REVISED
(Removed Item Nos. 8 and 9)
THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, November 28, 2005
AGENDA
?Public
Charge?
The Board of Commissioners asks its
members and citizens to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner,
both with the Board and fellow citizens. At any time, should any member of the
Board or any citizen fail to observe this public charge, the Chairman will ask
the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains
personal control. Should decorum fail to be restored, the Chairman will recess
the meeting until such time that a genuine commitment to the public charge is
observed.
As a courtesy to others, please turn
off cell phones during the meeting.
7:00 P.M. Regular Session
1. Opening
of Regular Session?Pledge of Allegiance
5 min.
2. Agenda Adjustments 5
min.
3. Announcements
5 min.
·
Forum on the
Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Durham
Impact of Homelessness Upon Children
December 8, 2005?St. Philip?s
Episcopal Church?7:00 ? 9:00 p.m.
4. Minutes
5
min.
a. November 7, 2005
Worksession
b. November 14, 2005
Regular Session
5. Truancy Hotline
10
min.
The Durham County Sheriff's Office has recently implemented a Truancy Hotline to assist the public in
reporting possible violations. Citizens are encouraged to call
697-9024 or 697-9025 to report school age youngsters not in school on a regular
day.
Nationwide,
truancy is recognized as a gateway to school failure, gang involvement, and
criminal activity. Durham Public Schools has placed special emphasis on
attendance for this academic year and intends to contact parents whose children
are absent from class.
Besides
traditional court and law enforcement resources, school counselors, and social
workers, Truancy Officers and a Truancy Court program also support the County?s truancy initiative. There
are currently two full-time deputies assigned to the Truancy Unit of the Durham
County Sheriff's Office. Their primary responsibility is to investigate
and enforce violations of the Compulsory School Attendance Law. Truancy
cases originate through referrals from the school system or by
self-initiation. These cases are then assigned to the officers who are
tasked with making juvenile and family contacts to inform those involved of
their legal obligations and consequences for violating the law.
6. Recognition of the $1,112,000 Clean
Water Management Trust Fund Grant for the Duke/Erwin Trace Acquisition
10
min.
At its Board Meeting on November 14,
2005, the State of North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) Board
approved a $1,112,000 grant to Durham County, which reflects the full amount
requested by the County. The grant will be shared by Durham County, Orange County, City of Durham, and Chapel Hill to reduce the amount of each
jurisdiction?s financial commitment for the Duke University/Erwin Trace
acquisition. Durham County agreed to purchase the 42.8-acre Duke tract in
April 2005 for $1,500,000 after the other local governments agreed to
participate with up to $375,000 of the purchase price. In keeping with the
purposes of the CWMTF?s mission, after the property is acquired, conservation
easements will be placed on the bulk of the property to ensure it will remain
in open space for water quality purposes.
The Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC)
in partnership with the Erwin Area Neighborhood Group (EANG) is also providing
a critical $225,000 of the overall purchase price, with the bulk of these funds
provided by EANG pledges. The EANG held a strong grass-roots public education
campaign to gain public support of the acquisition. They also held a tour of
the property for CWMTF Board members and state legislators in July to highlight
the proposed CWMTF grant request by Durham County.
The CWMTF grant will provide
$1,000,000 towards the Duke University/Erwin Trace acquisition. Durham County?s financial commitment towards the $1,514,000 project cost was up to $914,000
if no grant funds were received to assist with the project. Based on the
provisions in the draft Interlocal Agreement, Durham?s share of the grant funds
would be $762,357, lowering Durham County?s expected costs to $151,643. Chapel Hill had committed $100,000 to the acquisition; its costs would be lowered to
$36,629. The City of Durham had committed $75,000 to the acquisition; its
costs would be lowered to $27,471. Orange County had committed $200,000 to the
acquisition; its costs would be lowered to $73,257.
The CWMTF grant also includes
$112,000 to be used to assist Orange County with the acquisition of the Penny
floodplain property. This acquisition includes 23 critical floodplain and
riparian areas that abut New Hope Creek and help to provide a continuous
protected open space corridor in this fast growing part of the Triangle.
During the spring, the Penny?s had also pledged to donate additional
conservation easements on upland acreage that adjoins their floodplain and the
Duke property. The award of CWMTF grant funds included a requirement that the
funds are contingent upon the completion of this additional donated acreage.
The Penny?s further renewed their commitment to donate the easements in writing
during November.
7. Consent Agenda 15
min.
a. Property Tax
Releases and Refunds for Fiscal Year 2004-05 (accept the property tax release
and refund report for October 2005 as presented and authorize the Tax Assessor
to adjust the tax records as outlined by the report);
c. GIS Interlocal
Agreement with the City of Durham (approve and authorize the Manager to execute
the agreement); and
d. Budget Ordinance Amendment No.
06BCC000028?Tax Office?Request for Additional Revaluation Positions (authorize
the establishment of four positions; the funding source is fund balance from
the Revaluation Fund, which is set up for these types of expenditures and is
anticipated to cost no more than $90,339 for the
2005-06 Fiscal Year).
8. Capital Project Amendment No.
06CPA000006?Durham Public Schools 2001 & 2003 General Obligation Bond
Project Adjustments
10
min.
On October 27, 2005, the Durham
Public Schools Board of Education approved several changes to the project
funding levels in the 2001 and 2003 school bond referenda. Approval of four
actions is required. For 2003 General Obligation Bond funds:
1) redistribute Phase I funds due to completed work ($367,129) to two existing
projects; 2) approve the initial distribution of Phase II funds; and 3) approve
several adjustments to overall planning budgets. For 2001 General Obligation
Bond funds: 4) close four complete projects and reallocate funds to four new
projects ($583,455).
County Manger?s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the
Board approve Capital Project Ordinance Amendment No. 06CPA000006: transfer
$367,129 in unused 2003 General Obligation Bond funding from several completed
school capital projects to two uncompleted school capital projects; transfer
$583,455 in unused 2001 General Obligation Bond funding from four complete projects
to four new school capital projects. The four new capital projects: Durham School of the Arts - Gym Roof &
Windows project ($125,000); Jordan High ? Auditorium project ($225,000);
Northern High - HVAC Upgrades project ($177,830); and Jordan High - HVAC
Upgrades project ($55,625).
9. Capital Project Amendment No.
06CPA000007?Durham Public Schools (DPS) Applications to the Public School Building Capital Fund
10
min.
On October 27, 2005, the Durham
Public Schools Board of Education approved two applications to the Public
School Building Capital Fund. Each project uses local capital funds to match
state funds to finance these crucial projects. The projects are Durham School of the Arts gym roof & windows project and Northern High School chiller
replacement project.
County Manger?s
Recommendation: The Manager recommends
approval of Capital Project Amendment No. 06CPA000007 appropriating Public
School Building Capital Fund funds to the Durham School of the Arts gym roof
& windows project ($375,000) and the Northern High School chiller
replacement project ($270,000) (a new project).
_________
1¼ hrs.
55 min.
