Agenda - 09-16-2008 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~ George Lucier suggested working towards a Memorandum of Understanding, or several MOAs. There could be one overarching agreement that would identify specific areas and then have subheadings. Chair Jacobs said that the AOG could direct staff to do this, but the subgroup did not feel that it was within its purview to do this. Dan Coleman said that the first step is to specify the details. Jacqueline Gist said that the horse is out of the barn and Carrboro's issue is how it is going to deal with the water and transportation issues. She is concerned about the commercial development along the 15-501 corridor, because it will impact Carrboro in many ways. George Lucier said that the Triangle J Council of Governments did a study that estimates that eastern Chatham County's population will grow by three to four fold over the next 25 years. There is a building moratorium right now on large residential developments that is scheduled to be lifted in June. During the year of moratorium, Chatham County has established a Major Corridor Ordinance, zoned all major corridors, completed four lanes on some highways, modified some subdivision ordinances and watershed ordinances, etc. Commissioner Gordon urged the AOG to implement a more formal process for these joint meetings than has been done in the past few months. She would like to see the meetings rotate among the various jurisdictions with a more formalized structure that allows more people to come and participate. Bill Strom said that if transportation is being discussed, then Triangle Transit should be brought to the table. Commissioner Gordon said that the Special Transit Advisory Commission is coming out with a new report about proposed transit routes. Regarding the joint meetings, she suggested that the elected officials who wished to attend should be able to attend. Chair Jacobs said that when staff comes back with a proposed Memorandum of Understanding, then it could include how to involve elected officials. Potential Joint Use of the Jordan Lake Water Supply Executive Director of OWASA Ed Kerwin said that Jordan Lake has been in OWASA's contingency planning efforts for about 20 years. In 2005, the OWASA Board adopted a goal, which said that it would work hard to maximize the local water resources. Key elements of that would be more proactive conservation and alternative supplies such as reclaimed water, which is a system that is now under construction and being funded by UNC. He said that they have also learned with the droughts that maximizing the existing resources will be a challenge. He said that the drought has continued since this group met last fall. Another key element is that the City of Durham on March 3~d passed a resolution, which is incorporated in the package, authorizing the staff to proceed with discussions with Orange County, Chatham County, and OWASA staff to explore the possible costs and benefits of a regional approach to Jordan Lake. Chair Jacobs said that this issue was raised originally at the first joint meeting to see if Chatham wanted to access water at Jordan Lake as opposed to going through Cary. Over the course of the conversations, at the last meeting it was learned that there was a discussion about Durham and Chatham working with OWASA to try and develop a regional intake because it is the best way for planning. Mark Chilfon arrived at 8:06 pm. Dan Coleman asked to hear from former OWASA Chair, Mark Marcoplos, on the strategic plan that was adopted in 2005 when he was chair. Joal Hall Broun said that she understood that the state had begun a procedure of reallocation of water in Jordan Lake, and she asked if this allocation process has been completed. Ed Kerwin said that there is not an open allocation process at this time, but there may be in the near future.