HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 06-02-2016 1
APPROVED 6/21/2016
MINUTES
JOINT MEETING
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
JUNE 2, 2016
7:00 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met with the Town of Chapel Hill for a
joint meeting on Thursday, June 2, 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, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager
Travis Myren and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will be identified
appropriately below)
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS/STAFF PRESENT: Mayor Pam Hemminger, Ed
Harrison, George Cianciolo, Maria Palmer, Nancy Oates, Michael Parker and Town Manager
Roger Stancil
CHAPEL HILLTOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Donna Bell, Jessica Anderson, and
Sally Greene
Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Chair McKee welcomed the newest members of the Chapel Hill Town Council and the
new Mayor, Pam Hemminger.
Mayor Hemminger said she is glad to be here and noted that today is National Gun
Violence Awareness Day.
1. Economic Development
a) Incentives- Steve Brantley and Dwight Bassett
BACKGROUND:
This potential idea arose during a discussion involving Town of Chapel Hill elected officials as
Town staff began to draft a new work plan for the Town's recently developed Commercial
Development Strategy.
At the request of the County and Town Managers, Orange County Economic Development
Director Steve Brantley and Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development Officer Dwight
Bassett have been meeting over the course of the last few months to discuss best practices
across the nation and targeted ideas that may positively affect the success of local economic
development efforts. Attachment 1 a is intended to be a framework for conversation and the
interest as expressed in this shared conversation among elected officials and will guide County
and Town Managers' further efforts on this project. If there is sufficient interest in the areas
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outlined, work will move forward with other staff members to develop the first draft policy
documents for further review.
Steve Brantley and Dwight Bassett reviewed the Chapel Hill and Orange County
Incentive Policy Worksheet, found in attachment 1A.
Mayor Hemminger said staff has been attending different economic development
outreaches in and around the research triangle area. She said there is growing economic
influx into this region that can be tapped into.
Mayor Hemminger said there are companies in Chapel Hill that want to grow and
expand, but there is no space available.
Chair McKee said there is UNC Launch, but there should be a framework for those
companies that are outgrowing the Launch facilities.
Steve Brantley said when he and Dwight Bassett have met in recent months, they have
considered if there were incentives, and asked what are they looking to get out of these
incentives. He said they also talked about how to fund incentives.
Steve Brantley said the types of possible projects are a myriad of mixed-use re-
development areas, large single purpose uses, as well as moderate and small-scale
businesses and start-ups.
Steve Brantley referred to synthetic tax increment financing and said there are
examples of this being used across North Carolina. He said the basic concept is that the net
new property tax values that spin off from such projects goes into the repayment of the
synthetic tax increment financing.
Steve Brantley said a second area could be a performance agreement that outlines
what is agreed upon.
Steve Brantley said there are projects that could require a State of North Carolina
matching fund. He gave an example.
Steve Brantley said smaller companies may represent a more marginal net new
property tax value. He referred to Attachment 1 a to highlight the various options the County
could pursue.
Council Member Parker said there are two primary areas in which the Council has
expressed an interest, the first of which is making Orange County and Chapel Hill an
innovation community. He said the other priority is an inventory of spaces. He said either
inventory needs to be created, or at least have specs for new inventory. He said the largest
need seems to be job expansion and job creation.
Council Member Palmer asked if spaces, such as industrial innovation zones, should
be built in order to get ahead of the curve.
Dwight Bassett said the market is not driving office space. He said retail is at a 6%
vacancy and only two thirds of the market potential is being captured.
Mayor Hemminger said whatever happens in Orange County benefits Chapel Hill, and
vice versa. She said she was hoping Orange County would help the Town get the Eubanks
Road area off the ground, and asked if there is an appropriate time to have those
conversations.
Chair McKee said the County would also like to be partners, and he hoped that some
directions could be framed on a few of these items.
Council Member Oates said she has heard from developers that it is difficult to get
lenders to give funding to spec office space.
Dwight Bassett said that is one of the barriers that is being faced on many projects. He
said it is a matter of showing developers that the tenants will come if the spaces are built.
Commissioner Price referred to the analysis of the current space, and asked if it would
be wise to get ahead of the curve in terms of the types of spaces needed versus what
currently exists.
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Dwight Bassett said many office spaces are looking to go smaller, which also allows for
flexibility. He said an open floor plate is most desirable, so that companies can customize.
