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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 11-10-2015 APPROVED 12/7/2015 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION November 10, 2015 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a work session on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs, Mark Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Assistant County Manager Travis Myren and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 1. Eligibility Changes for Food and Nutrition Benefit Recipients Nancy Coston, Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS) Director, said they are here to give the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) an update on the changes to the Food Nutrition Benefit Eligibility. Nancy Coston reviewed the following information: The Food and Nutrition Services program has included certain work registration requirements. The most restrictive work requirements apply to the Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD). Since 2008 and after the economic downturn, North Carolina has been operating under a federal ABAWD waiver of the work requirements. Because the unemployment rate has improved, some counties, including Orange, will no longer be able to operate under the waiver effective January 1, 2016. The people who are subject to these work requirements are between 18 and 49 years old, do not live in a households with minors and have not been determined to be disabled. There are also some temporary exceptions such as medical hardship. For those who are subject to the work requirements, these individuals must be employed or in approved employment and training activities for an average of at least 20 hours per week to be eligible to receive benefits for the month. Individuals are allowed to receive benefits for only 3 months during 36 months without meeting the work requirements. Initial data indicate over 1,500 individuals in Orange County who receive FNS benefits are subject to the ABAWD requirement. It appears that about half have some earned income, but the current records do not reflect the participants' hours worked or hours attending qualifying employment activities. There are many tasks that must be completed by the Department of Social Services (DSS) staff related to these new requirements. The first is to assess the 1,500 clients and to identify those not already meeting these requirements. Other tasks involve developing procedures for tracking all of these activities and training staff on the new NCFAST processes related to the new eligibility requirements. Not only will this require considerable effort between now and January, but the tracking will also be needed each month for all of the impacted clients. Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager, said an ABAWD is mentally and physically able to work. She said ABAWDs have to work an average of 20 hours a week, including self-employment, volunteer work, and participation in work programs. She said if there are ABAWDs that do not meet these requirements they can receive 3 months' worth of Food and Nutrition benefits, but then must wait 36 months, unless they are exempted. She said the main reasons for being exempt are having a child in the home, receiving unemployment benefits, and being physically or mentally unfit for employment. Lindsey Shewmaker said a report from the State listed about 860 Orange County ABAWD clients that currently lack income, each of whom will need to be reviewed locally to see if any exemptions exist. She said a second report is expected from the State in December, which will include the rest of the ABAWDs that do have some income, but no recorded work hours. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the total number of ABAWDs is 1,500 or 2,300. Lindsey Shewmaker said 1,500 is the initial estimate from the State, but this number may go up after the second report. She said DSS staff is currently seeking to help clients find ways to keep their benefits. Nancy Coston said DSS is not required to provide employment and training activities for these participants, but the agency is planning to expand the voluntary program as an avenue for them to meet the requirements. She said many of the activities planned for the expansion at Hillsborough Commons should meet the requirements, and the agency is also looking at expanding work experience at both County agencies and businesses in the community. She said DSS will also work with Durham Technical Community College to identify courses that are appropriate for these participants. She said, additionally, the agency would be working on transportation and other support services needed to help the participants to continue receiving benefits, while seeking additional employment skills. Nancy Coston said this law goes into effect January 1 st but clients would not lose their benefits until April 1 st; thus, DSS needs to review their clients that fall in this category during this time frame to try and find them ways not to lose their benefits, and secure proper documentation. She said DSS needs to reach out and touch 1,500 people in 30 days and then have options for those individuals that do not work 20 hours for week. She said the agency cannot use for profit sites for work experience, but they can volunteer at non-profits and they can work at public entities. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the State has specific criteria to determine the list of 1,500 clients. Nancy Coston said the first group the State ran are those who are able bodied but showing no earned income. She said this first list has no wages and risk losing these benefits. She said the next group were those who had some wages, but the number of hours being worked is unknown, so they have to find out that information themselves, and there is an estimate that there are 1,500 in Orange County that have this need. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the number of people receiving food benefits in Orange County is known, and who the State would have taken out of this number already. Lindsey Shewmaker said about 6,000 people receive benefits, and the State has backed out all the cases where there are children in the home, or there is a documented disability. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there could be clarification regarding the for-profit programs. Nancy Coston said she is unclear about this aspect of the program and criteria. She said she is not sure of what the final rule will be when all is said and done. Commissioner Pelissier asked if individuals have been notified yet. Lindsey Shewmaker said last week the State sent out notices to the people the State identified as potentially at risk of losing benefits, telling them about the new work requirements. Commissioner Pelissier asked if there is a way of addressing the monetary costs of taking educational courses. Nancy Coston said the voluntary training program that is run by DSS could help with tuition costs, as long as it is tied with getting a job. She said there are some processes that DSS is trying to sort through with non-profits and Durham Tech, and may be able to find funding to match federal funding through the school. Commissioner Pelissier asked if there is a system in place to know which jobs individuals could get through certain training. Nancy Coston said DSS has some information about jobs in Orange County, but are trying to balance clients' skill level with jobs. She said these clients are going to have to be triaged for possible jobs. Commissioner Rich referred to the clients who may be working for themselves and asked if a total number of these people are known. She also asked if this information is tracked in any way. Lindsey Shewmaker said some of the population is self-employed, and certain types of verification would be needed for documentation purposes. Commissioner Rich said she sees complications with self-employed persons. Lindsey Shewmaker said this will be a challenge for the Department and the clients. Nancy Coston said DSS is already working with these clients, as work and earnings must be documented to receive many types of benefits. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there are any thoughts regarding seasonal workers. Lindsey Shewmaker said in a 36-month period, there are 3 countable months where one can be without employment. She said one can regain eligibility by working 80 hours in a consecutive 30 day period. She said a seasonal worker would likely regain eligibility during a time of employment and then receives an additional consecutive 3 months to be without work. Nancy Coston said after the second 3-month period, recipients would then have to work or meet every single requirement. Lindsey Shewmaker said one's eligibility could only be regained once. Commissioner Jacobs said he spoke with one of the owners of Sports Endeavors, where hundreds of seasonal workers are needed. Nancy Coston said having an employment history makes it easier to find jobs. She said this is the population that also does not receive health insurance and food and nutrition is about their only benefit. Commissioner Price asked if many of these clients are transient, and how they are reached. Nancy Coston said a mailing will go out, an informational phone line will be set up, and non-profits will be contacted to help spread the word about an information session. She said some clients will be missed, and they may not find out about the change until the benefits run out or they come in for a review. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the mailings will come in a non-descript envelope, and if so, suggested maybe a stamp could be added to make it known to the recipient that the mailing is important. Nancy Coston said DSS is considering using some temporary staff to help reach out to clients, and hopefully some of this staff can be from the population they are trying to serve. Commissioner Dorosin said County communication staff should do outreach, publicize what is going, and the super human efforts that DSS wants to use to mitigate this process. He also suggested any ideas should be shared with the other Commissioners at the state and national levels. He asked if the weekly benefits are a specific amount, and if so, could the County create some supplemental emergency assistance to help these clients. Lindsey Shewmaker said the benefits are about $180 a month. Commissioner Dorosin said Orange County is a rich county, and if the list is whittled down to 200 or so people the County should be able to assist or subsidize them. He suggested the possibility of staff coming back to the Board with what it would cost to provide help for 3 to 6 months. Bonnie Hammersley said she asked Nancy Coston to present this item to make the Board aware of this situation. She said the situation will continue to be monitored, and the Board will remain fully informed of both the positive and the negative. Commissioner Dorosin said this need could be a line item in the Community Giving fund. Commissioner Jacobs asked if this relates to the Work First program. Nancy Coston said those people in the Work First program are not subject to these changes. She said Work First has its own requirements. She said keeping up with the work hours of all clients is a big distraction from doing the more important work of helping clients. Commissioner Jacobs mentioned that several employers hire Work First participants. He said it would be beneficial to recruit the private sector, so the burden of support does not always fall on the government. Nancy Coston said there have been some wonderful relationships with the private sector, and she agrees this should continue. She said there have also been some missed opportunities with funds coming into Orange County in these areas. She said it is crucial to pursue every avenue that may help the clients. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the Orange County Economic Development office has been approached as a partner. Nancy Coston said this Department has been helpful thus far, but the relationship can deepen further. Commissioner Price said she is still concerned about this program, and while DSS is doing their best it seems like a band-aid effect. She said the client may have a job and some food but may not have a place to stay or clothes on their back. She said this does not address breaking the cycle. Nancy Coston said the group of 1,500 clients are going to have very varied demographics, with some facing homelessness and others transportation or employment needs. She said triaging the clients and creating unique plans will be critical. Chair McKee asked if there is a timeline to move through this evaluation process. Nancy Coston said this process will take time, and once her staff reviews the initial list many people will be taken off. She said the total number of clients that will need to be assessed is not yet known, but there will be some group meetings with these clients as well as some clients that can complete some self-assessments. She said this whole process will be a huge task, and clients will be asked to help document their current work status. Chair McKee suggested that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is interested in not letting clients fall through the cracks. He read the financial impact statement on the abstract and urged DSS not to wait until the middle of December to come back, but rather to let the BOCC know the need as soon as possible. Bonnie Hammersley said the situation would be monitored, and a budget amendment would be presented to the Board if necessary. 2. Space Study Work Group Report Update Jeff Thompson, Director of Asset Management Services, said this topic was last reviewed in April 2015. He is here this evening with an update. He recognized and thanked the members of the Space Study Workgroup, and provided the following update: Progress and Current Recommendations The following summarize the group's major areas of progress and recommendations to the Board in anticipation of the FY2016-21 CIP process. 1. Progress of appropriated Capital Projects addressed by the Space Study Work Group The Cedar Grove Community Center, Environment and Agricultural Center, Sportsplex Fieldhouse, and Orange County Detention Center projects are moving forward in the design process. The Cedar Grove Community Center remains on schedule to open in the spring of 2016. Both the Environment and Agricultural Center and the Sportsplex Fieldhouse projects are in early stage design as is the Orange County Detention Center. The Board will be presented an update on the Detention Center design, including information regarding a potential attached Law Enforcement Center, during the December 15, 2015 regular meeting. 2. Progress of minor space planning confi_guration recommendations Several small projects to reconfigure interior space and take advantage of opportunities identified in the Space Study process are currently underway. The County Human Resources offices are benefiting from expanded training spaces in adjacent vacant opportunity spaces that formerly housed the County Engineer offices prior to the construction of the West Campus in 2009. The County Attorney will soon occupy the vacant opportunity spaces formerly used by Morinaga America Foods in the lower level of the Link Center. This space will allow more useful administrative space for the County Attorney and his staff and will allow the vacated areas on the second floor to provide space consolidated areas for newly formed Community Relations Department, the County Risk Manager, the County Manager's office staff, and a small conference room. Similar efficient reconfigurations discussed in the April 9 report are moving forward over the next few months. These involve Recreation personnel occupying administrative offices in the Whitted second floor in order to provide programmable recreation space within the Central Recreation facility, balancing constrained and opportunity spaces between the Health Department and Housing, Human Rights & Community Development within the Whitted Campus, providing for usable administrative space within Gateway to house growth within the Tax Administration Department, and providing useful crew lounge space within an opportunity space at Emergency Services. 