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Town of Chapel Hill · Town Council
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 6:00 pm · RM 110 | Council Chamber

Regular meeting Housing and affordabilityRoads and transportationWater and sewerBudget and appropriationsHealth and human servicesAnnexationAppointments and personnelCivil rights and nondiscriminationContracts and procurementDrugs and addictionElections and districtsGrants and outside fundingIntergovernmental agreementsLand conversion and large developmentLitigation and settlementsParks and recreationSchools and educationTransit

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 6.Appointment to Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors approved · The Council approved the appointment of Judith Miller to the OWASA Board of Directors effective April 30, 2026.
  2. Received 8.2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update received and filed · This matter was received and filed.
  3. Approved 9.Proposed OWASA Reimbursement Policy adopted · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member McMahon, seconded by Council Member Nollert, to adopt R-3 authorizing the Mayor to transmit comments on a proposed OWASA reimb…
  4. Received 10.Update Regarding Planning in the Southern Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Reissued received and filed · This matter was received and filed.
  5. Approved 11.Participate in the National Opioid Settlement with the Six Remnant Defendants adopted · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, to adopt R-4 authorizing the Town Manager to execute an agreement to particip…
  6. Received 12.General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(4) and 143-318.11(a)(6) entered Into closed session as authorized by General Statute Section 143-318.11 · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that…
  7. Received [26-0129]Public Hearing: Proposed Charter Amendments - Council Size and Mayoral Term closed the public hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, to close the public hearing. The motion carried by a unanim…

Another 4 items passed on the consent agenda, which is a single motion covering routine business. See the list.

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Chapel Hill's council closed a public hearing on shrinking the town council and extending the mayor's term to four years without taking any action, and staff confirmed that absent further direction no ordinance would be drafted and the proposal would not return to a future agenda.

Eight members of the public spoke, and none supported the proposals as presented. Several said a smaller council would cut representation for Black residents and other groups who had fought for a voice in town government, and that the process was moving too fast. Several council members said they would rather put any change to a referendum than adopt it by ordinance.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The town manager had explained that the council can change council size and the mayoral term by ordinance without going to the General Assembly, but that voters could petition for a referendum within 30 days, and that a November election deadline set the timetable. Council members asked about the effect on sitting officeholders and the cost of even-year versus odd-year elections.

The council did adopt two things. It authorised the mayor to transmit comments supporting an OWASA reimbursement policy, which would let a developer who extends water and sewer lines recover part of the cost from later property owners who connect. The stated aim is to remove the first-mover disadvantage in areas that have no utilities. Council members asked that their comments carry broader guidance on equity, affordable housing, and making sure the mechanism does not become a barrier for low-income residents or small developers. The council also voted to join the national opioid settlement with the six remnant defendants, which brings a one-time payment for abatement and prevention.

On the southern extraterritorial jurisdiction, staff reported that extending sewer is technically feasible but carries significant financial, environmental and topographical problems. Opportunities for missing middle housing there are limited, and viable development is more likely in concentrated higher-density pockets that can carry the infrastructure cost — probably near the US 15-501 corridor. Council members asked about soil conditions, greenway alignments and whether annexation would eventually need considering.

The consent agenda carried the 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant annual action plan, a $61,000 audit contract renewal with Mauldin & Jenkins, and an appointment to the OWASA board effective April 30.

The meeting opened with three proclamations — Bike Month, Small Business Week and Period Poverty Awareness Week — and ran to a closed session at 9:52 p.m., adjourning at 10:52.

How the votes went

Every recorded vote was unanimous with all nine members present: the consent agenda (Ryan/Miller-Foushee), opening and closing the charter amendment hearing, the OWASA reimbursement comments R-3 (McMahon/Nollert), the opioid settlement participation R-4 (Berry/Miller-Foushee), and entering closed session. No vote was taken on the charter amendments themselves.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

9 members of the public spoke.

No one spoke during the general public comment period. Eight people spoke at the charter amendment public hearing. Their concerns were that a smaller council would reduce representation, especially for Black residents and others who had fought for a voice in local government; that the process was moving too quickly for the community to weigh in; and that a four-year mayoral term would make the office less accountable to voters. Several asked the council to slow down, do more outreach, and let the public decide by referendum. A Chamber of Commerce representative spoke in support of the OWASA reimbursement policy under a separate item.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Town of Chapel Hill's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

2 items were added after the agenda first went up

A late addition is how the public gets surprised: somebody reads the agenda, decides nothing on it concerns them, and the thing that does is added afterwards. They are marked in the list below.

The day counts are an upper bound. Governments publish what is on an agenda, not when each item was put there, so these are measured from when this site first saw the item — which can be later than when the clerk added it, never earlier.

Jump to an item (28 on this agenda)
  1. WELCOME to a COUNCIL MEETING!
  2. ROLL CALL
  3. OPENING
  4. 1.Proclamation: Bike Month
  5. 2.Proclamation: Small Business Week
  6. 3.Proclamation: Period Poverty Awareness Week
  7. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
  9. CONSENT
  10. 4.Recommended 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action P…
  11. 5.FY 2025-26 Audit Services
  12. 6.Appointment to Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors
  13. DISCUSSION
  14. 7.Public Hearing: Proposed Charter Amendments - Council Size and Mayora…
  15. 8.2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update
  16. 9.Proposed OWASA Reimbursement Policy
  17. 10.Update Regarding Planning in the Southern Extraterritorial Jurisdicti…
  18. 11.Participate in the National Opioid Settlement with the Six Remnant De…
  19. CLOSED SESSION (AS NEEDED)
  20. 12.General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(4) and 143-318.11(a)(6)
  21. ADJOURNMENT
  22. [26-0143]3.1 Mayor Jessica Anderson
  23. [26-0144]3.2 Council Member Nollert
  24. [26-0145]3.3 Council Member McMahon
  25. OTHER ATTENDEES
  26. Approval of the Consent Agenda
  27. [26-0129]Public Hearing: Proposed Charter Amendments - Council Size and Mayora…
  28. [26-0134]General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(4) and 143-318.11(a)(6)

