Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Stream test for May 18.

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to today's meeting. Call this meeting in order. First thing we will have is the pledge of allegiance, and then we will have the indication by Vice Chair, Sophia Jackson. So, please stand. To the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands,

Okay. Thank you. Please remain standing if you feel comfortable. Only if you feel comfortable. I invite us all to take a breath and to center ourselves for the work ahead.

As we open this meeting, let us embrace our collective ability to make a tangible impact in the lives of Wake County. Let us move beyond maintaining systems to more actively building a community where everyone, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to thrive. May we prioritize our most vulnerable neighbors, our children, the elderly, essential workers, and those seeking to call seeking a place to call home. Let our deliberations be guided by the faces unseen, the voices unheard, and the forgotten. We sit at this dais with different voices representing a rich tapestry.

May our disagreements sharpen our ideas into solutions as resilient as the people we serve, and may our collective wisdom lead to fair, forward thinking decisions rooted in justice, compassion, and unwavering integrity. May we seek the wisdom available to all of us and find the courage to act upon it for the common good. With gratitude for our shared purpose, let us begin. Thank you.

Thank you, madam Vice. Before we get started, a couple, things I wanna make sure we cover. If in fact that you'll be speaking today and you have comments that you have written and you'd like to leave a comment for us, there's a seat down for front here. Please leave it in that black box. And also, if any of you need parking violated passes, please see one of our clerks that's out in the in the lobby area.

I think that that covers concerns. Awesome. Thank you. So again, good afternoon and welcome to today's meeting. Following items have been we'll begin today's meeting with the approval of the agenda.

Move approval of the agenda. I second.

I have a motion by Commissioner Thomas to approve and second by Commissioner Evans. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. All opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the ayes have it.

Next, we will have Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation. And our board commissioner commissioner Sheryl Stalin will be presenting that proclamation. And I thank member from EMS, public health, social services, housing, and veterans, and cooperative extension behavior, all the good folks that were with us earlier be here, receiving that. Well, a lively group. And, of course, I see everyone that, got the green on, so we know we're in the right place.

I think mental health matters. What do you think? Yes?

Alright, thank you all so much, Chair and colleagues. We are going to be celebrating our Mental Health Awareness Month and proclamation. As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to take a moment not only to acknowledge the importance of mental health, but also to recognize the many people across Wake County government who quietly support the well-being of our community every single day. So thank you all for being here as we as I read this proclamation. Whereas, mental health is essential to the well-being of our community, and mental health conditions impact all of us, whether personally, within our families, or through people we care about, and whereas stigma continues to make it harder for people to talk openly, ask for help, and connect with the support they need and whereas navigating care can be confusing and costly, yet timely access to support is critical to stability and recovery.

Whereas recovery is possible, and people with mental health conditions can lead meaningful, connected lives with the right support, and when people are unable to when people are unable to access care, challenges can grow and affect health, housing stability, and involvement with the emergency and justice systems, and whereas behavioral health professionals, peer support specialists, first responders, and community based providers play a vital role in supporting individuals and families every day. And whereas meeting these needs require across health care, community organizations, public safety, and local government. And, whereas whereas Wake County is committed to helping systems work better together so people can get help and support recovery, and so residents, families, providers, and public systems each play a role in helping people thrive. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wake County Board of Commissioners hereby proclaims May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wake County and encourages all residents and organizations to learn about available resources, check-in on one another, and support people in seeking care and staying connected to it. Adopted this May 2026 by our chair, Don Miles of the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

So moved.

Thank you. We have a motion to approve the Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation. Is there a second?

Second.

We have a second by Commissioner Jackson. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, motion carries.

Thank you so much, Chair. I am going to make some brief remarks, and then our Director of Wake Behavioral Health Denise Foreman is going to close us out with some brief remarks as well. Today's recognition reflects something important. Mental health work does not happen only in clinics or hospitals. It happens in libraries, shelters, schools, detention settings, parks, housing programs, workforce programs, public health, child welfare, veterans services, food security programs, and many other places throughout our community.

The individuals joining us today represent teams across Wake County government who encounter people doing some of the most difficult moments in their lives. Families in crisis, young people struggling to connect, individuals experiencing homelessness, people returning home from incarceration, older adults facing isolation, veterans navigating challenges, and residents living with mental health or substance use needs. Some of these staff work directly in our communities every day. Others build programs, analyze data, coordinate systems, support transportation, oversee services, or create opportunities for connection and belonging behind the scenes. All of that work matters.

Mental health affects every part of community life, housing stability, physical health, public education, employment, relationships with overall quality of life. And because of that, creating a healthier community requires all of us working together across systems and disciplines. I'm especially grateful that Wake County continues to approach this work with compassion, partnership, and willingness to address complex challenges in thoughtful and practical ways. To all of the employees and teams represented here today, thank you for your work that you do, for the care you show our residents, and for helping to build a community where people have the opportunity to thrive. I think that deserves a round of applause.

Thank you all for being here, and I'll turn it over for some brief remarks by our behavioral health director.

Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to be here, commissioners, and especially thank you for the team that took time away from their daily responsibilities to be here to support the importance around mental health, mental health awareness, reducing the stigma, and treating people with kindness and compassion every day. In the behavioral health department, our little logo is together we thrive, and I think you all exemplify that in the way that you lead this community and this team and the folks that they represent. Many more folks are are are back at the office, are in EMS trucks, are back in our libraries doing the work. These faces are representing those folks today, but together, we will help all in Wake County thrive. So thank you for this opportunity.

Thank you. And next, we will have our National Small Business Week proclamation. And Alicia Puckett, organization behavior consultant, bringing that forth.

Good afternoon. I'm honored to be here today and I'll now read the proclamation. Whereas the Wake County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance and contributions of small businesses and whereas according to the US Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy's 2026 report, there are 36,200,000 small businesses across The United States that employ 62,300,000 people. And North Carolina is home to 1,100,000 small businesses that account for 99.6% of all businesses in the state. And whereas Wake County benefits from a vibrant small business sector, according to the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Wake County has more than 60,000 businesses with 50 employees or less, and 80% of establishments have 19 or fewer employees.

And whereas ownership of a business continues to be an aspiration held by many Americans and plays a vital role in ensuring workforce growth, empowering emerging talent, and increasing supply chain demand. And whereas Wake County celebrates the achievements and economic impact of small businesses and honors their contributions, jobs created, and enrichment they add to our communities. And now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wake County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim May 2026 as small business month, and we encourage the residents of our communities and the communities nationwide to support small businesses and recognize the essential role they play in strengthening our economy. Adopted this eighteenth day of May by chair Miles and the board of commissioners, so moved. Chair Miles, I'm happy to make the

motion to accept that proclamation.

Okay, we have a motion by commissioner Thomas. Is there a second?

I'll second.

And a second by commissioner Warder. All in favor please say aye.

Aye.

Any oppose, please say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries.

Thank you. And we do have a few remarks from the Office of Organizational Excellence.

Thank you.

Thank you. This afternoon we welcome several key partners from our small business community here with us today. Thank you for your continued resources, partnerships, and advocacy as we work together toward our shared commitment to empowering our entrepreneurs and small businesses. We know that small businesses, small business entrepreneurship fuels innovation, strengthens the workforce, and drives local economic growth. Wake County honors the contributions, resilience, and community impact of these businesses, and we are proud to support them.

We encourage everyone to shop locally, engage with small businesses on social media, and urge friends and families to support them as well. Thank you to the Wake County Board of Commissioners for this proclamation and for acknowledging May as small business month. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And next, we will have our National Foster Care Awareness Month Proclamation, being read by commissioner Tara Waters and being accepted by, Sheila Donelson, a member of the social service and child welfare.

Good afternoon. Thank you, Chair Mayo. I am both honored and humbled to be able to read proclamation recognizing May 2026 as National Foster Care Awareness Month. Whereas the Wake County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of National Foster Care Awareness Month, and whereas Wake County is raising awareness of the needs of children and youth in the foster care system who require temporary and sometimes permanent homes with safe, nurturing families. And whereas in 2025, the state of North Carolina had a total of 5,820 licensed foster care homes.

In contrast, in 2023, there were 5,616 licensed foster home care homes in the state. And whereas in 2025, the number of youths in foster care in the state of North Carolina totaled 11,315. In 2023, the number of youth in foster care was 10,243. And whereas in 2025, Wake County had 539 children in the foster care system ages, but only 76 foster homes were available for placement. The decrease in the number of foster care homes derived from people deciding to no longer serve as foster care parents or existing foster parents retired and no longer had the capacity to assist.

And whereas the National Foster Care Awareness Month was celebrated more than thirty five years ago when US president Ronald Reagan established it through a presidential proclamation. Since that time, the event has been celebrated each year to bring attention to the continued need that exists for those in foster care. And whereas, in addition to annual proclamations by The US president, National Foster Care Month is also supported by other organizations and entities such as the Children's Bureau, the Children's Welfare Information Gateway, and the National Foster Youth Institute. The Children's Bureau National Foster Care Month campaign recognizes the important role that people from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth, and families. This year's theme highlights the need to create a child welfare system that authentically engages and supports young people who are preparing to leave foster care.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Wake County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim May 2026 as National Foster Care Awareness Month and urges the residents of our community and communities across the country to support this important issue. Adopted this May 2026 signed by chair Don Miles, and that is my motion.

I'll send that motion.

Thank you, Commissioner Waters. So we have a motion by Commissioner Waters and second by Commissioner Stallings. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the ayes have it. Motion carries.

Well, I am really grateful for all those who are standing here with me this afternoon and appreciate the heart of service that they all share and this opportunity to list lift up our most vulnerable children. And I know this is an important issue for each of us on the commission And so I will turn it over to Sheila Donaldson, who is our social services deputy director and who is a real light in this work and a real advocate.

Thank you, commissioner Waters. Thank you, all of you commissioners. I'm inviting Diamond Wimbush, who is one of our assistant division directors in child welfare over the foster care part of our division. First before I turn it to her I wanted to thank each of you for your ongoing support as you've demonstrated through your actions continually whether it be the donations to our youth that you all have facilitated through your own spheres of influence or shining the light on the need in the annual addresses. Every day you all have hard decisions to make in different places to spread your energy for advocacy. We see you every day advocating for our youth and so we just wanted to say thank you.

