HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05-17-2016 1
APPROVED 6/7/2016
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
May 17, 2016
7:00 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 17,
2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Building, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Barry Jacobs,
Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Mark Dorosin and Mia Burroughs
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager
Travis Myren and Deputy Clerk to the Board David Hunt (All other staff members will be
identified appropriately below)
Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Chair McKee said Commissioners Dorosin and Burroughs will be absent this evening
and Commissioner Rich will be arriving late.
1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda
Chair McKee noted the following items at the Commissioners' places:
- packet for item 11 a: Firearms Safety Committee
- proposed wording change for item 5e: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Approved
Procurement Policy for Orange Public Transportation
PUBLIC CHARGE
Chair McKee dispensed with the reading of the public charge.
2. Public Comments
a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda
NONE
b. Matters on the Printed Agenda
(These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda
below.)
3. Announcements and Petitions by Board Members
Commissioner Pelissier had no petitions.
Commissioner Jacobs said that the Board received an email about glue traps for
rodents and the inhumanity of such traps. He asked if staff would follow up on this.
Commissioner Rich arrived 7:07 p.m.
Commissioner Jacobs said when George Wallace ran for Governor of Alabama in the
early 1960s he lost but ran again as an arch-segregationist, and was elected to office twice,
2
followed by the election of his wife after him. He said later in life George Wallace apologized
to African Americans for the way they were treated under his leadership.
Commissioner Jacobs likened the current Governor of North Carolina, and his strongly
right leanings, to George Wallace. He said the Governor is up for reelection and he hopes
history will not repeat itself.
Commissioner Price said the reason Commissioner Dorosin is not here is because he is
speaking in Alabama commemorating the anniversary of Brown vs. the Board of Education
decision.
Commissioner Price said she listened to a National Association of Counties (NACo)
seminar regarding infrastructure. She said Broadband and fiber are starting to be considered
as infrastructure and are used for education, healthcare, etc. She petitioned the Board of
County Commissioners (BOCC) to join the nationwide movement to bring fiber and broadband
to as many buildings and households as possible. She said it may be a challenge, but it is an
important one.
Commissioner Price said her second petition is regarding the opening of the Cedar
Grove Community Center. She said the rural schools for children of color were consolidated
into a modern building with plumbing and heat in 1951, due to the efforts of Mary Vincent, who
sold a portion of her land to the County for this purpose, despite 15 years of local efforts to
block such a building.
Commissioner Price petitioned the BOCC to name the Cedar Grove Community Center
in honor, and in memory, of Mary Vincent.
Commissioner Rich apologized for her late arrival. She referred to Commissioner
Price's comments regarding broadband, and said the US Congress is moving a bit faster to get
service to be a utility, just like water and gas.
Commissioner Rich said realtors are not required to disclose to homeowners when a
home cannot receive internet service.
John Roberts said he did not think the County could do anything about this issue.
Commissioner Rich petitioned a report from the Department of Economic Development
and the Visitors Bureau regarding the Mountains to Sea Trail and the potential economic
benefits of it. She said this could wait until the fall.
4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations
a. Historic Preservation Month Proclamation
The Board considered approving a proclamation to recognize May 2016 as Historic
Preservation Month.
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Member Tom Loter read the Proclamation:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH IN ORANGE COUNTY
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, historic preservation is relevant for all residents of Orange County, both urban and
rural, of all ages, all walks of life and all ethnic and cultural backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Orange County can be proud of its long history of protecting its rich historic and
archaeological resources through the dedicated efforts of individuals and non-profit groups;
and
3
WHEREAS, Orange County partners with the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Preservation
Chapel Hill and other non-profit groups and local governments to preserve these important
resources; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has demonstrated its own commitment to historic preservation by
renovating and preserving the former Cedar Grove School, the historic 1926 jail and the former
auditorium in the Whitted Center; and
WHEREAS, Orange County recently opened the Blackwood Farm Park where the preserved
farmstead and Strayhorn slave cemetery interpret the area's agricultural history, and
WHEREAS, Orange County, through its Historic Preservation Commission's landmark
program, recognizes important properties with historic, cultural and architectural significance,
and in the past year designated the White Cross School and the Nicholas Corbett Hester
House as local historic landmarks; and
WHEREAS, "This Place Matters" is the theme for National Historic Preservation Month 2016,
co-sponsored by the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Preservation Chapel Hill and the
National Trust for Historic Preservation;
NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim
May 2016 as Historic Preservation Month in Orange County and call upon the people of the
County to join their fellow residents in recognizing and participating in this special observance.
