 Two minutes to air one minute to the live stream one minute to air the live stream has started 30 seconds a happy Tuesday to all who are here present with us in chambers All who are viewing us via zoom or Facebook or whatever internet browser you're using We are so happy to be back in session. We are making up a work session today and today is What is today the 26th day of the month of july in the year of 2022 this year is going by really fast So we would like to call the Durham City Council work session to order On this day at 1 p.m. And as I said welcome back welcome back bull city We're glad to be here. Madame clerk. Would you please call our roll mayor o'neill? I am present your protein Middleton I'm here councilmember Caballero here councilmember Freeman has requested an excused absence Councilmember Halsey Hyman present councilmember Johnson here and councilmember Williams present, thank you So I guess our first order of business will be to seek a motion for our absent Councilmember who I believe today I may have some work for it for an excuse absent so move Alright, all those in favor would you sign by the raising of your left hand? All those opposed have the same right that motion passes. Thank you Now I'd like to take an opportunity to Allow our council to catch up this summer and pass on any good news Things that are happening as a part of our Announcement, so we'll we'll start down on the end and we'll work our way Down to councilwoman time Thank you. Good afternoon. If this is is this just council comment in general or okay? Thank you I don't have anything particularly illuminating to share welcome back everyone good to see you Just a few things that I wanted to do was to extend a Resident was hit on guest road a couple weeks ago and lost his life and so wanted to extend our thoughts and prayers To the Simpson family. I know that that has caused a lot of pain in our community And then secondly, I wanted to talk to council if we could take up another conversation Around the prescriptions for a prayer proposal that came to us. I think our very last work session in June I feel that we left that kind of as a maybe we need some more information and my understanding from the co-chairs Is that they were going to be reaching out to individual council members to have? Conversations around some concerns that council members had at that initial conversation and so I'm asking council if we could take up that conversation again at our next At our second work session in August so not the one next week But the following which I think will give everyone an opportunity to Have those one-on-one conversations with the community and safety wellness task force co-chairs Thank you, that's all I have Thank you madam Marin, thank you colleagues everyone watching in the chamber and their home This is good to be back I want to congratulate again the staff and the council on passing what I think was a Transformative budget in June and looking forward to getting back to the work We've got some important issues of a forest from gun violence to environmental issues to transportation issues And I'm just pleased to be back at work. I'm good to see all of you. Thank you madam mayor Thank you Madam is pleasure be back colleagues good to be back with you. I look forward to Continuing our work. I did want to stay publicly. There are some focal points that I look forward to as addressing Obviously the crime situation, but I'm very serious about Dressing this at the epidemic of young black men and boys that are involved in the criminal activity in our city And I want us to really be able to focus on that. I'll put some serious intentions toward it amongst other things around the Eastern youth league and Some small business matters so looking forward to addressing a new year of new issues and I'm working with you all again It's been a great seven months. Thank you Thank you madam mayor. Thank you everyone Had a good break. Hope all my colleagues had a restful Few weeks and I'm looking forward to getting back to work I also had an issue that I would like for us to take up at a future work session a small group of us met to discuss the tenants rights recommendations from both city tenants United a few weeks ago and Have some Some recommendations from that conversation to bring back to the broader council for discussion and would like to get that Scheduled on a work session. I'm not I don't know whether we have some busy ones coming up or if you know, we could it could As soon as possible given given the schedule, so maybe the staff could give us a recommendation for when when to put that on the agenda and as well as the Proposal that council member caviero Suggested, I think though that we do need to consent to put as a council to put both of those things on an upcoming Work session with just like a thumbs up or something like that and I would Yeah, so you can take care of that part madam mayor But yeah, the both city tenants United recommendations on some future work session agenda is what I would like to propose Thank you looking forward to getting back to work with all of y'all Good afternoon madam mayor and city council. It is good to be back I just wanted to bring to the attention just kind of put on a highlight that I'm going to ask for The support of my city council members. I'd like to present in an upcoming meeting A resolution a resolution ensuring safety of schools for all students And so I just like your support as the students transition back to school I will be bringing that for as a further meeting for a resolution. Thank you, and I'm excited to be back Thank you all I'm going to turn our attention to the two people sitting one to my left and to my right You may notice that our city manager is not present today She's on vacation and and and deserves every day of that But you know these folk are really the ones that make it happen on a day-to-day basis. So You know, I'm so glad to have both Ferguson beside me again this afternoon We started out our morning together. He's right beside me this afternoon to help carry the load in Wanda's absence and always happy to see a future a legal scholar with me Attorney Kim who's right here. So I want to give them an opportunity to say something as well Thank you Thank You mayor of deal Is that is that is that is a sign white an introduction? Madam mayor, thank you I don't have any specific comments just a pleasure on behalf of the administration to be back with the council today and to get back to work Thank you. Thank you so much Likewise mayor, I don't have any Specific comments at this time just that it's been a restful summer I hope that each of you had a chance to step away from city hall and get some respite and We're excited to get back to work with y'all Thanks everybody and I just want to make a couple of comments It's been a busy summer restful summer, but still a busy summer and we do have lots of exciting things Coming up just as a brief preview Patience will be the virtue that we will be looking at in August patience, but will so kindness Also requires that you have patience So we're going to be looking at patience and ask for all of our residents to keep that in mind that we must be patient What one another and all things and also to be kind I do want to recognize I have someone who's shadowing me today From I'm saying all we have a senior McKenzie McKenzie. What's your last name? She has a German last name So she's here. She's a senior at St. All majoring in I think in Computers Political science hoping to be in Congress one day. So Keep her in mind. She's she's headed that way and has a bright future ahead of her And we were we say a lot of people over in our To my left today y'all can't see but it's a packed room over there So thanks each and every you each of you for being here today Also, I was quite busy this summer I'm trying to speak fast because I told them I've already won for that So I have to hope myself accountable. I've been to I've been the New York City With a group of 40 mayors from all over the world actually I was selected to participate in a program offered by Harvard Bloomberg Harvard and so we will have a year-long program with them They'll be training me as a mayor, but they're also going to be sending their resources to our city and two of our city officials will be going up in August to participate as well Commissure a while as soon as our chief of staff for the city She'll be going along with Amber Wade my assistant and I do believe that Bertha Johnson may also made that trip They told me to tell you hello And and so Durham is sort of a legacy city and that we've had prior mayors to go So we're excited about that partnership and so we have a lot of stuff going on We're gonna do a deep dive on housing. We just have a lot of great stuff So we're gonna get started Can I just say one last yes, I apologize I also want to introduce my intern Mia Martin who is a BSW student from since social work student from North Carolina Central So, thank you All right, so we're gonna turn to our first order of business which is our priority items and I will recognize our city manager Deputy city manager both Ferguson for any prior to items Good afternoon. Thank you mayor O'Neill mayor pretend metal and metals members of council There are a few priority items from the city manager's office today First we are requesting the council to suspend the rules and vote on agenda item number 25 This is the Miss Lake facility expansion amendment number one to commercial movers contract number one eight eight nine nine with all American relocation Incorporated by suspending the rules This will allow us to move more quickly on a contract to move water management's customer billing services unit From their current location in City Hall to the Miss Lake facility by the end of July The urgency is that the community safety department is going to be moving into