Minutes - 20040203 - Laserfiche WebLink

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c. Affordable Housing Performance Presentation The Board received the first Affordable Housing Performance Report from the Orange County Affordable Housing Advisory Board. Martha Hoyleman, Chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, presented the 2004 calendar and the 2003 performance report. She said that the calendar contains lots of general information and specific projects for affordable housing. The total cost of completed projects between 2001-2003 was approximately $15 million. Of that, over $7 million came from federal, state, and local government funding sources. A total of 145 new housing units were created and 83 units were repaired. The calendar has personal stories from owners and pictures of the houses. She thanked Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, and the eight non-profit organizations listed on the first page of the calendar. She thanked Chair Jacobs and Commissioner Brown, who were board liaisons. There were 200 calendars printed. Commissioner Halkiotis said that this is an excellent educational tool. He hopes that each elected official in Orange County will be given one, especially school board members. Chair Jacobs suggested having some in the lobby of the Government Services Center. d. OWASA Water Reclamation and Reuse, Biosolids Land Application Programs The Board considered information about OWASA's; 1) planned Water Reclamation and Reuse Program and proposed implementation of water reclamation and reuse system with the University; and 2) bio-solids land application program. Chair Jacobs distributed two items -one from the Cooperative Extension office about land application bio-solids and a water quality survey and assessment in the Bradshaw Quarry Road area from Environmental Health. Mark Marcoplos, Chair of the OWASA Board, said that the great drought of 2001- 2002 really got their attention. They were very close to being in big trouble. UNC and OWASA began to collaborate on this project. Since there is a lot of construction an campus, it is cost effective to put in pipes now. Also, there is a large upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant to be done in 2007. He gave some of the benefits of the project. It will provide same insurance in the event of a drought, eliminate capital improvements related to the water needed in wastewater treatment, reduce pollutant discharges to Morgan Creek, and conserve drinking water supplies. They hope by the next meeting to have a letter of understanding between OWASA and UNC to move forward. The ultimate cost of the project is $7 million. Over time, as expansion occurs, the price is likely to go up to $13 million. This project will enable them to not have to draw water from Jordan Lake, which would be much more expensive. The key guiding principles of the agreement between UNC and OWASA are that the system would be financially self-sustaining, the reclaimed water rates would fully recover all of OWASA's costs, UNC would commit to use the reclaimed water, OWASA would commit to provide the reclaimed water, and the system would be designed with excess capacity to serve non-UNC customers. It might require a small rate increase (3-4°~). Commissioner Gordon said that it sounds like a great project. Commissioner Carey also commended OWASA for moving forward with this. Commissioner Brown referred to the last item on the tape of OWASA"s last board meeting and she had staff make copies for the Board of County Commissioners. She said that the water reuse issue has been around for many years and it is great that OWASA is moving forward with it. She said that it seemed that it was urgent and that it would be done quickly. Mark Marcoplos said that there was one member that portrayed it as an urgency. He said that construction would last until probably 2007. Commissioner Brown asked if there had been any public hearings and Mark Marcoplos said no.