>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND WELCOME BACK. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE GOT AS MUCH SLEEP AS I DID, AND I HPE NONE OF YOU ALL DECIDED TO GO PLAY BASKETBALL IN THE GYM LIKE I DID LAST NIGHT AND RUPTURED MY TENDON SO I AM LIMPING AND IN LOTS OF PAIN BUT I'M GOING TO SMILE FOR YOU TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S LIKE AFTER YOU GO OVER 40, LIFE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT YOUR MIND DOESN'T REMIND YOU UNTIL YOUR BODY DOES, SO... UM, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND NOT LAYING ON A HOSPITAL BED. IF YOU'VE EVER EXPERIENCED THIS, WE'RE IN A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN. UM, GREAT TO BE HERE. I'LL NOW HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IF YOU'LL JOIN ME FOR THAT. THANK YOU.
WE'LL NOW PASS IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER FREEMAN FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> THANK UH YOU. IT IS OUR PRACTICE TO STAND AND SALUTE THE FLAG 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, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> HERE.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM MIDDLETON. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BAKER. >> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER CABALLERO. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER COOK. >> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FREEMAN. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RIST. >> HERE.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SO TONIGHT, WE HAVE JUST A FEW BUT VERY IMPORTANT CEREMONIAL ITEMS.
IT'S GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT BECAUSE A COUPLE OF US ARE GOING TO GO DOWN TOGETHER, SO COUNCIL MEMBER RIST, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE JOIN ME. ALL RIGHT. SO -- OH, THIS IS NEW, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UM, SO MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ GOING OUT
THERE, GOING OUT ON THE INTERNET AND IN THE MEDIA ABOUT THE MAYOR'S VEGAN CHALLENGE. LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THIS, SINCE MY WIFE AND I, WE GO PLANT A STRICT PLANT-BASED DIET EVERY JANUARY AND WE FIRST DID IT IN 2018 WHEN THERE WERE MANY FOLKS COMING TO US THAT WERE VEGANS ASKING WHERE IS OUR SPACE FOR THE HOLIDAY DINNER. EVERYONE'S EATING TURKEY AND WE THREW THIS DINNER TOGETHER FOR VEGANS. IT TURNED OUT REALLY COOL, BUT WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT, IT WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST FOOD. IT WAS AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OF HOW FOOD IMPACTS OUR ENVIRONMENT, HOW WE CAN EXPLORE DIVERSE EATING HABITS AND WHERE I'M FROM IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, THERE'S A THERE ARE COMMON SICKNESSES SUCH AS DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, YOU NAME IT, AND, UM, IT'S REALLY HAD AN IMPACT ON MY
COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN OBESITY WHERE I UH GREW UP, AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND IN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, I NEEDED TO EXPERIENCE IT MYSELF, AND SO WE TRIED THIS PLANT-BASED DIET. MY WIFE GLUE GREW UP THAT WAY. I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD GO INTO A FORMAL INITIATIVE WHERE FOLKS ACROSS AN ENTIRE CITY UH WOULD TRUE IT OU AS WELL, SO AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO BRING DR. ELIZABETH VAN VOORHEES AND EVERYONE WITH YOU UP UH HERE FOR COMING HERE ALMOST A YEAR AGO, NOW, I BELIEVE, AND TALKING -- >> MARCH. >> YEAH, IN MARCH, AND TALKING ABOUT VEGANISM, AND -- COME ON UP AND ANYONE THAT'S WITH YOU -- AND TALKING ABOUT IT AND THAT'S WHEN I JUST YELLED FROM THE PODIUM, I SAID, HEY, I DO THIS EVERY JANUARY AND SHE REACHED OUT AND SHE SAID WELL WE CAN DO
IT, TOO. AND HERE WE ARE IN JANUARY WITH THE MAYOR'S BULL CITY MAYOR'S VEGAN CHALLENGE, AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ONLY -- WHO ARE NOT VEGAN WHO ARE TRYING THIS OUT AND WHEY TELL FOLKS T THE FIRST THREE DAYS IT IS PRETTY TOUGH. MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW I OWN A RESTAURANT AND WE SERVE CHICKEN, OX TAILS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF AND I LOV, I LOVE, YOU KNOW, EATING MEAT, HIGH PROTEIN, SO IT WAS REALLY CHALLENGING, BUT AFTER ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS -- AFTER ABOUT THE THIRD DAY YOU START TO FEEL A DIFFERENCE AND THEN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH DAY TE, AFTER THE FIRST WEEK, YOU START TO THINK REALLY CLEAR AND YOU FEEL MORE AGILE AND YOU JUST FEEL BETTER, AND SO I DO IT EVERY JANUARY AND THIS YEAR BECAUSE SO MANY FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY SIGNING UP TO DO THIS, I'M GOING TO GO PAST JANUARY,
I'LL GO AS LONG AS I POSSIBLY CAN, I JUST NEED TO STAY OUT OF THE A WAY OF THE OX TAILS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. [LAUGHTER] IT'S BEEN A FUN CHALLENGE AND IT'S ACTUALLY E GONE SO MUCH FURTHER THAN JUST A CHALLENGE. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I'LL INVITE YOU UH ALL TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH CHEFS ALL AROUND THE CITY AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT FROM OTHER CITIES THAT WANT TO BE A PART OF THE BULL CITY VEGAN CHALLENGE.
SO THEY'LL HAVE TO MOVE TO DURHAM IN ORDER TO ENJOY THAT, BUT, UM, SO WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO READ TONIGHT IN HONOR OF THIS AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OUT AWARDS. I'M GOING TO BRING OUT COUNCIL MEMBER RIST TO LEAD US IN THAT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE REMARKS AND THEN WE'LL CALL UP THESE CHAMPIONS. >> YOU SET THIS THING UP SO WELL. IT WAS LAST MARCH WHEN DR. ELIZABETH VAN VOORHEES SAID
I'D LIE YOU ALL READ THIS VEGAN PROCLAMATION AND AS A MAYOR SAID HE SHOUTED OUT, WE SHOULD DO THIS JANUARY SO LOW AND BEHOLD, THEY'VED RAISED THEIR TAILS OFF TO MAKE THE VEGAN CHALLENGE WORK. PROUD OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT MADE IT HAPPEN. LET ME READ THIS THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, REMOVING ANIMAL PRODUCTS FROM OUR DIETS REDUCES THE RISK OF VARIOUS AILMENTS, INCLUDING HEART DISEASE, HIGH-BLOOD PRESSURE, STROKE, VARIOUS CANCERS, AND DIABETES; AND WHEREAS, A PLANT-BASED DIET HELPS PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, PRESERVING FORESTS, GRASSLANDS AND WILDLIFE HABITATS, AND REDUCES POLLUTION OF WATERWAYS; AND WHEREAS, A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE REDUCING THEIR MEAT CONSUMPTION TO HELP PREVENT ANIMAL CRUELTY, IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, AND REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT; AND
WHEREAS, DURHAM PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT DINE PROGRAM WILL HIGHLIGHT PLANT-BASED PROTEINS IN THEIR NUTRITION AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING IN DURHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN JANUARY; AND WHEREAS, DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE CREATED ARTWORK TO CELEBRATE THE BENEFITS OF VEGAN DIETS, AND NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY ARTS STUDENTS HAVE CREATED HEALTHY, FLAVORFUL VEGAN DISHES CONSISTENT WITH THE NUTRITION STANDARDS OF THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM; AND WHEREAS, LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND GALLERIES ARE DISPLAYING THE ARTWORK AND PHOTOS OF THESE DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS, AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS ARE DEVELOPING NEW, DELICIOUS VEGAN DISHES FOR DINERS TO EXPLORE. NOW, THEREFORE, I, LEONARDO WILLIAMS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 2025, AS VEGANUARY 2025 IN DURHAM AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF A WHOLESOME PLANT-BASED DIET AND PARTICIPATE IN THE BULL CITY MAYOR'S VEGANUARY CHALLENGE. WITNESS MY HAND AND THE
CORPORATE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, THIS THE 6TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025. [APPLAUSE] >> SO, UM, I HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY, BUT, UM, ACTUALLY, I WOULD REALLY LOVE IT IF THE STUDENTS WOULD COME UP AND SAY THEIR NAMES BECAUSE I THINK Y'ALL HAVE DONE A FABULOUS JOB. -- MORE INTERESTING -- >> I'M GOING TH CALL THEIR NAMES ALSO. >> OWE, OKAY. I'LL SAY MY WORDS BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO CALL YOUR NAME -- THAT WOULD BE MORE EXCITING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ISSUING THIS PROCLAMATION INVITING RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BULL CITY MAYOR'S JANUARY
CHALLENGE. NOT ONLY ARE YOU ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO HAVE FUN EXPLORING A PLANT BASED DIET, YOU'RE ALSO IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH. WHAT HAS REALLY BEN MOST EXCITING FOR ME AS I'VE WORKED ON ORGANIZING THIS WITH BETTY IS LEARNING JUST HOW WELL MAYOR WILLIAMS UNDERSTAND DURHAM. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I REQUESTED ANN A PROCLAMATION TO INVITE PEOPLE TO GO PLANT BASED IN ONE DAY AND AFTERWARDS THE MAYOR SUGGESTED WE ORGANIZE A MONTH-LONG MAYOR'S CHALLENGE.
, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE MAYOR NEW DURHAM WAS READY FOR THIS CHALLENGE BUT THE INITIATIVE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT MY PARTNER IN CRIME, BETTY ROSE. THIS IS BETTY. [APPLAUSE]
SHE IS TRULY THE BACKBONE OF THIS EFFORT. NO LESS INTEGRAL IS CHEF BRIDGETTE WHO BROUGHT UP CEF JOHNNY RUT AND ORGANIZED JR. VEGAN CHEF CHALLENGE AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] THE JR.
VEGAN CHEF CHALLENGE TOOK PLACE IN DECEMBER AND WE'LL MEET THE WINNERS HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. LYNCH ANYONE THE ARTS HAS BEEN MR. TURNER. HE CREATED AND LEAD THE DPS ART CHALLENGE WHERE SCHOOLS CREATE ARTWORK FOCUSING ON THE LIVES OF VEGAN DIET WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON THE SCREENS ABOVE. AND MELISSA WAS A TEACH WHORE LEANED INTO THS AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE WINNERS FROM HER CLASS HERE TODAY. THANKS ALSO TO OUR JUDGES FOR THE CHEFS AN THE ARTS CHALLENGES, AND TO DPS FOUNDATION FOR MAKING BOTH
CHALLENGES POSSIBLE. I WANT TO THANK CARL RST FOR HIS SUPPORT FROM THE BEGINNING AND ALSO ALL OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING BE DISPLAYING ART AND AND DINE PROGRAM. SPECIAL THANKS TO DONTOWN DURHAM INC. FOR FEATURING THE PHOTOS AND STUDENT ART IN THE JANUARY CERTIFIED ART WALK.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THIS ARTWORK IN SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN ON THIRD FRIDAY. THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE UP ALL MONTH. PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEB PAGE FOR UPDATES ON EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AND TO LEARN WHAT RESTAURANTS WILL HAVE VEGAN DISHES. MAYBE A PLEDGE, MAKE YOUR OWN PLEDGE FOR JANUARY.
MOST OF ALL THANKS TO MAYOR WILLIAMS FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT AND KNOWING YOUR COMMUNITY WELL ENOUGH TO SPEAR HEAD THIS CHALLENGE. YOUR VISION OF DURHAM'S READINESS FOR THIS THIS INITIATIVE HAS BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN WAYS I NEVER EXPECTED. SO THANK UH YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> TOTALLY. IF YOU GET A CHANCE, CHECK OUT THESE CULINARY PROGRAMS AT NORTHERN AND JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL HAS ONE AS WELL, BUT STATE OF THE ART. I DON'T SAY THAT JUST TO KIND OF PUT IT O OUT THERE, TRULY, WE HAVE STATE OF THE ART CHEFS CREATING STATE OF THE ART CULINARY ARTISTS AS WELL AS ALL IN OUR STATE OF THE ART KITCHEN, SO, UM, THEY'RE DOING AMAZING WORK IN DURHAM. NOW, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP A FEW NAMES AND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU WILL, JUST GO RIGHT UP IN FRONT OF THE DAIS HERE. WE HAVE FOR THE ART CHALLENGE, THESE THERE ART CHALLENGE WINNERS -- AND FOR THE FOR THE RECORD, YOU'RE ALL WINNERS. ART WINNERS: 1ST PLACE: BELLA MOBLEY WE'RE GOING TAKE A PICTURE AFTER AND I PROMISE THIS PICTURE IS GOING TO LOOK EVEN BETTER IF YOU
HAVE THAT AWARD IN YOUR HAND. [LAUGHTER] THAT WAS SMOOTH, RIGHT? 2ND PLACE: LUCY THOMAS. 3RD PLACE: FRANCISCO CABRERA Baker.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME HONORABLE MENTIONS: BEA COLLINS AND KAE CORNETT. OH, I SEE. OH, I SEE. THANKS. AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER FIRST PLACE WINNER BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIE: THERESA DANIELS. AND THESE ARE OUR ART CHALLENGE
WINNERS, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. AND WE'RE GOING TO COME AND TAKE A PICTURE IN JUST A BIT, OKAY? OKAY. AND NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR JUNIOR VEGAN CHEF CHALLENGE WINNERS: 1ST PLACE: unclear - appears to be a person's first name, not a known name variant "DJ" unclear - appears to be a person's last name, not a known name variant AND THERE WAS A TIE WITH KEIRI RIVAN.
GOTCHA. THAT WAS THE FIRST PLACE TEAM, NOT A TIE, THAT WAS A TEAM. 2ND PLACE TEAM: NYASIA CATES, CHANDLER DAYE, EYMON DAVID
HESTER, JANIYA GREEN, JORDYN DIXON, AND OLIVA HORNE. LET'S GIVE THEM ALL ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER]
>> LOOK AT ME. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
THAT WAS SO COOL. THANK YOU ALL, SO MUCH. I'M GOING GIVE US JUST A MOMENT, COLLEAGUES, TO, UH, LET EVERYONE EXIT THE ROOM. I LOST MY GLASSES SO I HAD TO GET SOME NEW ONES. [LAUGHTER]
ALL RIGHT. AND FOR OUR FINAL CEREMONIAL ITEM, OVER THE BREAK -- WELL BEFORE THE BREAK -- WE MADE A MONUMENTAL DECISION TO HIRE OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER, AND AS MANAGER PAGE WENT OFF INTO THE SUNSET AND SHE'S ENJOYING LIFE WITHOUT HAVING TO RUN AN ENTERPRISE OF NEARLY 3,000 EMPLOYEES -- SHE LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT -- SHE'S ENJOY IT, I'M SURE, AND WE WILL MISS HER DEARLY, BUT SHE LEFT US WITH SOME REALLY AMAZING TALENT, AND TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO EXECUTE THIS CEREMONIAL ITEM TO OFFICIALLY SWEAR IN OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER BY THE NAME OF MR. WILLIAM BO FERGUSON WHO'S
SITTING NEXT TO ME RIGHT NOW. MR. FERGUSON, I WILL ASK THAT YOU DEPART THE DAIS AND MEET US IN FRONT, THERE, AND PLEASE INVITE YOUR FAMILY UP. MADAM CLERK, LET US PLEASE CONVENE.
>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PUT YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, WILLIAM BOWMAN FERGUSON, DO SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES; THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITIES WHICH ARE OR MAY BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF; THAT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, I WILL ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA THAT ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES; AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF MY OFFICE AS CITY MANAGER, SO HELP ME GOD. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON BEHALF OF THE DURHAM CITY COUNCIL, WE WELCOME YOU, OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, MR.
WILLIAM BOWMAN FERGUSON. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. EXTREMELY HONORED FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND FOR THE TRUST THAT YOU'VE PLACED IN ME. I HOPE TO MAKE YOUR YOU PROUD. TREMENDOUS STAFF OF THE CIY OF E DURHAM, MY COLLEAGUES, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK, THE AMAZING LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE CITY AND ALL THE TREMENDOUS STAFF THAT YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, MAYOR WILLIAMS. UM, THEY MAKE THIS ORGANIZATION, THE GEM AND THE LEADER IT IS IN THE UNITED STATES AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THEM.
I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL WORD OF THANKS TO MY FAMILY. MY WIFE MICHELE, MY CHILDREN GRACE AND PATRICK. GRACE IS A SENIOR AT JOR DAN AND MY JOHN PATRICK IS AN EIGHTH GRADER AT GIBBONS. THEY HAVE ENDURED AS MAY OF YOUR FAMILIES DO, A LOT OF NIGHTS, MONDAY NIGHTS WITHOUT ME AND WEEKENDS WITHOUT ME AND NOT ONLY HAVE THEY ALWAYS BE SUPPORTIVE BUT I'M PROUD TO HAVE
TWO CURIOUS KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE DO HERE AND HAVE LOTS OF SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE DURHAM BETTER. I'LL BE GLAD TO BRING THAT -- AND SO I'M THANK TO FEEL ALL OF THEM. FINALLY, I'LL COMMENT BRIEFLY SINCE YOU GAVE ME THE HONOR OF THE APPOINTMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SINCE I ASSUMED THE ROLE OF JANUARY 1ST, HAD A LOT OF REALLY AMAZING AND HEART-WARMING OUTREACH AND CONGRATULATIONS, AND A FEW PEOPLE THAT I'M SURE THE COUNCIL'S FAMILIAR WITH THIS HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT IT AND SAY SOULD IT BE CONGRATULATIONS OR CONDOLENCES AND I LAUGH ALONG WITH THEM BECAUSE IF YU'RE IN THIS LINE OF WORK YOU HEAR THAT HUMOR FROM TIME TO TIME BUT I WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU AND TO THE STAFF AND TO THE RESIDENTS OF DURHAM HOW MANY MOMENTS OF PURE JOY I HAVE HAD SINCE JANUARY 1ST, SINCE YOU'VE GIVEN ME THIS
OPPORTUNITY. IT IS A JOY TO LIVE IN THIS CITY. SIT A JOY TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CITY. WHEN I ON SATURDAY WENT TO DROP MY CHRISTMAS TREE OFF AND GOT TO INTERACT WITH AWESOME SOLID WASTE STAFF WHO MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN WHO I WANT BUT STILL TREATED ME LIKE GOLD JUST FOR I PASSED O OVER THE WATER PAIN N BREAK THAT OUR STAFF WAS WORKING ON THE WEEKEND, IT'S JUST JOY TO SEE THAT PUBLIC UH SERVICE, AND EVEN IN THE HARD TIMES, WHICH YOU ALL DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME AND WE DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME, UM, THERE IS SUCH SATISFACTION IN KNOWING THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND DO THINGS RIGHT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. FOR THOSE WHO WANDERED IF IT'S CONGRATULATIONS OR CONDOLENCES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY CONGRATULATIONS. I FEL HONORED AND BLESED. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> I WANT TO SEND THANKS TO
COUNTY MANAGER FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> WE WANT TO MAKE THIS OFFICIAL. YOU HAVE TO SIGN YOUR LIFE AWAY, HERE.
[LAUGHTER] >> WITH PLEASURE. >> THREE TIMES. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE CERTIFIED THIS PROCESS, FERGUSON, YOU ARE NOW IN CHARGES OF CARRYING OUT THE OPERATIONS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL ENTERPRISE. LET'S GET TO WORK. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE WHO'S HERE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE WHO'S WATCHING AT HOME.
JUST A SHOUT OUT TO THE MAYOR WHO JUST WALKED ON A TORN ACHILLES. I TORE MINE AND COULD NOT WEIGHT-BEAR FOR MONTHS. BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW MANAGER. HE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN SWORN IN TODAY, BUT HE HAS ALREADY RECEIVED A FLOOD OF E-MAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES FROM YOURS TRULY AND I IMAGINE FROM DAY ONE HAS BEEN ON THE BALL BECAUSE, YEAH, I KNOW HE SAID HE HAD MEETINGS ALL DAYED TODAY, AND, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE PU HIM TO WORK,
IMMEDIATELY. SO I APRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK, ALL RIGHT, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THINGS CONTINUE AND ALSO CHANGE AS YOU TAKE THIS ROLL. SO CONGRATULATIONS. WANTED TO SAY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FOLKS WHO ARE NECESSARY WORKERS, CITY EMPLOYEES, RESIDENC TM AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE TO CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS DIFFERENTLY. SPEAKING OF HOL LAY DAYS, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE 100 NEN BLACK ENSEMBLES CHRISTMAS CONCERT THIS YEAR. AND Y'ALL KNOW I'M NOT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND VI A DEEP LOVE OF LIVE GOSPEL MUSIC. I WAS ON MY FEET, DANCING ALL NIGHT AND ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE THREE YOUNG MEN WHO WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS AT THAT CONCERT. EVERYONE'S VOICE WAS SO IMPRESSIVE. IF Y'ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GO SEE THAT, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND. AND, YEAH, I WANT UHHED TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT'S SITTING ON MY HEART A LITTLE BIT TODAY WHICH IS THAT IN A NOT UNCOMMON I WENT TO EVICTION COURT THIS MORNING AND ALSO NOT UNCOMMON, SOME PEOPLE'S CASES WERE DISMISSED BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE RECEIVED EVICTION JUDGMENTS. ALSO, NOT UNCOMMON I HEARD A STORY FROM A SENIOR WHO'S ON FIXED INCOME WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO RENT ANY I WHERE IN THE CITY OF DURHAM AND HEAR THAT STORY ALL THE TIME, AND THIS IS NOT A DURHAM-SPECIFIC ISSUE, ACROSS THE NATION, SENIORS ARE THE MOST AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, BUT IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO WATCH IT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TO HAVE FACES TO THOSE EXPERIENCES AND ALSO TO SEE THE DECISIONS THAT WE AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS MAKE AND HOW IMMEDIATELY THEY AFFECT THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, AS WE'VE SEEN CHANGES
HAPPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BUSES STOPPED RUNNING ON FRIDAYS FOR THE DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS; IMMEDIATELY I SAW PEOPLE IN EVICTION COURT WHO HAD TO CUT THEIR HOURS DOWN TO CUT THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL ON FRIDAYS. THAT STUFF, IT HAPPENS SO QUICKLY AND PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME WHO DO YOU SEE IN EVICTION COURT IS IT IS SAME FACES? AND SOMETIMES THAT'S TRUE BUT MOSTLY, IT'S NEW FOLKS BECAUSE MOST OF THIS POPULATION IN THIS COUNTRY IS ONE MAJOR DISASTER AWAY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR BILLS. SO I SEE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHO HAD TO CUT THEIR HOURS DOWN OR LOST A JOB.