This the 17th day of May 2016.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Price to
approve the proclamation designating the month of May as Historic Preservation Month in
Orange County and to join with the Board to extend an invitation to the public to support the
preservation of the County's irreplaceable historic and archaeological resources.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Peter Sandbeck, Orange County Cultural Resources Coordinator, showed the Board a
one-minute video.
5. Consent Agenda
• Removal of Any Items from Consent Agenda
Item c by Commissioner Rich
Item e by Commissioner Price
• Approval of Remaining Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
approve the remaining items on the Consent Agenda.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
4
• Discussion and Approval of the Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
c. Approval of Purchase of Roll Carts for Rural Recycling Program Expansion
The Board considered voting to authorize the purchase of 4,060 roll carts (95 gallon size) from
Rehrig Pacific for the expansion of the rural roadside recycling collection program, at a cost of
$234,000.
Commissioner Rich said she wanted to make sure Board members are receiving the
Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG) minutes. She said rolling cart statistics, in the rural part
of the County, are favorable. She said 14,500 properties were approved, 7,500 responses
received, and 6,840 carts were requested. She said she feels the Board made the right
decision in supporting the rural expansion of this service.
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price to
approve authorizing the purchase of 4,060 roll carts (95 gallon size) from Rehrig Pacific for the
expansion of the rural roadside recycling collection program, at a cost of$234,000.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
e. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Approved Procurement Policy for Orange
Public Transportation
The Board considered adopting the Orange Public Transportation (OPT) Procurement Policy
and Procedures Guide.
Commissioner Price asked if the County's stance on non-discrimination could be added
to this document. She read a possible statement that could be included.
Commissioner Rich asked if there is a reason the proposed statement references
veterans of the "Vietnam era" specifically.
Commissioner Jacobs said he would like to remove that wording, and include all
Veterans.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
approve the adoption of the Orange Public Transportation (OPT) Procurement Policy and
Procedures Guide with changes in the anti-discrimination section to include the following:
"The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin,
religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, age,
disability, political affiliation, and disabled veteran status as provided by law."
Commissioner Rich proposed a friendly amendment to include this anti-discrimination
language in all County documents.
Commissioner Jacobs said he likely has no problem with this friendly amendment, but
would like to see it in writing at a future meeting while passing Commissioner Price's petition
this evening.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
a. Minutes
5
The Board approved the minutes from April 12, 19 and 26, 2016 as submitted by the Clerk to
the Board.
b. Fiscal Year 2015-16 Budget Amendment#9
The Board approved budget and grant project ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2015-16
for the Department of Social Services, the Department on Aging, the Health Department, the
Planning Department, and Emergency Services.
d. Approval of Contract Renewal for Disaster Management, Monitoring and Recovery
Services
The Board approved a contract amendment renewing an agreement between the County and
True North Emergency Management, LLC for the purpose of providing Disaster Debris
Management and Monitoring Services and authorized the Manager to sign.
f. Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance —Approval and Certification of 2016
Report
The Board approved and certified the 2016 Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance
Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAC) Report and certified portions of the Report.
6. Public Hearings
NONE
7. Regular Agenda
a. Criminal Justice Advisory Council
The Board considered the creation, charge and member structure for the proposed
Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC) and, if approved, appointment of two Board
members to the Council and direct the Clerk to the Board to solicit applicants for potential
appointment to the other respective Council positions.
Caitlin Fenhagen, Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Manager, reviewed the
following information:
BACKGROUND
At its September 5, 2013 regular meeting, the Orange County Board of Commissioners
created an Assessment of Jail Alternatives Work Group (JAWG). The Board stated that
before the planning of a new jail began, a comprehensive assessment of jail alternative
programs needed to be completed to assess the impact of each on the jail population.
