[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6541338,"mediaKeyId","3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379","parentId",3524210,"title","Residents urge city action on parked box trucks and neighborhood blight; councilors promise follow‑up","audioSeconds",901,"startMs",1922000,"endMs",2823000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379&start=1922&end=2823","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379/thumbnail_1922000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541338/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Residents-urge-city-action-on-parked-box-trucks-and-neighborhood-blight-councilors-promise-followup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541338-ff9d7f40f02e600879fd91c69156ea52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196251&Signature=mKZdhr9Z5zhQy57vGmlVcDlOyuI53oMKYkcyCbIkBeDZ8P9fSqL6owyNuTxc2166T-y055RUU7kqtbZkMxBvC9zdz0d5YHYRfJksI1ifPUZZbXOoiydAUROFKhspjU0DD4l94rWCfFDh1s2J2whFBEV8n87-u09pfWBIK6GxJPWK~Zut528p96E7TtsW~u8veaaWzBzoG8pTZRdoElY4GIRZY6v8itsDPOaPv1G9Qvp1a5pLYIUb3ht6cAdjeW3kH1FXJxGg4sUumb1o9eF4ARhBfGFQ5LJUftA2PvpGtos41Z~FrQa-xR~4l05Fzxwx6YlLI-3n1l3~oAQ23Wnw3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Durham","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents addressed the council during public comment to report repeated parking of commercial box trucks and trailers on neighborhood streets and to request enforcement action and policy changes.

Jacqueline Waxtop and Queen Silver described long‑running issues in their neighborhoods: commercial trucks parked daily, drivers not responding to city enforcement, and repeated calls that residents say have not produced lasting results. Waxtop thanked Councilor Baker and Councilor Freeman for visits to the block and said initial city action moved some vehicles but did not resolve the problem. Silver said the issue dated back years and that community complaints had not yielded persistent enforcement.

Why it matters: Persistent vehicle and trailer parking in residential areas raises safety concerns for pedestrians, blocks sightlines near schools and can affect neighborhood quality of life. Residents told the council they seek clearer enforcement and more timely responses.

Key details
- Scope: Residents described multiple box trucks and trailers parked illegally on residential streets and said the issue had persisted for years in some neighborhoods. One resident said the problem dates to 2017–2019 and described repeated calls to staff with little lasting remedy.
- City response: Councilors acknowledged receipt of complaints. A staff member told one commenter directly that staff had received the packet of documentation and were following up.
- Related concerns: Public commenters also raised broader safety and violence concerns, asking for more collaboration between police and community services on prevention and victim assistance.

Councilors said staff would follow up with enforcement and that city liaisons would contact complainants with next steps.

Ending: Residents asked the council for sustained enforcement and clearer public information about how complaints are handled; councilors committed to follow‑up and staff to investigate outstanding reports.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SPANISH VERSION DURHAM CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION 5.22.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents told the council that commercial box trucks and trailers have parked for long periods in residential streets, raising safety and livability complaints; councilors and staff said they are following up and will investigate enforcement and long‑term remedies.","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},6541343,"Council questions procurement choices for audiovisual, HVAC and police psychological services contracts",431,3717000,4148000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379&start=3717&end=4148","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379/thumbnail_3717000.jpg","/articles/6541343/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Council-questions-procurement-choices-for-audiovisual-HVAC-and-police-psychological-services-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541343-a952ad99b62eee6060bfcc7166e22805/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196251&Signature=fvR30Rtxs4hUoUcM57srKREhopQF8d5OTHSCpQgiy4viCwuHjeaM~ibMYul5URVzDlwmPkmWjdbz2sSIecLmnLR1o3TVwntsw-A0hh41tdYTJPidt27xyHU5nnW5hbGfwdFAG7Wk8DlzGeHjrbq9L5SlyBZZ~fU3wnWDzs8rOgFB5nRq1PGjxmaYY16qIFYFhlGlqa4Ipsgz-VYAnKyukN4Tm-DSw9-k4zWLVaSOZTPt5CGonFTj6w2-PsmSNkNPcvc9miYTzu1szqSMJFOY09asUdKo4orFQvhzmJBXpj7mwytGBgXdPDgMV~PL~EphZSAmccGb73GBFUSrXUEgNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors discussed multiple procurement items that had been removed from the consent agenda, including an audiovisual‑systems maintenance contract, a new HVAC contractor and two contracts for psychological services for sworn and non‑sworn police applicants.

