HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 04-02-24; 8-a - Minutes 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 2, 2024
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-a
SUBJECT: Minutes
DEPARTMENT: Board of County Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft Minutes (Under Separate Cover) Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board, 919-
245-2130
PURPOSE: To correct and/or approve the draft minutes as submitted by the Clerk to the Board
as listed below.
BACKGROUND: In accordance with 153A-42 of the General Statutes, the Governing Board
has the legal duty to approve all minutes that are entered into the official journal of the Board's
proceedings.
Attachment 1: February 20, 2024 Business Meeting
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve minutes as
presented or as amended.
Attachment 1
1
1 DRAFT MINUTES
2 ORANGE COUNTY
3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
4 BUSINESS MEETING
5 February 20, 2024
6 7:00 p.m.
7
8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, February
9 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
10
11 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Vice-Chair Sally Greene and Commissioners Amy
12 Fowler, Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee, Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and Anna Richards
13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford
14 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
15 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager
16 Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified
17 appropriately below)
18
19 Vice-Chair Greene called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were
20 present, except Chair Bedford. In her absence, Vice-Chair Greene led the business meeting.
21
22 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda
23 Vice-Chair Greene summarized the public charge in lieu of reading it.
24
25 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour)
26 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda
27 BJ Warshaw read the following statement to the Board:
28 "I'm back to raise a few more points about your upcoming March 7th agenda item, amending
29 WASMPBA in the southern Chapel Hill ETJ.
30 Yesterday, I sent you an email detailing how Chapel Hill's current and planned stormwater
31 regulations are insufficient. I say this after attending the Chapel Hill Stormwater Staff's public
32 session last week around updating the LUMO's guidelines. As far as I could tell, current and
33 planned restrictions do not take into account the increase in rain events we're seeing today due
34 to climate change, where a 100-year event is already closer to a 1 in 25 chance of happening
35 annually. And these increases in rain events — in duration, volume, and frequency — are baked
36 into the climate crisis for decades to come.
37 Just outside the proposed WASMPBA area, there are existing housing developments, built during
38 a very different climate reality and abutting Fan Branch, Wilson, Morgan, and Obey Creeks, that
39 are near or within existing 100-year flood zones. Before the water and sewer boundaries change,
40 1 would like to see an environmental impact study. Let's determine—first—whether or not it really
41 is appropriate to develop up to 70% of mostly undeveloped woodlands, wetlands, creeks, and
42 streams. Otherwise, I worry the pressure to build bigger and denser will lead to creating the
43 Eastgates and Heritage Hills of tomorrow.
44 Chapel Hill Town Staff has argued such environmental study is unnecessary. And that it's too
45 expensive to conduct any studies without first moving the water and sewer boundary.
46 Respectfully, that's now a moot point, as Carrboro and Hillsborough have said "yes" to amending
47 the boundary. OWASA will say"yes". So, what is the rush?With support across the Towns, it now
48 seems wise to take a step back, and set up reasonable guardrails to development. The flooding
49 of future homes, the permanent destruction of natural ecologies are also expensive.
50 Yesterday, I attended the amazing Orange County Ag Summit, as did several of you. I found the
51 presentation from Amy Eckberg around our sustainability goals incredibly enlightening. Especially
2
1 relevant was her point that we must actively preserve existing undeveloped forests, as well as
2 plant new trees, to aid in carbon sequestration. I ask you: what kind of environmental impact
3 would clear cutting 250 acres have (around 70% of the approximate 360 acres included in the
4 new boundary)? Without a plan, without guidelines, how can we be sure that development
5 pressure won't lead to worst case scenarios?
6 Today, you've also received a letter from the Southern Entryway Alliance with 66 signatures,
7 people in and around the southern area who want to see more planning and more community
8 engagement. Nearly every day over the past week, I've spoken with a neighbor who had little to
9 no idea what WASMPBA was, let alone what its amendment would mean.
10 So I close with this: the Board of County Commissioners has an opportunity. You, like I, may
11 agree with Chapel Hill's goals in principle — increasing missing middle housing, increasing
12 affordable housing, the Complete Communities Framework. But you can, for now, withhold your
13 vote to amend WASMPBA, and make your "yes" contingent upon additional analysis and public
14 information sessions. Let's find the win-win plan first — together — so that we actually achieve
15 those goals without disastrous and costly unintended side effects."
16 Terri Buckner read the following statement to the Board:
17 "I've listened to the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Town Councils discuss the WASMPBA expansion,
18 and it's clear this project is all about affordable housing. But those discussions have paid zero
19 attention to how much affordable housing already exists down here and how it might be
20 impacted. The two parcels identified for affordable housing so far clearly won't pay for the sewer
21 expansion so how much more market rate housing will be needed to justify that expense? No one
22 knows, especially since OWASA can't estimate the cost of the sewer line expansion until there is
23 a zoning plan.
24 In none of the discussions focused on affordable housing, have any of the elected officials asked
25 who will be displaced. Neither town has recognized or acknowledged the people currently living
26 in this area as part of their decision making.
27 At your seat is a table with a high-level profile of Who Lives in the Expansion Area?
28 Land records can't really tell us who they are, but they do provide clues. Two-thirds of the
29 residences were built prior to Southern Village. Some of these properties have been owned for
30 over 20 years, two for close to 50. The median size of the homes is 1,400 square feet and the
31 median lot size is just over 1 acre. There are million-dollar homes in the area, but there are more
32 affordable, low-income homes and there are several homes that the data leads me to believe are
33 quite low-income residences. But that's just me sitting here with GIS data. It's not the kind of
34 formal analysis I expect from my local governments before moving ahead with a major project.
