 Who the chancellor oh Can have cake yeah I don't believe so not unless the mayor surprises me I wouldn't put it past him Should I have someone Don't think that's what it means actually Else in this year All right, it's good to see you Mr. Mayor the chancellor tells me You read my mind You are Good evening like to call this meeting of the Durham city council to order 7 o'clock Monday night april the 16th And we certainly want to welcome all of you all in attendance I will ask you all now to please pause with me for a moment of silent meditation Thank you I now I'll ask councilmember reist if please lead us in the place to the flag Thank you, mr. Mayor those of you in the audience if it's your practice to do so And if you're able please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance Thank you very much Madam clerk will you please call the roll Mayor shul here mayor pro tem johnson here councilmember austin has requested an excused absence Councilmember caballero here councilmember freeman president councilmember middleton here and councilmember reese here Thank you very much. I'm going to now Ask for as as you all know councilmember austin's plane is delayed In route we hope she will make it But i'm going to ask now if someone will move that we please give her an excused absence Been moved and seconded that we give councilmember austin an excused absence Madam clerk will you please open the vote? Close the vote Motion passes six zero. Thank you very much We're going to deviate a little bit from our usual Order of business tonight We are going to do the ceremonial ceremonial items as we usually do Then we're going to do the prior items by the city manager city clerk City attorney and city clerk then we will read the consent agenda and after that We will come back to announcements by the council since we could have some lengthy discussion at that point So first I will begin though with our ceremonial items And i'm going to ask councilmember mark anthony middleton if he will do the honors With the first one Thank you, mr. Mayor and to esteem colleagues. Good evening fellow citizens residents and guests. Welcome to your city council chamber Mr. Mayor, this is my first time since being elected I'm doing a proclamation and I can think of no Better one to cut my teeth on then to honor the championship north carolina central university men's basketball team for their brilliant victory I'm going to ask if chancellor dr. Johnson. Oh, I can lay a would come up and coach lavel Motin my friend in the whole squad Oh, you short guys get down from here with me To stand right behind him The proclamation reads as follows whereas North carolina central university Is one of america's leading historically black colleges and universities And is an integral part of the very fiber of Durham as a strategic partner for the educational economic and cultural advancement of the city and Whereas the north carolina central university's men's division one basketball team won the 2018 mid eastern athletic conference me act tournament championship for the second consecutive season after topping number one seed hampton 71 to 63 inside the norfolk scope arena and Whereas with the victory The eagles earned a bid into the nc double a tournament while capturing its third tournament titled in five years and whereas north carolina central's head coach lavel motin was named the tournament's most outstanding coach and Whereas pablo revis the tournament's most outstanding performer Delivered the championship performance finishing with 22 points on eight out of 13 shooting off the bench and Whereas rashaun davis and pablo revis are included in the tournament's all tournament team and Whereas while the eagles played valiantly against its opponent They experienced an end to an impressive season finishing with a 25 to 9 record And whereas their journey to the 2018 nc double a division one tournament from selection show celebration To the matchup with texas southern and the nc double a first foreign date in ohio and Whereas collectively this team will long be celebrated for its excellence athletic prowess and the enormous sense of pride It brought to alumni fans and the larger community of north carolina central university Now therefore on behalf of the Durham city council I do hereby salute chancellor johnson. Oh, I can lay a Coach lavel motin and his staff and members of the 2018 north carolina central university men's basketball team For winning the me ac championship and for its third appearance in the nc double a tournament And call upon all citizens in the city of Durham to join in saluting these outstanding athletes And the ncc u athletic staff for a job well done We are confident in a bright future for this program and can't wait until next season Witness my hand in the corporate seal of the city of Durham north carolina the 16th day of april 2018 It is signed steven m shul mayor of Durham. I won't be too long. I know you guys have some um lengthy discussions that need to take place, but um On behalf of north carolina central university I want to thank you guys. Mr. Mayor and everyone else in just the city of Durham It's too many people to name. Thank you for your support um Thank you for your love. Thank you for your Uh representation. We're proud to be extended Part of this community and represent you all as best that we possibly can I have the best job in the world because what constitutes a great job. It's not only is this my alum But I work for this guy right here. So chancellor is the most incredible human being ever And secondly and last but definitely not least I probably get a lot more credit than I deserve because I haven't scored a bucket or Contributed I didn't play any defense. I'm kind of too old to do that And these guys right here allow me to yell at them and standing the suit on the sideline and they go out and execute So this award is strictly for them. So give them a round of applause Thank you all and um We did it back to back. So we look forward to being here Next year Mr. Mayor And the council members and the citizens of dorham We wouldn't take much of your time tonight. I simply just want to echo What our coach has already said Um, I want you to know that North Carolina Central University is a part of this city And we appreciate the integration We appreciate your love and support for our institution and for this very great team And we thank you tonight for this proclamation and we are grateful for your support. Thank you so much. Thank you Mr. Chancellor, we are all looking forward to your installation this week. We're all very excited about it. So thank you for being So now we have on another very very special Special presentation I think that I might though wait just a minute and allow other people who want to come in to do that Because this presentation is going to needle everybody's attention We're just going to wait a minute till we get the seats all filled up So everybody can be in here to hear you guys All right. Thank you very much thank you and I want to appreciate our fire marshals for doing such a good job with a big crowd. Thank you very much Now we have a very special entertainment. I'm very excited about A few weeks ago. I got invited out to read in the media center at spring valley elementary and while I was out there I Had the good fortune to be reading to an exceptional group of third grade students And they seem to have appeared in the first two rows here in Durham city hall with their teacher Ms. Alicia Morris and They while I was there with them They did a very special pledge which I thought was really amazing And so I asked them to come to city hall and do it for all of us Ms. Morris, I'm going to ask you to come up now and your students so you can Put them wherever you want and come up here and say a few words to us. Okay Good evening. My name is Alicia Morris, and I'm a third grade teacher at spring valley elementary school Mayor shul has graciously invited my third grade class and I to recite our pledge I would like to take the time to acknowledge turquoise parker A second grade teacher at eastway elementary for creating this pledge We appreciate you for sharing your words of wisdom with us Since the beginning of the school year we take time during our morning meeting to say our pledge and affirmation These serve as a daily reminder for my students to understand that their education holds a purpose for their future They know that if they take an active role and responsibility for their actions and learning They will have the power to achieve any goal They had they set their mind to in order to be successful Durham leaders So please help me in welcoming my third grade students up to them Ms. Morris and students Fabulous job and we know you're going to do all of those things So thank you all for being here and Ms. Morris I also want to thank the other staff members from spring valley who came to support you and the parents Good job parents Well done Again, we're going to pause and and let some more people in So Folks we're just trying to let as many people as we can so Thanks for your patience Thank you very much again. I want to thank our fire marshals. We appreciate you Is lisa richmond here Lisa great my council colleague charlie reese is going to read the recognition for our neighborhood spotlight tonight Lisa richmond, but let me just say that Lisa is one of those neighborhood champions who make Durham a better place Every day. She is a truly amazing neighborhood advocate And i'm really glad that charlie was going to be honoring her tonight with the neighborhood spotlight. So charlie Thank you, mr. Mayor. I appreciate that. I just wanted to also mention that my daughter is a third grader at hope valley elementary But when those third graders are doing that pledge, i'm not ashamed to say I got a little dusty in here anybody else It was amazing But enough about that. Let's talk about the neighborhood spotlight award Tonight, we're honoring lisa richmond. Who's the recipient of the neighbor spotlight for the month of april 2018 The neighbor spotlight award recognizes community members that have gone above and beyond And volunteering their time to serve their community This month lisa richmond at resident of the birchwood heights community was nominated and selected because of the wonderful work She has done in her neighborhood including but not limited to Coordinating the volunteers of the birchwood heights community center for programming including a community garden exercise classes Mentoring a food pantry and a computer lab Organizing neighborhood events and meetings including national night out and health information workshops And conducting door-to-door outreach and sharing information with neighborhood residents Congratulations to miss richmond on being the april's neighbor spotlight for the city of Durham And thank you for all the work you do to improve our Durham community If there are any residents that have shown up in support, you can stand now. Congratulations miss richmond Now i'm gonna call on uh mayor pro tem jillian johnson to uh make the The final presentation tonight For the sunday supper durham day. Good evening everyone evening So our is um james glenn keith daniel and harris fawn here and some others great Whereas the city of durham faces a one million pound shortage of food annually with nearly one fifth of citizens and one in four children considered food insecure living without a sufficient supply of food And whereas healthy food is essential to children's performance in school and adults capacity to work effectively and provide for their families and critical to families abilities to pull themselves out of poverty And whereas durham's current food distribution system lacks the additional capacity to collect store and distribute food To meet our one million pound shortfall And whereas food insecure citizens are not fully aware of the many programs and resources designed to help provide the assistance they need And whereas catholic charities which has provided food and other key services in the durham community for more than 25 years Plans to build the durham community food pantry that will provide 1.5 million pounds of food each year by 2021 And whereas in hunger durham through their information station and other methods reaches food insecure citizens with information helpful to meeting their critical needs And whereas community organizers are planning the sunday supper durham event on april 29th 2018 To raise critical funding to support catholic charities and end hunger durham as well as other worthy organizations working to address durham's food insecurity needs And whereas the sunday supper is designed to bring people together to break bread give thanks and help neighbors in need Now therefore i stevenham shul mayor of the city of durham, north carolina do hereby proclaim april 29th 2018 as sunday supper durham day In durham and hereby urge the residents of durham to support this important event thank you Thank you mayor pro tem johnson and thank you mayor shul city council fellow citizens of durham We're honored to be here We have a fantastic opportunity ahead of us in fighting food insecurity That's why our team is here. That's why we have spent so many hours Working with so many of you in our community To have the sunday supper durham And what this will be is a gathering of people Underneath the water tower to american tobacco campus on sunday april 29th from noon until 3 p.m For a very small fee you get all the food you can eat Everything you want to drink and some great entertainment So we our intent is to bring And unify durham together as much as we can for an hour have people sit across the table from one another Get to know somebody you don't know and there's magic in that there's some healing in that and at the same time We will raise some crucial funds for catholic charities new durham food pantry as well as under hunger durham These organizations are great. They are helping the citizens of durham and that's what we're about We just want to help unify durham and please Check out www.sundaysupperdurham.com. We'd love for you to volunteer or just attend and enjoy Thank you for your time and thank you for the proclamation. Mayor shul Now on to the fun stuff We will have now the uh, I'll now ask the um City manager mr. Manager any priority priority items tonight. Thank you. Mr. Mayor members of council. Good evening everyone I have one priority item this evening Which is agenda item number 16 of the utility extension agreement with the miracle league of the triangle incorporated To serve the miracle league at american tobacco for requests at this item be referred back to administration Thank you very much. Can I have a motion on the? Manager's priority item So moved second It's been moved and seconded any discussion. If not madame clerk. Will you please open the vote? Close the vote Motion passes six zero. Thank you very much madame attorney any priority items tonight Uh, no, you're no mr. Mayor. Um, i'm came early raper senior assistant city attorney Obviously, i'm not patrick baker and mr. Baker is not informed me of any priority items. Thank you very much Madam clerk any priority priority items tonight. Good evening mayor and council. I have no items. Thank you very much As I said earlier before we do announcements We're going to do the consent agenda The consent agenda can be approved with a single motion by the council Any item can be removed from the consent agenda by any council member or any member of the public And then we would take that item up at the end of the meeting. So i'll now read these items Item one approval of city council minutes item two Durham city county appearance commission appointments item three city county committee on confederate monuments and memorials appointments item four contract administration and change order performance audit dated march 2018 item six 2017 planning commission annual report item seven 2017 durham environmental environmental affairs board annual report item eight 2017 durham city county appearance commission annual report item nine 2017 historic preservation commission annual report item ten 2017 durham open space and trails commission annual report item 11 2017 durham board of adjustment annual report item 12 supplemental agreement with north kelana department transportation the city of durham for the r kelly bryant bridge trail project item 13 grant agreement with north kelana department transportation in the city of durham for the third fort creek trail extension project Item 14 proposed five-year lease with hanson aggregate southeast llc for the tier quarry at 50 90 danfield road item 15 acceptance of the donation of public art sculptures from trinity park foundation item 16 utility extension agreement with a miracle league of the triangle I'm sorry. That was the item that we have referred back to the administration Uh item 19 adoption of the downtown master plan updates items 21 through 28 These items can be found on the general business agenda public hearings Council members you've heard the consent items Can I have a motion for their approval? Mr. Mayor, I'll move the consent agenda Second it's been moved and seconded in any discussion If not, madam clerk, will you please open the vote? Close the vote the consent agenda passes six zero Thank you very much We are now going back to the announcements portion of our agenda and that after we do the announcements and Discussion related to one of the announcements we will Then go to our public hearing items me There is one As you all know, there is already one announcement by the council that Is the discussion of the Council statement on international police exchanges But we are beginning today with another announcement that i'm going to make and and we may have other announcements by the council as well As you all many of you know, there were Arrest in Durham this past week By the united states immigration and customs agency and I made a statement earlier in the weekend about this With the assistance of my council colleague Javier a caballero and she has been doing a lot of work on this over the last few days and We have another statement that we're going to make tonight I will be I will be reading the statement in english and she will be reading the statement in spanish Actually, we're going to do it the other way around she's going to be reading in spanish and i'll be doing it in english We are not taking comments on this today. It was not pre announced on our agenda but I think you will get the import Of what we have to say So Javier, I'll turn it over to you and for your remarks and for reading the statement Thank you mayor. Um, just uh Really quickly. It has been a hard few days In our state has sido muy difícil estas últimos días acá en Durham y también en Raleigh y Asheville y Chapel Hill um El cuento que les voy a decir esta noche Es una mujer que nos pidió que se quería quedar anónima y es por eso que no voy a ser su nombre De acuerdo con la primera información recibida el jueves 12 de abril cerca de las 7 de la mañana 8 agentes Generales de la agencia de inmigración y control de aduanas de los estados unidos ice Aparecieron en un complejo de departamentos donde viven muchas familias latinax Estaban buscando a una persona específica Que ya tenía órdenes de deportación contra él Una residente de Durham Que también es una mamá de un niño joven Escuchó ruido afuera de su departamento y abrió la puerta para ver lo que estaba pasando Los agentes de ice Inmediatamente y agresivamente Forzaron la entrada del departamento Los residentes adentro de la habitación eran la mujer su hermano su niño de 18 meses Dos amigos de la familia Un niño de 16 años que era el hijo de uno de los amigos y tres personas Más que vivían en el departamento Todos estaban dormidos Los agentes los despertaron ruscamente y les gritaron que presentaran su identificación Cuando la mujer pidió permiso para ir a buscar a su bebé no le dejaron El mano fue detenido y también uno de sus amigos La mamá no fue detenida Porque su niño era tan joven pero los agentes de ice tomaron fotos de su pasaporte Desde ese día la mujer nos ha dicho que se siente muy culpable de haber abierto la puerta Y que está muy traumatizada con su experiencia Se siente muy sola Y desprotegida Y ha sabido que su hermano quien era el proveedor de su familia fue transferido Al steward detention center Muchas veces la persona que los agentes es no es la persona que los agentes está buscando Y desafortunadamente son aguardados porque ice está operando con un alcance mucho más amplio Bajo la actual administración federal Cuantos de estos eventos estaban desarrollando El gerente de la ciudad de Durham confirmó con la jefa de policía Jefa CJ Davis que nosotros no recibimos notificación previa de las actividades Además yo personalmente Confirmé con el aguasil Mike Andrews que su departamento tampoco recibió notificación previa de las actividades Como alcalde de la ciudad de Durham condenó estos arrestos en los términos más Enérgicos posibles A cogemos a todos los residentes de Durham Sin importar el estado de la de su documentación y no queremos que ice tenga un grande road en nuestra comunidad Yo creo que fuera de las obligaciones morales y éticas para darles la bienvenida y cuidar a nuestros vecinos más Odenables la comunidad inmigrante de Durham tiene un impacto enorme Cultural social y económico en nuestra ciudad El éxito de nuestra ciudad Está relacionada A su éxito y su habilidad de estar seguro y vivir sin miedo Les pido que donen a los fondos legales programados para ayudar nuestros residentes En la intención y finalmente a nuestros inmigrantes Les quiero decir que te queremos Y tu lucha es nuestra lucha Durham is a city that is about to be 150 Years old in a year And I believe that was the first speech Given from this podium Aside from my occasional lousy Spanish In Spanish And I think that's a landmark moment in itself and we need to Be very appreciative of it. I'm now going to read this statement that Councilmember Caballero and I worked on together in English According to first-hand accounts on Thursday April 12th around 7 a.m. Eight federal agents for the United States Immigrations and Customs Agency ice Appeared at an apartment complex where many Latinx families live They were looking for a specific person who had deportation orders against them a Durham resident Who is the mother of a small child heard noises outside of apartment and opened the door to see what was happening And as soon as the door was open the ice agents forced their way into the apartment The residents in the apartment were her brother For 18 month old child Two family friends The 16 year old son of one of the family friends and three more people who live there as well Everyone was sleeping The apartment residents were roughly awakened And ice officials demanded they present identification The woman's brother was detained as was one of the family friends The mother was not detained because of her young child But ice agents took pictures of her different IDs The woman has since shared she feels guilty for having opened the door and is traumatized by her experience She feels isolated and alone and has learned her brother who was the provider for their family Has been transported to the Stewart detention center in lumpkin, georgia This type of scenario played out across the triangle late last week in ashville over the weekend Where people are detained in what are called collateral damage cases Like the man in chapel hill who was detained last week while taking out his garbage A person seized by ice is often not the person agents are looking for But unfortunately are caught as ice operates with a wider net and broader scope under the current federal administration As these events were unfolding our city manager tom bonfield confirmed with Durham's police chief cj davis That we did not receive Prior notification of planned ice activities in addition I personally confirmed with sheriff mike andrews that our sheriff's department received no prior notification of the ice actions as well As mayor of the city of Durham I condemn these arrests by ice in the strongest possible terms We embrace every Durham resident Regardless of documentation status and we do not want ice striking fear in our community I believe that beyond the ethical and moral obligation to welcome and take care of our most vulnerable neighbors The immigrant community in Durham has a huge positive economic social and cultural impact on our city Our city's success is tied to their success and their ability to thrive and to live free from fear I ask you to donate to the legal fund set up to assist our residents in detention Finally to our immigrant community. I want to say you are loved And your fight is our fight. Thank you very much Council members any comments any for any comments about that that anyone else would like to make Councilmember freeman and then mayor pro tem I um I had to write it down because I know it would probably get too elaborate I just want to thank the mayor and councilmember capriero for Taking a lead and setting up this statement so that we um Could say something about this. I just want to add to this conversation and And to thank El Centro for making this point Today that we spoke about it and uh pilar wrote your goberg specifically I um As a member of east of the eastern community have experienced a lot of families. I'm sorry Take your time. You're good he ain't shattered but what I was going to read what I wrote because For as long as we are going to treat our immigrant community as criminals Based on our country state county and municipal system We have to call out the immorality of the enslavement of of these human beings as well as The fear mongering that is occurring It is completely unacceptable to participate in the system That would break families apart like this And I can't say enough That is the children who suffer the most in this And I cannot bear I can't bear to continue to go through this every time with each family We have to do something enough is enough I recognize that this is a system that we must operate in but we have to do something And I'll leave that that thank you. Thank you Your pro tem Thank you, mr. Mayor. Um, I wanted to also thank the mayor and council member caviero for this statement and to Also bring into the conversation That while these raids leading to deportations are incredibly traumatic and And dramatic in the community We're also dealing with the situation where people are being pushed into into deportation every day by being arrested for minor criminal violations that lead them into deportation proceedings because our county jail continues to cooperate with ICE and to And to honor ICE detainers We don't have to do that A lot of people immigrant rights advocates and lawyers believe that it's unconstitutional to hold people beyond Beyond the the timeline that they are constitutionally allowed to be held in jail based on a request from another from another agency And there have been a number of people who have been deported as a result of Being held in the jail on ICE detainers in Durham from the Durham county jail So I just wanted to bring that concern As well into the room is something that We in our local community have direct control and direct influence over We our federal government It's it's hard to It's hard to think about ways that we can influence our federal policy right now. I think we just have to As a community stand together and support people as best we can people who are in sanctuary here people who need our help But our local policies we do have have more control over and we do have more of a say And that's something that we can all be thinking about when we're Thinking about how to support our immigrant friends and neighbors. Thank you Thank you Councilman Reese. Thank you. Mr. Mayor. I want to thank you and council member Caballero, I know that the two of you spent a lot of time On this issue late last week and over the weekend. Mr. Mayor. I know you were traveling And so the the burden was a little bit more difficult for you I also want to thank councilmember caballero, especially For making the statement that the two of you worked on I'm available in Spanish and delivered first in Spanish. I think that's really important As we go forward on this issue because it's an issue that affects our Spanish speaking neighbors, especially hard In our community as as councilmember Freeman. So eloquently told us about I just wanted to underline a couple of things before we moved on to other matters One of the reasons that these types of rates are so scary Is that they're out of our control and we have no idea if or when they will happen again in the future But one thing we do have the ability to control is whether or not we speak out on behalf of our neighbors who are Being targeted by federal agents in this way. And so I I truly appreciate Your mr. Mayor your willingness to be very vocal in support of our immigrant neighbors I want to make sure that everyone knows that every member of this council Wants Durham to be a welcoming place for all people. We want all of our neighbors to stay right here The other thing I wanted to do is just underline Briefly the mayor pro tem's remarks about ice detainers in our local jail as she mentioned Many there are a number of courts around the country who have ruled that Local jails aren't required to honor these these federal detainers. There's also been litigation around the question of funding And courts have held that the federal government cannot withhold funding Of agencies that do not honor these detainers. And so I hope that's something that will continue to be part of our conversation Here in this community as we talk about how we can stand up For the folks who are most vulnerable to these types of federal overreach actions And just again, thank you for all that mr. Mayor all the time that you've put into this issue And I hope we can figure out some way to protect one another going forward. Thank you Thank