Category: Minutes

East Community Action Coalition of Raleigh, NC (East CAC)

May 19, 2025

7:00-7:52 pm

Lions Park Community Center

Streaming on Facebook and YouTube

Jean Mosher, Chair

Mark Turner, Vice Chair

Bryan Ryan, Secretary (remote via Facebook)

7 in attendance + 3 on Facebook

Guests

Officer Eric Hinton, Raleigh Police Department, Northeast Division; (919) 996-1206

Sheri Smith, PE, Senior Engineer, City of Raleigh; 919-996-3975

Focus Areas

1. Public Safety
   1. Officer Eric Hinton provided his regular report to the East CAC, addressed questions, and received concerns.
      • He gave a report of Raleigh Police Department’s efforts to reduce speeding and ticket speeders, especially near schools. Mr. Turner commented about his observations of “Fast and Furious” behavior. Officer Hinton noted that RPD works hard to keep pressure on these drivers to stop or move elsewhere. He noted that RPD monitors social media, where these groups actually advertise their events, so the police can use that information. .He also encouraged attendees to notify RPD if they see groups involved in racing, laying donuts, and similar activities. If witnesses can safely get a license number, this evidence can be used by the police to seize vehicles.
      • In response to a concern raised about cars without license plates parked on public streets, Officer Hinton urged observers to call the issue in to the RPD’s non-emergency number and provide details.
      • Officer Hinton confirmed that RPD has a volunteer program and pointed out that there is a greenway fun run in the Falls River area in July.
      • RPD has dedicated crash scene investigators to focus on these problems and to free up uniformed officers to do their work.
      • The RPD has family services that provide camps in the summer.
      • He also noted that the department is always hiring and encouraged attendees to spread the word.
      • Finally, he reminded attendees to stay safe and contact him with questions or concerns.

2. Public Works
   1. Sheri Smith, PE, Senior Engineer with the City of Raleigh, presented on the Pigeon House Branch Watershed Study, started in 2022 and finished at the end of 2024. See also <https://raleighnc.gov/projects/pigeon-house-branch-watershed-study>. As she explained:
      • Five years ago, Raleigh’s stormwater group started a watershed planning program, with the goal to strategically improve watershed conditions for our residents.
      • It looked at the whole city, prioritized watersheds, and conducted comprehensive studies.
      • Ms. Smith noted that the studies were aimed at providing information for asset (pipe and infrastructure) renewal, water quality improvement, conveyance and drainage improvement (specifically flooding mitigation), and stream bank stabilization.
      • Pigeon House Branch (PHB) was selected as a priority. It drains much of Oakwood, much of the north part of downtown Raleigh, much of the Capital Blvd corridor inside the Beltline, and areas around the intersection of Wade Ave and St. Mary’s St; and flows into Crabtree Creek near Crabtree Blvd and Raleigh Blvd. See <https://raleighnc.gov/stormwater/services/find-your-watershed/pigeon-house-branch-watershed#paragraph—362367>.
      • Asset renewal: Ms. Smith explained that because the PHB watershed is in a long established part of the city, it has some of the older infrastructure—some stone culverts are from the late 1800s; and because it is in a highly developed area of the city, much of its stormwater system is underground. In response to a question about bringing underground components above ground, she noted that the city would take such steps if possible, but the nature of this area would make that difficult.
      • The general process for the watershed study includes data collection, analysis (with consultant input and modeling), and project definition. The process also includes public engagement (public meetings, online surveys, and one-on-one conversations) to help establish the priorities of residents, as well as their concerns (especially with respect to flooding).
      • The data collection involved visual and remote technology observations and videos of the infrastructure owned by the city and determined that about 10% of the PHB watershed system is in poor condition—much of it corrugated metal pipe—and will require rehabilitation. Because stone masonry lasts longer, some of the older sections are in better condition. The city will require that the rehabilitation use materials proven to last. Some of this work will involve installing a lining inside of the existing infrastructure to save time, money, and disruption. (She noted that infrastructure on private property was not included in this inspection.)
      • The rehabilitation process has already repaired many of the high priority (worst) issues identified; an upcoming project has scheduled another group of problem areas for repair; the remainder are in planning for future projects.
      • Stream assessment: The city hired a consultant to walk the PHB and assess it for stream bank erosion, canopy cover, channel bottom material, riparian buffer, and human-induced impacts. The inspection found that 67% of the stream had no natural buffer. The goal will be to address this issue by enhancing natural buffers.
      • Hydraulic model: The study created a hydraulic model to assess the frequency and extent of flooding in the PHB watershed and tested it against reports and input from the public. This research identified 8 areas in need of flooding mitigation, and will be used to guide projects.
      • Water quality model: The study identified pollutant loading—including nutrients. The city’s aim will be to treat the water on site. Because the city does not own all the property within the watershed, it is partnering with state government, schools, and nonprofits to achieve improvement goals. Two sizeable properties in this category are the Food Bank and the Wake County Public Schools bus parking area (formerly Bobby Murray Chevrolet).
      • Capital projects: All the elements of the study have been combined and coordinated with other city projects—including watershed projects—to prioritize capital projects for the PHB. Near-term projects include Smoky Hollow Park, rehabilitating pipes with trenchless lining, East Lane drainage improvement, flooding mitigation at Frank and Watauga Streets, cisterns for the Food Bank, and culvert replacement at Boundary Street and Brookside.
      • Smaller projects: The study also supports smaller ongoing projects, including drainage assistance and stream stabilization, Raleigh rainwater rewards, buffer builder bag, stormwater volunteering, stormwater maintenance and asset management, and floodplain management.
   2. Questions/feedback included: 1) a suggestion from Mark Turner to explore a spring (the Kizzie Bonner Spring, identified since the Revolutionary War) on Robin Hood Drive that appears to be piped into the storm sewer; 2) a question about how to report floods (answer: through See, Click, Fix); 3) a question about whether tear-downs and replacements are allowed to build within the buffer (answer: consult UDO).