City Hall in the former space house by CBS And the community safety department's lease is about to expire at the end of August So by making this move and expediting this agenda item today, we're gonna make sure that Community safety can make that move before their lease expires Next on the priority list just a reminder that this agenda has been revised from a previous version that was published It removed a duplicate agenda item and added an item that was excluded Therefore the agenda was renumbered items eight through twenty nine all increased by one number on the agenda Next item agenda item number 30 This is an update on the disposition and redevelopment of the property located at 505 West Chapel Hill Street There will be a staff presentation with this item Agenda item number 33 the zoning map change Durham County utility administration building Motion one on this item was revised to change the zoning from industrial light with a development plan to industrial light Agenda item number 34 zoning map change for 5202 Garrett Road Motion number one was revised to change the zoning from residential suburban multi-family To residential suburban multi-family with a text-only development plan Agenda item number 37. This is a supplemental item that has been added This is the city of Durham youth works program Durham Technical Community College contract fiscal year 2022 2023 And finally with the indulgence of council. I'd like to take a moment to do an employee record recognition today We have three gentlemen from the solid waste department who are joining. I'm gonna call them each by name I'll ask you to stand when I call your name and we'll ask them to remain standing while I Describe a little bit of why we're recognizing them today first. We've got Harold bird jr. A maintenance assistant with a solid waste department We have Kenneth Parker a maintenance tech senior with the solid waste department And we have quiche on Sloan a maintenance assistant with the solid waste department And gentlemen bear with me for just a second because I want a minute to tell your story These gentlemen were on their normal collection route in early June. I believe it was a Friday And as they were on their route Kenneth I believe it was you who hopped off hopped out of the cab to go collect a cart and as he was collecting that cart notice that He saw a young child in a field walking by themselves. I believe wasn't wearing much clothing this Created some concern for Kenneth and he walked over to the child to see if the child had any needs And as he was walking over noticed the second younger child the young female Who was also walking nearby? So he approached the children asked them if they were okay asked them where they lived or if their parents were Nearby and as I understand it the the kids were not very communicative not really able to Give them a lot of information to know where they were supposed to be so he brought them back to the truck where he met his colleagues and they immediately took actions to make sure the Two young children felt safe and comfortable gave them some water I believe you gave them a little bit of candy just to settle the nerves a little bit and Immediately these gentlemen started canvassing the neighborhood to see if they could find a little bit more information About where the kids were supposed to be Find out where their family was or who their caretaker was they knocked on the number of doors and as I understand it Unfortunately, no one in the neighborhood recognized the children and couldn't couldn't really give them much information to go on so the folks our staff returned to the truck and Returned to take care of the children and and then proceeded to call their supervisor and call 911 911 Dispatched a police response The officers came on location. We're able to take custody of the children and take over the search These three gentlemen were then able to to get back on the truck and complete their route for the day Obviously when we're in city leadership, it's a pleasure to hear stories of staff doing good work But it is particularly gratifying when our staff Go above and beyond the scope of their normal daily activities because they saw a need Because they saw someone who needed help because they saw Someone in our community who needed caring for and and certainly That's the case That's told by this story today To you three gentlemen, you know Certainly that day at the least you provided care to two young children who needed it and and that Was in and of itself an accomplishment But it's certainly possible that that youth reprevented much greater harm To those kids that might have been following them and and that really is something that I hope you take deep pride in We certainly take deep pride in And that uh, we all know that that this story ended well that the police were able to reunite those children with their family later in the day But certainly without your care. We're not sure if that could have happened. So on behalf of this administration I want to thank you for your public service Mr. Burden, we're talking earlier His legacy is not just his own public service, but he follows the footsteps of his father who just retired from us with a 30 year career With uh, with the city and so gentlemen, uh, just on behalf of the administration Certainly on behalf of city manager wander page. We want to thank you today on behalf of your city It's an honor for us to be able to serve with you. Thank you That's the way to start Thank you all Thank you all and did you see everybody just stood up on now and you couldn't help but do it Thank you all for what you do every day and what you did on that day. Thank you all Mayor that concludes our priority items You have now heard the manager's priority items. Uh, may I have a motion for their approval? Don't move madam. Okay And moved by councilman williams and seconded by council On the car be arrow all those in favor will just sign my reason your left hand All those opposed have the same right The eyes have it and the motion passes unanimously I will now turn to our city attorney and to see if she has any priority items. Good afternoon, madam mayor Mayor pretend that all 10 members of city council deputy city manager first in it's good to see you all Um, the city attorney's office does have a couple of priority items The first is more of a point of personal privilege if you don't mind Uh, I would like to ask senior assistant city attorney aaron myles to come to the podium really quickly Um So we are finally fully staffed in the city attorney's office again Aaron Aaron will serve as general counsel to community development finance fleet management office of economic and workforce development and parks and recreation she'll also be working with chief of staff wallace on the legislative Liaison role, um, but I just wanted aaron to introduce herself to you all and tell her a little bit about her personal background Thank you for having me. I'm very excited to be here. I'm actually from durham, north carolina So this is coming home for me. Um, I haven't lived here since 2010 since high school But I'm very excited to be back in durham. I'm coming here from the city of ashville So this will be my second municipal work I'm very excited to be in the community that I grew up in and help that community and I'm just very excited to be here Welcome And mayor pretend we'll be happy to know she's a proud aggy with her undergraduate degree And she is the first elan university school of law grad in our office. All right We're excited about that The second priority item madam mayor is an amicus brief request and i'm going to invite senior assistant city attorney, sofia hernandez up to the podium Just to walk the council through this issue Good afternoon council, um, madam mayor and staff and residents So as you may be aware city council or the city gets asked sometimes to join on to Amicus brief on topics that are relevant to local government And we received such a request last month from the city of san francisco regarding a case 303 creative elanis I believe you were given a memo that uh details the background of this case, but in short it's a pre-enforcement lawsuit that was brought by a colorado-based website designer who um Believes that it against her god's will Same-sex marriages are against her god's will and so she intends to run her business of wedding website designs To deny service to same-sex couples as well as to post language on her website that indicates her denial So she brought a lawsuit against colorado saying that the colorado anti-discrimination act Violates her freedom of speech and freedom of religion She lost in the district court as well as the appellate court But this supreme court has agreed to hear her appeal And so san francisco is rallying together and spearheading an effort of other local entities To bring support on colorado's side. It's obviously very important for local governments to Be able to enforce their anti-discrimination laws and were the supreme court here to side with the website designer it would Could significantly impact our ability to enforce our non-discrimination ordinance So we're here the city attorney's office is here to request guidance from you all to see if we should sign on with san francisco In their amicus brief. Thank you Thank you so much. I'd open it up for brief discussion if you'd like Is there anyone opposed to signing on I guess would be the question I'm very supportive of signing on I was just if you wanted discussion I was going to argue for it, but if everyone's agreeing that I won't waste our time I'm I'm definitely in favor of signing on is there anybody who's not in favor of signing on probably would be the question Right, so is it let me ask for direction. We don't need a formal vote. I think we have your clear direction. All right. Thank you so much Thank you. Thank you And madam mayor