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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-17-2026-Business Meeting 1 APPROVED 417126 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUSINESS MEETING March 17, 2026 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jean Hamilton, Vice-Chair Amy Fowler, and Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford, Marilyn Carter, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie- Ascott COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT. John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) Chair Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present. 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda Chair Hamilton read the public charge. 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda Makeda Ma'at read the following statement: 1 would like to respectfully raise serious concerns about the treatment of residents by several county departments and the management company at the Landings at Winmore. These issues impact vulnerable people who depend on these services for basic needs, housing stability and fair treatment. In the Department of Social Services, residents have encountered hostility, unprofessional attitudes, lack of compassion, and frequent denial of benefits without adequate explanation. The Orange County Housing Authority staff, some of them have shown similar, unprofessional conduct, pure attitudes, and apparent bias in handling of resident affairs or inquiries. The Human Relations Commission staff has removed a participant from the meeting on February 24th, silencing an important voice on rights and inclusion issues. The county's eviction diversion program has provided no meaningful assistance in some cases despite its goal of preventing unnecessary evictions and helping to resolve landlord tenant disputes. In my own situation, for example, for years my bank has mailed my rental check two to three weeks early. Yet, the management company at the Landings at Winmore sometimes claim they never get it and issue a late notice anyway. This is a known mail delivery delay affecting residents in our complex and the broader issue of the USPS service. The management office at the Lands has created a toxic environment overall with unprofessional interactions that make resolving even basic issues feel hostile and unproductive. These patterns point to systematic problems. I urge you the board to conduct or independent reviews of these departments and the programs. I've already been to one meeting, and I was trying to go to the other one to the board. Strengthening oversight complaint processes, accountability and outreach for housing related services ensure that fair housing laws are actively enforced, including better support for tenants facing unfair landlord practices or disputes no matter who the landlord is, even if it's Community Home Trust, they have to be held accountable. It's not fair to the residents. Many residents feel unheard and unsupported by systems designed to help them addressing these issues would better align." 2 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members Commissioner Carter deferred to Commissioner Portie-Ascott to give an update on the Greater Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce's 2026 Economic Forecast Forum, highlighting our region's rankings: fourth in the nation for employment growth, fourth for GDP growth, and eleventh for housing permit growth. She said she attended the North Carolina Association of Counties' Health and Human Services steering committee meeting, where she learned about behavioral and mental health innovations. She noted Orange County is implementing many of the same innovative practices mentioned by state officials, including behavioral health urgent care centers and crisis counselor integration with 911 call centers. Commissioner Portie-Ascott noted the passing of Mae McLendon, whose service to the community left a lasting impact. She said she attended the Economic Forecast Forum, where 172 businesses surveyed identified housing affordability and supply as the primary factor making hiring difficult. She noted similar themes emerged at the District Nine NCACC meeting and in discussions with the Orange Chatham Association of Realtors, where there was strong interest in the county's emergency housing assistance programs and landlord incentive funds. She said she attended the Affordable Housing Advisory Board along with Commissioners McKee and Carter. She said what is consistent across the meetings is how the lack of housing affects who is able to stay in Orange County. Commissioner Bedford said she attended the DSS Board meeting, and that she's joining the NCACC steering committee on Thursday with the taxation subcommittee. Vice-Chair Fowler said she took the Department of Revenue Board of Equalization and Review training. She said it emphasized the importance of consistency in how appellants are treated. She said she received a request to add a National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day proclamation to an agenda before April 10. She highlighted important information about the impact of HIV and AIDS on youth ages 13 to 24. She noted two important proclamations on the consent agenda. Commissioner McKee said the following day there will be a meeting in Raleigh on property tax reduction and reform that he plans to listen to. He said that legislative leaders may release draft legislation relating to property tax changes. Commissioner Greene said she attended the Housing Collaborative group and representatives from all four jurisdictions agreed to discuss affordable housing. She said she wanted to better understand what each jurisdiction is doing and how the different housing groups work together. She said she sent a memo to the commissioners on information and data for providing affordable housing. Commissioner McKee requested that the County Attorney follow up on the comments made by Makeda Ma'at. Chair Hamilton paid tribute to Mae McLendon and her work for the people in Orange County. She said she attended the funeral of Master Trooper Perry of the NC Highway Patrol. She said the service was a reminder of the dedication of first responders. She noted important items on the consent agenda. She said she attended the Advisory Council on Aging where they had a presentation on adult protective services and the role they play in improving the welfare of older adults. 3 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations a. Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation The Board approved a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. BACKGROUND: April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Department of Social Services and other community organizations are concerned about the continued incidence of child abuse and neglect in Orange County and in the State of North Carolina. In fiscal year 2024-2025, 526 reports of suspected child maltreatment were assessed in Orange County. For the State of North Carolina, there were 57,750 reports assessed within the same period. Currently, 80 children are in the custody of Orange County Social Services due to serious abuse and neglect issues within their families. In December 2025, there were 11,181 children in custody of social services across the state. Most child abuse and neglect issues reported to Social Services involve substance use, domestic violence, unsafe discipline, supervision, or care of children. Social Services is working to increase education and awareness of these issues and to try to find strategies to improve the safety of children in the community. Community members can make a difference in the life of a child by making connections. Lending a helping hand or listening ear to a parenting neighbor or friend can help alleviate stress and provide a positive impact on a child's life. Increasing social connection and providing concrete support are integral protective factors. Parents, grandparents, and family members can ensure children are safe in their care by properly securing firearms and ensuring all medications or potentially harmful substances are inaccessible to children. Everyone is encouraged to Wear Blue on Friday, April 10, 2026 in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Social Services is planning to provide awareness materials to community members at the Sportsplex Family Fun Day on April 11, 2026. The Board of Commissioners is asked to support this effort and to encourage the community to become more aware of the issues impacting children and families. Brittany Mann, Program Manager, introduced the item and reviewed the background information. Commissioners read the following proclamation in turn: ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAMATION CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH April 2026 WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every segment of our community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone; and WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2024-2025, 526 reports of suspected child maltreatment were assessed by child protective services in Orange County; and 4 WHEREAS, child abuse can have long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects that have lasting consequences for victims of abuse; and WHEREAS, children who are loved and nurtured grow up to be healthy, creative, and productive community members; and WHEREAS, it is the goal of Orange County to improve the quality of life of all children who live here; and WHEREAS, we acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and contribute to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment; NOW, THEREFORE do we, the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina, hereby proclaim April 2026 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" and call upon all residents to join together to prevent child abuse. THIS IS THE 17th DAY OF MARCH, 2026. Jean Hamilton, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners A motion was made by Commissioner Greene, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation declaring April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Orange County. VOTE: UNANIMOUS b. Department of Social Services Protective Services Overview Presentation The Board received an overview presentation on protective services, specifically Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services, from Orange County Department of Social Services'staff. BACKGROUND: Protective services in North Carolina includes Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services and are managed by local county Departments of Social Services with support and supervision provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Child Protective Services investigates abuse, neglect, and dependency of children under age 18, while Adult Protective Services protects disabled adults, age 18 and above, from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. These are mandated services under North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 7B for Child Protective Services, and NCGS 108A, Article 6 for Adult Protective Services, and are governed by a combination of State and federal law and policy. In fiscal year 2024-25, the Orange County Department of Social Services investigated 526 reports of suspected child maltreatment. During the same time, the Department also evaluated 156 reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of disabled adults. The Department of Social Services works with community partners and stakeholders to assess and investigate reports and intervenes when appropriate to provide services and safety plans. The attached presentation provides a basic overview of the processes involved with Child 5 Protective Services and Adult Protective Services as well as NCGS references and links for more detailed information. Lindsey Shewmaker, DSS Director, introduced the item. Brittany Mann made the following presentation: Slide #1 Protective Services for Children and Adults: An Overview Orange County Department of Social Services Board of County Commissioners Meeting: March 17,2026 . • • om DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Slide #2 Protective Services for Children 6 Slide #3 Child Protective Services in North Carolina: Statutory Authority • Child Protective Services in North Carolina is governed by Chapter 7B of the General Statutes,the Juvenile Code ,which mandates that county Departments of Social Services protect juveniles from abuse, neglect, and dependency. • North Carolina General Statute 713-301 indicates that any person who has "cause to suspect"a child has been abused, neglected, or is dependent is required to report this to the Department of Social Services. • North Carolina General Statute 76-302(a) states when a report of abuse, neglect, or dependency is received, the director of the department of social services shall make a prompt and thorough assessment.The Social Services Director delegates that authority to staff in the Department of Social Services. Slide #4 Child Protective Services in North Carolina: Reports • All reports must meet certain statutory criteria to be screened in for CPS Assessment: • Juvenile(age 0-17) • Alleged perpetrator must be a parent/caretaker(as defined in statute).The only exception is in cases of Human Trafficking. • Allegations must meet the statutory definitions of abuse, neglect,or dependency as defined in G.S.713-101 • If the report is screened out, there is no further action. • If the report is screened in, there is a response time and response track assigned based upon the reported allegations. • Neglect/Dependency Reports—generally 72-hour response time;some may warrant an immediate or 24-hour response depending on the nature of the allegations and/or ages of the children.(Family Assessment) • Abuse Reports—Immediate or 24-hour response time(Investigative Assessment) Slide #5 Child Protective Services in North Carolina: Investigations FAMILY ASSESSMENTS INVESTIGATIVE Scheduled initial contact ASSESSMENTS Family-centered approach Unannounced initial contact All family members inter0ewed Ca e decision is whetherthe separately Services to address identified ALLASSESSMENTS Case decision is to substantiate concerns Initial&ongoing assessmentof child safety or unsubstantiate maltreatment L (safety plans) L Assessment of risk for future maltreatment Global assessment of family strengths and needs Possible needfor Child MedicaLExarns/In-depth Evaluations Contaotwith providers working with the families byfamity Referrals for services to address identified needs Review of CPS history,criminal history,91 1 calls . . .70 DEPI RF&ENF OF SOC4 SERVICES Slide #6 Child Protective Services in North Carolina: In-Home Services • Children remain with their parents when possible and services are provided to ensure child safety. • Temporary Safety Providers might be identified to step in and help the family. This is a voluntary plan and requires the parent or caregiverto agree. • Processes include: • Child &Family Team Meetings • Development of Family Services Agreement • Referrals for services • Regular contact with family and service providers • Goal: mitigate safety concerns, reduce risk factors, and increase family capacityto prevent further maltreatment(and future CPS involvement) 8 Slide #7 Child Protective Services in North Carolina: Out of Home Placement (Permanency Planning) and Court Processes • The primary goal of Child Protective Services is to ensure children are safe within their own homes.When in home safety cannot be assured, Social Services takes legal steps to assume child custody. • Ajuvenile petition is filed, and a Judge will determine if the agency has legal grounds to remove the children)from the home. • This initiates the Juvenile Court process and requires a hearing within 7 days. The family has legal representation and regular court hearings. • The primary goal is almost always to reunify the family and social workers continue to workwith the parents on steps toward reunification. Crystal Wiese, Assistant DSS Director, continued the presentation: Slide #8 Protective Services for Adults 9 Slide #9 Adult Protective Services in North Carolina: Statutory Authority • Adult Protective Services is mandated by North Carolina General Statute 108A, Article 6, Protection of the Abused, Neglected or Exploited Disabled Adult Act and Article 6A, Protection of Disabled and Older Adults From Financial Exploitation. • North Carolina General Statute 108A-102(a) requires that"any person having reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult is in need of protective services shall report such information to the director." • Any director receiving a report that a disabled adult is in need of protective services shall make a prompt and thorough evaluation to determine whether the disabled adult is in need of protective services and what services are needed. (G.S. 108A-103(a)) Slide #10 Adult Protective Services in North Carolina: Screening Reports For an Adult Protective Services report to be accepted or"screened in", it must meet all the following requirements by statute: 1. Is the adult alleged to be disabled? 2. Is the adult alleged to be abused,neglected, or exploited? 3. Is the adult alleged to be in need of protection? If a report is screened in, the evaluation shall be initiated: • Immediately if danger of death is alleged. • Within 24 hours if danger of irreparable harm is alleged. • Within 72 hours if the complaint does not allege danger of death or irreparable harm. Following an evaluation, a determination must be made whether the report is substantiated, meaning all three conditions are met: An adult with a disability has been abused, neglected, or exploited and is need of protective services. 10 Slide #11 Adult Protective Services in North Carolina: Definitions Disability •The adult is physically or mentally incapacitated due to an intellectual disability,cerebral palsy,epilepsy or autism; organic brain damage caused by advanced age or other physicaIdegeneration in connection therewith;or conditions Incurred at any age which are the result of accident,organic brain damage,mental or physical illness,or continued consumption or absorption of substances. Abuse, Neglect, • •Abuse is the willful infliction of physical pain,injury or mental anguish,unreasonable confinement,or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of services necessary to maintain mental and physical health. •Self-Neglect:living alone and not able to provide for themselves the services necessary to maintain their mental or physical health •Caretaker Neglect:not receiving services from their caretaker. •Exploitation is the illegal or improper use of a disabled adult or their resources for another's profit or advantage.Only prong not limited to self or caretaker.Includes but not limited to financial exploitation. Need for Protection •The adult due to his physical or mental incapacity,is unable to perform or obtain for themselves essential services and the person is without able,responsible,and willing persons to perform or obtain for his essential services. Slide #12 Adult Protective Services in North Carolina: Services Needed • If the need for protection is substantiated,the adult's capacity is then determined for service provision. • If the adult understands their need for protection, they must consent to receive protective services. The adult may also choose to refuse protective services. • If it is determined that an adult does not have capacityto understand their need for protection, further actions (such as petitioning the court for an Adult Protective Services order or Guardianship) is required. 11 Slide #13 PROTECTIVECHILD ADULT PROTECTIVE Duty to Report Duty to Report Any person who has cause to suspect a child has been abused, ` Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult is in neglected,or is dependent is required)to report this to the Department need of protective services shall report such information to the director. of Social Services.G.S.78-301 ` G.S.108A-102(a). Statutory Criteria for Accepted Reports Statutory Criteria for Accepted Reports • Juvenile(0-17) Disabled adult(18+) • Alleged perpetrator must be a parent/caretaker(as defined in Must be"in need of protective services" statute),only exception is Human Trafficking Alleged perpetrator must be a caretaker(as defined in statute),only • Allegations must meet the statutory definitions of abuse,neglect, exception is exploitation or dependency as defined in G.S.70-101 Allegations must meet the statutory definitions of abuse.neglect,or exploitation as defined in G.S.108A-101(m) Primary Objective Primary Objective The primarygual isto protect children from abuse,neglect,and The primary goal is to protect disabled adults(aged 18 orolderwith dependency while preserving the family unit whenever safely possible. mental or physical!n capacities)from abuse,neglect,or exploitation.APS CPS prioritizes the prevention of unnecessary or inappropriate prioritizes the need for protective services rather than the evaluation of separation of children and parents,protects the constitutional rights incidents,maximizes self-determination,works with family and support of parents and children,and seeks safety and permanency within systems,seeks the least least restrictive alternative,and protects reasonable time periods. confidentiality. Slide #14 Questions? Additional Resources Abuse,Neglect,dependency,and Termination of Parental Rights https://www.sog.unc.edu/resources/microsites/abuse-neglect-dependency-and-termination- pa rental-rights/cha Ater-1-overview-north-carotin a-ch ild-welfa re-system Adult Protective Services Manual https://policies ncdhhs.gov/wp-content/uploads/Adult-Protective-Services- Manual September-2025.pddf Introducing a New Flow Chart for Adult Protective Services Court Proceedings https://canons.sog.unc.edu/bLog/2025/06/12/introducing-a-new-flow-chart-for-adult- ••• protective-services-cou rt-proceed i nos/ ' 14 Commissioner Carter thanked staff for the presentation and their work. Commissioner Portie-Ascott echoed Commissioner Carter's remarks. She asked if adults in Adult Protective Services are moved out of the home if necessary. Crystal Wiese said the division works with the individual and their caregivers to determine the best course of action. 