Agenda - 10-20-2015 - 6a - Minutes

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7 1 diminish; our vision and hearing lose the acuity we once had. The reality is that we no 2 longer experience large numbers of accidental deaths, we are outliving disease; to be 3 replaced by a very gradual decline in function; during which time we will see an ever 4 increasing demand in public services. 5 EMS will become a major provider of in home support. Public transit will become 6 an on demand, customized, through the door service. Senior Centers will need to be 7 reconfigured to accommodate increasing numbers of participants and satellite locations 8 are already needed for the north-east, north-west, and south-west portions of the 9 County. The stress this increase places on an already challenged system from DSS to 10 the Department on Aging, the Sheriff's Office & EMS is already felt and will require novel 11 solutions. 12 Again, the message we have for you today is that the demands of the senior 13 population are clearly growing faster than that of the schools, and if we ignore this 14 emerging reality and fail to make the capital investments now, we will be placing 15 everyone in the county at risk. 16 We urge you to reconsider how the bond referendum is earmarked. 17 Beverly Blythe provided a hand out, incorporated here by reference. 18 Ree Ree Wei, high school student, said she supported adding affordable housing 19 on the bond referendum. She said she has personally benefitted from affordable 20 housing. She said if it had not been available, her family would not have a home that 21 affords her a safe place to live, and a quiet place to study. She said good schools must 22 be combined with good housing for children to achieve success. 23 Brian Curran, former Chapel Hill Police Chief, asked the Board to include an 24 affordable housing component in the bond referendum. He said the lion's share should 25 go to the schools, but to consider a portion for affordable housing. He said safe housing 26 and a good education go hand in hand. He said bond funds have been used for 27 affordable housing in the past, building close to 100 homes. He said federal funding for 28 affordable housing is shrinking rapidly. He thanked the Board for their ongoing 29 commitment to affordable housing. 30 Alex Castro, Advisory Board on Aging, said school needs are clear, but the 31 County has other needs as well. He asked for support for seniors, affordable housing, 32 and parks in the bond referendum. 33 Katherine Leith said she is here in support for seniors, and affordable housing in 34 the proposed bond referendum. 35 Jen Ferris said she is President of the Board of Directors for the Community 36 Home Trust, and she also lives in affordable housing. She is here to ask the Board to 37 support affordable housing in the bond, specifically $10 million. 38 Kelli Thomas said she is a member of the Board of Directors of Habitat for 39 Humanity, and she asked for the Board's support for affordable housing in the bond. She 40 is a former teacher and fully supports funds going to the public schools, but added that 41 good schools cannot be effective if the students do not have safe, clean and affordable 42 housing. 43 Mary Jean Seyda said she is part of the Orange County Affordable Housing 44 Coalition and is here to ask the Board of County Commissioners to support affordable 45 housing in the proposed bond. She asked Orange County to join Carrboro and Chapel 46 Hill in their efforts to dedicate funding to affordable housing. She said funding would 47 allow agencies to plan and move forward with housing, as well as take advantage of real 48 estate opportunities as they arise. 49 Tish Galu said she is here to support affordable housing in the proposed bond 50 referendum for the health and well being of Orange County residents. She said it is