Minutes 10-20-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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He said the grant is intended to cover 100% of the cost but the State allows a fare to be collected on these trips as well. He said he is unsure how the collected fares are allocated against the operating costs. Commissioner Price referred to page 18 where it stated that "transportation as a priority was number 20 out of 26 in the Board of County Commissioners' goals and priorities". She suggested that the Board review this going forward and possibly rank transportation more highly. Chair McKee referred to the organizational options and expressed confusion around the logic of moving transportation to Asset Management Services (AMS). Frank Fravel said in some counties it is included in a public works or public works and transportation department. He said AMS seems to be the closest fit to such a department. Commissioner Jacobs said the question of where transportation belongs has been floated around for years. He said Frank Fravel's comments about the lack of staff devoted to marketing and the low profile system were very interesting and he sees this as a key gap. He said it might be a good time to make a decision as to how transportation should be structured. He said he interpreted the study to say that this system has matured enough to be a stand- alone department. Commissioner Pelissier agreed with Commissioner Jacobs and she read the report to say that there is an adolescent transportation department that needs to grow up. She said since transportation has to interface with so many departments, it would be easier for it to be a stand-alone entity. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the Manager had any thoughts. Bonnie Hammersley said the discussions with Mebane are ongoing. She said in regards to silos, talks continue with Go Triangle regarding fare boxes; and she continues to talk with Chapel Hill as well. She said there are areas for collaboration as opposed to merger that are being worked on. She said staff is using the report before the Board as a baseline. Bonnie Hammersley agreed that transportation is a system that could potentially stand on its own. She said the Planning Department has done a wonderful job at overseeing transportation, but Planning is regulatory and OPT is customer service. Bonnie Hammersley said one of the Human Services team's functions is to look at the unmet transportation needs. Bonnie Hammersley said organizational changes could move forward during the budget of 2016-17. She said the vacant planning position might be addressed prior to the budget process. b. Orange County Detention Center Project Update The Board considered receiving an update on the progress of the Detention Center and providing feedback on the schematic design to staff and the designer. Jeff Thompson, Orange County Asset Management Services Director, introduced Dan Mace of Moseley Architects. Dan Mace made the following PowerPoint presentation: Orange County Detention Center Progress Update Presentation Board of Orange County Commissioners Regular Meeting Southern Human Services Center Chapel Hill, North Carolina October 20, 2015