 One minute to air and we are streaming 30 seconds to the open Good afternoon. Happy Thursday Bull City Durham, North Carolina We are glad to be back in chambers again this afternoon We were here earlier today for a budget session that went really well And we're here this afternoon at the city council work session For Thursday, June 9th, 2022 at 1 o'clock. We welcome those who are here in Chambers with us as well as those who are Virtual so would that be a fair matter clerk if you will call the road? I Am present I'm here here President member Johnson here member Halsey Hyman present and customer Williams present. Thank you We will start with our announcements and I would first like to Wish our heartfelt condolences To representatives Zach Hawkins and his family In the loss of his son. I believe one yesterday. I heard today We are sending Hugs love To a beautiful man and his family We just want to take a moment to acknowledge that and to also ask that we would be respectful of that time But we did want to Ask everybody to remember them in the coming days So now we're opening it up for announcements by other members of the council Councilwoman Johnson. Thank you madam mayor. Good afternoon everyone I have a couple of requests for excused absences for for my colleagues and I will be traveling on July 21st for a Conference for my part-time job and I will also be traveling on August 4th for a conference for local progress Those are the first two work sessions after the break And I'd like to request an excused absence for each of those. Thank you We're ready to entertain a motion Been moved by Councilman Williams and seconded by council woman copy arrow. I Do believe we would still use a hand signal today So all those in favor if you raise your left hand All those opposed will have the same right that passes unanimously Thank you, everyone. Are there any other announcements? Councilman we Might want to pre-empt this with looking at the schedule for that same date. I'd like to request an excuse absence I will still be out of North Carolina and Won't be able to get back in time for that meeting. So I would like to request an excuse that absence July 21st is there a motion? Second the move by council woman copy arrow seconded by council woman Johnson been now ready for a hand vote all those in favor if you raise your left hand All those polls have the same right That most thing passes unanimously. Hope you all have safe travels All right All right mayor pretend thank you madam mayor honorable colleagues and friends Good afternoon to those of you in the chamber and those who are watching at home customer. We is that the NBC Leo date? Conference it is. That's why I was saying we probably want to look at the meeting date. That's Okay, I think four or five of us gonna be out. Yeah, madam mayor It seems that a number of us are gonna be traveling during that time and I am concerned about quorum For that meeting, but I'll follow up with the clerk and with administrative staff to see about what the date You're gonna look like in attendance for those days just looking ahead Madam mayor just two quick announcements first off. This is a threshold Meeting this is our last work session of this fiscal year So I want to thank the staff and colleagues for a great substantive dynamic year for us before we pass the budget and my two Announcements or advisers if you will it's no secret to people in our city that part of the manager's proposed budget Contains a includes a pilot for ShotSpotter technology in our city Part of the commitment I made was to invite the CEO of ShotSpotter to Durham to answer questions and the CEO did indeed I thought it was important for him to come and answer the relevant salient very pointed questions and important questions That we have and that residents have those two dates that were identified were June 10th and June 13th And we had attempted to lock in June 10th. Unfortunately, the CEO cannot attend on June 10th on June 13th We have a very important community meeting with our Friends and neighbors in Haytai So that was not a date that that I felt comfortable with scheduling him to be here when so many of our community Members would be would have their attention focused on our meeting at Haytai Nevertheless, I still think it's important for him to come and ask questions The intention will answer questions the intention was for him to be here before we passed the budget But I still think there's value for him to come and and answer the questions directly that our residents and citizens have for him So we are looking Per his schedule to schedule that meeting at the latter part of June which will put us I believe beyond the actual vote on the budget But it's still important to get his input and still important for him I believe to answer questions of the community. So My entry my invitation has been extended it has been accepted But unfortunately it can't can't be accommodated until the end end of June latter part of June And we will schedule that and we will put out appropriate announcements As that date draws closer. Thank you for that. Secondly It much like George the murder of George Floyd Seemingly the shooting in Uvalde has ushered in an inflection point in our country We've had plenty of mass shootings in the United States of America But something seems different about this one and perhaps hopefully the time is ripe for change nationally and locally and Hopefully at the municipal and state level as well to that end I want to in keeping with our traditions here want to alert my colleagues that I'd like to bring forth a resolution at our next Work session, which would be the first one of the next fiscal year a resolution in support of a study Not an ordinance, but a resolution in support of a study to ban the opening of new gun stores within 1,400 feet of Schools and daycares This is something conversation that's been going on nationally I want to thank and acknowledge publicly senator Natalie Murdoch who's been leading this charge in Raleigh here in North Carolina In conjunction with partners and colleagues from states around the country It is a burgeoning movement, but it is something that that's gaining ground I think it would be appropriate that Durham would be the first municipality in the state of North Carolina to register our support of at least studying the prospect of creating a More safer zone around our schools and daycares and hopefully this will begin a cascade or join in a cascade of legislation And policies that once and for all address in a sensible and substantive way gun violence in our country, so Just asking for a thumbs up on that to bring that resolution forward At our next work session and that will thank you colleagues and that will thank you better man That will end my announcements. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you colleagues Thank you, mr. Pro mayor pro tem I also would ask if you would just let us know about the June July 21st date Councilwoman Caballero followed by councilwoman Friedman. Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. Thank you mayor When you know, I just wanted to follow up I had asked for council to for approval around a Resolution in support of reproductive rights and my hope had been to be able to add it to this work session. It is not there So my my asset of my colleagues is we will take it up after our summer break Thank you Thank you, I think you have a thumbs up on that Thank you madam, I just wanted to Make sure that I acknowledge that Before our next meeting the Juneteenth holiday will occur and there are a number of Juneteenth events that will be occurring including the open space or both city open space event over on is that on Driver Street and Also, the Juneteenth spectacular event at Golden Bell And so I just want to make sure that I put down a radar and then just to wish all of our staff a happy Juneteenth and Happy Freedom Day, and I also will need to request a excused absence for the July 21st meeting if we do host hold it that day and so and My last Last one will be just to note that we do need to make sure we don't leave our Celebration of mr. Frank Dumas off our list and so as we wrap up this this fiscal year I want to make sure for the Next I guess for our next meeting or what have you we do have a chance to acknowledge his Leadership in actually being a national representative for North Carolina straight out of Durham and Representing us for the spelling bee. Thank you. We ready to entertain the motion for councilwoman's Freeman's excuse I moved second right. It has been moved by councilwoman for cover error and seconded by Councilwoman Johnson. We are now ready for a vote by showing of your left hand for approval Those in opposition will have the same right Seeing none that passes unanimously. I do think that we now have to look at yeah a meeting date Yes, ma'am madam, ma'am If I could just raise a point of inquiry to our city attorney It's a certainty now that we will not cross the threshold of quorum that I haven't even asked for an excuse absence And I know for a fact that I'm scheduled to be at the NBC Leo conference So if if maybe if you could just prepare a memo on how we would go about that or if you have any input now is to Thank you, ma'am. So the clerk and I actually were discussing this yesterday because she had a bit of a heads up from several of you and Had asked me about the issue of quorum. I mean obviously at a work session. You all are not taking action generally so theoretically The meeting date could hold but I'm sure most of you want to get the information for that first meeting back after the break So you are you know at liberty to determine another date that suits the majority of the council Where you could have a quorum before that August 1st meeting date I would leave it to the administration since they run the agenda process on What sort of time parameters they would need to make that happen for you all? But it is within the discretion of the council to schedule another regular work session Thank you. Thank you. My only request for on that and I'm totally flexible But would be not to start before That 21st so if we're going to look at a date it would be after the 21st Would that be and I can go ahead and share with everyone just so that week of Monday the July 25th is so when folks get to scheduling I am in town and I am going nowhere and I have lots of flexibility And I would also share that I have plenty of flexibility on the 28th That is it. So we're looking at sometime after the 28th. I Was saying on the 28th After the 29th and we'll Consider that we get a corresponding regular meeting is the first right so we're getting too close So that's too tight. You can't do it after the 28th It's I mean that that's why I was deferring to the administration on what sort of turnaround they would need I mean it's got you All right, so I will I know our city manager We'll talk with her staff And then we will await Some direction from them as to what type of turnaround time they'll need and then we can go from there. Okay. All right. Thank you Williams madam mayor I am going to keep my comments less than five minutes today if I do have them to speak No, I can be a little long-winded I did want to say that Considering this is the most appropriate time something I'd like my colleagues to consider is operation coming home project operation coming home project is where You know wounded veterans who have may have their Amplities or have developed some type of physical handicap where they need a home with specialized amenities and We are so fortunate and blessed to have operation coming home here in the triangle to where they They it's almost like habitat. They build a home specialized for the the physical Necessities of the veteran and we spoke at this event earlier this year We just between the budget session and this work session today We went to celebrate this new home, which is absolutely beautiful And I mean from countertop heights to lower bathtubs. These things are so important and they're also so expensive So to have a nonprofit that would build this home for free For veterans it take I take so much pride in being able to call them our new neighbors And I will hope that we were considered being a partner in this program They do include they do you know accrue significant fees Getting permitted and I would like us to consider how we can partner with them Maybe like every other municipality in a triangle where they do Either waive those fees or have some type of reimbursement program. I would like us There's only one or two homes here or there, but I would like us to consider that If we can bring that to the agenda when we come back in the next fiscal year Thank You councilman Williams. We had a great time at both The event The one on today was a beautiful beautiful time and certainly we want to Consider any help that the city of Durham can offer and it's our understanding that other of our close neighbors are Doing those types of things so you just ask our city manager to see we can make it happen here in the bull city Any other announcements from my colleagues Councilwoman Thank you. I forget one thing the folks from the LGBTQ center of Durham We're submitting a proclamation in honor of Pride month for our next meeting and I just wanted to let you know because I think it may have Come in like right at the deadline of two weeks. So if you could keep your eye out for that, that'd be great Thank you. Diana says she hasn't received it yet, but Amber has it. Okay. Awesome. Thank you. All right Thank you so much and my last comment. I promise I would like also for us to Consider that you know to initialize the process of having a focus group of some sort Whether it's a commission committee or task force on black males and men We obviously have the data to show us that we are in an epidemic right now in our city When it comes to violent crime Gun violence and also the care that we need to Nurturement that we need to focus toward black men and boys that I would like us to consider The process that will lead us to having a focus group to help recommend on Solutions or whatever directions, you know, we could take our resources As a city. Thank you Thank you so much for that All right Council woman Freeman. Thank you. Just just the one addition Cosmember Williams put it for it to mine I just want to make sure that I'm not sure if this is the appropriate moment, but I do want to make sure we do bring forward Rather a request for a vote on The roller rink as we've been discussing in our budget hearing a little bit earlier or budget meeting a little bit earlier And so I'm at the appropriate time if you'd let me know when that is Thank you so much, and I'll be turning to our turn into for her to tell me where that appropriate time will be on our agenda today Right. She's gonna she's gonna get back to me All the matters All right All right everybody, I think that will end our announcements What this afternoon and we will turn to city manager page to see if she has any prior items for us this afternoon Good afternoon, madam mayor. Mr. Mayor pro tem and members of the Durham City Council I do have a few priority items for you this afternoon the first item is Agenda item number 13, which is a contract with legal aid of North Carolina To administer emergency rental assistance for Durham housing authority residents We are asking that the rules be suspended at the work session today to minimize disruptions to service delivery by making local funding available sooner I also have agenda item number 44, which is an interlocal agreement With Durham County to assign emergency medical technicians EMTs to the community safety response teams a supplemental item has been added to your agenda The following modifications were made to attachment number one, which is interlocal agreement The effective date was changed from June 1st 2022 to June 27th of 2022 to clarify Details regarding emergency medical technicians EMTs are credentialed EMTs will remain employees of the Durham County emergency medical services EMTs will continue to operate under EMS protocols EMTs will be authorized to drive city vehicles and EMTs will be provided up to four hours of continuing education per quarter and finally the community safety department Will provide Durham County EMS systems medical director access to records for quality assurance Those are the only items I have for you this afternoon Thank you so much City manager page. I would like to entertain a motion to accept city managers Pages prior to items at this time It has been moved by the councilwoman Cabriera and seconded by councilman Williams that we accept the Managers prior to items those who would vote for approval if you raise your left hand at this time Those who oppose will have the same right Seeing none that motion passes unanimously I'm always conferred with turning when we have a little deviation So I believe it is at this time that I will entertain a motion to suspend the rules To to deal with prior item prior to item 13 as read by our city manager Move to suspend the rules It has been a move by mayor pro tem and seconded by councilwoman Johnson that we suspend the rules at this time If those who are in agreement if you would sign by raising your left hand Those who oppose have the same right Seeing none that motion passes unanimously So we're gonna go ahead and vote on the item. So we will know that we have that all packaged in a Life matter that matter is number 13 Contract with legal aid of North Carolina to administer emergency rental assistance for Durham housing authority residents now the first Motion will be to authorize the city manager to execute a contract in the amount of 713 618 dollars with legal aid of North Carolina to provide emergency rental assistance for Durham housing authority residents funded with 463 618 dollars in city funds and 250,000 dollars in grant funds from Duke University Motion moved as read Second We have two people who want to speak to that matter on 13 We have two folks who are public comment. So we will hold that open Let me confer with our attorney to make sure that we do this. I see one person Right, so we're gonna modify that we're gonna hold that motion open at this time And we will come back to that as we go through our agenda since we have public speakers At this time and I will now turn to any priority items that our city attorney may have Thank you so much madam mayor It's good to see you all may pretend members of the council I do not have any priority items this afternoon But I would like to take a point of personal privilege to introduce some wonderful new additions to the city attorney's office First I'd like to introduce assistant city attorney and Marie Tosco Ann Marie has joined us from seven years service and Orange County attorney's office We are super excited that we wooed her over to Durham. She is a resident of Durham has been a longtime resident of Durham So it's good that her commute has gotten a little shorter She's an employment law specialist for us. She's gonna be advising the human resources department But she's also gonna be doing some litigation and other matters for the city So we are super excited to have Ann Marie with us and she is a double tarheel. I believe That's right, that's right. So the last attorney that we hired came from NC Central's law school now We've got one from UNC so we're diversifying our ranks in terms of allegiance I'd also like to introduce To UNC law students who are serving as legal interns in our office. This is Ariel Friedman and Ashley Loveless They are doing some fantastic work for us this summer You all are gonna be seeing some of the product of their work in items that the city attorney's office is bringing to you after The break so we are super grateful that they have decided to spend portions or all of their summer With us and we just wanted you all to get to meet them Welcome welcome welcome. Thank you all so much And we hope that you have a great summer with us and we'll welcome you on board to our great city attorney's office I'm now turned to our city clerk to see if she has any priority items for us today. Good afternoon, mayor Pro Tem and city council members the city clerk's office has no priority items today. Thank you so much. Thank you so much now we will turn to The reading of our entire agenda will start with our consent agenda, but we will read the department of items and Presentation and our public hearing items So our first item on our administrative consent agenda is approval of city council minutes Number two Durham City County Appearance Commission Appointments Number three Durham Convention Center Authority Appointment For Durham Sports Commission Appointment number five housing Appeals Board Appointment Six Human Relations Commission Appointments Seven the Mayor's Council for Women Appointment Number eight the Mayor's Hispanic Latino Committee Appointment nine The participatory budgeting steering committee Appointments and a ten the racial equity Commission Appointment Number 11 the mayor or an appointment City of Durham Port Laureate Like to pull that please Mayor I don't want to pull it. I just like to make a comment that I'm starting next year I'm looking forward to just looking for consistency in just the reporting and how we can be better supportive of these committees and Task force and commissions Regarding, you know, just a little more of a site and making sure we're effective at it Yes, that is something I think a couple of us Would like to be know a little bit more about how all our commissions and committees were the ones that are internal to the council as well So I'm hoping that I have some volunteers for my colleagues to kind of spearhead that effort especially for my senior colleagues to kind of guide us through that process So we'll give you all time to be volunteered or volunteer to say I'm since it's in falling told happening here Okay, and and and mr. Rogers apple laureate is on June so we on zoom So we get a chance to talk to him you did pull that item didn't you I did I don't have questions I just wanted to talk about it because it's yes easy. He is here. It's here. So that concludes our Consent agenda and we will now turn to our departmental items number 12 fiscal year 2022 to 2023 budget in 2023 to 2028 the capital improvement plan CIP Number 13 will be pulled. I believe That is the contract with the legal aid of North Carolina to administer emergency rental assistance for Durham house and Authority residence We have suspended those rules. So we'll come back in here for my speakers that matter Number 14 is the contract with North Carolina coalition to end homelessness NCCEH to provide homeless management information system lead agency services Item 15 has been pulled fair haven wall Commonwealth Development Corporation of American Development loan commitment item 16 grant agreement with the housing authority of the city of Durham Elizabeth Street Apartments down Durham downtown and neighborhood plan I'd like to pull that one. You're pulling that. I'm sorry. Sometimes I have a hard time hearing With these mask on so please let me know I'm understanding that you did put an item. Okay, just to be sure item 17 Just a standing ridge station Bradley housing developers held LC development loan commitment That is also going to be pooled 18 prescriptions for repair Proposal from community safety and wellness task force that will be pooled 19 Low-income monthly parking discounted voucher program. I have that is being pulled as well item 20 task order 0-0-3 to master service agreement 2021 through 2506 with North Carolina State University NCSU for the development and has meant maintenance of the triangle regional model TRM Item 21 amendment number two the Falcon engineering contract number one six four five one For the construction material testing and special inspections of the Mist Lake facility expansion Item 22 the interlocal agreement for phase nine of the triangle area water supply monitoring project item 23 extension of McLean and company contract number 17282 24 the housing appeals board annual report for fiscal year 2021 Number 25 is the contract for plea employment the psychological testing of police sworn and non sworn applicants item 26 The contract for post high psychological services for police employees Number 27 amendment 2 for the South Elaby wetland and stream restoration design services contract 28 Municipal separate storms sewer system MS for inspections SD dash 20 22 dash 0 3 item 29 stream vegetation management contract with ripple eco solutions LLC sp dash 20 22 dash 0 1 item 30 utility extension agreement with DH IC bright leaf casitas LLC to serve a sandbrick bright leaf cottages 31 the utility extension agreement with DH IC bright leaf LLC to serve a sand bright leaf Apartments item 32 the utility extension agreement with tap mills group LLC to serve cedar trace apartment 33 Contract will benefit be any VAT in case that slaughter that ink for neighborly software item 34 contract with neighborhood data works to manage and operate the neighborhood compass indicator tool 35 License and maintenance agreement for city works software. We turn our attention down to our presentations item 36 Excel pilot update Item 37 the Durham Orange light rail transit project expenses and as public hearings items 38 the partial closing of Henderson Street item 39 the South Austin Avenue zoning map change 40 the triangle veterinarian referral hospital zoning map change Item 41 unified development ordinance text amendment omnibus changes 17 item 42 Wabash parcels zoning map change a wall bash a citizen matters Donald Reigns His item number 43 Item 44 a subliminal item in our local agreement with Durham County to assign emergency medical technicians EMTs to community safety response teams That is all I have for our agenda. I'm gonna check with our city manager to make sure that We have all of the consent pool of items at this time I Have 13 14 13 15 16 18 17 19 and also 11 That will be the first one. So let's do them in order 11 13 15 16 17 18 and 19. So what you have sitting on your page That is correct. All right. Thank you so much Keeping us coordinated on Mayor Pro Tem All right, we were going to turn to our citizens of matters and the first step will be item 43 Mr. Donald Reigns Good afternoon, Mr. Reigns. We're glad you're here May and City Council and all that's present. My name is Donald Reigns I live in Durham 1019 Sherwood Rath I'm the also the president of the Durham Council of the Bland here in Durham I like to speak about the Access transportation Here in Durham There's some serious problems with that transportation company and one thing that is Problem is Sometimes how late they are picking you up Sometimes that when you call to reserve a trip it may be a long time before you can get a reservation in now and The problem with that is because they have a lack of drivers From my understanding to have for them to have a full of drivers It's got to be somewhere around think about 55 drivers and Unless I'm I'm here and there's only about 15 16 drivers that they have Having a problem of keeping drivers For an example There are many in my Bland group. There's something that work at LCI industries that catch the That transportation to work and back home They're always late getting to work Now and then they're being docked and then their production Level may be down because they're late getting to work Sometimes if I'm taking access to Walmart Sometimes I may have to wait one or two hours, maybe up to three hours past the Schedule time of my pickup before I get it for the van to come to get to get me home The Sunday before Thanksgiving They only had one driver They were an hour and a hour I was trying to get there to go shopping There was all in a half late picking me up. I Got finished shopping at 5 30 the van didn't come until a little bit after 8 30 for me to go home It was a day that was cold and it was a nighttime There are other times that I have to wait and there's other people that have to wait To get transportation This week. I wanted to go food shopping. I called last week for for reservation Couldn't get one at all this week to go shopping yesterday, I paid almost $30 to Uber So I can go to Walmart and do food shopping The problem they're having is drivers. I Know that's one problem that they haven't is drivers. Mr. Raines. Yes. I'm sorry Neglected to tell you from the beginning that you have about three minutes Each person has about three minutes for our comments. Your time has gone up, but I will ask that you finish your thought Okay, the next problem is communication between the drivers and Management and managers that needs to be looked at. Thank you so much. Thank you. We appreciate your time here today We have Five Persons who have signed up as well for citizen matters each of you will have three minutes and please I'm gonna call the names, but if I have missed someone would you please if you're a virtual notify I'll clerk by raising over your Virtual hand to let her know that you're you're to speak as a citizen not on a particular item And these those folk I have Would be Nana you And Amy fleshman Here with us today. I also have Miss Stella Adams Mr. James Brown and Mr. James Chavis would be those persons who are here in chambers We will start with miss evil followed by miss flash Flashman and then we will proceed to miss Adams. Mr. Brown and Mr. Chavis This you and I'm sorry if I am pronouncing your name last name Incorrectly, I'm pronouncing it as I see it as evil EWOL She should be in the we hope she's in the queue We're looking at a mayor. There's no Nana evil in the queue. It's Amy flesh Fleischman, I do not see an Amy Fleischman in the queue either All right, we will now turn to Miss Dettel Adams followed by mr. James Brown Followed by mr. James Chavis at a mayor Mayor pro team members of the city council First of all I'm gonna say these three words transit transit Transit But that's not why I'm here today, but in light of what you just heard. I felt the need to Bring up my second favorite topic. I am here today To officially resign as a member of the affordable housing implementation committee It has been my honor to serve in that post since its inception Under the leadership of co-chairs Katadi and elder we have I Think created a great sense of transparency About how the housing bond funds have been used Citizens can track the number of units that have been created Maintained and retained As a result of the passage of the Housing bond But as the airline stewardesses will tell you Put your mask on first Before you can help