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16 <br />2013 UPDATE from Planning & Inspections <br />Engineer served as a County liaison for the Landfill Gas <br />Pipeline project to UNC -CH, along with County Solid Waste <br />staff. <br />Planning Director worked with elected officials to contribute <br />to Carolina North outcomes. Bingham Research Facility was <br />also monitored in accordance with county jurisdiction. <br />2013 UPDATE from Economic Development <br />In order to stem the departure of successful Orange County <br />entrepreneurial start -ups to adjacent counties, where <br />incubator space has been more available and more <br />affordable, the BOCC approved a joint partnership in mid - <br />2012 with the Town of Chapel Hill to establish the "Launch <br />Chapel Hill" innovation center. The County's 50/50 <br />partnership will be funded with quarter sales tax proceeds <br />designated for economic development use. In addition, the <br />University of North Carolina joined as a third partner to help <br />manage the incubator facility's overall operations, and serve <br />as a mentoring guide to tenants of Launch Chapel Hill. <br />Priority 20: Support transit, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities and other <br />alternatives to the single passenger automobile. <br />2013 UPDATE from DEAPR <br />The Commission for the Environment supported holding <br />public referendum on levying half -cent sales tax for Orange <br />County public transit. <br />2013 UPDATE from Planning & Inspections <br />The Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan and <br />associated interlocal agreements were completed in 2012, <br />as well as a successful voter referendum for a' /2 cent transit <br />sales tax to serve as a funding source. Two very important <br />draft plans were completed during 2009 -2012 that are to <br />come forward for BOCC consideration in 2013: 1) Safe <br />Routes to Schools Action Plan; and 2) Comprehensive <br />Transportation Plan. Although these plans support all <br />transportation modes and include pedestrian components, <br />the BOCC did decide at its October 2011 work session that <br />the County will not be getting into the sidewalk "business" at <br />this time due to funding and maintenance constraints. In <br />2012, Orange County expanded its role in regional <br />transportation planning becoming a voting member of the <br />Burlington- Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization and <br />