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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 20011113APPROVED 2/5/2002 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION November 13, 2001 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a work session at 7:30 p.m. on November 13, 2001 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Stephen H. Halkiotis and Commissioners Margaret W. Brawn, Moses Carey, Jr., (arrived at 8:00) Alice M. Gordan and Barry Jacobs COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod Visser and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below} NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. 1. Confirmation of Allowed Uses at Little River Regional Park Rich Shaw ,Land Conservation Manager, said that this item is a followup to confirm the actions taken by the County Commissioners on October 22 with regard to appropriate uses for the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area. On October 22, the County Commissioners decided on what should be and should not be allowed in the park. This agenda document has the draft action plan with regards to the future development of this parkland. He painted out that he has received 20 to 25 calls from citizens who have interest in this issue. The vast number of comments was in support of horseback riding in the park. Commissioner Jacobs said that he wanted to be sure that the people in the audience understood what was in item #4a of the draft actions as stated below: Ask that Durham Gounty BOCC be apprised that a} Orange Gounty BOCC has serious reservations about constructing facilities for horseback riding {but agrees that horseback riding on a designated trail is an allowable use). Rich Shaw said that on October 22 the Orange County Board of Commissioners agreed to discuss with Durham County the issues of group camping and individual camping, conditioned on there being an on-site caretaker. Commissioner Brown said that she wants to be sure that everyone understands what was discussed on October 22. She said that it seems like the feeling is that the Board of County Commissioners have prohibited horseback riding and that is not the case. Commissioner Gordan said that the critical thing to note is that we have talked about two different issues, namely, the cost of construction of the facilities and the use of the facilities. Chair Halkiotis suggested that we consider a refinement of how we go about approving how we are going to use this property and work together. What happened was that staff brought to the County Commissioners what had been approved in Durham. He suggested that the staffs of both counties meet and decide on items before bringing it to the two governing boards for their input. Bob Phillips said that he represents the Little River Land Company and represents the horse people. The Little River Land Company purchased the 170 acres adjacent to the land purchased by the County for Little River Park. A lot of the people in this room have been riding the trails for 15-20 years. As a representative of the Little River Land Company, they have allowed people to ride on this land which has on it some old logging trails. They are not asking the County Commissioners to go in and build trails or construct an area to park trailers. There are already some trails in this park which join the trails an the 170 acres. The horse people said that they will help keep the trails clear and keep the hunters out. We want to work together with the community and do things that benefit all of us. The people who ride these trails were afraid that this privilege would be taken away with the development of the park. He agrees that there should be setaside areas for horseback riding. He does not agree with having horses on the same trails as for people or bikers. Everyone feels that there should be certain areas set aside (which would be very little of the park) for horse riders. They want to keep it natural and not developed. They want people to enjoy it. Bab Phillips showed on the map the location of the trails and how they cross over into the park. He said that the neighborhood is concerned about allowing camping out there except far Boy Scouts and select groups. There would be a danger of fire with campers. He emphasized that horseback riding should be separate from the rest. He told the County Commissioners that they will not have to spend a lot of money far horseback riding. As for the trailers a lot of the people will ride into the trails. Only a few would use trailers. Commissioner Brown asked Mr. Phillips if #4 is what the horse riders want and he said yes they want horseback riding in designated areas. Chair Halkiotis asked if Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Jacobs would work with Rich Shaw and a couple Commissioners and staff from Durham and finalize the plan for the park. Jahn Link asked that the trails be placed on the map so that everyone knows where they are located. This will help the planning process. Mr. Phillips said that there are three miles of trails already on the 170 acres and the horse community is willing to help maintain these trails. Commissioner Jacobs asked that issues be discussed and decided by the group instead of coming back to the Board and Chair Halkiotis agreed. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon John Link said that he will summarize the previous discussions with the Durham County group. Commissioner Brown asked if we could have a statement of why the land was purchased and the funding so that the record can reflect that this land is to be protected for the Little River tributary. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the Interlocal agreement and asked that it include how the park is going to be funded and outline the ongoing costs. 2. Communitv Develoament Project for Roaers Road Waterline Connections Rod Visser said that the County Commissioners, at their work session on October 1, 2001, reviewed recommendations received from the Solid Waste Advisory Board regarding haw to finance the connections to the waterline for the Rogers Road area. The project is moving along really well and construction of the water main is expected to be completed by January 2002. Phase I of the grant program is based an the revised cast projections of $195,000 and the assumption that eighty-percent of the residents will meet eligibility requirements. Staff estimates the cost of Phase I to be approximately $156,000. The County's Housing and Community Development Office would administer the grant program. An appropriation of the County's fund balance (in the current fiscal year} would finance this initial phase and people would have until December 31, 2004 to apply for these funds. Phase II would be the loan program. The potential up-front cast of the loan program would be approximately $39,000. This calculation is based on the assumption that twenty percent of the residents (18 residents} will meet eligibility requirements for the