HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-15-2015 - 6a - Minutes 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 15, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-a
SUBJECT: MINUTES
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna Baker, 245-2130
Draft Minutes
PURPOSE: To correct and/or approve the minutes as submitted by the Clerk to the Board as
listed below:
November 17, 2015 BOCC Regular Meeting
BACKGROUND: In accordance with 153A-42 of the General Statutes, the Governing Board
has the legal duty to approve all minutes that are entered into the official journal of the Board's
proceedings.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: NONE
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve minutes as
presented or as amended.
1
I Attachment 1
2
3 DRAFT MINUTES
4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
5 REGULAR MEETING
6 November 17, 2015
7 7:00 p.m.
8
9 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday,
10 November 17, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
11
12 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs,
13 Mark Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich
14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager
17 Travis Myren and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will be identified
18 appropriately below)
19
20 Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
21
22 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda
23 Chair McKee asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of the tragic events in
24 Paris, France.
25 Chair McKee noted the following items at the Commissioners' places:
26 - Maps and charts for item 4-a: North Carolina Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) Statewide Master
27 plan, additional information from the State
28 - White sheet- revised abstract for item 7-b: FY 2015-16 Purchase of Vehicles through the
29 Vehicle Replacement Internal Service Fund
30 - PowerPoint slides for item 8-b: Orange County Slogan Selection Campaign
31 - Quarterly Public Hearing packet
32
33 PUBLIC CHARGE
34
35 Chair McKee dispensed with the reading of the public charge.
36
37 2. Public Comments
38
39 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda
40 NONE
41
42 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda
43 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the
44 agenda below.)
45
46 3. Announcements and Petitions by Board Members
47 Commissioner Dorosin petitioned the Board, saying the community is becoming more
48 diverse, and it is imperative to have staff that is bi-lingual in all County offices. He additionally
49 petitioned the County to offer Spanish training to its employees for free, and to have one person
50 in each department that is able to help out.
2
1 Commissioner Rich said some of the County ordinances do not address building tiny
2 houses, and she petitioned changing these ordinances to accommodate these new types of
3 houses.
4 Commissioner Rich said a gentleman spoke at the last Board of County Commissioners
5 (BOCC) meeting about food trucks. She noted that the County's current food truck ordinance is
6 outdated and petitioned staff to update this ordinance.
7 Commissioner Pelissier said she had no petitions, but supported those that have been
8 made thus far this evening.
9 Commissioner Burroughs said she had no petitions.
10 Commissioner Jacobs said the Board heard a report earlier this fall about the reaction to
11 fireworks by residents and asked if there is any follow up regarding the ability to enforce the
12 noise ordinance.
13 Commissioner Jacobs said there is a need for a guide about "farm uses" from the
14 County Attorney.
15 Chair McKee said Commissioner Jacobs' two items could be directed to the Manager for
16 updates. He referenced the guidance on farm uses, noting a request by a neighborhood on this
17 same item. He echoed the request for greater definition, as well as an overall update.
18 Commissioner Price said she had no petitions but noted that she attended a reconvened
19 group of interested citizens for discussion of Indigenous Peoples Day. She said the
20 Occoneechee Council has approved the draft resolution and she would rather wait until the
21 Town of Hillsborough approved it before sending it to our Board of County Commissioners.
22 Chair McKee said he preferred that Commissioner Price please send it out.
23 Commissioner Price said she would talk with the other author before sending out.
24 Chair McKee had no petitions.
25
26 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations
27
28 a. Presentation - N.C. Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) Statewide Master Plan
29 The Board considered receiving the presentation from staff of the N.C. Division of State
30 Parks on the recently completed Statewide Master Plan for the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST),
31 and providing direction and instruction to staff as needed.
32 David Stancil, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR)
33 Director, said the MST is part of the State Parks system stretching from the Tennessee Border
34 to the Outer Banks. He said a system master plan has been developed over the past year,
35 being published this summer. He said portions of this trail will go through Orange County. He
36 introduced Smith Raynor.
37 Smith Raynor, Piedmont Regional Trail Specialist with the State, made the following
38 PowerPoint presentation:
39
40 Mountains to Sea State Trail Master Plan
41 Orange County Board of Commissioners
42 November 17, 2015
43 North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
44
45 History of the Mountains to Sea State Trail
46 1973: Trails System Act
47 1977: Howard Lee proposed creating a trail connecting the mountains with the coast
48 1982: First segment dedicated in CapeHatteras National Seashore
49 2000: Authorized as a state trail and an official unit of the state parks system
50
3
1 State Trails in North Carolina
2 State trails are units of the state parks system.
3 Unlike traditional state parks, the state trails are constructed and managed by a variety of
4 partners.
5 o Mountains-to-Sea State Trail
6 o French Broad River State Trail
7 o Yadkin River State Trail
8 o Deep River State Trail
9 o Fonta Flora State Trail
10
11 Mountains to Sea State Trail
12 When complete...
13 1000+ miles long
14 Pass through more than 30 counties
15 Link numerous small towns, cities, national parks and forests, wildlife refuges and state
16 parks
17 Extend from Clingman's Dome to Jockey's Ridge State Park
18 "...a trail that would give North Carolina and national visitors a real feel for the sights, sounds
19 and people of the state." --Howard Lee
20
21 Mountains to Sea State Trail
22 Master Plan
23 Goals:
24 Promote completion of the MST by engaging stakeholders
25 Confirm the guiding vision and established corridor for the MST
26 Gather and consolidate information about each segment
27 Engage agencies, non-profit organizations and volunteers throughout the planning
28 process
29 Define and prioritize segments for future planning
30 Develop tools to support trail partners in planning, constructing, maintaining and
31 promoting the MST
32
33 Other Planning Efforts
34 Countywide planning: 19 counties along the MST planning corridor have developed plans to
35 support trails and recreation in their communities
36
37 Regional planning: The State Trails Program facilitated a series of regional plans organized
38 around various Councils of Government
39 Piedmont Triad COG Plan
40 High Country Regional Trail Concept Map
41 Isothermal Planning and Development Commission Trail Plan
42 Land of Sky COG Regional Trails Plan
43 Southwestern Commission COG
44 Western Piedmont COG Final Regional Trail Plan
45 Croatan Regional Trails Plan
46
47 Other Planning Efforts
48 State Trail Planning:
49 MST East Conceptual Plan
50 MST Eastern Piedmont Plan
4
1 MST Western Piedmont Plan
2 MST Johnston County Plan
3 Stone to Pilot Sub-section Master Plan
4
5 Other Planning Efforts (map)
6
7 State Trail Partners
8 State Parks:
9 Trail designation
10 Planning assistance
11 Trail signage
12 Administer RTP grant
13 Technical assistance
14 Promotion on state parks website
15 Section Sponsors:
16 Establish the trail alignment
17 Acquire land or easements needed for trail
18 Identify and address constraints in building and maintaining trail
19 Acquire funds
20 Coordinate trail construction, management and maintenance of the trail
21 Apply for trail designation
22 Promote the trail
23
24 Benefits of Regional Trails
25 Increased property values
26 Promote healthy living
27 Protect water quality
28 Provide recreational opportunities
29 Provide wildlife corridors and habitats
30 Encourage economic development
31 Contribute to a community's identity
32 Provide alternative transportation opportunities
33
34 Mountains to Sea Segments
35 Planned segments were prioritized using criteria to gauge readiness for further planning and
36 implementation.
