Minutes 03-03-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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He questioned whether the County should look at owning their own properties that will accept the section 8 vouchers. He said this can be done in partnership with non-profits. He said he has talked with people having issues with manufactured housing too. He suggested the idea of cooperatively owned parks or publicly owned facilities to serve the people with the most need. He hopes the Board can work with everyone present tonight to begin innovating with new and creative strategies to address the gaps. Commissioner Rich said it is important to work with their local government partners too. She would like to know more about the previously mentioned long wait times for urgent repair issues. She agreed with Commissioner porosin that it is time to begin thinking outside of the box, especially in the face of reduced federal funding. She said it may be time to look at some best practices from other states. Commissioner Pelissier echoed Commissioner Rich's comments about working with their government partners. She said she has asked at past joint meetings about the 80 acres of the green tract, which is jointly owned by Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Orange County. She is interested in looking at ways to do something different with at least some portions of that land. Commissioner Jacobs said he agrees with most of what has been said. He particularly supports Commissioner porosin's thoughts regarding manufactured housing. He said the Board has talked about land banking for awhile, to create community opportunities and alternative options for people at the mercy of mobile home park operators. Commissioner Jacobs said the plan also talks about continued dialogue with the university regarding issues that affect affordable rental opportunities in the area. He suggests taking this a step further, and he would like an update from the manager at a future meeting regarding this partnership. Chair McKee said manufactured housing, and particularly modular homes, do provide opportunities for affordable housing, especially if you own the land. Chair McKee asked Hudson Vaughn to contact the manager's office with the name of the person he mentioned in his earlier comments. A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to close the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS d. Oranqe County's Proposed 2015 Leqislative Aqenda The Board considered 1) conducting a public hearing on Orange County's potential legislative items for the 2015 North Carolina General Assembly Session; 2) closing the public hearing and reviewing and discussing the Legislative Issues Work Group's (LIWG) proposed 2015 legislative package and any other potential items for inclusion in Orange County's legislative agenda package for the 2015 North Carolina General Assembly Session; 3) approving the proposed legislative matters resolution on Statewide Issues; and 4) identifying three to five specific items from the entire package to highlight for priority discussion at the March 23, 2015 meeting with Orange County's legislative delegation. Greg Wilder gave some background information. He noted that Commissioner Rich and Commissioner Pelissier were the two Commissioners who served on the Legislative Issues Work Group. He said the proposals from the work group are listed on attachment 2 of the abstract. Commissioner Pelissier highlighted Items 18 and 19 on page 11 of attachment 2, which were added after suggestions and petitions from Board members and the public. These items read as follows: