers summer camps and classes and everything from Pilates to crafts trips for seniors open gyms for kids the Parks and Rec they're the folks that hire the refs and line the fields and put up the nets and make sure the soccer balls are there and recruit the coaches it's an incredible incredible task and we have a wonderful Parks and Rec Department and they they're on the front lines of what we do here in city government every day and do a wonderful job so I just want to say thank you and express my appreciation and I'm really honored thank you Steve mentioned his committee meeting as mayor have the opportunity to appoint recommend various council members to various committees that they serve so when I knew Steve was an average sportsman of recreation soccer and all that stuff and so when I suggested that Steve maybe you want to serve on Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee he didn't hesitate but after he found out what time they met then he had a few more time but he's a great person and does a great job and certain is deserving of the recognition he's given tonight this evening we also like to recognize some of our young people and when I say that as some of you may or may not know we've had a program for for many years which focus on trying to provide opportunities for work for young people in our community particularly during during the summer. Initially this was pretty much driven at the city level but we since merged and we've now got the county and the school system all working together to try to provide these these opportunities for our young people and this would not work if we didn't have the businesses to be supportive of it. While the city does this part the county does this part the school system does this part what's important is that we really get the business community involved. I believe it's an excellent opportunity for young people to really get engaged in the world of work before they actually have to start working and we try to provide opportunities where there's a win-win situation for the young people as well as the companies that provide them opportunities. So tonight we have an opportunity to recognize some of those persons. I can tell you that it's an overwhelming request that we get from young people. We had probably over 1600 young people who signed up for an opportunity to work during the summer and by the way this has come into sort of a year-round program also. Unfortunately we just don't have the number of jobs that we'd like to have to provide employment for all the young people that apply. So this year we had over 400 and 68 persons that that were provided opportunities and tonight we'd like to recognize some of them as well as more importantly we also want to recognize the companies that have been involved. I'm going to ask the Mayor Pro Tem and again Councilman Steve Shule if you would join me in the circle here as I call the names of the companies that we're recognizing tonight and as I call your name if you would come up and we'd like you to go down to that area. I really should be giving you guys. Miss Kelly Sizemore representing Kimberly Horn is she present? Okay great sorry about that. Theresa Stalking representing the Durham Bulls Baseball Club. Tommy McNeil representing Gales Harrison. If you all would mind standing up because we want to do a group photo when it's over. Tommy McNeil. Okay Marilyn Cash representing MS Designs. Kara Taff representing Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Janice Clark representing Measurement Inc. Remember the Durham Workforce Development Board also. Angela Lee representing HATI Heritage Center. Is Angela present? Mary Ann Black representing Duke University Health System. I don't see Mary here. Okay. Ganesha Dickens representing Spring Valley Living Home Care. Robert DeRoe representing AT&T of North Carolina. AT&T has participated very heavily. Leslie Simons representing Seats. Jennifer Jordan representing McKibbey and Jordan PA Law Firm. Megan Risley representing Dress for Success. Remember the Durham Workforce Development Board also. And Maria Byrd representing NCCU of North Carolina Central University. Thank you. If we could all give these businesses a round of applause please. Our next recognition recognizes the National Arts and Humanities Month. And I'm going to ask Sherry DeReeves. Sherry? Okay great. Sherry's coming forward. I don't know how many of you had an opportunity to participate in Cinefes this past weekend before last. Dan Ellison is president of DAC and Kerry Knowles and Piedmont Lorette was going to make some brief remarks. But I know we're here for the National Arts and Humanities Fees but I can't help but congratulate Durham Arts Center and Sherry for the Cinefes. I've had an opportunity as I told her to probably attend at least to be around for most of the times that Cinefes has been in existence. And this past weekend, not this past weekend, the weekend before last when they had it to me in my opinion was the best Cinefes that I've been able to participate in. I was only there for a Saturday but when you looked at the weather, the vendors, the entertainment, the way it was laid out, the food, the really family friendly type environment that existed. I had to make all of us proud and I just want to congratulate you again for doing such a super job. And I know you didn't do it by yourself and you had a bunch of volunteers and et cetera that went along with it. But the fact is it was under your leadership that it took place and you had to be congratulated for it again. The proclamation reads, whereas the arts and humanities enhance and enrich the lives of all Americans, whereas arts and humanities affect every aspect of life that America today, including the economy, social problems, solving, job creation, education, creativity, and community livability, whereas cities and states through their local and state art agencies and representing thousands of cultural organizations celebrate the value and importance of culture in the lives of Americans in the health of thriving communities during national arts and humanities months for several years, whereas the United States Conference of Mayors has actively participated in the National Arts and Humanities Month since 1984, whereas the United States Conference of Mayors National Arts Partner Americans for the Arts will again coordinate this year a national awareness campaign of activities for National Arts and Humanities Month, whereas the nation's 100,000 non-profit arts organization, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the nation's 5,000 local art agencies, the Arts and Humanities Council of the 50 states and the 6 U.S. jurisdictions, and the President of the United States have participated in the past and will be asked to participate again this year in this national celebration, whereas the United States Conference of Mayors urges the mayors to build partnerships with their local arts agencies and other members of the arts and humanities communities in their cities, and therefore William V. Belleville, Mayor of the City of Durham, North Carolina, do their part by proclaiming October 2014 as National Arts and Humanities Month in Durham, and hereby urge all citizens to take special note of this observance and witness my hand in Corporate City of Durham, North Carolina. This is the 6th day of October 2014, and I'm going to present this to the Chair of the D.A.C. and I'm going to ask Ms. Kerry Knowles of Piedmont Laureate and she will make a few brief remarks. Thank you very much. It has been a pleasure to serve as the 2014 Piedmont Laureate. As Laureate, I've placed writing workshops in historic sites, libraries, museums, vineyards, senior citizens, and senior citizens communities. I've been humbled by the courage people have shown in telling their own stories and have been inspired by those who have left the workshops, written more, and gathered friends together to form their own writing groups. I feel like the Laureate program and I have worked well together this year to create a network of new writers. It's been a wonderful experience. Thank you for making this program possible. I'm going to speak for a few moments. I just wanted to thank you for this proclamation and thank you all for taking part in this proclamation. If you think back to when you were all just little kids on your parents' knees or grandparents' knees, the things that you'll remember are maybe poems that they read to you, songs that you sang together, stories, all of that storytelling, all of that poetry, all of the drawings on the kitchen table, the things stuck up with magnets on refrigerators, all that is the arts and humanities, and sort of the beginnings of how we all come into the world and see the world. And it permeates our lives, every part of it. And so it's great to have a month that recognizes it especially, but every day of the year really we're all filled with artwork and communication and the way that we all interact is part of the arts and humanities. Just one reminder that Mary Siemens, who sat up there at one point in the past and her husband James Siemens were instrumental in actually behind the scenes in creating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities back in the mid-60s. And so there's a real direct connection to the national level of the arts and humanities that we have here in Durham. And we should remember all of that because the history is also part of the humanities. So thank you all. Thank you, Mary. Thank you. And we just want to congratulate Carrie Knowles, our 2014 Piedmont Laureate. And we have just distributed copies of her recent book, a show in rug, for you to enjoy. And for everyone in Durham, we encourage you to enjoy the arts, participate in the arts, and celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month. And thank you all so very much. Another program that the U.S. Conference of Mayors has been very involved in is a program called Dollarwise Campaign. And it's a program which really works to provide financial literacy for persons in cities of where mayors are. And we also focus very heavily on trying to get our young people involved. This year we have a young person who participated. And this is the second time in a row that one of our young people have been recognized. And I'm going to ask Ms. Kala Panciana and her mother if they would join me, please. The Dollarwise Campaign, as I indicated, really is an opportunity to provide financial literacy for any person. But more important, we work with our young people to do that. And as I said, persons are recognized. And this year, this is the second year in a row that someone from Durham has been won a prize through the Durham Youth Work Internship Program. And tonight I'm going to present Kala with this, it's called an iPod Shuffle. An iPod Shuffle. I'm sure everyone on my council understands what an iPod Shuffle is. But in any event, it's something that merits the work that you've done. And we want to appreciate what you do and continue to get involved in programs such as this. She worked during our internship program at the NCCU Business and Auxiliary Services Department. And she's also a student at Kestrel Heights. So Kala, we want to present this with you and say congratulations. And if you have any comments you want to make, feel free to do that. I appreciate this honor for being a part of the Dollarwise. And for letting me be a part of the program as well. I enjoy helping people. I'm going to ask the Mayor Pro Tem, if you would join me. And Ms. R. Ellis Sands-Bell, the Executive Director for the Durham Crisis Response Center. And her board members, Janice Humphries and Shannon McCabe, if they would also, and anyone else that you'd like to bring up. I see a lot of familiar faces in that. This recognition really focuses on domestic violence awareness month. And I know we've had so much over the last couple of months that have been related to domestic violence. But I will say here in Durham, I think we've been sort of in the forefront of trying to deal with this issue here in Durham. And it's no small part on the fact that Arela Bell's sign says, Sands-Bell, I don't know why I want to call you Bell, has been the Executive Director and leading the sufferance. So I'm going to turn it over to the Mayor Pro Tem, if she would present the proclamation. The proclamation reads, Whereas home should be a place of warmth, unconditional love, tranquility and security. And for most of us, home and family can indeed be counted among our greatest blessings. Tragically, for many, these assumed blessings are tainted by violence, fear and abuse. And whereas domestic violence is more than a family disagreement, it is willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, emotional and financial abuse, torture of persons and pets, and other abusive behaviors. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. And whereas women are not the only targets, young children and the elderly are also among those who are emotionally and physically scarred by violence. We believe and support the notion that everyone, regardless of gender identification, ethnicity, age or other credence, deserves a safe home. And whereas we strongly support the collaborative efforts of organizations and systems that confront this crisis. Law enforcement officials, the criminal justice system, victim advocates, health care providers, clergy and other concerned citizens are working together to end domestic violence. We recognize their compassion and dedication to ending this epidemic and applaud their efforts. And whereas in 2013 Durham Crisis Response Center provided emergency shelter to over 279 women and children fleeing domestic violence, but turned away 100 for lack of space. DCRC also answered over 3,000 calls on the 24-hour English and Spanish Crisis Lines, in addition to providing crisis intervention, counseling, court advocacy and other services to over 1,100 victim survivors. And whereas seven persons have been killed in domestic violence-related homicides from 2013 to date in Durham County, therefore we remain committed to outreach, public awareness and education as essential elements in changing the culture of violence in our community. It is imperative that local government, health professionals, law enforcement, faith communities, educators and civic organizations speak out about domestic violence, especially for our children, in order to end the cycle of violence so that all may experience a safe life that is free of violence. Now therefore, I, William V. Bilbell, mayor of the great city of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim, I added great, October 2014, as domestic violence awareness month in Durham, and hereby urge all citizens to observe this month by becoming aware of the tragedy of domestic violence and supporting those working and participating in community efforts. Thank you very much for acknowledging this month, and on behalf of the board, I want to thank the council persons and the mayor and the city of Durham for acknowledging this. You know, just a side note that this is, like she said, the children, if you want to reduce crime in this community, you really need to pay attention and not turn a deaf ear to domestic violence because that continues to breed the children in the home. So thank you very much for this on behalf of the board members and the staff at DCRC. One thing I'd like to make note of, we gave you some cards and some ribbons. This summer, with the things that we heard in the media about the NFL, it posed an opportunity for everyone to talk about violence against women and children. The white ribbon represents men in the movement. We will not end domestic or sexual violence in our community and our country until men step up and step out. So as you wear your white ribbon this month, I hope you have the conversation with folks who ask you what that ribbon means so that you can talk to them and say that I am a man who stands against the violence against women. And of course, the purple ribbon is our standard ribbon for women and for representing domestic violence. Thank you so much again on behalf of the board of directors and our staff and volunteers. Thank you for all you do. I'd like to recognize members of the council for any comments that you may have announcements. I recognize councilman Katati. Thank you mayor. I wanted to ask Larry Jarvis to come up to the microphone for a moment. So I've just recently understood that Larry will be leaving us for a job in Raleigh and I wanted to thank you for all your years of service and dedication. It's been an honor for me to be able to work with you. I wish you all the best. Thank you very much. It's been an honor to have had the opportunity to be a service to the city of Durham. I think we have accomplished a lot in the ten years that I've been here. And as I told the city manager when I notified him, I'm right down the street. And I'm hoping to be invited back next spring when we have the open house for the law sets outside. Any other comments, announcements? I recognize councilman Davis. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just did not want to let today go by without recognizing the red letter nature of today. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeals to federal rulings for in favor of marriage equality. And Durham as a city of tolerance and equality and respect for all certainly needs to be at the forefront of applauding that decision that will bring about the possibility for people to marry the people that they love. Here in Durham and throughout North Carolina. Recognize the mayor, Pro Tem? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to be excused in exactly four minutes. Five minutes. Very properly moved. Second, Madam Clerk, we open the vote. Close the vote. It passes seven to zero. Any other announcements? If not, recognize the city manager for any prior guidance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, everyone. No priority items to see. Likewise, City Attorney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No priority items. Likewise, City Clerk. Yes, Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council, I'd like to inform you that a supplemental item has been added to the agenda this evening. It's entitled Durham Chapel Hill Carboreal MPO Board Appointments. It was on for Thursday, Mr. Schill, but Mr. Mayor wanted on tonight. Entertain the motion on this. It's been properly moved. Second, Madam Clerk, we open the vote. Close the vote. It passes seven to zero. I had asked Councilman Schill, our President served as the member for the Durham Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Steve served as the alternate. I have been elected service chairman of the Triangle Transit Authority, and I just felt that I needed to give up something, and it's very important, this position, MPO. So what I've asked Steve, if he would consider becoming a member, and I would become the alternate to the MPO, and that's basically the nature of the supplemental item. We'll go through the Consent Agenda items. Consent Agenda items may be approved by single motion. If a Council member or person from the audience chooses to have an item pulled, we do that and recognize it at the appropriate time. I'll just read the heading. Item one is approval of City Council Minutes. Item two is workforce development board appointment. Item three is code enforcement performance order for June 2014. Item 14 are guidelines for dedicated funding source for funded small project development and neighborhood revitalization. I'll pull that item. Item five is water residuals and wastewater bowels. Solids, dewatering, hauling, disposal, land application, associated services, service contract award to Center Grove Central LLC. Item six is demolition of water management structures, contract award to distribution LLC. Item seven is a bid report for August 2014. Item eight is renewal of stop-loss contract with Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company for the 2014-2015 benefit year. Item nine is the Third Amendment to Workforce Investment Act contract between the City of Durham and Educational Data Systems Incorporated. Item ten is utility extension agreement with Thomas M. Eeks and Sheryl F. Eeks to serve 3629 Freeman Road and that's sewer only. Items 11 through 13 are items that can be found on the general business agenda as public hearing items. I entertain a motion for approval of the Senate agenda with exception of item four. It's been properly moved by Mayor Pro Temps, seconded by Councilman Brown. Madam Clerk, we open the vote. We close the vote. It passes, seven is zero. We move to the general business agenda for public hearings. Item 11 is street closings. Amanda Road street closing 14-0-0-0-0-1. Good evening, Steve Metland with the Durham City County Planning Department. The item before council this evening is a request by Tony Tate of Tony M. Tate Landscape Architecture, PA, who proposes to close approximately, excuse me, 870 linear feet of Amanda Road, which is the entire length of this street. The right-of-way is currently open and is improved. If a request is approved, the right-of-way will be recombined with the adjacent properties. Request has been reviewed by applicable city and county agencies as well as outside service providers, and no negative effects have been identified. Staff is recommending approval of this item, and I'll be happy to answer any questions Council may have. You've heard of staff report. This is a public hearing item. I would ask the public hearing is open. I would ask further questions by members of the council and the staff report. Hearing none, I would ask, is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak on this item? This item being a public hearing item. Do you want to speak on this item? It's not direct reflect that no one asks to speak on this item. I would go to the public hearing to be closed. I suspect for the council to entertain a motion on the item. It's been properly moved. The second is moved by Councilwoman Catati, second by Councilwoman Brown. Madam Clerk, will you open the vote? Close the vote. Passes seven. Is he right? Item 12, zoning map change, Hanover Point subdivision CZ140004. Good evening, Steve Madeline again with the Durham City County Planning Department. I'd first like to certify for the council that proper notification has been carried out in accordance with both state and unified development ordinance standards, and that affidavits are part of the case file. Zoning case C14004, Hanover Point sub area C is a request by Lenard. Caroline is LLC for a zoning map change from its current zoning designation of plan density, excuse