Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
7 <br /> 1 Vice-Chair Fowler attended the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group meeting, where <br /> 2 Chapel Hill presented its Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan and its "Everywhere <br /> 3 to Everywhere" trail connectivity plan. She said a rail-to-trail feasibility study had been kicked off <br /> 4 earlier in the spring and the Orange County Trails Plan was also discussed. She reminded those <br /> 5 present that Earth Day was to be celebrated the following day at Blackwood Farm Park from 5:30 <br /> 6 to 7:30 PM. She said she had recently visited Central Elementary School and was impressed by its <br /> 7 STEM lab, which operates in collaboration with Duke Engineering. She reported that the school's <br /> 8 collaboration meeting addressed mental health referral processes and resources, and that the Tax <br /> 9 Assessment Work Group had reviewed observations from the Tanner Group, with a key <br /> 10 recommendation being the need for more field research in heterogeneous neighborhoods. She <br /> 11 said the Triangle West TPO had met and discussed an environmental justice report as well as calls <br /> 12 to action on projects including electric vehicles and the Sportsplex. <br /> 13 Commissioner McKee explained the history of the 4-H Junior Livestock show. He said he <br /> 14 attended the kick-off supper for the Caldwell Hunting Club's Wounded Warrior Hunts, a program <br /> 15 that provides guided deer and turkey hunts twice annually for injured veterans. He said he wished <br /> 16 to highlight that hunting organizations frequently provide meaningful opportunities for people <br /> 17 who would otherwise have few options. <br /> 18 Chair Hamilton said she attended the school collaboration meeting and the quarterly <br /> 19 luncheon meeting with NC DOT and town staffs. She said she attended the Emergency Services <br /> 20 recognition event, and expressed appreciation for the work of Emergency Services staff. She said <br /> 21 she attended the ribbon cutting for the Morinaga expansion with Commissioners Portie-Ascott <br /> 22 and Carter. She said the event was a testament to the county's economic development efforts, <br /> 23 led by Steve Brantley. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/Special Presentations <br /> 26 a. Proclamation of Appreciation for Cold Weather Cots Collaboration <br /> 27 The Board approved a proclamation recognizing and appreciating the collaborative work <br /> 28 supporting the County's Cold Weather Cots program. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 BACKGROUND: Orange County started operating a Cold Weather Cots(CWC) program in FY 2023- <br /> 31 2024 due to the increasing need for emergency cold weather shelter. The Inter-Faith Council for <br /> 32 Social Services (IFC) operates two (2) shelters that provide 20 emergency cold weather cots in the <br /> 33 winter(17 for men and 3 for women). However,these cots were consistently full and had a waiting <br /> 34 list. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 As the community's unsheltered population increased, Orange County launched the current CWC <br /> 37 program three (3) years ago to serve men and women on nights when the temperature was 32 <br /> 38 degrees or below. For the first year, the BOCC Meeting Room at Southern Human Services was <br /> 39 used as the site. In the second year, University Baptist Church in downtown Chapel Hill provided <br /> 40 space to the County for the site. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 This winter, the Town of Chapel Hill provided its former police department building at 828 Martin <br /> 43 Luther King, Jr. Boulevard for the CWC location. The Housing Department, in close collaboration <br /> 44 with many partners, manages the CWC program. Each year, the program has grown and served <br />