Thread by @raleigh_forward

1/Reminder--City Council meets tomorrow afternoon. Here are the items we will be watching: During the work session starting at 11:30, staff will update Council on the proposed "Public Project Community Support Fund" (formerly called an "Equity Fund") as proposed #ralpol

2/in the Equitable Development Around Transit Report (raleighnc.gov/equitable-tran…) and the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Guidebook adopted by Council in early 2021 (…gh0drupal.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/drupal-prod/CO…)

3/This proposed Fund is described on page 96 of the Equitable Transit-Oriented guidebook. Goal is to use a % of local tax revenue and other potential funding tools to finance public projects that advance the City's equity goals. #ralpol

4/For the regular meeting starting at 1:00, Council will consider an ordinance creating the new Raleigh Community Engagement Board that will provide guidance to the City as it continues reinventing the Community Engagement Process-go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa… #ralpol

5/Under Special Items, Council will receive an updated report on the proposed Parks Bond based on Council's work session discussion last week. At that meeting, Council endorsed a $175,000,000 potential bond package- go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa… #ralpol

6/Also, Staff will present the City's proposed budget for FY22 & capital improvement program. More details will be provided at the meeting, but here is a link to the agenda item-go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa… #ralpol

7/Next, Council will conduct a public hearing on a new street cross section requirement that establishes "busway" lanes for certain kinds of roads to help expand transit across the City, along with a new "Green Plus Frontage"...#ralpol

8/that will establish deeper setbacks with new tree planting or preservation requirements where this frontage is applied-go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa… #ralpol

9/And if you need help navigating the City's agendas and BoardDocs, take a look at this blog post-raleighforward.org/raleigh101/how… #ralpol

10/And part 2 on navigating City agendas on BoardDocs-raleighforward.org/raleigh101/how… #ralpol

11/Finally, as it does at each meeting, Council will consider appointments to various City Boards and Commissions. There are usually many openings for interested residents, so if you are interested in serving, take a look here-raleighnc.gov/node/72276 #ralpol

CORRECTION:The amount is $275,000,000 not $175,000,000. We apologize for the error. #ralpol

In advance of Council's discussion of the proposed "Public Project Community Support Fund" at its 11:30 works session, here is a link to staff's presentation uploaded to BoardDocs recently- go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa… #ralpol

The City is using an internal work group that focuses on transit oriented development & affordable housing (TODAH) associated with the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System. #ralpol

Staff is reviewing the original fund concept and next steps for refining the concept #ralpol :

Here are some of the proposed fund purposes and guidelines for deploying resources to qualifying neighborhoods:#ralpol

Next, staff is reviewing funding recommendations and possible projects: #ralpol

Staff now describing initial $1.5 million funding to be included in the FY23 budget and further community outreach and how the fund will be governed in the future: #ralpol

Council Branch asking about community engagement as it relates to implementing the fund concept. Staff says they will move aggressively on the engagement process as soon as Council authorizes the fund approach. #ralpol

Councilor Cox asks about the internal working group process (TODAH) & whether any resident/organization/business were included in the internal work group meetings. Staff says not to this point directly within the internal working group meetings.#ralpol

Councilor Forte expresses concern that the proposed projects set forth by staff do not necessarily match the desires of the local communities. Suggests that more community engagement might be needed. #ralpol

Councilor Knight also raises the community engagement issue. Asks how the $$ allocations were made for the proposed projects included in the staff recommendation. Says he is supportive if demonstrated engagement shows community buy-in #ralpol

Councilor Melton pushes back & suggests that many of the proposed projects are consistent with community desires based upon the numerous other community engagement processes that have occurred related to BRT planning, Dix Park and Dix Edge Study, etc #ralpol

Councilor Branch emphasizes that the proposal is a pilot project at this point and recognize that additional community engagement needs to occur. #ralpol

City Manager suggests that staff will conduct additional outreach between now and budget adoption to give Council more insight into how the community feels about the proposed fund and potential projects.#ralpol

Mayor Baldwin emphasizes that the proposed projects and the fund in general have been discussed by staff and Council for several years and that they should not come as any surprise. Matter will be acted upon when Council votes on final budget. #ralpol

Councilor Cox removes this item from the consent agenda and criticizes the Community Engagement Board Council votes to establish the CEB by a 6-1 vote with Cox against and Buffkin excused. Here is a link to the approved ordinance-go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa… #ralpol

CORRECTION:Council is considering a $275 million parks bond (not $175 million). Council votes 6-2 to move forward on the $275 million bond package with the potential tax impact on residents as follows (Councilor Forte and Cox vote against motion): #ralpol

Staff are starting to review the proposed budget that will go into effect on July 1, 2022. Here is a link to the budget proposal #ralpol-go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Boa…

Proposed budget for FY23 is $1.14 Billion & represents a 6.8% increase over FY22 & anticipates a 2 cent property tax increase. #ralpol

Some of the workforce investments in the proposed budget #ralpol:

Budget proposes to maintain "fare free" bus service for the next year. #ralpol

City is proposing more investments for Community Engagement & Department of Equity & Inclusion #ralpol:

Housing affordability investment is also addressed in the proposed budget, as are continued implementation of the Wake Transit Plan & transportation in general #ralpol:

Next steps for the City in terms of the budget adoption process #ralpol: