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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-21-2026-Business Meeting 1 APPROVED 5/19/26 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUSINESS MEETING April 21, 2026 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 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, Earl McKee (arrived 7:02 p.m.), and Phyllis Portie-Ascott COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Sally Greene 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, except for Commissioners Greene and McKee. Chair Hamilton invited members of the Government Academy forward to take a picture with the Board of Commissioners. 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda Chair Hamilton read the public charge. Commissioner McKee arrived at 7:02 p.m. 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda Jody Eimers read the following statement: Good evening. I'm Jody Eimers, retired IDS Geological Survey hydrologist. I'm representing over 200 people who've signed a petition asking County Cor17MIssioners to not allow development of a disc golf course at Blackwood Farm Park. 2 This evening I'll present two of the reasons we oppose siting a disc golf course at Blackwood Farm Park: 1 ) to preserve its forest hydrology and aquatic ecosystem health, and 2) to protect hikers. Barbara Driscoll will also present on this topic after me. First, development of a disc golf course in this forested area will change the local hydrology and adversely effect the aquatic ecosystem. At present, the forest is an area of groundwater recharge. Much of the rainfall slowly infiltrates down through the subsurface some of that is slowly released to streams, and some slowly makes its way to replenish aquifers. A relatively small amount of that rainfall travels as overland flow to streams, Construction of a disc golf course would change that dynamic. As fairways are cleared of trees and shrubs, and as footpaths are made connecting the fairways, there will be more overland flow, more soil erosion, and groundwater infiltration will reduce. Sediment transport is particularly detrimental when the holes cross the streams or the lake. In these cases soil erosion will 3 increase sediment loading to the streams and take. EPA has named sediment as the number one surface water pollutant. The increased sediment load will cause fish to move out of the area, and some species of benthic macro invertebrates will die off. It's worth mentioning that the lake at Blackwood Farm Park is now a popular fishing hole. Second, the disc golf course would be in close proximity to a popular hiking trail, creating a dangerous situation for hikers. At many locations, hikers would cross the golf course or hike adjacent to the course. when approaching a crossing, hikers would be advised by signage to look before crossing the course. But disc golfers throw heavy discs long distances. Hikers could get hit with those discs as they look to see if a disc has been thrown. Hikers could also be hit by discs that are thrown off course, carried off course by wind, or hit by discs that strike a tree and veer off course. An internet search has confirmed that injuries to the public do occur at disc golf courses. Perhaps the most notorious example was reported 4 Perhaps the most notorious example was reported in the Insurance Journal, In 2015 a woman lost an eye when a disc hit her at a park in Manhattan Beach, California. She received a $3 million settlement from the city, and the course was closed. Thanks for the opportunity to share with you two of the reasons that over 200 petitioners would prefer you not fund a disc golf course at Blackwood Farm Park? namely to maintain its forest hydrology and aquatic ecosystem health, and to protect hirer safety. Barbara Driscoll read the following statement: I'm the Conservation Co-Chair for New Hope Bird Alliance which is the local Audubon Chapterfor Durham, Orange and Chatham counties. Our mission is to protect birds, wildlife, and their local habitats through conservation, education, advocacy, and outdoor enjoyment, On behalf of our 2000+ members, and more importantly on behalf of the bird species which nest and raise their chicks in Blackwood Farm park, we want to express our significant concerns about the disc golf course planned for the Park. Although the food Thrush is of particular concern, a number of other forest bird species use the Alice's Loop area to breed including: • Ovenbirds - observed juveniles being fed by their parents on the Alice's Loop trail in 2021 ■ Louisiana 1 aterthrushes • Orchard Orioles - observed nesting in the Alice's Loop area in 2021 • Scarlet Tanagers 5 Summer Tanagers All of these birds travel thousands of miles from where they overwinter in Central and South America to nest and raise their chicks in Blackwood Farm. The Wood Thrush is considered the most beautiful songster in the eastern United States. The flute like song of the Wood Thrush, however, is slowly fading away, as this shy bird declines across its range. The Wood Thrush's population has decreased by 50 percent in the last four decades, which has made it the second- most rapidly declining songbird in North America. About the size of an American Robin, the Wood Thrush seeks dense, undisturbed forest to make its nest typically close to the ground. Development is the biggest threat to this species. Maintaining areas of healthy deciduous forest is crucial to the future of the Wood Thrush. These birds have high site fidelity -- meaning they return to exact same location year after year. Similarly, Ovenbirds also require extensive, uninterrupted forests with relatively closed canopies. Since 2021, New Hope Bird Alliance has reached out to Orange County Parks and Rec expressing our concerns about the location of the proposed disc golf course at Alice's Loop in Blackwood Farms. In 2024, we began meeting with the County and were told that the disc golf course was budgeted and would be built. At that point we entered negotiations to try and lessen the extent of the damage to the bird populations. I want t❑ be clear