Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Gordan reiterated that she would like to see a 10-year report for capital <br />projects with specifics on pay-as-you-go, bond, and alternative financing options for existing <br />programmed projects and proposed projects. <br />Bob Jessup spoke about Senate Bill 2009, which was passed at the last General <br />Assembly. The people who worked together on this legislation included a school architectural <br />firm and a couple of the larger school systems -Charlotte/Mecklenburg and Wake. The idea <br />was to provide another method of financing the huge need in public school construction. <br />CharlottelMecklenburg builds 10-15 schools a year and they have 10 sites under control at any <br />time for the next 10 schools. This bill was designed to allow more flexibility in terms of letting <br />the school boards have more responsibility for doing the projects. It would also allow for better <br />focus on total life cycle costs of school buildings. It authorizes school boards to enter into <br />developer-driven projects for schools. There have not been any projects completed under this <br />legislation, but there are many counties that are actively looking at it. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked how this helps because the County would still have the <br />responsibility of funding. Bob Jessup said that it would help solve different problems in different <br />localities. In some localities, it is finding the site and not the funding. In others, it is the conflict <br />between operating and maintenance and a lease payment would be easier. It allows for <br />negotiations to be done on a more private basis. <br />Rad Visser said that they do not know how this will impact Orange County. <br />Chair Jacobs made reference to the blue cover sheet and said that the Hillsborough <br />Historic District Commission may be asking for changes in the glass wall to add brick, which <br />could cost some additional money. He asked Ken Redfoot from Corley Redfoot Zack to speak <br />about what will be proposed and the cost. He asked about the Animal Services Facility <br />relocation and the existing access road and if Chapel Hill is going to let Orange County put in a <br />gravel road. <br />Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones said that they have talked with the <br />University and they are very amenable to the ideas from the County. She will check on this <br />specifically. <br />Ken Redfoot said that they are in the process of responding to the Historic District <br />Commission. They will know within about a week about the cost implications. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis suggested having a discussion about when various boards and <br />commissions review County plans and where this stops. He said that he found Kathleen <br />Turner's comments in the paper last week very supportive of the existing plan. Now there are <br />other people asking for things that are cost prohibitive and a line must be drawn. He wants to <br />move this project along. <br />Chair Jacobs said that it would be useful to keep a running tab of the additional costs <br />caused by this process. <br />d }Next Steps <br />Rod Visser said that staff would review the materials and identify which project <br />ordinances to bring forward on September 12tH <br />Pam Janes made reference to the blue sheet and said that there was a new <br />development on the Central Orange Senior Center, in that the group had looked at putting the <br />adult day health center into the Sportsplex and that prompted a change in the design. The <br />vestibule area of the adult day health center is prompting continued review by the Town of <br />Hillsborough. They have to go back to the Board of Adjustment on this. <br />