others and due to Health concerns, I can no longer Serve on this dynamic and active Committee if you want to know about a hard-working committee You only need look at the affordable housing implementation Committee and look at the amazing dashboard that the staff has created Look at the number of minority contractors black contractors women and contractors That are accounted for by the dorm house and authority projects that have been funded under there so again is In my honor I Somehow feel like I'm letting the people down But I Have to take care of me first. I don't want the staff to think they're off the hook Because I know how to come and get you Thank you so much for allowing me to serve a tube dermite a trooper One of my she rose out there always in the fight Please take take really really really good care of yourself We know you will be back And we'll be ready To see you back So once again, thank you for your service. Miss Adams you You've always been there Appreciate you. Mr. James Brown. We have three minutes, sir Hear the beat let you know your time starts All right You may proceed sir. Okay. Thank you All right, thank you to the mayor and the city council for a chance to be heard today my name is James Brown and I've been a resident of Durham for six years now. I went blind about four years ago and So I've been riding Durham access for four years now and I like to give a fair Shot with things pros and cons No accidents with Durham access safe travel I go to the gym Three to five times a week to go to the store. I go everywhere. I want to go So they do give me where I need to go As the president of the Durham council for the blind mentioned earlier Donald Reigns Being late is a regular thing this week alone. I Went to the Where that come from? I forgot where I was coming from but I was supposed to be picked up between three and three thirty from Walmart actually on Monday and I didn't get home till 427 and I Live a half a mile from Walmart. So there you go. That's one example and then I was also on Whether yesterday yesterday I was going to go to the gym and I wanted to do a two-hour workout I was supposed to be picked up between 11 and 11 30. I didn't Well, I called at 12 40 to cancel to go to the gym and I worked out at home So I waited an hour and 40 minutes and it still didn't come yet So, you know, that's just this week But like I said, it is safe travel and I do eventually get to my destination, but there's a lot of waiting. All right But the thing that I wanted to mention was what I'd like to see is the follow-up on this issue We can get some information on that What I'd like to see happen is so right now the setup is We have to call our trips for Durham access Up to two weeks in advance most of the time if you don't book your ride in a week and a half to two weeks in advance, you can't get that trip and Even calling two weeks in advance. You can't always get the time that you asked for. All right There's another company emerged with Durham access called you serve Right and that was supposed to make our life easier. Well, it has not because they haven't given us the choice So we cannot call you serve ourselves. All right We reserve our trips and then a you serve driver Will pick one of us, you know to add on their own schedule And if I ride with you sir, then I do get picked up or dropped off on time with you sir, you know That's personal vehicle service. So I wanted to mention other cities Fayville, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Atlanta, Georgia Jacksonville, Florida You can book your ride to go anywhere within the city a late as a day in advance All right, I want to go to if I can just finish one more step Jacksonville, Florida But Jacksonville, Florida You can book a ride with you served two hours in advance on the same day and then the shuttle service You can bought you can book your trip a day in advance. I'd like to see that happen for Durham access. Thank you for your time Thank you so much for coming today, mr. Brown. We appreciate you being here Madam mayor, can I ask a question to the manager? Is We use uber and other services in the city Privately is there like any type of partnership that could extend? I'm gonna ask the transportation director to come up because we do have some private providers and I don't want to misspeak Good afternoon Mayor O'Neill mayor pro tem Middleton and members of council Shawn Egan director of transportation So we do have a partnership with the go Durham connect program with Lyft and that provides riders with a Code where they can get a free trip within a zone established in East Durham So that allows people to get that first or last mile from their home to Save the village transit center where they can then get a bus every 15 minutes So we've used that with Lyft the program that we've set up with you serve Provides significant additional training on How to provide transportation services and the needs of people with disabilities as well as compliance with federal requirements For things like drug and alcohol testing Those requirements are well above and beyond what uber or Lyft will Will provide and so we are using a similar model With you serve to an uber or Lyft. It is a transportation networking company but we want to make sure given the Vulnerability of our access riders that the people providing transportation services to our Access riders have that specialized training and that we can be confident that It's an alcohol and drug-free environment Madam, thank you. I would like to ask for a review of the policy that states that they have to Call a week or two weeks in advance to actually get services They are citizens like everybody else red is it residents like everybody else and for us like I don't know if I want to go two weeks In advance to go to the grocery store and so then they're sitting out there for hours at a time and they're a vulnerable Population so I would like to see a review of that policy Yeah To be clear. It's not a policy decision that's driving that schedule It's the availability of staff and drivers to provide the services. The policy is 24 hours in advance But it's the policy is not what's driving some of the challenges and scheduling trips. It's Continuing to hire more staff. So the step that we took in April of this year was to increase wages Substantially the starting wage is now $17.50 plus benefits. We've seen significant increases in staffing since that new wage rate went into place and We're working to get up to full staff to get to the point where we can Make sure that all those trip requests are honored and scheduled and that trips can be provided on time So we're working through that as a staffing issue right now, but the additional Compensation it has put us on a good path forward to be able to do that. We're not there yet But we're trending in the right direction. Oh, thank you for the clarity in terms of saying that it's not a policy but I guess I took that from the residents saying that They are they're they're I guess View of how they know they can call is two weeks So thank you for that clarity, but whatever you want to call it a policy not a policy I'd like to know why is it taking and I understand you just said Not having the drivers, but the residents don't want to hear that they want to get to the store They want to get to where they want to get to thank you We're gonna have a transportation presentation and some of the folk who presented may be able to Answer that as well. Would that be true? We'll go triangle this afternoon. They would not be out able to have some of us Different group different provider. Okay. Let's make it sure Alright, thank you so much Mr. Chavis, yes, you have the floor for three minutes. Thank you. Thank you Good afternoon I was here this morning to listen Because I heard What I didn't hear and I didn't hear the truth Okay, I want you to know that first because I have been out there Volunteer my time on both of these projects and Way did not tell y'all the truth Our rights has been violated on both of these projects because we have not had Time or energy from him to let him know what we wanted in those projects So I heard what y'all told him this morning and I thank you But to make it more clear, I Like to challenge each and every one of you challenge each and every one you sit in Council members along with the mayor and the mayor pro tem to tell ways to put that Splash aside and Let's start all over with community as well as the city staff As you all may heard Me and Keith was supposed to have a meeting this afternoon But due to his Emergency I had to counsel our meeting and that meeting was for him to help us started all over with Keith So please I'm going to reschedule that meeting with Keith But I want y'all to understand We wanted to start all over so that we can have a voice not with with the Soccer field but started all over With wheels so that we all can have a voice. Thank you Thank You mr. Chavis for being here today and for your comments as well We will now I believe return and review our pooled items And we will take them in order and first put I in my believe was pulled by councilwoman Johnson, which is item 11 Thank You madam mayor. I pulled this item because this is something that we have been trying to make happen for a long time Getting a poet laureate. It was originally a Proposal by a number of residents artists who are involved in In the poetry community poets themselves who were Excited about Durham and during this space we have of course a North Carolina poet laureate and I think carbureaux has one but Durham didn't have one so they came to us and asked us to Establish a program it was referred to our cultural advisory board for some for some discussion and development of program terms and the folks in general services were working with them on that and then we Finally approved the position. I think it was last year and now we have a Poet laureate in Durham, which is so exciting. So I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate all the work that's gone into making this happen and Durham entering this Exciting new space of having a city poet laureate and since our new poet laureate is online. It would be great to hear from him as well, and I really look forward to going to Events where he's gonna be speaking and reading poetry and yeah, I'm just really excited to have to have this New position for for the arts and and for writers and artists in our city. Thank you madam mayor and if Madam clerk if you couldn't find DJ Rogers online, that'd be great. Mr. Rogers is unmuted Fantastic good afternoon Council madam mayor mr. Mayor pro tem it is good to see you all my name is Harold DJ Rogers. I am a Poet SES and educator. I've been a Durham resident for Going on eight years now. I Am incredibly honored and humbled and excited by this opportunity and for the opportunity to Spread art and build our sister community within and without the city of Durham to show What art is and can be for the citizens of our city? I appreciate you and Thank you for your time and if you have any Questions or comments from me. I'd be happy to answer those now Thank you so much. We're so excited to have you. Um, I guess I'm just interested in If there are any events already planned is there like a you know any kind of public Launch or something that we could that we could come to to show our support So there's nothing planned as of now, but I would love to Plan something a launch event and inaugural event for the inaugural Poet Laureate is very very exciting to me there are regular community events that do happen the biggest one is the Jumbalaya soul slam which happens every third Saturday at the Hickman Heritage Center So that is the regular event we have right now and that is run by an artist named asana honu Other than that I would love to plan something, but there's nothing specific planned yet Okay, thank you. Maybe we could I don't know who's that currently is on this to the cab But maybe we could ask the cab to work with the council liaison to try to make something happen I'm definitely gonna charge you with a councilwoman Johnson. Are you are you the cab leave on that? I'm sorry. Are you the lilies on now to the cultural advisory board? I am not No, I don't think so Okay, awesome Thank You mr. Rogers. We're excited to have you Thank you. I'm excited to be here This is just one of those cool things when you just happened to land the Right place at the right time All of this was in motion before I became mayor and now mr. Rogers is our first City of Durham poet laureate. He is will have a term That will sit to inspire June 30 of 2023 I was on the internet the other night looking at some of his information that and I am just So impressed and honored that you are our first mr. Rogers So thank you for all that you're doing to make world our world brighter And we certainly look forward to having an inaugural event where we can showcase you and your talents Thank you so very much madam mayor, I am excited and I am honored to To be in this position at all let alone being the first is Incredibly humbling like I said it is my honor and I am extremely excited to get started Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you in person and Listen, can you give us a short little piece before you leave us? Just a little just a little taste just a little bit I believe I can do that. Yes My father has been a mechanic since I was two years old and he tells me you get used to it that Filters form your nose and mouth keep fumes out that your eyes start secreting extra liquid to fight off the hail of smoke You have to endure and let your hands grow this outer layer of skin. That's thick and invisible and permanent My brother Chris and I worked for him for one summer and neither of us were prepared for this The days like 10 hour heat waves on the horizon and the nights quick and fleeting as a mirage We would pass time during our breaks by playing the game you go It's a card game my dad asked my favorite cards were and I said was the basic cards because they formed the backbone and they do all the real work and yeah My father looking at them like pawns on a chess board says he appreciates and understands them as well But he Sees something different here He sees these things and amires a sacrifice Amires their willingness to be stepping stone so that stronger pieces Kings gods can be someone to the battlefield sees nobility in this He sees heroism in this and have to wonder what kind of heroism Lives in anti-freeze and industrial-sized tanks of fluid these pool waters That burn everything burn my eyes my ears got me shivering and my sleep got me looking out at nothingness got me Closing my eyes because i'm afraid of what they might do and the darkest to really heroism in this Or is that ideal? Will they dangle on the battlefields that us foot soldiers don't forget they've convinced us we're fighting for Dad says can't look at it like that That was not his trucking in his business his family's and a lot of others might not be able to eat It's not glamorous, but it's necessary and yeah Maybe he's right Maybe I feel like I've all grown his shadow Maybe I feel like i'm a little too good to be anything like him that helps on my way to a college degree And all of a sudden i'm too good to inherit my father's legacy and million generations of truckers And mechanics and stockboys and farmhands and day laborers and infantry and slaves and sacrifices So tough enough in our last couple more months on my last day I say You know I've realized something dad These cards these ponds We sacrificed them because if we didn't they would all rise up against the dealer in a heartbeat So instead we picked them against one another Tell them any up hope for the best tell them to stomp one another on the way to their own dreams fight to become gods The most likely die on the way there never realizing that They become the foundations of their own defeat kingdom built on their own bones I never forgot what you sacrificed for me Thank you for giving me dragons and spell books my father Just laughs And goes back to his work Thank you all very much Thank you. Derms first Poor laureate Mr. DJ Rogers We now turn our attention to item 13 Which is the contract with legal aid Of north carolina to ministry emergency rental assistance for Durham housing authority residents And as you know, we were in the middle of a motion when we Discovered that we have some public speakers. So It's suspended that action the rules have also been suspended and we're going to hear from our public speakers Um our citizens this afternoon for public comment on this item before we move forth We have four names to by way of the Internet Zoom and two here in person First we have miss jenny loom l OOM e Mr. Sean brady We also have here with us Mr. Regina maize and revan mendee Douglas who turned first to our virtual participants virtual citizens And you all will have three minutes of peace miss loom if you're available Good afternoon members of the city council madam mayor and mr. Mayor pro tem My name is jenny loom And I am a member of the durham can affordable housing team speaking in support of the plan to designate rental relief funding specifically for Durham housing authority residents In january 2021 can launch a campaign to get dha to amend its eviction policy to prevent unnecessary eviction filings listening sessions with residents researching the policies of other public housing authorities And eviction court watching informed our concern about evictions of dha tenants We asked dha to one wait 30 days between late rent and eviction filing two review ledgers prior to filing an eviction notice And three provide proper administration of the federally required grievance procedure This campaign culminated in an itemized proposal which we presented to the dha board and staff in july 2021 Today we have emailed this proposal to council for your review We may propose again in 2022 that these changes be adopted as permanent policy changes in the 2023 dha annual plan Additionally as emergency rental relief funds rolled out Can push dha to delay filing evictions and not to use eviction as a tool to move residents higher on the priority list for d rrp funds To their credit dha has made many changes to prevent unnecessary evictions They implemented our proposed changes as procedure rather than as policy They hired a team of housing stability specialists to help tenants enter into repayment agreements And they did not use eviction filings as a tool to raise dha tenants priority level for rental relief funds Despite all this work extremely low income residents remain stuck with burdensome repayment agreements For a long time due to being denied rental relief funds Durham can therefore strongly supports the proposal to distribute rental relief funds to dha residents Relieving both the residents and dha. Thank you for the time Thank you. Ms. Long for being here this afternoon. I did miss I misspoke. Mr. Sean Brady is actually For item 15 virtually. We do have two people here Two of our citizens here in public in In chambers with us the first will be miss regina maize The second will be reverend mendy douglas People come in the order you have three minutes of peace And I would also know to see what we have anybody else that I may have myths If so, please Raise your hand virtually We'll let our clerk know if you're here in person Miss maize Good afternoon, madam mayor Mr. Mayor vote him and all other city council members My name is regina maize and I will not say my address at this moment Um, I will say that I'm affordable housing resident And today I want to speak about the revolving door of homelessness Though there's a lot of conversation going on about the revolving door of the justice involved residents No one really wants to speak about the revolving door of homelessness So if that being said I have my six-month-old grandbaby with me this morning or this afternoon I have that because her father is out working So he no longer is part of the shelter program Not because he has to be but because he chose to be because he wants to be a young man Shriven father that is taking care of a child that he brought into this world He had to spend nights on a church floor when it was labeled as cold nights Just so he can get some assistance or be on the list for assistance. They have not even came yet I say all that to say If this is not approved you will put more residents In that circumstance Right now there is up to a six-week waiting list for shelter services for those who no longer have a residence so I stand here on behalf Of other affordable residents that I stay in community with I babysit it a young child Last weekend so her mother can work a second job To maintain the rental arrangement to pay back back rent But also with that increase of income her rent also increases So you're working to get out of hold but you may not come out of If these funds are not allocated. Thank you for your time Thank you for being here miss maizan for your comments. Reverend mendy douglas Good afternoon. Mayor o'neill made a mayor pro tem middleton and council members Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. My name is mendy douglas And I am the senior pastor at first presbyterian church just around the corner here We are a church that is downtown by history and by choice and we are committed to Working for social justice in our community and beyond Today I come to speak on behalf of our walk-in ministry program Our walk-in ministry provides financial assistance and spiritual support for those in crisis and during the pandemic our walk-in ministry supported Over 200 dha residents with rental assistance in order to keep them In their homes and prevent for future eviction In 2019 over 857 residents in dha housing had eviction filings And we have deep concerns about post pandemic filings And so we strongly support the city's proposal to pay 600 000 to dha for the 270 residents who have Applied for the e-wrap funds because we believe this will help prevent future evictions and keep people in their homes We also remain concerned about possible eviction filings for the 200 residents who were behind in their rent before the pandemic And the newly proposed funds do not cover their past debt And so we would also encourage you to consider the recommendation of the city's racial equity task force For supplemental income and legal representation for residents in very low income in public housing. Thank you Thank you so much for being here for your comments senator rubber I believe we are now ready to consider Three separate motions On this item and i'm going to read the first again in the record and we'll just start From scratch since the the rules have already been suspended so I would like to entertain a motion to authorize the city manager to execute a contract in amount of 713 618 dollars It was legal aid of north caroline on to provide emergency rental assistance for Durham housing authority residents funded with 463 618 dollars in city funds and 250 000 dollars in grant funds from duke university Moves is read second Been moved by mayor pro tem and seconded by councilwoman freeman All those in favor if you would sign by raising your left hand question Just before we vote on this mayor if I could just briefly I am in total support but we are having a conversation on emergency rental assistance and Allocating funds and I feel as though not only is there a revolving door to homelessness It's going to be a revolving door to this conversation So are we I mean I'm going to I'm going to support this but are we doing anything they really they sort of get to the root of Keeping from having this conversation And I don't know if that's an administrative question. I don't know if that's a We may not be able to answer that today or what but When the voter we're in the middle of a vote if we could reserve responding to it till we finish the vote Since we're literally in the middle of a vote and then I have the manager We literally are voting now if we can have the manager respond It's a point of order So we I'm out of order I'm to say if we finish the vote and then um, I think the manager's going to respond to your question But we're literally in the middle of a vote. Okay. You are already raising hands I believe we did have a unanimous vote All right You didn't vote. No, I I didn't know when to state my comments. So I just Okay All right, so let's just entertain that motion again and we'll carry the motion through and then we'll come back so most second Been moved by mayor pro tem is seconded by Who seconded councilman williams All those in favor would you sign by raising your left hand? All those opposed have the same right seeing none that Vote passes unanimously. I'll now yield to the city manager to answer that question Thank you I'm mayor o'neill In response to Your question councilmember williams What I would say is the majority of the funding that you have seen going for rental assistance has been Really funds that are passed through The federal government in response to the covet pandemic So it I am very hopeful that that You know major negative impact on families You know will not be repeated to the degree that it has been Has been present in our lives over the past couple of years Without going into a great deal of detail. We do have neighborhood stabilization Services that assist, you know assist families with budgeting and other kinds of you know other kinds of supports to help Um Prioritized spending and you know that happens at the housing authority. They have programs of of that nature So I may not be specific enough, but I did want to point out that It is relate, you know, the majority of what you have seen since you've been on the council has been a result of helping people To recover from job loss primarily in service sectors That were closed many many of our residents worked in those sectors and that's how they paid their rent So hopefully the uh rental assistance that has been provided, you know, is a one-time Kind of You know support that helps You know recover credit get out of payment plans and and have them be able to go for it with the cleaner slate So hopefully that is yeah, thank you so much Uh And reverend mendee, thank you for your leadership and all other congregations We have over 400 churches in the city and over 14,000 nonprofits And we have thousands of businesses if you are a business, please let us know your hiring We want to make this conversation wholesome so that we can support Holistically our residents that are in most need Let's close this door. Thank you We now turn to our second Um A motion that I'd like to entertain to authorize the city manager To negotiate and execute all administrative requirements and contractual documents necessary For implementation of the Durham rent relief program to include Duke university's program agreement and related documents moves is right It's been moved by mayor pro tem and seconded by councilwoman caballero all those in favor. Would you raise your left hand? All those opposed have the same right Seeing none that motion passes unanimously We now turn to third part For our consideration like to entertain a motion to adopt the city of Durham Duke university grant Project ordinance in the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I'll move second It's been moved by mayor pro tem and seconded by councilwoman williams all those in favor. Would you please raise your right hand? All those opposed have the same right Madam mayor is actually councilmember freeman. I believe who made the motion It's went to record to reflect that rather than me made the motion. Yeah, okay. Thank you, ma'am I think that you voted in favor. I was still a hand raised Because that's a unanimous vote. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much. We're moving right along. That was unanimous vote Thank you all Madam mayor. Yes, um, I had a question about that item I'm fine with the passing and it's something that maybe community development can send an email about But I keep hearing this number about 4 000 folks not being Served and that's not what the memo is indicating And so I would just like some follow-up from community development About the numbers who have applied and why we keep hearing about 4 000 folks being left out that we're getting emails about it Folks have mentioned it at the public hearing and it doesn't seem like that's accurate And I just want to hear about it so that we can communicate that accurately to the community Thank you. You raised an excellent point councilwoman Did you want to address that I will um, ask our staff to provide an update as as we speak applications are being Processed and with this funding approval Additional applications will be processed and we'll provide an update as to you know, if they're remaining Residents who did not get served Councilwoman Freeman Thank you. Um, madam mayor just adding in addition to councilmember cabillero and councilmember williams Comment is to just be really clear that these payments are us paying Property owners and so there is There definitely has to be something that addresses and it's not always income from a job But um, we do need to have the conversation Of how we're we're going to actually prevent homelessness in a way that is whole holistic and Doesn't compass where we are today Thank you so much for that Any additional Increase us to this matter All right, we will now turn our attention to our next pooled item Which is item number 15 fair haven walk commonwealth development operation of american American development loan commitment I believe that we have miss lia bergman and mr. Fred stoppul Camp who are here to speak To both items 15 and 19 you'll be speaking separately on both Who will start with item 15? I believe that mr. Sean brady is also on As a resource person today A Each of you will have three minutes of peace miss bergman mrs. Stoppul camp Madam mayor mayor pro tem and members of sympathy council Thank you very much for time and the opportunity to be here today As you may remember I appeared here two months ago to specifically address the process of funding for affordable housing projects Two of which you have already been approved by you and the remaining two appear on your agenda today for approval Fair haven and sandy ridge station On tuesday I sent each of you a letter outlining my questions and concerns about the entirety of this process Including the selection evaluation and protest processes surrounding these four affordable housing projects While the city attorney has responded to some of my questions as of 8 30 a.m. This morning many remain Moreover the process was flawed and unfair and has had The effect of not just hurting me and my team But most importantly the city of Durham and many of the people that you've heard from today This decision would kill an excellent project that Durham needs when that city staffs has noted as a good one It also kills the project that brings forth the most local experience to bear Me and my team and fred who's with me today. We house the city's most vulnerable and are called upon frequently Please vote no or remove from today's agenda in any in either case to send back to this drawing board to do this Right. Durham deserves better Since my last appearance before this council I protested the awards of those projects through the city's formal protest procedure My process was received and reviewed but ultimately denied without providing the information supporting the denial Nor an opportunity for a hearing related to the protest I also promptly submitted a separate public records request to the city and received a variety of documents Assocated with the rfp process procedure scoring and submissions for the affordable housing projects After the protest denial and receipt of the information from the public's records request I then met with the office of community development and the procurement agent who oversees the protest process From that I will highlight the most notable issues that have come to light Which should be of concern to this body and all of which were outlined in my letter sent earlier this week First the protest process and denial with mismatch from the timing of information The protest quote letter of decision made no mention of how the internal protest evaluation process was conducted What was reviewed or how the scoring for the rfp process was determined to be valid consistent or unbiased In fact, we were forced to learn this information through a public records request Which wasn't fulfilled and after until after the protest process hearing deadline had passed My question to this committee is how could an outcome of a protest Be determined and a hearing denied if neither we nor the protest reviewers Were given timely access to relevant and full information to determine the matters related to the protest Second the fact that there have been only two past protests for rfp's and that there were three Protests alone submitted for this project would warrant a closer look by this body by sheer numbers alone May I continue for You still have another three minutes with item 19 third Both sandy ridge applications were not compliant when submitted by the rfp's due date Community development deemed it to be in the city's Best entrance to allow sandy ridge to cure the deficiencies But this opportunity was not to be given to any others And finally it appears that some criteria was not scored based on the information actually in the applications According to city staff all the developers should have received full marks for just submitting their equity and inclusion Which they refer to as the ebop application to show each developer's commitment to diversity However, sandy ridge was allowed extra time to submit the ebop past the rfp due date and another jfk towers Was scored a seven out of ten If all should have received a full score for submission why the discrepancies The city attorney addressed this issue and a communication received at 8 30 a.m. This morning. We have not had time to fully review it Again, my ask today is simple Please remove the authorization request for the fair haven walk and sandy ridge station projects from this agenda Or vote no to both requests. Thank you all for your time today, and i'm here for any questions that you may have Thank you so much, mr. Bergman. Let's just stop the count. We'll you'll have A total of six minutes for your items 15 and actually is item 17 15 and 17 Which is the sandy ridge station bradley house and development LLC Yes, sir. Uh, good afternoon in city council. Thank you for uh Taking my time taking time to hear me. My name is fred stoble camp. I'm not currently. I'm the operation director for bergman rental I'm also A resident of Durham, north carolina at 34 01 duke homestead road 27704 We've had a couple people come in here dealing with Challenges with homelessness challenges with transportation And one of the things that I can provide to city council and to um The city in general is the experience that i've had working with um The homeless and working with people trying to find jobs In 2008. I was part of a Non-probable called Durham economic resource center. I don't know if you remember it or heard of it But what we did was work with folks Who had challenges towards employment to find them employment? I worked there for five years Most of the residents came from our Local housing shelters Then I took a job in 2014 to work for urban ministries where I was their workforce development manager There between those two times of Dirk and UMD I was Appointed to the homeless service advisory committee And I stayed that appointment for nine years During that appointment. I also chaired the homeless service advisory committee, which i'm sure you're all aware of That advises city council and Durham commissions On homelessness and homeless challenges Um in 2018 I was approached by miss bergman to Um work for her as her operation director The main reason was my um background in construction But she she was attracted to my experience working with city council working with other providers With um the problem of homelessness What I knew about bergman rental at the time was only one thing That she was that they were accepting vouchers in that with my clients my most hardly hard hardest to provide clients To provide homelessness home or to provide housing for Bergman rental was the only one that would listen Bergman rental was the only one that was while I was a case worker Taking my clients out of homelessness out of urban ministries into housing fast forward four year for uh Four years to today. I um uh work with lia bergman And I See we are the number one Provider of vouchers in Durham Right around a hundred I use my case working skills All the time for a lot of our clients, which is which is fine But most important is Is that we bergman rental lia bergman in specific is putting her money where her mouth is she actually helps Our city with our homeless to prom with our homeless problem and that is by housing them by overseeing The application process by everything All the challenges that they have all the skipped all the The fumbles that they have in their application Robota overlooked that Bergman rental is in the business of affordable housing They have been in the business of affordable housing way before lia took over Now bergman rental wants to build affordable housing the current provider the current Applicate sandy ridge Has done nothing for Durham Has not built anything for Durham has not hosed housed one single person Let alone one house homeless person for Durham So i'm here as a resident as an employee And also as one as a case manager who has to look at Who looked at homeless people in the face every day and had to find the challenge of finding them a housing provider That is the reason I work for lia bergman Um, and that's the reason i'm speaking to you today. Thank you Thank you, sir for your time today I will now open it up for Any discussion my colleagues Is there is there anyone that can respond to it? So Good good afternoon again Mayor o'neill and council These items that have been pulled by miss burg by miss bergman and um her her team Have been placed on the agenda today as items that were ranked in the rfp process that Brought forward for total proposals from I believe it was eight proposed proposals that we were received I would really like to say that the The need for affordable housing in this community is great The funding that we have available to apply To supplement to make the four the projects affordable is Is not as much as the need and Therefore all of the proposals that would be great for this community Can I always be funded? At the same time so because of that there's a process that takes place to rank and prioritize the projects To fill up the bucket of funding for that cycle we we did one in 2021 it was about 15 million dollars and I believe the one in 2022 That is before us now was approximately 15 Million as well so a total investment of about 30 million dollars which would likely get us about 10 11, I believe 11 different projects of affordable housing The reason that we that these items have been pulled today relate to the process for ranking the proposals and That process did receive Appeals you will recall that when we brought two items the first two items those official Appeals to the process had come in We withdrew those items from the agenda so that the staff could evaluate the appeals and Determine whether or not the process was sound that took place And we brought those items back and you'll prove them as miss bergman has said so it's not a new process It is it is it is the same process That generated the other two proposals And the ranking has not changed We have today with us our staff who work Who worked on those appeals including staff from the city attorney's office The finance department That can respond to questions about the process even today if you have them as well as the programmatic staff who would be community development staff Are here as well So we would be We would be happy to respond to any questions that the mayor or the council would have about either those Um You know the the appeal process or the or the rfp process or the impact of making A change to what you have before you today councilwoman freeman Thank you. I had a question for um miss bergman And You were you were I know you were trying to get through and you were mentioning That In your protest The notable issues was process management with no valid consistent no valid or consistent or bias something I was trying to catch what you were saying was the issue In the in the actual process itself Yes, so I'm gonna try it and um So basically the you know, we've had a couple meetings and during the protest process We had the gentleman on the line for the follow-up with regards to it and I don't want to put words into somebody saw the way I came across after that Was that my takeaway was and this is me paraphrasing if he'd known Then when he reviewed the protest What he knows now He would have given us The hearing of the protest But at the time that he had determined if my protest was viable or not He had none of the information Nor did we when we had to file our protest It was only through The requests for public records were we able to ascertain all this information to the inconsistencies Of the scoring and of the entire process Thank you. Thank you. And I think I just for staff and specifically the inconsistency in the one area That was mentioned around Allowing a I guess someone in the process to resubmit their e-bop It is that the norm is that something that was specific to this project So so I would like to ask the staff that Would would do that would bring those Bring the information for it regarding the appeal process to respond to those To those questions Good afternoon, madam mayor Mayor pro tem Distinguished council. My name is frederick nielson. I am the purchasing manager For the city of durham and I work in the finance division Happy to answer any specific questions that you may have related to Our overview. Thank you. I my specific question was just in and trying to understand The e-bop. I guess was requested after the close of the rfp From the one participant Is that specific to like is there a specific policy around making sure that you double check or something? or I'm sorry Or is it just, you know, I'm trying to understand how how after closed someone was allowed to bring more information in before scoring Sure, sure. So Just for context, I'd like to let you know what we looked at specifically Getting a secondary look at something or a protest review Requires the purchasing team to look at the subject rfp or whatever The solicitation vehicle we may be using at the time Or instrument and we ensure that it's in compliance with all of our state laws city policy and guidelines and then the next step is to Look at the rfp itself Determine whether or not if the scoring Apparatus or evaluation criteria in the subject rfp Was accurate as it relates to what came in And finally the evaluation committee's scoring Is looked at to see if it's valid unbiased and has no obvious You know malfeasance or anything to that extent I think what and I don't want to put words in Ms. Birdman's mouth, but I think what she's referring to was a meeting that happened after we filed our report and that meeting City attorney's office was present and the question was posed Would it have made a difference if if the E-bop document was not allowed to be submitted or cured and It was clear that I said It would not have made a difference to us at the you know during the evaluation time What I said was I didn't know about it and that's The extent of what I said it did I did not say I would have changed my mind Or we would have looked at this differently the reason why is because The the particular process That we were using did not require All And this is and I'm going to defer to the city attorney That may be online just to be sure but it did not require all of the the administrative documents to be in at the time Of submission and I checked that with them before I'm responding now just to be sure so that's the extent of What we're talking about here now. Okay. I'm just trying to make sure I follow so we're saying is after the rfp So when the rfp goes out and it comes back in at the close it is not required that all documents are submitted So all documents Should be submitted, but there are times when there are administrative Items that are allowed to be received after Okay, that's you could if you and it may not be something that you can do today If you could list out what administrative items Sure, I I Without nitpicking again. I wanted to refer to the City attorneys that may be on the phone with us because they were specifically involved in this but There is no one document that is not allowed to come in on time in other words if if there is an administrative Document that's not required for evaluation At the time to do scoring that is uh I'm sorry. I'm a little bit nervous. You're fine. You're fine because I don't speak often in front of folks, but um There was no obvious malfeasance. There was no Collusion or anything we look for the obvious stuff to ensure that Pricing was received on time as it was asked for The evaluation process was done in accordance with the criteria published Those sorts of things. Okay, and there's no forensic look at it at that point It's just an overview of how we receive this information and just one additional question. Yes, please is it What's it considered if In the rfp process once it closed There is a staff person making a request of the rfp provider To add additional items. So it's one thing if if if someone submits You know like they forgot it's another thing if someone submits because they were requested And how do you differentiate? Sorry, how do you differentiate whether there's a bias given Or not in that situation so In in my understanding and talking this through earlier with my staff In in my understanding of how that would work is If it has no substantive change to the overall submission then it You know, there was no particular Substitutive change that would have changed the outcome of this document. We checked that with the city attorneys You can verify with them. They're on this call now So there's no points given for ebop at all. No, it was a requirement that has to happen and that happens at times We asked for clarification Someone made garble in address on a document. Those are opportunities to cure that decision was not made by our team That was made by the evaluation folks When we looked at it we looked at the overall submission and there was nothing that was obvious. There was no You know nefarious Kind of activity So I gave the Go ahead that this was done and it was done in accordance with the way The city of Durbin does business. Is that right? Thank you Good afternoon. Karen Lotto community development. I wanted to step in and clarify one point There were points in the rfp for mwbe contracting And those points were based upon the response that the Applicants gave to the question about About how would you achieve the targets that have been set for this project of 11 minority contracting and 7 percent Um Women-owned business contracting and so we were essentially asking them to give us a plan in their question The mwb forms are a threshold requirement When we get them we send them actually to finance to evaluate to say to the ni team and finance to say or do these meet The do these meet the requirements of the city? That's not something community development evaluates Um, we were missing forms from one vendor At that point we were given the option of just you know of disqualifying the vendor or reaching out the to the vendor And requesting the forms. We had a conversation with management to ask how we should handle And the decision was made to reach out. I would note This was the only missing information that we had in any application So it wasn't a question that we didn't reach out and request missing information from other people Um, we just didn't have any other missing information everyone else had turned in these forms And we didn't cure any well. We didn't have any other missing information Um for any of the other applications. So just to follow up your what you're saying is that I'm just making sure I'm following please don't let me put words in your mouth That you were curing the process and making sure that the documents were Turned in because everyone else turned in their documents. Correct. Okay And that in this situation seems to have come across as giving some undue Correct, you know advantage to an to an organization for um For this process and I can see why I I I grant you that But I do think that it's it's clear like I want to make sure we're clear like the process was not tainted If the process was the process and the review happened In a way that was consistent with The way that we normally would go through and ask the questions And so I can I can follow that what I what I am concerned about is that if you're asking A organization That is not a minority women owned business to cure um To cure that in the within the process Uh, doesn't that give them an advantage? I know because they're not actually changing They're only giving us the forms that give you more information. What is their composition as an organization? Okay, how we achieve our mwb targeting in or mw goals in our work is not um, is through the actual contract where we say, you know 18 7 11 of the value of your total development project Must be awarded to mwbe firms. Okay, and and that's what we monitor That's what goes into the contract and that's what we monitor for compliance the mwb forms are a city requirement um that that we include because We're supposed to and and we um And we ask um, e and i to review them because It it's not appropriate for us to say are these appropriately completed or not We that's why we we turned to e and i to review I got you and i'm trying to figure out how to help in the future Because what i'm hearing you say is that if we had an organization that was minority or woman owned They wouldn't necessarily be 11. They'd be a hundred or 50 percent and that would not be that would not give you a um Any type of score like additional scoring's like there's no benefit to being a black woman in a business is what you're saying So in a development project you wouldn't even if you were A minority owned business you it wouldn't be a hundred percent Because you are you are the developer You are going to go out and hire a general contractor That general contractor is going to go out and hire subcontractors Those subcontractors are probably going to go out and hire subcontractors Unless everybody in that waterfall is a minority and women owned firm. The project is not a hundred percent So it could be a situation where only the developer is an mwbe and no one else down And in which case you probably wouldn't meet our targets Um, just because the developer is not retaining 18 percent. I got you of the contract And on the flip side of that if you are a woman owned developer And your subs are all Women owned or people of color And your percentages are going to be higher. Okay, and if the percentages are higher How does that score? So at the time that we are soliciting projects Typically, um, our developers don't even have their general contractors on board Gotcha So we don't know that's why we set targets and we say they don't come in with their total team That's not something that would be viable just given the fact that there's no time delays They don't have all their financing assembled usually when they're coming to us So, um, we are basically Stating up front that we are going to require that you achieve certain targets Um, the way that we can essentially incent good behavior on this Goal is not really on the deal that deal. It's on the next deal because then we can turn and say Okay. Hey, you told us you were going to do You know 30 percent, but in fact you Didn't even hit our 18% goal and that's something that in future rfps. We can factor into our evaluation criteria Now that we have actually begun You know tracking this in a more intentional way. I appreciate that. Thank you. I think, um I was just going to say that that I would have what i'm concerned or I don't want to give the appearance that our staff did anything wrong Because I don't feel like they did But I do hear you and what you're saying and in that the way that our system is currently set up It's not going to allow it wouldn't allow me to win as a business owner And I wouldn't want it to be set up in a way that didn't allow you to win And I am I am what I'm saying to you is that I think in the next process It would be great to have more feedback upfront Before this rfp is written because what i'm noticing right now at this point and not before is that the The old way of doing things have given us the same results Continuously and if we don't find a new way to do it, we're going to continue to get this result We're your number five as opposed to number four or three May I councilman we submitted for the first rfp process were denied I've had open communication throughout with caron's team told them every change that we've done our development Asked for their input. We were not given any feedback from the staff On through that now here. We're here where you're going with this if you would allow us the opportunity to go through this together I would appreciate it. Yes, ma'am just this time Yeah, may I say one other thing because I was limited on time, but you all found this in your emails today There were other issues that I found flawed and Concerning in the process One is that our team who has over a hundred housing choice voucher participants here in durham and houses durham My other development partner united property management who has done four tax credit projects in durham already We were given zero points For housing and working in durham in the last five years If that does not cause this council Concern and nobody thought to come back to us to ask for any clarification And it was not omitted in the rfp It was somewhere else where they didn't specifically answer the question or they didn't specifically excuse me ask the question Okay But nobody gave us any credit for that Second of all when reviewing the zoom call One of the reviewers stated that he did not review the sandy ridge application Because he thought it was ineligible His quote and you can see it on the zoom call is go with the flow and score it on the fly If this committee feels confident voting for projects based on that Go for it but as a citizen and a person that houses a ton of people in durham And thoroughly enjoys my work Huge red flags huge and I hear you I appreciate you bringing those red flags up And you all can watch the zoom recording as I did I do think that that we We do have a process in place We all agreed on the process beforehand and now that we're seeing where the areas of improvement can be That we can improve it Thank you, and I would also like to say the community development calls us every day to house people And we oblige and yet they don't want us help us create new units That is quite alarming. I wouldn't go that far. I would say that we will work on it. Thank you. Thank you I'm going to ask attorney ray burry. She has the attorneys that are on the line and she's asked to Have her attorneys comment. Well at this point madam mayor I feel like the staff has provided pretty comprehensive information about the issue And I thank them for clarifying a number of things. Um I do have assistant city attorney carlos hernandez On the virtual platform And also deputy city attorney fred lemar is on the virtual platform if they have Additional items that they would like to clarify. I I would invite them to do that at this time good afternoon mayor mayor pro temp and council members um Yes, just First we wanted to thank uh miss bergman's organization for all she does for the the city They do attribute to a great need In terms of the rfp This was before my time, but the rfp did have a section where The city did have a discretion. It's it's a discretionary process. Uh, this isn't like other procurements where we have to go with the lowest response of bitter From when I understand community development, uh, takes several factors and into consideration before making this determination Uh in section 60 of the rfp. It does state that the city may waive any non-material defects And extend deadlines and and and so forth. Uh, and so when reviewing the process Uh that mr. Nielsen was discussing The entire purpose of the protest protest petition bid um, I'm sorry protest petition process Uh is to it's for the benefit of the city to make sure that there's no issues of malfeasance or bias or anything illegal And so he did that and I understand that there was an issue with um him not knowing of The extension of time. However, as I said, that's that's not a material defect This was a administrative form and so we reviewed the entire process and I believe there are other factors that were more prevalent with even if Um, I'm sorry a southern repair were to tie with sandy ridge. I believe Uh, the department had mentioned, uh, the tie breaker, which is also in the rfp is Christ per unit And in that situation Southern repair was the second most expensive price per unit. So there were several factors that came in there. Uh, There may have been mistakes, but legally speaking, we felt that uh, nothing was materially deficient with the process or illegal or bias or discriminatory Councilwoman jumps. I'm freeman. I'm sorry Thank you, madam mayor. I think um, I appreciate mr. Hernandez um, sharing that insight and The situation in case there were a tie if there were a situation where There were a tie and the price per unit were the factor it would become concerning if the number of units um If if in the process one of the recipient or one of the rfp And one of the rfps were advised to reduce their units If you understand what i'm saying If if there's advice in the process that tells you to lower the number of units And then if you're a tie the number of units or price per unit becomes a factor Some of this starts to get wonky and I have a lot of questions I have a lot of questions I don't have a question I am still sort of um struggling with the process mainly because i've i don't Have enough familiarity with it and maybe that's probably a beginning point For me, but i did key in on you said that In terms of there is some discretion That you have in that process One of my questions would be where is where is that area and how Did you or did you use your discretion because that that's where it gets um where it can get kind of wonky as Councilman freeman, we have discretion. How do you How do you use that discretion or was it used so if you could kind of go back through that for me Explain that a little bit further I think that that Sorry Thank you madam mayor. I I you know, I believe that the uh city attorney talked about where That enabling discretion discretionary Authority if you will was provided which was in the request for proposal And I I don't want to speak about the specifics I would rather the folks that actually reviewed it speak about the specifics, but I I believe That discretion was at least um to my understanding allowing Some additional time to submit an information report um, which That I see a lot of coming forward and madam manager. I was just coming forward to to Confirm that that was correct, you know to the extent possible We included a scoring rubric as part of our rfp That showed what we were going to score and how many points were allocated to each factor um, and we do our best to score in as Transparent a way as possible knowing that it is There is necessarily Interpretation involved when you are reading questions you are saying, okay, there are 10 points associated with site quality. I make I'm making that up, but to say Um, how am I going to decide as a reviewer, you know where I place this this project? So there is some element of that the reviewer has to make decisions based on the factors that have been articulated as important That being said the only place where we sort of exercised and said we're going to go and request more information was this one request for additional Information I I will say there was one other place in the southern repair service application On one table. We had a requirement that there be 20 percent of the unit set up side at 30 percent of area median income As part of the project there was a table where the Applicant was supposed to indicate the the AMI breakdown of their application Southern repairs table Had zero percent at 30 percent of area median income, but their pro forma Which is their kind of their financial projection for the project had 20 percent So we chose to go with the numbers in the pro forma And say that they met that guide guideline Rather than to go with the numbers in the table Thank you madame. Good afternoon everyone This rfp process has been the same rfp process that is brought I don't even know how many Proposals