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16 <br /> 1 district areas from an infrastructure standpoint. She said the county is reliant on Mebane and <br /> 2 Durham and their capacity and capability. She said it runs counter to her to have an economic <br /> 3 development district when the vast majority of the county is rural and lower density. She said <br /> 4 there are only a few areas that are designed for higher density, and she does not understand <br /> 5 why there is a lack of infrastructure after 40 years. She said she has spoken with the Planning <br /> 6 Department and she was told that this was a political decision that this how the county wants to <br /> 7 move. She said the county would have to explore if it wants to do something else. <br /> 8 Chair Price said she met with residents in Whispering Pines five years ago who were <br /> 9 expressing concern with the intensity and type of use in their community. She said they wanted <br /> 10 something that would be compatible with residential as opposed to more manufacturing or high <br /> 11 intensity uses. She said since the existing zoning was reliant on Durham and nothing had been <br /> 12 done in 40 years, she said it seemed like time to relieve some of the anxiety felt by the residents <br /> 13 and put a border around the residential areas. She said they talked about the development on <br /> 14 the western side of the County and how that was moving more quickly. <br /> 15 Commissioner Richards said her concerns were not so much with this particular item. <br /> 16 She said her concerns are global, and she wonders about the county's overall plan and how the <br /> 17 county intends to move forward with development when possible. She said she understands <br /> 18 the concerns of the residents who spoke at the public meetings <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Roll call ensued <br /> 21 <br /> 22 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 23 <br /> 24 6. Regular Agenda <br /> 25 <br /> 26 a. Fiscal Year 2021-22 American Rescue Plan Act Allocations Round 2 <br /> 27 The Board approved the next allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding to <br /> 28 projects, also known as Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLRF). <br /> 29 <br /> 30 BACKGROUND: <br /> 31 The Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides direct allocations to local <br /> 32 governments. Orange County is designated to receive approximately $28.8 million. The first <br /> 33 draw down of approximately $14.4 million was approved by the Board of Commissioners on a <br /> 34 budget amendment on June 1, 2021. The second draw down will occur before the end of the <br /> 35 current fiscal year. ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and must be fully <br /> 36 expended by December 31, 2026. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 The ARPA funds are intended to broadly address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 <br /> 39 pandemic on individuals, government agencies, organizations, and small businesses. The <br /> 40 Treasury Department has issued interim guidance on the use of ARPA funds for local <br /> 41 governments. This guidance establishes five broad categories for potential investments: <br /> 42 1. Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical <br /> 43 expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff; <br /> 44 2. Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including <br /> 45 economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the <br /> 46 public sector; <br /> 47 3. Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to <br /> 48 the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic; <br /> 49 4. Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who <br /> 50 have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical <br /> 51 infrastructure sectors; and, <br />