Orange County NC Website
Approved 9/15/10 <br />3 <br />2. A board of staff members from agencies (Department of Social Services, Department of Health, Mental Health, 109 <br />and the Department of Aging) that represent populations North Carolina requires to be represented on transit 110 <br />advisory boards and a citizens transportation advisory board (the OUTBoard). The staff board would 111 <br />recommend business of Orange Public Transportation to the OUTBoard, which would then make a 112 <br />recommendation to the BOCC. 113 <br />3. Some hybrid of the two boards, with the Transportation Services Board as a subgroup of the OUTBoard. 114 <br /> 115 Motion: Randy Marshall made a motion that the OUTBoard not support merger at this time, given there seems to be 116 <br />a consensus that the Boards have two different functions and a specific plan is not available regarding how the 117 <br />merged Board would operate. He also noted there would be no cost savings in merging the two boards. 118 <br /> 119 <br />Seconded by Mary Bobbitt-Cooke. 120 121 <br />Jeff Charles cast the only dissenting vote, stating the Board’s action did not recommend one of the three scenarios 122 <br />proposed by staff, two of which he thought the board could support. The action just means that the board will have 123 <br />to reconsider this again after receiving additional guidance from the BOCC. 124 <br /> 125 <br />Vote: Passed 6-1(Charles opposed) (Al Terry abstains) 126 <br /> 127 <br /> 128 <br />VII. Board Comments/Updates 129 <br /> 130 <br />Amy Cole gave an update on Walkable Hillsborough Day where there will be a public workshop/input session for 131 <br />Orange County’s Safe Routes to School. A community walk from CW Stanford to Cameron Park Elementary School 132 <br />will follow a potential route students could use if certain amenities could be added for safety. Safe Routes to School 133 <br />plan will outline specific projects to eliminate barriers to walking and bicycling from area neighborhoods to three 134 <br />schools. There will also be a public session for citizens to review aerial maps and give their thoughts about what 135 <br />they consider to be safe areas for walking to the three schools. Amy advised there will also be a bike rodeo for 136 <br />children. The Carolina Tarwheels will sponsor a bicycle ride that morning. She noted the police department along 137 <br />with some volunteers from Tarwheels will be helping with the bike rodeo. 138 <br /> 139 <br />Nancy Baker noted that during the public session Karen Lincoln and NCDOT will be there. 140 <br /> 141 <br />Jeff Charles advised the Board of the pending legislation regarding house bill 1686 operation of bicycles on streets 142 <br />and highways. “Bicycles riding upon a street or highway shall not ride more than 2 abreast except on paths or parts 143 <br />of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and 144 <br />reasonable movement of traffic and on a laned roadway shall ride within a single lane. Persons riding two abreast 145 <br />shall move into a single file formation as quickly as practicable when being overtaken from the rear by a faster 146 <br />moving vehicle.” Jeff noted that it is actually the worst thing to do for the safety of the cyclist and the cars because if 147 <br />there is a well contained bunch of cyclist it may be easier on a straightaway, and quicker, than it being elongated. It 148 <br />also takes away the right the bicyclist currently has to the full lane. It raises the issue about the status for accidents. 149 <br />Jeff advised he believe this is the wrong way to handle the problem. 150 <br /> 151 <br />Craig Benedict noted it could be brought to the advisory board and it could be funneled through Karen Lincoln for 152 <br />presentation to the BOCC. 153 <br /> 154 <br />Jeff Charles noted that there may be a need for the law but it is poorly written and mean-spirited. 155 <br /> 156 <br />Karen Lincoln advised the Board that the BOCC is still reviewing the board and commissions and has put out a call to 157 <br />try to get volunteers to apply. One change being considered is any of the commissioners could come to any of the 158 <br />boards rather than having a liaison designated. There will be a template to inform the Commissioners of the past 159 <br />yearly activity of the advisory boards and the boards must develop a work plan each year that incorporates the goals 160 <br />of the BOCC. 161 <br /> 162