that was all that we had from the city attorney's office today All right, you have heard our city attorney's priority items and I would like to entertain a motion to accept those priority items So moved second to move my Councilwoman johnson and seconded by councilman williams That we accept her priority items All those in favor if you could raise your left hand All those opposed will have to say right Seeing none that motion passes unanimously. I now turn to our city clerk For any priority items that she may have Good afternoon madam mayor and mr. Mayor pro tem and council members wanted to welcome everybody back And let you know that the city clerk's office has no priority items today Thank you so much And i'm sorry. I forgot to recognize you at the beginning I will offer you the opportunity to speak a little bit longer if you want to Thank you. All right. I would um now Turn to our second order of business Which is to read through the agenda for today when I was telling um Chief deputy manager um So he has to keep me organized Like um, I see the manager does sometimes I get a little discombobulated y'all So here we go. So we're going to read the entire agenda The first, uh Item is approval of city council minutes Second item is audit services oversight committee appointment The third item Carolina theater of Durham board of trustees Fourth is the citizens advisory committee appointment Number five the Durham city county environmental affairs board appointment Six Durham convention center authority mayor or appointment Seven Durham open space and trails commission appointments Excuse me eight Durham open space and trails commission mayoral appointment Nine Durham performing arts center oversight committee appointment Item 10 Durham workers rights commission appointment 11 Participatory budgeting steering committee appointments item 12 the racial equity commission appointment 13 is the recreation advisory commission appointment Item 14 begins our departmental items be it report may and june 2022 audit services Wait a minute item 15 is 911 staffing performance audit june 2022 16 selection of the external auditor 17 The ordinance to amend various sections of the Durham city code to ensure compliance with north Carolina general statute 168-175 Item 18 2023 city council meeting schedule. I'd like to pull that item 19 The obo what settlement forms funds osf Lincoln community health center incorporated grant agreement And I believe we have a speaker for that so that item will be pooled Item 20 the u.s. Department of transportation federal aviation administration airport improvement program A grant offer item 21 The approval of a multifamily housing facility to be known as 300 east main In the city of Durham north carolina with the financing thereof with multifamily housing revenue bonds item 22 contract with volunteers of america of the carolinas ink Vo a c to provide services for homelessness coordinated entry with diversion item 23 Tribe party agreement with the north carolina housing finance agency and the north carolina home builders association for the construction training partnership number 24 construction contracted Crofton diving Corporation for little river and lake mickey reservoir safety improvements And miscellaneous rehabilitation items excuse me item 25 miss lake facility expansion amendment number one To commercial movers contract number 188 9 9 with all american relocation incorporated Mayor pro tem if you would take over Hi, yes, ma'am. Madam marion. I'm going to pull 25 per the manager's request for action today Administration would note that Under general services department item number 26 change order number two to the contract with incline construction Incorporated for the germ convention center repair project. I'm actually pulling that Item number 27 construction services contract with white oak construction corp of north carolina for the chapel hill road Tranted corridor improvement project item 28 contract amendment number two for geotechnical engineering And materials testing services with a1 consulting ink for fire in ems station 18 item 29 modification of gmp amendment to the design build agreement with montieth construction corp for fire in ems station 18 Item number 30 update on disposition and redevelopment of the property located at 505 west chapel hill street This will be a presentation under public hearings City county planning department item 31 consolidated annex station carolina civil works item 32 partial closing of hinderson street item 33 zoning map change germ county utility administration building item number 34 zoning map change 5202 garrett road item number 35 zoning map change east cornwallis commercial And our citizens matters to be heard at 2 p.m Mr. cliff hindale to receive comments from cliff hindale regarding comments on the enforcement of the unified development ordinance I believe we have another uh citizens matter as well. Mr. Gregory web To be heard at 2 p.m. As well and madame clerk And james james chevices as well to be heard at 2 p.m. Under citizens matters. We'll be glad to do those Under supplemental items office of economic and workforce development Item number 37 city of derm youth works program during technical community college contract fiscal year 2022 through 23 And there ends the reading of the printed uh, and publicized agenda staff I have item number 25 for action for the City manager's request I have item number 26 pulled and I also have uh count some macabre arrows pulled 18 And 19 as well Madam, uh, mr. Manager city manager, would you just For the record to state all I was multitasking sir the the following items are pulled items 18 items 19 25 pulled for consideration in action today 26 30 also has speakers in the presentation All right, madam. Mayor you want to re-assume or do you want to? Let me make sure I'm still able to talk. Yes, ma'am. Oh for a minute. Yes, ma'am. Oh for a minute All right, if it's the council's pleasure then I will we'll go to item number 25 Per the manager's request. I'm going to entertain a motion to suspend the rules I've heard a motion from council member cabrera on the second council member williams all will indicate by saying I will raise your left hand Any oppose With the rules being suspended I'll entertain a motion for action on item number 25 Second I've heard a motion from council member williams in the second and council member johnson Will indicate affirmation by raising your left hand Any opposed At the motion carries unanimously item 25 Is adopted All right at this time we'll entertain our Citizens matters to be heard at 2 p.m And staff please make sure I have the order correct. I have the first speaker As mr. Cliff hindale If he's in the chamber Mr. Hindell, good afternoon, sir If you'll come up and just give your name and address and you'll have three minutes. Thank you for being with us today Thank you Cliff hindle About a month ago. I received a notification in the neighborhood For a board of adjustment meeting I attended the meeting and Having read through the staff document Was disappointed and a little confounded and I guess I want to bring it to the council's attention and I'd like some explanation at some point. I don't know who exactly to address outside the staff at the city attorney and Planning department which I've been in communication with through email But it it clearly stays in the staff document in order to meet the requirements of a variance all requirements found must be met A couple pages later. It says The applicant does not meet this finding and yet the board of adjustment earlier this morning voted to approve a vote In contravention of the unified development ordinance To me this I don't know if it was a coincidence or it's a systematic problem, but um It feels like it could be an equal protection issue if the Board of adjustment is routinely ignoring Unified development ordinances. So I'll leave it at that, but thank you for your time Mr. Hindle, thank you so much for being with us Our next speaker is mr. Gregory Webb Is mr. Webb in chamber or virtual? I'm virtual can you Mr. Webb, good afternoon, sir. Thank you for being with us. If you'll state your name in an address You'll have three minutes My name is Gregory Webb senior And what I want to address is um, what what are we doing to stop all the violence in uh in 15 year old niece that was killed a couple weeks ago and um It it just seemed like something has to be done about um All this shooting and I was wondering if the board if the city council can give me um some um Some direction or what what what what what is what is the city doing to stop all this violence? That's that's that's pretty much all I have Mr. Mr. Webb, thank you so much for being with us today, sir Mr. Chavis, good afternoon, sir. Good to see you have uh three minutes Good afternoon to city council mayor and others members and to the city attorney As you know the last time in june when I was up here talking about The funds that you were spending to give Durham housing authority under amp and scott And in doing that I had to do some research And I asked the city attorney Where is the debt? the city authorized Us to pay a debt for Durham housing authority Well, I had to do some research And in that research I found out That and I'm going to make sure you get a copy because I'm trying to make this short That y'all had a meeting The reggie johnson and them Went and and got y'all to approve that $573,000 that Anthony scott put your Durham housing authority was in debt of Since 2005 Okay now You're taking our taxpayer money once again And paying a debt and I asked the city attorney When can someone else do the same thing be in debt? And come up here and ask you all for some funds And help them pay their debt to get this done You did it for amp and scott who's making $204,000 a year from Durham housing authority which has been in debt Since 2005 