The charge of the JAWG was to investigate and make recommendations to the BOCC
concerning alternatives to incarceration programs operating in Orange County, including but
not limited to the following programs: Pretrial Release, Pretrial Diversion, Drug Court, Family
Court and Adult Probation. The Work Group was directed to submit a Report back to the
BOCC by March 31, 2014. At the recommendation of the BOCC, the composition of the JAWG
included county and criminal justice leaders and stakeholders. Commissioners Barry Jacobs
and Bernadette Pelissier also served as JAWG members. The last meeting of the JAWG was
on March 1, 2016.
At that last meeting, the JAWG discussed the future of this short-term Work Group. Staff and
group members have learned from conversations with stakeholders that there is an interest
and commitment to having a permanent Criminal Justice Advisory Council operating in Orange
County. A permanent advisory council would coordinate, inform and enhance the work
underway and being considered in the criminal justice system and in the newly-created
6
Criminal Justice Resource Office and would be aligned with the best practices for the
administration of an effective, innovative and equitable criminal justice system.
A Criminal Justice Advisory Council would be an appointed body of elected and senior justice
system leaders and stakeholders that convenes on a regular basis to coordinate systematic
responses to justice system issues and problems. Membership could include stakeholders
from the executive branch of government, the courts, corrections, law enforcement, health and
human services agencies, community-based organizations, and the faith and business
communities.
It is important to create a clear mission statement, a set of goals, a structure of leadership and
a method for evaluating the group's effectiveness. It is recommended that a Chair and Vice-
Chair be selected from within the Council, that sub-committees have an outlined purpose and
that task force or ad hoc groups are carefully considered and limited to a specific task and time
frame. Typical goals for a Council include improving the jurisdiction's justice system through
collaborative efforts and research, promoting safety, improving the just and efficient treatment
of offenders and reducing incarceration rates, crime rates and recidivism.
Commissioner Pelissier said the idea of having a permanent Criminal Justice Advisory
Council (CJAC) has been in the works for some time. She said there is a huge advantage of
having all stakeholders at the table at one time.
Commissioner Jacobs said it is rare for County government to intersect with the
Criminal Justice system, and this permanent council would be a step in the right direction to
integrate the work of all involved. He said this council is a welcome improvement.
Commissioner Price said the charge is vague, and she does not see great importance
being placed on outreach and awareness to the community.
Caitlin Fenhegen said outreach is an important piece. She said the mission statement
should be a more targeted and will included greater depth of details like these.
Commissioner Rich asked if this council would be included in the BOCC boards and
committees.
Chair McKee said it is his understanding that this would become a permanent part of
their boards and commissions, and that this would be added to the BOCC's yearly selection
process for boards and commissions.
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price to
nominate Commissioner Jacobs and Commissioner Pelissier to be on this board.
Chair McKee asked if this council would be an advisory committee or an oversight
committee.
Caitlin Fenhagen said the council is not an oversight committee, and law enforcement
will be at the table.
Sheriff Blackwood said this is an issue that has been talked about for a long time. He
said many hands make light work, and it is a positive step to have different perspectives
represented when considering how best to serve the citizens of Orange County.
Commissioner Rich said all the municipal police chiefs are being included in this
council, and asked if there is a reason why Mebane has not been included.
Caitlin Fenhagen said this was an oversight on her part, and she will extend an
invitation to the City of Mebane's police chief to join the council.