3. Administrative Policy Development Staff is working toward building effective administrative policies within the purview of the County Manager in key areas identified in the April report: a. Records Retention and Comprehensive Storage Policy A major element of the charge of the Space Study Work Group, this body of work has progressed through a collaborative effort of the records retention and storage subgroup led by Alan Dorman of Asset Management Services. This group has successfully partnered with the State Department of Cultural Resources to frame the practices to efficiently manage and store the County's paper and electronic records as well as schedule the proper disposal of unnecessary documents according to applicable laws. A final policy recommendation for the Manager's approval is expected in the spring of 2016. rd b. 3 Party Tenancy Policy The Board may recall that many of the County's opportunity spaces not presently needed rd by County operations are currently leased by 3 party tenants. This practice is efficient in that it allows the spaces to be available for County operations when needed; but also allows the spaces to be utilized for other important uses as well to off-set utility costs when not needed by the County. As stated in the April report, several "opportunity" spaces could be marketed to County partners in a mutually beneficial arrangement under an effective and equitable policy. The policy does not apply to the spaces covered by previous action by the Board (Soltys Adult Day Health Center, Rogers Road Community Center, Dickson House, etc.) while those agreements are active. A final policy recommendation will be presented to the Manager in the fall of 2015. c. Telework Policy Brenda Bartholomew, the County Human Resources Director, and Brennan Bouma, the County Sustainability Coordinator, are collaborating on drafting an administrative telework policy and the accompanying employee agreement for implementation in the spring of 2016. When finalized, the policy will be issued to the County Manager to lay out expectations and rules governing this optional benefit to County employees. Based on the eventual level of enrollment, this policy may help relieve space constraints and lower facility costs by leveraging technology to connect employees in remote locations. 4. FY2016-21 CIP Discussion Topics a. Facility Accessibility Inspections and Recommendations Recent Capital Investment Plans include funds for continuous accessibility improvements such as automated doors, handrails, signage, and ramps. A recent Board petition for more subtle and less obvious accessibility improvements based upon a thorough accessibility inspection of County facilities has led to the development of the Facilities Accessibility sub group (within the larger Space Study work group), marshaled by Brennan Bouma in Asset Management Services and James Davis in Housing, Human Rights, and Community Development. Attachment B, "Accessibility Initiatives Update", highlights the progress of this effort to date. A request for funding for additional accessibility initiatives may be presented during the FY2016-21 process. b. Southern Campus Recommendations— Department on Agin_g In June 2014, the Chapel Hill Town Council awarded a Special Use Permit governing the entire 33.5 acre Southern Campus site for a 25 year period according to a master plan approved by the Board of Orange County Commissioners in 2013. On June 2, 2015, the Board heard a presentation given by staff and Clarion Associates with regard to potential development initiatives within the Southern Campus. The full presentation is located at http://www.orangecountync.gov/Southern Campus Final Report.pdf Department on Aging Needs. The aging facilities (Seymour Center and Central Orange Senior Center) continue to experience rapid growth and are constrained by the physical space limitations. The work group recommends expanding Aging facility programming and administrative spaces in the form of interior upfit construction in both the Seymour and Central Orange Facilities in the near term. The work group also recommends allocating monies to assist in the Master Aging Plan process with respect to identifying and planning for longer term space needs. Representatives from the Department on Aging will be present to speak to these needs and answer questions. Southern Human Services Center Expansion. The Board may recall that the FY2015-19 CIP contemplates a significant expansion that may house a southern Dental Clinic, expanded medical and social services facilities, site/parking improvements, and building system improvements. The work group has not reached consensus on the precise expansion needs, especially since the Interfaith Council Community House has now opened with potential dental service capacity. The work group has also identified the Southern Campus as a potential site for necessary business continuity infrastructure (redundant Information Technologies data center and 911 emergency communications center) that should be considered within a contemplated Southern Human Services Center expansion capital project. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the master plan for the Southern Human Services Center campus included renovations to the Seymour Center. Jeff Thompson said it does, but it is not currently plotted in the Capital Investment Plan (CIP). Commissioner Dorosin clarified that the long-term plan does include the senior center. Jeff Thompson said yes. Chair McKee said he recalled the possibility of adding space to the Seymour Center without adding a second floor. Jeff Thompson said this possibility was discussed at the June 2nd meeting, and the details are outlined in the packet this evening. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the seniors pay to use the fitness center at the Seymour Center. Janice Tyler said yes, and there are scholarships available. Jeff Thompson said there is not a staff consensus regarding the Southern Human Services Center expansion. He said the nearby InterFaith Council (IFC) community house has dental facilities which may serve as an alternative to housing a dental clinic at the Southern Campus. Commissioner Rich said she is not comfortable sending women and children to the IFC shelter for dental visits. Bonnie Hammersley said she met with IFC and currently the dental clinic can only serve the current clients at IFC. She added that there is interest from IFC and the Town of Chapel Hill, because of the minimal use of that portion of the facility. She said the Board would remain updated regarding this possibility. Jeff Thompson said all of these ideas will be brought back to the BOCC with updates and further recommendations. c. Location and breadth of lob and skills trainin_g The work group recommends the Board continue the re-alignment of County job and skills training resources to maximize their service delivery to County residents. The Department of Social Services is deploying more centralized services within the Hillsborough Commons location and substantially re-purposing the somewhat parking "stressed" Skills Development Center in Chapel Hill. The County has recently extended its long-term lease arrangement to control the former Dollar Tree space adjacent to the current leased property in order to implement this strategy. Should this strategy continue successfully, additional unoccupied space may be purchased within the existing Hillsborough Commons facility. Additionally, the conversation continues between Orange County and Chapel Hill with regard to working together on a potentially mutually beneficial solution for the "stressed" properties of 501/503 Franklin and the Former Town Hall, currently occupied by the Interfaith Council Men's Shelter. This strategy must also consider providing additional job and skills training space as part of the long-term Southern Campus expansion to provide a presence for these services supporting southern Orange County. Jeff Thompson said there is an option to buy the Hillsborough Commons as well as the rest of that facility. He said the possibility of pursuing the Chapel Hill Old Town Hall complex is being considered as well. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the option to purchase Hillsborough Commons remains the same, or if it is a renegotiated option. Jeff Thompson said it is a renegotiated option that includes a lease expansion, as well as the option to purchase. He said purchase prices are currently being negotiated. Commissioner Jacobs said if the entire Hillsborough Commons is purchased, could portions of it be rented out to the private sector. Jeff Thompson said yes. d. Emergency Services hardened location 510 Meadowlands facility is not a "hardened" facility and is susceptible to inclement weather and wind damage. The work group discussed reconfiguring the lower level of the West Campus Office Building in Hillsborough to house the primary 911 communications center in the long term. The West Campus Office Building was originally designed with for a potential emergency operations center. It features a below grade facility with the walk out covered structured parking deck, twin backup, natural gas powered generators, and equivalent operating space as the 510 Meadowlands facility. Should this permanent solution ever be contemplated, the current public meeting rooms and Child Support Enforcement would need to be appropriately relocated. Space Study Work Group Organization Going Forward This update, along with the April 2015 report and its underlying space inventory and analysis, establish the base conditions for future study while staying consistent with the original charge. Their subgroups will continue to meet. The space study work group "sub groups" (Aging, Emergency Services, Justice Facilities, Library, etc.) will be aligned appropriately and integrated within the emerging Functional Leadership Teams for the purpose of space needs topics. These teams will be supported and facilitated by AMS staff in their space discussions and deliberations. In the fall of each year, the Space Study Work Group will facilitate space-related discussions with the Functional Leadership Teams in order to collect their input for the CIP process and present the set of discussion topics and themes to the Manager and Board. Chair McKee said the workgroup felt that this would be an on-going discussion, and the entire group would meet a few times a year in an on-going manner. Commissioner Rich asked if there was an update regarding the Rosemary Old Town Hall/IFC Kitchen. Bonnie Hammersley said this was discussed with the other Town Managers, and one of the biggest obstacles is the uncertainty of the date for the removal of the IFC kitchen. She said it was decided that the group of interested stakeholders would be reconvened, but there is no timeline at this point. She stressed the commitment to long range planning, while small details fall into place. Commissioner Rich said it will be important to evaluate the amount of renovations that will be needed in this building and the costs related to said renovations. Commissioner Jacobs said he recalled a structural analysis was completed for this building. Jeff Thompson said there is a structural analysis, but any existing costs estimates are soft given that the specific future use of the building is unknown. Commissioner Jacobs asked if it is the supposition that all parties would be financial contributors or that the County would bear the cost. Bonnie Hammersley said that has not been discussed yet since the new location of IFC kitchen at West Main Street in Carrboro needs to be finalized. Commissioner Jacobs said all of the other partners are not contributing to the Visitor's Bureau (VB) now, and if the VB were moved there, it would benefit all to contribute. Commissioner Rich said the Town of Chapel Hill does contribute a partial amount, but the Towns of Hillsborough and Carrboro do not contribute. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there are plans for the Link Government Services Center Annex. Jeff Thompson said the Board of Elections is now using the full site, and it is the best location for them. Commissioner Rich asked if the small workgroups will be meeting quarterly or as needed. Jeff Thompson said the subgroups would meet as needed. Chair McKee said this project is ongoing, and the smaller groups will work more often than the bigger group. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a sense that Orange County is growing and will need more space. He asked if there is any space that will no longer be needed, like the old jail for example. Jeff Thompson said in the short to mid-term there is enough space. He said there are some mismatches in areas of need versus space available. He said in the long-term the spacing needs can be managed. He said facilities that are being vacated could be repurposed or sold, depending on the space. Bonnie Hammersley said in reference to the schedule for the committee, she will rely on this committee in regards to CIP budgeting. She said all facilities will be evaluated in an ongoing manner, as pertains to their efficiency and effectiveness, with all reports being brought to the BOCC for decisions. Commissioner Dorosin said he understood that, but asked if there are actual expectations of the growth of county government in the next 20 years. Bonnie Hammersley said the hope is that more space is not needed, but rather to use efficiently the space that currently exists. Commissioner Price said this committee wanted to make sure all the facilities are ADA compliant, and the trends in teleworking are being studied. Commissioner Dorosin said he would like to get information about the predications for the County's population, so as to know what is expected in growth data. Chair McKee said that was part of their discussion, but not a focal point. He said the subgroups on teleworking and records retention were focusing on efficiencies in our facilities. He said Commissioner Dorosin's request would be a focal point with the Manager and staff going forward. Bonnie Hammersley said she would bring back this information. Commissioner Jacobs thanked the group for finding ways to address the accessibility issues. He said he would like to see what staff is designing for the agricultural facility. Jeff Thompson said the committee selected the architect, and they are on the front end of that project. Commissioner Jacobs said Hillsborough is coming on line with 1000 housing units, and Collins Ridge is pushing 1150 more, yet a school site is not being discussed. He said this housing increase will have a huge impact on the central library, and asked if there is a plan to address the demand. He said Hillsborough Alliance wants to move out of the museum, and perhaps Hillsborough Commons may be an option, or locating functions in the Colonial Inn once it is renovated. He asked if the committee would have a discussion about the options to address the growth in the Town of Hillsborough that will affect County services. 3. Affordable Housing Plan Update and Affordable Housing Fund Criteria -Additional Discussion from October 6, 2015 Meeting The following items were noted at the Commissioners' places: • Blue folder: contained: the Orange County Home Consortium Program Year 2015- 2020 Five Year Consolidated Plan and FY 2015 Annual Action Plan; a revised timeline for the Orange County Affordable Housing Plan Update; and site maps for possible Orange County Owned parcels for affordable housing • PowerPoint Presentation • Site maps (same as above) with text narrative • Mobile Home and Mobile Home Parks Fact sheet • 2014 Mobile Home Park Locations Map • Potential Affordable Housing Development Area Map Audrey Spencer-Horsley, Housing, Human Rights, and Community Development Director, reviewed the contents of the blue folder with the Board, and she mentioned that there was a revised schedule/timeline included for the Orange County Affordable Housing Plan. She said she is here tonight to talk briefly about some of the work that has been done on the Orange County Affordable Housing Plan. She said the common data collection across the nation is most often used, and anything beyond that is community driven. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said Orange County and the Towns have approved the consolidated plan, and this is required by HUD for the HOME funding they receive. She said the County acts as the lead agency within Orange County. She said HOME funding may sustain some cuts, but they will not be draconian in nature. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said in the consolidated plan there are two main pieces: a needs assessment, and a housing market analysis. She said this plan has been done since 1995 and will provide a foundation for them. She said this plan is included in the blue folder as well. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said the needs assessment looks at the cost burden. She said the number for affordable rental housing needs is 40-1. She said there is over 20% that are 50 % cost burden. She said at their last meeting she mentioned the great need for affordable rentals. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said she had been working on preparing a five-year plan for the housing choice voucher program. She said there are 623 units that the County is authorized to lease to eligible clients. She said another required piece of the continuum of care is the consolidated plan. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said finally staff would bring back an analysis of impediment that looks at fair housing stock, barriers to fair housing, and the location and availability of land to develop housing. She said that document would come to the Board in December. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said the second phase is the development of strategies, working with affordable housing partners and what they have accomplished with past bonds, and the challenges they are facing with County programs. She said the third phase will be to make recommendations that will have the most impact on affordable housing in the County. Bonnie Hammersley said she had been working with Audrey Spencer-Horsley for a plan on affordable housing, and the timeline indicates this plan would be complete in February 2016. She has been working with the Town Managers to make this a more coordinated effort, along with Housing Directors and Economic Development Directors. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said various internal departments have been working together. She said the inventory of mobile home parks, tiny homes, and the like, is being gathered. Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director, said Audrey Spencer-Horsley developed internal teams to get background information. Craig Benedict made the following PowerPoint presentation: Affordable Housing Plan Update Board of County Commissioners Work Session November 10, 2015 Affordable Housing Plan Update • Overview— Consolidated Housing Plan • Timeline • Existing Conditions • Mobile Home Park Inventory • Small Housing (i.e. Tiny Houses and Cottage Homes) • Orange County Owned Properties • Moving Forward and Next Steps • Strategies • Questions Overview Consolidated Housing Plan Timeline: See November 10 Abstract-Attachment 3 Existing Conditions: Mobile Home Park Inventory Affordable Housing Plan Update Mobile Home Park Inventory • Background Research • Mobile Home Data • Socio-Economic Data • Land Use Maps • Water and Sewer Conditions • Public Transit • Public Services and Employment 2014 Mobile Home Park Locations (map) Mobile Home Park Inventory • Mobile homes and mobile home parks are currently permitted in Orange County. • Total Number of Mobile Homes = 4,256 • Total Number of Mobile Home Parks = 100 • Total Number of Spaces Located in Mobile Home Parks = 2,297 • Total Number of Occupied Spaces Located in Mobile Home Parks = 1,461 Based on information from the Orange County Tax Office there are approximately 836 unoccupied spaces located in mobile home parks. • Mobile Home Parks — Operating Wastewater System 83% on site septic 14% Public System 3% State Permitted • Mobile Home Parks — Operating Water System 49% community well 34% Public System 17% State Permitted • Only 14% of existing mobile homes are operating on a public water and public sewer system. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the number housing units within Orange County is known. Craig Benedict said approximately 53,000 units. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the number of units that are owner occupied is known. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said this information can be gathered. Potential Affordable Housing Development Area (map) Median Household Income by Block Groups American Community Survey 2009-13 (map) Orange County Services/Employment (map) Existing Conditions Small Housing Affordable Housing Plan Update-map Affordable Housing Plan Update-map Small Housing • Tiny Houses o A mobile, residential structure attached to a chassis with wheels that includes living, kitchen, and bath space and averages 75 to 200 square feet in size. o Tiny houses attached to a chassis are not identified by the North Carolina State Residential Code and the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance (U DO). • Cottage Homes • A residential structure that can be `stick' built or modular construction which is placed on a permanent foundation and averages 300 to 800 square feet in size. • Cottage homes can be permitted as a single family dwelling unit or efficiency apartment (accessory dwelling unit) if constructed to standards of the North Carolina State Residential Code and UDO. Chair McKee asked if the County would be able to change the definition of a tiny house. Craig Benedict said the building code could not be changed, but the County could say there are mobile home and recreational vehicle parks. Chair McKee said the definition could be written around what the County wanted it to be. Craig Benedict said yes. Commissioner Dorosin asked if he owned property, could he place 10 tiny homes on his land. Craig Benedict said he could not, as tiny homes are not built to the North Carolina single family housing code. Commissioner Dorosin asked if he could build 10 cottage homes on his property. Craig Benedict said multiple cottage homes could not go on one lot, but there are changes being considered to these codes. Commissioner Rich asked if the cottage homes or developments that are currently being built required State approval. Craig Benedict said if the micro homes meet building code, they can be built. He said if zoning changes are needed that is done by the County. Commissioner Rich asked if the County is its own enemy in regards to this issue. Craig Benedict said yes. He said as new housing ideas come forth, codes must be amended to catch up. Chair McKee asked if there was cooperation from the Towns regarding the extension of sewer and water, could the density of homes could be increased. Craig Benedict said yes. Commissioner Rich asked if the Greene Tract is being considered for development. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said that would be coming next in the presentation. Existing Conditions Orange County Owned Properties HAND OUT Potential Affordable Housing Sites hand out Jeff Thompson referred to the handout with a white cover. He said the criteria on the front page of the handout yielded sites for affordable housing. He said this does not mean these can be developed, but are rather the first tier of a filter that will still need land use regulations applied. He said this handout is a series of small lots which total about 220 acres, noting the Greene Tract is on page 14. He reviewed these potential lot sites. Commissioner Rich asked if there is a process for when, how, and why the County acquires parcels of land, such as those on this list. Jeff Thompson said he does not have that information, but noted all these parcels have access to water and sewer along with fairly reasonable topography. He said the infill lots could be considered for single families. He said, as it stands, the Greene Tract has an 18-acre restriction on housing. He said this is an agreement between the County and the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the entire Greene Tract is accessible for affordable housing. Craig Benedict said only 18 of the 104 acres are scheduled for affordable housing. He said there have been some discussions, as part of small area plans, about a possible expansion of that amount. He said the Rogers Road area is a subset of it, and the planning processes to continue in that area will include looking at the Greene Tract. He said this is shown on map 14. Commissioner Jacobs asked if this is the same area where a potential school site has been considered. Craig Benedict said both a school and park site have been considered here. He said the area south of the 18 acres could be a school or park area, but would require an agreement and an amendment to a 2001 resolution. He said as sewer is being planned for the Rogers Road area, the potential of the Greene Tract is being kept in mind. Commissioner Jacobs said a commitment was made to make an open space on the Greene Tract, and he wished this would be put down in writing. He said the reason it is not permanently designed that way is because the Triangle Land Conservancy did not accept an easement to be responsible for it. He said this topic keeps coming up, but there was a commitment in 2001 to keep it open space, and he is petitioning to resolve this. Bonnie Hammersley said this map does not imply that affordable housing will be placed here, but rather gives an overview of County owned land that is available for possible consideration. She said staff will proceed with