Board of Commissioners · Regular Meeting · January 8, 2024

Will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you commissioner Carter do we have any agenda adjustments from the board okay seeing none I will move on to our announcements and I'll pass it on to the clerk good evening everyone I'll read the announcements that are published in tonight's agenda they're also on our County website the Durham County Justice resources department is hosting a resource Fair on Wednesday January 10th from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 3:26 East Main Street the fair will feature employment opportunities vocational training and education information as well as Supportive Services for justice involved residents there will be several local employers to meet with and possibly interview potential employees Durham County transportation staff wants your feedback the public comment period for Q3 amendments to the fy4 Durham Transit work plan is open until Thursday January 11th for additional information on the proposed amendments please visit the Transportation website there is a link there and if you would like to submit public comments you can send them to it's an email address it's Transit plan at dco nc.gov.

Most Durham County government offices will be closed for the Martin Luther King Jr holiday on Monday January 15th our offices will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday January 16th to read how the holiday will impact certain services and programs please visit www.dc nc.gov the Museum of Life and Science is releasing a survey to gauge interest in a shuttle service that would be operated in partnership with Durham County during the Museum's free community days we will be looking at a model that best Services the needs of those interested the debt line to complete the survey is Monday January 15th and there is a link for that survey as well the United States citizens and immigrant Services Cherokee fed Federal NC State Refugee coordinator's office the office of refugee settlement and local service providers invite you to an Afghan Support Center at the Durham convention center this is this no cost event will provide an opportunity for Afghans to talk to staff from us North Carolina state and government agencies a.

Variety of service providers and others to assist in making sure you have what you need to successfully make the United States your home event will be held from Wednesday will be held Wednesday January 17th to Saturday January 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. it's Wednesday again I'm sorry Wednesday through Friday it will be from 10:00 a.m. to 7: p.m. Saturday at the convention center Grand Ballroom located at 301 West Morgan Street interpretation will also be provided please contact koku Neu at k n Yu at dco n DC nc.gov excuse me you can also visit their website www.c centers for Afghans support.org for more information the Durham County Library invites everyone to a 1-hour session where you will learn all there is to know about renewing your daa our special guest is attorney RZA OA from the brown immigration law she will be answering questions to any concerns that you have the session is Monday January 22nd from 12: to 1: p.m. at the Durham County Library located at 300th Roxboro Street you must.

Register for this event and there is a link for registration start off 2024 the healthy way by getting your updated covid-19 vaccine and flu shot and pick up your free covid-19 test at the Durham County Department of Public Health located at 4:14 East Main Street covid vaccines are available by appointment only while flu shots can be appointments or walk-ins you can schedule your vaccine by calling 560 7658 as well as your flu shots by calling 560 7608 for additional information please visit DCU health.org that concludes the announcements published in tonight's agenda thank you CER kales I'll now ask the board members if there's any other announcements Vice chair Burns thank you madam chair I actually have two really quick ones one I'm going kick to somebody else because I'm not going to do it justice but the first one as many of you all know the North Carolina Soil and Water District Association is holding their conference in Durham I got to be with them some this weekend they're here today and tomorrow so we.

Don't have anybody from staff here but I did at least want to announce I don't know if you all know but we got technical District of the Year here in Durham so Eddie's not here because he's he's out there being a gracious host and welcoming these 500 individuals and all the other Sol water district supervisors but we have been invited tomorrow they get awarded it at 10:30 tomorrow so if anybody's available we will get that additionally two of our teachers here in Durham actually got teacher of the year so I know it's I didn't find out all listen to this weekend but award-winning also somebody got re accredited this weekend and if I could Madam share with your commission and there are some events I want to talk about for MLK but I see we have some folks here from the MLK subcommittee so I know we do that resolution they'll announce them so I won't belabor that but I think congratulations are in order for the sheriff as he got to jail re accredited.

This weekend.

I good evening everyone Commissioners thank you commissioner Burns good news travels fast my team and I spent the last four days in in Maryland and where we met with Commissioners for the American Correctional Association or ACA because we were up for re accreditation and our three-year audit period and we were successful and I'm I'm I'm a little bit shy to say we we got 100 out of 100 compliance with our standards which is obviously the highest you can get and in our conversation with the Commissioners there they applauded effort and the professionalism and all of our programming that we continue to offer in our Detention Facility and we talked extensively about our Matt program and our educational program so thank you for the recognition you'll be getting a copy of our certificate in the in the next couple of weeks so that we can formally put it into the to the minutes thank you so much thank you Sher Burkhead and vice shair Burns commissioner.