12 Vice-Chair Fowler thanked staff for their work. She said she hoped that the public would hear that staff aren't just there to take people away, but to help connect families to services. She asked what the biggest barriers are for ensuring children and adults with disabilities are safe in and out of the home. Crystal Wiese said it's often access to resources and having health insurance. She said there isn't a lot of funding for adult protective services, and adults who serve as guardians don't have resources to assist in caring for those they have responsibility for. Brittany Mann said housing is a challenge for Child Protective Services. She said some children are non-verbal, and getting information on their needs can be difficult. Commissioner McKee asked how a person is monitored and supervised that may not have the cognitive ability to understand their need for protection. Crystal Wiese said there's a spectrum of options available depending on the needs of the adult. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if Child Protective Services is always able to respond within the time guidelines and if vacancies impact that response time. Brittany Mann said vacancies are not allowed to impact the response time. She said they begin investigating issues as soon as possible to meet the guidelines. She said if a case is initiated in another county, it can affect the response time. Chair Hamilton asked who is on the multidisciplinary team for adult protective services in Orange County. Crystal Wiese said they started theirAdult Protection MDT in 2025. She listed the partners that participate in the MDT. She said they've recently discussed focusing on financial exploitation for older adults. She said they would like to move forward with a new type of multidisciplinary team called a statutory case MDT and will ask the commissioners to approve this in the future. Commissioner Bedford asked Crystal Wiese to explain how children in protective services receiving care at UNC hospital are monitored by DSS. Crystal Wiese said other counties can request a courtesy assist to check on children who are in Orange County. She said that they check on a lot of children at UNC hospital since it has the state children's hospital. She said they can also request courtesy assists for Orange County children who are in other counties. 5. Public Hearings None. 6. Regular Agenda a. Appointment of Tax Administrator to Serve as Acting Tax Collector and Acting Tax Assessor The Board approved a resolution appointing John Burgiss as Orange County Tax Administrator, effective April 1, 2026, to serve as Acting Tax Assessor and Acting Tax Collector until such time a permanent Tax Administrator is hired to fill the unexpired term of Nancy Freeman which ends April 1, 2027. BACKGROUND: By Resolution 2023-018, adopted March 7, 2023 (Item 8-e), the Board of County Commissioners reappointed Nancy Freeman as Tax Assessor and Tax Collector, serving under the title of Tax Administrator, for a four-year term from April 2, 2023 through April 2, 2027. Ms. Freeman has announced her retirement effective April 1, 2026. Pursuant to the North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS), the Board is responsible for appointing a qualified individual to fill the unexpired portion of the term. The position of Tax Administrator is a consolidated role combining the statutory duties of County Assessor (NCGS 105-294), and Tax Collector (NCGS 105-349). 13 Under NCGS 105-294, the Board shall appoint a county assessor who meets statutory qualifications and is certified by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.An appointee serves in an acting capacity until certification is obtained and must meet certification requirements within two years of appointment. Under NCGS 105-349 (b), the Board shall appoint as tax collector a person of character and integrity whose experience in business and collection work is satisfactory to the governing body. With Board approval of the resolution, Mr. Burgiss would serve until such time a permanent Tax Administrator is hired to fill the unexpired term of Nancy Freeman which ends April 1, 2027. Travis Myren, County Manager, made the following presentation: Slide #1 Agenda Item:6-a ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Appointment of Acting Tax Collector and Assessor March 17, 2026 14 Slide #2 Overlapping Projects 315-Interim Candidate 411-Nancy Retires Interviews Interim Tax 319-Interim Candidate Administrator Discussion-small Group 3117-Appointment of Interim Tax Administrator Interim Tax Administra for Appointment 3113-Recruiter Proposal Optional Due to Human Resources 4121-Board Approves Recruiter Contract 3124-Small Group Reviews Tax Recruiter Proposals Administrator Tlmellne-TBD Recruitment Position Profile 3130-4110 Small Group Semi-finalists to Board Interviews Recruiters Board designates fnalists • Board interviews finalists 319126-Tax Assessment 417 or 4121-Full Board Work Group Presentation Approves Consultant Contract Tax 3119126-WarkGroup Assessment Discussion Consultant 3120-Vendor Selection- W ork Group Commissioners 3120-4/3Contract Timeline-TBD Negotiations Slide #3 Acting Appointment • Current Tax Administrator, Nancy Freeman, retiring April 1, 2026 -Appointment runs through April 2, 2027 • Acting County Assessor - Appointed until a permanent Tax Administrator is hired to fill the unexpired term of Ms. Freeman • Candidate Evaluation Process - Department of Revenue maintains list of former Tax Assessors and Collectors - Internal candidates also considered - Four Commissioners involved in different stages of the evaluation process Chair Hamilton Vice Chair Fowler Commissioner Carter Commissioner McKee ORANGE COUNTY 3 NORTH CAROLINA 15 Slide #4 Acting Appointment Recommend John Burgiss to serves as Acting Tax Collector and Tax Assessor - Started career Allegany County as appraiser and cartographer in 1992 - Transitioned to Forsyth County in 1994 - Appointed Forsyth County Tax Assessor and Collector in 2011 • Conducted eight Countywide Reappraisals over course of his career • Maintained a collection rate of more than 99%for the past 10 years in Forsyth County • Started customer service call center in Forsyth County • Helped create an automated sales comparison approach within the county's tax system in Forsyth County ORANGE COUNTY 4 NORTH CAROLINA Slide #5 Manager's Recommendation Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a resolution appointing John Burgiss, effective April 1, 2026,to serve as Acting Tax Assessor and Acting Tax Collector under the title of Tax Administrator until such time a permanent Tax Administrator is hired to fill the unexpired term of Nancy Freeman which ends on April 1,2027 s ORANGE COUNTY A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler, to approve the resolution appointing John Burgiss, effective April 1, 2026, to serve as Acting Tax Assessor and Acting Tax Collector, under the title of Tax Administrator, until such as time a permanent Tax Administrator is hired. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 16 Chair Hamilton welcomed John Burgiss and noted his expertise and experience. Commissioner Carter thanked Nancy Freeman for her service to the county and welcomed John Burgiss. b. Solicitation of Offers —6823 Millhouse Road The Board discussed a "Solicitation of Offers for Purchase of Real Property for Public Purpose Use, 6823 Millhouse Road." BACKGROUND: At the Board's November 11, 2025 work session, staff presented information concerning options for the potential sale of approximately 45 acres of land at 6823 Millhouse Road for the purpose of facilitating a non-profit owned and operated field complex that would include both private and public field play use. This property has previously been referred to as part of the Future Millhouse Road Park and was listed in previous County Capital Investment Plans as such. As shown on the overall site map, the total property is 79 acres, with approximately 34 acres to the western and southwestern areas of the site containing natural resource constraints, a Natural Heritage site adjoining Duke Forest, and topographic changes not suitable for a field complex. The Board reviewed this part of the property at the November 11, 2025 work session and determined that only the 45 acres shown on the map of available area should be included in the area for sale. The remaining 34 acres of natural resource land may be retained or conveyed to a conservation partner, pending further discussions. Under the North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS), sale of property to a non-profit organization for a public purpose is authorized under NCGS 160A-279(a) and 160A-267. At the November 11, 2025 work session, the Board authorized the Manager, Attorney and staff to develop a document to solicit proposals for purchase by a non-profit organization, under the public purpose provisions above, to develop a multi-field complex for soccer and/or other similar field sports, with certain conditions attached: • The fields complex will be managed and operated so as to allow both private usage coordinated by the non-profit owner as well as usage for public recreational play, including tournaments and other special events; • The non-profit owner will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement concurrent with the sale of the property regarding the property, expectations of use and other conditions; and • A deed restriction that reverts the land to County ownership if the conditions of usage are not met will be included in the deed of sale; Pending Board discussion, the attached Solicitation of Offers could be published on or around March 26, 2026, and proposals (with purchase offers) from qualifying non-profit organizations could be submitted by April 24, 2026. Once proposals are received, relevant information on the proposals will be prepared and presented to the Board to consider terms of a contract to sell and determine a recommended purchaser. Once this is completed, a contract and deed of sale, along with a Memorandum of Agreement between the parties as outlined above, would be prepared for the Board's consideration. David Stancil, DEAPR Director, introduced the item. He referred to the following map: 17 Map #1 Millhouse Road Tract Area for Potential Sale or u Duke Forest ❑ C.04 O.C9 0.17 Miles Tract Name:Millhouse Road Tract Legend I I ORANGE COUNTY Landowner:Orange County Streets tat:35,58,69, Streams Long::-79'04.04.86" Date:2/27/2026 0 Tax Parcel Ift Created By:Christ'an Him Duke Forest Department of Environment, Image:2021 Aerial Imagery Available Agriculture.Parks&Recreation Acres:78.7(-47 available) David Stancil said the 45-acre parcel is part of a 79-acre site owned by the county. David Stancil referred to the following map: 18 Map #2 Millhouse Road Park-Natural Resources Map se, { ; . ekuG: x 1 �r r Iljli lil I�ill' % - - d I I r k Tract Information: o 140 Legend Landowner:Orange County ORANGE COUNTY Roads Lat:35'58.69" Long:79'04.86" I NaWral Areas Date:04I1112025 Streams Image:2021 Aerial Photo ift Created By:Christian Hirm I Natural H.r egeA r— Acres:—78.7 l� County Open Space Sensitive Natural Department of Environment, Resources:—30 acs F Open space-Other Agriculture,Parks&Recreation iax Parcels David Stancil described the attributes of the property which includes a number of different steep slopes, natural heritage areas, and resource lands along a stream. He said the property adjoins Duke Forest to the west and Blackwood Mountain is just off the map in the top left corner. Vice-Chair Fowler asked if the parcel between Duke Forest and the county property is owned by the Treeist company, and is the one the county gave an easement to. David Stancil said there is an easement on the property, and it will need to be preserved. David Stancil referred to Map #1. He said the proposal is to make the property available for sale for a non-profit to own and operate a field complex that would provide for both private and public use. He reviewed the conditions of a potential sale described in the background information for the agenda item. He said staff took the county's request for proposals template and modified to address a solicitation of offers and proposals for the land and the construction of the desired facility. He reviewed the process for soliciting offers. He said this is a new process for the county, and they would welcome direction and feedback from the commissioners. 19 Commissioner Bedford asked for an explanation of private versus public use and does there have to be public use to sell the land. John Roberts said if the Board wants to restrict the use of the property, then it must be sold to a non-profit that carries out that purpose. Commissioner Bedford asked if the county would have a right to use the space. John Roberts said if the property is sold, Orange County would not have any right to use the space. He said if it is sold for a public purpose, then part of the deed restriction would mean it must be open to the public to participate in athletic programming. Commissioner Bedford said the non-profit could have a criteria like payment of a fee. John Roberts said that is correct. Bedford added that the non-profit could not discriminate. John Roberts said that would be part of the negotiation. David Stancil said that is one of the purposes of the Memorandum of Agreement. John Roberts said the buyer of the property would want to have some say in the deed restriction. He said part of the risk they are taking is that if they don't live up to the restrictions, the property reverts to the county. Commissioner Bedford asked how that could be fair. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how the value is communicated to a potential buyer. She asked if they must sell all 45 acres for recreation or could some be used for affordable housing with a non-profit. She asked how close the property is to water and sewer. David Stancil said the closest connection is the Town Operations Center, which is served by OWASA. He said the urban services boundary is the southern border of the property and the property is outside of the boundary. He said the way the document is written is that that non- profits will submit proposals with an offer, and the county may or may not agree with that offer. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked who would negotiate on behalf of the county. Travis Myren said negotiations would be undertaken by staff and the Board would ultimately have to approve those terms. Commissioner Carter asked what is in the vicinity of the property. David Stancil described the neighboring properties and their current uses. Commissioner McKee asked if there is sewer and water at the southern boundary. David Stancil said no. Commissioner McKee asked if the county would negotiate prior to solicitation. David Stancil said no. He said offers would be evaluated to ensure they conform with the requirements. He said at that time an assessment would be performed with a report to the Board, and then from there they would probably begin the negotiation process. Commissioner McKee said that there are OWASA restrictions with the property and asked if anything had changed since the discussion in November. He said people considering the property should not be led to believe sewer and water will be available. Vice-Chair Fowler asked if the county would put out an RFP and then choose one, or if there is a bid process after or if you choose a person in that group and that's it. John Roberts said the Board would choose whichever one was the most appropriate. Commissioner Greene while there was interest in November by some commissioners to use the property for affordable housing, she was not. She said she thought all of it should be sold for recreation. She said that was the intent of the approved bond referendum when the property was purchased, and the need is still present. She said the expense of building water and sewer lines would be phenomenal and would not lead to any affordable housing. She said when the Town of Chapel Hill sold the old library building, the town had an agreed upon sales price with a deed restriction to preserve the building. She asked what prohibits the county from setting a price for the property. John Roberts said there's nothing that prohibits setting a price and it's up to the Board. 20 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she supports setting a price and negotiating from there. She asked if duplexes, triplexes, or quads are permitted in the rural buffer. David Stancil said they are not. He said the minimum lot size is 2 acres, which he thought would preclude duplexes or multi-family units. Cy Stober, Planning and Inspections Director, said duplexes are permitted if you double the lot area that is otherwise required. He said if you have four acres, you could have one duplex. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if someone wanted to put a quad there, they would need eight acres. Cy Stober said they would need eight, and at this time, zoning does not permit more than duplexes. Commissioner Carter asked if potential statutes would change zoning. Cy Stober said in the last two General Assembly sessions there were bills to align zoning requirements with building codes, but it is not yet law. Commissioner Carter asked what the implications would be if the legislation passed. Cy Stober said it is hard to say, and that the bills did not pass to crossover, to his recollection. Commissioner McKee said he would like for the Board to set a minimum price. Commissioner Greene said she would like to set a price, but with the ability to accept a lower offer. Commissioner Bedford said the documents state that they don't have to accept any price. Commissioner McKee said he would like an appraisal of the property. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Delores Bailey of EMPOWERment said Orange County is 11t" in the state for housing permit growth. She said that employers are looking for solutions for affordable housing so they can recruit employees. She listed possible options for providing housing on this property. She encouraged a collaboration between municipalities, non-profits, and for-profit developers to address Orange County's housing needs. Mike Hickey of Rainbow Soccer said there were two events in the last 10-15 years that lead into this process. He said they had a public-private partnership with chapel Hill to renovate the fields on Homestead Road. He said they helped raise the funds to put turf on the fields in exchange for rental fees. He said the second was the purchase of the Rainbow Soccer fields in Chapel Hill. He said it was 54 acres at$220,000, which is shocking, except that it was essentially a lake, and it came with use restrictions. He said the county may be surprised with how the appraisal comes back because of the use restrictions. He said that a public-private partnership would be a better way to go. He said if the county sells it, make sure the restrictions are in line with the Orange County and Chapel Hill restrictions for renting fields so that local groups can rent them at a reasonable price. Mike Strand of Triangle United Soccer said they are the competitive side of youth soccer in Chapel Hill. He said that it will be difficult to sell the property at a high amount and then ask the purchaser to turn it into a park with the caveat that the county can take the land back if something goes wrong. He said the fields will not generate a profit unless someone charges $200-300 an hour to rent them, which will exclude many groups. He said they have a clear vision of what a public-private partnership looks like. He described the number of participants in Triangle United Soccer and the economic impact of bringing in tournaments and events. He said the way the proposal is laid out, it's a tough business model to maximize the sale of the property and then ask someone to spend $4-6 million to create a park. David Stancil said there was an appraisal done on the property a year earlier, and he recalled that it was just under$25,000 an acre. Travis Myren said it was $1.9 million for the full 79 acres. 21 Commissioner McKee said he believed that the property would bring in more than $25,000 an acre. David Stancil said it may be helpful to look at the recent revaluation assessment. Commissioner Greene said she would take an appraisal at face-value. Commissioner Carter said housing is an important point of the strategic plan and she will look for opportunities with county-owned property. She asked if the Board would investigate using a portion of the property for housing. Commissioner Portie-Ascott echoed Commissioner Carter's comments and asked if it is possible for some of the land to be set aside for housing. Commissioner Bedford said a study was done in 2018 on the possibility of housing on the property, and the costs were prohibitive. She said there are other potential properties with access to water and sewer. She said potential buyers need to know about easements for future trails on the property. She said she wanted to sell the land for recreation. She said she did not want a public-private partnership. She expressed concern about negotiating after multiple offers are received. She highlighted item 5 in the proposed uses; she said it should say "for the public purpose of recreation use." She expressed concerns that the ownership should revert to Orange County if any time the buyer doesn't meet the stipulated conditions. She wanted to put conditions in to be fair to a buyer who may not be able to meet conditions long-term. She said item 4.1 says that prospective buyers shall have experience with the express purpose for this site, and the operation and management of athletic field facilities with similar or greater size and complexity. She said that would potentially cut Rainbow Soccer out. She asked that"similar size" be removed and for prospective buyers to just describe their experience. She did not want to eliminate people off the bat. She highlighted item 3.3 and said that the weighting seemed to be off, and the Board should discuss it further. Commissioner Greene said she is comfortable knowing that there was an appraisal and that there will be multiple bidders. She said Commissioner Bedford's points about the criteria were good. She asked where conditions were outlined in the document, as that is part of the weighted criteria. David Stancil said they were in section one, the proposal contents of section 2.6, and the scope of services. He said that they can revise the document and create a conditions section. Commissioner Greene said more specificity would help. Vice-Chair Fowler said there was vagueness in the criteria. She said she was comfortable with the previous appraisal. She