So on behalf of child welfare, we want to accept this proclamation but on behalf of our incredible staff, our foster parents, kinship caregivers, community partners, and most importantly, on behalf of the young people and the families that we have an opportunity to serve every day. Many of those who are here are child welfare staff who are serving over five and thirty young people who are in Wake County foster care today. Then we, as Sheila mentioned, we also want to thank you all for your ongoing support. And so thank you for highlighting this call.

Thank you. And next, we will have our Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month proclamation being read by commissioner Tara Waters.

Thank you, chair Miles. And I, again, am honored and humbled to lift up this proclamation recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. And as I prepare to read that, we have some wonderful guests with us that I would like to join me up here.

Yes. Think Damien Gu and Bella Hung won the reception.

Okay. It's always wonderful to have so many of our neighbors here to celebrate. So I will read the proclamation. Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made profound contributions to economic growth, civic life, education, public service, health care, arts, and innovation in Wake County and across North Carolina. And whereas Wake County is home to a growing and vibrant AAPI community whose leadership, entrepreneurship, and cultural traditions enrich our shared community and strengthen our collective future, and whereas AAPI residents continue to play a vital role in fostering cross cultural understanding, advancing equity, and building inclusive communities where all people can thrive, And whereas it is important to acknowledge both the achievements of AAPI individuals and the ongoing challenges including this discrimination and barriers to opportunity and to reaffirm our commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all.

Now therefore be it proclaimed that the Wake County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes May 2026 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Wake County and encourages all residents to celebrate the many contributions of AAPI communities, learn more about their histories and cultures, and participate in activities that promote understanding, unity, and respect. Adopted this May 2026, signed by our chair Don Miles and that is my motion.

Thank you Commissioner Waters. Have a motion by Commissioner Waters. Is there a second? I'll second. Okay. We have a second by Commissioner Evans. All in favor please say aye. Aye. All opposed please say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries. The ayes have it.

Well, as you can see, we have wonderful representation across communities. And so I'm gonna call over mister Damian Gu to give some remarks. And we also have Carrie Town Councilor Bella Huang who will also give some remarks.

Thank you.

Hi everyone. My name is Damian Gu and this is the third Monday in the row I've come to speak in front of the board. I serve as the third vice chair of the AA and HPI caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party. I'd like to begin by thanking chair Don Miles, vice chair Sofia Jackson, and commissioner Terrell Waters for requesting an Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Proclamation following my public comments advocating for its recognition. This truly shows how even one single community member can make a difference.

I'd also like to thank all the commissioners and county staff for putting this proclamation together in an expedient manner and for all the work you all do. AAPI Heritage Month holds deep personal significance for me as a member of the AAN HPI community. I am joined by my fellow board member, Sourip Patel. We are honored to accept this proclamation on behalf of the AAN HPI Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Our caucus was founded by Doctor.

Gracie Galloway and has served as an important avenue for members of the AANHPI community to engage in the political and governmental process as we continue working towards meaningful representation and a seat at the decision making table. This month is not only a celebration of the countless contributions AAPI administrators have made to our communities, state and nation but also reminder of the importance of ensuring that every community is seen, heard and included in the civic process. Representation matters and proclamations such as this sends a powerful message that the experiences, cultures and voices of AAPI residents are valued. So again, on behalf of the AANHPI caucus and the broader AAPI community, thank you for recognizing AAPI Heritage Month and thank you for helping affirm the importance of inclusion, representation and public service for all.

Thank you.

Good afternoon everyone and East Dean Wake County Commissioners and everyone present here. I'm very honored to be here and recognizing AANHPI Heritage Month. And, I would love to recognize our community organizations here with the first and long long time on civic engagement, NCAT, North Carolina Asian American Together, a representative over here, and the AAPI unity collective represent over here. And, so many Indian American communities here, and Chinese American communities here, and also Japanese American communities here, more. And, I would love to introduce Shruti from NCAD to give us something to say.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you to the Wake County Board of Commissioners for hosting us today and for recognizing Asian American and Pacific Highlander Islander Heritage Month also known as APAM with this proclamation. My name is Shruti Parikh and I serve as the Director of Education and Political Education for North Carolina Asian Americans Together and our sister organization NCAT in Action. APAM is of course a time to celebrate the cultures, histories and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Highlander communities. But it's also a reminder that our communities are continuing to grow, organize and help shape the futures of places like Wake County. This county is more than is now more than 8% Asian American with over 100,000 AAPI residents, the largest Asian American population of any county in North Carolina and it's still growing.

In Western Wake, one in five residents is Asian American. Since the 2020 census alone, Wake County's Asian American population has grown by nearly 4% and the Raleigh Metro Area is now one of the fastest growing AAPI communities anywhere in the South. Proclamations like the one here today carry real significance because representation and recognition send a message that our communities are valuable and that we should be woven into the story of this county. This year also marks NCATS tenth anniversary. Ten years of knocking on doors, supporting naturalization, registering voters and conducting multilingual outreach in more than 22 Asian languages through trusted messengers rooted in those communities.

