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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05-10-2016 1 APPROVED 6/7/2016 MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Work Session May 10, 2016 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in a work session on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 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, Renee Price and Penny Rich COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Bernadette Pelissier COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy 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 7:05 p.m. A motion was made by Commissioner Burroughs, seconded by Commissioner Price to defer Item 3: Orange County Property Naming Policy, until a later date. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Chair McKee said Commissioner Pelissier will not be attending tonight. 1. Discussion of the Proposed Orange County FY 2016 -2020 Affordable Housing Strategic Plan Audrey Spencer Horsley, Housing, Human Rights, and Community Development Director, reviewed the following information: BACKGROUND: On April 5, 2016 the Board received the Proposed 2016— 2020 Affordable Housing Strategic Plan (AHSP) that has been developed as the County's long-range vision for addressing affordable housing needs over the next five (5) years. After receiving an overview of the Plan by the Director of Housing, Human Rights and Community Development (Director) and public comment, the Board requested that the Director conduct additional community outreach on the AHSP prior to holding a work session planned for May 10, 2016. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on January 29, 2016 for an annual retreat. In reviewing the previous six goals the Board has used since 2009, affordable housing was a high priority under Goal 1: Ensure a community network of basic human services and infrastructure that maintains, protects, and promotes the well-being of all county residents. The Board stated that there be a priority for decent, standard housing options for all residents 2 regardless of household income level and that funds be used to develop a targeted number of units (set numerical goal), especially rentals. The AHSP addresses this priority of the Board. At the meeting of the Board on April 5th, the Director provided a summary of the needs data in the AHSP that includes the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. The Director provided an overview of the goals, strategies, actions and recommendations in AHSP to address the widening gap between needs and affordable housing countywide as well as public policies and actions affecting affordable housing in the County. The AHSP identifies goals for the next five years, and proposes strategies and opportunities to meet those goals in partnership with the Towns, nonprofits, Advisory Boards and Commissions, the private sector, faith communities, other County agencies, state and federal resources and the community at large. In order to begin to meet the need for affordable housing in Orange County, particularly residents who are most cost burdened at 30% to 50 % median income as discussed in the AHSP, the ASHP has an overarching shared countywide goal of 1,000 affordable housing units. The shared countywide goal of 1,000 units are to be provided through acquisition, construction, urgent repair, assisted housing, and rehabilitation of the existing housing stock over the next five (5) years. At least 500 of the units are recommended to be new assisted rental units through the leveraging of funds from the planned November 2016 $5 million bond referendum for affordable housing. The AHSP identifies the critical need for affordable housing for individuals and households of extremely and very low income and for population groups with special needs including the homeless, persons with physical and or mental disabilities and the elderly. The AHSP reviewed existing affordable housing programs and tools of the County and covers an assessment of the County's housing stock. This included examining mobile home parks of the County, a source of affordable housing; publicly owned land and other development opportunities; and challenges for preserving and increasing the supply of affordable housing given the County's existing and planned infrastructure and access to transportation, employment, services and other community assets. As requested by the Board, additional community meetings and outreach have been conducted with nonprofit providers, various County Boards and Commissions, community organizations and residents in need of decent, sound affordable housing. This outreach provided an additional opportunity for the public, various agencies and other interested parties to have further input into the AHSP and comment on the goals, strategies and actions and recommendations. Community meetings among other opportunities to receive public comment. Bonnie Hammersley said the Commissioners will find the following items at their places: -Attachment 1- summary of community comments on the Plan - PowerPoint presentation - Recommendation sheet Audrey Spencer Horsley reviewed the community comments handout at the Board's places, and these comments are incorporated by reference into these said minutes. A copy of these comments is located in permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. 3 Chair McKee said transportation is a critical factor; but in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area, Orange County is not responsible for transportation. He asked if there was discussion about coordinating transportation between the County and the Towns. Audrey Spencer Horsley said the people with whom she met said that transportation in Chapel Hill is much more accessible, but the perception of Orange County is that there should be better transportation options and routes. She said the current lengthy County routes are especially stressful for seniors. Commissioner Dorosin clarified that there is the Affordable Housing Master Plan (AHMP), followed by this series of community meetings, and now the Board has this recommendation/action sheet. He asked if the goal of tonight is to begin to try and narrow the plan and set priorities. Commissioner Dorosin said the timelines of the budget and the bond must be considered. He said one goal would be to have a succinct summary of what the key actions are going to be, which can assist in talking about the bond. Bonnie Hammersley said the structure for tonight was to talk about some of the recommendations. She said staff put the new recommendations first, followed by those that are underway, but need additional resources, and finally those that are already underway. She said this evening is an opportunity to receive BOCC feedback on as many recommendations as possible. Commissioner Jacobs said this does not help him tonight. He said he had specific questions and concerns at the April meeting and was waiting for tonight's meeting to discuss those concerns. Bonnie Hammersley said the new items are from the existing document. Commissioner Jacobs said he does not see his concerns in the document before the Board tonight and assumes his concerns will not be addressed. Bonnie Hammersley said the presentation of the recommendations will answer the questions previously asked by the Board. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the process going forward can be clarified. Bonnie Hammersley said her new recommendations are already in the plan, but are not currently being completed. She said direction is needed from the Board before moving forward. Commissioner Jacobs said he brought up Mebane at the April meeting. Bonnie Hammersley said staff reached out to Mebane and the University of North Carolina (UNC) to try and involve them in this process. Commissioner Jacobs said he brought up using the Greene Tract for affordable housing in April, since there is an existing plan for housing. He asked if the Greene Tract is included in her recommendations. Bonnie Hammersley said the Greene Tract is part of what is being considered going forward, and staff is asking for direction from the BOCC this evening. She said the Greene Tract is going to be included in the discussion tonight. Bonnie Hammersley said there may not be answers to all of the Board of County Commissioners' questions, and staff may need greater clarification in order to answer them. Commissioner Jacobs said it would have been helpful for Bonnie Hammersley to walk the Board through the recommendations document prior to this meeting. Bonnie Hammersley said the document will be covered this evening during the continuation of the presentation. She said staff does not have all the information needed, but the conversation can begin this evening. Commissioner Price asked Audrey Spencer Horsley clarifying questions about the comments sheet. 4 Commissioner Price asked if it is known when this plan will be finalized. Audrey Spencer Horsley said staff hopes there will be a framework to come forth with priorities from the Board of County Commissioners, before the summer break. Commissioner Price said once the plan is in place, will bond money be usable for projects already underway, or does the bond money have to go to new projects. Bonnie Hammersley said most of the items "underway" are non-monetary, and a couple of these items have already been addressed in her recommended budget. Bonnie Hammersley said she believed projects would have to be new in order to use bond money, but she would check on this and bring information back to the Board. Commissioner Rich referred to the letter in the agenda packet from the Orange County Housing Coalition and asked if staff had responded to this letter. Audrey Spencer Horsley said some of the items mentioned in the letter had been addressed in the plan, and implementation is being discussed further. Commissioner Rich said there are certain things that have been around for 20 years, such as the Greene Tract, and to stop dancing around it by using the phrase "large tracts" and to specifically point out the Greene Tract. Bonnie Hammersley said the new recommendations mentioned tonight were in the original AHSP, and do not yet include comments from the community. She said community and BOCC comments will be incorporated after this evening's discussion. Commissioner Dorosin asked if this evening's PowerPoint includes comments from the community. Audrey Spencer Horsley said not everything was included, but a majority of the substantive material was. Travis Myren made the PowerPoint presentation below. The Board decided at the beginning of this discussion to give items either the green, yellow or red light going forward; with green being a priority; yellow keeping it on the list; and red meaning do not worry about it right now. AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS Board of Orange County Commissioners May 10, 2016 1,000 Units in Five Years • Create 1,000 Affordable Housing Units in Five Years: o 250 units —targeted for very low income individuals and household o 250 units —targeted for special needs populations o 500 units —targeted for 50% to 80% median income o Countywide shared goal o Acquisition, construction, urgent repair, assisted housing, and rehabilitation New Recommendations • New Recommendations—programs/policies do not currently exist • AR1: Publicly Owned Small Parcel Development - GREEN o Staff team