37
38 Criteria included:
39 Connectivity
40 Available public land
41 Implementation challenges
42 Demonstrated demand for trail
43 Potential economic impact
44 Funding resources
45 Level of organized support and planning
46
47 Near Term Priority Segments
48 Cherokee to Balsam Gap 24 miles
49 Northeast Wilkes 25 miles
50 Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway 13 miles
5
1 Winston-Salem 30 miles
2 Haw River Trail 35 miles
3 Southwest Orange County 19 miles
4 Eno River 26 miles
5 Wayne County 39 miles
6
7 Near Term Priority Segments (map)
8
9 Orange County Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2030
10 The greatest interest for both programs and facilities was for walking/hiking/biking trails.
11 Recommendations of the master plan included:
12 Develop a master plan for the Orange County segment of the MST
13 Build more trails and connect open spaces
14 Improve access to parks and trails, and incorporate healthy lifestyles design
15
16 Mountains to Sea State Trail (photo)
17
18 Thank you
19 State Trails = Partnerships
20 State Trails Program
21 For additional information, please visit:
22 http://ncparks.gov/more-about-us/great-trails-state
23
24 Carol Tingley, North Carolina State Parks Deputy Director, referred to the Connect NC
25 Bond. She said this is a $2 billion proposal that will go before the voters in March 2016. She
26 said $75 million of these monies will be allocated to the State Parks systems and from that $4
27 million will go to the Mountains to Sea Trail. She said the bond money would be for land
28 acquisition and to target money for usable sections of the trail.
29 Chair McKee asked if there is a website for further information.
30 She said there is a link on both the Governor's and the State Parks' website.
31
32 PUBLIC COMMENT:
33 Alan Green said he is representing a group of local Friends of the MST members that
34 collectively authored the letter included in the Commissioners' packets. He said the petition
35 identifies several specific steps needed to make segment 11 of the MST a reality. He said
36 direct action by the Commissioners is necessary. He said the original State master plan did not
37 have segment 11 as short term but as long term. He thanked the Board of County
38 Commissioners for their letter to the State to reevaluate this project and noted Orange County
39 is now near term. He said the County needs to be proactive. He said their petition provides a
40 blueprint and he asked the Board to adopt it from the local Friends of the MST group.
41 Greg Smith read the following letter, which he sent to the Commissioners:
42
43 17 November 2015 Presentation to the BOCC
44 Charles Gregory Smith, 6701 Thunder Mountain, Efland NC 27243
45
46 Good evening, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners
47
48 My name is Greg Smith and I am a cosigner of the letter and petition you have received.
49 My wife, Linda, and I have lived in Orange County since 1974 and have been residents of the
50 Thunder Mountain Subdivision in Bingham Township for over three decades. During that time
6
1 we raised twin daughters who grew up roaming this beautiful property learning about nature
2 and all the intricate ecosystems found within its varied topography. In 1979, we began
3 purchasing several tracts of land adjacent to our Thunder Mountain property. Over the years
4 we have owned approximately 142 acres within the Cane Creek Watershed on the north side of
5 the reservoir.
6 In year 2000 we sold approximately 13.5 acres to Orange Water and Sewer Authority
7 (OWASA), and specified that the land could not be used for residential purposes with the goal
8 of keeping that tract as undeveloped buffer land to protect Cane Creek Reservoir. It was on
9 that land that we sighted a bobcat in the early morning mist and listened to the calls of great
10 horned owls in the evening. That beautiful tract, with a stream and large hardwoods, shares a
11 common corner with our land on Thunder Mountain. We support routing the MST through this
12 property, which we used to own and sold to OWASA.
13 I believe the OWASA property on the north side of the reservoir is an ideal route for the
14 MST because it is one of the most beautiful undeveloped tracts left in this area of Orange
15 County. It is rich in flora and fauna, the topography and ecosystems are varied, and the
16 surrounding private parcels are sparsely populated. Further subdivision is limited by watershed
17 restrictions, deed restrictions, and conservation easements. We currently own multiple tracts
18 within the Thunder Mountain subdivision, and to the west of Thunder Mountain. As long time
19 residents, we have grown to love all of these properties but realize that we are only stewards--
20 someone else will own them in the future. As we have in the past, we will continue to try to
21 make sure that the natural beauty and wildlife of these properties are conserved and protected
22 for future generations.
23 In March 2012, we hosted a community meeting at our home so that our neighbors
24 could learn about the MST and a proposal to route it through OWASA property to our south.
25 That meeting was well attended and we received positive feedback from many of our neighbors
26 following presentations by Kate Dixon, Executive Director of the Friends of the Mountains to the
27 Sea Trail, Rich Shaw from Orange County Parks and Recreation and others. In addition, a
28 number of legitimate concerns were raised by some at the meeting, which we evaluated and
29 discussed with many of our neighbors.
30 On September 18, 2012, our neighbor, Martha Keating spoke before the BOCC in
31 support of the MST and provided the Board with a consensus endorsement by ALL of the five
32 owners of Thunder Mountain property whose lots adjoin OWASA property. I am providing a
33 copy of that statement of support, which contained five caveats which I would like to re-read:
34 "Our five households do not oppose the MST and embrace the potential of having public
35 access to beautiful land that we have been fortunate enough to live near for many years.
36 Our support for this proposed section of the MST is contingent upon:
37 • The location of the trail being placed on the agreed upon alternate routes (farthest
38 from the houses) by the residents closest to the MST.
39 • MST being used as a footpath hike-through section (no bicycles, motorized
40 vehicles, horses, etc.);
41 • MST being open from dawn until dusk, with no overnight camping or fires
42 permitted,
43 • The county being able to provide a suitable location for parking at posted access
44 points to divert anyone from parking or accessing the MST from Thunder
45 Mountain;
46 • OWASA's commitment to preserve the scenic beauty of this land such that it is
47 not subjected to timbering;
7
1 Done properly, we believe this segment of the MST would have no significant adverse
2 impact to the water quality on Cane Creek Reservoir.
3 We believe this is a rare opportunity for the residents of this area of Orange County to
4 work together to be part of a positive legacy for generations to come."
5 1 have found that there is strong support within the Thunder Mountain community and
6 nearby for a segment of the MST to pass through the OWASA property on the north side of the
7 reservoir but all of our neighbors want to make sure that the private roads serving our
8 neighborhoods are not used as public access and parking areas for the trail.
9 1 believe these caveats of support are reasonable and can be accomplished as the county and
10 OWASA move forward on this legacy for future generations.
11 Thank you for the opportunity to come before you tonight to share my thoughts and
12 support for the Mountains to Sea Trail.
13
14 Charles Gregory Smith
15
16 Scott Zimmerman said he is here in support of the MST trail. He said he is here to get
17 this trail on the ground in Orange County. He urged the Board of County Commissioners to
18 approve this portion of the trail in Orange County as surrounding counties are doing. He
19 contacted OWASA and this communication is in the email packet. He said he understands that
20 OWASA is ready to act when the County is ready to act. He asked again for the Board of
21 County Commissioners to support and build this segment of the trail.
22 Howard Lee said he is here in support of the MST, and if one gets connected to this trail
23 one will never let it go. He said he is pleased and proud that this trail has lasted the test of
24 time. He said this trail would be an asset to North Carolina. He said he has walked segments
25 of the trail, and it is both beautiful and satisfying. He said he knows the Board of County
26 Commissioners has always supported the preservation of the environment and the promotion of
27 parks and trails. He said this would be one of the greatest investments Orange County could
28 make.