you council member All right, I just want to say one last thing of course. Um, I want to say that when One of the things that is the most helpful in our community and many of our grassroots activists do this Is when you see suspicious activity Uh, unfortunately ice agents often just wear things that say police. And so there is confusion But I know that when it's reported When it's shared out, I know in ashville that was very very tremendously helpful To get the word out so that people stay home Um They know not to drive in that part of town And so I ask all of you to please be vigilant and help take care of our neighbors Thank you very much council member freeman I apologize. Um, all right. I would just pull myself together I just want to also add to the conversation in that when i'm talking about the enslavement of our immigrant community Is it's the fact that there's not a deportation happening Is that there being there there are immigrants who are being held And forced to work At these detention centers and it's not acceptable for us to continue to put them there It has to stop I also want to add that The spanish-speaking community is under severe attack But so is the african community and the muslim community immigrants as well and is not limited to one group This is all of us And we have to stand for one another Thank you very much Thank you all for indulging us on an item that wasn't on our agenda, but is important to our community But now we'll move on to the next analysis next announcement by the council Which has to do with The statement by the derm city council international police exchanges The council will be voting on this this evening Whether or not to approve this statement I read the statement And it was discussed by council members at our work session 10 days ago After a lengthy process of discussion and hearing from our community and since that time we've heard from many more of you Thank you. We enjoy hearing from you And We have many people who've signed up almost 50 people So To speak so here's what we're going to do I'm going to read the statement again It's not too very long At that point, uh, I will ask Any council member that has a comment at that point to comment, but then we will have Comments from the public And then I will ask my council colleagues again to discuss it. I think that's probably when most of our discussion will take place as a council Since we have 50 people Who have signed up to speak i'm going to give everyone two minutes If you had planned on three minutes, which is what we mostly give Uh, when we have 10 speakers or something, uh, please rearrange your comments into two minutes. We are strict There's a timer right over here. That's a city clerk will be operating You will be standing over at this podium And when the two minutes are done The two minutes are seriously done um I'm now going to read the statement Statement by the Durham city council and international police exchanges The Durham city council appreciates receipt of the memo dated april 4th 2018 From chief cj davis a city manager tom bonfield stating that quote There has been no effort while I have served as chief of police to initiate or participate in any exchange to israel Nor do I have any intention to do so The Durham city council endorses this statement by chief davis and affirms his policy That the Durham police department will not engage in such exchanges The council opposes international exchanges with any country In which Durham officers receive military style training since such exchanges did not support the kind of policing we want here in the city of Durham We recognize and share the deep concern about militarization of police forces around the country We know that racial profiling and its subsequent harms to communities of color plague policing in our nation and in our own community In Durham, our community is working towards a time when we are beyond policing When everyone has a good job and excellent health care in a safe warm affordable place to live Until that time comes we want policing that is founded on earning the trust of the community We want policing that effectively reduces gun violence without any racial profiling ever We want policing in a justice system that do not criminalize small acts such as drug possession We're moving in that direction in Durham under the strong Persistent leadership of chief davis and her staff the police department is undergoing a profound cultural shift Which is evident in the numbers in the annual reports. We have just received for 2017 The reporting shows that while violent crime is on a 17 year downward trend in Durham We're also undergoing an extremely dramatic shift in the way Durham is engaging in police work Traffic stops at recent years have dropped from 32,227 to 11,578 Searches of cars have dropped from 1296 in 2013 to 416 in 2017 Charges for drug violations in Durham are down from 1223 in 2015 to 173 this past year Our new mr. Wiener diversion court has kept hundreds of first-time offenders free of a criminal record Use of force complaints by residents are down from 33 in 2016 to 15 last year Chief davis new u visa policy has resulted in immediate improvement for undocumented residents who assist in solving crimes As 35 residents received u visa approval from the department the first quarter of 2018 far more than ever before An array of new police department policies and practices are working in Durham And as the numbers above show with striking clarity these reforms are today making a positive difference in lives of thousands of people Especially in communities of color the council knows that we still have much progress to make Although police searches have dropped precipitously among all groups Black motorists are still more likely to be searched the white motorists And we need to continue efforts to ensure that the racial makeup of our police department more nearly represents Durham's diversity The council is deeply committed to this work, and we are grateful to chief davis for leading this cultural shift Black lives matter we can make that phrase real in Durham by rejecting the militarization of our police force in favor Of a different kind of policing and that is where what we are doing in Durham now So that's the statement and i'm going to ask now if I any brief comments from my council colleagues after which we will hear from We will hear from members of the public council members Alrighty, thank you. We're now going to hear from members of the public This is not a public hearing. It's not a public hearing format. It's not gonna. I'm it's not going to be everybody for and everybody against At different times in the program. I'm going to call your name When I call your name, I would like you to please come over here to the podium and await your turn and I will begin by calling Jane Wagstaff Muhammad Eid Larry Beckler Richard Ford k robert volkwein And tenade shawa if you all could please all come over here in the order. I called you That would be great Jane wagstaff. You're our first speaker Jane wagstaff here Jane wagstaff are you in the room? Please come up. You're our first speaker Ms. Wagstaff will be followed by Muhammad Eid Larry Beckler Richard Ford k robert volkwein Volkwein, I'm not sure if I got that right And tenade shawa so all of you all who I've called your name You need to be up here now if you're not up here now, you won't be speaking. Okay Just wagstaff You love please just for all speakers. Please give us your name and address And you have two minutes. Ms. Wagstaff welcome. My name is Jane wagstaff I live in Pennington place in Durham And I'm just gonna be very brief. I think the city Is safer if we adopt best practices There are lots of studies. I'm sure on best practices no matter where they come from And we're all safer if the police Are part of the community and Durham's about to price the police out of this community It is hard to live in this community on a policeman's salary So if you want community policing Then you need to be able to have police who actually live here So I think that's a very important piece of this But we're all safer if we're looking at best practices and we're always open to best practices Wherever it comes from and do the job that they're hired to do And insist on the best Quality and training for the people that they hire. Thank you so much. Thank you, Ms. Wagstaff We'll now hear from Muhammad Eid Mr. Eid, please state your name and address and you have two minutes Thank you. My name is Muhammad Eid. I live in Calbroon Collins crossing 501 Jones Ferry Road Originally, I'm from Gaza Strip, Palestine. I came here last august Since I came here, I haven't met my friendly kind and generous people people I care for I've been in a peaceful community I came here today to give my testimony for I care for this community I want to bother you with all the stories about the IDF storming my village since I was 12 years old When I had to wake up at night the sound of dogs Barking inside my house at the scene of my father being beaten down to the ground At the scene of my mother and my siblings being pushed around and shouted at I won't tell you. Sorry. I won't tell you about the humiliating Interrogation I had to go through on the checkpoints on my way out of Gaza Strip I'll just ask you to search on YouTube Gaza March of Rita and Mary with a flag And see my neighbor a 14 year old a 14 young Called Mary being shot in her leg and watch the people carry her away And watch her leg swinging around as the boy is literally being crushed by the bullet Sorry, watch carefully because you must know well what practices will be brought back home Search soldiers laugh when israeli sniper kills innocent elderly palestinian And watch the ethics your men will be learning overseas Watch and think of your own mothers and grandmothers Search sniper shooting palestinian on gaza border And watch how the office commands the soldier to aim at the boy a very young boy Shooting him and they both cheer in excitement Watch and watch and think of what you will be bringing back to the place you call home Because once your home is ruined you will never enjoy life anywhere else Without reason I support the police's statement against israeli police exit changes and I support the demilitarized During two palestine campaign. Thank you very much Excuse me I know you're going to want to applaud. They're 50 speakers. Okay at the very end you kind of can Applaud as much as you want, but I'm going to ask you all all to please hold your applause so we can get through this And everybody gets the respect that they deserve. Okay, so please hold your applause. Thank you so much Larry Beckler. Yes, Larry Beckler Durham Lakers court in Durham I'm a little confused by all the issues. I first became aware of the general topic last thursday I think at minimum this can be considered a very liquid or fluid rather situation I've been around now for about 70 years and I was nine When nakita khrushchev said will bury you from within I was in november of 56 I think russia has done a very good job of trying to keep its word In a recent vote over half of the millennial said they thought socialism is a good idea Never mind that it's never worked anywhere. It's been tried I draw this correlation between communism the us and israel Because the communists have always had a real problem with god and jews in particular I'd like to discuss races For israel as was stated in Uh comment I'd like to point out that in 84 was operation moses and in 1991 Solomon and that's when israel went into ethiopia and rescued black jews who would refuse to give up their faith And brought them to live in their homeland They're called the beta israel community and the largest beta community in the world Terrorists I have to comment that the ruling body in israel is the knesset It's made up of jews gentiles women and muslims and what I was interested to find out Is that the percentage of muslims on the knesset is actually more than the percentage of muslims in the in the country I'm gonna skip to the end I would like to respectfully Suggest the a word of caution for the council The bible says those who bless israel will be blessed and those who curse israel will be cursed If you curse israel today or in the future, I believe you'll bring woe upon durham north carolina in the u.s Jerusalem is the king of kingdom of god Roche and cavod mouth huso leol umboed blessed art thou lord our god king of the universe forever amen Thank you. Mr. Beckler Richard Ford Richard Ford 64 16 falcon bridge Road durham. I am the chair of the friends of durham The friends of durham do not have a position on the palestinian israeli conflict However, we wonder why the city council feeds needs Feels the need to take up a position on this There are real problems facing this city and the palestinian situation is not one of them And further nobody has ever suggested sending durham policemen to israel for training Just look at the letter you've published from chief davis So this entire discussion is much ado about nothing in my opinion And it is pursuing an insult to our chief and the police force It is ignoring the advice of rabbis representing the arc of jewish faith in durham If the council is going to work on this issue and not durham issues such as public safety Affordable housing homelessness transportation etc Then one wonders what is the council's job? The proponents tout that durham will be the first city to adopt such a resolution You know why no other city council has done so because it has nothing to do with the city council This council will end up helping the activist group say oh a city of public body has supported them That's what happened when i was on the human relations commission with reports on the police and the jail Before this meeting over the proponents will have a press release out on this Is this what we are doing with our city council? Please do not take this action table the resolution Go speak at any meeting you want But don't pretend that this is city council business or that you speak for the city on this matter The friends of durham concentrate on durham elections and issues. I hope that the city council will as well. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Ford Now, uh k robert volk wine and while you're coming forth, mr. Volk wine I'm going to call the next speakers. I would like to ask you to line up behind them as well Sandra corn Gabriel liberty Jasmine williams jack stanley Ralph mccoy And jonathan diane if you all could come and stand over here as well, that would be great Mr. Volk wine. My name is k robert volk vane And I live at 605 sanderson drive in durham, north carolina Mr. Mayor and members of the city council Thank you for this opportunity to address you on this important issue Let me start off with a quote from melton mandela You must use time wisely and forever realize that time is always right to do right To make this policy That durham will not send offices to israel to be trained to make it into law is indeed something that is the right thing to do Too many times in durham and elsewhere in this country police have caused pain and sadness Especially if they've been trained by the idf For as we can see in the last few weeks the way in which the idf has handled peaceful protest Is not the way we want our peace officers to act At the city council do right So that they can be on the right side of history Nelson mandela again It always seems impossible Until it is done Thank you. Mr. Mayor and council. Thank you. Mr. Volkvine. And now I believe this week now I believe we have jihad shawa Shawa. Yes, sir. Uh, mr. Mayor. Thank you so much. I'm trying to get here A video that it's been feeding, but I can't find Vivian. She said it's here It's a it's a must that I show you one minute out of it My name is jihad shawa again. And last time I was here Uh On the uh on the uh, you know former mayor Uh, I changed the name of the city the city of midis. I mean city of justice I hope it's gonna stay that way city of justice when you were talking about the equality for muslim Now it's the time to talk about equality of human being. Thank you so much Uh, last time sheila was Hugged and this time I asked you to hug for a few administrations. Uh, miss amos and Uh, miss brooks diana Uh, karmish and vivian. They're wonderful. So do hug them for me. I will thank you gentlemen right here I don't know if you can Click it Well, anyway, this guy here you can't yes, you can see him Excuse me It's okay from the audience. You really don't need well. I gotta say yeah, go ahead This this is this is uh, a knot will not not see. I'm sorry. That's a Zionism And then you've got the Israeli army, which I like to refer to as one of the most One of the best trained best equipped best fed terrorist organizations in the world That's the idea. Yes. They have generals and they have nice uniforms But their entire Their entire uh purpose is terrorism So just as one example I'll give you one example Almost exactly four years ago As israel began its attack. This is israel and this is Zionism born as Zionism and then he found the lying. He found all the Intimidation he found the fifth. Mr. Shawa done. Mr. Shawa. Thank you. Your two minutes are up. Thank you very much Thank you. Thank you Sandra corn Followed by gabriel liberty. You have two minutes. Please state your name and address Thank you. My name is sandra corn and I live at 803 north street through north carolina Um, for those of you who are here in support of the demilitarized erm to palestine Campaign and the policy statement against israel police exchanges. Would you just please rise in with your hands or your bodies? Thank you So I want to speak tonight about the power of coalition work and about where the jewish community stands on this issue I have had the immense honor of being part of the demilitarized erm to palestine coalition for the past two years Straight and queer students and elders white black latinx and arab Muslim christian secular and jewish We have come together with a shared vision for human rights and racial justice This coalition and this city council exemplify what I love so much about durham and why I've made this city my home I'm a jewish educator a leader in my synagogue And i'm so glad to see so many members of durham's incredible jewish community here tonight My jewish family and texts have taught me that if you can save a single life It is as if you have saved the entire world. That's why I care so deeply about palestinian human rights And why I mourn the protesters in gaza who've been killed 30 over 30 since the start of pass over That's why I believe and agree with the city council that black lives matter These are statements of jewish values Um, so city counselors I want you to know that you may be accused of anti-semitism for passing the statement I a jewish person have been accused of anti-semitism for my support for palestinian human rights But you should know that these accusations are just meant to threaten you away from sticking to your own values The durham community of all faiths rises behind you and we will support you in making a statement that represents our city's progressive values I support the policy statement against israel police exchanges, and I support the demilitarized durham to palestine campaign Thank you Hold your applause, please gabriel liberty Mr. Liberty welcome. You have two minutes. Hello. My name is uh Do this? Hello. My name is gabriel liberty. I live on hennington way in durham, north carolina and carolin force Um, based on my parents, you probably don't know this, but i'm actually an israeli american. I afford children who are also israeli and um Needless to say I'm I'm I'm torn by this statement as I agree with the second part of it but the fact that israel is mentioned in this doc in your statement Makes it into an issue that I actually am against because It's a hard one for me because israel in my respect is the most moral most Steamed country in this world who has provided so much to this world That most people don't even understand through whether it's the technology and their cell phone to their laptops that they use every day Or the the health benefits that they receive through the medicines and the water that the world receives in the food That is used in order to grow food for the poor and they impoverished and they've given so much through this Because it is a jewish tenant that we give back to this world We make this world a better place than what we live in today And what this statement does is it ostracizes us it ostracizes us It demeans us in a way that says you're different than the rest of the countries Because you don't mention any other country who does terrible acts of violence on their own citizens Like what just happened in syria What you're doing is you're basically you're putting emphasis on a country that tries so hard to do so good And then there's so much hate And because it is the only jewish country in this world that it is Ostracized and separated from the rest of the world Whether it's through the un or our bodies like this that always does this to us that we feel that we don't have a place to be and We still continue will give and we will continue to give Until we can't anymore And hopefully that day will never come and my children will be able to live a free life And to be able to be who they want to be without the threat of being killed for simply who being who they are And from the mother that they were born to Thank you, mr. Liberty Jasmine williams miss williams you have two minutes. Please give us your name and address Thank you. My name is jasmine williams. Um, I live at 802 underwood avenue Um, I think a lot of people here probably understand why we don't want our police taking pointers from the israeli military Um, but we also have to remember they should be taking tips from us either Um policing in this country is so violent And so historically racist that it shocks other countries um And black people make up triple the proportion Of the population on the inside then they do in the country as a whole Um, and I say this as a black person Um as a person who is muslim Um as a person who is indigenous to this land that we now call the united states Um, so when we we're looking at a country that's an estate which a lot of people would describe as apartheid I think the last place that they should look to to swap expertise With would be the people running the united states incarceration system I support the ban exchange changes both, um for the sake of over-policed people here, especially black and brown people Um, and in palestine. Thank you. Thank you. We'll now hear from jake stanley Mr. Stanley You have two minutes Hi there. I'm jake stanley. I live at a 200 knock circle in durham And i'm here as a millennial representing the north carolina piedmont chapter of the democratic socialist of america sponsoring partner of this campaign So as a democratic socialist, we believe in government government truly by for and of the people We are fighting alongside the groups today and many all over the country to transform the united states So that everyone particularly black indigenous immigrant lgbtq muslim and other oppressed communities can thrive not merely survive on the scraps of a wildly unequal capitalist system Freedom from the fear of state violence is essential to creating that thriving society As we have seen in the past decade in the streets of ferguson chicago and baltimore The sidewalks of statten island the neighborhoods of south south sacramento and countless places in between including just over the weekend With ice, um black and brown people are disproportionately threatened and killed by law enforcement The militarization of police municipal and county forces that look more and more like an army than peace officers This compounds a systemic problem We reject the idea that u.s police from the leadership down to regular officers Have anything to learn from the israeli military police the enforcement arm of a racist apartheid state and a violent settler colonial project We are encouraged by derm's efforts to reform the police towards support of and accountability to dermites Especially our communities of color, although we agree with mayor shul and the council that there is much more work to do We want to focus on improving other measures of public safety like affordable housing and health care strong public And a livable wage Therefore we join this call for the derm city council to create a new policy That unconditionally bars police training exchanges with israel or other foreign militaries and police. Thank you Thank you. Well now here from ralph mccoy. Mr. McCoy. You have two minutes thank you Ralph mccoy 4305 mihers park drive durham I keep on my cell phone a picture of a 13 year old boy Amad Abdel docker On november the 9th 2012 I was with an interfaith delegation in gaza when we received a call from a un representative Asking us to come to a local village There we met amad's parents The previous day amad was playing soccer with friends in front of his home He was shot by an idf soldier from an israeli helicopter The israeli military was in gaza illegally clearing Terrain beside the wall that imprisons that land Amad ran to his front door and fell dead Since his death over 700 children have been killed by israeli police and military Most from indiscriminate fire It's impossible to express the grief of his parents that day Only sig only cindy and craig quarry Our leaders on that delegation could understand their unspeakable loss Their daughter rachel was run over and killed by an israeli military build-ozo while protesting the demolition of a president of a palestinian home in 2003 There was never any public investigation or explanation of why the idf soldier shot amad During the past three weeks men women and children in gaza have been protesting a 50 year occupation And illegal imprisonment They have been shot by israeli military snipers Is this the type of culture that we want the durham police Have training in I support The policy against israel police and military exchange. Thank you Thank you. Mr. McCoy before the next speaker comes forward. I'm going to ask to line up also Dr. Burhan ghanayim William Rosenberg Isle con I hope I have that name right Lara gutman And I'm sorry. I'm having a hard time reading this one. Lara heartache perhaps And max chairman if you all could please Line up behind mr. Diane In order that would be great mr. Diane. Thank you for being here. You have two minutes Thank you council members Thank you council members. Uh, jonathan dion. I live on anderson street in duke forest and durham We moved here seven years ago to be transient and we love durham so much So we decided to stand this wonderful city built a new business here And ironically Our business is mainly bringing money from israel for lower income investments Building housing for lower income in durham So, uh, I hope that in the end of this evening, we will find a reason for more investments coming to durham that we are more inclusive The beautiful part about This council is everything that was said in the beginning. So all the proclamations Our wonderful achievements in and central university All of this is all inclusive is all what we love about durham and then comes a statement That 95 percent of it is great, but it starts with some kind of racist dividing Line and it says israel it doesn't say syria doesn't say South american countries that are oppressive and The the ironic part of it is that no one here that spoke up to now said a word about policing We all talked about military Now if the if the statement's idea is to bring up the problems between palestine and israel It did a wonderful job If the statement idea is to keep durham unified with a great police that has a future and keeps its citizens safe Then leave out israel Just talk about what what the issues are and don't bring up this divide. Look at we're half half Yes, some people clap a little bit more or less a couple later or less, but We all love each other in the wind if we love durham, okay Let's put aside israel and palestine Make a make a statement again with for the police build durham leave leave the politics for others to deal with right now Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Diane Dr. Burhan Ghanayim You have two minutes, sir. Thank you. Uh, I'm sure my family on occupied palestine dream of Having this right that we all are enjoying tonight. My name is Burhan Ghanayim. I am durham resident for more than 35 years I stand here today in support of the policy statement to be considered by the city council Just in the last two weeks in the palestinian territory of gaza We have witnessed this diddly forced by the israeli army that is used against palestinian protesters Over 35 people were killed over a thousand people were injured Their fault was demanding freedom and return of the stolen land and homes that they lost This is not new. I was the Victim of brutal beating as a teenager in my high school in occupied palestine When the israeli army stormed our high school Came into our classes and beat us with now mercy or Reason All the reason we were protesting the presence of soldiers on our high school grounds That was our fault The israeli military tactics This is the tactics that they are trying to sell to the city of durham and other cities in the united states How to suppress crowds how curtail freedoms? Israel markets these tactics as tisted and Tried on palestinians We wholeheartedly endorse the proposed statement I like to assure all of my durham fellow neighbors That this coalition today Is not anti-semitic As it is against anti-semitism. It is against racism. It's against Brutalities against minorities people of color I extend my hand to all of you Who oppose this to come and join me in support of this statement. Thank you, mr. Good. I am dr. Good. I am William Rosenberg. Please come forward. You have two minutes and please state your name and address Thank you. Thank you, mr. Mayor and