HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-26-2018 Work Session1
APPROVED 5/15/2018
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION
April 26, 2018
7:00 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a work session on Thursday, April 26,
2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Dorosin and Commissioners Mia Burroughs,
Mark Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Mark Marcoplos, Earl McKee, 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)
Chair Dorosin called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
1. Boards and Commissions – Annual Work Plans/Reports
External Boards:
• Carrboro Board of Adjustment – Will Heflin was unable to attend, but did send a
document for the Board of Commissioners’ review in the agenda packet.
• Northern Transition Area Advisory Committee (NTAAC) – Amy Jeroloman, Anahid
Vrana, and Deborah Eaker-Rich are all attending.
Amy Jeroloman said she is the current chair, and Anahid Vraba is the vice chair. She
provided the following handout for the Commissioners’ to review in detail, and discussed a few
highlights from it:
The Northern Transition Area Advisory Committee (NTAAC) whose primary purpose is to
review and make recommendations about development and planning concerns in the area of
Orange County under Carrboro’s jurisdiction, has addressed a number projects and issues over
the past year. Here are some of the highlights.
Carrboro’s Proposal for Light-Industrial Land Uses on Town-Owned Property at 7917 Old
NC 86:
As you know, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen (BoA) are planning to rezone and develop the
Town owned property at 7917 Old NC 86 to light Industrial, as a solution for Carrboro
businesses which find this type of space within the town limits too expensive or unavailable. It’s
our understanding that on 2/6/2018 the BoA directed Town Planning Staff to contact the
Commissioners / County staff to discuss this development and a possible joint rezoning public
hearing. The NTAAC has not received any information since February and were hoping the
Commissioners could update us on the status of this project.
We have included some of the residents’ and adjacent property owners’ concerns within our
report for your review. Here are the themes:
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• What are the Old NC 86 impacts?
o Are there Traffic Mitigating Strategies?
o Are there any Twin Creeks Park entrance impacts?
• What are the Adjacent Property impacts In terms of:
o Noise, Lighting, Traffic, Scenery / View Obstruction, and Water Quality?
• What does light-industrial really mean given that this is a designated rural residential area?
• How will the town manage the dual roles of developer and enforcer of this process (Land
Use Ordinance, etc.) since in the past, this has been separate with the town only having
the role of facilitator / enforcer?
The NTAAC recommends that prior to any development that a DOT (Department of
Transportation) Engineer review the area for Traffic / Safety issues.
Adjacent neighbors’ questions (primarily on Britton Drive, Talbryn Way, and Old NC 86):
1. How will increasing traffic on Old 86 be addressed?
2. What appropriate buffers will be provided for the adjacent properties?
3. Can the proposed driveway and buildings be moved towards the North side of the property?
4. Will bike lanes/ paths be considered?
5. Will light / noise/ water pollution be an issue?
6. How will any restrictions placed on the property be enforced?
7. How will the property make financial sense for the town/ county?
8. Who will pay for the development of the project?
9. What is the meaning of "transition area" (the current designation) given this proposal?
10. Would greenhouses be considered for the property?
Traffic Along Old NC 86 and Eubanks Roads Remain Problematic:
Traffic along Old NC 86 and Eubanks Road remains problematic for Northern Transitional Area
(NTA) residents.
• On school mornings, traffic backs up on Eubanks by Morris Grove since the traffic circle
does not have a dedicated right turn lane into the school.
• During weekday mornings, residents can no longer safely make a left turn onto Old NC
86 on the stretch of Old NC 86 from Calvander to Eubanks given the amount of cross
traffic on Old NC 86.
We’ve recently given a report to the BoA (11/14/2017) which included our concerns and
recommendations for mitigating traffic. Unfortunately, though the area continues to be
developed, the DOT has not implemented any road infrastructure improvements. On a positive
note, it appears that a traffic study was conducted last November (2017) but unfortunately the
DOT is unfamiliar with this. Does the County have any information since the collector sites were
on Old NC 86, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and within the towns of Carrboro and Chapel
Hill?
North-South Connector Road via Lake Hogan Farms Extension Remains Stalled:
For many years, the NTAAC has championed completing the North-South Connector Road,
using Lake Hogan Road Extension, northward to Eubanks Road and Morris Grove School, as a
solution to traffic and safety issues. This connector road would provide an alternate route to Old
NC 86 as well as improve traffic circulation and safety for the surrounding area including Hogan
Farms and the future Twin Creeks Park. We recently received an update from the Carrboro
Planning Staff who confirm the project is stalled since Ballentine (MI Homes) has not proceeded
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with the last phase of their development. It’s our understanding that an engineering review of
the bridge crossings required to complete this connection is being conducted. What funding, if
any, has the County allotted to Twin Creeks Parks and the completion of the connector road?
We recommend that the Commissioners and BoA discuss the North-South Connector Road
project at their next joint meeting.
Carrboro Advisory Board Guidelines and Staff Resources:
We would like to report that over the past year the communication and dissemination of
materials to the NTAAC have improved. Yet we remain concerned that the newly enacted
advisory board guidelines (Rules of Procedure for Town of Carrboro Boards and Commissions
Administrative Policy) have already had the consequence of canceling our March meeting due
to lack of Staff resources. (IE Item 4. Meeting agenda… If the agenda is not posted prior to
96 hrs. of the meeting, the meeting will be cancelled and items will be continued to the
next properly posted meeting.) The NTAAC cannot complete our charge or even meet
without dedicated and consistent staff. We meet once a month, a cancellation is more
consequential for us compared to other advisory boards who meet more frequently. Also as
you may know, the NTAAC is the only board whose members are not the constituents of the
BoA. We can’t vote for them, only the Orange County Commissioners.