I voted on since I've been on council and councils before us And I'm not going to for one minute pretend that it's perfect But but I think this is the state of play first off. Let me say full disclosure. I'm a huge fan of lia bergman Everything she said about her service to the city is true everything She has answered our call when we've needed to house people And it is never ever ever an easy thing to do in this job To vote against your friends And if you and if you're in this job long enough, you're gonna have to do that from time to time and I haven't you know, I've had to See these people out in the streets and they have been friends who have had things before the council and I had to vote a different way The question for me Is in this rfp process in this particular case Do I believe that our staff in some way acted nefariously With malfeasance or targeted this particular development proposal. I don't believe that I don't believe it. I do not believe that this this person Uh, this proposal was singled out I am fully aware that rfps do not always go The way developers want them to they have not gone the way I've wanted them to because I've been pulling for folk who have had Matters before the council didn't go that way And there have been people who have had matters before the council who I'm huge fans of But did not vote the way they wanted me to vote. That's just the state of play and that comes with the job This rfp process while again not perfect has has served us well I think we ought to be uh take great caution as a council Before we get too far down beneath our perch in the organizational chart And start kind of going line by line What's in rfps because if if we set that precedent here Then if you think we've had some long nights before you need to be prepared To do that moving forward And then what's the purpose of having a professional staff in those cases If I believe for one minute For one second that the staff was in any way Acting maliciously In any way engaging any malfeasance I would do it for any resident more so one that i'm a fan of if I thought that they were getting the shaft I would certainly sound all With that said i'm prepared to to keep these matters on consent And vote and move forward I think the explanation provided by staff and by the city attorney's office is more than suffice And passes a threshold of accept acceptability for me And I think we ought to be cautioned to to go too far down into the uh the weeds of of reviewing rfps They're pretty long. Thank you, madam mayor Thank you, mayor pro tem Just to follow up with my comments I do agree that there is a level where we have to realize what our roles are But I also Would think that there is a basic understanding That we should have of processes to help us to Answer when issues are raised by citizens Who come before us with their issues so we at least know and can Help to answer those questions that they may have That's my issues that i'm not familiar enough With the process to be able to kind of put it in a Context so for those of you who have been sitting here Long enough in this space. I know you know that area But I don't know that I know that area well enough to be able to kind of Um put all that's been said before us in a context and I'd like to feel comfortable about that um in any vote That I am so at at this point I am not comfortable until I know um Some of which what goes on In this arena, um to move forward Councilman Williams. Yeah, I uh I I want to I want to commend the staff because I know this is complicated Uh, it's complicated work. Um, I just whispered over here that I am Yeah If i'm being just totally honest, this is going way over my head So I uh, I I can't really contribute a lot to the conversation. So I know a little more about this process So i'm not going to vote against it. I'm not going to vote for it. Um, so if I have to stay i'm staying out I'll do that, but I just I I don't know if I can do that or not. You gotta all right. Well, I just I don't know enough right now and I am totally confused and I owe that to the public to be honest Uh, so I just I want to commend you all let you know, I appreciate you all taking on the hard part I got a lot of homework to do Councilman Thank you, madam mayor. Um, I want to appreciate miss bergman and your company for all the work that you do in Durham You are often the first people who come up when our agencies are are looking for affordable housing for clients and Wanting to know that we all deeply appreciate all the work that you do Um, I'm really concerned with the direction this conversation is going because unfortunately We just don't have the funding to fund all of the amazing projects that came through on this rfp If we had more money to fund Miss bergman's project and the other projects that scored lower on on the staff's plan. I'm sure we would all Be willing to do that, but what we're being asked to do today is to Delay or deny the building of affordable housing Because because one of the because one of the developers who didn't win the bid Is unhappy with the result and I'm sure all the developers that didn't win the bid are unhappy with the result several of them appealed Those appeals were fully vetted by our staff and those appeals were denied It was found that the rfp process was fair that it followed the city's rules and there were no material deficiencies I think that it's important that we move these projects forward We're talking about hundreds of units of affordable housing that our community needs right now And you know, if we had more money to fund other projects, I would love to do that But what we have right now This more than 300 units of affordable housing that that our community desperately needs from these companies That have been chosen by the rfp In a process that's been vetted by the department and the city attorney I really feel like it's important for us to move these forward. We aren't Voting on it today. It's going I think the question is whether it's going on consent or gba But I would encourage my colleagues not to Um when when this comes before us to To move these projects forward I think that we've gotten great information from our staff today about the process and that the process though complicated and not fully I I don't you know, I I don't have the same understanding of the rfp process as the staff who administer that process I think that's intentional. This is supposed to be an administrative process Not a political process subject to the political concerns of folks who are elected And I I Hope that we continue to have those processes Fully handled by our staff and then come to us only for that that vetting and and review I think us getting too deep into the weeds as as councilmember middleton said risks some political involvement in ways that I don't think are Are Good are fair and are going to are going to benefit our our residents in our community So in spite of there being several good projects that we did not have the ability to fund I would hope that we are able to move the Good projects that we do have the ability to fund forward In order to make sure that you know what what we can't that what we can do is being done Um as efficiently and as quickly as possible These are you know, this is one of our highest priorities as a council and Um, and I would hate to to see them delayed because of this issue. Thank you Thank you councilwoman johnson, you know, you you always give us a nugget that kind of Kind of helps us to put it in context with what we're doing So when you say it that we can move this to gba that gives us the amount of time that we need At least two weeks to understand the process. That's all I want to do It's just baby to understand and are articulating my own mind Because of course it does not our desire to slow anything down That is going to help feel the necessary guests, but I do Do things that you know, we have an obligation to make an to have an understanding Of what processes are and how things move along. So I am satisfied with Um Keeping keeping this item on or moving it to gba and coming back to it. That's that's that's where I would be today Council woman. How do you ever thank you? I just want to say the since there is not consent on council It looks like we will be having this item on gba. That's how it has moved forward I do want to thank staff and miss bergman for being here. Um, I think that staff, you know Having put together hundreds of rfps and scored hundreds of rubrics I know it's a really hard process. Uh, I I I know that it's challenging. Um, and I Sometimes we fail and that's you know, we we improve processes, but I I know that Genuinely our bar is very high. I know there were lots of eyes on this And so I I don't want to be scoring rubrics. That's why I haven't done that. Thank you very much. Um, so I appreciate while there may be council members who need more information I hope that we will move this forward. There are a hundred of units We need more resources so that we can continue to continue to build affordable housing And if there needs to be some updates to our rfp process to make things clear and we're straightforward for applicants I'm sure our staff As always will be open to looking at our process and improving it Councilwoman freeman Thank you madam mayor and thank you colleagues. I I do agree that this item can move forward on gba Um, just acknowledging that I want to caution my colleagues And just noting that when someone who understands affordable housing brings forward This type of issue That it's worth looking under the hood a lot more closely than in normal times This is not just the general rfp process. There's someone who has been very involved in our Homelessness services and someone who's been very involved in our affordable housing Services and there's some there's been a few people Very involved with the rfp process at least three that have raised the flag and I think it's it's worth having additional Conversation and so I appreciate Folks being here today and I appreciate The flag being raised. I do think that our staff is doing the best that they can with the Support and the authority that they have I don't think it's at that level that the changes need to be made I do think it's at our level and if we don't understand the process You can't make those changes and I'm going to repeat again If we don't make the changes we're going to continue to get the same result, which is Developers coming from out of state developers coming from All over the country who have not done anything in Durham Actually reaping the benefits from the dollars we put in as taxpayers For that 95 million dollar tax bond, which was not enough to start with And I've stated that a number of times, but if we're going to say That we're doing this to benefit Durham and the taxpayers of Durham that we need to be really consistent about that across the board Thank you All right, and I think they're actually here looking at items 15 and 17 so I would like both of those They spoke to both of those To go to gba Unless there's any objection to that All right. Thank you. Mr. Bergman for being here today. Thank you staff staff for a conversation It's all about learning and trying to do the best thing for Durham the best that we Know how but it does require some basic understanding and some of us are still very new in this process And we want to make sure that we remain accountable in our own minds that we are we can understand and be able to sufficiently vote When requested to do so. So thank you all for that discussion That will move us to item 18 That has been pulled which is prescriptions for repair proposal from community safety and wellness task force We have speakers for that this afternoon We have miss marcia owens Mr. Xavier casein And mr. Henry rice I only have three persons in in three Three persons signed up for in person Presentations each of you will have three minutes in peace. Thank you for being here Thank you Distinguished mayor anneal mayor pro tem middleton and council members Um, this is um, I'd like to introduce this this recommendation was first born And an invitation from the duke institute for health innovations to address Racial inequity and gun violence in durham And so I would like to introduce first um our partner in this recommendation, which is dr. Henry rice He is the chief pediatric surgeon at duke hospital and has a very intimate Knowledge of the problem that we're here to address which is gun violence in durham Dr. Rice, would you like to say a few words? Thank you marcia Mayor anneal, uh, mayor pro tem middleton and council I appreciate the chance to share just a few thoughts with you today As marcia mentioned, i'm Henry rice. I'm a pediatric surgeon at duke in a durham native And uh, I also co-direct the center for global surgery and health equity at duke And I am here um to get into it to tell you a story You all probably remember a few months ago six children were shot in one night in durham And I was I was caring for the surviving children. I was um Almost struck about how routine these events have become in our community and around the country and around the world And we simply don't do enough and From those experiences A growing movement has Come around the country in our community with a number of different organizations and now through duke to help address some of these issues And this grew into what's called the prescriptions to prepare a project, which is in your up You're now your uh program This is a really unique public-private partnership It brings together academic experts in gun violence in clinical care In policy and community engagement with yourselves with part with the council with the city of durham With other community partners to address How we tend to the needs of gun violence victims and survivors And in my short time, let me tell you two goals. We're going to get out of this The first is We're going to improve the healing of these people in our community. We do a good job at duke hospital in Stopping bleeding and sowing holes and getting people out of the hospital We don't do a very good job attending to their needs during their recovery out And frankly, I'm getting sick of taking bullets out of children. I don't want to do it anymore And the second Is the value the growing value that we can get from the experiences of gun violence survivors To paraphrase one of my colleagues Ed barksale who's a surgeon and a gun violence expert in cleveland We have learned and as a growing evidence that hurt people tend to hurt other people And heal people tend to heal other people And that's the program we're trying to do to build healing our community. So I thank you for your time and partnership Thank you so much, miss always me. Yes, I just would like to add that We feel that having intentional facilitated listening sessions 320 hours With trained facilitators. So we're training durham citizens In listening in non-judgmental empathic listening And which hopefully could be grow into a choir of listeners As time goes on it could become regular practice In listening to survivors of gun violence puts centers our response to gun violence With survivors and by asking them giving them at the minimum of eight hours Of non-judgmental listening to ask that critical final question, which will be our public knowledge What needs to be done to make things as right as possible? I submit to you that we will be surprised Somehow, I think we we have neglected survivors We have an entire criminal legal system that asks people who have done harm What they need and hence we have free cognitive behavioral interventions We have housing money all of which are great all of which are really important And I've seen what that kind of care produces And it does produce healing and support and inclusion, but we have isolated survivors We have a dearth of care for survivors and I think as we become a city We now are a city of hurt people I really think that this proposal is simple And yet a very profound start to creating a city of healed people So thank you for your consideration. It is a recommendation We suggested that it be Live in the community safety department because it is a non-legal Intervention Or pilot program So and any questions? I know coach here Xavier Cassani is here as well, and we're happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you Councilwoman come here Thank you. I don't have any questions for our wonderful co-chairs. I sit um On this task force as the council liaison and I've seen them develop this over several months Including participating or at least listening to the conversations that our task force task force members have had I think this is an incredible project. I think this is exactly why we set money aside for this task force I know we can have conversations about how we do that for other task force But I'm proud of the fact that we we did have that foresight And I I will be very much supporting this. I think that It's exactly as you stated marsha It is putting us in a different arena and I think it has a lot of opportunity, especially what With our mayor pro tem with the resolution. He wants us to pass In this moment after uvaldi, which is hopefully A turning point for us This aligns with what I at least my hopes and expectations are for both their arm in our country Open it up to any other questions from my colleagues Williams question I first want to say thank you to Uh I can't remember your name, but Dr. Rice, thank you for being on board with this I I think I well actually I mentioned to the co-chair that's I'm just now taking a deep dive into the community safety wellness task force As a resource for our overall Overall, you know suite of options to preventative measures around public safety I do want to ask have you Not specifically you I appreciate the the private contribution to the public option here, but to the task force co-chairs Are we engaging with any external partners regarding, uh Just as I mentioned earlier, you know the clergy or the congregations or nonprofits in Durham and the reason why i'm asking that is because I I don't want us to get into practice of doing something to say we're doing it I want to make sure we're doing it to make sure it's it's Enhanced and expanded to be as effective as possible Uh, so are are you all engaging at that level? Yes, um the success of this project actually rests in the, uh, cooperation Of all the the cbs all the community-based organizations that Also share this concern about stopping unviolence and having a community of healing So that would yes very much so this proposal Came together though really with the center for child and family health the Durham county public health departments gun safety team We've just talked we've talked to so many people Alliance behavioral help we wanted to make sure that the people who Would support this that would hopefully be one of our partners Um in providing services agree and there has been no one who hasn't said please bring me the research We want to know what? Survivors of gun violence have identified as their needs That's what we want instead of telling people what we think they need We want to hear what they have said they need and I think really we will be surprised By what we learn So it is extremely community-based. It's community-based because we'll be recruiting facilitators as well as survivors And we'll be paying everyone. This is valuable information and it should be compensated Thank you. I I think what i'm trying to get to the bottom of in addition to this is Why are these things happening? Why do we have gunshot victims? And I think one side of this is hearing their story and their perspective the other is what I recently asked the police chief for More qualitative data that gives us an assessment rather of what's happening. Are you all contributing to that type of work at all? That's it. That's exactly what this is. This is qualitative data and those are the researchers that will be a part of this project are Trained in qualitative analysis and research, so that's exactly what we're getting It's like we know more than every day someone is shot in Durham Last year Duke Hospital treated 393 people for gunshot wounds So we know we have a problem But we don't have that we have the quantity, but we don't have the quality and we feel That there is a huge gap in knowledge and that gap Comes from the survivors themselves including the families of those who have had a loved one taken Fatally, thank you. And lastly for our city manager and council member Hyman at the city level are Is there any Duality going on is this happening? Already at all at the city level and is this the you are doing any work similar to this at the uh On the county level with the DSS board Not to my knowledge But I I guess I just want um, may I Clarity on so once you um obtain the the research, right? Um, and let me just go back because again someone who does research So this is a vulnerable population And so how are you going to go about getting? I guess approval from if you have to go through IRB I don't know if you do that But how are you going to get approved because this is a vulnerable population. That's not usually a population that we can do Research on without getting consent. I appreciate that councilwoman There are two purposes to this program one of which is an intervention if you will to address healing needs that extend beyond the hospital second that's not a research deal. That's just a Glaring gap in where our health system fails in our community. But the second Uh thing what you allude to is what can we learn from this? What can we learn in the city of Durham? What can we share with others? and that's where I'm bringing together actually experts in gun policy and qualitative research in um in health equity studies from across all different institutes at duke across Uh people outside of duke who are bringing into this and what we are planning I didn't want to take too much time But we're planning to partner with this a qualitative research and intensive Research that will Be approved by the duke IRB that will require informed consent that will attend to the needs of vulnerable populations and that will result in dissemination of this Information in a very structured way so that we can learn the lessons in our community About the underlying root causes of why we're not interrupting the cost of gun violence I don't know what we'll find but I think we're going to find something So I guess My concern is sometimes that those vulnerable populations and even if IRB Approves it they feel like they're just a study Okay, and so I guess my concern is Making sure that you are letting the population because it's a population at risk Know the purpose and they're going to ask What's going to come out of this and that's usually what happens when someone does research right so That is again a vulnerable population I know duke duke is a research one school. I think or right so you probably will be able to get it passed through But i'm just concerned about the residents or whoever you're going to use in a population at risk What they're going to feel about okay, you're getting this information, but then what's going to come out of it yeah, I Absolutely understand where you're coming from my and Just in our limited time But I would say that the heart of how we're going to reduce those risks is to get full community engagement with a number of different groups in Forming the research component of it and addressing the questions and in framing the the project itself And on the back end key to this is we're disseminating the information back to the communities at risk So they will get all the information they do And without that it's it's not valuable. I couldn't agree with you more Again, and this is my last thing I'm going to be on my soapbox because I see too much research that just sits there and then nothing happens with it So I just want to also say that the people who you're going to employ in this research Are going to want to know that it's not just going to sit on somebody's in somebody's library And what is going to happen because it's good to get the information because we need to inform information Because I think I said before last week practice informed research and resource improvement practice But also we have to also be conscious of people we're getting the research from and they want Solutions they just don't want it to be on somebody's library that we've done research at duke central wherever the case may be Oh, I hear you. So i'm just very passionate about that I would say points all well taken. Do you want to Yes, well, we have thank you for that that we have a second recommendation that we just Voted on last night at the task force to create an office of survivor care So this would be and we also have is you if you look in the budget there is also I think had a good money to respond to whatever we learn We're not going to anticipate what we what we're going to learn But we're going to have the funds to respond to the needs that violence created One person at a time. So this hopefully this information that we We gather here in this pilot program. Hopefully will form the foundation For an office of survivor care And and also remember as we build this You know a a capacity this department of community safety is building a capacity a non legal Capacity to care for one another and survivors of violence. So Um, I can't think of anything more important for our children for our families and for our future So The the population at rest in order for you to interview them and stuff like how are you? Recruiting and are they going to be offered? Again, it's just players a little boundaries in terms of how you Get people to be recruited for the study and research and all of that We're keeping the It very open We would like to speak and listen to and learn from and get the wisdom from people who've been shot recently Or last year three years five years 10 years, there's no We're not putting any kind of Restrictions on that We will recruit from within our community our task force alone has said we need 40 You want 40 gunshot victims? I can do that tonight So we will be recruiting we we are in the community the task force was formed of community people you all chose and appointed Approved that the members of the task force and I think they really do Represent the community and it will be you know those connections and those relationships That will do the recruiting and we'll I think my last thing is with that I'm just going to ask that you also solicit mental health services when you're doing the study because People who are victims of violence you are reoccurring trauma. That's right. Okay. Thank you We we met by the way one of our partners and we are in partnership with The aces and resiliency task force and so we have alfritura. We're very um, you know, we're very Everyone belongs And so we are forming a network of partnerships that will address that concern. Thank you Yeah, pro tem Thank you madame. Good afternoon chairs and dr. Rice. Thank you for being with us today Uh, appreciate you know, you're very busy being with us here in the chamber So I want to um, I have a number of questions Um, and perhaps some some variables you can substitute for me. I don't think this is a bad idea Um, but I I do have some questions about process and bandwidth of our new department and placing and timing um So first I have a question for the staff the a million dollars was Um set aside for this task force Almost well over a year ago now Do we have a rundown of how much money's been spent thus far and what it's been spent on? I do. Um, so far we've spent um, 23,000 Uh and change Um, and I have the exact numbers if I can find them Um, and that has been spent on language translation on language justice um and on um stipends for listening sessions and town halls So out of that million that has been spent So to date 23,000 dollars on on stipends and and language Access for session right the whole thing. Yeah, a lot of money's left. Um out of a million dollars when I went back and looked at some of the media around this and some of our conversations at the council when the um Task force was first and paneled and one it was billed as finding alternatives to policing That that that's what we were we're looking for and The the task force had a date certain It's not like some of our other task force that are in perpetuity as a date certain Sort of like the racial equity task force and this is new territory for us because we've never put that much money to a task force before Not even the racial equity task force When the racial equity task force's work was done a work product was produced the document Was produced with a number of recommendations Now this might be errant on my part, but my my expectation was that There would be some type of document With with a bunch of conclusions and some recommendations Not kind of a piecemeal Approach uh project here approach. I think this is the first time you've come before it's with a proposal for funding After over a year and I was expecting Some kind of work product from this document and then a list of of recommendations money's not discretionary Um, obviously so so I guess my first question is is is is there a document a comprehensive document? Forth coming from this task force with a list of wrecks or are you going to be taking a piecemeal approach? Oh, absolutely. Um, there will be a final report at the end of the tenure of of the task force Which is in one year. We're at a one year anniversary Um, but this came forth and Yeah, please. Yeah, I just wanted to mention that when we were brought on as co-chairs We were asked by um, mayor shul to definitely come with a final document with recommendations That could be ongoing But also if we see things that could be addressed Along the way, and we're one year in now to bring those as well So which are 23,000. I think 700 thousand dollars that we've already allocated This proposal and the proposal for the office of survival care that become Later That's that's almost 500,000 right there because this one's 140 some others over 230,000 so Just in this one and the following recommendations that would be 500,000 at that point Okay, that will be a final document with all the recommendations together So that's why we're trying to make sure that we give you quarterly reports as we go along So if Would it what would would it be inappropriate to wait to look to fund this proposal as part of your final document and list of recommendations This is a this is a recommendation and we totally defer to your judgment and your expertise and Um, and your commitment to Durham to be city council people and mayor mayor virgin So, you know, we are just doing what we were asked to do So clarified question Are you referring to within this the upcoming budget cycle or the cycle that we plan for the following? No, it wouldn't be this upcoming we've received this wasn't presented as part of the Exactly the public safety the community safety department's ask So I'm so this is not an administrative thrust. This is coming solely from the task force So no it would not be part of this budget But if you have a document a master document coming with recommendations Why would this recommendation not be bundled in that in that document? Oh, yeah, yeah, I'll just come back to what I said earlier. We were given The understanding that if the great things are in front of us that we can do work on now Why wait? Especially when we have partners that want to go ahead and actually help us fund it as well Well, I'm I'm sorry. I guess why why wait? Also as we see one of the things that we've just it's so clear in the Engagement that we've had with community is that we have this tremendous gap That we have not engaged survivors. We have not centered this problem On the people who are most affected the survivors of gun violence and so we do feel I feel we feel An urgency an extreme urgency. I've felt this urgency for 30 years And it's you know, why wait and also by understanding by asking those who are most affected What they need to make things right That should be the foundation of everything we do I think I mean, I think that should be our light our guide for for many policies and we keep saying people You know closest to the pain should I think be also closest to the policy? Yeah, this may be helpful as well Again, there's two things that we're thinking about a part one and part two the part one is what's in front of you now Which is hearing from the community That is an ongoing part of our work And to me sounds like something we should be doing now the second part Which is the office of survival care could come at the end With respect to the animating charge of this committee, would you characterize this as an alternative to policing? I would cause call this um an alternative to indifference Alternative to what alternative to indifference to indifference Indifference to the needs of those who have been harmed by gun violence So and I think I think that um, you know just to be sure so that's not an alternative to policing No, it's it's really it's like it's it's Recognizing that there's more to safety and wellness Than a criminal legal system. I agree with you. I know I agree. I'm that's all that's all we were charged with looking at gaps And the well-being of Durham. Yeah, the actual first charge that we were given doesn't even Involved the word policing. It says that we should do a comprehensive review Of public safety institutional and community-based and see if there's any gaps there That first part of our charge doesn't even include anything about policing. So you see this as a public safety initiative Servicing public safety and wellness All right to answer. I'm going to take your wide weight as as non rhetorical and actually Um, I'm going to answer it. I I'm inclined to wait because I'm I don't really see the safety and wellness task force as Or should be in a position right now to affect the immediate work product of the new department Uh, and it's a bandwidth issue Um, if we were to fund this now We we had a pretty robust menu of pilots presented to us by a director smith Um, that I think is you know, it comports with the animating spirit of this task force It's something that we've all agreed upon. We're putting a lot of money into it And I'm just concerned with what's already on his plate Having a task force add to that particularly when it's not an administrative ask. It's not it's this isn't coming The administration isn't coming from the task force. Um, you know Not to be cute about it, but you said why wait, I mean it's been over a year and this is the first Thing and gun violence has been going on since this task force has been in existence So there have been plenty of on ramps to come and ask us for stuff in the last year Um, so you know, and that's that's that's I don't mean that in a in a pejority since but I'm saying, you know It's been over a year And I think that given what the The public safety department free new safety department has on its plate right now I'm not really inclined to To put anything else on them When we haven't even gotten our initial pilots off the ground. We haven't gotten any data I think it's a great idea But why wait? I think we should wait because of bandwidth Um, I also have some questions about the um, and I think council member williams touched on this Some some duplicative elements. I know that in the da there's a victim services You know in the da and I know that the county deals with with mental health issues and and wellness That's not to say that we can't weigh into that But given the representation on our safety task force It's only the city's checkbook is that will do who's got a whole bunch of money I'm just wondering if if you know the money coming from from us Um, should the county be looked at as well? And since this is my first time being able to look at it And this is the first time and it's attached to an ask as well I would have liked some more time to actually consider it And then talk about the money, uh down the road. So my my Position as of today, I think I think it's a good idea worth looking at But I'm not prepared to task the community safety the new safety department Um at this point, I think they've got enough on their plate I want to get those pilots that we've approved already off to a start The other thing is with respect to the um going down the road the office of of uh victim services the the As task force go the Now that we have a fully vested safety department I don't know if the best view or use of that million dollars Is is to is to establish structures that are going to weigh past a million dollars In other words, once this task force is is dissolved or you might ask for an extension like, uh, the, um Racial equity task force did but once this task force, um Is disempaneled because it has an expiration date You kind of find or kind of putting things in the structure that are going to cost a million dollars way beyond the life You know as task force go my thinking was that that million dollars would serve the work of the task force Not necessarily change the org chart or structure of the city Which usually comes from administrative Ask, um, so that that's that's something else. I was kind of wrestling with as well You know because that's that's more than a million dollars and we have a city manager. We have a staff Do we want the task force also adding to the workflow of the of the Um, you can certainly ask to but at this point, I think part of our job Is to make a determination about the bandwidth Uh in capacity and cost So, uh, you know, I'm not saying no, I'm just saying no for now I would I would like to get through this budget cycle and then perhaps take a look at this Down the road when we can do a deeper dive Talk about maybe getting some other folk to help write the check Since the county has representation dps has representation on the task force, but the lion's chair is being asked for from the city So, yeah, those are my thoughts. I think it's a wonderful initiative, but I would be inclined not to And I saw the date as well. You want it done like june this month? I think that And given your your agreement that it could very well be bundled in your final document a list of recommendations My recommendation to the council would be Uh, let's take another look after we get through this budget cycle. Thank you, madam air I do have a a couple of questions that I'd like to raise as well. I think So when you started your presentation was saying that this is sort of a duke initiated study So my question would be I know that the county sits at the table As man for twins indicated during public school sits at that table And and duke is well. So what is the financial obligation for each of those? I know that we are I think I can gain from what Mayor pro tim is saying that the county is has not put any money or have they been requested the money and then what Is duke's um financial? Part in this as well Duke duke is committed Approximately $35,000 to this um and no, we've just this is a recommendation to the county Council So duke has put it in 35. We're being asked to put in how much 112 Okay, the the other question that I would have is what is what do you all see the correlation between I too have some concerns On with us trying to stand up a new department and they are still in the They're actively doing that right now What is your take on the correlation or the relationship between what you're asking now And the community safety department. What what what are you all recommending? As that relationship would that relationship be? Thank you for the question. So we have four roundtables sub subcommittees um This one is coming from subcommittee that's looking into survivors of of violence And and the proposal before you has nothing to do with that department We do have other roundtables that are working hand in hand with the department because this department didn't exist When this task force was formed and so our um crisis intervention roundtable We meet with them they meet with us and we don't what we don't want to just get ahead of a great department That's doing great work or add to that plate And so that would that that's the second part that we would like to see that we passed last night of liking to see Um an office of community safety. I mean it's an office of survivor care But separate from that. This is a part of our ongoing research So the ask before you today is separate from any work or capacity That would be added to the community safety department This is that this is part of our research if that helps clarify the two Second one that we voted on last night in ours Has it come to you yet because we just voted on it and that's something for it is something for down the road But for today's consideration, we're talking about um our research aspect Well, there is no relationship at this point between the ask today and the community Safety department. That's my understanding. It was your round table. So I'll make sure I'm right. Yeah, that's correct We we we looked at it and it just it just seemed like given what is happening in the crisis response That it is the perfect fit because we've got care navigators. We're we're we're We're serving and caring for You know It's not it's a non-legal intervention. We're not asking people what law was broken. We're asking What needs do they have? What of them has been broken? and so That's it just made sense That we have this new department. It just feels right and it made sense That that's it and if you recommend someplace else, that's fine We would just we would really would like to have this information to inform our recommendations And hence also the the urgency of it And I I think that that that information if we can get it and I I preference it that way because What happens in a lot of instances? Is that a lot of people who are involved in these situations are reluctant to talk to anybody? So and when you have that type of reluctance you also They're they're going to have to be some cultural differences that have to be worked out because there are As as dr. Harmon has indicated Sometimes we've not had the best experiences as black people in going into medical settings and and feeling like we are a part of being researched And not really helped So that that that raised some concerns for me Also the other thing, you know When I when I first started running and trying to get my hand around this one of the things that I had broach is an office of Having an office of gun violence Which was still an idea But as I've gotten into this role what I've come to realize that there are lots of great ideas But there are lots of moving parts That that there can be a lot of overlap And so now that we have a community safety department Which encompasses gun violence among other things I've had to rethink that To sort of figure out how do we How do we limit The because we have limited resources How do we make sure that we are Creating structures and organizations that that are that filling gaps and we know we need those gaps feel But we also have to be conscious that there is not a whole lot of money to go along And in that same vein where are the places that we can partner and not just partner and name only But people are actually putting their dollars behind it. So I do find it I know that this task force was set up with a million dollars But if you have other community partners their ass should be the same Now if you're a partner then You're asking us for 112 then Somebody else needs to come up with 112 all the partners that have a pocketbook Need to put some money in that and not just the city of those three big organizations That are talking talked about the county Duke health system and Durham city we we're the Our budget is a little bit smaller compared to the rest of them and do this thing over there with a billion dollar endowment too Is what I hear So I just think that we have to be conscious That If others want to see this type work done, which we we definitely needed I know the gaps that are in that system, but if you're going to be a partner Then partner More than just in name put your money At the same rate that you're asking us to put the same rate and I and I charge that back to do You know split that money 35 000 compared to 112 That's not equal That's not equitable and the county is like zero Nah And Durham public schools a big zero too That doesn't fly well with me. I think it's a great idea, but we got to be fair about resources And who has the big bucks? I would just like to reiterate that this money is for The task force to understand better What is happening in Durham and how do we respond to the needs of survivors that it's not A systemic it's not about You know, it's about individuals telling us What is needed in Durham? So it is task force based Councilwoman johnson Thank you madam mayor. Thanks y'all for coming today and for this proposal Um I've been in the task force meetings kind of watching this whole process come to life and it's exciting to Have you here for for the first? presentation I I think we should support this. I like this proposal. I think um that it's an important piece of the Safety and wellness especially puzzle. It's something that I hadn't really Um ever Considered despite, you know, I have my family has of course like most families been touched by gun violence, but when we Um were in that situation there, you know, there weren't resources For us. I didn't it wouldn't even have occurred to me to go to the city in which the The incident had occurred and asked for some sort of like victim support resource. So um, so this is an interesting Uh an interesting entry into the space that I think is very is very different. Um I would like to know I'm a little bit confused about the nexus between this proposal and this community safety department Would the people who are hired? Be contractors and just like contracts be administered by the department or are you okay? That's what you're proposing Okay, and have I know that you know, ryan and dwayne are in all the meetings have have they Like do they support this are they supportive of administering the contract and they're they don't They don't think that it would be an over an overload on their on their plate That's right. They they've said also because because it is a one-year pilot. It's a very small project actually That there is an advisory group as well circle of of citizens Volunteer citizens to support the work of this too. So It it feels it like um It it wouldn't be much of a burden On on the new department that it could be supported by lots of people and not have to rely on I think I have a couple more questions, but we should we go to bill great Good afternoon. Bo Ferguson deputy city manager for public safety Mayor mayor pro tem members of council just wanted to offer that you know, I have Had conversations with ryan smith about this. I know ryan has been in dialogue As his department and our fuse fellow doing cambell have been with the community safety and wellness task force I want to be clear that the department has not evaluated their capacity to host. I think they have had general discussions about Um, you know the potential value of this work to the community I know they have had I believe conversations about the potential for multiple agencies to Serve as a home for this work But that does not constitute a formal analysis or formal Acknowledgement that they have the capacity at this time. So Want to offer that the clarification and marsha. Hopefully that sounds consistent with conversations you've had Thank you. Thank you That's um, that's yeah, that's great. Thank you bo. So in that case I think that um, we definitely need to have the department more formally evaluate the proposal before we would Um be able to move it forward even though the staff would not be city staff the you know the ability to properly Maintain and manage that contract. I think is um is important on the question of the funding Have y'all approached the county I think the school district should be off the table just due to relative levels of Funds and the school district is Is pretty seriously underfunded not that the city and the county aren't but I would say that of the three I would least want to go to them for money. Um But I think the you know the county potentially could contribute some I do I'm not I'm not worried about the money though. We do the funding is allocated We did approve a million dollars for for this initiative This is half of what we're proposing to spend on shot spotter, which is far less useful. So I'm I'm not I'm not worried about 112 thousand dollars, but if there were if the county was interested in In putting in some funding then, you know, then that would be great, but I think I'm interested to hear my colleagues think but I think the best the The best path forward would be to um send this to the community safety department for A more thorough evaluation and then bring it back to us, but I'm very supportive and I appreciate all of your work on this. Thank you Thank you. Thank you for that. Um, I am In favor of you know, putting a pause for a second so that the relevant department that you all are suggesting Maybe the the home for it at least for at least oversight But I do want to point out that at least for me, this is urgency. These are decisions that we made already this department I mean this task force has a million dollars. There's a reason why we did it We did it partly because we learned from the race equity task force work that we didn't resource that department and so when there were And from other task force or commissions that we've kind of stumbled sometimes because we didn't resource them effectively to actually Move the work forward. So I would say that while I very much support giving Ryan's department the opportunity to really think about is this the right place? Do we have the capacity all of that's critically important? I want to name that we we as a council discuss Gun violence on a regular basis and this is an actual resource And let me be clear. I mean, I'm pretty sure the cdc Is actually banned from doing research around gun violence. We have purposely seen the gun lobby Stymie this kind of research exactly what is being brought up here and and providing victims of violence An access point. I'm sure there is going to be pain points Recruiting them making sure that we're creating a process that really Is caring and trauma informed. I think the folks here are very well aware of it I think the folks on the community safety task force are very well aware of it And I think our community partners are very well aware of it But this is to me a very very urgent need To understand I think every single person on this dais has been touched by gun violence in some form or another Maybe not directly as victims or as family members as victims But I can't think of a single person In this country right now who doesn't quite frankly have terror around gun violence So to me this is one of the most urgent things that we could do and I hope that we don't pause it And we figure out how do we have some consensus? I mean we we need to pause it for The important questions raised around Does the new community safety wellness department have the capacity to take this on if that's not the proper home? Where does it go? But to say oh, we're going to wait another year So that we can tie it to recommendations. I understand why the office is a bigger ask and why that might might need to be Wait, you know, you may need to wait for that and some of these bigger things But I think this proposal is is solid. I've heard the discussions at the task force. Those are public discussions So folks can go back and listen to those Zooms I think that this task force has been extremely intentional and really listening to community and what community needs Are around community Safety and wellness and so I urge my colleagues while we may need to pause for some small details Which to me means it could come back soon And not in a year. I really I I'm asking folks to really lean into the moment We're in and to really trust the folks who are asking For this resource Mayor pro tem. Thank you, madam mayor. I do trust the folk. Um, I think this is a good idea and I just want to Um Be clear and because I want to make sure that the characterizations are correct. Um shots about it would have been free for a year But there was a different council at the time And it's a different council that Attached a million dollars to this task force and it was not a unanimous vote And I you know, I To suggest that we gave them a million dollars because we took a lesson from not funding the racial equity task force I don't think that's accurate because we could have retroactively funded the racial equity task force If that were the case nothing stopped us from applying the lesson in real time Um, we we gave them the million dollars because at that time There was a council who was amenable to the ask of durand beyond policing Um, the million dollars was not I it was it was characterized. I think as a down payment on what they may come up with There were no there was no rubric around the million dollars. There was no Guidance. There was no set of rules. It was not and it's not discretionary That whatever they say they want to do with it. They're going to do with it The million dollars was as a result of a differently configured council. That's how it happened Um, so so I just want to be very clear Um about that with that said Um, it it's it's been over a year and gunfire has been going off that entire year Um, and I you know, I don't know when the idea was first brought but this is the first Time we're hearing from this task force 20 000 dollars out of a million dollars later After a year while gun violence has been going on in our city every night uh, so yeah, we've all Been touched by gun violence and we're all and again like shots bother. This is reactionary This isn't preventing gunfire. This isn't a root cause initiative This is something that happens after people have been shot. So once again, here we are Talking about reactions, which is fine Um, so I I I just want to be clear of how that million dollars Was set aside And if we want to you know compare costs of this relative to shot spotter Shot spotter could have been free But times were different and times are different now and that that's the nature of democracy That's the nature of of you know, the political Context but I want to be very clear. I'm not against this idea I am against however, tasking the community safety department now With more beyond listen if they could have asked for this when they did their budget proposal My assumption is that there's a reason they they didn't I also do not see well I think the work of the safety and wellness task force is vital and important I do not see them for me at least as the fount or source of altering Workflow that that's not how I view Potentially it could ultimately But when we have a budget before us right now That's about to go live at the end of june We have a brand new department that's got its hands full that we're all pulling for that's got some vital Pilots that we haven't even gotten off the ground yet I think it's important to go with what we have established now And let's listen. This is the first time i'm looking at it and i'm getting asked for money the same day the first time i'm seeing it I'd like to look at it some more. I'd like I'd like to go ask the county Do you got five on it? Would y'all like to participate? In funding this uh this proposal Um, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that It's been a year already A couple more months. I don't think we'll we'll hurt us in taking a look at at doing this proposal, right? My recommendation would be that we get through this this budget cycle And then set a date when we can come back and take another look at it See if other folk will go in with us and go forward. I support the idea. I just don't support doing it right now Thank you, madam. Thank you, ma'am pro tem and and I will be in agreement with that I do think that we need to make sure of the relationship Between the new department and this recommendation what exactly that will be give them time To look at that and iron that out. I think that is an important question And I also think it's important As being fiscally Responsible for you know our our part in that we ask our other partners To to see if they're willing also to provide some necessary funds and and once again I would you know go back and ask Duke as well that we we come out of this Equally in terms of the money asked so I am flexible in terms of if someone Would like to offer a timeline We are You know approaching the June 21st date When we'll hopefully approve our A budget so I don't want to task, you know, we're we're already down that road I know our city is also looking at those ARPA funds and they're doing that so I'm conscious that We we will speak it and then People have to change up their whole lifestyles Literally to try to make accommodating and their their plates are already full So I'm really really hesitant about putting something else on them Before we take our break. I'm really hesitant about that councilman Williams All right councilman Councilwoman Freeman. Is it okay if I go? I know you had your hand up. Okay. No worries So I keep using the phrase a suite of options And I consider it as one of those and welcome to being in the middle of this debate now On both sides of the school of thought on the council I Just one concerned regarding duke and I'm a I'll make this question rhetorical I don't want to I don't want you to answer it right now, but I I'd like to know how long we have With you all being a partner in this, you know as a funding partner Um, I am concerned about you know funds expiring um And I the other concern I have is I saw in the proposal it was 40 potential participants um so I I I feel I'm a little uncomfortable comparing You know apples and oranges Shot spotter versus this prescription for repair are two separate things But it's the same council with two separate dynamics I don't want to put you all in the middle of that And I'll say to my colleagues. I'm also uncomfortable with You know, uh, some things will give a chance some things we don't give a chance You know and I say that for myself as well But uh in regards to duke as a partner I'm appreciative of that. I hope that That you will consider, you know continuing to be a partner and I hope that we can expand but my biggest concern is I don't want us to address public safety in such a fragmented way We have 21 million dollars left in arpa that we're going to address and mayor That's what I was about to speak on we have arpa next year. We have a million dollars in this task force um We have 4.7 in the community safety department which has its own task You know, uh, I I if we're going to do it. Let's let's do it not only write what do it big, you know Uh, I in regards of other partners that are playing a role in this I know it's uh, I've been I was always asking uh council member johnson about the construct of this It's an interlocal interlocal relationship. I believe um I I don't know enough about the financial commitments on the front end of this has happened well before me But I will say that I hope that the work that the community safety task force is doing Now that we have arpa funding and potential other funding that's coming down infrastructure and and the budget that we're about to pass We're community with the uh public safety department Parks and rec. I hope that And I I can't micromanage you but I hope that as you go forward You consider your your recommendations being a part of that fabric And I think that's how we can have a bigger impact um So I I I do think that there's muster to Council man pro terms argument of we've seen it today and we're going to vote on it today I'm I'm either way with the pleasure of the council, but I really do You know, I I think we can probably do more So I I I'll invite you to expand on this work In the task force with the bigger over bigger overall project that or recommendation that comes back to us at a at a later time Well, I'll just say one quick comment to that I certainly can't speak for all of duke But the funds that we came through duke came through a specific grant program that sort of launched this whole conversation We've actually been developing this almost over over a year And things take time to evolve. I My one sentiment I will share is that from duke leadership is they are thrilled and honored to partner with the city in this effort they are We will follow your lead and our our job is to be a responsible citizen And if it takes modifying this partnership We'll modify the partnership and I'll go to pat with them that I I think that is Our duty, but at the end of the day This is our community effort and we want to work with you to address this in a very comprehensive way Thank you Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I look forward to Expanding this work I'm a freeman I was just going to ask what what would we be doing with the item I guess because