members of the council. My name is William Rosenberg I'm a resident of rtp and carry but I have a strong interest in what's happening here um My request is that you table this statement at this time Until you can measure and understand the full impact of what it means to durham Please understand that if the durham city council Passes this statement Outside of the durran city council It will be widely recognized and widely publicized as anti-israeli and anti-semitic That will adversely affect the broad interests of durham In business home values schools and universities So I request one thing that you table this until you actually measure and understand The long-term impacts that this action could have Thank you. Thank you, mr. Rosenberg Well now here from faisal con You have two minutes. Please give us your name and address phasal con 501 Jones ferry road carburel Thank you very much mayor council members and everybody else in the audience for giving the opportunity to speak on this very important issue I want to ask all the council members including the mayor To ask this question to yourself Your conscience Would you support what ice did this this past weekend? Because they are doing exactly the same thing as what the israeli police and idf are doing in occupied territories of palestine I want you to ask this question to yourself How would a two-year-old child would ask for help And his or her house is invaded by the intelligence community of israel or idf or the israeli police How would that child Would ask for help How did this child ask for help When the ice agent stormed into that apartment Or in carburel or in chicago Or in la Because we are dealing with the same issue here This is not a political issue This is a human rights issue This is a dignity of palestinians living in gaza as a part of palestine living in the west bank Which is part of palestine east jewell slum which is part of palestine Very simple I'm really disturbed What is happening in this country right now? It's unprecedented and unacceptable We should not have any training exchange programs with the doran police department or any israeli intelligence police or idf It's unacceptable So i ask you Support the statement Thank you Thank you Can i ask you to hold your applause please laura gutman? Please come forward you have two minutes Members of the council um audience Um, i'm laura gutman and i live on watts avenue. I've been there for 47 years. Um, i'm um wanted to comment On the um proposal which appears to be a proposal having to do with the training of the um Durham county of the durham city law enforcement agents Um, we have a very fine chief of police who was recruited Very carefully she comes with an enormously credible Reputation nationally She's a very fine exceptional recruit part of the usual Expectations of the chief of police Is that she will determine the appropriate training for the police officers and um this Um a statement is going to compromise that um and removes that from her Full purview I think this is profoundly disrespectful for a highly professional Member of of our community who was brought to us. Um, I think by perhaps members of this council In any case, I think that again that this is very disrespectful and I urge you to return this um The the ability of of uh her ability to train to decision that the decisions to train her own officers Um, for the appropriate roles which they have to play Thank you Thank you very much miss gutman now. We'll hear from laura huntush Not sure I have that right Hi, my name is lemma abu huntush and I live at duke university Um There's since 1967 40 of palestinian men and 20 of palestinian women have been in prison at some point in their lives In in some ways the ones who make it to prison with their limbs and lives intact are the lucky ones These are idf soldiers incarcerate mutilate and often kill young palestinian men to prevent them from fighting back against apartheid In fact of my mother's 24 male cousins in the west bank 23 have been arrested on trumped-up charges Virtually all were beaten and many were brutally tortured in israeli prisons against the geneva convention This institutionalized system of prejudice and mass incarceration is mirrored here in the us Which boasts the world's largest prison population and is disproportionately composed of black men In the words of angela davis Palestinians and black americans are in the same state the carceral state, which is alive and growing here in durham The durham police are supposed to serve and protect our community But idf soldiers neither serve nor protect palestine. They occupy it By engaging in police exchanges durham's department is learning to enhance racial profiling use excessive force and police the community like an occupying military Just yesterday I had probably the scariest experience of my life not involving an idf machine gun When I woke up to a text from my friend saying he'd been arrested While walking on duke central campus the night before a police officer had stopped him and asked for his identification But he wasn't carrying his duke id He was later handcuffed and held in police custody until his roommate confirmed that he is in fact a deuce student But why hadn't he a visibly college age? uh Person on a busy campus been singled out as if he didn't belong because he's a young black man These are your tax dollars at work racial profiling and presumption of guilt courtesy of the idf The durham police department must reflect the community. It serves not the israeli military We must end police exchanges. I support the uh, this resolution um to end israeli police exchanges durham. Thank you so much Thank you very much Max german you have two minutes as mr. Chairman comes up. I'm going to Call out the names of the next group of speakers and if you'll come over here to my right and line up that would be great uh in Jenny blasts david roswell Jerome fox carol fox david T-h-e-u-r-e baby thurrer not sure you live on demaria street. You know who you are uh rabbi zalman blooming And lee mortimer if you all could please come over here to my right Uh, and you will be following Mr. Chairman mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here. Please tell us your name and the address i'm max german. I'm also student at duke Today we are faced with a non-issue non no ongoing durham police cooperation with any military exists nor would it be likely Chief davis asserted her one visit to israel was a good will trip focused solely on leadership development and public relations with homeless populations She should not be misrepresented by this council Despite a letter signed by 10 esteemed diverse local rabbis warning against targeting israel Certain members of this council join the join petitioners and put political interests ahead of the community they serve Is this consistent with a durham for all? Will these members have the professionalism to become proximate with a jewish with the concerned jewish community? Or will they continue their sly machinations while fleeing from accountability to their constituents? Note this Students for justice in palestine at duke university a group closely tied with the petitioners ignores the terrorist group hamas's genocidal ambitions and suggests israel provokes wars in gaza to use it as a human laboratory Of experimentation subjects for testing its advanced weapons in intelligent systems for economic gain It's 2018 And the jews are again being baselessly and shamelessly accused of heartless manipulation Murder etc for economic gain This must be stopped However, it seems like the council today is intent on sending its message The message it sends is a resounding one If you are a business owner or an individual looking for a community to call home Don't you seek a community built on respect honesty and trust? Not one that stabs you in the back Shouldn't your elected leaders care about serving their hardworking constituents? Not narrow political interests Today the jewish community has been misled and ignored tomorrow. It could be you Thank you, mr. Chairman. Well now here from jenny blasts was blast. Please tell us your name and address You have two minutes Jenny blasts odys road chapel hill Not not Durham, but I know a lot, but I go to a shule in the area and I know a lot of people who live here Anyway, I'm jewish and proud of my religion and heritage And that extends the state of in that extends to the state of israel The insinuations that the state of israel with where I have family Is racist and supports white supremacy are extremely harmful to me I feel that what israel does has been misconstrued by many people in this room Israel only fights in self-defense And the israelis want peace as much as the palestinians The labeling of israel in particular is violent In militants is offensive to me as a person and as hints of antisemitism I'm not saying that this issue isn't worth discussing I just think we um that we need to take a look at the motivations in particular political ones that are behind this controversy I hope Durham in the research triangle as a whole will continue to be welcoming to people who identify with israel like I do Thank you for giving me your time Thank you very much Ms. Blass now we'll hear from david roswell You have two minutes I am david roswell. I live at 106 west woodridge drive in Durham I'm a member of the people's alliance and i'm reading a statement written by the people's alliance in support of the campaign Dear mayor shul and members of the derm city council We are writing to express the support of the derm's people's alliance where the campaign Led by the derm to palestine coalition to preclude to preclude any collaboration Between the derm police department and the israeli defense force We strongly support the message in mayor shul's statement that the council opposes international exchanges with any country in which Durham officers receive military style training Since such exchanges do not support the kind of policing we want here in the city of derm We ask the city council to act on that message and to pass the resolution They clearly expresses the city's commitment to pursue community safety without resort to the kind of military tactics Used by the israeli police against palestinians Policing in the u.s. Has a long history of violence against black and brown communities While the derm police department under chief cj davis has begun to make progress in reducing the incidents The incidents of targeting and violence against black and brown communities Including immigrant communities. We want to see continued progress and more demilitarization not less The demilitarized derm to palestine Palestine campaign is based on the finding that police exchanges between the u.s. And israel promote militarized policing At home and overseas And we have seen under the trump administration the language of security and counterterrorism Being used to enable racist scapegoating and justify violent and discriminatory practices against targeted communities Now more than ever we need to challenge the idea that our security comes from militaries police prisons and border walls And work towards a safer world for all people based on community equality and justice The people's alliance believes that derm can best promote public safety by moving ahead on the vision laid out by the mayor In his state of the city address. Thank you. Thank you We'll now hear from jerome fox My name is jerome fox. I live on 13 mandy court here in durham I'm one of the rabbis Who sent the letter to the council urging you not to Single out the state of israel in your condemnation or your your problems you're having with police training And uh, I have had a lot to say but i'm gonna have to cut it. I know I want to say that the group that is fomenting that is called the jewish voice for peace And that sounds very nice, but one of them came to a seminar. I was teaching just thursday of last week And she began to spout What I would call anti-semitism She said the israeli army is A bunch of butchers just as bad as isis That's why i'm wearing the israeli army skull cap tonight, by the way Uh, and then she went on to say that she wants one state between the jordan and the Mediterranean and I said well, then you know the jews would eventually get outnumbered and then the palestinians there could democratically de judae eyes the state of israel And throw out the national anthem the hebu language, etc etc and I contend That any person who says that who wants to de judae eyes the state of israel Is an anti-semit and this particular young woman who came to my class. I believe is a jew Thank you. Thank you carol fox Carol fox you have two minutes. Thank you for being here. Okay, you're welcome So my name is carol fox and I live at 13 mandy court in durham And I would like to request of city council That you please remove Mention of israel or the israeli police From your resolution On other matters concerning the city of durham Israel has no relevance to the issue of how Durham police does its job Israel has no relevance to the issue of police brutality or unfair treatment of people of color Or disabled people here in durham or in the united states Removing mention of israel will make the proposed resolution stronger and clearer and less confusing Removing mention of israel from the resolution will prevent city council from muddying the waters In the issue of community policing and local city matters Thank you. Thank you very much And now we will hear from David thurer Hi, y'all. Um, i'm david thur. I live on demarius street here in durham And i'm here representing the inside outside alliance We support the ban on police exchanges with israel We believe that the displacement of palestinian people is unjust and that is important to disrupt the facade of normalcy Just exchanges seek to create the occupation of palestine Haven't seen in the past few weeks the violence carried out against palestinian protesters by israeli security forces We believe such exchanges don't only further militarize durham police I can say personally Haven't been tear gassed by the durham police while peacefully protesting the death in custody of uh, tru werta That we are already that they are already dangerously militarized because of this We support the policy statement against israeli police exchanges and we support The demilitarized uh, durham to palestine campaign. Thank you. Thank you We'll now hear from Rabbi zalman blooming Thank you your honor the mayor and the city council I have the greatest respect for you and our community and jewish community praise for your success and continued success Each week in shul First i want to thank you for bringing so many people together to speak about israel Right before her 70th birthday I congratulate you on the 150th birthday of durham north carolina which we're going to be in it one year from now and Over 3 000 years of the jewish presence in the holy eternal capital in the city of jewslam But i have one request My request is let's make a city. We love a city for all I'm here less to talk about israel and more to talk about durham as a rabbi That works with a lot of young adults and students here in this community. My phone has been ringing non-stop over the last week Of young adults that live here that feel unsafe That feel marginalized That felt a feel as if for some reason they've been singled out And i'm not aspiring any judgments on the city council on what they meant But language matters and it affects And i wonder why if a statement was made, why don't we consider this sensitively? There are many rabbis in our community. Was any of our rabbis Spoken to uh with the heads of the jewish federation spoken to so we can share the sensitivities About this Very vital and very important issue. Look i've been to israel I'd like to argue probably more than almost anyone in this room I sat there a few months ago a few weeks ago by the gaza border So i know what it is huddling with young 18 year old people who are fighting for their lives in this desperate battle It's very it is not simple at all And i'm wondering why would you single out israel you want to mention all countries in the world that you don't want to work with Good luck Feel free to israel doesn't need business israel is doing very well But why why is israel mentioned and singled out and so my only prayer to the city council which does such incredible work is Let's make the city we love A city for all. Thank you. Thank you rabbi Now we'll hear from now. We'll hear from lee mortimer And while mr. Mortimer is coming up i'm going to ask um these people to also come up uh and To my right evalina molder tom stern Debra freedman Elise crystal muska blooming and ihab mikati And i believe that there's another debra freedman. We have two of you No, you're the same person But you may not speak twice okay, um All right, uh, so now we're gonna hear from mr. Mortimer Followed by miss molder mr. Mortimer welcome. You have two minutes. Good evening. I'm lee mortimer I live at 41 16 living stone place in the trotter ridge neighborhood I'm a 30-year resident of durham our son entered kindergarten here and went through durham public schools I participated in a number of civic activities including serving on two Task forces studying city county merger. I was a youth soccer coach several seasons and a candidate for the school board in Year 2000 I think I did better as a soccer coach than in that school board election I'm here tonight representing the coalition for peace with justice Our office is located at the lion park community center We advocate for a peaceful resolution of the israeli palestinian conflict We have endorsed and I have personally participated in the demilitarized durham to palestine campaign We urge you to support this policy statement Putting the city of durham on record as opposing members of our police department being trained By israel's police and military I don't know all the components of training that other u.s. Police departments have undergone During often fully paid trips to israel I do know that israel has a well documented record of human rights violations And that our police would gain nothing worthwhile from being trained by a regime that holds a subject people Under military occupation as it dispossesses them and colonizes their land This is not as some opponents claim Singling out only one country on the planet israel Far too many regimes brutalize their subject populations But israel is the only one on which the u.s. Government lavishes military financial and political support Hold your applause, please. I'm a student like leigh. Excuse me one second. I'm serious about holding the applause okay, leigh And turns a blind eye to virtually every brutality it commits Our police officers should not be trained in military style surveillance of social movements Racial profiling extreme crowd control measures and use of excessive force that can lead to de facto shoot to kill policy Thank you, mr. Waterman. Thank you. You two minutes are up. Thank you very much. Thank you We'll now hear from evalina molder I'm evalina molder. I live on settlement drive in Durham I must admit i'm perplexed The statement on policing by the city council seems to be a response To a non-existent problem Police chief davis has indicated that there are no plans to train with police from other countries So why is it necessary to issue a statement? Bet there will be no training with israel I fear that the council by issuing this statement has become a pawn in a publicity initiative I moved to Durham in part because it's a well managed city With elected and appointed officials who share the values that I hold dear This statement has currently worded demonizes israel and by implication the jewish people I am one of those jewish people And i'm a derm resident I have no vested interest in whether the derm police train with the israeli police But I cared deeply that israel not be vilified and misrepresented I cared deeply that the council take the time to reword the statement Removing reference to israel and thereby removing the unnecessary and politically motivated targeting and demonization of israel Thank you. Thank you. Ms. Malder Tom stern you have two minutes I am tom stern at 204 reeks b avenue. I have lived in Durham for over 30 years, and i'm jewish I speak in opposition to those who seek to sabotage the council's courageous stand against further militarization of our police By quoting from the so-called omitted portion of chief davis's memo regarding her experience in israel Their position would have you believe that these police exchanges are simply about leadership academies And building relations with refugees in the homeless Nothing could be further from the truth Regardless of chief davis's specific experience the major organizations facilitating police exchanges with israel tout their focus on counter terrorism tactics For example, I hold in my hand A recent anti-defamation league recruitment brochure for these police exchanges with israel It lists the training topics as preventing and responding to terrorist attacks Intelligence gathering and the evolution of terrorist tactics Two other major providers of these training state. They are to strengthen law enforcement Counter terrorism practices and security tactics There is simply no denying that these trainings are inextricably linked To the militarization of israel's police and security forces and serve to export that mindset and those tactics to police departments in the us Further the claim that durham was has not been complicit in these military style trainings is also false former police chief lopez attended one in 2008 and this adl Recruitment brochure lists durham north carolina as the police department that has participated in these military style trainings Think about that the adl is using durham's good name without our permission to recruit more local police departments in the us To further militarize their police departments Durham needs to be clear that our police are community-based. We do not support racial profiling We do not support disproportionate and violent responses to civilian protests We do not see our own residents as the enemy I support the city council's proposed new policy against these exchanges. Thank you Thank you. Mr. Stern. Now we're going to hear from deborah freedman Ms. freedman welcome. You have two minutes My name is deborah freedman and I live on hardscrabble drive in hillsboro, but I am a durham taxpayer Members of the council Many people in this room understand there are several different kinds of racism One kind is obvious. It is in your face use of the n word lynching We have seen it all too often Many of you also understand that there is racism that is more subtle Prison sentences that are longer for minority people Justice applied unequally confederate monuments since jews have experienced this kind of racism called Antisemitism for millennia We have a long tradition of empathy and support for the african-american communities fight for equality We are proud to have supported And provided such support Some jews have even sacrificed their lives for this cause Just as there are different types of racism. There are different types Of anti-semitism There is a swastika that even anyone in this room would recognize as an overt obvious sign of anti-semitism Then there is the subtle kind that many in this room don't see It comes in the form of a double standard of hypocrisy and scapegoating That is exactly what is going on here You should be ashamed to allow this to happen in Durham It's clear that you need an explanation as to why this petition is racist discriminatory and anti-semitic It starts with the premise a lie that is repeated so often That people believe it that is reilly police teach militaristic tactics Did you bother to investigate the validity of this accusation? Or is it something that you simply accept as truth without question? Israel has world-renowned expertise not only in counter-terrorism But also in how to assist during natural disasters and in leadership as police chief davis knows firsthand If the concern is international training in general, why don't you investigate argentina greece haiti hungary? Thank you miss freedman. Thank you Elise crystal you have two minutes. Thank you. My name is elise. I live on princeton avenue in durham. I'm an american jew Last week may a pro tem julian johnson pointed out in her statement That there's no clear evidence that the police trainings with israel lead to increase violence on the streets of us cities Of course violence in the us predates the state of israel the creation of the state A state that like the u.s. Was founded on white supremacist ideologies on ongoing dispossession of the indigenous population And on ongoing violence directed at its non white population But we do have some anecdotal evidence for example in washington dc Police adopted the israeli tactic picked up when they went on a ride along with the Jerusalem police of keeping the red and blue lights on their cruisers flashing at all times to be more visible So that their presence has always felt particularly in poor black neighborhoods Rick fuentes superintendent of new jersey state police said the knowledge gleaned from observation and training during the trip prompted significant changes to the organizational structure of the new jersey state police And brought about the creation of the homeland security branch This branch comprising nearly a thousand members of the state police now maintains a steady state of vigilance in new jersey And quote these strategies and policies adopted after the exchanges May appear benign especially to those of us who are not used to being under constant Surveillance and maybe none of these police departments needed to travel to israel to develop these plans But they did Is there a causal relationship between going on these exchanges and increased violence? We may never have empirical evidence But we see in the current political climate The kind of racist scapegoating and support for discriminant discriminatory practices against targeted communities That isn't new But now we have the opportunity to redefine safety and security on our own terms In our own community based on equality and justice. I support your statement. Thank you Thank you, miss crystal And now we will hear from muska blooming Miss blooming you have two minutes It's a wonderful honor to speak before you dear mayor and thank you for what you do for the city It's also great to be able to talk about israel, especially on the eve of her 70th birthday this week As you know, north carolina and israel share a robust friendship built on economic cooperation and common values For our 60th birthday the general assembly reaffirmed as the resolution states the people of israel have established a vibrant pluralistic democratic political system including a freedom of speech press assembly And religious and religion israel is also one of north carolina's top trading partners Since 1996 israel has Partner with close to two billion services from the tar hill state the two have also shared millions of billions of dollars And by national grants supporting their respective Universities as they strive to make new technological and medical advances as the statement called for north carolina to honor 60th anniversary as a modern state. I would love for you to do the same and continue And consider to do that for the 70th As i'm sure you are familiar House bill 161 north carolina recently signed publicly declaring support for israel and legislating punitive measures Against those boycotting the jewish state divestment the companies the boycott israel Yet the language of what was bought by the council highlights schismism and dividing those gives the wrong vibe about a very healthy relationship that truly exists Thank you Thank you very much miss blooming uh While we're waiting to hear from eehob mccutty. I'm going to call the following people up and if you would Please come over to my right amad amirah Mike ross Lee mortimer you cannot speak again adam goldstein minister rafiq zayidi muhammad stan rob boy peter writes's And reverend curtis gatewood If you all would please come to my right We will now hear from eehob mccutty I'm sorry. I'm working on it. Sorry eehob mccutty. Sorry. If you would give us your name An address and then you'll be followed by amad amirah Yeah, mccutty 511 carleton avenue I also wrote the op-ed and the herald sign which i provided to councilmember freeman There are three comments that keep coming up that people seem to be confused by that. I'd like to talk about First some people are asking Why do we care about israel specifically? Is this a foreign policy statement? They're asking Aren't there other countries that treat people worse? And the answer is not any countries that we give so much aid to Because my tax dollars fund this police department and because my tax dollars fund a militarized israel It is my personal responsibility to oppose any abuses from those two institutions. It's as simple as that The second question is Is the city of durham even taking part does israel have a relationship with our pd? And the answer is yes, and tom stern earlier brought the receipts as recently as last december in documents that are titled national counterterrorism seminars And so that leads into the third question, which is Is There what's so wrong about counterterrorism training? Two weeks ago the israeli military massacred protesters near border fence in gaza You may have heard that a journalist critical of the occupation was among those killed by israeli troops You may have seen a video that emerged of snipers shooting a palestinian protester Who is standing harmlessly in the distance as the soldier and his friends laughed and cheered at the shot You may have heard the israeli defense minister Confirmed that this was not an exception to the military culture But was the encouraged practice saying that the sniper should be decorated and the photographer should be condemned