THEIR CAR BROKE DOWN, THEY HAD A HEALTH ISSUE, THEIR PARENT HAD A HEALTH ISSUE, THEIR CHILD HAD A HEALTH ISSUE, UM, AND TE NEXT MONTH THEY'RE IN EVICTION COURT. SO JUST SOMETHING THAT'S SITTING HEAVY. I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO NAME IT. UM, I HAVE I THINK THE BURDEN AND THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING THAT EVERY MORNING, UM, AND SO IT
STAYS WITH ME, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS. SO I'M WORKING TO AS DILIGENTLY AS I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CITY IS A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE AND THRIVE, AND UM, I'M REALLY READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING THIS NEW YEAR, SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN, AND THAT WILL BE ALL. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BAKER. >> COUNCIL MEMBER, UH I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS AND ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THOSE. LIKE TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW CITY MANAGER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THERE'S ALWAYS THIS TENSION WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE, UM, OF CONSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT OF HAS BEEN AROUND, HAS WORKED IN WHATEVER ORGANIZATION YOU'RE A PART OF OR BRING SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE WHO MIGHT HAVE NEW IDEAS AND WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF SOMEONE WITH BOTH. WHO'S BEEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITION IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN DURHAM FOR SOME TIME, BUILT UP INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND WHO IS DEDICATED TO THIS COMMUNITY. YOUR KIDS GO TO DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SPEAKS TO COMMITMENT AN YOU HAVE A LOT OF WIN IF THE CITY UH DOES WELL FROM PERSONAL STANDPOINT.
ONLY OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS IT'S FLU SEASON, SO WASH YOUR HANDS, AND DON'T GO TO WORK IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL, AND WEAR A MASK IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL. FLU SEASON, COVID, THOSE ARE INCREASING, SO JUST BE CAREFUL AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES. THANKS. >> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER CABALLERO. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. GOOD TO BE BACK AFTER A I THINK MUCH-DESERVED BREAK. I THINK EVERYONE UP HERE WAS PROBABLY RATHER TIRED BY THE END OF 2024. HAPPY NEW YEAR AND EXCITED TO GET TO WORK WITH OUR NEW CITY
MANAGER. UM, I KNOW THAT MR. FERGUSON WILL DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB HELPING THIS COUNCIL LEAD AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL DURHAM RESIDENTS. UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FREEMAN. >> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW UH YEAR AND CONGRATULATE MANAGER FERGUSON AS WELL, AND APPRECIATE CUNCIL MEMBER COOK'S COMMENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WISH OUR FORMER MAYOR BILL BELL A HAPPY 84th BIRTHDAY FOR HIS RENAMING KRER MOAN ANY WHICH RENAMED VIVIAN STREET WILLIAM V. BILL BELL WAY AFTER BEFORE WE LEFT FOR THE BREAK WE ACTUALLY PASSED THE RENAMING ORDINANCE SO
THAT THAT COULD BE DONE AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND VA THAT RENAMING UNVEILED AT THE D PAC AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LONG, LONG LINE OF OR LONG SERVICE, THAT THE FORMER MAYOR HAS PROVIDED TO OUR COUNTRY AS A MILITARY IN THE MILITARY IN THE ARMY AND THEN ALSO SERVING AS COUNTITY COMMISSIONER FOR 27 YEARS AND THEN SERVING US ON THE DURHAM CITY COUNCIL AS MAYOR FOR 16 YEARS, AND I WILL SAY HE HAS NOT STOPPED BEING ENGAGED AND THAT TYPE OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS A GEM TO HAVE AND THEN JUST NOTING WITH THE PASSING OF FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, IT'S REALLY, UM, WEIGHING ON MY SPIRIT, SO TO SPEAK, IN THAT THE LEADERSHIP THAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS, WE'RE LACKING OF, AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UH PUT A BIG
PUSH OUT THERE FOR FOLKS TO GET ENGAGED AND STAY ENGAGED WHETHER YOU'RE SERVING AN ELECTED OFFICE OR NOT, BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, THEY ALL NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I MAKE A BIG PUSH TO SAY, PLEASE COME AND SERVE. M. WILL BE ACCEPTING THOSE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED AND THOSE BOOKS ARE FOR CHILDREN, TEENAGERS, YOUNG ADULTS. MAKING SURE OUR KIDS HAVE BOOKS
DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE EERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THE IN-PERSON BOOK DRIVE WAS RUNNING ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE 31st, AND WE HAVE THAT BOOK BUCKET OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE AN THEN ALSO, THERE IS A VIRTUAL DRIVE YOU CAN BE A PART OF IF YOU'D LIKE, AND THAT IS TU THROUGH THE REGULATED BOOKSTORE IN WHICH YOU COULD GO ONLINE AND PURCHASE BOOKS THAT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE DRIVE AND IF YOU USE THE BOOK DRIVE CODE OF FREEMAN2025, THAT WILL BE SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THEM. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RIST. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO
ALL. I DO WANT TO START BY JUST SAYING HOW FORTUNATE WE HAVE TO HAVE BO FERGUSON AS OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER. I'M EXCITED THAT BO IS TOP-NOTCH MANAGER WITH DEP EXPERIENCE AND INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE OF PHASES OF CITY GOVERNMENT. HE'S GOT HIGH MOTR, HARDWORKING AND DEEP LOVING COMMITMENT OF THE BULL CITY.
I ALSO REALIZED YOU'RE A LEFTY. WE GOT A NEW LEFTY, SO ALL RIGHT. NEXT THING I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MARCUS MANNING AND THE DURHAM SPORTS COMMISSION FOR ARRANGING FOR DURHAM TO HOST 69th ANNUAL NAIA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP THAT I GUESS IT WAS THE LAST SATURDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT DURHAM COUNTY STADIUM.
GREAT GAME. WHAT A BLAST ON THE WAY TO SHOWCASE THE CIY OF DURHAM. IT WAS COOL TO SE THE MAYOR OUT THERE FLIPPING THE COIN FOR THE OPENING COIN TOSS. SO MUCH FUN. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HOST
AGAIN NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? SO GREAT WAY TO SHOWCASE DURHAM. I WANT TO THANK GRAND VIEW, TH VIKINGS FROM IOWA WHO CAE AWAY FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST KEIZER IN FLORIDA. GREAT CAME.
LOOK FOR THAT NEXT YEAR. IT WAS A TOTAL BLAST. ON A SOMBER NOTE, FIRST OF ALL, WE GOT WORD TODAY THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED OUR FIRST PEDESTRIAN DEATH OF 2025. THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN HIT BY A CAR ON HIGHWAY 55.
WE HAD TEN FATALITIES LAST YEAR AND WE SIMPLY HAVE TO DO BETTER. THE BOND WE PASSED LAST YEAR WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE SIDEWALKS, STREETS, BIKEWAYS WILL HELP, BUT WE HAVE TO DO MORE. WE HAVE COMMITTED AS CITY TO VISION ZERO WHICH MEANS NO DEATHS ON OUR ROADS, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE, AND WE'RE EXPECTING OUR VISION ZERO PLAN BY THE END OF 2024, WE WERE EXPECTING THAT WHICH WILL HAVE WHOLE RAFT OF
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT REDUCING FATALITIES. WE DON'T HAVE THAT PLAN YET SO I'LL BE BE BRINGING A REQUEST TO GET AN E UPDATE FROM THE FOLKS WORKING ON THAT TO FIND OUT WHERE THE PLAN IS AND WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING IN THAT PLAN. THIS IS A CRITICAL PIECE. TOO MANY FOLKS ARE DYING ON THE ROADS AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER ON THAT.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS I WANT TO THANK OUR FORMER MANAGER, WANDA PAGE, FORMER MAYOR BILL BELL AND OTHERS FOR REACHING OUT TO SEND CONDOLENCES FOR THE PASSING OF ELIZABETH HAR VER. SHE WAS THE WIFE OF THE PASTOR OF MY CHURCH, FIRST PREZ BY CHURCH. IT SEEMS EVERYONE KNEW CARLISLE AND JO. RCH AND OUT IN THE Y'ALL MAY RECALL THAT CAR LINE AND JO WERE HERE IN THIS, IN OUR
CHAMBERS, ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN WE ALL GOT SWORN IN. SO CARLISLE AND JO WERE AMONG THE SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CAME FORWARD WITH ME AND MY FAMILY TO SHARE THAT. THEY WERE SOW GETTING BACK TO THEIR SEATS AND SO THE MAYOR SAID STAY UP HERE SO THEY WERE THERE FOR YOUR SWEARING IN AS WELL. I'LL NEVER MISS THAT.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT MOMENT IN MY LIFE AND HAVING THEM HERE WITH ME. THEY WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEAT HEARTHS, MARRIED FOR 61 YEARS BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE. THEY'RE LIKE MILK AND CEREAL. SHE WAS SHARP, EVEN SASSY AS MY WIFE REMINDS ME AND ALWAYS ASKED THE HARD QUESTIONS IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. SHE WAS A MATH TEACHER AND LATER AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEMAKER AND SERVED 21 YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE AT DUKE UNIVERSITY. SHE SHEPHERDED A WHOLE GENERATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS THROUGH DUKE.
20 TRIPS TO RUSSIAN TO BRING DELEGATIONS FROM CHRISTIANS FROM OUR COUNTRY TO MEET WITH RUSSIAN CHRISTIANS. EVER PRESENT FORCE FOR GOOD IN DURHAM. SHE'LL BE DEEPLY MISSED. THANK YOU, MR.
MAYOR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR PRO TEM. >> THANK YOU.
HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOOD EVENING AND CONGRATULATIONS ON CROSSING INTO THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW YEAR. FIRSTLY I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS WE START THIS NEW YEAR THERE ARE SOME IN OUR CITY THAT STARTED IT WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES WHO WERE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY. IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO O BE ONE OF OUR CHIEF ISSUES, TOP ISSUES FOR US AS A COUNCIL AND CITY. AS I'VE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ASTERISK
TO NOW GREAT OUR CITY IS WHEN LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM OUR CITY CENTERE EVERY NIGHT THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE DUCKING AND COVERING FROM GUNFIRE. SO OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THOSE THAT WILL START THIS NEW YEAR OFF, UM, WITH TRAGEDY VISITING THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, TONIGHT, MR. MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES TO HONOR THE MEMORY ARE OF THE FORMER MAYOR RECENTLY PASSED MAY YAR KEREN SALSBURY AND SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO HER CITY.