Commissioner Jacob's request. Commissioner Jacobs said there is parkland all over the County that has not been included in this presentation. He said there could be a mobile home park on the acreage on Schley Road, but it is not included, as it is a park. He said he is confused why this Greene Tract acreage is included when it is designated to be a park as well. Bonnie Hammersley said Commissioner Jacobs is correct, and that staff did not include any land from the Parks master plan. She added that the aforementioned Greene Tract land was not in the Parks master plan. Commissioner Jacobs said it should be. Commissioner Dorosin said this is an exciting set of sites with some small parcels small and some large. He would urge them to push whatever the next steps are. He said it is critical to be able to find other ways to subsidize affordable housing, and one way is with the land. He said these are scattered sites which allow for decentralized affordability. He said not all the sites have access to public transportation, but all have water and sewer. He suggested pursuing these parcels, and ones that may be large enough for large developments, then fix the zoning issues and maximize the sites. Commissioner Dorosin referred to the 9 criteria on first page of the handout, and asked if they should be prioritized in some fashion. He said to prioritize the list and build some houses, so that opportunities do not pass by. Commissioner Price asked if staff is considering any of these sites for mobile home parks. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said specific uses have not yet been considered, but it is an option. Craig Benedict said in existing mobile parks there are about 800 unused lots, and the reason for this needs to be determined so that they can possibly be filled. Craig Benedict said some in Efland are thinking about updating their parks now that they are on water and sewer, which could possibly lead to greater density. Chair McKee asked if there was a process for determining the 800 unused mobile home lots. Ashley Moncado, Special Projects Planner, said the tax office puts out this information, and it is gathered by a voluntary survey to the park owners. She said the accuracy is therefore unsure, and the County has not put boots on the ground yet. Chair McKee suggested that staff do so. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said one of the recommendations is to have their housing inspectors go out in the field. She said there was a mobile home inventory done in 2009, and an update of this information is necessary. Commissioner Dorosin said it is important to speak with the residents of the mobile home parks, not just the owners. He said many residents live in unsafe conditions and desire to get out of these parks, if possible. Commissioner Burroughs said Justice United is doing some of that already, and there is an opportunity for collaboration. Commissioner Burroughs said if the County is making investments, it should be kept in mind that stick built homes are safer, especially for emergency situations. Commissioner Price said people should be encouraged to live in stick built homes, but many prefer a manufactured home. Commissioner Pelissier referenced the pieces of property that were excluded due to lack of water and sewer and asked if some of these properties could still be used for things like tiny homes. She suggested that these parcels of land should not automatically be excluded. Commissioner Jacobs said he would like to know how the tax office assesses mobile homes, as they are often considered to decline in value. He said all options should be considered before deciding which direction to go in. Commissioner Jacobs said he appreciated the idea of a neutral third party reaching out to renters and owners of mobile homes. He said the mobile home renters and owners may perceive such a person as a threat and possible resistance should be anticipated. He said it might be relevant to look at what other counties are doing, such as Wake County. Commissioner Dorosin said he was not suggesting for Orange County to buy or own units. Chair McKee said if the County considers purchasing land in the future, the underused mobile home parks should be identified, as they may be possibilities for other housing options. Bonnie Hammersley said the third party consultant could keep land-banking options in mind while assessing the mobile home parks. Chair McKee said this is a wise option. Commissioner Rich referred to the property at 1801 Ephesus Church Road in Chapel Hill and asked if the Town of Chapel Hill has been approached about a possible partnership on this property. Jeff Thompson said he has not visited this site, but there are discussions taking place with the Town of Chapel Hill about this site as well as other sites. He said Chapel Hill is completing the same exercise as the County in identifying property for their affordable housing inventory. Commissioner Jacobs said Orange Water and Sewer Association (OWASA) also has parcels they do not know what to do with, and suggested that staff contact them to see if there are any parcels that could be conveyed for affordable housing purposes. Bonnie Hammersley said this was a coordinated effort tonight, and she apologized that she did not get these documents to the BOCC earlier. She said this error will not happen again. Bonnie Hammersley requested that Item #5 be moved up prior to Item #4, since Chapel Hill Mayor Elect Pam Hemminger was in attendance and may wish to speak on the item. Chair McKee agreed. 5. Upper Neuse River Basin Association Update David Stancil, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) Director, said there is an attempt to have a "water issues" conversation each year. Tom Davis, Water Resources Coordinator, introduced Pam Hemminger who is the Upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA) Chair, and Mayor Elect of the Town of Chapel Hill. Tom Davis said UNRBA is made up of many towns and counties, and Orange County has the most land in the watershed. He reviewed the following information: BACKGROUND: The Upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA), of which Orange County is a member, is working on a multi-year effort (titled "The Path Forward") to revise Stage II of the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy (Falls Lake Rules). As currently written, Stage II of the Falls Lake Rules requires local governments, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the agricultural community, and other regulated parties located in the Falls Lake watershed (Attachment A) to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loading to Falls Lake by 40% and 77%, respectively. While the members of the UNRBA agree that protecting Falls Lake as the City of Raleigh's water supply is paramount, the members also agree that there are serious technical and financial impediments to meeting these nutrient reduction goals. Additional background information concerning the Falls Lake Rules, the underlying Consensus Principles, estimated costs to comply with the Falls Lake Rules, and related information are provided in Attachment B, excerpts from the agenda abstract from the October 14, 2014 Board of County Commissioners work session. Tom Davis said the UNRBA continues to make progress on several important projects, including: 1. Lake and Watershed Water Quality Monitoring 2. BMP Nutrient Credit Development 3. Development of Nutrient Credit Calculation Tool 4. Falls Lake Rules Review Tom Davis then reviewed each of these projects: 1. Lake and Watershed Water Quality Monitoring CardnoEntrix, the consultant working for the UNRBA, completed the first 12 months of water quality sampling in July 2015. The Falls Lake Rules stipulate that in order for outside data to be evaluated during the re-examination of Stage II of the Falls Lake Rules, a minimum of three years of sampling data must be collected for the data to be considered by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC). The UNRBA's water quality sampling program is producing information for the following purposes: • Determination of sources of nutrients in the watershed and the loading of nutrients from individual jurisdictions to Falls Lake; • Falls Lake response modeling; • Development of data for consideration of additional regulatory options; and • Linkage of water quality conditions in Falls Lake to the designated uses of the Lake. Attachment A