that our first priority would always be that the course be built elsewhere. The impact of the numerous Boles and people walking through the woods as well as the disturbance of the discs will be detrimental to many species nesting in the undergrowth at the park. It will be most harmful for the Wood Thrush and Ovenbirds as they require undisturbed forest. The current trails are not an issue in that people rarely leave the paths. The actual movement of players within the woods, clearing of the underbrush, and walking between holes is a greater disturbance and we cannot ensure that the birds will continue to nest in the area. 6 Our members and others enjoy the beauty of the park but especially it's conservation value to the many birds that also use the park— For these reasons, we are requesting that the Commissioners reconsider building this disc golf course in Blackwood Farm Park. LaTarndra Strong spoke about funding cuts to Medicaid and food stamps. She requested that the Board avoid making cuts to human services in Orange County. She requested that any caps to property tax increases include people making 50% AMI or less. She asked the Board to make sure that the land use plan includes housing considerations. She expressed appreciation for the Board's consideration of a moratorium on data centers. 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 reported attending the National Association of Counties Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., alongside Commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott. She said bipartisan panels urged counties to review their land use policies regarding large-scale data centers, and that representatives from Loudoun County, Virginia — home to the greatest concentration of data centers in the nation — spoke to both the benefits and the need for guardrails. She said she was gratified that bringing the conference report back to the Board led to the public hearing scheduled for the evening. Commissioner Portie-Ascott provided an update on the Tax Assessment Work Group, which she said had reviewed county assessment processes, received an update on contract negotiations with an appraisal consultant, and heard from the NC Housing Coalition on the impact of rising property taxes on seniors, heirs' property owners, and long-term residents. She said the North Carolina House Select Committee on Property Taxes is proposing a constitutional amendment to require a property tax levy limit. She said she also attended the Junior Livestock Show, noting the impact of 4-H and FFA programs on youth development, and a Night of Poetry hosted by Orange County Schools, guided by NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. She congratulated Jason Johnson, Principal of Orange High School, on being named National High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Commissioner Bedford said the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness had held a kickoff meeting to reconfigure into a HUD-compliant Continuum of Care structure, replacing the prior partnership framework, and that the new terminology"Continuum of Care" should become familiar vocabulary going forward. She said the DSS Board had met and that new software for tracking Child Protective Services cases would go live the following Monday, with staff commended for their extensive preparation; she noted the software would allow case information to follow families as they move across county lines. She said the Durham Tech Community College Board of Trustees was nearing completion of its next five-year strategic plan and that she wished to remind residents that Orange County funds two years of tuition at Durham Tech for graduates of Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and that an additional $100,000 in sales tax economic development funds is available for workforce retraining. Vice-Chair Fowler attended the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group meeting, where Chapel Hill presented its Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan and its "Everywhere to Everywhere" trail connectivity plan. She said a rail-to-trail feasibility study had been kicked off earlier in the spring and the Orange County Trails Plan was also discussed. She reminded those present that Earth Day was to be celebrated the following day at Blackwood Farm Park from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. She said she had recently visited Central Elementary School and was impressed by its STEM lab, which operates in collaboration with Duke Engineering. She reported that the school's collaboration meeting addressed mental health referral processes and resources, and that the Tax Assessment Work Group had reviewed observations from the Tanner Group, with a key recommendation being the need for more field research in heterogeneous neighborhoods. She said the Triangle West TPO had met and discussed an environmental justice report as well as calls to action on projects including electric vehicles and the Sportsplex. Commissioner McKee explained the history of the 4-H Junior Livestock show. He said he attended the kick-off supper for the Caldwell Hunting Club's Wounded Warrior Hunts, a program that provides guided deer and turkey hunts twice annually for injured veterans. He said he wished to highlight that hunting organizations frequently provide meaningful opportunities for people who would otherwise have few options. Chair Hamilton said she attended the school collaboration meeting and the quarterly luncheon meeting with NC DOT and town staffs. She said she attended the Emergency Services recognition event, and expressed appreciation for the work of Emergency Services staff. She said she attended the ribbon cutting for the Morinaga expansion with Commissioners Portie-Ascott and Carter. She said the event was a testament to the county's economic development efforts, led by Steve Brantley. 