Minutes 01-29-2019 Assembly of Governments

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18 money to the local economy as a local business would. He said the dollars are leaving the community. Town Commissioner Ferguson said she wants to support their local businesses, but they also have people that want to work for big, global business and it is a question of how to support both things, as it should not be an either/or. Commissioner McKee said the small amount of funding that Carrboro received, from the small business investment grants and business loans, stands out to him. He said he is curious as to whether the Carrboro Economic Development (ED) Director is getting the word out to businesses about these funding opportunities. He asked if there is any way for the County to help alleviate this disconnect. Mayor Lavelle said their ED Director has been in contact with the County over the years. She said Carrboro has an internal fund that has been successful for many years, and this may be where people are going instead of County funds. She said staff will continue to follow up on this opportunity. Commissioner McKee said he is open to any suggestions from the towns for these funds, and let them be brought forth to the Board of County Commissioners to review and discuss. Steve Brantley said the Japanese candy company connected to the first water and sewer extension paid for by article 46 funds, and this company employs 130 people on three shifts, and are the single largest corporate tax payer in the entire Mebane industrial district of Orange County, and they stand to double or triple in employment and investment. He said the second sewer system that the County has built in the Efland region represents acreage that is under option with a letter of intent by a single company that would move there and pay more than $15/hour per job. He said it takes a long time to get water and sewer connected, but progress is being made. He said there needs to be a balance in commitment to both large industrial recruiting and small business growth in the Towns. Chair Rich said the bottom line is to look at all options and continue conversations across all entities. 4. Update from Climate Change Ad Hoc Committee Commissioner Marcoplos said there is a handout at their places. He said so many of them have been affected by climate change, and after the hurricanes, he reached out to an elected official from every government to jump-start a collaborative effort. He reviewed the handout. He said the members of the ad hoc committee are: Rachel Shaevitz, Alderman Slade, Jenn Weaver, Sammie Slade, and Mark Marcoplos. Hillsborough Town Commissioner Weaver said the packet contains a resolution with which Commissioner Ferguson was involved. She said the Town of Hillsborough does not have staff member to address some of these issues, but they are nimble due to being small. She said there are ways to collaborate: share information; all jurisdictions should review land use policies; have a unified voice, committing to system level changes, and fostering a local government collaboration and not competition. She said this is a regional problem. Alderman Slade said climate change is an existential threat, and a collaborative group is needed to address it, and for each government to make an investment during budget time. He said he would like to see a dedicated staff person, which could be a shared position, like exists between Durham County and Durham City. He said he hopes the New Green Deal will get support in 2020, and he said would like to start working on ways to collaborate on local, state and federal levels, counting on 2020 elections to flip the White House and the Senate. He said he is in favor of supporting local residents to come up with ways to have an impact on the neighborhood level and have a community action plan. Mayor Hemminger said climate change was also a top priority at the recent Town Council retreat. She recommended a monthly collaborative meeting including an elected official