Minutes 03-16-2021 Virtual Business Meeting

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19 Chair Price said the reason the OWASA item was on the second list was due to current movement on the item with other stakeholders. She said progress is already being made. Chair Price said the straight party ticket voting idea was from a previous list. Chair Price said the minimum wage amount was left open since there are different opinions on what that should be, and $15 per hour may not be enough. Commissioner Dorosin said he would prefer it to be stated as at least $15 an hour. Commissioner Greene said the BOCC should oppose any legislation that limits the power of local government to limit or revise law enforcement practices. She said a bill is out there trying to limit local authority over the police. John Roberts said there is push back on the bill, and it would be good to add it to the legislative agenda if the Board is supportive. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the County Attorney could send the bill number so it could be noted on the legislative agenda. Chair Price said the eviction items and dangerous dog items were requested by staff and advisory boards. Commissioner Fowler expressed appreciation for all of the comments, and agreed with them. She asked if the BOCC still wants two different lists, or should it be reduced to one. Commissioner McKee said the Board should focus on just a few items, between five and eight total. Commissioner McKee said the impact fees are not likely to ever come back. Commissioner Hamilton asked if there is usually one list, or does the Board typically approve two lists. Chair Price said there have usually been two, with critical items on the first page and up for discussion at the meeting with the legislative delegation. Greg Wilder said there has been about 7 to 14 top priority items numbered in the past. He said the Board focused on the priority items, with the second page as information for further discussion if the opportunity comes up. Chair Price said the list also sometimes includes items from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC), or at least denotes overlapping issues. Commissioner Bedford said she would take out the recommendation for additional law enforcement for the opioid epidemic. Commissioner Bedford said she would like the water and sewer changes to come up front, and then make clusters of priorities as determined by the group: schools, health, etc. Commissioner Bedford said she would move the earned income credit and the dangerous dogs items to the second list. Commissioner Greene said she agrees with the direction of the conversation, but the Board is making a lot of changes and wondered if there is time to make these changes, and discuss it again one more time before the breakfast. She would like to discuss if there should just be a few priorities, or if the full list should be included. Greg Wilder said there is another Business Meeting before the April 19, 2021 legislative breakfast. He asked John Roberts if there is any concern with delaying the completion of the document. John Roberts said there are no local issues that are coming up, and the general filing deadline is late March or early April. He said he does not see how delaying impacts anything, but would need to ask the delegation to be certain. Commissioner Greene said if the legislative breakfast is not until April 19, there seems to be time to discuss and further refine the list. Greg Wilder said the thought was to send the list to the delegation now so it would have it in hand while it is in discussions at the General Assembly, as well as to be prepared for the April 19 breakfast.