MAYOR ALEXANDER WAS A MENTOR. SHE BEFRIENDED ME WHEN I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES. WE'RE ON TOTALLY DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE I'LL POLITICALLY BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS KIND AND STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SHE WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PERSON TO SUGGEST THAT I SEEK LEADERSHIP OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES AND NEVERWARED IN HER SUPPORT IN HER MENTORSHIP
AND FRIENDSHIP. SO TONIGHT I WANT TO HONOR HER MEMORY, TO HER FAMILY, AND PEOPLE OF SALESBURY. I'M THANKFUL THAT OUR PATHS WERE ALLOWED TO CROSS ON THIS SIDE OF LIFE. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FREEMAN FOR BRINGING UP THE STREET REMAIM OF MAYOR BELL AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM.
HE UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO CHANGE THAT STREET NAME AND OUR TRADITION WE TALK ABOUT GIVING FOLK THEIR FLOWERS WHILE THEY CAN SMELL THEM RATHER THAN JUST BRINGING THEM TO THE FUNERALS AND I'M GLAD MAYOR BELL CAN SMELL HIS FLOWERS AS WE DRIVES AROUND THE STREETS OF DURHAM AND DRIVES DOWN THAT STREET. MUST BE A PRETTY COOL THING TO TELL SOMEBODY MEET ME ON MY STREET. CONGRATULATIONS AD HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAYOR BELL. FINALLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND WELCOME OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, BO FERGUSON, WHO HAS OFFICIALLY TAKEN THE HELMS OF THIS GREAT AMERICAN CITY. THIS IS THE SECOND CITY MANAGER
I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO PARTICIPATE IN HIRING, AND I WANT TO SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THE SAME FEELING OF COMFORT AND LEVEL OF SLEEP I GOT AFTER WE CLOSED THE DEAL ON WANDA PAGE IS THE SAME LEVEL OF SLEEP I GOT AFTER WE CLOSEDED THE DEAL ON BO FERGUSON. IT WAS A LONG AND HARD CONCLAVE BUT ALASS, WE HAVE A MANAGER. AND THE WHITE SMOKE HAS GONE OUT SO I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE HIM. HE NOT ONLY POSSESSES INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, HE PROCESSES KNOWLEDGE OF THE VALUES OF DURHAM.
HE UNDERSTANDS WHO WE ARE AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. HE ENOS THE NUTTINGS AND BOLTS AND THE HEART OF THE CITY. HE ALSO KNOWS WHERE THE LINE IS BETWEEN POLICYMAKING AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION WHICH IS ALSO IMPORTANT AS A MANAGER. SO I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR HIM. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY. CONGRATULATE NOT CONDOLENCES, ON ASSUMING THE HELM OF OUR COUNTRIES DYNAMIC AND IMPORTANT
AND SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL CITIES, DURHAM. GOD BLESS YOU, BO, GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY, AND THANK YOU FOR ACCEPT THIS AWESOME MANTLE FOR LEADING OUR CITY FOR MANY YEARS. YIELD BACK. >> THANK YOU.
ON MANY OCCASIONS, SPEAKING LAST MEANS MOT PEOPLE SAY WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO SAY, SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS BO, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. ENJOYED OUR FIRST MEETING TODAY. SAID EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO HEAR. WE'RE GOING TO BE IN GREAT HANDS. THAT'S EXCITING. THE MAYOR OF SALSBURY, KEREN, WHEN I TOO JOINED THE BOARD, SHE WAS JUST REALLY KIND AND SWET AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO JUST -- WE HAD A COMMON INTEREST CONSTRUCTIVELY CRITICIZING A PARTICULAR PERSON INVOLVED IN POLITICS THAT WE BOTH THOUGHT
WAS JUST A LITTLE OUT THERE, AND, UM, AND IN THAT CONVERSATION, I LEARNED THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A REPUBLICAN AND I WAS A DEMOCRAT, AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION WAS, WE'RE NOT SO DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES FOR CARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN WHICH WE PUBLICLY SERVE FOR, AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF OUR RELATIONSHIP. SHE WAS MUCH OLDER THAN I AM, BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER. WE WERE COOL. THAT WAS MY ROCK.
AND WHENEVER SHE WOULD COME TO DURHAM, SHE WOULD CATCH THE TRAIN AND I WOULD PICK HER UP FROM THE TRAIN STATION AND SHE WOULD GO ABOUT HER BUSINESS WHEREVER SHE WAS GOING BUT WE JUST HAD A GREAT FRIENDSHIP. SHE WAS THE MAYOR OF SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA, AND MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE. SHE WAS A LOT OF THINGS, SO WHEN YOE YOU LOOK AT HER, YOU
WOULDN'T BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS AS FUN AS SHE WAS. GOING TO MISS HER DEARLY. PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE. IT WAS REALLY COOL, ALSO, TO HONOR FORMER MAYOR BILL BELL. HE AND I HAVE BEEN TEXTING, I THINK WE'VE TEXTED MORE SINCE THAT EVENT THAN IN THE LAST YEAR, BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT JUST ABOUT HOW BEUTIFUL THE CEREMONY WAS. HE HELD IT ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WHICH HE WAS PRETTY MUCH RESPONSIBLE FOR IN THE FACE OF SO MUCH ADVERSITY, HIS CALM STEADY HAND AT LEADERSHIP PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN GETTING US WHICH IS OUR CROWN JEWEL OF A FACILITY IN DURHAM, AND I LIE IN THAT AREA SO I UH GET TO SEE IT EVERY DAY AND I PARK MY CAR OUT THERE SOMETIMES, WHAT IS
FORMERLY VIVIAN STREET NOW WILLIAM V. BILL BELL WAY. AS I TOLD HIM PRIVATELY THAT HIS LIFE TRULY E IS A TEXTBOOK OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND INTEGRITY AND JUST CALM UH, EVEN STEADY HAND AT LEADERSHIP. THE WAY HE LIVES EVEN TO THIS DAY A WORTH LEARNING FROM AND I CONTINUE TO WATCH AND LEARN FROM HIM.
I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO SPOKE ON THE PROGRAM WITH ME. UM, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY. HOPE YOU GOT AS MUCH REST AS I DID. I HOPE YOU DID NOT LOSE YOUR EYEGLASSES LIKE I DID. I RESTED UP, MADAM ATTORNEY, SO I COULD BE WREATH READY TO COME BACK -- READY TO COME BACK
BEFORE GETTING INJURED LAST NIGHT. ONE THING I DID DO OVER THE HOLIDAY UHS WAS I WALKED A LOT ALL OVER THE CITY INTO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND JUST HAD ON A HOODIE AND SOME SNEAKERS AND JUST SPENT TIME WITH FOLKS. NO AGENDA, MEETINGS OR CALENDER INVITES; JUST SPENT TIME WITH PEOPLE, AND YOU REALLY CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE FOLKS ARE AND SO I -- I DON'T REALLY DO THE WHOLE RESOLUTION THING, BUT I'M MAKING IT MY MISSION THIS YEAR TO CLEAR THE FOG OF ALL OF THE POLITICS. I KNOW WE SAY A LOT OF THINGS UP HERE AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IWANT TO CLEAR THE FOG. I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM, WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR THEM, AND I'M GOING TO REMOVE ALL DISTRACTIONS I POSSIBLY UH CAN AND MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT THIS YEAR, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US. WE HAVE A LOT OF -- WE'RE GOING HAVE A ROT OF FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO COME TO THAT PODIUM AND SAY A LOT OF THINGS, BUT COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE TO US STAY THE COURSE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STY IS COURSE. WE'RE GOING HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGY FOR HOMELESS.
I'M GOING TO INVITE US TO HAVE A RETREAT SO WE CAN GET ALL OF THESE THINGS ALINED. I LOOK FORWARD TO DONG THAT ALL WITH YOU THIS YEAR. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE MR. FERGUSON HERE TO LEAD US IN THAT.
WORK WITH US, AND YEAH, LOOK FORWARD TO IT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, NOW, LET'S GET TO THE REAL BUINESS. AND I'LL PASS IT OVER TO MR. MANAGER FOR ANY PRIORITY ITEMS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL THE KIND
COMMENTS TONIGHT. EXCITED TO GET STARTEDED. THE MANAGER'S OFFICE DOES HAVE ONE PRIORITY ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE DISPOSED OF 11 CITIZENS MATTERS JARED RIST.
COMMENTS RECEIVED DURING WORK SESSION. THAT'S MY ONLY REPORT. >> THANK YOU. MADAM ATTORNEY.
>> GOOD EVENING. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. HAPPY NEW YEAR. CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE ANY PRIORITY ITEM THIS IS EVENING BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE'RE ALSO EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH MR.
FERGUSON, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEAR. >> MADAM CLERK. >> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE HAS NO PRIORITY ITEMS, AND ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW CITY MANAGER. >> LRTD.
>> ALL RIGHT. JUST REAL QUICK, COLLEAGUES, OUR VOTING DEVICES ARE NOT WORKING TONIGHT SO WE'LL HAVE TO ADMINISTER VOTES BY HAND. MADAM CLERK, I GOT YOUR TEXT. SORRY I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
ALL RIGHT. NUMBER FIVE. EVERYTHING. ALL RIGHT.
AT THIS TIME, I'LL NOW READ THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. 1. RALEIGH-DURHAM AIRPORT AUTHORITY - APPOINTMENT.
2. RACIAL EQUITY COMMISSION - APPOINTMENT. 3. HOLISTIC EMPATHETIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM (HEART) PROGRAM PERFORMANCE AUDIT NOVEMBER 2024.
4. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) TITLE II GOVERNANCE PERFORMANCE AUDIT NOVEMBER 2024. 6. CONTRACT FOR PROPERTY APPRAISAL SERVICES.
7. PARKING FACILITIES STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH CAROLINA RESTORATION & WATERPROOFING, INC. 8. S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FAIR HOUSING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT GRANT AWARD FY 2025. 9. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PY 2024-2026 GRANT PROJECT ORDINANCE #16403 FOR FEDERAL GRANT TO EXECUTE CITY OF DURHAM - WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM.
10. C. FOR DAM INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES. AND UNDER GBA WHICH ALL MY ITEMS ARE PULLED FOR HERE IS 5. REVISIONS TO DEER BOW HUNTING
ORDINANCE. ALL RIGHT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO -- YES -- APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SHOW BY RAISING YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT.
AYE. ALL RIGHT. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.
GOT TO GET BACK IN THE RHYTHM OF THIS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 5, MADAM CLERK, SO WE'LL ADDRESS THAT NOW.
THIS IS THE ONLY PULLED ITEM WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT. SORRY, IT WAS ON GBA BUT I DO HAVE SPEAKERS SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TWO SPEAKERS ONLINE. SPEAKERS, KATHERINE JACKSON AND
KATHY COLT. KATHERINE SPEAKING FIRST. YOU ALL WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AS WELL AS IN PERSON, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK. KATHERINE JACKSON, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, I CAN. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. WELCOME.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON NUMBER 5. >> THANK YOU. KATHERINE JACKSON AND I LIVE IN TREYBURN. I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME CALL IN AS VI TO GET UP EARLY TOMORROW TO O GET MY CHILD TO SCHOOL.