The rest of the NTAAC’s projects from the past year are listed below in the report. As you can
see, the majority of these projects involve Old NC 86. We believe this focus will continue into
the future. We have accomplished our work while having committee vacancies and membership
turn over, monthly meetings (if not cancelled), and limited staff resources.
Thank you for your time and this opportunity to provide this update. Do you have any
questions?
Proposed FLX Applicant/Development at Old NC 86 and Eubanks Roads:
As the Commissioners may know, the NTAAC has spent significant time (i.e., years) addressing
proposed development and zoning changes within the Northern Transitional Area (NTA). In
2011, our members attended a two day charrette, along with other neighbors and citizens. This
charrette developed plans and brought forth concerns and interests regarding the development
of the property located at the corner of Old NC 86 and Eubanks Road. We have participated in
all of the public hearings and meetings concerning this development and new zoning. We have
also offered detailed recommendations. Nevertheless, the NTAAC still finds FLZ zoning
confusing, especially after attending the 2/7/2017 BoA meeting when the FLX applicant was
approved to apply for FLX even though all the zoning terms were not met. We anticipate that an
application for FLX zoning will be submitted once the current Eubanks construction projects are
completed and may need the county’s assistance to interpret the FLX zoning.
Multi-use Paths Along Homestead Road and Greenway Connectors:
The NTAAC participated in several meetings concerning the developments at the corner of
Homestead Road and Lake Hogan Subdivision. On 9/20/2017, we also attended a public
hearing with the Board of Adjustment to emphasize our recommendation that, in lieu of two
sidewalks (for the interior project), a multi-use path be added to the developments along
Homestead Road. Our recommendations were denied though this path would facilitate
pedestrian and bicycle safety. Carrboro is not a continuous town but the construction of multi-
use paths along main roads as development occurs is a good solution to promoting citizen
safety and enjoyment of the area. The NTAAC has also advocated for multi-use path designs
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in other projects, including the Ballentine Development where there is a well-used path fronting
Old NC 86.
The Jones Creek path begins at Morris Grove School and ends at the intersection of Carrboro
and County land. The County maintains their section of this trail and it continues to be a model
example of recreational multi-use paths. Unfortunately the path ends abruptly several hundred
yards before the Hogan Farms neighborhood. Much to their frustration, the connecting terrain is
unpaved, rocky, hilly, and muddy making a riding a bike or walking to school difficult for
neighborhood children. Carrboro has received a grant funding the building this connection to
the Jones Creek Path which will facilitate its regular use. The grant includes an educational
component which will support the Morris Grove faculty / staff to encourage children to ride bikes
or walk to school. The NTAAC is strongly supportive of this effort and continues to recommend
that the Town of Carrboro fund connecting its separate sections for pedestrian and bicycle
uses.
Excessive Trash along Old NC 86 Calvander to Eubanks:
The NTAAC remains concerned about the excessive trash along Old NC 86 (i.e., from
Calvander to Eubanks). It’s our underrating that the trash is collected twice a year by the
Highway Departments’ prison systems. This schedule is not frequent enough. Old NC 86 is a
major artery road feeding to the Solid Waste Center. Due to trash falling from vehicles traveling
to the Solid Waste Center as well as the amount of traffic on this stretch of Old NC 86, garbage
accumulates along this road at a more rapid rate than at other locations. The NTAAC
recommends that the collection schedule be revised given that the road is too dangerous for
community groups to sponsor or adopt for cleanup.
Way Finding Project:
The Town of Carrboro has recently hired Axia, a consultant firm, to analyze its signage into
gateway points and within the town itself. The goal is to provide clear and consistent signage
and branding. The NTAAC did not have any specific critiques as to the methodology of the
analysis as performed and reported in Phase 1 nor did we object to the general conclusions as
presented. The NTAAC did, however, provide input as to particular signage in the Northern
Transition Area (NTA) which seems to be redundant and adds to the clutter of signage on the
roadways, recognizing that some of this signage may be required by NCDOT. The NTAAC
recommended that directional signage at the intersection of Eubanks Road and Old NC 86
would be helpful, particularly as the area grows and motorists less familiar with that intersection
need to ascertain directions to Hillsborough and Carrboro.
Respectfully Presented and Submitted by:
Amy Jeroloman – Orange County Rep to NTAAC, Current Chair
Anahid Vrana– Orange County Rep to NTAAC, Current Vice Chair
Deb Rich – Orange County Rep to NTAAC
Commissioner Jacobs asked if Craig Benedict could address some of these issues, and
the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has been waiting for answers from the Town of
Carrboro since October 2016.
Amy Jeroloman said the NTAAC thought the traffic study was done in November 2017,
but has received no information. She said the NTAAC contacted the Department of
Transportation (DOT), who was unaware of any such study.
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Craig Benedict, Planning Director, said he had not seen the study either, and the
Planning Department asked for another meeting with Carrboro staff about the Old 86 business
park, but that has not occurred.
Craig Benedict said the BOCC appointed a new member to the NTAAC about a month
ago, and an orientation will be set up for this new member. He said a letter will go to the
appointee, existing members, and the Town of Carrboro staff to set up this meeting, which can
be used as an opportunity to receive an update as well. He said there is no money allocated in
the early years to help with Twin Creeks Park and the north-south connector, and it was
contingent on the MI homes development being completed, which it is not.
Craig Benedict said there should be an orientation for the new NTAAC member within
the next month.
Chair Dorosin said he and the Mayor of Carrboro have decided to regularize a meeting
between the Board Chairs and the Town and County Managers, the first of which occurred last
week. He said all of these items will be a part of these conversations.
• Carrboro Planning Board
Susan Colton represents the transition area in Carrboro, and she lives in the County.
She said the Carrboro Planning Board said the Fairmont project is filled out and they are
interested in the adjacent Hutchinson property, and they will also be working on flex study on
the property where Eubanks Road crosses 86. She said the Lloyd property (on 54 and
Fayetteville Road) has been stalled for a while, but it should be brought forward some time this
year.
Chair Dorosin asked if the Lloyd property could still be developed with houses, without a
conditional use permit (CUP).
Susan Colton said they did not want to build houses, but rather wanted to make a lot of
stores with Harris Teeter as the anchor. She said she does not know if they could build houses,
even if they wanted to.
• Chapel Hill Library Board of Trustees (CHPL)
James Stroud said the CHPL has stayed on the cutting edge of technology, is very
innovative, and has a very good director. He said the usage numbers continue to increase. He
reviewed the following letter from the first quarter:
CHPL Board Budget Priorities for 2018
Dear Town Council Members:
In response to the request for input, please find below the top three budget priorities that the
Chapel Hill Public Library Board of Trustees would like to present for consideration. We see
these priorities as interdependent and working to achieve the Town’s themes and goals as
depicted in the Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive planning document.
1. Fund ongoing and expanded outreach services to underserved populations, with
an emphasis on digital inclusion strategies and continuing to add hours of
operation.
Rationale: part of the ongoing mission of the public library is “creating
connections,” particularly with the new role the Library Director will be playing for
the Town. We believe that increasing the accessibility of the physical library and
its resources as well as its digital reach should remain priorities for the Town for
the foreseeable future. With use of the library constantly increasing and the role
of the library in Chapel Hill as a source of information and community
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engagement becoming increasingly central, we ask the Town Council to help
keep this trajectory supported with funding and resources.
2. Increase funding to staffing the Library with diverse staff.
Rationale: Due to the changing demographics of the Town and the emphasis in
the CHPL Business Plan on "creating a more diverse place for everyone," the
Board of Trustees prioritizes the hiring of diverse staff to continue to provide the
excellence of service for which CHPL is renowned.
3. Review the current funding model with the County.
Rationale: Having a current, working agreement with the County for
collaboratively funding operations should be a priority, as strategic decisions for
library services continue.
The Board supports creative ways to accomplish these initiatives, perhaps through
collaborations with local organizations.
Thank you for asking for our input in your planning process.
Sincerely,
Brian Sturm, Chair
Chapel Hill Public Library Board of Trustees
Commissioner Rich asked if there is a deadline for the interlocal agreement with CHPL.
Bonnie Hammersley said this interlocal agreement expired in 2014, but Orange County
has continued to fund the CHPL at the same amount. She said the County has not received a
request from the Town to increase this amount.
Commissioner Jacobs said there had been fairly regular meetings, and then the tax
equity study was completed, which said that the funding came out even in the wash, and
everyone was being treated fairly in this agreement.
• Chapel Hill Parks, Greenw ays and Recreation Commission: not able to attend
• Chapel Hill Planning Commission: not able to attend
• Hillsborough Board of Adjustment: David Remington
David Remington said the one thing he wanted to bring forth was the request for
modifying the conditional use permit for the Eno River Academy on highway 57 to expand to an
elementary school. He said many similar questions arise about pedestrian and public
transportation, and it illustrates how difficult it is to do good things sometimes. He said it is
difficult to put sidewalks along a state highway, and with public transportation there is
discussion about putting in a bus stop, since this is a charter school with no transportation. He
said public transportation in the rural parts of Orange County is an important issue. He said
there are 3000 Orange County residents that do not drive, and are not within walking distance
of public transportation.
Commissioner Jacobs asked if staff would send some updated information about public
transportation to the Hillsborough BoA.
Chair Dorosin asked if the school’s permit request was approved.
David Remington said yes.
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• Hillsborough Planning Board: not in attendance
• Mebane Planning Board: not in attendance
Internal Boards
• ABC Board: previously presented at January 23rd BOCC meeting
• Adult Care Community Advisory Board: No report submitted, but if one can be by next
week, this item may be able to be added to agenda on May 3.
• Advisory Board on Aging: Lorenzo Mejia, Vice-Chair
Lorenzo Mejia thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its support for the
Department on Aging (DoA), and said Orange County attracts the elderly and retirees. He said
he works in this industry too, and DoA is recognized at a national level. He said there are
currently three areas of concern:
• Affordable housing
• Affordable care
• Transportation
Lorenzo Mejia said many of the elderly are not affluent residents, and there are real
needs.
Commissioner Burroughs asked if more could be shared about the need for affordable
care.
Lorenzo Mejia said if you are over 65, Medicare covers most needs. He said if one is of
limited needs, one is covered by Medicaid, but these two agencies do not cover everything. He
said an example is in home care (health assistants, post surgery care, etc.), which is not
covered at all, and this is the greatest need nationwide.
Commissioner McKee asked if the Advisory Board receives specific feedback on what
type of transportation is needed.
Lorenzo Mejia said seniors living at home need transportation, especially in rural areas.
Janice Tyler said door-to-door transportation in central and northern Orange County is
most needed. She said transportation for medical appointments is covered, but going to get
groceries, or other errands/social activities, is not.
Commissioner McKee asked if any consideration has been given to using a model like
Uber or Lyft. He said he is concerned that running a 15-passenger van to rural Orange County
is not the most efficient way to satisfy this need.
Janice Tyler said she would have to refer that idea to the County Manager.
Janice Tyler said there is a volunteer driver program to fill in the gaps, and UNC
Healthcare has used Lyft on a limited basis for some of its clinics. She said in years past there
have been contracts with taxi services.
Bonnie Hammersley said staff is looking at curb-to-curb service, as well as mobility
coordinators.
