East Community Action Coalition of Raleigh, NC (East CAC)
April 21, 2025
7:00-8:08 pm
Lions Park Community Center
Streaming on Facebook and YouTube
Jean Mosher, Chair
Mark Turner, Vice Chair
Bryan Ryan, Secretary (remote via YouTube)
7 attendees
Guests
Officer Eric Hinton, Raleigh Police Department, Northeast Division; (919) 996-1206
Sergeant Talley, Raleigh Police Department
Zach Manor, Urban Forester, City of Raleigh
David Klemp, Executive Director and Arborist, Trees for the Triangle
Adam Daland, Treasurer, Trees for the Triangle
Jordyne Krumroy, Board Member, Trees for the Triangle
Focus Areas
1. Public Safety
a) Officer Eric Hinton provided his regular report to the East CAC, addressed questions, and received concerns.
▪ Officer Hinton reminded attendees to follow their regular 9 pm routines, especially making sure that doors are locked and garage doors are down.
▪ In response to a concern raised about law enforcement entering properties, he explained that Raleigh Police Department will not enter unless authorized or invited.
▪ Officer Hinton encouraged residents to contact dispatch and ask to meet with an Animal Control officer for issues related to pets or wild animals.
▪ He commended East CAC residents for continuing to contact RPD with reports of gunshots. These reports help the police to pull together enough evidence to take necessary action. This month, such reports supported the efforts of Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) to investigate and revoke the liquor license of StarBar on Trawick Road.
b) Officer Hinton noted that Raleigh’s new police chief, Rico Boyce, has been in his new position since March 1. Chief Boyce will be initiating some new programs and reintroducing others over the next few months, including “Cops on the Block,” a community policing program. Officers will be knocking on doors in Raleigh North, Millbanks, and other neighborhoods to build rapport with residents. Mr. Hinton also said that community officers may be assigned to different areas, so he may no longer be attending East CAC meetings. Details to come.
2. Neighborhood Amenities
a) Zach Manor, Urban Forester with the City of Raleigh, presented his “State of the City” report. See also <https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/urban-forestry-program>.
▪ Mr. Manor touched on the mission of the urban forestry program, the benefits of trees—cooling effect on cities, improvement of air quality, reduction of stormwater runoff, and contributions to active lifestyles. He also noted Raleigh’s effort to improve urban forestry equity through targeted plantings in neighborhoods of color, which have 44% less green space than other areas.
▪ He connected the Urban Forestry Program to the City’s Comprehensive Plan 2030-2050, its 5-year Strategic Plan, and its goal of reducing carbon emissions.
▪ He explained that Urban Forestry is responsible for trees on city property “from acorn to stump grinder”—regulatory review, permitting, planting, maintenance. It also provides education, conducts research, creates an inventory of trees, establishes a planting priority map in support of an Urban Tree Equity Project, holds a Tree of the Year competition, participates in an Earth Day/Arbor Day event at Dix Park, and partners with watershed protection efforts.
▪ Mr. Manor provided these facts and figures: Raleigh has 172,000 street trees; 50.5% of Raleigh is tree canopy, 58,600 acres of tree cover; 77% is deciduous and 23% is coniferous; the city has seen a net loss of canopy over the last 10 years.
▪ He also reported on several of the department’s initiatives and partnerships focused on equity—Leaf Out, the Urban Tree Equity Project, and Biophilic Cities. He pointed out that the planting priority map developed by the Urban Forestry Program supports the street tree equity project, which aims to plant 1000 trees over 3 years in neighborhoods with less canopy.
▪ In response to resident concerns raised at the meeting, Mr. Manor explained how his group can support tree preservation and invasive species removal and the limitations of its work to public property. For example, new building on private lots under 2 acres is not required by code to preserve trees.
b) David Klemp, Adam Daland, and Jordyne Krumroy of TreesForTheTriangle.org presented on the non-profit’s work to support urban forestry efforts on private property, filling the gap created by the loss of Raleigh’s NeighborWoods initiative.
▪ Trees for the Triangle has two staff (with another on the way) and volunteers who have planted 1000 native trees in the Triangle at the request of private property owners.
▪ Trees for the Triangle partners with cities, schools, and organizations like Habitat for Humanity. It focuses on putting the right tree in the right place, sizing them to the situation, and planting natives to reinforce habitat support and minimize watering needs.
▪ Although the group will plant trees anywhere it gets permission—home or business—it especially seeks coordinated neighborhood-wide plantings to have a greater impact with efficient use of its resources. For more information or to fill out a tree request form, see <http://www.treesforthetriangle.org>.
Next Meeting—May 19, 2025 at 7:00 pm at the Lions Park Community Center. The topic will be stormwater.