If you want to read your article it comes from your article that came to you all Page three That y'all agree with We read your johnson To pay this debt The Durham housing authority owe Under that six hundred thousand Six hundred million dollars. I'm trying to make it short that he owes out of that money That's robbing dealers for me to pay Paul And that's a disappointment for me as being a black man That a poor black man to the amount of money he's making To a rich black man That y'all sit and agree with See back in the old day they called us peasants And when peasant has to accept what the high class folks said and do So this is the same thing going on for me to say to you all y'all raised our taxes last year And you turned around and taken our money and paying another debt that someone that's in the position Since 2005 there's 17 years Of a debt that has been incurred But in order for him to get this money We the taxpayer has to pay it Mr. Chavis, thank you very much for being with us today All right, by my account that ends all of our speakers for um citizens matters And we'll turn back now to the agenda. Madam mayor I continue with your permission unless you're ready to reassume ma'am You know what? I'm I think I got choked at lunch so I'm still feeling a fix of that. Yes, ma'am. It's a little while long. Yes, ma'am. I'll tell you I might as well take advantage of you at this particular time It makes you a sign up So you go right ahead go right here. I'm right here. Gladly ma'am. Thank you Colleagues we can um, I think we can knock out the pulled items fairly quickly Um and let staff go and then we can get to our presentations. I think there were only um three pulled items And we'll go in order and if I'm not mistaken. I think councilmember cabrera. The first one was item 18 city council meeting schedule And I'll yield to you at this time Thank you. I just wanted to see if there was a way we could move our I guess it's our work session on 12 20 that thursday to 12 18 tuesday we've done that in the past and so was um Wondering if we were able to do that and I think if that is the same for the next calendar year as well Because I think the schedule goes all the way through 2023 if we could go ahead and make both of those adjustments That was it. Thank you Thank you for that. Colleagues anyone have any Input on that or wish to speak on that? I'll ask for unanimous consent to do that. I think it's a pretty both sad this thumbs up All right, the administration would make that note to our schedule. Thank you councilmember cabrera You're very conscientious and making sure that our Holidays Dps winter break. I don't want to come home to Even other teenagers. They're chaotic. We appreciate your vigilance Um, I believe the next item is item 19. Uh, we had a citizen a resident pull item 19 opioid settlement funds I don't have the name of the resident who Miss clairella foyer Mayor mayor pro tem I've been informed that miss foyer is only here as a resource person And is here to answer questions, but she did not intend to speak unless council has any questions All right Thank you so much I think the next item was one that I pulled item number 26 Change order number two to the contract with incline construction incorporated for the derm convention center repair project Who is our uh staff? resource for this item Uh, yes, this is Todd tingler with general services. I'm staff resource Thank you so much. Good afternoon. Uh questions very quick question. I first off. I know that change orders Sometimes are inevitable and they can be expensive, but I was I was curious in reading um The report on this particular item that there were there were some violations discovered Subsequent to the initial repair what initially occasion this job I was wondering Had not the line been damaged in the first place would we have ever Discovered the additional violations that were that occasioned this change or what did what has just gone on? I'm curious as to how discoverable these things would have been where it not for the the initial work Yes, sir. Uh, good afternoon. Todd tingler general services again. Um The discovery of the the various code violations Uh was the result of two issues one where we were affecting repairs to the convention center Following the water damage from a broken sprinkler line, but we were also addressing Some failing fireproofing That was on the underside of the roof deck and to do that we had to remove the ceiling In uh several places one of them being The service quarter behind what is the junior ballroom section in the convention center That's where we found The bulk of the code violations Um these items would have eventually been discovered During the repair of the the fireproofing issue But you're correct. The the catalyst was the work being done as a result of the water damage So this is the and i'm i'm listening i'm fully in support of the the change order But is it safe to say that this is money we would have been spending at some point anyway Um pursuant to addressing the violations is would that be fair to say? Well once the the uh the code violations were discovered we would have had to have made the repairs Yes, uh, so the the funds would have eventually been uh expended for that um The time frame around that is uncertain because of the the work being done to the fireproofing um Even i've been done as soon as it is right now, but it would have been done Eventually, yes, okay All right. Thank you. That's all I had for the side of my preach. I'm glad we caught it. Uh, thank you No problem. Yes. Yes. I'm glad to absolutely. Thank you much Yes, ma'am All right, colleagues. I think that that's it with our pulled items if i'm not mistaken At this time we we have two Briefings reports and by my account the first one is 15 911 staffing performance audit june 2022 Our resource person is dr. Jermaine Brewington and we welcome them to the podium. Good to see all of you Mayor pretend my item 19 was uh, not planned for a staff presentation It's uh on the council's agenda for discussion of if you have it otherwise Simply to accept the report. So i'm not sure that dr. Brewington is still with us. Did I say 19 or 15? Sorry, uh I'm sorry item item 15. Okay. Uh, was this not meant to be uh No, it was uh, simply a report for council got you. Okay. That's fine. Good to see all anyway We'll we'll move on then to item the 30 Got to item 30 Much anticipated update on disposition to redevelopment of the property located at 505 west chapel hill street Stacey poston is our resource person. Good afternoon Good afternoon. Mayor mayor pro tem stacey poston city of Durham general services department Happy to be here today to provide an update on 505 west chapel hill street The general services department has been working on this project since 2017 This is a project whereby the city Created a new purpose built building for the previous Tenant of this building and the building existed in our property inventory It was declared surplus by council And so the staff has been looking at various options to repurpose this site and redevelop this site to include affordable housing and other Auxiliary benefits as noted by council. So I'm here today to talk a little bit about the process that we've been undertaking since 2017 Share with you the rfp responses that we have received and to talk about possible next steps that council could take to advance As I mentioned we have been working on this project for a number of years About this time last year. We were in front of council with a proposal from the Fallon company to advance Um, we had entered into negotiations with that company. The company had indicated the original submission Parameters needed to be changed and council at that time determined that they did not want to accept the modifications suggested by the Fallon company And since that time the staff Has been working through a new solicitation process Supposing can I get you to step a little closer to the microphone? Please just thank you. Sorry. It was reverberating Um, excuse me Do you need me to back up a little bit? No, you're Thank you the sweet spot. Thank you. Apologies So since that time the staff has been working on an rfq and an rfp process And i'm here to tell you a little bit more about that The staff have been collaborating with a number of different departments. Um, this is not something I happen to be at the podium But this is not something that happens alone We've had intense conversations with the finance department the community development department The planning department and as well as transportation and so my peers have been heavily involved in In analyzing and advancing on the project to this stage So the rfq and rfp process have been undertaken We have also received proposals from firms and we have undertaken an interview process with those firms And we're here today to talk about various approaches to possible next steps The dispossession process as I mentioned Included two sort of phases. We had a number of submissions In what we call the request for qualifications phase And we analyzed the submissions and there were different submissions in different categories, you know affordable housing developer a prime developer A developer of commercial commercial property And so from that stage we looked at The best of the best and advanced the group that we wanted to To the next phase So we had categories and lead developers where we had Six different companies submit as lead developers three different companies submit as affordable developers And six companies submit as commercial developers And so these teams then went through a phase where they could team together And so as a part of the request for proposal stage we received two teams And two responses to the submission so ackridge and dhic Came in as one team and provided a proposal to the city for consideration And ancora and wind companies