Regular Meeting
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
7:30 p.m. 
Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Road 
Chapel Hill, NC    

Note: Background Material on all abstracts available in the Clerk's Office

COMPLIANCE WITH THE "AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT" - Interpreter services and/or special sound equipment are available with prior notice.  If you need this assistance, call the County Clerk's office at 732-8181, ext. 2130.  If you are disabled and need assistance, contact the ADA Coordinator at extension 2300 or TDD# 644-3045.  

ESTIMATED TIMES LISTED AFTER EACH ITEM - these are approximate times.  Citizens are encouraged to be at the meeting at the starting time.  The Board usually considers items in the order listed and proceeds at a steady pace.  As a courtesy to others, speakers are asked to limit their comments to three minutes.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON AGENDA ITEMS - is available in the Clerk's office and complete copies of agenda material are located at the Orange County Library in Hillsborough and the Chapel Hill Library in Chapel Hill.  

1.  Additions or Changes to the Agenda (7:30-7:35)

PUBLIC CHARGE

The Board of Commissioners pledges to the citizens of Orange County its respect. The Board asks its citizens to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner, both with the Board and with fellow citizens.  At any time should any member of the Board or any citizen fail to observe this public charge, the Chair will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control. Should decorum fail to be restored, the Chair will recess the meeting until such time that a genuine commitment to this public charge is observed.  All electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, and computers should please be turned off or set to silent/vibrate.

2.  Public Comments (7:35-7:45)

(We would appreciate you signing the pad ahead of time so that you are not overlooked.)

a.         Matters not on the Printed Agenda

b.         Matters on the Printed Agenda

(These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.)

3.  Board Comments (7:45-8:00)

4.  County Manager's Report (8:00-8:05)

5.  Items for Decision--Consent Agenda (8:05-8:15)

a.      Minutes APPROVED

The Board will consider correcting and/or approving the minutes from October 18, 2005 and November 21, 2005 as submitted by the Clerk to the Board. 

b.      Appointments

(1)      Board of Health - One New Appointment APPROVED

The Board will consider making one new appointment to the Board of Health. 

c.       Motor Vehicle Property Tax Release/Refunds APPROVED

The Board will consider adoption of a refund resolution related to 50 requests for motor vehicle property tax releases or refunds in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes. 

d.      Classification Plan Amendment - Add Class of Heavy Equipment Mechanic Supervisor TABLED

The Board will consider amending the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan by adding a new class of Heavy Equipment Mechanic Supervisor at Salary Grade 17.  Salary Grade 17 has a hiring range of $37,039 - $59,211. 

e.      Budget Amendment #7 APPROVED

The Board will consider approving budget, capital, and grant project ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2005-06. 

f.        CJPP Grant Acceptance APPROVED

The Board will consider receiving Criminal Justice Partnership (CJPP) implementation grant funds totaling $163,914 from the NC Department of Correction; approve the release of $19,739 from the County's Critical Needs Reserve, and authorize the Chair to sign subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney. 

g.      CJPP 2005-2006 Service Continuation Contracts APPROVED

The Board will consider approving contracts for the continuation of services provided through the NC Criminal Justice Partnership Program and authorize the Chair to sign subject to final approval by staff and the County Attorney

h.      Authorization to Contract for Two (2) Hook Trucks for Solid Waste and Sanitation APPROVED

The Board will consider authorizing the Purchasing Director to award a bid during the holiday break for two hook trucks, both of which will exceed the $20,000 authorization limit set for the Purchasing Director. 

i.        Change in BOCC Meeting Calendar for 2006 APPROVED

The Board will consider two changes in the County Commissioners' meeting calendar for the year 2006 by adding a dinner meeting with the Advisory Board (Board of Health), on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill and changing the date for the Board of Commissioners' Annual Retreat from Saturday, January 21, 2006 to Friday, January 20, 2006 at the Southern Human Services Center. 

j.        Letter to Congressional Committees on Cable Franchising Legislation APPROVED

The Board will consider approval of a draft letter to be forwarded to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, urging opposition to proposed legislation that would weaken local authority to regulate cable franchising and authorize the Chair to sign. 

k.      Habitat for Humanity - Challenge Grant APPROVED

The Board will consider awarding $5,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to Habitat for Humanity for land acquisition for future affordable housing development. 

6.  Resolutions or Proclamations (8:15-8:20)

a.         Resolution Honoring Piedmont Minerals APPROVED

The Board will consider recognizing Piedmont Minerals, a mining operation located in Hillsborough, for its significant water conservation efforts and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. 

7.  Special Presentations

a.         OWASA Policy for Reimbursing Costs for Building-in Excess Capacity in Utility Line Extensions (8:20-8:40) PRESENTATION MADE

The Board will receive the latest information on OWASA's discussions relative to revising its policy for reimbursing costs related to building in excess capacity in utility line extensions; and to allow the BOCC to provide comments that can be transmitted to the OWASA board for its discussion on this issue at its meeting of December 15, 2005. 