Commissioner Price asked if elderly residents are having difficulty aging in place, and
thus needing additional housing.
Janice Tyler said yes, this is a daily problem because affordable housing is scarce in
Orange County.
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Commissioner Jacobs said Theo Letman, Transportation Director, previously talked
about an on demand service down the line. He said the public needs to be better informed
about Orange County’s transportation plan.
Lorenzo Mejia said aging in place is a national challenge.
Commissioner Marcoplos said he lives in rural SW Orange County, and northern
Orange County always comes up in discussion, but it is better to say rural areas in general as
that is more accurate and inclusive.
Janice Tyler said her department has a grant funded mobility manager position from the
MPO, which has a direct phone line to help residents coordinate the best type of transportation
for their needs, which is a great resource.
Commissioner Rich said she had seen evidence of the benefits of this mobility manager.
She agreed with Commissioner Jacobs to make the transportation information more available.
Janice Tyler said the mobility manager does travel training with the older adults to help
familiarize them with the route.
• Affordable Housing Advisory Board
Sherrill Hampton said Chair Cook and Vice Chair Jacobs were unable to attend, but
there is a report in the Commissioners’ packet, and she is available to answer any questions.
Chair Dorosin suggested adding this report to the May 3 meeting, if possible.
Donna Baker said she would follow up.
• Agricultural Preservation Board (APB ): APB Board member Howard McAdams, and
Pete Sandbeck
Howard McAdams said he is a member of the board, and the Chair had a death in the
family and could not attend tonight. He thanked the Board for its ongoing support, and
reviewed some of the APB’s accomplishments: (page 36)
• Hosted the second “annual” breakfast program/informational workshop for existing and
prospective VAD/EVAD farm owners to encourage new participants and answer
questions; 68 people attended this at the Cedar Grove Community Center.
• In 2017, reviewed and recommended approval for 15 additional farms as Voluntary
Agricultural District and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District farms, adding 1,179
acres to these programs. This amount increased the total enrollment into both
programs to 12,554 acres on 93 farms throughout Orange County and increased
acreage in all of the seven Agricultural Districts.
Howard McAdams shared some of the concerns or emerging issues facing the APB:
• The average age of our farmers continues to increase, causing concerns about
retirement and farm succession planning. This is an ongoing issue despite the rising
numbers of young people taking up farming. Our “senior” farmers control and farm a
large percentage of the County’s prime open farmland, thus creating the potential for a
significant decline in active farm acreage over the next decade. New farmers tend to
grow market crops intensively, on very small farms.
• Explore ways to educate farmers and prospective farmers about the many new
agritourism opportunities that could be used to enhance and diversify farm income and
bring visitors to farms
• The APB plans to collaborate with the newly-formed Food Council on a range of
initiatives to enhance local markets for farm products.
• There is an ongoing need to educate landowners about all available farm programs,
including VAD/EVAD and the Present Use Valuation program.
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Peter Sandbeck thanked the BOCC for its ongoing support, and gave specific praise to
Gail Hughes, Resource Conservation Coordinator, for all her efforts with the VAD farmers.
Commissioner Rich thanked the APB for working with the Food Council.
Commissioner McKee thanked the APB for keeping agriculture front and center, and he
said it is the farming community that keeps Orange County both rural and green.
Chair Dorosin referred to the concern about the aging of farmers, and said he read that
some counties are creating programs to teach farming to younger people. He asked if Orange
County could have a similar program.
Pete Sandbeck said the Ag Extension runs similar programs to this, and is hoping to
increase it.
Commissioner Marcoplos asked if there is actual data about farmers’ ages and other
demographics.
Howard McAdams said only via census data.
Commissioner Marcoplos said he attended the farm tour last year, and the ages ranged
from 25 and 50.
Commissioner McKee said most of the farmers in Orange County, who are farming
considerable acreage, are older. He said the barrier for the next generation to become farmers
is not a lack of interest, but rather finances.
• Animal Services Advisory Board: Molly Mullins, Vice-Chair and Bob Marotto,
Department Director
Molly Mullins said they provided a work plan for the Commissioners, and she outlined
some highlights:
Recent Issues:
• Suffering Animal Surrenders: A task force of board members and staff has been
created to develop a satisfactory approach to animals suffering from neglect that are
surrendered to Animal Services. The task force is expected to consider the pros and
cons of sanctions up to and including criminal prosecution. The task force is also
expected to consider how to address the potential adoption of animals by people who
have surrendered a neglected animal and the resources that may be available to
support the care and retention of animal companions.
• Easement next to AS building- where OWASA is putting in sewer lines to the Rogers
Road Community and Duke Power is also planning in more utilities. This area had been
an area where the shelter dogs were taken to walk. So it is no longer available
anymore. ASAB has been working closely with AS to avoid disruptions around the
facility with more open communications with these utilities in advance so AS can be
more prepared.
On- going work:
Managing Pet Overpopulation: The board will continue to work with staff to implement a plan
for managing free roaming cats. In particular, the board will coordinate with staff to coordinate
with the Agricultural Preservation Board and other entities to advance the “working farm cat”
program. The board will also continue to work with staff to develop community partnerships and
resources for addressing the challenges presented by free roaming cats in Orange County.
More generally, the board will work with staff to ensure that organizational forms and practices
responsible for the county’s success in managing over population are recognized, supported
and extended into the future. This is a critical commitment to ensure that pet overpopulation is
managed in the long run in Orange County in a humane as well as cost effective manner.
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Three (3) ASAB members serve on the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool. They chair the
appeal hearing panels convened under the Unified Animal Ordinance. Each month there have
been between two (2) and four (4) appeal hearings (ranging in time from three-quarters of an
hour up to two hours).
