Minutes - 20070119 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 Commissioner Jacobs asked about the Kidscope program housed in Hillsborough 2 Elementary School. The Superintendent has proposed displacing this program, and Kidscope 3 does not have a place to go. He suggested bringing this up to the school board. 4 Commissioner Gordon said that, in regards to aging, the Master Aging Plan is coming 5 out and there are categories of issues that will be in there such as access to services and 6 information, access to transportation, etc. She said that sometimes people just do not know 7 about the services or how to access them. 8 Andy Sachs asked about the childcare issue, and Commissioner Foushee said that the 9 County Commissioners should take the opportunity to take recommendations from the 10 Childcare Task Force and see which ones could be implemented. 11 Regarding the living wage to housing wage, Commissioner Foushee said that the 12 County's policy right now is to pay a living wage. There is a discrepancy of about $4 between 13 the living wage and the housing wage. She would like to explore the implications of going to a 14 housing wage. 15 Commissioner Jacobs said that the Board has talked about having a menu of options for 16 staff and incorporating different benefits that are equal but more flexible. He thinks that Orange 17 County could still do a better job at having a workforce that reflects the diversity of the County. 18 Andy Sachs asked if the Board was in agreement with all of the issues stated under 19 Diversity/Justice. 20 Chair Carey made reference to boards and commissions reports and said that the Board 21 accepts a lot of the reports, but that does not mean that the recommendations will be 22 implemented. Laura Blackmon said that the staff is looking at some of these issues right now. 23 Chair Carey suggested having a policy of accepting the report, and then specify the 24 plan. This could be a standard policy. 25 Laura Blackmon said that the Childcare Task Force could be used as a pilot. 26 Commissioner Gordon said she liked the idea of the pilot for the Childcare Task Force. 27 She would like an identifiable process for the reports. 28 29 Economic Development 30 Commissioner Nelson said that the two items under Technology could go under 31 Economic Development. He said that businesses will not want to locate where there is no 32 broadband access. This has a negative impact on economic development. The other issue is 33 about partnering with the Town of Hillsborough to do some wireless Internet in downtown 34 Hillsborough. 35 Chair Carey said that #18 and #19 could go under Loose Ends. These are, "Work with 36 staff to publicize the Revolving Loan Fund, and to recruit the first applicants;" and "Assess 37 whether the fund is sufficiently capitalized, and if it is not then address the insufficiency." 38 Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to include Agriculture under this heading. 39 He said that Dianne Reid did a survey, and the reason that people were unable to obtain 40 employment was lack of transportation. He said that transportation could be related to 41 economic development. Also, all of the issues with the economic development districts, 42 assessments, and the cost of service study for the Efland sewer system need to be addressed. 43 Commissioner Gordon said that the County has afive-year strategic plan and they are 44 through the first year. She would like to reinforce that it is very important to meet the goals of 45 the five-year plan. 46 Commissioner Nelson said to think about energy as an economic development magnet, 47 and that businesses that will be formed and will grow in the next 20 years are businesses that 48 deal with energy -alternative fuels, solar, etc. He thinks that these types of businesses are 49 wanted in Orange County. He wants to become a magnet for these types of businesses. 50 Andy Sachs asked for clarification on transportation as it relates to economic 51 development.