Mr. George Roberson, 1110 Raynor Street, has requested time on the agenda to discuss the high dropout rate in Durham Public Schools and the issue of racism in our local and state government.

The Durham County CCPT/CFPT requests that the Board of County Commissioners receive its Annual Report at this worksession with its recommendations.

Topics to be presented: 1) description of the statutory, public policy role of the Team and identification of its current membership; 2) the race, gender, number, parental ages, and fatality classifications of the fatalities reviewed; 3) findings and recommendations by the CCPT/CFPT regarding the need to increase the numbers of social workers serving within the Durham County schools; 4) raising awareness of the Board of County Commissioners regarding the dangers of having unsecured firearms in the home accessible to children; 5) an overview of additional recommendations which have been reported to the North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Task Force and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Women’s and Children’s Health, as outcome of its reviews of Durham child fatalities; lastly, 6) an update on the Team’s current fire safety initiative: the Team’s purchase of 200+ smoke detectors for distribution through the Durham Fire Department to needy city/county families.

Presenter: Ms. Beverly Stubbee, Chair.

Watershed protection zoning restrictions are applied to land in the City and County based on the location of the normal pool. The Gorman Community Association has pointed out and the US Army Corps of Engineers has confirmed that a different methodology was used to establish the normal pool location on Ellerbee Creek than was used on other Falls Lake tributaries. A more accurate location of the normal pool could result in future actions by the Board to adjust the Watershed Protection Critical and Protected Areas. If the survey suggests a larger lake and therefore larger watershed protection areas, and the Board later chooses to apply those, then water quality protection could be enhanced. If the survey suggests a smaller lake and therefore smaller water quality protection areas, and the Board later chooses to apply those, then the reduced restrictions would allow somewhat greater development potential in the Gorman area while still exceeding State standards and objectives for watershed protection.

David Thompson, Keith Luck, and Paul Norby have met with the Gorman Community Association and the Corps on this issue and will be available at the meeting to answer questions.

County Manager’s Recommendation: The recommendation is for the County Commissioners to instruct Planning staff to enter into an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to retain a surveyor to determine the normal pool location on Ellerbee Creek. I am recommending that the County fund this in partnership with the Gorman Community Association. The funding agreement would be 50/50 based on the final costs of the survey. I believe this is logical since the utilization of the survey serves a public purpose. I am not recommending that the Gorman Community Association pay the full cost since there is a public purpose, and I feel that the survey should be done under the direction of Planning staff since it may form the basis for other deliberations by the County Commissioners. I am requesting that this item be placed on your consent agenda with an appropriation of $2,500 from the County’s contingency which now stands at $500,000.

4. Southeast Durham Plan

Southeast Durham is one of fifteen small areas that comprise Durham County. The planning area is approximately 29 square miles and is located between NC 147,
NC 98, and the Durham-Wake County line and T. W. Alexander Parkway. Southeast Durham is a mix of rural, suburban, and urban neighborhoods, with a growing industrial base on the edge of the Research Triangle Park.

The Southeast Durham Plan is a detailed guide for future land use and development in the area based on the adopted Durham 2020 Comprehensive Plan. Outside of the Urban Growth Area, the Plan recommends rural land uses. Inside the Urban Growth Area, the Plan calls for new suburban housing areas, new commercial centers along major roads, and new employment centers near the Research Triangle Park. Future public sewer services in the Lick Creek basin will likely stimulate demand for new housing and commercial development. The Southeast Durham Plan seeks to accommodate new development while protecting the integrity of existing neighborhoods.

Keith Luck was the principal planner for the small area plan and will present this item to the Board.

County Manager’s Recommendation:

Receive a presentation on the Southeast Durham Plan and schedule a public presentation on the Plan for the Board’s regular meeting on August 24, 1998.

5. Public Access to County Government Information Development Plan

One of the adopted goals of the County Commissioners is to develop an information technology system for citizen access. As the Board will recall, a committee was formed within County government to develop a strategic plan to carry out this goal. The project team was co-chaired by Public Information Officer Deborah Craig-Ray and Library Director Dale Gaddis. The project team was composed of IS Director Perry Dixon, County Attorney Chuck Kitchen, Register of Deeds Willie Covington, GIS Director Michiyo Wagner, and Tax Administrator Charles Clark. The committee was charged by my office to:

As per the attached plan that is being brought forward at this meeting, I believe you will agree that this committee has done an excellent job in bringing forth a strategic plan to implement the Board of Commissioners’ adopted goal.

County Manager’s Recommendation:

Receive the report from the committee and comment on any revisions that you feel are appropriate. I recommend that this be brought forward to your next consent agenda for approval, so that, the outlined time frames can be met. I also think it is appropriate for the Board to commend this committee on its diligent work on this issue.

6. Interlocal Agreement for the Countywide Geographic Information Systems Administration

The GIS project was planned, organized, and implemented through the combined efforts of Durham City and County. The four year project was funded equally by both organizations. The goal of the GIS project was to build accurate digital maps and geographic databases, develop an integrated GIS system that enables both organizations to access and share countywide geographic information, and provide spatial analysis and modeling capability for better decision making.

The countywide GIS system is now operational, and the GIS data will be accessible from GIS workstations in 14 City and County departments.

The GIS project and the system have been managed by the City’s GIS Department which has included two County Information Service employees. The current arrangement was made by both City and County Managers in December 1995. This arrangement only addresses the staffing issue and was intended only for the initial project implementation phase. The long-term organizational structure to support the core operations necessary to maintain the countywide Geographic Information System was to be addressed at a later time.

An interlocal agreement, provided as Attachment A, will establish a service agreement to serve as the basis for managing the countywide Geographic Information Systems.

Resource Person: Michiyo Wagner

County Manager’s Recommendation: Note the detailed memorandum that serves as a summary of the history and contents of this agreement. County Attorney Chuck Kitchen, City Manager Ewell, and City Attorney Blinder will be meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 1998 to make final revisions.