Commissioner Price asked if the existing vacant spaces can be upfitted to something
different.
Dwight Bassett said there is a little less than 200,000 square feet available, and the
most flexible space is Dawson Hall. He said the vast majority of what is available is Class B
office space.
Council Member Cianciolo referred to the North Carolina fund and asked Steve
Brantley if the example he gave of$1,000 given per job created is typical.
Steve Brantley said it is discretionary, and the 100 counties in North Carolina are
divided into three tiers (1, 2, and 3) for economic development. He said Orange County is
always a tier 3 category as an affluent county. He said companies are typically given more
funds if they take their business to a lower tier county.
Council Member Cianciolo said this incentive does not sound like one with a great pay
off.
Steve Brantley gave an example of a company that visited Chapel Hill three times to
considered expanding here. He said this company went to Raleigh and has grown much more
than expected.
Council Member Cianciolo asked if there are incentives that would be the most
attractive to offer.
Steve Brantley said the most immediate need is to find space, or product, that offers
more than 5-10,000 square feet of office space.
Council Member Parker said this is a known need, but what kind of incentives can be
offered up since a spec office building is not likely to be built.
Dwight Bassett said a strong job market is needed in Orange County. He said at least
$2000-3000 for each job created would be the strongest incentive, and this would make
Orange County more competitive with other counties. He said this would be a beginning and
an investment, so as to get future net gains in the long term.
Mayor Hemminger said clients want better roads.
Chair McKee said the County meets regularly with the Department of Transportation
(DOT), and Orange County staff will be meeting with DOT in July and he can bring this up
then.
Mayor Hemminger said she feels that these projects are not a high priority for DOT, at
least not in this decade. She said this is because Orange County is a tier 3 county.
Steve Brantley said Orange County competes against Alamance County, but Chapel
Hill would not. He said Chapel Hill would compete against other municipalities such as Cary,
etc. He said he felt that the process of removing barriers to more product space for the County
is underway.
Council Member Palmer said a good start would be re-zoning and an effective bus
system.
Commissioner Jacobs said a lot of time has been spent talking about start-ups moving
out of Orange County, but many of these are looking for flex space, not office space.
Dwight Bassett said that is correct. He said the Town council drafted a commercial
development strategy. He said one of those outcomes was allowing for advanced
manufacturing flex, the target of which is flex, research, advance manufacturing, and even
maker space. He said there have been intense conversations with University of North
Carolina (UNC) on this plan, and UNC will be a great partner. He said the longer-term need is
for land in places like Millhouse Road. He said staff has been working to be ready for the time
when this opportunity presents itself.
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Chair McKee asked if there would be support or concerns for both staffs to work on a
process to incentivize a development company to look into building a space, knowing that
companies coming into Orange County would probably have to be incentivized as well.
Council Member Oates said it is important to consider what is being incentivized. She
said there are businesses that want to come, but here are no developers wanting to do it. She
suggested rezoning so that apartment complexes cannot be built, rather only office space
would be allowed.
Council Member Parker asked staffs to continue to try and find out what can be jointly
done to get the product developed in order to attract the types of businesses discussed this
evening.
Commissioner Dorosin said a broader view should be taken since the cost of land in
Chapel Hill is prohibitive. He suggested looking at properties on Hwy 54 and 86, noting the
amenities can still be appreciated by a company if it is outside the city limits. He said another
issue that goes hand in hand with expensive land for businesses is the fact that the business
owners cannot afford to live in Orange County. He said many people go to Durham because
there is both space for their business, as well as affordable housing.
Commissioner Rich said she did not agree with everything Commissioner Dorosin said,
and if spaces are put in the County then amenities will be needed as well, such as food trucks,
coffee shops, etc.
Commissioner Dorosin said the vision must be expanded at some point.
Commissioner Rich said she agreed, but she said spaces cannot only be zoned for
office space. She said people want to live, work and play in the same place.
Steve Brantley said his and Dwight Bassett's comments this evening are specific to
Chapel Hill properties and the redevelopment of existing properties in order to create additional
tax value, higher income jobs with benefits, etc. He said increased product would include flex
space and incubator space, really any company that may be seeking space.
Dwight Bassett said in reference to the inquiries received in the past two years, there
have been two parameters identified by companies: walkable environments and the
availability of parking. He said there is 600,000 square feet of office space approved for
redevelopment at Glen Lennox, and over 100,000+ square feet that can be built at Carraway
Village.
