Good evening everyone and welcome to city hall. It's great to see so many people in the house tonight. Madame clerk, will you please call the role? >> Mayor Williams, >> I'm here.
>> Mayor Prom Middleton, >> I'm here. >> Council member Baker, >> here. Council member Cavayo >> here. >> Council member Cook >> here.
>> Council member Freeman >> present. >> Council member Rrist >> here. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
At this time we will uh have the pledge of allegiance. >> You own a moment of silence. >> My apologies. I'm just going to put these glasses back on. The words are moving around on their own. Um, we will now have a moment of silence.
>> Thank you. We'll now have the pledge of allegiance. >> Thank you. It's our practice to stand, salute the flag, and say the pledge together if you'd like to join us.
>> I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation [clears throat] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Now, Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? >> Mayor Williams. >> Mayor Williams.
>> I apologize. I was looking at the other agenda, the organizational agenda and the meeting agenda. So, I'm I'm a little confused. My my apologies.
I will now go to the appropriate agenda for the organizational meeting. >> Okay. Thank you.
All right. At this time, uh, we are officially in the organizational meeting. Um, and I would like to call to the podium Mr. David Boon and Mr.
Derek Bowen. Durham County Board of Elections Director, Mr. Bowen, and uh chair of the Durham County Board of Elections, Mr. Boon.
Welcome. >> Yes. Thank you. >> There is that mic in front of you.
You can press the button with the little um >> um it's on. Okay, >> there you go. >> Good evening, council members. As chair of the board of elections, I'm delighted to be with you all this evening to present ceremonial certificates of election [clears throat] to newly elected members of council.
Our director uh Derek Bowens is here to assist me. The Durham County Board of Elections and staff administered honor administered honest, fair, and accurate municipal elections for the 2025 cycle. The
certified election results have been approved been provided to the city clerk for uh for both elections. For the October primary election, 211,598 residents were eligible to participate. 03% voter participation rate. For the November general election, 215,129 residents were eligible to participate.
65% voter participation rate. While turnout was not as high as desired, we appreciate the resilience of Durham voters during this election cycle. The canvas results for the November 4th, 2025 election confirmed. Leonardo Williams as mayor, Matt Kopac
as council member for Ward One, Shannetta Burris as council member for Ward two, and Chelsea Cook as council member for Ward Three. The mayor has been elected to a two-year term and other council members to four-year terms. We are always appreciative of the diverse field of candidates that participate which speaks to the vibrancy and inclusivity of this of our wonderful community. So, thanks to all of those that participated.
As these results have been officially certified by the board of elections and upon authorization of the clerk pursuant to the agenda, we will now present ceremonial certificates of election for the 2025 municipal general election for the city of Durham. Mr. Bowens will distribute their certificates to each elected member as announced. for the mayoral contest. Leonardo Williams with 26,42 votes. [applause]
for award one council contest. Matt Kopac with 23,633 votes [applause] [applause] >> for the W 2 council contest. Shannetta Burris with 31,090 votes. [applause] >> [cheering] [applause] >> If >> forward three council contest, Chelsea Cook with 33,83 votes. [cheering and applause] >> Congratulations and thank you for your time this evening and congratulations to all newly elected members. >> [applause] >> Thank you all so much and please don't
leave. Uh just wait around for a few minutes. All right. At this time I would like to um provide remarks um for our That's what I'm doing.
I'm going to provide y'all [laughter] some remarks. Y'all trying to get out of here too fast. I'm I'm letting them know I'm going to provide some remarks and they're just Everybody yelling at me down here. At this time, I would like to uh present service uh plaques to my
colleagues and provide space for any colleagues that would like to make any comments or remarks. All
right. I'd like to take this moment to provide just brief remarks uh just to my colleagues and thank them for their service. As we all know, you know, um as I was telling my son just recently, um thank you. I was telling my son, I was like, you know, as a musician, you know, music is most interesting when it has dynamics, but a song that's just one steady note is the most boring thing to listen to.
I said, "So what do what type of song do you want to be in life? " And that is how I view our council. Often times we get criticized because it's easy for someone to just look online and look on TV and say what things should be. But you don't know what drives the passion of each one of us on this council.
You don't know how our relationships are when we're not on TV. and they're actually pretty good. And so
I just want to take a moment personally to say thank you to my colleagues and it gives me great honor to be able to provide this. Uh while I could never meet the measure of the service and dedication that council member Freeman has provided to this community, uh this is just a humble token of appreciation uh to uh to notate your service on this council for the last eight years. So please take a moment to provide remarks and I'm so appreciative of you. Well, she's going to provide for the diet.
So, I'm going to ask that we just have one moment to uh have Mayor Prom join me as well. >> When I say Driana, you say for the people. Driana. >> For the people. >> Driana. >> For the people.
Thank you. [cheering] [applause] >> Thank you. You say Driana. Thank you.
>> I love you. [cheering] >> We see you. >> When I say Driana, you say for the people. Driana.
>> For the people. >> Driana. >> For the people. >> When I say for the people, >> you say For the people, >> Driana.
>> For the people. >> Driana. >> For the people. >> Driana.
>> When I say we thank you, >> you say Driana. >> We thank you. >> Driana. >> We love you.
>> Driana. >> We see you. >> Driana. [applause]
Y >> we're going to read this to the dice as well. >> Who show who shows up for the people? >> Who shows up for the people? >> Who stands up for the people?
>> Who stands up for the people? >> Who fights for the people? Driana >> who fights for the people. Driana >> who walks alongside the people >> who do we love >> who do we see >> we thank [applause and cheering] >> you so much >> you go [clears throat] >> thank Thank you so much.
>> We thank you. >> We see you. >> We love you. [cheering]
>> When I say Driana, you say for the people. >> Driana. >> For the people. >> Driana.
>> For the people. >> When I say Driana, you say for the people. For the people. >> Driana.
>> Driana. >> For the people. >> When I say for the people, you say Driana. For the people.
>> Driana. >> Driana. >> For the people. [applause] >> Adriana >> for the people.
[laughter] >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I really appreciate you all being here this evening.
And I have to first say thank you to my husband, Mister, if you could stand up. I I know I I rarely [applause and cheering] ever say it. [applause] [cheering]
[applause] >> And to my sons, Anel and Antoine, and my daughter, Adriana, if y'all could stand up, too. [applause and cheering] I just want to say they've they've grown up here in this space and it's not lost on me that this is connected to my family and will always be a part of what we do in community. And so I'm grateful um to them for being my base and letting me do this work in community. I'm going to get teary, but but um yeah, it means a lot that they've been here the whole time from the start to the finish and uh to whatever comes next.
I know that each of you got my back and I've got yours. So, uh I I do want to also just thank all my friends and my campaign team um for all your support over the years. Uh there's so many people in the room. If I
start naming names, I'm gonna be in trouble. But I gotta say a big shout out to Cameron and Ernest and Kathy and Eileene and Nikki and and so many others um that have been the source in all of the work that got done to make sure that I was running really well in um the three campaigns that I um ran or four actually. And I will say that we have we we we have so much more time more time to laugh and to enjoy one another's company. And so I look forward to all of that.
And to everyone everybody who's here, I know you're not all here for me, but thank you for being here tonight. It it really is important that there is a room full of people paying attention when folks are sworn in and um recognizing that this is a point of accountability. And so it's great that we can transition from one to the other peacefully, but it's even um more
or even greater when we transfer the trust of community and transfer the the relationships in a way that makes it so that we continue to do the work that needs to be done. And so I I want to thank all of the city staff. Um, if I start naming names again, I'm'll be in trouble. But I I got to say a big shout out to to Norma and to Bo and to Gina.
I did get your card. Thank you. And to Bertha and to Keith. Um, and to those from past um, you know, Wanda Paige and Tom Bonfield who were a big part of um, the work that happens here.
Uh, answering my calls, emails, texts, and many, many, many questions and requests. I want to let you know that I'm only going around the corner and so those will continue. I uh I have a deep love and respect for the people of Durham far far too much to say goodbye. So instead I'll say until next time because the journey will
continue. And as I look back a bit my journey towards public office began long before I knew that what a city council even was or what it did. And so I was out stumping for candidates like Senator Kay Hagen and then Senator Barack Obama uh working with organizing for Obama and working for organizing for action back in 2007. Seems so long ago.
And even when President Obama was in office, I didn't imagine I would run, but others did. And they encouraged me to get involved locally. And through my work with organizing for racism and my four years on the Durham Planning Commission, the path began to reveal itself to me. And I will say that my voice and the political process grew and I finally decided to heed the call to run. And when I was elected in 2017 on my platform to see DURM and that was social, economic and environmental
justice focused on um focus around my purpose developed and I and I was committed to the equity, diversity and inclusion fighting for social, economic and environmental justice. I committed to engaging residents and building tools and resources that supports prosperity. I remain fully committed to that vision. And here we are more than a decade later.
I'm trying to wrap up eight years of service. Three mayors, three city managers, two city attorneys, two city clerks, 12 colleagues across eight different councils in like about eight minutes. So bear with me. [laughter] From the many six-hour and 15inute meetings to the rare 45minute miracles, I gained some something un unimaginable from this work and I'm ever grateful for every moment of over
4,23,360 minutes of service. Let me say it again. 4,23,360 minutes of service. I've been privileged to give to this city of Durham with love and I appreciate the love back.
I've had the privilege to play many instruments, which is why it's so interesting uh the mayor talked about a song in this great symphony of Durm, the hard notes, the soft ones, and everything in between because I believe in holding folks accountable, and I will continue to hold folks accountable. I also appreciate the investment made in my leadership and knowledge as a member of this council. It has allowed me to pour into the communities to the children and to the families who deserve the very best of their government. I've been in awe of how this city runs from keeping the flow of our water clean and
our sewer sisters sewer systems operating to also understanding how land use shapes our our shared future. witnessing how our city staff, many I named already, but I have to say some more. Uh, I will say by departments, many of them are in environmental services, uh, water management. Um, I think they had they actually had a whole meal for you outside with the UE50.
Um, they've been the rock in this in this organization that have kept this system running. And there's so many others um like Chief Andrews and before her Chief Davis uh that I I mean there just so many people who have poured so much knowledge into me as a person that is going to leave with me as a person and go out into the world. And so I have to say it would be irresponsible to not share it.
When council member Middleton and I were sworn in in 2017, his nephew was here. Um, and my sister Katy was too. Now they are both with us in spirit along with representative Maryanne Black, Dr. El Leavona Allison, and so many others who have gone ahead.
My time here has had its ups and downs, many, many downs. But I've stood firmly on principle, fighting for this city, for the people, for fairness, for truth, and for justice, and I will continue. I'm eternally grateful for the leaders, elected officials, and community members who have taken the time to pour into me and into Durm. I do want to just take a moment and just thank them. If we could just give them a whole round of applause. There's so many who have served >> [applause] [applause] >> And if I could just get Miss Jackie Wag staff and uh any other electeds who have
served on this council to stand, that would be great. >> And and Madame Mayor Pro Tim Cororico McFaden. [applause] my lovely history making mayor Elaine O'Neal, [applause and cheering] my sister-in-law and her great husband Mike. We have so much so much more [laughter] so much more time to do things.
Uh I I just want to make sure that I acknowledge that this is these these folks have served and there are so many others in this audience and who are listening today that we have not even met yet. And so I want us to be ready for that and I want to say that I'm here for it. And if there's anyone out there, please let me know. We can do this work.
