HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 091510 Approved 10/20/10
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MEETING MINUTES 1 ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING 2 SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 3
4 5 MEMBERS PRESENT: Sam Lasris, Cedar Grove Township; Nancy Cole Baker, Pedestrian Access Safety Advocate; 6
Jeff Charles, Bicycle Advocate; Paul Guthrie, Chapel Hill Township; Julian (Randy) Marshall, Bingham Township; 7
Leo Allison, Cheeks Township; Amy Cole, Transit Advocate; 8
9 10 MEMBERS ABSENT: Eric Tillman, Hillsborough Township Representative; Al Terry, Transportation Services Board 11
Representative; Planning Board Liaison-Vacant; Little River Township-Vacant; Economic Development Commission-12
Vacant; Eno Township Representative-Vacant; CFE Representative-Vacant; 13
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15 STAFF PRESENT: Karen Lincoln, Transportation Planner; Tina Love, Administrative Assistant II 16
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I. Call to order 19 20
Sam Lasris called the meeting to order. 21 22
II. Consideration of additions to the agenda 23
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III. Approval of Minutes 26 27
The OUTBoard approved the minutes from May 19, 2010 by affirmation. 28
The OUTBoard approved the meeting notes from June 16, 2010 by affirmation. 29
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IV. Election of Officers 31
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Randy Marshall nominated Nancy Baker for Chair of the OUTBoard. Seconded by Sam Lasris. 33
Vote: Unanimous 34
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Nancy Baker nominated Randy Marshall for Vice-Chair of the OUTBoard. Seconded by Jeff Charles. 36 Vote: Unanimous 37
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Karen Lincoln noted the Rules of Procedure call for the newly elected Chair and Vice-chair to take office at the next 39
scheduled OUTBoard meeting. 40
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V. Changes to the Boards and Commissions 43 44
Karen Lincoln advised the Board that there will be no specific BOCC Liaison representation on the Board and that all 45
the Commissioners will receive an agenda and may attend at will with the one stipulation being that there cannot be a 46
quorum of Commissioners present at any meeting. 47
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Karen Lincoln reviewed the forms that the BOCC has requested each Board/Committee to complete, an annual 49
report, guideline for quick reports, and template for quick report. Karen informed the Board of the request for a Board 50
member to keep the minutes for the Board. 51
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The members discussed the time commitment already donated to the County to volunteer service on various Boards 53
and the expectations of putting more burdens on the members by requesting the additional time it would require for 54
this request. The Board acknowledged the staff time involved and the County’s need to reduce staff work loads due 55
Approved 10/20/10
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to a decrease in workforce which has resulted in work being reassigned and increases in work loads. The Board 56
noted that if this new process was put in place they would not be able to review and/or approve the minutes/quick 57
notes prior to them being sent to the Clerk’s office. It was suggested that a statement be sent to the BOCC regarding 58
the OUTBoard view on this policy. 59
60 Motion was made by Sam Lasris that the Commissioners be advised that OUTBoard does not agree with the policy 61
of board members taking minutes, and is not in favor of assigning one of its member as minute taker. Seconded by 62
Nancy Baker 63
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Vote: Unanimous 65
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Jeff Charles noted that the rationale is that the OUTBoard is uncomfortable releasing unapproved draft minutes in 67
this timeframe. 68
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VI. NC 54 Corridor Study Update 71 72
Karen Lincoln noted the PowerPoint in the packet. She advised that a report on the NC 54 Corridor Study was given 73
to the DCHC Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee in August and the TAC 74
released the report to all local jurisdictions for input. She noted Commissioner Gordon requested a presentation be 75
made to the Board of County Commissioners. A presentation is scheduled for the October 19, 2010, BOCC meeting. 76
The presentation will be made to the OUTBoard on October 20, 2010. 77
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VII. Orange County Unified Development Ordinance 79 80
Karen Lincoln referred to the handouts of transportation related sections of the UDO, noting the OUTBoard had been 81
given only on the section on parking for review. The OUTBoard reviewed the handouts. The members discussed 82
Section 2.17 Vacation of Recorded Plats & Road Abandonment and the consensus was that it was confusing and 83
needs to be clearer. Karen Lincoln noted that she thinks Section 7.8 should be looked with respect to the Goals and 84
