Minutes 06-02-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Dorosin asked if a County sponsored apartment building were constructed on the site would it qualify as government services. Roger Waldon said yes. Commissioner Burroughs asked if the Phase one numbers match up with Year 2 in the CIP. Jeff Thompson said the CIP is showing two projects: the $4 million infrastructure project and the Southern Human Services Center expansion. He said the $4 million project is removed and approximately $2 million of those funds are applied to the Southern Human Services Center expansion. He said the balance of the funds would be spread out over Years 6-10 of the CIP. Commissioner Pelissier asked for clarification regarding transit improvements and if they must be approved by the Town Manager. Roger Waldon said improvements would be bus stops for drop off and pick-ups and the Town would want to look at the plans prior to issuing the permits for construction. Roger Waldon referred back to Commissioner Dorosin's question regarding permitted uses for the land. He said the following is permitted: "governmental uses and facilities intended to provide protective, administrative, residential, social, transit and recreational services directly to general public." Commissioner Jacobs said the site had been considered for a homeless shelter but that did not happen. He said there is still need for a general shelter and a shelter for battered women as these needs are not being met. Commissioner Jacobs said he was at the site recently with the Veterans' Memorial Committee and David Swanson, who created the original design for the Veterans' memorial. He asked if the Board should encourage the Committee to go through the outside agency process for this proposed memorial. He said the committee currently intends to raise the funds themselves but he suggested the Board should consider if there is a way to be more involved. Commissioner Price asked if there is a timeline for the construction of the dental clinic. Jeff Thompson said 2016-17, in Phase One. Commissioner Rich asked if the Senior Center were to be renovated rather than expanded, during which phase this would occur. Roger Waldon said those renovations could go forward ahead of time and not be a part of the phasing. Commissioner Rich said she would like to see the renovations move forward prior to the addition. She said the Center is wildly popular and there is a deficit of space. She would like to know the costs, timeframe, and inconvenience to the clients, etc. She added that any renovations should take into consideration the potential removal of lighting from the recreational area. Commissioner Dorosin said he is not sure that housing Information Technology here is applicable. He said it is not regularly accessed by the public and it seems a waste to place it here when other services that have heavy public interaction could be here instead. Jeff Thompson said there would be a redundant Information Technology server center that is 400 square feet or less. Commissioner Dorosin said this is very valuable real estate in Chapel Hill and even 400 additional square feet being available to human services should be a priority. Commissioner Price said when the space study was reviewed this location was a good fit for this Information Technology center. She said she sees it as more of a strategic placement. Commissioner Dorosin said the Board should think broadly about what services can be dispersed throughout the County.