came in together and submitted a proposal for consideration By the city The proposals and the requests for proposals outlined and illuminated the five council defined objectives These objectives originated from community engagement that happened as far back as 2018 and the Most important priority or what we call the gating priority was that we wanted to see affordable housing on this site A minimum of 80 units of affordable housing at 60 percent of AMI Additionally, the proposals were to submit to generate significant revenue both in the sale of the property itself and in future tax revenues We were interested in seeing a mixed use development that delivered a significant component of commercial property With a floor of 250 000 square feet There was an interest in keeping the Milton small building that that is on the site and renovating that building as a part of the development program And finally the fifth element, but not least important was to activate and create a catalytic property You know on one of our main downtown corridors coming into our city's core So now i'm going to introduce elizabeth packer from hrna advisers They have been doing financial modeling and partnering with us as we've moved through this project. Thank you Um, so now following stacy's introduction of the the process We can walk through the two proposals that city staff evaluated So this slide here provides a summary of the of the development programs received by the two teams So comparing the residential and commercial components of the acreage and ankora proposals And we'll walk through this in more detail But we can see both teams met the requirement for the 80 units of permanently affordable housing Um while the acreage team had a larger residential component with just over 400 units total Um, whereas the ankora team put forth a larger commercial footprint with more office and lab space And again, we'll we'll talk through this in more detail, but this is just meant as an overview In terms of the teams Ackridge again submitted to fulfill the role of lead developer as well as commercial developer With dhic as its affordable residential developer We can see here as well the other team members making up the acreage team including perkins and will as their primary architect partner The ankora team um has the ankora firm as the lead developer as well as commercial developer And the wind companies as their affordable residential partner Um, and in addition To these other team members here due to pain is their lead architect partner This is a rendering from the ankora proposal and we can see that they've positioned a Their open space of approximately one acre in size along west chapel hill street next to the existing building Behind the existing building. We see a large commercial tower which includes Over 200 000 square feet of office and lab space And then we see a mid-rise residential building which includes the combination of market rate and affordable residential units In this image from the akridge proposal We can see um at the corner of chapel hill and gregson next to the existing building a large high-rise residential tower which includes Market rate residential units Not visible in this image is the mid-rise building behind that that contains both the affordable and market rate units So there's two residential units or two residential buildings in this proposal given the higher number of residential units total And behind the existing building we can see uh akridge's smaller New lab building that is included as part of their program So in terms of evaluating the responses the city's evaluation panel convened and evaluated responses against the criteria that were laid out in the rfp and the Evaluation criteria were constructed to reflect the priorities articulated by council So you can see the majority of point or the largest point category was devoted to The delivery of affordable housing units reflecting that that was the top priority um Respondents were also evaluated in terms of the financial return Both in terms of the one-time land price the generation of ongoing tax revenue from new development As well as the deal structure and approach to financing the affordable units The other criteria against which Respondents were evaluated include the approach to mixed use development rehabilitation of the existing building ground floor and and Overall urban design and then lastly the approach to community benefits which encompasses Plans for community engagement engagement on-site programming and opportunities for minority equity ownership So we'll now walk through these criteria in turn And talk about how the two teams Performed against these criteria Excuse me So as stated both of the teams met the minimum of 80 units of permanently affordable housing affordable at 60 percent AMI um In terms of the larger residential program acreage delivers a larger residential component of 400 of over 400 units And again, um those units are split into two buildings So there's a high rise 100 market rate tower and then a mid-rise building that includes the affordable units interspersed with market rate units Angora has just under 300 units in their in their residential program And those all of those are in a single mid-rise building In terms of generation of financial return to the city The acreage deal is predicated on a nominal offer for the land paid up front While the anchor proposal is based on city subsidy to enable their proposed development and proposed program In terms of approach to delivery of mixed use development Um acreage did not meet the stated preference for 250 000 square feet of commercial space Their total office and lab component came in around 200 000 square feet. So a bit below that preference um Whereas the anchor team did uh go over that 250 000 square feet threshold in terms of their total office and lab Both teams include retail as a ground for use in their commercial buildings So getting at that desire for an activated ground floor experience In terms of the approach to rehabilitating the existing building Both teams propose using historic tax credits to enable The redevelopment and rehabilitation necessary And they both propose putting public facing uses on the ground floor to help bring the community in So the acreage proposal included plans for a public art gallery and ground floor retail The anchor proposal described potential for a ground floor cafe and a child care center And then in terms of the upper floors in the existing building the acreage proposal Envisioned office space for tenants who would want to be close to the new lab building in their plan While the anchor proposal envisioned a mix of both office and lab space to support a variety of tenants um So we began to touch on the approach to activate a ground floor and overall design So anchor has a highly visible one acre open space Proposed a long chapel hill street Plans for public art that repurposed the staircase from the original building And again that space for cafe and retail to start to activate the ground floor The acreage proposal has an open space They're calling the a central green which is accessible from all of the bounding streets So promoting permeability and pedestrian access As well as ground floor in the residential and commercial buildings to build site activation In terms of the approach to community benefits Including as mentioned public engagement on-site programming and minority equity ownership Both teams made a commitment in their in their submissions to marketing equity ownership opportunities to minority investors When it comes to on-site programming The acreage proposal focused mainly on opportunities for youth education and educational partnership So potentially partnering with north carolina central And setting up a scholarship fund for local students Which is a model that they've done on some of their development projects in washington dc The anchor proposal really put together A pretty detailed vision for on-site programming That would include that would be That would require city subsidy to set up workforce training programs life science programs focused on opportunities for minority investors As well as community space dedicated to black space a local nonprofit So That was how the proposals were evaluated And given the generally low financial offers for the site the evaluation panel concluded that Neither proposal merited negotiations At this point in the process so That brings up several potential paths forward And direction from council on some of these key decision points Will inform next steps in terms of What comes next so for One path is around Considering that financial return is just one of the priorities of council There is one pathway would be to negotiate with one of these existing parties If council is willing to accept a lower financial return in exchange for securing its other priorities such as The affordable housing in new open space And you know new commercial job generating space Another pathway would be if council wants to focus on securing the affordable housing Would be to consider subdividing the site in order to proceed with Doing an rfp to find a new affordable residential developer to proceed with the mixed income building while holding the rest of the site for future disposition um a third pathway would be to restart the process um And if that is the decision there's different choices around the mechanism for the disposition So in this process and the prior process um The site was solicited as a fee simple disposition. So the city's selling to a private partner For a future process the city could consider a ground lease structure. So rather than Realizing a large upfront financial return from the sales price The city would instead enter into a long-term partnership And begin to share in revenues over the long term with its development partner And one of the key decision points