Civic — Page 17 — Hey Durham

City Council

Regular Meeting · May 15, 2023

Firefighters testified about severe pay compression that has already triggered seventeen resignations this year, with trained replacements costing the city roughly $220,000 each.

Durham Planning Commission approved a contested 99-townhouse rezoning over residents' objections that notification signs were posted a mile away from affected homes and traffic could overwhelm a two-lane neighborhood exit.

Board of Commissioners

Regular Meeting · May 8, 2023

Durham County Commissioners approved an $890 million fiscal 2024 budget with a 3-cent property tax increase and $9.8 million in employee salary raises.

Board of Education

Work Session · May 4, 2023

Durham Public Schools and Durham Tech aim to have 25 percent of high school graduates earn college credentials before graduation, up from less than 1 percent currently.

City Council

Work Session · May 4, 2023

A water emergency affecting 10 Junction Road families remains unresolved as Durham City Council weighs rate increases to fund $1 billion in infrastructure projects over the next decade.

City Council

Regular Meeting · May 1, 2023

Durham City Council voted 4-2 to permanently protect a 215-acre nature preserve and heron rookery under state control, prioritizing environmental resilience over local authority.

Board of Commissioners

Work Session · May 1, 2023

Lede available after transcription.

Board of Commissioners

Regular Meeting · April 24, 2023

Durham County commissioners approved $5.2 million in federal funding for child care expansion, mental health services, and youth programs across 24 contracts.

Board of Education

Regular Meeting · April 20, 2023

Six Jordan High School students testified that their reports of sexual assault by a teammate took 77 days to trigger an investigation, during which they continued seeing the accused at daily track practice.

City Council

Work Session · April 20, 2023

Old Farm residents demanded council block Northern High School's bus routes through their neighborhood, citing traffic dangers and diesel emissions that would disproportionately harm a predominantly Black and Brown community.

City Council

Regular Meeting · April 17, 2023

Durham City Council approved a contested 17-unit Glen Road subdivision 5-1 despite resident concerns about water shortage, traffic safety, and lack of affordable housing guarantees.

Durham Planning Commission

Regular Meeting · April 11, 2023

The Planning Commission approved a 61-townhouse project near Southern High School despite commissioners' concerns that Clayton Road cannot handle the traffic during school pickup and dropoff times.

Board of Commissioners

Regular Meeting · April 11, 2023

Lede available after transcription.

Board of Commissioners

Regular Meeting · April 10, 2023

Durham County Commissioners approved $15 million in funding for ambulance replacements, affordable housing, and opioid settlement agreements.

Board of Education

Work Session · April 6, 2023

Durham Public Schools will spend $84,000 to $85,000 hiring a paid facilitator for a new LGBTQIA+ task force, despite board concerns about budget constraints and task force membership criteria.

City Council

Work Session · April 6, 2023

Durham City Council faces ethics violations allegations after a resident detailed claims that council members failed to abstain from votes involving financial conflicts of interest.

City Council

Regular Meeting · April 3, 2023

City Council approved a contentious 90-unit apartment complex at 2201 West Cornwallis Road in a 4-3 vote, overriding the Planning Commission's unanimous rejection over flooding and traffic concerns.

Board of Commissioners

Work Session · April 3, 2023

Durham County commissioners approved over $10 million in affordable housing partnerships while declining to commit $1.875 million for a guaranteed income pilot that would provide $600 monthly to 250 extremely low-income renters.

Durham Planning Commission

Regular Meeting · March 28, 2023

The Durham Planning Commission deferred a vote on expanding the urban growth boundary after more than 100 speakers opposed adding developable land, citing pollution, inadequate fire services, and affordable housing concerns.

Board of Commissioners

Regular Meeting · March 27, 2023

Durham County commissioners approved three major development projects expected to generate 902 jobs and $350 million in investment, while establishing a consolidated gun violence intervention department.

Board of Education

Regular Meeting · March 23, 2023

Durham Public Schools' proposed $734 million budget requests $4.1 million for a classified staff salary study after employees testified about earning $15-16 hourly while working second jobs.

City Council

Work Session · March 23, 2023

Durham City Council referred allegations that a sitting member offered development support for campaign donations to state law enforcement after the majority voted to advance the ethics complaint.

City Council

Regular Meeting · March 20, 2023

Durham City Council approved two contested residential developments in 4-3 votes, sparking fierce public demands for expanded mental health crisis services and traffic safety funding.

Durham Planning Commission

Regular Meeting · March 14, 2023

Durham's Planning Commission rejected a rezoning of Southpoint Mall for 1,382 apartments and office space, citing zero affordable housing and the developer's history of evicting 393 families.

Board of Commissioners

Regular Meeting · March 13, 2023

Durham County Commissioners approved $235 million in bond financing for infrastructure and school projects, with $86 million directed to government facilities and $108 million to Durham Public Schools.