If it's not obvious to you, this is what counterterrorism looks like in israel It doesn't have anything to do with minimizing violence But with expanding the definition of terrorism so broadly that it means standing around a fence that the government doesn't like you to stand around Americans are already terrorized by state violence at protests Remember the water cannons used in freezing temperatures on the indigenous people at standing rock for example Like the palestinians. These were people who were standing up for their right to land stolen from under them Instead of protecting us our police grow more and more each year to look like soldiers And the violence that is enacted upon their victims isn't treated as a crime But as an unavoidable or even heroic action Whatever these two forces will learn from each other. It won't make me feel safer We should make Durham a leader in true safety and ban these exchanges Thank you We'll now hear from Ahmad Amira Mr. Amira you have two minutes Amira 51 brody dim drive go duke the atlanta police department in 2014 said that chief davis's atlanta exchanges Quote include training where officers learn tactics on preventing acts of terror And quote the atlanta mayor defended these exchanges for their counterterrorism focus and donald trump has applauded israel For its racial profiling and has even used israel's apartheid system as justification for his border wall and for his muslim ban At this point city council needs to draw a clear line between counterterrorism and deadly racism for israel the line blurs into one And countless palestinians have died as a result Former israeli defense minister masya lawn has admitted the targeting civilians in lebanon in 2006 and in gaza in 2014 Current defense minister avigdor liberman recently claimed that quote There are no innocent people in gaza after he authorized the murder of dozens of unarmed gaza protesters Durham needs to take a stance against the intentional murder of civilians and not glorify atrocity by claiming israel is some expert in counterterrorism The countless hours of interrogation every palestinian faces when traveling through israel is not counterterrorism It's racism israel's airport security that uses a scale of one to six to identify an individual's threat level is assigned by race The six on my passport classifies me as an extreme threat to israel Calling me a terrorist just because i'm palestinian. That's not counterterrorism. That's racism Arresting teenagers in the west bank like a head to me me primarily waving flags and throwing rocks like those That's not counterterrorism. That's excessive force and that's deadly I say Let's not glorify the deadly racism that israel imposes upon the palestinians that illegally occupies Don't let the suffering the palestinian space under the israeli military Become some model for policing in america reject racial profiling Reject police militarization And put our black and brown communities here in america first Black lives matter We need to reach a point where those words represent the widely accepted truth and not some distant goal Let's make a difference. Let's demilitarize durham and free palestine. Thank you. Thank you Thank you very much. Um mike ross We won't take your two minutes for that mr. Ross Thank you very much. Mr. Ross you have two minutes Thank you mayor and city council members for allowing me to speak I had three main points, which I may not get to first jvp's pervasive demonization of israel as we see tonight Is a recipe for unending conflict The anti def of two the anti defamation league the premier jewish organization fighting for social justice has been targeted by jvp's initiative And three as we witness today jvp's bringing the conflict and discord from the middle east to our city council First in the petition jvp disgracefully claims a direct link between us police training in israel to deliberate oppression of minorities here That is there is absolutely no evidence for that smear and teaching such hate will never lead to peace Tonight they will hijack this forum as we've seen to attack israel. They will make claims which Are are accusing the one jewish state of being entirely evil Make that a make that a what you will but their statements will be a steady stream of accusations more about instilling blame than being constructive Mutual respect comes from cooperation and compromise not continued incitement and conflict Second jvp has attacked the adl the adl which sponsors trainings for police to combat hate crimes To counter implicit bias and to build trust with communities Their courses in israel focus on israeli's balancing of security concerns with the imperative to uphold civil rights It is a gross inversion of reality to claim that the adl is complicit in oppressing people of color Third as we see today jvp is Bringing the conflict to us They are sowing division in the community by telling minorities that israel and its supporters are to blame For police brutality against them This lie leads to distrust division and inevitably hatred I'd rather envision a Durham that is inclusive and tolerant in summary. Please do not support their device of agenda Please continue to be a welcoming city. Don't listen to people Either from the right or from the left who want to tell you what to be afraid of and who's to blame for it Thank you, mr. Ross adam golstein Adam goldstein, uh, yukaya lane chapel hill north carolina. Thank you for allowing me to speak today And thank you for your service on behalf of the people of durham My name is adam goldstein. I'm a family physician I've been involved in multiple leadership positions in the durham chapel jewish community for almost two decades including Being past president of the learner's school in durham past president durham chapel jewish federation That supports over 5 000 jewish families in this region in israel I'm chair of the statewide north carolina hillow and 13 campuses throughout north carolina for jewish life on campus Why do the majority of jewish organizations and synagogue leaders see your current statement as anti israel and anti zionist And why do some see overtones of anti-semitism? These concerns is applied to israel are not simply criticism Because we are all willing to criticize as we are here in the united states at times But it's when policies or statements are done That seek to delegitimize Demonize and apply double standards to israel. They're almost always done under the shadow of extreme prejudice Whether from the hatred and lies of the far right or the far left The petition which became a statement started with the premise that was false and demonizing and six council members signed it Despite changing the petition to the statement Please take ownership that the sponsorship of the petition in this entire episode Is designed to single out one country in one country only not iran, syria, north korea, china or russia But israel you do so in conjunction with an organization known to demonize israel and you do so in a way that will harm jewish life On campus in towns in north carolina and durham moving forward Finally, you have the completely distorted the durham police department's chief glowing statement on israel Trying to take one sentence out of context to support of you is not truly honest You brought these petitions up during the jewish holidays a pass over and right before the jewish memorial in israel For fallen soldiers the whole statement starting from a petition for an issue that doesn't even exist Along with your failure to consult with multiple jewish leaders to discuss this impact along with continuing to keep the name of israel On the statement and distorting the police chief statement are blights on this great city Less changes are made tonight. Thank you. Thank you We'll now hear from minister rafiq zayidi muhammad sir. You have two minutes Good evening To this council deals and local government body. I am rafiq zayidi muhammad. I resided 807 south duke's street down north kalaima I am a muslim believer A father of the honorable minister lewis farakhan in the nation of islam I have been on the forefront with the palestinian brothers and sisters in this country since 1975 I went to jail in chicago for standing up for the palestinian's demonstration But first and foremost tonight. I want to say this. I thank council Very deeply from my heart Because the move that you have made to approve this petition Was one against forces that are unseen There is a synagogue of satan That's always lingering in the background as the book of revelation the second and third in the third and the ninth say They propose to be of the righteous But they are a synagogue of satan And I want to say this to you tonight first and foremost Let it be known that as a citizen of the nation of islam And a resident of the city of derm I support the petition to prevent police exchanges between the derm police force and the israel defense forces known as i dl my words tonight In the last 30 seconds may grow wise for criticism from some in the community But I am obligated to point out the inordinate control that some jews have over the political system in this city And I praise you and thank you For the inherent effort that you have made to make this proposal one that we all can deal with and stand firm on Thank you very much. And may all may almighty god allow bless you And continue to intervene in all our fails. Thank you minister zaiti I'm one of those jews. I just want you to know that I'm one of those jews. Mr. Zaiti Please be seated That is I can't describe that as anything other than anti-semitism and just as I would speak out excuse me And just as I would speak out against that Anything said about any other group i'm fret i'm gonna have to speak out when it's said against a group of which i'm a member I don't appreciate it. Don't bring it in here again Mr. Robboy you have two minutes Please hold the clock until I get my power point up Help you help. Yeah, sure go ahead Can can I get some help? I I expect that they're they're about to run out and help you. That's what usually happens. So just Give them a second and the staff will be out here to give you a hand. Yeah, I'm just trying to Hang on one second. Believe me Thank you. Hi Yes, sir Thank you. First, I want to say My name is Stanley Robboy a circle park place in Chapel Hill This whole process to me has been very bothersome The petition that was brought was actually signed the petition by six of the members of this council And some of the members of the council actually helped formulate the petition in addition There's a specific email that one of the council members sent Thought I'd send this in case it has any use for future bds purposes. Is my power point actually showing yes We can we can see it. Mr. Robboy pardon. We can see it. How does this go forward? Won't go forward. There it is The last meeting that was held two weeks ago to me was a sham meeting Several of us were called. We were given three minutes We thought we're talking about the petition at 125. We finished speaking at exactly 235 10 minutes later the city council produced a statement that was given to the newspaper A long statement that clearly could not have been written in 10 minutes. It was at least the day before The chief's statement As far as I'm concerned was full of praise and much was suppressed This is what she wrote and there are types of words that are saying it's builds community police relations helps homeless Highly academic all of that was left out. The only thing was we're not going to have a relation with israel Which does not sound like what the chief meant Then at the same time suddenly came this by the by the same group that's here It's on the web and it says no more police at jewish synagogues And in fact, it says there should be no more police departments We might like not to have police, but just imagine what we would have in this country with no police departments at all We single out here on the israel But look at all the other countries some 25 We're your time's up. Mr. Ravoy. Thank you peter writes us And then we will have Reverend curtis gatewood and then i'm going to call some other names that can assemble over behind mr. Gatewood bob gutman michelle laws buddy bombsie i'm sorry if i haven't got your name right there robert hollister And rina rachel golper if you all would please make your way Over there behind minister gatewood that would be great And in the meantime I'm sorry. I'm being told i'm not being loud enough for which i'm often not. Let me say it again Thank you very much. Dr. Allison. I will try to be louder Reverend gatewood will will be followed by bob gutman michelle laws buddy bombsie robert hollister rina rachel golper Yes, sir. Mr. Rites. Thank you. Thank you My children's synagogue school in dorham not too long ago was faced with a bomb threat The dorham police were there. I'd like to be the first person tonight to thank the dorham police for everything you do every day Councilperson jillian johnson said something that I think everyone in this room can agree upon She recently said that it is not anti-semitic to criticize israeli policies and practice But let me tell you what is anti-semitic This month the city council received an email from one of the petitioners And the email listed what the petitioner called savage military countries and the petitioner said Argentina Bolivia brazil columbia and costa rica just to name a few there are about 20 countries This city council ignores All of those countries that the petitioner says and this city council says let's focus on israel The only jewish majority country on the planet my friends That is anti-semitism singling out israel and forgetting about everybody else That is anti-semitism During president obama's administration The obama state department defined anti-semitism in relation to israel with three examples Demonizing israel de legitimizing israel and holding israel to double standards if this council passes your statement tonight You are doing all three things that the obama administration said are anti-semitic I ask one thing remove all mention of israel from your statement. Thank you for your time Thank you very much Reverend gatewood you have two minutes Please tell us your name and address The choice amen amen First i'm reverend Curtis gatewood I resided 129 west front street oxford north carolina I'm the founder of justice administration, which is justice being the acronym for jesus uniting souls to increase community engagement I'm also founder of stop killing us solutions campaign The basis for which I stand in solidarity with those who support the resolution Is driven by my adamant opposition to the militarization Of the police department in durham or anywhere else in the world first And i'm not aware of the city's current plans as they relate to the militarization Uh training for the durham police By the israeli defense force or idf But I am aware of the history which may date back to 2008 With police chief lopez Therefore the lack of clarity Of the city's current position Regarding the the militarization of the police department And the israeli defense force necessitates The need for a resolution now To later rest any questions First reason being if the israeli defense force will use excessive force and wrong for death toward their own palestinian neighbors What makes us think they can train durham police to treat The struggling citizens of oxford manor bractown meduga terrace liberty street Or turn key right except to kill us or to turn the key to lock us up What we would like to see Is the idea of knowing that the durham east end and the west end are struggling to make ends meet Thank you very much minister gatewood Mr. Bob gutman you have two minutes. How do I start this? Hang on a second and someone will come help you I'll get started. I have a picture of a baked cake on the first slide Because we know the cake is baked And we're very sad about it because the name israel was insisted on being there In the lead up to the petition initially presented it was very clear that jvp a notoriously anti zionist organization Included its chosen language to defame israel This is a national program that's been going on several years And you are supporting it by inserting the name israel almost gratuitously I have that's it. Thank you. I have to ask What was the point? What did that what purpose did that serve the city of durham? It's great to have a very well formulated and very clear kind and thoughtful police Policy, but why do you have to mention israel? Only because you decided to insert yourself in national and international politics For the sake of these people who come and notice that they have all said the same thing We're saying they have all declared that they're for this because it defames israel Just the same thing. We're saying they don't need to do that Or you don't need to do that they do need to do that because that's what the national organization wants to happen I just want to go I was going to go through a bunch of slides showing you how many people on their side support what i'm saying But I do want to just end by saying That when mayor shul ran He gave two promises strong support for chief davis's emphasis on deescalation and racial equity training That's a promise properly being kept The next another statement is quote I will continue to work toward a police force that effectively fights violent crime While actively seeking to build the trust of our entire community That's a promise that needs to be kept. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Gutman We'll now hear from michelle laws laws. We have two minutes Thank you. Mr. Mayor and members of the city council. I really just want to come and offer my Approval and and Just my hats off to the police chief for standing in a very difficult and uncomfortable place I am a jewish muslim hindu buddhist Loving christian the god I serve Says that he has no respect of person I come from a history a family A group of people who understand the danger Of us holding on to these narratives embedded in historical documents often revisionist Histories and our own interpretations of what the lord means The same slave holders who held us captive and used My ancestors to create the largest profit margin in the world's economy And we've never lost our footing as a nation since those almost 300 years of free labor were given Justified that by their religious doctrines I also come because I do know that now is the time for us to be very clear as a nation As a city as a state on where we stand in terms of the conflict between israel and the palestinians Far too many children and women and disabled and elderly are losing their lives because men on both sides Are refusing to come to the table and reason together as the good lord our creator has called us to do And in terms of israel the united states entered in 2016 An agreement a 10 year military assistance agreement with israel that is worth over 38 billion dollars The diplomatic and military alliance between our two countries is Infectious and it is the largest cumulative recipient israel is of us foreign assistance since world war two This bill is not hurting in any kind of way and largely it's because of we our Thank you. Thank you very And women are thank you very much Thank you very much miss laws. We will now hear from buddy bombsy. I'm sorry. I haven't gotten your name right How you have two minutes? That's correct Hello, my name is buddy bombsy, and I'm a lifelong Durham resident I've attended charter and public schools, and I am now a junior at the north carolina school of science and math I have been active in local government for two years as a member of the Durham youth commission And I am jewish I am here tonight to speak to the city council about the proposed statement regarding training of members of the Durham police department in israel Last week a coalition of groups many of which have missions that I support Presented a hateful petition to the Durham city council called demilitarized from Durham to palestine This petition contained allegations that israeli training of american police forces assists them in the practices of racism and racial profiling Anyone who has studied american history knows that white supremacy and racism and the violent behavior related to such ideas Has been ingrained in american society for more than four times as long as israel has existed as a sovereign nation From the time immediately after the civil war up until the early 20th century southern police forces would arrest African americans on baseless charges and then sell them via their their bail price into neo slavery The claim that israel influenced american racism is simply disingenuous In response, mayor steve schull crafted a statement in support of the petition Though he does not directly mention israel some council members feel that by omitting israel His statement does not go far enough in meeting the goals of the petition The proactive nature of this movement and the Durham city council's response when the Durham police department and israel Do not have a relationship in any capacity Lead me to believe that the most important goal of this petition is not the quality or improvement of our police force These actions lead me to believe that the goal of this petition is to demonize and ultimately blight israel Further evidence of this goal is that a number of the supporting organizations Believe in the boycott divestment sanctions movement, which though advertised as an effort to support peace in the region Does no such thing I am not here because I unanimously unanimously support israel in any in all situations or or all policy decisions But I cannot stand by as the state of israel is slandered by false accusations Or as my city government promotes such assertions. This petition is nothing more than a gratuitous attempt To have our progressive city participate in the last socially acceptable form of discrimination I ask you to go no further in responding to this petition. Thank you very much We'll now hear from robert hollister and then uh, miss galper after her after him and then uh after Then we will be followed by these people and these will be our last speakers In order, please over to the right Ron bar on I believe this person's already spoken this person's already spoken Beth brook and deborah rosinstein and those will be our last speakers Anyone is feels that they've already signed up and I didn't call their name You can let me know You called in okay, dr. Allison will get you. Thank you. We'll get you up here. Thank you Okay Um, sorry about that mr. Hollister welcome and you have two minutes. Thank you. My name is robert Hollister I live on north lake shore drive in chapel hill But i'm here as a representative of the justice ministry council of the eno river unitarian universalist fellowship Which is on garret road here in durham Our goal is to is to develop and support a vibrant local community based upon diversity opportunity equity support and protection The realization of these goals depends to a considerable extent On the qualities of our police and judicial systems Because these are the institutions that either support or destroy public perceptions of trust Fairness equity and respect Which are the glue that hold us together as a society and as a community A particular concern is the increasing militarization of our police forces These practices include training in military tactics The provision of military style assault rifles Combat dress and the military equipment such as armored personnel carriers and mine resistant and ambush protection vehicles In your consideration of tonight's resolution, we respectfully request that the durham council consider the following Number one the adoption of policies that prohibit the militarization of the local police force number two policies that prohibit the police force From applying to the pentagon for military equipment And number three policies that prohibit the provision of foreign training for police officers In military military style procedures and tactics. Thank you. Thank you very much Now we'll hear from miss golfer Good evening everybody. I'm sure it's been a long night. I'm very glad to be here So I the coalition has asked me to say that Just to affirm that we reject any support that comes from anti-semitism And that this previous speaker making those comments is not a member of our coalition And the other thing too and this is just something that's really near and dear to my heart. This is not a Jewish issue This is a human rights issue and it's not about for me personally being against Israel and being called anti-semitic and there's been a lot of vitriolic and insulting comments and attempts to fire people who have Opinions that are different than the conventional Jewish community This is a human rights issue because honestly, we do not need intervention from israel or any other country To come and tell us how our police force should be run Counterterrorism militarization militarization of police. We don't need any help To to shoot and kill unarmed civilians and demonstrators We don't need any help from a country whose human rights abuses are documented And has a record that is as bad as our own And so my hope is that will actually be the Durham that I know we are And I know that your hearts are in the right place already and i'm just hoping that we do the right thing I think we need to run our own affairs And we have a lot of work to do without help from a country that surely has not a lot to offer in this regard So thank you Thank you We'll now hear from ron barron Followed by beth brook Followed by deba rosinstein And then we will hear from dr. Livonia allison and that will be our last speaker I'm lenn moron 208 north driver's street. Um, I've been in Durham 15 years now I'm originally israeli and i'm jewish And I want to speak very strongly in support of the resolution tonight I spent a long of much of my life in israel working with palestinians. I grew up around palestinians Um, I was lucky to to do so my grandfather was one of the chief officers of the peace agreement with between egypt and israel I'm in 2014. I was in hypha during the gaza war We had a small demonstration opposing a war We were saying slogans. I'll read them in hebu in english The as of a beshderot, you're a daughter of sotichyot in gaza and in sterot girls want to live Shalom robonim al-gufot shul mafginim Pieces not built on demonstrators bodies We were surround our small demonstration was surrounded by over a thousand right-wing demonstrators Including activists in a center-left party of a labor party Blicks were thrown at our heads It was a miracle that no one was killed The police Barely intervened two days earlier with a demonstration a palestinian demonstration for the same cause Which people were tear gassed shot with rubber bullets And beaten by the same israeli police. The israeli police is one of the most racist police forces on the planet and I don't think we should have anything to do with them at the same time in the same time flame Our darn police was busy tear gassing people in the streets And i'm glad to see things have gotten better since and i applaud chief davis for saying that no police exchange will result Will take place I urge you to make this formal policy tonight and to have nothing to do with israeli police ever again. Thank you Thank you um Now we'll hear from beth brook We have two minutes miss brook Thank you um, i'm here as an american jew i've seen you at school And i'm just in support of this statement um I want to just repeat that the demilitarized coalition is stating emphatically that we reject any support that comes from a place of anti-semitism We're an interfaith community that believes in demilitarization of police here and abroad And one step is stopping our well documented participation in police exchanges. We know that chief lopez went on a trip We know that chief davis Headed up the exchange program when she was in atlanta. This is a time to pass it to policy before anything has a chance to start here I also want to present y'all with this letter from American muslims for palestine friends of sabila north america and jewish voice for peace an interfaith clergy letter to durham Which has already been turned into the clerk it's been signed by 50 rabbis of jewish voice for peace rabbinical council and 72 religious leaders additional religious leaders in durham and north carolina and the united states so i want to give you all this statement in support of Um The the campaign Demilitarized term to pass on campaign and in support of your proposed policy. Thank you very much Thank you. Ms. Brooke. You may hand that to the clerk Dr. Allison welcome. You have two minutes. Thank you very much. I know I have two minutes, but uh, I had the occasion to turn on my tv That ended up at c span three And I had to stop and listen because it was a group of persons hosted by j street a non profit jewish advocacy group then the next person was The palestine liberation organization And I heard some fantastic speakers Speaking about how terribly they have treated The palestinians and I'm here to thank you all that I came out tonight. I don't even need to be here But I hope and I thank those of you who put this together Because at this point in time it reminds me of two gentlemen that I had an opera jewish Cecil sheps UNC chapel hill Organized something to help us try to figure out how we're going to improve the representation of black health professionals bitty greenberg another Chair of the social work at chapel hill and I was glad to come up here and say something positive But you know, this is about peace This is about doing what's right Not what's wrong, and I'm glad the police situation and all that came up and brought me out Because I wouldn't you know We recently celebrated mod luther king basically He was against militarism Racism and above all poverty You know it's so much that's happening to Right now in those of us who hear saying