[Durham INC] New "City Hall This Week" Begins Tuesday

[Blalock, Amy]

    For Immediate Release: April 7, 2009


 

New "City Hall This Week" Begins Tuesday

New Episode Begins Airing April 14 on Time Warner Cable Channel 8; All
Episodes Now "On Demand" on the City's DTV8 Web Site

 

Durham, N.C. - The following highlights from the April 6, 2009 Durham
City Council meeting and other topics of interest will be featured in
the upcoming episode of "City Hall This Week."  The show will begin
airing on Tuesday, April 14 at 1:30 p.m. and will also be available to
watch "on demand" on the City's Web site at 
www.durhamnc.gov/dtv8/video.cfm. 

 

City Council Votes to Maintain Current Municipal Electoral System 

*         The City Council voted 7-0 to maintain Durham's current
municipal electoral system.  The Durham County Board of Elections had
proposed a change to hold one election in November instead of a separate
primary and election in order to cut costs.  All of the residents who
spoke at a public hearing held before the vote were in favor of leaving
the elections as they are now.  The Board of Elections estimated that
the change could have saved Durham between $170,000 and $185,000 each
election year.

 

Economic Development Incentive Contract with Burt's Bees Approved

*         The City Council approved a contract with Burt's Bees, Inc.
for no more than $138,750 for the relocation, creation, and retention of
183 jobs over the next three years. The company is trying to decide
whether to relocate within the Community Development Area in the
American Tobacco Campus.  The economic development incentive would be
paid to the company over time because it's possible relocation would
increase the business prospects and support the taxable property of the
City, contribute significantly to economic conditions in Durham, provide
workers with continuing employment opportunities, diversify the local
economy, and result in a substantial number of jobs that pay at or above
the livable wage in the City. 

 

City to Only Advertise Bid Opportunities Through Electronic Means

*         The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the
advertisement and notice of the City's bid opportunities only through
its Web site.  The legal authority to do that was granted by the state
in 2001, but Durham has continued to advertise both in local newspapers
and on its Web site.  The Council approved the change because electronic
advertising is viewed as more efficient and would help several City
departments cut costs. 

 

Public Hearing Held on Annual Action Plan

*         The City Council held a public hearing on the draft 2009-2010
Annual Action Plan.  The hearing gave the public a chance to comment on
the City's proposed use of federal Community Development Block Grant,
HOME, and Emergency Shelter Grant funds for the next fiscal year.  The
plan outlines how the City will use the funds to address housing and
community development needs in Durham.  The final plan must be submitted
to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in May.

 

Other interviews featured on the upcoming episode of "City Hall This
Week":

*         Donald Long, director of the City's Department of Solid Waste
Management - Explains why his department is proposing to stop collecting
waste from dumpsters at Durham's businesses and apartment complexes and
why it wants to change the way the City collects recycling from
residential customers. 

 

*         Germaine Brewington, acting director of the City's Department
of Audit Services - Explains why the City hires an external auditor to
perform Durham's annual financial audit. 

 

*         James Lim, conservation coordinator for the City's Department
of Water Management - Explains why proposed ordinances to implement
year-round irrigation requirements and to prohibit water waste are
needed and who they would affect.

 

*         Juliet Jensen, special events coordinator for Durham Parks and
Recreation - Explains what's in store for this year's Durham Earth Day
Festival and how residents can learn to "Go Green."

 

"City Hall This Week" is a news program dedicated to informing Durham
residents about what is going on inside Durham's City Hall.  Each
edition is taped on the first and third Tuesday of the month - the day
after City Council meetings.  It airs twice a day on Time Warner Cable
channel 8 through the week of the next City Council meeting.  For more
information, call the City's Office of Public Affairs at (919) 560-4123
or visit www.durhamnc.gov/departments/public/dtv.cfm. 

 

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