AS A MOTHER OF TWO YONG KIDS I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE HELP US IN ATTEMPTS TO CULL DEER POPULATION. NUMEROUS TIMES DEER DART OUT IN FRONT OF ME. ON A DAILY BASIS WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF DEER ON OUR PROPERTY. TWICE WE'VE REMOVED TICKS FROM MY HUSBAND. EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND NOT WANTING TO CHANGE THE
ORDINANCE TO THE 60 FEET AND TWO ACRES FOR ALL OF DURHAM, THEN ONE OPTION IS TO [INDISCERNIBLE] AREAS WHERE YOU'VE HAD MORE THAN TWICE SUSTAINABLE DEER POPULATION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IN TREYBURN WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR TIMES THE NUMBER OF DEER THAT ARE CONSIDERED SUSTAINABLE. CHANGING THE REGULATIONS FOR JUST THESE AREAS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE SOME TIME TO AT LEAST FIGURE OUT HOW IT WORKS IN SMALL SUBSET OF DURHAM AND THEN YOU CAN DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND IT FURTHER WITHOUT CALLING I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN DEEP THE DEER POPULATION IN CHECK AS BRINGING BACK NATURAL PREDATORS, PROBABLY NOT A GREAT IDEA. SECOND AT A BEAR MINIMUM I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE IT ILL TLEEL FEED DEER WITHOUT PENALTIES THAT ARE EASILY ENFORCEABLE. ATTRACT DEER TO CERTAIN AREAS CAUSING THEM TO GATTER LARGE HERDS RESULTING IN SPREAD DISEASE TO EACH OTHER. ALSO FEEDING THEM DOES NOT ALWAYS PROVIDE THE NUTRIENTS
THEY NEED. MY HUSBAND AND I WOULD LIKE TO HOPING THAT OUR FRONT YARD WOULD BE A PLACE FOR OUR THREE AND SIX-YEAR-OLDS TO PLAY AND RUN AROUND INSTEAD OF BECOME A FAVORITE SPOT OF THE DEER. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US CHANGE THAT SO OUR KIDS CAN ENJOY OUR YARD? THAT IS IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LETTING ME CALL IN. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. SAFE TRAVELS TOMORROW MORNING ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.
NEXT VI KATHY COLTS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES. WELCOME. THREE MINUTES. >> ALL RIGHTY. WELL, MY VIEW IS PROBABLY THE OPPOSITE OF KATHERINES. WE LIVE IN A WOODED SUBDIVISION, WE ALL MOVE INTO A WOODED SUBDIVISION, AND THIS STATEMENT THAT WE QUOTE UNQUOTE HAVE TOO MANY DEER IN TREYBURN IS REALLY RATHER INACCURATE BECAUSE TRY BURN IS NOT FAENSED OFF
COMMUNITY. ARE NOT -- NOT A FENCED OFF COMMUNITY. THE DEER POPULATION IS NOT RESTRICTED TO THE ACTUAL TREYBURN SUBDIVISION. WE ARE INSIDE OF THE HUGE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF WOODED AND RURAL, UM, AND PARKLAND THAT ARE ENCIRCLED BY ORANGE FACTORY ROAD, STAGVILLE ROAD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROADS, SO THE DEER THAT I HAVE IN MY YARD TODAY MAY UH BE A COUPLE OF THE ONES THAT ARE WALKING KATHERINE'S HOUSE LATER IN THE DAY.
SINCE THEY ALL LOOK ALIKE AND NOT TAGGED IT'S HARD TO TELL WHO'S WHO. WE BACK TO WOODS. WE LIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT
FROM SOME OF THE OTHER HOMES THAT ALSO SEE LIKELY THE SAME DEER THAT WE DO. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BUCKS. ONE HAS IS MISSING AN ANTLER COMPLETELY. ONE HAS ONE THAT IS FLIPPED OVER AND REJOAN GROWN AND THERE ARE SIGHTINGS OF HIM, YOU KNOW, ALL OVER, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE RIGHT IN ONE SPOT. THE MORE REASONABLE THING TO DO -- AND THIS WAS BROUGHT UP WITH DR. FALTER AT THE MEETING THAT WAS HELD HRE THE DEVELOPMENT IN 2023, WOULD BE FOR WHOEVER THE ARCHERY PEOPLE ARE TO COORDINATE POSSIBLY WITH THE COUNTY, WIH COUNTY LAND, WITH PRIVATE HOME OWNERS, RURAL LAND, AND DOING A REALLY INTENSIVE CALL IN THESE
NON-NEIGHBORHOOD AREAS AND THIS WOULD FREE UP SOME MORE ROOM FOR THE MAYBE IN TREYBURN TO SPREAD OUT. DIRECTOR FAULT WHO WAS QUITE CLEAR THAT IF WE HAD A CALL IN TREYBURN WE'RE GOING HAVE BACK FILL WITHIN WEEKS, SO, TO SUBJECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR HOMES, OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRAND CHILDREN, OUR CATS TO HAVING BOW HUNTING GOING ON IN OUR SUBDIVISION JUST FAR DIFFERENT GROUP OF DEER TO MOVE IN IS REALLY RIDICULOUS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YO SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. I WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. BECAUSE ITS A FEW, I'M GOING TO CALL UP EACH PERSON -- I'LL CALL THREE AT A TIME. THE FIRST THREE: PETER TOCHEY, RON ALLISON, KEVIN McELROY.
YOU'LL GO RIGHT OVER TO THIS PODIUM RIGHT OVER HERE. ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. SMILE FOR THE CAMERA AND BECOME FAIMENTS FAMOUS.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HEE. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE AND SPEAK FOR THE DURHAM CITY. I MOVED HERE FROM FAR AWAY. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 45 YEARS.
GOT MARRIED DOWN HERE AND THIS JUST SURPRISED ME BECAUSE I'M A FORMER HUNTER. I FIND THAT HUNTING IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR SOME PEOPLE, NOT MINE ANYMORE, HOWEVER, HUNTING IN DURHAM, PLEASE. THE CITY LIMITS, PLEASE, COME ON. WE'RE CIVILIZED SOCIETY, WE HAVE CHILDREN RUNNING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NO. DURHAM HAS A BOW HUNTING LAW OR STATUTE I PLACE TO COVER THIS. THIS STATUTE HAS NVER BEEN USED
IN THE CITY FOR 11 YEARS. NOW THE HOA OF TREYBURN WANTS TO CHANGE THIS TO MAKE IT ACTIVE. REDUCE RESTRICTIONS, REDUCING THE SAFETY MEASURES. WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMALS?
HOWEVER, THEY DON'T ALWAYS DIE WITH BOW HUNTS, THEY HAVE TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN THE FIELD. THEY HAVE TO BE CULLED THAT WAY AND HAVE TO REMOVE REMAINS. WE HAVE SAVENGERS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE ALONG -- THIS YEAR I'M NOT GOING TO O GO THROUGH IT.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO PEOPLE TALK. I JUST DON'T SEE THE NEED TO CHANGE. I DO SEE A NEED FOR IT TO B UNDER REVIEW. IF WE HAD A HUNT, A BOW HUNT IN 11 YEARS, IT'S NOT RECORDED.
IT'S NEVER BEEN REVIEWED. NOBODY EVER SPOKE AGAINST IT. EVERYBODY SAID, OKAY, IT'S THERE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LARGE CITIES IN THIS AREA THAT HAS
RESTRIKS ON HUNTING, IT'S ZERO, YOU CANNOT HUNT IN THE CITY LIMITS. WE HAVE IN THE CITY LIMITS EVEN THOUGH WE'RE FIVE-SEVEN MILES OUT SO IT'S OUR TIME TO SAY, NO, WE PART OF THE CITY OF DURHAM. WE PAY TAXES IN THE CITY OF DURHAM, WE DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE HUNTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS UNSAFE, UNWANTED, AND NOT NEEDED.
COME OUT IN THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM UP THERE. NOBODY IN TREYBURN THAT I KNOW OF WOULD WANT SOMEONE INJURED IN OUR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF A STRAY ARROW BE IT FROM THE CROSS BOW OR A BOW. PLEASE, REVIEW THIS ITEM, SEE IF THEY'RE NECESSARY, AN MOVE ON FROM THAT. BUT DO NOT APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT IS A BACK STEP TO SAFETY.
WE ARE IN THE 21st CENTURY. THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP. >> GOOD EVENING. RON ALLISON, TREYBURN, HAPPY NEW YEAR. BIG CITY, YOU RUN IT NICELY LIKE PERSONAL BASIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU FOR DOING THAT.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR OUR ATTORNEYS GENERAL. DURING THE FIVE YEARS I'VE LIVED IN THE TREYBURN THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF YOUNG CHILDREN, PEOPLE WALKING DOGS, PEOPLE GETTING UP JOGGING, WALKING ON TRAILS, IF YOU WERE TO HAVE ARROWS AND BOWS OF VARIOUS SIZING FLYING ACROSS FIELDS, PROPERTIES, HOUSES, HOW DO UH YOU STOP IT? THERE'S NO MAGIC STOPPING. IN YOUR ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, YOU A SAFETY LIMIT TO PREVENT A STRAY BOW AND ARROW FROM FLYING INTO SOMEBODY WHO'S UNEXPECTEDLY WALKING BY SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY. THERE WAS THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION OVERWHELMING IMAGINETY DID NOT WANT TO PURSUE ANYTHING OF DEER HUNTING WITHIN TREYBURN.
LO AN BEHOLD, A HADFUL OF PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR A BO HUNTER WHO WANTS TO HAVE HIS PROPERTY REARRANGED JUST BY CHANGING THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY AND ELIMINATING TH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW JUST A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN AGENDA AGAINST THE DEER TO GET WHAT THEY WANT, PRETENDING THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SAFETY FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. TREYBURN HAS HOA ROOL RULES YOU CANNOT HAVE FENCES. DOGS GOING IN AND OUT OF THEIR PROPERTY, CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND. THERE'S NO REAL TRUE PROPERTY LINE.
YOU DO NOT KNW WHERE ONE PROPERTY STARTS AND ENDS. MY PROPERTY IS 200 FEET IN THE FRONT AND 60 FEET IN THE BACK. THERE ARE NO REGULAR-SIZED PIECES OF PROPERTY IN THE MAJORITY OF TREYBURN. IF YOU'RE SAYING IT'S FIVE ACRES, IT COULD BE NARROW RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE NEXT PERSON'S HOUSE. IF YOU ELIMINATE THOSE SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS YOU HAVE IN THAT ORIGINAL COORDINATION FROM 2013, I BELIEVE, THOSE TWO ITEMS JUST BEING ELIMINATED ARE NOT REASONABLE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE DANGER TO ANYBODY WHO MIGHT BE PASSING BY, ANY CHILD WHO MIGHT BE PLAYING ON SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY, DOG OR CAT WHO MIGHT BE MOVING ALONG. THERE ARE MANY TIMES IN MY BACKYARD BY NEIGHBOR'S KIDS HAVE BEEN PLAYING THEIR, THEIR DOG GOT OUT FRM THE FENCE. ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. IF YOU HAVE AN UNANNOUNCED HUNT ON ONE PERSON'S PROPERTY, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT IMPROVES SAFETY TO COMMUNITY.