29 Glen Greenstreet said he wants to reiterate to the BOCC that the citizens of Orange
30 County are still very much in support of the MST. He encouraged the BOCC to move forward
31 with the pieces of trail that can be built immediately and to seek partnership with the volunteer
32 citizens of the County.
33 Bonnie Hauser said she would like to thank the Thunder Mountain community for their
34 support.
35 Commissioner Price said there is currently $500,000 in 2019 in the Capital Investment
36 Plan (CIP) for this park. She asked if there would be any impact in moving some funds up to be
37 used at an earlier time.
38 David Stancil said that is part of the CIP discussion and the funds, mentioned by
39 Commissioner Price, are designated for construction. He said this item has not been off the
40 radar and funding needs to be reassessed considering options such as volunteer construction.
41 He said such options could be explored and an updated report brought back to the Board at a
42 later date.
43 Commissioner Pelissier said to those that submitted the petitions that the item will be
44 sent to agenda review process to review and to respond.
45 Commissioner Pelissier said her property is part of the proposed trail and she wants the
46 MST in her backyard. She thanked the citizens who came to speak this evening.
47 Commissioner Burroughs referred to the State bond and asked if it is likely that local
48 money would need to be leveraged in order to receive the State money.
49 Carol Tingley said previous bond monies were used to purchase adjacent properties to
50 the trail to allow it to be furthered by local entities. She said she anticipates a similar scenario
8
1 with the upcoming bond funds, noting that options that provide the most bang for their buck are
2 optimal.
3 Commissioner Burroughs asked if there are currently barriers with OWASA.
4 David Stancil said there are several things: OWASA is supportive of the MST idea but
5 is unwilling to be a contributor financially to the project. He said there are certain segments of
6 the MST that are considered low hanging fruit and other areas that are challenges. He said
7 North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) had been instructed to allow the MTS to
8 be in the right of ways of certain roads.
9 Commissioner Burroughs said the Parks and Recreation Council (PARC) sent a letter to
10 the Board, which notes a reordering of priorities, which may place the MST in front of the
11 Millhouse Road Park.
12 David Stancil said DEAPR has been in touch with the Town of Chapel Hill and there may
13 be the flexibility to realign some projects and schedules; but they need to talk with the Manager
14 about this, who the stakeholders are, etc.
15 Commissioner Dorosin asked if David Stancil could help the BOCC itemize what needs
16 to be done in list form. He said he saw the list as follows:
17 - Draw the lines on a map- Identification
18 - Secure easements for access-acquisition (OWASA, private land owners, DOT, etc)
19 - Money to purchase easements
20 - Work with partners to allow use of their properties
21 David Stancil noted that the segment east of Hillsborough has been mostly secured. He
22 said the portion of the trail in question is really from Occoneechee Mountain south towards the
23 Orange-Alamance County line.
24 Commissioner Dorosin said the next step is to build the trail. He asked to see the slide
25 from the PowerPoint presentation regarding the responsibilities for maintaining the trail.
26 David Stancil said the main steps are identification, acquisition or permission,
27 construction, and maintenance.
28 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the State takes care of signage.
29 Carol Tingley said the State will provide signs.
30 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the $500,000 currently in the CIP is limited to one of the
31 main steps identified by David Stancil.
32 David Stancil said these funds are currently listed for construction but there is time each
33 year to change and adjust the CIP.
34 Commissioner Dorosin asked if Lands Legacy money could be used.
35 David Stancil said yes, and it is anticipated that it would be.
36 Commissioner Jacobs noted that citizens came to speak in support of this item tonight,
37 when in the past people had spoken against it. He is glad to see this change in perspective.
38 Commissioner Jacobs said he hears the public saying that waiting until 2019 to start this
39 project is too long. He asked if David Stancil could clarify the intent for staff to return with a
40 proposal to get started in the next fiscal year.
41 David Stancil said yes, adding that the idea is to take stock of this project and to bring
42 back a proposal to the Board of County Commissioners at a later date.
43 Commissioner Jacobs said he hopes staff would consider which segments would be
44 done first in order to address citizens' concerns.
45 Commissioner Pelissier asked the State if there were a lot of people that gave
46 easements or land so that purchasing could be avoided.
47 Carol Tingley said Alamance County is a good example as it has been successful at
48 receiving donations, purchasing easements, and leveraging the State bond monies. She said
49 Alamance also secured local grants and sponsorships.
9
1 Chair McKee referred to partnerships and sponsors and strongly encouraged
2 approaching businesses and other resources in order to leverage the money the County has.
3 Chair McKee asked if the process can proceed in 2016 is there a general timeline for
4 completion of the MST segment from Hillsborough to OWASA lands.
5 David Stancil said he does not know and that estimate would be part of the proposal
6 brought back by staff. He said he has a better sense of the length of the planning process,
7 which he thinks would take 3-6 months. He said there seems to be an impetus in the south and
8 the north of the County and it is the middle area that would be the biggest challenge.
9 Chair McKee asked if a timeline could be developed going forward.
10 David Stancil said yes, we can certainly do that.
11
12 5. Public Hearings
13 NONE
14
15 6. Consent Agenda
16 • Removal of Any Items from Consent Agenda
17 None
18
19 • Approval of Remaining Consent Agenda
20
21 A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to
22 approve the remaining items on the Consent Agenda.
23
24 VOTE: UNAIMOUS
25 Discussion and Approval of the Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
26
27 a. Minutes
28 The Board approved the minutes as submitted by the Clerk to the Board for the October 13,
29 2015 BOCC Work Session; the October 15, 2015 BOCC — JPA Meeting; the October 15, 2015
30 BOCC Joint Meeting with Town of Carrboro; and the October 20, 2015 BOCC Regular Meeting.
31 b. Fiscal Year 2015-16 Budget Amendment#3
32 The Board approved budget, grant, and capital project ordinance amendments for fiscal year
33 2015-16 for Social Services; Health Department; Cooperative Extension; Animal Services;
34 Department on Aging; Economic Development; Library Services; Technical Amendment;
35 Orange Rural Fire Department; and Orange County Schools Capital Project Ordinances.
36
37 7. Regular Agenda
38
39 a. New Interlocal Agreement between Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill to
40 Continue Funding the "Launch Chapel Hill" Small Business Incubator
41 The Board considered approving a new Interlocal Agreement between the County and
42 Town of Chapel Hill that extends the County's Article 46 funding support for entrepreneurial
43 development to continue supporting the existing "Launch Chapel Hill" innovation center located
44 at 321 West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill, and authorizing the Manager to sign.
45 Steve Brantley, Orange County Economic Development Department Director, said this
46 item proposes a new local agreement between Orange County and Chapel Hill for the LAUNCH
47 incubator. He reviewed the attachments in the Commissioners' agenda packet.