3. Representation
   1. Helen Tart informed attendees that she has fliers with information about upcoming election timelines and requirements, so people interesting in running for an office can start planning.
4. Meetings
   1. Jean Mosher invited East CAC residents to submit topic ideas for meetings. She has received gun safety and CPR as possible topics.

Next Meeting—June 16, 2025 at 7:00 pm at the Lions Park Community Center.

East CAC Meeting Minutes
June 2011
Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

Raleigh’s East Citizens Advisory Council held its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2011 at Lions Park Community Center. About 30 people attended, with about five there for the first time. Chairman Mark Turner recorded the meeting, with video available at www.eastraleigh.org.
Secretary Sue Sturgis reported that a change was made to the draft minutes from the May meeting in the section about the discussion on tornado recovery; the final version posted on the website will reflect those edits. The minutes were approved without any additional changes.

NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTS: Mark reported that Belvidere Park and Woodcrest held a community potluck at Lions Park over the weekend. There was a good turnout, and Mark encouraged other neighborhoods to hold similar events. Continue reading “June 2011 East CAC draft minutes”

East CAC Meeting Minutes
May 2011
Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

Raleigh’s East Citizens Advisory Council held its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 16, 2011 at Lions Park Community Center. About 35 people were there, with about six attending for the first time; Charlene Willard with the city’s Community Services Department handed out bags with information about the CAC and the city to newcomers. The April minutes were approved without changes. Chairman Mark Turner recorded the meeting, with video available at www.eastraleigh.org.

SUCCESS REPORTS: The entrance sign to the Belvidere Park neighborhood is finished, and the bench delivered and installed. The project was three years in the making. Thanks to local stonemason Joe Valles and everyone else who helped with the project. Longview Gardens is now moving forward with their grant to build a neighborhood sign.
Continue reading “Minutes from May 2011 East CAC meeting (draft)”

East CAC Meeting Minutes
April 2011
Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

Raleigh’s East Citizens Advisory Council held its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 19, 2011 at the Lions Park Community Center. About 30 people were there, with about a half-dozen attending for the first time. Chairman Mark Turner recorded the meeting, with video available at www.eastraleigh.org. The March 2011 minutes were approved without changes.

Mark noted that the community was dealing with the aftermath of the April 16 tornado that caused significant destruction in the ECAC area behind the Food Lion shopping center on Raleigh Boulevard, hitting especially hard in the Lockwood neighborhood that encompasses North King Charles, Marlborough, Millbank, Euston and Brighton.

SUCCESS REPORTS: Mark reported driving down Milburnie Road today and seeing that a lot of fallen trees have already been cleaned up. It’s clear that crews have been working hard.

Charlene Willard, Raleigh Community Services Department’s liaison to the ECAC, reported that her department would coordinate a volunteer relief effort to help with storm cleanup once Parks & Recreation finished assessing conditions. There’s an online volunteer signup available at www.raleighnc.gov/stormhelp; within a few hours of the site’s launch, 275 people had registered to help.