Unified Animal Ordinance: Several items of concern have arisen in the hearing process
experience over the last year. Some of these are more technical issues but there is a general
policy issue as well, namely, whether there should be more gradations in the manner in which a
dog is declared a danger to the public. As one panel member recently noted after a challenging
hearing, the ordinance does not have a lot of flexibility in this area and everyone would feel
better about their service if more tools were available to use in administering this part of the
ordinance. Thus, the ASAB will be considering whether there are reasonable options that may
be put into the language of an amendment for consideration by the BOCC.
Also, the board proposed a change from “vicious” to “dangerous” in the UAO and the BOCC
adopted an amendment making the change. This is a good illustration of the interdependence
of the ASAB and the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool. In this case, members of the Animal
Services Hearing Panel Pool became concerned that the “vicious” language was alarming to
the owners of animals so deemed and the three members of the pool from the ASAB brought
this concern before the board for consideration.
Pets of the Homeless: Working with the county’s Homelessness Coordinator to identify
community resources that can be tapped to help care for pets belonging to the homeless as
they undergo different transitions. Among the expected deliverables for this collaborative effort
are an infographic and an inventory of assorted services and resources that may be useful to
people with pets who are homeless or who are trying to make a transition to some kind of
housing. This has been a perplexing problem for Animal Services to deal with on its own and
there is a strong sense that a broad based approach is the most successful way to find
solutions to what are very stressful situations.
Pat Sanford Award:
Three members of the ASAB serve on the review committee for the Pat Sanford Animal
Welfare Award. The committee is charged with reviewing applications and making a selection
based upon award criteria.
Accomplishments:
The ASAB continued to work with staff and stakeholders managing pet overpopulation in
Orange County. Free-roaming cats have been of great significance to recent eff orts in this
area, and among other things, the ASAB and staff together have sought to establish strong
working relations with potential community partners. These have included efforts to craft a
“working barn cat” program with the Agriculture Preservation Board.
Commissioner McKee asked if there has been any feedback from utility companies that
this easement would not be available, once the construction is complete.
Bob Marotto said there was an initial meeting with Duke Energy last week, and they
seemed open to letting Animal Services (AS) use the easement while the work is being done,
but AS is reviewing the processes before moving forward.
Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the dogs rescued from the dog-fighting ring have
been cared for.
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Bob Marotto said these dogs are being sheltered at the AS center, and will continue to
be there through the bond forfeiture process, which has been initiated and the owner of the
dogs will be required to post a bond for the cost of care, or forfeit the animals to the County.
He said staff has been working closely with other agencies to avoid bottlenecks in spacing.
Commissioner Marcoplos asked if these dogs can be rehabilitated should the County
ends up keeping them.
Bob Marotto said it is a complex issue, and experts in this area would have to be
involved to assess the animals. He said it would be challenging process, and would need to be
done in a deliberate manner.
Commissioner Marcoplos asked if this is the first time AS has had an experience like
this.
Bob Marotto said it is not the first time, but it is the largest number of dogs, and the
collaboration between AS, the Sheriff’s office, and the District Attorney is unique, and has been
a rewarding experience.
Commissioner Burroughs said she had an acquaintance tell her recently that she had a
wonderful experience with Bob Marotto, who was able to handle a tricky situation and secure a
positive outcome.
Commissioner Price said she has a concern about the first issue: an abused animal
being voluntarily surrendered without recourse on the owner. She said there is legal recourse
for dog or cock fighting.
Bob Marotto said those are not the situations that they were talking about. He said it is
more typical for someone to have an ill animal that they cannot afford to take care of. He said
this type of situation is handled quite differently than dog fighting.
Commissioner Jacobs asked Bob Marotto if he could share the winners of the Pat
Sanford.
Bob Marotto said there were four or five applications and two winners this year: N.C.
Equine Therapy Center and Independent Animal Rescue.
• Arts Commission: Tim Hoke, Chair
Time Hoke said the Commission has had a busy year. He reviewed some
accomplishments:
• Reinstated our positive standing as the Designated County Partner for Orange County
with the NC Arts Council after a probationary period implemented by the NC Arts
Council in July, 2016.
• Revised the Orange County Arts Grants application process, simplifying the application
and condensing the cycle to one annual application period. Hosted training sessions
and one-on-one assistance to area groups and artists. 38% of applicants during the
2017 cycle were first-time applicants.
• Served as ambassadors and panelists for the Emerging Artist Program, the Annual
Piedmont Laureate Program, and the 4th US Congressional District High School Art
Competition.
• Completed Calypso Cat public art project in partnership with Orange County Animal
Services and Gold Park Bee Hotel project in partnership with the Town of Hillsborough,
the Hillsborough Tourism Development Authority, and the Hillsborough Arts Council.
• Hosted The State of the Arts of Orange County and the Triangle with the NC Arts
Council to announce the findings of Americans for the Arts’ Arts and Economic
Prosperity Survey V. Have presented to findings to local boards and councils to info
• Advocated on behalf of Orange County artists and arts organizations to local legislators
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in Raleigh at Arts Day 2017
• In partnership with the Hillsborough Arts Council, hosted “Paint it Orange: Plain Air
Paint-out & Wet Paint Sale,” the first county-wide plain air paint-out as a fundraiser for
OCAC and HAC. We had 52 registrants for our first year, 60% from outside Orange
County.
• Published a printed Orange County Arts Map, as well as a digital version on
artsorange.org
• Surveyed candidates for local offices on their feelings towards the arts and made the
results available to the public through artsorange.org
• Offered stories of local artists, arts spaces and events on artsorange.org through a
partnership with Alicia Stemper/Vitamin O, as well as staff-generated content
• Hosted a nine-part series of listening sessions to discuss areas of need within the
Orange County arts community. Sessions included Visual Arts; Performing Arts; Literary
Arts; Town, Gown & the Arts; Arts & Business; Nonprofit Arts & Culture; Arts in
Education (one each for CHCCS and OCPS); Hillsborough Arts. Over 180 members of
the community participated.