that will inform next steps in the process Is around the Milton small building So that had been identified as a priority preserving the existing Milton small building It has Very negative effects on project financial feasibility So as the city contemplates next steps and how it wants to secure its different priorities um City staff is seeking direction in terms of whether that building will need to be preserved or not And if the city would entertain future development options that included demolition so Given these different pathways, I think the goal here is to Get direction from council to inform next steps in terms of how to proceed With With the solicitation process Thank you so much for that excellent And as I said much anticipated a presentation Uh before we get into council discussion, we do have some uh folk who have indicated desire a desire to speak I have uh four speakers of a desired on the first is george smart uh Mr. Smart is available Yes, i'm available. Okay. Thank you. I thought you were in chamber. Forgive me. You have three minutes, sir Thank you. I'm george smart. I'm the executive director of north carolina modernist Or a 501 c3 that works throughout the state to preserve Modernist buildings I don't know if you've all stepped through the Milton small building or not But it's really one of the finest examples of mid-century modern That uh exists in durham It's on par with the unscripted hotel downtown, which was a mess for many years before it was saved And is now as one of the jewels of the downtown scene I would like to encourage the council Because this has been going on a long time And the staff has worked very hard through very many proposals To engage in negotiations With these two firms and see if they can get a somewhat better deal Um, it is tough to put together a Proposal of this size to meet all the objectives that the city wants And get a big pot of money out of it at the end I want to encourage the council to preserve the building and also to consider moving forward That um, although a lot of people didn't like the building particularly the police department That building was never designed to be a police department It is always designed to be uh a conventional office building. So it's no surprise That the building was disliked for years and years and still is by some for different reasons But it could be a marvelous office again And as outlined in some of the proposals it could make excellent high-end kinds of Residences to complement the different levels of accommodation throughout the project So I really want to encourage you to keep the Milton small building It will be the crown jewel of that block when completed. Thank you Thank you so much for your comments. We appreciate them next Chris laws. I believe is uh Going to be with us virtually as well Hi there My name is Chris laws. I'm the executive director of preservation Durham And I'd like to reiterate a lot of what George eloquently said The Milton small building is a treasure for Durham. It is one of the few modernist buildings of its kind around Um And I would like to commend the city for making preservation a priority and I'm hoping that you'll Remain committed to that That criteria as you decide what to do moving forward I know that there are historic tax credits that are being considered and there's also a An opportunity to get this building on the national register for As a local landmark So and I just want to give a pledge preservation Durham support and helping with that in any way we can Thank you Thank you so much When I turn to speakers who are present with us here In chambers A first speaker the first speaker I have is rick larson And then after that marsha mcnally All right, you're here Mr. Larson, good to see you. Good to see you at three minutes. Thank you Madam mayor and members of council. Thanks for the opportunity to speak about this topic. I'm rick larson I'm a member of duke memorial united methodist church, which is across the street from the 505 property I'm also co-chair of the durham can Court team at duke memorial Like the willard street departments, which durham can advocated for this property is an ideal location for affordable housing Needless to say we were deeply disappointed when the first plan fell through And we're eager to see affordable housing move forward at the fastest rate possible It's the need just gets more urgent every day We feel it's our moral obligation as a church and is can to insist on the availability of of quality affordable housing for all That's our primary objective and and Desire with this property This is especially true at a time when luxury apartments continue to be built at a dizzying rate Now is not the time to slow down the development of affordable housing So city staff has highlighted as one goal. You all are aware of the Goal of a significant monetary return to the city. I would just highlight the word significant And we believe that councils should recognize that there's a social return on investment That the units of affordable housing provide Um for us at the church the highest and best use for this property Is to cite as soon as possible as many as possible Units of affordable housing and that they should be available in perpetuity Two reasons for this As you know the property is on the edge of downtown and all that it has to offer access to the transit hub The library the ballpark city and county offices. This is not the time to cite affordable housing through some Negotiations or machinations Somewhere else. This is the best spot for affordable housing full stop And as we all know market forces are doing a great job of providing luxury apartments commercial real estate office space That's not true for affordable housing The city should whenever it has the opportunity as it does here Step up and do everything in its power to make sure that Our public employees and other low income and working income folks have an opportunity for Affordable housing that's located in the right places Again now is not the time to go back to the drawing board and delay Two points about the existing proposals. We are adamantly opposed to separating out the affordable housing from the market rate Units we think that is A sense of exactly the wrong message about the affordable housing Market rate housing and affordable housing can work very well together. That's been shown in many instances Please keep that in mind as you look for a solution and secondly If you feel it's important to retain the office space component We would very much like to see you proceed in some way either through subdivision or whatever With affordable housing piece right now. Now is not the time to delay as our it's our position Thank you. Mr. Larson. Thanks so much. Appreciate it Marcia McNally Good afternoon and welcome. You have three minutes. Good to see you. Thank you. Nice to see you too. My name is Marcia McNally I live at 203 north church in downtown Durham I'm here to today to speak on behalf of the coalition for affordable housing In transit. We have been speaking consistently on this property since 2017 I'm going to give you a very short version of the Letter that I sent you by email last night And rick basically just gave you our same talking points just in a different order We've worked with community groups like can and the church but also city council and staff Since 2017 on this to figure out how to do it how to get a significant portion Of affordable housing on this site and I think we've done a remarkable job of figuring it out being educated together And we thought we had success When we found developers who are willing to bid on the project for 80 units of affordable at 60 percent AMI Or less and for them to be guaranteed in perpetuity We are really disappointed. We were disappointed when the first Procurement process imploded We liked the team quite a bit worked with them during the period of time once council had Approved them and now we're even more disappointed that it seems like The second process is not going to go forward However, uh, we just want to reiterate the things that you can imagine we and expect us to say 80 80 units of affordable housing Must be part of any redevelopment of that site For that matter We'd be happy if more of the property were developed in housing as long as there was a pro-rata share Of affordable housing that went with it As rick said, we don't agree with The project splitting out market and putting it up on the front and putting the more modest and affordable units hidden way in the back Uh, we also I know it's been discussed From time to time do not agree with taking money for that site in any way and putting the housing somewhere else As others have mentioned this is a key a key place just like willard street to put housing for anyone But particularly people um of low and moderate incomes We are are sort of agnostic or don't have a comment on the Priorities two through four But we do believe that whatever project goes there. It should be a landmark And deliver signature design. It is the place interim for People to see what we are about what our values are And how we feel ourselves feel about ourselves as a city So while we understand the uncertainties in the market particularly the office of commercial market And the high construction costs that are making Everyone have jitters we um urge the council to Work with staff to work figure out a way to go forward with the housing because there is a more urgent need than there was five years ago And we started thank you very much. Thank you so much now. I appreciate you colleagues that ends the Speakers I have indicated or at least were indicated to me for public comment So the matters before us now I have some some Definite things to say about this issue. Um, but I at this time I'll Open the floor to any colleagues who may have any comments or questions for staff councilmember