Raleigh Public Record (https://theraleighcommons.org/raleighpublicrecord/topics/news/city-council/page/47/)
The Raleigh City Council again delayed voting on the $205-million public safety center. Councilors did give approval on the downtown amphitheater site plan and a host of new water conservation measures.
Coming up at this week’s Raleigh City Council meeting: The Lightner Center, outdoor noise permits for Glenwood South businesses, campaign finance reform and more.
The Raleigh City Council will hold public hearings on two new text changes to the zoning code Tuesday evening. The first will bring the city into compliance with a new state law that requires quasi-judicial hearings for rezoning appeals. The second could shorten the time for rezoning cases and limit the conditions the planning commission could put on new developments.
Raleigh City Council Tuesday got an in-depth analysis of the proposed Clarence E. Lightner public safety center, but did not make a final decision on whether to risk moving forward during an economic recession.
According to the Vice President of Clancy & Theys construction company Scott Cutler, $141 million will cover only the building, and does not include furnishings and the technology required. The entire cost is projected at $205 million.
Cutler said between 1,800 and 3,900 jobs would be created by the construction, factoring in contractors and builders, as well as indirect employment from services such as coffee and food.
The Raleigh City Council approved moving forward on three major projects in their capital improvement plan:
$2.4 million to finish plans for the Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center, the construction of an outdoor amphitheater next to Raleigh’s convention center and funding for new Solid Waste Services facilities.
The Lightner center will house the police and fire departments, and now has funding to finalize development plans that are currently 50 percent done. The amphitheater will host cultural events, art expos and a partnership with Live Nation, which will bring big-name acts downtown. Approving the projects now takes advantage of the poor economy, keeping the costs down for the public, said City Manager Russel Allen.
Wake County District Judge Vince Rozier administered the oath of office to Raleigh’s mayor and city council members Monday night. The 2009-2011 term has seven returning faces, including John Odom representing District B who took a couple years off. This is the first time on the council for Bonner Gaylor, District E, who replaces longtime councilor Philip Isley.
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, returning for his fifth term, commended the outgoing council for their successes, “between the worst drought in a long time and the worst economic downturn in a long time.” Meeker pointed to the comprehensive plan and the redesign of Hillsborough Street as examples of their success.
The Raleigh City Council will get an update on the Lightner Public Safety Center design. Councilors will also meet the winner of the Moore Square design competition.
The city council will consider more parking stations for downtown and Glenwood South, stimulus finding to make loans to private businesses and reorganizing the police department.
This was Philip Isley and Roger Koopman’s last meeting as city councilors. The council voted to support the African-American cultural festival with the full $75,000 it pledged last year. The city and Wake County were supposed to match funds for the festival, but a split 3-3 vote by the county commissioners earlier this week denied giving the additional funding to the festival.
Earlier in the meeting, councilors voted to approve changes to the Solid Waste Services Department’s Need Assistance Program, which helps disabled people bring their trash bins to the curb. The council also decided not to require changes to the route for the annual Krispy Kreme Challenge.
The Raleigh City Council will have its last meeting before seating the new council next month. On tap for the last meeting of the 2007-2009 council: annexation, special amplified music permits and the Raleigh Telecommunications Commission.
The Raleigh City Council’s Public Works Committee approved changes today to the Solid Waste Services Department’s Need Assistance Program, which provides special trash pickup for elderly or disabled residents who can’t bring their bins to the curb. The changes will require new people enrolling in the program to certify that they are unable to bring trash bins to the curb and that there is no one else living in the house to help.
The committee also approved removing two stoplights in the Oakwood neighborhood and replacing them with 4-way stop signs. The committee had more traffic calming measured on the table, but elected to hold them until the new council comes in next month.
