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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-12-2024 - Work Session 1 APPROVED 5/7/24 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION March 12, 2024 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Work Session on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Sally Greene and Commissioners Amy Fowler, Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee (arrived at 7:24 p.m.), Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and Anna Richards COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present, except for Commissioner McKee. 1. Boards and Commissions —Annual Work Plan Summaries The Board provided feedback and direction on the first group of boards and commissions' annual work plan summaries with their Chairs (or representatives) in attendance. The first group of boards and commissions' annual work plan summaries were presented at the Board's February 15, 2024 work session. BACKGROUND: Typically, across the first two work sessions of the year, the Board receives a report from each of the County's boards and commissions. The report details accomplishments from the previous calendar year as well as plans for the year ahead. This practice allows boards and commissions an opportunity to speak directly to the Board of County Commissioners about their work, and the Board is able to provide feedback and direction. Boards and Commissions represented at this meeting: Board Name Representative(s) Presenting Affordable Housing Advisory Board Matthew Ferguson Orange County Housing Authority Board Alice Mahood Orange County Board of Adjustment Leon Meyers Orange County Planning Board Adam Beeman Orange Unified Transportation Board Michael Hughes Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Patrick Burns Economic Development Advisory Board Kristen Smith Young Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board Karen DeHart Arts Commission Matthew Ferguson from the Affordable Housing Advisory Board said in the next year they would like to talk to complimentary advisory boards that can help them achieve their goals for affordable housing, such as the Economic Development Advisory Board. He said they would like to do a research project to review the historical affordable housing projects that have been done 2 in Orange County. He said that they are not aware of any research to show the effectiveness of previous affordable housing projects. He said that in looking forward, it would be nice to know if the things the county is spending money on are actually helping. He said they would like to know if previous projects have actually helped affordability in the specific areas that have been targeted. He said they want to know which areas of the county have been helped the most. He said they plan to start that in May. He said that advocacy is another key point and making sure the community's thoughts get to the Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Richards asked how the research project would be structured. Matthew Ferguson said that the members of the Affordable Housing Board would look through the records of previous board meetings to see which projects have been approved and the money that was spent. He said they will then look at the housing data to see how the homeless population has been impacted and what is the population that needs housing assistance. He said the project will not be contracted out. Vice-Chair Greene encouraged the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to take advantage of resources that already exist. She said that the Chapel Hill Housing Authority and the Partnership to End Homelessness already have a lot of data. She said it was a great idea to go back and look at 20 years of expenditures. She asked if the board is looking at housing for the whole county, including municipalities. Matthew Ferguson said yes. Commissioner Hamilton said it is important to define affordable housing and being clear on that. Chair Bedford thanked the board for reviewing applications for the affordable housing funds. She said that the questions brought up by the Affordable Housing Advisory Board were similar to the questions she had. She said she thought the board did a good job of reconciling the issue of naturally occurring affordable housing with what was in the rubric. She said she thinks the board will be reviewing, updating, and bringing the rubric back to the BOCC in the future. She said that advisory boards can learn from each other and encouraged the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to meet with other groups. Commissioner Portie-Ascott thanked the Affordable Housing Advisory Board for their work and the proposed research project. She asked if the board would establish goals on the number of affordable housing units needed in the county. Matthew Ferguson said that could be at a later stage, but right now they want to focus on what has been done previously and then can begin looking forward. Vice-Chair Greene said that was something they would hope they could find a contractor to do for all the jurisdictions in the county. She said that Chapel Hill has done a housing study which gets down to very specific levels of income and the types of housing needed. Commissioner Fowler said she appreciated the clearly delineated goals and looks forward to hearing more from the board. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the research will review how zoning impacts affordable housing. Matthew Ferguson said that once they have the data, they could look at if there were zoning changes during the study period. He said that it is not currently part of the project, but it could be kept in mind as they move forward. Commissioner Fowler said having a discussion with the Planning Board could be beneficial for the research project. Alice Mahood from the Orange County Housing Authority Board said one of the biggest accomplishments is initiating a waiting list for the first time since 2017, increased their voucher utilization from 575 to 630 in just a single year, they held their first event with a client meet and greet and plan to hold more, they have issued all 19 emergency housing vouchers, they have 4 new participants approved for the home ownership program and for the first time since she's been on the board that they have a full board. She said that they have two residents on the board, and 3 that their perspective is greatly appreciated. She said in the next year they hope to keep a full board, conduct a lottery pool for the newly opened waitlist, continue in person events, and continue to save money and increase efficiency through software upgrades. Chair Bedford asked what is the Moving to Work program. Blake Rosser, interim Housing Director, said that the Moving to Work program is a bit obsolete because they have missed the cutoff for that program rating. He said that they were awarded the standard rating. He said HUD calls this a demonstration program, or pilot, to see what happens when subsidy funding can be used for more administrative purposes. He said they were hopeful but will not be able to proceed with that. He said that there is another program called the family self-sufficiency program that they are hoping to participate in. He said the waitlist is not open yet, but it is prepared to open soon. He said there is a list, and they hope to use it this summer. He said there are probably 700 names on it. Commissioner Richards asked if there is a maximum number of vouchers for Orange County. Blake Rosser said the maximum is 687. He said that they have gotten gradual increases over the years. He said they are working to make sure all of the vouchers are being utilized. Commissioner Richards asked if they would discuss the working relationship with landlords. Blake Rosser said they have a staff member that is the coordinator for landlord outreach. He said they offer a landlord incentive program, and it has been around for3 or 4 years. He said that it provides a signing bonus and a risk mitigation program. He said that is more robust than many other housing authorities and they are fortunate to be able to do that. He said that voucher utilization increases can be attributed to this program and the transfer of people from other jurisdictions. Commissioner Hamilton asked for information about the meet and greet. Blake Rosser said that it was in August at Anderson Park. He said about 80 people came and they served hot dogs to attendees. He said they were championing their homeownership program and there was a lot of interest. He said that it is an exciting program. Commissioner Hamilton asked how most people traveled to the meet and greet. Blake Rosser said that most people came by car. He said that in the future, he wants to find a park that is on several transit lines. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if all voucher recipients are in their own homes. Blake Rosser said yes. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how many landlords the department works with. Blake Rosser said he was not sure of the total. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how many new landlords they have gotten. Blake Rosser said the only way they can track that is by looking at the number of signing bonuses they have provided and that is between 30-40. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if that was higher or lower than previous years. Blake Rosser said it was about in line with previous years and that has been between 25- 40. Vice-Chair Greene asked if Chapel Hill Housing is using the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program. Blake Rosser said he did not know if they were using FSS specifically, but they have a similar program that aligns with home ownership. He said he will reach out to them when they are ready to start. Commissioner McKee arrived at 7:24 p.m. Leon Meyers from the Board of Adjustment said they met 4 times to hear and decide two cases. He said they also had two administrative meetings for a total of 6 meetings. He said that 4 all of the Board of Adjustment seats are now filled. He said staff has done a great job providing Spanish language translation for meetings. He said they have monthly meetings scheduled to facilitate any hearing they might need to have. Chair Bedford said that she would like to give the Deputy Clerk credit for being organized and helping with recruitment efforts. Leon Meyers said absolutely, and the positions are not filled unless people go out and find them. Chair Bedford said she appreciated the professionalism shown by the Board of Adjustment in difficult cases. Commissioner Richards asked if the changes to 160D would have a big impact. Leon Meyers said that was a big change that the Board accommodated during 2022 by updating the rules and aligning them with 160D. Commissioner Richards asked if all of that was complete. Leon Meyers said that was complete. Commissioner Fowler asked when new members are trained. Leon Meyers said they had a training session in January and new members get an orientation as well. Adam Beeman of the Orange County Planning Board reviewed the information listed in the board's work plan which was included in the agenda packet. He said they meet monthly and include training during those meetings. Commissioner Fowler expressed her appreciation to the Planning Board for all of the work they do. Commissioner McKee said that staff and Lumos are working on addressing doughnut holes in internet service. Chair Bedford said there are legal issues, but that there may be a solution in December or January. Vice-Chair Greene thanked him for pointing out that there is growth toward Mebane and said that there should be more formal coordination with Mebane, and she has made requests that they have a joint meeting. Chair Bedford said that the issues the Planning Board identified to work on over the next year are good and fit well with the timing of updates to the comprehensive plan. Commissioner Hamilton asked how the Planning Board gives input to the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. Adam Beeman said that they received a presentation from Clarion and the have provided feedback and they are intertwined in that area. He said a lot of feedback showed that people wanted