If the first ten years of NCAT were about building movement, the next ten years will be about ensuring our communities are fully seen, fully engaged, and impossible to ignore. And that work is only possible when local leaders like yourselves choose to recognize, invest in, and stand alongside growing communities. So this proclamation carries weight. This gathering reflects commitment. And because democracy is built county by county, neighborhood by neighborhood, commissioner by commissioner through the everyday decisions that make people feel seen, welcomed and connected to something larger than themselves.

We thank you again the Wake County Board of Commissioners for recognizing APAM and for recognizing and helping create the kind of Wake County that we all want to be a part of.

Thank you.

Thank you.

No. No, ma'am. I'm sorry. You're out of order, ma'am. Thank you. Next, we are moving on to a retired recognition, accounting manager David Ellis.

Good afternoon members of the board. We have six retirees we'd like to recognize today. The first person we'd like to recognize is Carolyn Cunningham. She began her career with Wake County in 2000 and she served more than twenty five years in the public health department. She's taken on jobs such as a case manager, health technician in maternal and child health. She's counseled clients, scheduled surgeries, entered healthy birth deliveries, and supported the car seat program. She's known for helping families access the services they needed. So let's give Carolyn a round of applause. Up next we have Robert Taylor, not Doctor. Robert Taylor, our school superintendent, but Robert Taylor.

He began his career in 1998 as a child therapist in school based mental health. Throughout his career he's worked with family services as a social worker and parent educator. In his latest role, he's provided parent education to parents and caregivers. He finally remembers the opportunity to work closely with families throughout his career. Let's give him a round of applause.

Up next, have Bradley Hecox with the Wake County Sheriff's Office. He began his career in 1999. While with the county, he worked as a deputy sheriff, first class deputy, master deputy investigator, sergeant, and lieutenant. He spent time with courthouse operations, patrol division, CID property crimes, CID fraud, and the administration division. He's proud of the work he's proud he's very proud of being able to say that he was able to start and finish his career as a deputy with the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

Throughout his career, he's garnered the following awards and certificates, CIT officer, domestic violence officer, and radar certification. Let's give Bradley a round of applause. Up next we have Michelle Ricci. Ricci, excuse me. She began her career with Wake County in 1998 as a public health educator.

Even though the name of her department has changed over the years, her dedication has never wavered. As a public health educator, she promoted understanding, advocacy, policies, and activities that strengthen community health. She also planned and implemented the education program materials and resources focused on communicable disease prevention. She is honored with several awards during her career to include the Garland Jones Excellence in Public Health Award in 2008 and customer service star of the quarter in January 2019. When she looks back on her thirty seven years of public service, she is proud of many work products she is blessed to have been a part of and contributed to.

These include being the first health educator under an infant mortality reduction grant to begin with the health department childbirth classes in 1989, serving as the first ASIST American Stop Smoking Intervention Study project coordinator. She aspired to leave work products that will continue to benefit her department and the community. Let's give Michelle a round of applause. Up next we have Sheryl Underwood and not Sheryl Underwood the comedian, Sheryl Underwood who worked for Wake County. She began her career in 1987 in community services.

For thirty eight years she's had the honor of serving our libraries with dedication, pride, and with a full heart. One of the greatest joys of her career was that she was privileged to help open three libraries, Holly Springs Community Library, Northeast Regional Library, and Cary Regional Library. Her Wake County journey has been filled with growth, service, and meaningful connections with library patrons. Their curiosity, kindness, and stories inspired her every day and gave her deep purpose. Let's give Cheryl a round of applause.

Up next, have Duane Werle. He began his career in 1996 with the sheriff's office, and so after taking basic law enforcement training, he worked at North Carolina State University and William Peace College before moving to the sheriff's office. While with the county, he worked as a detention officer and sergeant. His duties included supervising detention officers, conducting lineup before shift starts, and maintaining the safety and security of the building. Dwayne recalls his greatest accomplishment as receiving master officer and sergeant along with North Carolina Justice Department Award certificate for years of service. Let's give him a round of applause. And that's all we have today. Thank you for your time.

Yeah. Thank you, manager Ellis. And now we will move on to the consent agenda. As a reminder, all items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and may be enacted by one motion. If a commissioner requests discussion on item, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. At this time, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

I move approval.

We have a motion to approve by Commissioner Stallings. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Commissioner Waters. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries and consent agenda is approved.

And now, we will move on to our general public comments. At all regular meetings, the board of commission allocates time to hear from residents on any topic other than the recommended budget. Attendees who signed up to speak specifically on the recommended budget will have their opportunity doing the next agenda item. Attendees had an opportunity to sign up using our online sign up app, and we've also provided an opportunity to sign up here in person. I have the list of people who signed up.

When I call your name, please come to the podium, give us your name, and if you would, share what part of Wake County you resigned in. You will have up to three minutes to speak. And when you have one minute left, the yellow light will come on. And when your time has elapsed, the red light will come on. If you're still speaking at the end of your time, I'll ask you to complete your sentence. In the interest of fairness to everyone, I'm going to be consistent about that. Please note that commissions will not respond to comments shared today. This comment period is time for us to hear from you. And I'll begin with the list that we have. The first one on the list is miss Mary Thompson.

Damian Bell? Yeah, David. I'm sorry. Okay. Jessica Kisheimer?

Okay. Chanel Wright?