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/Special Presentations a. Proclamation of Appreciation for Cold Weather Cots Collaboration The Board approved a proclamation recognizing and appreciating the collaborative work supporting the County's Cold Weather Cots program. BACKGROUND: Orange County started operating a Cold Weather Cots(CWC) program in FY 2023- 2024 due to the increasing need for emergency cold weather shelter. The Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC) operates two (2) shelters that provide 20 emergency cold weather cots in the winter(17 for men and 3 for women). However,these cots were consistently full and had a waiting list. As the community's unsheltered population increased, Orange County launched the current CWC program three (3) years ago to serve men and women on nights when the temperature was 32 degrees or below. For the first year, the BOCC Meeting Room at Southern Human Services was used as the site. In the second year, University Baptist Church in downtown Chapel Hill provided space to the County for the site. This winter, the Town of Chapel Hill provided its former police department building at 828 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard for the CWC location. The Housing Department, in close collaboration with many partners, manages the CWC program. Each year, the program has grown and served 8 more community members. Additionally,the funding, staffing and support needs have increased. Under the coordination of Heather Pack Aponte, the County's Homeless Programs Coordinator, the CWC program was open 56 nights this winter and served 217 individuals. The program would not have been possible without the work and collaboration of many dedicated permanent staff, temporary staff and volunteers. Caitlin Fenhagen introduced the item. The commissioners read the following proclamation in turn: ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAMATION APPRECIATION FOR COLD WEATHER COT COLLABORATION WHEREAS, in 2023, Orange County started a Cold Weather Cot program to ensure unhoused community members had access to safe and warm overnight shelter when temperatures reached 32 degrees or below; and WHEREAS, Orange County has operated this warming shelter every winter since 2023 at a different, but accessible, location in Chapel Hill that is open to anyone in need throughout the County; and WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill provided the former Chapel Hill Police Department at 828 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard for this winter's Cold Weather Cot location and between November and March, 217 individuals were served over 56 nights; and WHEREAS, Orange County's Housing Department has coordinated and managed the Cold Weather Cots program since its start and has seen an increased need and more challenges each year, with an average overnight population of 40 guests; and WHEREAS, the Cold Weather Cot program would not be possible without the work of Heather Pack Aponte, the County's Homeless Programs Coordinator, a dedicated team of temporary overnight coordinator staff, the Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection (SOHRAD) staff, other Housing department leadership and staff, and from multiple County departments providing support as needed including Asset Management Services, Social Services, Health, Aging, and Community Justice Resources; and WHEREAS, the faith community, including University Baptist Church, University Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Kehilah Congregation, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, all provided critical support including the preparation of nightly home-cooked meals; and WHEREAS, many community groups and individuals, including Triangle Mutual Aid, Alpha Pie/the Gathering Place, Community Empowerment Fund, Inter-faith Council for Social Service, and the 9 Chapel Hill/Carrboro Mother's Club, all contributed food, supplies and donations that were essential to operations; and WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has provided generous ongoing support to the Cold Weather Cots Program through its Police Department, Crisis Unit and Chapel Hill Transit; and WHEREAS, while Orange County is committed to reducing homelessness and increasing low- barrier housing opportunities, we also recognize the need to ensure that residents are able to stay safe, warm and sheltered when temperatures are dangerously low; NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim our appreciation and gratitude to all of the County staff, faith groups, community members and organizations, and the Town of Chapel Hill for their collaboration and support of the Cold Weather Cots Program. This the 21st day of April, 2026. Jean Hamilton, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The community members and staff who assisted with the Cold Weather Cots program took a picture with the commissioners. 5. Public Hearings a. One-Year Moratorium Ordinance on"Data Centers"as a Land Use The Board held a public hearing and received comment on a proposed ordinance to impose a one- year moratorium on large-scale data centers as a land use, inclusive of Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities, Data Centers, Data Processing Facilities, and similar uses. BACKGROUND: At its March 5, 2026, Business meeting, the BOCC voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare a presentation 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. 10 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. The staff provided the presentation at the March 17, 2026, Business meeting. The Board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing at its April 21, 2026, Business meeting to allow for the opportunity to declare a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers as a land use, inclusive of Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities, Data Centers, Data Processing Facilities, and similar uses.The Board also voted unanimously to direct staff to develop amendments to the County's Unified Development Ordinance (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 during this moratorium. Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 160D-107, "local governments may adopt temporary moratoria on any development approval required by law, [and] the duration of any moratorium shall be reasonable in light of the specific conditions that warrant imposition of the moratorium and may not exceed the period of time necessary to correct, modify, or resolve such conditions" John Roberts, County Attorney, made the following presentation: Slide #1 i ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Item 5a: Public Hearing to consider a Moratorium on "Data Centers" as a Land Use 11 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 John Roberts said to his knowledge there are no large-scale data centers in Orange County. He said there are limited areas where a data center could be located in the county because of the lack of water. He said data centers use substantial amounts of water. Slide #3 Air Quality Impact of Data Centers • Evidence shows communities living in close proximity (i.e., one mile) to EPA-regulated data centers have higher air pollution burdens • Evidence shows low-income communities and communities of color within one mile of EPA-regulated data centers face worse air pollution than other communities near data centers • Recent evidence suggests data center operations cause "heat island" effects in surrounding areas ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 12 Slide #4 Electrical, Noise, and Water Impact • Data centers require large cooling systems to function, which emit a steady hum • Evidence shows data centers can require large amounts of power similar to a medium-sized city • Evidence shows large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA John Roberts said utility providers would likely offset the increased cost of providing service by increasing the costs to other users. He said most of Orange County does not have piped water in the ground. Slide #5 Local Land Use Compatibility of Data Centers • Not currently defined or regulated by the Orange County UDO • Staff must examine what land use categories might be compatible with Data Centers and recommend appropriate standards • For these reasons a moratorium on Data Center development in Orange County is recommended 14ia9_6_, ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 13 John Roberts said that any adjustments to the UDO would proceed as any other adjustments. He said recommendations would be made to the Planning Board by staff, and the Planning Board would vote, make recommendations, and those would come to the Board of County Commissioners. He said that is a months long process. Slide #6 Manager Recommendations The Manager recommends that the Board take the following actions: 1) Conduct the public hearing and receive public comment; 2) Close the public hearing; and 3) Vote to Approve the Ordinance to Apply a One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers as a Land Use in Orange County. ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Bedford, to open the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS: Laura Love thanked the Board for considering a moratorium on data centers. She listed the local governments in North Carolina that have already passed moratoriums. She described how data centers operate, including the typical electricity usage for those facilities. She cautioned against believing promises made by tech companies, because information given at the time will be obsolete in the future. Abby Parcell said governments should resist the false sense of urgency created by tech companies. She said government can set constraints on how this technology is used. She said corporations should not dictate that to the public, especially given the consequences to the labor force, land, water, and electric utilities. She said it is the Board's responsibility to consider the costs. She encouraged the Board to approve the moratorium. 14 Jesse advocated a stronger stance, warning companies might skirt regulations during the moratorium. They pointed out the misleading claims about closed-loop cooling systems and noted data centers already account for 7% of national electricity use. Jessica Benton Lobdell supported a cautious pause concerning data center development, emphasizing the need to address significant issues such as land use and water protection before approving any new projects. She highlighted the contentious nature of large Al data centers and pointed out that job creation and tax revenue are often cited benefits, but these benefits require careful evaluation against potential negative impacts. She emphasized that impacts on infrastructure like land and water must be considered and effectively managed. She endorsed the idea of eliminating state tax breaks for data centers. Her comments reflected a broader concern that local communities should not subsidize these centers through tax incentives when they potentially lead to environmental stresses. Ashley Parker spoke in favor of the moratorium on data centers. She noted that agricultural lands are prime targets for data centers, pointing out NC's rapid farmland loss. She argued that large data centers would hinder the county's Climate Action Plan, stressing that current drought conditions exacerbate these challenges. She requested that the Board support the moratorium. A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler, to close the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Vice-Chair Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to approve the Ordinance to Apply a One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers as a Land Use in Orange County. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 6. Regular Agenda a. Resolution Authorizing Loan to Orange Grove Fire District for Fire Station Improvements as Part of FY 2025-26 Spring Financing and Approval of Budget Amendment#9-A The Board approved a resolution authorizing a loan to the Orange Grove Fire District in the amount of $1.7 million for capital improvements to Fire Station #2 and approved Budget Amendment #9-A. The County will in turn include the loan amount in its FY 2025-26 Spring Financing amount. BACKGROUND: Orange Grove Fire District, Inc. (OGFD) has requested financial assistance to support renovations and upgrades to Rocky Ridge Fire Station #2 within the Orange Grove Fire District.The project will convert the existing facility from a garage structure into a fully functioning fire station with living quarters, office space, and kitchen facilities to support long-term emergency service delivery in the district. The estimated project cost is approximately $1.7 million. 