Minutes 01-27-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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22 postpone projects for a year or two, but the project remains even if it is something no longer as important as something else that has come up or if it was based on a commitment made by a previous Board that this Board is not as committed to. Maybe they should have a real review of the projects, with an opportunity to reprioritize according to what the current Board really wanted to accomplish. Maybe they will need to free up more flexible money to enable them to deal with the holes that are going to open up. Maybe they can have a Plan A that lays out how they would like to expend their capital dollars if they can, and a Plan B that enables them to reconsider expenditures in six months. Their fund balance gives them a little flexibility, but its size is set before they even know what they are going to need. Bonnie Hammersley said that the structure is in place to do the CIP as Commissioner Jacobs was suggesting. They can do it that way but they don't. There are budget policies they can put in place to protect themselves. In another county she worked in there were so many uncertainties that they did not make capital expenditures in the first quarter of any fiscal year, for example. They also can take a look at the relationship between the operating and capital budgets. As Manager, she can control the CIP better than she can control the operating budget. She can hold back on bond financing when she needs to. They might take a look at how they do "pay as you go" funding. They can bring some tools back to the Board and they can give us further direction. Commissioner Jacobs recalled that he voted against buying the parking deck a few years back because it was presented in the spring. This was during the recession, and he thought they should understand how the purchase fit into the CIP. Commissioner Jacobs suggested the old Chapel Hill Town Hall be added to the Manager's list of potential additional issues. Commissioner Marcoplos noted the community's water supply is about 90% within our borders. This is a fortune and unique circumstance, and has enabled them to ensure that it is one of the cleanest water supplies in the nation. But they hear occasionally about the General Assembly tinkering with different jurisdictions. If a company needs water and the supply is not available then the legislature just makes it so the company can run the supply from another watershed. What would they do if a statewide drought took place and the legislature tried to take their water. Chair Dorosin said that he is concerned about the growing intolerance towards people of color, the LGBT community, Muslims, and other excluded groups. They think of themselves as a tolerant community, but he also thinks there is going to be increasing volatility between their residents. How do they talk about that, about racial equity, about protecting diverse residents, how their schools are engaging around these issues. These questions are vital. They need to be prepared for this component of the storm. And it is already happening. Commissioner Burroughs asked what the status is of local sanctuary jurisdictions. Commissioner Rich said that Carrboro calls itself a sanctuary city, but the Board of Aldermen has not passed anything. Commissioner Jacobs said that the federal government has not defined the term. The county passed a resolution years ago. Commissioner Marcoplos said he would like to understand better what authority the federal government has to take away local funds in the context of immigration issues. Commissioner Rich said some local faith congregations are considering themselves to be sanctuaries. Even if the county does do not identify itself as a sanctuary County, there are many places within the county that consider themselves sanctuaries. It is not clear how that fits into the federal, legal language. Commissioner Jacobs said the local governments in this county take each other for granted. They say we have the same values and stand together, but they don't put all of our umbrellas together so we all stay dry. One of the examples we as a Board can set for the larger community is to stand together with our fellow local governments. He said they almost never