Commissioner Jacobs said it might be wise to ask respective staff to look at the Greene
Tract. He said a living/work space could be designed there with housing and active recreation.
He said this exercise may generate some ideas and noted that this parcel of land is already
owned by the County and the Towns.
Commissioner Burroughs said Glenn Lenox and Carraway Village are ready to go and
asked Dwight Bassett if there is something specific needed to get the projects moving.
Dwight Bassett said there are barriers for both projects. He said the Carraway Village
property was re-zoned in 2015 with four issues unsettled. He said these final issues are being
worked on. He said the barriers to the Glenn Lenox project cannot be clearly defined. He said
developers are hesitant to gamble on these spaces.
Commissioner Burroughs said incentives may move office space at these areas, and
asked if staff wants approval to move forward.
Chair McKee asked if there is consensus to have staff and managers work to find
partners in the community and define barriers for these two areas, as well as the Millhouse
Road area.
Council Member Harrison said in reference to the two projects Dwight Bassett sited,
assistance in road construction is desired and, in his opinion, Glen Lennox has a better case
but DOT will not help.
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Mayor Hemminger said she felt Orange County may be interested in the Carraway
Village project, since the County vehicles use Eubanks Road quite often.
Commissioner Rich said the Board of County Commissioners is not in the road
business and incentives around this issue will need to be created by the Town.
Dwight Bassett referred to the Carraway project, and said a certain amount of
commercial development has to be built before being eligible for incentives. He said this would
be a priority before the roads.
Commissioner Pelissier said whatever the County does, it needs to be consistent with
all the towns.
Commissioner Jacobs said that is why he agreed with Commissioner Dorosin. He said
the County should have a well-articulated plan, which reflects the same values wherever the
County has partnerships.
Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is an update on Carolina North.
Dwight Bassett said there is very limited activity due to funding issues.
Mayor Hemminger said UNC Launch is expanding, and the spin-offs are the ones that
are looking to find space off campus and who the Town has been working with.
Commissioner Jacobs said Carolina North was a priority of previous chancellors.
Chair McKee said the managers will work with staff to bring back drafts to each board
to better define and direct this process.
b) County Economic Development Districts and County Economic Development
Activities
Steve Brantley presented a summary of the PowerPoint presentation, which highlighted
Orange County Economic Development's various activities, including:
• Highlighting successful areas of mutual economic development cooperation between
Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill.
• Promotion & financial support directed at the growth and retention of local
entrepreneurial start-ups, small businesses, agricultural ventures and the arts
throughout Orange County.
• Examples of local use of the 1/4 cent sales tax proceeds for economic development
(Article 46 funds)
• Examples of overall business prospect recruitment activity & trends.
• Recent local manufacturing assistance, and update on Orange County's Hillsborough
Economic Development District & Buckhorn Economic Development District.
2. Affordable Housing — Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force
Travis Myren reviewed the following background:
On March 22, 2016, Commissioner Bernadette Pelissier petitioned the Board of
Commissioners to create a multijurisdictional work group composed of elected officials to guide
Countywide, collaborative efforts on affordable housing. The Board of Commissioners
discussed this topic during its work session on the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan as a way
to coordinate programs and leverage resources.
During that discussion, Board members asked staff to evaluate whether the existing HOME
Committee could be used as the multijurisdictional entity by simply expanding its scope as an
alternative to creating a new committee.
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The HOME Committee already has many of the characteristics and orientation necessary to
assume the responsibilities of a multijurisdictional affordable housing committee.
He said:
1. The purpose of the HOME Consortium is to allow jurisdictions to take a more regional
and collaborative approach to affordable housing, recognizing that housing needs
cross Town and County boundaries.
2. The Committee is already composed of representatives from Orange County, Chapel
Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.
3. The HOME Consortium develops the Consolidated Plan which defines housing needs
in the community and an annual Action Plan that describes the specific uses for federal
housing funds.
4. The HOME Committee already uses a competitive request for proposal process for
soliciting, reviewing, and selecting affordable housing projects.
Travis Myren said the table in the abstract outlined additional tasks that may be
required and where it is suggested to transition the HOME Committee into a Multijurisdictional
Task Force on Affordable Housing. He said based on the feedback tonight, staff would go to
the other jurisdictions for their feedback.