I I do want to just say that um for anyone hearing my voice, I ask the same thing I asked in 2017, which is to stay engaged, push harder, and to go deeper. Learn the business of your city government. I say it again, learn the business of your city government. Those are your tax dollars.
We must work together as one for the Durm community. To the next city council, you will face many voices, many opportunities, and many challenges, but you will find more people ready to help, more partnerships to build and infinite possibilities to keep the Bull City gritty and strong. So, I will end with this. So long to the long council meetings and I wish you the next council great success in protecting the collective public interest and the public purse of the city of Durham. Both city strong. [applause]
[cheering] >> [applause] [applause] >> And I just forgot one last thing. Uh we have some elections coming up in March and I want to make sure everyone knows early voting starts in February. Uh be be ready and again Bull City strong. Thank you and thank the mayor for uh presenting the plaque.
I do want to just read it and say it's the city of Durm Outstanding Service Award for Community Advocacy and Honoring Dedrianna Freeman, elected Durm Ward One Council Member November 7th, 2017. Reelected Ward 1 council member November 2nd, 2021 to December 1st, 2025. [applause] >> Thank you. When I say Driana,
you say for the people. Driana. >> For the people. >> Driana.
>> For the people. >> When I say Driana, you say for the people. And your flowers. For the people.
>> For the people. >> When I say Adriana, you say for the people. >> And give her power. Rihanna >> for the people.
>> For the people. >> For the people. >> When I say, >> you say for the people. Driana.
>> For the people. >> Driana. >> For the people. >> When I say for the people, you say Driana.
For the people. >> Driana. >> For the people. >> Driana.
>> When I say Driana, you say for the people. Driana >> for the people. >> Driana >> for the people. >> When I say Driana,
you say we thank you. Driana. >> We thank you. >> Driana.
>> We thank you. >> When I say Driana, you say we see you. Driana. >> We see you.
>> Driana. >> We see you. >> And I see you all. >> You say Driana.
You say, "We love you, Driana. >> We love you, >> Driana. >> We love you, >> Deana. >> We love you, [cheering] >> Deana.
>> We love you, >> Deana. " >> Teach Rihanna, >> we love you. >> We love you. >> I love you, too.
[applause] Before we >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Every time you said you know who's the community, I think you know who the community is now. Sir, [laughter] [cheering]
[applause] >> before we proceed, I would like to uh just take a moment. Uh obviously we've had a lot going on the last couple of weeks uh and it's been overshadowed by the uh the disruption of of our lives here in Durham um with the invasion of ICE uh and Border Patrol. So we have some things going on that we did not get a chance to talk about. And before we proceed, I'd like Mayor Pro Tim to um re read and recognize what the city of Durham received uh while in Salt Lake City.
Thank you. Good evening, your honor. Good evening, honorable colleagues, to our staff to all in chamber with us this evening. uh just a few week Durham's always collecting awards and I was honored uh to be along with council member Freeman in Salt Lake City last week week before last uh where Durham was once again honored for our groundbreaking [clears throat] uh and paradigm shifting work in digital
um the digital area and in and uh integrating digital and and technology uh into our city services. Uh, digital cities 2025 survey winner, city of Durham, seventh place for cities with a population of 250,000 to get this 499,999 just under 500,000. So they they cut it off. But congratulations Durham once again for being recognized for our exploits uh in the digital world.
And I don't know who I'm going to get this. I need to turn this over to somebody. But uh congrats >> [applause] >> So that'll go to our TS department. Thank you all for your your amazing leadership uh technology solutions. Um thank you for uh resetting my password when I lose it and thank you for winning a half million dollars. Mayor Pro Tim, it is uh been a journey to work with you uh as it has been with
Council Member Freeman. Uh obviously you and I have a a close relationship. You're my brother. You are um someone that I've relied on.
You have served as my mayor prom um and I've followed your lead on learning how to do this council thing. and I just want to say that I am grateful for you. Please share a few remarks if you will. >> Thank you.
And let me apologize for any slip ups. They're all attributed to me and the the exploits and victories are attributable to you. Um thank you Mr. Mayor and colleagues and to everyone in chamber.
I want to firstly acknowledge um my sister Dedanna Freeman. Our our careers have had a quantum entanglement uh over the years. Um, the Bible says to weep at your coming in and rejoice at your going out. So, I hope that you will find time and space uh to rejoice. Uh, no one in this chamber knows better than me that you aren't finished yet. No one
in this chamber knows better than me that you aren't finished yet and that your voice will not be silenced. I congratulate you and as a citizen of Durham, I want to thank you uh for your service. This election is over and the people have spoken. We've got something going on in our public square right now where there are some people who cannot exist without conflict.
This election is over and it's time to govern. There is a germ in our public square where there are some folk who define themselves only by enemies. They cannot conceive of a context of building without strife, without conflict, without ranker. It's almost as if they are afraid to operate in an environment of peace and mutual respect. There are some people in our public square who can't get through a conversation for the life of them without insulting someone before it's over.
So, I want to say to the people of Durm, those of us that are in the overwhelming majority, resist, rob it of its oxygen, turn it off. Unplug it. It's time to govern. I know all of these people on the day.
I know all of the people that are coming in. We have eight, seven exceptional people that will lead us. They are all brilliant in their own right. You don't have to agree with them on everything, but respect them.
Challenge them. Yes, challenge them vigorously, but give them the benefit of their humanity. Be impatient. Yes, be insistent, but be open.
Stick to your principles. Stick to your ideas, but realize that there is a disease going around that has infected some and it's given folk the ridiculous proposition that they're always right. Press, but be patient
and do not deny these eight exceptional people their humanity because at the end of the day, they are our servants and the crappiest people on the planet are the ones who treat their servants poorly. I salute those that are coming in. I want to congratulate council member elected Burrus, my council member as a war two representative, council member Matt Kopac, council member Chelsea Cook, and to my brother and friend, his honor, Mayor Leonardo Williams. They deserve our respect.
They deserve our engagement. I'm asking those of you that are so inclined to please pray for them and lift them up. Yes, engage, but remember they're human and they're doing it because they love this city. Each and every one of them.
Tonight, I want to thank particularly the people of Abundant Hope Christian Church and my family. I see you out there. Where my flowers at, man. [laughter] I asked for gift cards anyway. I want to thank the people particularly
of Abundant Hill Christian Church. my actual real job, who permitted me to do this. There's an instinct amongst people when they love you to want to protect you, uh, to jump in front of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. And these folk have watched for eight years and swallowed that instinct, muted that instinct to come to defense, to engage in the fight.
You have shown great character in the face of some characters and I thank you for that. " >> You don't need a whole lot of long validictory addresses tonight because tonight is not about what has happened. Tonight is about what will happen. What an unlikely place it is for me to be tonight. I was born uh in a neighborhood that was considered the crack capital of America. I fell asleep listening to uzies go off
in a park at night and then I woke up in the morning and had to deal with yo mama jokes with a speech impediment. So, some of the stuff I've dealt with in Durham politics has been adorable, comparatively speaking. But how unlikely it is that with all of those things that I would be on this day as tonight speaking to you as the mayor prot. So tonight, Durham, I want you to know I count it all gain and I count it all joy.
So in this season of light and expectancy and hope, may God bless and keep each and every one of you, may God grant wisdom and peace to our mayor and to this honorable council. And may God forever shine a light, protect and keep the greatest city in this nation, city of Durham. Middleton out. [applause]
>> [applause] [applause] >> All right. Thank you uh to each of you. Colleagues, I I know this is not necessarily printed, but if any of you all would like to provide any remarks, I'd like to honor that at this time. >> Council member Cook.
>> Thank you. Um I just want to say a few words about Driana. Um, when I started this role, Driana was the only council member with institutional knowledge who called me to check in to
make sure that I knew what was going on. She's been a mentor to me since day one, on the phone with me, going through agendas, helping me understand uh the the way that the process works, and I know she served that role for many other people as well, but it's been really meaningful for me. I'm going to try not to cry as well. Driana is also working behind the scenes and I try and tell her this all the time.
She already knows it. Um, but I'm going to tell it to y'all as well. When we are going through agenda items and there is a piece of information that is equity centered, more often than not, it's because Driana asked for it to be there at some time in the past eight years. It's incredible.
" Adriana's like, "Yeah, I asked for that. " Um, amazing work, amazing work on an in an equity lens and also for the environment. Uh, Dediana is also a person who responds in a way that I don't I really
I don't even know how she has the time and energy. We get emails all the time to to the broad council email and they'll be asking us um, oh, I have an issue with a sewage leak in my backyard. And by the time that I answer the email, Driana has already been to the house always. She is a person that shows up and she goes in person and that is why people love her so much.
And the fourth and final thing that I think is really special about Dedriana is that there are a lot of folks in this city who have historically not had a voice in this governance. And Driana has been a voice for those folks consistently unabashedly folks who are able to find their voice in local government through Driana Freeman. [applause] We as a city need to think really carefully about whose interests we
represent up here and who is reflected in our leadership. It's not just about race or gender, although those things are important, but it's also about class and it's about history. I'm proud to have served with somebody who took her role in representing the workingclass folks, particularly those of color, and I'm going to try my best to stand up for all Durhamites, as my mentor [snorts] has consistently shown me how to do. Council member Freeman, you are leaving a huge legacy behind you and I hope that we'll take seriously our role in picking up the mantle moving forward.
Thank you. [applause] Thank you all for being here this evening. Uh tonight is bittersweet. We're gaining so much tonight with new voices on this council and we're losing a lot
tonight. Mr. Mayor Prom, get to call you that still. We've had our moments up here, but I have also learned so much from you uh over the past two years since I started.
When you take a position on something, when you speak for something, it's kind of like we have two or three extra council members on this dis. Um, you've so firmly stand on the issues that you believe in and that's something that I've learned so much from over the past two years since I've been here. And there's so much that happens behind the scenes, not on the dis uh that I have learned from as well. You know, your office has been on the opposite side of mine. So, you frequently pass pass by and we we catch each other in the halls and those have been incredibly positive moments and moments where we've been able to to
share uh we've been able to share in in conversation that I have always found uh very useful. Um, and so I'm gonna I'm going to miss that. Uh, Council Member Freeman, I've known you a very long time since you first ran for for council. Um, that was maybe the only time when you first ran that I wasn't quite sure about you.
And then when you came on to council and then I soon soon thereafter I joined the planning commission and got a front row seat to the governance that happens here in the city of Durham. I got to watch you cuz I watch council meetings. I got to watch you and I got to see you. It was one of those things where you show up to events and you always see the same person who's always there.
Um, like Council Member Cook, you you have been a mentor since before I joined council. Someone who I have learned so much from over the years. Um,
someone who I've looked up to and then when I joined council, someone who was there, who who I got to learn from, uh, just by knowing you for so long. uh you've been in on also in the the uh uh office right next to mine and we really are losing um some important voices here tonight. Also, two voices who have been here for a very long time. Um that's not something that should be lost on us.
We're getting fresh new voices which is exciting. We're also losing two people who have been on the Durham City Council and h carry with them huge amounts of institutional knowledge and um we'll feel that we will feel that up here. Um we will learn quickly. Uh we still have folks up here who have institutional knowledge but that shouldn't be lost on us either. So, uh, thank you so much for all that you have put in, all of the work, all of the millions of minutes
that you have put into your service up here, but also in the community all the time. It never really shuts off, does it? Um, thank you so much for all that you've done. Uh, you I want to say you will be missed, but I know I'm going to see both of you around.
