[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6607463,"mediaKeyId","2952743-daa8e338451e337c2ea8f5259592666a","parentId",2952743,"title","Council settles consent agenda; approves loan commitment for 68 affordable units and discusses water/sewer code amendment","audioSeconds",308,"startMs",5252000,"endMs",5560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952743-daa8e338451e337c2ea8f5259592666a&start=5252&end=5560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952743-daa8e338451e337c2ea8f5259592666a/thumbnail_5252000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6607463/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Council-settles-consent-agenda-approves-loan-commitment-for-68-affordable-units-and-discusses-watersewer-code-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607463-34c91070cc7b2876c1e5c438b8564354/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204206&Signature=Iy-djIcRf9-CO7~oZ0LzXjcSMPQPpGrwo4N70EVX262zEveCaerA6jCuGVHiy88W5mem50f0xESL~pyD8dQelW5yq-BETLAvJgvzqkanACySPKV8-yXgxrKIg829gJmhvQLk2pSyCiA~UO27YFDwTFAaDOdaW9h9sFFzI9~38m1jGPuSZdZiweJygHARefeoqApEn1FTVatzBbXyREbftTdSX78cjmARND0ypHqKXms3pFjs3VEcEHZtpy5AUoY9EQeDIDsTQAiJIj1M7sClZ5J6wLJq~TWs-QoYSv~j48DWfd26Z4mhsW5WLDGhZvMmKze2wPgi0ePps3~K~Ol54w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Durham","date","2025-04-10T18:07:32.277Z","article","Durham City Council moved and approved settling its agenda, approving consent items 1 through 17 and public hearing items 18 through 23, after brief discussion of several pulled items including a housing loan and a proposed code amendment for water and sewer connections.

Council members asked questions about a proposed code amendment that would clarify municipal requirements for water and sewer connections. Planning staff and senior planners said the amendment would not change the city's existing administrative procedures for which extensions require council approval; it would add an exemption for certain connections and apply to properties within 500 feet of an existing line. A planning staff member said the private connection to an existing line would be the property owner's responsibility and that properties outside city limits pay higher (double) rates for water and sewer service.

On housing, the council discussed the \"Trails at Twin Lakes\" development loan commitment, a forgivable loan from the dedicated housing fund to support a developer-construction of 68 affordable units. Reginald J. Johnson of Community Development explained that the city uses forgivable loans structured as loans that amortize forgiveness over a period (for example, a 10‑year loan where one‑tenth is forgiven each year); if a project defaults before full forgiveness, the city may recover the outstanding portion.

Other consent items approved included contracts for consolidated planning services, electric vehicle supply equipment pre‑assessment contracts, technology and printer leases, and several construction and maintenance agreements listed on the consent calendar. Council members pulled items 3, 5 and 7 for discussion but ultimately settled the agenda and approved the consent packet.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to settle the agenda and approve consent items 1'17 and public hearings 18'2: moved, seconded and approved (voice vote).
- Trails at Twin Lakes Development Loan Commitment: included in consent package and approved; financing structure described as a forgivable loan from the dedicated housing fund.
- City code amendment for water and sewer connections (amendment details and annexation implications to be spelled out in staff reports): approved as part of the consent package.

Council members asked staff to include annexation benefit/cost information and clear staff recommendations in future reports for items where annexation is discretionary. Planning staff said they would provide benefits and costs for annexation in the forthcoming staff report for any specific case.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Durham City Council Work Session April 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Durham City Council approved a consent package that included a forgivable loan commitment to support 68 affordable units at Trails at Twin Lakes and a code amendment affecting water and sewer connections for properties within 500 feet of existing lines.","taxTitle","Durham City, Durham County, North Carolina","taxId",5766,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607468,"Council pulls Workers' Rights appointments, asks clerk for boards and commissions review",278,4456000,4734000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952743-daa8e338451e337c2ea8f5259592666a&start=4456&end=4734","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952743-daa8e338451e337c2ea8f5259592666a/thumbnail_4456000.jpg","/articles/6607468/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Council-pulls-Workers-Rights-appointments-asks-clerk-for-boards-and-commissions-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607468-57f8d9befd0809eba4c936392a489b69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204206&Signature=aumPaUacOeBGluGgClq5EqxDrlzNo6FxGq2~IRStWO18VLXjJb0hoGLNtJLLJ-uyXNn-R0SRK9I-7tYuMfz9PuaCnUvq2n6mBPZBMU91ouK01KP5Pigrd~5CnBc~BGuJLcyv7zGj7IW7sRAcDjDmybpfFYx-toDTD0E0UhOQsAD6Jzr7YclgBiIArGhbZJWZ-NWjjs2s~p4nB-MnEg0mFy2U2ytnYbIJ6bnh~eaOQoIEEX7FM~6iO-2nse-M7hkALlGiBVoXUJv6CwFIf2y1VdVL5wPelNxKyY-z~igmvTyg~w6bnHDJh18iltaCVmb0mdeyNo16VcUKekmz7DhtXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham City Council pulled the Workers' Rights Commission appointments from the consent agenda and asked the city clerk's office to provide a fuller review of the city's boards, committees and commissions.