to remain natural with no growth, but no one wants to pay for that. He said that he does not know how that can be balanced. He asked Clarion how they plan to pay for the desire to have no economic growth. Commissioner Hamilton said that Clarion provides information to the Planning Board, and they give feedback. Adam Beeman said yes. Commissioner Richards asked how they will address the list of issues that are on their work plan for the year, particularly the Rural Enterprises issue. Adam Beeman said that the Planning Board can discuss issues, but that staff would need direction from the BOCC before any research and concrete planning can be done. Michael Hughes from the Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) said one of their most important accomplishments was recommending the county approve the NC DOT/NC 54 multi modal corridor study, to upgrade NC54 to one that looks more like the bypass around Chapel Hill. He said that would be four lanes, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks. He said it will make that area look very different and that they made that recommendation after very serious deliberations. He said NC DOT already has the right of way. He said they are also looking at 5 another corridor study on US 70. He said that the right of way there is not available and will be more complex. He said they approved the Safe Routes to School updates. He said that there is concern with the bridge from Grady Brown Elementary to children's apartments. He said he took pictures and made a presentation to Chuck Edwards of NC DOT. He said that they have a process, but they are continuing to work on that. He said that he wants people to visit that bridge and see how unsafe it is. He said on the transportation side, they are expanding the Mobility on Demand service. Commissioner Hamilton expressed thanks to the OUTBoard for their work and for bringing attention to the issues at Grady Brown Elementary. Chair Bedford asked if Michael Hughes gets emails from the Durham-CH-Carrboro MPO. Michael Hughes said he did not. Chair Bedford said she will get them on that. She said it is good they comment on development proposals for the Board. Vice-Chair Greene said she had the same question about information sharing from the MPOs. She said a lot of the stuff they work on is local, but they need regional planning information too. Michael Hughes said he used to sit on the MPO when he was with the City of Durham, so he was familiar with the organization. Patrick Burns from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said he is very proud of the ABC operation. He said ever since COVID they have seen record sales, which is a good thing, but also is concerning. He said that it increases the amount of money they can give back to the County and community organizations that work on alcohol education. He said they are a very different operation than other advisory boards because they are a retail organization. He said that it is different because they do not profit, the county and other community organizations profit. He said that they have been able to pay down debt service and reinvest funds into their operations. He said they have had a great partnership with the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Fowler said that from her time on the ABC Board, information was clear, and they are making smart decisions in paying off debt service and investing in substance abuse prevention. Commissioner McKee thanked Patrick Burns for making upgrades on stores. He said it is a two-edged sword, given the amount of alcohol that is being consumed. Patrick Burns said that he is involved with law enforcement agencies, and he has seen both sides. He said he continues to be very involved with the local groups trying to lend support in whatever way he can. Chair Bedford said she thought that revenues would go down after COVID, but they have not. She said that they have put funds into the Criminal Justice Resource Department. She said that a lot of money went into helping youth. She said she attended the Mebane store opening, and there will be a new one opening in Southern Village. She said the stores are well-located in the county. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if there is a formula for deciding how much each group gets. Patrick Burns said it is a complete evaluation of what they are applying for and what they plan to do with that. He said it is not one simple thing. He said they spend a lot of time looking at applications and discussing them before coming to a decision. Commissioner Richards said that prior to becoming the BOCC liaison to the ABC Board she had no idea in what they are involved. She said they have had updates from the organizations, and they have a good idea of how previous grant funds are being used. She said it has been a great eye-opener for her. She said there is a wide variety of organizations and partnerships between the towns and the university. She said that the prevention and deterrence work is also focused on. She said it gives people an opportunity for counseling rather than a record and she is happy to be on the board and learning a lot. 6 Dave Gephart from the Economic Development Advisory Board said about $500 billion has been invested over the last few years in Orange County. He said it is very impressive. He said that when they go to regional meetings, the other counties are familiar with the Economic Development Department staff due to the success. He said that he was excited about the bond 14 years ago and while the budget has been static, economic development is healthy in Orange County. He said they have a grant committee and have given out about$2 million to start ups. He said they take it very seriously and want to help these companies. He said one major focus is on minority and women-owned businesses. He said they have been the majority recipients of the grants. He said 40% of board members are BIPOC and 60% are female. He said one of the commissioners received a letter after a meeting and she was told that she felt excluded because she was in a minority. He said that she thought the requirements were too