me, plan development residential 4.76 to a plan density, excuse me, plan development residential 4.0 for a 13.96 acre track located at 1030 Mclam Drive, which is located east of Middle Springs Road in Eastern Durham. This request, if approved, also removes existing committed elements applied to this property through zoning case Z0604, which was the Hanover Point originally Allentine Place property, originally approved by City Council on October 2nd of 19, excuse me, 2006. I apologize, I'm having a hard time reading this evening. The property in this case represents approximately 13.96 acres of the larger 63 acre Hanover Point project. If approved, this request would reduce the number of housing units allowed on the site from 68 to 41 in the essence of 27 unit reduction. The applicant has committed that all housing units on the site will be single family units. Because of the adjacent bright leaf at the park, development is not being developed at its originally anticipated density, several transportation improvements associated with the 2006 zoning approval for this property are not currently warranted. Based on determination by NCDOT and the City Transportation Department, including the installation of additional westbound and eastbound through lanes on Sharon Road and a traffic signal at the intersection of Sharon Road and Ashton Glen. Staff has determined that the request is consistent with the conference plan and other adopted policies and ordinances. The Planning Commission has recommended approval of this request at their August 12, 2014 meeting by a vote of 12 to 0. I'd be happy to answer any questions the council has. Again, this is a public hearing item. The public hearing is open. You've heard the staff report. I only have two persons that are signed up to speak for this item. So I want to make sure that if someone else wants to speak, they have an opportunity before I sign the time to this. Does anyone else that wants to speak on this item that is not signed up? If not, then we will allow 10 minutes each for the opponent and 10 minutes for the opponents. And before the speaker identifies himself, I want to make sure that the council members have any questions you want to ask on this. If not, if you would just state your name and address, please. Good evening Mayor Bell and Mayor of the City Council. I'm Robert Schunk, located at 2627 University Drive here in Durham. I'm here representing Lenard Homes for this project. And a few things to point out for this is we're essentially trying to keep the proposing the same projects as we proposed before. And I'll point out a couple of clarifications. As Mr. Medlin alluded to, the purpose to come tonight before you all was to remove a committed element for proposed road improvements at the intersection of Ashton and Glen Road and Sharon Road. The reason they were previously required before was there was an entrance to the Brightleaf community that is no longer being constructed and that is this intersection right here. We're maintaining the four units of density. This proposal reduces traffic generation by 271 trips, reduces the student demand. I'm also here to say that we will recommit to the $500 per unit donation to the Durham Public Schools and also will exclude the zero lot lines as was committed previously per the language written in the prior zoning approval. This was the entrance. This is currently the entrance. The entrance to Brightleaf was moved down to this area here. This is the sighting question. This here is the prior development plan and you'll see that we are making a connection to Ashton Hall that was rezoned in 2005. Hanover Point you see here was approved by City Council in 2006 showing this connection north to McLamroad, this proposed stub road. Tree coverage was proposed in this area as well as this area around the stream buffer. And then this is our proposed development plan showing the three connections, showing the tree coverage in this area as well and again over here. That concludes my presentation. I'll be available for any questions. Thank you. Other questions by members of the council? If not, call on Greg. Stocking, is that correct? You have 10 minutes. Could you reset the clock time please? Hopefully I won't need that much. My name is Greg Stocking. I'm a resident of McLam Drive, 104 McLam. Just a couple doors down from where the connection between the new road, Willow Crest Road, will connect into McLam Drive. My contention is that the roads in our subdivision, our community, and I want to go through a little presentation here that you have taken some pictures and things. Come on, mouse. Oh, sorry. That's all right. There we go. Thank you. So what we're here for, we have some representatives from other families within the community within our community that are going to be affected by all the traffic that is going to come down our road due to this connection that's going to happen between Willow Crest Road and McLam Drive. So what I would like to show you is, so the homeowners, I went and talked to a vast majority of the ones that would be directly affected by this, which is on McLam Drive, part of Bristol Wood Drive, and then Danbury, which is the connecting roads that would allow people to cut through our neighborhood to get to Holder Road. And basically I would like the City Council to reconsider their current plans, which are to make that connection and follow that through. I have a petition signed from 32 of the homeowners in our little subdivision area that are against it, just due to the high amount of traffic. One of the reasons a lot of them bought houses in this little area is that it is a dead-end road. There is no outlet other than the one on Holder Road. And so they liked that sort of isolation. It's also much larger lots than what is in Hanover Point. We're on anywhere from half an acre to an acre plus lots. So it's quite a different sort of community. All the trees weren't knocked down to build the houses and things like that. The subdivision or the community was started 40 years ago, but I'm kind of getting ahead of myself. So our community was started over 40 years ago. The original road was all gravel roads, I should say. There's multiple roads here. The road was paved in 1984 after the state collected an assessment by all the current homeowners based on the linear footage of their frontage on the road. And it really wasn't paved, as you would think, as in asphalt paving. It was more of a gravel tar kind of paving. So the road, honestly, and you'll see some pictures of it, is not going to be able to handle the amount of traffic that I believe would come down through that cut-through coming out of this Hanover Point subdivision area. It was patched about four years ago. I've got some pictures of that too. And again, it was a mild attempt at best to patch some of the bigger holes in the road. A term that I sort of thought about when I look at the road is threadbare. It is that worn and it's in that bad a shape. I even went to the DOT and talked to a gentleman there and he went on Google Earth and said, yeah, it is in pretty bad shape. So if this connection goes through, our road is going to get even worse much faster and it's going to end up being on a state to have to repair it. Because as I understand it, there are no contingencies or any things on the original approval of this that there are going to be any improvements done to our road if this gets connected. As I understand it, there are none. So anyhow, there's lots of areas with little to no or a lot of gravel and very little tar to hold it all together. And I've got some slides to show you. I'll try to describe each one of them as we go through them. This is a picture of the end of McLam Drive. You can see the zoning sign there as it goes through the woods with the other street called Willow Cresping on the other side of those woods. And that's the lot you're looking at that's in this rezoning contention. Anyhow, this is a picture turned around and heading down McLam Drive, heading to Thistlewood. I'm just up there on the left just past those first set of trees. As you can kind of look at the slides down in the bottom there, you can already see that you can see some of the road up close. But I've got some other really good ones. Here's a picture. And I could take lots. These are just random sampling of pictures of the road as it exists as of Sunday afternoon. It's a beautiful day to go out and take pictures. As you can see, there's lots of places where it's pure gravel, not very little to no asphalt cracked. It is not, like what I said, considered would it be an asphalt road or a paved road. In a lot of places it's literally down to dirt, like that shot right there. This is another sort of larger picture of the road going down McLam Drive, heading away from the proposed zoning change area. This is the first intersection that you come to, which is McLam Drive. If you keep going straight down McLam Drive, that turns into gravel right past this intersection. It goes down into a low area where it dead ends. And if you look at a map, it kind of looks like there's another road called Rycon that connects to McLam. It doesn't. There's a water easement or a runoff type area down there. It's a low area that they won't build the road across. So it's basically dead ends. So all the traffic is going to come down McLam Drive, turn here onto Bristol Wood. This intersection is tight to say the least. If someone is coming down McLam, turning on to Bristol Wood, they have to wait, unless they have a very small car, they have to wait on McLam to let the car come off of Bristol Wood first to make the turn. I've run into it a few times in my nine years there, but it does cause a problem. That intersection is not going to handle a lot of traffic going in both directions very well. There is a stop sign. There's no stop sign there on McLam, but there is one sort of in the trees there that you can see on Bristol Wood. Going around the corner, this is a picture coming back towards Bristol Wood with McLam turning off to the left there and to the right, but that's gravel. This is a picture going up Bristol Wood. As you can see, when they have driveways, but when people come to visit, like on this Sunday watching football games, you get a lot of traffic, you're going to have problems if two people come to that area at the same time. The road is just not wide enough, and I'll address that here in a few minutes. Here's a picture looking back from that same road at the top, right before you would turn on to Danbury. Here's a picture of the intersection at Danbury. It is a little bigger intersection, and Danbury is off to the left off to the top there, and that would take you directly out to hold a road. This is a picture looking back up towards Bristol Wood. As you can see in each of these pictures, I didn't take a lot more pictures of the close-ups of the road, but the road is not in good shape to handle this amount of traffic. Again, I've got some numbers to show that too. This is going down the road. Here's another picture looking back up. As you can see there, there's already some fairly large holes. This is right before you. You can see the stop sign up in the top. That is Holder Road and Danbury. This is the picture of Holder Road and Danbury, and there's a comparison of this intersection to one just down