do your thing and stand on it when you do something, right? You're not anti-israel But if they're doing wrong you have to stand up and say it I'm not going to take much time But I have some articles that I want you all to read and I want to recommend North Carolina resident of racial subordination hindering blacks the story is here gentrification at this point Do what you're doing. What's right? The peace problem the peace league started long time ago. They were almost at it. Thank you dr. Allison. We were almost at it till they pulled somebody up and they Thank you dr. Allison Um Is devil excuse me is deborah rosin stein here? Is rosin stein and miss rosin stein? I'm not sure what it is, but you'll tell me and we're glad to have you Please tell us your name and address. Thanks. Um, my name is Deborah rosin stein. I live on davis road in hillsboro north carolina I wasn't going to speak tonight Until I saw how charged things have become around jewish nish anti-semitism in israel and I knew I needed to speak Uh, um, so while I stand before all of you as a jewish person who's great great grandparents were murdered in their beds Actually in in a pogrom I come before you as someone Who's a human being In this community and in north carolina at this moment and I'm terrified of how militarized our police departments are becoming and I really appreciate Javier and everyone where this where this started from with being about ice and to me. That's what this is about um I hope people here tonight have mentioned that they're scared that you all are being manipulated and that this might spread I hope this spreads Because all of us who care about fighting racism and all of us who care about trying to have democracy Maintained or exist in this country. We need to not have militarized police forces The other thing I want to mention is that people have said why are we picking on israel in particular? I believe this is true. I know it's true for me and others that that i'm in coalition with here that if any other Oppressive government came forward to you all and tried to say we want to train your police force That we would stand up here. I will stand up here again But no one else is doing that right now and no one else is receiving as much aid as we've talked about So I guess uh, what I also want to say is people have mentioned that we want to be a welcoming community I want durham county to be that orange county to be that We can't be a welcoming community If we're being if our police are being trained, uh in military anti-terroristic Tactics, so I say that to you as a jewish person as a woman as a queer person But mostly I say it to you as a human being in north carolina and I'm I'm frightened for what's happening in this country. Thank you Thank you All right, y'all can clap as much as you want Thank you very much Thank you Thank you council members You have heard The speakers and I want to express my thanks to all the speakers I want to especially express my thanks to The young speakers the students who came On both sides A lot of young people and they had very different opinions from each other and I really appreciate the fact that you were starting young to speak your conscience And it's I think it's especially courageous in a In a highly charged and controversial atmosphere and but you did it and you did it very well. So especially want to appreciate you council members, um Any any comments at this point? Let me say that again council members any comments at this point? If I start I want to finish just so you know You have more than two minutes I just want to say that I really appreciate everyone coming out today And sharing their voice and uh speaking up on your truth and recognizing that Everyone's voice does matter here. It's important to us as a council to hear you and um I'm overwhelmed with A joy in a hurt And understanding the tension of how this Statement has this kind of fracturing our community. I'm also overwhelmed With the fact of who I am as a person as a human being Acknowledging that I have to stand in solidarity with the people that I feel that are most impacted and recognizing that The people of color in this country who are Disproportionately targeted whether immigrant Whether black lives whether standing rock whether I mean the list goes on and on The place of which where I come into this is that And I have to stand and say that it's not okay It's just not for us to support a militarized police force Or training of a militarized police force Recognizing that we are trying to decriminalize our police forces here in derm And I think that the information that was shared. I mean, I'm thankful that it was said repeatedly You know the 38 million dollars that's that's paid to israel as aid Bill billion i'm sorry billion dollars as aid and The fact that I really wanted to ask staff about how do we have our City removed from their literature because it shouldn't be on there I um I have no ill will towards israel at all. I mean I honestly and truly I mean As a human being you just have to see that this is this is not okay And it falls in line with the way in which things have happened throughout the course of history and We have to know that this is not this is not for me a religious battle This is a human rights issue and recognizing that you cannot allow your Any armed person to shoot down someone else who was unarmed I'll let the rest of the council say Thank you councilmember freeman Comments, mr. Mayor councilmember middleton. Thank you, sir How did we get here? I want you to look at how many people are in this room tonight. How did we get here? Where A declaration of what we hold As sacred and valuable in terms of our policing How did it get conflated with this issue? The united states of america is the only nation in history That has ever written down the words all men are created equal We're the only person that people that only act that actually wrote that down And anytime I take an opportunity to point out where we failed in that I'm not being unpatriotic So the proposition that a critique Of israel as a nation state And as a bona fide geopolitical player on the world stage is tantamount to antisemitism is ridiculous To ridiculous proposition and Anyone who would I'll meet anyone anytime anywhere that would like to debate my record in this city And and point out where it's been anything other than ecumenical And pro-justice I'll have that debate anytime With that said I just went through a campaign many of us up here this went through a campaign And I spoke to literally thousands of people And I got to tell you most of the people I spoke to were not talking about exchanges between our police in israel They were talking about can I get a job Where am I going to live? Are the buses going to be running on time So how did we get here? The statement if you read and I want to exigit the actual statement a little bit then I'll yield The statement first off it we didn't jointly write it although many of us agree with it and agree with the elements of it We didn't pin it as a group. What in the group project? But I want you to look at the statement Firstly israel is mentioned within the context of a quote from the chief The first paragraph is the chief talking about israel It's in quotes the council did not Single out israel the council is quoting the chief in her statement And if I wanted to just single out israel I think it would have been a far more eloquent statement to strike the council opposes international exchange of any country In which Durham of Durham officers receive military style training If I wanted to just single out israel we should do away with that paragraph that mentions other countries And let's really stick it if we want to be that singular I also want you to note something it says that we oppose military style training Well read that does that mean we can get training that's not military style What does military style mean? This statement does not preclude exchanges with israel that are outside of military style So I want you to take a clear look at the statement this is For me it would have been an opportunity for us to positively state How we feel about policing But it's been conflated with an issue that there are people right now Earning phd's in different slices of this issue religiously politically Anthropologically So to think that any statement and I'm not I didn't get elected to parrot the statement of any particular group on this issue If you will note This statement is not the statement that jvp submitted It wouldn't have passed Because some of us found it problematic some of the things than jvp statement This is not no action either. This is not verbatim what jvp submitted to us. It's a compromise I think it could have been artful in some other ways and and and there are some things I've spoken with my colleagues off-line behind the scenes about it, but What I am encouraged about the statement is that one It's a it's a positive statement of what we hold valuable in terms of policing Now I signed the petition and by the way the evening that we had there was a um A forum at I believe it was the haytai heritage center in which we were asked to sign it There was no Bunch of papers of text that we got from jvp on that evening. I signed it because I'm against A military I'm against exchanges of the Durham police with israel and any other nation our debate and machinations in this city About how we wanted policing did not occur in light of israel When we decided as a city how we wanted to be policed we weren't talking about israeli exchanges then The chief answered the question about israel. I'll tell you why because she was asked about israel I'm one of the people that asked her I served on the committee that that vetted our candidates to hire chiefs. She was asked specifically about israel She was asked specifically about israel had she been asked about syria or north korea or fiji Then she probably would have responded to any of those nations So she was asked So she responded That's how israel got in here The council did not single out israel. It's a quote And then the next paragraph We go on to say or any country any country I am deeply deeply deeply and I will put a button on it after this. I am deeply troubled By some of the rhetoric that has surrounded this debate I'm deeply troubled By this mayor being called a nazi sympathizer I'm troubled by that I'm troubled by friends friends people that I deeply respect Suggesting that the mere mention Of a nation is somehow anti-submitted I'm offended by it Because i've seen that tactic before in america as a black man living in america when you want to critique something We're better than that And the debate is better than that and I think that many of us have have allowed this debate to descend into a caricature The issue of palestine and israel deserves a much deeper debate And a much more respectful one I got news for you whether this Statement passes or not Durham is not going to have military style training with israel or any other country The chief said it before the statement came and I believe the chief I said to the mayor when we discussed as one of the options is why don't we even have to respond? Do we have to say anything? I mean there's a whole lot of groups in this city that write me emails every day That would love to have this council spend this much time on their issue But when you got more money when you're better organized when it's a sexier issue I guess you get our attention I'm supporting this statement Um, not because I think it's perfect Not because I'm an anti-Semite fight me about it if you want I'm supporting this statement because it's a positive statement Of what we want as policing and by the way this fire started long before jvp Or anybody else brought up the israeli issue and during we've been talking about how we want to be policed for years And it was not done in tension with the israeli palestinian conflict It was not I urge my colleagues to support the statement and I urge this community to keep talking with each other instead of at each other Thank you, mr. Mayor Thank you councilmember middleton Councilmember reese Thank you, mr. Mayor I think you can see why I waited until after councilmember middleton spoke Uh, you never want to go before that but going out never want to go either before or after councilmember middleton That's my motto. It's impossible. It's impossible to meant to navigate I'm mr. Mayor. I wanted to start First of all, I intend to support the statement tonight. Mr. Mayor. I wanted to say How much respect I have for the way that you've navigated this particular issue I know this has been personally difficult for you as councilmember middleton mentioned I was aghast to read online Uh, some of the things that were said about you in connection with this debate I was also deeply grateful for you to you tonight for speaking out against some of the remarks we heard in this chamber that were revolting and I Thank you for that. I know this has been um a challenge I think, um I also want to thank my colleagues who've been with us every step of the way and Thinking about this and if it's your practice praying about it I've spent a lot of time doing that over the last week and a half. I've also spent some time Engaged in email conversations with a number of the folks who Were deeply troubled by this statement Um, I'm ashamed to admit. I don't think I made any headway with those folks In trying to explain why I don't think the statement singles out is real for the for the reasons that were so eloquently expressed by my colleague councilmember middleton that I don't believe that the statement is animated or Events is any kind of anti-semitic Feeling for again the reasons councilmember middleton said Um, but I do believe it's important for us to talk to each other and to listen to each other And for that I'm deeply grateful for those folks who spoke with me both in person and over email um, you may Come away from those conversations and this vote tonight Thinking that that was a sham that it meant nothing Um, but I'm just here to tell you as a person as a human being and as an elected official. That's just not the case um The last thing I wanted to say about this and I know we've been here a while that I Personally, I don't believe that it makes Durham any safer to have our police officers go overseas Overseas and receive military military style training no matter what country hosts that training And for that reason I intend to support the statements tonight. Thank you, mr. Mayor. Thank you councilmember Thank you councilmember Councilmember caballero. I waited till after mark anthony middleton Um, so I just want to say that anti-semitism is alive and well everyone in this room can recognize that and The statement is not an example at least to me of anti-semitism. I understand that people in this room may not agree with that That is a difference of opinion I want to share several people mentioned latin american countries this evening as as examples of Of bad actors in the international stage Let's just reflect on who actually trained and funded Those militaries and this is not israel. This is the united states the first protest I ever went to was a school of the america's protest in the late 1990s It was around the training of latin american soldiers by u.s. Military. This is an issue that is very near and dear for me I am an immigrant because of military influence and a foreign power I will vote for the statement I understand that it is hurtful But at some point we need to move away from Militarization period And I don't think it's an authentic and honest conversation to say That what the united states does and what the israelis do Informs a form foreign policy is any we don't want anything to do with that in our city. Thank you Thank you very much Mayor pro tem Thank you, mr. Mayor I just have a couple of comments I wrote and emailed to everyone a longer statement on this issue that I also read at our work session and I'll put it online and I don't want to read it again because it's almost 10 o'clock But I do want to make a couple of comments the first is that We've been asked specifically by constituents in this community to Speak on and deal with the issue of police exchanges with israel and that's not without basis It is because These exchanges exist because police leaders in durham have been a part of them in the past It is very true that this issue even though we are being asked to do with a very specific question It is very true. This issue has a broader political context, but so does literally every single other issue Right that larger political context in my opinion doesn't preclude me or this body or anyone else From speaking or having an opinion or taking action on an issue because if it did we would literally never do anything Finally there's a long history of people using the label of anti-semitism to silence criticism of israel Just as there is a long history of labeling people who criticize us foreign policy as unpatriotic Um, and it is intended to create a chilling effect and silence Descent and critique we all know real anti-semitism when we see it and when we hear it And we know that we heard some earlier tonight And so and I know even more now Excuse me Excuse me. There's a lot of men interrupting me right now I noticed you didn't interrupt any of the men who excuse me. Excuse me Excuse me I'm really gonna have to ask everybody to please be respectful. We've all been listening a long time and I know there's a lot of disagreement and I know there's a lot of really strong feelings, but also Everybody needs to listen respectfully. Okay So hold the applause Hold the Shouts and let's just talk, okay Mayor pro tem johnson Mr. Mayor I believe now even more that People know anti-semitism when they see it and hear it based on the response to the anti-semitism that we heard tonight And that is not the response that we got to this statement the majority of people Who are here tonight who have read? mayor schul's statement Who have contacted us about it? Even if they disagree with it are not telling us That this is somehow demonizing israel Um Yeah, I'll be supporting the statement written by our mayor. Thank you thank you um, I want to speak to I guess both sides of this group a little bit and I want to start with speaking to the The folks from jewish voice for peace and I really mainly want to speak to the jews in the room my fellow jews um But before I do that I want to I want to speak to one particular aspect of this that I think is Really salient and important and a great question that people um Who are against this statement are asking which is why israel why not north korea or syria? and I believe that the answer to that and I think it's it is a it is the right answer Has nothing to do with military aid Has everything to do with the fact that There aren't police exchanges that I know of with korea or syria and the statement is very explicit in saying that we oppose all exchange militarized exchange with other militarized police forces But there are these exchanges with israel and We have had uh our police chief Uh participate in them So that's the reason that's what's different But let me now speak to I want to speak to the folks from jewish voice for peace about kind of how what my experience of the last Month has been with your campaign. Maybe maybe longer than a month. Maybe It's really been several months As far as we know Former chief lopez did one training with the israeli police And from that one training I feel like the folks in jewish voice for peace have Worked hard to give the impression that durham's police department is intimately involved with training with the israeli police And I feel like you've sought to blame durham's connection with the israeli police For racially bias policing in durham and you've cited lots of incidents of purported police misconduct to support the claim I feel really strongly that this is a basic Misunderstanding of how racialized policing happens in america Including in durham We live in our own country With a history of racial oppression in all of our institutions And the problems with discriminatory policing in our country Which have been enormous and which continue to be enormous Have virtually nothing to do with israeli society and everything to do with our own I have received lots of emails from people living here in durham Good people many of whom I know Which includes the following paragraph from a Email that was sent out by jewish voice for peace and these people have been sending to me I'm proud to live in durham and as a progressive city. We have no place training the police with the army Of any state that has policies of occupation and apartheid I want to make sure this does not happen again So i'm asking you to take a stand. I probably got 50 emails that said that It pains me It pains me That so many people are beginning being given the completely false information That our police have been training with the israeli army and that this should not happen again This is so untrue. Our police have not been training with the israeli army. There's no factual basis for that There's not even a rumor about it Except for this email and it's so damaging to the police community relations and everything that we're trying to accomplish The truth matters It especially matters in the era of donald trump And no desire to win political advantage Justifies making up stuff that isn't true about durham's police department and then spreading that truth all over god's creation Attacking our police department through falsehoods is only going to hurt our ability to continue the police reforms. We are undertaking And it's going to hurt our ability to build trust with our community Which is being told that our police have been training with the israeli army and that this must not happen again And i want to stress just for a minute those police reforms I want to say what the statement says just so you'll you'll get it So in the last few years, especially in the last couple of years The number of traffic stops in durham have gone from 33 000 to 11 000 the number of searches in durham in the last two years Has gone from 1200 to 400 The number of drug arrests in that same period of time Has gone from 1200 to 600 These are real reforms that are really mattering And one of the ways in which we make that happen is a city council Is to have the backs of our police department when they're doing the right thing And our community has to do the same And every time you attack them falsely You undercut our ability to win their trust so that we are able to support them in their reform The other thing is this I think that these kinds of exaggerations And sometimes falsehoods Are damaging my friends and jewish voice for peace To your own cause in another way In this case They drove a group of rabbis A very group of rabbis Some of whom are very much against the israeli occupation of the west bank and gaza To write a letter claiming that you were demonizing israel and denouncing your efforts In this petition Those rabbis who wrote us i know most of them They're varied we've heard tonight, you know, they're varied ideologically But there are rabbis on that list who i know well including my rep Who i have talked to about this in the last few days There are rabbis on that list this list who are against This policing this this policing connection But yet they drove they wrote us a letter denouncing what you all had done because they felt that that you were saying things that weren't true and So I would just say that the telling the truth has Really important positive effects For that what you want to do in the political movement that you want to create If you want to make change in the american jewish community's response To what is happening in israel and palestine and you Then you have to Be truthful remember Who we are as jews i'm 67 Six years before i was born Was the end of the holocaust of The holocaust wiped out half of us on earth And the prelude to the holocaust and what made it possible was The lies that people told about the jews And the ways in which the jews were blamed for germany's ills and the ills of other country in countries in eastern europe who participated with the germans So of course the jewish community is sensitive to the lies to lies that are told about us And of course they have a special resonance So I would just say again It isn't contact with the israeli police which has created racialized policing here in america We have done that bad thing all on our own To my friends and voice for israel I understand as well as you do Maybe not as well as all of you do but as well as many of you do the emotional ties that bind us to israel i've traveled to israel twice Speaking of the anti-defamation league My grandfather was present at the anti-defamation league in the southern part of this country for many years I understand its value and I understand why the jewish voice for peace petition and accompanying rhetoric is so upsetting to you Truth can't be of casualty in this discussion and I would say to the folks in Voice for israel That's also what's disappointing to me. I'm in a in your campaign. So I'll just mention a couple of things In emails in a recent column in the herald sun You have tried to delegitimize the process that has brought us here tonight You misled people in this column and in the emails into thinking that there would not be an open forum to discuss our statement That this was somehow orchestrated with jewish voice for peace or somebody else which couldn't be farther from the truth from the truth Was if it was orchestrated at all which I suppose you could use the word orchestrate It was discussions that we all had in ones and twos over a couple of weeks to try to figure out what to do and I did have a statement ready at the last work session and it did go to the media, but it It wasn't anything but a but the same kind of discussion we have on every issue And then to be followed tonight By a wide open forum where everybody got to say absolutely what they want This has not been fast tracked as you as you have said Or anything other than a thorough and fair process in which all voices have been heard In fact, I believe it's been an exceptionally open and patient process and any implications to the contrary are false and also to my friends and voices for israel It isn't true as you have said that the council publicly sided with those This is a quote the council publicly sided with those who falsely accused israel of training the police to Terrorize black and brown communities here in the us The statement does not have any language like that And you know it I was impressed by my colleague jillian johnson at the work session when she explicitly rejected that assertion And some of you all were there to attend that The council statement has no rhetoric anything like that Yet you have publicly and repeatedly says that it does I know this issue strengths stir strong emotions. I can't even describe to you the emotional roller coaster. I've been on about this in the last few weeks Believe me, I get it But it doesn't help to say things that aren't true in order to whip up support for your side So i'll say one thing that I have been really thinking about myself in terms of You know how to what what do I have to say? In terms of really being honest about this and the way the statement is positioned and that sort of thing and one thing I will say to To a critique that adam guldstein offered tonight and I've heard before There's it's no question That chief davis entire statement says that she had a positive Experience in her training with israel. There's no question about that When we put out the statement when I mailed this I mailed this I don't know if I mailed it or I handed out the statement to the To the to the press. I also provided chief davis's entire letter But I do think it's important to say that I also take chief davis's words at face value that she has no intention of having police exchanges with israel She is a very direct and strong person And our statement endorses that stance I agree with that stance And I know that is where I differ from you my friends and voices for israel As our statement says we want our police to have the kind of training that promotes the police work We are trying to do here in durham under the leadership of our truly outstanding police chief And I might I also add under the leadership of our city manager Who was really who hired chief davis and has really made this happen But I don't believe that training with the israeli police will further that kind of policing And I also believe that that there are other countries other training with other countries that have militarized police Will not help as well either If it happens that there is a possibility of that i'm sure that you will hear the council Taking a stand on that I'm a jew and I am a zionist I believe In the existence of a jewish state I fear for its survival But I know the terrible traumas visited on us as a people We are now visiting on others in gaza and on the west bank And to me not only or our mortal souls in danger because of that But I also believe that the survival of the jewish state Is dependent on doing justice to the palestinians And I did not believe that we are and when I say we I believe I include myself So That is the context in which I view this statement. I have appreciated everything I've heard tonight And I'm now going to ask if there's a motion on this state So moved It's been moved second been moved and seconded that we approve the statement any more discussion If not, madam clerk, will you please open the vote? Close the vote The motion passes 60 We'll now move to we'll now we'll now move to We'll now move to the next order of business Oh the 10 o'clock rule Laverne we'll give you these dear heart Can I have can I can I ask you to please Give us some quiet, please so we can proceed with our business Thank you. We're going to proceed with our business Did you all if you're