said she did not see a need for setting a price, but she would like to see a buyer that was going to serve Orange County residents. She said she would like to see an emphasis on the number of Orange County residents that would be served. She said that the land was purchased for recreation. She said the difficulty and expense of building affordable housing on the site would make the housing unaffordable by the time it it's built. Chair Hamilton asked which commissioners wanted to consider using the property for housing. Commissioners McKee, Carter, and Portie-Ascott indicated they would like to see affordable housing on the property. Chair Hamilton, Vice-Chair Fowler, and Commissioners Bedford and Greene did not want to change the purpose. Commissioner McKee said it was a large portion of land for recreation. Chair Hamilton said that is what the Board had discussed in November. Commissioner McKee expressed concern about the costs to the county for future recreational use. Chair Hamilton said the proposal is to solicit offers for fields and anything else is way in the future. She said the Board needs to decide if they want to move forward with the solicitation document. She said the Board needs to decide if they want to set a recommended price for the property. 22 Chair Hamilton and Commissioners Carter, Portie-Ascott, and McKee said they wanted to set a recommended price for the property. Vice-Chair Fowler and Commissioners Bedford and Greene did not. Chair Hamilton said the price could be the appraisal price. David Stancil suggested staff revise the solicitation document and bring it back to the Board for further discussion. The Board agreed by consensus to have staff revise the solicitation document. Vice-Chair Fowler asked if county staff previously drafted a plan for fields on this property and if it took up the whole 45 acres. David Stancil said they drafted plans for a 6-field complex, which included parking, septic fields, infrastructure, easements, and stormwater needs. He said that plan took up most of the 45 acres. He said the actual fields will only be a portion of the area the commissioners are considering. c. Discussion of Moratorium on "Data Centers" as a Land Use The Board received an overview of the impacts of data centers and discussed a possible 1-year moratorium on new data centers as a permitted land use. BACKGROUND: At the March 5, 2026, Board Business meeting, Commissioner Marilyn Carter petitioned to ask staff to prepare a presentation for the Board's March 17, 2026, Business meeting addressing the following: 1) The potential impacts of large-scale data center development in Orange County, including electricity demand, water usage, land use compatibility, environmental considerations, and potential impacts on residents' utility costs, and water quality. 2) Policy options available to the County, including, but not limited to, a temporary moratorium on data center development, revising the Orange County Land Use Plan and UDO, and the legal process required to implement each option. 3) Recommendation(s)for Board action. Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford asked that noise and environmental justice also be included. The County Attorney and Planning Director have prepared a presentation, with sources cited for reference, regarding the potential impacts from "large-scale data centers". The County Attorney also assessed two policy options available to the Board in declaring a moratorium on this land use, less than or greater than 60 days. There are differing public notice criteria for the two moratorium options. A pending amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to regulate data centers as a permitted land use may also be directed to staff, at the Board's pleasure. It is not possible to amend the UDO's text within 60 days due to the administrative requirements of Orange County's LIDO. Cy Stober, Planning and Inspections Director, made the following presentation: 23 Slide #1 ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Item 6-c: Discussion of Moratorium on "Data Centers" as a Land Use Slide #2 General Definition of a Data Center A large group of networked computer servers typically used by organizations for the remote storage, processing,or distribution of large amounts of data. ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Cy Stober said data centers can need their own power generation and water supply. He said the conversation around data centers is rapidly evolving and changing. 24 Slide#3 Air Quality Impact of Data Centers • Communities living in close proximity (i.e., one mile) to EPA-regulated data centers have higher air pollution burdens compared to the national median • Communities of color within one mile of EPA-regulated data centers face worse air pollution than other communities near data centers and the typical (median) community in the country • Low-income communities within one mile of EPA- regulated data centers tend to face higher levels of nitrogen dioxide and diesel particulate matter than other parts of the states where they are located. �1 ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Slide #4 Water Use Impact of Data Centers • Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day, equivalent to the water use of a town populated by up to 50,000 people. • Novel technologies like direct-to-chip cooling and immersion cooling can reduce water and energy usage by data centers. ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 25 Slide #5 Electrical Use Impact of Data Centers • Data centers can require large amounts of power similar to a medium-sized city, accounting for nearly 4.4 percent of U.S. annual electricity in 2023. • The total national energy demand is estimated to increase 20 percent by 2030. • Evidence suggests that large facilities' drains on water utility infrastructure leads to higher costs for residents. , ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Slide #6 Noise Impact of Data Centers • Data centers require large cooling systems to function, and these systems emit a steady hum that can disturb nearby residents. — Local governments are setting noise limits, often 65 decibels at the property line and 55 decibels in quieter or residential areas. ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 26 Slide#7 Local Land Use Compatibility of Data Centers • Not currently defined or regulated by UDO • Due to high utility needs — namely water and power — there are very few areas in the county that can hypothetically support a data center • Staff must examine what land use categories might be compatible with Data Centers — Work must include Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, Data Centers, Data Processing Facilities, Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities — Distinction between "large-scale"and "local"data centers is likely needed ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Slide #8 Moratorium Options • Temporary Moratorium — < 60 Days • Public hearing may be held with one public notice 7+ days prior to the hearing — 60+ • Public hearing may be held with one public notice per week for two successive weeks prior to the hearing • First notice must be posted 25 — 10 days prior to hearing ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 27 Slide#9 Manager Recommendations • Direct staff to prepare materials for and notice a legislative public hearing at the April 21 BOCC meeting to declare a moratorium on "large-scale data centers" for one (1) year; and • Initiate an amendment