i'm hearing that it needed to be reviewed so that means it's going back to staff And if you needed a motion for that, I was going to make the motion Just in hearing all of the discussion around this item We certainly will bring the item back to the administration. If it is a pleasure of the city council and review some of the logistics around What the task force is recommending To house The program as both Ferguson has mentioned as well as as as timing and bring those recommendations Back to to you all for consideration All right. Thank you. So we will land that back in your hands is that a thumbs up from everybody those back to administration All right. Thank you. Thank you city manager page. Just want to make sure that we are Um Correct on our pulled items. I do want to note that for um, miss bergman and miss stompelkamp on their Cards their sign-up cards. They had indicated they were here on agenda items 15 and 19 Which is incorrect and I have noted that madam clerk on their cards that they were actually here for items 15 and 17 So I do not believe that Item 19 was actually pulled Now, I think that we have covered all of our pulled items except for I think that councilwoman cabrero Had pulled or initially stated some comment. I've been having a hard time hearing Oh, it's like my ears don't work when I got a mask on for some reason But I think she may have pulled or said something about item 16 Yeah, I'll just follow up with staff directly because at the time. Thank you Thank you so much and I believe that that will conclude All of our pulled items Unless I've missed something All right, very good. Now. We we have a couple of um Some hearings this afternoon some public hearings this afternoon, but presentations. I'm sorry Presentations public hearing has legal connotations to it. However, it's 4 17 And I know most humans have been sitting now for one hour and three hours and 17 minutes So we do need to take a break before we start those hearings if you don't mind if you allow us to have about 10 minutes We'll come back in at 4 27. I give about a ample time to kind of stretch out. So we'll get ready for our final presentations this afternoon Megan from the moment d-pack opened. It's been a hit Everybody knows that with great Broadway shows and musical performances. You don't have any trouble at all selling tickets So why are you providing this kind of programming to all drum residents? Why are you making d-pack so accessible? Well, I think I mean you're right d-pack has has had a lot of success But that success is because of our community. It's because we have such a dedicated Really enthusiastic audience and community So I work really hard to to create opportunities so that we really have something for everybody and that all In our community can get into the theater and see some live entertainment So I think that we're getting better and better at that each year We're adding programs and really trying to to make our doors open to all and are building accessible to the community There's no place like home Home is where the heart is It is our place of safety and Home is where love resides memories are created and laughter warms the heart That's why the Durham human relations division is committed to enforcing the fair housing act Which prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race color disability religion sex familial status or national origin Here's some tips to ensure that your garbage and recycling gets picked up One your carts should be put out for collection before 6 a.m. On your collection day Two your carts should be at least three feet from all other objects such as mailboxes telephone poles fire hydrants trees and other carts Three your carts should be no more than three feet from the curb Four no vehicles should be blocking your carts The mechanical arms on our trucks need direct access to your carts and cannot reach around vehicles To find more information about garbage and recycling pickups go to this web address For media del plan access to the idioma los habitantes tienen derecho a solicitar sin costo alguno servicios de interpretación y traducción recibir la traducción de documentos importantes y de comunicaciones de emergencia en espanol Presentar una denuncia de discriminación por motivos de idioma o por no recibir servicios de manera adecuada de acuerdo con la política del plan Access to the idioma de la ciudad Para recibir más información sobre la labor de la ciudad relacionada con el acceso al idioma Visita Durham NC.com diagonal access The Durham city council meetings and planning commission meetings are now available to live stream on all devices Via the city of Durham social media accounts to watch simply go to city of Durham NC On youtube facebook or twitter devices include phones tablets laptops desktops streaming boxes and sticks and smart tvs The easiest way to view the live stream on smart tvs and streaming devices such as the roku apple tv and amazon fire tv Is via the youtube app Now you can follow along with the latest developments in the Durham community at dinner your kids game The mall in bed During a breather in the bathtub and even on the international space station Awesome adventures and great bike shops. I know I can count on Durham for great sports in every season I always count on Durham for amazing cultural events I count on Durham for its innovative ideas and the determination to bring them to life I count on Durham for community and a place for everyone I count on Durham to do a good job and to celebrate our success Did you know that the city of Durham counts on these individuals in a city of more than 260 000 people? You're looking at residents who are making their voices count people who care about the past The present and the future of the city of Durham And you know what it doesn't matter how mature or young whether you're passionate about the economy the arts Or the plight of the homeless in fact we have nearly 30 Boards committees and commissions that you can participate on the requirements are To be a Durham city resident and be current on your Durham city and county taxes Durham is your home You can count on Durham to be there for you. Can we count on you to be there for our city? Can we count on you to be there for Durham? Can we count on you to be there for our city? Can we count on you to be there for Durham? So come on get involved apply today. We can count on Durham But can Durham count on you? Alrighty everybody's coming back in we're moving kind of slow, but we are going to change the order um this afternoon We have a gold triangle here for Presentation item number seven, which is Durham orange light rail transit Uh project expenses and we're going to allow our guests this afternoon to go before My sister miss amberway I hate them 36. I'm sure she doesn't mind so I'll put it in your hands miss eager Thank you Thank you, um, madam mayor president mayor portem And council members, uh, happy to be here today to have a discussion about The Durham orange light rail project expenses I would like to thank the mayor for her role in helping as a gold triangle board member in helping us the staff in developing the presentation back in before She was a member of the board the mayor and I met and we had discussion about some transit issues One of the top things that was mentioned was that communities need for further information on Durham light rail Uh expenses that uh, and I went and looked and checked with my staff. I've been here about two years. There was some information given out before I got here and some after When I looked at it, I agreed with the mayor that this was not adequate that the uh, the information that we had provided before miss the mark and When I in january, uh, I told my board that we're going to redo the information We're going to go back and uh, and based on the advice and guidance from the mayor Uh, commissioner howerton and the rest of my board, uh, we developed this information For our board and uh, I told the board that when they were happy with it We would bring it out to the to the city and to the counties and presented. So, uh, we'll do that right now I'm going to introduce uh, saundra freeman our cfo and katherine eglson our chief of development To start the presentation. We'll start with saundra freeman. Thank you very much Thank you and good afternoon to everyone bear with me as I make sure I understand how to advance the screen here What I want to do first is just uh, spend a few minutes talking about fta, which is a federal transit administration Uh, they provide financial and technical assistance to local public agencies transit systems such as a go triangle Uh, in order to advance uh, large capital projects, which in our case was a light rail project The federal funding process is one that I really want to focus a little bit of our time on There are three phases to the fta process. There's a project development phase This is their engineering phase and then there's a full funding grant agreement phase And you do not get your money until you get to that last phase You have to spend money to get money and fta was uh, Committed in working with us to provide 50 of the funding for this two billion dollar project We spent a significant amount of time throughout the project working with fta Meeting with them on a regular basis to answer questions They uh, obviously if they're going to give out that kind of money They want to make sure that you have the resources that you need That you have the support of the community and that you have a plan to move forward And so I do want to emphasize that fta worked with us from the very beginning of this process And it nowhere along the way did they indicate that there were concerns about our ability to deliver on the project We started in the project development stage. You have two years to get through that You have to complete your environmental review And select your locally preferred alternative go triangle advance through that stage Within the two-year time frame that was required by fta The next phase of the project was the engineering phase This is where you get a lot of your commitments in place and get all of your funding in place And make sure that you have sufficient engineering and design Fta again work with go triangle to ensure that they were comfortable that we were moving forward in a way That we could get into that full funding grant agreement phase Unfortunately, the project was canceled before we could get out of the engineering phase We were very near completion of engineering And moving into the full funding grant agreement phase where go triangle Could apply and receive money from fta, but the project was canceled. Excuse me before we could get there A little bit about the background and the timeline for how this project came about This was a vision that started back in May 2008 by a group of individuals. They were both universities People from the community business people as well as the county in the city and the mpo That came together to have this vision of a light rail project that would go between Durham and orange counties In 2011 durham county actually took the lead And the voters passed the half-cent sales tax with a 60 favorability And the durham county commissioners approved light rail as part of the bus and rail investment plan The following year in 2012 orange county voters also passed the half-cent transit sales tax at about 59 favorability and again the orange county commissioners approved the light rail as part of the bus and rail investment plan Additionally, there was a cost sharing agreement arranged between durham and orange in terms of who would pay what percentage of the cost of the project Just some other quick notes on uh, how engaged the community was and our partners were the dchc mpo added it to their transportation plan in 2013 Uh, the fta again as i mentioned approved us to go into project development We got through the first phase of project development In 2015 dchc mpo durham county city town of chapel hill and orange county unanimously endorsed a preferred alternative for the light rail In 2016 we got our final an fbis, which is a final environmental impact statement and a record of decision And then in november 2016 we added north carolina central university as a station in the to the project We continued and again, we moved along uh, what we felt was uh, well what fta felt was at the appropriate pace We got a record of decision All along the way There were discussions. This is what the plan looks like This is what is entailed in putting that plan together. These are what the dollars look like And in april of 2017 when we did an analysis of the dollars That were going to be needed because of some of the changes that had been made to the plan Orange and durham got in a room and renegotiated their cost share So, uh, that was a great commitment on both both sides We want this to work. And so there was a renegotiations renegotiation of the cost share durham picked up a higher amount And allowed orange to take a lower percentage Again, um, one other highlight. I want to make we did purchase uh, some property In january of 2018 we were authorized to Uh, acquire some property for our rump, which is our rail operations and maintenance facility We did that and uh, we have that property to this day Uh, with some discussions at some point of how that will be disposed of or how it will be utilized And in march of 2019 the go triangle board unfortunately voted to cancel the light rail project This is the slide that we have shared in the past and uh, we we've gotten feedback that we needed to provide more detail behind it Which we have done But overall between the beginning of the project and june 30th 2021 I'm sure you're familiar with this number 157 million dollars The breakout of those dollars are as shown on this chart and again Catherine we're going to quite a bit of detail. We had 131 million dollars that was spent on management and design This is a lot of the work that has to get done, frankly And again, I want to just say that fta Work with us all along the way looking at the money that we're spending looking at the resources that we had in place To make sure that we had what we needed to deliver on this project We had 16 million in uh, administration and staff support cost We had a um an office here in Durham To ensure that a lot of the Connections that needed to be made when we had to come over to city hall or have a meeting Instead of go triangle having to spend money and time running back and forth between go triangle and here We situated an office right in the heart of Durham to facilitate a lot of great discussion We spent 6.2 million on real estate acquisitions And other expenses we had some professional services, which were about 3.8 million and again that total was 157 million dollars I want to talk a bit again about those expenses the 157 million dollars As I mentioned, uh Durham and orange worked very well together on this project At the beginning the cost split between the two counties was 81 And a half was excuse me was 80 percent Uh 20 is that's what ended up being the average 80 percent in Durham and 20 percent in orange The initial cost share was 77 percent Durham and 23 percent orange But after the renegotiation to the 81 and a half percent Durham 18.5 percent orange We ended up at 80 20 that was a great uh concession on Durham's part because they were committed to the project And they recognized that in terms of the funding and uh some of the other changes that needed to be made That Durham was able was willing to go on the hook for a little bit more money Of the total I mentioned the 131 million dollars on management and design that is about 83 percent of the project Which is what we would expect early on before we get into construction 16 million was spent on administration and staff on a project this size you expect somewhere between 10 and 12 percent And we were right in line with that We spoke about the real estate which was 6.2 million and there was another 3.8 million on professional services and operations Which was about three percent of the total Catherine is going to spend some time talking to you about the various consultants that we used on the project And uh who they are what they did and answer questions you may have about that Thank you saundra. Good afternoon Saundra said i'm going to go into some detail to answer the questions of Who received this money and what did they receive it for? So saundra explained the largest category of funding was for management and design expenses in order to Construct a project that's overall cost is in excess of two billion dollars. You have to design it Before you can get to that construction phase So i'm going to go through on the next series of slides and explanation of the four major consultant contracts On the project at the time of its discontinuation Also get into a couple of other um smaller dollar Contracts um that are in this management and design category. So all of the Consultant contracts that i'm going to describe here were procured using an open competitive process with Qualifications based selection, which is the type of procurement process that's required by the fca and by the state for these architecture and engineering type of contracts for design So our first one the project development consultants go triangle procured services from u r s corporation for this that's a large national firm international firm really um headquartered in california During the course of their work on the project u r s was acquired by a com so you'll see u r s and a com in here Also a very large firm over 50 000 employees Have local offices in north carolina in raleigh morrisville and charlotte so This firm was engaged to Perform services during the project development phase, which is the environmental review phase and preliminary engineering so They developed all of the environmental documentation To get that record of decision that sondra mentioned as well as a Engineering to an approximately 30 level for the project that was then handed off to the General engineering consultant, which i'll talk about next so in all in this category about 27 million dollars of expenses Second major contract. This is the largest one was with hdr This was the general engineering consultant again. This is a large national firm. They're headquartered in nebraska With local offices in charlotte and raleigh and a couple of others in north carolina They were engaged as i mentioned to be the general engineering consultant So that's taking the 30 preliminary plans and developing those to be prepared for construction So all the way to 100 ready for bid so this involves Field survey investigations geotechnical boardings all that and then development of the plans and specifications As well as the environmental management to ensure that those commitments made and the record of decision Make their way into the design and then ultimately are implemented The third category of major consultants that we had was the program management consultant for that We engaged with hntb again a large national firm. This one's a little smaller than the others It's still a big firm with local offices in raleigh and charlotte hntb was engaged to provide Program management services, which is basically an extension of agency staff to manage a program as large as this as complex as this And with disciplines that go triangle does not currently have rail operations safety specific to rail operations And then also oversight and staffing for the real estate acquisition program as an example So in all hntb This team was paid about 12 million dollars for their services The last major contract that we had was with a joint venture of gannett fleming and wsp again national firms Again, if Fleming is on the smaller side wsp is one of the larger ones again 50 000 plus employees So this joint venture was engaged to be the construction management consultant So during the course of the project before its discontinuation They were paid about 3.2 million dollars for services related to preparation for construction The project had continued. They would have been Doing the inspection and construction management during that construction phase So there are pre construction services included support for cost estimating detailed scheduling Constructability assessments and workforce development planning So that's a summary of the four major consulting firms the next few slides You'll see the detail of all of the sub consultant Firms that were included on those teams before we get to that as I mentioned just a few other Smaller contracts in this management and design expense Category about a million dollars spent on a financial consultant To support the modeling risk management and development of financial plans necessary To submit to the federal transit administration We spent about six hundred and fifteen thousand dollars to procure Ebuilder project management software That's one element that has been retained by the agency when the project was discontinued We repurposed that software to be used for our small and mid-sized capital projects So we use that today on projects that we implement regionally as well as projects that we Implement on behalf of the city of Durham for example the bus stop improvement program that go triangle manages We use this ebuilder software to To manage those projects maintain the documentation and do the financial management for that We also spend about four hundred thousand dollars on design review reimbursements That's reimbursements to partners like the city of Durham for reviewing all those engineering designs typically Local partners even the state DOT and TRR don't don't have Staffs large enough to review designs in a timely manner when there's a huge project going on So it's typical for agencies like ours to reimburse for staff time and consultant time To review those plans and engage in a timely manner So as I said, I have a number of slides here that List all of the firms that were on each of these teams You'll see these split out into the disadvantaged business enterprises, which is similar to the mwbe program or hub program that you're familiar with You'll see here on this slide the goals that we had for each of the contracts was between 8.8 percent on the low end and 15 Percent on the high end. You'll see the actuals on the next couple slides And then we also have a listing of the non dbe Subcontractors as well So on this slide this shows all the Dbe contractors the dollar amounts paid to the firms as well as the race Ethnicity gender and location of the firms you'll see on here a mix of north carolina based firms and firms Based elsewhere Some of the firms based elsewhere were selected by the primes for their prior work on other projects Or for discipline specific expertise specific to To rail programs So you see her on the left hand side the actual dbe participation Generally in in excess of those goals in the range of 10.7 to 18 and a half percent As opposed to the 8.8 to 15 percent that you saw in the previous slide Next slide here again the the non dbe contractors This is the list of the firms the amounts and then the locations same on this one about 50 50 between firms based in north carolina and then firms based elsewhere So i'm going to hand it back over to sondra to walk you through the administration and staff and then i'll come back to talk about real estate in a few minutes So one thing that is very important about FTA and again, they don't give money Unless they're very comfortable that we have the capacity that is needed to Maintain and run such a large capital project So they spent a lot of time with us looking at they asked for resumes for everybody that was on the team They asked for work charts They uh interviewed individuals just to make sure that we had the capability and the capacity To deliver on this project and the right mix of both internal staff and consultants So we did have uh administrative staff support We had as i mentioned a project office that was located in downtown durham We spent about 14.9 million dollars on the staff and administrative support Which i indicated is about 10 of the total of the project, which is right in line with with what you would would expect The staff did quite a bit of work the design and engineering plans for the project All of the requirements that uh fta has in place for a new starts program It is very very cumbersome It's a lot of detail and we had an expert who literally spent Every day just going through making sure we didn't miss a mark where fta was concerned We also did a lot of project coordination with our local government partners We looked at the real estate acquisition activities and we had an individual who led that We had to use our legal department obviously for our land use entitlement And support for our local planning efforts along with the real estate Lot of communications with our project property owners Go try and go took that very seriously We wanted to reach out Often often and more often to any property owners that might be or and businesses that would be impacted by this light rail And uh, we had a team of people who went out on a regular basis to meet with people and answer questions My team was responsible for the financial modeling the budgeting the procurement and the administration piece So fta again spent a lot of time understanding and making sure that I had the resources in place For what I needed and then we had legal obviously a legal staff That was engaged throughout all areas of the project And the other professional services we had about 3.8 million dollars A significant amount of that was related to the redesign of an impacted facility at UNC Chapel Hill It was a golf course and so we had to do work to ensure that Any issues concerns were mitigated based on what we were doing with the rail project We also set up a nonprofit fundraising venture What we hope to have occur with that is to allow individuals businesses corporations That wanted to support not just the light rail project but transit in general to be able to contribute This was a nonprofit again a nonprofit organization Individuals could donate tax-free and so we had a consultant to come in to actually look at the potential For what might be available if we took on such a project And set it up, which we did We also had our outside legal counsel Parker poe which and Bernstein Which we needed for a lot of the work that was being done And then there were some minor financial services that we needed doing the project development phase I'll turn it back over to Catherine to talk about the real estate piece Thanks, Sandra. Sandra said about 6.1 million dollars Suspense on expenses related to acquisition of real estate for the rail operations and maintenance facility If the project had moved forward a lot of other property would would have been needed along the alignment for the location of the tracks and park and ride Facilities and so forth But at the time of the project's discontinuation The maintenance facility was the only property that had been acquired in advance To to ensure that it could proceed through the entitlements process necessary to prepare for construction So about 4.7 million dollars was actually spent on the acquisition costs to the property owners the additional 1.3 million was for The related expenses administrative things like appraisal site reviews site preparation As well as relocation payments To folks that were relocated And the and the outreach and communication that Sandra mentioned earlier So in total, you see the properties here. I think it's about 13 properties all located on fairington road Between fairington road and i-40 and in the western part of Durham So as Sandra mentioned earlier go triangle owns these properties now There's a memo in your packet about potential disposition options We have been Awaiting conclusion of the updated transit plan to identify potential other transit use before moving forward with Disposition of either of a whole property and then repayment to the transit plan for those dollars that were used or Potentially identifying a portion of the site that could be used for another transit purpose. So That's more to come on that And I think that concludes our presentation. I'm going to ask Chuck to come back up here And oh happy to turn it back Thank you all so much for this today. I would open up to My colleagues for any questions that they may have any questions All right, I'll start I will ask a series of just really direct simple questions Because I really hope this is the last time we have to talk about light rail But I want to make sure that you know The reason why we're that'll be the the reason why it'll be the last time is because we just really clearly put all the information out there of what's happening And then I'll ask a series of questions about what's next all right so If i'm understanding the timeline we About a little over a decade ago. We Came up with this idea of you know regional transit And I think Probably You did a good job at explaining what happened to the money Help us help our constituents understand the funding structure Let's start there who funds what? um Because The regular every day Durham might look and say all right Durham your transportation department is filling with the transit system Uh, but it gets really complicated and I'll ask that you spell out acronyms So that folks who are listening to this so we can go back and reference it can be educated So I really mean it. I don't want you guys coming before talking about this again. I'm ready to talk about what's next So who funds what how does this transit work and shawna if you need to tag to evening Talk about in terms of the light rail project and the Durham transit plan Uh, I mentioned the haveson sales tax So the dollars that funded the light rail project that fund the Durham County transit plan at which uh, the city gets the benefit of some of those dollars There is the have since sales tax which was passed Specifically to support transit as they transit related tax There is also a and and the purpose of all of this was to have not just a rail project But to have enhanced and increased bus service So we had the have since sales tax, which was anticipated at that time The majority of the money would be supporting the rail project But there is also a three dollar registration tax that comes to go triangle to provide Expanded and enhanced service in Durham And there is a seven dollar registration tax that is used to provide Enhanced service in Durham the city of Durham has access to those dollars And uh, there is also a piece that allows for increased cost of existing service Because obviously you expect that the the baseline service is going to go up And so additionally the city of Durham has the opportunity to use up to 50 percent of that seven dollar registration tax For increased cost of existing service. So your transit plan is funded by And and and plus the rental tax 50 percent a portion of the rental tax that go triangle receives So it's a have since sales tax which was passed as a transit tax. There's a three dollar tax There's this registration tax. There's a seven dollar registration tax and there's a portion of the rental tax So that is what encompasses the transit plan. That is what it's used to fund the projects That were expected to happen not just the light rail But in transit as as a whole Durham city or Durham county Durham county. It's Durham county tax Durham county voters voted for the have since sales tax So Durham county said Durham county folks voted for this For the benefit of The city so the transit plan funds a lot of the activities that shan receives the benefit of as well as go triangle in support of Yeah, so we have access to the funding by way of the county Yes What happens is uh every year there's a work plan You probably heard about the transit plan and the transit which is the budget Yeah, or what we're going to do which turns into the budget So there's a uh, we have what we call a staff working group There's a representative from go triangle from the mpo and from Durham county and that is going to change With with the new agreements. There's a vote each year During the budgeting process on what projects should be moved forward and they come to go triangle for final approval And all governing bodies have to vote on that from the county to the mpo to go triangle, uh, the rep there. Yes the three representatives the three representatives So go triangle is the regional facilitator of transit The mpo the mpo is Durham and orange county. Yeah, they're two separate staff working groups But yes, it's germ county the mpo and go triangle those are the three Entities that vote and recommend as of right now. We're working in ila. So that's subject to change But as of right now, those are the three entities that vote And Durham county well, they recommend let me say it this way they recommend Uh, what should go in the plan go triangle the board as part of the budget votes on on it And and the presentation it showed up to 2018. I believe that all bodies voted and then 2019 project cancel or Ended Could you talk about what happened in in that point right there? Because it seems the presentations looks like it Everything's going well and then it just ended. So I want to I want to make sure folks understand What happened between that year? I'm going to let my illustrious ceo articulate exactly what happened So, you know My understanding is that That there were several agreements that needed to be had one with duke Because the light rail was going to Go through their campus Also the north carolina railroad corridor was going to be used for a portion of the The light rail project And there was also some state funds that were going to be made available for the project In which the state legislature had Imposed a timeline When these funds could be available or up until when they could be available for the project My understanding is that the the agreements with duke and ncrr were not able to be executed And also the timeline was expiring for the availability of state funds and that caused the board to act to Cancel the project because it was no longer viable From that standpoint. So the right away was going away state funding was going away. How much was the state funding kathryn? 