if you're staying we'd love to have you We're going to do some fascinating public hearings if you do not want to stay I ask you to please leave the chamber quietly so we can get going. Thank you so much Okay, now we're going to proceed with The first public hearing item which is Item 21 unified development ordinance text design district streetscape alternative and I'm going to Welcome Mike stock Glad to be here. Thank you. Michael stock with the planning department Maybe I'll give it a Okay Before I begin I would like to note that all required notification for planning department public hearing items Have been performed and on file for review Text amendment tc 17 0007 is a privately initiated amendment to the unified development ordinance It's amended by tim somerville of steward llc to develop alternative design standards for streetscape amenities within design districts Design district standards dd and cd initially adopted in 2010 with subsequent amendments prescribed specific amenities for streetscapes within the public right away Benchants receptacles street trees and etc and in many instances specific design or standards for the amenity Request is to allow for alternative set of standards for large contiguous area within a design district the items include in some in short Requiring an alternative streetscape plan with specific parameters minimum plan area of 10 acres Continuous and continuous block faces to minimize patchwork areas agreements with property owners and successors for the provision servicing and maintenance of those facilities And Asificity as to what amenities can be altered with explicit text indicating based requirements apply unless otherwise noted or altered The joint city county planning committee reviewed the request including a staff amended draft At its january 3rd 2018 meeting and indicated no concerns with the proposal the planning commission recommended approval 14 to 0 of the text amendment on february 13th As a reminder city council required to take two actions The first would be an action on the appropriate statement of consistency found in attachment b The second would be an action on the ordinance amendment itself attachment c Thank you. I'd be happy to answer any questions any applicant is is also here in the audience Thank you very much. You've either heard or not heard the report from staff But thank you very much mike uh now uh council members I'm going to declare this public hearing open and i'm going to first ask if there are any comments By members of the council or questions for staff I believe that I hear none And I don't think there are any comments on this item Oh, yes, there are I apologize There are comments um I'm going to wait just a second so we can get some quiet Again, I want to thank our fire marshals and appreciate you for what you're doing back there um We have two speakers Who are both proponents of this text amendment? One of them is tim Summerly, I'm sure I can't read the name and the other is George stanzial You all are both proponents of this text amendment And I believe that this was a an amendment that was Privately initiated and that you all were part of that that's correct. And so I suppose you're here to say that We're just here to say that we're here for any questions. Okay. We did initiate it and um So any questions? We're here to answer. Thank you very much council members any questions for Mr. Stanzial or mr. Summerly or for staff Thank you very much any more comments from the public any comments from the public on this Okay Hearing none, uh, any questions from the council? All right hearing no questions no questions from the council I'm going to close this declare this public hearing is closed and the matter is back before the council We are asked here to adopt a consistency statement and to adopt an ordinance amended the udo Is there a motion to adopt the appropriate consistency statement move to adopt consistency? I can't have been moved as seconded. Madam clerk. Will you please open the vote? Close the vote Motion passes six zero. Thank you very much Uh there we need a motion to adopt the ordinance of any of the udo Move to adopt second again. It's been moved and seconded that we adopt the ordinance of many united development united unified development ordinance Madam clerk, please open vote Close the vote Motion passes six zero. Thank you very much madam clerk. Thank you. Thank you all Thank you, mike Mike. I'm sorry. You had to stay so long, but it's much appreciated um All right item 22 uh next public hearing idings zoning map change for Lumley road assemblage and jacob. Let me say in advance to you The same thing I said to mike which we appreciate you staying so long. Thank you Yes, sir. Thank you mayor and council. I'm good evening jacob wiggins with the planning department um A zoning map change request has been submitted by andre porter for poor four properties generally located at 4138 Lumley road The subject site is presently designated as office on the future land use map And the applicant is proposing to change this designation to office and institutional Which would then mirror the present designation of office on the future land use map There was no development plan submitted in conjunction with this request Attachment seven in your packet does the list the permissible uses in the office and institution zoning district I'm at the february 13 2018 meeting of the adorn planning commission the commission recommended approval by a vote of 13 to 0 Staff finds that the request is consistent with the future land use map applicable policies and ordinances And notes that there are two motions required to adopt this item First being a consistency statement and the second being the zoning ordinance I'll be happy to answer any questions the council may have at this time Thank you very much. Mr. Wiggins You have heard the report from staff. I'm now going to declare this public hearing open And i'm first going to ask if there are any questions from members of the council for staff Hearing none, uh, we do have one speaker on this item nil gosh Mr. Gosh, you are a proponent And uh, I suppose I start out by giving you five minutes and hope that you don't take it all Yeah, I don't plan on taking all that. Good evening. Mayor shul. Mayor pro tem johnson the members of the city council My name is nil gosh. I'm an attorney with the morning star law group here at uh, Endurham 112 west main street. I'm here tonight representing darlington advisors and with this we have carleton midget Who is the manager for darlington? And we also have Andy porter with culture dual temps to the landscape architect on this project I want to thank staff for their presentation. I think they gave a great overview of the project I have just a few things to add. I'll be brief The site is only eight acres and is designated for office on the future land use map Uh, the request at oi district is consistent with the future land use map and no comprehensive plan amendment was necessary Uh, regardless, we had a neighborhood meeting which was well attended and and we were happy to find out At our neighbors did not oppose the project Now we view the oi district as a real positive in this location primarily for three reasons First there's a strong demand for office use in this area A recent report from the triangle office market states that office vacancy rates in your rtp And rdu is only 3.6 percent, which is very low The second reason is that in addition to office type uses oi zoning allows for Townhomes and there is strong demand for townhomes in durham and particularly in this market For example, uh, the west briar towns community, which is about a mile away The units there sell before they're even built. So there's a possibility this site could successfully be developed for townhomes Uh, finally given the context of the area the oi zoning makes sense Uh south and west of the property the land is zoned i l Industrial across lonely just north of the site the land is owned rr In east of the site. There's a neighborhood, but it is actually zoned oi The current rr zoning on the parcel is basically a hole in the zoning map And uh, it doesn't give a reasonable opportunity to develop the site in a desirable way given the industrial zoning to the south The requested oi district would also serve as a far better transition Between the industrial zoning to the south and the in the rr neighborhood north of lombly and from a planning standpoint That just makes more sense. So we hope you will agree with us and with the planning commission We had a unanimous recommendation for approval and we respectfully ask for your approval on this matter tonight Our team is available to answer any questions. Thank you very much. Mr. Gush Council members any question for the applicant or for staff or any comments Is a question for staff Council member freeman sorry Has a development plan been submitted? No, ma'am. There is no development plan with this project. Thank you Any other questions or comments? Apparently mr. Gosh you were exceptionally persuasive All right, uh any more comments from members of the public is anyone else want to comment on this? Right. Thank you very much I'm now going to declare this public hearing closed and the matter is back before the council We are two items. We are asked or here one is to adopt the consistency statement is required by ncgs 168 dash 383 And the other is to adopt an ordinance to amend the nfi development ordinance to take the property out of residential rural zoning And establish offices and institutional zoning subject site to have a motion on the consistency statement Move to adopt consistency It's been moved and seconded that we adopt the consistency statement. Madam clerk. Will you please open the vote? Close the vote Motion passes six zero Thank you. Madam clerk. Is there a not is there a motion to adopt the ordinance to amend the unified development ordinance? I think it's been moved and seconded that we adopt the ordinance to amend the udo. Madam clerk. Will you please open the vote? Close the vote Motion passes five one Thank you very much All right with councilmember freeman voting now. Thank you. Thank you. I should have waited for that. I apologize Thank you very much now. We'll move to item 23 consolidated land use item for 410 crutchfield street And we will First tell from staff mr. Wiggins Thank you, mayor Jacob Wiggins with the planning department I'm request for a future land use math amendment and zoning map change have been received from kim griffin jr For two parcels totaling approximately 1.7 acres Located at 410 and 492 crutchfield street The subject site is presently designated as medium high density residential on the future land use map and is zoned residential urban five Mr. Griffin proposes to change these designations to office on the future land use map And office and institutional on the zoning map No development plan was submitted in conjunction with this request Minute for proof the request would allow any uses allowed in the oi district attachment seven in Your packet provides a list of those permissible uses The Durham planning commission at their february 13th 2018 meeting recommended denial by a vote of seven to six on this item Staff has determined that the request is consistent with the future land use map Comprehensive plan and applicable policies and ordinances Three motions would be required for action on this item The first is to adopt a Resolution amending the future land use map the second would be the consistency statement And then the third the zoning ordinance and i'm happy to answer any questions that the council may have at this time Thank you. Mr. Wiggins. I do have a question sir On the memo on the first page says as you just did that the planning commission rejected this by a vote of seven to six Yes, sir But at the end of the memo it says that they approved it by a vote of eight to six It it doesn't i mean i'm going to be listening to everybody and deciding on my own but that did strike me as a Something i'd like to know There's an error on my part and i apologize the the planning commission recommended approval eight to six of this item It did so the so the the the the planning commission recommended eight to six approval For right the seven to six that so it's the seven to six on the first page. That's an error. Exactly. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Any other questions for staff? I don't know if i open the public hearing apologize. I now declare this public hearing open you've heard from staff Any questions from staff by members of council at this point? Just specifically on the proffers Where i noted that there were two, but i'm not sure what they were Proffers. Yeah, there's no development plan associated with this council. I'm a freeman So there's no ability to proffer any items with this is only matte change request Okay, um All right any other questions from council before we hear from our residents All right, we have We have four people signed up to speak on this. We have three people to sign up as proponents They are kim griffin jr Jim wise and dan joule And we have one person signed up as an opponent which is joe hackett. Uh, i'm going to Proponent okay, then you should have checked that All right, uh, we have four proponents. Is there anyone here who is here to speak against this? Development anyone here to speak against this development or this this change This only change Anyone here? all right i'm going to give each i'm going to give the Proponents 10 minutes and again, I hope you won't take it all You all have a total of 10 minutes. You can split it up any way you want mr. Griffin. Well, thank you I'm kim griffin 1816 front street I'm with griffin associates realtors. I had the property for sale The york right masonic bodies bought this property in 1950 To build a lodge on they have since determined that that's not where they need to put their lodge And they asked me to sell the property. They asked me why no one had purchased it And I said that uh, basically no one wanted to go through the zoning process Endure them because the folks that have approached me the most are medical users And we started the zoning process to change it to office institutional We have had two neighborhood meetings We have had a lot of good neighborhood support And the neighbors of the same mindset as the masonic lodge And at this point I'll turn it over to jim wise the neighbor who is a proponent and has been waiting for Thank you. Mr. Griffin Mr. Griffin before you step down Can I just ask you if you wish you were still up here as a member of this august body and could have enjoyed this meeting tonight? No, I told my wife this morning. I was not looking forward to this. Okay Well, we're glad to have my four years here. We're glad to have you back in these chambers. Mr. Griffin Yeah, mr. Wise Good evening. Mayor shul numbers of the city council. My name is jim wise. I live at 207 west carver street I've lived there for 36 years My house is a couple of blocks from the property in question here and as a Homeowner and a longtime neighborhood resident. I not only have no objection to the requested change of land use designation and zoning I positively hope that you will approve them Why this large property is designated in zone are you five residential? I don't really know but That bears no resemblance or very little to what's on the ground up there on crutchfield street crutchfield is four blocks long Fronting on the north side. There is a picnic shelter Two residences in the 200 block one of which is a garage appointment apartment that actually belongs to a home Fronting on turntine street and six office buildings on the south side There's a medical office building Durham center access the city of medicine academy and Duke regional hospital Developing the york right property if it's to be developed as an office would be harmonious with the existing character of crutchfield street You know logical use of the property Certainly more logical at this point than residential uses It's given its neighbors on crutchfield street and its location at the corner of duke street Which is already a very heavily traveled thoroughfare and only getting more so all the time not exactly an attractive place to build homes I encourage you to consider the compatibility logic and on the ground reality And vote to approve the requested land use change and rezoning. Thank you, and I'm going to pass the baton to dan jewel Thank you. Mr. Wise mr. Jewel Mr. Mayor, I just want to mention real quick that it's also nice to see mr. Wise back in these chambers. He's been quite a bit of time here as well Yes, exactly. Thank you for that. You're right. Mr. Councilmember Reese. We're glad to have you back Jim Thank you, Jim and thank you mayor and members of the council for you hanging out this evening as well My name is dan jewel. I'm a landscape architect in private practice. I reside at 1025 gloria avenue But unlike most of the times I am up before you Uh, I am not the applicant on this project or am I actually working on this project as a consultant Rather, I have several friends who belong to the lodge and they ask me if I would mind getting up saying a few words On behalf of their request Particularly since there were some comments that came out of the planning commission meeting having to do with The lack of a development plan which uh, if you read those comments, you know What was the basis for uh, some of the folks who who chose to recommend against the case Uh development plans are very expensive Development plans cost anywhere from 35 to 65 thousand dollars and up I think the other consultants in the room can attest to that. George stands the out doesn't cheaper. Yeah, he does I don't know about that. We'll uh, we'll we'll we'll get into a wrestling match about that a little bit So, uh, we'll we'll we'll see he drives a better car than I do. I'll just point that out to you The uh And if there's a traffic impact analysis involved it can it can go up from there The other the other thing with a development plan is it adds time a rezoning like this a straight request Can be done in five to six months development plan zonings Take at least 10 months more likely 12 to 14 months depending on the complication of the case The other thing I'd like to say is the development plans are warranted in many cases. They're warranted where there's Concerns over the nape from the neighbors. They're warranted where you have a large project They're warranted where you have a complicated project where things need to be thought out ahead of time road access Transition scale to the surrounding community Different uses things of that nature particularly mixed-use projects But when you have a very small piece of property like this Where there has been no neighborhood opposition and as mr. Wise said there is clearly a A gap along the street that is all zoned office On both sides and across the street with some remnant residential that we have have here Then it is not necessarily warranted to have a development plan. Finally, I would like to add that Given some of the commentary from the planning commission that you could build up to a 90 foot building on this site That is true purely from the zoning But I did a a little site plan sketch I do that from time to time as some of you know and what the parking the parking That's required really drives the size of a building that might be built on this site And what I was able to come up with even just an ugly site plan maxing it out Was about a 32,000 square foot 33,000 square foot maximum building size on all floors So that would equate to uh, maybe one two-story building or a couple to two or two and three-story buildings There's no way that somebody's going to get build a parking deck in this part of Durham The economics just don't support that the site is too small So I will just wrap by saying development plans are appropriate in most cases In this case, we don't think it was warranted I don't think it was warranted and I think the fears of a large-scale development Just will not bear out in the site because of the small size of it Thank you. And with that, I'd like to close it close it by adding Handing it over to Joe Hackett with the lodge. Thank you very much. Mr. Hackett. Welcome Yes, sir. Glad to be here. Thanks. Thanks for hanging with us. Okay. Now. I got three more minutes. I can use all of it, right? No, I'm just kidding I have been chosen to speak on behalf of the mason's here in Durham for this thing It is a To us it's a necessary thing As most of you probably know or maybe not. We do a lot of charity work. We We run a couple of different orphanages in the state of retirement home We do eye foundation work giving people free eye exams and different things like that and this is It's just a necessary thing for us to build to build us a home And that's what we're looking for I brought several mason's here with me tonight To for support like y'all stand up just to Thank you if nothing else you've been here so long Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you very much. Mr. Hackett. I hope you all got a nap during the earlier part of the meeting So, um, are there any is there anyone else that would like to be heard on this on this uh case Anyone else that would like to be heard? Either proponent or opponent Yes, sir Please come forward state your name State your name and address. Are you a proponent of this? Uh, no, I'm forward. Yeah, that's good. Same thing Okay, look see that clock over there. Okay. You got two minutes and 20 seconds My name is Rodney Bratch. I'm a past master chef more large number 840 And I'm very close friends first. I like to say good evening to all the council It's been a long night But I'm a very close friend of a lot of the brothers a fellowship large They come to visit our large on cook road And uh after knowing them for two years I just recently found out that they didn't actually have a large They actually rent a place that they go to over in their north gate park to have a meeting which is very very small So I look at this uh being an opportunity for them to be able to build a large a great thing I don't want to bring religion into it But it's no different than uh Muslims having a mosque to go to or Christians having a church to go to Of people just having different places that they would like to meet So I think this is very important for the community and not making it a black and a white thing Lots of people don't know that white mason's in come to the black lodges Blacks and come to the white mason's lodges in the state of North Carolina That was something that was passed about 10 years ago So this is uh when I was in the chairs worse for masses This is a It's a relationship that I took and built with this large And we're here tonight to support them to show that we're all one no matter what color it is We're all one when it comes to masonry and we also do a lot of different things in the community And make different donations to the orphanage children home So I just think it would be a good thing for the council to vote upon this for them to have somewhere to go It's just like not having a house to go to at night or or different things like that And I just want to say uh if you get them the opportunity, I know it would be a good situation for the Durham community Thank you very much sir much appreciated All right, is there anyone else that would like to be heard on this matter? Anyone else that would like to be heard on this matter all righty if not Any any i'm going to uh If not, I'm going to declare this public hearing closed And the matter is back before the council Council members any questions comments I just have a few for staff Go ahead councilmember freeman. I just wanted to just highlight so i'm noticing a trend with the approval of rezoning Without a developer or development plan and I just want to make sure that I highlight that This process works well for developers and it works well for property owners as individuals and It really is the piecemeal approach that we've been talking about which has been harmful across this city And I want to make sure that we note that I mean i'm not saying that this Project is not, you know, it's small enough where we're going to have this huge impact But I want to recognize that we do have enough coming case with with the old west Durham Conversation around how a neighborhood is trying to do Some small area planning and recognizing that their community is shifting and changing in a way that they're not comfortable with And then this is this is the opposite of that and I just want to highlight that for folks Thank you councilmember Any other questions or comments? I do have a couple Uh one of them regards the comment by planning commissioner gauche And I I don't I'm not going to try to get you guys to answer these tonight jaco But let me just I'm going to say two things and pat's here you all can listen to it and do what you want with it But I thought he had an interesting comment about there The idea that work on amending the uda to allow udo to allow for zoning conditions to prohibit uses And further restrict dimensional requirements like height without the need for a development plan I don't know if that's a sensible approach, but it struck me as in this case It might have been exactly the kind of thing that would have been useful I'm not sure how often it's useful in cases, but I'll just mention that for your future consideration And then similarly tom miller and his comment said these cases point out the weakness in our oi zone One size fits all category allowing a very wide range of uses and pretty intense developments Most have been disposed of more than one oi zone allowing for different intensities based on context again I thought those were both just very thoughtful interesting comments that might be useful going forward So now you've heard them from me. They may not be useful going forward as well, but um, I thought that they had Good possibilities If I might very briefly mr. Mayor pat young with the planning department I just want to appreciate you for making those comments and let you know that Those are both things we discussed internally about looking at as part of a update of the comprehensive plan process We could decouple those and do those earlier, but they both have a lot of merit and we'll evaluate them fully Thank you. I'm not trying to get you to do them earlier But thank you I also want to appreciate we I got a very useful email from Councilmember Reese today on this case. Do you want to talk about that at all? Absolutely. Mr. Mayor. Thank you Um, I'll be I'm I intend to vote for the matter on our on our agenda tonight But I was I was not inclined to support it When the when these items first came through our agenda at the last work session and reviewed them Simply because I shared the plan some of the planning commissioner's concerns about a lack of the development plan And what could be put on this site and how that would impact the neighborhood I had an opportunity to sit down with Dan jewel Who spoke with us tonight and he kind of walked me through the analysis that I I frankly don't have the skills and ability to do To figure out exactly what could be built on that piece of property under current UDO requirements He was kind enough to send that to jacob wiggins with the planning department And I followed up with jacob this morning who I knew exactly what I was talking about and agreed with Dan's assessment of what could be done I think the maximum building that can be built on that site given parking and setback requirements is Somewhere in the neighborhood of 33 000 square feet or thereabouts And it have to be surface parking because structured parking makes no sense in this neighborhood and so I think That gave me a lot more comfort about the fact that even though we can't guarantee the specific use that the That folks have talked about this property being used that whatever ends up happening with this site And I don't I don't question the motives of the folks who are seeking to use this transaction I just know that stuff happens, you know Transactions go sideways But no matter what happens with this property it it can't match up with some of the I think concerns that the number of the planning commissioners quite rightly raised at the at the planning commission Um, and so shared that with my colleagues because I thought that would be helpful Given that that a number of the planning commissioners who voted against this matter the planning commission raised that as a concern I just really appreciate Um, but Daniel for spending the effort to do this, uh, kind of I won't call it back of any analysis because you actually had a little map you actually did some work um, and especially the Folks at the planning at the planning department Jacob for for taking this up and and taking a look at it We appreciate that work. Thank you, mr. Mayor. Thank you very much council member Reese and also, uh, I thought the analysis was also extremely Extremely persuasive. I agree any other comments All right Yeah, go ahead. I just want to say that uh While I would support the rezoning I would like to Explain that I'm not supporting the udo change based on the fact that we need to address this as a comprehensive Focus and I don't know any other way to demonstrate that in a way that's uh impactful other than voting No, so I just want to make sure that I share that with you guys. Thank you All right council members I believe I've already closed this public hearing but if not, I do now and uh the matters back for the council The first motion we've been asked is to adopt the resolution of many of the future land use map to establish office as the site's designation So moves second All righty Madam clerk, will you please open the vote? Close the vote Motion passes six zero. Thank you very much The second motion is to adopt a consistency statement this is wired by ncgs 168-383 So moved second It's been moved and seconded. Please open