Chanel Wright. And I'm on the budget as well.

Okay. Mister Gary Pennington.

I was just reminiscing back there. It's been thirty years since I left this board and it was one of the highlights of my life. But this situation with WakeMed merger really concerns me. Both my kids were born at WakeMed and about ten years ago I came down with MRSA encephalitis and meningitis, and just about died. In fact, they told my wife I was going to die.

By the grace of God and WakeMed, here I am. So this concerns me. What concerns me so much is they've hidden all of it. I mean, no one knows anything about it. I talked to my I've talked to I was on WakeMed board also and talked to numerous board members and none of them knew anything about this.

Now why would you hide something like that? I don't know. A guy that was in my wedding, used to be a Mecklenburg County Commissioner, told me that word was out around Charlotte that Don Ginsig, the President of WakeMed, had been promised a bonus of about $1,000,000 plus if he got it done. This really concerns me. So I don't really have anything else to say, but I hope you will think about it seriously.

Because why do we need I mean, Rex Hospital and Duke here in Raleigh combined are not as big as hospital, 10,000 employees. So I just don't think we need another huge hospital, and I think it will be very bureaucratic if we do. That's about all I've got to say. Thank you.

Public hearing. And now we will move on to public hearing on the budget for fiscal year twenty twenty seven. And first name that we'll go back to the top, miss Mary Thompson. I remember you have about three minutes, so keep your eye on the lights there.

Okay. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Mary Thompson, I live in Raleigh. I serve as on the executive board of the NAACP Raleigh Apex branch. We want to congratulate the Wake County Board of Elections for receiving a 2025 US Election Assistant Commission Clery Award for innovation, transparency, and voter education.

This national recognition reflects the outstanding work being done here in Wake County and should be celebrated. The board the award recognizes efforts such as voter education, media transparency, and public trust initiatives. Wake County has demonstrated that secure elections and transparent elections go hand in hand. But we all know that the twenty twenty six election cycle will place an even greater demand on our election system. The NAACP Raleigh Apex branch is concerned not about the professionalism or integrity of the Wake County election staff.

Our concern is whether we will have the resources necessary to meet the increasing demands from higher voter participation, same day registration needs, expanded public scrutiny, and a growing pressure on our election workers. We are asking the board to continue investing in this infrastructure that allows Wake County elections to remain secure, accessible, and trusted. That means maintaining and expanding voter locations, days, and hours, providing sufficient staff for the same day registration, and voter assistant help desk, supporting recruiting, training, and retaining our election workers, ensuring voters receive timely election information, and maintain safe voting environments that are free from intimidation and disruption. Wake County has become a national model for election administration. We encourage this board to provide the funding and operational support necessary to ensure that Wake County continues leading the way in transparency, accessibility, and public trust.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Mister David Bell.

My name's David Bell, and I live in Southeast Raleigh. I the program I'm here to support is for y'all to consider funding Nourish Rx, which provides people that are underserved with food resources to get fresh produce. I was lucky enough to get signed up. I spent fifteen months unable to work while I was filing disability. So I've delved deeply into the food bank system and everything.

And two things you can't get is meat and fresh produce you know, going to two different food banks. And Nourish Rx delivers a box of fresh produce directly from farmers and helps you maintain your health. You know, you can't live on canned produce because all it is is salt and mush. Anyway, thank you for consideration.

Thank you. Next is miss Jessica Kitsheimer.

My name is Jessica Kitzhauber and thank you for pronouncing it right. I am currently a resident at the Women's Center named after Ms. Helen Wright. I think some of you have visited our place and I wish to invite the few of you that have not made it to please come and see us and see what we are about. They have wonderful women in there who are fighting to stay out of trouble, out of freezing to death, out of being attacked and not being able to fight out because they're outnumbered.

I've been down that path myself. It's not a pretty one. Did you know that now women are the largest homeless group in America? I don't think Gloria Steinem had that as one of her goals for women's liberation but we have done it nevertheless whether it has been forced on it or we choose to do it. I asked a straw poll of the ladies who live there, what would you worry about most if our budget was cut? This place might shut down. We'd have nowhere to go. The services received are now stretched far too thin. We might lose all of them. I would worry about losing my bed.

I want a safe place to sleep, about having enough to eat, having a place to stay. I'd worry about food, losing the computer connection. I do looking for apartments and job hunting on the computer. Losing my living area, a case manager would have to leave what would I do if it was mine? Having a place to sleep.

We all want the same things. We all wanna be warm at night. We all want food to eat, all the necessities of life. You've listened with your ears when you discuss our budget. Please vote what your heart tells you to do. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, Ms. Chantel Wright.

Hi. My name is Chantelle Wright. I live in Raleigh. Okay. So I'm not good with public speaking, so I'm just gonna speak from the heart.

So the reason why I went to Helen Wright was my I had a little situation with my roommate, and I had to get kicked out the house, basically. So without miss Kitty, I, like, saved her number, always had it, had it for, five years, still have it. Without miss Kitty, I would not have a bed, a warm meal, all the things she said, really. And I don't understand why the funding will be cut because people really need it. I think about the fellow man, the women that I met in that place were some good there were some good women in there, still communicate with them.