Agenda items (28)

Discussion item · 5Procedural · 4Consent agenda · 4Other · 3Proclamation or recognition · 3Public hearing · 2Resolution · 2Closed session · 2Appointment · 1Presentation · 1Staff or committee report · 1
  1. WELCOME to a COUNCIL MEETING!
    Other
  2. ROLL CALL
    Procedural
  3. OPENING
    Other
  4. 1. Proclamation: Bike Month
    Proclamation or recognition Parks and recreationRoads and transportationSchools and education
    May 2026 proclaimed Bike Month, with Bike and Roll to School Day on May 6 and Bike to Work Week May 11-17.
  5. 2. Proclamation: Small Business Week
    Proclamation or recognition
    May 3-9, 2026 proclaimed Small Business Week.
  6. 3. Proclamation: Period Poverty Awareness Week
    Proclamation or recognition Health and human services
    May 11-17, 2026 proclaimed Period Poverty Awareness Week, recognised with the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.
  7. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
    Procedural
  8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
    Procedural
  1. 6. Appointment to Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors
    Appointment Appointments and personnelWater and sewer
    An appointment to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority board of directors effective April 30, 2026, filling a vacancy.
    approved · The Council approved the appointment of Judith Miller to the OWASA Board of Directors effective April 30, 2026.
  2. DISCUSSION
    Discussion item
  3. 7. Public Hearing: Proposed Charter Amendments - Council Size and Mayoral Term
    Public hearing Civil rights and nondiscriminationElections and districts
    A hearing on amending the town charter to reduce the size of the council and extend the mayor's term from two years to four. The council can make either change by ordinance, though voters may petition for a referendum within 30 days. Eight speakers opposed the proposals as presented, citing reduced representation and an over-fast process. The council closed the hearing without action, and staff confirmed no ordinance would be drafted and the item would not return to a future agenda.
    opened the hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member Ryan, seconded by Mayor pro tem Berry, to open the public hearing. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  4. 8. 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update
    Presentation Intergovernmental agreementsRoads and transportationTransit
    An update on Destination 2055, the region's long-range metropolitan transportation plan, covering projected population and employment growth, plan goals and the adoption process. Priorities named were environmental protection, connectivity, equitable multimodal access, congestion, resilience and economic vitality, with investment in transit expansion, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and roadway modernisation. Council members asked how local funding obligations are calculated, how projects are scored, and whether airport access was being considered.
    received and filed · This matter was received and filed.
  5. 9. Proposed OWASA Reimbursement Policy
    Resolution Housing and affordabilityWater and sewer
    A proposed OWASA policy letting a developer who extends water and sewer lines recover part of the cost from later property owners who connect, meant to reduce the first-mover disadvantage in unserved areas. The council authorised the mayor to transmit comments in support, together with guidance on equity, affordable housing and avoiding financial barriers for low-income residents and small developers.
    adopted · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member McMahon, seconded by Council Member Nollert, to adopt R-3 authorizing the Mayor to transmit comments on a proposed OWASA reimbursement policy. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  6. 10. Update Regarding Planning in the Southern Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Reissued
    Staff or committee report AnnexationHousing and affordabilityLand conversion and large developmentRoads and transportationWater and sewer
    Staff reported that sewer extension into the southern extraterritorial jurisdiction is technically feasible but financially, environmentally and topographically difficult. Missing middle housing opportunities there are limited, and viable development is likelier in concentrated higher-density areas that can carry infrastructure costs, probably near US 15-501. Council members asked about soil conditions, early greenway alignment planning, and eventual annexation timing.
    received and filed · This matter was received and filed.
  7. 11. Participate in the National Opioid Settlement with the Six Remnant Defendants
    Resolution Drugs and addictionHealth and human servicesLitigation and settlements
    Authorising the town manager to sign the participation and release form joining the national opioid settlement with six remaining distributor defendants, which brings a one-time payment for eligible abatement and prevention.
    adopted · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, to adopt R-4 authorizing the Town Manager to execute an agreement to participate in the National Opioid Settlement with the six remnant defendants. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  8. CLOSED SESSION (AS NEEDED)
    Closed session
  9. 12. General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(4) and 143-318.11(a)(6)
    Closed session Added after the meeting
    Closed session under G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4) and (a)(6), entered at 9:52 p.m.
    entered Into closed session as authorized by General Statute Section 143-318.11 · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council entered into closed session as authorized by General Statute Sections 143-318.11(a)(4) and 143-318.11(a)(6). The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  10. ADJOURNMENT
    Procedural
  11. [26-0143] 3.1 Mayor Jessica Anderson
    Discussion item
  12. [26-0144] 3.2 Council Member Nollert
    Discussion item
  13. [26-0145] 3.3 Council Member McMahon
    Discussion item
  14. OTHER ATTENDEES
    Other
  15. [26-0129] Public Hearing: Proposed Charter Amendments - Council Size and Mayoral Term
    Public hearing
    closed the public hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, to close the public hearing. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  16. [26-0134] General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(4) and 143-318.11(a)(6)
    Discussion item Added after the meeting
    A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee to adjourn the Closed Session and Council meeting. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Agenda changes

What moved between published versions of this agenda. Item numbers shift constantly as things are inserted, so only genuine additions and removals are listed.

Other recent meetings of this board