Some of the goals that Meeker has unveiled include improving the public transportation system, building a new public safety building in the downtown area, changing the Dorothea Dix state-owned property to a public park, promoting the conservation of water and continuing with the capital projects that have already been budgeted. These include traffic light synchronization on Capital Boulevard and other areas, completion of multiple road projects and making numerous greenway and park improvements.

Not only does Meeker want to continue with these projects in order to help Raleigh continue to grow, he also wants to continue with the projects so the area’s residents can enjoy the employment opportunities that these projects bring with them. “It’s the right thing to do in a recession,” Meeker is quoted as saying in the News Observer article. “That would employ hundreds of people.”

Although unemployment in the Raleigh area still remains lower than the national average – with the national average being 10.4% and Raleigh-Cary area’s rate being 8.6% – unemployment rates have increased in the area when compared to the previous month.

Whether or not Meeker will be able to attain his goals for Raleigh, however, will be dependent upon the support he receives from the council. Unlike previous years, where Meeker had a majority to work with, his council for the next two years will be a bit more moderate as Philip Isley’s seat was filled by the politically unaffiliated Bonner Gaylord. Meeker has also lost the support of Rodger Koopman, who was defeated by the conservative former councilman John Odom. Odom has already expressed a concern regarding Raleigh’s budget, saying that he plans to make certain the city’s funds are spent wisely.

“There are a lot of wants that are going to pop up early,” Odom said in the News Observer article. “I hope we’ll be frugal.”

Council members who will be returning for the next two years include James West, Thoms Crowder, Mary-Ann Baldwin, Russ Stephenson and Nancy McFarlane.

“Some of the top issues are going to be water and supply and quality,” said McFarlane in the article. “Growth is always an issue and in difficult economic times we want to make the city grow.”