Minutes 09-15-2020 Virtual Business Meeting

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2 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members Commissioner Price expressed congratulations to Julia Drahzal Orange County's Governor's Medallion Award winner for volunteer service, as well as all other nominees from Orange County. Commissioner Price referred to the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental Health and Equity Task Force, which is focusing currently on communities of color and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on these communities. She said this group is seeking public input, via 2-minute time slots on 9/22 and 9/29, related to its 5 focus areas. Commissioner Price said that on Sunday, September 27 at 3pm there will be a Zoom event called, "Breaking Barriers: women of color and the right to vote", with Valerie Johnson of Shaw University. She said the Human Relations Commission is sponsoring this event. Commission Bedford had no comments. Commissioner Greene said she attended the Family Success Alliance (FSA) meeting, and was interested to learn about the scholastic support center at the YMCA. She said this provides K-8 grade socially distanced spaces to complete schoolwork. She said this is a great program for parents of lower income children. Commissioner Marcoplos said he has been thinking about the amount of idling, due to increased use of drive-thrus. He said local students did such wonderful work last year promoting an anti-idling campaign. He said he would like to ask the Commission for the Environment to explore how to work with all local businesses, banks, restaurants, etc. to look into the issue of idling. Commissioner Marcoplos said the Board has discussed the possibility of a new EMS substation. He said he spoke with David Silvan, part time EMS worker, and asked what he thought about response times and if a 3 minute reduction would really have an impact in northern Orange County. He said there was a plan proposed by Nick Waters to have paramedics with "fly cars", which have response times of 8 minutes, as opposed to 12-15 minutes instead of ambulances. He asked to explore this possibility, as paramedics are highly trained and can handle so much in the field. Commissioner Marcoplos said the Orange County Climate Council is having a public outreach event on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 at 7p.m., to celebrate the first year of work. He said this will be via Zoom, and invited everyone to tune in. Commissioner McKee joined the meeting at 7.07 p.m. Commissioner Dorosin said 90 people plan to speak this evening, and asked if the plan was to meet until 1:00 a.m. Chair Rich said because it is a Public Hearing the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) cannot limit the amount of speakers, and it is likely there will be approximately 4 hours of public comment. Commissioner Dorosin asked if other agenda items could be continued, or the public hearing be spread out over two meetings. He said he wants to be conscientious of the speakers, and be most fair and effective. Commissioner McKee said he spoke about broadband last week, and Orange County Schools (OCS) purchased and distributed 900 units, but still has a 400-person waiting list for hotspots. He said he would like to move expeditiously to help address this problem. He petitioned the Board to ask the Manager to contact Orange County Schools Superintendent and Board of Education Chair to determine how and in what manner Orange County could aid in procuring the 400 units for hotspots. He said OCS is pursuing grant funding to acquire the