Orange County NC Website
generally comfortable as a group to let Durham County know that Orange County is interested <br />in a regional plan. <br />Commissioner McKee said that a regional plan is not a regional plan unless the largest <br />player is part of it. The largest player -Wake County -has decided to take .itself out of the <br />equation. Orange County is depending on two assumptions -that the federal government and <br />the state are going to come to the table with 75% of the money to finance this light rail: He <br />would like to have this in two parts: a bus plan and a light rail. He is not supportive of a light <br />rail at this point. <br />Commissioner Hemminger said that this has been the most informational session. She <br />said that she has to be realistic and she is interested in the bus component of this plan, but <br />she is not ready to move this on the ballot in the fall. She still has not heard about the license <br />tag fee arid she would like a timetable. <br />Chair Pelissier said that she is hearing that there are some who are uncomfortable with <br />a financial plan for light rail because of the uncertainties of the state and federal funding. She <br />said that if there is no plan for light rail, even though it makes an assumption, then there will be <br />no light rail. Plan B would be a bus system only, if there are no monies from the federal and <br />state governments. <br />She said that the County Commissioners want more details. She said that there is no <br />outline in the plan what happens with the obligations of the %2-cent sales tax. For example, the <br />%rcent sales tax cannot be used for supplanting existing services, but only for new services. <br />There are a lot of things that have been discussed and it needs to all be in one place and one <br />document. All of the regional bus routes, including which ones are fare free, should be in <br />writing. <br />Commissioner Yuhasz said that they all see the value in participating in a regional <br />transportation plan. However, with the financial plan, he is not prepared to make a decision on <br />that during this budget season. He said that all of this information should be brought to the <br />Board over the break so that the County Commissioners can make a decision when they return <br />in the fall. He said that he does not want to place the %rcent transit tax on the ballot in the fall. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger <br />to not proceed with a November 2011 referendum on the %2-cent sales tax and set a date later <br />this year for discussion of the new timetable and get further information related to Orange <br />County components of the local and regional transit plans, and indicate to Durham, Carrboro, <br />Chapel Hill, UNC, and the public our continued interest in pursuing participation and in <br />enhanced regional public transportation system. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about June 21St and Chair Pelissier said that the motion <br />did not specify when to receive more information. <br />Chair Pelissier asked if the Board wanted to look at the interlocal agreement. <br />Commissioner Foushee said to leave this document until later. <br />David King thanked the County Commissioners for their time and they have taken a <br />shot at putting information in writing for a plan. He said that he would provide all of this <br />information to the County Commissioners.. <br />Commissioner Foushee asked to have the draft interlocal agreement available for the <br />County Commissioners to see. <br />Craig Benedict said that the draft is in the packet, but it is edited on a daily basis by <br />multiple parties. <br />The additional information can come to the Board on June 21St <br />Frank Clifton said that he understands what the Board is asking for, -but there are <br />limitations of staff and there are two more budget meetings between now and June 21St <br />16 <br />