Roger Commerce, a General Services representative, said the HVAC contract selection responded to a new scope and that staff considered several proposals before selecting a higher‑cost vendor with demonstrable qualifications. Councilors asked why the apparent cost difference was large; Commerce and other operations staff said the recommended contractor offered the required staffing, parts and service levels and that staff unanimously supported the choice after technical review.

On police psychological services, staff explained that the city compared the cost of hiring an in‑house psychologist versus contracting external providers. Sean, a manager of physical services, told council that hiring an internal clinical psychologist who could deliver the full range of pre‑ and post‑employment testing would cost substantially more — on the order of $150,000–$200,000 per year for a single staff member when benefits are included — than contracting outside firms, and that the two contracts combined are about $110,000 per year.

Why it matters: Procurement choices affect service continuity and municipal budgets; councilors sought clarity on selection criteria and long‑term cost implications.

Key details
- HVAC contract: Staff said the selected contractor met technical and staffing requirements; councilors observed the contractor’s price was substantially higher than alternatives and requested a clearer memo explaining the cost difference.
- Audiovisual contract: The council retained a contract for maintenance and streaming support with Context Systems Inc. as a continuing service (item listed on the agenda); staff said the contract supports broadcast and hybrid meeting operations.
- Police psychological services: Staff described two contracts — pre‑employment testing and post‑employment clinical services — that together cost roughly $110,000 a year. Staff said that hiring an in‑house psychologist would likely be more expensive once salary and benefits are included.

Councilors asked staff to clarify the procurement scoring, the scope of work and how recurring costs would compare with in‑house staffing. Staff said they would provide additional documentation to the council before final action.

Ending: The items were discussed with staff explaining rationale and cost drivers; councilors requested supplemental memos with vendor evaluation details and cost comparisons.

","Councilors discussed several procurement items pulled from consent, including an audiovisual maintenance contract, a HVAC service contract with higher costs and two psychological‑services contracts for police pre‑ and post‑employment screening; staff explained vendor selection and cost drivers.",{"_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},6541347,"Councilors question timing of large transfers into housing funds in amendment to fiscal‑year budget",267,3147000,3414000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379&start=3147&end=3414","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379/thumbnail_3147000.jpg","/articles/6541347/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Councilors-question-timing-of-large-transfers-into-housing-funds-in-amendment-to-fiscalyear-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541347-05559b0cecd0ccb2dc716390263e9920/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196251&Signature=DhUFDtYU2BW5tV23pLtWRwYATkEjcmbFGFpooPScGIrWWSdJOIRJNjhliA4AfsJ-HCxJx3fh3bnJuwZ~W6z96C6gJKQpTWCaJJG-DioyUuJCFrsZou2Li7K6nxwRHQtBbtV4lJMvTBE0o-TYeXEVp3tZMY2DU6UBXuO1OQBr~mct6mKzCBHxx3G~f5sOmwXVR5m2dr1ZzO2gmiMny1MRo6EH45sId-yAnNWATmDFt0PxqM4E1Rq~umttlrgH-B5Z3IRVBVkCzEYZm5BuyXKMgU9V~O64vRZn0lWUm1it0OfVSj1S1Sm9TbQBYS2PcmO1MdEKh594xFnQYPXyYU5Ufg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members questioned a fiscal‑year budget amendment that moves capital‑project interest and bond funds into the city’s housing accounts, asking why the transfers were being made late in the fiscal year and how the money will be used.

Councilor Cook asked why the amendment increased a housing fund from 20,000,000 to 27,000,000 and another from 57 to 70 (figures reported in the staff memo), calling the increases \"quite large.\" Tim Floorer, head of the finance department, told the council the amendment packages accumulated interest from the capital improvements plan and reclassifies funds to cover debt service and ongoing housing projects; he said some of the movement reflects last year’s affordable‑housing bond and timing to begin debt service and reimbursements.

Why it matters: Transfers between capital and operating or housing funds change near‑term spending capacity and affect how quickly the city can commit funds to affordable‑housing projects and capital improvements.

Key details
- Transfer explanation: Finance staff said interest earned in capital‑project accounts and bond proceeds are being moved to debt‑service and housing funds so the city can begin planned payments and project reimbursements.
- Numbers discussed: A staff memo referenced increases \"from 20,000,000 to 27,000,000\" for one housing allocation and \"from 57 to 70\" for another line item; staff said the memo shows transfers from capital project interest and bond funds but did not provide additional line‑item detail in the meeting.
- Council process: The amendment was pulled from consent and discussed at council; staff described the moves as common year‑end adjustments to account for accumulated interest and to align debt service with the close of a bond that matures this year.

Councilor Cook pressed why the shifts were being made at this point in the year rather than earlier. Staff said these are timing and housekeeping transfers that arise as projects proceed and as bond accounting becomes due.

Ending: The council discussed the amendment and asked staff to provide clearer memo detail about fund sources and the purpose of each transfer before final action.

","Councilors questioned a budget amendment that moves interest and bond‑related funds into housing accounts; finance staff said the transfers reflect accumulated capital‑project interest and end‑of‑bond accounting and are timed to align with debt service for affordable‑housing projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541351,"Durham staff recommend activated‑carbon treatment as PFAS solution; public outreach planned",543,4211000,4754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379&start=4211&end=4754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379/thumbnail_4211000.jpg","/articles/6541351/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-staff-recommend-activatedcarbon-treatment-as-PFAS-solution-public-outreach-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541351-58d3ee7ce7680dfa2b645b875d0b15d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196251&Signature=L5neLwGU6yAUA1rdOH1d4x7FvyrH~8jUunVtHZRmgBRD3ay9rbKwgMFw4fDmpe72~x1bAgpaPy~7Qgb0hnaM5r5e1bU20C8dLDPZqVO-ReKHCKxrgZwJv54vB5-beftI63HTupN9t7DNT5V~-R4Jg2DodLQyEHllbvpRWW1pYqguDJQ0jlCB8CafYBvrN6mw4A4oOAGPPRqZRqi2wxPi0nrJ3AZZaFbSEz9q~N7m~bk8REzg~xLJA426NKWblubn8Fg7lBbXCAPe3-5eDimQp4o2y5lpGnFJs8BSeyK7mjG~k-jw5VkspSVdhUS7pu5qqHvAxzcFJx-xN~NHTpBQBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham City water staff told the City Council they have completed a study of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in local water sources and recommended powdered activated carbon (PAC) as the preferred near‑term treatment option while the city continues to monitor evolving technologies.

Lori Montgomery, senior engineer in the water management department, said the city’s raw water sources contained elevated PFAS concentrations that existing treatment plants do not remove. She told the council the study identified PAC as a cost‑effective treatment for Durham’s concentrations and water‑system configuration and that staff will move toward design and construction work under an existing consultant contract amendment.

Why it matters: PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals that have drawn regulatory attention and potential future limits. The city’s choice will affect capital and operating budgets, treatment‑plant construction and public‑health messaging.

Key details
- Treatment recommendation: Staff recommended powdered activated carbon (PAC) to reduce PFAS concentrations at Durham’s Brown water treatment plant and said PAC is a technology the city already uses for taste and odor control.
- Timing: Montgomery said the city expects to continue design work this fiscal year and that the Environmental Protection Agency had signaled an extended compliance timeline that gives additional time for design; staff aim to reach key design milestones and hold a public outreach event on July 15 to share findings and next steps.
- Technology outlook: Staff said PAC will address current regulatory needs and that research continues on destruction technologies and other advanced treatments; they said the city will keep evaluating options after PAC installation.

Councilors asked when compliance would be achieved; staff said an implementation target in the 2028 timeframe is plausible under current assumptions. Officials also said the city will begin public outreach and education about PFAS sources and reductions, noting that household choices and product manufacturing contribute to environmental PFAS loads.

Ending: The council received the study and the staff recommendation to proceed to the next design phase and public outreach; staff said they would return with implementation timelines and design details as the project advances.

