Agenda - 04-06-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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36 1 Commissioner Greene said this branch library has been discussed for a long time, and 2 this discussion at the meeting is part of the political process. She said Carrboro considered the 3 parking issue for a long time. She said she is not interested in changing the parking structure. 4 She said she is most interested in options 4 and 5. She said under option 5, the County could 5 reduce payments to the Chapel Hill Library, once the new library begins attracting patrons. 6 Commissioner Bedford asked if reviewing the CIP would delay the project by 3 months. 7 Travis Myren said if there is a delay, the next opportunity to get a borrowing package in 8 front of the LGC was January 2022. 9 Commissioner Bedford said she would like to take the time to understand how it impacts 10 the CIP, and possible tax rate increases. She said she is not interested in a shell building and 11 wants to preserve the parking spaces. She said the BOCC will hear from the Behavioral Task 12 Force in April, as well as from the schools, and so many needs are unknown at this time. She 13 said the BOCC does not have updated revenue projections, and it is important to consider the 14 things that counties are required to do, like maintenance at the schools and courts. She said all 15 County projects have an equity element. She said she wants to see the full picture with the 16 budget. 17 Commissioner Hamilton asked if Carrboro's timeline could be identified. 18 Bonnie Hammersely said there is a requirement for a decision within 45 days of the end 19 of schematic design, which is March 7, 2021. She said there is liability if the Board does not go 20 forward with the project after that date. She said, because of audits, the timing of when a 21 financing package goes before the LGC is significant. She said there can be delays to review 22 and approval, if the package is submitted too late. She said the final design will be done by 23 September, so the project can go before the LGC. 24 Commissioner Hamilton asked if September is the real deadline. 25 Bonnie Hammersely said yes, September is the deadline for the maximum spending to 26 be known. She said in order to get everything done by September the design process needs to 27 be started. She said it could not start until the schematic phase was done, which was just 28 completed after a period of pause. 29 Commissioner Hamilton asked if holding a decision on the project for a month would 30 affect the design process. 31 Bonnie Hammersley said yes, waiting would make the design timeline too tight, and 32 getting in front of the LGC would not be possible. 33 Commissioner Hamilton asked how the project got into this situation. She said the 34 County is in a corner. 35 Bonnie Hammersley said the County is not managing this project. She said the parking 36 question has been discussed for several years. She said the timing is unfortunate. 37 Commissioner Hamilton expressed concern about not funding the Justice Center 38 generator, due to the impact on those who are in the court system. She said access to the 39 courts is important. 40 Chair Price asked for an explanation on the conservation easement, and the pros and 41 cons of eliminating. 42 Travis Myren said there was $1 million in the conservation easement project. He said 43 two projects will likely closely in by the end of the fiscal year, which would leave a remaining 44 balance of about $400,000. He said the next time the County could borrow for conservation 45 easements is 2023. 46 Chair Price asked if there is a reason why the County went from 42% funding to over 47 50%. She said she understands that one partner pulled out, but wants to understand why the 48 County is responsible more than 50% of the project. 49 Travis Myren said the increase is a result of locating the skills development center at the 50 site.