And they are worried about the bed and where to get their next meal, the hot meal. I know I had two jobs at the time when I was at Hella Wright, and I saved all my money. They got me housing, a good a nice little housing too. It was very nice. And it's I will say on the cheap side, but still it's something. They got me fund housing. They helped me try to get back into school at Shaw University. And what else? Yeah. They they were just very helpful.

And I don't think I would have made it without them. I have no family here, so I would have been all alone. I would have been one of ones whose story was just adrift. I would have been sleeping on a park bench. So I'm just grateful and thankful that they were there to help me, especially miss Kitty, miss P. They were lovely ladies. So I would say it would not be the smartest idea to cut funding because where would those people go? You'll have the park benches and the bus stops like they you know? It's just not it's just not right. So I would just say think about your fellow woman, man, and just try to look out for the people that can't look out for themselves, really.

But without them, I would've just been in the wind. I would've been another one. So, yeah, that's all I gotta say. Have a good day.

Thank you. Next, mister Kendall Kirk. I'm sorry, assuming that was mailed.

No, no worries at all. Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Kendall Kirk. I'm a native Durhamite and a current Triangle area resident. And I'm here today on behalf of NourishedRx and our many community partners to thank you all for your support and investment to date in the Nourishing Wake program, an investment in our local farmland, the growers that steward that, and in the health and vitality of Wake County residents.

Residents. Nourishing Wake launched in spring twenty twenty five as a direct outcome of the county's 2023 food security plan and in alignment with your county strategic plan and its pillar of community health and well-being. Today, Nourishing Wake is demonstrating what is possible when health care, agriculture, and community organizations successfully collaborate to improve the well-being of Wake County residents. Through this multi stakeholder effort, over 1,000 households or about 2,500 residents have received high quality, locally sourced food delivered directly to their homes. And this has resulted in a 54% decrease in food insecurity and a 70% decrease in nutrition insecurity amongst participants.

They are reporting reduced financial stress, improved mental and physical well-being, and as one participant stated, this gives me energy to do good things for my community. These kinds of outcomes matter for the county's budget. When Wake County residents have stable access to healthy food, they are better able to manage chronic conditions, maintain employment, and avoid costly emergency care. As an upstream program in one of the fastest growing counties here in the state, Nourishing Wake is helping to reduce pressures on county services like behavioral health, social services, public health, human services agency. At its heart, Wake County has also built something truly unique.

Nourished Rx regularly hears from providers and patients about how to enroll in the Nourishing Wake program and even from local governments across North Carolina and even from around the country interested in replicating this model in their own communities. This is not emergency food assistance. It's a new model of supporting the community by the community. So many partners here have done the foundational work of building this infrastructure with their time, their trust, their collaboration, and it's working, and we're just getting started. We're so grateful for the county's willingness to pilot such an innovative model.

And while we know this is a period of constrained funding, we believe that continued funding in Nourishing Wake is an investment in our community that will pay dividends. Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to the health and resilience of Wake County.

Thank you. And miss Kirk, and if you would like to leave your statement in the box there, that'd great. Yeah. Right down the the seat right there. Next is Athan. And I'm not going to even try to pronounce your last name. So give me an English lesson right quick. How do pronounce it?

Good afternoon commissioners and distinguished guests. My name is Ethan Barcookis. I'm the executive director of Farmer Food Share. We are a Triangle based non profit food hub on a mission to increase access to fresh local food for all and to support North Carolina farmers. Farmer Food Share has been a partner of Nourishing Wake's Food as Medicine program since its inception.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide fresh, nutritious, locally grown food to families of all ages, races and income levels across Wake County. We know that federal and state changes have shifted financial burdens onto Wake County and we recognize the county's budget is incredibly tight. But the wallets of our most vulnerable populations across Wake County are even tighter especially those strapped by ongoing medical expenses. At a time when diet related diseases are widespread and families face persistent financial strain, Wake County's Food as Medicine program presents a rare opportunity to address both challenges together. In the past year, we have delivered produce boxes providing an equivalent of 180,221 meals to Wake County residents.

Not only is this larger amount of food, but it is also nutrient rich thereby addressing nutrition insecurity, not just food insecurity. Whether it be the American Heart Association, the Rockefeller Foundation and locally Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina, the data on food as medicine programs consistently shows both the health and economic benefits to participants and the community. In fact, a similar food is medicine program that we've been involved with Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina published results in April from a twelve month program showing fewer emergency room visits for those 65 and medical cost savings of $227 per month per family of Medicare patients. Food as medicine outcomes in Wake County could help stretch the $8,000,000 public safety investment and your current recommended FY twenty seven budget. Likewise, the program stimulates jobs and keeps dollars circulating within the county.

Farmer Food Share purchased more than $50,000 from six small farmers in the county and paid more than 1,000 drivers for last mile food deliveries. To conclude, understanding the value of this program can be best described by two program participants. I want to tell you how greatly I appreciate this program. The fact that programs like this exist reaffirms for me that humanity is still kind and compassionate, unquote. And, thank you for all you do.

It is a blessing to be able to have fresh fruit and vegetables that are good for my heart and health, especially considering the high cost of everything these days. We thank you for considering ongoing funding to support a program that reduces costs for Wake County and its residents.