35 Many of the homeowners and renters in the area are unaware of what is coming at them. These
36 residents.... these people.... deserve to be recognized and respected before their lives are turned
37 upside down. They especially don't deserve to be run out of their affordable homes for some
38 vague hope of building more affordable housing that is significantly more expensive than where
39 they currently live.
40 The town's stated vision includes no plan for bringing new businesses to the area and OWASA's
41 capacity analysis specifically stated it was for residential only. I suppose that means it will still be
42 closer to do our grocery shopping in Chatham County. And I'm sure the constant harassment by
43 land speculators will get worse.
44 Before you finalize your vote, please advocate for those residents. Make sure they understand
45 what is going to happen, the costs of annexation, the loss of the surrounding tree cover, and the
46 impact on their family finances. Listen to what they have to say before you turn their lives over to
47 a haphazard development process."
48 Valarie Schwartz said she has lived in the Southern ETJ for 25 years in the Dogwood
49 Acres community. She said the BOCC is the only government body that represents residents of
50 the ETJ. She said the elected officials in the Towns can say they voted to bring more affordable
51 housing, but said the County is responsible for the infrastructure in the ETJ, not the Towns. She
3
1 said there is a fire station 2 minutes away from the ETJ, but the station that serves the area is
2 based in Carrboro. She said Chapel Hill Police Department does not cover the ETJ and because
3 it is the southern-most part of the county, claimed an Orange County Sheriff patrol car is a rare
4 sighting. She questioned whether nearby schools will be able to accommodate additional students
5 moving to this area. She said she is not asking for changes, but there are no bus stops and no
6 sidewalks in the ETJ. She said more affordable housing does need to come to Chapel Hill, but
7 developers are going to spend millions of dollars to extend water and sewer to as many dwellings
8 as they are allowed. She said the Board can call for needed studies and plans with community
9 input before voting to amend WASMPBA.
10 Morgan Womble said she is a Chapel Hill native, and her family owns a farm off of Smith
11 Level Rd. in Chapel Hill established in the late 1800s-early 1900s. She said her grandfathers
12 worked to sustain the land through a variety of means, and now her brother and father work every
13 day just to pay taxes on the land. She said her concern with the WASMPBA extension is the
14 downstream effects it may certainly have on the south Chapel Hill community. She asked the
15 Board what consideration has been made regarding economic and demographic impacts of the
16 water line that will lead to continued development in the area. She asked how this would affect
17 taxes in the community. She said the areas surrounding the proposed extension are filled with
18 low to middle-income families that will be priced out as big developers come into the area, her
19 family included. She said this change will completely change the demographics of this area unless
20 thoughtful planning is done for how to develop the region. She said she understands that growth
21 and development is inevitable, but asked the Board to ensure there is appropriate regulations in
22 place for developers who may come in to build apartment complex after apartment complex.
23
24 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda
25 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.)
26
27 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members
28 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she attended the Research Triangle Regional
29 Partnership luncheon, and the discussion showcased the diversity and strength of the region's
30 economic landscape and how community colleges are working together to enhance workforce
31 development programs. She said an attendee asked one of the site consultants what they think
32 different counties should work to improve, and he responded that industry leaders are looking to
33 hear how they are addressing affordable housing issues and that demographic groups being left
34 out of the workforce are identified and work is being done to engage them. She shared that she
35 participated in BIPOC Electeds Black History Month Poetry Reading and also went to the Ag
36 Summit yesterday. At the latter event, she said there was an eye-opening discussion on farm
37 transitions and the presenter stressed the importance of the availability of resources for farmers
38 to begin early planning. She said she read Lillian's Right to Vote earlier today to a group of fifth
39 grade students at Carrboro Elementary for the Eighth Annual African American Read-In and is
40 grateful that the students were attentive and engaging and invited her to their classroom.
41 Commissioner Hamilton said she also participated in the BIPOC poetry reading and noted
42 the event is available to view on Carrboro's website. She shared that she also had the privilege
43 of reading Testing the Ice at Carrboro Elementary School today and There Was a Party for
44 Langston at Northside Elementary on February 9th. She said it was important to her to be in the
45 classroom with the students and reiterated how vital it is to invest in our children. Commissioner
46 Hamilton said she is on the Alliance Health Board and questions have come up about the structure
47 of that board. She said the board looks for applicants with certain expertise and perspectives. She
48 reviewed some of the areas of expertise the board is looking for. She petitioned the Board to form
49 a subcommittee to look at the performance measures of the Strategic Plan.
50 Commissioner Fowler said she filled in at the Central Pines Regional Council MPO
51 meeting and reported that Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen will be pulled out into their
4
1 own MPO called the Sandhills MPO, but until that happens, they will be considered in the
2 transportation plan and given 400 points. She said she looks forward to the Black History
3 Knowledge Bowl and Poetry Slam at McDougle Middle School on Saturday. Finally, she
4 encouraged everyone to take advantage of early voting.
5 Commissioner McKee said he had no announcements.
6 Commissioner Richards said she also attended the Ag Summit the previous day and the
7 discussions were very enlightening on resiliency as well as the session Commissioner Portie-
8 Ascott mentioned. She said she also attended the ABC Board meeting today and received
9 updates from community organizations that are funded through ABC profits. She said she was
10 happy to see organizations across the community are working with youth. She shared that she
11 also read in a fourth-grade classroom today at Carrboro Elementary School.
