Thread by @CerebrACTe

Tuning into the Raleigh City Council Annual Retreat virtually on this sunny afternoon #ralpol

I prefer to watch on youtube so I can rewind a little to catch up cause I always tune in a little late :)

Raleigh City Council Annual Retreat opened this afternoon with @maryannbaldwin speaking about needing big ideas on housing, homelessness, development, Dix Park, sports stadiums, convention center and civic campus. #ralpol

First topic on the agenda was Community Engagement. Discussion around defining what it is: "the process of working collaboratively with and through groups affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting their well being."

consensus of the group seemed to be that this definition is only a starting point and needs more power, inclusiveness, active or proactive voice for reaching and seeking interaction with citizens in decision making processes

next exercise on community engagement at the Council Retreat was to identify top community engagement values from this list: accountability, collaboration, communication, compassion, honesty, inclusion, innovation, responsiveness, stewardship, transparency, trust #ralpol

Inclusion + Communication came out at the top of City Council's shared list of community engagement values

several pointing out the rest of the list can be accomplished through those values (particularly through innovative new systems / challenging old systems @melton4raleigh )

next exercise. envision what engagement looks like:
- go to people, not hold meetings
- multiple options
- better website
- what currently works
- make it priority, dedicate staff
- talk less, listen more
- facilitate collaboration
- make an engagement dept! @Corey4DistrictC

note: my previous tweet contains my personal summary of the retreat conversation which is not quite equal to the inside the meeting notes by staff on screen in the video.

Also love @Corey4DistrictC idea of bringing old and new together with City Open House and new Dept!

next on the agenda is presentations, questions and answers related to the Parks Bond.

issues to tackle include timing, equity, benefits, partnerships, operations, communicate success

Parks presentation includes summary of spending from previous parks bond by district. A hot topic in the discussion between councilors lately.

I'm a chart and map geek so appreciate the visuals.

#ralpol

Phase I @DixPark Master Plan implementation numbers being presented to Council today.

Good to see Lake Wheeler multi-modal access addressed.

New @DDPConservancy Director makes key point: we have an opportunity to own and re-interpret the historical separations inherent in the creation of Dix (plantation, mental hospital, institutionalized othering) with a new inclusive public space reflective of 21st century values

During Q+A, Councilor Forte @1stormie1 brought up the critical issue of 4 facilities that have no AC and directly asks how to get the funding needed to immediately address those issues. #ralpol

During Q+A, @maryannbaldwin brings up questions about Lake Wheeler Road design. And she hits the nail on the head re gaps in design that exist between Transportation Dept, Planning Dept and Parks Dept. So far no clear design direction! Dix Edge Study Group has discussed this too.

Multiple scenarios under consideration for the next Parks Bond. Ranging from $150 million to $182 million or approximately $.02 to $.03 tax impact. #ralpol

Funding sources for air conditioning units in community centers that @1stormie1 and other members talked about are being requested to come from Capital funds and not wait for a bond. Important push. Props to Parks Board member @LindsayKelleyS for being a vocal advocate.

Brilliant points made by @Corey4DistrictC about the reason District C gets more funding now. Because the district has been underserved and underinvested for decades. It wasn't invested in before, it needs to be invested now. Equity is not equality as @melton4raleigh reminds us.

great points from @Nicole4Raleigh about accounting for migrating low income residents within the City as well as how to maximize funding by understanding per capita spend on parks.

Councilor Buffkin brings up the millions dollar question - how big should the parks bond number be?

Discussion and various opinions from the Council on the three scenarios and how to garner support for the amount and what's included in the scenarios. #ralpol

Retreat wrapped up around 6. Done tweeting for a bit. As usual, I tried to summarize what I thought was important from the Council conversation today. As always, refer to the City's agenda, minutes and video for your own unbiased look.

Also, y'all probably noticed I was listening in late today, will be tomorrow as well. Because I got to work my real jobs too.

Done with work and other commitments and back to the recording for Day 2 of City Council retreat.

