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Commissioner Jacobs would like to find ways to identify areas in which Orange County could seek <br />local autonomy with DOT - maybe through suggestions from advisory boards. <br />Chair Gordon feels this is a good time for the County to take the initiative and discuss with DOT such <br />things as alternative modes of travel, bike lanes, sidewalks, mass transit and other items for which there is <br />not enough money. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that one negotiating point is that the interstates which run through <br />Orange County cause our courts to be overcrowded with traffic violators. There were 400 to 500 traffic <br />cases on Thursday and Friday this week. <br />The Board agreed to discuss with DOT funding allocations with emphasis on changing these <br />allocations to help fund some of the items mentioned above. <br />Commissioner Brown asked that staff look at the erosion and sedimentation (storm water <br />management) control ordinances that Chapel Hill and Carrboro have been discussing in the last few months. <br />The focus of their ordinances is to encourage the developer to come up with stricter development measures <br />to reach zero runoff. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about requiring the developer to post an erosion or sedimentation bond <br />to be sure the developer does what he is supposed to do. <br />Commissioner Brown asked for a report on what the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) is providing in <br />Orange County. Chair Gordon said that the TTA provides transportation through the Department on Aging. <br />One issue is that we are not in Phase I of the Authority's plans and she feels the County needs to be more <br />interactive with the TTA to achieve more benefit from TTA. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she is concerned about getting students to the Skills Development <br />Center and also providing transportation for Work First participants. John Link agreed that we need to push <br />TTA to come up with funding to help Orange County with transportation needs. He said that the TTA van <br />pool sets up a structure that Work First participants and citizens attending classes cannot afford. He would <br />like to see the TTA provide more of the money received from our citizens to the table. <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked for an update on the Economic Development District (EDD) in Efland <br />because this was tied to the Efland sewer line. He understands that water is going under the interstate and if <br />that is the case. he would like to know about it. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she supports this request for an update, especially since we are <br />getting a new EDD director within a couple of weeks. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis suggested talking about the EDD with Hillsborough. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said he would like to know about the $800 million in state bonds available for <br />sewer systems. He would like to know if we can use the money we have committed for sewer improvements <br />as leverage. He also requested that we look at the Orange-Alamance System and how that fits in with this <br />since a lot of their water is going out of the County and the watershed. He would like to know why it still <br />exists and if it should still exist since it is probably an impediment to our EDD. <br />Chair Gordon clarified that the County Commissioners would like to discuss the EDD with the Town <br />of Hillsborough. <br />Commissioner Jacobs would like to make one of the objectives of the Economic Development <br />Commission to promote agriculture.