harsh for her. He said that on December 20t", staff reached out to her and provided her information on the startup fund, she submitted the application, and was able to obtain a grant. He said they have been doing a lot of advertising. He said that the Economic Development Department could use more staff to expand efforts. Commissioner Fowler asked if there are any statistics on individuals with disabilities who may have received awards or on their employment rates. Dave Gephart said that he does not think the department has tracked that information. Commissioner Fowler said that individuals with disabilities are one of the least employed groups and that would be a good thing to track. Dave Gephart said that they have increased the amount of advertising they have been doing, and they have received more applications than ever before. He said they spotlight winners, and they talk about their business and the lady that he spoke of previously will be featured soon. Commissioner Fowler said she hoped that the board would take her comment into consideration. Vice-Chair Greene asked if the success story that he mentioned was a business or agricultural grant. Dave Gephart said it was a business grant. Vice-Chair Green asked if the agricultural grants are administered through the Extension Office. Dave Gephart said one of the board members is on that committee too and she is a farmer. He said they have been working very closely with them to help them grow that program. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked who can fill out the application and if youth can apply for funding. Dave Gephart said anyone can fill out the application. He said the only requirement is that the business is in Orange County and that the application is completed. Commissioner McKee said these grants can really make a difference for a start-up. Dave Gephart said economic development grants can help businesses of all sizes and can lead to lower unemployment in the county. Karen DeHart of the Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board (CHOCVB Advisory Board) said they meet monthly, and they rotate meetings in hotels and event spaces in Orange County. She said that visitors in Orange County spent over$236 million in 2022. She said that hotel occupancy is increasing, and they are having a banner year. She reviewed the highlights of the CHOCVB Advisory Board's work plan, which was included in the agenda packet. She said they are looking at partnering with other advisory boards which affect the tourism industry. Commissioner Hamilton thanked them for including the occupancy tax data in the report and said that it was very helpful. Vice-Chair Greene said she appreciates the Orange Slices program. Chair Bedford said it was good to see the rebound of visitors in Chapel Hill after several difficult years. She thanked the board for all of their hard work. Commissioner McKee said he sees this advisory board as a dual purpose because it serves as an economic development driver and helps the citizens. Commissioner Fowler thanked the CHOCVB Advisory Board for the creation of the disability restaurant guide. Commissioner Richards asked about the plan to help large event spaces. Laurie Paolicelli, Executive Director for the CHOCVB, said it has been hard for the conference and meeting industry across the nation. She said that there have been improvements over the last year. She said they large spaces rely on 300 attendees in the ballroom and large meeting spaces. She said that during the pandemic, it was discovered that Zoom works well. She said they are also seeing a general increase in the number of room nights available and less demand. She said that a former board member recommended shifting the marketing dollars from the transient nights to the larger groups. She said that leads are going up and it is coming back. She said that she thinks it is on the uptick. She said that last year, Carolina Inn broke all records and a lot of that was in food and beverage. Commissioner Richards said that at the last CHOCVB Advisory Board meeting there was an overview of the campaign, and she wants everyone to know that it is something that is being worked on. Commissioner McKee asked how many thousand square feet they want in a new facility. Laurie Paolicelli said people really want a public facility and that it is a struggle to find those spaces. Anita Mills of the Arts Commission said it is her last year on the commission. She said that the attention paid to the arts in Orange County has been heartwarming to her. She said they have been at the Eno Arts Mill for 2 years. She said that the facility generated enough revenue in their second year to cover expenses. She credited Katie Murray, the Arts Commission Director, with their success. She reviewed the list of accomplishments in the Arts Commission's work plan, which was included in the agenda packet. Commissioner McKee said that there are many ways to volunteer with the county and thanked Anita Mills for her service. Anita Mills said witnessing the development of the Eno Arts Mill has been a highlight for her. Commissioner Richards congratulated the Arts Commission for their accomplishments. She asked for elaboration on maintaining self-sufficiency. Anita Mills said they can do more with more staff, for camps, curriculum, etc. She said it is a matter of peoplepower. Katie Murray said it can be hard for the public to understand that because this is a county funded art space, why prices are not more in line with recreation prices, but they are a non-profit where their revenues have to cover the expenses. She said that it is hard to make things affordable and she has a hard time explaining the cost difference. She said that their non-profit can raise funds to offset costs. Commissioner Richards asked if the non-profit arm is as described, a blessing and a challenge. Katie Murray said that it is working now but that she has a dream of being able to offer arts services in the way that parks services are offered. 