• Funded an extension of The ArtsCenter’s Artists in Residency program, allowing all four
Title 1 schools in Orange County 16 artist residencies during the 2017-18 school year
Commissioner Marcoplos said people often ask him why Orange County is focusing on
the arts when there are so many other issues that exist in the County. He said he was
interesting to read in the report that, “children with exposure to the arts have lower drop out
rates, and better standardized test scores”. He asked if more could be shared about this.
Tim Hoke said there is a lot of research on this topic, and there is also evidence of the
arts in everyday life being beneficial for the aging community as well.
Katie Murray said the specific study, to which Commissioner Marcoplos referred, was
conducted by researchers in Philadelphia, and this data is gathered through Americans for the
Arts, who publish an annual list of the top ten reasons to support the arts, with updated study
results.
Commissioner Rich asked if staff could talk about the economic development that the
arts bring to Orange County.
Katie Murray said the non-profit arts industry reports $130 million was spent in one year
in Orange County. She said 2/3 of this is organizational spending, that the non-profits spend;
and the remaining 1/3 is spent by the consumers. She said the arts also contributed $5.3
million to local government in that same year.
• Economic Development through the arts.
o The OCAC has presented the findings of Americans for the Arts Arts & Economic
Prosperity Study 5 to local boards and commissions, informing community leaders
that the arts are a $130.3 million industry for Orange County, employing 5,001 full-
time equivalent jobs (4th largest industry employer), and generating $5.3 million for
local government. Presentations have been made to Hillsborough Town Council,
Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Board of Directors, Hillsborough Tourism Board,
Carrboro Economic Development Council/Cultural Arts Commission, Chapel Hill
Cultural Arts Commission, and Hillsborough Arts Council Board of Directors.
Tim Hoke closed his presentation by reading a poem.
• Board of Health: Health Director Quintana Stewart
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Quintana Stewart said she has submitted a report for the Board’s review, and briefly
discussed the following:
• Successfully filled the Board of Health Strategic Plan Manager vacant position (Beverly
Scurry)
• Successfully recruited, interviewed and selected a new Board of Health representative
(Bruce Baldwin, Johanna Birckmayer, Jennifer Deyo)
• The Board was very pleased with their ability to use their community project support
fund, and were able to support two staff members from the Orange County School
system to attend the action based learning kinesthetic classroom national workshop.
Concerns and Emerging Issues
• The Board plans to continue to focus on social determinants of health in the coming
year, including working with the Family Success Alliance (FSA).
• The Board will monitor and continue to work on mental health and substance abuse,
especially the opioid crisis.
• The Board is planning a community forum to facilitate the drinking water fluoridation
topic, as requested by OWASA last fall.
Commissioner Burroughs said Commissioner Rich previously asked about vaping, and
asked if there was a timeline for the BOH response to this issue.
Quintana Stewart said a draft policy has been completed, and the BOH is currently
waiting and doing a political scan. She said the BOH is scheduled to talk about it next month.
Commissioner Rich asked if the Health Department can start communicating to high
school kids that vaping is not something they should be doing, and warning them of the
dangers.
Quintana Stewart said there is a senior educator who presents at the schools, and it
would be wise to garner more partnerships with the school systems.
Commissioner Rich asked if there have been lessons from the Family Success Alliance,
and, if so, are those lessons being applied to the rest of the County.
Quintana Stewart said some best practices have been developed through the work of
the FSA. She said the FSA is beginning its strategic planning process, which will include
discussions about spreading the work out beyond the FSA zones. She said this process has
yet to be determined specifically.
Chair Dorosin said he heard of a statewide report on children, and Orange County
scored very well in many categories, but scored poorly on low birth weight babies.
Quintana Stewart said she will research this report, and some of their case management
programs do work with these clients through pregnancy and infancy. She said determinants of
health definitely affect birth weights.
Commissioner Price said it could have come from the North Carolina Association of
County Commissioners (NCACC), who compiles data from around the state.
Commissioner Rich asked if the Health Department is doing a better job of handling
undocumented residents and refugees who may be fearful of approaching the department,
despite needing help.
Quintana Stewart said the Interpreter Supervisor is doing very well at keeping the
Department in touch with the immigrant population, and a message of welcome and safety is
repeated to these groups; however, missed appointments have increased.
• Board of Social Services: Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Chair/Lindsey Shewmaker, DSS
Unit Manager
Tamara Dempsey-Tanner reviewed the following information:
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Orange County DSS plays an important role in many of our county’s disenfranchised
and vulnerable citizens. Our services address the full lifespan. Many are federally mandated
and others reflect local community needs. There are 12 general programs and services, which
include:
• Food & Nutrition services
• Medicaid eligibility and re-certification,
• Energy Assistance
• Work First & Employment Services,
• Child Care Subsidy
• Adult Services
• Child Protective Services
• Adoption
• Foster Care
• Crisis Assistance
• Adolescent Parenting Program
• Community Outreach
Among these 12 programs & services, 22,000 residents are annually served in DSS, for a
county population of nearly 140,000; nearly 16% of residents are served.
Staff are daily working with families to ensure access to public health insurance, access to food
& nutrition resources to minimize food insecurity, enrollment in quality childcare to ensure our
youngest citizens have a safe and nurturing out of home care environment, providing time
limited energy assistance or crisis assistance resources to help families bridge the gap and
reduce their risk of homelessness. Work- First helps families move from public assistance into
employment, a veteran’s services resource office, the child welfare program ensures children
are in a safe home environment that promotes their health and well-being.
