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Commissioner Jacobs suggested getting the Animal Services Advisory Board involved in <br />the planning of this facility. He said that this location is a perfect opportunity to look at landfill <br />gases as a passible source of energy. He asked if the shelter was working with animals from <br />the hurricane disaster. Animal Services Director Bob Morotta said that they have initiated a <br />process to identify foster homes for evacuated animals of families who are coming into the area. <br />Anyone interested in providing a foster home, can call the animal shelter and ask far Sarah <br />Fallon, who is coordinating the program. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to <br />approve a contract for the purchase of a 5.5-acre parcel on Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill far <br />$167,000 to be used as the future site of the Orange County Animal Shelter; and to authorize <br />staff to move forward with a process to select a project architect; and approve the use of 2/3 net <br />debt reduction bonds as the funding source; and authorize the Chair, County Attorney, Clerk, <br />and staff as appropriate to sign documents that may be necessary to close on the sale. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />d. Report on Cable Television Franchise Ordinance Negotiations <br />The Board received a report on the outcome of facilitated negotiations with Time Warner <br />Cable (TWC) for renewal of the cable television franchise in unincorporated Orange County and <br />provided feedback and direction to the Cable Advisory Committee and staff. <br />John Link commended Gwen Harvey, Michael Patrick and Andy Sachs for being <br />tenacious with this agreement. <br />Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey thanked Michael Patrick and she recognized <br />Brad Phillips from Time Warner, Chad Johnston from The People's Channel, and Andy Sachs <br />from the Dispute Settlement Center. <br />Michael Patrick, Chair of the Cable Advisory Committee, said that they have worked out <br />a workable new cable franchise agreement with Time Warner. This has been nine years in the <br />making. They worked out the final details of the agreement a week ago. One issue has been <br />the extension policy and Time Warner has agreed to extend cable service into areas having 18 <br />homes per mile density. The majority of the negotiations were related to public <br />education/governmental access channel questions. They wanted to make sure the County had <br />the ability to broadcast live and Time Warner agreed to allow Orange County to have its own <br />PEG access channel on a digital tier, above channel 72. The agreement would require Time <br />Warner, upon request of a citizen, to provide these digital cable boxes free of charge. This <br />requires a fair amount of expenditure and infrastructure of about $200,000. Time Warner <br />agreed to equip the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom and the Southern Human Services Center with <br />robotic cameras to have a live broadcast. This would be another $90,000+. He thinks this is a <br />workable agreement, and if it is adopted it would take about 8-9 months to get the equipment <br />set up. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he attended the last session and it is in Time Warner's <br />best interest to try and get more customers. This makes business sense for Time Warner. He <br />thinks that this is finally coming to an end after about 20 years. He commended Michael <br />Patrick, Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey, Andy Sachs, and Brad Phillips. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the equipment and if The People's Channel were a <br />part of the decision making process. Michael Patrick said there was a consultant in the process <br />and he came up with a list that needs to be tweaked, and he thinks that they will be talking with <br />TPC to work out details. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the courtroom and the $90,000 to get it ready and if <br />the justice facilities expansion designates a different space for the County Commissioners to <br />meet in. Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that she and Pam Jones have discussed <br />this and they have time to work on this issue. <br />