Agenda - 11-17-2015 - 6a - Minutes

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2 1 2014. County staff will brief the Orange County Board of County Commissioners no later than 2 December 7th with regard to the progress of the 203 S. Greensboro study. 3 Jeff Thompson said similar themes emerged in all feedback provided to the Managers 4 by the Town and the County. He said those themes are: 5 1) acknowledgment of the site's potential for a southern branch library 6 2) opportunities and challenges of an urban library site with downtown Carrboro 7 3) vehicular parking, management and capacity 8 4) potential for mixed uses on the property 9 5) options for site control for Orange County and Carrboro for collaboration 10 Trish McQuire referred to the point about site control, saying there is interest in looking 11 at options for funding from outside sources. 12 Mayor Lavelle said she was aware of a grant that NCCU School of Law was seeking. 13 She said it is a grant to create virtual judicial offices in public libraries across North Carolina, 14 and said this proposed library was one of the sites. 15 Alderman Gist said it is not possible to dig under this site, because there is granite 16 underneath. She said the minute that Carrboro bought this land as a parking lot, it has been 17 filled. She said the effect of taking this away from their small local businesses must be 18 considered. She said co-location must be taken off the table. She said the citizens of Carrboro 19 do not support co-location at all. 20 Alderman Slade said he hoped an opportunity to support a site for co-location could be 21 found. He offered the suggestion of the co-location of the Cat's Cradle as opposed to the Arts 22 Center. He said the Cat's Cradle has been looking for another space in Town. He encouraged 23 the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to think collaboratively with Carrboro about this 24 possibility. 25 Alderman Haven O'Donnell agreed with Alderman Slade, and said their Board would 26 entertain a discussion about co-location with the Cat's Cradle, which is a beloved and 27 successful local business. She said the Cat's Cradle is only seeking 10,000 square feet. She 28 said if the library project moves forward at this location, there will need to be a parking plan for 29 the downtown businesses. She said creative parking plans for this site were floated several 30 years ago, and she thinks the conversation is worth having and pursuing. 31 Mayor Lavelle said the Arts Center and Kidzu presented an elaborate co-location plan, 32 and her takeaway was that the public was not ready to support the project in the way it was 33 presented. She said the organizations were told to go back to the drawing board. She said she 34 does not want to forget these groups, but the Board of Aldermen was clear that the library 35 process was not to be slowed down. She agreed parking is a huge concern. 36 Jackie Gist said the people who spoke in favor of an Arts Center co-location were part of 37 that Center. 38 Chair McKee said the idea of a southern branch of the library has been years in the 39 making, and nothing is simple about this process. He added that Orange County is committed 40 to finding a site that is workable for all. He said almost all of the sites considered thus far have 41 had issues. He encouraged both staffs to continue to work together. 42 43 2. Rogers Road Updates 44 a) Rogers Road Sewer Line— County and Town Perspectives 45 Bonnie Hammersley said Travis Myren has been participating on the project team, and 46 he would give an update on the schedule. 47 Travis Myren said the sewer extension is underway, and earlier this summer the County 48 executed two contracts to move this forward. He said the first contract was with Orange Water 49 and Sewer Authority (OWASA) and drawings for the design work are expected in a few weeks. 50 He said the easement acquisition process would also begin, kicking off with a community