\nThe newly sworn-in Raleigh City Council voted in favor of a public proclamation voicing its opposition against a state amendment<\/a> that would make marriage between a man and a woman the only legal domestic union in North Carolina.<\/p>\n
Councilors Bonner Gaylord and John Odom voted against the proclamation.<\/p>\n
Gaylord said that while he believes that his marriage doesn’t need defending, there are a myriad of state-level legal issues that the city could voice its opinion on and, \u201cI feel like it’s a slippery slope and this getting into issues that are beyond our purview.\u201d<\/p>\n
Odom also said that he should not be doing the job of state legislators, county commissioners or school boards. He added that he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman and that once definitions are changing it leads to trouble.<\/p>\n
Councilor Russ Stephenson said he agrees the city should stick to its business, but that the amendment would put the city at a competitive disadvantage and it would be harder to attract valuable talent and jobs to the area. He said that they should frame the letter so that legislators know the amendment would keep the city from maintaining its position as the No. 1 city in the nation.<\/p>\n
The amendment will appear on the May 2012 primary ballot.<\/p>\n
New Technology Committee Created The group will be tasked with issues facing not only Internet technology, but also how technology can be used in all departments. Members will also discuss how the city can better communicate with residents.<\/p>\n Gaylord, who will act as chair, said that some examples of issues the committee will undertake would be the e-mail contract with Google, the city’s website and live streaming capabilities and how residents can get real-time updates about services such as leaf and garbage pickup.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are all kinds of ways we can leverage tech in all departments,\u201d Gaylord said.<\/p>\n The committee will meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n Other Committee Assignments<\/a> Comprehensive Planning Committee Law and Public Safety Committee Public Works Committee Task Force to Review Sign Ordinance<\/strong> Hughie and Louie\u2019s costume shop owner Louie Bowen appealed to the city<\/a> after she received a violation for having costumed employees wave at cars during the Halloween season.<\/p>\n Law and Public Safety Committee Chair Mary-Ann Baldwin said staff will research possible recommendations on how to deal with such situations.<\/p>\n Councilor Thomas Crowder said he supports continuing a dialogue, but he \u201ccan’t support weakening our sign ordinance.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that people holding signs and dressing up, \u201cis not something we need to introduce into the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Historic Overlay Meeting Scheduled<\/strong> The time and location have not determined.<\/p>\n The overlay was already approved by the Planning Commission, but needs final approval from the City Council.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>With a new council comes a new committee. McFarlane announced the creation of a Technology and Communication Committee. Councilors Mary-Ann Baldwin, Russ Stephenson and Bonner Gaylord will serve on the committee.<\/p>\n
\nBudget and Economic Development Committee
\nMeets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 11 a.m.
\nNancy McFarlane \u2013 Chair
\nThomas Crowder \u2014 Co-chair
\nEugene Weeks
\nRandy Stagner<\/p>\n
\nMeets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m.
\nRuss Stephenson \u2013 Chair
\nRandy Stagner
\nBonner Gaylord<\/p>\n
\nSecond and Fourth Tuesday at 3 p.m.
\nMary-Ann Baldwin \u2013 Chair
\nJohn Odom
\nRandy Stagner<\/p>\n
\nSecond and Fourth Tuesdays at 5 p.m.
\nEugene Weeks \u2013 Chair
\nJohn Odom
\nThomas Crowder<\/p>\n
\nFollowing the recommendation of the Law and Public Safety Committee, a task force will be created to investigate the city’s sign ordinance, which regulates how often a business can use costumed employees to draw attention to its location. By city law, costumed characters count as signs and require a special event permit, which can only be used for 30 days and received only twice within the lifetime of a business.<\/p>\n
\nAt the urging of Councilor Eugene Weeks, a decision to assign a Historic Overlay District<\/a> over a section of South Person and South Blount streets near Shaw University has been delayed in order for the Raleigh Historic Development Commission<\/a> to provide one last informal public meeting Jan. 18.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.raleighpublicrecord.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/south.person_historic_overlay.jpg\" "\\"south.person_historic_overlay\\"")
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