Study Groups Recommendation to City Council, The study group did extensive research, and that data is available online, All study group meetings were recorded and can be viewed online, Redistricting: Following the 2020 Census, Tiesha Hinton Its Baldwins prerogative not to care about those things, some serious, some decidedly less so, but theyve created problems for the mayor all the same. City Council directed staff to get public feedback on the recommendations of the Study Group. These actions include causing city elections to be postponed for more than a year, allowing current Council members to continue in office without the input or approval that elections provide. [2] . Finally, we think this topic merits a great deal more public discussion and input than it has received to date. We believe strongly that with additional districts, Council members can be closer to their constituents, and candidates will be able to run for office without needing to raise exorbitant amounts of campaign money. Learn More. The group of community activists and veterans of city boards and commissions also was tasked with reexamining the salaries of the mayor and council members. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. Truman contributed to the Dix Park master planning process, was a member of the community leader group for the Dix Edge study, and has served on the Raleigh Transit Authority for a year and a half. Raleigh Municipal Building Hes not our first or second choice for District A. Counties | Ruth, an NC State lecturer,is insightful, sincere, obviously smart, and by all accounts caring and engaging. Email your thought toCouncilStudyGroup@raleighnc.govAttend a Listening Session: Archived post. Baldwin served five terms in Raleigh's city council before being elected mayor in 2019. It also suggested ways to increase voter information, engagement and turnout in municipal elections. } 1. City Council Wary Residents Have Mixed Feelings About Some New Proposals. Jones seems to know what the city needs: affordable housing, more and better-staffed transit options, and yes, better community engagement. Frequent elections serve that purpose by making officeholders regularly accountable to their constituents. The city's leaders have made good policy strides addressing growththey passed an $80 million affordable housing bond, ended exclusionary zoning, implemented a missing middle housing policy,. Some also noted the councils disbanding the citys citizen advisory councils, which council members believed favored mostly homeowners opposed to denser development. Candidate filing closed Friday, Three incumbents decided not to run for reelection: At-large council member Nicole Steward, District A's Patrick Buffkin and District B representative David Cox, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin will face two challengers: Terrance Ruth and DaQuanta Copeland, The Raleigh City Council worked with the General Assembly to pass a law extending the current city council term by one year and moving elections to an even-year cycle, Stormie Denise Forte - currently represents District D. Disclosure: Franklin is a former neighbor of INDY Week editor Jane Porter. The city manager is the city's chief administrator. California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information/Opt-Out of Targeted Advertising, Raleigh City Council elections will be on Nov. 8. , WRAL reporter Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said Thursday she would consider the possibility of adding violence-interrupter programs or gun detection technologies to the police. 222 W. Hargett St., Ste. When it comes to the election changes themselves, there are arguments for and against every proposal. Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin wins 2nd term, but with a very - MSN As rents and housing costs have skyrocketed (over the last year, rents in Raleigh rose by an average of 14 percent, home prices have risen by 22 percent, and homelessness has doubled) and construction pushes forward, it is good to see that the dialogue around Raleigh politics this election cycle has (mostly) transcended the terminally inane, offensively reductive YIMBY/NIMBY discourse. The Raleigh City Council earmarked $800,000 for the expansion of ACORNS for the fiscal year 2022-'23. Harrison says Raleigh needs an anti-displacement plan and looks to cities such as Portland as examples of how to approach that. The framework consists of the first elected Mayor, two At-Large council members, and five district seats. Debbie Holt, owner of Clyde Coopers Barbecue in downtown Raleigh, said she was one of many businesses affected by looting and vandalism during the George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020. Interpreters for deaf and hearing impaired persons are available. Baldwin has been a consistent figure on the Raleigh City Council, serving five terms as an at-large member before being elected mayor in 2019. .census-table-source { Especially after the secrecy of the recent changes to Raleighs election schedule and form of election (i.e., no runoffs, with a plurality of the votes sufficient to win), we believe any changes to Council terms, if pursued, should be approved by the voters in a referendum before being enacted. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) It's a concept that has sparked protests outside City Council meetings and rising tensions during them: So-called "missing middle" housing. We dont want the big federal races to overshadow the local races, she says. We also note that the elimination of runoffs makes it highly likely that candidates will be elected with less than majority support. We apologize for the error on our part. created rules that allowed some short-term rentals, one of the first things it did was to postpone enforcement, Support my work with a digital subscription, Cats and bubble tea: New cafe opens in downtown Fuquay-Varina. Read our coverage. After 30 years, the owner of Carys Pink House is moving. In the Wake County school boards last odd-numbered election cycle, only 125,000 votes were cast. Raleigh (/ r l i /; RAH-lee) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. The Raleigh City Council discussed recommendations from a council-appointed study group that has been looking into possibly lengthening council terms and increasing members' pay. Let the people make this decision.. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was July 21, 2017. Ruth has intriguing ideas, such as creating a department and master plan dedicated to affordable housing within city government and keeping a city database to track affordable units as theyre added and lost. Council Meeting Schedule: Regular Afternoon Sessions : First and Third Tuesday at 1 p.m. Evening Sessions: First Tuesday at 7 p.m. Work Sessions: Second Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Third Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Budget Work Sessions: Scheduled as needed on Mondays during budget season Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), creating a board for African American affairs, New Voter ID Rule in NC Sparks Worries About Fairness for Black, Latino Voters, Terrance Ruth, Former Raleigh Mayoral Candidate, Launches Podcast Dedicated to Decoding Local Power, Durham Bulls Search for a New Wool E. Bull, UNC Leaders, Faculty, and Political Leaders React to Affirmative Action Ruling, Faced With a Violent Killing, a Durham Family Chooses Forgiveness Over Prison, Letter: Durham Council Member Jillian Johnson on Her Decision Not to Run for Reelection, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Raleigh City Council Terms and Compensation : r/raleigh - Reddit Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Current members, 2022-2024 Term [ edit] Mary-Ann Baldwin, Mayor Jonathan Melton, at-large Stormie Forte, at-large Mary Black-Branch, District A Megan Patton, District B Corey Branch, District C Jane Harrison, District D Christina Jones, District E border-top: 1px solid #ccc; background-color: #D9D9D9; The council was at an impasse until the 2017 council created rules that allowed some short-term rentals but banned most people from renting out their entire homes. Raleigh leaders had already told residents that last fall's bond, the city's biggest-ever parks and greenway bond, would raise taxes 3 to 4 cents per $100 of assessed property value and cost. Public data shows that. But if experience, a record of achievements, a knowledge of government, and preserving the citys forward momentum is your draw, vote for Baldwin. Anne Franklin, who sat on the city council from 1987 to 1993, and John Odom, who represented District B for more than two decades, are both running for at-large seats. By passing this text-change we are going to make it perfectly legal for people to begin running hotels in our neighborhoods.. About Council; City Council Agendas, Minutes, and Presentations; Public Comment; Thank you for continuing to look to INDY Week as an election resource. Click the meeting link to see more info and the full agenda: Ballotpedia does not cover any additional city officials in Raleigh, North Carolina. On top of that, people just seem to trust him. 3. The petition would need about 5,000 signaturesor that of 10 percent of voters who turned out in the previous municipal elections. Hear us out. The topic list contains a sampling of keywords that Voterheads, a local government monitoring service, found in each meeting agenda. We are concerned about Raleighs housing crisis. The Phase I improvements to Chavis Park have transformed this Southeast Raleigh space into an amenity that has enhanced the overall well-being of residents and visitors of all ages during the pandemic, and the community in Southeast Raleigh has advocated for improvements to Chavis Park for nearly two decades. She was elected to her first term as mayor in 2019 and served on the Raleigh City Council from 2007 to 2017. State legislature | Are there ways to increase voter engagement and participation in local elections? Despite their legal limbo, websites like AirBNB and VRBO have hundreds of rooms and homes available for rent in the city. Jonathan Melton Jonathan S. Melton is an American lawyer and politician. I dont think we should create rules to create problems.. All 10 members of the group unanimously agreed the council should move forward with the changes. [2], The Raleigh City Council is made up of eight members, including the mayor. All seven council seats were up for election. [6], The offices were originally scheduled to be on the ballot in 2021. As Vote on Shaw Rezoning Looms, Growth of the HBCU Hangs in the Balance But you have to compare that with the 125,000 who voted in the 2013 cycle. Shot fired at Wilmington shopping mall led to evacuation. Ruth could do the job of mayor, but the learning curve is steep and experience matters. In our view, thats too many to allow for effective representation and constituent service. From what Ive researched, everyone was against it except the voters, who overwhelmingly passed [it] by a 60-to-40 margin.. 1 Exchange Plaza, Raleigh NC 27601 City Council Raleigh's Governing Body The City Council is Raleigh's governing body, consisting of eight members who are elected for two-year terms. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)-There are a lot of new faces on Raleigh's City Council. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER. The Right Meow Cat Cafe provides a feel-good space for rescue cats, their potential owners, and everyone in-between. There are many ways to provide your input. The formation of the study group was prompted by a citizen petition.