127 million 147 million dollars of state funding was going to disappear On the project But at the time it was canceled Is that 147 million of the 157 million? No, that was monies that were going to be spent after the project got into Into construction got you so once we had gone past the engineering phase to get to the actual Yeah, you get to the full funding grant agreement. Yeah, and then the other funds were going to kick in and we weren't going to make those dates especially with the You know the project not being able to reach agreements on the On the right away Got you And I'm going to ask my colleagues to bear with me on this because I want to this is a this is a lot of money that You know, folks want to know what happened to and we need to you know, take the time to understand it Um, is there indeed do we know why the general assembly had a timeline? or what motivated that timeline on That funding was it was it like the fiscal calendar or something? So I I don't know. I don't know if it was a fiscal calendar if it was arbitrary I think at one point there was an agreement that the state would put some money into the project and then And they decided that at a certain point the money was not going to be available So I will not assume that they knew we were not going to be able to get something so big done so quick but It does leave me to want to explore that Okay, so now that we have this Now that we have, you know, we're at the point where it's down it's 2019 is over At what point did we introduce? commuter rail I think about a year later, right by a year later. We started the phase one started when So it's about the same year as the project was canceled Phase one of the current feasibility study started around that same time. However commuter rail was part of the Durham transit plan that was adopted back in the 2011-2012 time frame as an element of that plan And earlier studies major investment study on commuter rail was initiated after the 2016 transit tax referendum in wake county The commuter rail project was sort of put on hold following the 2011-2012 plan adoption because there was not a partner at that time in wake with funding for transit So in 2016 when the wake funding came into play Studies for the commuter rail began with that major investment study And then as truck said the kind of phase one of the feasibility study that we're doing now started around the same time in 2019 Thank you In in regards to regional transit Durham is the common denominator Light rail with orange and now commuter rail with wake What lessons have we learned? Moving forward so that we won't find ourselves at another fail to project So A lot of lessons first of all, you know making sure that you have your agreements in place You know before you take the project into advanced engineering Is key I participated in other large rail projects in maryland And that was a key component having the mo use in place Prior to moving forward to full funding grant agreement. So there's that there's also I think that while they are The legislative bodies the elected leaders had probably received reports from time to time Certainly more detailed about the financial reports could be made to you and to the counties Involved in other project stakeholders. They might have a funding skin in the game so to speak There's that Apta came in aptas the american public transportation association They came in and did a peer review On the project after the project was cancelled So a team of volunteers from apta namely Other transit agency folks from around the country took a look and they made some recommendations I'll let katherine talk a little bit about those recommendations But certainly, I think there's I think that was probably one of the Top things that we could take away From the failed project and to You know take with us as we go forward and other large scale projects if we choose to answer into them Do you want to talk for a minute about the apta report? Of course Chuck said there was an apta peer review There were a number of transit agency executives including ceo Of a transit agency a number of other top level executives From from large transit agencies around the country with a successful track record of project delivery Who came in interviewed? Members of go-tangles team go-tangles board as well as some project partners To understand the situation And make recommendations for moving forward. So there is a report available on our website with those recommendations Developing additional in-house capacity for Major project delivery prior to embarking on Additional major projects was a key piece Go-tangles board after that Brought in chuck who is as he mentioned has a big project experience from another major actually one of the largest FTA capital projects from around the country and there were other recommendations related to board governance related to taking Incremental steps such as the feasibility study that we're completing now for the commuter rail To really assess in-depth Risks to project success early in the project and develop a broad base of Of lasting community support. It's very difficult to maintain a high level of buy-in for a complex project That's very expensive has Funding uncertainty particularly related to the state funding and the changes that we saw there And so the recommendation really was to ensure that there's a A strong foundation of regional support for a major project Earlier and prior to moving forward and and to very carefully evaluate that With the board and with project partners early and along the way I would also add that the Phase two of the feasibility study that's going on right now for commuter rail reflects a lot of that we're invested heavily in Figuring out what the construction challenges are early A large portion of the nine million dollars that has been spent on this phase of study Goes into figuring out The complexities of durham and building another one or two rail lines through durham and how the impacts are What the construction challenges are what these challenges to schedule would be Carries also complex To bring a lot more trains through There's also some issues that we need to address and Raleigh at the train station there. Maybe having to operate off a separate platform You know also doing a heck of a lot more public outreach I think then was done last time we've done this time So investing in ensuring that we know what the problems are ahead of time What the land acquisition issues are what the other complexities of the project are Where the points of risk are are going to be detailed in this feasibility study In a lot greater detail even taking on some of the issues like the light rail suffered from having a disagreement with Norfolk southern and ncrr What the issues how the project would be insured and who would be indemnified if there was a problem You know that issue at the time of the project was the light rail project was cancelled was still not resolved In large part we have resolved that issue in ncrr an asset right now So we got that done early. I think it was essential in order to gain their cooperation for the commuter rail lights Excuse me the commuter rail study That that that we Resolved those issues early this time so And I think this is uh I think what you have here is going to be a much better product much more thorough Much more comprehensive it'll include A host of recommendations from building out the entire project the segments And I I think this feasibility study will offer a lot more to To the region decision makers You know as we complete it in next month Thank you, mayor. Uh, I'll I'll yield and um, I have a few more questions later Yield to my colleagues Thank you madame. Thank you councilmember williams uh for your your line of inquiry Um, this will be my first time speaking about light rail in public since march 2019 Um For a number of reasons when first of all this was going to be a $2 billion project So I want to put that 157 million in context with the two billion Much like we have to do with our 95 million affordable housing mon in context with a 160 million plan I think it was billed at that time It would have been the largest infrastructure project to date in north carolina if it if it had gone through All kinds of economic boom would come to durham in the region For black folk in haytie. It was billed as the physical reconnecting of haytie with downtown that 147 had dissected So a lot of people's hopes and dreams were tied up in this I said I wouldn't speak about it again because my life got really weird during that period Because one of the things um, and I I was looking through the report Um, so let me start this way. One of the things that's not listed in here is that Some of our real estate acquisitions were acquired through eminent domain Right. I remember when the folk from farrington road filled this room up When we got the land for the rail operation maintenance facility, we used eminent domain When I suggested perhaps using eminent domain on duke all hell broke loose And and and it's not that I was anti-duke for me. It was an equity and fairness issue Because the eminent domain threshold had already been crossed For regular citizens So we learned the valuable lesson about power in this city and who really wields power Light rail will go down as a case study On who really wields power in this city Um, so when you talk about government officials and governing bodies, you know, what we have the stomach and political will to do Um, I just merely recommended it. I got threatened on tv low-key by executives All kind of crazy Messages to me for simply saying Why don't we treat everybody fairly in this process? So then march 2019 came and the vote was um was had I'm gonna say something For me the money was never missing It was something far worse. It was wasted We knew where the money went. We bought a ring We hired a caterer We paid for the hall We bought cases of champagne We hired the dj We rented suits and had dresses made We paid for tickets for the honeymoon, but the wedding never happened And then we wanted to go back and ask all of those service providers for the money back and I said, I'm sorry It's not we already cooked the food We already popped the champagne. It was non refundable We wouldn't be having this conversation if light rail had come to fruition Because it would be two billion dollars and and 157 million would look like nothing compared to the two billion So we are here because the wedding didn't happen So there was there was never any question in my mind, you know, because if the money were missing Then at least we could go after somebody and put them in jail You know that the attorney general could prosecute we could investigate if there was malfeasants If the money was stolen, but we can't put anybody in jail because it wasn't stolen. It was wasted Which is far worse and far more hurtful So so, you know, when we talk about real estate acquisitions, I want to be very clear That some of this was Who were willing to flex on and who were not willing to flex on as a government? Um, I'm going to be very clear about that. So so moving forward. I guess my question is Will our governing bodies Commit and are they prepared if we have to use eminent domain again for commuter rail? Are we prepared to use it equitably? Uniformly and across the board and do we foresee that matter even coming up and do we need to start working on agreements now? So So for commuter rail, it's it's a different ball game, right? So it's it's going to be in the Uh, North Carolina railroad corridor All the rail all the trains will operate within the corridor. None of it goes through duke And it's all in the corridor is generally 200 feet wide Throughout it gets a little tighter here in Durham Because you know, you have build up around the corridor around the around the tracks and more so than other areas of the Of the Clayton west Durham, uh, you know area that we're looking at right now Where there might be some property acquisition might be for the stations, you know, so where the stations are and I would have to say that You know, we have a plan for the stations We we haven't looked at if there's yet if there's a need for eminent domain. Obviously you want to go to a property owner and you want to have a Good buyer seller relationship with that owner If it's a business you might be able to accommodate a move for them You know, but if there's uh, if there's a need for eminent domain We don't know what that is right now if there is a need for any eminent domain But the station footprints are going to be a heck of a lot smaller than All the property that was going to be needed For the for the light rail project Because the light rail project was you know, it needed its own right away when it got outside of the ncr Our corridor needed to go through duke need to go through other areas need to go through streets And in some places those streets would have to be widened. So certainly You know a lot more challenging as the property acquisition for a light rail Similar to the project I worked on in maryland. We had a 225 million dollar property budget Which we exceeded by 20 million dollars Because of all the property that needed to be done, but for the most part even in maryland There was very little eminent domain used it was mostly It was a cooperative relationship with the with the property owners for the most part There was times we had to go to court and reach a settlement with the owners In order to get possession of the property But you know, I think for the majority of the property on the maryland project We didn't need it. I don't see and that was a light rail project So light rail again in the street going through, you know parks and things like that So it was much more complex. This project is different So until we get into some kind of design We won't know exactly how much property we'll need for stations and for parking lots You know, hopefully if there is parking and station development, we can do that in cooperation with developers That would want to be situated and build near a station But right now, you know, I can say that the eminent domain issue Is it's going to be minor compared to what the light rail Well, you'll understand our caution because we've been hurt before Another nuance of some of those engineering costs were changes Because duke wanted the the rail elevated past the emergency room And anytime you change engineering drawings or architectural diagrams, that's big money So even before we couldn't negotiate the final agreement with duke We were already spending money to accommodate their wishes Through through engineering drawings and architectural changes for the light rail So some of that money is that now is it criminal? No, is it waste? Yes. And and and so again the money not missing. It's wasted. It's wasted money Um, and I hope that the lessons, you know, councilmember. Williams asked about the lessons. I hope moving forward You know those lessons will will be taken to heart and and that a healthy birth and allowance for skepticism and concern on the behalf of people of durham will be allowed because they You know, they plucked the string the most emotional and historically important string for black folk That haytie would be restored and rejoined to to downtown in a in a tangible physical way through light rail Till the big boys showed up in the room and and and you know But anyway, or big girls big folk showed up in the room But hey, um, it feels good to talk about it again. I've sat through a a few iterations of these This has been the most detailed one thus far and I hope it brings some sense of understanding and comfort if not relief to the folk of durham. Thank you very much. Thank you madam mayor Councilwoman cabello Thank you madam mayor. Uh, good afternoon. Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate the very detailed presentation This microphone really doesn't like me. Um, I just had a couple of questions not so much about Not so much about the presentation itself, but one of the things that you talked about with your lessons learned Um Is around the incremental steps around design and just curious with the commuter rail knowing some of the design complexities, especially in the downtown corridor Are we thinking that a incremental or phased approach will be a better fit than trying to do the entire corridor at once? So that's a good question and I would have to say that it really depends on Um With the three county partners that are involved right now, johnson waking durham Each county has different priorities. Each county has different Transportation issues and you are going to experience your growth differently, right? So, um, I think wake is going to experience the The most growth in between the rtp and uh and rally corridor You're going to get a heck of a lot of growth here In durham even the 15501 corridor to your to your south and west is going to get a lot of growth Although this project doesn't cover that So and what and what what do you need? Right now in order to transport folks around to get them the jobs and other opportunities So that's a decision here if If durham said, okay, you know heck we're we're we want to be part of commuter rail But maybe maybe we want to be in a different phase What we're going to do is provide a study That's going to show the whole thing from clayton all the way to west durham and it's going to have All the costs put in so you're going to get everything in so you're going to get a large cost You're going to get for for the large project, but that doesn't mean Um at the end of the day that it's johnson county decides for instance, uh that they don't want to be part of it That doesn't mean that a segment can't be dropped out or one segment could be prioritized over another segment Um, I think it all depends on what the priorities are for the city and for the county In durham and also in in roley and wake and johnson too. So they all got to figure out their priorities might now Um, I was just in johnson county on monday And johnson county is dealing with a lot of issues related to growth Many many issues that they are never had to experience before and I would say that they are um Um, I am not sure that they are going to be in the first phase of commuter rail based on the comments I received From johnson county. So that's so that's that's that's something that they've already asked this question has already come up this week I would say this project is scalable and not only if you build a portion of it I think it's also this is just phase one right So, um, I think there's opportunities to expand the project after Uh, a segment is built I think the big thing right now is to get a project into the corridor in north carolina railroad And get the cooperation of the north carolina railroad and norfolk southern and amtrak all on board with the idea And uh, and also that commuter rail can be built here in the triangle Thank you. Um, just to follow up for that. So I I understand that whole process But then with the funding, you know, if We're having to tie and I'm going to say this so a johnson county doesn't have a transit tax They don't collect one. So really this is on on durham and wake And I do want to name that for the public. Um, they they could pass that but they have it. So, uh, I think that's really important to know who's actually paying for things. Um And then secondly when we when we talk about our transit plan and another thing that I do want to name Which was said in the earlier part of the presentation I really want to emphasize for residents There's three parts of the stool and the city of durham is not one of those parts right now The three parts of the stool are the mpo, which we do have our presentation on councilmember williams and I are there Uh, um, go to our angle board, which the mayor sits there and historically the mayor has been there former mayor she was in that seat as well and then Durham county So I just want to also name for our residents that we are In adjacent power to a lot of this we do not have Direct oversight into the 20-year funding plan It is it is different agencies who lead this while we do have some votes there It's not the same thing and I think there is confusion Especially when you have the city of Durham and county of Durham as to who's doing what and I think a lot of our residents Are confused so I want to name that as well my my concerns So I hear what you're saying about this phased approach or those segments and where we build it But do we have to show the funding up front? Like if we're planning for the whole corridor, even if we're not saying we're going to do We're going to focus on this or this kind is going to do this piece How do we frame that because if we're putting it in our transit plan that we don't actually get to vote on How do we um Make sure that we have enough dollars or are we just going to be hoarding all the money into one project? Even if it's not ready to go Okay, so um right now the the Durham county transit plan Has a certain Amount that is already targeted for commuter rail in its draft form and the plan hasn't been finalized yet It's going to be in the next couple of months. It's going to be finalized What they have in there is a 20 share on a close to a two billion dollar number, right I think that when the feasibility study is released, uh, you know It's going to be the numbers for the project is going to be more than that because in the year of expenditure with the inflation Like it's going today. You're going to have a higher project cost coming And we're still determining what that cost is going to be But when the feasibility study is finished, you're going to have a higher So there's going to be a there's going to be a very active discussion about how how does durham county in its transit plan pay for Help pay for this project now. There is still a A gap between what durham county and what wake county is Things that they have agreed to pay for So, uh, right wake county has not agreed to an 80 20 split So right but durham is at a 20 percent because durham has said that This is what we can afford and also accomplish our other transit priorities for bus service Which are very good priorities and and very important to durham So, um, so there is still a lot of discussion that has to be had When the train when the feasibility is final study is finalized and I think that's a very healthy discussion to have You know transit plans are uh, you know, whether it be a However, the financing is found whether it be through uh additional half penny on the sales tax or some other mechanism You know, I think I think that the That comes after the study is released. I know that you have a Durham county has a very healthy budget set aside for commuter rail But it's it's certainly going to There's going to be more money needed based on that they have a they can kind of constrain their contribution For the entire project. So again the entire project could be scalable It could be uh, if you know, but I think that's that's that's a discussion that's yet to be had Because the report has not been finalized Thank you so much. I really appreciate that and I look forward to continuing this conversation I've said it many times. We need to do everything around transit. We need to have commuter rail. We need to have a really excellent Local bus system and we need to have brt and we're going to have a figure out how to get there. Thank you so much We do need all of that. I agree with you Thank you councilwoman cabrera. Are there any other questions of Mr. Lutuguel or his Is elgo son of mr Egan I'll Ask just a few more minutes to be yet If we take a phased approach How attractive is that to federal support? So I think that um, if if the project were phased, uh, I think that Um, that takes the federal government perhaps Uh, the process they were going to use the new starts process Uh, I I don't think that's the right program for a phased approach, right? So there might be, uh, Depending on how big of a phase you build How much money is needed? Uh, then we can kind of rethink that so I would think that would be local dollars, right? Maybe some uh, go triangle has the authority to bond So some borrowing, uh, there are other federal programs tiffin Tiffia and rift programs where you can get loans from federally guaranteed loans for your projects Um, the bright line. I think was received a what they call a rift loan To build their Lauderdale to orlando piece they rejected at the end they went with private financing But that was a loan that was offered to them for that project for bright line So, uh, there are there other programs. We'll have to figure out. Okay Where is that segment going to be? How much is it going to cost? Certainly, um, then where would be, you know, a lot of a lot of questions that's to be answered Where would be the the maintenance facility? Could we buddy up with dot for instance and save some money if we're only going to have a few extra trains? But I think there's a lot of questions that have to be answered and probably require a few months to study to figure out If the segmentation approach is is Is what the the elected leaders want to do? How do we accomplish that? Thank you. I'll close with this. Um Elected bodies can be very dysfunctioning at times And I'm I'm saying that as part of one Uh and and colleagues. I'm not saying we're dysfunctional. I'm saying we're dynamic But trying to get the elected bodies around the triangle to get on the same page is, um You know, it's it's it's kind of like, you know, a camel with a horse designed by a committee Right. This is not going to work out too well I hope that it would be appropriate to ask you all as the facilitators of You know, what we are in need of regional transit To look at all of the circumstances, you know, look at the fact that there's a lot of apprehension here in Durham because of You know the failed project And and in delight rail, you know, and Also, you know, wake county's ready, but wake county has a very different looking tax based on what you do They do, you know, and they are much more capable economically than we are Um Johnston county have a lot of people working in downtown Durham And living in johnston county, you know, they're going to be according to the ridership analysis They're going to be the the greatest benefactors Of the project as is Um, at least what i'm told uh and and correct me if i'm wrong. Um, oh, you're correct They're going to have you're looking at almost 4 000 boardings a day Out there, but whether you reach clayton or you build at the garner I think folks drive from johnston county to garner to jump on the train Yeah, so I i'm saying all of this to say as Go triangle You know, we are going to need a leader in this And you guys that's your role your role is to coordinate all of these crazy dysfunctional bodies around the triangle Uh relying on us to get it