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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-17-2013 APPROVED 6/18/2013 MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING April 17, 2013 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Public Hearing on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Carrboro High School Auditorium, Carrboro, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Earl McKee and Commissioners Alice M. Gordon, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Barry Jacobs, Mark Dorosin COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: Annette Moore (Staff Attorney) COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: Assistant County Manager Michael Talbert and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (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. Call to Order Vice-Chair Earl McKee called the meeting to order. 2. Public Hearing Regarding the Establishment of Three New Fire Service Districts Michael Talbert made a PowerPoint presentation. Public Hearing New Fire Service Districts Why Are We Here: - Technology - Insurance Ratings - Fire Protection and Mutual Aid Michael Talbert said this is strictly an insurance issue and has nothing to do with fire protection. Insurance Premiums Relative to ISO Public Protection Classification ISO CLASS AGENT 1 AGENT 2 AGENT 3 10 $470.00 $514.00 $585.00 9S $376.00 $411.00 $469.00 8 $353.00 $384.00 $438.00 7 $318.00 $347.00 $394.00 6 $259.00 $283.00 $320.00 5 $259.00 $283.00 $320.00 4 $259.00 $283.00 $320.00 3 $259.00 $283.00 $320.00 2 $259.00 $283.00 $320.00 1 $259.00 $283.00 $320.00 Proposed New Fire Service Districts - South Orange Fire Service District - Southern Triangle Fire Service District - Chapel Hill Fire Service District - Effective Date 7/1/13 He showed some areas on the maps. Current Fire District Tax Rates Fiscal 2012/2013 South Orange $.0785 Southern Triangle $.05 Chapel Hill $.075 Requested Fire District Tax Rates Fiscal 2013/2014 South Orange $.10 Southern Triangle $.088 Chapel Hill $.15 Solution New South Orange Fire Insurance District New North Chatham Fire Insurance District New Greater Chapel Hill Insurance District Effective Date 7/1/13 Next Steps: Approval by: Orange County 4/23/13 N Chatham Fire Dept Board 4/31/13 State Fire Marshal's Office 10/31/13 Commissioner McKee said the work group had a goal of finding a solution for the homes that were beyond six miles away from the fire departments. The work group put forward the idea being considered today and it was a long process. PUBLIC COMMENTS Ada Reaves said her questions were answered so she has no further comment. Thomas Stone agreed and said his questions were also answered. Katrinka Borders said she has no comment at this time. Chris Hitt said his property is split between the new district and South Orange. He asked if any of this could be changed. Michael Talbert said it would be very difficult to change the district. He said the recommendation includes an overlay district. Joanne Forbes made reference to changing the district and asked if Orange County was buying fire services from the Town of Chapel Hill. Michael Talbert said her insurance should go down as a result of this. Doug Longman said he has been pursuing this issue for probably two years. He commended the County Commissioners for their efforts. He reemphasized that the issue is not fire protection, but about insurance. The effect of what is happening is that the property taxes will go up and the homeowner's insurance will go down. It might be just about a wash financially for many people. This will guarantee insurability. He thanked everyone for working on this. Barbara Steckler thanked the Board of County Commissioners, the Chapel Hill Town Council, and others for this effort. She will be changing fire districts and she can see the advantages. She thanked the staff for the meeting and the colored charts. Larry Hodges reiterated the thanks to the County Commissioners. He asked when the 15-cent tax would be in effect and it was answered July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014. Betty Sonner thanked the Board for their work on this. Barbara Rhoades asked about the single road access that has two districts. She said there are six houses behind her that fall into another district. She asked if the County Commissioners were considering redrawing this at another time or if it mattered. Commissioner McKee said the fire district lines are extremely difficult to move. It is this way because the fire protection districts developed over a very long timeframe and developed piece meal. In order to change that, it would require a complete overhaul of Orange County's fire protection business model. He is aware that there are some inequities. He said this is specifically for insurance purposes only. It does not affect fire protection or other aspects of County government. Sam Jackson said he just moved here six months ago and he thanked staff for putting this together so efficiently. Ed Campion said he is in the northern part of the new Southern Triangle District. He said it sounds like if you are more than six miles from a fire station within your district, then your rate goes up. He said he is less than '/2 a mile from station 5, and this would seem counterintuitive. Michael Talbert said Ed Campion is still part of the Southern Triangle District and is less than six miles from the station. Ed Campion said he still has coverage, but this means that he has a horrible rating even though he is less than '/2 a mile from another station. He said this is nonsensical from a financial standpoint. He disagrees with having a higher tax rate and a bad insurance rating. Joe Buonfiglio asked if the County had reviewed the Town of Chapel Hill's model for establishing this fee structure. He asked if these rates were fair and appropriate. He is also interested in how the County communicates with the insurance companies when this is implemented. Commissioner McKee said Chapel Hill offered this rate to the County. He does not know the mechanics of it. Michael Talbert said the ratings come from the insurance companies. Lynne Riesler asked clarifying questions about the houses in her neighborhood, which were answered by Michael Talbert. In answer to a question from a member of the public, Michael Talbert went through the steps necessary to change the line for the different districts. Regina Merritt asked who votes on this. Commissioner McKee said the County Commissioners will be voting on this and North Chatham Fire Department will also have to vote on this. Chapel Hill and Carrboro have already voted to approve this. Regina Merritt said this meeting should have happened on another day because a lot of neighbors were at church. She said this is a hardship on a lot of people because of the increases in taxes and insurance. She does not think it is necessary to have all of these fire departments. She said this is not fair to some people. Commissioner McKee said this would come to the Board on April 23 d and there will be a time for public comment at that time. Donna Bell, Chapel Hill Councilmember, said she wanted to clear up that this is not a new tax, but it already exists. It is her understanding that the taxes would only be going up two cents and not ten cents like some people are thinking. This is not for new stations but for improving existing stations. Commissioner Gordon thanked the public for coming and speaking. She encouraged the public to come to the meeting on April 23 d at the Southern Human Services Center at 7:OOpm. With no further items to discuss, a motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Price to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Earl McKee, Vice-Chair Donna S. Baker, CMC Clerk to the Board