12 Vice-Chair Greene said that early voting is underway and announced the early voting
13 sites. She said last week she attended the 40th Anniversary Breakfast of Habitat for Humanity and
14 shared that the head of Habitat International is Jonathan Reckford, a local to Orange County. She
15 said she attended the Ag Summit and noticed there were more participants this year as well as
16 more vendors. She said Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Coordinator, gave a presentation on the
17 completed Climate Action Plan and how much of it depends on the resilience and capabilities of
18 the agricultural community. She said the consultants for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan were
19 also there gathering input from the community. Lastly, she mentioned the marker unveiling that
20 took place in Carrboro on Sunday by the Orange County Community Remembrance Coalition.
21 She said this is the first of two markers that will go up sponsored and gifted by the Equal Justice
22 Initiative. She said this marker honors the memory of Manley McCauley, who was lynched in 1898
23 at 18 years old. She shared some of the context surrounding his death.
24
25 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations
26 a. Black History Month Proclamation
27 The Board approved a proclamation declaring February 2024 as Black History Month.
28
29 BACKGROUND: Carter G. Woodson and three others started Black History Month, proclaimed
30 by every president since 1976. These Black Americans formed the Association for the Study of
31 Negro Life and History (ASNLF), which started the idea of Black History Month in 1915, at the
32 celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation in Washington, DC. The ASNLF, an
33 organization whose mission was to research and promote the achievements of Black Americans
34 and other people of African descent. The first celebration was during the week in February that
35 encompassed Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas's birthdays. In 1976, President Gerald
36 Ford expanded the celebration to the month of February. President Ford urged Americans to
37 "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in
38 every area of endeavor throughout our history." The month of February was selected to
39 commemorate the birthdays of Lincoln and Douglas and to recognize the history of Black
40 Americans and the historical significance they represent in the history of the United States.
41
42 This year's Black History Month theme is "African Americans and the Arts", which explores the
43 key influence African Americans have had in the fields of "visual and performing arts, literature,
44 fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural
45 expression."
46
47 County activities commemorating Black History Month are detailed on the attached list.
48
49
5
1 Shameka Fairbanks, Chief Equity Officer, reviewed the background information for the
2 item.
3 Commissioner Richards, Commissioner Hamilton, and Commissioner Portie-Ascott read
4 the following proclamation in turn:
5
6 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
7 BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION
8 WHEREAS, it is essential to sustain a harmonious and inclusive society, Orange County
9 discourage practices and actions deemed detrimental to the peace, welfare, and progress of our
10 community; and
11
12 WHEREAS, Orange County is home to Black Americans who descend from formerly enslaved
13 peoples who were victims of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, captured and transported from the
14 continent of Africa to the Americas where they were sold as property and endured brutal
15 treatment while being forced to build and develop new lands which includes a country that they
16 would have to fight to belong to; surviving more than 400 years of subjugation and oppression,
17 all the while becoming a new and unique group whose lineage predates the founding of the
18 United States of America; participants in every war fought to defend and protect this nation, even
19 from itself, Black Americans hold a special place in the foundation of our country and continue
20 to be the standard bearers of freedom and democracy despite the ever present residue and
21 persistent ramifications associated with America's original sin of slavery; Black Americans
22 worked and fought to improve their lives while facing down overt and systemic racism as well as
23 racial violence and terror; Black Americans have, and continue to contribute to the nation's, and
24 our community's social, economic, political, spiritual, and mental prosperity; and
25
26 WHEREAS, Black Americans represent a diverse group of respected residents of this country
27 and the Orange County community; and their contributions of humanitarian knowledge,
28 technological and societal innovations are vital components of the cultural fabric of our County,
29 nation and world; and
30
31 WHEREAS, Black American experiences and unrelenting resilience inspire people in Orange
32 County and around the world, we recognize a collective struggle for equality and inclusiveness
33 now and into the future until our shared humanity is acknowledged and celebrated; and
34
35 WHEREAS, every American recognizes the need for protest and the defying of cultural norms,
36 practices, laws and systems that are unjust, oppressive, and exclusionary; we celebrate this
37 year's Black History Month theme of"African Americans and the Arts";
38
39 NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, do proclaim
40 February 2024 as "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" and encourage our residents to honor this
41 distinctive month by becoming more enlightened as to the true history of Black Americans in this
42 Country and in our community.
43
44
6
1 THIS THE 20"' DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024.
2
3
4 Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
5 Orange County Board of
6 Commissioners
7
8 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to
9 approve the proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign.
10
11 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
12
13 b. OWASA Annual Update Presentation
14 The Board received a presentation and information from the Orange Water and Sewer Authority
15 (OWASA) on recent activities.
16
17 BACKGROUND: At the beginning of each calendar year, OWASA representatives appear
18 before the Board of Commissioners to make a presentation on recent OWASA activities.
19 OWASA Board Chair Bruce Boehm, Orange County appointees Jody Eimers and Kim Piracci,
20 and Executive Director Todd Taylor will present the annual update.
21
22 Jody Eimers introduced herself, fellow board member Kim Piracci, and OWASA Executive
23 Director, Todd Taylor. She mentioned that her final term on the OWASA Board of Directors
24 expires on June 30th and encouraged the Board to appoint her replacement in a timely manner.
25 She began reviewing Attachment 1-OWASA Quarterly Report. She highlighted the Care to Share
26 Program, which provides financial assistance to families experiencing hardship.
27 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how the number of households receiving assistance
28 compares to previous years.