Wendy Jacobs thank you madam chair and great news to hear that sheriff I just wanted to share a reminder it wasn't in our announcements but about the property tax relief programs that we have available to Residents this time of year because the the filings were due on Friday this January 5th but it's I think it's important I see our tax administrator here with us tonight to remind people U about the resources that we have so locally we have the lowincome homeowner relief grant program to help residents lowincome and fixed income residents and then there are State programs the elderly disabled homestead exemption the circuit breaker for elderly and disabled deferment program and the disabled veterans exclusion program there's information about all of them on the tax department website and our staff are there and ready also to help people with information about the programs and how to apply thank you thank you commissioner Wendy Jacobs any over here okay that concludes all of our announcements I will now move us on to.

Our minutes and asking the board for approval of the November 27th 2023 regular session minutes as well as the December 4th 2023 work session minutes other moved by commissioner howon do I have a second second seconded by commissioner Carter all in favor say I I any.

Opposed MO motion to approve the minutes passes 5 to Z that moves us over to our ceremonial items the first item that we have today will be the introduction of the new Durham County early childhood coordinator matal Barack I see Donna and matal joining.

Us okay there we go good evening Commissioners I'm very excited to be here with you tonight I'm Donna rewalt I'm the Durham County Cooperative Extension director I have the pleasure of supporting the county Early Childhood coordinator role in our department you all may well remember in 2019 when you along with County leadership established the Early Childhood coordinator to help us really do a better job driving County and CommunityWide efforts for Early Childhood initiatives and practices in during County particularly with leadership for the Durham County U involvement in the early childhood action plan and certainly our more than $6 million investment in Durham prek along with many other initiatives and programs we've been really blessed to have collaborative leadership in this role and I'm really excited to say that we also found that in Matel Brock who is our new County early childhood coordinator I'm really excited about Mel's leadership leadership for several reasons I think one of the most important ones is that she has the breadth of experience of both being in a classroom.

As an early childhood teacher being a researcher as well she's also been a nonprofit administrative leader where she helped lead and develop a a program called book babies at book Harvest some of you may know that program I had the fortune of also knowing that program really well because we collaborate very closely with book babies a Cooperative Extension through our parent advocacy work I I think the other things I mean there's so much to say that I could say about Matel I'll let her talk in just a second but she's definitely committed to children and families and that has shined throughout her entire career she she lives and works in Durham she believes in this community and cares for this community and has demonstrated that at every step certainly every step at which I've seen her work in this community I think a it's a blessing that we have someone in this role who is already known and has been involved in her early childhood action plan and the.

Grown and Duram work that we're so committed to she is also she also has a Meed and early intervention and family support from the University of North Carolina and she has a wonderful family who also live here with her and I want her to tell a little bit more about her work and excitement about this role and then if you all have any. Questions good evening everyone I am very excited to be here today and join you during this time to speak a little bit about myself U thank you that was very generous I think the big thing I want to share is my passion and belief in early childhood I truly think and have learned with families along my career that everything starts the moment those babies are born and we need to be committed to being the village around those children and their families we live in an amazing County with wonderful resources and programs we need to continue to ensure that families All Families of all children have access.

To these resources starting at Birth continuing with a clear streamline until they are done with school and I'm here for that I love the collaboration that I've seen in this County particular in the past few years as Donna mentioned with the Early Childhood action plan and I look forward to to continuing that work and continue to learn with families about their priorities for their children as we see the wonderful growth of our community thank you so much Mel it's so great to welcome you to the team I know from I can speak on behalf of this entire board but not just our board senior leadership all staff in Durham County that you know our children are a great priority to all of the work that we do so to have someone like you filling this role got a chance to read the bio that we have in the agenda it's really really impressive and I'm so glad that we able to bring you to the county so thank you for joining us thank you.

Don for the intentionality with the hiring also of bringing people from the within the community who already have relationships with key Partners I want to pass it to any of my colleagues who would like to also commissioner Wendy Jacobs thank you well I'm so excited welcome mall and we are so lucky to have you joining us with all of your experience knowledge skills and Leadership on this very very important issue I don't think I could articulate it any better than you just did about why the work that you will be helping us with and leading is so very important important for our community thank you Vice chair Burns then we'll start mine is really quick one I you know I I join my colleagues in their statements but I also want to throw out there even in reading your bio I always think it's it's good to have you know new ideas and I feel like from what I read and also from what I've heard in the community.

