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THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

Monday, January 25, 1999

5:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.

Board of County Commissioners and Durham Public Schools Board of Education Joint Meeting

    The County Commissioners previously requested that a joint meeting be held with the Durham Public Schools Board of Education to discuss the school system’s capital improvement program. This meeting has been scheduled for January 5, 1999 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The following topics are to be covered during this meeting:
     
  1. Presentation and Discussion of the Durham Public Schools Capital Improvement Program
  2. Discussion of Plan of Action for Construction of Lowe’s Grove Elementary School
  3. Update on the Development of the FY 1999-2000 Budget for Durham Public Schools
  4. Set Next Meeting
7:00 P.M. Regular Session

AGENDA

1. Opening of Regular Session—Pledge of Allegiance

2. Agenda Adjustments

3. Minutes
    1. December 14, 1998 Regular Session
4. Consent Agenda
    1. Appointment—Animal Control Advisory Committee (appoint Susan Teer to the committee to represent the Animal Protection Society);
    2. Appointment—Durham County Emergency Medical Services Council (appoint Kelly N. Bradley to the council to represent the Bahama Volunteer Fire Department);
    3. Pump stations electrical improvements design contract (authorize the County Manager to execute a contract with Coulter Hart Jewell and Thames at a cost not to exceed $24,760);
    4. FY 1998-99 Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 99BCC000034—Public Health (approve amendment to recognize the Medicaid maximization cost settlement for FY 1995 and FY 1996); and
    5. FY 1998-99 Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 99BCC000035—Criminal Justice Resource Center (approve amendment to recognize $3,750 in additional revenues from the Governor’s Crime Commission).
Note: The purpose of a consent agenda is to handle consensus items with one motion to save time on meeting agendas. Any item a Board member pulls for discussion should be placed at the end of the agenda so public hearings can be concluded as early as possible. This will provide for the least inconvenience to the general public attending the public hearings.


5. Setting the Date for the 1999-2000 HUD Consolidated Plan Needs Public Hearing
 

The City of Durham Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) requests that the Board of County Commissioners set the date for the 1999-2000 Consolidated Plan Needs Public Hearing on January 25, 1999. The adopted Citizen Participation Plan for use with the Consolidated Plan requires that two public hearings be held prior to submission of the Consolidated Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of the first public hearing is to receive public comments and proposals pertaining to HOME program needs in Durham. The City Council is holding its Needs Public Hearing January 19, 1999.

Federal HOME grant funds (approximately $850,000) are received annually and are used primarily for affordable housing activities in Durham. Funds are allocated by formula to participating jurisdictions, consortiums, and state and local governments to operate the program. The major goal of the HOME program is to expand the supply of safe, decent, sanitary, and affordable rental- and owner-occupied housing. In
May 1993, the Board of County Commissioners and the City Council approved a Durham City-County HOME Consortium Agreement to be used in the administration of the HOME program. The Consortium Agreement was renewed by the BOCC and the City Council in July 1996 (effective October 1, 1997 through September 30, 2000). HOME program activities are included as a part of the Durham Consolidated Plan and submitted annually to HUD for approval.

Kendall Abernathy, Director DHCD, has reviewed this request and recommends that the County’s 1999-2000 Consolidated Needs Public Hearing be held on January 25, 1999. Ava Hinton, Federal Programs Administrator, will attend the meeting to answer questions.


6. Public Hearing--Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (TC45-98)--Zoning Density Bonus for Affordable Housing
 

One technique being used in other communities to encourage the development of more affordable housing in a community is providing a density bonus through the zoning ordinance on increasing the maximum number of housing units able to be built on a piece of property, subject to some limitations. This technique is usually not used by itself, but is used in conjunction with other affordable housing incentives. The City and County received special state legislation to allow this type of amendment to the Zoning Ordinance in 1991. Over the past few years, the establishment of guidelines to allow such an incentive in the Zoning Ordinance has been discussed and amended several times.

After a number of rounds of revisions, the Joint City-County Planning Committee endorsed the ordinance amendment at its meeting on October 7, 1998. A public hearing was subsequently held by the Zoning Committee of the Durham Planning Commission on November 10, 1998. The amendment was recommended (by a 6-1 vote). The City Council then held a public hearing on the amendment and adopted it without change on December 21, 1998.

Dick Hails, Planning Manager, Durham City-County Planning Department, will present the proposed amendment and answer any questions about the item.


