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