You're going to be a really fresh perspective to this role and that's always good especially as we Embark out on some of these new and innovative ideas that like not just this board has what other folks have so I look forward to seeing what you bring forth and how we help our kids if no the reason you know we sat down with our early childhood Court Kate did a lot of work right like we can't sit here like there's a I have notebooks I have notebooks so she left a road map and we not necessarily saying that you have to follow it but I I look forward to seeing you chart your own path so that these babies don't have to worry about how they're going to read where they're going to eat and Mommy doesn't have to worry about how this kid is being treated so thank you for wanting to get up here and I'm going tell you like I tell everybody else Welcome to The Greatest Show on Earth thank you it.

Never. End yes I also want to welcome you Matel and say that I think that one of the most important decisions that I've been part of on this board was the development of this position The Early Childhood coordinator and I just I I felt Goosebumps when Donna was describing you and your work and your passion and your background ground and and also with the things that you said and I look forward to seeing how you continue to drive our early childhood action plan forward we've got the great plan we need to be sure we're doing everything we can to implement it and being putting resources behind that thank you for prioritizing the families you know both Generations the children but I I consider this our most important work as a county investing in the early childhood years if we don't invest them we we lose our chance and everybody knows that we all know about the brain development that happens early on and we we need to invest more there and I'm so.

Glad we have you helping lead the way with this. Work I will just add my Kudos as well welcome and children are our future thank you thank you so much Mel and welcome again to the team we're so excited to have you that moves us on to our next Proclamation for National mentoring month and actually pass this one commissioner Carter if you would like to read this one.

Sure thank you madam chair Durham Board of County Commissioners Proclamation whereas created in 2002 by the Harvard School of Public Health and Mentor the national mentoring partnership January is National mentoring month an annual campaign to focus attention on the need for Quality consistent and competent mentors and whereas a mentor is a caring dependable and authentic person that provides support guidance advice assistance and devotes time to a young person to help youth discover personal strength to persevere and achieve their potential through a structured and trusting relationship on a regular basis and whereas quality mentoring encourages and empowers youth to make Positive Choices promote self-esteem and character development support academic achievement social emotional learning leadership and professional development college readiness and career exploration and whereas the goals of national mentoring month are to raise awareness of mentoring recruit individuals to Mentor equip mentors with the skills needed to support youth encourage organizations to engage and integrate quality mentoring into their efforts and efforts with a focus on academic support life skills training and career Readiness Workforce.

Preparation to motivate youth to Excel and whereas during the covid-19 pandemic mentoring programs have stepped up to fill gaps for Youth and fam connecting them with resources and ensuring mentoring relationships continue to prevent social disconnection and mitigate learning loss and whereas research has demonstrated that mentoring programs have a significant positive impact on a variety of academic achievement measures including truancy and absenteeism Scholastic efficacy and engagement School related misconduct and peer support and whereas mentors serve a critical role in helping youth successfully complete high school and gain admission to college or training programs earn a postsecondary credential or certification build new in demand skills prepare for the future of work and succeed in an Ever Changing Workforce and whereas mentoring programs must incorporate work-based learning to prepare and connect youth with real life work experiences where they can apply academic Technical and soft skills skills and develop their employability while exploring career Pathways and whereas the Durham County strategic plan goal one is to provide access to educational vocational economic and cultural opportunities while empowering.

Citizens to choose Pathways for their own success whereas the Durham Board of Board of County Commissioners supports communitybased mentoring programs as Key Community Partners to support our mission for a safe healthy and Vibrant Community and whereas National mentoring month is the time of year to celebrate Elevate and encourage mentoring and recruit caring adult mentors in Durham County now therefore I N the Allam on behalf of the Durham Board of County Commissioners do hereby proclaim the month of January 2024 as National mentoring month and call upon elected officials Educators business and Community leaders and citizens to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies activities and programs to recognize the valuable contributions of staff and Volunteers in quality mentoring programs that Empower youth enabling them to discover inner strength and realize their full potential acknowledge the manifold benefits of mentoring including fostering healthy identity development promoting educational achievement reducing juvenile delinquency enhancing career Readiness improving life skills and outcomes and fortifying communities advocate for the establishment expansion sustainability and funding of quality mentoring programs throughout Durham.