7
Proposed Charge of the Criminal Justice Advisory Council
The proposed charge for the Criminal Justice Advisory Council is:
• Creates systematic responses to specific problems
• Reduces the duplication of efforts or conflicting efforts
• Informs and improves the allocation of limited resources
• Increases the communication, cooperation and coordination between stakeholders
• Ensures the sharing of information and data between stakeholders
• Improves the quality of services and programs by implementing best practices
• Enhances accountability and transparency
Special Representation Appointee/Designee
1 Senior Resident Superior Court Judge
or Designee (1)
2 Chief District Court Judge or Designee
(1)
3 District Attorney or Designee (1)
4 Public Defender or Designee (1)
5 Clerk of Court or Designee (1)
6 Orange County Sheriff or Designee
(1)
7/8/9 Municipal Police Chiefs (4)
10 Chief Magistrate or Designee (1)
11 Department of Social Services
Director (1)
12 Health Department Director (1)
13 Mental Health representative (1)
14 Child Support Services Director (1)
15 Faith Community representative (1)
16 Probation Chief (1)
17 Substance Use Treatment Provider
(1)
18 Re-Entry Advocate and/or Individual
Formerly Involved in the Criminal
Justice System (1)
19 Juvenile Justice representative (1)
20/21 Representatives from School Systems
(2)
22/23 County Commissioners (2)
24 City of Mebane Police Chief
A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
approve the creation of Charge and Structure of a Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC)
with the addition of a representative from the Town of Mebane Police Department.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
8
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price to
appoint Commissioner Pelissier and Commissioner Jacobs as the two Board members to serve
on the Council.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to
direct the Clerk to the Board to solicit applicants for potential appointment to the other
respective Council positions and present the list of applicants for potential appointment at the
June 21, 2016 regular Board meeting.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
b. Amendment to the Orange County Code of Ordinances — Sexually Oriented
Businesses
The Board considered the adoption of rules regulating the licensing and operation of
sexually oriented businesses in Orange County, authorize the Chair to sign and authorize the
County Attorney to make any minor non-substantive changes or corrections as necessary.
John Roberts reviewed the following information:
BACKGROUND:
This item is related to the recent adoption of land use rules regulating the location of sexually
oriented businesses in Orange County at the February 2, 2016 regular meeting of the Board of
County Commissioners.
The proposed amendments establish new regulations governing the licensing of owners,
operators, managers, supervisors, practitioners, and entertainers of sexually oriented
businesses as well as limiting admission to such businesses. At the February 2, 2016 meeting,
the Board of County Commissioners adopted new land use regulations governing the location
and siting requirements for sexually oriented businesses. Within those land use regulations is
a requirement that any sexually oriented business comply with all applicable licensing
requirements found in Chapter 8 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances.
Among other things the recommended ordinance requires all persons with ownership interests
in such a business or any form of employment or contractual relationship with such a business
to be licensed, and restricts the presence on the premises of minors.
John Roberts said there are no sexually oriented businesses currently operating in
Orange County, and there is nothing in the pipeline for special use permits. He said the
ordinance establishes the requirement that potential owners would need a license and to
submit to criminal background checks of all employees. He said fingerprints would not be
required. He said the application process does not go through the Sheriff's office, but rather
through a designee of the County Manager's office. He said violations of the ordinance would
be handled either by the Sheriff's office, or the BOCC. He said the ordinance does not include
a fee for the license, which the BOCC can establish if it so chooses, ranging from zero to
$5000.
Chair McKee asked if the motion needed specific wording.
John Roberts said the Manager's recommendation is worded appropriately, unless the
BOCC wishes to add a fee, which would then need to be added to the wording.
9
Commissioner Rich asked if there is a protocol for determining a fee.
John Roberts said fees would only apply to the business owners, and he saw fees
across the State ranging from $100 to $1,500.
Commissioner Rich asked if there are other businesses that are subject to fees.
John Roberts said massage licenses have a fee of$50-75.
Chair McKee asked John Roberts to bring back to the Board a list of fees charged and
collected in counties of like size to Orange County.
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price to adopt
the sexually oriented business provisions into the Orange County Code of Ordinances; to
authorize the Chair to sign the attached Resolution of Adoption; and authorized the County
Attorney to make any minor non-substantive changes or corrections that may be necessary
prior to submission of the amendment to Municode.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
8. Reports
a. North-South Corridor Study Update — Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
The Board received an update on the North-South Corridor Study and provided
comment as appropriate.
Max Bushnell, Orange County Planner and Mila Vega, Chapel Hill Transit Service
Planner, reviewed the following information:
BACKGROUND:
The study corridor runs along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (Historic
Airport Road/NC Hwy 86), South Columbia Street (including the portion of Pittsboro Street
along
the one-way pairing in this corridor through the UNC campus), and US 15-501 South. This
corridor, which is approximately 7.3 miles long, has its northern terminus at Eubanks Road and
Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and its southern terminus at US 15-501 near the Southern
Village mixed-use development.
