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?l <br />with the Town of Hillsborough about contributions to the library. He thinks the report is right on <br />the money. He agrees that there should be a presence in dow ntown, but this space is <br />inadequate. He is embarrassed at the level of services provided, in comparison with other <br />counties that are not as resourceful as Orange County. <br />Commissioner Carey sai d that he appreciates that the first recommendation is a long- <br />range plan. He thanked the tas k force. <br />Commissioner Brown said that one group that has put the need for Ii braries in Orange <br />County always in the forefront is the Friends of the Carrboro Library. When she read the report <br />she thought about what the visi on is of the Board of County Commissioners. She has always <br />felt that the County should increase the contribution to the Chapel Hill Library. She would like <br />for Chapel Hi II to see it as a collaborative effort wi th the County. She would also I ike the school <br />systems to be more collaborative. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that it was fair to say that the County C ommissioners are <br />committed to quality of life issues, and the library is one of those. The Boar d will take the <br />recommendations very seriously. <br />Chair Jacobs said that there has been a lot of collaboration. H e noted that Carrboro, <br />who in the past has been rather stingy in its contributions, has stepped up wonderfully with the <br />Cybrary and has been a complete partner in funding. He agrees that Hill sborough needs to <br />decide how serious it is about library services. He has always thought that there should be a <br />branch library and a heritage center in downtown Hillsborough. He thinks the Board can start to <br />look at this in terms of space needs and tal k about who is goi ng to work on the long-range plan. <br />John Link confirmed that the Board wanted to have this as an item for discussion on <br />October 25th as part of the discussion of looking at the funding policy for capital. He said that, if <br />you take 40,000 square feet for a proposed library, not taking into ac count where it would be, <br />and multiplied it by $150 per square foot, it would be $6 million. <br />8. Public Hearings <br />a. Orange County Hazard Mitigation Plan - Public Hearing and Decision <br />The Board held a public hearing and considered adoption of the Orange County Hazard <br />Mitigation Plan and directing staff to submit it to the State in compliance with the November 1, <br />2004 deadline. <br />Planning Director Craig Benedict introduced Per dita Holtz, Planner in the Planning <br />Department, who has been heading up thi s project for about a year and working with the towns <br />and Emergency Management Services. <br />Perdita Holtz said this is a joint effort with the Towns of Carrboro and Hill sborough. She <br />said that local hazard mitigation plans are required by federal legis lation passed in 2000, and <br />also in North Carolina legislation that was passed i n 2001. If a jurisdiction wants to be eligible <br />for post-hazard public assistance funding, an approved hazard mitigation plan is required to be <br />on file. A plan previously came before the Board in 2002 and was adopted in June 2002. <br />Subsequently, FEMA issued new criteria for hazard mitigati on plans and the submission <br />deadline is now November 1, 2004. The Orange County Hazard Mitigation Team has been <br />working with state reviewers to incorporate revisions, and there is preliminary approval from the <br />state. The staff is asking that the Board hold the public hearing and consider adoption of the <br />plan. <br />Public Comment: <br />NONE