7. Public Hearing--Tony Williams (Rezoning Case P98-66)
 

Tony Williams will present to the Board of County Commissioners a request to rezone .46 acres on Sanders Avenue, one lot beyond the intersection of US 70 and Sanders Avenue (TM 654-1-6A) Request: R-20 (Residential 20) to O&I-2 (General Office and Institutional District). The adopted 2020 Plan Community Growth Map supports Suburban Neighborhoods, a designation which provides land for low density residential neighborhoods, low intensity office and industrial uses, and supporting commercial and community services. The adopted Southeast Durham Future Land Use map indicates office use for the site. Staff recommends approval. The Zoning Committee of the Durham Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on December 8, 1998, and voted 7-0 to recommend approval.

Sheila Stains-Ramp, Senior Planner, Durham City-County Planning Department, will be present to answer any questions of staff regarding the request.


8. Public Hearing--Somerset One, LLC (Rezoning Case P98-51)
 

Somerset One LLC will present to the Board of County Commissioners a request to rezone 30.01 acres extending between Herndon Road on the west and Grandale Drive on the east (Tax Map 525-1-22, 22E) Request: RD (Rural District) to PDR-2.15 (Planned Density Residential-2.15 units/acre). The Community Growth Map for the 2020 Comprehensive Plan designates this area for "Suburban Neighborhoods." The Triangle Township Small Area Plan calls for low density residential development
(1-4 du/acre) at this site. Staff recommends approval. The Zoning Committee of the Durham Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on November 10, 1998, and voted 6-1 to recommend approval.

Vonda Frantz, Senior Planner, Durham City-County Planning Department, will be present to answer any questions of staff regarding the request.


9. Public Health—Computer and Printer Purchase to Complete Network
 

The Health Department requests approval of the purchase of 57 personal computers, 16 network printers, and related software for $114,528 from Compucom, in accordance with State convenience contract 250-15. The selected hardware and software is in compliance with Durham County’s computer equipment standards. The funds for this purchase include $93,546 from the Medicaid maximization settlement and $20,982 from budgeted computer funds.

This project includes replacement of 12 AS400 terminals in the Department in preparation for implementation of new network software. The project also replaces 16 PCs considered unacceptable under the Year 2000 Compliance project. Locations for the equipment addressed by this project include the following:
 

Administration – 4 PCs; 2 Printers Nursing – 21 PCs; 5 Printers
Vital Records – 4 PCs; 2 Printers Health Ed – 5 PCs; 1 Printer
Clinic – 15 PCs; 3 Printers Nutrition – 3 PCs; 1 Printer
Environmental Hlth – 4 PCs; 1 Printer Dental – 1 PC; 1 Printer

The cost of each PC is $1,565 including a 4.2 GB hard drive, a 15-inch monitor, Windows 95 software, and an Ethernet network card. The network printers cost $1,382 each.

Resource persons for this action are Dr. Christopher Burr, Health Department Administrator, and Perry Dixon, Director of the Information Technology Department.

Authorize the County Manager to enter into contract with Compucom to purchase
57 personal computers and 16 network printers for $114,528.


10. Consolidation and Reorganization of Resources into the County Attorney's Office
 

Effective March 15, 1999, the Risk Management Division of the Budget Office will transfer to the County Attorney's Office. Additionally, as the County Attorney will be taking over all legal representation of the Department of Social Services as of July 1, 1999, it is requested that the County Attorney be allowed to hire the additional staff as of March 15, 1999 to allow for a period of transition. During this period, the attorney to work in this area will become familiar with Adult Protective Services and more familiar with child support.

To accomplish this consolidation, the County Attorney's Office will need additional space. David Powell is currently examining various options for meeting this need.

With the proposed staffing of the County Attorney's Office, ample funding will be budgeted for these changes in the ensuing year. The overlap of positions will require a small additional appropriation during the current fiscal year.

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends approval of the proposal. The change to take over the functions of the DSS attorney is necessary as the funding for the DSS attorney position will expire on June 30, 1999. Additionally, as the County Attorney has assumed the role of chairman of the safety committee, is involved with the purchase of insurance, and directly involved with claims against the County, it makes sense to house the Risk Management function in the County Attorney's Office.


11. Board and Commission Appointments
 

Garry E. Umstead, CMC, Clerk to the Board, will distribute ballots to make appointments to the following boards and commissions:
      • Animal Control Advisory Committee
      • Area Mental Health Board
      • Environmental Affairs Board
      • Public Health Board
      • Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
Last updated: July 23, 2006
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