48 Steve Brantley reviewed the history of the interlocal agreement.
49
50 BACKGROUND:
10
1 Steve Brantley said as part of the Board of County Commissioners' strategic planning in
2 2011 to utilize Article 46 funding to support key economic development priorities, the
3 importance of growing and retaining entrepreneurial start-up talent in Orange County was
4 included. The Board sought to reverse the historic trend where promising, growth-oriented start-
5 up companies originating out of the University of North Carolina would eventually relocate to
6 adjacent counties over time. The County contracted with the department head of UNC Chapel
7 Hill's Department of City & Regional Planning (Dr. Emil Malizia) in 2011 & 2012, who conducted
8 a regional real estate assessment of average lease costs, ideal space needs and working
9 environments that start-up companies seek throughout their developmental life span. A key
10 recommendation from the consultant report highlighted a severe shortage of competitively
11 priced incubator facilities here in the County, and suggested the development of an innovation
12 center to better retain entrepreneurial talent coming from the University and local community.
13 In March 2012, available property located at 321 West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill
14 was identified as a potential incubator location, and the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County
15 began working collaboratively to support further development of an innovation center at this
16 site.
17 On April 3, 2012, the Board of County Commissioners received a summary of the
18 potential economic development project during closed session. Following this report, the Board
19 agreed to continue moving forward on this opportunity.
20 In July 2012, Orange County prepared a draft Interlocal Agreement outlining the
21 commitments of both parties. The final version of the Interlocal Agreement was signed by the
22 County and Town in late 2012, establishing an initial 3 '/2 year term where both local
23 governments would provide a 50/50 co-share of the lease cost for the facility. The County's
24 cost, paid by Article 46 funds, was $10,000 per quarter, or $140,000 total. "Launch Chapel Hill"
25 eventually took form at 321 West Rosemary Street by accepting the initial group of student
26 tenants, and officially opening on May 1, 2013. In addition, UNC Chapel Hill's close mentoring
27 support expanded into becoming a financial backer, and a conduit to attract private venture
28 capital support for Launch.
29 On November 4, 2015 the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was recognized
30 among the top five best performing university business accelerators in North America, based on
31 a 2015 benchmark study by UBI Global, a thought leader in performance analysis of business
32 incubators around the world.
33 A memorandum (see attachment 1) from Launch Program Manager Dina Rousset
34 outlines the incubator's recent success stories, a list of current entrepreneur companies, and a
35 brief survey of private funding raised by many of these start-up firms. This summary describes
36 how Launch
37 "brings in a cohort or class of 6- 10 companies every six months (January & July).
38 Bringing companies in as cohorts allows us to most effectively and efficiently serve their needs.
39 We have traditionally received 3 applications per available space at Launch. Selection is made
40 by a selection committee made up of the Entrepreneurs in Residence, Launch graduates, and
41 university and town representatives. The number of companies we are able to accept is based
42 on the size of the teams and the number of seats we have available. As each new class or
43 cohort comes into the program we look to identify both those that are not performing and those
44 that are growing and have secured funding to move out into space in the community."
45 With the original 2012 Interlocal Agreement expiring on December 31, 2015, the small
46 business incubator is now seeking a continuation of support from the County and Town. The
47 proposal is to sign a 2-year lease (January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017) to fund
48 "Launch" at the current location, and allow the option for a third year (January 1, 2018 through
49 December 31, 2018). This allows some flexibility if UNC, also a financial supporter of Launch, is
50 able to bring together a larger combined space within two years.
11
1 This proposal outlines a new 3-year economic development relationship where the
2 County and Town continue backing the existing "Launch Chapel Hill" innovation center located
3 at 321 West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill. The County's total financial commitment to be paid
4 from Article 46's entrepreneurial development category is $120,000 over the next 3 years.
5 The draft Interlocal Agreement (see attachment 2) was prepared by the County Attorney and is
6 similar to the small business incubator's original 2012 Interlocal Agreement. The new document
7 has also been reviewed by the Town's Attorney and will be presented to the Chapel Hill Town
8 Council for review on November 17, 2015.
9 Steve Brantley said the proposed new Interlocal Agreement requires Orange County to
10 contribute $10,000 per quarter for three years, or, a total of$120,000 from January 1, 2016
11 through December 31, 2018. This is the same level of funding support, per quarter, as
12 approved in the current Interlocal Agreement with Chapel Hill. County funding is provided by
13 Article 46 proceeds and not from the General Fund.
14
15 PUBLIC COMMENT:
16 Meg McGuirk is the Executive Director of the Downtown Partnership, which is the fiscal
17 agent for Launch, as well as the holder of the sublease of the property. She urged the Board to
18 continue to support this project financially and spiritually. She said in the three years since its
19 inception, 49 start-ups have come through Launch. She said this commitment to start-ups has
20 put the County on the global map for small businesses and their growth.
21 Dina Rousset thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its continued support of
22 Launch, of which she is the Director. She said this project has brought together Orange
23 County, the Town of Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina (UNC), and a private donor;
24 and as a result, this area is becoming known for start-ups.
25 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the number of start-ups remaining in Orange County is
26 known.
27 Dina Rousset said this information is surveyed at the end of the calendar year, noting
28 that at the end of 2014 about 75 percent remained locally.
29 Commissioner Jacobs asked if staff would help in the survey process, to gather why 25
30 percent of businesses are leaving.
31 Dina Rousset said they would welcome that assistance going forward. She said one of
32 the main issues is affordability. She said the Economic Development Department is helping in
33 this area.
34 Commissioner Rich expressed her thanks for the hard work and for the staff being so
35 positive with Launch. She said it shows how partnerships can work.
36 Commissioner Pelissier said given the interest with the living wage issue, she would like
37 to see Launch encouraging the start-ups to pay a living wage.
38 Commissioner Burroughs said when there is updated data to please share it with the
39 Board.
40 Chair McKee asked if Launch is becoming space constrained.
41 Dina Rousset said space has been an issue for some time. She said there are currently
42 18 companies that share many spaces and a larger space will continue to be sought.
43 Chair McKee asked if larger facilities would allow for larger and more start-ups to begin.
44 Dina Rousset said yes.
45
46 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Price to
47 approve a new Interlocal Agreement between the County and Town of Chapel Hill that extends
48 the County's Article 46 funding support for entrepreneurial development to continue supporting
49 the existing "Launch Chapel Hill" innovation center located at 321 West Rosemary Street in
50 Chapel Hill, and authorize the Manager to sign.
12
1
2 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
3
4 b. FY 2015-16 Purchase of Vehicles through the Vehicle Replacement Internal
5 Service Fund
6 The Board considered approving the final list of County vehicles to be purchased
7 through the Internal Service Fund in FY 2015-16, and approving a Reimbursement Resolution
8 that allows the County to advance funds for the initial purchase and then reimbursing itself from
9 a planned December 2015 financing package.
10 Gary Donaldson, Orange County Chief Financial Officer, said there is a revised abstract
11 and three attachments:
12 • Project list
13 • Sheriff's justification listing
14 • Reimbursement
15 Gary Donaldson reviewed the following information:
16 The BOCC initially established the Vehicle Replacement Internal Service Fund during
17 FY 2012-13 for County vehicle purchases. The Internal Service Fund is an accounting device
18 used to accumulate and allocate costs internally among the functions of the County. County
19 department vehicle purchases occur through this Fund instead of through departments' General
20 Fund operating budgets. The Internal Service Fund centralizes all vehicle purchases, which will
21 improve the ability to monitor vehicle acquisition and associated costs.
