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Raleigh presents urban-heat resiliency progress and plans microscale mapping and community surveys
Summary
City sustainability staff briefed council on an urban-heat tabletop exercise involving 40+ partners and community groups, proposed microscale heat mapping with academic partners, and flagged next steps including surveys, updating the 2050 comprehensive plan and follow-up on cooling-center resiliency.
Megan Anderson of the Office of Sustainability presented an update on Raleigh’s urban-heat resiliency work, describing a recent heat tabletop exercise that included more than 40 city departments and community organizations and partners such as the Duke Energy Foundation and the National Weather Service.
"We were actually one of the first in the country to ever include community-based organizations in a heat tabletop like this," Anderson said, noting participation from disability advocates, environmental-justice groups and organizations serving people experiencing homelessness.
Anderson said the city will pursue three near-term tracks: community surveys to inform priorities, integration of heat mitigation into the 2050 comprehensive plan and strategic plan, and development of microscale heat data in partnership with Duke University and technical experts to produce a more granular urban heat map.
Councilors pressed staff on priorities for investment, urging a strong focus on canopy expansion and shade-producing street trees tied to sidewalk design. "As you start working with parks and planning, that is not just street trees, it's street trees that provide shade," said Councilor Silver, who urged attention to tree species and sidewalk width so canopy plantings deliver usable shade.
Councilors also asked about cooling-center resiliency; Rian Northam, assistant communications director, clarified terminology: county-run emergency shelters are activated during loss-of-service events and are selected for resiliency (backup power), while cooling centers are locations open during business hours to beat the heat. Anderson said staff will follow up with Wake County to confirm which cooling centers have backup generators and will continue coordinating on operational needs.
The manager and sustainability staff said they will return with more detailed recommendations, data products and engagement plans. The council asked staff to include worker-protection protocols for outdoor employees and to consider regulatory as well as incentive-based tools where state law permits.
