Minutes 12-11-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I. Implementation Strategy from the Emergency Services Workgroup of Recommendations from the Comprehensive Assessment of Emergency Medical Services & 911/Communications Center Operations Study The Board approved proceeding with establishing and hiring for the four new Paramedic Level Shift Supervisor positions; instructed staff to bring back at an upcoming meeting a budget amendment for $267,500 in the current fiscal year; and incorporated the other remaining recommendations into the Budget and CIP process for Fiscal Year 2013-14. 6. Public Hearings a. Public Transit Implementation Resolutions The Board conducted a public hearing on, and considered approval of, resolutions authorizing Triangle Transit Authority ("TTA") to levy a '/2-cent transit tax in Orange County, authorizing Orange County to levy a $7 vehicle registration tax in Orange County, and an additional $3 vehicle TTA registration tax in Orange County and authorizing the Chair to sign. Chair Jacobs read the above statement. John Roberts said that many meetings have been spent discussing transit and these are the next steps in the process, for Durham County and Orange County to request that TTA levy the '/2-cent sales tax and the additional vehicle registration fee and tax. PUBLIC COMMENT: Dave Laodicina thanked the County Commissioners for pursuing this transit plan. He said that this is a start, but there are many pieces to it. He said that urban centers will be built where people live and work and will be built around the transit stations. He is ready for this plan to get started. Bonnie Hauser spoke for Smart Transit for Orange County, which is a group of Town and County citizens. She said that they support transit but they do have questions about the plan. She said that Orange County plans to spend $660 million over the next 23 years; 70% of which, about $500 million, will go to light rail service. The plan relies on federal and state grants. According to the plan, Orange County will add 34,000 bus hours in the first four years, about 18% to a base of 203,000 hours. By contrast, Durham will add 50,000 in the first three years, about 28%. Wake County, who has not yet endorsed the plan, will double its bus hours if it chooses to opt in. Charlotte spent 10 years building bus service in preparation for light rail. She said that frequent, convenient bus service is essential to build transit ridership. She showed a spreadsheet from the transit plan appendices that show how transit dollars will be spent between now and 2020. She said that from the start, the bulk of the funds will go to Light Rail Transit and not bus service as has been represented to the public. In addition to the sales tax, the Board will consider a $10 vehicle registration fee, a 30% increase to the $33 fee; 50% if you count the $5 that TTA has already levied. No other county, including Durham or Charlotte, has levied the transit fee. She said that once the County levies the tax or fee, it authorizes TTA to move forward. Changes are governed by the implementation agreement, which requires approval by TTA, the MPO, and the Board of County Commissioners to make any changes. She asked the Board to please consider what happens to the ability to negotiate on behalf of Orange County once it levies the taxes and fees. Del Snow read a prepared statement: "I'm Del Snow and I'm the chair the Chapel Hill Planning Board. I am proud that our board is decidedly pro-transit, and although we are pleased that the voters have shown their support for a '/2 cent sales tax, we have informed the Town Council that we do not support the