Have I mentioned how glad I am that these are now recorded and broadcast for ease to rewatch? Cause it's awesome. :)

You can watch on youtube whenever:

I'm going to tweet my thoughts and summary notes from what was discussed earlier today while I watch this afternoon - hope some #ralpol folks will find it useful.

First agenda item is the Legislative Report from former City Councilor Philip Isley. He started by painting a clear picture of the political landscape after last years election, including the important allies for Raleigh in the NC General Assembly

One important point was the tension that exists between helping Raleigh, as a big capital city, and helping throughout the state from the GA perspective.

Though, Mr. Isley points out that right now the attention is on COVID and reopenings.

Interestingly, Mr. Isley also points out that there is a spirit of working together across party lines, as they've focused on COVID. In the past couple weeks, things have 'returned to normal' a bit with messaging bills, local bills, and other bills being filed.

Sometimes the NCGA Republican majority files "bad city" bills to prevent cities making some decisions.

A few so far this year:
- defund the city that defunds the police
- discourage sanctuary cities
- remove immunity for cities due to protest damage

Also mentioned potential NCGA bills on studying housing stock, affordable housing. That'd be good for everyone.

Mr. Isley says the core duties of a City, "clean water, safe streets, low taxes, EMS services" rather than politics should be the focus when going to the NCGA. #ralpol

During legislative report Q+A, @Corey4DistrictC brought up the issue of boards having the ability to access records. Probably related to recent Police Advisory Board requests. Mr. Isley indicated that a bill to make that possible has been filed but will likely not move forward.

Making an observation of the overall tone,
@dcoxraleigh pointed out that he would like to hear from a Democrat perspective (Mr. Isley is a Republican) on taking on a more progressive agenda with the NCGA.

Next portion of this morning's City Council retreat: Innovation brainstorm session. Goals to be open, be bold, think big, recognize public benefits, democracy, climate change, sustainability, involvement not just engagement, maintaining and improving, funding, pilot. #ralpol

Brainstorm exercise:
Raleigh wins 2030 Innovation Award. For What?
- big, diverse, frequent, safe, reliable transit system
- invest in communities without displacement
- more direct democracy with increase Council size
- housing as a right, expanding purpose built communities

brainstorm list cont'd:
- stormwater infrastructure
- collaborative community conversations
- focus on basics, everyday functions: infrastructure, public safety, environment
- housing fund, public / private fund to initiate projects
- diversity in housing, integrated communities

brainstorm list cont'd:
- parks equity fund (maybe @PBuffkin says: 2 penny tax increase, 1 for equity fund and 1 for maintenance, operations)
- healthy hotels (related to housing above)
- reduction of gun violence
- expansion of internet access
- support small businesses

great point from @maryannbaldwin that a lot of the items on this list could be funded by stimulus money as it falls within the focus areas.

reflecting on the list of innovative ideas, @melton4raleigh points out much of this work is underway and @Corey4DistrictC asks that we find ways to give attention, spotlight to the continued staff progress on these things

City Manager reflected on the Innovation Brainstorm list that everything on it is doable, with directive from Council. Some may be more complicated to change than others, but "nothing is insurmountable".

Next portion of this morning's City Council retreat: presentation on Social Equity. #ralpol

note my tweets are coming as I rewatch as I was at work this morning :)

First portion of the Social Equity presentation earlier today was a call to understand what "Equity" truly means, to do more than just talk about it.

Started with a video "What's Going On". To see the video, watch right at the 2:00:00 mark on youtube

Facilitator, Dr. Audrea Caesar, asked each Councilor to express first reactions to video. Heard a mixture of:
- tearfulness
- white guilt
- need for leadership and shift
- emphasizes what has really changed?
- some change, not enough
- role of moderate white people
..

reactions continued..
- historical reactions repeating
- need to sit and feel the emotions of video
- importance of bridge building within equity conversation
- need for African American Affairs board

Processing question given to Council to hold during the Social Equity presentation:

What must we confront in our community and in ourselves to interrupt the perpetuation of inequity in Raleigh?

damn. what a critical question. #ralpol

Equity is about Outcomes. and racial equity work is about finding the root causes. Particularly because race is the pervasive indicator for negative outcomes, past other intersecting identities or representations.

points from City Council Retreat Social Equity presentation.

Racial inequities are deep, pervasive in the US.
There's not enough understanding about the history that led us to this point.

Why can't we move forward?
We can't move forward until we take a look back.
And have a shared understanding.

#ralpol

The most important social determinant is housing.

Housing is a right.

How are we in 2021 and segregation is still happening? facilitator Dr. Audrea Caesar asked a key question.

Y'all this issue of the intersection of housing - segregation - schools is a big issue I talk frequently about. She is dropping the facts and bringing the receipts as to how we still have segregated neighborhoods and schools 60+ years after it's illegal.

strong points in the social equity presentation on the multiple types of racism

individual implicit
individual explicit
institutional implicit
institutional explicit

When using a Racial Equity Lens, these questions are key
1. What are the racial impacts?
2. Who is experiencing burden?
3. Who is experiencing benefit?
4. What are the root causes of disparities?
5. What are the unintended consequences?

#ralpol

premiered at the retreat: City of Raleigh has an Equity & Inclusion Action Plan built by staff with consultants over the past year. #ralpol

Raleigh's Equity and Inclusion Action Plan in agenda: go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa…

Goals in Plan:
1. Building Organization Capacity
2. Workforce Equity
3. Inclusive Engagement
4. Inclusive Planning, Development, Growth

#ralpol

Goal 1: Raleigh employees are prepared to carry out equity work

Building Organizational Capacity - City employees have the understanding, competencies, skills, tools, and resources needed to advance racial equity

Goal 2: Raleigh is an inclusive employer of choice

Workforce Equity

Goal 3: Raleigh practices inclusive and equitable engagement

Inclusive Engagement – Raleigh partners and engages with the community to move the City’s work forward

Goal 4: Raleigh facilitates inclusive planning, development and growth to support communities of color

Inclusive Planning, Development & Growth

From the sounds of the presentation, staff really dug into the data and the policies to make this plan. Presentation also included a breakdown of the racial makeup of city full time staff.

Discussion around Racial equity:
- workforce development is key @maryannbaldwin
- housing as a right is a tension point in our community @melton4raleigh
- slowing down for healing before talking solutions
- diversify where we place affordable housing @Corey4DistrictC

discussion cont'd:
@Corey4DistrictC
- diversify employee recruitment from our local universities
- include bus drivers, other vendors in the statistics
- need power in the Fair Housing Board
@Nicole4Raleigh
- bureaucracy can sometimes get in the way of equity

discussion cont'd
@KnightforRal asked for help in engaging the community to come on board and understand the shifts the city is making

Dr. Caesar said the City will be offering free equity training in the community, key to invite citizens into the difficult conversations.

There was a really powerful moment today when @KnightforRal apologized for his raw emotional reaction to the video, and City Manager Marcell Adams-David answered "never apologize for being real, never apologize for being human" and highlighted the messy complicated work to do.

The inclusion of that racial equity presentation, lens, and discussion in the retreat was SO POWERFUL. Very glad that was part of the work our City Council and the staff have been making happen. Lots to do ahead, but good to know it's being planned. #ralpol

Next portion of the City Retreat is a budget session.
Ahead of the session,
staff asked City Council to submit 10 priorities,
then grouped / listed them,
asked Council for top 5 priorities (for this years budget), high 5 priorities (for next two years budget)

Council retreat discussion and consensus building on the top funding priorities started with these themes. #ralpol

Some real truth dropped in the budget conversation. Raleigh is looking at a budget deficit of $10-28 million from the basics. So this priority list is needed to communicate what Council wants to see brought back creatively within the budget revisions. #ralpol

a prescient reminder that while we have long term goals and big ideas to work toward, we have a harsh reality of deficit which is a bit unfamiliar compared to the past few years. #ralpol

Budget priority discussion was insightful into various Councilors priorities. Highly recommend watching at least that part of the retreat.

Going to get dinner and save the City Managers presentation for rewatch tomorrow.