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34 <br /> Commissioner McKee made a friendly amendment in that he could support <br /> Commissioner Jacobs' proposed language if he removed "a large" majority and "Our support <br /> for light rail has not wavered." <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he would take out the word "large," but not the next <br /> statement about the Board's unwavering support. <br /> Commissioner McKee withdrew his friendly amendment. <br /> VOTE: Ayes, 5 (Chair Dorosin, Commissioner Jacobs, Commissioner Rich, Commissioner <br /> Marcoplos); Nays, 2 (Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Price) <br /> MOTION PASSES <br /> John Roberts said he sent the Board some language, which he read: <br /> 4. Entry into this MOU shall not relieve any parties to the Interlocal Implementation Agreement <br /> for the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan, or the Interlocal Agreement for Cost <br /> Sharing for LRT Rail Project of their responsibilities to re-examine those agreements and those <br /> agreements shall be re-examined within six five months of the date of adoption of this MOU; <br /> 5. nor shall Orange County's approval of this MOU be utilized by any party to signal that <br /> Orange County has expressed any willingness or intent to commit additional funds to the DO- <br /> LRT Project beyond the funds previously committed through approval of the Orange County <br /> Board of Commissioners. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Rich to <br /> adopt the proposed "non-binding" memorandum of understanding with John Roberts' <br /> suggested language, with the modification of five months instead of six months and, if <br /> approved, authorize the Chair to sign the document. <br /> Commissioner McKee said no one wants to be the one to stop the train, but this MOU <br /> creates an expectation. He said every month this project moves forward, funds are expended, <br /> and it becomes increasingly difficult to back off. He said Orange County will be responsible for <br /> at least 25% of costs, if the Board goes forward. He said life causes changes, and noted a <br /> letter from Duke Heath, which voiced major concerns with the project. He said he understands <br /> UNC's support of the project, but says UNC is moving 1,100 jobs out of Chapel Hill. He said <br /> UNC also has a hospital in Hillsborough, which is nowhere near a light rail line. He said Duke <br /> and UNC are developing clinics throughout the area, none of which are on the light rail line. <br /> He said the economic development will only occur in Durham. <br /> Commissioner McKee noted GoTriangle's statement that no funds are being asked for <br /> at this time, but noted further down in the statement that Orange and Durham counties <br /> understand by their actions, that they will "incur costs not anticipated." He said this is as clear <br /> as day that there will be additional costs. He said there is an understanding at large that if the <br /> County backs out now, it will lose all funds already committed. He said this is not his <br /> understanding based on information from GoTriangle, and he asked if this could be clarified: if <br /> the project does not proceed and falls out of the New Starts Program, but gets back in at some <br /> point in the future, what costs would not be eligible for reimbursement from the FTA. He said it <br /> is his understanding that if the project falls out of the New Starts program, and is reinstated at <br /> a later date, the funds spent during the time between are all that would be ineligible for <br />