Minutes - 20050201 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Planning Director Craig Benedict said that there are no formal public hearing items on February 28th. There are four topic areas that could be discussed at this meeting. 1. Agricultural Business Options (Rural Enterprises) 2. Transportation issues (State Transportation Improvement Program priority list and Creation of a Unified Transportation Advisory Committee) 3. Update of the Rural Character and Farmland Protection Work Group 4. Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element update Commissioner Gordon asked if the items were in priority order. She said that transportation is a high priority. Craig Benedict said that they are in order of how long they have worked on the issues. Commissioner Jacobs said that he is satisfied with the order of items. He asked that when the Planning Board reports on the Rural Character and Farmland Protection work group, that there at least be some discussion about the items received at the retreat about their thinking regarding ten-acre lots and the effect on farmland. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve the potential discussion/report items for presentation on February 28, 2005, a date originally scheduled for a Quarterly Public Hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS c. Child Health Care Consultant Project Funded by Smart Start The Board considered accepting funds for the Child Health Care Consultant Project, authorizing project implementation, and approving a new Public Health Nurse position funded by non-County sources. Health Director Rosemary Summers said that this project is similar to that which was previously funded by Piedmont Health Services for aten-year period. Through State budget cuts and declining funds to Piedmont Health Services, funding fell below a full time nursing position, and last fiscal year they declined to reapply for funds with the Orange County Partnership for Young Children. The Smart Start Board Allocation Committee decided that this project was important enough that they wanted to do a special study to make sure that such a project was still needed within the community. They reserved funding for the project and directed the Partnership staff to do a community assessment. Through the assessment, it was found that the childcare community has a need for a consultant to improve the health of the children by addressing environmental factors and training for their staff. In the late fall, the Partnership issued an RFP for an 18-month project. There are only funds available at this time for the first six months of the project, but it is fairly certain that the legislature will allocate funds to Smart Start again. This is one of the higher priorities of the Partnership board. The Health Department applied for the grant and was awarded it, as shown by the letter. The proposal is to hire a nurse to provide these services, which would include intensive services to about 30 childcare centers. At least 50 centers would receive at least one service from the health care consultant. This project includes the full funding of the nurse, plus some operating expenses, primarily travel. The only County cost is an in-kind contribution for supervision of the position itself. Commissioner Halkiotis highlighted Rosemary Summers and said that she is always at the Partnership board meetings and is always advocating for children. He endorses this idea. Commissioner Gordon also supports this idea. Chair Carey said that this is an important service that childcare centers need. One of his concerns is that the history, over the last ten years, as the State cut back on funding, Smart Start cut back on funding for this contract. This meant that Piedmont had to cut back on the