22 In June 2015, staff presented to the BOCC a list of vehicles recommended for purchase
23 for FY 2015-16 and committed to bringing back a final list for Board consideration and approval
24 this fall.
25 The list coincides with and outlines the vehicles funding amounts approved as part of
26 the FY 2015-16 Budget Ordinance. The total amount of the vehicles to be purchased is
27 $793,209. The only change from the recommended list provided to the BOCC in June 2015 and
28 this final list is a reduction of two (2) Dodge Chargers and the addition of two (2) Harley
29 Davidson Police Package motorcycles (See Attachment 2). These motorcycles will be used for
30 traffic enforcement, but also used for a wide variety of other functions, including but not limited
31 to:
32 • a highly visible presence while patrolling rural neighborhoods,
33 • traffic control for special events, speed enforcement in problem areas,
34 • collaborative efforts with neighboring enforcement agencies,
35 • special events at area schools,
36 • County functions where traditional patrol vehicles are less effective, and
37 • to promote highway safety and education programs for high school students.
38
39 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact of the purchase of twenty-two (22) replacement
40 vehicles is $794,000. Twenty-one (21) vehicles will be purchased with installment financing,
41 while one (1) of the motorcycle units of$22,000 will be purchased with available drug forfeiture
42 funds. The installment financing will be part of a preliminary financing package to be presented
43 to the BOCC in December 2015. The attached Reimbursement Resolution (Attachment 3)
44 allows the County to advance funds for the initial purchase, and then reimburse itself from the
45 financing proceeds. This is necessary in order to receive 2015 State contract pricing, which
46 expires on December 8, 2015.
47
48 Gary Donaldson said the County is seeking to take advantage of State financing which
49 expires on December 8, 2015, and staff will be coming back with a lengthier list of projects for
50 financing.
13
1 Commissioner Rich clarified that the only change is the numbers going from 791 to 793.
2 Gary Donaldson said a new vehicle is being added to the list.
3
4 A motion was made by Commissioner Burroughs, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier
5 for the Board to approve the final list of County vehicles to be purchased through the Internal
6 Service fund for FY 2015-16 and approve the reimbursement resolution.
7
8 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
9
10 c. Amendment to Orange County Property Naming Policy
11 The Board considered discussing amending the Orange County Property Naming Policy
12 and adopting the policy as amended.
13 Bonnie Hammersley read the information below from the abstract:
14 On September 1, 2015 Commissioner Barry Jacobs petitioned that the Orange County
15 Property Naming Policy be amended. Specifically, Commissioner Jacobs requested that the
16 amendment to the policy include:
17 • The addition of language to the policy will provide the BOCC the ability to consider and
18 adopt naming a "room" within a County property. This language has been included in
19 the attached amended policy. Attachment 1
20 • The addition of language to the policy will provide the BOCC the ability to consider and
21 adopt naming a County property for a person that secures funding for the
22 construction/development of a building or facility.
23 She said this language has been included in the attached amended policy, Attachment
24 1.
25 Commissioner Price said she had also petitioned the Board about a naming policy
26 change.
27 Bonnie Hammersley said she understood Commissioner Price's petition was not about
28 amending the policy and recalled the Chair-Vice Chair having responded to the petition some
29 time ago.
30 Commissioner Price said her petition was based on a response from citizens about the
31 Senior Center and sought to name a room after someone that is still living.
32 Bonnie Hammersley said that petition would require an amendment as well and the
33 Board could discuss it this evening, if needed.
34 Commissioner Price said she would like to make the request that the Board have this
35 discussion this evening.
36 Commissioner Jacobs said what the manager is proposing covers Commissioner Price's
37 petition as the amendment reflects the issue of room naming and the issue of naming if funds
38 are secured.
39 Commissioner Jacobs said Bonnie Hammersley incorporated both petitions in this
40 proposed amendment.
41 Commissioner Dorosin said he does not think the proposed amendment incorporates
42 both petitions. He said a facility cannot be named after someone except for the two exceptions
43 of funds having been donated or the leasing of a property that is already named. He said if
44 someone was still living and had not donated funds, the building could not be named after
45 them.
46 John Roberts said that is the correct reading. He referred to 2.1.7 that noted the Board
47 of County Commissioners could make exceptions to the policy at any later date or add
48 language now.
49 Commissioner Price said she read the proposed amendment the same way as
50 Commissioner Dorosin and it seems 2.1.2 contradicts 2.1.5.
14
1 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the Board can make exceptions at any time, why amend
2 it in the first place.
3 Commissioner Jacobs said it is good to have specificity. He suggested taking a portion
4 of the 2.1.2 and put it as an exception under 2.1.5. He said he assumed they were doing both
5 for living people and those who secure funds. He said creating a 2.1.5 a, and b, and c should
6 cover all points.
7 Commissioner Price said that is agreeable.
8 Chair McKee said to move 2.1.2, leaving out to include buildings, and make it under
9 2.1.5.
10 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a reason that facilities cannot be named after
11 living persons.
12 Commissioner Burroughs said sometimes the advantage of the naming a facility after a
13 deceased person is that their life is complete and known. She noted the example of a school
14 sports field being named after a living coach, who was later found to be a pedophile.
15 Commissioner Jacobs said naming facilities after living people can become political,
16 whereas those who are deceased are more of a matter of community consensus to honor
17 someone. He said this was to avoid the difficulties of honoring a living person who may not be
18 the most deserving.
19 Chair McKee said the Board still has the ability to make exceptions.
20 Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciated the points Commissioner Burroughs and
21 Commissioner Jacobs made. He said he personally believes in honoring people who are still
22 living.
23
24 PUBLIC COMMENT:
25 Good evening. I am Beverly Blythe, and tonight I come before you with a resolution that
26 deals with the renaming of County buildings. The Friends of the Senior Center for Central
27 Orange Board had extended an invitation to the BOCC to attend our meeting last September,
28 and Chair Earl McKee and the County Manager were gracious enough to attend. At that time
29 we indicated we had a resolution in support of renaming the Central Senior Center, and you
30 asked us to wait and present it at the same time the changes came before the Board on this
31 policy. Each of you has been given a copy, and I have extras if someone in the audience would
32 like a copy. (Beverly Blythe read the resolution, which is incorporated by reference, and is
33 located in the permanent record of the meeting in the Clerk's office.)
34 We had discussed naming the rooms and there was strong opposition to doing that.
35 We try to make it easy for our participants to locate the various classes, and this would only
36 make it more difficult for our older population.
37 1 have given you a summary of the 3.5 pages of accomplishments for Jerry Passmore,
38 and would challenge anyone to come up with a more impressive record. Jerry is still helping
39 our center by planning our cruises, which are always sold out, and is one of our fundraising
40 events for the Center. Our Las Vegas night event, which Jerry is responsible for planning, is
41 also one of our most successful fundraising events. He also does the TV program "In Praise of
42 Age" as a volunteer. Not only did he devote 35 years, he is still devoting his time and talents to
43 our center.
44 1 ask you again to please consider renaming the Central Orange Senior Center the Jerry
45 M. Passmore Center, while he is still alive, and give him the honor he deserves. I am simply
46 asking that you do the right thing. Thank you.
