Minutes 09-17-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Dorosin asked if the $3.7 million plan would be the same contribution as the $5.8 million between Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the County if Chapel Hill does not extend its ETJ and Orange County wanted to move forward. Michael Talbert said it would be close. Commissioner Dorosin referred to the question regarding funding the connections. He said the task force has come a long way in recognizing that the connections to the people's houses should be part of the reparations. He believes that the statute attached at appendix 1 D would allow the County to provide assistance for the benefit of low to moderate income persons, or for the restoration of neighborhoods and properties. He noted that this second clause does not include an income based restriction. He said that there are residents who have been living in the area for decades, and these people may not meet the narrow guidelines for funding but have been burdened by the impacts of the landfill. Commissioner Price said the task force discussions centered on the idea that the decision regarding which residents get hooked up would depend on the source of the funding. She said this is still open for discussion. Commissioner Pelissier said it sounds like there was no discussion on the task force regarding contributions from the town for the funding. She said there should have been a discussion about this, as all of this is contingent on the ETJ in Chapel Hill. Commissioner Pelissier said it sounds as if the task force did not take a position on the utility district, except that it be explored. She asked if this is correct. Commissioner Price said there were discussions regarding the district. She said there were three plans, but the decision came down to the one that is listed. She said the larger districts were very costly, involved another phase of planning, and lessened the focus on Rogers Road. Commissioner Rich said there were two utility districts that were considered. She said the idea was to bring down the per parcel cost with a larger district. She said this larger district was not well received. She said Chapel Hill is still talking about utility districts and looking at what that means. Commissioner McKee noted that he was not voicing opposition to the hook-ups. He was just trying to get clarification on this issue. Commissioner Dorosin said he believes that the advantage of the ETJ is that it will allow Chapel Hill to contribute. He proposed that the County's commitment to providing sewer to this neighborhood should not be contingent on Chapel Hill. He said if Chapel Hill is unable or unwilling to participate, this does not end the County's obligation to this community. Commissioner Dorosin referred to the question of funding. He said the County has already created funds to assist this community. He said there is a fund to pay for the connection from the main to the meter, which has been infrequently utilized. He said Orange County is putting funds out there. He said that the County could take underutilized funding and apply this to the water and sewer connections. Chair Jacobs referred to the top portion of page 7, which lists the actions taken by local government. He noted that the Solid Waste fund was allocated by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. Chair Jacobs asked about the issue that Commissioner Dorosin referred to as "preservation of neighborhood and gentrification." He asked for clarification on this recommendation. Commissioner Price said this issue had not been fully addressed. She said there was a recommendation for all three boards to continue consideration of this. She said RENA would also be working with the Jackson Center. Michael Talbert said this information can be found on page 24 of the report, under gentrification. He said this was a late addition, but there was consensus to add it.