Agenda - 10-17-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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7 1 • Members of the Orange County community expressed, during the 2016 Affordable 2 Housing Bond discussions, the importance of intergovernmental collaboration as a way 3 to maximize public funds for affordable housing purposes. 4 • Elected officials at a recent Assembly of Governments Meeting indicated an interest in 5 having the staff and HOME Program Review Committee expand its scope to include 6 broader discussions about the County's affordable housing issues, as well as seek to 7 create collaborative strategies and solutions as it relates to affordable housing issues. 8 Recommendation for Consideration 9 Approve the resolution in Attachment 1 to expand the scope of the HOME Program Review 10 Committee's role and form the "Orange County Local Government Affordable Housing 11 Collaborative" to allow for broader discussions on the County's affordable housing issues, 12 including the creation of collaborative strategies and solutions. 13 14 Commissioner Price said this is a consortium, and asked if the consortium can review 15 the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. 16 Sherrill Hampton said this could be included in the broader discussion. 17 Commissioner Price asked if data could be compiled on the amount of local and other 18 dollars that are leveraged when using federal dollars. 19 Chair Dorosin clarified that the committee is now staffed by Orange County Housing, 20 and has one representative from the Towns and the County. 21 Sherrill Hampton said yes. She said the Carrboro elected official position is currently 22 vacant, but the Assistant Town Manager participates. 23 Chair Dorosin asked if the four elected members are the voting members. 24 Sherrill Hampton said she believes staff makes recommendations, and the committee 25 votes. She said she will verify this information. 26 Chair Dorosin said this is a great idea, and he believes the consortium is underutilized. 27 He said this is a structure that is already in place to address issues, and defining more structure 28 and specific outcomes is good. 29 Chair Dorosin said he spoke to one of their colleagues in Carrboro, and suggested 30 adding an Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) board member and staff member to 31 this group. He asked for the Board's feedback on this suggestion. 32 Commissioner Price agreed with this suggestion, especially if the group is going to be 33 looking at CDBG funds. She asked if Hillsborough water should also be included. 34 Chair Dorosin said the Town of Hillsborough oversees that water, and its existing 35 representative in the group is likely sufficient. 36 Commissioner Marcoplos clarified whether the BOCC is saying it wants an OWASA 37 representative, or if the BOCC is asking OWASA to consider being part of the group. 38 Chair Dorosin said he would like the BOCC to invite OWASA to be a part of this group. 39 Commissioner Jacobs said OWASA has repeatedly resisted this position, and he would 40 support inviting OWASA to participate, leaving the choice to OWASA. 41 Commissioner Jacobs said Hillsborough water is intertwined with the Town. 42 Commissioner Marcoplos said it would be good to invite OWASA to participate. 43 Commissioner Jacobs said one way to initiate a conversation is to ask OWASA to 44 present to the BOCC at some point. 45 Chair Dorosin suggested inviting OWASA, and asked Sherrill Hampton on how to 46 proceed. 47 Sherrill Hampton said she would recommend that staff speak to the other staff, as well 48 as the Chair send a letter to other elected boards suggesting this invitation. She said if 49 OWASA does not want to participate, it could present updates to the BOCC periodically.