The Durham City Council condemns the rapid deportation of a local asylee family with young children, then wrestles with shifting focus from electric to diesel buses and what that means for climate goals. Council members also dig into billion‑dollar street maintenance needs, American Rescue Plan investments, and a new push for state-level housing and transit reforms. 39mins
Original Meeting
Video Notes
Welcome to the City Council Work Session for April 9, 2026.
Agenda: https://www.durhamnc.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-4
How to participate: https://www.durhamnc.gov/1345
Contact the City Council: https://www.durhamnc.gov/1323
NOTE: Comments left on this livestream will not be read or entered into the meeting record
Call to Order
Roll Call
Ceremonial Item - National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week Proclamation
Announcements by Council
Priority Items by the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk
Public Comment Period
Closed Session
Pulled Items
6. Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Durham and the County of Durham to Fund Community Solutions Consulting Work on the Homeless Strategic Framework
9. Durham Rail Trail Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Contract with Balfour Beatty Construction / Holt Brothers Construction, a Joint Venture
10. Interlocal Agreement for Fire & Emergency Medical Services Station 19
11. Utility Extension Agreement with Jason Jones to serve 102 N Maple Street
12. Utility Extension Agreement with Zelightisred, LLC to serve 2502 Angier Avenue (BuildSense HQ)
13. Third Amendment to the Contract with Duke University for City Fiber
15. Federal Transit Administration Bus and Bus Facility Grant Project Ordinance
16. Purchase Contract with Gillig, LLC for Ten Diesel Buses for GoDurham
Presentations
7. ST-332C Pavement Condition Study Presentation [20 Minutes]
19. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update [20 Minutes]
Settling the Agenda
Other Matters
Adjournment
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Council Member Nate Baker echoed concern about the recent deportation case, read a statement from the Durham Workers Rights Commission supporting changes to the city’s substance and alcohol testing policy, and requested work session items for an Endangered Species Day resolution, and a potential moratorium on hyperscale data centers.
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City Manager Bo Ferguson highlighted a pavement condition study and legislative priorities presentation on the agenda, noted that a CDBG funding amendment item was being sent back to staff for a future meeting, and Mayor Pro Tem Caballero stated the council would enter closed session for attorney–client consultation on a potential liability claim.
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Director Egan explained that a new federal administration’s shift away from supporting electric buses had driven up costs and pushed the city toward diesel bus purchases, prompting questions about impacts on climate goals and a response that the department was prioritizing overall transit growth and mode shift to reduce emissions.
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City Manager Ferguson acknowledged that shifting from electric to diesel buses made sustainability goals harder but financially necessary, while Council Member Baker emphasized the broader climate and rider benefits of battery buses and, in response to questions about costs, Director Egan reported that Durham’s growing electric fleet was performing well and now showed lifecycle cost advantages over diesel given current fuel prices.
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Mayor Pro Tem Caballero reflected on how the loss of federal support had derailed Durham’s ambitious electric bus goals, while Director Egan reported that the fleet was holding at about one‑third electric with no additional battery buses expected before 2029 absent major cost drops or new federal assistance.
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Assistant Director Johnson presented an update on the city’s pavement condition study, reporting an average pavement condition index of 68 on the 830 miles of city‑maintained streets and explaining that expanded pavement preservation efforts had helped stabilize scores despite previous underfunding.
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A council member asked whether residents could see a schedule of upcoming street paving, and staff explained that Environmental and Stormwater Services was finalizing a 10-year pavement plan to coordinate with other departments and expected to publish a clearer 3–5 year paving outlook for the public by summer, while noting that projections beyond three years were less reliable.
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Council Member Kopac asked about the performance of micro surfacing on high‑volume roads, and staff explained that groundwater and soil conditions in southern Durham had caused failures on some thoroughfares, leading the city to limit micro surfacing in those areas while continuing its use where it had been more successful.
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City officials introduced Durham’s American Rescue Plan initiative as a “down payment towards transformative change,” reviewed the city and county allocations and expanded federal spending rules, and described the internal process used since 2021 to identify eligible priorities for investing the funds.
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Officials reviewed how remaining American Rescue Plan funds were directed to targeted investments including affordable housing, Fayetteville Street corridor projects, community organizations, health and wellness and arts initiatives, digital equity, and a small unobligated balance that council had previously asked to redirect from staff salaries back into community proposals and deferred items.
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Andrew Holland reported on the status and oversight of 31 American Rescue Plan projects, noting completed and in‑process efforts, suspended projects, extensive monitoring and site visits, $17.7 million already paid toward roughly $19 million in expenditures, and potential reallocations including funds from projects unlikely to fully proceed and a contract currently in an intervention process to meet milestones.
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Durham officials reported that projected American Rescue Plan interest earnings of about $1.6 million would be available without a spending deadline to support council budget priorities, noting that staff aimed to refine the estimate by Dec. 31, 2026 while ensuring all principal funds were fully spent by then.
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A speaker explained that the General Assembly was in a short session operating under a continuing resolution without a 2025 state budget, and outlined legislative priorities to support local renewable energy and disaster resiliency investments as well as PFAS and emerging contaminant remediation in Durham’s water systems.
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Representatives from Checkmate Government Relations requested council direction on filing local bills before an imminent deadline and outlined legislative priorities including new local transit revenue options, authority to set lower speed limits on state roads, improved NCDOT cost sharing, potential changes to city elections, and ensuring Durham’s input on upcoming Falls Lake water quality rules.
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A representative and the City Attorney’s Office described efforts at the General Assembly to support Durham’s housing supply while closing a North Carolina property tax loophole that allowed for‑profit developers to claim nonprofit exemptions without providing affordable housing, noting that similar loopholes were not found in other states reviewed.
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