Agenda - 02-07-2017 - 6-a - Minutes

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23 1 The County will not provide capital grants to outside agencies for the purpose of financing 2 facility acquisition or construction, including contributions to capital campaigns. Exceptions to 3 this general policy include the acquisition or construction of a facility owned or leased by the 4 County for the purpose of providing space to outside agencies or space provided to outside 5 agencies that were initiated by or originated as programs of County government. 6 7 The Board of Commissioners may also consider capital funding request that include a 8 repayment feature. The terms and conditions of this repayment would be approved by the 9 Board of Commissioners in a formal agreement between the County and the outside agency. 10 11 Commissioner Rich said the last paragraph of the abstract states that the general 12 sentiment is that financial policy be primarily for funding operating expenses, but there may be 13 exceptions for the BOCC's consideration, and asked if there might be times when the BOCC 14 would look at options from outside agencies. 15 Gary Donaldson said yes. 16 Chair Dorosin said Attachment 1 has two paragraphs of exceptions, and asked if Gary 17 Donaldson is now saying there may be additional exceptions. 18 Gary Donaldson apologized to Commissioner Rich, and said there would be no other 19 exceptions. 20 21 PUBLIC COMMENT: 22 Riley Ruskey mentioned several increasing costs imposed by Orange County, and said 23 the BOCC's appetite for spending the citizen's earnings is just too great. He said he supported 24 not increasing the amount. He said as a US citizen and Veteran, he requested that this policy 25 include the following statement: no County funds will be provided to any agency, organization 26 or entity that aids and abets illegal activities. He said their Orange County government should 27 not be aiding or abetting illegal activities. 28 Hathaway Pendergrass said he is the President of the Board of Directors for the Rape 29 Crisis Center. He said this Center has just embarked on a capital campaign to secure office 30 space, and allowing more options for capital needs is helpful for outside agencies. 31 Commissioner Rich asked if Hathaway Pendergrass would talk about the Center's 32 increased needs. 33 Hathaway Pendergrass said the capital campaign will help the Center expand their 34 services and staff space. He said this organization has existed for 42 years, and recently set a 35 record for most clients served in one month. He said there are more clients, and the Center is 36 seeking to expand services to address more issues. He said there is insufficient staff to fill all 37 of the educational programming that has been requested. 38 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the desired size of space and quantity of funds could be 39 identified. 40 Hathaway Pendergrass said the Center is looking to get into a space larger than 5,400 41 square feet, and is seeking to raise $1.2 million. He said the building costs $800,000, with an 42 additional $400,000 for upfitting. He said the Center is seeking $200,000 from the County with 43 additional requests going to the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. He said the Center is 44 currently in a suite of condos, and are also on a bus route. He said the new space would be in 45 the same location but with an expansion of space. 46 Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the number of people in need of services could be 47 identified, versus the number of people that the Center is capable of serving. 48 Hathaway Pendergrass said the Center serves between 500-600 people annually, and 49 they are looking to double that number going forward. He said the Center is in a very cramped 50 space, and anonymity is forfeited in this current space.