I THINK, MAYOR, YOU STARTED OFF THIS MEETING WITH VEGAN JANUARY TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BET WITHER PLACE, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD END IT BY KILLING LIVING THINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. KEVIN McELROY, LIVE IN TREYBURN. I THINK THE RESTRICTIONS THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE FOR COULDN'TING SHOULD STAY IN PLACE. THERE'S IN REASON TO REDUCE THE
AREA. EVEN IF WE ELIMINATED EVERY DEER IN TREYBURN OVERNIGHT, THERE WOULD BE NEW ONES BACK IN A WEEK. I E MEAN, WE LIVE IN THE WOODS, YOU HAVE WILD ANIMALS. PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID OF DEER, I MEAN, I GUESS THEY SHOULDN'T LIVE IN TREYBURN.
THEY EAT OUR PLANTS. THAT'S LIFE. THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO HAVE DEAD DEER LAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF VINTAGE HILL PARKWARE AS THE BOW HUNTER'S CHASING AFTER SOMETHING THEY SHOT IN THE LEG INSTEAD OF SHOOTING IT IN THE CHEST AND KILLING IT. IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ME E THAT WE'RE GONG HAVE DEAD ANIMALS ALL OVER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANKS. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKERS I HAVE ARE SALLY BURG, JEAN CAROLINE, AND
RALPH RUSSO. AND JEFFREY THOMPSON, AND QUINCY HOCUTT. WELCOME. THREE MINUTES.
>> MY NAME IS GENE CAR LOAN, I LIVE IN TREYBURN. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF TREYBURN FOR OVER 17 YEARS. THE DEER POPULATION HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY SINCE 1988, AD WITHOUT A CULLING PROGRAM, THE SIZE OF THE DEER HERD WILL DOUBLE EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS. THE TREYBURN HOA BOARD HAS CONSULTED WITH THE NC WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND NC STATE UNIVERSITY BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION ON DEER AND DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THE NC WILDLIFE RESOURCE COMMITTEE HAS ESTIMATED THAT
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 70-80 DEER PER SQUARE MILE IN TREYBURN. THIS NUMBER FAR EXCEEDS THE IDEAL 15-20 PER SQUARE MILE THAT IS CONSIDERED HEALTHY AND COMPATIBLE WITH HUMANS. THE MAJORITY OF TREYBURN RESIDENTS ARE IN FAVOR OF A DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. VEHICLE CRASHES CAUSED BY DEER ARE INCREASING, DEED DEER HAVE BEEN FOUND ON TREYBURN STREETS.
ONE DAY THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT WHERE A PERSON IN KILLED IN A COLLISION WHILE TRYING TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. 40 PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN NORTH CAROLINA EACH YEAR IN CRASHES INVOLVING WILDLIFE. THE MAJORITY BEING DEER. DEER CARRY TICKS. TICKS WHICH CAUSE LYME DISEASE, ROCKY MOUNTED SPOTTED FEVER T NAME A FEW. THERE ARE HERDS OF DEER GRAZING,
SLEEPING AND GIVING BIRT ON PROPERTIES. AS MANY AS 30 GRAZING AT A TIME WHICH IS DOCUMENTED. THE INCREASE DEER POPULATION SO CLOSE TO HUMANS INCREASES THE PROBABILITY OF TRANCE HITTING DEER-BORNE DISEASES. OVERPOPULATION OF DEER CONFLICTS WITH GARDENING PRACTICES LIKE REDUCING TURF AND INCREASING PLANT DIVERSITY.
RESIDENTS HAVE LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR BECAUSE OF DEER DAMAGE TO THEIR LANDSCAPE IN TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THESE BEAST PRACTICES. THE DEER IN TREYBURN ARE PRETTY TAME AND SHOW NO FEAR AROUND PEOPLE. THAT BEING SAID WE'VE HAD REPORTS OF DEER ATTACKING AND BEING AGGRESSIVE WITH CHILDREN OR ADULTS AS THEY MAY BE APPROACHING FAWN AND NOT KNOWING THEY ARE SO CLOSE. THE DEER OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM WILL ONLY INCREASE IN TREYBURN WITHOUT A CULLING PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT. >> GOOD EVENING. SALLY BURG, UH LIVE AT 2402 VINTAGE HILL DRIVE IN DURHAM.
I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS THE COUNCIL HAD EXPRESSED IN SOME OF YOUR WORK SESSIONS. YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT OTHER METHODS BESIDE BOW HUNTING TO CONTROL THE DEER POPULATION. PER NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE, YOU CANNOT ROUND UP DEER LIKE CATTLE OR TRAP THEM AND TRUCK THEM OFF. IT DOESN'T WORK.
TRAPPING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE. IT IS ALSO TRAUMATIZING. RELOCATING THEM DOESN'T RESOLVE THE POPULATION GROWTH PR PROBLEM. BIRTH CONTROL REQUIRES INOCULATIONS AND PARKING EVERY DOE HAS NO NOT TO REPEAT THE INOCULATION. IT MUST BE DONE ANNUALLY AND IS EXPENSIVE, $300 PER INJECTION.
IT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE. FENCING PROPERTIES IS ANOTHER EXPENSIVE PROPERTIES. WE DO ALLOW FENCES IN TREYBURN BUT YOU WOULD NEED AN EIGHT FOOT FENCE TO KEEP THE DEER OUT. THEY'LL JUMP A FIVE OR SIX FOOT FENCE, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR THEM.
IT'S EXPENSIVE TO HOME OWNERS TO FENCE THEIR PROPERTIES AND IT DOESN'T STILL DOESN'T RESOLVE THE OVERPOPULATION OF THE DEER. ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER EXPRESSED THAT WE WANT TO KILL ALL THE DEER. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. NO ONE WANTS TO DO THAT.
CULLING THE DEER HERD TO A MANAGEABLE NUMBER IS A GOAL WHICH IS BENEFICIAL TO A HEALTHY DEER HERD AND PROTECTS OTHER ECOSYSTEMS. THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT DANGERS TO CHILDREN AND PETS. HUNTERS WOULD NOT BE ROAMING THE COMMUNITY.
ONLY LICENSED BO HUNTERS WOULD BE ISSUED HUNTING TAGS. HUNTING WOULD TAKE PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TES WITH PERMISSION OFTHE OWNERS. TREE STANDS, SHOOTING DOWN. THEY WOULD NOT BE WALKING AROUND THE PROPERTY OR THE COMMUNITY.
HUNTERS CAN IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEER, A DOG, AND A CHILD. COUNCIL EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT NEIGHBORS HAVING NOTICE OF HUNTING DAYS AND TIMES. THERE WOULD BE MANAGED BY POSTING SIGNS ON THE PROPERTIES WHERE HUNTING WOULD TAKE PLACE AND WOULD ONLY OF COURSE BE DURING HUNTING SEASON. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION REGARDING THE REQUESTED CHANGES TO THE BOW HUNTING ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING ME. I'M RALPH RUSSO FROM 100 GREENS COURT, I'M IN THE TREYBURN
COMMUNITY. IF YOU IF THE BOW HUNTING PROPOSED VARIANCE IS PASSED HERE ARE SOME WAYS IT WOULD BE WILDLIFE MANAGED. HUNTING IS ALOUD ONLY DURING HUNTING SEASON FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL THE LAWS PERTAINING TO BOW HUNTING, NOT CROSS BOWS. HOA WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH WILDLIFE AND.
HOME OWNERS CAN OPT IN OR OUT ALLOWING HUNTERS ON THEIR PROPERTIES. HUNTERS WOULD BE IN A TREE STAND ELEVATED TEN FEET HIGH SHOOTING DOWN AT A TARGET. SIX INCHES IN CIRCUMFERENCE, SIZE OF A PIE PLAIT. A TRAINED ARCHER NEEDS TO PLACE SIX ARROWS WITHIN THIS TARGET AT 20 YEARS, WHICH IS FROM HERE TO THAT DOOR.
CONVINCE DENTALLY THE MAJORITY OF INDOOR RANGES ARE THAT EXACT DISTANCE PROVIDING OPTIMAL TRAINING GIVEN THE TEN FOOT ELEVATION DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY TO THE BACK WALL CERTIFIED ARCHER IS AWARE OF THEIR TARGET. AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT WHICH WHAT IS BEHIND SAID TARGET TO ENSURE A SAFE SHOOTING ENVIRONMENT. WITH A MINIMUM TWO ACRE REQUIREMENT AND 60 FOOT BUFFER FOR RELEASING A BOW, THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES WHO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE FAR LESS THAN PEOPLE PERCEIVE. MOST HUNTERS USE THE DEER MEET THEY HARVEST.
NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE HAVE ALSO SERVICE PROGRAMS WHERE HARVESTED DEER CAN BE DONATED TO FOOD BANKS THAT FEED THE HUNGRY. COULD CITY CONSIDER AN EXCEPTION FOR TREYBURN I'D LIKE TO DRW AN EXCEPTION TO A SIMILAR EXCEPTION. THERE'S AN DPOEPGS A LAW PERTAINING TO OPEN ALCOHOL
CONTAINERS. DURHAM PROHIBITS TRANSPORT OF OPEN WHO WILL CONTAINERS BUT HAS EXCEPTION TO THE DOWNTOWN SOCIAL DISTRICT. ONE AREA IN THE CITY HAS EXCEPTION TO THE LAW TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. TRAY INTURN A UNIQUE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS WITHIN AN RURAL AREA SURROUNDED BY PUBLIC HUNTING LAND.
AN EXCEPTION FOR THE TREYBURN CAN CAN LOGICALLY BE MADE LEAVING THE CURRENT BOW HUNTING LAW UNTOUCHED FOR THE CITY OF DURHAM. THIS COULD BE A VIABLE SOLUTION FAR REAL GROWING PROBLEM SPECIFIC TO DURHAM. WE JUST SPENT $6,00 ON A FENCE AND WE HAVE EIGHT GRAND CHILDREN WE'RE --
>> THANK YOU. >> JEFFERY TOFRP SHON, 21 FAIRWOODS DRIVE IN FRAY BURN. PRIOR TO MY CURRENT JOB I WAS A PROFESSOR IN STATISTICS IN COLLEGE WHERE WILDLIFE BIOLOGY. I SAT ON COMMITTEES AND CO-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS IN WILDLIFE BIOLOGY.
AS A CONSERVATIONIST AND SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE SCIENCE AND RESEARCH SIDE OF THIS ISSUE UH. AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING AA BOUT HERE, ONE THING, I THE HEALTH OF THE DEER POPULATION. IT'S KNOWN IN THE LITERATURE THAT IF THE HEALTH OF A DEER POPULATION GROWS TOO MUCH, THEY CONSUME ALL THEIR FOOD AND RESOURCES IN THEIR HOME RANGE. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE DEER DYING OF STARVATION, DYING OF MALNUTRITION BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE POPULATION YO'VE HEARD SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS TALK
ABOUT THAT IS WELL BEYOND THE SUSTAINABLE SIZE OF WHAT THE LITERATURE SAYS FOR DER. TO TALK ABOUT THE ETHICS, SAFETY, AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUNTERS: ALL HUNTERS ARE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGHING A HUNTER SAFETY DMOURS THE STATE. THE ONE I E TOOK WAS A DAY-AND-A-HALF PROGRAM WHERE WE HEARD FROM SPEAKERS THAT ARE STATE BIOLOGIES, AND WILDLIFE OFFICERS TO TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL HUNTING. AMONG THE HUNTING COMMUNITY THE, BOW HUNTERS TYPICALLY TEND TO BE AMONG THE BEST AND MOST PROFICIENT OF THE HUNTERS.
