Minutes 06-11-19 Budget Work Session

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19 Board can weigh in before any monies are spent. He said he does not want to approve set monies for a particular project. Commissioner Marcoplos said these ideas were just examples of how the monies could be spent. Commissioner Dorosin liked what Commissioner Greene said about the $75,000 already earmarked for geothermal well study, and it would fit into the profile of what this amendment would do. Commissioner McKee said his motion does not specify projects, or the costs of any projects, but is to insure a full and public vetting, which will provide better solutions within the same timeframe of the amendment. Commissioner Marcoplos said Commissioner McKee's motion will change the charge of the Climate Change Committee, which may be unfair. Commissioner Price said she seconded the motion because she wants to bring in other governmental entities, and climate concerns do not go along political boundaries. VOTE: Ayes, 2 (Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Price); Nays, 5 (Chair Rich, Commissioner Marcoplos, Commissioner Dorosin, Commission Greene, and Commissioner Bedford). A motion was made by Commissioner Marcoplos to adopt this additional 1/4 cents to fund County efforts to combat climate change initiatives and to quickly form a committee that can decide how these funds would be spent, which could be made up of staff and board members. Commissioner Greene seconded this motion for discussion purposes. Commissioner Greene said she would like to offer a friendly amendment for this tax to fund efforts to combat climate change, and projects will be prioritized by this Board, following consideration by the Commission for the Environment, according to a formula that weighs the social justice impact most heavily. Examples of potential projects are weatherization, solar panels, geothermal wells, etc. Commissioner Dorosin suggested adding racial equity. Commissioner Marcoplos and Commissioner Greene accepted. VOTE: Ayes, 4 (Chair Rich, Commissioner Dorosin, Commissioner Greene and Commissioner Marcoplos); Nays, 3 (Commissioner McKee, Commissioner Price, and Commissioner Bedford) Amendment 011- (Hire a consultant to compile an inventory of agencies participating in the workforce development pipeline available to Orange County and assess the feasibility of a Tradescraft Center. Attachments (A1), (A2) Use Article 46 Sales tax to fund the initiative.) Commissioner McKee said he does not understand how this does not duplicate the schools' trade programs and Durham Tech's work. He asked if there is a reason to build this. Commissioner Marcoplos said this idea originated around discussions of elevating the building trades to the craftsman level, and Durham Tech trades education goes on in Durham, not at the Orange County campus. He said there is a need to have a building trades center in Orange County, and many stakeholders at meetings were in agreement. He said this type of center would be more expansive to include plumbing, electrical, drafting, etc. Commissioner Bedford asked if the Skills Development center provides any of these services.