the vote madam clerk Close the vote Motion passes five one with um council member freeman voting now. Thank you very much and now Motion number three to adopt an ordinance to amend the udo to take property Uh out of the residential urban are you? Urban five are you five zoning district and establish the same as offices institutional for the subject site? Second been moved and seconded Madam clerk, please open the vote Close the vote Motion motion passes six zero. Thank you very much and now we'll move to consolidate them for 3718 north rocksboro street And uh, let me just say to our friends I'm our friends from the masonic lodges. We appreciate your being here We wish you the best in whatever new home that you end up with Uh, we'll now move to consolidate Dated item for 3718 north rocksboro street And we will hear from staff. Hello. Jamie Good evening mayor and council members Jamie Soniek with the planning department A request for future land use map amendment and zoning map change has been received from withers Ravinal for a 1.28 acre Parcel located at 3718 north rocksboro street The flamma amendment future land use map amendment would change the current designation of office to commercial The applicant requests to change the zoning of the subject site from office and institutional to commercial neighborhood with a development plan key commitments on the development plan associated with this request include A maximum building size of 20 000 square feet prohibiting indoor and outdoor recreation uses And prohibiting retail uses whose primarily sell alcoholic beverages Their additional commitments are screening for any drive-through lanes uses with drive-through lanes limiting the hours of operation of restaurants And constructing a bus pullout And shelter on the east side of north rocksboro street adjacent to the site The planning commission considered this request at their february 13th 2018 meeting and recommended approval of the request by a vote of 14 to 0 Staff determines that these requests are consistent with the comprehensive plan and apical policies and ordinances Action on this item will acquire three separate motions and votes One for the flamma amendment one for the consistency statement and one for the zoning ordinance I will be happy to answer any questions you have Thank you very much You've heard the report from staff. I'm now going to declare this public hearing open First are there any questions for staff by members of the council? Again, uh, oh Please go ahead the in The planning commission comes I guess again. Are we dealing with the same errors as the planning commission finds that the ordinance request is not consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan However, should the plan and amendment be approved? It's not Staff finds that it's not consistent with the comprehensive plan because the flam isn't consistent with the zoning Once the flam which once the future land use map is amended, then it would be got you. Okay. I got you. It's late Sorry, thank you. That is actually That that that language has been confusing to me since the day I got here. I don't feel as bad. Oh, I wouldn't Question, uh, okay But but I but I but it's it's necessary and I appreciate it. Okay Any other questions by members of the council at this point? If not, we have two speakers signed up To speak on this on item 24 We have joshet. We'll rinky. I'm sorry. I can't read your handwriting And david f brown Joshua rinky is a proponent is mr. Brown also a proponent you are. Okay, uh, please come forward and I will give you six minutes and I hope you don't take it all All right, mr. Mayor members of the council if we appreciate that we'll try to take less than a minute Joshua rinky a registered professional engineer in the state of north carolina From ramy camp and associates worked on the traffic impact analysis for this Um scoped it with the city and dot Reviewed by the city and dot It was determined that no, uh, roadway improvements were necessary to mitigate the traffic impacts of this Of this development. Thank you and I'm willing to answer any questions you have. I hope you got paid by the hour tonight Good evening, mr. Mayor members of the council. My name is david brown. I'm the director of planning at withers ravinell I'm actually here on behalf of my colleague don mazel who is at another hearing tonight Just as josh just stated. We're here to answer any questions. I think staff gave you an excellent summary We'll try to be brief. You've had a long evening. Thank you very much All right. Is there anyone else that would like to be heard on this item? Yes, sir Please come forward state your name and address The name is andrew george Oh, I forgot my address 209 east rockway street. Sorry just down the street from The proposed development. Uh, I just want to make a couple Comments that I walk my dog past this development every day. Um, it's currently an abandoned lot that is wooded That is covered in trash most of the time Well, I obviously will have An understanding for the the homelessness in Durham. It is also occupied by homeless inhabitants as well on a number of cabins and just generally support active investment in this property area that being said, I also wanted to Thank the the council for their dealing with the prior Discussions tonight. I know you guys have had a long night And I just appreciate appreciate your thoughtful Feedback and the way that you've handled a lot of the issues that have come before you today as well as these So, thank you Sir before you leave would you would you please go to the clerk's desk and fill out one of those yellow cards? Just so we'll have a record of you speaking. Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to be heard on this matter? Is there anyone else that would like to be heard on this matter? Alrighty Um, any any questions by council for the applicant? Just one Councilmember freeman So I noted that the b-pack was requesting a pad for the bus stop Did you guys make a determination that that was not feasible or? Just skipped it. How's that? I'm sorry I'm gonna defer to staff for just one moment Uh, jamey sonyak with the planning department. It is listed as a text commitment on the cover sheet of development plan Hmm text commitment number five Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the question. All right any more questions for the applicant or staff If not, I'm going to declare this public hearing closed and managed back for the council Can I have a motion to adopt the resolution implementing the future land use map to commercial for the subject site? So moved Second and moved and seconded madam clerk. Can you please open the vote? Motion passes six zero. Thank you. We need a motion now to adopt a consistency statement Move to adopt consistency second and moved and seconded madam clerk. Can you please open the vote? Close the vote motion passes six zero Thank you very much. Madam clerk and now motion the third motion to adopt an ordinance of many of the udo by taking the property out of the office and institutional etc and Can I have a motion? Second And moved and seconded madam clerk. Please open the vote Close the vote Motion passes six zero. Thank you madam clerk. Thank you all very much Uh, and now we'll move to item 25 consolidated annexation item for 3404 page road And we will hear from staff Good evening. Jamie Sonnyak again with the planning department. This is 3404 page road The requests for a utility extension agreement voluntary annexation Plan amendment and zoning map change have been received from steward ink for one parcel Total ink 32.87 acres the subject site is located at 3404 page road This annexation petition seeks to bring in the parcel into the existing city limits The subject site is presently zoned rural residential and the applicant requests a zoning designation of plan development residential 5.788 with a maximum of 190 townhouse units The parcel is currently designated as industrial And the applicant has requested an amendment to the low medium density residential category That's four to eight dwelling units per acre Which would be consistent with the zoning change? Approval of the annexation petition plan amendment and zoning would be effective would become effective on june 30th 2018 Key commitments on the development plan associated with this request include A 20-foot buffer along the southern and western property lines additional asphalt for bicycle lane sidewalks And page road widening to a three-lane cross section between mac papers driveway and logistics way And there is also additional building offset two buildings with four units or more And a stream crossing shown on the development plan The project will be served by county sewer the public works and water management departments have determined that the existing water mains Have the capacity for the proposed development The budget and management services department Have determined that the proposed annexation will become positive Revenue positive immediately following the annexation additional information on that can be found in the staff report The Durham planning commission at their january 12th 2018 meeting Recommended approval of the proposed future land use map designation and the plan development residential zoning By vote of 10 to 0 staff determines that this request That these requests Are consistent with the comprehensive plan should the fawn be amended Four motions are requested for this application The first is required by law to approve the utility extension agreement and the voluntary annexation petition The second is requested To adopt the the resolution amending the land use map designation And the third is to adopt a consistency statement I say this to it, let me repeat myself again The fourth there's four motions required. The first is the utility extension Voluntary annexation petition. The second is for the flam. The third is for the consistency statement and the fourth is for the zoning Thank you very much. I'll be happy to answer questions that you have only see three Only see three motions uh on our so when we get to that you'll have to help yourself Okay, I will thank you All right. Uh, thank you very much for that report You all have heard the staff report and now i'm going to declare this public hearing open And i'm going to first ask the council members if you have any questions for staff Quick question. Uh, do you know the price point of the townhouses? I do not the applicant is here and can't answer that i'll wait Okay, um, and then uh any other questions for staff I'll ask the staff a question Do you have any concerns? About giving up Our limited supply some of our limited supply of land designated for industrial use on the future land use In this location, I would say that the change from industrial to to residential Make sense. Um based on the adjacent Based on the development that's occurring in that area if you look At the aerial that was provided in the staff report as well as There was a supplemental aerial that was provided to you by planning director earlier today You can see the trends of development in that area There are a number of Plan development residential applications that are that have been built and that are under construction So I feel that in this location um Given the proximity and and the way that the adjacent properties have been built With an anticipation of connection if you look at anthropology drive There is an anticipated connection to the property to the north Um, and it makes sense to have that Residential as as opposed to an industrial use. I think there would be a lot More outcry in terms of Incompatibility so For this particular side, I do think it makes sense I think that director young has a As ever miss saying I gave an excellent answer But I did want to just briefly elaborate on that back in 2012 Planning department working with the Durham chamber and a number of other partners Conducted an industrial land study And we are going to through our proposed work program for the coming fiscal year We're going to update that right and we'll look very carefully at the issue. I think you're indicating here, which is we do have um A risk of running out of quality industrial land over the next 30 years But I certainly do agree with miss sunyak that this specific site because of the Our preponderance of residential development nearby. Thank you is suitable for residential not industrial Okay, you guys are good Just a quick question count remember freeman. So I just want to make sure if Well, I just want to ask the question. Are we looking at page road and I guess Recognizing that you're changing a lot or changing. We are changing a lot of the industrial land to residential. How are we gonna Pretty much address the traffic or address What is the time frame that we're looking at in addressing that page road? overflow, I guess you'd say Councilmember freeman, I'll let mr. Judge from transportation talk about the transfer traffic issue I did want to just clarify my earlier comments that we did look carefully at the industrial land study and none of the property On this portion of page road. There was some property in the very southern portion of page road Qualified as prime industrial high quality industrial land, but in terms of the traffic impacts, I'll turn it over to Thank you Yes, bill judge transportation This particular development plan was under the threshold requirement for traffic impact analysis. So it did not prepare one, but they We the city and ncdot did require widening for left-turn lanes at the at the proposed site access So those are being provided the majority of the roadway improvements in this area Are requirements of the beth page development, which is immediately adjacent to it They're in various phases of development They've completed a number of improvements already in the area and they still have some additional improvements to go in the future Primarily a widening of page road mostly south of here With some of the future office or retail phases of that project. Is there any look into an additional parallel? Road in that area because I mean the page road is the only Um Well, there is the through to beth page development. There is a collector street crown parkway that Is partially constructed and underdeveloped and that would continue north into the I guess the towns of briar creek up through brooch. So on our Collector street plan. We do have sort of a parallel road to the to the west there Thank you, mr. Judge All right Any more questions at this point for staff if not We have one person signed up to speak on this item Mr. Schunk, I believe it is you And um Why don't I start by giving you five minutes and hope that you don't take it all Being the for the hour that it is and we know it's since I was up. We've got more items Just want to let you know that I'm gonna ask a question. No pressure Uh, good evening, mr. Mayor and fellow city council members robert schunk 262 7 university driving here representing shanandoah homes Um, we're here to provide a 90 190 townhomes on 32 acres of land We did have a uh neighborhood meeting at the beginning of this project Uh, we had it was very well attended The main uh topic that we discussed at the neighborhood meeting Was a request for a an additional landscape buffer along the perimeter of the site It's just here before your screen at the neighborhood meeting. We agreed to provide that to the neighbors Planning commission voted 10 to 0 and provided favorable comments for this project A couple other things to highlight Or one other thing to highlight at planning commission here and we added some additional architectural commitments To remove the use of vinyl to use only hardy plank to be consistent with the adjacent development Also this evening, um, based on my discussions with the my developer We're gonna agree to Or we're gonna proffer a donation to the affordable durham's affordable housing fund of $35,000 And we'll also contribute as consistent with what we've done before and other projects to provide $500 per additional Student added to the school system I'm available for any questions you might have. Thank you for those proffers. Mr. Schunk Um And to your end for the developer much appreciated Council members, I believe council member middleton had a question mr. Schunk forgive me if I don't recall I I believe we met about this project, but could you remind me what the price points are to tell them? Uh, if you hadn't before the plus or minus the 250 thousand Thank you. Thank you I So I just wanted to ask how you got to the 35,000 We had provided that sum of money in past projects based on Uh, unit count and consistency just a evaluation of looking at other other zonings that have been done over the last couple years So like I know that the unit count has been like to the hundred and this it's It's been like 25,000 per hundred something like that sound familiar Is there a reason I don't recall that well sort of 50,000 as opposed to 35 Give me a second Jeff Palmer with Shenandoah Homes And regarding your question 35,000 was above and beyond what's required and that was a donation on our part and We felt that was quite generous and You know, we always want to be able to give more but honestly it's Uh, 35,000 above me on already And how many how many of these units are going to be affordable to people at 60 percent lower? Compared to the the pricing of housing in the area in general and given the proximity the job centers 250 plus or minus is actually quite affordable to a lot of other housing options for people in the Raleigh Durham area and so Um It's it's actually in the more affordable range of new housing None of the housing units will be affordable people at 60 percent of the area have any income or less was the answer I just want to make sure you know that That none of them would be affordable Understand And just so you're aware that 35,000 is kind of an insult. Thank you. I don't I do not view it that way Okay Other questions from members of the council comments Just one additional question Any other questions? All right, if not, I'm going to declare this public hearing is closed And the matter is back before the council um We have I believe you said we have four motions on this. Is that right? There are four motions. All right, and we'll start with them with you very Well, I think we got it the motion number one to adopt Norden's annexing 3404 page road to the city And to authorize city manager enter to utility extension agreement I have a motion on that so move second Madam clerk, we open the vote Close the vote Thank you very much Motion passes five one with council member freeman voting. No, thank you Uh a motion two to adopt a resolution amending the future land use map to below medium density Presidential sir motion move to adopt Madam clerk, please open the vote Close the vote Motion passes five one with council member freeman voting. No, thank you. Motion number three to adopt a consistency statement Move to adopt consistency Please open the vote madam clerk Close the vote Motion passes five one with council member freeman voting. No, all right. And the fourth motion miss sunyak The fourth motion is the zoning amendment Making the property out of rr and going to the plan development residential 5.788 move to state it and accepting the proffers Yes, and accepting the proffers. Yeah, I meant to ask were the proffers made in such a way that you could Could accept them I see pat nodding. Yes Okay, thank you very much. All right, do we have a motion? We have a motion on the zoning and the proffers. I'll restate my motion. Thank you second It's been moved in second and madam clerk. Will you please open the vote close the vote? Thank you very much Motion passes five one with council member freeman voting. No, thank you We'll now move to item 26 public hearing and approval of the draft fy 2018 19 annual action plan Um Mr. Johnson welcome mayor pro tem this item is the public hearing and approval of the fy 1819 annual action plan I will turn it over to miss will mcconnors federal programs coordinator to read the particulars into the record. Thank you very much Good evening mayor shoo members of council will mcconnors The purpose of this public hearing is to receive citizen comments on the draft fy 18 19 annual action plan the annual action plan specifies how the city will address The housing and community development needs through the use of community development block grant known as cdbg home investment partnership consortium known as home emergency solutions grant known as esg And housing opportunities for persons with AIDS known as hapua The u.s. Department of Housing and Urban Development has not yet notified the city of its fy 18 19 Entitlement funds So for planning purposes the city expects to receive 1.8 million in cdbg funds 800,000 in home funds 165,000 in esg funds And 328,000 in hapua funds The annual action plan was made available for review from march 16th through april 17th 2018 Notice of this public hearing Was that properly advertising the k-pasa herald sun and carolina times newspapers Also via a general listserv As a recipient of cdbg home esg in hapua The city is required to hold at least two public hearings. The first public hearing was held on december 18 2017 An application workshop was also held on december 12 for the release of the applications for home and esg funds The application submission deadline was february 2nd 2018 Because final entitlement amounts have not yet been announced grantees will have at least 60 days subsequent to the entitlement announcement or august 16th 2018 whichever comes first In closing a summary of comments from this public hearing and written comments received throughout the development of the annual action plan Will be incorporated into the final plan. Thank you. Thank you very much You all have you have heard the report from staff. Thank you miss conures and i'm now going to declare this public hearing open Uh, and i'm going to first ask if there are questions for miss conures from members of the council just One question. Um, you mentioned the list of uh advertising. Is there a reason you're listing k-pasa first? Is that like Is that new They were listed in the order in which they were advertised March 15th 16th and 17th respectively Thank you miss conures Attachment f or 7 depending upon how you look at the you have the funding chart Where are the 10 derm community land trustee apartments in southwest central derm? What what are we referring to there? It's uh an attachment f There are 10 dclt apartments in southwest central derm, but i wasn't sure what they were Are they scattered sites or Take a ton We are uncertain at this time. Okay. They're scattered side or let me know cluster. We send me any man. We'll follow up Yeah, no, no, that's not not urgent. Thank you um About 1.4 million in cdbg money went for site prep and loan repayment and sell sign And i think about 570 000 of that was in section 108 loan repayment And i'm wondering About how many more years do you know that we have to have for that section 108 loan repayment? The section 108 loan is for 20 years and if my memory serves me correctly, I believe we're in our third year. Okay Thank you Not the answer I was hoping for but I knew it was not a good answer, but I know it's quite that bad. Thank you um, all right, uh of the 1.4 million In cdbg money for the south side about 805 000 per page 26 the report is for site prep Is this for beam in place? Mr. Mayor, uh, yes, that is for beam in place Are we going forward on that plan for single family homes then reginals? So our plan is to issue another rfp that we hope to go out probably the next 45 to 60 days As you know, there are some challenges with that site But we do have a commitment to the community that we will complete that project We are exploring some of the options based upon the results of the rfp The result that came back earlier this year. Great. Thank you very much um So let me just say are we committed to single family homes there? Are we are we putting is it going to be some flexibility in the rfp? There are is going to be some flexibility, but it will not be more to have family. Okay Thank you. Um Also about 367 000 and home dollars is listing for housing rehab with the recipient listed as uh, department of community development How are these how do we use those housing rehab funds? Do we have a subcontractor on that or is that? This is on the funding chart as well again Wilmer Conyers Um, they will be bitted out and based on the city's the department's policy We can spend up to 50 000 dollars per unit and with that said we anticipate Completing approximately seven units. Okay, so that's different than than the 300 000 dollars in habitat home repair funds, which is out of the uh out of the dedicated funding source. Is that right? That is correct. Thanks On page 20 of the report number four, there's 13.8 million dollars in cdbg funds spent in south side Do you see where i'm looking at that in uh Page 20 of the report item four It says there's 13.8 million dollars in south side. Uh, do you see that's that that line cdbg funds Spent in south side that appears to be a typo Okay Because i was going to ask you over what period of time that was so All right, do you have an idea what the real number might be because I thought that was either multi-year or a typo Anyway, you just let me know You should be glad I read this thing this carefully Reginald. I'm I'm better than the federal government Okay, um And then on page 21 number eight Uh 900 000 dollars in home funds And I was wondering again over over what period of time is that spent? The intent is to spend it expend it within the one year Funding period Okay, and that would be a combination of 800 thousand in home funds and one hundred thousand in program program funds, right So my final question is how do you handle recusals of cac members who might be voting on funds for their own Organizations is there the people recuse themselves routinely that is correct. Okay. Thank you All right, those are my questions other council members other questions just one house member freeman uh, so specifically to um mayor schultz with the 367 000 That is Going to be bitted out Is there a any room for conversation about how that low priority of economic development can be included in that? Would you elaborate just uh council member so just recognizing that if there's an opportunity to do some apprenticeship or some type of work program along with oe wd like Is there room to do that in this time like in the time for my realize it's probably short That's something that we can have conversations with oe w D about we've been having some conversations with them on other matters. So we would include that. Okay Thank you. Thank you council member Okay, we have four member four people signed up to speak on this, but I don't believe any of them are here. Is that correct laverne? Thank you We they left us some written comments, which uh, I will make available with the clerk All right, uh, is there anyone else who would like to speak on this item? Is there anyone else who would like to speak on this item? If not, I will declare the public hearing closed And the matter is back before the council. I believe that we can do all this in a single motion Is that do you agree? Yes? Great, so, uh, can I have a motion? Well, someone please move this item to move Second moved and seconded madam clerk. Please open the vote Close the vote Motion passes six zero. Thank you very much madam clerk and now we'll move we have two more items left Longest meeting and Since I've been on the city council Okay, go back and longest item 27 Public hearing to consider adopting a resolution rescinding a previously ordered sewer main and outfall to serve redcoach road and grand oaks road Mr. Joiner welcome Thank you Good evening mayor schul members of the council. I'm robert joiner public works department item 27 is to hold a public hearing to Adopting a resolution rescinding a previously ordered sewer main and sewer outfall to serve a redcoach and grand oaks roads Staff recommends that council conduct a public hearing Receive comments and adopt a resolution rescinding this previously ordered petition improvement I'll be happy to answer any questions council may have Thank you very much You have heard the report from staff. I'm now going to declare this public hearing open And first I'm going to ask are there any questions for staff by members of the council All right If not, then we have four speakers signed up for this item Let's see I see I guess I All right, so I think all these people are opponents of the of this I think all the people here want the Or at least three of the people want the sewer Extended and not rescinded Although it doesn't say proponent or opponent on here, but I think I get it. Uh, they are kelly king terry jones And darien raposa and then we have uh david fur here from the public staff of the nc utilities commission um Mr. Fur, how would you characterize yourself as a proponent or opponent or? Opposed to it. So are all the other speakers opposed to the rescind rescinding of this am I correct on that? Okay, it's what I thought all right I'm going to Give the Give the Well, first of all, is there anyone else that is that wants to speak on this matter? Okay, are you opposed to it also? All right You're also opposed. Okay So what I'm going to ask the two of y'all to do now if you wouldn't mind is to go over to that table and fill out the Yellow card do that right now. Okay, so we can get this thing going all right, and then um I'm going to call you all later, but uh, there are six speakers. I'm going to give the uh Do you all feel the 12 minutes would be enough for all of you all? I'm hearing a no. Okay. I'm going to give you 15 minutes and I'm going to hope you don't take it all Um, but if you need to you can have it and I'm going to begin with with a Darian riposa I was unaware that um powerpoint was available. I made handouts if it permissible for me to pass them out