Objectives that were approved in the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Karen would like to tag this 85
section for the future. 86
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Karen Lincoln reminded the Board that the deadline for submitting comments is Monday, September 20th at 9 a.m. 88
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Sam Lasris noted that comments will go to the BOCC as comments from the public hearing on the draft UDO and 90
then, in the future, the OUTBoard could work on recommending changes to the ordinance based on the Goals and 91
Objectives (of the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan). 92
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Nancy Baker asked that the members become familiar with this section and asked that Tom Altieri be notified that the 94
OUTBoard would like to focus on this section. 95
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The members noted that the general public should be able to look at the UDO and understand what it says. 97
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VIII. Board Comments/Updates 100 101
Karen Lincoln informed the OUTBoard that a second round of public workshops for Triangle Regional Transit Plan 102
alternatives will be held on Thursday September 16 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Century Center in Carrboro. The 103
workshop is to obtain public input regarding which one of the six corridors, for which initial ridership projections have 104
been completed, should be used for the Alternative Analysis (AA) study. The AA will study alternatives within the 105
selected corridor in greater depth to come up with a recommended rail project for obtaining a transit “new starts” 106
grant. 107
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Karen Lincoln advised the OUTBoard that the meeting facilities in Chapel Hill will no longer be available for use for 109
OUTBoard meetings. She asked if any members object to holding all future meetings of the OUTBoard in the lower 110
level conference room in the West Campus facility. None present objected. 111
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Sam Lasris asked the members how they felt about adjusting the start time of the meetings by 15 minutes. The 113
Board members all agreed by consensus to change the start time from 7 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. 114
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Paul Guthrie updated the Board on the progress of the train station task force. He noted the Town Board of 116
Hillsborough has approved a small area plan for the rail station and basically the recommendation of the layout of the 117
property. Paul advised that the next step is finding the funding and they are still working with congressional people 118
but is not sure it will work out with the current budget situation. The Hillsborough station has moved up on the list of 119
projects for DOT for transit money for the state. DOT has basically said if the station money comes through they will 120
find a way in the state transportation budget to get the necessary roadways to it, at least the basic beginnings. 121
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Karen Lincoln noted the August packets contained the recommendation section of the Hillsborough Rail Station 123
Small Area Plan along with a PowerPoint presentation the rail station recommendations given to the Town Board. 124
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Nancy Baker updated the Board on the Safe Routes to School project, and noted the consultants have finished a 126
draft of the plan and they are showing it to DOT first. They will then make changes if DOT has any and then they will 127
show it to the committee in October. Nancy noted if the committee approves it in October, it will go to the County 128
Commissioners and the Town of Hillsborough and the School Board. Karen Lincoln noted there will be a public 129
hearing on it. 130
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Karen Lincoln advised the Board members on the decision of DOT to remove the pedestrian bridge on Orange Grove 132
Road over I-40 due to the lack of plans to put sidewalks along Orange Grove Road leading up to the bridge. The 133
members discussed the decision and the dilemma of which should be first. Karen Lincoln noted that the 134
maintenance of sidewalks has to be considered and who is responsible. 135
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Randy Marshall updated the members on the Comprehensive Transportation Steering Committee meeting and noted 137
that the committee determined projected growth rates looking at the current average annual daily traffic counts for the 138
139 sections based on historic rates and knowledge of future projects. The group will continue to meet on the third 139
Wednesday of each month. 140
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Sam Lasris requested dedicating more time to look at the CTP process at the next OUTBoard meeting. 142
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IX. Adjournment 145
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 147 148 149
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Sam Lasris, Chair