johnson Thank you, mr. Mayor pro tem and thanks to the residents who've come To speak on the city and to all of our staff and consultants who have been working on this project endlessly It feels like for a very long time This is a really important Site for the city And we have articulated a lot of really important goals And unfortunately we I feel are now in a position of having to think more To to think a little bit more broadly about what we want to see on the site and whether We are in a position where we can do this right now I think that based on market market conditions for office COVID construction costs We've just been placed in a really difficult position with regard to getting everything that we want And so I've been thinking a little bit more about what are what are the most important things for me to get on that site And for me the number one piece is the affordable housing. That's the piece that we Have heard the most about from community. That's the Most critical need for Durham right now And I think it's really important that we figure out how to get affordable housing on that site I don't feel satisfied with either of these two proposals. I'm I'm sure that's not surprising the amount of money that the developers are offering Is not anywhere close to what we Have as the appraised value As y'all have communicated to us even with all the restrictions on the site the appraised value was Was much much higher and I I think we're you know We're just in an environment where developers are responding to the lack of uncertainty and we are to the lack of certainty And we also feel a lot of lack of certainty in terms of you know, what How much office does Santerham Durham really need if people aren't going to really come back to work after COVID? But we know that we need affordable housing and so I think that it's a good idea to Uh to go back to the drawing board And to try to figure out how to get affordable housing on this site And potentially delay the other pieces until we have more more certainty about market conditions and about what What is needed? With regard to the commercial and the retail space and I know we could Potentially do that by subdividing the site. I'm not sure I'm not sure exactly how that process should work in terms of like us coming with a Proposal for how to subdivide it or like ask the affordable housing developers You know, how much land would you need to do this kind of a project? But we have some really great affordable housing developers that have partnered with the teams that have submitted RFPs We have others in the community that are doing work With us with the county with dha and other private affordable housing Providers and I think that we should be able to Get some affordable housing on that site In the near term And we can wait on the other pieces. I don't think that we are in We are not in any way In a in an office space crunch or a retail space crunch in the way that we are in an affordable housing crunch particularly in the downtown area And I don't think it's I don't think we should pursue either of these options I think we can do better. It might take a little bit longer to do better, but this site is so Important for downtown and for the community. I wouldn't want to I wouldn't want to pick A sub par Program that we know is going to be there forever rather than wait a little bit longer To try to get something better and I feel like that about everything except the affordable housing. I want to do that now And with regard to the building it We've had a lot of residents Come to us and be really interested in in preserving the building and I initially also had that as a priority As we continue down this road I feel like the preservation of the building is a major obstacle to getting everything else that we want on this site Particularly the cost of preservation of the building and so if it were up to me That would be the priority that I would eliminate I think that all of the other priorities are higher for me I would be great if we could but the amount of money that we would lose on preserving this feels It doesn't feel responsible to me to spend the money on preserving the building when we have A lot of other in my opinion more urgent and Critical needs in the city Thank you Thank you. Council member johnson colleagues Thank you Councilman williams. Sorry go ahead. Thank you. I um, let me let me just start and may I won't be long Um I'll just start with uh, I have I wanted to be known that i'm very compassionate about About our city and about this uh this space This has been very layered and complex. It is very dense And I also um took some time to really try and understand what was before us And council member johnson has pretty much stated a lot of what I was going to stay say You know, um I do want us to hear all of the Perspectives we're hearing preservation. We're hearing affordable housing. We're hearing new signature luxury design and you know and A lot of times we can't have All of those things at once and expect it to not cost as much either. You know, um This is one thing I agree with this is a very very very key location Especially for uh, our residents that would be in an affordable, uh housing However, I don't want us to talk about affordable housing in a silo We we can't take affordable units and place them in the most expensive places overwhelmingly Now anytime we can place affordable units somewhere and we should do that Especially on the land that we have leveraged over Are considering the fact we're in the state of north carolina But we also i'm going to force every single person that talks about affordable housing to expand your conversation Per view we have to talk about the affordable unit as well as all of the things that contribute to making it affordable And that means connecting the pipeline that means connecting where you live to where you work in the accessibility to that so I While i'm extremely compassionate this conversation can no longer happen in a silo So as we are working to you know build affordable units We're going to run into that barrier of subjectivity and we're going to run into that barrier of affordable to who you know But at the same time You know, we have a lot of jobs coming here and I think we need to lead with the question of what does the city need now What does the city need And I as a and I know folks look at us business owners as bad people sometimes not in Durham We actually give a ding about the holistic approach So You know I could tell you we don't have enough retail downtown. We don't have enough commercial Places to spend money so the city can make money We don't have enough space for us to build revenues so we get paid for the things that we all want especially the social programs But all of these things work and we cannot just approach these conversations from our preview of interest We have to take a holistic approach and the first thing we need to do is make sure Yes, we are building affordable units, but we're connecting them to what makes it affordable To the point where we won't we won't have to rely just on that But do know we're about to put a lot of focus right here in affordability Where everything around it is expensive So we need to make sure those folks also have jobs where they can afford to live in this space when they leave their apartment or their home That is very important to me. We also don't have a convention center downtown. That's a lot of revenue. We're missing out on So i'm thinking about it project-based. I'm not interested in preserving the building. I'm compassionate about it But when I look at what we are missing out on I I refuse to Play chicken and head on collision with environmental plan versus the housing plan versus an affordability plan I just refuse to do that. I think it all can coexist and that I think the conversation needs to start coming together so Affordable affordable housing advocates Preservation advocates environmental advocates Economic development advocates. Let's break bread together and stop having these conversations in silos Thank you councillor member williams Madam Well, I've spent a lot of time Walking around that building over the years That's about a three minute walk from where I grew up So I watched it be the police station and watched it You know now stand empty and I have to first of all say that I am not a preservation act I am not preserving that building for lots of reasons And part of it is neighborhood reasons From my from from way back I do think that this is a a case of hero up and slow down And also I do think it's a unique opportunity You know, this is sort of a good problem to have We have this really really great piece of land, right? Right at the center of the entryway to downtown Durham and Durham is so full of talent And we also are about to take a deep dive Into housing from the from the council perspective. So I do think it's a we can hurry up And try to get it done to Deal with some of our demands on affordable housing I am Before having affordable housing Somewhat on that site, but I do also think that this is the case where we can have it all If we put our We if we put our minds together about it along with the experts So I think councilwoman johnson Summed up a lot of it for me. So I won't take long other than to say I think we need to start at the drawing board again. It's a different council We have different priorities. I think some of them are gonna I call this but I think about the opportunities there that you know, it's going to be right next to the bus station Um, the transit area some of our city employees who work at the bus station We can see some of our bus drivers living there at affordable rates you it's just so It's such a unique opportunity that I think we if we go into it with an attitude that one We're going to learn about housing and what it actually what we actually need Then we'll come