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COUNTY OF ORANGE <br /> COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT <br /> Draft Summary of Meeting September 10, 2001 <br /> Held at Orange County Southern Human Services Center, <br /> Chapel Hill , NC <br /> Members Present : Julie Tucker ( Chair) , Mark Smith , Roy Fortmann , Laura Cotterman , Johnny Randall , <br /> Hervey McIver, Dan Okun , Lee Rafalow , Chris Wachholz , Annette Jurgelski . Commissioner Alice Gordon . <br /> Excused Absences . Cara Crisler, Richard Pratt <br /> Visitors : Ben Hitchings and Barry Starfield <br /> Staff Present : David Stancil , ERCD Director ; Rich Shaw , Land Conservation Manager ; Carol Melton <br /> ERCD staff <br /> I . Call to Order . <br /> Chair Tucker called meeting to order at 7 : 40 p . m . and welcomed new member Johnny <br /> Randall . Everyone introduced himself or herself and noted which committee they are serving <br /> on . Tucker noted a change in the agenda format to promote more productivity of <br /> committee breakout sessions during regular meeting time . Stancil reported that Ben <br /> Hitchings from the Triangle J Council of Governments was on hand to provide information on <br /> the Cost of Community Services study process ongoing in Wake County . This item was <br /> added to the agenda . <br /> II . Approval of Minutes ( August 13 , 2001 ) . <br /> MOTION : Fortmann motioned approval of August 13th minutes . Seconded by Rafalow . <br /> VOTE : Unanimous . <br /> III . Cost of Community Services Studies . <br /> Tucker noted that in August the CFE postponed the item regarding Cost of Community <br /> Services ( COCS ) studies due to lack of quorum . She introduced Ben Hitchings from the <br /> Triangle J Council of Governments . Hitchings gave an overview of COCS studies , describing <br /> them as a " snapshot in time " of local government costs versus revenues associated with <br /> different types of land use . He noted that many communities are interested in knowing <br /> what different land uses are contributing to the fiscal balance in the community . <br /> Hitchings said concerns raised over whether farmers and forestland owners benefiting from <br /> the use value taxation program were contributing their share of taxes led the American <br /> Farmland Trust ( AFT ) to analyze the contributions of these lands to communities compared <br /> with the public services provided to these same land holders . AFT developed a methodology <br /> that is being used around the country . Hitchings passed out a summary of over 70 studies <br /> done in different states . <br /> Hitchings said COCS studies provide baseline information to help local officials and citizens <br /> make informed land use and policy decisions . COCS studies focus on farmland , forestland <br /> DRAFT - Meeting Summary Page 1 of 5 <br /> CFE September 10 , 2001 <br />