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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-29-2003-absASSEMBLY OF GOVERNMENTS AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 29, 2003 SUBJECT: Assembly of Governments Discussion Items DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: As noted in "Background" section Rod Visser or Greg Wilder, ext 2300 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To discuss topics of mutual interest among the governing boards of Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. BACKGROUND: 1. Emergency Evacuation Plan Last year, Orange County requested and received from the State $10,000 in anti-terrorism grant planning funds on behalf of seven counties in the Triangle region. Emergency Managers, local officials and others expressed concern that no regional plans exist to address quarantine or evacuation and hosting of the counties' populations. The grant focused on a feasibility study for evacuation of a six county area along I-40 from Johnston County to Guilford County. Among other points, the study was designed to examine: • How evacuation might be accomplished • What roads would be involved • The expected traffic flow per hour • How much and what population would be left that could not self-evacuate • How long an evacuation would take • What percentage evacuation could be done by hour • What local governments would be expected to do The study looked at all the above item and draws some conclusions that are valuable planning aids for local governments in the region. This study can be used as a guide to ask for validations of other plans or documents dealing with the evacuation, isolation, treatment or otherwise caring for large numbers of citizens in the region. Staff will make a brief presentation about study findings and be prepared to respond to elected official questions and comments. Attachment 1 -Evacuation Study -Executive Summary 2. Emergency Communications Study The County's communication systems are based on old technology and have been causing increased problems in repair and maintenance. Emergency Management has been adopting changes to keep the systems operational. Many of the emergency response agencies in the County are interested in using newer technology in their vehicles, some of which is not compatible with the equipment in the Communications Center at New Hope Church Road. The County solicited proposals to perform an emergency communications study in phases. The first phase was a needs assessment based on the existing radio and computers systems used as part of the countywide public safety communication system. All agencies involved in public safety in the County were interviewed as part of the assessment to determine the operational problems they were experiencing. The Phase 1 report includes recommendations for short- term solutions to problems and identifies long-term measures that could be taken to improve the system. Staff will be prepared to explain those recommendations briefly and respond to elected officials' questions. The next step in pursuing emergency communications system enhancements will involve interviewing the agencies to determine the communication functions and capabilities they see as important in the future. A Phase 2 study would combine the results of the interviews and compare the desired functions with the available technology to design a system that would be able to meet the public safety demand for at least 10 years. Phase 2 has two separate parts - first, the system design, and second, the system purchase and implementation. Phase 2 has not been funded at this time and could be a joint venture between the County, Towns, and University. Attachment 2 -Executive Summary - CTA Communications Needs Assessment Report 3. School Merger Goal At their January 25, 2003 annual planning retreat, the BOCC discussed a proposal from Commissioner Carey to examine the implications of a potential merger of the two school systems. This topic has been discussed at several other Commissioner meetings since then, and the BOCC formally adopted a goal outlining the elements of analysis the Board would like to receive before ultimately deciding whether or not merger should be pursued. A staff report addressing those items that can be completed in that timeframe, and reflecting the collaborative efforts of County and school staffs, should be ready by early fall. Attachment 3 - 3/24/03 Approved BOCC Goal - "School Merger Implications" 4. School Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) County staff will provide a brief update on the status of consideration by the various SAPFO partners and outstanding issues to be resolved. Attachment 4 -Student Projection Charts 5. Countywide Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County are all members of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Cities for Climate Protection Program. The City of Durham is also a member of this program. Staffs from the County and Town jurisdictions have been meeting to proactively develop proposals to jointly address the required greenhouse gas emissions inventory and action plan as part of the Cities for Climate Protection Program - as well as consider actions needed regarding the impending designation of the Triangle region as non-attainment for ground-level ozone. Background information on the discussions to date and the potential for joint initiatives will be provided at the meeting. Attachment 5 -Cities for Climate Protection -Background Information 6. Chapel Hill Northern Transition Area Amendments In May 2000, Chapel Hill adopted their Comprehensive Plan with three amendments in the Northern Transition Area (NTA) to the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan. Those amendments were brought forward to the April 2001 JPA Public Hearing for adoption, but since one of the amendments involved the classification of the Greene Tract, the amendments were put on hold until December 2002 when the Greene Tract use was determined. A brief discussion can be held regarding moving forward (i.e., adoption by the County) with the NTA amendments. No Attachments 7. Informational Items At the request of various elected officials, background materials on the following topics are provided simply for informational purposes. Staffs can follow up on any questions that may be generated from review of these documents. a. Open Space Provisions in Recently Adopted Rural Buffer Zoning District Amendments The attached agenda abstract from a previous Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting explains the amendments to the Rural Buffer zoning and subdivision district, which are still consistent with the JPA Agreement. In summary, minimum lot sizes are still two (2) acres minimum, but a 33% open space option outside of the lots must be submitted. If this option is chosen, the effective density of the area becomes one (1) dwelling unit per three (3) acres. In addition, enhanced neighborhood notification requirements were approved. Attachment 7a - 3/5/03 Abstract : "Major Subdivision and Rural Buffer Notification and Flexible Development Amendments" 4 b. Southern Human Services Center Grounds and Pond -AmeriCorps Volunteers A team of 12 AmeriCorps volunteers recently visited Orange County for asix-week project. The primary project was for the team to clean up the grounds around an old home site and pond located on County property adjacent to the County's Southern Human Services Center. A report on the volunteers' activities is attached. Attachment 7b -Orange County AmeriCorps Project Summary c. School Siting Proposal Commissioner Jacobs presented a proposal during a recent BOCC meeting intended to enhance the current process for school siting determinations in terms of timeliness, effectiveness, and consideration of land use planning implications. Attachment 7c -Planning the Location of Schools in Orange County in the 21St Century d. Solid Waste Alternative Financing Consideration began a number of years ago of the implications of reaching the point at which landfill tipping fees can no longer be relied upon to cover virtually all of the cost of solid waste operations, to include recycling. The Solid Waste Advisory Board worked intensively during the past year to analyze options and develop recommendations for both long-term and short-term approaches to providing the supplemental funding needed. SWAB has made presentations on this topic to all four governing boards within the past several months. Decisions to be made in the coming months about which mechanism(s) to pursue will rest with the County Commissioners, and will consider the interests and viewpoints articulated by the County's solid waste partners. Attachment 7d -Executive Summary -2/24/03 SWAB Report e. Carolina North Town of Carrboro staff provided the attached information on the current status of planning for the University of North Carolina's Horace Williams Tract, often described as "Carolina North". Attachment 7e - "Planning for Carolina North (UNC's Horace Williams Property)" FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with discussion of these topics. There are no action items requiring formal Board decisions. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Boards discuss the topics listed and provide appropriate direction to the respective staffs.