Commissioner Burroughs asked if all the jurisdictions are currently represented.
Travis Myren said yes, with the exception of Mebane.
Mayor Hemminger asked if there are any affordable housing providers in this group.
Travis Myren said no.
Mayor Hemminger said Chapel Hill had a work session recently and found out that 5%
of the total housing in Chapel Hill is for affordable housing. She said they can do better, and
the question is whether to expand the scope of the existing group or create a new one.
Council Member Palmer said she is for fewer boards and thinks that the HOME group
could be tweaked and expanded to fit the need, if that group is willing to do so.
Commissioner Pelissier said she agreed that the HOME Consortium could work and
when she petitioned for a new group, she had not thought if this possibility.
Council Member Oates said a new group would have a new perspective.
Commissioner Rich asked Commissioner Dorosin since he serves on the HOME
consortium, if this group has discussed this possibility. She said the Orange County Board of
County Commissioners makes new appointments every year, so they could get new blood on
the board that way.
Commissioner Dorosin said the group has not yet discussed this idea, since the HOME
consortium meets only a few times to review home funding, which is why home providers are
not on the board. He said that this group could expand its scope and meeting schedule, and
staffing for either group would be the same. He said he sees no reason to create a new board
if it is not necessary.
Commissioner Rich said she supports expanding the current charge and meeting
schedule. She said all can think about this and to work with Commissioner Pelissier since she
first proposed it.
Council Member Cianciolo said one addition to the charge should be to come up with a
new strategic plan.
Council Member Palmer said she agreed and thinks this would be very doable.
Council Member Oates said this proposal asks a group of people that have done one
specific thing to do something completely different and come up with a new strategic plan.
She would instead propose a new group and/or new people for a new perspective and ideas.
Commissioner Pelissier said a countywide strategic plan is what she was aiming for,
when she petitioned for this committee.
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3. Solid Waste Management- Gayle Wilson
a) Solid Waste Programs Fee
Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Director, said the County is facing a deterioration of
recycling revenues, while expanding services. He said the enterprise fund reserves are also
being drained.
Gayle Wilson reviewed the following information:
The Solid Waste Programs Fee has been recommended to remain at $107 for Fiscal
Year 2016-17. In collaboration with the Town Managers, the County Manager has initiated a
process to perform a rate study and create a long-term financial plan for the enterprise fund,
using the consultant SCS Engineers, PC. The study will not be concluded in time for
discussion and endorsement by the Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG), or consideration by
the various governing boards, so the recommendation was made to maintain the current fee
until these discussions can be accomplished. The impetus for the study at this time is the
escalating cost of some of the recycling services coupled with the substantive deterioration of
recycling markets and loss of revenue. This study will take into account the financial
implications of the recent closing of the municipal solid waste landfill and the associated loss of
revenue as well as the $3 million expense paid from reserves to construct the final cap system
required for closure and the reserve funding of recycling programs following the suspension of
the 3-R Fee for two years.
A 5-year financial plan, including annual fee projections and an analysis of the enterprise fund
reserve structure, is an expected outcome of the study. The initial component of the study—
Establishing the Financing Modeling (basis for revenues and expenses) and SCS's
familiarization with the Enterprise Fund's Programs and Services — has been recently
completed.
Chair McKee said there is a discussion in the legislature about recycling and asked if
there is any update on this matter.
Gayle Wilson said his understanding is that there is a bill in the Senate that would
eliminate the current law on electronic recycling, but he understands the House bill was a bit
different. He said the recycling of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) is the most expensive element,
and some counties are asking for relief from the obligation. He said Orange County has not
budgeted money for this type of recycling this year; however, next year there will be about
$130,000 allocated to recycle CRTs. He said he would be very surprised if the entire law
regarding electronics recycling was repealed.
Chair McKee asked for him to send out any information/updates on this issue to the
County and all municipalities as well.
Commissioner Jacobs asked previously if there was an estimated cost the County
would incur if the State no longer funded an electronic recycling program. He said Gayle
Wilson had provided this information, but he could not recall the estimated amount.
Gayle Wilson said he did not recall the number either, but the County receives around
$10,000 from the State in fees collected from electronics companies.
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Commissioner Jacobs said if it would only cost $10,000 for the County to fund their
own program to recycle electronics, it may be worth doing. He asked if a more definitive cost
could be determined.