the road, which is where the current connection through a road called Hi-Fox. I've got the other names, but it connects to Broch Road, and that's the way they get out to Holder Road now. There already is a connection to get from the subdivision out to Holder Road. The intersection there is much larger. Broch Road is much larger. I actually went out and measured, and I'll show you that. This is a picture of, again, Mclam and Holder Road. Here's another picture looking at that same intersection. This is a picture of Broch approaching Holder, and you can see that's a much larger intersection. This is a picture of the entrance of the current subdivision onto Hi-Fox Road. As you can see, there's curbs, and it is a much, much wider road, and obviously better paved. This is a picture of where that road connects into Hi-Fox, which ultimately turns into Broch. I went out and measured. Mclam Drive is 18 feet wide. Bristol Wood is 18 feet wide. Danbury is 20 feet wide. Broch is 22 feet wide. Penech, which is the connector road, I'm sorry about that, connects Broch to Hi-Fox, is 20 feet. And Hanover Point, the roads with the curbs is 27 feet wide. That's 22 feet wide with a 2.5 inch paved sort of gutter curb, sloped area on both sides of the road. Mclam and part of Bristol Wood have a total of 14 houses on it, so obviously it's nowhere near as highly populated as the other subdivision. Lots are, again, half an acre to an acre plus. Traffic on Nye actually got up and sat on that connector road. That area I took a picture of that connects the new subdivision with Broch and Penech and all that. And from 6.30 a.m. to 8.00 a.m., 38 cars went across that intersection, just that connector road that we're using the connection between Holder Road and the new subdivision. 38 in an hour and a half. Multiply that out. That's a whole lot of traffic. And our road actually... Oops, how'd I do that? Our road is actually only a quarter of a mile, and the connection now is half a mile. So no curbs. We don't have any sidewalks. They have sidewalks in the new division. We're only one block over from where that high fox connection is. There's literally houses back to back, and then there's this new connection, Mclam Road. I just really don't think it should be built. There's Delmar Road, Tanners, Wheel Drive, Glenview Lane. There's all these other connectors that look like they could have been built that weren't. And finally, the existing roads were just never designed to handle this kind of traffic. The conditions of the roads are bad already. Size of the roads, intersections, no sidewalks. I would propose they've already got a stub road designed to an open area that's just the other side of Mclam, that's further away from the current connector road. I would propose that it runs actually behind Reicon and Mclam properties. I would propose you wait, and they would use that and as part of that development, it would become a connector road directly into Holder Road, straight shot, and they could build a road that could handle this kind of traffic. And I believe that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Sure. Let me ask other questions or comments by members of the council. I recognize councilman Moffitt. Okay, so I guess first of all, I'll ask, I want to talk about this. I've been looking at maps. Everything south of here is City Road. Everything to the north is DOT. I'm assuming that I kind of want to get the staff's assessment of the roads to the south. You know, sufficient, adequate. I'd love to get an idea of how many vehicles use these roads already and like what percentage increase in the load we're talking about here, whether we're talking about a 50% increase or a 2% increase. And I'll ask the applicants if they have any response to what's been said. Bill Judge with City Department Transportation. On general average, you can expect about 10 trips per day for a single family house. So the roads to the south are primarily serving the Ashton Hall Development, which is a little over 300 units. So there's probably about 3,000 trips spread out among all those roads. So the road has 20 houses on it. It may have 200 trips a day. I think the roads to the north are all county roads. None of that area has been annexed. I believe the citizen indicated that there was about 41 homes in that area. So those roads probably have an average of about 400 trips spread throughout that area. In the condition of the roads to the south, we were seeing a lot of pictures. Lots of pictures going by. The roads to the south were all built to city standards fairly recently with the Ashton Hall Development within the last 10 years. So those all meet current city standards. And the roads to the north are all, as he indicated, maintained by DOT. Thank you. Applicants, do you have anything you want to say? I concur with the statements of Bill Maid. We do sympathize with the neighbors. Unfortunately, the ordinance doesn't allow us to not make the connection. We were required to make the connection in 2006. And we're remaining to be consistent with that. Councilor Brown, you have a comment? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. On August 12th this year, the Planning Commission voted approval for this project by 12-0 vote. Was the road condition discussed at that meeting? Steve Medlin with the Planning Department. Councilmember Brown, yes, it was discussed at the Planning Commission meeting. And I'm a little confused. The roads, the major roads that you were talking about are state roads. You note some tires. Yes, they're state roads. Sometimes I do not say state maintained roads. Yes, they're state maintained roads. I just say state roads. But that was too often they're not maintained. And we did come talk to the Planning Commission. I didn't have the presentation at that time prepared just because I didn't know what to prepare. So we did not have pictures or anything. It was all just verbal expressing our concern that the road would not be able to handle the amount of traffic. I think then, from a common sense point of view, the question would go back to the developers. That is to say, if these roads are as bad a condition as some of your slides demonstrate, how are you going to be able to sell the houses? Would that be, would not not, and I'm speaking also as a real estate broker for since 1980 in Durham. Would not that not be a detriment to the sale of future sale of these houses? George Stanziel with Stewart 115 Cofield Circle in Durham. No, I mean the majority of the traffic that is generated by our development is really coming from the south. There's really not a lot of reason for them to go north. We don't need this road. We are required to connect to make these connections by UDO. So, you know, when we design the subdivision, we're going to have to design it to have a road that connects to the points that Robert showed you just a minute ago. And they'll have to be built to city standards. So, what you're telling us in, this will not necessarily be a major thoroughfare into your development? No, sir. Thank you. Other questions, comments? Did the applicant have any more that you wanted to add to your presentation? Staff any more comments? If there aren't any further comments, I'm going to declare a public hearing to be closed and that's back for the council for consideration. Councilman Mark. I want to empathize with the people from the community who are concerned about the impacts. I'm studying aerial photos over here and looking at it. And I believe that if cars were to go to the north, I think that you have, I can really see how that would be an impact on the roads over there. Roads to the south are built that, from what I can see from aerial photos, built to city standards. I imagine that most everybody who's, who purchases a home and among these 40 some odd homes will be using the roads to the south simply because of the shape and condition of them. That said, I just want to say I empathize very much and, but I will be supporting this project tonight. Are there other comments, questions on this item? Recognize? Sure, and then I'm going to recognize the staff first. I did, like I said, I did get up at 6.30 one morning Tuesday and sit there for an hour and a half. And there were 38 cars that went across that, the current connection that's one block over from where McLamb Drive will connect to this new road. Or to the existing road. The connection will go through this new development or this new zoned area that you're doing. And one block over, 38 cars went across there in an hour and a half. So it, I mean, we got 14 people on McLamb Drive going around the corner all the way up to, to Danbury. 14 people. You can't, 14 houses. You wouldn't generate 38 cars in those 14 houses. Let alone, you know, they're going to put another 40 houses, I think was the number in this new development area, so the closest road that will connect them to anything large quickly is going to be McLamb to Thistlewood to Danbury. So I respectfully disagree that I think there will be a large amount of traffic going down this road. It's a shorter connection than the one that exists one block over. It's more direct. I got a feeling they're going to use it. And again, road, until the road gets so bad, they don't want to use it, but that's going to happen. So I disagree. I think there is plenty of traffic that's going to be created and it already does exist that is using these roads to go north, not just south. Yes, the majority does go south. There's 300 some odd units in that development. Obviously, there would have been a lot more traffic on that road had they're all gone north. But they obviously a large majority go south, but a fair number will go north. Anybody going out to 98, going out to Wake Forest, going out towards Northern Durham, they're going to go that route. So I just want to put that out there. Thank you. You're welcome. You want to make a comment, Steve? Steve Madeleine with the Planning Department. I did want to remind the council that the applicant in his presentation did make two additional proffers this evening. One of which is to prohibit zero lot line homes. And the second is to provide a $500 per dwelling unit payment to the Durham Public Schools consistent with the original approval from the 2006 zoning case. You had a comment? I recognize the council. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Steve, can you talk about the UDO requirement that has been referred to? Absolutely. There is a number of provisions in the ordinance which basically requires that if there is an existing road network or street network that adjacent properties as they're developing have to tie into that road network. And that's exactly what the applicant has proposed. And to be clear, the right-of-way has already been dedicated for that connection. The road itself has not been constructed, but the right-of-way has been dedicated under the preceding approval. That is a required element. Obviously we want to make sure that we're creating a system of streets that are interconnected in such a way that it provides for reasonable access to all properties. In this case, this is an intervening property between two segments that they are now making the connection both to the south and to the north. Steve, the position that the council takes on this, if we're not to approve it, what does it say for the development? If council were not to approve this rezoning request this evening, the developer would fall back on the preceding development plan of record which basically still shows this connection. That connection, as I've indicated, has already been dedicated. They just have not constructed it. The only issue here is the committed elements and the impact it would potentially have on this project in terms of some of the street improvements that are associated with the other phases of the development. And I assume the developer is prepared to do that if it's not approved. Is that correct? Okay. Any further discussion on this item? Well, I recognize Councilman Brown. I guess I'm struck by, and we appreciate everyone coming out this evening about this issue. But you articulated on several occasions that your count was 38 cars in over an hour and a half. So maybe I'm not doing my math correctly, but that's a little more than 12 cars every half hour. Is it just me or that doesn't seem to be an inordinate amount of vehicle traffic? So I briefly please. It's not that the quantity is the quantity of the cars. It's not just the road that they're going to be traveling on McLam, Thistlewood and Denver. The shape of the road is in such a thing that if you count, there's only 14 houses on McLam and Thistlewood that drive on that part of the road. If you start doubling that, tripling that over the course of, you know, a day, every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, that road, our road is going to disintegrate quickly. For the low amount of traffic it gets now, it's falling apart. And it's just going to, you know, again, there's no provisions to do anything about widening it, you know, repaving it. There's nothing. It's just, it's not going to be able to handle this traffic. And so it's not just about literally, I mean it is sort of related to all the cars, but it's going to tear the road up and it's going to create a lot of traffic that we don't currently have by any stretch of that number. Well, I would suggest and hope that the developers would understand your plea and certainly when it comes to the construction of these houses that they would direct the construction crews to take the other approach into that area and not use that street. I would also hope that, I know this is, I know this is a wild suggestion, but perhaps going to NCDOT and requesting that, jeez, we've got yet another development coming in here that we need assistance in this road and present your very well documented presentation. I actually did go see the DOT. I know you did, but maybe in another year or two once the development is finished, then, and keep in mind too that a former mayor of the city of Durham is now one of the major players in NCDOT, and that's Nick Tennyson, who's very reasonable. He used to be with the Home Builders Association and perhaps he may have a little more sympathetic ear to the pleas of you and your neighbors, particularly after this project is completed and if it happens as you suggest, then further deterioration of the road. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I recognize Councilman Cotard and then Councilman Moffitt. Thank you, Mayor. I also want to appreciate everyone that's come out and I do empathize with your concerns. I think what I want to do is just remind people that the current approved zoning is PDR 4.76 with 68 single family units approved with an estimated traffic generated of 729. What they're asking for tonight is actually lowering the PDR to 4.0, which is 41 single family units and a proposed decrease, well, in the designation of 271 trips. So this is actually better than what currently can be built. And unfortunately we do have to comply and do recommend connectivity for many reasons, including emergency response. I think my colleague had a comment that is interesting. I just wanted to underscore that what they're requesting is, there's two things. One, it reduces a requirement to do road improvements offsite. And two, it reduces the number of homes from 68 to 41. I'm underscoring what's already been said. That if we don't make this approval tonight, they're left with having to make the road improvement and therefore having to build 68 homes to help pay for that road improvement. So you may not want the 41 homes, but if you look at the alternative, you may, at least from my perspective, it's more palatable to the people already living there. We can't, we're not, the issue before tonight is not to zone it to zero or make it a park. It's 41 homes or leave it at 68 homes. So just underscoring that. That's Councilman Schul and Councilman Davis. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I thought your presentation was excellent and appreciated seeing that new information. It seems to me that as my colleague Eugene Brown has said already that your beef is really with the State Department of Transportation. I will say there's, it seems to me, another potential alternative, which is to do what those of us who are a peer do, which is to, we live in the city and we pay city taxes, including we passed a bond that we financed with our city taxes to pave roads. And so you could certainly petition for annexation and you would be assured of getting a good road. Short of that, I think you're, I understand, I can really understand why you don't like the fact that your roads are deteriorating and the State Department of Transportation doesn't do anything about it. That isn't our jurisdiction. And I think that it could be our jurisdiction. However, if you petition for annexation and you all would have to make that sort of that sort of decision, but you could have a good road out there. The city has good roads and so something you might want to give some thought to. Recognize Councilman Davis. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess my question is a process question. Has there been dialogue between the petition, the petitioners and people who live there now and the developers? I mean, the question when Councilmember Katali mentioned that from her perspective, the new, the proposal may end up being better for the community. Was that ever discussed with between the developers and the homeowners, the current homeowners? Yes, we met with them briefly after the Planning Commission meeting. Again, we're just, I've never been involved in any of this, so it all happened just prior to me buying the house. And it may have been why they sold it, I don't know, but anyhow. So, you know, this is, if I had known back then and could have fought the original zoning, I probably would have tried to do the same thing I'm doing now. But I realize it's already been approved. And that's why I even came up with an alternate plan, which is the other set of, or the other area that hasn't been developed. But anyhow, yes, we have had that conversation. Yes, they are going to put in less homes. It's just a matter of, I mean, to me, it's common sense of, you know, there's already one connection, one block over. They could put another connection, another one block in the other direction that's much more direct. The road could be built to handle this traffic and it wouldn't be a problem. So it's just, you know, delaying that connection for however long. And as far as I understand from the developer, and he can speak for himself, but he told me he would love for it not to go through because he can build more houses over the part, you know, that's the road. So he, you know, it's a win for him. It's just he's following the guidelines set forth and the statutes that say they got to connect the subdivisions. So that's all. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Any further comments? When I see zoning matters, I always want to look at what's the alternative. And that's why I ask the question of what is the alternative if we don't approve it. And I think it's been pretty much discussed what that is. It's unfortunate that it is what it is, but we don't have too much of a choice. We can turn it down and you get what I don't think you want. We approve it and then hopefully in the long run, either you come into the city or we can find out DOT will provide some maintenance for you. If it's no further discussion, I'm going to call the question. I'm not a clerk. I called the question. I don't know who made the motion. I heard the second I hear a motion on it. I'll make the motion. Okay. Seconded by Councilor Brown, Madam Clerk, we open the vote and close the vote. It passes. Six is zero. Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. I apologize with zoning hearings. You actually have to adopt a consistency motion as well. There's a second motion that you need to adopt. It's just you adopted. I'll move that we adopt a consistency motion as stated in the staff report. It's been proper to move by Councilman Moffitt. Seconded by Councilman Shewell. Madam Clerk, we open the vote. Close the vote. It passes. Six is zero. Thank you. Let's move to the next item, please. FY 2015-2020 consolidated plan needs a public hearing. Good afternoon, Mayor Bell, members of Council, Larry Jarvis, Department of Community Development. As you know, throughout the year we are required to have two public hearings prior to submitting our annual action plan. The first one in the process is the needs hearing when the public gets an opportunity to comment on those needs. And the second, which would be in the spring, is when there are actual funding recommendations associated with the annual action plan and consolidated plan. One more cognors. The federal program's coordinator will introduce tonight's public hearing. Good evening, Mayor Bell, members of Council. One more cognors, Department of Community Development. The purpose of this public hearing tonight is to receive citizen comments on our community development block grant, home investment partnership program and emergency solution grant funds can be used over the next five years to address the housing and community development needs in Durham. As a recipient of CDBG, home and ESG, the city is required to hold at least two public hearings prior to the submission of the annual action plan. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has not yet announced the FY15-16 entitlement allocations. And for planning purposes, the city is going to use its current FY14-15 allocations. For CDBG, we expect to receive approximately $1,795,508. In home, we expect to receive $831,909. And with ESG, we expect to receive $147,357. This public hearing was advertised in the Harold Sun, the Carolina Times, K-PASA newspapers, and was also advertised via our general listserv. A summary of the comments from the public hearing tonight and any written comments that we received during the development of the five-year consolidated plan and the annual action plan will be included in our plans before submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. That concludes your comments. Let me ask, this is a public hearing matter, are there comments by members of the council? If not, we have several people that have signed up to speak on this item. I have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven persons to speak. Is there anyone else that would like to speak that has not signed up so I can set the time for it? If you don't mind, if you could go to the podium and have the clerk fill out the card. I'm going to call the persons who have signed up and each have three minutes. If you come to the podium to the right, as I call your name, Darryl Gantt, Devin Brown, Raul Herrera, Dick Hales, Stephen Hopkins, James Chavis, James Varra, and you have three minutes. And if any of you have written comments that you would like to leave for the record, you could leave them with the clerk after you finish. All right, good evening. Thank you, Mayor Bell and members of council. My name is Darryl Gantt. I'm branch manager with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Durham, and I'm also board chairman of the Durham Regional Finance Center. I'm here tonight on behalf of the Durham Regional Finance Center to raise awareness about the critical need for local government to invest in its citizens regarding affordable home ownership and other wealth building opportunities. Home ownership remains one of the largest and most vital assets for family and community wealth building. It inspires civic responsibility, community involvement, and helps to ensure financial stability and income for many to in their retirement years. Unfortunately, low to moderate income households, and particularly those comprised of minorities, are at extreme disadvantage in achieving and sustaining home ownership. The recent recession hit minority households the hardest, and their recovery for the devastating effects of the recession has been slow. Therefore, it's essential that we restore and support affordable and sustainable home ownership options for low and moderate income families. Community investment coupled with financial education aimed at supporting families to stabilize their household economics as well as to grow that net worth would have a positive and lasting effect on them, the community and future generations. Research has shown that African Americans and Latinos are far more likely than whites to obtain loans with a higher interest rate. The key to sustainable low income ownership is preparing those consumers or homeowners with adequate financial management skills as well as to make educated mortgage choices as they secure an affordable mortgage loan. Since most of us never receive money management and financial planning training in school, at least I didn't write, it's imperative that we fill that void with financial education. Since 1998, Durham Regional Finance Center has educated and counseled consumers on a myriad of financial topics, including creating a budget, managing household finances, and purchasing a home. With the highly trained staff and over 100 years of experience in the banking industry, Durham Regional Finance Center is fully equipped to educate potential homeowners on the home buying process, affordability, fair housing, and alternatives to high cost lending. We therefore solicit your support for home buyer education, asset accumulation, and wealth building opportunities to those who need it most, minorities and other low income households. Thank you. Devin Brown. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Bell and the members of council. My name is Devin Brown. I'm the director of business development for the Durham Regional Financial Center. I wanted to first begin by saying that Glendola Beasley, the executive director of the Durham Regional Financial Center, could not make it this evening due to a scheduling conflict, but she did want you to know that she definitely wanted to be here this evening. I'm going to be piggybacking on Darrell's points to raise awareness about the community needs, my focus specifically being the need for financial education as it relates to community development. Financial education is actually a very broad topic that has a ripple effect on many aspects of the lives of the individuals within the households of our community. The CFED recently reported that 35% of Durham County households live in asset poverty, which is different than income poverty. That's an individual's savings and assets that they can actually use to absorb a financial catastrophe such as an unemployment. And 26 of those individuals are considered in extreme asset poverty. 57% of Durham County residents have subprime credit scores, 8% of Durham County borrowers are 90 or more days passed due on a payment, and 46% of Durham renters are considered cost burdened. Given this data, it's easy for us to understand how citizens, many of those find themselves quote unquote financially stressed. And as a means of addressing poverty in one particular section of the city, Mayor Bill himself has brought about a series of task force to address specific indicators that include housing, finance, health, public safety, education, and jobs. Financial stress is actually the enemy of each one of those educators, each one of those task force. Financial stress has been known to lead to and to contribute to a number of social ills such as crime, unemployment, homelessness, and even physical stress, which can ultimately lead to physical illness. As such, as financial educators and counselors, we must function much like doctors. We have to first educate our clients on topics ranging from basic money management and behavioral economics, to job training and workforce development, to affordable housing and small business development. Then once we've properly educated them, we are then able to medicate or prescribe an action plan that actually will provide access to resources that can work to empower our community and to reduce that financial stress. Finally, Durham Regional Financial Center's core programming is best described by the great Nelson Mandela who once said that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. It's our belief that financial education is an equally powerful weapon which we can use to improve and better our communities. Thank you for your time. You're welcome. Raul Herrera. Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, the last speaker articulated some facts and figures that I had not heard before. Can you be sure to leave that with the clerk? Yes, sir. Of course. Thank you. Yes, sir. Very well done. Good evening, Mayor Vell and council members. My name is Raul Herrera and I'm branch banker with BB&T and I'm a board member of the Durham Regional Financial Center. And on behalf of the center, I'm here to provide an overview of the present financial needs of the Durham growing Hispanic population. Local Latinos have solid food in the labor force that represent a young segment of the consumers and business developer. There are questions regarding which financial products and service are most appropriate and effective for them. Many Latinos have never had a basic bank account. Like an experience in this area, Latinos are less inclined to access banking services, a financial institution. Therefore, introducing their banking option would be a beneficial to all concern. Research shows that Latinos have the ability and willingness to save an interest bearing account but often do not. They are also more likely to have a thin credit file or no credit history, which may affect not only the access to affordable credit, but also their employment opportunities given the ever-increased rolling once credit status plays in the United States. Additionally, a growing number of Latinos have become a victim of predatory and unscrupulous financial operators. Regarding home ownership, data from 2013 home mortgage disclosure are confirmed that Latinos and other minorities lack access to the conventional mortgage market. Historical people of color and of low wealth receive a disproportionate share of foreclosures due to target of mortgage loans with risky features that were not well underwritten. In addition, these borrowers are more likely to receive government-backed loan programs which are costlier than before. Without market competition from the private market, Latinos and other end up paying more for government insurance mortgage, given the low household recovery. It is imperative that all minorities have access to the mortgage in both the public and the private sector. The housing market cannot recover without them. Durant Regional Financial Center had trained bilingual staff to serve the Hispanic residents. We provide comprehensive array of service, including a personal finance seminars and workshop, credit counseling, homebuyer education, rental counseling, and pre- and post-home ownership counseling. With our extensive experience, we are fully equipped to help those who are faced with a complex set of financial issues and options. We therefore request that the City of Durant's Consolidate plans include programs that serve and support Latinos. Thank you very much, Ms. May. You're welcome. Next is Dick Hales. Dick Hales, 809 DeMarius, K-4 in Durham. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of council, as well as Mr. Manager, Mr. Attorney, and Madam Clerk. I'm speaking tonight as a representative of the Coalition for Affordable Housing and Transit. I would ask coalition members and supporters who are present to please stand. Thank you. The Coalition is a group of community organizations dedicated to help provide greatly needed affordable housing and accessible locations in Durham in the coming years. The group believes that further affordable housing needs to be located near planned transit stations and hubs minimizes the combined costs of housing and transportation for lower income citizens. Coalition supported the resolution that the city and county adopted earlier this year that set a goal for Durham that at least 15% of all housing within a half a mile of each transit station be affordable to persons earning less than 60% of the area median income, AMI. We're supporting that adopted goal by recommending that several issues be seriously considered in the development of the city's 2015-2020 consolidated plan. Number one, we recommend that special priority be given to locate any additional new or preserved affordable housing in Durham within these station areas or hubs. Many of the city's current affordable housing efforts underway or planned are already in these locations. This action will also strengthen the city and TTA's efforts to obtain federal FTA funds to build the planned Durham Orange Rail transit system. Two, in the coming months we suggest that the city and other public and community organizations specifically examine and reserve underused properties they own near transit stations for affordable housing. Number of these sites would be needed. Three, we recommend that the city expand affordable housing development efforts by supporting the establishment of an equitable transit oriented development fund that would try and maximize available public and private funding for affordable housing. Our preliminary estimates show at least 100 additional affordable units per year would be required near stations in order to help meet this goal for a number of years. Four, we recommend that the consolidated plan be closely coordinated with the city's station area strategic infrastructure study known as SASE, which is currently underway. Both these efforts are essential and they need to be coordinated. And number five, we recommend that special attention be given to support continued funds for transit station area housing affordable to those earning less than 30% AMI, particularly housing for veterans, homeless, disabled, elderly