Minutes-12-04-2023-Business Meeting

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elected members' consensus was to recommend scenario 3 with a caveat that the BOCC mitigates the cost for low-income. She said they will come to the BOCC at a later meeting. She said that Robert Williams gave an update on the waste facility and said there are other sites being investigated before recommendations are brought to the Board. She said that she met with a liaison from BCBS, and they talked about the need for a behavioral health diversion facility. She said that the Youth Behavioral Health Center is open now and accepting youth patients. She said the retreat planning committee met and they plan to discuss the strategic plan, the schools facilities plan, a budget preview, a tax implementation, and planning. She said that the Clerk to the Board will send a survey out for any other items Commissioners may want to discuss. She said that related to the public comments, she petitioned staff to investigate and bring forward information on watershed 2 vs. watershed 4. Commissioner McKee said there will be another informational meeting on broadband and the community meetings will continue as broadband phasing continues over the next year. He said it needs to be completed by December 2024 and they are moving forward rapidly. He said that he is glad he gets to work with Commissioner Richards for another year and they will miss her when she is gone. He quoted former North Carolina Secretary of State Thad Eure and said the only upside of Commissioner Richards not being on the Board would be that returns to being "the oldest rat in the barn." Chair Bedford said she attended the Board of Health subcommittee meeting on equity. She said there are disproportionate health outcomes for people of color and Latino members of the community. She said they are working with Alliance on that. She said that the following day at 1:30 pm, there will be an unveiling of a portrait of Pauli Murray at the Sportsplex and everyone is invited. She said the Human Rights Commission sponsored the portrait. Vice-Chair Greene said she will also be at the community meeting about broadband. She said she is a member of a subcommittee with DCHC-MPO that is paired with the CA-MPO and they continue to have in depth discussions about rail planning in the region. She said that it is unlikely it will occur in their lifetime. She said that the MPOs are working well together along with GoTriangle. She said that UNC is working to transition from coal sourced energy and will be decommissioning the rail line when that occurs. She said they will come to the Board with more information when that happens. She said she watched the Town Council's discussion about WASMPBA and there is a rule that no more stormwater leaves the property after development than it did beforehand. She said that Planning Director Cy Stober said a state law has overridden Chapel Hill's development rule. She petitioned planning staff to investigate this and confer with Chapel Hill staff and report back on what they understand the stormwater rules to be. Commissioner Portie-Ascott thanked Commissioner Richards for her service and her work for the youth in Orange County. She said she attended the JCPC meeting and was surprised by data presented there and how Orange County compared to other counties across the state. She said some areas of concern for her were that Orange County youth are more likely than their peers to: have prior felony referrals, less likely to attend school, more likely to have five or more unexcused absences, to have an association with gangs, to have previous alcohol and drug use starting at under 12, more likely to have mental health problems and less likely to be treatment, more likely to be unengaged in structured activities. She said the committee noted that the largest barrier to the youth receiving treatment is transportation. She said that she is grateful to the school staff for being welcoming and accommodating during her recent tours. She said it was helpful for her to see some of the capital needs in person. Commissioner Hamilton said Commissioner Richards has been an invaluable member of the Board and she has helped bring them to where they are. She said she attended the Central Pines Executive Committee Meeting and works to understand regional initiatives and is also part of the retreat planning committee. She said that she will be running for re-election. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she also filed for re-election.