15 To facilitate the project, staff proposes that Orange County provide a loan in the amount of $1,700,000 to OGFD.The loan will be evidenced by a promissory note and repaid through annual payments of principal and interest due each January 15 beginning in 2027, with final maturity no later than January 15, 2047. Schedule I of the Promissory Note references the OGFD debt service schedule through final maturity. It is important to note that the debt service schedule uses a planning rate of 5%. (Note: The 5%planning rate is subject to the final bond pricing rate.The final interest rate will be updated in the signed Promissory Note.) OGFD Annual Tax Levy The Fire District has adjusted its tax rate from 5.81 cents to 7.00 cents per $100 of assessed valuation beginning in FY 2025-26 to ensure sufficient revenues to cover operating costs and the required annual debt service payments to the County. Under the proposed structure, the Fire District will reimburse the County annually for the full amount of debt service. If the Fire Department fails to make the required payment, the County will have the authority to offset overdue amounts from district tax distributions or other funds payable to the department, and per the promissory note can impose a 5% penalty on the amount due. County Recourse for Annual OGFD Repayment The County provides annual property tax revenues to OGFD in four equal quarterly payments each fiscal year based on their district tax levy. The OGFD debt service repayment date will be set for January 15 every fiscal year which coincides with peak tax collections for OGFD. If debt service payment is not received by January 15, the County will deduct and apply, through a right of set-off, an amount from the fourth quarter (March) property tax distribution to OGFD sufficient to satisfy the annual debt service requirement. The OGFD repayment will be recorded in the County's Debt Service Fund. Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, introduced the item. He said the Orange Grove Fire District is in a sound position to pay back the loan. He reviewed the repayment schedule for the county. Daniel Snipes, Board President of the Orange Grove Fire Department, said the project was initially proposed in 2023. He said they've set aside money annually for the project. He said they considered borrowing funds from other sources, but borrowing with Orange County was a great opportunity. He said all their meetings, board meetings, and trainings are open to the public. He said they communicate with the public through social media and the newspaper. He said most of the department's calls are served by the site in question. He said the project would allow them to serve the area more efficiently. He said the station is currently a metal building, with a small heater just big enough to keep the trucks from freezing and one bathroom. He said if they build the new station, they can move daytime staff from Station 1 and decrease response times to the area. 16 Ricky Baker, Chief of the Orange Grove Fire Department, said they currently have an ISO rating of 5. He said lowering it will likely not decrease insurance premiums to homeowners, so they are trying to maintain the rating. He said they want to decrease response time for calls in the area. He said their call volume has increased drastically, especially medical response calls. He said they increase staff during the daytime when many of their volunteer personnel are working. He said they do not have any places for staff to sleep in any of their three stations. He said they are trying to prepare for the future when they might need to staff stations 24 hours. He said the bulk of their personnel are volunteers, but the number of volunteers is decreasing. He said at some point they will have to find a new way of providing services. Commissioner McKee asked if there is additional work planned for Station 1. Ricky Baker said there are needs in the other facilities, but it's not currently planned. Commissioner McKee asked if they plan to staff Stations 1 and 2 at the same time. Ricky Baker said yes, during peak times. He said it will be contingent on the budget. He said the decision will be driven by call volumes. He said they are currently experiencing the most population growth in their fire district, but they are seeing fewer volunteers. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Susan Walser asked the Board to delay approving the loan to Orange Grove Fire Department. She said many community members were unaware of the project and described the lack of information on social media or at community events. She said no project details were shared at the July annual meeting notice or at the community breakfast. She said she requested the department's bylaws and said there was no active permit application with the planning department. Commissioner McKee explained that he had originally requested the item be pulled from the consent agenda at the prior meeting. He said his concern was not with the fire department's needs but with the precedent being set, as this would be the first time Orange County had made a loan of this kind to a fire district under county auspices. He said he had already been approached by another department inquiring about similar financing, which confirmed his concern about unintended consequences. He said he understands the need for the service and project, but it should have been a policy discussion first. Commissioner Bedford aid she appreciated the additional information and recognized the difficult position volunteer fire departments find themselves in. She supported loaning the funds to Orange Grove Fire Department. She asked Gary Donaldson for more detail on previous requests for fire