Raleigh City Council Has Full Agenda Tuesday

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Raleigh City Council had a full plate Tuesday -- with decisions ranging from soccer fields to towing to water conservation.

A Level Playing Field:

The council announced it will develop a program to make sure Raleigh residents have

equal access to the city's playing fields

.

The change comes after dozens of complaints that the

Capital Area Soccer League

had a monopoly on the fields.

Towing Ordinance Revisited:

Council members voted to direct the city attorney to come up with a towing ordinance. The new rule will require towing companies to tell police within a few hours if they tow someone's car without that person's knowledge.

It is a small victory for Mayor Charles Meeker, who wanted a

ban on overnight towing

.

In another

parking issue

, the council agreed to open bidding for the companies that oversee the city's parking lots and decks.

In the past, McLaurin Parking has been awarded the contract. The bidding process could save the city money.

Conservation Measure Watered Down:

Next on the table was a costly measure for homeowners and businesses with sprinkler systems.

The council decided those with irrigation systems will not have to install a new $1,000 meter designed to save water. The new meters will apply to new irrigation systems.

Rundown Rentals:

There was no decision on how the city should

regulate landlords

. Raleigh has been working on a proposal for nearly two years.

Homeowners have complained that rental properties in their neighborhoods are often rundown and messy. A plan in the works would fine landlords who violate city code.

The council did make more suggestions, including adding large apartment complexes to the proposal if there are persistant problems there.

They will revisit the plan in a few weeks.