Agenda 04-26-22; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 1 representatives from the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. She said there may be 2 opportunities for partnerships to take advantage of everything happening in the Triangle. She 3 said the push right now is with biotech and life sciences. 4 Commissioner Hamilton said she was passionate about #18 on the list of priorities, 5 which is related to school capital funding. She said there are 15 schools in the county which are 6 more than 50 years old, which is ineffective for meeting the needs of children and inefficient 7 environmentally. She said they will be looking to the state for help renovating and replacing 8 schools. She said the time is now to plan for the future. 9 Senator Foushee said that previous school capital needs legislation she's introduced 10 has not moved in the General Assembly. She said this kind of legislation needs the force of 11 support from the NCACC and other groups to push legislators. She said this should not be a 12 partisan issue; it is an issue across the state. She said there has not been the will to move 13 forward from the leadership. She said the perception from leadership is that schools are flush 14 with federal funds, but those funds are designated for specific uses. 15 Representative Insko said that it is important to elect officials who put funding of school 16 funding as a priority in their campaigns. She said it would also be helpful to encourage other 17 counties to push for increased school capital funds from the state. 18 Chair Price said that the state association has prioritized releasing more of the state 19 lottery funds for school capital needs. 20 Commissioner Hamilton said it sounds like there has not been talk of a bond, because 21 lottery funds will not be enough to meet the cost of school capital needs. 22 Chair Price said the lottery funds were intended to go to schools, but only about 50% 23 actually does. 24 Representative Insko that would be important to emphasize, that this was an educational 25 lottery fund. 26 27 Commissioner Amy Fowler left the meeting at 9:47 a.m. 28 29 Commissioner Greene said the Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce's Big Bold 30 Ideas is bringing forward a report to build 1,600 affordable homes in the next few years. She 31 said one of the recommendations is that local governments pass ordinances prohibiting 32 landlords from discriminating on the basis of income. She said it would prevent landlords from 33 refusing housing choice vouchers. She said that unfortunately, it's not something local 34 governments can do, and it must be done at the state level. She asked the legislative 35 delegation about the possibility of pursuing this at the General Assembly. 36 Senator Foushee said it was not something that could be brought forward in a short 37 session, as it would be considered controversial. She said that preparations should be made in 38 order to introduce that kind of legislation in the long session. She said the more partners that 39 are involved, the better off they'll be. She said there are members of both caucuses that share 40 the same values as the county. She said the pandemic showed us that most of us are in the 41 same boat. She said a collective effort is needed to get positive results. 42 Commissioner Bedford referenced #49 on the legislative issues list, regarding 43 dangerous dog determinations. She said that in Orange County, a dog owner can appeal a 44 dangerous dog designation after a period of time if the dog's circumstances are reevaluated and 45 it is determined that the dog is no longer dangerous. She said Orange County's ordinance is in 46 conflict with state law, and she wanted to know the process for requesting a local bill that would 47 allow the county to have this ordinance. 48 Senator Foushee suggested that the county forward the bill to the legislative delegation. 49 Senator Foushee said it was an honor and pleasure to be with the Orange County 50 Commissioners.