Council member Cook flagged a misspelling in the packet and noted the commission had not met several months late in the prior year. \"Nina Martin has an a on the end of it's n I n a, and it's misspelled in both the memo and also on our ballot,\" Cook said, and asked why there had been no meetings.

Assistant Clerk Ashley Adams and other council members explained scheduling and liaison issues: the council liaison to the Workers' Rights Commission had been Council member Freeman, who later asked to be relieved; the mayor and staff have attended some meetings in the interim and the commission chair has signaled concern about inconsistent council support. Council members and the clerk described periods when some commissions pause meetings for holidays or lack quorum.

Members asked the clerk for a follow‑up list identifying which bodies are required by statute or charter and which are discretionary; which boards have council members as voting members versus liaisons or nonvoting representatives; which boards have recurring attendance or quorum problems; and whether creating alternates would help maintain coverage. The clerk agreed to provide that information.

The clerk read nominations for multiple advisory roles during the meeting; the pulled Workers' Rights Commission appointments included nominees noted in the clerk's report. Council member Cook said she pulled the item to raise concerns about meeting frequency and support; the council agreed to have the clerk and city attorney review bylaws and return recommendations.

The council later approved the settled agenda, which included consent items after discussion.","Councilmembers flagged attendance and support concerns for several advisory bodies, including the Workers' Rights Commission, and asked the city clerk to supply a roster and bylaw analysis so the council can evaluate required versus voluntary boards and potential alternates or other fixes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607474,"Durham council asks procedures committee to study rising election costs and feasibility of even‑year elections",248,3488000,3736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952743-daa8e338451e337c2ea8f5259592666a&start=3488&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952743-daa8e338451e337c2ea8f5259592666a/thumbnail_3488000.jpg","/articles/6607474/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-council-asks-procedures-committee-to-study-rising-election-costs-and-feasibility-of-evenyear-elections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607474-8f1814622fc012c56bc4221be8504beb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204206&Signature=C~YpHGdDxLoeZS9jkKnpmbLbReI2mPpXvdJfFBlAAtNCffY0wsB3k3G-Tf3GFyvnVNQc3jUpIrTKqkc2xIFR2oOpWsT22T3IfSrL9xhY~r6joo~Z-JcKfbY8glDC93rG8k4WSLv6UhmcNbzn9NC3UXBberR-WX2YlN3Dz2GfkVR5QQO7mAgqFrfFG~TYNpwVLyY-IviL~pxkVVfdG274-TdMojuuQehkZi52xfsxgFO9aSXxEPu91TCjfH3LnAfejdxHw1xq15TpHHGFXz4aObQC7Vfeem1JTsjDBJ2cFuEZJUPYgdUadnVYO4rOaEPgUavGAitaZiF7ll2wDpbgfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham City Council members asked staff to schedule a Procedures Committee briefing to examine rising election costs and the legal and operational steps required to consider changing the city's election timing.

The discussion began when Mayor Williams told colleagues the city is paying nearly $900,000 for off‑year primary and general election administration and said turnout is extremely low. \"We're nearly at, dollars 900,000 in expense for that,\" the mayor said. He asked the clerk and staff to bring options to the council.

City Clerk Diana told the council she did not have exact figures on hand but estimated the near‑$900,000 figure for holding both the primary and general in an off year. Council members and staff then discussed how the cost is shared when municipal elections coincide with state or federal ballots in even years: the state and county cover portions of the expense when multiple contests appear on the same ballot.

Council member Caballero proposed scheduling a Procedures Committee meeting so the city attorney's office can research legal constraints and steps required to change election timing. The city attorney said she would research how Raleigh and Charlotte made similar changes to even‑year elections and report back on the process and any implications for staggered council terms.

Council members raised related governance questions the committee may study, including whether shifting election years would require a city charter amendment and what effects a change would have on staggered council terms and costs borne solely by the city in off years.

The council directed staff to gather background, outline legal steps, and return to the Procedures Committee with options and timelines. A Procedures Committee meeting was proposed to schedule the research briefing.

The council subsequently moved and approved settling the meeting agenda and the consent items after the discussion.

Looking ahead, the Procedures Committee will assess the fiscal tradeoffs and legal steps for any proposed change; the city attorney and board of elections contacts were requested to supply comparative examples and implementation steps.","City leaders directed staff to schedule a Procedures Committee review after members raised concerns that off‑year local elections cost about $900,000 and yield low turnout; city attorney and elections staff will report back on legality and options including shifting to even‑year elections or other changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council settles consent agenda; approves loan commitment for 68 affordable units and discusses water/sewer code amendment

Council pulls Workers' Rights appointments, asks clerk for boards and commissions review

Durham council asks procedures committee to study rising election costs and feasibility of even‑year elections