Minutes-05-09-2023-Public Meeting

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13 a public/private partnership. He said the school district provides the transportation for the students, the Sportsplex provides the aquatic facility, and Swim for Charlie provides the program, equipment, and instructors. He said was a volunteer at Swim for Charlie for students at Efland Cheeks Elementary School. He said he saw firsthand what the program means for students. He said the grant will continue their ability to offset some of the program costs and to offer the program in all Orange County elementary schools. He said all competitive swimmers start as beginner swimmers. He said he learned to swim because his grandmother lost a brother to drowning. He said his grandmother made sure all of her grandchildren knew how to swim. He said Swim for Charlie is here so that his family's experience will not be repeated for the families of Orange County. Matt McDermott said he has lived in Hillsborough for 24 years. He said he is an advocate for initiatives that support sound bodies, minds, and souls. He said he especially supports initiatives that maximize pre-existing resources and minimize unnecessary tax burdens. He said he supports recommended funding for improvements at Fairview Park. He said the funding would allow for expanded tennis and pickle ball access to accommodate a growing need. He said he also supports the mitigation funding which will plant the seed of continued fiscal and responsible future growth in a strategically located recreational park. He said the recommended funding demonstrates smart growth and supports the county's commitment to climate change mitigation. He asked the Board to support the recommended funding. Sally Merryman said she is a 28 year resident of Orange County and has owned a home in western Orange County for 19 years. She said she is a 26 year veteran teacher and has worked at the same school in Chapel Hill for 22 of those years. She said she serves as the acting president of the Chapel Hill Carrboro Association of Educators. She asked the Board to vote for the County Manager's recommended budget. She said it is the closest alignment of the continuation request and the County Manager's proposal. She praised the County Manager and the school districts for collaborating during the budget process. She said that collaboration will benefit more county students. She said that tax increases no matter how small are not often welcome, but as the state legislature continues to choke public schools to fund private school vouchers, we must act boldly with county budget and must fund schools first. Karen Riley read the following statement: "I am Karen Riley, president of United Voices of Efland Cheeks. I'm joined tonight with several members of our board of directors. We have operated the Efland Cheeks community center since 2016 under an agreement with Orange County. Under this agreement, we provide programs to the community and Orange County maintains the building. Since COVID, the Efland Cheeks Community Center has grown dramatically. We regularly host over a hundred people each week at the center. Our community events typically attract 200-300 people. We honored Efland's seniors with a sit down holiday dinner serving 80 people. If you have been in the center, you know that it's a lot of people to fit in a very small space. Over the next few months, we will be adding summer STEM camp, a senior exercise class, a teen council and a family movie night. Everything we do is free and accessible. Remember— Efland doesn't have healthclubs, a library or public meeting spaces. The center is an essential community space. But the building is too small to meet the Community's needs. Last year, we had a wait list of 20 kids for our afterschool program. We are forced to limit summer camp to 12 kids a week. We need more space — desperately. If you have been in the center, you know that there's one main room with a few small offices. Last year, because of space constraints, we were forced to turn away kids for afterschool. There's no place for community groups to meet if classes are going on. We are asking for a capital investment of $100,000 to expand the center and paint the exterior. These funds would cover the cost fully enclose the concrete slab in the back of the building to create a conditioned meeting room and additional storage space. Your Asset Management team provided the estimate which includes design fees and exterior painting. Please appreciate that this is UVECs first capital request since the center opened in 1994. This investment will get us through the next 3 years or