Orange County NC Website
21 <br /> 1 Slide #23 <br /> Design Option A,1 <br /> Expansion = <br /> Ca. ni lT Addllleni ,• •• ,„ <br /> ISF <br /> 84�0 SF <br /> FVC Addltbn: <br /> 3.4SOSF <br /> Ex pFminn nl EAnxrAY tuppnn <br /> 3px`aaExiiFinV BNlIf fGV[ wr •• •• ----- II <br /> _V60 F <br /> - 1111------------ <br /> 2 ___'___�-2 <br /> 3 <br /> 4 PUBLIC COMMENTS: <br /> 5 Tony Marimpietri said he was the chair of the Crisis Diversion Facility Subcommittee. He <br /> 6 said the group worked with various stakeholders to help bring the crisis diversion facility from its <br /> 7 earliest concepts to the options the Board is considering. He said this facility is more than just a <br /> 8 building. He said the process has been a true collaboration among all the stakeholders. He said <br /> 9 he also serves on the NAMI North Carolina Policy Committee. He said that he's heard from many <br /> 10 in the community about the need for the project and he thanked the Board for considering the <br /> 11 project. <br /> 12 Elina Banerjee, a senior at UNC Chapel Hill and Director of Basic Needs for the <br /> 13 Undergraduate Student Government and is on the Chapel Hill Police Community Advisory <br /> 14 Committee. She noted her work with community organizations aiding unhoused populations and <br /> 15 described the community safety concerns around Franklin Street, including verbal harassment <br /> 16 and physical threats. She supported the expanded crisis center design due to its essential <br /> 17 elements like coordinated discharge, resource space, behavioral health urgent care, and dual <br /> 18 entrances. <br /> 19 Kira Heppe said she is UNC student and a member of the Department of Basic Needs. <br /> 20 She said an investment in the facility is an investment in health, safety, and belonging of the <br /> 21 community. She said it will reduce the presence of emergency services seen daily on Franklin <br /> 22 Street. She said without a proper discharge space, residents could end up unhoused again. She <br /> 23 said providing preventative care will increase well-being and safety for the community. <br /> 24 Chair Bedford said that the Sheriff said that this facility is a high priority for him, and that <br /> 25 he is losing detention center staff who are not trained to deal with inmates in the midst of a mental <br /> 26 health crisis. She said there is support from the judicial system, law enforcement, emergency <br /> 27 services, and the university. She said the facility would also serve students, and UNC Health and <br /> 28 the emergency departments have been supportive. <br /> 29 Commissioner Fowler said she is in strong support of the facility. She said there has been <br /> 30 a high increase in mental health issues in the last 10-15 years. She said she would prefer that a <br />