29 Jody Eimers said the number is similar to past years.
30 Jody Eimers continued her presentation and discussed OWASA's PFAS monitoring efforts
31 and treatment. She said OWASA will begin a new treatment process including a pilot study, which
32 will run 6-14 months at the Jones Ferry Rd. Water Treatment Plant. She said construction will
33 start in late 2025 and will take 24-30 months to complete, and the primary focus is drinking water
34 at this time.
35 Kim Piracci reviewed information from OWASA's report on the Drinking Water Service
36 Line Inventory. She said 48% of private service lines have been reviewed and no lead lines have
37 been identified in OWASA's service area through this effort. She also mentioned education efforts
38 around galvanized pipes.
39 Commissioner Hamilton asked how long it will take to review the remaining lines that have
40 not been checked for lead.
41 Todd Taylor said it will take several years to complete, but they are beginning to utilize a
42 machine that will learn and be able to predict pipes based on what other pipes are in the
43 neighborhood or in service area.
44 Commissioner Richards asked about the self-verification process.
45 Todd Taylor said residents take a visual inspection of the pipes, then take a picture and
46 OWASA staff will confirm the resident's evaluation on the pipe material.
47 Kim Piracci continued her presentation and read from OWASA's report to update the
48 board on the Jordan Lake Western Intake Partnership.
49 Commissioner Fowler asked about the timeline for construction of water treatment
50 facilities at Jordan Lake.
7
1 Todd Taylor said the current schedule has the facility being completed in 2031. He said
2 OWASA is participating in the preliminary studies in order to get a better understanding of costs
3 and decide if they will contribute.
4 Commissioner Fowler asked how costs would be divided if there is varying usage by
5 partners.
6 Todd Taylor said each partner would have capacity based on water needs and the costs
7 would be divided accordingly.
8 Commissioner Richards asked Todd Taylor to discuss what the report mentions regarding
9 WASMPBA.
10 Todd Taylor said OWASA provided a memo to elected officials about what it would take
1 1 to extend service to that area. He said there is no technical reason OWASA could not serve this
12 area.
13 Commissioner Richards asked what the cost impact would be if boundaries are expanded.
14 Todd Taylor said extensions into neighborhoods would be borne by developers and
15 capacity infrastructure that would need to be improved to handle additional flow would be updated
16 by OWASA, but system developments fees would be paid back to OWASA when homes connect
17 their homes to service.
18 Commissioner McKee asked to return to the Jordan Lake Western Intake Partnership
19 discussion and asked if Hillsborough were part of the discussion and what would happen in the
20 case of an emergency.
21 Todd Taylor said Hillsborough has an allocation, but since they are not currently a partner,
22 they would receive their water through the City of Durham.
23 Related to the WASMPBA discussion, Commissioner Fowler asked how much it would
24 cost for a single-family home to connect water and sewer.
25 Todd Taylor said it depends on the meter size, but the cost is roughly several thousand
26 dollars.
27 Commissioner Hamilton said if WASMPBA is amended, OWASA would expand 7,700 feet
28 of sewer segments and 4800 feet of water main, per the report. She asked if this would be part of
29 OWASA's Capital Improvements Program.
30 Todd Taylor said yes, but the costs would be recouped through system developments
31 fees.
32 Commissioner Hamilton asked if the initial costs would be covered through fund balance
33 or borrowing.
34 Todd Taylor said it would depend on the timing of the investment. He explained that it will
35 not immediately have an impact on the system, and they would work with Chapel Hill to time it so
36 infrastructure and investment coincide with when they think the growth will occur.
37 Commissioner Hamilton clarified that OWASA may have to borrow for the infrastructure
38 and asked how that would be paid for through increased rates.
39 Todd Taylor said it again would depend on timing and what other things are happening
40 that could put pressure on rates. He said it may be possible that other debt service will be paid
41 off and so they are able to borrow without raising rates.
42 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if OWASA will have to borrow money in order to extend
43 water and sewer.
44 Todd Taylor said if WASMPA is extended, there is not an immediate need for water and
45 sewer. He explained that the need will occur overtime as growth occurs and houses are actually
46 in need of the service. He said the cost could be stretched out over time and may not be one
47 lump.
48
49
8
1 5. Public Hearings
2 a. Orange County FY 2025 Annual Transit Work Program
3 The Board conducted a public hearing on the Orange County FY 2025 Annual Transit Work
4 Program (AWP).
5
6 BACKGROUND: In 2011, the Orange County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) authorized a
7 referendum for a half-cent sales tax to expand public transit in Orange County. The funding is
8 limited to public transit improvements identified in the Orange County Transit Plan approved by
9 the County, the GoTriangle Board, and the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
10 Organization (DCHC MPO) Board. All three boards must approve the Plan and any material
11 changes to the Plan.
12
13 An Interlocal Implementation Agreement (ILA) approved by the three boards in 2013 outlines the
14 roles and responsibilities of each agency for the administration of the funding. A new ILA was
15 approved by Orange County BOCC in February 2023. The new ILA provides a specific process
16 for the development of the Work Program including approval by the BOCC ahead of approval by
17 the GoTriangle Board. Section 3.04 of the new Comprehensive Participation Agreement outlines
18 this process.
19
20 The Staff Working Group (SWG) met on January 19, 2024 and released the draft FY 2025 AWP
21 (Attachment 1)for public review. Orange County is a member of the SWG and serves as the Staff
22 Working Group administrator. DCHC MPO, Go Triangle and local town staff are also on the SWG,
23 per the Staff Work Group By-Laws.