Aiming to provide youth with the necessary tools for leading healthy productive and meaningful lives support initiatives aimed at bridging academic achievement opportunity and mentoring gaps emphasizing critical mentoring to assist boys of color this involves pairing them with mentors who grasp and comprehend social Pol political and economic racism and oppression and are committed to acting against these elements of society this The Eighth Day of January 2024 thank you commissioner Carter I'd like to call up Nida Allam lry to provide any comments for this item thank you and I would also like other Youth and mentoring organizations that are present to please come forth Happy New Year to you all Commissioners I do every year when I do this I always ask other organizations that are available to come and share about their organizations as well because there are a lot of great organizations that are doing work in this community and one of the things that I know from my own lived experience is that not every organization can reach every kid and.

Because of the diversity that exists in our community we need to have a wealth of resources that are available to meet the needs of our our young people and so first I would like to thank you all for this Proclamation this is the I think it's the ninth year that I've come and done this but I serve as the volunteer executive director of The Charles Hamilton Houston foundation and we take pride in the work that we do with boys and youngen of color we have a program that this year is turning five years old the young men of exess program that work with boys in middle and high school and then we have our career pathway program which works with young men 18 to 25 and those young men complete that program entering into career oriented professions earning on average $66,000 a year that is how you transform lives that is how you impact boys and young men of color so I would like other organizations that are present to come.

Forth and share briefly thank. You hi good evening everyone bu noes my name is Denise Burgos I am representing here El Centro isano El centano Works to strength the community build Bridges and advocate for equity and inclusion I am the community specialist for the youth program hes leader in action it's a youth leadership H program that works is a community- based program designed to create opportunities for Latin youth to grow and Thrive with the purpose of developing leadership through personal growth academic excellence and advocacy thank you for having us here tonight and thank you for the.

Proclamation hello everyone my name is Fred Evans I'm the director and head football coach for the Bull City Bulldogs we want to be known so for so much more than just the Athletics that we have in it we we bring kids in we try to teach them love of self love of family and love of community and they can start to learn that once they take that love from themselves they can move it on to others in the community as well and we're trying every we have a everyday fight for what we know we got a we got a problem with gangs and the shootings here so when you see this in the area you'll know that it's someone out there fighting for the kids to get them to stop this violence is senseless and we got to take the normal SE of it but as far as for 2024 we're trying now we're trying to get the kids involved in different aspects of feeding the elderly feeding the homeless.

So they can see how fortunate they are you know even though you you can feel like you're unfortunate but when you see people who really are then you become to realize that I have to be grateful for what I have so that's our right now that's our biggest thing we're putting forth an effort to try to get funds to become a food bank for kids for eating after school you know even though some kids don't really have a lot to eat period but you know we can help with after school and then also give them Outreach for food you know after school and help with homework and things like that we're going to continue to push that effort so although we don't want to be known as the athletic association I do have to say we just we just won the six youth state championship this year and I wanted to shout that out thank.

You good evening good evening my name is jaman Williams I'm a representative on the behalf of Wall Street Juniors we're organization started in Atlanta but also have a chapter here in Durham where we focus mainly on increasing the financial literacy of not just youth but of people of all ages we have multiple programs and we just love to increase the economic positivity in Durham we like to really help we like to consider people not really underfunded but underestimated communities that's what we like to try to push on to our constituents and friends who would like to join us we also have a community wealth building program and it's more of an inter inter intergenerational event for all ages you know want to bring people to an intimate space so we can talk about these things and you know tear away these veils of you know financial literacy that you know a lot of people tend to ignore or they don't want to pass down these things to the younger.

People around them and we just really like to push for this not just economic change but behavioral change because that's what leads to long-term change in Youth and adults this past year has been a really big year for us we've done a lot of backpacking drives we've done food drives as well this summer was our first time hosting a summer camp here in Durham I don't know if there are any natives around but if you ever heard of the seege garden here in Durham yes that's where we were located this past summer it was a really great experience for our youth you know teaching them in the garden teaching them life skills teaching them money skills it was a very frugal Endeavor for us and then at the end of the summer we also had the kids do their own little popup shop to really put them on the entrepreneurial path that you know everyone needs to start so yes we're just an organization focused on financial literacy from.

Literally from ages two to 200 so I about say anybody who would like to come and learn or about taxes money financials anything like that Wall Street Juniors has got your back so thank you all again good evening Commissioners my name is B El I'm the executive director of inspiring Minds we are an after school and summer program at Hillside High High School here in Durham we offer mentoring homework help tutoring ACT SAT preparation we everything that we're do is tied to our five pillars which is exposure to new experiences which I think is the dopest part of our program but career Readiness Education Health and Wellness personal development and then again the exposures new experiences we do get our students out of the classroom and show them Dope black professionals doing dope things so they can learn what they do learn their story and how they got there and then begin to believe that they too can achieve greatness so we do a lot of Industry tours we do cultural tours we do.