loan program and that all eligible participants apply for loans at the same time. The County's Economic Development Department would administer the loan program. An appropriation will be incorporated in the County's 2002-2003 fiscal year budget to finance this phase. Geoffrey Gledhill said that he recommends that this program be available for a specified period of time and that anyone who applies during that period of time and has made an application to OWASA for service whether or not the property is occupied be approved. Commissioner Brown said that there are pieces of property in this area that did not perk that could now get assistance for lots which are developable. However, she feels that they would not be eligible for a grant. In answer to a question from Commissioner Brown about a health issue that may not be addressed because the landlord does not qualify for the grantor loan and refuses to fix the problem without an increase in the rent, Jahn Link said that he will try to work something into the agreement to address this kind of situation. Geoffrey Gledhill said that they will use some sort of rent control or requirement that the property will stay affordable. Rod Visser said that the loan program would be available to anyone who does not meet the grant program criteria. Jahn Link said that they will rework the assistance policy for the Rogers Road waterline connection program and bring back for Board approval. Commissioner Gordon asked that there be a definition of low-income landlord. She made reference to the high end $63,300 and said that this is not low income. She asked what the cost would be of administering the loan program in terms of staff time and John Link will bring back that information. . Commissioner Brawn made reference to the three-year grant program and asked if Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes would be handling this program and John Link said that she would be handling the program far its 3-year duration. Commissioner Jacobs clarified that the rise in the tipping fee will pay for this waterline. He asked why parcels 30 and 115-119 were deleted. County Engineer Paul Thames said that Parcel 30 was on Eubanks Road and not part of the Rogers Road neighborhood and the line would have had to go crosscrauntry to serve this parcel. Parcel 115 is unoccupied. Parcels 116, 117, 118 and 119 were part of another neighborhood. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there is a time limit for the loan program and was told that it would be for athree-year period. This will be clarified in the agreement. Commissioner Jacobs asked several clarifying questions and made several suggestions for verbiage to be added into the agreement which will be incorporated. Geoffrey Gledhill suggested that maybe the County Commissioners would want to use the loan fund for housing which will remain affordable. 3. Report of The Ferguson Group -Potential Projects for Federal Funding Leslie Mozingo, a partner with The Ferguson Group, LLC said that they have offices in Washington, DC, North Carolina and California. It was founded in 1982 and is the largest lobbying firm in DC focusing on municipalities. She said that she believes that there are a lot of opportunities for Government that could bring money into the County. She gave a presentation which is hereby incorporated by reference. They specialize in obtaining money for transportation, public infrastructure, economic development, health and human services, housing, criminal justice and environmental protection. The Ferguson Groups work with counties to maximize funding, minimize costs and meet a timeline. She outlined their services and what they could do for Orange County. This was presented for information only at this time. 4. Orange County Comprehensive Plan Development Planning Director Craig Benedict presented a schedule of important events and aspects of the process leading to the Comprehensive Plan update. He made reference to the timeline, which shows what they plan to do over the next 1-1I2 years. He said that they would develop the goals they are trying to achieve. Sustainability is the lens through which they are focusing their goals. After the November 26t" meeting they will have their first public forum. He made reference to the proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Plan Group. He said that this committee would act as a sounding board as comprehensive planning staff unfolds its various planning strategies and assists staff with developing the pros and cons of the different scenarios. They would not be a recommending committee but an important group to offer their perspective on the comprehensive goals, objectives, and policies as applied to countywide applications. He said that the plan would include 10 different elements and he described each element. It will take until spring, 2003 to do the plan. Chair Halkiotis suggested keeping the language simple in the Comprehensive Plan so that communication can be enhanced and it can be easily understood. Commissioner Jacobs asked that Craig Benedict include in the timeline the first Assembly of Governments meeting in 20Q2. He made reference to the elements of the comprehensive plan and asked that since members of that department are not part of the committee, haw their comments will be incorporated. Craig Benedict said that if the elements have same sort of regulatory information, then the Planning Department would be interested in that. Commissioner Brown said that she wants to be sure that there is clarity on what the Board of County Commissioners is looking at. She feels that the Shaping Orange County's Future Task Force was not given enough direction. She wants to see people's input on what they want to see in the community. Commissioner Gordon suggested that informational meetings on the different sections of the plan be held in different parts of the County. She feels that there needs to be smaller meetings where people will feel free to speak up and ask questions. She feels the schedule is too aggressive. She feels that a May public hearing is too soon and that the public hearing should be in August. Craig Benedict said that he feels it is important that the County Commissioners early on consider the comments. Chair Halkiotis supported the fact that the timeline is too aggressive. He feels that people have special interest and will get upset when they are not heard. He feels that caution should be taken and the process should allow enough time for citizens to ask questions and feel that they have been heard. John Link suggested that the County Commissioners review the goals the County Commissioners have set for the Comprehensive Plan Update and come back with a revised timeframe that will put into perspective for the public what Orange County is trying to do with this update of the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Carey said that people do not know what the word sustainability means. It needs to be replaced or explained in simple terms. He feels that the timeline should be extended to allow enough time for the process to work. Commissioner Jacobs said that one of the things that made the rural character study work is that they met in the different townships -Cedar Grove, Little River, etc. Also, a way needs to be developed so that the County Commissioners can be informed of what is being said at the meetings so that the County Commissioners can get a sense of what people want in this Comprehensive Plan. Taking it out to the people will get a better turnout and in the long run we can say that we put it in front of people whether or not they take advantage of it. Commissioner Brown said that the advantage of taking it out into the communities is that the citizens will talk about what is happening in their own areas and what they would like to see in their particular area. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon on what the groups would be doing, Craig Benedict said that the HillsboroughlOrange County group would look at the transition areas around Hillsborough. There are other areas outside of the transition areas that could be serviced by water and sewer. Also, with Hillsborough there are a lot of transportation decisions that are within the County area that also impacts the Hillsborough planning jurisdiction. With Durham, we would be talking about what land uses are appropriate. These would be groups of six that would make recommendations. Planning Director Craig Benedict said that for the sounding boards, each board has a different perspective of what they want to see in the Comprehensive Plan. Discussion ensued on the reason far having sounding boards. If they are not going to make presentations to the public ar present recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners, what are they doing. Criag Benedict said that they each would offer their specific perspective from their area of expertise to the Planning Board. John Link suggested that since the County Commissioners have a lot of questions and have provided Craig Benedict with a lot of input, that the first public outreach session be delayed and that on November 26th Craig Benedict make the presentation to the Planning Board and Board of County Commissioners to get their comments. Chair Halkiotis suggested that two County Commissioners meet with Craig Benedict and develop a plan for moving forward with the update to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Commissioner Carey asked who would receive the recommendations. Craig Benedict said that the comments would ga back to the local governments. Commissioner Gordon and Commissioner Brown volunteered to work with Craig Benedict and Commissioner Jacobs will serve as an alternate. Commissioner Brown said that she feels that one piece left out of this is the reality of the University of North Carolina and the University plan for growth and building projects. 5. Sustainability Planning for Orange County & Demographic Chance Report Postponed 6. Library Services Task Force Report Postponed 7. Recommendations on Chapel Hill Township Park and Educational Campus Environment and Resource Conservation Director David Stancil summarized the information in the agenda abstract. He distributed a list of the proposed members of a committee called the "Master Plan Work Group, Chapel Hill Township Park and Educational Campus". Commissioner Gordon said that she feels that the work group as described by David Stancil would be a group that would work on the park and that there would be another committee that would work on the school part of the plan. She thought that the County Commissioners were going to designate the specific areas and functions of the parks and that the committee would develop a plan for the specific areas. Commissioner Brown said that to help people become aware of the property and what is planned for the area would mean including all passible uses for the property. She feels that the schools can work and participate with the proposed master plan work group. Commissioner Gordon feels that if the work group is going to include the educational component that there should be additional representatives from the school system including the PTA's and the 5GC's and at least three members of the school board. Commissioner Jacobs said that he feels that once the specific uses of this property are determined, then it would become more of a school function for the educational portion and more of a recreation function for the remainder of the park. He thought all along that we would look at the entire property and then separate out the needs and functions to different groups. Commissioner Gordon said that she understood that the County Commissioners would decide on the areas where the schools would be located and where the active and the low impact recreational area would be. David Stancil said that the charge and the map that will be given to this work group would be one where the Board of County Commissioners has already made significant decisions. Decisions on the location of the Elementary School and the best way to move traffic into the park are decisions that need to be made prior to appointing this work group. Commissioner Gordon said that she agrees that what needs to be passed onto the group needs to be agreed upon by the Board of County Commissioners -setting the framework. Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like for the County Commissioners to have a better sense of what we want to say about the plan. He would like to have answers to questions which they have asked about why they need the school, why the school will cost more than allocated, etc. Commissioner Carey feels that the County Commissioners need to know what is on the minds of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schaal Board about Elementary School #10. What are their motivations. Chair Halkiotis heard that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board wants to build this school right now. 8. Change in BCC Regular Meeting Schedule A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve the changes as submitted and as listed below to the Board of County Commissioners regular meeting schedule: November 20, 2001, F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. -change to November 19, 2001, Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina November 26, 2001, 7:30 change to 6:00 p.m. November 29, 2001, 7:30 at Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill change to 6:00 at Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina December 8, 2001 -Board of County Commissioners Retreat -Cancel VOTE: UNANIMOUS ADJOURNMENT With no further items for the County Commissioners to consider at this 7:30 p.m. meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55. The next meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2001 at 7:30 at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Stephen H. Halkiotis, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, CMC