In other good news from the ECAC, Mark was invited to talk about his work as a blogger to participants in Raleigh Digital Connectors. A partnership between the city and One Economy, a global nonprofit that works to bring technology to underserved communities, the Digital Connectors program offers technology training for youth from diverse backgrounds between the ages of 14 through 21.
Continue reading “Draft minutes from April 2011 East CAC meeting”

Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

Raleigh’s East Citizens Advisory Council held its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 21 at the Lions Park Community Center. About 35 people attended, with several there for the first time. Attendees approved the February minutes without changes. Chairman Mark Turner recorded the meeting, with video available at www.eastraleigh.org. Attendees were invited for beers at Big Boss Brewery after the meeting.

SUCCESS REPORTS: Spring is here, and the new playground at Lions Park is drawing crowds. The Belvidere Park signs went up near the car wash on Dennis Avenue, and they look beautiful. And a song that ECAC Vice Chair Van Alson wrote with alt-country rock singer-songwriter Ryan Adams was on “American Idol”; there’s a link on the ECAC’s Facebook page.
Continue reading “March 2011 East CAC Draft meeting minutes”

Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

Raleigh’s East Citizens Advisory Council held its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at the Lions Park Community Center. About 30 people attended, with about five there for the first time. The January minutes were approved without changes. Chairman Mark Turner recorded the meeting, with video available at www.eastraleigh.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Charlene Willard with the city’s Community Services Department announced that the Belvidere Park neighborhood will be dedicating its new stone entryway on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. and placing a time capsule inside. The project was funded with a Raleigh Neighborhood Improvement Matching Grant. Other neighborhoods interested in seeking a grant should move forward now; applications are due June 30, and the ongoing recession means the program’s future is uncertain. Anyone interested is encouraged to call Charlene at charlene.willard@raleighnc.gov or 919-996-5718 to discuss ideas.

The Raleigh Summer Youth Employment Program offered by Community Services will be interviewing applicants soon. It is for people ages 14 to 18. For more information, visit http://1.usa.gov/eeXNfG.

Charlene discussed an idea for an ECAC calendar. Currently no CAC has one, and there are lots of possibilities. Anyone interested in working on this should contact Charlene.
Continue reading “East CAC Feb 2011 Minutes”

East CAC Meeting Minutes
October 2010
Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

The East Citizens Advisory Council held its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18 at the Lions Park Community Center. About 50 people attended, with a handful there for the first time. The September minutes were approved. Chairman Mark Turner recorded the meeting, with video available at www.eastraleigh.org.

INSPECTIONS: Someone asked about an abandoned shopping cart left on the street; Inspector Dudley Winslow said to call him and he’d take care of it. Regarding a burned-out house at Culpepper and Kennington, someone attending the meeting said his family has connections to the property and reported that rebuilding is set to get underway soon.
Continue reading “Draft East CAC Minutes: October 2010”

East CAC Meeting Minutes Summary
September 2010
Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

The East Citizens Advisory Council held its monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 20 at the Lions Park Community Center. There were about 45 people in attendance, with about 10 attending for the first time. The meeting was recorded, with video available at www.eastraleigh.org.

The meeting opened with success reports, which included East Raleigh Community Day on Aug. 14, the first meeting of the Lockwood Neighborhood Watch on Aug. 17, and the Raleigh Neighborhood Exchange on Sept. 17. To join the Lockwood neighborhood watch e-mail list, visit www.eastraleigh.org/mailman/listinfo/lockwood.

Henry Ward, property manager for the Food Lion shopping center, is interested in hearing from local residents about changes they would like to see there so merchants can better serve the neighborhood’s needs. The Raleigh Police Department opened its new office at the Food Lion shopping center in August.
Continue reading “September 2010 East CAC meeting draft minutes”

East CAC Meeting Minutes
June 2010
Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis

Chairman Mark Turner called the meeting of the Raleigh East CAC to order shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday, June 21 at Lions Park Community Center. The meeting was recorded, with streaming video available at www.eastraleigh.org. The May minutes were approved with the correction of a typo.

Announcements: On June 22 the City Planning Department will hold a transition workshop to discuss zoning around different types of uses. The neighborhood association and CAC portion of the workshop is from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; there will also be a community workshop later that evening. This is of interest to the ECAC since the group will be involved in the redevelopment of the New Bern and Capital Boulevard corridors.

The Capital Boulevard study workshop will take place on Thursday, June 24 at Bobby Murray Chevrolet. Registration will begin at 6 p.m., and the meeting is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30. Please pre-register if you can so the city has an idea of how many people to expect.
Continue reading “Draft minutes from June 2010 East CAC meeting”