So, um, and I look forward to that. I look forward to the to the continued work and engagement of you both. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Yeah. Uh, we are, this is a bittersweet moment tonight. Um, we are losing, as Council Member Baker said, two of the more experienced members in this council. Um, folks who I've learned from, who have been here doing the work, um, and whose voices and and and spirit and leadership will be dearly missed on this council.
As council member Cavier was saying this evening, I think you're the you'll be now the longest serving council member, right? So, we are losing a lot of experience. I'm also losing two seatmates here, you guys. So, it's going to be a little bit lonely up here. Um, but I know we also have two great people
who are going to take your places. Um, to Council Freeman, I just want to say it has been an honor to serve with you. You have the biggest heart on this council. And I think you heard that in the audience tonight.
You have the biggest heart. And that's been that's been meant a lot to me. I've learned a lot. We've not always agreed, but I've always respected the the heart, the voice, and the focus you bring to your work here.
Always about equity, always shining a light on the on the things we often forget to look at in Durham. So, thank you for being here, for serving with me, and I look forward to seeing you soon. Mayor PM, as I've told you many times, I've learned more about governing from you than anyone else in this council. And I'm so glad in your remarks, you talked about the election being over, and now it's time to govern.
And the people of this community expect us to govern, to govern wisely, and to deliver for the people. And so your focus on governing, and again, we also haven't always agreed on things, right? But on governing, on what's next, uh, and on the process of doing the city's business is something I'll never forget, and I will miss serving with
you. So, thank you so much. You've taught me so much, and you'll always be in my mind as I sit up here in the DAS. Thank you so much, brother.
>> [applause] >> Thank you. Um, I have worked with both of you all for eight years. Uh, I think when council member Freeman and I were both we were the only moms of three. We were the only ones who had kids so close together.
Uh, we had a lot of uh shared um shared moments in that. Um, it's a hard thing to do this job. Uh, especially if you have little kids. There are lots of nights that you don't get to be home.
There are lots of things you miss and there's lots of sacrifices you make uh to do this job. And I know that deeply and it's something that um I know we both struggled with over the years. Um it will be in some ways a very lonely place for me on this DAS. Um, we
have all three of us with the councils before have experienced in some ways like with the family honestly a lot of shared trauma um and incredible moments of Durham successes um but no one will remember Tom Bonfield and his lack or or impeccable co poker face in the same way. Um, no one will remember what it felt like to shut a city down in the first week of COVID. No one will remember what happened or how it felt to have a building explode and have a mass crisis in the city. Um, we have a lot of shared memories and moments uh of transitions of council members joining, retiring, um, moving on to higher office and that creates uh, a relationship.
And so I know that you all will both be very very active in the city. I would expect nothing less. I also expect to see you all much lighter on the other side.
Everyone I know who's gotten to the other side just looks so incredibly stressfree. Um and I am deeply envious. Uh and so I just want to say thank you to both of you. Uh again, we didn't always agree.
Um and that's okay. That's part of this job. " So, thank you for your service to the city. Um, I am now the second oldest member up here.
I think Gen X just got decimated. Um, classic Gen X. Um, and uh, I look forward to continuing to serve as your one of your elected representatives. Thank you. [applause] Well, [cough and clears throat]
I' I've given my remarks in a in a in short and I I'll keep this short. Um, Yes, we've gone through a lot. [laughter] But, um, you know, I I think what baffles some people is when they say, you know, um, you know, gosh, you guys argue all the time. You disagree on that, you disagree on that.
Yeah, we might fight. Yeah, we may fuss, but and DJ John, I don't know if you remember this, but when we first opened our restaurant, Dwelli and I, um, we had an event there for Elizabeth Warren, and I wasn't an elected official. I just looked at you all like you were crazy, but you and Josephine um were the last to leave out. And I was
like, "All right, judge. " And I was like, "All right, I'll see you later. " But you were paying attention. You were paying attention to people in this community.
I also remember You know how folks always talk about, you know, you guys don't get along, but it was Dion and Antoine that stayed out. And I think it may have been raining when I had a flat tire. [laughter] >> Stayed out and would not leave. And I thought, "Oh, no, no, you're good.
" Would not leave. That is who we really are, folks. The fact that she gets on my nerves, but I'm fighting back tears that you're
about to leave. I know you're not going to go go anywhere, but that's who we are. So for everyone that likes to make it seem like it's corporate media and the world is coming to an end, we're supposed to debate. We're supposed to play tug of war with policy.
It's a it's a molding process to get the best outcome. the friction, the tension that is created. It takes all of us. And it's that friction and tension that molds the best possible outcome for you.
That's what it's like being up here. So, I appreciate you more than you know. And I'm so grateful for the service that
you have provided in this community. I know you probably remember when I first got up here, I was like, Don is the equity watchdog. In other words, she's not going to let anybody get screwed over. And she holds on to that.
And then it goes into a war or a battle of who's going to care the most. That's what it's like. I remember when I was starting to get interested in local politics. I was doing statewide consulting and uh there was a um there was an opening or position or something to feel counsel and I was like, "All right, I'm going to just do it. And uh I got a call. I I remember doing statewide consulting and they said, 'Hey, you uh no Republicans are going to answer your call if you're a registered
Democrat. " You know, work with Governor Cooper and I go and change my status to independent. " Someone close to me was that honest with me. He said, "You're not even a Democrat.
" And I'm thinking like this is one of my boys. You know, he's supposed to be like, you know, filling my head up about all of what I'm capable of doing. But he was brutally honest. And that is why Middleton and I.
That is how we got so close because he didn't care about who I was. He didn't care about the fame. He didn't care about the popularity. what he cared about. If you're going to
do local politics, you got to be committed to local politics. Your statewide consulting, that's cute. But Durham is different. And the appreciation and commitment and love that he had for this community and has for this community was a model for me to follow because it required me to start looking at myself.
It required me to truly reflect and that's what started molding me to love my local community more than anything else. At the end of the day, North Carolina will be fine because of Durham. Mark, you have taught me so much. I think I've learned the most from you as well.
I've seen you go through the most treacherous of times. And I I could see it almost exploding inside of you. But somehow you were strong enough to just hold it together because you knew that it was bigger than you. You knew that there was a young man looking at you and thinking the world would present you with the impossible.
And yet you have to show the strength of what a black man has to be able to handle. So, I thank you for being my big brother. I thank you for being an example as a leader for young black men in this community, as a leader for the residents in this city. And I thank both of you all for the friction and tension that you created to mold where we are now.
So, I appreciate you both. Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> For the people. >> Ladies and gentlemen, we will now recess for 10 minutes as we transition. >> Thank you. in.
muted sir.
Welcome everyone. We are uh officially we have done our organization meeting. Now at this time I will proceed with swearing in of our newly elected council members and I will start with wart three council member [laughter] you're not ready from the first. So, uh, at this time, you know what, Council Member Cook, you're off the hook.
You're right. >> It is actually Ward One. >> Mr. Kopac, >> welcome.
We will now proceed with your swearing in. And I see that you have Superior Court Judge Shemica Reinhardt to swear you in. You may proceed and invite your guests to the middle of the uh floor. in front of the DAS.
Do you have your come close? All right. Yes. Put your left hand above and raise your right.
I state your full name. I, Matt Kopac, >> have read >> have read, >> understand, and subscribe >> understand and subscribe >> to the code of ethics >> to the code of ethics >> of the city of Durham >> of the city of Durham. and do hereby >> and do hereby >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> and maintain >> and maintain >> the Constitution >> the Constitution >> and laws >> and laws >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> and laws >> and laws >> of North Carolina
>> of North Carolina >> not inconsistent therewith >> not inconsistent therewith >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> and impartially >> and impartially >> discharge the duties >> discharge of my office >> of my office >> as a city of Durham >> as a city of Durham >> take a break over >> colleagues I'm going to recess the meeting until it Okay, thank you.
This is what you are doing. You feel it in your heart. Feel it in your heart. What you are doing?
>> It's okay. Freedom of speech and judge. You know, you know what you >> look As my former teacher once told me,
All right. >> With your permission, can we start that again? All right. So, are you coming back?
Okay. I resume and we'll try this again. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If you
put your left hand above and raise your right. >> I >> I >> state your full name. Matt Kopac >> have read >> have read >> understand >> understand >> and subscribe >> and subscribe >> to the code of ethics >> to the code of ethics >> of the city of Durham >> of the city of Durham >> and do hereby >> and do hereby >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> and maintain >> and maintain >> the Constitution and laws >> the Constitution and laws >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution and laws >> and the Constitution and laws >> of North Carolina >> of North Carolina, >> not inconsistent therewith, >> not inconsistent therewith, >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> and impartially >> and impartially >> discharge the duties >> discharge the duties >> of my office >> of my office >> as a city of Durham >> as a city of Durham >> ward one >> ward one >> council member >> council member >> so help me God >> so help me God >> congratulations sir >> thank >> [applause]
[applause] [applause] >> Madame clerk, are we endorsing our uh Okay, >> you just took office as W one representative city council.
Yeah, >> we have another copy of that. Madam clerk, [laughter] >> I think the superior court judge wants to be on counsel. [clears throat] Thank you. All right.
Next up, we have war two being sworn in by District Court Dorm County District Court Judge Dorothy Haristen Mitchell. Uh we have council member electrus. [applause] [cheering]
[applause] Got somebody hold your Bible. Put your left hand on the bottom. Raise your right. >> You going to have to >> You want me hold?
>> All right. So when I say I, you say I in your name. Okay. I I Shanetta Baris >> have read >> have read understand and subscribe >> understand and subscribe >> to the code of ethics >> to the code of ethics >> of the city of Durham >> of the city of Durham
>> and do hereby >> and do hereby >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> and maintain >> and maintain >> the Constitution >> the Constitution >> and laws >> and laws >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> and laws >> and laws >> of North Carolina >> of North not inconsistent >> not inconsistent >> therewith >> therewith >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> and impartially >> and impartially >> discharge >> discharge >> the duties of my office >> the duties of my office >> as a city of Durm >> as a city of Durham >> war two >> war two >> council member >> council member >> so help me God >> so help me God >> congratulations [applause] >> [cheering] >> Thank [applause] you.
[applause] [applause] We support the Constitution.
Next up, we have been sworn in by Superior Court Judge Shemica Reinhardt, Council Member Chelsea Cook for the War Three seat. [applause and cheering] She's want to come up here. >> Would you hold anything? >> Hold the microphone.
>> Sure. >> Well, you can have your laptop. >> Yeah. You can bring all your supporters, >> Miss Cook.
>> Ready? >> I'm ready. >> All right. Hopefully I won't get interrupted.
All right. I state your full name. >> I, Chelsea Cook, >> have read >> have read >> understand and subscribe >> understand and subscribe >> to the code of ethics >> to the code of ethics >> of the city of Durham >> of the city of Durham. and do hereby solemnly affirm >> and do hereby solemnly affirm >> that I will support and maintain >> that I will support and maintain >> the Constitution and laws >> the Constitution and laws >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution and laws >> and the Constitution and laws >> of North Carolina >> of North Carolina >> not inconsistent therewith >> not inconsistent therewith >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> and impartially >> and impartially >> discharge the duties of my office >> discharge the duties of my office >> as a member of the Durham City Council >> as a member of the Durham City Council >> Ward three member >> Ward three member.
