THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, February
26, 2001
AGENDA
1. Opening
of Regular Session—Pledge of Allegiance
2. Agenda
Adjustments
3. Minutes
a. December 12,
2000 BOCC/Legislative Delegation/City Council/Durham Public Schools Board of
Education
b. January 2,
2001 Worksession
c. January 8,
2001 Regular Session
Commissioner
Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner Cousin, to approve the Minutes, as
corrected.
The
motion carried unanimously.
4. Resolution
of Support for “Durham Health Partners"
5. Proclamation Recognizing “National
School Breakfast Week"
A proclamation recognizing March
5-9, 2001 as “National School Breakfast Week" has been prepared for the Board’s
approval. Tracy Bates, Health Promotion
Nutritionist in the Public Health Department, will be on hand to talk about
related events.
County Manager's Recommendation: Approve
the requested proclamation and present to Ms. Bates.
6.
Consent Agenda
a.
Street Annexation
Petition—Hardscrabble Drive (Hardscrabble Plantation) adopt the resolution to
approve the addition of Hardscrabble Drive (Hardscrabble Plantation) to the
state’s road maintenance system subject to the certification of eligibility by
the appropriate officials of the NC Department of Transportation);
b. Cancellation
of the March 5, 2001 Worksession (cancel the March 5, 2001 Worksession due to
the absence of two Board members);
c.
Adoption of the Durham County
Stormwater Ordinance (adopt the proposed ordinance which incorporates comments
from the Division of Water Quality);
d. Standard
Non-Reimbursable Contracts for the Extension of the County Sanitary Sewer
System (authorize the County Manager to execute the utility contracts for the
additions of Audubon Park Subdivision and Enthalpy Analytical Lab to the County
sanitary sewer system);
e.
Property Tax Releases and Refunds
for Fiscal Year 00-01 (accept the property tax release and refund report as
presented, and authorize the Tax Assessor to adjust the tax records as outlined
by the report. These are normal
recurring releases and refunds that are presented for the consent agenda);
f.
Appointment—Durham and Wake Counties
Research and Production District (appoint Larry Lawrence as requested by Ms.
Elizabeth H. Rooks on behalf of the Research Triangle Park Owners and Tenants
Association);
g.
Budget Ordinance Amendment No.
01BCC000048--Library--To receive Smart Start Funds and Establish Provisional
Part-time Position (approve for the Library to receive $30,000 in Smart Start
funds and authorize the establishment of a provisional part-time Senior Library
Assistant position to implement contract provisions of this grant);
h.
Budget Ordinance Amendment No.
01BCC000049--Mental Health--To Receive $20,000 from the North Carolina Division
of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
(MH/DD/SAS) (approve for the Durham Center to receive a one-time allocation in
the amount of $20,000 from the North Carolina Division of Mental Health,
Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (MH/DD/SAS) to provide
additional services to persons with developmental disabilities); and
i. Budget Ordinance Amendment No.
01BCC000050--Sheriff--To Recognize Deferred Revenue (approve for the Sheriff to
recognize deferred revenue in the amount of $15,000 for a Drug Free America
campaign and building modifications for the new communication dispatch
room. There is no impact to County
local dollars).
8. Durham Smart Growth Audit Presentation
In 2000, the City and County contracted
with Duncan Associates to perform a smart growth audit. The consultant conducted an extensive review
of Durham planning and capital improvement documents. In addition, the consultant conducted a series of meetings with
key Durham officials and citizens to glean their insights about smart growth. In November 2000, Duncan Associates produced
the first draft of the Durham Smart Growth Audit. The Joint City-County Planning Committee reviewed the draft
report. The consultant made minor
modifications to the final report.
The Smart Growth Audit contains
numerous recommendations to manage better Durham’s future growth and
development. The recommendations are
broad and
far-reaching and include specific actions related to land use planning, capital
facilities planning, urban form, and development design.
After the consultants make
presentations to the City Council and Board of County Commissioners, the
Planning Department will distribute copies of the audit to the five advisory
boards and commissions that participated in the March 2000 Smart Growth
Summit. The Planning Director
recommends that the County Board of Commissioners receive a report from Duncan
Associates about the Durham Smart Growth Audit.
Resource Person(s): Norm
Standerfer, Planning
County Manager's Recommendation:
The Manager’s recommendation is that the Board receive a report from Duncan
Associates about the Durham Smart Growth Audit.
The Commissioners received a report from Duncan Associates
representative
Mr. Kelly.
Commissioners
Bowser, Reckhow, and Cousin asked questions of Mr. Kelly and made
comments. Most comments centered on
impact fees and connecting neighborhoods for
pedestrian, bike, and auto use to reduce traffic on state roads.
Chairman
Black advised this item will go back to the Joint C/C Planning Committee. Commissioner Reckhow suggested that the
Board direct the Manager to work with the City Manager regarding smart
growth. Planning Director Standerfer
commented that the recommendations will be evaluated at the April meeting. Sixty-five percent of the recommendations
are issues which probably will be addressed when they find funding. A lot of the recommendations are not new.
Commissioner
Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner Heron, to receive report from Duncan
Associates and direct the County Manager to work with the Planning staff in
terms of moving forth with the audit’s recommendations.
The
motion carried unanimously.
9. Declaration of Surplus Property—3.03 Acres at Brogden
Middle School
County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager
recommends that the Board reject the offer to acquire the property, which will
permit the Board of Education to proceed with the disposal thereof.
Commissioner Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner
Cousin, to reject the offer to purchase the property.
The motion carried unanimously.
10.
Review of First-Semester Dropout Report for Durham Public Schools
The
Superintendent of Durham Public Schools provided a report to the Board of
County Commissioners on February 9, 2001, which included information regarding
the first-semester dropout rate for the 2000-2001 School Year. The report indicates that Durham Public
Schools realized a 19 percent reduction (51 fewer students) from the previous
academic year.
Resource Person(s): Andrea
Dennis, School Board Liaison
County Manager's Recommendation: The
Manager recommends that the Board review the report and direct staff if any
additional action is necessary.
Chairman
Black commented that the decrease in dropout numbers is to be commended, but the
school board should continue to strive to keep its students in school. The YCB should involve itself in dropout
intervention—it needs to be more active in its efforts. She suggested that students and parents meet
to receive counseling regarding remaining in school.
Commissioner Heron suggested that
the school board should provide an accounting as to why only 50% of long-term
suspended students do not elect to attend the Lakeview alternative school.
Commissioner Bowser indicated he is of the opinion that
Durham Tech should be considered a place for higher education—that high school
students should be encouraged to stay in school and not consider Durham Tech an
alternative to finish their high school education.
No formal action was taken on this item.
10a. Presentation by TJCOG on “The Regional Solid Waste
Future Search: One Year Later"
Resource Person(s): Mike
Turner, Director of General Services, Judy Kincaid, Triangle J Council of
Governments
County Manager’s Recommendation: The
Manager’s recommendation is that the Board allow the representative from
Triangle J Council of Governments to make the presentation and respond to any
questions by the Board.
The
Commissioners received the report from Ms. Kincaid. She spoke to the need to plan for the increasing amount of solid
waste in our community and outlined goals that municipalities should adopt to
attempt to manage this future growth of solid waste.
Commissioners
Reckhow and Heron spoke to the need to find a way to recycle leftover
construction materials—especially wood—which would otherwise be placed in our
landfill. Various suggestions were made
for use of leftover material.
Commissioner
Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner Bowser, to accept the report and direct
the staff to investigate the feasibility of (1)franchising private haulers
outside the county and (2)look at a recycling program associated with
construction debris.
The
motion carried unanimously.
11. Appointment of 2001 Board of Equalization and Review
The
Commissioners must appoint a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman for the 2001 Board of
Equalization and Review.
Added
Item: Sales Tax Distribution
Method—Mike Ruffin, County Manager and Chuck Kitchen, County Attorney
A
resolution was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on April 24, 1995
which set the respective sales tax distributions for the City and County of
Durham. Pursuant to the resolution, a
notice needs to be sent to the City of Durham by March 1, 2001 to effect a
change for FY 2002, if the County has proposed changes to the formula or
distribution method.
County
Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize a notice to be sent to the City of
Durham that the County of Durham desires to alter either the formula or the
method of distribution of the sales tax.
Commissioner
Heron moved, seconded by Commissioner Bowser, to send a letter to the City to
discuss the formula, the method of distribution, the implementation of an
adequate public facility ordinance, and other related issues.
The motion
carried unanimously.
Consent
Agenda Items Removed for Discussion:
6(b)
Cancellation of the March 5, 2001 Worksession
Commissioner
Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner Heron, to approve the item.
The motion
carried unanimously.
6(c)
Stormwater Ordinance
Commissioner
Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner Heron, to approve the item.
The motion
carried unanimously.
____________________________________________________
There
being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