NOBODY GETS INTO HUNTING BY PICKING UP A BOW AND TRYING TO TRY IT OUT IN THAT WAY. IT'S A SMALL SUBSET OF THE LARGER HUNTING POPULATION. HUNTERS DO PAY A STATE FEE FOR THEIR LICENSE; HOWEVER, BIG GAME TAGS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE BY THE STATE. SO IT IS A STATE PRIORITY TO KEEP THE POPULATION OF DEER MANAGEABLE THROUGH HUNTING.
EVERY HUNTER SEES TWO BUCK TAGS AND FOUR DOE FOR THE SEASON. HUNTERS ARE TYPICALLY MENTORED BY MORE EXPERIENCED HUNTERS. NOBODY GETS INTO HUNTING ON THEIR OWN AD IS OUT IN THE WOOD THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR. THIS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM LEADS TO ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBILITY HUNTERS.
THAT'S ALL VI. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE DO CONSIDER THE CHANGE IN THIS AMENDMENT. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M QUINCY HOCUTT, I UH TOO LIVE IN TREYBURN.
I WANTED TO ADDRESS TWO POINT WHICH IS I THINK WE HEARD EXPRESSED FROM THE COUNCIL. ONE WAS THAT YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT DO OH CITIES OTHER THAN DURHAM A HAVE ORDINANCES THIS RESTRICTIVE. WE TRIED TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH TO LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT CITIES AND WE COULDN'T REALLY FIND ANTHING LIKE WE HAVE IN DURHAM, BUT WHAT WE DID FIND IS THAT NUMEROUS CITY UHS IN THE
UNITED STATES THAT DO HAVE ACTIVE CULLING PROGRAMS WHICH IMPLIES THEY DON'T HAVE RESTRICTIONS IN THE CITY TO STP THOSE. I THOUGHT IT'D BE INTERESTING, UM, JUST TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE CITIES THAT DO HAVE THAT. FOR EXMPLE, YOU'VE HEARD OF CHAPEL HILL. IT HAS AN URBAN ARCHERY PROGRAM WHICH JUST STARTED.
INDEED WE'VE SEEN ADS FOR HUNTERS ASING THE RESIDENTS TO LET US COME INTO YOUR BACKYARD AND HUNT. THEY HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS, BU NO RESTRICTIONS. OTHER CITIES THAT DO HAVE ACTIVE CULLING PROGRAMS INCLUDE HAMILTON, NORTH CAROLINA, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, SHAKER HEIGHTS OHIO, BITS BURG, PENNSYLVANIA, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA; JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI, IOWA
CITY, IOWA. LE LIST OF CULLING WE DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IF WE DO IMPLEMENT AND I DO SAY IF, IF YOU ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT A CULLING PROGRAM, THIS THING WOULD BE REGULATED TO THE NTH. THERE WILL BE -- I KNOW PEOPLE GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS NOTION THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANDER AROUND SHOOTING BOWS AND ARROWS AT CHILDREN. THAT'S NOW HOW THESE PROGRAMS WORK.
THEY'RE DONE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITH PERMISSION, IN VERY RESTRICTIVE AREAS. WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT LESS RESTRICTION SO WE CAN MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS. THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR. IN ALL THIS RESEARCH WE'VE DONE IN THE OTHER CITIES, WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF ANY INJURIES AT ANY TIME TO ANY CHILDREN, PETS, ANIMALS, ETC. IT APPARENTLY JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED. ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT WAS MADE BY THE COUNCIL WAS THAT YOU
EXPRESS DESIRE TO PROVIDE QUICK AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSES TO AID CITIZENS OF DURHAM. WE DO NEED AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE. IF THE ORDINANCE IS CHANGED, WE BELIEVE WE CAN DO A SAFE, EFFECTIVE CULLING PROGRAM. IF IT ISN'T CHANGED, TREYBURN HAS NO WAY FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE LIVING WITH.
AND SO WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND YOUR HELP BECAUSE WITHOUT THE ORDINANCE CHANGE, WE'RE DEAD STOPPED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OKAY.
THANK YOU. I I APPRECIATE THIS MUNICIPAL ISSUE TO DEBATE. [LAUGHTER] THIS IS WHAT CITIES DO. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR; HOWEVER, I'M NOT USED TO NEIGHBORHOOD
BEING ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF AN ISSUE IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A RICH DEBATE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT. I'M GOING THE OEN IT UP TO COLLEAGUES FOR ANY COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER COOK.
>> I WILL BE VERY BRIEF. I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT'S COME OUT. I ALSO HAD TO STOP RESPONDING BECAUSE WE GOT SO MANY E-MAILS ABOUT THIS THAT I UH DID IN FACT READ ALL OF THE E-MAILS, BUT, YES, A DOZEN AT LEAST E-MAILS ABOUT THIS FROM RESIDENTS OF TREYBURN AND OTHER FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY. I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF.
I SAID A LOT OF WHAT WAS CONCERNING ME PREVIOUSLY. BECAUSE OF THE LAWS IN NORTH CAROLINA, THIS CITY OUR ATTORNEY TOOK A LOOK AT THIS AD DURHAM AS A CITY IS NOT ABLE TO FURTHER RESTRICT THE RULES AROUND BOW HUNTING. SO WE COULD PASS THIS ORDINANCE,
BUT WE COULDN'T ADD A TIME FRAME, FOR EXAMPLE. WE COULDN'T -- ONE GENTLEMAN SUGGESTED A SPECIFIC AREA. I DON'T THINK WE'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT EITHER. THIS IS BECAUSE NORTH CAROLINA HAS ALREADY LEGISLATED IN THIS AREA, AND SO THE CITY IS NOT ABLE TO ADD ON EXTRA RESTRICTIONS, AND I HEAR WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THOSE WHO ARE BOW HUNTING ARE TRAINED, UM, AND THAT THERE WILL BE GOOD COMMUNICATION WITHIN YOUR AREA, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD CHANGE FOR THE WHOLE CITY AND WITH THE INABILITY TO TAKE ON THOSE RESTRICTIONS, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
I I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDENCE TO THE FACT THAT OVERPOPULATION OF DEER DOES CAUSE REAL CONCERNS. I THINK THE ONES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT ARE REAL HEALTH CONCERNS, AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS SAYING THAT THERE ARE NOT CONCERNS. WE HAVE HAD RESIDENTS COME FORTH ASKING ABOUT FEEDING
RESTRICTIONS, WHICH SOMEONE BROUGHT UP THIS EVENING AS WELL IN ONE OF THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO. I'M PARTICULARLY LOOKING INTO IN THE FUTURE, SO I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE NOT CONCERN ABOUT THIS AND IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR OTHER ALTERNATIVES, UM, BUT FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS LANGUAGE AS WRITTEN, AND, UM, JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR AN ENTIRE CITY OUTSIDE OF THIS ONE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO SEE IMPACTS. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, M.
MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. MR. BAKER.
>> I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS ISSUE. UM, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT IT'S NOT OFF WE HEAR DIFFERING OPINIONS FROM THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE NAME AREA. MY DESIRE WOULD BE THAT THERE
COULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION SO THAT FOLKS CAN ARRIVE AT A SOLUTION THAT IS REASONABLE WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AS MY UH COLLEAGUE POINTED OUT, OUR ATTORNEY TOOK A LOOK AT SOME POSSIBILITIES REGARDING THE AMENDMENT AND EXPLORED WHETHER IT COULD BE RESTRICTED GEOGRAPHICALLY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT EVEN USING AN OVERLAY SO THIS WOULD APPLY CITY-WIDE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN AREA WE DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN SO IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT REFERRING THIS TO A BOARD OF COMMISSION THAT COULD TAKE A DEEPER LOOK, THERE'S NOT ONE THAT COMES TO MIND AND HAS NOT BEEN PART OF OUR DISCUSSION, UM, SO AT THIS TIME, UM, I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS. I DO THINK WE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPLORE DEFERRING CONSIDERATION OF THIS AND NOT NECESSARILY VOTING NO, TONIGHT, IF THAT'S OF
THE COUNCIL'S DESIRE. HOWEVER, AT THIS POIGNANTLY NOT BE VOTING YES, AND I'LL BE LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES' DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE ALL THE RESIDENCE DEBITS WHO'VE COME OUT EITHER THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT AND PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT OR THEY E-MAILED US. THIS IS NOT A SET ISSUE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S CLEARLY LOTS OF DEBATE AND DISCUSSION WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE ACROSS DURHAM IF FOLKS WERE MAYING ATTENTION AND SEEING THE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'M -- AND I'M NOT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS BOARD -- BUT WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS BOAD. THAT IS BOTH A JOINT CITY/COUNTY BOARD TAT IS RESIDENTS THATLY BOTH IN THE CITY AND COUNTY. I'M INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING VERY MUCH AWARE THAT DEER CAN BE DANGEROUS AND WITH TICK BORNE ILLNESSES AND VEHICULAR
ACCIDENTS. I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO MAYBE GET AN E-A B TO DO RESEARCH ABOUT PROGRAMS IN OTHER CITIES, ARE THEY CITY-RUN? I THINK IT COULD BE BE CLEAR PARAMETERS AND GUARDRAILS THAT MAYBE OTHER RESIDENTS WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT. FEEDING RESTRICTIONS LOOK LIKE BECAUSE THERE ARE OHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN DURHAM WHO ARE RAISING ISSUES AROUND FEEDING OF WILDLIFE, NOT JUST DEER, THAT HAVE COME TO COUNCIL SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
LY NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT, BUT I THINK WE OH OWE IT TO RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FREEMAN. >> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. I DO APPRECIATE THE FOLKS COMING OUT TONIGHT TO SPEAK, AND AGAIN, A LOG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, I AM ONE OF THOSE WHO DOES FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AT THIS POINT. I DID HAR THE COMMENT ABOUT DEFERRED CONSIDERATION, BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CABALLERO IN THAT I THINK OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS BOARD
HAS BEEN THE POINT OF REFERENCE FOR THESE TYPES OF TOPICS AND JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE ARE SOME INTERMEDIARY OR SOME OTHER WAY. I DO THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE A GREAT POSSIBILITY, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OR COMPLEXITY OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN THAT THE DEERS PRESENT A HEALTH CONCERN, BUT I'M ALSO VERY MUCH UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CULLING ACROSS THE CITY ORDINANCE. SO FIEG FIGURING OUT IF THERE'S SOME WAY TO TIE IN POPULATION. THERE HAS TO BE SOME LEVERS IN THIS AND THAT'S NOT THERE YET, AND SO IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S READY YET, SO I 3 WOULD LEAVE I AT THAT.