>> So I affirm. >> So I affirm. >> Congratulations, Chelsea. [applause]
[applause] Okay, looks better. [laughter]
This is me. All right. And uh lastly, I will uh proceed and I'll ask my wife, mother, Miss Sandra, my brothers, and my team to join me as well. and I'll be sworn in by uh Dharma County District Court Judge Dorothy Haristen Mitchell. All right, sir. You can put your left hand on the Bible and raise your right.
>> And when I say I, you say I in. Your name. >> I. >> I.
Leonardo Williams >> have read >> have read. understand and subscribe >> understand and subscribe >> to the code of ethics >> to the code of e ethics >> of the city of Durham >> of the city of Durham >> and do hereby >> and do hereby >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> and maintain the constitution >> and maintain the constitution >> and laws of the United States >> and laws of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> and laws of North Carolina >> and laws of North Carolina >> not inconsistent there >> not inconistent assistant therewith, >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> and impartially >> and impartially >> discharge the duties >> discharge duties >> of my office >> of my office >> as the city of Durham mayor >> as the city of Durham mayor. >> So help me God. >> So help me God.
>> Congratulations. >> Thank you. [applause] [applause]
>> [applause] >> Mayor Got. Yes. I love you.
All right. Stuck with me for two more years. All right, colleagues. Welcome.
>> You are officially council members. Thank you. [applause] All right. At this time, I will um just provide some brief remarks.
Uh we'll have brief remarks by our new council members uh who are joining the DAS. if you will. Uh,
Council Member Kopac. Good evening everyone and thank you all so much for being here with us this evening. Being able to sit up here on this das and begin service representing the city of Durham as a member of the city council is just such an incredible honor and feel really overwhelmed at the opportunity and I'm so grateful. I ran for city council because I love the city so deeply, care for our people so deeply. This is home, the only home my kids have known and the home we've chosen and are so grateful to be a part of. And I ran because I wanted to see Durham with time become a city that is more affordable, more just,
more sustainable, and hopefully with time one that is more united. This is a place of close friendship, of tight-knit community, a city that welcomes everyone, and where we look out for each other. I am humbled in part because I have seen such incredible examples of service to this community over the years by many of you in this room and also humbled because I desire so strongly to live up the expectations that you have for all of us who have the privilege to serve on this body and sit on this dis. I'm proud to join my new colleagues on the council. I'm excited to continue work with city staff. I'm excited to partner and work with all
of our incredible city workers and together along with you all be able to work to serve this community. And I want to honor the service of council members Freeman and Mark Anthony [snorts] Middleton for their dedicated service to this city over time as well as my colleagues who have served and are continuing to serve. So thank you all and it's an honor to join you in taking on this role. I give you a sacred promise.
A promise to always listen. I promise to be accessible and transparent. I promise that if you stop me on the street and say, "Matt, there's this thing going on on my block," that I will listen and that I will respect and honor your perspectives. And I promise to prioritize our neighbors who are most vulnerable, especially at a time now where we're more vulnerable than ever.
Tonight, more than anything, I feel incredibly grateful. Grateful for my family, my incredible wife Sarah who supports me through this and through all things in life. My wonderful boys Evan and Eli. I am most proud of all things of you boys.
grateful to my mom, of course, without whom I would not be here and has shown me such love and encouragement and support throughout my life. And to my campaign team, volunteers, supporters, the folks without whom I absolutely could not have done this and would not be here before you this evening. Thank you to all the voters who trusted me enough to allow me to serve. And for everyone else, I ask that you give me a chance to earn your trust
because I desire to serve all of Durham. I'm particularly proud to be able to serve Ward One and intend to give my ward special attention as I seek to serve all of Durham in this role. Finally, thank you to everyone here for your care, for your willingness to push, to question, to dream bigger for the city we love. If we're going to accomplish the goals that we have for Durham, we're going to need each other.
We're more connected than we'll ever know, and there's always something we can learn from each other, and always some good we can do together for this community. Thank you again. I look forward to working together with all of you. I am so excited and I can't wait to get
started. Thank you, [applause] >> Council Member Burris. >> Hello. >> Good evening everyone.
Um, let me remind this is new for me. So, give me space, please. First, I want to give all honor and glory to God. This is not my moment to impose my religion upon you, but I know without God, I would not be in his seat seat right here tonight.
And so, I want to thank God for all the blessings and cover me on this campaign trail. This campaign cycle was not easy. I will not be before you long cuz my campaign site is still up. Everything I said I was going to do, I intend to do on this day is with all of you.
First, I want to give thanks to my mother and my father and my bonus dad who are here tonight. They've been with me since 1987 and they've heard every gripe, every story. I recall when I decided to launch this journey in August, well, no, sorry, April. " And so, we did it. So, I appreciate you, Dad. I appreciate you all for the tears, for
the comfort, for the late night meals. My uncle Marcus, we're only 10 years apart, but I appreciate you still, too. My uncle Marcus for being here with us. Um, Marshall Williams, who has been a tremendous help.
Marshall was with me at every campaign event, answered every call, was there to tell me to slow down, slow all the way down, maybe speed up a little bit, but I appreciate you and the sacrifice she made to help me on this campaign cycle and journey as well. My aunt Trina, I love you so much. Thank you so much for always being a pillar of my life and making sure that I am a strong, proud woman. I appreciate you for that.
I appreciate you all, all the 30,000 people in Durham, over 30,000 people in Durham who decided to vote for me. You had faith in me. As you know, I was the lowest fundraising candidate, but my message was powerful and my commitment was even more powerful to the people of Durm. I am proof that it is not about how you start about, but it's more about how you finish in this world.
So, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. I am a living witness to what it is when you put God first, you stay honest, and you operate your integrity. To Councilwoman Freeman,
well, former council, my bad. It's new for me, too. Um, we've been doing this since NPA program at NCCU. I appreciate you so much for all your teachings, your learnings, and even times we had that knockdown dragout fight.
I still appreciate you. Um, Sora Dorothy, thank you so much for always encouraging me on the campaign trail. I appreciate you for just seeing me when no one else saw me. and I appreciate all your kind words and wish you all the best of luck moving forward.
Anjene, Pablo, everyone I campaigned with this campaign cycle. We had a real community. We had faith in each other. We uplifted each other and I know you all continue to do the work and also hold me accountable.
So, I appreciate you all. I'm not going to come in here and give this long speech tonight cuz honestly, I'm already overstimulated and ready to go home. So, we're just going to keep this nice and cute. Again, I appreciate you, Durm, for the UEIE50 family, all those who stood out in the rain, handing out flyers, everyone.
Again, I'm immensely grateful for this moment. I promise that I don't need any more friends. I am loved. I love myself and I love my family. I'm here to serve our community and to make
sure people are not voiceless. We just don't listen. So, I won't bother you with all the talking points and cliches. Let's get to work.
Let's do it and hold everyone on this board accountable. Thank you all for your time. Council [applause] member Cook. >> Thank you.
And um congratulations to my colleagues. Uh it is a heavy night to be celebratory. I think that we've all sort of been sitting in the in the shadow of of ICE or Customs and Border Patrol returning to our community. And so just a shout out to the folks who have been willing and ready to stand up, put their bodies on the line.
Um it has been a pleasure and an honor to witness that organization and um I just want to acknowledge that before going into my talk. Um y'all heard a lot from me during the campaign trail. I'm not going
to rehash all of my um campaign promises, but just like my colleague, Council Member Burris just stated, um I hope that you will hold me accountable to all of those things. I do want to say that I'm proud of the campaign that I ran in collaboration with so many others. We built off the work of so many before us and pushed for the rights of people over profit. We push for transparency, for care, for centering community, and will we continue to prioritize the working people of Durham.
I look forward to holding you all or for you all holding all of us accountable as we move through these times. And I want to thank a few people specifically. First, I want to thank Laurel Schulman, who couldn't make it tonight, but Laurel is a friend of mine who volunteered to be my treasurer. And those of us sitting up here know how difficult that job is and um how much she had to fight with technology and um deadlines, but she did
an incredible job and it was all volunteer and I'm just eternally grateful. Um next I want to talk about my community. I'm so humbled that people have and continue to show up for me. Uh the folks here, Sarai, Savannah, Julieta, and Sophie.
I've got so many more people. Um it is the real pride of my life that um I've got people in my corner and it's not related to my political leanings or anything else. They just are here for me and they care for me and during this campaign they checked on me and supported me in a way that is just has made me eternally grateful and um and I know when this is all over and done I'll still have that community and um I just couldn't be more honored. Uh, most importantly, I want to thank my spouse who is didn't really want this to happen, but will you stand up?
Please give a stand up. Stand up. [applause] Um,
wow. Uh, this year alone, Mike has been a wedding planner, a campaign manager, the dog walker, the sounding board for me. Um, I'm able to be here today and installed in this position, which is one of the greatest that I've ever been uh able to do because I had a foundation of a person who loves me all the time through all of it. And um I promise you that one day we will have a break.
We will be able to enjoy being married and have a life. Um but it's not this day. Um he has been through behind me every step of the way. I'm eternally grateful for you.
Thank you so much. Didn't know what you were signing up for, but here we are. Um, yeah, I'm just so grateful. I'm fully rooted in love and I am looking forward to serving my favorite city in the world for the next four years.
So, Durham, let's get ready. The work continues. Thank you. [applause]
Well, I'll uh try and keep it short. Um I want to thank everyone who's come out tonight. Um everyone that you don't have to love me, you don't have to hate me. You don't have to have any association with me.
All you have to do is love this city. And that's what matters to me. That's why some people I may despise, but I still embrace you because there's a difference in personal Leo and there's a difference in your commitment to this community. For me, that's what matters.
Um, I am so grateful to uh have our new colleagues on the council. Uh, one because I I've I've gotten to know your families in that matter. you know, uh, Mike, you're you're an amazing man and and one day you will get a break, but it won't be anytime soon. I'm just gonna be honest and and just, you know, um, talk to Zilly and um, yeah, we we'll start a spouse's club. Javier talked about this some time ago um for u, you know, peer
support because we love the city and it's you get addicted to this work, you know. Um, and and Sarah, you know, I remember years ago I sat on Where did they Did they leave? >> Stupid kids. >> Oh, okay.
Uh, I sat on you guys back porch years ago and and just chopped it up and the boards were so small then and then ran into mom and the boards at the train station and catching a train to Raleigh. Um, and just to see them grow up and see your family evolve and it's a beautiful thing. And Shanetta, thanks to your mom for giving me candy at church. uh not long ago.
Uh I really needed it. Uh just amazing amazing people. So the family of the council grows and I'm just you know um yes I'm grateful for my colleagues that have you know stepped down from the council but I'm I'm just as grateful to uh bring fresh legs to the team. I want to thank my brothers uh my fraternity Alpha Alpha. I thank you guys for always being there
with me, always having my back, moving in silence, but moving with power. I appreciate that. More do you know, um, Miss Sandra, my soldier, that I have to calm down sometimes. Thank you so much for your love and support.
m. But thank you because when I always respond because most of the time I'm up thinking about something in this city. Um but thank you for always being there. Um I have another soldier.
I have a lot of soldiers actually. Uh, these are folks that I just try to get them to keep calm and be quiet and they won't. [clears throat] Um, so Miss Miss Thelma, where you at? You and Shay back there.
And yeah, thank thank you all. Thank you all so much for just just riding with me, you know, cutting through the noise and and just knowing that we we we have our eye on the Northstar. um my campaign team, they're very unconventional group of people who are not politicals. There's always about one or two people on my campaign team that knows anything about politics.
The rest are just good people doing their thing and good at something. And that something is always contributing to this community in their own right. My team has always been made up of just normal everyday folks who love this city whom I the people who I have to force to pay. I have to force to pay them. So my campaign team, I know it's a lot of you all that are not here. So for you
all who are listening online, which are texting me right now, thank you. And if you are in the room, just wave your hand. Thank you. Thank you.
[sighs] My mom. My mother. Thank you so much. True definition of a mother.
I know that because my siblings give us hell. And she still stands right there like they're the most innocent people in the world. And no matter what, no matter where she parks, whether it's a mile down the street cuz she can't find city hall, whether it's another mile down the street and we'll walk here. you will always be here and I appreciate that and I love you for birthing me and bringing me into this world. Thank you [applause]
Zanzi my Zimbabwean queen. I am so grateful for you and our son Isaiah who wanted to be here tonight by the way. He is uh doing homework. But I am so grateful.
I think that I'm the mayor of this city because I married you. You helped me see more in myself than I ever could have imagined. I tease people and I tell them I was the happiest broke teacher you'd ever meet. You came into my life and you proved to me, you showed me that I could be an even better teacher and an even better principal and an even better school administrator.
And then we challenged each other to take risks. We built businesses together. We built a
life together. We have fed thousands of people together. and we're leading the city together. So, I am so grateful for you.
I thank you. I love you. Thank you. [applause] And to everyone, all of my supporters and all of the elected officials, we have county commissioner members here tonight.
Thank you for your support and being here on a night that you don't even have a meeting. Chair alam commissioner Jacobs and your colleagues. We're so grateful for you and your service and thanks for supporting us. This uh Durm politics is unique and we embrace it all.
We show the true diversity of conflict and camaraderie. We show the true diversity of politics from one spectrum, one end of the spectrum to the other. But I will tell you what I as mayor will be relentless on. We are going to work together to make this city a better place.
That does not mean that you have to become besties with someone. It does not mean that you have to cowtail and be nice to everybody. But in order for us to move forward, there must be mutual respect. And you even have the choice not to be a part of that.
And I don't make promises that I can't keep. But one thing I will promise is the city will move forward. It will grow. It will build. It will
develop. And we're going to make each other better. And if you're not on that train, just remember that's a choice that you made. You can yell to the top of your voice.
You can scream. You can spew hate. But it is a choice that you made. Don't regret when you're left behind.
Concern will move forward. Agreements and disagreements alike, but there will be progress. So, believe it or not, we have a whole meeting agenda to get to. So, I'm going to get to that. And we have we have one more thing to do. I have to select a mayor proton.
Mark Anthony Middleton is gone. And I put some thought into this and I would like my colleagues to oblige because I'm going to ask for a motion. I'd like to make a little history tonight. Council member Javiera Caballero, I would like to ask you to be mom prom. [applause] You currently serve as an atlarge Durham City Council member. You have won two terms, initially appointed in January 2018 and is now
serving in her second full term as the first Latina council member. Javier has worked diligently to amplify the voices of all Durham residents she represents. She has advocated for better language access policies and improved engagement with immigrant communities. Javier has also led important housing policy work through the city county DPS housing task force.
Javier came to the United States from Chile as a child. [clears throat] She represents so many of the vulnerable communities right now. Her family eventually settled in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been fortunate to have lived in several places across the United States from Boom, North Carolina, where she attended college to Chicago, Illinois. Javier and her husband Mark are the parents of three fantastic kids. And I'll add,
we have not always agreed. As a matter of fact, when I came on council, she was one of the people I was told to watch out for. But in order to move forward, you do have to have an open mind. And I listened and I started to learn.
I learned more of what we agreed on and more of what we disagreed on. There were some things she would say and I didn't like the way she said it. But then there were some things that she would punch through adversity and I would be thoroughly impressed. And over time, I realized that, you know, some people are just relentless.
They're going to achieve a goal. And that's when I started to see the juggernaut in her. And I appreciate that.
This is someone who we our relationship has evolved significantly. When I came on council, it was rough. And now I seek advising. I seek her advice on her purview, her lens on housing policy.
I seek her advice on some of the toughest situations. And I assigned her some of the most rigorous assignments on council last year without being mayor prom. [snorts] If anyone has worked for this position, it is the one that holds the most institutional knowledge on this council at this time. So, with that being said, colleagues, I'll ask that you oblige and I move that we appoint Council Member Javiera Caballero as the mayor prom of the city of Durham.
>> I second that motion. Madame clerk, how should we proceed? Can you open the vote, please? >> Certainly.
>> All right, member Caballero, you can vote for yourself. You >> You have to vote, ma'am. Thank you. Please close the vote. For the first time in Durham's history, we now have the first Hispanic mayor prom. [applause] [applause]
Madam clerk, will you please change the placard? Colleagues, at this time I will indefinitely recess the organizational meeting. >> Mr. Mayor, pardon me, Mr.
Mayor. You need to administer the oath of office for mayor. >> Oh, that is right. I retract that statement. >> Council member, I'm sorry. Mayor Pro Tim Caballero, please proceed to be sworn in.
I state your name. I, Alexander Havier Cavayto, >> have read, understand, and subscribed >> have read, understand, and subscribed >> to the code of ethics >> the code of ethics >> of the city of Durham >> of the city of Durham >> and do hereby solemnly swear >> and do hereby solemnly swear >> that I will support and maintain >> that I will support and maintain >> the Constitution and laws >> the Constitution and laws >> of the United States >> the United States >> and the Constitution and laws >> constitution and laws >> of the state of North Carolina >> of the state of North Carolina >> not inconsistent therewith, >> not inconsistent therewith. >> And that I will faithfully >> And that I will faithfully >> and impartially >> and impartially >> discharge the duties of my office >> discharge the duties of my office >> as the city of Durham Mayor Prom. >> as the city of Durham Mayor Prom.
>> So help me God. >> So help me God. Congratulations. [applause]
True. Thank you. All right. At this time, I will now and definitely recess the organizational meeting and resume to our uh regularly scheduled programming.
Madame clerk, will you please call the role? >> Certainly. Mayor [clears throat] Williams. >> I'm here.
I'm sorry. >> Mayor Prom Cabayro >> here. >> Council member Baker >> here. Council member Burrus >> present.
>> Council member Cook >> here. >> Council member Kopac >> here. >> Council member Wrist >> here. >> Thank you. >> I skipped one part. Uh colleagues, I need to recess this for about five
minutes. >> Five five minute break. And in colleagues, if you can meet me right in front of the Yes. Where you talk to them? It's all good.
I'll get you a lost balance. Thank you.
What do we do with that?
I never
Sorry, sorry, sorry. It's good.
So, I'm going to do uh three different shots here, but I'm going to move fast.
And if you're doing it >> Yeah, she's coming now. I don't remember all this. [laughter] This is it.
Testing. Testing. All right, here we go. We are we've had the roll call.
Uh we've opened up. We're going to have brief announcements. Colleagues, if you have announcements, let's have brief announcements. I do have a few and we'll get on with the agenda and uh get out here and get home.
All right, Council Member Kopac, welcome to the first seat. >> All right. Thank you. Well, I already had the floor, so I'll keep it brief.
Um, you know, it's been remarked the experience Durham has had with the invasion of ICE and kidnapping of our neighbors. And there's been talk of the community response to that, how we've come together. This is a policy body, but it's also a body powerful for organizing with the access we have to connections and resources. And I want to acknowledge the work that's happened this last week around food distribution. Um supporting and building on the important food security
network that already exists. Um groups like El Centro Espano, Durham Public School Foundation, Durham Forall, El Futuro, Emanuel Food Pantry coming together to form uh Durham public schools strong. And I want to acknowledge Mayor Prom Caballero's role in this response, helping use her connections and relationships along uh with uh the deep work of folks in community to pull that together and serve thousands of our neighbors in the last week who are fearful of leaving their homes. Um so I want to thank you, Council Member Cabro, and everyone else in the community who responded in this way in the past week.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Baker. Thank you all. First, I just want to acknowledge and shout out um the people's table.
>> Go ahead. >> Keep going. >> Um who are serving hot food on a cold night right outside of city hall. Um so,
thank you all for the for your service and for being for being out there and serving people. Um, I also want to call out by now everyone has has probably heard about um immigration enforcement coming once more to the triangle coming to Raleigh um for the next 30 days and the terror that this brings to families uh in Durham and across the triangle. Uh they are not welcome here. Uh our our immigrant communities are are welcome here.
Uh we do not want uh immigration enforcement in Durham. I think that that uh it should be made loud and clear from all of us who believe that. Um we don't we do not want ICE here. We do not want uh Border Patrol here. Uh in response to that, uh we do have amazing communities stepping up to support one another um to keep an eye out. uh whistle kits being
put together and being distributed um folks who are step uh stepping up uh to to support one another and um distribute aid mutual aid groups. So for everything that is happening um as usual the bright light is the people of this city um the community that come together uh to to help one another. that is the that is the bright light in in this terrible terrible situation that that we're experiencing and that our that our uh many neighbors are experiencing. So, I want to lift that up and and um and show appreciation and just show the awe um that it inspires um the the community coming together and organizing. Um and that's something that we're going to need not just for this moment but over the next three years is and and beyond is is um there is no uh light at the end of the tunnel but for communities
stepping up and organizing getting organized uh building unions uh getting organized in neighborhoods um tenants workers and neighbors united. So that is uh that is the hope that I see that is what inspires me every single day to to be up here. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Rrist.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, colleagues. Again, thanks again to um or or congrats again to my colleagues who have served so well who will no longer be with us and also to my new colleagues on the on the dasis.
It's great to have you all um and look forward to working together with you on this new council. Um yeah, and congrats to the new mayor prom. What an honor that is. Um I did also want to say I want to echo some of the comments about the the response here in Durham.
I am so so proud of this community for responding the way it has to the tremendous concern about ICE here and families who literally did not want to go out um to work or to the store or to school. And so um I was so glad glad to be part of the Durham Community Care Collective. I think council now now mayor Pertam Cabierro and others helped
to organize that. What an amazing effort. I was so proud to be at WG Pearson a couple times in the last week working with so many community members including my friends Eric and Elizabeth with with whom we worked in the freezer like loading frozen blocks of ground beef. Incredibly uh freezing work but but great work.
I'm so proud of all the folks friends I've known for forever and new friends I met at WG Pearson all working together. By last count there were I think they distributed 23,000 meals. This this is just a Durham Community Care Collective, right? 23,000 meals to over 1100 families in Durham who are so desperately in need and so fearful of the raids going on.
So so proud of our community for stepping up. Um and yeah we we'll keep doing what we got to do to protect our neighbors. So uh thank you all for who all all the folks who supported that with money with time and other uh with food and so forth. Also, if I can maybe scoop the mayor in this one, I want to recognize also someone special in the room tonight.
Um the former mayor of St. Louis who's also a really good friend and old colleague. So Tashara, thanks for being with us here tonight. So glad
to see you here in the bowl city and I look forward to you coming to join us many more times and I know your son's a big star and I look forward to seeing a couple games at Southern with you. So thanks for being here. >> Well, good evening for like the fourth time. Um uh yes, I think I've made my statements and I uh just want to respect everything that's been set up here with respon with regard to um ICE and uh Customs and Border Patrol and the community response.
I'm super proud of um just going to talk about a couple of things really quickly. The first is that I want to recognize it is World's World AIDS Day. Um I the more I talk to folks in the community, the more I realize how many people are deeply ingrained in the work of um of supporting folks who are living with HIV AIDS and also of ending the epidemic. We have a quite a high rate of folks living with HIV AIDS in Durham.
Um and I want to give a shout out to the coalition to end HIV. Is that right? I can't that's a long time but anyway a coalition of lots of awesome um
activists and groups in Durham that are working tirelessly on that. want to give them a little shout out. And then the last thing is that um I had the opportunity to do the intro speech at Jordan High who was selected from around the country as the school that got to do the premier partnership with Broadway and put on Water for Elephants. It was so amazing.
So, Waterford Elephants is coming to DACA, the Broadway version um already, but we in Durham had the opportunity to have kids at Jordan High who trained with Broadway staff. Um it was a fully uh youth supported production, so they did all of the set and the costumeuming and the music and the directing and the lights. Um and it was I mean it see it felt professional. people were literally like doing uh they were hanging from like like ropes in the sky
and like doing acrobatics. It was amazing. Uh so shout out to Jordan High. So incredibly proud that Durham uh got to be that premier partnership and excited to see how other schools adapt it after um Jordan got to put their stamp on that.
So that was really exciting. Those are my announcements. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Prom.
>> Thank you. Uh, good evening everyone. Uh, thank you to my colleagues for your support. I look forward to working um even more um in this new role.
I want to welcome um new colleagues and welcome to Council Member Cook on the other side of from being an appointee to an elected. There is a difference sometimes. Um and uh I have a lot of announcements but I just wanted to extend greetings um to new colleagues and uh look forward to working with you. Uh my door is always open. Uh I have a a lot of institutional memory in this brain at this point. um
and happy to answer whatever questions you may have, whatever quirky thing that may be a thing that nobody really understands why it's that way, but it just has been carried from one tradition, from one council to the next. Um and um I know we're going to get a lot of incredible things done for our community. Uh, I want to also thank my colleagues for bringing up um the the continued um kind of difficulties and challenges we're faced with when we have both border patrol and ICE in our community. And we know that there there's a potentially month-long planned um enforcement over the next, you know, over the holiday season which will be really really challenging.
Um, and then finally, I do want to talk about the work of the Durham Community Care Collective. This is a group that was pulled together very quickly. Uh, we had a brainstorming uh, Zoom the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Saturday we had our first distribution. So, you have to
think in 96 hours. We stood up an entire food operation and fed 600 families on at our first one. Uh, we fundraised over $100,000. We were extremely grateful.
We were extremely lucky and I'm so grateful that student u because of the Thanksgiving week uh that they weren't doing programming in the WG Pearson uh building and so they opened their doors uh and let us come in and use so many of their spaces which would not if we had not had that space we would not have been able to distribute the amount of food we were able to distribute day one relief they do um crisis like natural um disaster relief and so have a lot of logistical experience uh who came in and and helped helped us get lots of folks through the doors, lots of partner organizations, uh, groups from LEAP to El Futuro. I want to shout out so many teachers, guidance counselors, principles who spent their holiday making sure that the kids in their buildings and the families in their buildings were getting fed. I
want to I want to shout out Kelly in the city attorney's office who I think I saw at least four times. Um, and I want to shout out every single person who spent hundreds and hundreds of hours over the holidays, uh, over Thanksgiving, ensuring that we were able to feed I think we fed 600 families the first distribution, 600 families the second distribution, and 800 families the third distribution. Uh, we moved thousands and thousands of pounds of food. Um, and it was all volunteers from all across Durham who showed up and made sure that their neighbors were fed um and had other basic necessities like diapers.
Um, that is what Durham is. That is what Durham will always be. Um, and I think it is in those moments where I see the deep strength and resilience of our community. Um, it is in those moments where I understand and and and see uh hope in action. I see resiliency in
action and I see the deep commitment to neighbors. Uh, I also want to shout out the heart team. They delivered 80 meals to individuals across the city for folks. And the way that we structured it is we don't know who the end users are.
The partner organizations may know that, but the folks distributing food don't know that. and targeted communities aren't in the building doing the volunteer work and that was the way we felt was the safest uh way to get needed needed resources out. um it will continue uh because we are still under deep threat. And now we have the the fear that has also then turned into major uh necessity because folks didn't go to work for days.
And so now we're going to have the crisis of lots of people not being able to pay their rent or their light bill or their water bill u because they weren't able to go to work for 4 days. Um and that also has a um economic impact. There were several restaurants who were closed in Durham because they didn't have workforce.
There were several construction sites that were closed because they didn't have a workforce. So for those of us who think or those folks out like, "Well, I'm not an immigrant. " It really does actually impact you. When you have thousands of DPS students not in school buildings, guess what?
Student funding is tied to numbers. If those kids aren't in DPS, the funding gets cut. That impacts your kid, too. That means that the teachers don't there's not as many a loted teachers.
There's not many as many aotted guidance counselors. So, it is everyone's fight because we all are part of this city. We are all what makes this city go and work. Every single one of us, whether you're an immigrant or not, every single one of us have a right to have a life of dignity.
And so, this is not going to end. But I know that Durham will come out on the other side stronger because we always do. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Um and
shout out to the uh the previous council for approving the offer funds to make that community kitchen possible. Um what a way to use it. I uh have quite a few announcements that I'm going to say really fast. Um yes, you stole my thunder.
Thank you to my friend Tashar for uh hanging out in the Bull City. uh Tara Jones uh just a sister mayor who I look up to and was really leading uh leading the way in so many on so many fronts and we serve on the board of the African-Americ the national African-American mayor's association and uh when she text me and was like hey I'm in the Bull City I was like come to city hall we hanging out on Monday and mayor speak you know it's kind of exciting it's like our hangout spot uh so thanks for hanging out with us tonight and um yeah we'll we'll hang out for uh in in a little bit. Uh briefly, uh we we lost two Giants in our community. Uh Rodney Rogers, who was a Hillside basketball
player who uh went to uh Wake Forest and then yeah, former NFL over here. [laughter] Uh and and uh then went off to the NBA and I mean was a powerhouse. uh was, you know, uh unfortunately he had an accident that left him paralyzed and uh but his his his spirit became even bigger and uh he's just such a giant in our community. He recently passed.
Uh as well as um um we we had someone else to pass and I'm drawing a blank. Um, Willis Wchard, another political giant in our in our state, uh, from Durham, uh, who has shaped much of the political spectrum in Durham. I mean, in North Carolina as well as Durham. Um, so just really grateful for their service, but the the outsized impact that they had on our community.
something technical. I'd like to bring our friends who are still here two hours and 30 minutes after they uh were supposed to leave, our board of election folks. I have a question for you. I we I'm I'm I'm putting this on the record tonight.
We just recently spent about $1 million on this evening, what you saw tonight. tonight. All of the festivities, all of the things you saw, that was $1 million. What I mean by that is this election that we just had was $1 million.
The price goes up every year. And I am formally asking for the board of elections to come back in to city hall and provide us an analysis on the elections on the schedule. If you can just come come up real quick. Um um right now Durm has an election every um
every two years on odd years. So uh would it be possible that you guys could come back in and give an analysis on what we're spending in elections? Um when the election schedules are just so we can begin that formal conversation for us to consider. >> We would love to.
>> Thank you. Dude, that was a 2 and 1 half hour wait to say we would love to. >> Happy to do it. Thank you, Mr.
Mayor. >> Thank you. I I just wanted to make sure you all were here when I formally asked uh for us to uh for you to be able to, you know, um bring that back up for us to talk about because there there are a couple of things uh colleagues I think we should address. I wanted to wait until after the election.
Um the mayoral term is two years. Uh I love it may not be may not be me in this seat but I'd love for us to consider that being four years and as well as uh moving our election to uh even years or at least looking at the pros and cons of it. Um what you know just an analysis of voter turnout the
amount of money we're spending and from our taxes from our tax base from our residents. So uh if you guys would be amanable to that I'd love that. Thank you. Have a good night.
All right. Uh, we're going to get moving. Uh, again, welcome to our new colleagues. Uh, Mayor Pro Tim Caballero, it's great to have you in this position.
Uh, thank you. Um, and I believe that's all of my announcements. Oh, yeah. Uh, you've heard it.
You've heard it mentioned uh tonight. I won't read the statement but I will be publishing a statement. Uh I know there's a lot of you know uh anticipation of you know we are going to have uh more ICE rates or you know we're going to have border patrol back in our city. I've heard that there will be.
I don't know. I cannot confirm that information. I want to say on the record the mayor cannot arrest ICE. I don't arrest anyone actually. Uh and the city
manager cannot direct the Durham Police Department to arrest ICE officers. Um, we did also did not invite them to our city. They do not have to let us know when they were coming. They did not have to give us any information.
As a matter of fact, they uh told me to get off get out of the building when I was in DC trying to ask questions. Uh, I was frustrated when I went, you know, and talked to some Congress members uh about it. They were worried about Epstein fouls. Um, when we have a c we had a crisis on the ground.
Um, uh, Congresswoman Fushchi, uh, we sat down and met and she she was really concerned and I appreciated that. Um, but yeah, DC is a very strange place right now and, uh, hopefully, uh, we'll just continue to remain resilient. I will say that, uh, you know, there is a lot of misinformation that can get out there. That's only because I don't think it's I don't think it's ill will. I think that we're all just, you know, we're really we're scared to be honest. Um and so
[clears throat] according to the law for entry um proper property must be respected. There's no entry allowed unless they unless they have the proper paperwork. Regarding that proper paperwork must be a judge signed warrant with the specific name of the person they're seeking and Miranda rights must be read if someone has been arrested or detained. Now, there are a lot of community groups.
Um, I'm not even going to start naming because there's so many, but I I will say as mayor, I'm going to try and get them as much funding as possible to support them and continue the work that they're doing because they're leading. And with the organizations that are leading, it allows us to keep the integrity of the city from being a target of this administration and still allow Durham to be as resilient and defiant as we need to be. And I appreciate each and every last one of them. I appreciate the mutual aid uh campaigns that have been happening. Uh
Durham is defined by our values, not our fear. And uh I will uh release this statement in full to the uh to our media outlets. And as soon as we do hear something, we're constantly and tirelessly working to source information to be as concrete as possible so we don't cause an alarm, but we do and we must remain diligent uh as a community. So I thank you Durham for for being who we are.
With that being said, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I became one year older on Friday after Thanksgiving and I uh had a very adventurous nap. I slept. That was my gift and my family.
Thank you all for all you did for my birthday and including that amazing food. All right, guys. Let's get to work here. Let's get through this agenda.
One last thing. We're going to start this in the next meeting, guys. But I will say, colleagues, um we're going to uh see
some of our procedures start to be activated here uh to help us get the meeting going and moving forward. You'll receive that email and then at the opening of the next meeting, I will talk through those so the public can be aware as well. But you'll see that already we have a different seating chart on the DAS. We will have a different seating chart in the work session.
our offices have changed. Um and uh we will have u we will have a new way of uh addressing um our uh uh I'm drawing a blank questions and debate or whatever on cases zoning and annexation cases. But I'll get into all of that in the next meeting. Uh the time is late so let's get through this.