, The city's budget process operates on a fiscal year cycle from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. And we need leaders who believe in transparency, due process, and the value of receiving input from residents, partners, and experts. David Knight served on the Raleigh City . The responsibilities of the city manager include overseeing the city's day-to-day operations, planning and implementing the city's operating budget, and appointing departmental directors and other senior-level positions. With higher pay, all voters should expect that, in return, their representatives will listen to their concerns, keep them informed, and be voted out at the next election if they do not do so. Since local policy changes and development projects are often years-long endeavors, some say two-year term limits disrupt the continuity of such initiatives. Baldwin and the council implemented missing middle text changes to the citys master plan that makes it easier to build apartments, townhomes, cottages, duplexes, quadruplexes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all areas of the city, which will provide homes (if not necessarily below market rate) to more people. There are three sessions planned in December and January. [2][3], The mayor presides over city council meetings and official city ceremonies. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Editors note: This story has been corrected to reflect the accurate number ofresidents5,000, or 10 percent voters who turned out in the previous municipal electionwho would have to petition for a referendum on election changes. 140 sign up to speak against Shaw rezoning in Raleigh - CBS17.com Should the compensation of City Council members be adjusted? [18] No curfews were issued over the weekend. We support the continuation of two-year terms for all Council members. During the weekend of May 29-31, 2020, demonstrations and protests took place in cities nationwide, including Raleigh, following the death of George Floyd. The best of INDY Weeks fiercely independent journalism about the Triangle delivered straight to your inbox. When the downtown capitol of North Carolina was being destroyed by riots, who ordered law enforcement to stand down? Holt asked, implying law enforcement did not act against protesters. Raleigh City Council - Wikipedia Were, again, endorsing more candidates than there are seats because we think there are three candidates who are worthy of your votes. font-weight: normal !important; } City Council should adopt staggered terms whereby all district City Councilmembers are elected one side of the cycle, and the Mayor and all At-Large City Councilmembers are elected on the other side of the cycle. Staff writer Anna Johnson contributed to this report. Facebook posts, AI and the upcoming election. Almost all cities that use four-year terms also have staggered elections, wherein some city council members face reelection one year and others face reelection the following year. 2022-401, enacted August 16, 2022. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte.Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeast, the 41st-most populous city in the U.S., and the largest city of the Research Triangle metro area. extend the terms of council members from two to four years; hold staggered elections in which district council members would face reelection one year and the mayor and at-large council members would face reelection the next year; increase the size of the city council from eight to nine by adding one district seat; increase the mayors pay by 49 percent from $24,550 to $36,511and the pay of each council member by 66 percentfrom $18,021 to $29,848; and. Recommendations on City Council Terms and Compensation What she wants for its future. Raleigh is a city in Wake County, North Carolina. Should City Council members serve two-year or four-year terms? Recommendations on City Council Terms and Compensation, Changes Coming to Public Comment Period Schedule, Art, Education, and Collections Committee, Raleigh Historic Development Commission Meeting, Safe, Vibrant & Healthy Community Meeting. In the past, council members have said turnout would be greater in even years because of bigger races that draw more people to the polls. Shaw rezoning approved, developers agree to limit building - WRAL These, to us, were Baldwins main missteps as mayor. 2022-401, enacted August 16, 2022. You are encouraged to tells. Long overdue. Raleigh to vote on joining Wake Countys non-discrimination rule, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin has resigned from her controversial day job, Cats and bubble tea: New cafe opens in downtown Fuquay-Varina. The city of Raleigh utilizes a council-manager system. Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. } padding-right: 0.25em; Are there ways to increase voter engagement and participation in local elections? Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Council Meetings | Raleighnc.gov They came up with six unanimous recommendations that, if enacted, would change how elections are held, how much the mayor and city council members are paid, and how many members sit on the city council. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RALEIGH THAT: Section 1. Shaw University Has Begun its Campus Redevelopment If theyre willing to spend money and listen to the study group about giving raises, then they should be spending more money on education, on things for kids like hospital care treatment, said Carmen Rodriguez, who showed up at a listening session this month to take notes for the Hispanic community. text-align: left !important; max-width: 500px; The General Assembly passed a law extending the current council term by a year and moving city elections to an even-year cycle for the two-year terms. Should City Council members serve staggered terms? A former member of the city councils study group on council terms and compensation, Lawson is also the only candidate whom weve seen call for enacting ethics reforms by which city council members would be required to file Statements of Economic Interests. The new rules require short-term rental owners to have a city permit, ban exterior advertising and special events and prohibit gatherings at the homes. The Planning Commission, which advises the council, recommended that the city approve Shaw's proposal in a 7-1 vote in February. The CAC system was riddled with problems, but whipping up votes in month two in office in order to get rid of an almost 50-year-old institution with no public input, no notice, and no backup plan for community engagement angered all kinds of people. We support adding one or more additional district seats and recommend that there be an odd number of seats in total including the mayor to avoid tie votes. During that time no regulations have been in place regarding short-term rentals, said Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin. Should Raleigh City Council serve staggered terms? What she doesnt seem to care aboutand its an admirable quality in most other contextsis what people think about her. By not endorsing a candidate, were not at all saying dont vote for your next mayor. Two North Carolina State University professors who have studied potential solutions to the affordable housing shortage say it may not be quite the magic bullet its advocates think it is. Nondiscrimination laws can cover a variety of areas, including public employment, private employment, housing, and public accommodations. | See who qualifies. The News & Observer previously reported the protests led to 106 arrests. But what happened next seems to have permanently damaged the trust many Raleigh residents have in their government. Raleigh City Council approved short-term rental rules for Airbnbs, VRBO, including allowing whole-house rentals with just a few neighborhood concerns. When a new council was elected in 2019, one of the first things it did was to postpone enforcement and try again. When [people] say [voters] wouldnt be interested in November, well, theres no facts to bear that out at all.. Former City Council member Stef Mendell was the only person who spoke against the rule changes. [9], The table below shows demographic information about the city. This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. (Supp. On Wednesday, the city council voted. Baldwin supports the parks bond, which passed in this election. Matt Talhelm , WRAL reporter Several people spoke during Tuesday night's Raleigh City Council meeting about the need to pay more for police officers in the city. This feedback widget is not intended for customer service issues. Six months ago, behind closed doors, the Raleigh City Council voted to postpone the November election to 2022, effectively giving current members an extra year in office. Anna Johnson covers Raleigh and Wake County for the News & Observer. Other candidates: Frank Fields,Wanda Hunter. Franklin has deep roots and strong connections in disparate Raleigh communities and has a proven ability to work collaboratively to get things done. Megan Patton lacks political experience, too, but she has notable professional and civic experienceas a customer service manager at a local company and a volunteer with Moms Demand Actionthat speak well to her being prepared to represent District B. In 2019, Branch was on the right side of the vote to abolish CACs. . CODE OF ORDINANCES City of RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA Codified through Ordinance No. The recall effort never made it to a ballot, but it did make clear divisions in Raleighs municipal politics. In this form of municipal government, an elected city councilwhich includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative bodyappoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives. Historically, we note that some members have not done so, complaining that their pay was insufficient to justify much of a time commitment beyond attending Council meetings and responding to special interests and campaign contributors. It is responsible for adopting the city budget, approving mayoral appointees, levying taxes, and making or amending city laws, policies and ordinances. Raleigh City Council on Tuesday voted to re-zone 17 plots on Shaw University campus to allow for high rise towers up to 30 stories tall. The councils decision, made in closed session, was criticized and helped spark an effort now underway to recall Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, The News & Observer has reported. They are all elected every two years. City Council | Raleighnc.gov Raleigh deserves no less than this. Our Services may display content that does not belong to Emerald Data Solutions or its affiliates. Livable Raleigh - 2022 - All Rights Reserved, We support increasing the salaries for Council members. Posted 2:41 a.m. Jun 20 - Updated 2:41 a.m. Jun 