to create project proposal for BOCC consideration o Solicit participation from other local governments 5 Commissioner Dorosin said it should be a priority to have a very collaborative program for affordable housing in the County. He said the focus should be a big pot of money for affordable housing from municipalities and the County, as there is a universal need. He said out of this should come a model for a multi-jurisdictional group of elected leaders, and the charge and structure of this proposed group should be determined. Commissioner Jacobs asked if it is known when this group would start working, and said the vagueness of this process is frustrating him. He said when funds become available, all must be ready to act. Commissioner Rich said the discussion is how to handle the parcels, and it is important to look at all aspects of this issue. She said there needs to be something standard in writing, and coordination is key to making this happen county-wide. Bonnie Hammersley said staff perceives green items as a priority, yellow items are to be kept on the list, and red items are not to be worried about right now. She said staff needs to know how many resources the Board wants to put forth on these items. Commissioner Dorosin said this intergovernmental group should start meeting immediately and be tasked with the prioritization of these needs, in order to support the bond education campaign. • AR2: Housing Authority as Property Manager -YELLOW o Manager's Office to create policy paper outlining options for acquiring, holding, and managing affordable housing properties Chair McKee expressed concerns about the Housing Authority (HA) providing property management. Travis Myren said even with County oversight, an independent agency or non-profit would be hired to do the day-to-day property management. He said this could be an independent entity, and the HA could set policy associated with managing the properties. John Roberts said the HA is a separate entity, which is incorporated by the State. He said the extent of the HA's involvement would be determined by the BOCC. Commissioner Jacobs said if the Housing Authority is being discussed, the Housing Authority should be at the table for the discussion. Commissioner Rich said she would like to have more information on this proposal, and it is not one of her priorities. Audrey Spencer Horsley said more research can be completed. She said she has had initial discussions with the HA, but will need BOCC direction should the conversation get more in depth. Commissioner Dorosin said this conversation comes out of the desire to have more rental housing and suggested getting more information, such as how it would work if the County owned the rentals with a non-profit providing management. Commissioner Price asked if the proposal is that Orange County will actually own housing properties. Travis Myren said it would depend. He said if the HA were to be used, it would be for County owned properties. • AR3: Development and Maintenance of Property— Selecting a Property Manager- ROLE THIS INTO THE ONE ABOVE -YELLOW o Selecting an entity to maintain property will be determined by the model for property ownership and management 6 • AR4: Design Competition for larger scale development - GREEN o Staff team to create project proposal for BOCC consideration o Include Greene Tract in analysis Commissioner Jacobs said he would green light this item as a concept, as long as it is understood that it could be a mixed-use development (active recreation, schools, and affordable housing). He said if the BOCC has a preference, it should express it. Commissioner Rich and Commissioner Price agreed. Commissioner Burroughs said this should be the first topic discussed by the proposed multi-jurisdictional group. Chair McKee asked if larger scale development is being considered and if any parameters are being put in place. He said his only concern is the scalability of these ideas, as the available funding is finite. Commissioner Price said zoning and subdivision regulations could have an impact, as well as available utilities. Travis Myren said acreage would be estimated at about 10 acres. • AR11.3: Displacement plan for large resident displacements due to purchase/redevelopment- GREEN o DSS and Housing to collaborate on displacement response strategy • AR 12.2: Create guiding principles and design criteria for different types of housing recommended in the Plan- GREEN o Housing to work with other County departments, municipal partners, and nonprofits to create design standards • AR16.1: Adequate emergency shelter to accommodate individuals and families - GREEN o Homeless Programs Coordinator to facilitate discussion of options for emergency shelter needs (multi-jurisdictional) • AR16.2: Domestic violence shelter based on best practices - GREEN o Housing to coordinate a discussion with public safety agencies and providers to address the need of victims • AR25: Provide leadership and support to staff and community to implement strategies - GREEN o County Manager's Office to coordinate with municipal partners o Align planning documents; define cooperative efforts o Leverage staff expertise and financial resources • AR 27: Provide status reports on Plan implementation - GREEN o County Manager's Office to coordinate progress reporting to BOCC and other stakeholders • AR30.1: Partner with municipalities and providers on major projects and funding applications - GREEN o County and Town Managers to create intergovernmental staff team o Cooperative project development and funding 7 Commissioner Jacobs suggested using the HOME Program Review team, instead of creating a new group of elected leaders and staff. Bonnie Hammersley said