I'll now provide space for the city manager to uh address any priority items. >> Thank you and good evening, mayor, mayor prom, members of council. Uh first, on
behalf of the over 2600 employees uh in the city administration, I want to offer congratulations to Mayor Williams, to council member Cook, and to council members Burris and Kopac. All of you on your successful elections. We look forward to serving with you. I also uh extend the administration's congratulations to Mayor Prom Caballero on your naming to this important post.
We're excited to continue the great work of this council. For priority items this evening, uh I would just note that agenda item number four was referred back to staff to be placed on a future uh agenda and we'll be bringing that forward. And agenda item number seven, that's the subreient agreement with the housing authority of the city of Durham for the Calvert Place and Main Street Town Homes rehabilitation. Additional information that was requested from council during the November 20th work session has been attached under agenda item number seven.
Those are my priority items. >> Thank you so much, Madam Attorney. >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Madame Mayor Prom, and members of the city council. I
echo the manager's congratulations to those who have recently won re-election or new election. I look forward to serving you. I will be in touch with you, council members Burris and Kopak about getting your arms around the legal aspects of running a city very soon. Uh, and I have no priority items other than that.
>> For the record, I did ask her. I said just give them a little time because it can be a lot. Breathe it from a fire hose. >> All right.
Uh, Madam Clerk, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor, and welcome, Madame Mayor Prom, and new council members. and um really enjoy watching the the changeover of our democratic system. It's been it's been great to see without any insurrection. Um I did want to mention that uh the citizen advisory commission vote has been completed for the nominations and council has selected Michael Jones and Bonita Green as the nominees for the um
appointment. And if we could have a motion for this vote this evening, um, we can have them installed. >> Thank you so much. >> That's her.
She's asking for >> that. >> Okay. All right. So, wait.
So we don't >> What about GBA? Well, >> typically I announce >> you just Yeah, let's just do >> committee right now during my um items, but if you want to wait, we can wait. >> No, we can do it. I'll entertain a motion to accept the uh Michael Jones and Medita Green.
>> So moved. >> It's been moved to probably >> my second. Oh, okay. All right. Sorry. Um, madam clerk, please open the vote.
>> Thank you. Please close the vote. >> The motion passed unanimously. >> Thank you so much.
All right. At this time, I'll read the consent agenda. Item number one, Durham City County Environmental Affairs Board appointment. Number three, appoint approval of city council minutes.
Number four, designation of 500 West Main Street. Number five, second amendment to contract number 20626 with Open Table Ministry Incorporated to provide temporary weather related emergency shelter and supportive services. Number six, Lakewood Avenue stream stabilization and enhancement. Number seven, subreient agreement with the housing authority of the city of Durham DHA for the Calvert Place and Main Street Town Homes Rehabilitation.
Number eight, contract with ESRI Incorporated to adopt the new >> ARCG. >> ARC GIS. >> Arc GIS. Yep.
>> ArcGIS licensing model. Got it. Number nine, amendment one to the professional services contract with CDM Smith Incorporated for the miscellaneous waterline replacement phase one project. Number 10, amendment two to professional services contract number 17641 with Hazen and Sawyer PC for the Williams Water Treatment Plant Basin Improvements Project.
>> GBA number two, Citizens Advisory Committee appointments were just approved. >> Mr. Mayor. Yes.
>> I just we have a we had that as a pulled item from the public. >> I don't know if she >> Oh, I didn't see this up here. >> Okay. Number two has been pulled.
>> Yeah. >> All right. >> It wasn't pulled. It was already >> It was >> That was the one you guys, >> but we just took action and it was a resident that pulled it. >> Yeah. Um, so I'm going to have to retract that
vote because it was pulled. >> You can't retract retract it, but you can still hear. >> You can hear her comments. You can't retract the vote.
You've already voted. >> Okay, just one moment. Stay right there. >> AOC.
>> Uh, and number 12, which we have speakers. Okay, that's the zoning map change. All right. Number 14, municipal elections results.
We already did that as well. Um, but it has to be approved formally. All right, that is the consent agenda with item number two. We'll hear we've already voted on it, but we need to hear your comments because you had signed up for it.
>> Okay. What was the vote? I'm sorry. I was outside running my mouth.
>> Yeah, we we we voted to approve, but I did not see this up here, so I didn't want to I didn't want to miss your comment. >> Right. Who did y'all approve? >> Uh, Bonita Green and Michael A.
Jones. >> Okay. So, that was my comment was going to be about making sure that Miss Green got approved. But since y'all did that, um, can I use my time for something
else? >> Well, no, it has to be to that point. >> It But hold on because I'm not I'm not to the comments yet. So, let me I'm not to the comments yet.
So, let me >> Okay. >> We don't have >> to item number two. That was >> Yes. >> Okay, got it.
>> And she's asking if she can use >> Oh, no, no, no. Gotcha. >> No, you it has to be gerine to the actual agenda item. And that was number two.
>> It was number two, but um y'all already approved her, but y'all previously I wanted to know why y'all hadn't approved her, but y'all did approve her, which is fine. And um if y'all don't want me to say what I got to say to Diana, that's fine. But what I will say to this new city council that we have, I'm going to say the same thing I said in 2017, I would like for any and all of y'all to please take some time out of your day
and come over across those railroad tracks and be actually in the community with us so you can see exactly what we do in the community. And you know, I live in Ward One. So, Matt, I would love to make sure that we work in the community together and do the things that need to be done for Ward One because it is a lot of things that need to be continue to be done that Diana was doing and um since that I mean I know but I have two minutes and so my two minutes acknowledging that right now. >> Huh?
>> I'm not acknowledging those comments right now. He's not acknowledging the comments, but he is the seat for W one and the rest of y'all. So, y'all work for the people that voted for y'all. And I'm just saying that I'm asking that y'all take time out of your day and your schedule to come be with the community.
I didn't say anything negative or derogatory to any of y'all like I could have or I wanted to previously, but um it is what it is. But also, I want to say thank you again, Diana. I appreciate you and I know that you gonna still be
in the city rocking out with us and if y'all want to be half the woman that Djanna is, make it your business to come across those tracks. >> Thank you. [panting] >> I'll make a motion to adopt the consent agenda. >> Second, >> madam clerk, it's been moved and properly second properly seconded to approve the consent agenda.
Please close the vote. >> Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you. >> All right.
Item number 12. >> Mayor Williams, Mayor Prom Cabaya, and honorable council members. Good evening. I'm Aaron Kaine with the Dorm Planning and Development Department. I'm happy to be here with you tonight. Before I begin, staff would like to state for the record that all planning department items hearing items have been advertised and noticed in accordance with state and
local law and affidavit of all notices are on file in the planning department. 35 acres and located at 1911 and 1915 East Gear Street. The current zoning is residential rural and residential suburban 20. 573 to allow up to 22 townhouse units.
The properties are currently designated apartment and townhouse neighborhood on the place type map. 7573 zoning is generally consistent with the designated place type. Staff and the applicant are here to answer any questions. Thank you, colleagues.
Are there any questions technically for staff? Council member Cook. >> Thank you. Um, just a couple of quick questions. >> There was some conversation about
cutting through to 85. I know this is a textual development plan. Um, but this was brought up by neighbors during the planning commission. Has this conversation happened?
Do you'all have any information about that? >> No. And I cannot imagine NC DOT would allow this development to have direct access to it. That's >> okay.
That was my question. Thank you. Um uh my next question is when we hear concern about specific traffic issues in these projects, do we um have conversation with those neighbors about possible traffic calming options? >> That's not usually a part of the zoning aspect that could be incorporated in any future site plan.
Um but yeah, that's not not typically um involved in any zoning. Yeah. >> If the if neighbors are concerned about traffic and want to uh we can direct them to members of our environmental and street services department that could talk to them about what traffic calming
measures might be available. >> Okay. Yeah. because I know we just added a traffic.
Well, I know we just sort of like did a little bit of a a reorg and I know that we added >> streets a street person to your team. I just want to make sure that we're like not that we're being efficient when we have complaints come up. And so if we already know that there's neighborhoods that are looking for traffic calming mechanisms that like >> we put point them in the right direction so that we don't have to have citizens duplicating their efforts. >> Right.
We'll be happy to do that. Uh yeah, if you can direct anybody to me, I'll make sure they get to the right person to discuss. >> Cool. Yeah, that was just some comments that came up during uh the planning commission as well.
And then um and this might be a question for Mr. Gish when he gets up here, but there was also some uh a question about road placement and wetlands impact. Again, I know it's a textual development plan. >> Um >> any information that you would have about road placement and requirements on those? I can't speak to that
specifically right now. This is really strong. Um I can't speak to that right now. Um there is a stream that is near Gear Street that will need to be crossed.
We're aware of that. Stream uh roads are a an allowable use to cross a stream. Um it is required that it be minimized as much as possible. Um but a road or driveway or anything like that would be allowed to cross that stream.
I can't speak to specific wetlands at this time. That may be something that Mr. Go can >> Thank you. Those are my questions.
>> All right. There are no other questions for staff at this time. I'll declare the public hearing open. Mr.
Go, how much time do you think you need? >> 10 minutes. >> All right. Could you put 12 minutes on the clock, please?
And uh thank you Mr. Kaine for your presentation. Good evening Mayor Williams, Mayor Pro Tim Cavayera, and
members of the city council. Congratulations to our two new uh members and a heartfelt thank you to council members Freeman and Middleton for their years of service and support and dedication to the city. I'm Neil Gos, an attorney with the Morning Star Law Group at 700 West Main Street in Durham, and I'm representing the owners of this property uh on this request for resoning. Um to begin, I want to tell you a little bit about my client here.
They are a small team that generally has done home rehabs. Their company is four people in total, and this is their first venture into a new construction subdivision. They've been working with the folks at Paps Design um to put together a well thoughtout concept and they've made some strong commitments based on you know the development projects they've reviewed in Durham. This is an infill project in that we are already within the city limits and generally speaking there is residential development surrounding us. 5 dwelling units per acre, this project represents a more efficient
use of land than what has previously been developed in this area. 35 acres. So we're talking about a total of 22 town homes. Uh so it's a small project.
Even still, uh they've committed to handling the 100red-year storm. They've also committed to some green building techniques like EV chargers and um energy star specs and they've committed to reducing their impervious to 65% and using native plant species. They've also made some commitments here with respect to infrastructure. They've committed to a 10- foot wide multi-use path across their frontage and they've committed to providing a bus stop if Code Durham wants it across their frontage.
There is an active bus line that goes by this property. I believe it's route three which provides service between Durham station and the Walmart on Glenn School Road. Uh currently there are stops about half a mile from this location in either direction on Gear Street. Uh while this project is expected to generate one
additional student, my client has committed to contributing $5,000 to DPS because of the size of the project 22 units. uh they really couldn't find a way to ensure affordable units in the development, but they have made a strong commitment at $20,000 to the dedicated housing fund. Uh we received almost a unanimous recommendation of approval from the planning commission. I believe the vote was 10-1 though Commissioner Hunter uh I think left before this item before voting on this item.
So her vote was counted as a yes. But anyway, um the recommendation was not without homework. Primarily there were three uh items that came up. First was the tree coverage and at that time I explained that because of the size of this project no tree coverage is required but we already were planning to have tree coverage.
It's just that I did not know how much we were planning at when we were at planning commission. So today we can commit to a minimum of 20% tree coverage which obviously is well in excess of the amount required by the UDO. Uh next
there was a question about the perimeter buffer. Generally, the UDO does not require buffers between residential developments, though in this case there actually would be some required. Um, in some locations in other areas along our perimeter, no buffer would be required. So, we thought it would make sense to maintain a consistent perimeter buffer around the property.
2 opacity buffer, which typically is 10 ft wide. So, we are committing here to providing a 10- foot wide buffer on project boundary buffer along the perimeter of the property. Um, finally, there was a question about the location of open space relative to environmental features on the property. So, here's what I can tell you about that, and I'm not really sure how to form this into a commitment. In the southern section of the property, meaning the frontage along East Gear Street, there are some wetlands. There's also some riparian buffer, not a riparian feature, riparian buffer that
uh goes onto our property. We are not impacting the riparian buffer. Um but because those wetlands are located essentially across our frontage, those wetlands will need to be impacted to some degree by infrastructure. So the 10- foot wide multi-use path, um the driveway to the site, the bus op if it's implemented, those would all impact potentially the wetlands.
So, our concept is to uh surround the rest of the wetlands that aren't impacted with our open space and tree cover areas. And I'm not really sure how to codify that. We don't have exact figures, but we're trying to minimize impacts of wetlands in part by surrounding them with our open space and tree. Um, at the end of the day, I think this is an aggressively conditioned reszoning request for such a small project to begin with.
In my opinion, the developer here has actively demonstrated their commitment to doing quality development. They have explored every piece of feedback they have received and have addressed each piece of feedback with a zoning commitment where it is reasonable to do so. Um, this is the type of
smallcale infel development that is going to contribute meaningfully to the overall housing stock and quality of life in our city bringing the ultimate vision of the comprehensive plan to fruition. Uh when we condensify within the urban growth boundary, particularly in areas that are already within the city limits, we make better use of our existing infrastructure, further stemming the tide of suburban sprawl. I want to thank you all for your time and consideration tonight. Like the planning commission, we hope to have your support on this project.
Our team is available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. All right. And um Jen Witzman Wickman is here. Welcome.
>> Thank you, council. >> Welcome. You have three minutes. >> Excuse me.
>> I said welcome. You have three minutes. Oh, let me set my timer. >> You're good.
Right in front of you. >> Um, m No, look over here. >> There it is. >> Yeah, >> there it is.
>> Madam clerk, you can start over. There you go. >> Okay. Thank you.
Um, my name is Jen Wickman. My name is also um my new married name is Gentra Fire. I like to go by that. >> Congratulations.
>> Fourth. Thank you. The fourth times the charm. Um, I would also just like to thank the council for enforcing decorum tonight because I really feel like um, we live in a society where being polite and respectful is what greases the wheels. And I just really want to say if you don't like what's happening, just do what we all do and get your rich friends to give you a lot of money. Um, create a
rumor about a black woman poking you. >> Yes, Miss Wickman. >> And then Yes. >> Yes.
>> I I have to have your comments, Germaine, to the topic. >> Oh, yes. I'm getting there. Yes.
So, this is how you create change. And what I want to say about change is I fully support this project. I really hope it goes through. And I'm just so glad whenever I see something called market rate because I think those two words just really do a lot um two of my favorite words along with gentrification which is my favorite word because it's so close to my name gentrifier.
So everyone who's ever studied regonomics or read abundance by Ezra Klene my new favorite book um or talked about that citybuilder group that I really like them. They were so sweet. Um, they were so sweet at Morico. They know that the way to lift people out of
poverty is with expensive condos. Market rate does so, so much. And I mean, if people don't like gentrification, they should just get jobs that pay enough money for child care, health care, um insurance, elder care, mental health care, dentist, groceries, medicines, car, car insurance, um rent, plus you know, how you have to pay the mortgage on your investment properties, and of course, cold plunge and sauna and um Pilates classes. So, I really don't see what's so hard about any of that.
Um like my mother, I'm wrapping up. I'm wrapping up. Oh, I've got plenty of time. I don't even need to wrap up. Um, so yeah, we can just keep flooding the market with extremely expensing and that will just lift people right out of poverty. And like my mother used to say in conclusion, well, she said two
things. She always said to me, you cannot put too many raisins in the potato salad. That was thing one. And thing two is um when people don't like gentrification in their neighborhood, you just have to say, "Oh, thank you.
" >> Miss Wickman, thank you so much. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Thank you. All right, send it all tonight. All right, that that was it. All right, those all the comments that I have and I'm going to declare the public hearing closed and back before the
council. colleagues. >> Of course. Council member Cook, go right on ahead.
>> Okay. Attorney G, just a couple of really quick questions. Um, yes. Couple quick questions.
Okay. Could you repeat [snorts] what you're attempting to do around the open space and also maybe this is also a staff question like was there a profer? Is there something that we have worked out? I know >> I say that you didn't know there's no profer.
>> There's no proper >> what I was saying earlier. I don't really know how to turn it into a proper there's some wetlands. So So the comment from planning commission was related to whether it would be possible to locate open space around uh environmental features. The answer to the question is yes.
Now how you make that a commitment I don't really know. Um there there are some wetlands on the site. I think we could probably commit to not impacting the riparian buffer,
which is a feature that the riparian the riparian feature is on an adjacent property. The riparian buffer is on our property. We're not impacting it. So, I think we can make that a commitment to not impact the riparian buffer.
Um, and then you know, generally speaking, our open space is going to be centered on the wetlands that we're not impacting, there will be impacts to the wetland because of where those wetlands are located, right? >> They're right out the front of the property. >> Right. So, is it safe to say that outside of the like necessary wetlands disturbance due to the infrastructure that y'all will not disturb the wetlands otherwise?
>> Is that a fair thing? That is yeah I think that is safe to say yeah I think we could make a commitment that the only impacts to wetlands would be for infrastructure. >> I'm getting some like not psyched but like rough nods from staff. >> We yeah we can work on the final
language afterwards but we can we can work we can work with that and come up with a final >> Sure. Yeah. So I I I would say what the developer is intending to do here I believe is consistent with that policy in the comprehensive way. How you formulate a zoning commitment to reflect that I'm not exactly [clears throat] but I think we can make some commitments about impacts the riparian >> buffer or not having impacts of riparian buffer and limiting impacts of wetlands which the way we're doing that is by putting our tree safe and open space around those wetlands.
Gotcha. where possible. >> Okay, great. Um, sorry, I've lost the map.
I'm trying to pull it back up. Um, at we there was some conversation that y'all thought maybe you did not have to have the ingress egress over the wetlands that there might be a different entrance to the site. >> So, I said that. >> Yes, you did say that. >> After after following up with uh Dan and his group, the reality is there's
wetlands all the way across the front. You have >> the whole front edge. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
you can't avoid them. >> Okay. Thank you. Those are all my questions.
>> Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thanks, Mr.
Go. Um, could you tell me in terms of the 22 units what the sort of price range is on these units? >> I'm sorry. Say that again.
You want to know the price range price for the units? >> So, this uh this developer doesn't have a specific model or price range in mind. That's because as I mentioned what they have done typically this company has done uh rehabs. So this is their first um endeavor into new construction towns.
What what I don't know what they're going to cost. I would say that they are going to be you know what is competitive in in this market. So those numbers are in like the typical sale numbers I think are in the staff report. That's what I would expect that these would be around those same prices. um they instead what
they've what they've done is try to figure out how how they can get uh town homes on this property and then add all of these you know what I would call robust commitments to the zoning. One of the things I didn't mention they've made a commitment to I think it's uh I think it's three units being accessible units >> three with first floor. >> Yeah. Right.
So you know that's something that you typically see particularly in town home development that's you know that's what they're trying to do is of stairs right now. >> Provide a development that that is going to, you know, provide a little bit of something for everyone. Um, but the price point is not something that that they have, you know, nailed down. They've not built this before.
They've not built new construction. >> Yeah. Well, I think I mean, you know, I think if we weren't to do this, I think you could build five homes on this or three. What's So, what would if we didn't approve this, you could build five homes maybe on this parcel? Oh, under the current zoning. Um, >> I don't know if staff knows that.
>> Yeah, I think that would be safe to say you could build five on here, maybe six because I think most of the properties zone Rs 20. >> The assumption is five single family unit. >> Five single under the current zoning. >> Yeah.
So, I think, you know, this is a good info project. It's on a it's on a transit line. Um, it's a small project. Um, I appreciate the profers.
You know, based on the latest analysis I've seen, you know, in the next, as of 2029, we're going to need about 32,000 units of housing based on the population estimates from our um from the folks who run those numbers. So, this is I, you know, that's this is a small chunk of those numbers, but we need more rental. We need more um for sale units. And so, I think this is a great infill project on transit.
Appreciate the profers, and I'll be supporting this. Thank you. Thank you. [snorts] Thank you.
Yeah, go ahead. >> One more question. Um, are these these are going to be for sale? >> That's the intent for this. >> Um, and you were talking about your
client earlier and it sounded like they were going to potentially maintain some of the management here or or No, >> I mean they're I'm not sure what you they're for sale. So, I mean that the intent would be that they would sell them and they would not be involved in them. Do we know if there's going to be an HOA? >> I believe there has to be an HOA with this development because they will have some shared infrastructure with store.
>> Um would y'all consider doing a um like all of the units capped at like 200% AMI? >> Oh, I hadn't been asked that. The client is not here, so I really don't know the answer to that question. >> Okay, just think about it.
>> No. Yeah, I appreciate the question. >> Okay, thanks. >> Hey, thank you. Um, just one question for you. I I'm curious if you would be interested if your uh your team would be interested in uh voluntarily
uh moderately increasing the contribution to the dedicated housing fund, >> increasing it. Um, you know, I think when we looked at it, we looked at what had been, um, you know, approved in the past for monetary contributions to the dedicated housing fund. And we did look at it on a perunit basis, which I recognize that's not actually how those numbers are figured, but on a perunit basis, this is very aggressive um, uh, number that they have at 20,000. And I'll just be honest with you, I can't ask them because they're not here. So I don't actually know if they would be interested in in increasing it, but 20,000 was targeted because it's very aggressive based on other projects that have been approved um with the monetary contribution, which are typically smaller projects to begin with. Um but this is, you know, almost $1,000 a unit.
I just want to thank the applicant and staff for addressing questions that I had posed in advance that were follow on from the planning commission meeting requesting additional commitments uh around the project boundary buffer and the open space requirement uh which were not required um uh under the comprehensive plan and so I appreciate that offer and also under policy 81 the location of the open space. Um, thanks for mentioning that and I hope that uh I appreciate council member Cook for looking to really kind of clarify that and I hope you're able to work with staff to come up with with something that's that's very specific in that vein um in order to minimize the impact uh on the wetlands and have as much of the open space and the environmentally sensitive areas uh as possible. I know that those were the uh the main outstanding requests from the planning commission. Uh and so appreciate you fielding those uh and and having um um answers uh and proposals to those tonight. So all right, thank you all so much.
Heard all the questions. 573 Falls Jordan wershed overlay district B major transportation corridor I 85. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> It's been moved and properly seconded. Madam clerk, please up the vote. [snorts] Please close the vote. >> Motion passes unanimously.
>> Thank you. And I'll also entertain [clears throat] a motion to adopt a consistency statement as required by North Carolina General Statute section 160D-605. >> Move consistency. >> Second.
>> It's been moved to properly second. Madam clerk, please open the vote. >> Please close the vote.
Mr. Mayor, can we redo that, please? >> Please open the vote. >> Please close the vote.
>> Motion passes 70. >> Congratulations, council. Our first unanimous vote on a case. Um, thank you all so much for tonight. Thank you all for coming out and bearing with us.