Agenda 10-10-2023; 5 - Discussion on the County’s Participation in Mayors, Managers, Chair (MMC) Meetings

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4 20 Alderman Slade said he hopes the task force will look at the work done in the Rogers Road community as a starting point from which to move forward. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the charge of the task force could be identified. He said a task force sounds like reinventing the wheel again; and it is important to know what is being sought. He said affordable housing is a universal goal, and said perhaps an RFP is next. Mayor Lavelle said to have Managers to come up with something, and let the Mayors and the Chair be the task force and provide feedback to the respective boards. Commissioner Rich said some points are in the abstract, and provides a starting point. Mayor Hemminger said that is why she asked the Managers to come back with a strategic process. Chair McKee said when this topic was put on the agenda he noted that he is at the same point, with the Green Tract now, that he was 10 years ago with the Rogers Road Community Center. He said he is tired of this topic going nowhere, and is ready to make a plan and take action, or stop talking about it altogether. Commissioner Price said a deadline should be set for establishing a plan. Commissioner Jacobs said this was discussed at the joint meeting with Chapel Hill months ago, and staff was asked to take their vision and put it on to paper. He said that would be a reachable goal. He said a strategic plan must reflect how the elected officials think currently, which includes mixed-use development. Alderman Chaney said there must be a grocery store within a mile of a low-income housing tax credit application site, if any type of multi-family units is planned. Chair McKee asked if it is agreeable to have the Managers put together a unified proposal for the three boards. There was general consensus. Commissioner Price said the community is being left out of this discussion. Chair McKee said it is important to keep it concentrated at the beginning, in order to keep things moving. Mayor Lavelle said a starting point would be to have a meeting between the Managers, the Mayors and the Chair. She said the community will not be excluded. Commissioner Price said she is outnumbered, but feels the community should be included from the start. Chair McKee said to start with the Managers, the Mayors and the Chair. DEFERRED a) Brief Historical Update The Greene Tract (164 acres) was acquired in 1984 and came to Orange County as an asset of the Solid Waste Fund. The 1998 Interlocal Solid Waste Agreement (amended April 12, 2000) established the three owning partners for a 104 acre parcel. The remaining 60 acres, long held by Solid Waste, is in the process of being transferred to an asset of the General Fund to be used for preservation and low impact recreation purposes. Although there has been considerable discussion about the future of the Greene Tract, no formal action has been taken by the BOCC since 2002. And although not specific to the Greene Tract, multiple Historic Rogers Road Area (HRRA) small area studies and planning efforts have been conducted by the local governments over the last 15 years that referenced the Greene Tract.