Agenda - 11-05-2015 - 6-a - Minutes

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14 1 Donna Champointe said she supports funding for affordable housing in the bond. 2 Commissioner Price thanked the community for their comments on the bond. 3 Commissioner Dorosin applauded the organized advocacy of the public, and noted he 4 had been pushing hard for affordable housing funding in the proposed bond. He said he 5 previously felt that $5 million should be allocated to affordable housing, but now feels a higher 6 amount may be possible based on updated information from staff. He said there will likely need 7 to be a balance of getting funds from both the CIP and the bond. He said there is a compelling 8 case for all needs to be funded, and he feels $10 million would be appropriate for affordable 9 housing. 10 Commissioner Rich said she agreed with Commissioner Dorosin. She also thanked the 11 affordable housing community for working together to advocate on behalf of the needs of 12 Orange County. She said that increasing the bond to allot $10 million for affordable housing 13 seems very manageable and hopes that some of that money could be dedicated to seniors. 14 Commissioner Pelissier said she is heartened to see the public recognizing the 15 interconnection between the needs within the County. She said the schools need far more than 16 $125 million. She said bond funds are not the only way to address capital needs, and she 17 encouraged the public to stay involved as the BOCC goes through the CIP on a yearly basis. 18 Commissioner Burroughs said the Poet Laureate set the tone for the evening. She said 19 Democracy should be a process of working together to move the County forward. She said the 20 bond funds would only meet half of the schools needs. She said she looked at the CIP and 21 concludes that there are some flexible funds available to address other needs, but those funds 22 appear to be in the out years. She said that may be too far away, and more discussion may be 23 necessary to see how the CIP could provide more funds. She said she supports funding for 24 both the schools and affordable housing through a combination of the bond and CIP, but is 25 uncomfortable going to $135 million solely through the bond. 26 Commissioner Jacobs said it has been really heartening to see so many people come 27 forward to move the BOCC to include affordable housing in the bond package. He said he is 28 hopeful that this will happen. He said this bond is the "goldilocks" package, it must be neither 29 too hot nor too cold; it must be just right. He said the bond package must be as inclusive as 30 possible. 31 Chair McKee said the Board is trying to get it just right. He said the first bond discussion 32 was held in 2013, and regardless of how the needs are addressed, they must be addressed 33 and this will cost money. He said little money has been spent on the schools in the last 10 34 years. He said the bond conversation ramped up in early 2015 with a preliminary vote of intent 35 to focus on the schools in April. He said the BOCC could have conducted a final vote at that 36 time, but did not do so in order to include Commissioner Dorosin as well as give the public a 37 chance to comment on the needs of the County. He said the BOCC has received several 38 hundred emails, has listened to all public comments, and has considered the issues very 39 carefully. He said he has been convinced of the need for both schools and affordable housing. 40 Chair McKee said he has asked the Manager to put together a comprehensive master 41 plan for the needs of seniors. He said he is uncomfortable going to $135 million for the bond. 42 Commissioner Dorosin asked if$130 million would a possible option. 43 Chair McKee said he would prefer to stay at $125 million. 44 Commissioner Price proposed a big picture approach to the issue. She said there 45 should be a $125 million bond that would be allocated as follows: 46 • $120 million for the capital needs of OCS and CHCCS, allocating 40 percent to OCS and 60 47 percent to CHCCS. 48 • $5 million for affordable housing based on a plan developed and administered by the 49 Orange County Housing, Human Rights, and Community Development Department and