THANK YOU. >> THANKS. YEAH, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO ALL THE RESIDENCE DEBITS FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR ALL THE E-MAILS YOU SENT. WE READ THEM ALL AND APPRECIATE THE INPUT.
ALSO, I'M GLAD THE MAYOR WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS POLICY. I THINK I'M THE ONE THAT SAID WHEN RESIDENTS COME TO US WITH A ISSUE LIKE THIS THAT NEEDS A RESOLUTION I THINK IT'S OUR JOB HERE TO PROVIDE A CLEAR AND TIMELY ANSWER TO THAT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US DO TONIGHT. I THINK REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S ARCANE POLICY MATTER LIKE BEAU HUNTING, SO I U THINK IT'S OUR JOB HERE ON THE COUNCIL. I HEAR THE CONCERN OF OVERPOPULATION, FOR TICK BORNE ILLNESSES.
ULD BE WELL AND HAVING SAD THAT I'M LEANING AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE. I AM CONCERNS THAT THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T AGREE ITSELF IN THIS ISSUE BEYOND OTHERS INVOLVE ISSUE. CLEARLY THIS ISSUE WOULD ALSO AS WE'VE SAID THIS WOULD BE AN ORDINANCE FO THE WHOLE CITY SO
I'M CONCERN ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN DURHAM. MAYBE REFER THIS TO E-A B. I THINK ONE THING TO LOOK AT AS I UNDERSTAND YOUR COVENANTS IN TREYBURN DO NOT ALLOW FOR HIGH FENCES. SEEMS LIKE ONE TAILORED SOLUTION FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T WANT DEER TO HAVE A HIGH FENCE TO KEEP THAT DEER OUT BUT THAT'S A RESOLUTION YOU'D HAVE TO DECIDE ON TO ALLOW THAT COVENANT TO ALLOW LARGER FENCES.
P THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN CONSIDER BUT AT THIS POINT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE CHANGING CITY-WIDE ORDINANCE THIS WAY. >> THANK YOU. SO IT WAS FIRST CALLED UPON TO KIND OF UP AND DOWN VOTE WITH HASTE ON THIS MATTER, UM, I WAS HOPING WE WOULD DO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT AND THAT'S HAVE MORE DISCUSSION AND PERHAPS SEND IT TO A BOARD BCAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T WANT
TO DISMISS THE CONCERNS OF EITHER SIDE THAT I'VE HEARD HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS NORTH CAROLINA, HUNTING'S PART OF OUR HERITAGE AND I GET THAT. PART OF THE APPEAL OF TREYBURN IS THE WHLE SOMENESS OF LIVING IN THE WOODS. TWO OR THREE DEER ON YOUR YARD GET A PICTURE OF IT IS CHARMING.
25 BECOMES PROBLEMATIC, AND SO AT SOME POINT, TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE LAKESIDE BUT IF THE LAKE JUMPS OUT OF ITS WATER IT'S A PROBLEM. SO AND I DON'T WANT TO -- I DON'T WANT TO BE FLIPPANT BT PART OF THE APPEAL OF THE DEER, BUT WHEN IT'S TOO MANY, IT'S TOO MANY. PART OF MY CONCERN OR PART OF MY INQUIRY TONIGHT IS DRIVEN BY THE, UM, THE CALCULUS OF THE ACREAGE AND THE BORDER IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE ENORMITY OF THE PROBLEM.
IF WE'VE REACHED A THRESHOLD WHERE THE PER CAPITA DEER POPULATION IS HUGE AT THIS POINT, THEN IT'S WHAT'S THE KALG TLAUS SAYS DUOACRES AS OPPOSED TO FIVE, THAT'S THE MAGIC NUMBER OR 250 FEET TO 60 FEET -- WHATEVER IT IS. I'M CONCERNED ABOUTLESSENING -- AND I'M NOT A HUNT HE HER --LESSENING THE SECURITY STRUCTURES AROUND IT. I DON'T WANT TO DISMISS THE NEIGHBORS SPOKEN ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT KIDS AND PETS. THE MOST WELL-LAID PLANS OF SAFETY SOMETHING CAN ALWAYS STILL HAPPEN, SO I DON'T WANT TO BE DISMISS SIEVE OF THAT OR DS MISS SEVE O THE E ENORMITY OF THE ISSUE OF DEER AS WELL. I DID FIND COMPELLING DENOTION THAT EVEN IF WE WERE TO DO AWAY WITH THE DEER IN TREYBURN PROPER, WHAT'S TO STOP REPOPULATION. I DON'T KNOW IF DEER HAVE SUB CULTURE WHERE THEY TALK TO EACH
OTHER, AVOID THIS AREA OR THEY KNOW THESE FOLK ARE NOT COMING HOME AT NIGHT SO THEY DON'T GO TO THIS AREA, BUT WHAT'S TO STOP THE ENORMITY OF THE POPULATION IN THAT WOODED RURAL AREA FROM STILL COMING IN? I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT FIVE TO TWO IS -- I HAVEN'T SEEN THE SCIENCE THAT THAT'S THE MAGIC NUMBER OR 200 FEET TO 60 FEET, THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT'LL BRING THIS PROBLEM UNDER CONTROL. SO THAT'S THE TENSION I HOLD. THIS I'M NOT INTERESTED IN WINDOW DRESSING OR POSTURING. IF IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THE ENORMITY OF THE PROBLEM THAT'S NOT A FIX FOR ME. I WISH WE HAD REMANDED THIS OR PUT THIS IN THE HANDS OF SOME, UM, BOARD OR APPROPRIATE
CONVENING TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION MOVING FORWARD BUT HERE IT IS. WE ARE AT VOTING TIME TONIGHT. COME BACK. COME BACK, AND EVEN IF THIS IS VOTED DOWN TONIGHT WE STILL HAVE AN ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE -- AND WHETHER YOU THINK IT'S EFFECTIVE OR NOT THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION, BUT I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS LANGUAGE TONIGHT AS I TELEGRAPHED IN PREVIOUS WORK SESSIONS, WITH THE CAVEAT NEXT TO IT I WISH WE HD WULD HAVE HAD MORE DISCUSSION AND HOPE WE WILL ON THIS.
I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. YIELD BACK.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME OUT TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. I KNOW FOLKS LISTENING IN ONLINE WHO DO NOT LIVE OUT THERE ARE PROBABLY THINKING, WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE D
REALITY IS, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS. IT DOES NOT DETERMINE WHETHER YOU CAN OR CANNOT TAKE ACTION. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PROXIMITY AND GEOGRAPHY AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, UM, SO, BUT I APPRECIATED THIS DGSZ WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND APPRECIATED HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I DN'T THROW APPLES UP HERE IF YOU DIDN'T GET WHAT YOU WANTED TONIGHT AND DON'T THROW CAKING IF YOU DID.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HEARD A LOT MORE DISCUSSION POLITICAL SPEAK FOR IT'S JUST UNCLEAR IN A SENSE. SO I DO THINK -- I AGREE, I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TOPIC FOR E-A B BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS AT PLAY WITH THE OVERPOPULATION OF DEER. NOT EVERYONE HAD THE LUXURY OF GROWING UP IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA WHERE THIS WAS A DAILY
HOBBY, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID I'LL CALL FAR VOTE. -- I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT PROPOSED REVISIONS TO ORDINANCE SEC. 6-3, SHOOTING OR POISONING WILD GAME OR SQUIRRELS, AND DEER BOW HUNTING.
>> MOVED AS READ. >> SECOND. >> BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. >> IF I COULD OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO REFER THIS BACK TO THE E-A B, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MORE POSITIVE RESPONSE SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND I'D LIKE TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO REFER THIS BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS BOARD.
>> SO, UH... OKAY. SO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT HERE, SO WE TAKE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS ON ACTUAL LAW, I HAD ALREADY CALLED FOR A MOTION AND IT WAS SECONDED. SO THE MOTION IS NOW IN PROCESS. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS MOTION, AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND ADDRESS THE SUBSTITUTION IF THIS GOES UP OR DOWN. SO WE CAN DO BOTH.
COUNCIL MEMBER COOK, YOU SECOND IT WHCH OFFICIALLY PUT IT IN PROCESS. IF IT WASN'T A SECOND I COULD NOT ADDRESS IT AND ENTERTAIN A SUBSZ CONSTITUTION SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS GO FORWARD WITH THIS VOTE, MAKE A RECORD, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FREEMAN, I'LL ASK THAT YOU RESTATE YOUR SUBSTITUTION TO THIS ITEM. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, EVERYBODY? >> NOT REALLY.
OFFER POINT OF >> MAYOR PRO TEM, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN WITHDRAWING YOUR MOTION OR WOULD YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS ON? >> I'M NOT. I DO HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION AND I HONOR THE SPIRIT OF COUNCIL MEMBER FREEMAN'S OFFERING BUT WHAT I WOULD OFFER IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW WHETHER E-A THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO REST THIS RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE AN ACTIVE MOTION. IF WE VOTE THIS DOWN TONIGHT IT'S WITHIN OUR PER VIEW TO STILL REFER THIS TO THE APPROPRIATE BODY AND WE CAN
PROACTIVELY BRING THIS BACK. IT'S AN ORDINANCE AND UNLIKE A PUBLIC HEARING, THERE'S NO DEVELOPER WITH MONEY ON THE LINE OR TIME ON THE LINE, IT'S WITHIN OUR PER VIEW TO BRING THIS BACK AT OUR LEE ISURE, DO I RECO WE VOTE ON THE MOTION BEFORE US AND THEN IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU SAID, DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE APPROPRIATE RESTING PLACE FOR THIS ISSUE IS AND THEN BRING IT BACK. THAT'S WELL WITHIN OUR PER VIEW. THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
>> UM, I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I LOVE THIS -- >> BOTH PROGRESSIVE. >> WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS IS IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN FURTHER DEVELOPING IT. IT MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US SO AT THIS MOMENT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE REFERRING THIS BACK, THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE BUT I'M EXING PLANING MY THOUGHT PROCESS WHICH
IS THAT EVERYONE IS INTERESTED IN SOME METHOD OF ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND LIKE WE SAID, THIS IS COMING FROM TREYBURN, BUT THERE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH CONCERNS ABOUT WILDLIFE IN OTHER PLACES AS WELL THAT HAVE COME TO US WITH DIFFERENT POSSIBILITY SOLUTIONS. I'M NOT SURE, THEN, WHAT IF THE E-A B IS BROUGHT PLACE FOR THIS TO GO WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION MIGHT BE COMING BACK, IT MIGHT BE BOW HUNTING BUT MIGHT BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AT THIS TIME, I'M ALSO GOOD WITH MY SECOND, AND -- I'LL GO AHEAD AND ALL THE MOTION, IT'S BEEN CALED AND SECONDED, AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION. MADAM CLERK -- NO, YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
THE MOTION FAILS. DO YOU HAVE THAT RECORD, MADAM CLERK? ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. THOSE ARE -- THAT'S ALL THE BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT. WE DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO BREAK FOR OUR CLOSED CAPTIONING. COLLEAGUES, WE ARE STARTING THE YEAR OUT RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND AT THIS TIME AT 8:46 -- RESIDENTS, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT -- WE'LL ADJOURN AT 8:4