trucks, ambulances, or other equipment. Gary Donaldson said there is another mechanism under federal statutes for fire departments that are borrowing funds, but it must be approved by the Board. He said that the fire district would likely receive a lower interest rate by borrowing under the county's credit worthiness. Commissioner Bedford thanked Commissioner McKee for clarifying the change in the process. She said it gets the fire district the best interest rate. She said she was prepared to support the motion and offered to attend Orange Grove Fire Department meetings as the commissioner liaison. She urged community members who wanted more engagement with the 17 department to attend its meetings and raise their concerns directly. She this project will help the department better serve the community. Commissioner Portie-Ascott thanked the fire district for the presentation. She encouraged the district to increase communication with community members. She supported moving forward considering the lower numbers of volunteers and that the department has the financial capacity to pay back the loan. She said call volumes have increased and every household and business are impacted by their services. She supported the resolution. Commissioner Marilyn Carter said she was encouraged by the financial analysis presented by Director Donaldson and supported providing the fire department with the opportunity to build a facility that would allow personnel to respond more effectively. She thanked Commissioner McKee for prompting the community conversation before the vote. Vice-Chair Fowler said she agreed that the department should improve its community communication practices, but that securing a better interest rate through county financing was in the best interest of district residents and she would support the motion. Chair Hamilton asked if this is the first time the county is borrowing on behalf of one of the fire districts. Gary Donaldson said yes. Chair Jean Hamilton confirmed with Director Donaldson that this was the first instance of the county making such a loan to a fire district. She said she found the argument for county- facilitated financing compelling given the repayment security and the county's need to be prepared for the future,and encouraged continued improvement in the department's community communications. Commissioner McKee said the fire district is not alone in needing to improve communication with the public. He said that increased county involvement with the fire district may lead to more scrutiny. A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler,to approve to adopt the resolution authorizing Orange County to make a $1,700,000 loan to Orange Grove Fire District, approve the Promissory Note and Budget Amendment#9-A in substantially the form presented, and authorize the County Manager and Chief Financial Officer to take all actions necessary to implement the loan. VOTE: UNANIMOUS b. Additional Discussion on Strategic Communications Approaches The Board discussed and considered possible approaches to the County's Strategic Communications efforts, specifically community listening sessions, and provided direction to staff. BACKGROUND:The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed strategic communications approaches during its April 7, 2026 Business meeting. At that time, the Board considered options for enhancing collaboration with residents, including the creation of project-based stakeholder groups and the implementation of quarterly updates to the BOCC. 18 This item provides an opportunity for the Board to continue the discussion,with a particular focus on potential approaches to community listening sessions. Wil Glenn, Community Relations Director, made the following presentation: Slide #1 ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Strategic Communications Will Glenn Community Relations Director April 7, 2026 Slide#2 Strategic Communications Work Group • Established in 2014 (Communications Committee) • Purpose: To develop a Strategic Communications Plan (part of a three- phased approach) • Original Work Group Composition: — Two Members of the Board of Commissioners — Deputy County Manager — County Department Representatives(designated by County Manager) • Most Recent Work Group Composition: — Two Members of the Board of Commissioners — Community Relations Director • Sunset on Nov. 11, 2025 ORANGE COUNTY 2 NORTH CAROLINA 19 Slide #3 Current Landscape • The Work Group was Sunset on Nov. 11, 2025. • No Formal Communications Advisory Body Currently Exists. • The Strategic Communications and Engagement Plan (due in June 2026) will include opportunities to collaborate with residents and gather input on communications initiatives and functions. a ORANGE CA ORC)[INA Y NCM-MSlide #4 Strategic Collaboration Options • Ongoing Community Listening Sessions — Topic-specific, held throughout the year — Open to all residents, rotating locations • Project-Based Stakeholder Groups — Short-term input groups tied to specific initiatives(e.g.,website redesign,bond referendums) — Disband after project completion • Periodic Board Updates at BOCC Meetings — Updates and feedback loops with Commissioners — Keeps oversight with BOCC rather than a separate body ORANGE COUNTY 4 NORI"H C;ARC)LINA 20 Slide #5 Strategic Collaboration Options (Continued) • Engagement Tools — Surveys, polls, and feedback forms integrated into County platforms, events and meetings — Broader participation without formal structure • Department-Level Engagement — Direct outreach by departments based on service area needs — Tailored, subject-matter-specific feedback ORANGE COUNTY 5 NORTH CAROLINA Slide #6 Board Discussion and Direction Board Discussion and Direction ORANGE COUNT)' 6 NORTH CAROLINA Chair Hamilton said that Commissioner Carter wanted to have more formal listening sessions with commissioners in attendance. She asked for feedback from all the commissioners on the idea. Commissioner Carter said at the prior meeting she proposed a pilot with two commissioners sitting informally with community members in both Northern and Southern Orange County. She said that approach did not appear to have broad support among the Board and acknowledged there may be other avenues worth considering. She said she remained open to various approaches but invited discussion on whether there was appetite for a pilot program of that nature. 