identifies the locations of surface water sampling stations for both the jurisdictional and lake tributary nutrient loading determination projects. All of the data collected is available for review at the web site set up for this purpose: http://unrba-wgp.cardno.com/ Attachment C is an example of the results obtained from water quality samples collected in five streams that feed into the northern end of Falls Lake. Fairly significant variations in these nutrient concentrations are seen among the five streams, as well as over the course of the time interval shown for two of the streams listed. Attachment D illustrates variations in the volume of stream flow in three streams in the upper portion of the Falls Lake watershed. The combination of nutrient concentration and rate of streamflow in each individual stream determines the amount (loading) of nutrients entering Falls Lake, so a stream that contains a low concentration of nutrients (such as Eno River) could actually contribute more nutrient loading if its streamflow was significantly larger than a second stream with a higher concentration of nutrients (such as Ellerbe Creek). CardnoEntrix is also collecting data for the following Special Studies as part of the Falls Rules re-examination process: • Falls Lake Constriction Point Monitoring • High Flow Monitoring • Storm Event Sampling • Sediment Sample Analysis • Light Penetration Analysis • Volatile Suspended Sediment Determination • Survey of Recreational Use of Falls Lake • Model Performance Evaluation • Evaluation of Regulatory Options to Falls Lake Rules Project Outcomes • Determine sources of nutrients. • Quantify nutrient loading entering the lake • Examine nutrient related processes in the lake. • New data will be used in lake and water-shed re-modeling • Goal — more appropriate, achievable Stage II nutrient reduction goals Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a specific party responsible for determining the rules. Tom Davis said the legislature passed the enabling legislation, and the rules were enacted in 2011. He said the Division of Water Resources (DWR) is the body that wrote the rules. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the intent is to gather the data and provide it to the DWR so that the rules can be revised. Tom Davis said yes. 2. BMP Nutrient Credit Development CardnoEntrix is continuing to work on a project to develop nutrient reduction Best Management Practice (BMP) credits. The project will be beneficial to UNRBA member governments (including Orange County) by increasing the number of structural devices and other stormwater practices with known nutrient reduction values. These BMPs will then be available for affected parties to use to meet the required nutrient reduction goals under Stages I and II of the Falls Lake Rules. This is sometime referred to as increasing the number of nutrient reduction measures available in the "BMP tool box". Subject matter experts are developing nutrient credit values and practice standards for three "batches" of BMPs: BMP Batch 1: Infiltration Devices Filter Strips Soil Amendment BMP Batch 2: Bioretention Devices Land Conservation Pervious Area Nutrient Management Batch 3: Livestock Exclusion Riparian Buffers Elimination of Illicit Discharges After CardnoEntrix develops draft nutrient credits and practice standards for each of these BMPs, the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR) will evaluate this information and determine what nutrient reduction credit is appropriate for each BMP. Once this process is completed, affected parties, including local governments, will be able to utilize these BMPs to meet required nutrient reduction targets. Project Outcomes • Develop nutrient reduction credits for BMPs • Increase # of BMPs available to use in achieving required nutrient reductions 3. Development of Nutrient Credit Calculation Tool Also ongoing is the development of a spreadsheet-based tool for local governments to calculate nutrient reduction credits for specific on-site nutrient reduction measures, as well as for more regional programmatic practices such as street sweeping or fertilizer management. This tool will allow municipalities in the watershed to evaluate the impact of various nutrient reduction devices and practices at different locations in the watershed, allowing local governments to determine the most cost-effective means of meeting required nutrient reductions. Project Outcome • Ability to evaluate potential BMPs at different locations — maximize efficiency, cost effectiveness 4. Falls Lake Rules Review The Regulatory Reform Act of 2013 (HB74) mandated that all State rules expire within ten years of their effective dates, unless readopted. Currently, DWR is concluding an informal comment period for the Falls Lake Rules, which will be followed in 2016 by a public comment period. UNRBA is working to develop comments on the Falls Lake Rules that all UNRBA members can agree on. Several UNRBA local governments, including Orange County, have already submitted informal comments concerning these rules. A tentative schedule for ongoing UNRBA tasks is included as Attachment E. As can be seen from this schedule, the UNRBA anticipates continuing the studies discussed herein for the next several years. Stage II of the Falls Rules is the period extending from 2021 to 2036, with the overall goal of meeting nutrient related water quality standards throughout Falls Lake by 2041. This schedule may change as a result of the Rules Review process that is underway. Project Outcome • Continuing dialogue with DWR regarding Rules Tom Davis provided some water quality monitory data (graph). Tom Davis reviewed the upcoming UNRBA Schedule. Pam Hemminger said the UNRBA has worked with the Legislature, in an effort to get the Legislature to leave them alone. She said the ultimate goal is to make the lake cleaner. She said Orange County does not contribute a lot to the nutrient loading. She said the monitoring group is fascinating. She said the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have gone through some cutbacks, and this monitoring is vital for them to find out what the end result should be. She said the UNRBA has been at the table, and working with the various groups has been beneficial. She said the State has taken notice, and is using this as an example statewide. She said UNRBA has also been in the education business with developers and staff about how to implement these rules successfully. Chair McKee said he has heard many complimentary comments from other counties about Pam Hemminger's leadership as Chair of UNRBA. He said the fear from the agricultural community is that the burden of these reductions would come at the top of the lake, but that fear has been toned down. Pam Hemminger said Raleigh is asking for a bigger water allocation out of Falls Lake, and the UNRBA has researched extensively the implications this would have on all of their monitoring. She said Raleigh will receive an answer to this question in June 2016. Chair McKee said the need for an additional water source in Raleigh is driven by the population growth. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the group has had a discussion about Raleigh and Durham protecting land in the upper Eno using the same model for Falls Lake. Pam Hemminger said Raleigh participates with the Upper Neuse River Basin Initiative and has contributed to some studies. She said Durham has reallocated some resources including some monitoring stations. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there is a plan going forward to purchase conservation easements in agricultural areas or to help protect natural areas in the upper part of the water shed close to the municipalities. Tom Davis said with the potential BMPs, land conservation is included. He said it will be a great help if DWR approves a nutrient reduction credit for land conservation. Commissioner Jacobs said that would bring funds to bear. Pam Hemminger said they would get a better benefit by bringing funds to bear. Commissioner Jacobs noted a spelling mistake on page 10. Pam Hemminger said she had been the Chair of the UNRBA for six years, and it is important that someone other than Raleigh or Durham be in a leadership position. She is willing to train a new commissioner for a year or so, if needed. She is concerned about Orange County's interest in the UNRBA as the County has so much more agricultural issues. She will respect any decision the Board makes and would be happy to continue serving, but it is a large time commitment. She said it has been a wonderful experience, but a potential new representative would need to be brought up to speed. John Roberts said the UNRBA bylaws do not require anyone to roll off the Board over a period of time, and there is no conflict of interest. He said the decision is up to the BOCC, noting the BOCC appoints a Director and two alternate directors. Commissioner Jacobs asked the term limits of the Chair's office. Pam Hemminger said her officer term is done every January, and her term on the Board is for three years. Chair McKee said Pam Hemminger's offer to train a new appointee is a helpful one. Commissioner Rich asked if this appointment will come up in the near future. Chair McKee said the appointment would come up in December since Pam Hemminger's term ends at the end of November. 