City Council Agenda Preview

City Council sessions on May 17 — 11:30 a.m. work session, 1 p.m. regular session

The City Council Agenda Preview is intended as an in-depth look at what’s coming up for discussion in the next Council session.

While the framework of this series is, naturally, the City Council Agenda, available here, additional information and background is often included as a way of providing better context on the issues while leaving out some of the more technical details found in the agenda.

The format follows the agenda items in the order in which they will be presented to Council, although we group the items from the Consent Agenda section in a slightly different way.

James Borden

City Council Meetings are held at 222 W. Hargett Street

Consent Agenda

The consent agenda is a set of routine items that can be approved by a roll-call vote at the beginning of a meeting.

Consent Agenda: Contracts & Finance

1. SouthLight Affordable Housing Loan: Council is being asked to authorize a $450,000 loan to SouthLight, Inc., which plans to build a “16-unit residential property off Garner Road to serve women who have substance use disorders and their children.” According to the agenda, the City would be in a third lien position. This project has been long in the making, and was reported on by The Record as far back as 2012 when the plan was to built 34 units for $600,000. According to the city’s Scattered Site Housing Policy, the property is located in a Priority IV area, meaning affordable housing wouldn’t normally be allowed; however, its small size exempts it from affordable housing location policy. Not surprisingly, many of the neighbors were less than thrilled with the idea of this getting built in their backyards.
2. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Action Plan: In a somewhat related item, Council is being asked to “Adopt the FY 2016-17 Action Plan and authorize the City Manager to execute required documentation for transmittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.” The plan was presented at several Citizen Advisory Council Meetings and a Public Hearing was held at Council.
3. GoRaleigh Facility Services: Council is being asked to authorize a contract with Blink Facility Services to provide general janitorial and cleaning services at the new GoRaleigh Station, formerly known as Moore Square. The $761,588 five year contract will provide an on-site attendant for 10 hours a day Monday-Saturday and for 6 hours on Sunday. We did the math: if all of that money were to be paid to the on-site attendant, they’d be earning an hourly rate of $44. Not bad!
4. GoRaleigh Paratransit Provider: Council is being asked to authorize a one-year, $984,416 contract extension with MV Transportation, which currently provides shared ride and paratransit services for the City. The plan is to incorporate MV’s existing work with paratransit needs countywide.
5. Interlocal Agreement — Wake County — Paratransit Shared Mobility Management Services: As mentioned above, this item deals with the agreement between the City and the County to provide paratransit services to its residents. There are some pretty interesting features of this program, including hosted ride scheduling software, high-tech vehicle tracking software and an interactive voice response system. The City’s share is 10 percent of the cost, or $51,661.
6. GoTriangle Bus Resolution: Although no money is required, Council needs to authorize a resolution in order to allow for the transfer of three Federal Transit Administration (FTA) procured transit buses to GoRaleigh.
7. Enterprise Software Licensing Agreement: Council is being asked to authorize a $540,000, three-year contract extension with  Azteca Systems, which provides the City with the Enterprise Asset Management and Work Order Software (Cityworks). Among other things, the software allows City employees to track work orders and service requests.
8. Compensation System Study: Who knew that studying how much people get paid could be so expensive? In 2015, Council authorized $500,000 to fund a “Compensation System Study (CSS) project to conduct a comprehensive review of the City’s employee compensation system.” Now, Council is being asked to finance a one-year, $151,000 contract with Gallagher Benefit Services to complete the second, third and fourth phases of the compensation study.
9. Vegetative Storm Debris Contract Extension: The City Manager is asking for permission to extend a contract with DRC Emergency Services for grinding up storm debris. No specific contract amount is given; this is likely why: “A Task Order is generated by the contractor upon contract activation by the City. The cost of the Task Order varies depending on the amount of storm related damage and is likely to exceed the formal contract limit threshold of $150,000. The City Manager is authorized to execute work above this threshold in emergency situations.”
10. Budget Transfer: Public Works Stormwater: Following an accident last year, a vehicle belonging to the Public Works department was deemed a total loss. Insurance proceeds of just under $10,000 were doled out in March, now the remaining $14,200 required to replace the vehicle is being requested as a transfer from the stormwater utility fund.
11. Budget Transfer: Public Works Transit: Public Works is requesting a $500,000 budget transfer of $500,000 to cover GoRaleigh ADA services.
12. Duke Energy Performing Arts Center: Change Orders. In June 2015, Council authorized a $5,902,000 contract with TA Loving for various capital improvements at the Duke Energy Center. Since that time, three change orders have been requested. The latest one calls for an additional $745,628 to be paid to TA Loving, bringing their total contract value to $7.6 million. The change order also requests payments to a few other companies for services like design and sprinkler work; including TA Loving’s share, the total amount encumbered in this change order request is $1,052,959.
13. Drainage Assistance and Petition Program Contract Award: Staff is recommending that Council approve an 18-month contract in the amount of $1,667,203 with Carolina Civilworks for a stormwater improvement program that will involve projects that include, in part: “repairing, removing, or installing new drainage pipe; drainage structure (inlets, catch basins, and stormwater manholes) repair/replacement; stream bank/channel repair and stabilization; in-situ pipe rehabilitation;” The original budget for this project was $1,135,754; Carolina Civilworks was the low bidder.
14. Sidewalk Improvements Contract Award: Lanier Construction was the low bidder for a sidewalk improvements project that will involve work on Chapanoke Road, New Hope Church Road, and Clark Avenue. Their bid of $686,030 was less than the original budget of $987,925.

