Mr. Ralph McKinney has requested time on the agenda to make comments to the Commissioners.

2. "State of the Airport" Report

RDU Airport Authority members Steve Toler and Lionell Parker will present information on RDU's passenger and airline growth, customer service initiatives, and facility expansion programs. This brief presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.

3. Amendment No. 01CPA000006--Little River Regional Park Project Allocation

It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners approve this capital project amendment, moving funds from the pay-as-you-go fund to the Little River Regional Park Project. As part of the approved purchase agreement, Durham County will be acquiring its 254.9 acres in two closings - the first 169.6 acres this week, and the remaining 85.34 acres next July 2001. The budget amendment allocates $260,000 from the County’s pay-as-you-go fund to pay for up-front acquisition costs for the first closing scheduled November 7, 2000.

In May, the County Commissioners approved the purchase agreement for Durham County's portion of the 391-acre Little River Regional Park site using pay-as-you-go funds ($180,000). Durham County will acquire 254.9 (65%) of the project, with Orange County acquiring the remaining 135.7 acres (35%). Durham and Orange Counties have successfully obtained two state grants that will substantially defray local costs for acquiring the site: The state’s CWMTF program has awarded up to $377,000 towards the land acquisition, and the State’s PARTF grant program has awarded $250,000 towards the project. In September, Durham and Orange counties were fortunate to be awarded a federal Land and Water Conservation grant for $262,000 to pay for site development costs.

The $250,000 PARTF grant has been received by Orange County, of which Durham County's share is $162,500. Durham County's portion of the PARTF grant will be credited to the County at the closing. The CWMTF grant funds are reimbursed on an actual cost basis and should be received by the end of December. After this first closing, the expected CWMTF reimbursement will be approximately $342,140; the County's share of this would be $222,390. Once both closings have taken place and all grant and non-profit pledges have been received, Durham County's net cost for the project will remain approximately $180,000, as previously outlined.

Resource Person(s): Keith Lane, Interim Budget Director; Jane Korest, Senior Planner; and Chuck Kitchen, County Attorney

County Manager's Recommendation: This allocation is budgeted in the pay-as-you-go fund for open space projects, which was approved by the Board in June 2000. I recommend the Board of County Commissioners approve this capital project amendment to add $260,000 to the Little River-Regional Park Project.

4. Presentation on STARR Program and Outcome Study Year 2000

Staff from the Durham Center will make a presentation on the County’s S.T.A.R.R. Program and present the S.T.A.R.R. Program Outcome Study for Year 2000. In addition, staff will present a brief overview of the program’s origin and service expansion over its ten years of operation, including information regarding inmate graduates over this period. The program's excellent consumer outcomes performance record will be reviewed, including outcomes that have reduced crime recidivism, helped inmates transition to outside treatment and support resources, and saved County funds that would have otherwise been necessary to prosecute and house repeat offenders.

The S.T.A.R.R. Program has received state and national awards. It is fully funded by the Board of County Commissioners and operates through a mutually supportive relationship with the Sheriff’s Department in the Durham County Jail.

Resource Person(s): Dr. Steven Ashby, Area Mental Health Director, and Robert Thomas, S.T.A.R.R. Program Supervisor

County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board receive the report from the Durham Center staff and commend them for their dedication and commitment in providing effective substance abuse treatment services to inmates in theDurham County Jail.

5. Presentation on Educational Tours by Cooperative Extension for Durham’s Elected Officials

The Cooperative Extension Service will present an overview of projects presented on the Neuse government officials tour that visited sites from Durham to Kinston on August 27, 2000. Commissioner Bowser attended and requested this summary for the entire Board. Information from the Durham officials tour of stormwater management sites on September 27 is also featured.

Both tours highlighted partnerships Extension’s Neuse Education Team has made with private and public sector entities to establish teaching and demonstration sites promoting water quality best management practices. Constructed wetlands, riparian buffers, controlled agricultural drainage, permeable pavement, wet ponds, grass swales, bioretention areas, and stormwater sand filters were shown on the tours.

Resource Person(s): Craven Hudson, Area Environmental Education Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

County Manager's Recommendation: Receive the presentation and recognize the efforts of Cooperative Extension’s Neuse River Team in developing sustainable and replicable water quality demonstrations across the county.

6. FY 1999 - 2000 Audit Update and Presentation of the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting

The Finance Department completed this past year’s audit in record time on
October 4, 2000. County records as far back as 1980 indicate that the County’s audit has never been completed earlier than the end of October. This new completion date supersedes last year’s record time of October 11, 1999.

In addition to recognizing and commending the staff for completing the audit in record time, the Board is requested to present the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting to Interim Finance Director Susan Fox-Kirk and her staff. This Certificate is awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for Durham County’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. In announcing this award, GFOA stated that the "..CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR."

Finally, Interim Finance Director Susan Fox-Kirk will present the County’s CAFR for Fiscal Year 2000 to the Board of County Commissioners.

Resource Person(s): Carolyn P. Titus, Interim County Manager, and Susan Fox-Kirk, Interim Finance Director.

County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board commend the Finance Department for its dedication and commitment in providing the County’s financial position in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report not only in such a timely manner, but in such a qualitative manner as to achieve such a high honor for the County in continuing to be awarded the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officer’s Association.