Minutes - 20090127 - Laserfiche WebLink

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twice at Assembly of Government meetings. He said that he thinks the process went awry with the recommendations of the Orange/Chatham work group because it had three functions — land use planning, water planning, and transportation. The AOG decided to focus on transportation and then staff decided to take care of the water issue. He suggested discussing how much to sub out the work on water or whether it should be part of a group that includes elected officials. Commissioner Gordon said that Durham is a major player in the Jordan Lake water issue so that topic would be one for a larger group. She said that this topic was beyond the Orange/Chatham work group. But that she was surprised that this was all staff driven. She wants to get this larger group in the discussion. Chair Foushee asked what happens if Orange County opts out initially and then signs on as a signatory since Durham will be running everything. Beau Mills said that during the drought there was concern about the sustainability of water, and Jordan Lake was a great resource. The purpose behind the partnership was not to develop policy but to develop information about water allocation. The primary objective of the partnership is to provide a way for all jurisdictions to share information, develop a regional understanding of water supply resources, and provide information back to jurisdictions that are interested in an additional allocation. The State does not do this and this is an opportunity for local governments to show the State regulators and the State legislators that regionalism can work. Regarding Durham, he said that it was willing to provide the forum and resources for this regional collaboration. Dave Stancil said that the management team is more of a guidance group, providing advice and feedback. This group will not be making policy decisions. Laura Blackmon said that Durham could have done this on its own, but it recognized that it was not going to get anywhere without a more unified approach. She said that all of these groups need to be at the table. Beau Mills said that one of the primary partners is the Triangle J Council of Governments, and it will be doing the bulk of the work for creating the regional information. Commissioner Jacobs said that when new Commissioners were elected in Chatham the Orange County Chair and Vice-Chair and the Mayors of Carrboro and Chapel Hill reached out to them and asked how everyone could work together. It was decided that the group would work on water, transportation, land use, and recreation. He said that Durham could be added to this group and one part could work on transportation, one part could work on land use planning, and the water group could report to the land use planning elected officials. Commissioner Gordon said that she remembers the Assembly of Governments deciding that there would be one work group and it would begin by working on transportation. She does not see how this issue can be brought into the Orange/Chatham work group because this is a group with specific tasks and with membership from two counties. Commissioner Nelson said that he still thinks the language about land use needs to be strengthened. He is supportive of doing something along these lines. Commissioner Gordon said that she is not comfortable with this coming back on the 17th in this form and she would like to talk with Chapel Hill and Carrboro first. She said that she does not know what will happen if Orange County does not participate. She asked the staff to contact Chapel Hill and Carrboro about this. Commissioner Jacobs asked for a sheet that identifies the issues raised by the County Commissioners. Dave Stancil said that the staff could put this information together, this item will be on the February 17th meeting agenda, and staff will contact the towns to get their perspective on this.