Agenda - 12-07-2015 - 6-a - Minutes

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15 1 Commissioner Rich said it sounds like there is already a group from the OUTBoard that 2 are discussing this topic and asked if Heidi Perry could confirm. 3 Heidi Perry said when the report was put together in June, a sub-committee of the 4 OUTBoard and residents was formed. She said this is doable again. 5 Commissioner Rich said this should be a continuing committee to help achieve some of 6 their proposed goals and to create an action plan. 7 Heidi Perry said it may be helpful to have some data to support generalizations and 8 suggested bringing in Highway Patrol. 9 Commissioner Rich said the OUTBoard already has a sub-committee and to re-convene 10 it. She said it is important to have some sort of funding mechanism for this issue and 11 suggested that the subcommittee bring back a recommendation. 12 Commissioner Dorosin said a subcommittee of the OUTBoard would be just members of 13 the OUTBoard and he suggested adding more members of the community. 14 Commissioner Dorosin referred to the Manager not recommending a task force and said 15 he believes there are things the Board can do, including a more specific resolution. He said 16 the specific items on the abstract should be put in the resolution. He said having some 17 designated bike trails is something the County could do, providing other places for people to 18 ride. He said more funding could be put into the roads, more than just a sign. He said law 19 enforcement could monitor certain trouble areas. He said there could be a more 20 comprehensive approach and to bring the different partners together through a sub-committee 21 or committee. 22 Commissioner Price said the Board charged the OUTBoard to look at this issue last 23 year, and she seeks to continue the conversation. She said the subcommittee could include 24 community members. 25 Bonnie Hammersley said when the petition came last year the issue arose that the 26 OUTBoard cannot appoint outside members, but the BOCC can appoint other citizens outside 27 of the group. She said the BOCC could create a charge to help the task force to succeed, 28 staying within the areas where the County has authority. 29 Commissioner Rich said citizens came to the OUTBoard's previous committee 30 meetings. 31 Bonnie Hammersley said those citizens were not appointed to the committee, but rather 32 the citizens just attended. 33 John Roberts said one of the charges for the OUTBoard is to solicit information from the 34 public, and that is acceptable without formal appointment. 35 Commissioner Pelissier said some boards hold community forums for specific issues 36 and encouraged the OUTBoard to continue this discussion. She said there is a lot of 37 community discussion about enforcement. She said she would urge OUTBoard to look not only 38 at enforcement, with the exception of legislative issues. 39 John Roberts asked if the BOCC is seeking for the legislature to apply laws to bicyclists. 40 Commissioner Pelissier said not necessarily. She said she is interested in hearing what 41 the public would suggest the BOCC consider as a legislative issue. 42 John Roberts said the North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) does include bicycles 43 and they are subject to same laws as motorists, where applicable. 44 Commissioner Pelissier said the State had a concerted effort regarding pedestrian 45 safety and maybe the same can be done with bicyclists. 46 Commissioner Pelissier said there are long-term plans for bicycle lanes in the rural 47 areas of the County, but they are far out and are expensive. She said the State has cut funding 48 for pedestrian and bike projects this year, and bike lanes are too costly for the County to 49 consider.