Gayle Wilson said the cost for the actual collection of electronic items, as well as the
recycling process, costs in the range of$250,000 per year.
Commissioner Price asked if would be effective to have in-house electronics recycling,
if no one is in the market for the recyclables.
Gayle Wilson said there is a small market for general electronics, but the CRTs are the
problem, and they continue to come in on a daily basis.
Commissioner Price said that was her point: if the County decided to do the right thing
by creating its own program, but cannot sell the product, is it worth the effort.
Gayle Wilson said he is not sure any efforts made by the County would have any
significant impact, and the waste would end up in a landfill somewhere.
b) Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG) Update
BACKGROUND:
The SWAG most recently met on May 25, 2016. The primary items on the agenda were: the
County Manager's recommendation on the Solid Waste Programs Fee for Fiscal Year 2016-
17; and the introduction to the SWAG of SCS Engineers, PC who presented an Interim Report
on the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Financial Planning study project. The previous SWAG
meeting was held on March 30.
The SWAG will be tracking and evaluating the outputs of the financial study as they are
available in preparation for re-engaging on the Interlocal Agreement for Solid Waste
Management that has currently been suspended pending the outcome of the financial
component of the Agreement. The SWAG will also be involved in recommending solid waste
program priorities, tracking the implementation of the rural curbside recycling program
expansion, progress of the Eubanks Road Waste & Recycling Center modernization project
and other issues as they arise such as mattress disposal, results of shred-a-thons, alternative
means of disposal, etc.
Chair McKee asked if any SWAG members would like to speak to this item.
Commissioner Jacobs said the group has delayed the discussion of creating an
interlocal agreement until the financial study is completed. He said UNC and UNC Hospital
reps still attend regularly. He said the group is interested in how UNC Hospital disposes of
food waste and if there is a way to be more aggressive with the handling of organic waste.
Mayor Hemminger said the County is recycling successfully, but the market has
declined to the point that recycling is no longer a revenue source but an expense.
Commissioner Rich said the group's priorities are going to be reviewed with new SWAG
members, and updated as needed. She said she is greatly encouraged by UNC's attendance
and involvement in the process.
Chair McKee said he is not sure the current recycling fee can be maintained in the
future.
Commissioner Jacobs said the County had a waste reduction goal of 61% and is now
at 64%. He said it was understood that the higher the percentage went the more expensive it
would be. He said the public should be reminded of this. He added that there has been no
discussion of a percentage cap.
Commissioner Rich said the rural community has fully bought into the process, which
has been tremendous.
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Council Member Cianciolo asked if the service being paid to remove the CRTs are
simply putting them in someone else's landfill.
Gayle Wilson said no. He said the County is subsidizing the remanufacturing of the
CRTs, but the market for them is becoming obsolete.
4. Joint Training Center for Public Safety— Interim Fire Chief Matt Sullivan
Chief Sullivan reviewed the following memorandum, found in attachment 4:
Chief Sullivan said he is here to provide an overview of discussions surrounding
needed public safety training facilities in Orange County. He said initial discussions have
identified a possible opportunity for a multi-jurisdictional/multi-discipline training facility.
Chief Sullivan said this project is a future project and will not need funding in fiscal year
2016-2017. He said he envisions more conversation over the next few months about the
feasibility of this project. He said this is not a new idea because the County Fire Chiefs have
had this as a priority for some time.
Chief Sullivan said the need for fire-training facilities was a topic during the October 1,
2015 Orange County Commissioner's meeting with the County Fire Chiefs. He said the
necessity of improved and/or new training facilities have been topics of conversation for
multiple years. He said the Orange County Fire Chiefs support the concept of a multi-
jurisdictional/joint training facility. He said such a facility would maximize resources of the
collaborating partners and provide additional opportunities for joint training. A sub-set of the
Orange County Fire Chiefs have begun meeting to further the discussion and visioning
process, regarding training needs and the specific elements needed at the facility.
Chief Sullivan said as they continue to vision this facility, they strongly believe that
additional synergy can occur from the inclusion of law enforcement and emergency service
partners who also have a need for additional and updated training facilities. He said informal
conversations with several of these Chiefs and department heads have resulted in additional
support for the project.
Chief Sullivan said the Community College system could also be an important partner
in this initiative. He said Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College has demonstrated
success in the development of a joint public training facility in Woodfin, North Carolina.
