Minutes 04-27-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 etc. He said he and Chair Dorosin worked diligently with Durham on the Cost Share Agreement to avoid such a scenario, and the Durham County Commissioners listened. He said this is a university rail line, and adding North Carolina Central University (NCCU) changed the percentage of what Durham was getting, and Orange County has the fewest miles, the least number of stations and the least economic advantage. He said this plan had to work for both counties and GoTriangle. Commissioner Jacobs said he thinks the plan is now in a good place, and the BOCC has tried to protect Orange County's financial interest. He said two other items were promised to the voters in 2012, with the first being the Hillsborough train station, which is still intact and will be the first thing that Orange County will see as part of this project. Commissioner Jacobs said the County must fund buses as much as possible, as bus service was the second item promised in 2012. He said there is some indication that other monies can be found within the new executive transportation administration of the state. Commissioner Jacobs said there is a basic principle here, that this community is larger than just Orange County, and there is something to be said in being able to work with one's neighbors towards the greater common good, and this project is a way to do that. He said not all decisions are clear-cut, but the world requires little leaps of faith at certain times. He said if Orange County is fiscally protected, he is willing to take a leap of faith. Commissioner Jacobs thanked Chair Dorosin for his work on the negotiations, as well as Commissioner Wendy Jacobs and Ellen Reckhow from Durham County. He said he trusts that if concerns arise, the County's partners will work through them, and he hoped the County could build the same level of trust with GoTriangle. He thanked Orange County staff, especially Travis Myren, GoTriangle staff, and John Roberts. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price to delay a decision until further negotiations can occur between Orange County, Durham County and GoTriangle; to replace the language contained in item #15 of the current Cost Share Agreement pertaining to mediation and arbitration, and replace it with language used in the Cost Share Agreement seen on April 20th Commissioner McKee said GoTriangle needed a decision by April 30th not April 27th He said he is convinced, that without this language change in Item 15, the BOCC will be severely limited in controlling its own destiny. He said the language contained in item #15 speaks to arbitration, which leads to a panel making the decisions, not the BOCC. He said the language from the April 20th iteration of the Cost Sharing Agreement allows for good faith efforts to reach an agreement about cost overruns, or undesignated funding shortfalls, and allows either BOCC to vote to withdraw from the agreement, and amend its transit plan accordingly. Commissioner McKee said he prefers this language as it does not allow for easy or immediate withdrawal, but allows an option for withdrawal. He said the language proposed this evening does not allow for consensus, because Durham County and GoTriangle refuse to discuss making this linguistic change. He said item #15 may be used in business or other scenarios, but he feels that Orange County must have a way to maintain control over its own destiny. Commissioner Jacobs said he had some of the same concerns as Commissioner McKee about protecting Orange County's interest, and he called Durham County out on it yesterday. He said Orange County's concerns about protecting its own interests were mischaracterized as unilateral withdrawal, which was never the intent. He said he spoke with GoTriangle staff and two Durham County Commissioners, and he feels confident that if all partners are acting in good faith, then progress can continue. He said Durham County has