2. Request to Jointly Fund a Position to Support Black, Latinx, and Refugee Owned Enterprises The Board discussed a request from The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill Carrboro to partially fund a full-time community advocate to support the growth of new and existing Black, Latinx, and refugee owned businesses and provided direction to staff on next steps. 8 BACKGROUND: The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill Carrboro recently submitted a request to the County Manager's Office to jointly fund a Chamber employee to support the growth of new and existing Black, Latinx, and refugee owned businesses. Under the proposal, Orange County would contribute $30,000 per year to support the position for three years. The other funding partners would be the Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro, and the Chamber. The Town of Chapel Hill would contribute $30,000 annually, and the Town of Carrboro would contribute $20,000 annually. Both of those commitments would be for three years. The attached request from the Chamber explains the key position responsibilities, intended outcomes, and proposed budget. The Chamber also provided supplemental information on the status of contracting with the Towns and responses to questions posed by staff. Although the County does not have a position dedicated to support Black, Latinx, and refugee owned businesses, County departments involved in economic development emphasize marketing County programs and services to non-white business owners. • The Department of Economic Development has increased marketing efforts for its small business and agriculture grant awards including several grant application presentations to EMPOWERment's cohort members attending classes at Midway Business Center. • Economic Development routinely introduces small businesses to free financial counseling services offered by Durham Tech's Small Business Center, SCORE, UNC's Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC), EMPOWERment, and similar providers. The Department's website includes a section titled "Minority Business Resources" that is intended to promote economic advancement of minority businesses. This page can be found: https://www.orangecountVnc.gov/2788/Minority-Business- Resources • The Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau has built and continues to maintain several websites in support of Black, Latinx and refugee affiliated groups, to include: o www.chapelhilldiversity.com which is designed to amplify diverse narratives; and o https://chapelhilldiversity.com/businesses/ which is a continuously updated Black Owned Businesses directory. • The County's Eno Arts Mill studio in Hillsborough serves as an art-based small businesses incubator by providing critical workspace for area artists which also has a focused marketing campaign. Currently, 43% of the County's artist-tenants are Black, Latinx, or refugee. • The Piedmont Food Processing Center offers a variety of assistance and financial assistance for incubator members. Of the current tenants, 48% are women-owned small businesses and 59% are owned by non-white individuals. • The County also provides funding to support Durham Technical Community College's Small Business Center. The Center provides free, one-on-one business counseling and a variety of business skills seminars/webinars. Of the enterprises served by the Center in Orange County, 83.3% are women-owned, 16.7% are Hispanic/Latino owned, and 63.6% of all the businesses served identify as part of a minority group. 9 Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager, introduced the item. He reviewed the information included in the background of the agenda abstract. Chair Bedford said initially she did not think it was something the Board should consider, but Commissioner Richards asked for her to reconsider and bring it to the attention of the whole Board. Commissioner Richards thanked Chair Bedford for taking another look at the request. She said she has been working with the Alliance since they existed. She said that this is a service contract, and it is not a staff member. She said it is a contract for a specific set of work. She said that the county has been asked to support the program for 3 years and after that it would be on their own. She said that all three entities agree that there is a need for this kind of support. She said she views this as a way to leverage everyone's efforts across the county. Vice-Chair Greene said it would provide a service that is not currently offered. She reviewed features of the proposal that set it apart from other efforts. She said that the county can add to the infrastructure that is already there by participating. Commissioner Richards said agribusiness is part of this growth and that the refugee population is also getting into farming. She said that potential can be leveraged here. Commissioner Hamilton said she sees the need for focusing on BIPOC businesses. She said that it is a huge amount for one person. She said she would be concerned that the person would be set up for failure without support. She said that the performance measures seemed challenging for one person to attain. She said she feared that they would not get what they were looking for with this position. She said she would like to know a lot more about these businesses. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she thought it was a phenomenal idea and as a black business owner, she knows that there is additional support needed to be successful. She asked if they needed to shift to, can they implement the services. Commissioner Richards said other departments are not going to quit what they are doing. She said that her understanding is that the person would have an office at the Chamber, but they would work with the staff of the individual entities to understand what is going on in each community. She said that she sees the power in one person. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if that means if one person is held accountable to achieve these outcomes. Commissioner Richards said that it is a service contract. She said that maybe it ends up being the government providing what they are doing, and they would still be engaged. Commissioner Fowler said it does not read like a service contract because it includes salaries and dental. She said that information in the agenda packet includes representing BIPOC businesses to government and that would be in essence, paying people to lobby the commissioners. She said that it needs to be clearer what deliverables are being brought to the county. She said that she would prefer it to be in-house, so they can decide what deliverables they want. She said one of the largest underemployed groups are those with disabilities and they are not listed. She asked if this process would be redone for that group. Commissioner Richards said she called it a service contract because that was how it was described in the agenda packet. She said there are additional costs that they are not being asked to support. She said Carrboro already had a service contract. She said that is not a full-up salary and there would be other costs. Chair Bedford said she has a number of concerns and does not support this proposal through this vehicle. She said she wants to do better work to support these businesses. She said when they do their outside agency funding, they are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and they specify mandated services. She said that the county does a lot of work but sometimes needs help. She said the Chamber is a 501(c)(6)organization and a not for profit. She said that those organizations can engage in lobbying. She said that the state chamber is concerned about the nominee for the state superintendent of schools. She said as a commissioner, she wants to be independent when making decisions. She said that the lobbying they get periodically is not ok. She said the lack of 10 oversight and so many bosses are not good and adds an extra layer of bureaucracy. She said she also thinks it is redundant. She said it is a good point to centralize it. She said they spent $70,000 on LAUNCH, they subsidize the PFAB, they spent $20,000 for the Innovation Hub in Chapel Hill, and $72,000 for Durham Tech to provide a small business administrator. She said she sees a lack of communication. She said that she has heard reports that they have services and grants, but she would direct manager to increase communication. She said she did not know that the CHOCVB has a list of minority businesses and sources. She said they know from the valid survey for the Strategic Plan that communication needs to be a focus here and they want them to assist and focus on minority businesses. She said they can ask the Durham Technical Community College to focus on minority businesses. She said that a position like this should focus on the whole county, not just Chapel Hill and Carrboro. She said it is important to do this internally. She said the collaboration piece is better done and better managed, unlike the climate and food council, in-house. Commissioner McKee said when he joined the Board, economic development was in a feeble state. He said that he has watched that evolve and strengthen. He said there was also no contact with Raleigh early on, but it has been an extraordinary job to bring them back from the brink. He said he sees this as a complement to economic development efforts. He said if they are not open to all avenues then they are missing opportunities. He said that the county must keep moving forward. He said that it is a service contract. He said the questions that other members have brought up are important and should be addressed. He said that many entities contact him to request and lobby for support. He said there will be many departments to lean on, including the Chamber. Vice-Chair Greene said there is one entity that cannot lobby the county, which is the Partnership to End Homelessness. She said it sounds like there are four commissioners interested in bringing it back to a business meeting, where they can receive public comment. Commissioner Fowler asked how the position will be funded in years 4 and 5. She also asked if this could be expanded to include individuals with disabilities. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she thought it was a great idea and she was in support of it. Commissioner Richards said she supports bringing this back and having more information available. Chair Bedford said they would want to see a contract and real numbers of what is proposed. Commissioner Hamilton said she still thinks it will be hard for someone to be successful in this position. She said it would be important to be clear how that individual will be evaluated. There was consensus on the Board to move forward and get more information on the proposal and bring it back to a future business meeting. 3. Affordable Housing Advisory Board —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Affordable Housing Advisory Board. BACKGROUND: The Affordable Housing Advisory Board prioritizes affordable housing needs and assesses project proposals. The Board also publicizes the County's housing objectives, monitors the progress of local housing programs, explores new funding opportunities, and works to increase the community's awareness of, understanding of, commitment to, and involvement in producing attractive affordable housing.As a general practice,this Board has decided not to make recommendations for vacancies. The Board of County Commissioners appoints all fifteen (15) At-Large members. 11 The following positions are presented for Board consideration: NAME SPECIAL TYPE OF EXPIRATION REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENT DATE TERM BOCC At-Large Partial Term 06/30/2024 Appointee BOCC At-Large First Full Term 06/30/2026 Appointee If the positions listed above are filled, no vacancies remain. Tara May introduced the item. Commissioner Fowler suggested Thomas Grasty, Monica Palmeira, and Todd Orr. Vice-Chair Greene agreed on Monica Palmeira. She said her other choice was David Roth. Chair Bedford said she also supported Monica Palmeira. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Monica Palmeira Commissioner Portie-Ascott suggested Shahnaz GiGi Rashdi and Alicia Reid. Chair Bedford suggested Alicia Reid and Thomas Grasty. Commissioner Fowler said she also liked Shahnaz GiGi Rashdi. Tara May said that the Advisory Board on Aging is considering making a recommendation for Shahnaz GiGi Rashdi to fill a future vacancy on their board. Vice-Chair Greene asked if Shahnaz GiGi Rashdi had indicated that the Aging board was her first choice. Tara May said yes. Vice-Chair Greene said that was important information for her when deciding on filling vacancies, and that's why she didn't choose Shahnaz GiGi Rashdi for the Affordable Housing Advisory Board. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Alicia Reid. 4. Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool. BACKGROUND: The charge of the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool is to hear appeals concerning violations of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 4 ("Animal Control Ordinance"), as provided in the Orange County Code of Ordinances, Section 4-53 Appeals, and also potentially dangerous dog appeals as prescribed by North Carolina General Statute §67- 4.1(c). It is the responsibility of pool members to conduct fair and impartial hearings for these appeals and members will receive training in both law and proper procedure prior to participating in a hearing. The Board of County Commissioners appoints twelve (12) members, with representation from various fields. The Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough each appoint two (2) members from their respective jurisdictions. The following individuals and positions are presented for Board consideration: 12 NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Mark J. Town of Hillsborough Second Full Term 03/31/2027 Solomon Meggie Romick At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2027 BOCC At-Large First Full Term 03/31/2027 Appointee Unincorporated BOCC Animal Services Partial Term 03/31/2025 Appointee Advisory Board Member If the individuals listed above are appointed, the following vacancies remain: POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESIGNATION DATE Town of Carrboro 03/31/2026 Vacant since 03/31/2023 Town of Chapel 03/31/2026 Vacant since 03/31/2023 Hill Town of 03/31/2025 Vacant since 03/31/2022 Hillsborough Public Health Field 03/31/2026 Vacant since 03/31/2023 Public Safety Field 03/31/2024 Vacant since 05/18/2021 At-Large 03/31/2025 Vacant since 03/31/2022 At-Large 03/31/2026 Vacant since 03/31/2023 Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint the recommended applicants. Tara May said that she identified vacant positions that the two new applicants would be eligible to hold. Vice-Chair Greene said that Deborah Hill would be eligible to hold the Animal Services Advisory Board Member position. Tara May said that she thought Thomas Gambill might fit in the At-Large Unincorporated position. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Deborah Hill to the Animal Services Advisory Board Member position and Thomas Gambill to the At-Large Unincorporated position. Commissioner Hamilton asked if Thomas Gambill would fit for the Public Safety Field position, based on his experience. Chair Bedford said she was not sure if his training and experience made him eligible for that position, but she asked Tara May to review the requirements and decide where Thomas Gambill best fit. Commissioner Hamilton agreed with this direction. Tara May said she would do so and would bring the final position assignment list to the Board's next business meeting. 13 5. Arts Commission —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Arts Commission. BACKGROUND: The Arts Commission recommends strategies to promote the artistic and cultural growth of Orange County, advises the Board of Commissioners on matters involving the arts, and acts as the granting panel for funding programs available to individual artists and non- profit groups sponsoring arts projects in Orange County. The Board of County Commissioners appoints all fifteen (15) At-Large members. The following individuals are recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Heather At-Large First Full Term 09/30/2026 Washburn John Bemis At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2027 Dr. Crystal Wu At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2027 Lindsey Metivier At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2027 If the individuals listed above are appointed, no vacancies remain. Please note that Position #1 was filled at the March 7, 2024 Business meeting, after the publication of this agenda package. Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint the recommended applicants. 6. Board of Equalization and Review—Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Board of Equalization and Review. BACKGROUND: The Board of Equalization and Review is a quasi-judicial body that hears appeals from residents concerning various property tax issues, including valuation and exemption appeals. The Board of Equalization and Review is charged with ensuring that all taxable property is appraised and assessed according to the standards required by the North Carolina General Statutes. Due to the nature of its work, the Board of Equalization and Review does not make recommendations for appointments. The Board of County Commissioners appoints three (3) members and seven (7) alternates, and designates the Chair. Appointees serve two year terms, but there is no limit to the number of terms one may serve. The following positions are presented for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM BOCC Alternate Partial Term 03/31/2025 Appointee BOCC Alternate Partial Term 03/31/2025 Appointee 14 If the positions listed above are filled, the following vacancy remains: POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESIGNATION DATE Alternate 03/31/2025 No Additional Applicants Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Vaughn Compton and Richal Vanhook. 7. Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment—Appointment Discussion The Board discussed an appointment to the Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment. BACKGROUND: The Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment is authorized to hear variance cases regarding the provisions of the Chapel Hill Land Use Management Ordinance and appeal cases regarding decisions made by Town staff. The Board of County Commissioners appoints one (1) resident representing the Chapel Hill Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, one (1) resident representing the Chapel Hill Extraterritorial Jurisdiction or the Joint Planning Area, and one (1) alternate representing the Chapel Hill Extraterritorial Jurisdiction or the Joint Planning Area. The following position is presented for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM BOCC Chapel Hill Partial Term 06/30/2025 Appointee ETJ If the position listed above is filled, the following vacancy remains: POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESIGNATION DATE Chapel Hill ETJ or 06/30/2026 Vacant since 06/30/2023 JPA Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint BJ Warshaw to the vacant Chapel Hill ETJ position. 8. Chapel Hill Planning Commission -Appointment Discussion The Board discussed an appointment to the Chapel Hill Planning Commission. BACKGROUND: The Chapel Hill Planning Commission develops a comprehensive plan for the orderly growth and development of Chapel Hill. It reviews all plans for buildings, projects and facilities to be located within the Town's jurisdiction. It also formulates and recommends the adoption and amendment of ordinances. 15 The Board of County Commissioners appoints one (1) resident representing the Chapel Hill Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), as well as one (1) resident representing the Chapel Hill Extraterritorial Jurisdiction or the Joint Planning Area (JPA). The following position is presented for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM BOCC Chapel Hill Partial Term 06/30/2025 Appointee ETJ or JPA If the position listed above is filled, no vacancies remain. Tara May introduced the item. Vice-Chair Greene suggested Libby Thomas. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Libby Thomas to the vacant Chapel Hill ETJ position. 9. Historic Preservation Commission —Appointment Discussion The Board discussed an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. BACKGROUND: The Historic Preservation Commission is charged with undertaking an inventory of properties of historical, prehistorical, architectural, and/or cultural significance. It recommends areas to be designated or removed as "historic districts" and reviews and acts upon proposals for alterations, demolition, new construction, etc. The Board of County Commissioners appoints all seven (7)At-Large members. The following individual is recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Cecilia Moore At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2027 If the individual listed above is appointed, no vacancies remain. Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus on the recommended applicant. 10. Orange County Parks and Recreation Council —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Orange County Parks and Recreation Council. BACKGROUND: The Orange County Parks and Recreation Council consults with and advises the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, and the Board of County Commissioners on matters affecting parks planning, development and operation; recreation facilities, policies and programs; and public trails and open space. 16 The Board of County Commissioners appoints all twelve (12) members with representatives from each of the County's townships plus its municipalities, as well as two (2) non-voting youth delegates. The following individuals are recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION DESCRIPTION TYPE OF EXPIRATION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Gregory At-Large Partial Term 03/31/2025 Husketh Natalie Ziemba At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2027 Christopher Carrboro City Limits Second Full Term 03/31/2017 Colvin If the individuals listed above are appointed, the following vacancy remains: POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESIGNATION DATE Little River 03/31/2026 Vacant since 08/18/2023 Township Please note that Position #2 was filled at the March 7, 2024 Business meeting, after the publication of this agenda package. Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus on the recommended applicants. 11. Orange County Planning Board —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Orange County Planning Board. BACKGROUND: The Planning Board studies Orange County and surrounding areas to determine objectives in the development of the County. It prepares and recommends plans to achieve that development, including the suggesting of policies, ordinances, and procedures. It reviews development applications and makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. Due to the nature of its work, the Planning Board does not make recommendations for appointments. The Board of County Commissioners appoints all twelve (12) members. The following individuals and positions are presented for Board consideration: 17 NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Lamar F. Cheeks Township Second Full Term 03/31/2027 Proctor Steven Bingham Township First Full Term 03/31/2027 Kaufmann reappointment Charity Kirk At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2027 BOCC Little River Township First Full Term 03/31/2027 Appointee If the positions listed above are filled, no vacancies remain. Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to reappoint Lamar Proctor, Steven Kaufmann, and Charity Kirk. Tara May said there was one applicant for the Little River Township position. Commissioner McKee said he was supportive of that applicant. Chair Bedford asked for an expanded pool of applicants to choose from. Vice-Chair Greene agreed. The Board decided not to fill the Little River Township vacancy at this time. Adjournment A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Portie- Ascott, to adjourn the meeting at 9:21 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Jamezetta Bedford, Chair Laura Jensen Clerk to the Board Submitted for approval by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board.