Agenda 04-02-24; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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16 1 Commissioner Richards asked how the new communication system and vehicle 2 purchases connect to the implementation of the plan. 3 Darlene Weaver said those items are related to this fiscal year and the work program is 4 for next fiscal year. 5 Commissioner Hamilton said that when she sees the fund balance, it shows a squiggly 6 like, but it looks like a negative, or deficit, she said that when presenting to the public, it would be 7 helpful not to follow that convention or to have a footnote that explains the difference. 8 Nishith Trivedi said that is an update they can make to the plan but that they were following 9 accounting procedures with negatives showing for money coming in and positives for money 10 going out. 11 Vice-Chair Greene said that she would like to keep the fund balance as a savings account 12 rather than spend it down. She said the plan discusses what they would like to do if they had the 13 funds available and one project is BRT between Durham and Chapel Hill. 14 Nishith Trivedi said until a big project is identified there are no restrictions on how to use 15 them. He said that there are other projects that are about to be approved and are not in the transit 16 plan. 17 Vice-Chair Greene said she thought the Transit Plan was guiding future investment and 18 the idea was that there would be federal funding later to take advantage of, but they require 19 substantial matching funds. 20 Nishith Trivedi said more information will be coming to the Board about what can be 21 incorporated using those funds. He said that there are improvements and needs that are current 22 in Orange County and they will be updated with the short-range transit plan. 23 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the application for Mobility on Demand and if 24 some riders do not pay anything. 25 Nishith Trivedi said yes, and work with other county departments to identify those 26 residents with most need. 27 28 A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to 29 open the public hearing. 30 31 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 32 33 PUBLIC COMMENTS: 34 Rachel Hawkins read the following statement to the Board: 35 "1 am Rachel Phelps Hawkins, native of Orange County. I am here tonight as the President of the 36 Board of Directors of the Friends of the Passmore Center in Orange County. 37 1 am asking that you pay close attention to how the transit tax is distributed in Orange County. 38 More money for the large aging community in rural Northern Orange and rural Southern Orange 39 County, to be more specific. 40 One fact is that there is a pandemic of social isolation in older adults — thus the senior centers 41 offer the opportunity to bond with others daily, by offering meals, card games, activities, plays, 42 health seminars, attention to healthy living etc. 43 Because many do not drive or have family to assist to allow them to participate in these activities, 44 they need transportation —which we have been told, is on the verge of non-existent to the senior 45 centers (outside the Chapel Hill area), due to a fund deficit. 46 We know there are other services for individuals to contract with individually, but transportation to 47 a much-needed lunch at the Senior Centers and all the activities there is a must, if the aging 48 community is to enjoy the wonderful senior centers that the County provides. 49 Maybe supplement the Van Driver Program outside the Chapel Hill Transit Area. Our seniors are 50 the largest growing population group! You and I are or soon will be a part of that. We want to