4. Orange Well Net (OWN) Update Tom Davis made the following PowerPoint presentation, and reviewed the background information below: Orange Well Net OWN Well Locations and Details (map and graphs) OWN Updates • Brumley Forest Preserve bedrock well • OWN data used to estimate groundwater recharge: • Water Table Fluctuation Method • USGS Groundwater Toolbox also used • Public outreach: • All OWN groundwater level data online • Basic information about water in Orange County - in prep • Means of maximizing well yield - in prep • OWN data and groundwater in Orange County— in prep BACKGROUND: DEAPR's groundwater observation well network, Orange Well Net (OWN), uses a combination of bedrock and regolith wells spread across the main types of bedrock geology present in Orange County. Regolith wells measure groundwater levels in the unconsolidated material present above bedrock to monitor natural stresses on the quantity of groundwater available in storage caused by variations in climatic conditions. Bedrock wells monitor changes in groundwater levels in the bedrock across the County. Groundwater level data collection is underway at seven bedrock wells and five regolith wells. In early 2015, a bedrock well on Triangle Land Conservancy property was added to the network. Attachment A is a listing of well construction details for the current OWN observation wells. Attachment B is a map showing the locations of the wells that are currently in use along with the underlying geology. All data collected by OWN is available to the public on the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR) web site provided below. The web site includes maps of well locations, geologic information, and statistical curves that provide monthly minimum, mean, and maximum groundwater level information for each well in the network. This information can be used to compare recent groundwater levels with historical values. http://www.ncwater.org/Data and Modeling/Ground Water Databases Staff plans to begin an outreach campaign on groundwater information for County residents in late 2015-early 2016. Informational outreach materials are being designed that will help residents learn a variety of useful information, from basic hydrologic concepts to measures for planning the installation of supply wells which may help increase the yield of water from these wells (please see Attachments C and D). These documents will be used in combination with data gathered from the OWN network to inform residents of common facts about hydrogeology, especially with regard to groundwater occurrence and usage. 6. Eno River Hydrilla Management Pilot Study Update Tom Davis reviewed the following information: BACKGROUND: Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive aquatic plant native to Asia that was first noted in the United States in the 1960s (Attachment A). Since then, hydrilla has spread rapidly in the U.S., reaching nuisance levels in many locations. Hydrilla has been called "the perfect aquatic plant" because it spreads rapidly, is able to reproduce in four different ways, grows in extremely low light, and is able to crowd out native aquatic vegetation. For many years hydrilla has been present in portions of the Eno watershed, including Lake Orange, Corporation Lake, and the West Fork of the Eno Reservoir. More recently, Eno River State Park staff noted that hydrilla is their "number one resource management problem in the Eno". Hydrilla causes negative water quality impacts, can be harmful to the river ecosystem, and adversely impacts the recreational experiences of people visiting the State Park and elsewhere. Hydrilla can be spread from one water body to another via watercraft or waterfowl. The plant can also be spread by people discarding aquarium materials into waterways. In 2011 the Eno River Hydrilla Management Task Force, comprised of local governments and state agencies, including the Aquatic Weed Program of the NC Division of Water Resources, began planning to address the hydrilla infestation in the Eno River. The Task Force agreed to conduct a two-year pilot study to examine the effectiveness of using a US Environmental Protection Agency-approved herbicide to manage hydrilla in a portion of the river. In April 2015 the Task Force hosted a public information open house in Hillsborough concerning the pilot study (Attachment B). Details were provided on the problem, the results of an Environmental Assessment for the proposed project, and the selection of a contractor to apply and monitor the herbicide in the Eno. Additional public outreach efforts were conducted throughout the watershed (Attachment C). Pilot study herbicide treatments in the Eno River began in late May 2015. Low stream flows over the summer aided in maintaining a consistent concentration of fluridone, the active ingredient in the herbicide, throughout the treatment zone, from Lawrence Road east of Hillsborough downstream to Roxboro Road in Durham. Monitoring of the concentration of fluridone in various locations along the river occurred throughout the duration of the study. Monitoring of native vegetation, snails, crayfish and fish above and within the treatment zone was also conducted before and during the hydrilla treatment. Bleaching of hydrilla was observed after just one week of herbicide treatments. Within four weeks, there was notable reduction in the density of hydrilla in the treatment zone. Further herbicide treatment resulted in dramatic differences in hydrilla density between the treatment area and the untreated area upstream. Nearly-complete removal of visible hydrilla vegetation was reported at locations within the area of treatment. The Eno Hydrilla Management Task Force will continue to evaluate data from surveys of the Eno River ecosystem both within and above the treatment zone. Native vegetation is responding positively. It is anticipated that the results of the first year of the pilot study will be overwhelmingly positive, and that the Task Force will proceed with the second year of treatment. Over the winter months, the Task Force will consider using a lower concentration of fluridone, starting the injection process earlier in the growing season, and adding a second injection location in order to further minimize the apparent impact to native plants. Following completion of the full two-year pilot study, the Task Force will begin to discuss long-term objectives for the management of hydrilla throughout the Eno River watershed. Lastly, the County recently completed a contract with the NC Division of Water Resources for the addition of sterile grass carp to Lake Orange, which is infested with hydrilla. Grass carp are routinely used to help control hydrilla in lakes and reservoirs. Chair McKee said all information should be put out to the public as soon as it comes in. Commissioner Jacobs said the expected effect of the fluridone on the natural environment was not specifically known. Tom Davis said toxicologists were consulted before the treatment started. He said the treatment zone was picked because it was below the water system in Hillsborough. Bonnie Hammersley said this is the last work session of 2015. She said she, Travis Myren, and Chief Financial Officer Gary Donaldson started working on the 2016-2017 budget workshops today, with the goal of making them more informative, to better meet the needs of the BOCC. A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to adjourn the meeting at 10:04 p.m. Earl McKee, Chair Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board