Minutes 09-18-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Gordon said that she thinks they should try and find a way to work with their partners to accommodate the case for changes in the agreement that Chapel Hill Transit has put forward. Chair Pelissier said that her concern is that UNC is not making any contribution to the transit plan but contributes 60% to Chapel Hill Transit. She does not want Orange County subsidizing UNC. She asked Steve Spade if there was any formal agreement about a continued commitment by UNC that does not put Chapel Hill Transit in jeopardy. Steve Spade said that there are a couple of agreements in place. One is that there is an annual agreement that is contractual with a cost allocation formula that determines how each of the partners pay. There are also requirements that UNC will be a member of the partnership as long as there will be development in Carolina North. Discussion ensued between the County Commissioners and Steve Spade. Commissioner McKee noted that the University's ability to fund at any particular level is contingent upon the legislature. Chair Pelissier said that what she hears is that there is no specific direction on this issue, but the parties will continue to work on this issue and see what kind of recommendations will come back. Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to be more specific and invite a proposal from Chapel Hill Transit in consultation with other partners to include in the Implementation Agreement that would address the concerns that Chapel Hill Transit has raised without straying beyond the parameters that are already within the agreement. A motion was made by Chair Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger to continue the meeting past 10:30 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Gordon then went through the language on item II of her suggested changes, as shown below: II. Assessment of progress in getting federal and state funding Here is suggested language, adding benchmarks and also adding state funding to the assessment process. 10. (second number 10). Eight years after the date of execution of this Agreement, the Parties agree to assess if the New Starts application for the LRT project in the Plan is still in the federal pipeline for New Starts rail projects and making reasonable progress to receive federal funding. The rate of progress will be measured by the following benchmarks and timelines: (1) whether the project has already been allowed to enter Preliminary Engineering (2 to 3 years after submission of the New Starts application), whether the project has already been issued a Record of Decision (additional 2 to 3 years), and the rate of progress being made toward receiving a Full Funding Grant Agreement (additional 3 to 4 years after receiving the Record of Decision). If not, the Parties agree to work collaboratively to develop an Alternative Bus and Rail Investment Plan which reflects this fact and sets out revised funding for transit projects and services. At the same time, there will be a similar assessment of whether the project is making reasonable progress toward receiving a State Full Funding Grant Agreement. If not, the Parties also agree to work collaboratively to develop an Alternative Bus and Rail Plan, as specified