He said over the past several years the Triangle J Council of Governments has been
assessing the feasibility of building a regional joint public safety training facility. He added that
while this is an important initiative, the regional site will not serve the day to day training needs
of our County public safety entities.
Chief Sullivan said over the next several months their plan would be to pull together
representatives of all public safety agencies in Orange County and the Community College to
continue this conversation with the interest of bringing a proposal to the County
Commissioners and the local elected bodies for additional action and consideration.
Chief Sullivan showed the Boards some PowerPoint slides of various training facilities
around the State. He said this facility is in the explorative phase.
Commissioner Dorosin asked if the size of land parcel that would be needed is known,
and if this facility could be considered economic development.
Chief Sullivan said anywhere from 15-40 acres for a site is needed, and there are
economic development possibilities since other counties and cities would pay to come and use
this facility. He said Orange County personnel are currently traveling outside the County for
training.
Council Member Parker asked if there is a timeline in place for the next steps of this
project.
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Chief Sullivan said recommendations from rural fire boards and towns could be brought
back in a year, with the primary assets going in first before the core.
Commissioner Rich asked if any land has been identified that could work for a facility
such as this.
Chief Sullivan said it would need to be near municipal water and close to recovery
water sites, as well as centrally located.
Commissioner Rich said the site would need to be centrally located away from
residential areas.
Commissioner Jacobs said Carolina North may be an option and asked if UNC could be
approached as a partner.
Chief Sullivan said that is a good suggestion.
Council Member Palmer said this facility should be put where Tech students can also
have access to it, since many of their EMT/fire classes are at Durham Tech.
5. Report from Managers on Joint Efforts
a) Outside Agency Funding Application
Bonnie Hammersley said it was brought to their attention that there were some
concerns about this application process. She reviewed the following information:
BACKGROUND:
For several years, Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro have issued a
unified request for applications for outside agency funding. For the FY2016-17 funding cycle,
changes were made to the application. The Third Sector Alliance, a membership group of
nonprofits serving Orange County, provided feedback, indicating challenges in completing and
submitting applications. The survey summary (Attachment 5a) from the Alliance is attached as
well as the corresponding full report (Attachment 5b) for your review. The County Manager
and Town Manager intend to initiate a process this summer that will include Town staff, County
staff and the Alliance to revise the funding application as well as exploring ways to provide an
informative and interactive process that will assist in meeting the needs of the Third Sector
Alliance and the local government Boards.
Mayor Hemminger thanked them for this review.
Commissioner Burroughs said this new form was much harder, and she is glad the
application will be simplified.
b) Additional Items of Interest
Bonnie Hammersley said she and Roger Stancil meet monthly to discuss mutual
issues. She said there are two studies in the County's recommended budget: one is a double
taxation study, and the other is the development impact study. She said Chapel Hill is
interested in working with the County on this, and an invitation will be extended to the other
towns as well.
Bonnie Hammersley said discussions about staff collaboration on matters of economic
development and affordable housing have been happening for a year.
Bonnie Hammersley said another idea that is being pursued is pulling together like-
senior staff to have a day retreat, in order to discuss how to do things better with each other.
Roger Stancil reiterated that the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and Orange County
are working together with the easements on Rogers Road, and that is all working well. He said
he and Bonnie Hammersley work together well.
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Mayor Hemminger said the County is having difficulty filling ETJ and JPA positions on
the Chapel Hill Planning Commission, and staff may come back with options for filling these
positions.
Commissioner Dorosin suggested reaching out to the Rogers Road area for
candidates.
Donna Baker said she asked David Caldwell to reach out to this community, which he
did, but received no response.
Council Member Parker said this issue is about equity, and the ETJ is only 7% of the
Town. He said having two seats on the planning commission equals 22%.
Commissioner Dorosin said this arena is the only place where these residents have a
political vote and voice.
Council Member Parker said how many seats are appropriate.
Mayor Hemminger said this issue can be further discussed with the Town Council.
Chair McKee said if there are no applicants, the County will defer to Chapel Hill since
there are only 90 days to fill these seats.
6. INFORMATION ITEM (Written Update — Not for Specific Discussion)
• Town of Chapel Hill Construction Projects
Mayor Hemminger said there is a map at their places of all of the summer construction
sites in and around Chapel Hill and UNC.
The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Earl McKee, Chair
Donna Baker
Clerk to the Board