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24 <br />Planner II position be retitled Land Use and Preservation Planner, and be <br />split between the new ERCD and Planning. This position would be re- <br />assigned to the Comprehensive Planning Division to cover the functions <br />not transferring to the ERCD, with a substantial portion of job duties <br />staying in Planning and a smaller portion in the ERCD. <br />3. The Orange Soil and Water District Commissioners have provided a <br />proposal for their involvement in some of the duties listed herein (please <br />see Attachment D). The Soil and Water District, in conjunction with the <br />Natural Resource Conservation Service, offers a number of programs and <br />opportunities for County partnership efforts and funding possibilities. The <br />Soil and Water District has recently hired a Neuse River Basin Technician, <br />who will begin working on the possible purchase of riparian buffer areas in <br />the Neuse basin. In addition, opportunities through the USDA <br />Conservation Reserve Program offer additional opportunities for <br />cooperation with Soil and Water in voluntary conservation for agricultural <br />erosion control or water quality. A summary of some of these programs <br />can be found in Appendix D. With a clear need to build a strong tie with <br />this department, it is recommended that the administration and staff meet <br />to pursue the nature of this relationship over the next several months. <br />4. In the event that land or easement acquisition becomes available during <br />this fiscal year, money from the contingency fund could be utilized if the <br />land is deemed important for resource acquisition. Attachment A <br />summarizes the options for short-term land/easement acquisition on a <br />temporary basis while the Comprehensive Resource Acquisition Program <br />is developed. <br />5. Comments from the Orange County Board of Health were received on <br />Thursday, October 1. The Board of Health comments are attached as <br />Appendix F. <br />6. An alternative process for formation of the ERCD has been received from <br />Commissioner Bill Crowther. This process is attached as Appendix G. <br />V. Proposed Costs <br />Since the majority of the department's work will use existing resources, most of <br />the funding needs for FY 99 can be transferred from the Planning budget. An <br />additional estimated $52,000 would be needed as start-up costs for the new <br />department. It is recommended that this funding be appropriated from the <br />Board's $250,000 contingency for FY 99. <br />~ ~nsise - •~z-~ ~«r.a~• <br />