24
25 The FY 2025 AWP is the implementation of the Transit Plan for FY 2025. Orange County has no
26 new transit projects programmed or funded. The County's Mobility-on-Demand, which increased
27 to six (6) days starting May 1, 2023, now serves as a continuous operational project. Any new
28 County specific transit projects would require an amendment to the Orange County Transit Plan.
29 If Transit Plan and Work Program approvals take place concurrently, no additional amendment
30 approval will be necessary. If not, a Transit Plan Amendment would need to be approved by the
31 BOCC, DCHC MPO and Go Triangle for more County specific transit improvements.
32
33 Public notice for the 30-day review period and public hearing was issued (Attachment 2). The
34 public comment period closes on February 29, 2024. No comments have been received to-date
35 (Attachment 3).
36
37 Next Step:
38 The Annual Work Program will come back to the BOCC for consideration in March, and then
39 reviewed by the GoTriangle Board for its annual budget and approval.
40
41 Darlene Weaver, Orange County Transportation Planning Manager reviewed the
42 background information for the item. She also made the following presentation:
43
44
9
1 Slide #1
Orange
County
Annual Work
Program
}
2
3
4 Slide #2
Outline
Orange County Transit Plan
Annual Work Plan
6
7 Slide #3
In 2012,Orange County voters approved the transit sales tax to invest in public transit.
Investments in public transit. In 2022 we updated the key values for the Transit Plan are:
Equity
Affordable&Attainable Quality of Life
Environmental Sustainability
Economic Prosperity
Transportation&Access for all
The investment program is the Orange County Annual Work Program.
8
10
1 Slide#4
Grange County Annual Work Program
Today's presentation is about two parts of the Orange Annual Work Program
FY22 orange Transit Plan FY25 orange Annual work Program
Change Transit plan projects Projects
scheduled for investment between July Change County Projects
1, 2023,and June 30,2040. implemented by ■ Continuation of Transit Services Demand
Response and Parotransit
Includes all Orange Transit Plan ■ Continuation of Transit Services Fixed Routes
projects,including bus projects, Hillsborough Circulator 2.0
operating,capital,but also ■ Mobility on Demand
administration,investments. ■ Staff Working Group Administration
2
3 Darlene Weaver said that the project is out for public comment through the end of the
4 month. She said that the Transit Plan will build upon projects that have been implemented since
5 2012.
6
7 Slide #5
Grange County Annual fork Program
Overview of the Annual Work Program ll
What's included
How to read it
• Highlights of plan for FY 2025
I
I
Orange County
Transit Platt FY25 Annual Work Program
8
9
10
11
1 Slide #6
Transit Annual Werk Program: Elements
FY25 Operating Budget
FY25 Capital Budget
Financial Model Assumptions
fir:- 4
Also includes
Multi-Year Operating Rrogram
Capital Improvement Plan L
Orange County
Transit Plan FY25 Annual Work Program
2
3 Darlene Weaver said that they will not have actual numbers until they submit to GoTriangle
4 for reimbursement.
5
6 Slide #7
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1 Slide#8
Annual Work Program: OpprrlfiPrn;prf Summaries
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3 Darlene Weaver said that this shows details for each project that they have.
4
5 Slide #9
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13
1 Slide #10
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2
3 Darlene Weaver said slide #10 provides a good summary of the project.
4
5 Slide #11
&:i1Y:...'�a:'t!
Operating Program Highlight
Plan spends most funding (19% of $6.6 million) on Orange
County services
Mobility en Demand increased frequency and hours to 6 days per week
supporting rural communities
Continuation of Transit Service Rural Route increase services hours beyond the
expectations of 2013
Continuation of Transit Service Fixed Routes is the Hill to Hill and Orange
Alamance;has updated twice prior to January 16,2024,expansion
Hillsborough Circulator 2-4 made improvements by expanding hours, adding
routes and the implantation of the reverse circulator.
Administrative of Staff Working Group beginning July 1, 2023
6
7 Darlene Weaver said that within the last year, mobility on demand was added to help the
8 rural community.
9
10
14
1 Slide #12
2
Capital Program Hicghligh,
Summar of Project Requests(Ca i.tal) FY25 FY26
22,50TVIRI Vehlcleacqulsttlan and replacement 5 216,667.5 225,333
23GDTCD4 NewRegionalTransitFacilityJOrarr eCountyshare) 5 140Ji00 5 140,000
23GOT0o2 Regional Fleet arid Fa[iltif!S Nelspn Road 5 525rI300 5 750,000
7p[HTCG0I Morah Utith®RT 5uppl eawntai
25LHILD15 Mldllfa Repower far FYI$and fy20 Vehicle Purchases
Total Capital Requests 51091,351 $ 1,115,333
Revised pl q .l Nm 111 q 9
3
4
5 Slide #13
4v i fere are we in theprocess?
m
ftf,KT STEFL
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• 51aff Working C?raup(5Wril BOCC Approves
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Vanning Ckrgoodxallon(DCHO MPOI
• Boardof Counry n-,,::, n ..;BoCC
6
7
8 Darlene Weaver said that the staff working group meets once per month to provide
9 guidance to the annual work program.
10
15
1 Slide#14
FY25 Transit Tax Investments
Carrboro Transit Infrastructure access to sidewalks)
Hillsborough Train Station
Chapel Hill BRT& Services
2 IJ
3
4 Slide #15
Thank you!
Orange County Transportation Department
Nishith Trivedi-Transportation Diredor
..