The North-South Corridor study, funded through a combination of federal (Federal Transit
Administration [FTA]) and local funds, identifies and evaluates a series of transit investment
alternatives for implementation within the study corridor. It is managed by Chapel Hill Transit
and guided by a Policy Committee, Technical Committee, Transit Partners Committee and a
substantial public involvement process. The Technical Committee includes a representative
from Orange County Planning.
The study expands on previous planning work to identify a locally-preferred transit investment
alternative that facilitates safe, efficient and expanded levels of mobility within the increasingly
busy study corridor, and to improve connectivity between the corridor and the Research
Triangle region. Additional reasons for this study include improving connections with other local
and regional transit routes (including the planned Durham-Orange Light Rail line), supporting
future development within the corridor, and increasing transit mode share and ridership to the
UNC campus/hospital. The Orange County Bus Rail Investment Plan (OCBRIP) has this
project identified in its adopted 2012 plan, including some assumed local funding from the
mobility tax.
10
The study process was guided by strategic and comprehensive public involvement process
that included three rounds of public meetings that were well attended. The process also
included web-based outreach via project website (www.nscstudy.org), Facebook, Twitter and
email. The project website provides valuable resources such as study documents, materials
from all public meetings, presentations and a visualization video showing a range of potential
improvements for the corridor.
Following a multi-phased alternative development and evaluation process, a Locally Preferred
Alternative (LPA) recommendation, consisting of three (3) variations (i.e. Alternatives 6-1, 6-2,
and 6-3), was developed by the Study Technical and Policy Committee and the Transit
Partners Committee to be carried forward for more study (LPA recommendation is provided in
Attachment 1). The LPA is the transit investment alternative that best meets the purpose and
need for the project and is potentially competitive for funding through the FTA's New
Starts/Small Starts capital funding program. The LPA developed for this corridor comprises
BusRapid Transit (BRT) service. The Chapel Hill Town Council adopted the LPA on April 27th
and authorized staff to submit the
LPA to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) for
adoption and integration into the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Chapel Hill Transit
Planner Mila Vega will provide more detail at the meeting using a PowerPoint presentation
(Attachment 2) and will respond to any questions the BOCC may have.
North-South Corridor Study Update
Date: May 17, 2016
Board of County Commissioners
Orange County
Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions
• Project Status and Schedule
• The Need for Transit Investment
• The Alternatives
• Public Engagement Activities and Results
• The Recommended Locally-Preferred Alternative
• Next Steps
Study Origination
• Expands on previous regional and local planning
• Continues key theme identified in the Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan — "Getting
Around"
• Helps determine if the Town should move forward with the development of the North-
South transit corridor and proceed to the next phase.
Context and Vision
Prepares the Town to meet mobility demand as the region continues to grow:
• Current system operates close to maximum capacity
• Proposed system provides a long-term, scalable solution available to residents and
visitors of the community
• Connects to regional transit options
11
• Supports current and planned development in the corridor with a multi-modal system
that serves cyclists, pedestrians and other users
Federal Project Implementation Process (chart)
Study Process (chart)
Decision-Making Process
Process guided by:
The Technical Committee
• Review of the technical analysis
The Policy Committee
• Review of milestone deliverables
• Provide policy guidance
Members of the Public
• Provide input and feedback throughout the study process
Study Corridor(map)
Purpose and Needs Identified by Study Committees & the Public
■ Make transit more efficient and attractive
■ Improve connectivity along the corridor
■ Improve connectivity of the corridor to the region
■ Support planned land uses
■ Contribute to regional equity, sustainability, and quality of life
■ Develop a community-supported project
Alternatives: Transit Modes
Dedicated Center Lane — Convert a Lane (photo)
Dedicated Center Lane — Construct a Lane (photo)
Dedicated Curb Lane — Convert a Lane (photo)
Dedicated Curb Lane — Construct a Lane (photo)
The Detailed Alternatives
Public Input
The public input is the foundation of the process. The public outreach is comprehensive and
strategic.
