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d. 1999 Orange County Legislative Agenda <br />Geoffrey Gledhill said that this is the unfinished business from the last meeting that needs to <br />be addressed. There are two resolutions regarding transportation issues, the first one drafted primarily by <br />Chair Gordon and the second one by Commissioner Jacobs. Apparently, there was one item left off the first <br />resolution that read: <br />"WHEREAS, Orange County desires more local and regional control of transportation issues affecting <br />Orange County ..." <br />Chair Gordon would like to ensure that this point is included with the first resolution. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill said that the first resolution would urge the North Carolina Department of <br />Transportation to complete the items as listed, and also to have the senators and legislators urge the <br />Department of Transportation to enact these items. He briefly described the first resolution, which included <br />a desire to emphasize other transit, such as bikeways, sidewalks, and other alternatives to roads, and less <br />emphasis on local and regional transportation systems which rely on single-passenger automobiles as their <br />principle mode of travel. In addition, the resolution asks them to seek a broader approach to transportation, <br />such as putting sidewalks on North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) projects as a matter of <br />course, expend more funds for those items, and appropriate additional funds to be made available to <br />NCDOT to make enhancements to surface transportation projects to improve pedestrian safety and <br />eliminate the funding cap for individual bike projects, which would encourage larger bike projects. The <br />second major category is to allow more local control for Orange County on transportation projects within the <br />County, including participation in selection and design, and more control for the Durham-Chapel Hill- <br />Carrboro MPO for regional transportation projects. Additionally, the resolution asks to encourage a more <br />individualized approach to highway design, including setting and character of the areas, needs of the users, <br />the environmental goals of the community and provision for local government participation in planning of <br />transportation facilities, while continuing to maintain the highest possible safety standards. The resolution <br />further seeks additional funding in Orange County for maintenance of roads, safety projects, and secondary <br />road projects. <br />Commissioner Jacobs described the second resolution, which addresses many similar items, but is <br />more specific about local control and avoids funding issues, which will likely raise the most resistance. He <br />stated that the purpose is to be able to identify needs quickly in fast-growing counties, such as Orange <br />County, to have more flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of the community, while accomplishing <br />these items within the current framework, which was established in the 1930s. Commissioner Jacobs <br />believes it is time to revisit this framework to seek improvements that address current concerns with <br />transportation issues, and assert more local autonomy. The resolution seeks the establishment of a study <br />commission to research these issues. <br />The Board discussed whether or not to leave these two resolutions separate or to combine them into <br />one resolution. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested taking both to their legislative delegation and seek its guidance as to <br />how to submit these resolutions. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill suggested resolving the substance of these two resolutions and he will work out the <br />details to have them ready for their meeting with the legislators. Gledhill suggested passing these <br />resolutions in substance only. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve both <br />resolutions in substance, with the details to be decided between the Chair and the County Attorney, then to <br />be affirmed at the April 22, 1999 Board of County Commissioners' meeting. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve the <br />Managers' recommendation to approve the resolutions on the consent agenda. The two resolutions are <br />included as an attachment to these minutes. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS