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the purposes that it was intended to meet. He said that this was an opportunity to free that money <br />and to start transmitting it to the states for use in the manner that Orange County has been using <br />some of those kinds of monies. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br />approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution as stated below. Also, a letter will be sent to <br />Senators Edwards and Helms asking for their support of this. <br />Resolution <br />WHEREAS, the United States Senate is currently considering the Conservation and Reinvestment <br />Act {CARA}, which would provide $3 billion dollars each year to land conservation programs, <br />especially state and local governments for land conservation, and <br />WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives passed CARA on May 11 by a vote of 315-102, with <br />strong bipartisan support, and the bill has also been forwarded by the Senate Energy and Natural <br />Resources Committee to the floor of the full Senate, and <br />WHEREAS, the State Parks system, the Orange County Lands Legacy program and area land <br />trusts could benefit greatly by the passage of this act and the investment in our nation's green <br />infrastructure and critical open spaces {over $47 million of which could be sent annually to North <br />Carolina}; and <br />WHEREAS, CARA would provide a dedicated source of funding for the Land and Water <br />Conservation Fund to the tune of $900 million per year, a fund that has recently been recommended <br />to award a $262,000 grant for the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area, and <br />WHEREAS, private property rights and the flexibility of local government to maintain its tax base are <br />not compromised by providing the option to pursue enhanced protection of natural resources and <br />development of recreational opportunities for citizens through purchase of environmentally <br />significant properties, and <br />WHEREAS, conservation leaders in North Carolina have urged local governments to ask North <br />Carolina's senators to support CARA. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Commissioners call upon Senators <br />Edwards and Helms to support the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, and that a letter to this end <br />be dispatched from the Chair to both senators. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />e. Orange County Cooperation with Durham CitylCounty <br />The Board considered a resolution in support of cooperative planning efforts with Durham <br />CountylCity. <br />Commissioner Brown suggested sending a letter to Durham with the resolution and <br />asking for a response. County Attorney Geoffrey Gledhill will do this letter. <br />Commissioner Gordon questioned if Orange County has formally asked to work with <br />Durham County on their 2020 Comprehensive Plan. Geoffrey Gledhill said that he understood that <br />the plan was already adopted. <br />Commissioner Halkiatis made reference to the annexation issues and asked that this <br />resolution also be sent to our state association and state legislators to thank them for what was <br />accomplished in the legislature this session. He said that the County should receive a report in the <br />next ten days on what was accomplished in the legislature. <br />Planning Director Craig Benedict said that there were some recommendations within <br />Durham's existing plan that suggested the need to discuss the urban growth boundaries with <br />Orange County. There are goals for Durham to start the dialogue with Orange County. <br />