Go ahead and finish

your While investing in their health and well-being. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Veronica Barisic.

Good afternoon. I am Veronica Barcivic, and I reside in Wendell. I am here representing Ministries of Wake County as a board member. And I am grateful this afternoon to be able to make some connections from the invocation to the Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation. I'd like to share with you some results, of Urban Ministries of Wake County.

You heard from miss Jessica and miss Chantal, and I'd like to focus on some outcomes. The Helen Wright Center is not simply an overnight shelter. With dedicated staff and programs, it is a housing stabilization program producing measurable results. Between January and August of last year, 66 women moved from the shelter into permanent housing. That matters because it demonstrates movement through the system, not long term dependency, but successful transition into stable housing.

The shelter serves approximately 74 women at a time, and demand continues to rise. During overflow periods, even more women seek assistance. At the same time, women entering the shelter today are increasingly diverse in age and background. Many were employed or stably housed not long ago. Rising housing costs and financial instability are pushing more people into crisis faster than before.

The funding request before you supports the operational backbone that makes these outcomes possible. Twenty four hour staffing, facility operations, meals, case management, and coordinated support services. These are not expansion costs. These are sustaining costs. The county already has a functioning model in place with urban ministries that is helping women move from homelessness into housing. Our request is simply to maintain the funding necessary for that work to continue, and thank you for your consideration.

Thank you. That concludes the regular portion of today's agenda. Now, we'll move on to other business. Commissioner, would anyone like to share an update from the advisory or regional board that you are appointed to? Commissioner Waters?

Thank you, Chair Miles. I just wanted to provide an update that the Wake County Housing Authority regularly scheduled meeting has been moved and will occur on Wednesday, May 20 at twelve noon.

Anyone else? Commissioner Thomas.

Thank you, Chair Mayo. As the liaison to OSAPAC, I just wanted to mention some of the things that are happening in community around open space parks. One is the we had a youth event last week or this past Sunday support supporting Save the Soil. It happened in Cary and it's a youth event about open space and conservation and we were invited to participate and walk with some of our young people in community who are concerned about environmental impacts. And so, just wanted to give a shout out to Save the Soil and those young people who are doing great work in Cary.

The other thing is that in Wake Forest three things. One is Six Sundays in Spring is underway and very very well attended. So Six Sundays in Spring is both a cultural arts opportunity but also an opportunity to show off Joyner Park and the growth that's happening in that area, that part of the county, but also that part of Wake Forest. Joyner Park is a few years ago, maybe I think eight now, opened a community center there but they also have an amphitheater that's recently gotten the cover and they do concerts there every Sunday for six Sundays in a row in spring and invite local artists to perform there and the community comes out in droves. So it was great to attend that.

Also, Wake Forest opened Miller Park. They had a grand opening of a new park there, and also a new greenway extension. So the greenways going from Raleigh into Wake Forest are being expanded and so there's a greenway expansion there. A couple of other things, one the Governor's Leadership Council on Artificial Intelligence has met recently, the recommendations are being finalized and should be out within the next thirty days or so, so I know there are so many people looking forward to that information from the Governor's Leadership Council, and so just wanting you to know that those recommendations are being finalized. All of the subcommittees have met, and we gathered last week to have conversations about what the recommendations should be and look like.

And then the last thing I would say for regional boards is the NCACC board had their board of directors meeting in Cherokee, North Carolina last week on Thursday, well Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and I just wanted to mention that they talked a lot about the NCACC, I mean about the North Carolina General Assembly's budget, talked a lot about the property tax, the levy limits that have been folded into the budget, the constitutional amendment, and I really wanted to take a moment to thank Marcus Kinraide for all of his help and his work on helping the NCACC gather data and come up with sound solutions to advocate on our behalf. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Anyone else? Yeah, Commissioner Stalins?

Just to add to

what Commissioner Thomas said, I was at the Executive Board Meeting as well and one thing that we as a board association continues to advocate for is tax relief for our seniors and people with disabilities and veterans and that really is the circuit breaker programs and the homestead programs and we continue to advocate that the journalists only focus on that as they continue to mull over various solutions to supporting people who need tax relief, particularly property tax relief.

Okay, thank you. Next, does anyone have any other brief reports they would like to share at this time? Commissioner Admison?

Yes. I wanted to mention I attended the Hope Center fundraiser, which is always a very inspirational event. They work with foster youth who have aged out of the system, and they always have some alum come back and speak about what their lives are today and how the Hope Center changed that. It was really good to hear. And the Devil Dogs, which is the new team in Zebulon, opens on Friday night.

And I looked before I came up here, and there was some tickets left. And they're $22 and that includes a buffet and all the non alcoholic beverage you can drink. And on Thursday evening, they are doing a community event at the stadium, but you do need a ticket for crowd control purposes so you can go to their website and get some free tickets if you want to come out for that.

Thank you. Commissioner Thomas.

Thank you. I just wanted to mention about foster care. Thank you all so much for the foster care proclamation today and I wanted to acknowledge we've had several members of the Divine Nine come and talk about their community service and receive proclamations from us over the past few months, but the Divine Nine has also stepped up with Sheila Donaldson and is doing great work around foster care services and helping to recruit parents, recruit foster care families, and also recruit respite families, which is really important and hadn't really had a focus on that before. Just wanted to acknowledge that and say thank you to the Divine Nine organizations and also to our foster care team for thinking about partnering with those organizations to spread the word about the needs that we have in our foster care system. Thank you.