Darlene Weaver-Transportation Planning Manager
929-245-2002
5 ALI .0. A
6 Darlene Weaver said comments are accepted through the end of the month.
7 Commissioner McKee asked her to explain the process for the Mobility on Demand.
8 Darlene Weaver said that a resident fills out a packet and an appointment is made with
9 the dispatcher.
10 Commissioner McKee asked about the time in between making the request for transit and
11 having transportation.
12 Nishith Trivedi said it is a same-day service and residents download an app and make their
13 transportation request through that.
14 Commissioner McKee asked what happens if someone cannot use the app.
15 Darlene Weaver said that they can call into the office, and they will assist them.
16 Commissioner McKee asked about the timeframe from the call to having transportation.
17 Nishith Trivedi said that they provide the same-day service as long as there is a driver
18 available. He said that if there is not a car or driver, then they would let the resident know. He said
19 that they try to get to the resident very soon after they have requested the service.
16
1 Commissioner Richards asked how the new communication system and vehicle
2 purchases connect to the implementation of the plan.
3 Darlene Weaver said those items are related to this fiscal year and the work program is
4 for next fiscal year.
5 Commissioner Hamilton said that when she sees the fund balance, it shows a squiggly
6 like, but it looks like a negative, or deficit, she said that when presenting to the public, it would be
7 helpful not to follow that convention or to have a footnote that explains the difference.
8 Nishith Trivedi said that is an update they can make to the plan but that they were following
9 accounting procedures with negatives showing for money coming in and positives for money
10 going out.
11 Vice-Chair Greene said that she would like to keep the fund balance as a savings account
12 rather than spend it down. She said the plan discusses what they would like to do if they had the
13 funds available and one project is BRT between Durham and Chapel Hill.
14 Nishith Trivedi said until a big project is identified there are no restrictions on how to use
15 them. He said that there are other projects that are about to be approved and are not in the transit
16 plan.
17 Vice-Chair Greene said she thought the Transit Plan was guiding future investment and
18 the idea was that there would be federal funding later to take advantage of, but they require
19 substantial matching funds.
20 Nishith Trivedi said more information will be coming to the Board about what can be
21 incorporated using those funds. He said that there are improvements and needs that are current
22 in Orange County and they will be updated with the short-range transit plan.
23 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the application for Mobility on Demand and if
24 some riders do not pay anything.
25 Nishith Trivedi said yes, and work with other county departments to identify those
26 residents with most need.
27
28 A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to
29 open the public hearing.
30
31 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
32
33 PUBLIC COMMENTS:
34 Rachel Hawkins read the following statement to the Board:
35 "1 am Rachel Phelps Hawkins, native of Orange County. I am here tonight as the President of the
36 Board of Directors of the Friends of the Passmore Center in Orange County.
37 1 am asking that you pay close attention to how the transit tax is distributed in Orange County.
38 More money for the large aging community in rural Northern Orange and rural Southern Orange
39 County, to be more specific.
40 One fact is that there is a pandemic of social isolation in older adults — thus the senior centers
41 offer the opportunity to bond with others daily, by offering meals, card games, activities, plays,
42 health seminars, attention to healthy living etc.
43 Because many do not drive or have family to assist to allow them to participate in these activities,
44 they need transportation —which we have been told, is on the verge of non-existent to the senior
45 centers (outside the Chapel Hill area), due to a fund deficit.
46 We know there are other services for individuals to contract with individually, but transportation to
47 a much-needed lunch at the Senior Centers and all the activities there is a must, if the aging
48 community is to enjoy the wonderful senior centers that the County provides.
49 Maybe supplement the Van Driver Program outside the Chapel Hill Transit Area. Our seniors are
50 the largest growing population group! You and I are or soon will be a part of that. We want to
17
1 partake of the services offered, and we do continue to pay the '/z cent transit tax. We assume if
2 we pay that tax, we would all be able to see the benefit!
3 We urge you to make this transit tax equitable for all seniors no matter their location, but
4 specifically, outside the Chapel Hill Transit area!"
5
6 A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to
7 close the public hearing.
8
9 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
10
11 6. Regular Agenda
12 a. Approval of a Countywide Strategic Plan for FY 2024-25 through FY 2028-29
13 The Board approved a Countywide Strategic Plan for FY 2024-25 through FY 2028-29.
14
15 BACKGROUND: During the Board of Commissioners 2022 Retreat, the Board authorized staff
16 to solicit proposals from vendors to assist in the creation of a comprehensive, Countywide
17 Strategic Plan. In 2023, the Board approved a contract with Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC
18 to create a Countywide Strategic Plan. The planning process was intended to produce a plan
19 that prioritizes, focuses, and aligns County programs and services.
20
21 During the first half of 2023, the consulting team worked with staff and the Board of
22 Commissioners to conduct an environmental scan that included stakeholder interviews and focus
23 groups, an online engagement portal, Countywide community surveys, and visioning sessions.
24 The first draft was released for public comment in December 2023, and the Board of
25 Commissioners finalized the mission, vision, guiding principles, and strategic goals during its
26 retreat in January 2024. During this same time, department directors have worked together to
27 create an implementation plan and performance measures.