21 By. With the influx of newcomers to the city council, District E would do better to stick with someone who has experience governing. But displacement is rampant, and the availability of new affordable housing units isnt anywhere close to keeping pace with the loss of them. The filing deadline for this election was July 15, 2022. He is the current Chairman of the Raleigh City Council's Economic Development and Innovation Committee. Whitney Hill is a small business owner running on a law-and-order platform. The city's population was 467,665 as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau. Code of Ordinances | Raleigh, NC | Municode Library Terms are two years now. Candidates: Mary-Ann Baldwin,DaQuanta Copeland, Terrance Ruth. On the first point, Melton led the way on securing city contracts with electric scooter companies and they now operate in Raleigh with few issues. There have been grumblings from District E residents about David Knights willingness to engage with them, and he doesnt hide his disdain for CACs, which he publicly called inappropriate and undemocratic. Still, we think he has a good idea of whats democratic and whats not: he was reportedly the only council member to cast a vote against moving the municipal election to 2022 in a closed session meeting. The switch on its face wasnt a bad onebut why go about it that way? 5.1. .census-table-census-item-header { font-size: 80%; Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. A lot of Hispanic parents work a lot of hours, her 15-year-old son Uriel added. City Council Agendas and Minutes | Raleighnc.gov For these reasons, we oppose adding at-large seats and recommend, instead, that as Council expands, the at-large seats be eliminated. The council could be far more aggressive in negotiating community benefits from developers in exchange for upzoning. This whole process, to me, is full of conflict of interests, Gizlice wrote in the comments section of the poll. City leaders have already won state approval to move the municipal election that would have occurred this fall to the fall of 2022 because of delays in Census redistricting data. About 57 percent of people who responded to Raleighs online poll agreed the mayor and city council members should receive the suggested raises. 919-996-2707. The argument for staggered terms is that you shouldnt have to risk a turnover of all the board members at once, Cohen says. Raleigh Municipal Building This story was originally published February 3, 2021, 10:41 AM. No. City Council should transition from 2-year to 4-year terms City Council should adopt staggered terms Increase total compensation for the Mayor and City Council City Council should move elections to even years City Council should direct staff to develop and implement a comprehensive voter engagement program The Right Meow Cat Cafe provides a feel-good space for rescue cats, their potential owners, and everyone in-between. Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough vote 2023 candidates | Raleigh News NOTICE TO HEARING IMPAIRED. Eric Braun, the study groups chair, said the group found longer terms and higher compensation could encourage more people to run for local office. Three of the seven current council members opted not to run again, and one council member is running for a different seat. They were moved to 2022 due to redistricting delays.[7]. The top race in Raleigh puts incumbent Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin against two challengers: DaQuanta Copeland, vice chair of the Wake County Health and Human Services Board, and Terrace Ruth, a professor at N.C. State University, former Wake County school principal and past executive director of the North Carolina NAACP. 5. Take the online survey. Recent Recent Council agenda and minutes can be viewed via BoardDocs, our meeting management platform. We think Corey Branch has done a good enough job over the past three terms to earn our endorsement again as District C representative over challengers Wanda Hunter, a nonprofit worker and staunch advocate for social justice, and small business owner Frank Fields. Earlier this week, the City Council authorized staff to move forward with an e-bike incentive program, using $150,000 in federal grant money from the Department of Energy. The proposed changes come from 10 people appointed last year by Raleigh officials to study how best to modernize city elections. She certainly doesnt care about Livable Raleigh. Should Raleigh City Council serve two-year or four -year terms? Filing for Raleigh mayor and city council seats closed Friday. Frank Pierce is a small business owner from southeast Raleigh. This year, thats David Knight. Other candidates: Catherine Cat Lawson,Whitney Hill. During a period of rapid growth, environmental concerns around development within the city sometimes feel as if theyve fallen by the wayside. The new council is installed in early December. This is hidden text that lets us know when google translate runs. Note This statement has been sent to the Mayor, the Members of City Council and the City Manager. The council also added a police advisory board and a mental health crisis unit, but data and public perception suggest that these have been ineffectual so far; officer shootings continue and there have been basic missteps such as not activating the citys alert system during this months mass shooting (though we have seen positive change under Raleighs new police chief). The study group was also asked to analyze the size of the council, now eight members including the mayor, and whether the number of seats should be increased based on population.