Commissioner Waters.

Thank you. Lots of great things in our community and was really glad to attend the Wake County Smart Start community block party with our resident child care and early childhood expert Vice Chair Jackson. It was a complete takeover of Roberts Park with amazing resources for all of our youngest neighbors and I want to really highlight how often I see our public library represented. They always have a table there and I'm glad to see leadership from our libraries here and so really appreciate how much literacy played a role in that event. And also, really enjoyed Artsplosure downtown probably this weekend.

Amazing artists, all kinds of creative minds in our community and glad that they were here with us and wanted to lift up the Ligon Legacy Committee which is a very special project to many of us. Have a Ligon alum as our chair and that is a really important project and there has been such intention around making sure that this project represents the many generations that are connected to legacy both past, present, and future. And then also as a point of personal privilege, I just wanted to reaffirm the importance of lifting up Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As a member of the black community, we are in a state and time where our contributions of many people are often questioned in the spaces that we're in. And so it was really an honor to be able to lift that up and just want to reinforce how unique our community is and how valuable each person's contribution is to our overall fabric.

Thank you, Commissioner Waters. Commissioner Jackson?

Yes. Just want to double underscore, it's such an honor to be a part of the Smart Start family and to be able to experience the block party. I mean, from every corner of the park, it I I left feeling like no one should be birthing or have a very young child and feel alone because we are honored to be in Wake County and to have all of the services both of Wake County and beyond our nonprofit partners there, right there for families, giving out 22,000 diapers. It was just amazing. Thank you for being there and it's just a wonderful experience.

My other update that I would like to share is a little bit back on the regional advisory boards. I want to acknowledge Passage Home received the 2026 Raleigh fair housing service provider award. So again, you all know that as as board member, I've been bringing the recovery of passage home to this board and sharing, and it's just exciting to be able to see them being recognized amongst our community partners. If you know folks at Passage Home or if you haven't met the new ED, reach out and please acknowledge their contribution to our community as a fair housing provider. Thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Adamson and then Commissioner Stallis.

More That I forgot. Being a foster parent is very important. But if you want to help our youth out and you don't want the responsibility of being a foster parent, we have a program in Wake County that's called Host. And basically all you need is an extra bedroom and a college student who's in a housing crisis or doesn't have a place to go for the summer, you basically host them in that room, you don't have to do anything, they're self sufficient. So I have a young gentleman in my spare bedroom for the summer and the first week has been really good because apparently he likes to clean.

So he starts a job next week in two classes and my house is the cleanest it's been in a really long time. So who knew that's what I needed but But there's a lot of need for he can't go home for the summer. And he's a Shaw student, and they don't offer summer housing. So he needed a place to stay. So thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Stalin?

Hard to top that. So a little more on Mental Health Awareness Month. The town of Apex invited me to help receive a proclamation at their town council meeting on May 12 for Mental Health Awareness Month. I shared last meeting I'm helping to work on a mental health task force in Apex that's newly formed and we'll be working we will be working on this task force for the next one to two years. And in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we will be having an event on May 29 at the Senior Center in Apex from six to eight p.

M. And NAMI Wake County will be our primary speaker and we'll have people with lived experience there to share their experiences with mental health challenges and how they have worked through them. And we have had over 30 providers in the area who want to table at that event, so again that's a real shout out to our mental health providers who want to be a part of this work to help our community understand mental health needs and challenges and the resources that we do have to help one another. And on May 14, I was invited by the Davis Drive Elementary PTA to be a part of Picnic with Policymakers, the Picnic with Policymakers. So myself and a Cary Town Council Member and our school board chair were there, and it was fun to meet with parents and children and just discuss various local government issues, the challenges we face, but also things that people can do to support the work ahead.

So thank you. Oh, and also I think the Justice Center is gonna be lit up in green for the second half of May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. So look out for that as well. Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr. Askew, is there a need for a closed session today? Yes, Mr. Chair. The closed session motion is called for the following purposes.

One, to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public body, include an agreement on a tentative list of economic development incentives that may be offered by the public body in negotiations pursuant to GS 140 three-318.11A4 and to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness or conditions of employment of a public officer or employee pursuant to GS 140 three-318.11A6 and to prevent the disclosure of information that is privileged or confidential pursuant to the law of this state pursuant to NCGS 131 E-97.3 or not considered a public record within the meaning of chapter 132 of the general statutes pursuant. All of these are pursuant to NCGS 143 dash three eighteen point one one a one.

Mr. Chairman, I'm happy to make the motion for closed session as referenced by the county attorney.

Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Thomas. Is there a second? I'll second. We have a second by Commissioner Evans. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. All opposed, please say no. Ayes have it. We are now officially back out of closed session. And we have nothing to report. Again, you everyone for being here today. That concludes our agenda for today. Our next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 1 at 5PM. Do I have a motion to adjourn?

Motion to adjourn.

Is there a second?

Second.

All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. Ayes have it. Meeting officially adjourned.