THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

 

Monday, February 3, 2003

 

9:00 A.M. Worksession

 

AGENDA

 

 

1.          Citizen Comments—Marion Lambert

 

Ms. Marion Lambert has requested time on the agenda to speak to the Commissioners regarding child support issues.

 

2.     Criminal Justice Resource Center Recidivism Report

 

The Honorable Craig B. Brown, District Court Judge and Chairperson of the Durham Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board, has requested time on the agenda to present a summary of the latest recidivism study conducted by the Criminal Justice Resource Center.  Annually, the staff of the Criminal Justice Resource Center reviews re-arrest data of offenders attending community-based corrections programs at the Center.

 

Resource Person(s): Gudrun Parmer, Director, Criminal Justice Resource Center.

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board receive the report.

 

3.     Report by the Transportation Demand Management Multi-Jurisdictional Advisory Board

 

The Commute Trip Reduction Program Ordinance, enacted in February 2000, created the Multi-Jurisdictional Advisory Board.  Section 24-120 of the Ordinance states that the purpose of this Board is to provide guidance to the Lead Agency and the Triangle Transit Authority in implementing and managing the Congestion Management Program.  The Advisory Board shall further provide information on congestion management to the County Manager and the Board of County Commissioners, and shall make recommendations to Commissioners as to the performance of the Lead Agency.  The Advisory Board is composed of eight members: four appointed by the City of Durham and four members appointed by Durham County.  The Board meets on the fourth Thursday of the first month of each quarter (January, April, July, and October).

 

The Ordinance requires that this Advisory Board make an annual report to the Board of County Commissioners.  The Chair of this Advisory Board will make a brief presentation on the current status of the Transportation Demand Management efforts in Durham County, including some recommendations for enhancing the Commute Trip Reduction Program. 

Resource Person(s): Richard “Dick" Sloane, Chair of the Multi-Jurisdictional Advisory Board

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board receive the report.

 

4.          Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council

 

The Durham Soil and Water Conservation District request that the BOCC allow a 15-minute presentation on the County becoming a member of a Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council.  The purpose of the RC&D program is to accelerate the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, improve the general level of economic activity, and to enhance the environment and standard of living in designated RC&D areas.  RC&D projects relate to: land conservation, water management, economic development, and community sustainability.  By participating, Durham County would benefit from grant money to carry out community projects. For example, the December ice storm caused huge amounts of debris from trees. This program could have assisted the County in removing the debris, mulching it, and selling the by-product. Other examples could be clearing and the restoration of streams, installing dry hydrants for getting the County a class 5A insurance rating, and collecting and utilizing the methane gas from the landfill.  There are presently ten RC&D Councils established in North Carolina.  If agreed upon, Durham, along with Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Wake and Wilson would form the eleventh council in the state.

 

Resource Person(s): Talmage Layton, Associate Supervisor, Durham SWCD; Stan Steury, RC&D Coordinator, Blue Ridge Council; Eddie Culberson, Director of Soil and Water

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation and advise staff as to whether the County is interested in adopting a resolution to become a member of the RC&D Council.

 

5.          2003 General Bond Referendum for Durham Public Schools

 

The Board will get its first look at major revisions to the Capital Improvement Program during the March 3, 2003 Worksession.  It is anticipated that more than $600 million in projects will be included in the first major revision to the ten-year plan since it was adopted in August of 2001.

 

Over thirty-five percent (35%), approximately $225 million, of the recommended expenditures are for the Durham Public Schools.  The school system is also updating its facilities plan, the initial draft of which will be presented to the Board of Education on February 4, 2003.  The County Manager has requested that Superintendent Ann Denlinger recommend a list of projects for the Board of Education to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners in the amount of $100 million.  After the Board of Education has developed its priorities for funding and the Board of County Commissioners has decided on the amount of bond funds that it desires to issue to finance the improvements, voters will be asked in November to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds for the selected projects. 

 

It should be noted that the November 2003 referendum would combine
previously-scheduled referenda for 2003 and 2005, and enable the school system to secure sufficient funding to build new schools and complete sorely-needed renovations, as well as complete improvements to inner-city schools. 

 

Resource Person(s): Mike Ruffin, County Manager; Chuck Kitchen, County Attorney; Pam Meyer, Budget and Management Services Director

 

County Manager's Recommendation: Receive the presentation and advise staff, if additional information is desired, prior to the formal presentation during the March 3, 2003 Worksession.

 

6.          Briefing of The Emergency Response During the December 2002 Ice Storm

 

Staff will provide the Durham County Board of Commissioners with a summary of the staff debriefing, which occurred as a result of the ice storm that affected Durham County in December of 2002.

 

Resource Person(s): Carolyn P. Titus, Deputy County Manager; Jeffrey Batten, County Fire Marshal/Director of Emergency Management

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board receive the briefing and provide staff with any feedback or direction.

 

7.          Rules of Procedure for the Durham County Board of Commissioners

 

Proposed revisions to the Rules of Procedure for the Board of Commissioners are attached.  The revisions reflect the practice which has been adopted since the last revision to the rules regarding public comment, deadlines for submission of agenda items, and several clerical corrections.

 

Resource Person(s): Chuck Kitchen, County Attorney

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: Review the proposed changes to the Rules of Procedure and make any changes desired.  The item will then be moved to the consent agenda for the regular Board meeting on February 10, 2003 for approval.