this was considered, but the proposed elected officials group would be an umbrella over all of affordable housing efforts. Commissioner Jacobs mentioned all of the housing boards that currently exist. Travis Myren asked if the Board wants staff to create a charge for the proposed elected leaders group. Commissioner Jacobs said one option to consider is using the HOME program review group, and another is to create a new group. He said it would be helpful to look at the functions of all of the housing boards. Recommendations Underway Additional Resources Recommended • Existing programs/policies where additional resources are recommended by Plan • AR19: Urgent Repair Program —Waiting List - GREEN o Add $150,000 to $200,000 o Included in FY2016-17 Recommended Budget • AR16.3: Add permanent supportive housing for individuals with disabilities experiencing or at risk of homelessness — GREEN o Housing, Homeless Programs Coordinator, Health Department and DSS work with community partners including Cardinal Innovations Audrey Spencer Horsley said supportive housing comes with wrap around services that are often on site (such as CASA). Commissioner Price asked if the Health Department could be included in this discussion. Travis Myren said yes. Commissioner Rich asked if possible public private partnerships could be researched. • AR21: Rehabilitation Program — Draw down more State funding - GREEN o Eligibility cap increased from $170,000 to $500,000 o Add $200,000 to $250,000 to complete seven (7) more homes Recommendations Underway • Underway— work has begun on these recommendations • AR8: Mobile Home Park Strategy - GREEN o Staff team to create project proposal to include repair, rehabilitation and redevelopment options Commissioner Jacobs said this is where the discussion of incentives needs to be involved. He said if public money goes towards improving a unit, then there would need to be a guaranteed rental rate in return. Commissioner Burroughs asked if the item could be clarified. Chair McKee said staff will develop a strategy as to how to proceed, but not actually authorize going forward. 8 Commissioner Burroughs said she has some concerns about mobile homes and would want a thoroughly vetted strategy before moving forward. Bonnie Hammersley said staff has gathered fairly extensive data on the mobile homes in the County and can provide the Board with this information. Chair McKee said it would be wise to gauge the interest of mobile park owners, before developing a plan for rental units. Commissioner Jacobs said offering incentives to the mobile home park owners is a way to create some rent control units. Commissioner Dorosin said that is a great idea, and a mobile home strategy should include talking with residents as well as the park owners. • AR11.1: Community plan to respond to displacement caused by natural disasters - GREEN o Housing, DSS, Emergency Services to review and refine emergency housing/sheltering plan. • AR11.2: Coordinated intake service model for individuals and families experiencing homelessness - GREEN o Housing to work with DSS and Homeless Programs Coordinator/Partnership to End Homelessness on coordinated intake Recommendations Underway • AR12.1: Agency collaboration on programs related to maintaining affordability and housing stability - GREEN o FSA, OWASA, Aging, Partnership o Housing to perform lead role in supporting complementary programs • AR24: Enhance public transportation to employment opportunities - GREEN o FY2016-17 Budget recommends creation of Transit Department to enhance capabilities of OPT and partnerships with other transportation agencies Chair McKee said Commissioner Pelissier had communicated her suggestion of putting affordable housing near the proposed light rail to him earlier that day. • AR26.1: Continue to strengthen internal management of housing programs - GREEN o Director of Housing, Human Rights and Community Development to allocate resources and define expectations for superior program management • AR 26.2: Leverage maximum resources from external sources - GREEN o Director of Housing, Human Rights and Community Development to identify leveraging opportunities • AR 28: Recommend dedicated funding source for affordable housing - GREEN o BOCC approved creation of affordable housing fund using FY2014-15 excess fund balance o FY2016-17 Budget recommends additional, ongoing resources for affordable housing • AR 29: Maintain a fund for land banking and acquisition opportunities - GREEN 9 o FY2016-17 Recommended Capital Investment Plan includes additional $1 million for land banking • AR30.2: Build stronger relationships with local financial institutions - GREEN o County and Town Mangers will collaborate on strengthening relationships for public sector priorities Chair McKee asked if staff has had any discussions with banks yet. Audrey Spencer Horsley said not yet. Chair McKee said this would be beneficial to do, in an effort to secure some creative financial options for residents to secure housing. • AR31: Partner with community and municipal stakeholders to implement the Plan - GREEN o County and Town Managers will invite City of Mebane and UNC leadership to join in Plan implementation • AR32: Strengthen intergovernmental assessment and planning for public and private funding sources to assist residents with low income and special needs - GREEN o County and Town Managers to assign responsibility for joint assessment and planning for seeking outside resources AR#Action/Recommendation Status Next Steps NEW RECOMMENDATIONS (as relates to the above goals with detail) AR 1 NEW: Provide county or other publicly owned property through an RFP for the immediate development of single family attached, detached, and