Minutes 04-23-2020 Virtual Work Session

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22 Commissioner Marcoplos referred to the slide with 3 choices, and the second option intrigues him. He said if that was done for a year, the County could learn a lot and then see pre-K through the tracking tool. He said it could be like a rehearsal. Commissioner McKee asked if Travis Myren could review option 1 again. Travis Myren said option 1 would have the BOCC would formally amend the Student Membership section of the SAPFO memorandum of understanding (MOU), to include pre-K students, and also delete the section that has to do with issuing CAPS. Chair Rich asked if that would include all pre-K students or just the ones the County is mandated to accommodate. Travis Myren said the request was to include all of the existing pre-K students, and there was some disagreement regarding the waiting list. He said he imagines all would want to clear the waiting list. Commissioner McKee agreed. Commissioner Price asked if option 1 would eliminate the CAPS, and if so, is that something the schools wanted, or would the schools still want to still limit construction. She said she liked option 2. Commissioner Dorosin said the schools know the number of kids in the pre-K seats, and to him, the issue is how many kids are in the seats now and how much room exists to accommodate the new class room size mandate. He said he favored option 1, and then figure out how to change the ordinance regarding CAPS, capacity, etc. Commissioner Dorosin said if the BOCC is going to keep SAPFO, then every child that is present should be counted. Commissioner Greene said would choose option 1, counting the existing children. She said she would like to keep the language of the SAPFO, but to the extent practical, they need to get away from the threat of the “shall” word. Commissioner Bedford said she supports counting the existing pre-K students, but her concern is if the BOCC tried to get all of the jurisdictions to agree, they will not agree with it. She said she supported Commissioner Greene’s suggestion to keep the SAPFO language, but to get away from shall. She said she does not favor increasing the capacity percentages. She asked if all jurisdictions have to agree in order to amend the ordinance. Chair Rich said OCS and CHCCS and Orange County Board of Commissioners would have to all agree. John Roberts said the MOU is between all parties, so all would have to agree. Commissioner Bedford said she is not sure it is worth the effort, as she would predict that the towns would not agree. She said to just leave it alone, and track the numbers. Commissioner Marcoplos said if the BOCC pursues option 1 there will be a lot of disagreement in the first year, and so it looks like they are leaning toward a hybrid of options 1 and 2. He said it seems wise to have a time to try it out and have discussions. Commissioner Price said she was uncertain as to whether there was a deadline for all of this, and that is why she was leaning toward option 2. She said the BOCC does not have enough information on option 1, and time would help with that. She said she supports counting the pre-K students, but is unsure how the other entities feel. She said 5 entities would have to come to an agreement on this proposal, and that would take time. She said she is unsure where people stand about CAPS. Chair Rich said Craig Benedict, Planning Director, went before each of the entities and all are up to date. She said OCS has been before Town of Hillsborough asking the Town to move forward. She said she does not think Chapel Hill and Carrboro are as far along in discussions. Commissioner Dorosin said the entire BOCC seems to favor counting the pre-K students, so he would favor moving forward with option one and start drafting the amendment.