Consent Agenda: Streets & Traffic

1. Encroachment Request: Multiple Locations: Celito Clec, LLC is requesting to install 5,922 feet of underground conduit and 19 underground vaults in the right of way on Glenwood Avenue, West Johnson Street, North Boylan Avenue, and West North Street.
2. Encroachment Request: Multiple Locations: Broadplex, LLC is requesting to install 5,037 feet of underground conduit and two access vaults on Proctor Road, Southgate Drive, and Purple Garnet Way.
3. Encroachment Request: Sugar Bush Road: Fiber Technologies Networks, LLC is requesting to install 527 feet of underground conduit on Sugar Bush Road.
4. Encroachment Request: 223 South West Street: Kane Realty Corporation is requesting to install temporary soil anchors during foundation work for the Dillon Building.
5. Condemnation Request: Hillsborough Street Revitalization Project Phase Two: A condemnation request for the installation of underground power and telecommunication lines outside of The Reader’s Corner on Hillsborough Street.
6. Condemnation Request: Lower Longview Lake Dam: This request is related to some right-of-ways used by the City for repairs to the Lower Longview Lake Dam, as well as a cost-sharing agreement with some neighbors to pay for said repairs.
7. Two-Hour Parking Meter Zone — Salisbury Street: A current no-parking zone on Salisbury Street is being recommended for a switch to a two-hour parking zone due to a lack of parking in the area.
8. Wolfpack Lane: No Parking Zone: A business owner on Tarheel Drive said he and his employees were having difficulty exiting due to cars parked on Wolfpack Lane blocking their view. Staff found their complaint was valid.
9. Woodland Avenue: No Parking Zone: A property owner has requested a no-parking zone on Woodland Avenue to allow for easier access for emergency vehicles.
10. 1600 Glenwood Avenue: Bus Zone: A bus zone is being recommended for a space on Glenwood Avenue adjacent to the Underwood Magnet Elementary School.
11. Harrington Street Passenger Loading Zone: Due to all the construction going on around the Contemporary Art Museum, a loading zone is being requested on Harrington Street to service patrons of the museum.
12. North Street: 15-Minute Parking Zone: The West Condominium has requested that two existing two-hour metered spaces be switched the 15-minute spaces for unloading and delivery services.

