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Commissioner Gordon said that there was a motion approved by both MPOs to look to <br />create a cooperative structure, not a merger, regarding the Next Steps to Improve Regional <br />Transportation Planning. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she and Commissioner Brown went to the Women's <br />History Month luncheon and there was goad participation. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the very last report, item 10-b, which is a <br />report on Addendum B on high school #3. She would like to bring this back as an agenda item <br />for a future meeting and address it earlier in the meeting. <br />Chair Jacobs said that if they were to get to item 10-b, he was going to suggest that <br />they refer this to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen who has jurisdiction over this development <br />before the Board of County Commissioners approves it. The Aldermen have some very specific <br />concerns about the smart growth principles. <br />Commissioner Carey suggested that the Board go ahead and defer it to the Board of <br />Aldermen. <br />Chair Jacobs said that they are doing Land Use Plan Update Outreach meeting and <br />there are four meetings left. He said that an average of 20 people have attended the last two <br />meetings. He encouraged more people to attend. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he joins Commissioner Halkiotis in thanking DOT Division <br />Engineer Mike Mills for working with the community on safety issues such as NC 57, which was <br />just brought up in December. <br />Chair Jacobs said that there was a joint meeting of the Triangle Chairs and Mayors <br />(Orange, Wake, and Durham Counties) and they talked about the issues regarding <br />transportation funding. The Mayors have no problem with asking the County Commissioners to <br />raise taxes, but the County Commissioners in Durham were not too keen on some of the <br />proposals. He said that there was discussion about toll lanes, which are now becoming <br />moneymakers. He said that he brought up the interest in having more discussion of having <br />revenue sources to make up the perceived shortfall in funding far transportation improvements <br />in the Triangle for more user-directed revenue streams. <br />Chair Jacobs said, regarding air quality, that the transportation improvements that are <br />scheduled in the Triangle are all based on the sprawl model. He brought this upon behalf of <br />Orange County. He spoke about the Land Use Plan Update at the meeting and said that part of <br />this is to try and make conservative use of our natural and financial resources by trying to put <br />development where there is already infrastructure and where it would have minimal adverse <br />impact by causing vehicle trips, etc. He agrees with Commissioner Halkiotis in that we are <br />fighting an uphill battle. He noticed that the republicans were opposed to funding mass transit <br />in the Triangle. Dave Stancil will have a report on the next agenda about the air quality issues <br />and what Orange County is doing compared to other jurisdictions. He would like to increase the <br />awareness of this issue. <br />4. County Manager's Report -NONE <br />5. Items for Decision--Consent Agenda <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to <br />approve those items on the consent agenda as stated below: <br />a. Minutes <br />The Board approved minutes as submitted by the Clerk to the Board far meetings on <br />November 24, 2003, December 1, 2003, December 9, 2003 (6:00 and 7:30 meetings) and <br />February 3, 2004. <br />