Exposure tours last year we took kids to Costa Rica the year before that we went to South Carolina and did a G gichi tour this year our goal is to take our seniors to Africa so we are here we're in the community we're raising money we need volunteers we need mentors we need tutors so if you are interested find us at www.im youth.org thank. You I'm sign up good evening everyone good evening to the board and good evening to appreciate you Mr Langley for allowing me to come of course you all know I represent nbk here in Durham and I'm just excited about the opportunity I want to come in to hear what was going on in Durham in particular what was going on in Durham Mentor for our black and brown boys and I was excited and I was appreciative of the invite of course you all know we are building a table with nbk d to bring everybody to the table who's doing some some great.

Things when it comes to the lives of black and brown boys and our goal is to have population impact so that's why we want to find anybody who's doing it we want to get everybody to the table and we really want to see what can we do to knock out some of these barriers for our young men and once again this is going to be a great year and we're excited about what's trans inspiring and I hope that yall are ready thank you all so much it is so amazing to hear all of the different ways our neighbors are stepping up and volunteering to support and Lead our youth thank you Nida Allam for consistently bringing this item to us and giving us the opportunity to hear and highlight so many of the amazing organizations want to see if any of my colleagues Vice chair Burns I'm going do what I always do the only thing I hat is it wasn't more people in here cuz Mr.

Do all I heard was that brother that got the new tax repairs those your next future employees so you link up with him I'm serious but I think that's what I always I I really wish sometimes our meetings were had had more more public participation outside of it being contentious because this brother says yes you know I we have a football team and we won but we we want to do other things and so Mary's not here but we want to add you if you end up getting that food bank and get what you need we have a grant out there for that that we open up every year and then you can get added to the Social Network so maybe somebody doesn't have to take a bus across town because you're going to have your popup next door so the interconnectivity that you all add I just hope that we can if if somebody on staff saw somebody that said something that was inspiring and that's my way of.

Saying I'll be emailing you all tomorrow cuz I heard something inspiring I'm hopeful that we can make those connection before we leave here you know they say service is the rent we pay to be on this Earth but I just want to say thank you all for getting up every day and for some of y'all actually doing this for free and as always also to you Mr langy thank you for inviting them here and giving them an opportunity to showcase just how much they do for our community and I say thank you thank you commissioner Wendy Jacobs I just wanted to Echo the thanks I most of you who shared tonight that I have not even I'm not I wasn't even aware of the amazing work that you're doing and so we do need to do a better job of supporting each other and I hope that you all are connected to the city county office on youth that also has a website and are part of the list.

Serve so we can make sure people do know about the amazing work that you all are doing we it's a partnership we we can't do this alone and I really appreciate dearen you bringing this important proclamation to US every year and having the opport opportunity to showcase what the amazing things that you all are doing for our youth here in Durham and you know we know the power of mentorship and that's you know there's been studies that shown with looking at Assisi and resilience the importance of having one caring person in a child or Youth Life the difference that that can make so thank you to all of you for for what that you what you were doing for people in our community thank you all so much that commissioner howon thank you madam chair I just have one question I'd like to know if and thank you all for your presentations tonight and letting us know and letting the community know the work that you're doing I guess I'm.

Wondering and D maybe you can answer it there were several groups that came before us for the American Rescue dollars are any of these organizations connected to any of the organizations that we supported with dollars you know well just to be clear on your question are you asking did these organizations receive funding are they connected to any of the organizations that did re receive money are you all connected to any of the organizations that receive funding I as you see that many of them said no and we appli okay great so if you're not it would be good to go on the website and see the different organizations that are there so that you can connect okay thank you I'll be sure to share that and just so you all know Miss Claudia Hager would be a good point a contact for you all to reach out to to find out what organizations were funded and which ones you to potentially work with but I'll be sure to share that.