and other extremely low income persons. Thank you for the opportunity to make these comments this evening and for the opportunity for our group to partner with the city to meet this very important community goal. I passed a copy of the comments to the city clerk and the community development staff. You're welcome. Next is Stephen Hopkins. Steve Hopkins 654 North Harding Street apartment B. And I'm just here to remind the city council and the mayor of the commitment to Northeast central are around affordable housing. And while all our attention is being paid to new construction, I want to remind you that we have older elderly folks in our neighborhood that can't afford to fix up their housing. You know, even though they want to and there's no remedy for these folks. So in the coming months, please consider programs to help our seniors who are on fixed income become a little bit better off with some weatherization funds and some rehab funds. Thank you. James Chavis. Good evening mayor and councilman and ladies. I come to you to say about the same. You have too many homes that needs in each term fixing. But they're not getting fixed. And you said you want to revitalize our area. But you will not put staff out there to bring you the right report. I asked each and every one of you take time with your own money in your own time, like I do, and ride around each term. And you will see the poverty of our area that needs to be revitalized by giving people the opportunity to revitalize it. And also make sure that the owners revitalize their own homes that people have stayed in over 30 years and paid for them. And they still will not pick them up. Thank you. James Savara. Good evening. James Savara, 1114 Woodburn Road. I'm pleased to be here to talk about this issue. As a faculty member at Arizona State University and a new resident in Durham starting in 2012, I participated in a recent study of sustainability and social equity, including a case study of Durham conducted by the International Seeding County Management Association with funding from HUD. The purpose of the research was to learn more about what local governments are doing to promote social equity and how they relate these activities to other sustainability goals. Sustainability means promoting livability and long term viability for all groups in the community. Most local governments are not actively pursuing social equity as part of the way they approach sustainability. In contrast, Durham City and county are leaders in the wide range of activities they are pursuing. Still, the shortage of affordable housing is a major challenge to Durham and its efforts to be a sustainable community with thriving, livable neighborhoods, a goal that the council has set. Adding light rail greatly expands the opportunity for residents to move around the city and have access to opportunities. Light rail must not, however, be an amenity for the affluence with low and moderate income persons excluded by the absence of housing in stations throughout the system or displaced by increasing housing costs. They must have the opportunity to live in affordable housing across the full system and existing affordable housing must be protected. In estimating needs for affordable housing in the consolidated plan, it is important to consider not only the current conditions, but also trends that may be impacting those needs in the future. In particular, development pressures in Durham, the impact on housing values of installing the light rail system itself as well as social and economic changes. I encourage the city to consider increasing the scale and pace of housing development in its new consolidated plan. In the 2010 plan, with an estimated 38,000 low and moderate income households facing housing problems including excessive costs, the five-year goal from 2010 to 2015 was to provide only 230 new units plus 50 housing units designed for homeless persons. The city needs to do more now. At a pace of 100 new units per year, it would be 500 new units over this next five-year period in proximity to transit stations. And it seems like it's very important to keep up with the pace of development rather than having to catch up after market rate housing has been constructed. These are formidable challenges, but Durham has the opportunity of being recognized as a national leader in promoting new housing and preventing displacement. The city's commitment to affordable housing should be supported by creative strategies and partnerships. The goal is to make Durham sustainable. That is a cohesive, vibrant and welcoming community for all as residents now and in the future. Thank you. You're welcome. Ms. Cynthia Harris. Good evening Mayor Bell and city council members. I am the Rapid Rehousing Coordinator with Housing for New Hope. Before I go any further, let me introduce you to our new Executive Director Gretchen Sonata and she'll just wave. Let me tell you a little bit about rapid rehousing. Our job is to put homeless households into permanent housing. My pressing issue this evening is there's not enough affordable housing in Durham. We're scheduled to house at least 70 households this year and right now on my desk is either 20, the 30 referrals for housing of homeless families. I have a database of over 50 landlords and out of those 50, some of them may have two or three properties. We put people in those properties that are not moving out, which does not free up more available housing. I'm not sure where we're going to find housing in Durham. If we do find housing that is affordable, it appears not to be affordable once we put people in there and they add the utilities to it. That means they're paying about half of their income to maintain housing. The numbers of homeless households are increasing. More people that have been staying from house to house are asking for help. Right now it's difficult finding them a permanent place to stay that they can afford. There's limited temporary housing in Durham and there's limited permanent housing. We have very few shelters that can take people temporarily and the ones that can take people can only hold about 20 spaces. So what I'm saying tonight is I'm asking that you consider the proposal and help us to get more permanent affordable housing. I like to end by saying thank you for your current funding, including funds for rapid rehousing. Thank you. Last speaker is Ms. Selena Mack. Is anyone else that will be speaking besides? Good evening Mayor Bell and members of the City Council. My name is Selena Mack. I'm the Executive Director of Durham Community Land Trustees, 1208 West Chapel Hill Street in Durham, North Carolina. First of all, I want to thank you for your support of affordable housing in Durham and certainly to those of us who provide it. But despite all of our efforts, the need for affordable housing has never been greater and you've heard people talk about that tonight. And the need will continue to grow, particularly as we approach the idea of bringing transit to Durham. So one of the things that concerns me and I want to just kind of bring to your attention and to hopefully the attention of the other departments is that as we consider the need for affordable housing over the next five years, my biggest concern is a term of affordability. And so to best of my knowledge, for the use of these federal funds, the term of affordability is 15 to 20 years. And I certainly could be on, but that's the maximum term of mandated affordability on these units that we're developing, that we're targeting federal funds for is 15 to 20 years. So essentially what that means is if we've developed affordable housing today using home dollars by the time transit got in place, there would be no mandate for those houses to remain affordable. So what my concern is, and certainly one of the things that I want to request is that the city look at the term of affordability. Now I know that in long term and LIGHTEC properties, low income housing tax for the properties, there is the use of an extended use agreement that will extend those years of affordability beyond the initial 15 years of affordability. I have no idea what the legality aspects of this is, but I think that is something as we, with limitations on the amount of affordable housing, that's a, I mean, amount of federal funds on other funds that are available for the development of affordable housing that we really need to start looking at how long we'll mandate this affordability. Thank you. You're welcome. Other, any other persons that want to speak on this item? Again, this is the public hearing matter. Let the record reflect that no one else has to speak. I'm going to close the public hearing and going to bring this matter back before the council. Let me just make one comment. I guess this is an advertisement to a certain extent. Most of the discussions this evening have focused on affordable housing in our community. We've heard comments about what's happening in Norfolk Central Durham. Of course, the issue is not confined to Norfolk Central Durham. You focus around the light rail and we've heard you. You also know that we have a project program that's looking at the whole issue of reducing poverty. A neighborhood by neighborhood year by year starting in 2014. We've selected one of the neighborhoods that we're looking at. I would invite you. We're about to wrap up the community survey. I think October 24th is going to be the end of that. At that point in time, we'll be coming back to the various task force to try to begin to look at what we've got and then hopefully develop some strategies and goals for addressing each one of those task force. Housing is one of the task force. I would invite you to share your comments, your thoughts with that particular task force in particular. Councilman Davis is one of the co-chairs. Mayor Pro Tem is another co-chair. I realize your task is much bigger than this, but we have an immediate issue that we're beginning to work with. We could use the advice, the experience and your thoughts as we try to work on the sole issue of housing and reducing poverty in that particular neighborhood. This is a plug, but I certainly would invite you to get involved with that if you have an opportunity. Some of you are already involved. I'm not trying to pick anyone out, but I would appreciate it if you would do that. I haven't said that. I'm going to ask other comments or questions by members of the council. I recognize Councilman Schul and then Councilman Marford. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you all for coming out and talking about this important issue. It's a great concern of all of us as well. As you know right now, if you own a house in Durham, it's worth $200,000. You pay $20 every year to help build a house for somebody else. We do have a local tax that we levy to do this. One of the things we have done this year with the penny is we have extended the length of time of the affordability of quite a number of units by use of the penny. Ms. Mack, where are you? Thank you. I agree this is a really important issue. I think it's a matter of money in that case. We were able to do that by using some of our local funds, as you know, including I believe a land trust property, also one of those that we did that for, extended the length of affordability, I believe it was. I think that with the reality that we face with the 9% tax credit and the new reality that we face with the 9% tax credit and the relative unavailable, the fact that we can get one of them probably every year and not more, or very unlikely it will be more, maybe two, that we've got to come up with some other strategies because that has been a critical strategy. And I think there are some good strategies that are going around that I've heard and I would love to have some conversations with you all about them. But I want to say that the council is extremely concerned about it and very committed to trying to figure out a way to build affordable housing in the long term in the transit areas, but also adding affordable units every year. We need to add affordable units every year. So thank you, Mr. Mayor. Welcome. I recognize Councilman Moffitt. Oh, like my colleague, I just want to thank everybody for coming out tonight. I think I'm aware of my colleagues are aware that stable housing is a first step about poverty, the first step towards for those that have substance abuse problems, moving away from them, a step towards being able to get in whole jobs, the first step. And I think we all recognize the substantial needs, the fact that so many of you are here tonight just underscores that. And thank you for being here. Any other comments? If not, entertain a motion on item 4. It's been a problem with the second. I'm recognized on a large obviously specific. Mayor Bell, there's no action required. It's just to hold the public hearing. We don't adopt anything. Okay, great. That's even better. Mr. Mayor, I'll move that we accept the comments and thank people for being out here tonight. It's been probably moved second by Councilman Moffitt and Councilman Cattati. Any further discussion? Hearing none, call a question. Madam Clerk, will you open the vote? Close the vote. It passes 6 to 0. The last item we have before we go to the item that was pulled was the supplemental item Durham Chapel Carver on MPO Board Apartments. And the reason, again, I asked for this to be put on tonight rather than our regular work session Thursday is that we have a board meeting. I mean, Durham Chapel MPO Board meets Wednesday and I wanted to have this change done. So, you approve the prior title by the City Clerk. I'd entertain a motion to approve the appointment. It's been probably moved second that Councilman Schulz serves the representative and myself serve as alternate to the Chapel Carver MPO Board. Madam Clerk, will you open the vote? Close the vote. It passes 6 to 0. Let's move back to item 4 which was pulled. We had the person in the audience to pull the item, Stephen Hopkins and Councilman Schulz. Steve, Stephen here. This item is guidelines for dedicated funding source for funded small project development and neighborhood revitalization. I don't know why I was trying to find the criteria that was being proposed and I couldn't. And on process, Councilman Schulz, what is the process in getting the criteria established and picking the priorities? Good evening, Larry Jarvis, Department of Community Development. The process for establishing the criteria is the one that we are going through tonight where at the previous work session, Council reviewed the proposed guidelines and scoring criteria for the two new categories of funding that are being proposed, small project development and neighborhood revitalization. And tonight we're asking Council to approve those guidelines and those scoring criteria. And those would then be incorporated into the competitive application documents that we'll be releasing in the next few weeks, looking towards holding an application workshop late October, early November. And that's the problem that I was having with it because I've been asking everybody, all of the housing folks that I know, if they had input or even they had seen what had been proposed, and we have it. And that's just my, I just want to see it. So I would ask the council before you pass it to at least get it out to the housing folks and let us at least have a chance to look at. Thank you. Let me ask, that's another, what has been your source of input for these recommendations? What we've done in the past is what we've done, what we're doing this year is to present to Council recommended guidelines and the scoring criteria consistent with the funding plan that we had then presented to you in the spring where we suggested funding by category. So we're asking you to be consistent tonight with the process that we've used in the past. I guess I'm trying to get to Steve's point. Has anything been done externally other than what's been done internally to staff and developing this? No. Okay. I'm going to have a comment on it and we'll finish. I recognize Councilor Steve, he pulled, he pulled that item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I received, as we all did today, an email from Bo Glenn who I'm going to quote something from and I think raised an important point. I would encourage an adjustment to the criteria to provide additional points for an affordable housing project that is within one half mile of a proposed transit station. I would incorporate your reasoning and your adopted resolution establishing the goal to preserve and increase the stock of affordable housing within a half mile of each of the proposed Durham Orange Rail Transit stations. He goes on to talk about the fact that TTA will be submitting a request next year and then the guidelines emphasize transit projects that protect and provide for affordable housing with ready access to transit will score higher and that local efforts in this regard are considered in the scoring. I thought this was a good point and I spoke with Deputy City Manager Keith Chadwell this afternoon about it. He called me and after exchange of emails and so Mr. Jarvis, I was wondering if you all had a response to that or thoughts about how to handle that. Yes, we do think it's a good idea to award bonus points if a project is located within the one half mile radius and what we would propose to do if we'll look first at the small project development category and then specifically the project design and that would be 3D where we were awarding eight points based on compatibility building with adjacent land uses and proximity to commercial facilities and transportation. We would suggest there to reduce that to a maximum of four points and then add category E where a project could get four bonus points if it's located within that one half mile radius. Then similarly with the neighborhood revitalization category, we would redo the points that are possible for project design to again add an E to that that would have bonus points if a project is located within that one half mile radius. Did you say the number of bonus points in that second category? Maybe I missed that. In the first one, it would be four bonus points. In the second one, since all of them are right now five points each, probably what we would do is that to make it come out to still 20 points is reduce each one to four points. So the E, there would be four bonus points if you're located within that one half mile radius. Thank you Mr. Mayor and thank you Mr. Jarvis. I think that sounds like a reasonable proposal and I appreciate y'all responding to that today so quickly. Thank you. I have a comment and I'm again, it's not a public hearing, it's a public meeting. We took a big step when we did the one sense and we're trying to make sure we get it right. We're trying to be as transparent as possible. Larry, I think you've done a super job and fortunately I hate to see that you're going to be leaving while we're pulling this stuff together but you've done a super job in trying to pull this together. But I think we ought to take the one more step to let the public comment on what's being proposed. I'm not sure what the urgency is of enacting this tonight. Other than that, you might be leaving but what is the timetable that we've got here on trying to get this piece adopted? We wanted to go ahead and get approval of this so we could put those application documents together and get them out there and allow potential applicants plenty of time to look at getting sites under option, that type of thing so that we could receive applications in the late December, early December. Early January time frame. So we didn't want to cut them too short in terms of the due diligence they would need to do. If you want to hold it two weeks, that's what we'll do. I personally feel more comfortable doing that. I mean, just as we got a recommendation this evening from Bo Glenn who obviously has been involved in this and it seems to be reasonable. I just don't want the general public of people who are supposedly in this housing community to say you guys went out and adopted something without giving us an opportunity to have some input. I know it could have input tonight, I understand that. But I'd feel more comfortable if we could just take a couple of weeks to allow that to happen. We could adopt it at our next work session or we could adopt it at our next council meeting but I think it just gives people a little bit more time to at least have some comments on that. So that would be my recommendation to the council as we move forward on this particular item. Again, I don't have a timetable. Well, what we can do is, since this is still in our queue, is that we can go ahead in the one-base system and make the proposed edits and then... Continue for one second. Continue for one second. That's how we're going to handle it. Okay. Recognize. Okay. So if that's... I recognize Councilor Mark. And can I add... Just so that I'm clear, when you talk about... When you talk about taking a little bit of time to do this, are you thinking of public hearing at our next business meeting? I guess what I'm thinking is that the documents will be put out for the public. People want to make comments. They can forward their comments into the staff and you can take that into consideration as you bring the document back to us. I'm not trying to get into another public meeting, but just as Bo Glenn saw something and he wrote it. These people aren't dummies out here. I don't... When I say that, I don't mean that. But they have an opportunity. If you want to make comments, there's a vehicle for doing that, send it into the housing development department where Larry is. And he can incorporate those as he sees fit into the document and bring it back to us. So I'm not trying to get into another public meeting. No, that's fine. We will make those changes and send it out to our listserv, because I think everybody that is here with tonight is definitely on the listserv. And it's a pretty wide distribution. And it doesn't mean because you make a recommendation that's going to be adopted. But the fact is you have an opportunity to bring something in, but still up to the council to make the final decision on what this is going to be. If that's okay, could I have a motion to just continue this until October 23rd? Second. It's been propped and moved. And second, Madam Clerk, we open the vote. Close the vote. 23rd work session. The 23rd work session. You and I are... It passes 6 to 0. Okay. Thank you. Come see me in Raleigh. All right, Larry. Thank you. Any other items coming for the council before we adjourn? We've got the council adjourned at 9.03 p.m.