Minutes 04-16-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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university and then carry that into existing businesses. He said the Town of Chapel Hill is amenable to this partnership. Chair Jacobs said, regarding streamlining permitting process, one chronic problem is coordinating planning and economic development. He said people need to be directed to take new ideas to the economic development side to get guidance through the system, before being told no by the regulatory side. Chair Jacobs said that there is a focus on the economic development districts and he hopes the board does not lose track of the Efland Corridor and the Highway 57 Small Area Plan. He said these are an important component in the effort for development. Steve Brantley said yesterday an existing building in Efland was shown. Chair Jacobs said the Cornelius Street Corridor is another area and has good infrastructure in place. Commissioner Gordon thanked Donald Bryan and the other members for being part of this board. Steve Brantley said there is a Planning and Inspections Advisory Board position to fill, and that will add to the coordination. • Human Relations Commission (HRC) - Colin Austin, Chair(with Housing, Human Relations and Community Development Director Tara Fikes) Tara Fikes introduced Colin Austin, HRC Chair. Colin Austin said the HRC report was submitted late last year and he would be giving updates. He said the past few months there has been a lot of transition, as James Spivey, who was an instrumental staff person, retired. He recognized Tara Fikes for taking over the reins during the transition. He also noted that a lot of the veteran members rotated off the board. He said the focus is on recruiting new members that reflect the diversity of the county. He said the report lists many activities from last year, and there have been several events so far in 2013, such as Human Relations Month and the Pauli Murray Awards. He said there have been many events around the community celebrating the 150th anniversary of the emancipation proclamation. He said this was an excellent way to engage school age children. He said there continues to be work, through a subcommittee, on building integrated communities and engaging immigrant communities in the county. He said that this is played out through engaging organizations that work with immigrants. He said the goal is to recruit additional members from the immigrant community to the Human Relations Commission. He said the board has been engaged in some tenants' rights issues and in helping low income renters understand their rights. This was done in partnership with law students and Justice United. He said the board has a low profile role and hopes to facilitate issues being brought forward to the attention of the Board. He discussed a new subcommittee on the collateral consequences of having a criminal record. He noted the work being done to educate employers and to educate citizens on how to re-establish themselves. He encouraged the Board to continue to use the 5 established social justice goals. Chair Jacobs noted that there are three new commissioners that are not familiar with the social justice goals and he asked Tara Fikes to coordinate a session to educate them on these goals. Commissioner Gordon asked about the women's issues being pursued by the HRC, and who on the Commission was interested in those issues.