Agenda - 05-05-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Town Council Member Cianciolo said he came out of the council meeting feeling like he 2 could go with either option. He said the SWCC equity issue does not concern him very much, 3 and he can make an argument that these are a valued asset for the entire County. He said it is 4 important to work together more, and he noted that there are 75 percent more citizens living in 5 the City of Durham than there are in the whole of Orange County, and there is also competition 6 with things happening at the state level. He said the council members would have to sell the 7 single fee option to residents if that is what is chosen. 8 He said a recent report listed Orange County as the healthiest county in the state. He 9 said having people drive less frequently to drop off their trash should have a positive effect on 10 the environment, and this is one of the things that can be discussed in convincing the 11 community of the value. He has no objections to the single fee with option 2. 12 Alderman Seils said this is an opportunity to do something positive for all residents in 13 Orange County. He said this will expand recycling and do something everyone can feel good 14 about. He said it is important to create opportunities to participate in the program, and the feels 15 the two tier program is divisive. He is supportive of the flat fee option. 16 Town Council Member Palmer asked Alderman Chaney about her earlier comment and 17 how people would be saving money. 18 Alderman Chaney said she based this on the information on the spreadsheet attached 19 to their agenda abstract. 20 Gayle Wilson said there are some winners and losers in this process. He said single 21 family homeowners in the towns will be paying less than the rural areas, but the urban multi - 22 family will be paying more. He read through these numbers from the chart. 23 Gayle Wilson said generally the single family homes are paying less and non - residential 24 and multi - family dwellings will be paying more. 25 Town Council Member Palmer said she did not study the chart well enough to see the 26 cost savings, and she feels that her Council needs to discuss this further. She expressed 27 appreciation for this discussion. 28 Mayor Kleinschmidt said this has been a good discussion, and it has given everyone a 29 chance to talk about what they care about most. He said it is possible to be respectful of the 30 differing views and recognize the value of the principles that everyone brings to these 31 conversations, and this will lead to a more satisfying outcome. 32 Mayor Kleinschmidt said the Chapel Hill Town Council has some things to talk about. 33 He does not see any difference in these two options creating barriers, and he would appreciate 34 hearing how option 1 creates barriers to the larger goal. He does have concerns about the 35 County's general waste stream being funded disproportionately from this fee. He would like to 36 see his colleagues continue to provide comments and perspective. 37 Chair McKee said this has been the best AOG meeting he has attended in the last five 38 years. He said the points have been well stated and respectful. He said the County has a 39 great recycling program now, and everyone in the room wants to make it better. He said he 40 originally thought this goal could not be reached, but he sees now that the target will be 41 reached, and possibly exceeded. 42 Chair McKee said some good points were made about the convenience centers, and he 43 thinks the center on Eubanks Road is going to provide a better service. 44 Chair McKee said he is supportive of the single fee. He said there is no way to make it 45 fair for every person in the County, but this is a good place to start. 46 Town Council Member Palmer asked about the timeline going forward. 47 Bonnie Hammersley said the SWAG will be meeting on April 1 st and will make a 48 recommendation for the respective governing boards to decide on. 49 Chair McKee said the point for tonight was to lay concerns on the table. He said 50 everyone is moving into budget season, so there are decisions to be made.