In-person —three rounds of meetings:
• March 2014
• October 2014
• January 2016
Web-based:
• Project website www.nscstudy.org (presentations, reports, meeting materials)
12
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
LPA Summary (chart)
Next Phase - Project Development
The LPA is refined during environmental documentation and engineering:
• Refine ridership
• Refine costs
• Refine impacts
• Identify community preference
Potential Outcomes of BRT Investment
Benefits of North-South Corridor BRT
• provides regional connections
• improves reliability of the whole system
• Reduces CHT fleet age
• Funds bikes/pedestrian investments
• Designed for expansion
Without BRT Investment in the North-South Corridor...
• Transit trips will take up to 9 minutes longer— and will likely get worse as congestion
increases
• Traffic congestion will increase — driving through the corridor will take longer
• Buses will become more crowded and less reliable as they're stuck in traffic
• Additional parking spaces will be necessary throughout the corridor
• Development patterns will be less transit-supportive
Chapel Hill Town Council Action
• On April 27th 2016 the Council adopted the North-South Corridor Study Locally
Preferred Alternative (LPA) as recommended by the Chapel Hill Transit Public Transit
Committee and the Study's Technical and Policy Committees, and authorized staff to
submit the LPA to the Durham — Chapel Hill — Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
Organization (DCHC).
Questions, Comments, Discussion
Commissioner Rich asked if dedicated lanes would use express buses, or buses with
stops.
Mila Vega said there could be both, but with a center lane, local service buses would
have to exit the center lane with more frequency. She said buses may require exit doors on
both sides as well. She said there are trade offs with each option.
Commissioner Price asked if the expanded roadway will require the purchasing of
easements.
Mila Vega said each intersection will need to be confirmed, but it does not seem that
additional right of ways will be needed. She said some of the options considered before did
13
not include connection to the hospital or the light rail; however, these connections will now
exist due to overwhelming feedback from stakeholders.
Chair McKee referred to a bottleneck area in downtown Chapel Hill and asked if any
thought has been given to acquiring more rights of way.
Mila Vega said downtown is tight, and there is little right of way left to acquire without
knocking down buildings, which would be very unpopular.
Chair McKee said downtown always has a bottleneck, not just during peak hours.
Commissioner Jacobs said if he was part of the decision-making group, he would
advocate seeking funding for a change in the signalization system. He said this would allow
flexibility to change the traffic signal patterns during peak hours. He said he has been
surprised over the years that Chapel Hill has done so little to anticipate traffic patterns during
peak times, such as football games, etc.
Mila said she is not an expert on signals, but she will refer the suggestion to the
consulting team.
Commissioner Rich referred to the University of Arizona, which uses a console on
game days that allows officials to change traffic signals as needed based on observed traffic.
Chair McKee said he was in the command center during the championship football
game, and he said cameras were able to scan main intersections. He said this may be able to
serve as a rudimentary starting point.
Mila Vega said technology will need to be considered more and more.
Chair McKee asked if"non-federal costs" refer to the County's costs.
Mila Vega said non-federal is anything that is non-federal. She said it is hoped that the
State will be involved, but that is unknown at this time.
Commissioner Price asked if crosswalks are included in this planning process.
Mila Vega said yes, every station will be safely accessible.
Commissioner Pelissier said the option of not going all the way down to Southern
Village was considered previously, and asked if the capital cost for that plan is known.
Mila Vega said that plan went from Eubanks Road to the University of North Carolina
(UNC), which is about half of what is currently being considered. She said that plan was just
over $6 million.
Commissioner Pelissier said this current plan is a considerable increase over that
previous plan.
Mila Vega said there were some estimates done previously, but a study of this level
was never completed to determine specific costs.
Commissioner Pelissier asked if there have been any discussions with Go Triangle
about this project.
Mila Vega said it is too early, at this point. She said the current estimated cost is at
least $19.4 million, and there is only $6 million in the bus and rail plan. She said there is a gap
that will need to be closed.
Chair McKee asked if there are any other revenue sources and if such sources could
be defined at some point. He is concerned how this project will be paid for without raising
taxes or borrowing funds. He said projects keep moving forward without funds being secured.