together. It's not going to happen And I think that we're uh, we're going to you know until we put these safeguards in place You know until we put the sensors in place that are going to help us identify when we're headed down a red flag road um We may be on another road to disaster, you know, and I hope that that's that's not going to happen So I say that to say Get us together You know like you you all are in the apex of this and you're seeing what county's perspective durham county's perspective You know and you see the different governing bodies and our taxpayers are just saying look get me a bus to ride and get me a train to ride And higher frequency at an affordable rate. So take all of those factors and just bring us a proposal on what's next whether it's If it was light rail again, it would be light rail again if it's commuter rail it is what it is And if commuter rail doesn't work out, then what? You know give us those options Yeah, I would say that commuter rail really is your best bet. You know coming from the outside coming afterward um, uh, you know for me, uh, my experience the light rail Is a good mode of transportation, but it's also a development project, right? A lot of development happens around Light rail commuter rail is is more of a true transportation facility and they could it will generate some economic development But that's your real that's your regional your true regional Facility is having that commuter rail and using that north carolina rail or corridor, which has been around forever Since the 1850s certainly is Something that could be maximized. It's there. It doesn't require other people's property for the most part You know, I think we can fit in there with a large number of trains. We've done the modeling study I think you know That's where you want to focus the effort Because even even if it's even if a segment is built You're always going to be able to expand that segment and you're that corridor serves eight out of the 10 major activity centers for employers in the region No other corridor does that so that ncr corridor is I think vitally important and and its utility for moving people Can be multiplied many times. Thank you so much mayor. Thanks for the time We need to have something soon. We have a lot of jobs coming maybe about 30,000 or so the next five years We're very fortunate. We we need to take advantage of leverage this opportunity. So look forward to hearing. Thank you What's next? Thank you. Thank you We appreciate you all being here today and We'll see you real soon. Appreciate it. See you next week All right We now turn to our final presentation for this afternoon Item number 36 to excel pilot update Which will be given by miss amber wade Good afternoon. Mayor o'neill mayor pro tem middleton and city council members I am amber wade assistant to mayor o'neill and I am pleased to be with you today to share an update on excel Durham's guaranteed income pilot launched in partnership with mayors for a guaranteed income and the center for guaranteed income research at the university of pennsylvania You saw serita hill was here earlier from step up Durham She had to leave for some childcare. Um, so hopefully you will be able to meet her at another date So mayors shall join mayors for a guaranteed income in the fall of 2020 and since being sworn in Mayor o'neill has continued this partnership In december of 2020 durham was awarded a $500,000 grant to design a local pilot Through an rfp process in august of 2021 step up durham was chosen as the nonprofit administrator The last year has been spent designing this pilot for individuals who are returning home from incarceration And the last six months have included fundraising and implementation All dollars raised to support the participants monthly payments are private dollars And the city is providing funds for step up durham again to administer the pilot For today's presentation. I will give an overview of the recruitment and onboarding process Review some of the challenges that we have overcome And our final pilot numbers So this first slide Is a reminder of durham's pilot goals Our original goal was to have 115 individuals who would be receiving the $500 monthly deposit And also have a comparison group of 138 individuals who would also be chosen So to start the recruitment step up durham opened a pre-screen form on their website This form was used to build a list of individuals who would be the first to receive the application once it launched In-person assistance by step up six cell coordinator was offered to anyone who needed additional support or access to a computer This form asked for eligibility questions. Do you reside in durham? Are you 18 or older? Do you have income below 60 a.m? I and an income income table was provided for individuals to to see And were you released from incarceration after november 1st 2016? Um over 500 individuals responded to this initial pre-screen You may remember that in january of this year step up durham received an anonymous donation of a hundred thousand dollars To allow us to increase the number of individuals that were that would participate in this pilot So on january 5th of this year the pilot application launched and again in-person assistance was offered to anyone who needed Additional support or access to a computer The four eligibility questions were asked again along with additional demographic questions and baseline questions related to the research domains Once this application closed on january 23rd and after excluding duplicates 288 individuals remained So the 288 individuals were categorized into the following groups and this randomization was completed by the center For guaranteed income research. So the four groups were stipend participants the comparison group Alternates and those who were not selected For the onboarding phase we used multiple outreach strategies to contact the 129 participants After notification there was a three-step high touch process that included benefits counseling for all those who were chosen As well as a time to sign the various consent forms There were a number of challenges that we encountered during this notification an onboarding phase Some of the challenges are documented here 19 people we were unable to connect with by email or phone Seven people had returned to incarceration between the time that they were selected and the time of notification Uh 20 people did not meet residency and incarceration eligibility requirements and then two declined due to the potential impact on their existing benefits This slide has our final pilot numbers Because we did not make our original goal We were able to take that additional funding and increase the monthly payment to 600 a month So our final numbers we have 109 people in that stipend recipient group and then we were able to identify 138 for the comparison group We did talk to the center for guaranteed income research about Sort of moving people from the comparison group into the stipend group to increase our number But we were Not allowed to do so So finally i'll just share kind of our path forward Durham is participating in a seven week online learning collaborative with mayors for guaranteeing income and results for america Focused on best practices for our local storytelling and narrative building efforts Each pilot at the end of the sprint is going to be eligible for $10,000 to support a future storytelling project So if we are selected for that step up Durham will be kind of leading what that future project would be for us The pilot will continue until march 2023 with all of the deposits occurring on the 15th of each month You all will continue to see Individuals who have agreed to tell their Stories and share the impact of this income on television and through media and other outlets We do expect that our final results from the pilot will come in the spring or summer of 2023 Um, I appreciate your time and i'm here to answer any questions that you may have Thank you miss way some efficient You all have any questions for Madam mayor Sir, thank you madame erin. Good afternoon amber. I'm so sorry serita couldn't stick around to be with us So wish you could meet us, but glad we'll have opportunity for her to come for us again sometime in the future Just not a question. Just this is really exciting Uh work My thanks to council member freelon Who's no longer with us? He's still alive. He's just no longer on the uh the council and and uh mere shul For for allowing us to get this off the ground. This is one of those things that actually I think could be Called root cause or going directly to preventative kind of things. It's amazing the number of initiatives Proposed dealing with poor people that don't involve giving poor people money Uh, you know poverty by definition is the lack of resources lack of money and we know that this particular population the mayor O'Neill has has Tutored us and and and really hammered this home on a number of occasions the particular Challenges that this population faces when they come out We all got stuff going on which is reason why we want to make this universal at some point for all residents of the country Um, regardless of you know age race immigration status or citizenship status because um economically secure people make better neighbors And I you know, it's just such a source of pride for us as a city to be one of the uh Cities around the country participating in this cohort. I said some time ago that I hope That we'll have conversations about ways we can perhaps continue it beyond this pilot. So Um, just putting that out there that I may be coming back to you guys for more Um bandwidth to continue this but just You know, you really have just um been such a superstar in this work and quarterbacked it for us and and just um anytime I get an opportunity to say thanks to you and The team that worked on this publicly. I want to do that step up derm has been an amazing partner In this and I've heard informally because I'm not supposed to talk to them But I've heard informally uh that it's making a difference in people's lives in very tangible ways and to the naysayers and those folk Who sent uh nasty racist emails and all kinds of stuff surprise surprise They're not spending the money on weed and grape soda and crab legs They're paying rent They're they're they're buying uh clothes for their kids. Uh, they're paying off bills Because that's what folk do when they have money They take care of themselves and they take care of their families um So thank you and thank you council for uh allowing this to go forward in this city And um, I'm looking forward to hearing those great uh stories and and sharing uh from the Participants. Thank you so much. Thank you madam mayor Thank you, mayor pro tem. Just excellent excellent excellent all the way around. Thank you for staying late tonight. Um we We'll see you tomorrow month Thank you all Hope you feel better too All right, we now turn our attention to our boards and commissions the task force nominations in the hands of our clerk Good evening everybody. Um council has nominated the following residents to the board's committees and commissions For the Durham city county appearance commission. There are two appointments These are nominations again michael m bell and quinton holloway Durham convention center authority appointment pashara black Durham sports commission appointment umar muhammad The housing appeals board regular member lawyer is indra nil gauche Housing appeals board alternate member neighborhood association elizabeth wiener Human relations commission appointment for six vacancies. Um, the category of african-american person was not settled there's no consensus on it. We have a um A four-way tie or not tie but There are nominations for natoschia l. Adams tammy wood jamad m lane and clayton charles disusa Would you like the breakdown? Go for it, right? Okay jamad m lane. There are three um nominations for him and that's um mayor o'neill councilmember freeman and councilmember holsey hyman There are two nominations for tammy hood That is um councilmember johnson and councilmember caballero And then one each for clayton charles disusa And natoschia l. Adams Mr. Disusa is councilmember williams and natoschia adams is mayor pro tem middleton Mayor o'neill have a clarifying question. I thought that that was a reapplication And that the applicant who reapplied had a 75 percent attendance and that would be Is that correct? Okay, it is as is my standard practice We get the application if it's a reapplication and the person has been meeting attendance and an active member of the Board or commission. I just reappoint Okay, does anyone want to shift their vote? Yes, ma'am. I'm willing to change my vote to the reappoint to the reappointment Is there anyone else because we need to I would as well Okay, all right. Thank you For the position on the human relations commission for caucasian non-hispanic person thomas w cadwaller Um christine codie and amalia jackson were nominated for hispanic person maria el solis guzman Other person stacey white knight Mayor's appointee anita r daniels kenney For the mayor's council for women. Lydia mitchell has been nominated The mayor's hispanic latino committee appointment is ma'am clerk. I'm sorry. Could you speak up just a little more, please? On the mayor's council for women. Lydia mitchell has been nominated The mayor's hispanic latino committee appointment goes to joshua top and the participatory budgeting steering committee appointments. There were six nominations michael m bell rosa i capari And gc Jimmerson donna lk don a page and jada richardson And then finally for the participatory budgeting youth seat The youth I think I skipped I'm sorry. I skipped the participatory budgeting steering committee appointments michael m bell rosa capari angela jimerson Donna k don page jada richardson and then the youth seat jana jona pernell And finally the racial equity commission appointment for at-large resident is kedrick tea laury So everything has been um reached by consensus That's the end of the report Madam mayor quick question Um, madam clerk has michael bell been nominated for two boards I believe he was applied to the appearance commission and another one that you mentioned And that's not allowed, right? Right. You can only be on one board. He's been nominated for the city county appearance commission as well as the participatory budgeting steering committee So how do you recommend we resolve that issue? Do we pick one or do we ask him which one he'd prefer? We can ask him which one he prefers and then we can re-advertise. Okay, that would be great. Okay. All right We will move to other matters, which I think we have two The first is that the proposed date from for staff for our rescheduled work session will be july 26 July 26 If you give me a thumbs up that they may be okay Madam mayor on the I may need to be an hour late, but I could come at two I'm sorry. Say that again. I may need to come at at 2 p.m. Instead of at 1 p.m On the 26th, but I could I might be able to make it work Is that fine two o'clock I will find for everybody Two o'clock on july 26 to 2 p.m. If I get a thumbs up for everybody We got our date All right, dr. Monique you okay with that? Well, I'll wait for you. We want to make sure Two o'clock july 26 two o'clock is the set date All right, now we turn to councilwoman Freedman's of the Matter that she wanted to bring back to our attention Thank you madame. I just wanted to just get a consensus of Or to motion that we do allow for our Staff to actually reopen The wheels fun park skating rink Yes, sir. Madam. I'm mr. Book protein. Thank you madame. I um I am I actually resonate with the the animating Um spirit of council member freeman's we actually had a discussion earlier today Um in which I challenged the council that if that was within our purview to do that if we wanted to but I also said that I think it's important that staff has an opportunity to do their due diligence um, and we can certainly direct staff to Uh bring us back a report bring us back Potential vendors what that could possibly look like the indemnity issues Financial impacts, but I think it's just far too premature at this point to just You know say we're going to open wheels. I just don't think that would be a responsible message to send today It we may very well, but I think the first appropriate step would be just to direct staff as we always do With major decisions to do some due diligence Um and do some you know some research and and bring us a you know well informed View of what that would look like I certainly would support that but I I think it's way too early um to to Suggest we're going to go into the skating business as a city at this point We might but I I you know, I think the staff should have some opportunity to look at this And that that was the thrust of my comments earlier and I'm still the thrust of my comments now I just don't know what that I couldn't responsibly vote for that today Thank you madame. Thank you. Mr. Frotel councilwoman johnson Thank you madame. Um the our parks and rec staff is in the middle of a pretty extensive engagement process about the use of the wheels property as well as the Park across the street, and I think that it would be reasonable to allow that engagement process to To continue and to conclude before we before we make any Any formal decisions as a city and to for the staff to continue um Talk to the community and that's you know because the I I fully expect that a strong majority of people in this community will be in favor of renovating wheels and and keeping it in use as a skating rink either You know either the city runs it or we bring in a contractor or something but you know I think the commitment to equitable engagement requires that we follow through and also that the Loudest people don't always represent the majority. We've heard from a lot of people about wheels And I and I do in this case believe that they recommend the majority, but I represent The majority, but I think in principle it's important for our commitments to engagement that we actually follow through with the engagement and allow the resident feedback to inform the The path forward that we take rather than Rather than making a decision based on The folks who have been able to come to council only I think that we should we should wait until We have a full picture of what the community wants before we make a decision. Thank you Thank you councilwoman johnson turn it back to councilwoman freeman. Thank you. I was just trying to move us along And just understanding I want to make sure that I do clarify that the current engagement process does not include the rink And it hasn't I saw if it does it may have started recently But I know that there had to be an online campaign to ask people to write in the rink It was not inclusive of the rink. And so if we're going to restart the engagement process, that's different But the current engagement process does not allow for the rink to be incorporated into the I'm turned to our city manager So, um, I would I'm going to attempt to to respond to the engagement And I know that the engagement um, the engagement is ongoing and From where I said there has not been any decision made about The assets community assets that are going to be ultimately a part Of the redeveloped project I know that deputy city manager johnson was at one of the engagement activities A couple of weeks ago, and I don't I know we spoke about it. I don't know if you have that specificity I know keep Chadwell is is in another meeting, but if you wouldn't mind me putting you on the spot Good afternoon bertha johnson deputy city manager I wasn't an event uh as at an event about two weeks ago And there was no specificity around what people could propose They had lots of pictures of different, you know, uh, recreation activities And there was an opportunity to write in other activities or other Components or amenities you wanted to see At the site and so there it was not explicitly that you could not there could not be a rink there was even Put put golf as an as some folks put that as an option So it was open ended that's my point that people could actually Provide any kind of feedback they want to provide In the course of the engagement process I would just say that I think that the skate park The pool and a couple of other put put and a couple of others are specifically stated And so those are the items that are being selected And the rink which is which is what a couple of folks raised as an issue Is not an option so that there has had to been a coordinated effort in the community to actually Push people to actually indicate the rink which is not the case for the water park or the slides or all the other Actual photos that are listed there or with what have you so it's just not as um Plain as you know just going through the engagement process. That's all i'm saying So I just wanted to make sure that we gave the our staff the authority that they needed to actually open the rink And so whether we vote for it today or not That's up to the council But I do think that I put forward a motion if someone would like to second that would be great point of order Councilman with this is a work session We haven't suspended the rules and our honor hasn't called for Emotions is a discussion and we're in the work session. We don't vote during work sessions without suspending rules That was the request I made at the beginning of the meeting Was to vote the rules was to actually vote. We don't vote in work sessions Okay, I wait wait wait for one second, please I see a hand raised by Councilwoman comby error and then we have a motion that's been seconded on the floor But we also have I believe a question. Yeah, I just had some clarifying questions I want the engagement to continue if we need to be more clear that the The engagement needs to include the amenity of the skate rink, which is what I've heard consistently I haven't heard things around the like ball pit or the go-karts mean the wheels has a ton of stuff on it If we need to be clear in our engagement, I am you know, I mean good lord I think everyone is doing the skater than that rink. I don't want to know how many birthday parties there So I get the the the love for it If we need to be clear if we can direct staff around that that that is an option on the table I think that that's the positive way forward. I do not feel comfortable directing staff right now in the middle of a very You know month-long engagement process telling, you know Making a decision right now that we're going to open wheels. I don't I don't even want to think about the liability around that so My my ask of my colleagues is to maybe direct staff to if Parks and rec could just be clear that yes the scape rink is an amenity that that the city is considering keeping and moving from there Thank you All right. I'm just going to look to my attorney for a point of order now that was the Question that was raised, but we still have Um a motion that has been seconded on the floor. I would Ask if it is appropriate if I offer a friendly amendment to the motion Or if that's appropriate at this point, we always we already had a um from um mayor pro tem that um There has been some discussion about whether in fact that is an appropriate motion. So I look to you To clarify so the council does not by its own procedural rules does not take votes at work sessions unless it chooses Oh, I'm sorry The council by its own procedural rules does not typically take a vote on an action item At a work session unless it first suspends the rules to vote on that item Similarly to what you all did with agenda item 13 earlier today I have not heard anyone propose that you also spend the rules to take action With respect to the wheel skate park So you would want to entertain That sort of conversation first Before actually taking an action to give a directive to the administration. All right I can make that motion if you'd like A motion to suspend the rules to take action on the wheels skate park I second if it's appropriate All right That has been motioned by a councilwoman freeman that we take and seconded by councilwoman Hyman that we take uh that we suspend the rules to take action On the wheels skate park all those in favor Which is signed by raising your left hand All those that is for all those opposed have the same Right that motion passes for three with councilwoman Hyman councilman williams the mayor and councilwoman freeman voting in favor Of suspending the rules a motion that we We allow for staff to go back and assess and move forward with opening the wheels skate park Or also the authority for the staff to open wheels skate park. I second All right, it has been Question. What's the motion? A motion to authorize staff To open wheels skate park Do they lack that authorization? I don't think this motion means anything may I offer a friendly amendment to your motion Yes, and that friendly amendment would be that we authorize staff to make inquiries about what it will take to Operate the the the skating rink And come back to us with a Report be it if they operate or choose an outside vendor and we allow them the time to Tell come back with a report on that Is that an acceptable Be clear we're asking for an assessment not right because it's going to have some budgetary Cost to it right manager. We're just asking them to open the door pretty much to see What it will entail to Open that rate even as the city would operate it Or not just to make inquiry and come back with a preliminary report and then we ought to be able to move from from there We need a motion Huh, all right. I'll go after do we need a motion for? No, I offer the I offer the friendly amendment and my friendly amendment is that we make inquiry Direct the staff to make inquiry as it's to what that would look like to Open that ring I just I don't think we need to vote on that I think we I think we could just ask The manager to do that and also I think that's already part of the plan we're talking about in the interim between from From what I understand There is going to be a Possibly a four-year interim period between the planning and the actual final plans of the entire site So we are trying to see if there's a way doing that interim at some point in time if we could possibly open the ring Since you have such a large gap of time. I know there's going to be community engagement But what do we do in that in that interim period? Is there something we can do? But just for them to make inquiry Is there a possibility of us opening the skating rink sooner than the master plan? Madam manager, could you give us some guidance? Whenever I'm So I um, we certainly can that's what we do That's what the administrators do when we are given direction to go and evaluate something and bring you back Information and options That is what we would do. The only thing I would add here Is the expectations for staff as to when that you know when when we should be involved in that is that You know immediately and as soon as possible or some other time frame because we have to you know, we have to We we want to meet your expectations and it would be good for us to know what you know, what that is even for this evaluate evaluated period and I I really want to leave that date certain Um open for you all to talk with your staff since we have so many moving parts at this point Y'all are in the middle budget. I'm really conscious about adding something else to people who are already It under other deadlines. So I really Would like to ask you all to bring us a date back Um when we come back for our our next meeting Um and have a have a proposed date is what would be my suggestion rather than us give you a date today let us Give you all the opportunity to think about what that entails Councilwoman Freeman, and I'm just trying to give you the latitude. I was trying to give you the latitude to kind of if it is a huge, you know, like Jump out there. That's different than if it's just as simple as you know Of rfp and what have you in 30 days or whatever? So what whether it's one or the other I think the dates or however long would be different But that's based on the findings of our staff looking into it I'm just trying to be cognizant of The fact that you know, this isn't this is brand new territory Um, and they are already in the midst of Lots of other things So if we could give them time to kind of figure out what that layer of the land is And come back with a proposed date as to they know what the question is now Can we open that ring? It's sometimes sooner than the master plan May allow there's going to be a gap and what that looks like and if they can Have time to figure out what that date If what date is reasonable for them to be able to answer that question I would prefer that they have time to think about it rather than we set a date today For them to come back And because they're really efficient about that stuff though Just don't want to ask them to do that today Council may approach him. Thank you madam mayor, and I appreciate your um your clarity and leadership on this I think everything that you asked Is well within your purview to just ask as a council and we've done so I would I would for the sake of it the institutional integrity I would just suggest that the motion Be allowed to die. I think it would we For us to put the imprimata of the city through a fully binding legal vote just to ask the staff to research something Is a threshold we just simply do not need to cross Um, I defer to you. I'm good with that. Well, that's my yeah I think all of us are good with it Staff asked for us to vote for them to give them authority. I didn't hear that. I'm sorry. Do you need to vote? We're gonna ask do you need to vote? We do not all right. Thank you. We have we have changed that into an ask and at this point We are now going to settle our agenda Yes, we are for our June 22nd city council meeting. We have for consent items one through 12 item 14 item 16 item 19 through 35 and item 44 For gba, we have items 15 and 17 and for gba public hearings items 38 through 42 I would entertain the motion to settle our agenda second It has been moved by councilwoman Freeman seconded by councilman Williams We would raise your left hand for those who are in agreement those who Would like to say no have the same right. I believe that passes unanimously with the six that we have remaining Are there any other items to come before the council? Henry none. We are Adjourning this meeting and this day that has been full of work for our citizens at 16 We'll see the strong Have a good evening everybody