Whereas all of these program and services have important management consideration, have
unique impact on the specific population served, and select resource allocation; there are a
couple emerging issues that we, as an agency and Board, want share with the Commissioners.
• NCFAST - North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology data
platform; rolling out the child welfare component, which is a multifaceted program; data
migration accuracy from the prior historical system’s data is critical, because staff need
real time access to ensure health and safety and children/youth. Thus this process has
become quite meticulous regarding staff time, so we Appreciate the additional support
and resources that have been allocated in this transition and minimize in disruption of
services
• State Performance Improvement Plan for Child Welfare - new performance measures
are being developed an expected to be in effect next fiscal year
• NC Medicaid Transformation – wait and see what the final model will look like and its
implication on local service agencies
• HB 630 and Regionalization of DSS agencies: state workgroup includes discussions
about performance contracts, regionalization mapping – implications on county budget,
staff, county specific DSS programming
• Proposed changes to federally funded programs –new Farm bill proposes cuts to SNAP,
proposed work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, outcome implications on final
Congressional approval decision.
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• Finally for a local focus, time limited crisis assistance – due to particular weather events
(localized flooding, extreme cold) have had more requests for assistance to prevent
homelessness than previous years; ongoing availability of mental health resources,
transportation access for rural sector.
As always, we continually appreciate the support of the county manager and county
commissioners in recognizing our work and services to our Orange County citizens.
Commissioner Rich asked if staff would provide the Orange County transportation plan
to Board of Social Services as well.
2. Environmental Impact as Part of Agenda Abstracts
PURPOSE:
To consider incorporating an additional information section into the Board of Commissioners’
meeting agenda abstracts to address Environmental Impact.
BACKGROUND:
At the Board of Commissioners’ February 6, 2018 regular meeting, a petition was submitted
that the Board considers incorporating an additional Environmental Impact information section
into the Board of Commissioners’ meeting agenda abstracts.
The Board’s meeting agenda abstracts currently includes information such as the Subject, the
responsible Department, the Purpose, Background information, the Financial Impact and
Recommendations from the Manager (and other staff on occasion). Agenda abstracts also
include a Social Justice Impact section, which was added in September 2015 and relates to the
five (5) Social Justice Goals adopted by the Board of Commissioners in September 2010.
This item gives the Board the opportunity to discuss possibly incorporating an additional
information section to address Environmental Impact. If the Board does determine to move
forward with the additional section, it will be necessary to establish a framework as a basis for
any statements or conclusions included by staff in the Environmental Impact section of future
abstracts. In conjunction with that framework, the Board will also need to determine the
topics/issues that would and would not be addressed in the new section. Topics that could or
could not be considered for inclusion are: air quality, drinking water quality, groundwater impact,
watershed impact, visual impact, vehicular impacts, pedestrian impacts, safety impacts, noise
impacts, vegetation impacts, and likely others.
Commissioner McKee asked if there is a goal trying to be accomplished by this petition.
Commissioner Marcoplos said the goal is similar to the other impacts noted on
abstracts, and considering the environment is always important. He said this evening’s item is
to define the scope of what they would like to include.
Commissioner McKee said he is not opposed to it, but the County’s policies reflect the
Board’s commitment to social justice and the environment, and he is not sure adding another
section causes any greater emphasis. He said the Board’s actions speak far louder than its
words. He said the agenda abstracts all blend together, and he rarely reads past the financial
impact. He said he would never oppose it, but he is not sure this change would add anything.
Commissioner Jacobs said he does not always read the social justice goal either, but
the abstracts are outwardly directed, and serve as a communication tool, to the public. He said
the current federal and state administrations are attacking the environment, and it is a
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reasonable request to stress the importance Orange County places on protecting the
environment. He said there is a re-entry forum tomorrow, and he was going to share that
Orange County was one of the first counties in the country to adopt a social justice goal. He
said changes like this are symbolically important.
Commissioner Burroughs said she does not read the social justice goal either, but she
would not oppose this proposal. She said she is not sure how many people read the abstracts,
but agrees with the sentiment of this being a symbolic gesture.
Commissioner Price said she skips over the social justice goal, but as she reads the
abstracts she does look for social justice and environment impacts. She said she would not
oppose this proposal.
Commissioner Marcoplos said he looks at the impact statements on the current
abstracts, which seem to atrophy. He said the goals could be made more specific and useful
with salient points. He said climate change is the biggest crisis in human history, and this point
should be made apparent any chance possible. He said if the BOCC makes policy, it should
understand how the policy affects the environment in very specific ways. He said it is of
paramount importance.
Commissioner Price said noting specific, measurable impacts makes sense, but just
making a general statement of commitment seems to have no measurable impact. She
suggested putting all of the Board’s goals at the front of every abstract.
Commissioner Jacobs said repeating the goal does nothing, and he would rather see a
relationship between these impacts and the abstract substance.
Commissioner McKee said if the abstracts became more specific, then he would read
them more closely, but the Board needs to be respectful of staff time in compiling these goal
statements.
Commissioner Marcoplos agreed with that, but if the BOCC is going to have the goals,
then adequate effort should be put in to define the impact of a particular policy. He said the
financial impact is always very specifically stated, and the other goals are no less important
than finances, and warrant specific impacts as well.
Bonnie Hammersley said she has talked with some staff about this, and they would
bring back some criteria for the environmental goals. She said staff considers the social justice
goals with each abstract, and the BOCC has been clear on what it values pertaining to social
justice, and this is not a cumbersome task for the staff. She said a similar practice could be
followed with environmental goals.
