Minutes 03-19-2019 Regular Meeting

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3 With the many legal, funding, and cost challenges now facing this project it does not make sense to continue spending millions of dollars planning the light rail; in fact it does not make sense for Orange County residents to build DORLT at all. Instead we need to be spending this money on transportation, affordable housing, and economic development programs that can be implemented right now, not 10 years from now. The poor cost-benefit of regional light rail was plain enough for Wake County and RTP to abandon it in favor of funding ready-to-go public transportation solutions such as high frequency buses, ride- sharing, and bus rapid transit systems. It is time for Orange County to make this same strategic shift For all reasons discussed here we urge the Board of Commissioners to expedite the end of Orange County's participation on DOLRT in order to use the '/z cent sales tax, and other appropriate revenue, to fund currently available mass transit solutions that will catalyze low- cost housing, commercial development, and reduced carbon emissions. Sincerely: John O'Daly and Kristen O'Daly; 3610 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members Commissioner McKee said he had no comments, except to keep in mind the neighbors in the Midwest who are suffering extensive losses due to flooding. Commissioner Greene said she just returned from the Climate Reality conference this past weekend, where she learned a great deal. She said she learned about cyclone bombs, which is one of the events that has happened in the Midwest. She said these massive weather events are the result of global warming. She said the conference highlighted many ways that global warming can be fought. She said Reverend William Barber was featured at the conference, and she was extremely proud to be his fellow North Carolinian. Commissioner Price encouraged everyone to do more to reduce waste, since the markets for recycling are dwindling. Commissioner Price said she attended the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting, and Secretary Trogdon spoke about growth in the Triangle, pointing out that the population growth will only continue in the next few decades. She said there was consensus on working together on multi-modal transportation. She said Secretary Trogdon also referenced light rail, but did not speak to the specific situation in Orange and Durham counties. Commissioner Price said she received a request from a constituent for staff to take a look at the noise and nuisance ordinance. Commissioner Price said there is an item on the consent agenda about foster care, and she asked if staff would provide an update at some point about the status of the children in Orange County. Commissioner Price said that Bob Nutter passed away at age 90, and he had done so much for the sustainability of rural Orange County and Maple View Farms. Commissioner Bedford said she had no comments. Commissioner Marcoplos said he had no comments. Commissioner Dorosin said at the Board of County Commissioners' (BOCC) retreat, the idea of revisiting the Eno Economic Development District (EDD) was discussed; in particular, revisiting this before any additional resources were expended. He asked if staff could provide an update. Bonnie Hammersley said staff is developing criteria to evaluate each EDD, and is not moving forward on the Eno EDD. She said there is currently a hard pause on the Eno EDD.