47
48 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Price for the
49 Board to adopt the Orange County Property Naming Policy as amended tonight, and refer Ms.
50 Blythe's petition to agenda review.
15
1
2 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
3
4 8. Reports
5
6 a. Update on Living Wage Policies
7 The Board considered receiving an update on Orange County's living wage policies and
8 various living wage activities across the state, discussing potential initiatives related to the living
9 wage based on information from staff and the County Attorney, and providing direction to staff
10 on next steps regarding potential County living wage policy initiatives.
11 Travis Myren said this is a coordinated effort between him and John Roberts. He noted
12 there is a summary memo in the Commissioners' packet, as well as the abstract.
13
14 BACKGROUND:
15 The Board of County Commissioners has for some time maintained its support for the
16 living wage. This has included the implementation of a living wage policy for all
17 County employees, as well as potential development of living wage policies that would be
18 applicable to those doing business with the County.
19 Staff has provided a memorandum as Attachment 1 that provides an overview of the
20 County's current living wage policies as well as activities related to the living wage across the
21 state.
22 The Board also previously asked staff, and specifically the County Attorney, for
23 information regarding a potential policy requiring contractors doing business with Orange
24 County to pay their employees a living wage. The County Attorney notes that in 2013, the North
25 Carolina General Assembly limited the authority of counties and cities by amending §153A-449,
26 which authorizes contracting with private contractors, to include a new sentence, "A county may
27 not require a private contractor under this section to abide by any restriction that the county
28 could not impose on all employers in the county, such as paying minimum wage or providing
29 paid sick leave to its employees, as a condition of bidding on a contract." (Emphasis added)
30 Travis Myren made the following PowerPoint presentation:
31
32 ORANGE COUNTY
33 Living Wage Policy Update
34 Presentation to the Board of Orange County Commissioners
35 November 17, 2015
36
37 Living Wage Policy Update
38 • Summary Memo
39 o Legal analysis provided by County Attorney
40 • County Roles in Living Wage Policy
41 o County as an Employer
42 o County as a Purchaser of Goods and Services
43 o County as a Community Leader
44 • Policy Considerations and Next Steps
45
46 County as an Employer
47 Living Wage Policy for Employees
48 o Adopted as part of the Budget
49 o Calculated at 7.5% above the Federal Poverty Rate for a family of four
50 Consistent with other surrounding local governments
16
1 Formula would have resulted in a wage rate of$12.53
2 Existing rate is higher - $12.76 per hour— maintained until formula
3 exceeds existing rate
4 o Applies to all regular, part time, and temporary employees
5 o Impacted 124 temporary employees
6
7 County as Purchaser of Goods and Services
8 Legal Restrictions
9 o Policies cannot apply to private companies as a condition of bidding on a
10 contract— cannot apply to goods or services which are competitively bid
11 o Current law does not require competitive bidding on certain purchases:
12 Construction contracts under $30,000
13 ■ Approximately 60 per year - $15,000 to $20,000 cost impact
14 Supplies and Apparatus under $30,000
15 ■ Examples include office supplies, computer equipment, some
16 vehicles
17 ■ Policy application challenging
18 Service contracts in any amount
19
20 County as Purchaser of Goods and Services
21 Service Contracts
22 o Solicitation process
23 Services cannot be solicited through a bid process
24 Limited to Request for Qualifications
25 ■ Vendor qualifications paramount— architects, engineers, other
26 professional consulting services
27 ■ No comparative price information during initial solicitation
28 o Cost Impact
29 No existing comprehensive analysis of service contractors
30 Social Services cost estimated to be $260,000 to provide existing levels
31 of service
32
33 County as Community Leader
34 Living Wage Certification Programs
35 o Just Economics of Western Carolina
36 Voluntary certification program
37 Calculated using Fair Market Rents
38 o Durham Living Wage Project
39 Voluntary certification program
40 Calculated using Federal Poverty Level
41 o Orange County Living Wage
42 Voluntary certification program
43 Orange County enrolled as one of the first living wage employers
44 Calculated using Fair Market Rent = $12.75 per hour
45
46 Policy Considerations and Next Steps
47 Review Calculation Methodology
48 o Federal Poverty Rate
49 Criticized for outdated metrics; insensitive to local economy
50 Frequently used; adjusts for family size
17
1 o Housing Costs/Fair Market Rent
2 Family size not considered
3 Viewed as more locally sensitive
4 Service Contracts - Policy Development
5 o More comprehensive review of cost implications
6 o Create profile of service providers to guide policy development
7 Scope of application — non-profits?
8 Exemptions — small firms?
9 Report back prior to budget development
10
11 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the estimated $260,000 increase from Department of
12 Social Services (DSS) is for contractors. He asked if it is fair to assume that the $260,000
13 increase is related to contractors being paid less than a living wage.
14 Travis Myren said this cost increase is primarily driven by DSS in home aide contracts.
15 Commissioner Jacobs said he has objected over the years for not paying sufficient
16 wages to in home health care workers. He said the County is taking advantage of the fact that
17 others are not paying a living wage to get a service that the County needs.
18 Chair McKee asked if the Fair Market calculation is the more viable option given the
19 disparities between the cost of living in different areas.
20 Travis Myren said the Fair Market calculation is considered more realistic at the local
21 level.
22 Commissioner Rich asked if the County can require recipients of a County contract for
23 less than $30,000 to pay their employees a living wage.
24 John Roberts said this is true for certain contracts, but for service contracts it can be
25 higher. He said there are no bidding requirements on service contracts. He said the only
26 problem of making a living wage requirement on larger contracts is there is no bidding process,
27 and thus the lowest cost for the service cannot be obtained.
28 Commissioner Rich said there is a lot of money spent on larger projects yet the County
29 cannot tell these contractors to pay a living wage; but this requirement can be made for smaller
30 contractors.
31 John Roberts said the jail is being built with a Construction Manager at Risk (CMR),
32 which is a request for qualifications process rather than a bid procedure.
33 Commissioner Rich said it seems that all cannot be given a fair living wage because of
34 the State.
35 John Roberts said in 2013, the City of Asheville had a living wage policy that applied to
36 contracts under $30,000, which they intended to expand to all contracts. He said the State
37 implemented the restrictions at this time.
38 Commissioner Pelissier asked Travis Myren if he could provide more analysis and the
39 implications for the non-profits. She said many non-profit agencies provide invaluable services.
40 She asked if it is possible to know how many non-profits pay a living wage.
41 Travis Myren said most of the living wage policies address those that are working on a
42 County contract.
43 Commissioner Pelissier said this could create issues for a non-profit.
44 Commissioner Burroughs asked if Commissioner Pelissier is referring to non-profits
45 being given grants or contracted funds.
46 Commissioner Pelissier said she was referred to the Outside Agency Process.
47 Travis Myren said some living wage policies apply to grants but the Board could choose
48 to change this.
49 Commissioner Burroughs said non-profits should be paying a living wage and the policy
50 should be extended to them as well.
18
1 Commissioner Jacobs expressed thanks for the clear and in depth analysis. He said he
2 had given John Roberts a 1998 BOCC document which shows Orange County has been a
3 leader in this area for a long time.
4 Commissioner Jacobs said the key component of any Master Aging Plan is aging in
5 place, and that requires in home healthcare. He said these providers may not be the most
6 educated people but they provide an invaluable service. He said if living wage policies are
7 applied to non-profits it will only be for the funds that are connected to the County, not the non-
8 profit's entire budget.