Mila Vega said Chair McKee's concerns are valid, and the federal government will not
provide funding without a clear financial plan.
Commissioner Pelissier said there is a park and ride at the Eubanks end of the corridor,
and asked if one is being considered at the southern end.
Mila Vega said at the Eubanks Park and Ride there are about 350-400 parking spaces,
while the Southern Village one has about 500 spaces. She said this may be expanded but
nothing is yet defined.
14
Commissioner Price said this corridor stops at Eubanks, and asked if there is any plan
to connect further north into Waterstone or Hillsborough.
Peter Murphy, Orange County Transit Administrator, said buses are currently being
operated between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. He said it is possible that buses would no
longer need to go as far into Chapel Hill as they are currently doing, but that would require
transfers into the Chapel Hill service.
Commissioner Price asked if a Chapel Hill bus could continue beyond Eubanks up to
the hospital at Waterstone.
Peter Murphy said there is a lot to look at and consider in the future.
Mila Vega said the presentation this evening shows simply the first step in the process.
She said there may well be continued development in the future.
Commissioner Jacobs said Carolina North is on this route and if it were resurrected, it
would have a huge impact on traffic going north. He said it may be a potential revenue source.
9. County Manager's Report
Bonnie Hammersley reminded the Board that the next budget public hearing will be
held on Thursday, May 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel
Hill. She said the first budget work session will be on Thursday May 26th
10. County Attorney's Report
John Roberts said the deadline for bills to be filed is in two days, and then the outcome
of said bills can be assessed.
11. Appointments
a. Appointments to the Orange County Firearms Safety Committee
The Board considered making/confirming appointments to the Orange County Firearms
Safety Committee.
Chair McKee reviewed the brief history of, and read the charge for, this committee, and
said the Clerk's office received close to 50 applications for 8 resident positions.
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
appoint the following to the Orange County Firearms Safety Committee:
Commissioner Price asked if Chair McKee was going to ask for additional nominations.
She said she wanted to nominate Chad Resnick, as he would be the only person to offer
diversity on this committee. She said his application indicates that he is Native American.
Chair McKee he is somewhat reluctant regarding Mr. Resnick. He recalled that the
meeting in February, Mr. Resnick may have possibly had a laser that he pointed at the BOCC.
Commissioner Rich and Commissioner Jacobs said it was not a possibility, but factual
that Mr. Resnick did have a laser.
Commissioner Price said she wanted to make a point about diversity, but understands
the Board's reasoning for not wanting to appoint Mr. Resnick.
15
Position Special Representation Appointee/Designee
Number
1 Orange County Resident Roxanne Barksdale
2 Orange County Resident Sara Conti
3 Orange County Resident Jack Hunnell
4 Orange County Resident Jon Arvik
5 Orange County Resident Greg Tilley
6 Orange County Resident Keith Kirkland
7 Orange County Resident Keith Webster
8 Orange County Resident Vince Tesoro
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Price for
Chair McKee to serve as the Board of County Commissioners representative on the
committee.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price for
Commissioner Jacobs to serve as alternate.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
a. Chapel Hill Planning Commission —Appointment
The Board considered making an appointment to the Chapel Hill Planning Commission.
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price to
appoint the following to the Chapel Hill Planning Commission:
• Appointment to a partial term (Position #2) "ETJ or JPA BOCC Appointee"
representative for Katherine Roberts expiring 06/30/2017.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
b. Economic Development Advisory Board —Appointments
The Board considered making appointments to the Economic Development Advisory
Board.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Rich to
appoint the following to the Economic Development Advisory Board:
• Appointment to a second full term (Position #3) "UNC at Chapel Hill" representative for
Jim Kitchen expiring 06/30/2019.
• Appointment to a second full term (Position #9) "Core Business Community"
representative for Ronald Keizer expiring 06/30/2019.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
16
Commissioner Jacobs requested information about what this board is doing, as well as
the minutes for this advisory board.
Commissioner Pelissier said she also had petitioned for minutes to appear for all
boards and commissions on a department's website.
