The City Council decided this afternoon to put Southern Durham Development's utility extension on its Feb. 20 agenda.

City Attorney Patrick Baker informed Southern Durham attorney Cal Cunningham of the decision after a closed session with the council.

A delegation from the Occupy Durham protest arrived at City Hall while the City Council was meeting tonight. Mayor Bill Bell adjourned without giving them a hearing, but City Manager Tom Bonfield and City Attorney Patrick Baker stayed behind to meet with the group for about 20 minutes.

About 45 protesters wanted to know what city ordinance prohibited them from pitching tents at CCB Plaza, where the demonstration began on Sunday. They said they had been informed about 4 p.m. today that the city sanitation department would remove the tents if they were not taken down by 5 p.m.

By 5 p.m. the tents were gone, but demonstrator Mary Grace said police, when asked, had not cited an ordinance.

At City Hall, Baker said the city code does not specifically ban tents at CCB Plaza, but it is standing policy of the city parks department that erecting shelters there – "camping" – is not allowed without a permit.

City Councilman Mike Woodard, who stayed to watch the exchange, said afterwards that he had told protest organizers more than a week ago that they needed to apply for the permit in advance, but they had not done so.

Baker and Bonfield said the demonstrators were welcome to remain at CCB Plaza as long as they like, but not to raise tents or other structures.

They also refused to turn on the Plaza's electricity, which was cut off after demonstrators used it Sunday without authorization, despite a request from City Council candidate Victoria Peterson.

Questioned further, Baker offered to meet with Occupy Durham representatives on Tuesday after he consults with Bonfield.

Bonfield appeared to become testy as the meeting went on and questioners pressed for specifics such as the city's definition of "camping" and whether the shelter ban would be enforced in case of bad weather or in the case of homeless persons.

"You're going to do what you're going to do," Bonfield said. "We'll respond when you do it."

The group thanked Bonfield and Baker and returned to CCB Plaza, where an unsheltered "general assembly" continued the Occupy Durham demonstration.

The City Council had a talk about public art during its work session this afternoon.

Councilman Eugene Brown said he's all for it. He even used the second floor of City Hall as an example, inviting some members of Durham's cultured set to take a look around it.

"As you do that," he said, "you'll be passing my photography display."

Brown also singled out City Attorney Patrick Baker, who for the occasion had donned a necktie patterned in orange, purple and several shades of blue.

"Some of us like to display our art in different mediums," Brown said, "so I would like to thank our City Attorney for wearing his Jerry Garcia tie and showing the courage and leadership to do it."

Council meeting, schmouncil meeting, Durham City Manager Patrick Baker needed a razor STAT!

As soon as the City Council approved a $355.5 million budget last night, Baker made a bee-line for his personal restroom in City Hall to shave off his "budget beard." He re-emerged shortly thereafter smooth as a baby.

Budget season is to city managers what the playoffs are to hockey players, so Baker has adopted the NHL tradition of crunch-time facial hair.

Last night marked Baker's last budget as city manager. He'll step aside later this summer to make way for Tom Bonfield, the current manager of Pensacola, Fla.

It seemed Baker couldn't wait to make a clean shave, er, break with his fiscal swan song.

Below, before-and-after shots.