9 Commissioner Dorosin urged the Board to pursue this policy. He said the two metrics
10 come out one cent a part. He said service contracts should be included in the policy. He said
11 the question about non-profits needs to be more nuanced and giving grants is different from
12 contracts. He asked if it is known how the Board's colleagues, such as the ABC Commission,
13 OWASA, and the Sportsplex, are handling this issue. He asked if staff could follow up and get
14 status reports.
15 Commissioner Dorosin said the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) has a $2
16 million surplus and is the one elected body that is not paying a living wage. He said the County
17 should be working encouraging CHCCS to pursue paying a living wage.
18 Commissioner Rich said OWASA was certified as a living wage employer.
19 Commissioner Rich said she does not think monies to pay a living wage should come
20 from a reserve fund.
21 Commissioner Dorosin said all public employees should receive medical benefits,
22 retirement, etc.
23 Chair McKee said it should be noted that even with the living wage one does not have
24 much more than subsistence income. He said considering the cost of living in Orange County,
25 a $12.76 per hour wage allows one to just get by. He said is very supportive of this but has
26 extreme reservations about carving out exemptions.
27 Commissioner Price said as the Board proceeds with this issue it would be good to see
28 what the living wage would need to be if the cost of living allowance (COLA) goes up. She said
29 perhaps incremental analysis would be useful.
30 Travis Myren said staff could prepare a historic analysis of how fair rental markets have
31 increased over time and at what rate they may be expected to increase in the future.
32 Travis Myren said the federal poverty rate calculation would have produced an hourly
33 rate of$12.53. He said the County was already at an hourly rate of$12.76 and chose to
34 remain there.
35 Commissioner Rich said this issue is discussed every year during the budget process
36 and suggested taking that information and working it into the analysis.
37 Commissioner Jacobs asked if Travis Myren could track Orange County's living wage in
38 his historical analysis.
39
40 PUBLIC COMMENT:
41 Mark Marcoplos said he agreed with Chair McKee that the living wage is a subsistence
42 wage and when one's income drops down below the living wage, one must start using social
43 services. He said it is important to consider all the elements of the equation.
44
45 b. Update on the Campaign for a New "Welcome" to Orange County Interstate Sign
46 The Board considered receiving an update on the campaign for a new "Welcome to
47 Orange County" interstate sign, providing any comments or questions to staff and
48 acknowledging that staff will move forward with the campaign.
49 Laurie Paolicelli, Orange County Community Relations and Tourism Department
50 Director, said this sign project is really a symbol of how the County sees itself and how the
19
1 County wants travelers and residents to see Orange County. She reviewed the following
2 information:
3
4 BACKGROUND:
5 Orange County has an opportunity to change the North Carolina Department of
6 Transportation (NCDOT) "Welcome to Orange County" Interstate sign, currently located on
7 Interstate 40 at mile marker 269 heading west. The sign is damaged and is currently slated for
8 replacement. The current sign welcomes interstate travelers with the message "Orange County:
9 You'll Be a Fan for Life". Community Relations will launch a local contest asking residents to
10 vote for which slogan should be used on the new replacement sign.
11 Orange County, together with a media partner, will offer six (6) signs that the community
12 can vote on, rather than an "open slogan naming". Providing six (6) slogans for the public is a
13 format that is based on past programs of NCDOT that became contentious as a result of the
14 anonymous curtain of the internet (see Attachment 1). NCDOT initiated a contest asking for
15 public input to name the 1-40/440 rebuild project in Raleigh that began in 2015. NCDOT found
16 that the general public that became interested had a sense of humor. What started out in a
17 serious vein quickly took a distinct twist when the unexpected quirky responses started pouring
18 in (see Attachment 2).
19 Orange County Community Relations suggests working with media partner, Chapelboro
20 & WCHL, to have the public vote for their favorite slogan via various forms of media including
21 Chapelboro and WCHL Radio. To provide a wider reach, the department will also utilize social
22 media and WHUP Radio Hillsborough. Using radio and social media as the point of collection is
23 the most efficient and cost effective way to engage residents AND gain valuable feedback over
24 an 8-week period. The goal is to use the talents and creativity of Orange County residents,
25 encourage community engagement and develop a new slogan. The format will be set-up so that
26 people can "Like" specific slogans and suggest others. After the contest ends, the BOCC will
27 review the entries according to a list of criteria drawn up beforehand - and determine the
28 winning slogan.
29 Laurie Paolicelli made the following PowerPoint presentation:
30
31 Orange County Slogan Selection Campaign
32
33 5 objectives
34 1. Community engagement
35 2. Pride of ownership
36 3. Media exposure
37 4. Re-brand
38 5. New sign
39
40 Two Options:
41 1. Open Ended Contest
42 Invite ALL Submissions
43 OR.........
44 2. Offer FIVE signs to vote on
45
46 NCDOT CONTEXT TO NAME 1-40/440 Rebuild
47 What started out in a serious vein quickly took a twist when the responses started pouring in.
48 The five finalists were:
49 Carmuda Triangle
50 Crawleigh
20
1 South-Wake Remake
2 Southern Discomfort
3 Wake-Over
4 The new name became Crawleigh with almost a 50% vote. NC-DOT apparently prefers the
5 name FORTIFY 1-40.
6
7 The entries that received an honorable mention:
8 1. Lane-Sanity
9 2. Fortyfication
10 3. 1-40; Duke-0
11 4. Tar Hell
12 5. 40 Shades of Congestion
13 6. Lanes of Pain
14 7. Shouldhavebuiltalightrailinstead
15 8. Lordylordygetmeoffforty
16 9. Numb Buns
17 10. Constructipation —Waiting for traffic to get moving again
18 11. Y'all Crawl
19
20 Suggestions for Orange County Signage (5 slides):
21 Welcome to Orange County. Where the past is always present.
22 Welcome to Orange County, North Carolina. Founded in 1752 in the heart of North Carolina.
23 Welcome to Orange County, North Carolina. Around the corner. Ahead of the Curve.
24 Welcome to Orange County. You'll be a fan for life!
25 Welcome to Orange County, North Carolina. Opportunity grows here.
26 Welcome to Orange County, North Carolina. Progress is our heritage.
27 Welcome to Orange County. Deep Roots. Still Growing.
28 Welcome to Orange County. Laid Back. Forward Thinking.
29 Welcome to Orange County. Our history inspires innovation.
30
31 Three Choices
32 1. Offer suggested signs and have citizens vote.
33 2. Open ended submission of ideas.
34 3. Give them 3 suggestions and ask them for their ideas.