multi-family housing units. Based on the SWOT analysis of publicly owned land, the County owned, small-parcel property (3 acres or less) will be provided for the development of small scale, single family detached and attached (duplex, triplex) units for sale or rent to qualified buyers and/or occupants through partner affordable housing non-profits. NEXT STEPS: Housing, Asset Management Services, Planning, DEAPR land acquisition/disposition staff to collaborate on a project proposal for Board of County Commissioners consideration, including intergovernmental opportunities. AR 2 NEW: The County should negotiate an agreement with the Orange County Housing Authority to manage and maintain affordable housing inventory owned by the County. NEXT STEPS: County Manager to coordinate research and options on ownership and management models that expand affordable housing stock. AR 3 NEW: Implement a competitive process for evaluating proposals for development and maintenance of affordable housing inventory. The proposals will be evaluated by the Orange County Housing Authority and and/or the Affordable Housing Advisory Board as appropriate. These bodies will make recommendations to the BOCC on the distribution of any county funds. NEXT STEPS: Based on the options chosen for ownership and management of affordable housing units, staff will create a Request for Proposal document to evaluate providers. 10 AR 4 NEW: Through a Design Competition create and implement an innovative development plan and designs for the larger county-owned parcel(s) including the Southern Human Services Center site that will include a mix of affordable housing uses including workforce housing and or special needs housing and services as suited to the site and identified priority needs. NEXT STEPS: Housing, Asset Management Services, Planning, DEAPR land acquisition/disposition staff to collaborate on a project proposal for Board of County Commissioners consideration. The report will also identify large publicly owned property including the Greene Tract. AR 11.3 NEW: A displacement plan for larger housing displacement events due to new development and or sale of property affecting households of low income and no immediate alternative housing options and to minimize housing instability, loss of personal property and an adverse impact on families and individuals and particularly on vulnerable populations. NEXT STEPS: DSS in cooperation with Housing to develop displacement response strategy for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. AR 12.2 NEW: In consultation with our community partners, fully utilize our community human capital assets, areas of expertise and unique capacities and special powers to facilitate carrying out the goals and strategies and of the Orange County Affordable Housing Strategic Plan: 2016 - 2020. This may include requesting our community partners, particularly in areas of expertise, to participate in developing guiding principles, general guidelines and or design criteria/considerations for the different types of housing needed and planned over the five-year period of the Plan. This will include engaging our Advisory Boards, Authorities and Commissions and other public and private partners in their areas of expertise such as the Orange County Housing Authority under AR3 above to our Municipal Partners and the collective leadership of the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC). NEXT STEPS: Housing will work with other County departments, municipal counterparts and nonprofits to develop design standards for funded affordable housing programs. AR 16.1 NEW: Adequate emergency shelter (s) that can accommodate individuals and families of mixed composition and sex and for men. NEXT STEPS: Homeless Programs Coordinator to facilitate a discussion on options to address emergency shelter needs. AR 16.2 NEW: Domestic Violence shelter according to best practices and expertise in meeting the needs of victims. NEXT STEPS: Housing and public safety agencies to facilitate a discussion with service providers on options to address domestic violence shelter needs. AR 25 NEW: Provide leadership and/or support to staff and the community as needed to implement the strategies and recommendations of this Strategic Plan and related County Plans and 11 activities with the guidance and approval of the County Manager and BOCC as needed and required and with broad community involvement including the County's many stakeholders. NEXT STEPS: County Manager to work Town Managers to align planning documents and define cooperative efforts to expand affordable housing options and leverage/combine staff expertise and financial resources. AR 27 NEW: Monitor, track and report activities and results of this Strategic Plan to the BOCC by the Department of Housing, Human Rights and Community Development in cooperation and collaboration with other County Agencies, municipal partners and the community. NEXT STEPS: County Manager's Office to coordinate regular progress reporting to BOCC and other stakeholders. AR 30.1 NEW: Seek and support opportunities to partner with community and municipal partners on major projects and or funding applications to federal, state and private funders NEXT STEPS: County Manager and Town Managers to assign a intergovernmental staff work group to support the elected leaders. AR 19 UNDERWAY WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED: Expand the County's Urgent Repair Program to serve 50 to 60 senior residents and or persons with disabilities, thereby substantially reducing or practically eliminating a long waiting list to serve this population for urgent housing repair needs. This would require an additional $150,000 to $200,000 to the current fiscal year funding level of$75,000 allocated to complete approximately 25 owner- occupied housing units of senior households and or households with persons with a disability. NEXT STEPS: BOCC to consider additional funding in the FY2016- 17 Budget. AR 16.3 UNDERWAY WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED: More permanent supportive housing for disabled homeless people including creative and non-traditional affordable housing options that reduce cost and provide for more affordable units; and service needs of unaccompanied minors/youth. NEXT STEPS: Housing, Homeless Programs Coordinator, and DSS to work with community partners including Cardinal Innovations to address the need to more supportive housing for people with disabilities. AR 21 UNDERWAY WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED Leverage maximum funding through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Single- Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool (SFRLP) funds. Each recipient of SFRLP funds is now eligible with recent program changes for up to $500,000 (instead of$170K) to conduct financially- feasible, moderate housing rehabilitation for households that are below 80% AMI. Due to the extent of rehabilitation required for typical older homes of Orange County applicants, few homes can be completed based on the state requirement of only $45K to bring each home up to code. Additional funds of$200,000 - $250,000 will allow the County to complete approximately 10 homes instead of three (3) homes and fully and more effectively leverage the state funding. 12 NEXT STEPS: As priorities are defined by the BOCC, the County Manager will recommend funding options for priorityship team. This group will work on cooperative proposals for major projects and funding applications. AR 8 UNDERWAY: With the completion of a conditions survey and SWOT analysis of mobile home parks in the County, immediately pursue opportunities to preserve the inventory, expand and or improve this source of affordable housing through acquisition, land banking and partnership opportunities. This may include and is not limited to minor to moderate repairs and or conversion of underutilized parks to modular housing, cottages, and or small (micro/tiny) homes. NEXT STEPS: Housing, Asset Management Services, Planning, DEAPR land acquisition/disposition staff to collaborate on a project proposal for Board of County Commissioners consideration which will include opportunities to repair, rehabilitate, or redevelop existing mobile homes. The proposal will include information on rented versus owned mobile homes located in mobile home parks. AR 11.1 UNDERWAY: A community plan to respond to housing emergencies due to acts of nature, life events, etc. NEXT STEPS: Housing, DSS, and Emergency Services work on emergency housing plan with input from municipal partners. AR 11.2 UNDERWAY: A coordinated community-wide service model for intake of homeless individuals and families seeking assistance. NEXT STEPS: Housing to work with DSS and the Partnership to End Homelessness on a coordinated intake strategy. AR 12.1 UNDERWAY: Continue to strengthen the intra- and inter- agency collaboration and community engagement for addressing specific needs and shared and or related goals that include affordable housing. Some of these include the Family Success Alliance staffed by the Health Department; Master Aging Plan, initiatives for the Partnership to End Homelessness, working with OWASA to reduce water consumption and increase cost savings for tenants and homeowners, transportation, and land use. NEXT STEPS: Housing to work with agencies and programs to advance efforts that maintain affordability. AR 24 UNDERWAY: Study, plan, and develop additional bus routes to provide more public transportation to business "nodes" for low-income workers and to have better access to jobs, services, community amenities and work force development opportunities. NEXT STEPS: The newly created Transit Department will be charged with evaluating needs to expand transportation access. AR 26.1 UNDERWAY: Continue to strengthen internal management of funded programs and projects including policies and procedures, best practices, learning, training and information sharing, 13 reporting and intra and interagency practices and coordination by the Department. This includes listening to, seeking to understand, continuous engagement and responsiveness to our many customers and or partners. NEXT STEPS: Director of Housing, Human Rights and Community Development to allocate resources and define expectations for superior program management. AR 26.2 UNDERWAY: Strive to ensure maximum leveraging of resources, funding and programs to meet the current and future affordable housing needs of County residents. NEXT STEPS: Director of Housing, Human Rights and Community Development to identify opportunities to leverage additional resources. AR 28 UNDERWAY: The County Manager will assess and recommend to the BOCC a dedicated funding source(s) needed and a plan of implementation to provide a source of reliable funds for affordable housing starting with FY2016-17. NEXT STEPS: BOCC approved the allocation of excess fund balance to create an affordable housing fund as recommended by the County Manager. The FY2016-17 Budget recommends additional resources for affordable housing initiatives. AR 29 UNDERWAY: Provide and maintain a set aside of funding for land banking and acquisition opportunities and keep this fund opportunity driven. NEXT STEPS: The FY2016-17 Capital Investment Plan recommends an additional $1 million allocation for land banking. AR 30.2 UNDERWAY: Building a stronger and more productive relationship