21 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she is in support of listening sessions in the north and south of the county with two commissioners in attendance. She would want attendance to rotate between commissioners to reduce the burden on busy schedules. Commissioner Bedford said she does not think the Board should have ongoing listening sessions. She noted a housing listening session with low attendance. Commissioner McKee said there were about 10 people in attendance. Vice-Chair Fowler said she was not in favor of listening sessions, but was supportive of topic-specific sessions led by county staff. She said she had personal experience giving extended time to community members in informal settings and found that it often did not change perceptions or reach new audiences. She said she preferred having staff conduct targeted sessions and report findings back to the Board on a quarterly basis. Commissioner McKee said he's attended several community meetings that were ad hoc in nature. He did not see a significant problem with multiple commissioners attending a community session, if it was noticed appropriately, since the county already holds gatherings that attract commissioners informally. Vice-Chair Fowler asked if Commissioner McKee would like to have a formal listening session with two commissioners rotating. Commissioner McKee asked the Board what type of information they are looking for that they aren't getting now. Chair Hamilton said she was cautious about commissioners leading formal listening sessions because individual commissioners cannot speak for the full Board,and that inconsistency in how decisions are characterized could create confusion. She said the more appropriate model was for commissioners to attend community events and informal gatherings individually and bring constituent input back to the full Board and county staff. Commissioner McKee said if he is discussing policy with the public, he always prefaces it by saying it that it is his opinion. He said he did not think they needed to have formal listening sessions, but if commissioners wanted to attend, the Clerk to the Board could provide notice to the public. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she would like to provide an opportunity for people to speak who wouldn't normally contact the Board or attend business meetings. Chair Hamilton said there are two ways to provide opportunities to the public. She said they could have listening sessions in different parts of the county that any commissioner can attend, but commissioners can also meet with community members individually and bring information back to the Board. Wil Glenn suggested a coffee meeting with commissioners, which will be very informal. Commissioner McKee recalled informal meetings that he and former commissioner Renee Price held with the community. Chair Hamilton said commissioners could still do that. She said there are options to set up informal meetings without staff. She said that there did not seem to be Board support for formal listening sessions, but commissioners can meet with the public individually and share information with the rest of the Board. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said one of the most important points listed on the community survey was communication with residents. 22 Chair Hamilton said she advocated in the past for a strategic communications advisory committee drawing from community members to help network county information, but that proposal had not been supported. She said she hoped an upcoming strategic communications plan would address the measurement and tracking of communications effectiveness. Commissioner Bedford said she hoped that project-based stakeholder groups will show improvement in the county's communication with the public. She pointed out that the Board's meetings are listed on social media, and that there is a half-page section in the News of Orange each week. She said that they could increase communication to the radio station in Hillsborough. Chair Hamilton asked for ideas on other ways to communicate better with the community and understanding what they are thinking about. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said a weekly session on WHUP would be good, like how the Chair does a weekly radio show on Chapelboro. Commissioner Bedford said the chamber of commerce sponsors the weekly show and maybe someone could do that for the northern part of the county. Vice-Chair Fowler said she liked the idea of ongoing listening sessions that are on specific topics, and to rotate locations. She asked Wil Glenn if that would be hosted by staff. Wil Glenn said that staff would lead the session and report back to the Board. Vice-Chair Fowler said the county does that already and noted a couple of examples. She said it would be good to hear what people think on specific topics. Chair Hamilton said one of the topics she would like to engage the community on is around budget issues. She said the Board should consider taking time in a business meeting to address pre-submitted community questions about the budget. Wil Glenn said the county will have two budget information sessions were being planned for May 26th and May 28th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, before the BOCC meetings. Commissioner Bedford also noted the importance of engaging faith-based organizations as a communications channel, pointing to their effectiveness during the census, and identified Justice United as a group that had at times operated without full information about county activities, suggesting that more proactive outreach to that organization and similar groups would improve mutual understanding. Vice-Chair Fowler said BOCC meetings are an opportunity for the public to learn about what the county is doing. She gave a couple examples of issues the county and commissioners were working on for some time, but the public and community groups did not know that they were being addressed. She asked how they can share this work with the community. Wil Glenn gave a couple of examples of how the county can publicize initiatives, including attending community events. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she liked the idea of attending community events. Chair Hamilton said the county could proactively get community groups information. Wil Glenn said that is part of the strategy. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she would the county to track information and comments from the public to determine what issues are becoming important to the community. Vice-Chair Fowler said she would like for the strategic communications group to bring back information from the public and to share which strategies have been effective to reach a wider audience. 23 Chair Hamilton said this won't be the end of the conversation because it's an important topic for the community. She said that it's important that the commissioners are using their time for the county wisely. 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 Bedford, to approve the consent agenda. VOTE: UNANIMOUS a. Minutes The Board approved the draft minutes for the March 19, 2026, March 21, 2026, and March 23, 2026 BOCC Meetings as submitted by the Clerk to the Board. b. Tax Collector's Partial FY 2025-26 Settlement for July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 The Board: 1) Received the Tax Collector's partial settlement on current and delinquent taxes for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 through March 31, 2026, based on the retirement of Tax Administrator Nancy Freeman as of March 31, 2026; 2) Approved and authorized the Chair to sign the resolution for the accounting thereof; and 3) Approved, authorized the Chair to sign, and issued the Order to Collect to the Acting Tax Collector for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025-2026. c. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Amendment#9 The Board approved budget, grant, and capital project ordinance amendments for Fiscal Year 2025-26. d. Enhanced Voluntary and Voluntary Agricultural District Designation — Multiple Farms The Board approved applications from four (4) landowners/farms to certify qualifying farmland within the Caldwell and Cedar Grove Agricultural District Regions; and enroll the lands in the Orange County Farmland Preservation Program's Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District or Voluntary Agricultural District program. e. Services Contract Award for Animal Services and Whitted Complex Fire Alarm Systems Replacement The Board: 1) Approved the County entering into a service contract with Siemens Industry, Inc. for the replacement of the Animal Services and Whitted Complex Fire Alarm systems; and 24 2) Authorized the County Manager to execute the Agreement, subject to final review by the County Attorney, and any subsequent amendments for contingent and unforeseen requirements up to the approved budget amount on behalf of the Board. f. Approval of Senior Lunch Caterer Contract Extension The Board approved a food service caterer contract one-year extension to provide noon meals for the Home and Community Care Block Grant-funded Senior Lunch Program at the Seymour and Passmore Centers for the period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. g. Approval of a Cost Share Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange County and City of Mebane (Mebane) for the West Ten Road Waterline Connector The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange County and the City of Mebane (Mebane) to jointly fund the costs of professional engineering design, construction, and construction administration of the West Ten Road Waterline Connector. h. Approval of a Cost Share Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange County and Orange County Schools (OCS) for Professional Surveying Services on the Efland-Cheeks Elementary School and Community Center & Park Site The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange County and Orange County Schools (OCS) to jointly fund the costs of professional surveying services on the properties encompassing the Efland-Cheeks Elementary School and the Efland-Cheeks Community Center & Park Site. i. Approval of Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with Durham,Orange and Granville Counties for the Energy Burden and Emissions Reduction Program The Board approved an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for the Energy Burden and Emissions Reduction (EBERP) Program and authorized the County Manager to sign the agreement on behalf of Orange County. j. Designating an Acting County Manager During the County Manager's Temporary Absence The Board approved the County Manager's appointment of Caitlin Fenhagen, Deputy County Manager, to serve as Acting County Manager during the County Manager's temporary absence or disability. k. Removal of Boards and Commissions Members Due to 2025 Attendance The Board approved the removal of appointees from several boards and commissions due to 2025 attendance in follow-up to Board discussion at the April 14, 2026 work session. I. Boards and Commissions—Appointments The Board approved the Boards and Commissions appointments as reviewed and discussed during the April 14, 2026 Work Session. 9. County Manager's Report Travis Myren reviewed the topics for the April 301"joint meeting with the schools. 10. County Attorney's Report John Roberts said that the state legislature had returned to session and that approximately 80 bills had been filed that day. He said he would begin distributing legislative reports to the Board shortly. 25 11. Appointments None. 12. Information Items • April 7, 2026 BOCC Meeting Follow-up Actions List 13. Closed Session None. 14. Adjournment A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler, to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 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