Information via email thank you okay thank you you that brings us to our next item which is the resolution celebrating and honoring the life and service of Dr Martin Luther King Jr I will ask Vice chair Burns to read this one thank you madam chair Durham County Board of Board of County Commissioners resolution celebrating and honoring the life and service of Dr Martin Luther King Jr whereas Dr Martin Luther King Jr a tiess advocate for nonviolence and Justice dedicated his life to fortifying the essence of the American character tirelessly championing the civil rights of all citizens and imparting invaluable lessons on Courage overcoming fear love transforming hate acceptance dispelling Prejudice and mutual regard for extinguishing in inity and whereas in the face of adversity and violence Dr King arly preached the doctrine of nonviolence and Civil Disobedience to combat had segregation discrimination and racial Injustice firmly believing in Humanity's moral cap capacity to care for one another and whereas Dr King played a pivotal role in the successful 381 day Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955.

Protesting the arrest of Rosa Parks and the segregation of the bus system and whereas Dr King helped found and served as the first president of the Southern Christian leadership conference in 1957 to coordinate and support nonviolent direct action as a method for desegregating bus systems across the South and whereas between 1960 in 1964 Dr King delivered impassioned speeches to Durham advocating Civil Disobedience and nonviolent protests to dismantle racial segregation and discrimination at various times including White Rock Baptist Church the dur Business and Professional chain Hillside High School the southern political science Association at jackar Hotel North Carolina college which is now referred to as North Carolina Central University and Duke University whereas Dr King's extensive travels encompassing over 6 million miles more than 2500 species and the authorship of five books and numerous articles showcased his unwavering support for Nationwide efforts to combat Injustice Drive social change and promote desegregation from 1957 to 1958 whereas on August 28th 1963 Dr king led the historic March on Washington for jobs and Freedom the largest rally of.

Civil rights movement delivering his iconic I Have a Dream speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before a crowd exceeding 200,000 people calling for the end to racism and advocating for the civil and economic rights of America African-Americans and whereas the March on Washington played a pivotal role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination based on race color religion sex or national origin and outlawing unequal application of voter registration requirements as well as racial segregation in schools employment and public accommodations and whereas Dr King orchestrated the instrumental and inspirational Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965 advocating for the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to secure the right to vote for African-American citizens and where is Dr King while supporting Memphis Tennessee garbage workers and planning the Poor People's campaign to Champion economic Justice was tragically assassinated on a ail 4th 1968 and now therefore be it resolved that the Durham Board of County Commissioners hereby acknowledges and honors the life and contributions of Dr.

Martin Luther King and commits to improving The Human Condition for all through the adoption of racial Equity framework fostering quality education affordable housing equal opportunity shared Prosperity living wage employment safe and Humane labor conditions and quality healthare and governmental decision makings be it therefore resolved that the D dur Board of County Commissioners calls on all of its residents in Durham County to join in reflecting on and advancing Dr King's Legacy and realizing his dream this eth day of January 2024 will call Nida Allam lingle thank you again I have the wonderful privilege of serving as the vice chair of the Durham Community Martin Luther King Jing steering committee and we are a community based organization committed to preserving the legac and work of Dr Martin Luther King and we do this by hosting appropriate programs and ceremonies throughout the holiday ceremonies so this year we're going to be having the first event will be the Interfaith prayer breakfast will be which will be held at the Sheron Imperial Hotel hopefully you all will be.

Able to attend and the speaker will be the Reverend sday Wilson then we will have our our March our Unity marching rally which will begin at the tower at Mutual Plaza 411 West Chapel Hill Street beginning at 10:30 and we'll proceed down to First Presbyterian Church at 305 East Main Street and the rally will begin immediately following the March then we will have a volunteer event with the Duram partnership for children where they'll be collecting Children books new Children books which can be donated at 12 1 South Briggs Avenue between 11:00 a.m. and 2: p.m. and we will conclude with our annual religious service with keynote speaker Dr Kimberly D Moore she is the senior pastor at Emanuel Baptist Church we are being graciously hosted at ebena Missionary Baptist Church where Cornelius e battle senior is the pastor that's going to be located at 2200 South Austin Avenue here in durman at the begin at 6: p.m. at that ceremony we'll be giving out academic scholarships to deserving students here in Durham of.

$1,000 as well as our annual Keeper of the dream award which will go to one individual and one organization that has exemplified the work and life of Dr King so thank you all hope residents in our community as well as our commissioners can join us thank you for this resolution thank you much thank you so much as always to Warren again for bringing us two great proclamations and for your service as Vice chair of the MLK Junior committee here in Durham I really look forward to participating in some of these events and I encourage our community members to also join in honoring Dr Martin Luther King Jr do we have any other commissioner Howton thank you madam chair and umren thank you for bringing this to us and honoring Martin Luther King's birthday is twofold for me and it's twofold because I get to honor an incredible man that brought so much to this country but I also grieve my son my son was murdered on monther King's birthday at Hampton.

