Agenda - 05-18-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 Should it become impossible to restore order and continue the meeting, the Chair will recess 2 the meeting until such time that a genuine commitment to this public charge is observed. The 3 BOCC asks that all electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, and computers should 4 please be turned off or set to silent/vibrate. Please be kind to everyone. 5 6 Arts Moment— No Arts Moment was available for this meeting. 7 8 9 2. Public Comments 10 11 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda 12 Diana Montgomery said she is an environmental educator, and has lived in Efland for 24 13 years. She said she spoke to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) about Buc-ee's at a 14 previous meeting. She thanked the Commissioners for their time and attention, and careful 15 review of ordinances. She said she hopes the BOCC will apply that same level of care in 16 assessing and listening to the Buckhorn Area Plan, which deserves close examination. She 17 urged the Board to take seriously its ordinances and established agreements, as the community 18 is relying on the BOCC. She said she hopes there will always be opportunity for public 19 comment, and encouraged the BOCC to keep asking good questions in order to protect 20 environmental resources, such critical watersheds that supply drinking water, and the unique 21 natural area that surrounds Seven Mile Creek. 22 23 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 24 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 25 26 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 27 Commissioner Greene said the transit plan and policy steering committee met with its 28 counterparts in Durham, in order to discuss needs that will not be met by light rail. She said 29 light rail projects will not happen, but the need to connect the two counties still exists. She said 30 Durham County has developed three scenarios with the help of a consultant, and all options 31 have a version of express bus or bus rapid transit going down 15-501 corridor. She said 32 Orange County has similar interests, and all will keep working together and coordinate efforts. 33 Commissioner Greene participated in a listening session sponsored by Durham 34 Technical Community College. She said the community college is planning for a new building, 35 and are considering the structure and design of new building to best meet the needs of Orange 36 County. She said most people in the meeting were interested in local food economy and ways 37 Durham Tech could help. She said Durham Tech was receptive to the ideas. She said the 38 Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center (PFAP) is about to lose its fifth business to out 39 of the County. She said PFAP is having growing pains, and the Board needs to proactively 40 support the local food economy, as small businesses are as important to Economic 41 Development as big businesses. She petitioned the Board to hold a work session on local food 42 economy, and ways the County could positively support it and make it thrive. 43 Commissioner Fowler said she attended the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization 44 (TARPO) meeting, where there was a report from the NC Board of Transportation, NC 45 Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and TARPO staff. She said there is $1.5 billion cash 46 balance available, but that may change, as projects are started post COVID-19. She said train 47 service is back to full schedule, and offering 50% off train fares for April. She said there are 48 2,500 job vacancies with NCDOT. She said the meeting attendees approved FY22 plan, which 49 can be found at TARPO.org. 50 Commissioner Fowler said she attended the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) 51 meeting with presentations from various groups. She said client, as well as Juvenile Justice,