35
36 Proposed Timeframe
37 Seven Weeks— November 22, 2015— January 9, 2016
38 1. Article about need and desire for a new sign and slogan (sample next page)
39 2. Weekly updates about progress and prize winners
40 3. Digital ads asking for feedback (sample next page)
41
42 Proposed Plan in Newsletters to Chapelboro Insiders
43 Digital ads and mentions on:
44 • Two issues of "Top 10 News Stories"
45 • Two issues of "Top 10 Things to Do"
46
47 Proposed Plan on WCHL
48 Seven Weeks— November 22, 2015— January 9, 2016
49 1. On-Air Interviews (2) with Commissioners and Aaron Keck or Ron Stutts to discuss
50 slogan selection
21
1 2. Thirty second commercials during The Morning Show with Ron Stutts and The
2 Afternoon News with Aaron Keck
3 Total of 2/day for 7 weeks = 70 spots
4
5 Proposed Plan on Facebook
6 Seven Weeks— November 29, 2015— January 9, 2016
7 1. Posts that include images of all the slogans being considered
8 2. Facilitation and encouragement to participate (using Chapelboro, newsletters, radio and
9 FB boosts)
10 3. Selection and notification of prize winners
11 4. Compilation of results
12
13 Prizes
14 To encourage participation, we will give:
15 1. At least one prize each week (restaurant gift card, movie tickets, etc.)
16 2. A big prize at the end (fun weekend stay-cation)
17 During the week, winners will be drawn randomly from all who have given slogan feedback.
18
19 Promotion Summary for November 22— January 9
20
21 1. Chapelboro articles and ads
22 2. Newsletter ads and mentions
23 3. WCHL spots and interviews
24 4. Facebook polling and feedback
25 5. Optional survey on Chapelboro
26
27 Laurie Paolicelli said the media plan will not reach the far northern parts of the County,
28 but this need will be addressed by an additional sponsorship with Womack, Beven Enterprise
29 and Usable Orange.
30 Laurie Paolicelli said that the final signage decision would lie with the Board of County
31 Commissioners.
32 Chair McKee asked if the radio station in Hillsborough had been contacted.
33 Laurie Paolicelli said yes, and it is eager to participate.
34 Commissioner Dorosin said it is very gratifying that the public is excited about this. He
35 advocated an open call for ideas from the public and to not offer any suggestions. He said if a
36 new slogan is secured, it could be used broadly on items such as t-shirts, mugs, etc.
37 Commissioner Price said she likes the idea of an open call, but also favors giving the
38 community a few ideas as a starting point or a prompt.
39 Commissioner Dorosin asked if only a slogan is needed.
40 Laurie Paolicelli said yes, only the slogan is being sought at this time.
41 Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Dorosin and said if ideas are going to
42 be offered, he suggested using slogans from other counties. He said he believes the
43 community will take this on as a welcomed challenge.
44 Commissioner Burroughs said she would definitely want a viable winnowing process
45 earlier rather than later, and the Board of County Commissioners would have the final decision.
46 Chair McKee agreed with opening up the process to the public knowing that the BOCC
47 will make the final decision.
48 Laurie Paolicelli said the process would start shortly and would conclude in January.
49
50 9. County Manager's Report
22
1 NONE
2
3 10. County Attorney's Report
4 John Roberts referred to the fireworks questions and said staff has met to determine
5 how to best respond to this issue. He said the issue would go into the newly proposed fire
6 protection ordinance from Emergency Services. He said the ordinance is not developed
7 enough yet because the volunteer fire departments have not had a chance to comment yet.
8 John Roberts said fireworks are exempt from the noise ordinance, but asked if the
9 Board would like to see it come back as an amendment. He said it could be added to the first
10 meeting in December.
11 Commissioner Jacobs said the concerns about fireworks elevated the conversation
12 about the noise ordinance and whether the noise ordinance is adequate. He said a citizen
13 called him today and expressed concern that the noise ordinance was not being enforced. He
14 said the Sheriff's deputy reports that the noise measuring equipment in use is from 1982.
15 John Roberts said the noise ordinance is rarely enforced and has large numbers of
16 exemptions.
17 John Roberts said he could bring this back as a work session.
18 Commissioner Rich said she would prefer it to come back as a discussion topic as she
19 is not sure she agrees with the ordinance.
20 Chair McKee said to bring the topic as a work session item. He said he finds fireworks a
21 difficult thing to enforce as they are set off and then concluded.
22 John Roberts said the fire protection ordinance would address large displays of
23 fireworks versus setting off a few fireworks in the back yard.
24
25 11. Appointments
26
27 a. Advisory Board on Aging —Appointments
28 The Board considered making appointments to the Advisory Board on Aging.
29
30 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
31 appoint the following to the Advisory Board on Aging:
32
33 Appointment of Marshall Daniel to a partial term (Position #1) At-Large position expiring
34 06/30/2017.
35 Appointment of Yvonne Mendenhall to a partial term (Position #3) At-Large position expiring
36 06/30/2017.
37 NOTE: There was a request from the Advisory Board on Aging to move Dr. Donna
38 Prather from (Position #1) At-Large to (Position #5) Carrboro City Limits replacing
39 Heather Altman whose term has expired. The term for Dr. Donna Prather for(Position
40 #5) expires 06/30/2018.
41
42 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
43
44 b. Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee —Appointments
45 The Board considered making appointments to the Nursing Home Community Advisory
46 Committee.
47
48 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin to
49 appoint the following to the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee:
50
23
1 Appointment of Glenda Floyd to a one year training term (Position #10) At-Large
2 position for 11/17/2016.
3 Appointment of Jerry Ann Gregory to a partial term (Position #12) At-Large position
4 expiring 03/31/2017.
5
6 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
7
8 c. Orange County Parks and Recreation Council —Appointment
9 The Board considered making an appointment to the Orange County Parks and
10 Recreation Council.
11
12 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
13 appoint the following to the Orange County Parks and Recreation Council:
14
15 Appointment of Michael Dempsey to a first full term (Position #11) Eno Township
16 position expiring 12/31/2018.
17
18 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
19
20 12. Board Comments
21 Commissioner Price said she, and other Commissioners, attended the Justice United
22 Assembly. She said it was an encouraging assembly.
23 Commissioner Price said there is the ribbon cutting for the Stickworks sculpture this
24 weekend at the Riverwalk.
25 Commissioner Jacobs said the Durham-Chapel Hill-Orange MPO approved the
26 alternative draft environmental impact statement last week. He said at that meeting, he
27 reported the concerns of some in Orange County and his colleagues.
28 Commissioner Jacobs said he has a response to Craig Benedict's memo regarding the
29 use of economic development funds being spent on sewer projects that are annexed by other
30 jurisdictions. He said he would put his response in writing.
31 Commissioner Burroughs said she had no comments.
32 Commissioner Pelissier said she had no comments.
33 Commissioner Rich said she had no comments.
34 Commissioner Dorosin said he had no comments.
35 Chair McKee thanked Commissioner Jacobs for noting the issue that not all are in favor
36 of the light rail.
37
38 13. Information Items
39
40 • November 5, 2015 BOCC Meeting Follow-up Actions List
41 • BOCC Chair Letter Regarding Petitions from November 5, 2015 Regular Meeting
42 • Memo Regarding Men's Heath Pilot
43
44 14. Closed Session
45 A motion was made by Commissioner Burroughs, seconded by Commissioner Rich to
46 go into closed session at 9:43 p.m. for the purpose of: "To consider the qualifications,
47 competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial
48 employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or
49 employee;" NCGS § 143-318.11(a)(6).
24
1
2 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
3
4 RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION
5
6 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
7 reconvene into regular session at 10:10 p.m.
8
9 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
10
11 15. Adjournment
12 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
13 adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m.
14
15 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
16
17 Earl McKee, Chair
18
19 Donna Baker
20 Clerk to the Board
21
22
23