University so I so it's always twofold for me it's a celebration of two kinds but I want what I want to lift up tonight is that there is a scholarship in his honor at Hampton University so there is more money available in honoring his him H through Hampton University for students that live in Durham was it was it was anywhere in North Carolina I think the way it was stated for students so if any students that's hearing it that can apply at Hampton University for the scholarships thank you thank you commissioner Howton Vice chair Burns commissioner Carter because it was on it is on yeah and I that's why I was waiting okay so I'm happy to say something but I'm also happy to wait well I will be very quick and so de you did there's two breakfast there's of course the one that Center here in Durham and then there's the Interfaith one and I didn't hear a date so you're that's that's the one that's Center here Durham.

Correct that's what I was think okay yeah so when you they had because they say Interfaith and then you put a name okay so perfect and I know that we're gonna amplify that one so I just wanted to make sure because I I didn't hear Sheron so thank you and he didn't say the time time but y'all do know the doors open at 6:00 a.m. and it does fill up rather quickly the only thing that I would say I can't I always like to say two things about MLK that it's not a day off it's a day on there's a reason why we have all these events people like oh I can take my time off that's not what the day is for it's the opportunity to kind of reflect on the quotes and I would just advise people you know he gave many speeches and we always like to go to the one we always like to go to the march in Washington look at what he was writing.

Beforehand look at what he was writing in the 50s look at what he was writing about the poor people movement you know in the late 60s right before he was about right before he was assassinated because he did not pass and I think just the breth of his work I'm gon to mess the quote up he was like you know there are times that we do things that for expediencies we do things that are political he was like but there's a point in our life where we have to do things not because they're expedient or because they're political but because our conscience caus us to do so so so I would just encourage everybody you know take some time even if you don't do anything else just read up on what he cared about because I think we focus on the African-American pieace but it was really about the working people Fair wages Full Employment and support and I'm happy that whoever was the author wrote wrote about the connections to.

Durham and I I'll end here if you Google his name right now like the first photo that pops up he's he's marching and he's holding Floyd mck's dad's hand like is Flo Senator mckiss looks like his that you can very clearly see and then if you ever have a conversation with Senator representative Dean Micki Michelle I was at the law school the other day and he was talking to some kids and he just kept saying Martin and kept saying Martin and the kids finally said is he talking about Martin Luther King yes Mar Luther King was in his house like he can talk about him in the first person so there are these great collaborations and connections hereit to Durham and I'm just hoping if you don't do anything else just take some time to kind of sort of sit with his speeches and and humble yourselves like I'm going to do because I have to be humbled every now and then and think about how we G to move forward.

Next year and do some things that would have made this man proud and make his assassination not in vain thank you Vice chair pars commissioner Carter I just quickly want to thank the steering committee you really have a legacy of of organizing great events and giving away really meaningful scholarships I can remember in the past listening to the description of the students works and their background as they receive their scholarships and it was it's always so very impressive thank you for the work that you do and I agree with commissioner Burns about Dr King's amazing oratory ability oh my God probably the best speech maker of all time and from the pulpit to the podium to the streets he worked tirelessly for the Beloved Community in the same way that the mentoring leaders who showed up today are are working showing care for our Beloved Community and this board continues to do that work as well as we really strive to embed equity and opportunity and in all.

Of our policy decisions and in all of our investments and all of our programs in Durham County looking forward to the the day on and hope that some of us can be together during the celebration thank you commissioner Carter thank you so much again deor and to the entire steering committee for bringing this item this resolution to us and giving us this opportunity to recognize the great service of Dr Martin Luther King Jr with that that brings us to our that a conclusion of our ceremonial items and.

Bringing us to our consent agenda the consent agenda is items that the board has reviewed and discussed at our work sessions and have had an opportunity to have deep conversation with staff asking them questions especially clarifying questions and learning more about the different ways they'll be impacting the community are there any questions comments or items that would like to be pulled from the consent agenda okay then I will move for approval of the consent Madam chair I like to make a motion that we can approve the consent agenda as is second moved by Vice chair Burns seconded by commissioner Wendy Jacobs for approval of the consent agenda all in favor say I any opposed the eyes have it 5 to zero the consent agenda is approved now this brings us to our public hearing portion of the agenda the first item will be the public hearing for unified development ordinance text Amendment tier quarry tc2 3 00003 and the board is requested to conduct a public hearing on the proposed.

