City Council met Tuesday for its regular session to discuss topics such as the leasing agreement for the first Google Fiber hut and the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative.
Five items were pulled from the consent agenda, with the rest approved.
Item 1 concerned the Dix Park property acquisition financing and was approved with a 5-2 vote, with councilors Maiorano and Odom dissenting. Both used the item as an opportunity to express their wishes for public referendum on the financing issue.
Item 7.6 concerned the leasing agreement for the first Google Fiber hut and was approved unanimously. Councilor Crowder wanted to know if private property would be used for these huts and even if not, if the owners of nearby properties would be notified of the huts. Michael Basham, from the information technology department, said that all the huts would be constructed on public property and that the adjoining property owners would be notified.
Item 7.11, which concerned the Downtown Raleigh Alliance providing security for downtown parking decks, was approved. Councilor Maiorano asked numerous questions about the specifics of the service and what kind of training the people acting as security received. Gordon Dash of public works said that the individuals received training with the Raleigh Police Department.
Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative: $12 for every $1 invested
Luke Wisley / Flickr Creative Commons
Falls Lake
Councilors received as information a presentation of the annual report of the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative. Reid Wilson and Caitlin Burke described the goals of the initiative as to reduce pollution in Falls Lake by protecting land around the lake, which would reduce pollution run-off.
Along with collaboration with various nonprofit groups, the initiative had implemented various task force recommendations, such as the Swift Creek watershed, updating the conservation plan and quantifying benefits of watershed protection projects.
They had helped the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association start a green infrastructure project, which included rain gardens and permeable sidewalks. For every dollar invested in the initiative, the city earned $12 back, largely due to the $47.3 million obtained in leveraged land value. 10 projects were in the pipeline, including 2570 acres of land and 15 miles of stream.
Two Properties Added to Hillsborough Street Municipal Service District
Two properties were included in the Hillsborough Street municipal service district expansion after a public hearing. The hearing allowed for statements from representatives from the Cameron Village Neighborhood Association and the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation. The representative from the Cameron Village Neighborhood Association called the agreement “a compromise.”
Councilors voted approval on the fiscal year 2015-2016 work plan of the historic cemeteries advisory board. Jimmy Thiem, chair of the board, gave a brief history, explaining the devastation to multiple cemeteries caused by a tornado and that this past year was the first year they weren’t dealing with the damage. The work plan aimed to expand volunteer programs and continue landscape plans.
Stipulations for the private use of public space item were approved by a unanimous vote. Stipulations were focused on extending existing outdoor dining permits, starting a hospitality committee, and increasing enforcement of current rules and regulations.
Payton Chung
Hillsborough Street