8.  Public Hearings (8:40-9:00)

a.         Public Hearing for Buckhorn Road EDD/Community Water/Sewer Project Engineering Report HEARING HELD 

The Board will consider holding a public hearing on the Engineering Report for the sewer expansion portion of the Buckhorn Road EDD/Community Water and Sewer Expansion Project. 

9.  Items for Decision--Regular Agenda

a.         Transfer Funds From the Critical Needs Reserve to Social Services for Emergency Energy Assistance for Low-Income Families (9:00-9:15) APPROVED

The Board will consider appropriating $102,865 in additional County funds to help address increased emergency needs of low-income families due to rising energy costs and increased numbers of eligible families. 

b.         Memorandum of Understanding between Triangle Transit Authority and Orange Public Transportation for Public Route Service between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill (9:15-9:35) APPROVED

The Board will consider a re-designed public route between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill that will offer enhanced transit options to Orange County residents; and to consider authorizing Triangle Transit Authority and Orange Public Transportation to enter into a MOU to jointly fund (75 percent / 25 percent, respectively) and for OPT to operate the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill public route, pending final review and approval by Orange County Management and the County Attorney; and approve the addition of one full time permanent (40 hour) and one part time permanent position (20 hour), subject to continued funding and to approve the acquisition of the Triangle Transit Authority vehicle for use on the route. 

c.         Acquisition of Storage Facility (9:35-9:50) APPROVED

d.         School Sales Tax Reimbursements - Interlocal Agreements (9:50-10:05) APPROVED

The Board will review, comment upon, and consider approving interlocal agreements between the County and each school system that will allow the County to pursue reimbursement for state and local sales taxes paid to contractors on major school capital projects subject to final review by County staff, County Attorney, and bond counsel and authorize the Chair to sign. 

e.         Draft Water Conservation Policy For County Facilities and Report on Water Use and Performance Measures (10:05-10:20) APPROVED

The Board will consider adoption of a Water Conservation Policy covering Orange County government facilities and equipment, in follow up to the Board's Environmental Responsibility goal and to receive a report on building water use and possible water conservation performance measures. 

f.          Appointments (10:20-10:25)

(1)         Central Orange Senior Center Design Committee - Appointments APPOINTED

The Board will consider appointments to the Central Orange Senior Center Design Committee. 

(2)         Carrboro NTA Advisory Board - One New Appointment APPOINTED

The Board will consider making one new appointment to the Carrboro NTA Advisory Board. 

(3)         Commission for Women - New Appointments APPOINTED

The Board will consider making new appointments to the Commission for Women. 

(4)         Human Relations Commission - New Appointments APPOINTED

The Board will consider making new appointments to the Human Relations Commission. 

(5)         Orange County Planning Board - Appointments To Be Advertised

The Board will consider making one new appointment to the Orange County Planning Board. 

(6)         Orange-Person-Chatham Area Programs Board - New Appointments APPOINTED

The Board will consider making new appointments to the OPC Area Programs Board. 

10.  Reports

11.  Closed Session

12.  Adjournment

Orange County Water Supply Reservoir Water Levels

Available information as of 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 8, 2005

Lake Orange

·         Water level has risen to a point of 3'-0"" below full.

·         Water storage capacity remaining is approximately 71.5% (339 million gallons)

·         Approximately 112 days of water supply remaining (at Capacity Use specified release rate, however, current release is minimal - instream flow exceeds 30 cfs)

·         Eno River Capacity Use Restrictions at Stage II as of December 8, 2005. 

West Fork Reservoir  

·         Water level is 11" below full

·         Water storage capacity remaining is approximately 96.7%

·         Approximately 270 days of water supply remaining (assuming Town's current daily demand and releases for streamflow augmentation)

OWASA Reservoirs

·         Water level at Cane Creek Reservoir is 6'-11" below full

·         Water level at University Lake is 4'-11" below full

·         Total remaining water storage capacity is approximately 65.4%

·         Approximately 285 days of water supply remaining (at current average weekly demand)

National Weather Service/NOAA Regional Precipitation data (inches above [+] or below [-] normal)

RDU

• -5.84" for 2005
• +0.86" since December 1, 2005

Piedmont-Triad

• -9.31" for 2005
• +1.17" since December 1, 2005

Miscellaneous Notes

1. Eno River Capacity Use Agreement conditions for Stage II include 650,000 gpd release from Lake Orange to maintain instream flow.
2. Current release from Lake Orange is approximately 0.5 cfs as necessary to provide minimal flow in the Eno River east fork between Lake Orange and confluence of east and west forks.   Since 11/8/2005, all other demands, including Piedmont Minerals, Orange-Alamance, instream flow, channel loses, etc., have been met either by release from Hillsborough West Fork Reservoir or by natural instream flow (primarily since 11/28/05)