28
29 The Plan includes six specific strategic goals:
30
31 Environmental Protection and Climate Action,
32 Healthy Community,
33 Housing for All,
34 Multi-modal Transportation,
35 Public Education/Learning Community, and
36 Diverse and Vibrant Economy
37
38 Once the Plan is adopted, important documents such as the annual operating budget, Capital
39 Investment Plan, and agenda abstracts will be updated to assure alignment of resources with the
40 Countywide Strategic Plan.
41
42 Progress will also be tracked regularly. Staff teams will evaluate and discuss progress on
43 achieving the Board's Strategic Goals monthly. Those teams will report quarterly on progress to
44 the County Manager's Office. Twice each year, the County Manager's Office will prepare an
45 update to the Board for each Strategic Goal including specific milestones and challenges. On an
46 annual basis, the County Manager's Office will prepare a year-end update detailing progress on
47 each Strategic Goal.
48
49 Charline Kirongozi, Manager with BerryDunn, reviewed the background information for the
50 item and reviewed the Strategic Plan, Attachment 1.
51
18
1 Vice Chair Greene said that Commissioner Richards would like to pull the budget
2 amendment for the strategic plan from the consent agenda and the new employee that will
3 implement the plan.
4 Commissioner Richards said she wants to discuss the employee that will be hired to help
5 implement the plan as they move through the Strategic Plan.
6 Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager, said the priorities are not limited to one
7 department and the role of the person will be bringing teams together to help them identify
8 strategies and focus on the reporting and accountability of the plan. He said they will have a plan
9 that is brought to the manager's office quarterly and this person will facilitate that.
10 Commissioner Richards said in the plan, there are some objectives that do not have
11 measurable outcomes and she is hesitant to approve the plan when those are not in place. She
12 said if it takes another month to approve the plan, that would be preferable to her if that allowed
13 them to establish the baselines and measurements.
14 Travis Myren said the Board can certainly do that but said to keep in mind that staff would
15 like to be able to note alignment in the CIP and the Operating Budget, and he would like to keep
16 them on schedule.
17 Charline Kirongozi said performance measures are meant to be evolving. She said that
18 once the plan is adopted, they also put together an action plan for staff.
19 Bonnie Hammersley said the position is modeled like the Sustainability Manager position.
20 She said she thinks it is good that they look at performance measures but does not know that the
21 plan needs to be held up for that. She said having someone on board to lead this is important.
22 Commissioner Fowler said she does not think the specifics need to be nailed down before
23 adopting the plan, especially knowing that the performance measures can change. She said she
24 likes that it is aligned with other county plans and there are built in recipes for developing the
25 budget.
26 Commissioner Hamilton said she cannot vote for this plan with performance measures
27 that are not well-delineated. She said there is an opportunity to clarify good performance
28 measures. She said that she wants them to be clear. She said she wants to get it right and take
29 more time before approval. She said a subcommittee of commissioners is one way to do that.
30 Bonnie Hammersley said staff does not have the capacity to work on the strategic plan as
31 the budget process is beginning. She said this could be delayed until after the budget cycle.
32 Commissioner Richards asked if the consent agenda for hiring the employee would allow
33 them to come in and get to work quickly.
34 Bonnie Hammersley said it would probably be June or July before the person could be
35 hired.
36 Commissioner McKee said he is hesitant to put it off because it will never be perfect. He
37 said for it to be useful, it would be better to move forward and make amendments as time allows
38 and as the plan is implemented.
39 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how to make sure the budget aligns with the priorities
40 without the detail.
41 Bonnie Hammersley said the budget will align with the goals of the strategic plan. She
42 said the goals of the strategic plan do not align much differently than what the budget is already
43 aligned with. She said they will not go in a different direction because governmental priorities are
44 established goals and guiding principles.
45 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if a strategic plan is needed since they have not had
46 one.
47 Bonnie Hammersley said this is a more organized and structured way for operating from
48 an elected board and she thinks it is a very good thing. She said that it is difficult right now to say
49 there will be changes to the plan from a staff perspective because of the timing of it. She said
50 they are in the budget process and that will be intensive.
19
1 Charline Kirongozi said that when staff go through the budget process, they will have the
2 objectives the Board decided upon. She said the objectives were the items they discussed in
3 January and staff will be using those to allocate resources from the budget. She said that the
4 performance measures are what seems to be holding this up but those are always ever evolving.
5 Commissioner McKee said there is a third path forward and said that the Board can
6 approve the plan, form a subcommittee, and bring forward suggestions at a later date.
7 Vice-Chair Greene said she is hearing that the strategic priorities are in place. She said
8 she believes that the Board can approve the plan and finalize performance measures at a later
9 date.
10 Commissioner Hamilton said she thinks some of the performance measures can be buffed
11 up with commissioners and it is helpful understanding staff constraints during budget season.
12 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the subcommittee will be able to meet by the next
13 meeting.
14 Commissioner Richards said there are very specific ones where there are goals to
15 increase items without noting where they are starting. She said she does not think it will be that
16 big of a deal. She said she supports the goals and objectives as they are. She said she does not
17 know that a timeline needs to be soon.
18 Travis Myren said there are some things that can quickly be clarified over the next couple
19 of weeks. He said there are others that may require more research. He said the subcommittee
20 can create two buckets of items that are easy to clarify and those that need more work.
21 Commissioner Richards said the subcommittee can also produce a plan for how to get to
22 a measure.
23 Charline Kirongozi said BerryDunn is working on a companion report to determine which
24 metrics need to be developed for reporting and tracking.
25
26 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to
27 adopt the Countywide Strategic Plan for FY 2024-25 through FY 2028-29, as well as to develop
28 a subcommittee to review the Plan's performance measures.