to the Orange County UDO to define and regulate both "large-scale" data centers, inclusive of Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities, Data Centers, Data Processing Facilities, and similar uses. �1 ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Commissioner Carter thanked staff for bringing the proposal and Commissioner Bedford's questions about noise. She said item 8-g in the consent agenda resonates with this topic. She thanked staff for bringing that forward in collaboration with the other municipalities to ask the North Carolina Utilities Commission to take measures that ensure that residential and other commercial rate payers are protected from unfairly bearing the costs of infrastructure built to support new large economic development loads. Commissioner Bedford thanked staff for the fast turnaround on the item and for Commissioner Carter's motion at the previous business meeting. She thanked Commissioner Carter and Commissioner Portie-Ascott for attending the NACo Legislative conference and bringing this and other important information back to the Board. PUBLIC COMMENTS: John Rees of the Orange Chatham Sierra Club read the following statement: "While I am not an expert, the reading I have done shows there are both environmental issues and environmental justice issues regarding the of siting of data centers. As we already discussed here, since Orange County doesn't currently have specific wording in the UDO regulating land uses for data centers, enacting a moratorium - and then working with county staff and subject matter experts would allow for rules that would better control data centers and regulate them in such a way that they do not impose both an environmental and economic impact on county residents. The Sierra Club has handy documents and resources that suggest regulations and topics of consideration, and also citations on what other states have done that I have already shared with you. For me, the key things to consider are: Not making incumbent ratepayers take the risk of paying for capacity that services data centers exclusively, or capacity that is stated to be need and then not used (leaving ratepayers with the bill) 28 Clean Energy Comes First Data centers will have backup electric generation. These generators are nearly always diesel powered, with the associated emissions from large diesel motors. "Emergency use" In thinking of the 'back up generators', the expectation to most of us is these generators would operate only in times when the primary source of power is lost. However, part of the regulation should consider what consists of an emergency. Data centers may switch to their backup systems when their primary costs of electric goes up. Meaning, the generators will run all the time as long as they produce cheaper electricity. This means people nearby will hear the generators and live with the emissions. These are a lot of things to consider, and I've only scratched the surface. One thing to keep in mind is that the Sierra Club is not anti-data center as a rule, as a certain amount of data centers need to exist for the internet to function at all. And that also proves the point that time and thoughtful analysis needs to be made before allowing data centers in Orange County. We hope the process brings in subject matter experts and the Sierra Club is interested in participating in that process. Thank you." A motion was made by Vice-Chair Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to direct staff to prepare for a legislative public hearing at the April 21, 2026 Board Business meeting to declare a moratorium on "large-scale data centers" for one year and to initiate an amendment to the Orange County UDO to define and regulate "large-scale" data centers, inclusive of Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities, Data Centers, Data Processing Facilities, and similar uses. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 7. Reports None. 8. Consent Agenda • Removal of Any Items from Consent Agenda • Approval of Remaining Consent Agenda • Discussion and Approval of the Items Removed from the Consent Agenda A motion was made by Vice-Chair Fowler, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to approve the consent agenda. VOTE: UNANIMOUS a. Minutes for February 17, 2026 Business Meeting The Board approved the minutes for the February 17, 2026 Business Meeting. b. Second Chance Month Proclamation The Board approved a proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Second Chance Month and honoring Orange County's reentering residents and the people and groups who support them. c. Long COVID Awareness Month Proclamation The Board approved a proclamation recognizing March 2026 as Long COVID Awareness Month and retroactively designated March 15, 2026, as "Long COVID Awareness Day" in Orange County. 29 d. Recognition of Nancy Freeman as Retiring Orange County Tax Administrator The Board recognized and expressed gratitude to Nancy Freeman for her dedication and service to Orange County. e. Permanent Supportive Housing Renewal Contract with Inter-Faith Council The Board approved a contract renewal with the Inter-Faith Council (IFC) for IFC's Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program in Orange County, providing both shelter services and PSH services to residents seeking housing assistance. f. Revised Opioid Settlement Fund Spending Authorization Resolutions The Board approved amended resolutions for the final opioid settlement fund spending authorization for FY 2026. g. Comment Letter Addressing Duke Energy's Proposed Carbon Plan Integrated Resource Plan (CPIRP) Submitted to the North Carolina Utilities Commission The Board approved joining regional local government partners as a signatory to a joint comment letter addressing Duke Energy's proposed Carbon Plan Integrated Resource Plan, submitted to the North Carolina Utilities Commission on October 1, 2025. h. Approval of the 2026 Orange County Heat Action Plan The Board approved the 2026 Orange County Heat Action Plan. i. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Amendment #8 The Board approved budget, grant, and capital project ordinance amendments for Fiscal Year 2025-26. j. Board and Commissions —Appointments The Board approved the Boards and Commissions appointments as reviewed and discussed during the March 10, 2026 Work Session. Commissioner Greene highlighted the Heat Action Plan in the consent agenda and thanked staff for their work. Referring to item 6-c, Commissioner McKee said the generators needed for data centers are the size of rail cars and could power the Town of Hillsborough. 9. County Manager's Report Travis Myren reviewed the topics for upcoming Board meetings. 10. County Attorney's Report John Roberts said the following day there will be a legislative committee on property tax reform and he would share a link with the Board if they would like to listen. 11. Appointments None. 12. Information Items • March 5, 2026 BOCC Meeting Follow-up Actions List • Memorandum —America 250 — Proposed County Events • Memorandum — Proposed Limited Obligation Bond Financing - Orange Grove Fire District 13. Closed Session None. 30 Adjournment A motion was made by Chair Hamilton, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler, to adjourn the meeting at 9:33 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Jean Hamilton, Chair Recorded by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board Submitted for approval by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board