","City water staff presented a PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances) study and recommended powdered activated carbon (PAC) as a treatment approach, with design work and a public outreach event scheduled for mid‑July.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541355,"Durham police report falling violent‑crime totals but spike in homicides and commercial robberies",2443,4788000,7231000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379&start=4788&end=7231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524210-d75383e80d6e8e5bfeea627df4c0b379/thumbnail_4788000.jpg","/articles/6541355/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-police-report-falling-violentcrime-totals-but-spike-in-homicides-and-commercial-robberies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541355-b09c7ba395d9a3cd0af6c500cf17dcb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196251&Signature=cCxYbkrj1ON1Az7liEvANWGtwPVt~fLbTG5pRcWSWgRM1d2YtNYiH1FaNFmA0Xq1cikdGVA3~WUZ0PcKdKkP-jq7VO1fHXMpjkAlJLZWIEUcv-X6pq7Oq3O4tg5PfkZlGO-AtrqZrJ2BgcUdhE1rnTmn-oGlR-dZlZNlVy4cjJPEhgbxgY0dlDq0eHjW7dDETgbyui3rL720hUtuqmrQthgvDTCHHMvEQSfVXc23Jbn672MC2kegwBzqbXWIxF~BPnkQr3SH9S4MR~3QXV9DFnxJxCCOcYODPgyCkz-HykNoFRGRuHEoq2NR~vmEVITs~v~Flz9iZjuHQiy0YCeflA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham police presented their first-quarter 2025 public safety report, saying overall violent‑crime totals fell compared with recent years but that homicides and commercial robberies increased during the period.

The quarterly presentation, delivered to the Durham City Council during its meeting, summarized five measures: violent crime, property crime, reported shootings, response times and staffing. A department presenter said the city had 15 homicides year to date and described an increase in homicides compared with the same period last year. The presenter also said commercial robberies rose sharply: \"we saw an 84 percent increase in commercial robberies,\" and that 51 percent of those robberies involved a firearm.

Why it matters: The figures affect residents’ sense of safety and the council’s policing and prevention priorities, from community outreach to staffing decisions. The department also told the council it had improved clearance rates for violent crime; the presenter said investigators had cleared eight of nine homicides discussed in the briefing.

Key details
- Homicides and shootings: The presenter reported 15 homicides to date and noted the number of homicides during the period rose compared with the prior year.
- Commercial robberies: The department reported an 84 percent increase in robberies targeting businesses and said 51 percent of those involved firearms.
- Firearms and vehicle theft: The presenter said stolen firearms are frequently taken from vehicles and that 73 percent of recovered stolen firearms were linked to vehicle‑theft incidents; 68 percent of those firearms were taken through a broken vehicle window. The department also reported it had seized 183 firearms during the quarter.
- Response times and staffing: The department said response‑time goals remain unmet in some categories. Staffing sits at about 78 percent of authorized positions, the presenter said, while efforts to recruit lateral officers and to run larger training academies continue.
- Clearance rates: The department reported unusually high clearance rates for the period, and told the council that investigators had resolved most recent homicide cases presented in the briefing.

Council and staff exchanges focused on causes and responses. Council members asked whether the department had seen any change in relationships with immigrant communities and whether returnees to the force cited pay and opportunity. The department said outreach efforts and Spanish‑language recruitment are part of its strategy and that pay and opportunity were among cited reasons for officers leaving and also for some returning.

Ending: Police officials told the council they will continue outreach, increase investigative coordination with federal partners and host additional public‑facing communications about trends. Council members thanked the department for the report and asked for continued updates on staffing and response times.

","Police presented the department’s first-quarter 2025 report showing overall declines in several violent‑crime categories and improvements in case clearance, while homicides and commercial robberies rose and officers flagged staffing and recovery of stolen firearms as ongoing issues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge city action on parked box trucks and neighborhood blight; councilors promise follow‑up

Council questions procurement choices for audiovisual, HVAC and police psychological services contracts

Councilors question timing of large transfers into housing funds in amendment to fiscal‑year budget

Durham staff recommend activated‑carbon treatment as PFAS solution; public outreach planned

Durham police report falling violent‑crime totals but spike in homicides and commercial robberies