for with the with a great plan that will be that gatekeeper that will be that Like wow, we enter a derm kind of spot. So I'm for starting again Thank you, madam mayor Council member cabillera Thank you. Um, thank you to all my colleagues who shared a lot. I will be brief. I am actually in favor of preserving the building That's not my style of architecture, but as been said it is actually an important building I understand I might be the only council member Who's interested in preserving it? But it is an important architectural Building that architect is important to the area and unfortunately There are not a lot of other buildings that have been preserved a lot of our mid-century modern things have been torn down A lot of people don't necessarily like the big glass blocks But I I do agree with my colleagues around the affordability piece I think that that is my number one priority For that site however staff if that means we restart the whole process If that means it's easier to divide the site and figure out that piece and then what needs to happen elsewhere That's where I will look to staff to you know, what gets us there faster whichever Trajectory gets us there faster to getting affordable units on the site is is is important I while he's not here at the moment. I appreciate council member williams comments But we if we did an assessment on what is actually critically needed I think every single person in the city is going to say housing And so that to me is the number one issue that we have to to meet and I look I'll look to staff to let us know what's the easiest way or the best way to move forward Whether is that dividing the site? Is that doing a whole RFP package together? And I understand that the priority of preserving the building because I am one vote May not be in that but I did want to at least say publicly that I am in favor of preserving the building. Thank you Thank you council member caballero and thank you colleagues Many of you have touched on Things I wanted to bring up. So I'll Be very succinct When when this project fell through with Fallon While it was disappointing it may have actually actually been fortuitous for us Because as the mayor indicated we have a new council. We have a new mayor We have two new council members and I think it's important for them to to have some time to live with this project And to if if need be reshaped even the five guiding principles that we initially came up with This may very well be As a government and by extension as a people Our last great opportunity to brand Durham in the downtown corridor This is the last great piece of land we own in the downtown footprint Most great cities around the world. You know what that city is without having the name on the screen when you see something about that city And this may be an opportunity for us as a city to brand Durham in that way where you know It's there we have the the water town the smokestack, of course in the bull and ccb plaza, but what great architectural Addition what we have where folk will see a picture of that city and know that that's Durham I'd much rather get this right than get it quick The only clock we're under is the one that's imposed upon ourselves When it comes to this land The other great thing is that even as this project sits undeveloped. It's not like other things aren't going on Forever home is still putting affordable units online Almost monthly So I'd rather and you know when it comes to subdividing the lot I really rather Would prefer that we come at this with a one unified Grand vision and develop it all at the same time because whatever we put there Peace meal if we start with affordable housing there Then the rest of the project what it will look like its coherence Aesthetically what will be tethered to that piece because we don't want it to look hodgepodge. We don't want it to look Like patchwork And I say this as as a person who's worked on affordable housing issues my whole public life in Durham I'd rather get it right than get it quick and the fact that we're doing other affordable housing projects Makes me feel more comfortable with with taking time on this project. I think this new council should have Discussions I have no problem with going back To the drawing board Oh reopening community engagement. I'll reserve comment about the building At this time, but I think this council should have opportunity to revisit. We're under no one's clock except the one We impose upon ourselves. It's important that we get this right Rather than get it quick So with that said Madam Mayor those those are my comments on this I do want to thank the staff With respect to the two proposals. I think they're doa for me That's just simply did the financial return to the cities is simply unacceptable to me With these two proposals. I think this is an opportunity for us As has already been echoed to go back to the drawing board and get this right If the if we come up with the same values that we came it was so be it and if they're amended It's an amended council and so be it as well But I'm foregoing full back to revisitation I am not for subdividing the the lot because I think a unified Grand coherent vision should guide the whole project Um, and that's where I am Thank you, Madam Mayor Anybody else have any comments Thank you I would also like the opportunity as a new council person to be able to go back to the drawing board And to really look at the need of what we need to have in Durham right now I mean this I think you said was from 2017 or 2018 and there might be some there's some changes And there's some things that we need to look at and so I would really like the opportunity to Actually do a dive again and to start again. Thank you Thank you councilmember Did you carry us through mayor pro term? Yes, madam mayor. I'll uh Give up the gavel if it's your pleasure Thank you. I appreciate you. I really do. Hopefully I won't um get choked again, but if I do I know you will stand by Glad you're okay, right All right, we'll now turn to our public hearings. Thank you all We have completed our business for today Mayor pro term You better call them finish us out. Well, yes, fair. We've completed our business for today Go ahead colleagues. Thank you staff. Thank you so much for that important presentation and colleagues. Thank you for the discussion I think we are ready If there are no other matters to settle the agenda Look at all. I'm sorry. Madam clerk. You have some announcements for us. Yeah, I'm ahead of myself. Thank you council We're all we're all kind of smiling up here because we're like I told you So so it works. Um councilwoman johnson Javier it worked Because they didn't they didn't want Providing Madam clerk Good afternoon, everyone. Um council has nominated the following residents to boards committees commissions and task forces The audit services oversight committee appointment is emily c yeats Carolina theater board of trustee appointment to netta walker citizen advisory appointment that is anna rebeck Durham city council environmental affairs board appointment for at-large resident tory swayne Durham convention center authority mayoral appointment re s meet-off Durham open space and trails appointment for ward may I interject and because we can't really hear you. I can't hear This might help Should I start over I think the the mic it just drops as soon as you put it away from your face like you just need to hold it Yeah, really really good. Thanks. I will start with the citizen advisory committee appointment anna rebeck Durham city county environmental affairs board appointment for at-large resident tory swayne Durham convention center authority mayoral appointment re s meet-off Durham open space and trails commission appointment for ward one w vincent pierce the third Durham open space and trails commission appointment for ward two terrence preaster Open space and trails and commission mayoral appointment brian lucan in Durham performing arts center oversight committee appointment alice l sharp Durham workers rights commission appointment christa t kenny Participatory budgeting steering committee. There are four appointments There were three nominations made john w jordan kenneth web Cynthia a wood For the fourth appointment. We had three support nominations for anna rebeck and then three for re-advertising But anna rebeck was selected for the citizen advisory committee I wasn't sure what your pleasure was for that Well, I was one of the ones that voted to appoint her to the citizen advisory and the other three So what I was hoping to do is just re-advertise for the one for one position for the one Is that council's pleasure? The mayor says Yes, yes That will put mr. Rebeck on two committees. So since we chose her for one, we would just Accept everybody else in me and re-advertise for just one Sounds great. Who would like to change their vote to re-advertise? I have um mayor o'neill Council members freeman and hyman voting to re-advertise. I'll re-advertise Okay, thank you. Thank you And continuing on participatory budgeting steering committee appointment for youth seat is prince Sea rivers racial equity commission Representing Durham public schools youth category Jordan vareen Recreation advisory commission reappointment jill s thomas Recreation advisory commission appointments. There are two of them tia rawlings and leslie l strax mullum And that's the end of my report Thank you so much. Madam clerk. Uh, we'll turn now to deputy city manager ferguson to settle the agenda Thank you mayor pro tem For the agenda. I have on consent items 1 through 24 26 through 30 and item 37 On gba public hearings. We have items 31 through 35 Thank you so much. Uh, madam mayor and colleagues. I think that brings us to the end of our agenda Madam mayor, do you want to adjourn or do? Thank you, ma'am. It's uh, july 26 is 3 35 p.m. We are adjourned. Thank you so much Thank you