Bonnie Hammersley said staff if putting together a chart for the BOCC with all of the
advisory boards' websites and minutes.
c. Orange County Parks and Recreation Council —Appointment
The Board considered making an appointment to the Orange County Parks and
Recreation Council.
A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
appoint the following to the Orange County Parks and Recreation Council:
• Appointment to a first full term (Position #5) "At-Large" representative for Robert Smith
expiring 03/31/2019.
12. Board Comments
Commissioner Rich said she recently received a letter from a Chair of one of the
BOCC's committees and also had a good in-person conversation with her. She said her take
away from the conversation was that the Commissioners needed to do a better job of knowing
who is being appointed, as some applicants are not viable.
Commissioner Rich said she also spoke with an applicant to the Chapel Hill Planning
Board, and it was an enlightening conversation. She learned that some applicants are highly
qualified, and others do not even know about the board to which they are applying. She said
the BOCC should talk about this process going forward, in order to know who is being
appointed. She said it is important to not pick randomly.
Commissioner Price said even though she has been hesitant to take recommendations
from staff, it does provide some degree of vetting.
Commissioner Price said she attended another Habitat home dedication, which was a
lovely community event.
Commissioner Jacobs said on the issue of appointments, there was discussion years
ago regarding for which boards recommendations should be accepted. He said the current
attitude is that an applicant's capabilities do not seem to be as important as their socio-
economic position or demographic characteristics. He said these latter factors are certainly
valid, but it is important to have people who are knowledgeable and interested in serving.
He said he would like to resume a more conscious appointment process.
Commissioner Jacobs said he wanted to clarify that no one has ever petitioned the
Board to name the Cedar Grove Community Center.
Commissioner Jacobs said he received an email with comments regarding how the
BOCC will divide up affordable housing funds. He said no decisions have been made, and he
wants that to be clear.
Commissioner Pelissier said she really appreciated these comments regarding
appointments. She said some additional questions have been added to certain board
applications. She said she is sometimes uncomfortable with appointments, and noted that
greater effort will be required in order to do things more thoroughly. She said this all warrants
further discussion.
Chair McKee said four of the five Commissioners present this evening have expressed
discomfort with the appointment process, which he would consider a petition on the topic. He
17
asked if this topic could be scheduled for a work session in the fall. He added that he too has
concerns about the appointment process.
Chair McKee said an email was received from WRAL requesting an interview to
comment on school funding. He said he spoke with WRAL and strongly emphasized the
BOCC's historically demonstrated value of, and funding for, public education.
Commissioner Rich said Travis Myren sent out the school report for 2016 which is very
helpful.
Chair McKee said he wanted to point out Orange County's level of spending at the
Public Budget Hearing on Thursday.
13. Information Items
• May 5, 2016 BOCC Meeting Follow-up Actions List
• Memorandum Regarding Expansion of Election Information on the Orange County Website
• Memorandum Regarding Eubanks Road Waste & Recycling Center
• Jordan Lake Allocation Update
• Memorandum Regarding Impacts of Changing Recycling Collection Strategies
• BOCC Chair Letter Regarding Petitions from May 5, 2016 Regular Meeting
14. Closed Session
NONE
15. Adjournment
A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
adjourn the meeting at 9:12 p.m.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION
The Board meeting was reconvened to receive comments from Orange County resident
Andrew Dykers.
Andrew Dykers provided comments on the election education information referenced in
Item 13.
Andrew Dykers provided point-by-point comments on the items in the memo from David
Hunt and Tracy Reams, Orange County Board of Elections Director. He said his primary push
back was around providing links creating a discussion board, and that doing so would show no
preferential treatment to any candidate. He also noted there were no front-page links to
elections on the County website.
Chair McKee petitioned staff to follow up on these comments.
Commissioner Rich said to insure that Andrew Dykers comments are forwarded to
Tracy Reams.
Bonnie Hammersley said she would have staff look into Andrew Dyker's additional
comments.
Commissioner Jacobs asked if the purpose of this petition is to see if Tracy Reams has
any additional comments.
Bonnie Hammersley said yes.
18
A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to
adjourn the meeting at 9:22 p.m.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Earl McKee, Chair
David Hunt
Deputy Clerk