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Commissioner Price thanked the firm for their work. <br /> Commissioner Rich asked for occupancy rate of the building and Patric LeBeau said <br /> about 130-190. <br /> Commissioner Rich asked if the kitchen would need to be inspected if it is not a <br /> commercial kitchen. <br /> Patric LeBeau said the intention is to design the space to the level of a commercial <br /> kitchen and if inspection is required, it will be done. <br /> John Roberts said he was not aware that there was a commercial kitchen here and so <br /> the draft agreement will need to be re-written. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Ree Ree Wei lives in Phoenix Place and said her parents purchased their home from <br /> Habitat for Humanity after first living in an overcrowded basement apartment with no safe <br /> place to play. She said that when the family first moved to Phoenix Place, the RENA <br /> Community Center allowed the children in her family to be involved in computer classes, <br /> tutoring, leadership training, and food distribution. She said that some of the activities <br /> continued after the center closed, and that she wants the new community center to open. She <br /> noted the financial difficulties that her parents have in paying for afterschool programs and <br /> summer camps. She said that the community center would provide these things for her family <br /> and asked for the Board for help. <br /> David Caldwell asked the people from the Rogers Road community to please stand up <br /> and he thanked everyone who has assisted with this project. <br /> Jennifer Prater lives in Phoenix Place and said she is here to give an example of how <br /> important this center will be. She said there is need for a place for the neighborhood parents <br /> and children to meet. She said this is what the community center will be used for, and it is <br /> important. She thanked everyone for expediting this process. <br /> Felicia Weaver, also a resident of Phoenix Place, said that RENA welcomed her with <br /> open arms. She said when she first moved there, the then existing community center provided <br /> activities and classes for her children, as well as the neighborhood parents. She said there is a <br /> need for a community meeting facility as well as for after school programs and activities for the <br /> children. <br /> Pam Hemminger urged the Board to keep this project on the fast track. She noted that <br /> the site has been cleared and said that there are good reasons to approve this quickly. She <br /> said the desire is to have the center opened before the summer of 2014. She noted that there <br /> was no center last summer and there will not be one this summer; and she said that without <br /> on-going programs, both social and educational, the children go lacking. She said she has <br /> been working with several groups on a business plan to make this site successful, both <br /> financially and operationally. She said it would be great if the county could break ground <br /> before the Landfill closes in July 2013. <br /> Commissioner McKee said these comments are why he has pushed this community <br /> center forward and it is heartening to see it coming to fruition. He encouraged the Board to <br /> move this project forward and to approve all of the manager's recommendations. <br /> Commissioner Rich asked Patric LeBeau to step forward. She said that he is doing <br /> this work pro bono. She said the task force put pressure on him to give estimates even before <br /> plans were finalized and he pulled through every time. She wanted to recognize him for his <br /> dedication. She said there had been discussions about Chapel Hill waiving some of the <br /> permitting fees. <br /> Jeff Thompson said he met with Chapel Hill staff last week and was told that all of the <br /> fees would be waived, but he is hoping to get this in writing. <br />