Planning Commission Report

1. Z-5-16: This is a rezoning case for an 11.65 acre site on Rock Quarry Road that is partially encumbered by a power line easement. There are a variety of apparent development possibilities, including office, residential and retail. Planning Commission recommended it for approval, and a Public Hearing may be scheduled for June 7.
2. Z-7-16: This controversial case is for a property on Jones Franklin Road that would allow for the Christian pregnancy center a Hand of Hope to open next door to the Preferred Women’s Health Center, an abortion clinic on Jones Franklin Road. As is to be expected, the case has garnered some controversy among local neighbors, who don’t want to see any conflict spill over into their neighborhood. Nonetheless, the case was recommended for approval by a 30-17 vote from the local Citizens Advisory Council. Planning Commission recommended it for approval  as well. A Public Hearing is recommended for June 7.
3. Z-8-16: This is a relatively simple  request for a new parking lot for a dentist’s office on Wake Forest Road. Planning Commission recommended this for approval as well, and a Public Hearing may be scheduled for June 7.

Special Items

1. Only one special item this week, for rezoning case Z-39-15, a rezoning case on Trailwood Drive in West Raleigh. The rezoning would allow for a 78-unit apartment complex on the 1800 block of Trailwood Drive. A Public Hearing was opened for the case at the April 5, some changes were requested and submitted; Council will now vote on the case.

City Manager’s Report

1. Raleigh Bike Plan Update: Council will receive an update on the City’s bike plan. According to the agenda, “Major revisions made in response to Council or public feedback include changes to the recommended priority projects, clearer plan goals, and with regard to the bicycle project delivery process additional communication, outreach, and implementation details.”
2. Council will receive a report on staff’s plans for the FY2017 City budget.

Requests and Petitions of Citizens

1. Only one citizen petition scheduled for Tuesday: Thomas S. Erwin, Saintsing Properties, LLC, and Edna S. Dillard would like the City Council to request NCDOT to transfer Old Leesville Road to the jurisdiction of the City and to designate Old Leesville Road a “sensitive-area residential street.”

Public Hearings

1. Limited Bond Obligation Bond Reissue: Council will consider $31,500,000 Installment Financing reissue of a prior Installment Financing (2009 Limited Obligation Bonds), which Council authorized to be pursued at the May 3, 2016 Council meeting. Essentially, the City is going to reissue some 2009 bonds that funded things like the South Street Parking Deck and One Exchange Plaza. The important thing here is that “the transaction will not result in any additional debt burden as it entails only the reissue of existing bonds.”
2. Perkins Property Annexation: A hearing to consider an annexation for a property at 3001 Club Drive.
3. TC-4-16: A text change that would reduce by half the number of parking spaces required for overnight lodging facilities, i.e. hotels, in the downtown overlay district.
4. Sidewalk Assessment Role: A continuation of a hearing that was opened May 3 regarding an assessment on surrounding property owners for a Wade Avenue sidewalk project. Meredith College requested more time to look into the issue.

Evidentiary Hearing

Quick note about Evidentiary Hearings: these are quite tedious, even by city government technical ordinance standards. They’re a lot like Board of Adjustment meetings, which are frequently rated as the “most boring” of the various City government meetings. 

1. The evidentiary hearing for S-67-15, a property at the corner of North Person and East Lane Streets, currently zoned R-10, that would subdivide a 0.2- acre parcel currently occupied with two detached homes into two lots of 6,264 square feet and 2,793 square feet. The case has been reviewed by the Historic Development Commission and the Board of Adjustment.

Committee Reports: Growth & Natural Resources Committee

For a full report of what happened at last week’s meeting of this committee, see here. 

1. Moore Square Renovation: The Committee last week recommended that the contracting method for this project be switched from Construction Manager at Risk to General Contractor. The project would have to be rebid in a low-bid format in order for this to happen.
2. Z-4-16: If approved, it would rezone a .36 acre parcel of land on Oberlin Road near Wade Avenue and across from the Oberlin Court development to allow for office and residential development. It is currently only zoned for residential use. The Committee recommended approval of the case.
3. Stone’s Warehouse: The developers of the Stone’s Warehouse project requested  approval to change the contractor on the job from Clancy & Theys to CT Wilson. The committee recommended approving the contract change.