You would hand them to the clerk. That would be great. Thank you so as you uh Darian riposa 1824 grande oaks road. It's missing an e Um All right, as you saw from my card. I put opposed question mark I have a fourth version and we're presented with three options in the letter. I have a fourth version which I think would save Either the residents or the city or both of us a couple million dollars I think I'd like that to be considered. Um So um in the interest of time, I'm gonna start with the punch line and then I'd like Like your to allow me to give a little background In the handout that I that I made the yellow outline is the outline of the proposed sewer Um construction project The neighborhood Mistakes were made when the development occurred The neighborhood has a combination of some properties that have septic systems and most of us have a septic tank with a grinder pump in it and the effluent is Daisy chained up the hill After which there's a gravity fall and it goes into the package plant I mean package plant was in great disrepair and hence the um in 1993 dean or closed that dean or sent out a threatening letter saying they would condemn the neighborhood In 2007 things came to a head again. We got another threatening letter. I hadn't I wasn't there in 93 And 2007 there was another threatening letter. We had to take action right away Or the neighborhood was in danger of being condemned I had professional things going on. So I haven't given you the benefit of my Insights prior to this evening The Oh So um To uh in a nutshell that this is proposed the proposal is to put in a standard sewer system where every house would link up to the sewer system and there's Two drainage outfalls a brand new sewer system the way neighborhoods should be built no question about it However Faced with the possibility as the letter it says they have a trebling of the cost My estimates were 17 000 trouble. That is over 51 000 assessments If it were option three I think that's just absurd um I um wanted to propose that uh, they really doesn't seem to be any reason in my mind why The existing daisy chain Granted less than ideal system needs to be replaced at all. There's a package plant Right at the beginning of my short pink line That's where all the effluent currently Gets just fine. It has been Since we first since the neighborhood was first notified in 93 The um It all it all successfully gets to the package plant and the new neighborhood With no colored lines on it Has been has since been built. So I can't understand why in the world we would spend If I understood the letter correctly three million dollars putting in the sewer system with the yellow lines When all the effluent already makes it to the package plant that little pink square and The all all it seems to me that the only thing necessary is to connect to connect from the package plant to the Um sewer system that's already in the line within city limits Mr. Raposa Thank you very much. I hear you we've got this and eventually we'll ask staff about it I'm a little bit worried about the time here. So how would you feel about giving up it now and let us hear from some other folks? I I'd just like to conclude by saying um If my alternative proposal is not smiled upon that I do feel that the city made an obligation to us that this is uh It's already a tremendous burden for for the size of this assessment and I think that the city Needs to stick to its Stick to its word. The only reason the project was delayed was Um the city's shortcomings Thank you. Mr. Raposa now we'll hear from kelly king My name is kelly king 5611 red coach road I've spoke on to this count to the council several times on this Of course the the things that's happening this afternoon is kind of changing my thoughts So we'll have to put in my neighbor's part about the pressurized line We did look at it in 2007 City Durham does not let you take a pressurized line in their system They want a four inch gravity fed line that they will take over So all that's been done. I don't even need to look at that. It was rejected in 2007 I was there um I've gone over the nuts and bolts and the wires and wilt fours in option two and three why they're It's not gonna work Option two leads a lot of things open It's dependent on us getting a permit to put in a sewer system Option two could drag on three four more years. It's only been almost 11 now That one could drag on three or four more Option three is just totally unreasonable And the main reason I'm here for now that I've explained in previous meetings Why option two won't work why option three won't work And everything else the real reason I did I'm here the reason real reason I came here to start with I want my sewer line my sewer line The one city council in 2007 promised me my sewer line the one that they We came up here. We talked to him. We got people's names It was voted on an agreement was signed and the document says and I quote the document This shall commence as soon as possible It was all signed Don't think this is free This whole neighborhood signed an agreement. We're going to pay part of it My part to get my sewer line in my road front. It's just $20,000 So I'm not saying coming up here and saying hey city council Why don't y'all give me a free ride? It's going to cost me $20,000 at least When y'all put this line in all I want is what was promised to me Spent a lot of statements made here In the activities before the meeting about the city of Durham These guys that were up here in 2007 they were duly elected officials They came up here and voted and made a decision On what the city of Durham was going to do based on the majority of Durham boating them in office They voted to do this agreement You want to call the agreement? I'm from Durham. I didn't move here from Chapel Hill. I didn't move here from Hillsborough I didn't come here to inspect inspecting anything. I was born in Durham in 1953 We call it a promise in Durham So now what staff wants you to do is renege on the 2007 city council's promise To these people to me Why do they want you to renege on it to cover up the fact that they failed to do their job? They waited 10 years kicking this to the side putting in sidewalks Looking at a railroad station trying to find a bus depot While my sewage is running in the creek that ain't no river What they do? Well, we're sorry It's an excuse. It's not a reason. There's no reason why this has not been done There's no reason why this promise hadn't been kept Some people call agreement I call it a promise Some people call it a contract I don't see what choice you got except to finish the job It's your predecessors duly elected officials promise to me Kelly king they promised me in 2007 And i'm not going to be happy Till their promises kept. Thank you. Thank you, mr. King terry jones terry jones here Elizabeth plowler Thank you, miss plowler Glad to have you. Thank you. I didn't intend to speak tonight, but I felt like my voice needed to be heard I wanted to take a moment to speak on the behalf of the residents that are new to this neighborhood that had no idea This was happening until we received letters from the city Some of the residents were told during their purchasing process about the sewer situation I was not one of those residents. I know it's always buyer aware when you buy a house For my situation and my next door neighbor's situation We had no idea this was even an issue until we got letters from the city So thank you for bringing that to our attention Please support option one and follow through on a commitment this council made you many years ago I feel we do not have the skill or the expertise To do any of what is noted in the other options Sorry, I lost my place From what I understand By my neighbors we came to the city as a final course of action years ago Please do not turn your back on us now. It would put us in an incredible disadvantage And cause Excuse me. Let me rephrase it would put us at incredibly difficult situation that was caused by matters beyond our control Thank you. Thank you very much, miss plowler freeman walker the third Good evening mayor council, my name is freeman walker the third and I live at 1800 grand oaks road I want to thank you for your time And I want to echo the sentiments of my neighbors And even though we don't have cookouts and neighborhood fish fries and get together But they're proud Dermites that are proud of their neighborhood They work together. We wave at each other. We don't always Get in each other's backyard, but we're on the same page with this When I bought my house in 2000 my daughter was an infant She is now a junior in college doing quite well. I met Ed, but we're talking about the span of 19 years and this same issue has been going on and The city didn't make a promise in 2007 Signed agreement said it was going to be done And for whatever reason and I understand how the city works and there's a lot a lot on your plate Just got pushed away, but now it's time to Make make good on that promise and that's all our our Neighbors are asking that you be fair and equitable to The folks on red coach and grand oaks, and I know you will I believe you will I've seen it in In action tonight. So I asked that you guys rescind this order and make good on that promise of 2007. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Walker David fur Welcome, mr. Fur. We're glad to have you back Thank you for having me back David fur with public staff water sewer division at the north carolina utilities commission Um, the north carolina utilities commission assigned its first emergency operator to this system 25 years ago We're now on our fifth emergency operator Residents are currently paying $112 per month just for sewer utility service And I believe this to be barely enough just to maintain routine operations Um economies of scale are very poor Uh, she know in 2007 the uh city council approved petition to extend sewer lines into this area Some of the assessments for some of these residents even with existing petitions is going to be as much as $30,000 for these sewer lines They these residents need this service from the city of Durham With this project moving forward a looming environmental problem will be resolved The city will have additional sewer revenue from these residents The project also extends the collection system across beavens road and installs an additional manhole They can facilitate future expansion of the city sewer system Residents in the area will have good dependable city of Durham Sewer utility service This project doesn't happen HOA will have to be formed to operate this punitive new treatment plant These residents do not have the financial managerial technical capacity to operate a system of this nature The cost will still be the same or higher just to maintain normal operations But again, we call some poor economies of scale Uh, and the city of Durham will continue to have an unnecessary do it sewer discharge right beside the city of Durham our first council to follow through with the commitment its predecessors made to these residents over 10 years ago And extend the city sewer lines under the current approved petition. Thank you very much. Thank you, mr. Farm Is there anyone else that would like to be heard on this item? But I also would like to be heard on this line, okay council members Any questions for staff at this point or for the applicants or for the speakers around Council member Reese. Thank you, mr. Mayor Mr. Furr, I know I've asked you this before but um, maybe maybe not this question Have you ever considered? I mean, did you meet with our staff to talk about this issue before you came tonight? So again, did you meet with our staff to talk about this issue before you came to speak to us tonight? Uh, I have spoken with your staff on several different occasions not specifically a meeting before this meeting tonight I've had some discussions with mr. Joyner in the hallway Have you have you ever tried to send us a letter explaining the your position about what's best for these neighbors? These folks, uh, I do not think I've ever sent you a letter. No I expressed this to you the last time you came and spoke to us. I'm gonna express it to you again that it's Seems odd that another entity of government is coming here to lobby us in a public hearing about an action We could take when you you are a person who's perfectly capable of meeting with our staff to express your position that they could Put in our staff memo. You can come talk to me anytime in my office. You can send me a letter Having you at a public hearing seems It just doesn't seem right It's not your fault. You're doing your job as you see it. I respect that. Um, but That's frustrating to me every time you come and I'm going to continue to be frustrated about it every time I see you At the podium just so you know I understand understand It's you're doing what you think you need to do. Um, I just think uh You could have a more productive role in this process If you tried to sit down with our staff as they're as they're making these decisions and preparing these memos To get your perspective before us in a different way. That's all I'm suggesting. I understand. Um, Mr King, that's all I have for you. Thank you. Mr. King. I wanted to take issue with one thing you said And you don't need to come back up. I'm not going to ask you a question. I'm just going to tell you something um You identified the staff as being responsible for you not getting your sewer line and that's just flat out wrong sir I'm here to tell you that's wrong It's the city council's responsibility To direct our staff about the priorities staff make recommendations staff give us suggestions It's this body that makes those decisions So you don't need to be blaming our staff. They were doing exactly what we told them to do and by we I mean the elected board all of them since 2007 and on up which I've only been on Not that long Go ahead council member risk Thank you, mr. King. Go ahead council member risk. Um, and uh I don't uh, when it's an appropriate time. I'll talk about my opinions on them on the underlying matter But okay, this was a time for questions. That's fine any any questions, uh, any any other questions for staff at this point? I don't have a question. I do when I'm okay. So when it's appropriate. All right, sure I do have a question for mr. Joyner Uh, and I'm really happy to take comments and questions now. I'm sorry. I should have made that clear, but let me just go ahead and ask Um Since we saw this item before how much of cost come down as a result of non negotiations with ncdot Here with me just a moment The cost on this item, uh, would be roughly 200 000 less After the negotiation. So, uh, the current estimate was about 600 is roughly 610 000 And before it was around 800 000. Okay And then, um, could you comment on the uh, the gentleman mr. Reposes? The his idea that he presented Uh, mr. King, uh remembers that Accurately from 2007 that idea was looked at The reason it was turned down at the time was because it only satisfies a solution for 13 of the residents There are septic systems That solution is not possible now under current rules So you could not have someone install a grinder pump and do a force main Into the public right of way a private force main into the public right of way in this situation So that's not something that would be allowed Any longer under current rules Am I correct that option two is quite a bit cheaper than option one For the homeowners and would not require city funding At least the way you've presented it. I want to hear from mr. Furrow on that a minute, but Yes, sir. The total cost would be less than the total cost spent um, the amount of the total assessment Uh, the maximum assessment would be roughly about 377 thousand dollars the current Estimate and that is an informal estimate from a company who provides these type of treatment plants Uh, would be about three hundred thousand dollars is what they're estimating You may not be able to answer this question, but uh, mr. Furr characterized the ability of the homeowners to uh Be able to do this As low You know that it would be hard, you know, I don't know maybe maybe even impossible I can't remember what you said exactly mr. Furr, but well, I think the point is I'm not I don't have any objection to the but uh, Mr. Joyner said in regards to his estimate to That a new plant in I cannot say if that's correct or not But I have run numbers on the current operation and Basically, it would be the same or worse Even with a new plant as far as just the ongoing daily routine operation of the plant what it would cost the customers it's still going to be Well over a hundred dollars a month per customer. You're saying they continue to operate the plant That's before any kind of significant repairs Going into the future You want to comment on that mr. Joyner? So I would say that it is fairly difficult for homeowners to perform maneuvers like this They would have to hire experts to help them out They would definitely be required to form an hoa Under this situation This is not something that would likely be looked at By the state as a viable option without either a large much larger supply of houses to fund something like this And they would have to typically seek um somebody In viral link or aqua or someone to run the treatment plant for them And that would be a contract that would have to be established beforehand for the state would typically permit something like this under existing rules Are you talking about that for a new construction or this is a brand new construction In this particular replacing the existing system. Yeah, the existing system wouldn't fall under those rules To replace the existing system. Yes, according to the state, they would be obligated to restore the permit Under those rules I'm sorry. I didn't quite understand it So essentially because a permit was already granted for the facility if you were to restore the plant to either active condition Or to construct a new plant The state would grant a permit okay, yes Currently right now there is the permit the last permit approved has expired The plant is still operating under the old permit still meeting those effluent requirements There's currently an emergency operator The actual emergency operators old north state water company LLC It has an affiliate called environmental link which does contract operations and in essence, they're Acting as the emergency operator this time Um Now when I run my numbers in regards to what it's costing now and versus what it'll cost in the future The assumption is that an environmental link would continue to serve as a contract operator Clearly none of these people have a certified operator that can perform the services of an operator responsible charge for the sewer plant The nature of the plant I don't know that the plant a replacement for this plant would actually be the exact same thing because some of the requirements have Increased over the years might require some additional tertiary filters on the back side I don't I can't speak to what additional Cost that might be for the contract operator But I have assumed that all the other costs power chemicals effluent lab testing Permit fees all the things that go into Just the normal cost of operating the plant And it is no better with a new plant that it would be Existing plant. Do you agree with that robert? Yes, sir other council members questions Questions or comments I do have a comment mr. Mayor. I will we'll start out with council member middleton and then we'll go with council member Thank you. Mr. Mayor. I'll be brief. I uh, I remember sitting and listening to this issue discussed at a work session right before I was Sworn in new council was sworn in and there seemed to be a bit of a punting of the issue Um, and I sat there that day. I remember thinking I mean we're gonna have to deal with this um I'm really struggling with this because I remember sitting listening to this discussion and the phrase The continuity of institutional integrity kept coming to me. Um, that is Although I wasn't on council when they made this decision the the There seems at least to me to be an issue of of the integrity of the council as in a universal body or a continual body um I appreciate the the remarks in the memo that say that our other construction priorities whatever the language is um Prevented this job from being done, but I find the fact that our predecessors um At that time will control the imprimatur of our city Um, and the levers of power of our city committed us to something. I I find that compelling um My uh, my friends my legal legal friends. I think you guys have some a free a latin phrase called stare decisis Which means let the decision stand And absence some really compelling or something that shocks our conscience, you know, that that that's just so against our values um comes up you know, I I think when when when um The city said it's going to do something I think you should do it And uh, I find um The comments from the residents very compelling um As a steward of the city's Um coffers, I'm always Looking at what it cost, and I'm always mindful of being a good steward of the city's um coffers But I just find this compelling. I find the the the the residents concerns and and the fact that Previous council committed this city to it a compelling Um, I find it as compelling as residents who want mulch in the park taken up in east Durham Um, who would just find it compelling. I find it compelling. Um, so I'm I'm inclined to to honor not to rescind our order but to Um, move ahead with what the city said it was going to do 2007. Thank you, mr. Mayor Thank you very much council member council member race. Thank you, mr. Mayor Uh, it won't be any surprise to you or the mayor pro tem Because you were on the council one last we discussed these types of issues I think all of our colleagues were at that work session and heard of this conversation But I agree with council member middleton about our obligations here Um, and I do support option one that the city's presented to us First of all, I want to thank all of the uh, folks who live in this part of this of the county who have stayed five hours To have their case heard appreciate your, um Willingness to stick it out and your trust in us that we would get to it and give you a fair hearing Um, I also really want to thank staff for Going back to the state dot and working with them to figure out how we could Make the initial estimate somewhat more palatable in terms of how much this is going to cost Um, I uh, I I took issue mr. King with your suggestion that the staff was responsible because We are responsible ultimately Um staff didn't tell the city council. Here's what we're going to do They said here's what we think ought to happen here are your options the city council said let's do it So it's our responsibility The the fact that this hasn't happened in 11 years um is the result of sending a priorities by this board and um In that respect, it's it's fitting that the decision comes back to us um in this context I uh, I can't add anything to what councilmember Councilmember middleton said Except to say this there's I've been convinced by our staff that there's no that we are not under a legal obligation To do this because the resolution we passed did not set a timeline. It did not set a particular time when this would be done um But I'm as convinced as I was when I first read about these issues that we have a moral obligation um For the very reasons that councilmember middleton said To move forward and provide you with your sewer line that we promised you in 2007 The fact that it's more expensive sucks for us Um, but we're just gonna have to move forward that that's official legal language by the way Um, I'll give you the citation later. Thank you, mr. Mayor. Thank you councilmember I think councilmembers wants to be the midnight hour whenever you're ready to move the motion You want to make a motion? I'd like to go ahead. I'd like to make an emotion to hang on a second We're in a we're in a public hearing here, aren't we? I'm going to declare this public hearing closed and I'm matters back for the council councilmember freeman I'd like to make a motion to adopt the resolution to rescind the previously ordered sewer main and out for improvement on red coach road From bivouz road to north font copy line And grand oaks road from red coach road east to the end of the cul-de-sac with the Understanding that I intend to vote against that. Thank you There's it's been moved and seconded I could you restate the motion? She has moved to the to approve the staff recommendation that we rescind the um That we rescind this uh this um previously ordered sewer previously ordered sewer Thank you very much councilmember freeman And on the and on the and on the same basis I will second the motion so that we can take a vote on it Oh, jill then I will stop talking And vote okay, it's been moved and seconded It's it's okay. Mr. King stick with us here stick with us here a motion is that is that we rescind the uh previously ordered sewer extension Any more discussion? The matter is So we're ready for a vote. Uh, madame clerk. Will you please? Open the vote Close the vote The motion to rescind fails by a vote of two in favor and four against with council members schul and Mayor schul and mayor pro tem johnson Voting in favor Thank you very much. We'll now move to item 28 Um get your sewer Item public 28 mr. Joyner Good evening mayor schul members of council. I'm robert joiner public works department item 28 is to hold a public hearing to consider Adopting a resolution rescinding a previously ordered sewer main to serve a portion of the east gear street Staff recommends that council will conduct a public hearing and receive comments and adopt a resolution We're sending this previously ordered petition improvement. I'll be happy to answer any questions council may have Thank you, mr. Joyner You've heard from staff. I'm going to declare this public hearing open the last item of the evening And I'll first ask if there are any questions for staff Questions for staff What was caused prior to negotiations with ncdot mr. Joyner 545 000 Today's estimate with ncdot re negotiations is down to two hundred and forty five thousand You're obviously a better negotiator than donald trump. Mr. Joyner um Good work as we say um Let's see and then my other question is I know that we're doing these one at a time Yes, sir, but we have four more Yes, sir, that's correct and can you give me some sense of the Relative cost of those. I mean are they at this sort of size or are there is there any is there any giant one lying out there? so The next two upcoming will be in the two hundred and twenty five thousand dollar range Those estimates are almost identical Because of the roadway that they lie on So there's virtually there's no change in in those estimates after the negotiation with ncdot because of safety concerns And their proximity to a very busy ncdot roadway The two following that and the two following that are In the seven hundred thousand dollar and four hundred thousand dollar range And those are waterline projects both And those will be the last two Thank you We have any other questions for staff at this point. We have one speaker Signed up Sheila eason miss eason Uh, is there anyone else that would like to speak on this matter? Miss eason go ahead. Thank you for coming and thank you for sticking with us Good evening mayor shul and members of the city council. Thank you for Bearing with us and and letting us have an opportunity to speak My name is Sheila eason. I live at 33 25 summerland road durham Which intersects with east gear street in the affected area My husband and I About two years ago purchased some lots on east gear street that are undeveloped property and one of the considerations at that time when we Negotiated the price was that City sewer was scheduled to go out there at that time. We had not received any Information any notification that there was any reason that it would not happen eventually And so that is one of our concerns is that we do have this undeveloped property that We would like to be able to Know that sewer is going to happen um The the other thing has already been stated that I was going to say and that is just to ask you to please Keep the promise that was made um, and I don't think I need to elaborate on that anymore but as um councilman Middleton and councilman re said and I really appreciate what they said um I realized that you all were not the people on the the council at that time um, but I would ask that you keep that promise that was made to The residents of that neighborhood at that time Um, and that's that's it. Thank you for listening. Thank you miss eason. Yes, sir All right, uh, is there anyone else that would like to speak on this item? Um Miss eason, I see you're being coached to say one more thing. I'm sorry My son is here as well and he owns property in on east gear street in the affected area Other than the property that my husband and I own he owns some property there as well. Thank you very much He was a all right. Thank you. He owned his property before we bought our lots Okay, he signed the petition whereas we did not We would have We didn't own it at that time. Thank you All right council members any questions or comments? I'm going to declare this public hearing closed and the matters back before the council um This is the recommendation is that we rescind the previously ordered sewer main. Do I hear a motion to that effect? second Been moved and seconded that we rescind the previously ordered sewer main um any more Any more discussion? Madam clerk, would you please open the vote? Close the vote Motion fails two to four with council councilman well Mayor shul Voting yes and mayor pro tem johnson voting yes And the rest voting no, thank you very much. Appreciate that You have your sewer All right, thank you Mr. Joyner, thank you With no more items to come before this meeting. We are adjourned 12 o'clock