29
30 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
31
32 Commissioner Hamilton and Commissioner Richards volunteered for the subcommittee.
33 Commissioner Fowler said she would also serve if Chair Bedford does not want to.
34
35 b. Orange County's Proposed 2024 Priority Legislative Issues
36 The Board reviewed and discussed the proposed Orange County 2024 Priority Legislative Issues
37 and approved the Orange County 2024 Priority Legislative Issues document for submittal to
38 Orange County's legislative delegation.
39
40 BACKGROUND: Orange County's Legislative Breakfast with Orange County's legislative
41 delegation, in conjunction with the 2024 North Carolina General Assembly session, is scheduled
42 for March 21, 2024. The Board of Commissioners has historically approved a set of legislative
43 issues each year for presentation to/discussion with the delegation. The Board historically also
44 has appointed two members to work with staff on a Legislative Issues Work Group (LIWG) to
45 develop a proposed legislative package for the County. Based on the work of the LIWG, the
46 BOCC then reviewed and approved packages of legislative items to present to Orange County's
47 legislative delegation. Commissioners Amy Fowler and Jean Hamilton are serving on the 2024
48 LIWG and have worked with staff on the attached 2024 legislative package.
49
50 As the LIWG considered its approach for this year, the Group (similar to last year) decided to
51 identify a concise list of Legislative Priority Issues. The Group ultimately identified eight(8) Priority
20
1 Issues, acknowledging that the full Board of Commissioners may consider modifying the list,
2 exchanging one item for another item, other potential revisions, etc.
3
4 The LIWG also acknowledged Board members' previous comments on potential discussion topics
5 for the breakfast and has referenced the desire to discuss:
6 • the Upper Neuse River Basin Association's (UNRBA) Submittal of Recommendations for
7 a Revised Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy and Revised Rules; and
8 • the University of North Carolina's Co-generation Facility.
9
10 The Board will need to discuss the materials provided by the LIWG.
11
12 The work of the Legislative Issues Work Group to this point is based on the current information
13 available for the 2024 General Assembly Session. The issues addressed by the Group may
14 evolve and change over the session and require additional attention by the Group and Board of
15 Commissioners. New issues may also arise necessitating additional review.
16
17 Greg Wilder, Assistant to the County Manager for Legislative Issues, reviewed the
18 background information for the item and noted that pending approval of the list of priorities, he
19 will work with Chair Bedford on a memo to send to the Legislative Delegation ahead of the
20 Legislative Breakfast.
21 Commissioner Hamilton thanked Greg Wilder for his work.
22 Commissioner Fowler said this list of priorities is like past years', but they were thankfully
23 able to remove the item about Medicaid Expansion.
24 John Roberts asked the Board and staff to let him know if there are any issues they feel
25 can only be addressed through local legislation before the Legislative Breakfast on March 21St
26
27 A motion was made by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to
28 approve Orange County's 2024 Priority Legislative Issues document for submittal to Orange
29 County's legislative delegation.
30
31 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
32
33 7. Reports
34 None.
35
36 8. Consent Agenda
37
38 • Removal of Any Items from Consent Agenda
39 • Approval of Remaining Consent Agenda
40 • Discussion and Approval of the Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
41
42 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to
43 approve the consent agenda.
44
45 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
46
47 a. Minutes
48 The Board approved the draft minutes for the January 16, 2024 and January 19, 2024 BOCC
49 Meetings as submitted by the Clerk to the Board.
21
1 b. Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) — Receipt and Transmittal of
2 2024 Annual Technical Advisory Committee Report
3 The Board received the 2024 Annual Report of the SAPFO Technical Advisory Committee
4 (SAPFOTAC) and transmit it to the SAPFO partners for comments before certification in April.
5 c. Approval of Furniture Purchase for 203 Greensboro
6 The Board approved the purchase of furniture for 203 Greensboro from Storr Office Environments
7 and authorize the County Manager to sign the contract following final review by the County
8 Attorney.
9 d. Orange County FY 2024 Annual Work Program Quarter 3 Amendments
10 The Board approved Quarter 3 amendments to the FY 2024 Annual Work Program (AWP).
11 e. Approval of Chromebook Lease Purchase Agreement for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
12 Schools
13 The Board adopted a resolution approving the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District lease
14 agreement to purchase Chromebooks.
15 f. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Amendment #6
16 The Board approved budget, grant, and capital project ordinance amendments for Fiscal Year
17 2023-24.
18
19 9. County Manager's Report
20 Bonnie Hammersley directed the Board's attention to the Information Items provided in
21 their agenda packets and summarized the memos.
22 Commissioner Fowler asked how much business the Uproar Festival generated and if that
23 information can be gathered.
24 Bonnie Hammersley said she will check with the Arts Commission and Visitor's Bureau to
25 see if that information can be measured and shared, if not from this past year, then in the future.
26
27 10. County Attorney's Report
28 John Roberts said the Board has not established subcommittees previously but will need
29 to establish the subcommittee for the Strategic Plan performance measures through a vote. He
30 said it will be a public body and will need to establish a schedule of meetings and a record of the
31 meetings must be kept.
32
33 11. *Appointments
34 None.
35
36 12. Information Items
37 • February 6, 2024 BOCC Meeting Follow-up Actions List
38 • Memorandum —Annual Report of the Community Child Protection Team (CCPT)
39 • Memorandum — Uproar Festival of Public Art 2023
40 • Memorandum — Financial Report - Second Quarter FY 2023-24
41
42
43 13. Closed Session
44 None.
45
46 Adjournment
47
48 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to
49 adjourn the meeting at 8:56 p.m.
50
22
1 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
2
3 Sally Greene, Vice-Chair
4
5
6 Recorded by Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board
7
8 Submitted for approval by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board