with local and regional financial institutions. NEXT STEPS: County Manager and Town Managers to work with elected leadership team to build relationships with financial institutions. AR 31 UNDERWAY: Seek and support opportunities to partner with community and municipal partners in carrying out the strategies and actions of this Plan. NEXT STEPS: County and Town Managers to invite City of Mebane and UNC leadership to participate in the discussion and implementation of the Plan. AR 32 UNDERWAY: Continue and strengthen the County's and Towns'joint assessment and planning to obtain federal and other funding and public and private resources sources to provide assistance as needed to households earning lower incomes and or to residents with special needs and to our extremely vulnerable residents. NEXT STEPS: County Manager and Town Managers to work with elected leadership team to joint assessment and planning for external funding sources. 14 Chair McKee mentioned some items that would cost money: 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 21, 24, as well as a few others. He asked if staff could gather more detail on the costs. Commissioner Dorosin said the BOCC green lighted many items, and he reiterated that prioritization will have to occur. He said everything is important, but everything cannot be equally important. Commissioner Burroughs said the Board and staff may want to think about a phasing approach moving forward on these priorities, in order to get the most "bang for their buck". 2. Presentation on Orange County Employment and Labor Statistics Steve Brantley, Orange County Economic Development Director, reviewed the following background, and made a PowerPoint presentation, a copy of which is located in the permanent agenda file in Clerk's office. The attached PowerPoint presentation covers the most current information available regarding Orange County's labor market environment to include the following topics: • Demographic summary of Orange County's population & workforce- Orange County's growth rate is 5% Steve Brantley referred the BOCC to his yellow hand out, Employment Status for the last 4 years, and helped the Board interpret the data on the excel spreadsheets. • Educational & work achievement levels of Orange County residents, compared to advertised job listings for minimum required education and work experience • Unemployment Rates & Trends in Orange County & the State of North Carolina • Main employment sectors in Orange County, by business type • Largest employers in Orange County • Wage statistics & annual income • Work area profile analysis • In & out migration of commuting residents to their place of employment • Commuting times Information sources for these comparison charts include: • U. S. Census Bureau 2009-2014 (Five Year Estimates) • National Association of Counties (NACo) • North Carolina Department of Commerce ➢ "NC Works" employment & workforce agency (former Employment Security Commission/ESC) ➢ "Division of Labor & Economic Analysis Division" (LEAD) — Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW - 3rd Q 2015) ➢ "ACCESSNC" Orange County's workforce and employment is primarily influenced by the significance presence of the many University of North Carolina and UNC Health Care facilities based here, the geographic proximity to the high-tech Research Triangle Park tenants and surrounding Triangle cities and other premier universities, plus state and local government centers. These factors contribute to the community's economic vitality, growth and stability, help to sustain the steady employment and income trends, and generally shield the region from the cyclical lows of occasional economic downturns. Orange County has also not historically had a large presence of traditional industries employing lower-skilled labor, like textiles & furniture, which have increasingly relocated off-shore and reduced local employment across other parts of North Carolina. As a result, Orange County routinely ranks among the top 1 — 3 North Carolina 15 counties with the lowest unemployment rate, enjoys the highest per capita income level, and has the highest percentage of local residents holding 4-year and higher education degrees. A variety of state and local government agencies, educational institutions, non-profits and private interests all contribute toward workforce preparedness on behalf of Orange County's residents who seek skills training and employment opportunities. Such agencies include: • local public school systems' Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum for Orange County & Chapel Hill/Carrboro high school students • Durham Technical Community College (new Hillsborough campus) • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • State employment agencies such as "NCWorks" (503 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill) • Local nonprofits such as EmPowerment, Inc. (109 N. Graham Street, Chapel Hill) and OE Enterprises, Inc. (Hillsborough) • Orange County Department of Social Services' membership in the 5-county "Regional Partnership Workforce Development Board", which helps funds various employment and training solutions for job applications and employers. Commissioner Dorosin asked if staff could provide data about County employees that live inside the County versus outside, and how that correlates to their income level. Commissioner Price asked if staff could determine the percentage of department heads that live in Orange County. Commissioner Jacobs said years ago staff said it was too expensive to live in Orange County. 3. Orange County Property Naming Policy DEFERRED A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Earl McKee, Chair Donna Baker Clerk to the Board