Chair Dorosin said he is not sure how useful the goals are currently, nor is he sure how
easy it would be to do this at the level that Commissioner Marcoplos is thinking. He said it
would be helpful to make these goals more effective, and he is not sure that just tasking it to
staff is the best way to do it. He said each item in the agenda abstract could state which goals
it hits, and the Board could flesh out details in discussion. He said he was a big supporter of
including the social justice goal, and it has become a bit rote. He said specific information
would be helpful, but there needs to be a practical way to accomplish this. He said the BOCC
receives the agendas on a Friday, and could task itself with looking at an agenda item and
requesting more information if a particular item has more environmental or and social justice
implications. He said he wants to optimize these goals, while being mindful of giving open-
ended work to staff. He said he liked Commissioner Price’s idea of having all six goals at the
front of each agenda.
Commissioner Burroughs said she also liked Commissioner Price’s idea of putting the
goals on the front of the agenda. She said if an issue has a clear impact on the environment,
and the BOCC would like this specific information, then the staff should feel empowered to
highlight such significance to the Board.
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Commissioner Jacobs suggested asking the Manager to bring back several options, try
them out for a period of time, and find one option that works and is brief enough as to not be
onerous for the staff.
Commissioner McKee said one of the options could be to have Chair/Vice chair to look
at items that specifically speak to a goal, and have them to direct staff to add more information
as needed.
Chair Dorosin said the Chair/Vice Chair try to do this already, but the Board’s goals are
so broadly written, which makes it tricky.
Commissioner Marcoplos said having the Commissioners look at agendas, and request
information at the last minute, is likely more burdensome for the staff.
Commissioner Marcoplos said there are six goals, but these three goals are the legs of
the proverbial stool: financial, social and environmental. He said he always thought this would
be an experiment, and the Board and staff could test-drive some options.
Commissioner Price said staff does the work, and it is incumbent upon this board, which
adopted the policies, to interpret the staff’s work. She said the Board should be doing this, and
making sure their data meets these goals.
Chair Dorosin said if the Board does not read portions of the agendas, then others are
likely not reading these goals either. He said if the abstract is too dense, it is
counterproductive.
Chair Dorosin said to try Commissioner Jacobs’ suggestion of letting staff determine a
few options. He said having the goals printed on the agendas is a good reminder of what they
are committed to doing.
Commissioner McKee agreed.
The Board agreed by consensus.
3. Board of Commissioners Policy on Resolutions Presented at Board Meetings
PURPOSE:
To discuss the Board’s policy regarding the presentation of a resolution during a Board meeting
and potentially taking action on that resolution during the same meeting or directing the item for
consideration at a future meeting.
BACKGROUND:
At the Board of Commissioners’ March 8, 2018 regular meeting, a petition was submitted that
the Board discuss the Board’s policy regarding the presentation of a resolution during a Board
meeting and the Board potentially taking action on the resolution during that same meeting or
directing the item for consideration at a future meeting.
Section V, Rule 8 (c) of the Board’s Rules of Procedure states:
(c) The board may, by approval of a majority of its members, i.e. an affirmative
vote equal to a quorum, add an item at the meeting that is not on the agenda.
(It is worth noting that this provision applies not only to resolutions, but also to any other types
of items, which may be presented during a Board meeting, including a Proclamation, Regular
Item, Report, or Public Hearing.)
In the past, members of the public, Board members and staff have presented resolutions and
other items during a meeting. In some instances the Board has chosen to plan the discussion
and consideration of the item at a future meeting. In other instances the Board has added the
item to the agenda and discussed and taken action on the item during the same meeting.
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This item gives the Board the opportunity to discuss the presentation of a resolution during a
Board meeting and potentially taking action on that resolution during the same meeting or
directing the item for consideration at a future meeting. In light of the current Rules of
Procedure provision, discussion on resolutions as well as other types of agenda items may be
appropriate.
Chair Dorosin said he would like to see if the Board can come up a way to
accommodate the atypical situations for some matters. He said one option is for the Board to
vote to add items to the agenda, but in general the Board would like as much advance notice of
resolutions as possible, but some are more time sensitive.
Commissioner Burroughs said she is fine with adding an item to an agenda when it is
time sensitive in nature. She said resolutions are often just about public relations, and rarely
have financial or other impacts.
Commissioner Rich said resolutions put information out to the public, and many are time
sensitive. She said if more time is available, she would prefer going through the normal
process, but if an item is time sensitive she would accept adding it to an agenda.
Commissioner McKee said he raised this concern, not because he needs more time to
review the resolution, but because the public may not know about it and the public deserves to
know about what the Board is up to.
Commissioner Price said the BOCC should use common sense, and issue or approve a
resolution if it is important or time sensitive. She said waiting can make the BOCC look lazy or
behind.
Chair Dorosin said these resolutions are important, and the BOCC has been judicious in
taking immediate action. He said he is happy to amend the agenda as needed if it is time
sensitive, etc., and if a Commissioner has an electronic copy it can be sent out the full Board in
advance, and it is always possible to post a statement on web.
Commissioner Marcoplos said this suggestion does not box the Board into a corner, and
if a resolution is put forth and a Board member makes a case to wait, then the board can vote
accordingly. He said some of these resolutions have an impact by encouraging other
governments to express a similar sentiment, and have a domino effect.
Commissioner Rich agreed with going through the process of amending the agenda at
the meeting, to add a resolution if need be. She referred to Commissioner McKee’s point of
having the public more involved, and said the Board can always hear public comment at the
next meeting if need be.
Commissioner Jacobs said there have been several instances in the last few months,
where residents have asked the BOCC to pass a resolution on an issue important to them, only
to learn that the BOCC has already done so, which he sees as a demonstration of the Board’s
leadership, and attunement to the values of Orange County.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
Mark Dorosin, Chair
Donna Baker
Clerk to the Board