Udio text Amendment and if appropriate based on the comments received during the hearing adopt the appropriate statement of consistency and approve the amendment and consider the following motions so I'll call forward Alexander kill senior planning direct manager and Sarah Young oh sorry Al Alexander is ill this evening so I'm feeling in for him as best I can wonderful eron Kane with the planning department chair Alum Vice chair Burns and honorable Commissioners I'm happy to be with you before you tonight before I begin staff would like to State for the record that all planning department hearing items have been advertised and noticed in accordance with state and local law and affidavits of all notices are on file in the planning department as you mentioned chair Alum Alum yeah this item is tier Quarry intake the tier quy text amendment is a staff initiated Amendment to the Udo required per state Watershed regulations which proposes changes to article four zoning districts article 8 Environmental Protection and article 12 infrastructure and public improvements of the unified.

Development ordinance the purpose of this amendment is to protect a critical water supply resource for as a new intake structure will be constructed to withdraw water from the Eno River into the Quarry the new intake will create a new Watershed overlay classification that will be applied to properties near the new intake this amendment to the Udo creates a new Watershed overlay District the Eno River District A2 or ea2 as abbreviated this overlay district will be applied to properties within a half mile of the new intake and will change the overlay from protected EB to critical ea2 while the properties in the overlay will change to the critical designation properties will be subject to the overlay rules at the time a lot was created the new rules would only apply if any properties are redeveloped in the.

Future there we go this map shows the existing Watershed overlay boundaries and where the new ea2 will be applied within a half mile of the new intake structure to protect the drinking water. Supply there we go this table shows the regulations that apply to existing Watershed overlay districts and the new ea2 District the regulations that apply to the EA critical Watershed overlay will be the same regulations that will apply to the new. Ea2 and while the new e Eno River critical District a and Eno River river critical District a ea2 both have the same regulations the difference is that the two for the two is that the map district for EA will be one mile will remain one mile while the ea2 dis distance will be a half mile from the water intake with that our planning staff is here to answer any questions you may have thank you so much you did a great job standing in for Mr K are there any questions comments or concerns from board members commissioner.

Wendy Jacobs thank you Aaron so you there was a map that was attach in our agenda materials for this item and I just was trying to understand if you could really translate for us what the Imp you know what the impact will be to Residents and also I didn't know you know are these just platted Lots or there are the lots already been developed so you know just trying to understand exactly what this means for for residents for existing residents there should they should un they should not see any changes based on this because the new rules the new Watershed overlay rules the new impervious surface restrictions would not take place unless this area was redeveloped the vast majority of this area is already developed as single family residential we don't expect that to change anytime soon but we were were required by the state because of the new intake to apply a critical Watershed overlay to this area but are able to make to lessen the impacts by.

Not having it apply to existing plots of record okay that's that's great to know and I think that's important for residents to know how how will we inform them about this change and that fact that existing development will not be impacted so I know there's been at least one not more neighborhood meetings that took place with residents to inform them we did notify all of the residents that these changes were coming through we've been answering questions as they've been coming in from Individual residences in addition to the neighborhood meeting that took place and as well since these areas are already in the city they are getting notification for the city council action that will take place next week to actually actually apply the new Watershed overlay District regulations okay I'm sorry in addition this already has been through Planning Commission and so notification would have gone to all these residences as part of that as well great thank you and my last question is in terms of this being a future water supply for the.

City the queer tier quari do you have any information about when that is expected to actually happen I I don't. Know good evening commissioner Sarah Young with the planning department we don't have that information but I believe Sid Miller with the water management department is on the zoom maybe and might be able to answer that for us if we can bring him up he is can you hear me yes we can hear you okay so first this quy was used as an emergency water supply back in 2007 so it has been used that was during that extreme drought at at the end of 2007 right now we're finishing up a preliminary engineering report for the project and then sometime later this year it will move into a design phase and then construction so we're probably looking at about 3 to four years before water is used from the Quarry and water is withdrawn from the Eno River to put into the Quarry that's very helpful thank you so.

Much for being here with us and is the purpose in the future going to be similar that it is for an emergency source of water once we have permanent infrastructure in the Quarry it'll be used more regularly probably every two years or so in order to supplement our existing. Supplies okay thank you very much and commissioner Wendy Jacobs regarding your earlier question I got a note from Alexander that there were two neighborhood meetings held not just one so I just wanted to clarify.

That thank you Mr Sydney for joining also if Alexander is sick why is he tuned in he should be resting I I agree but he's dedicated what could I say okay any more questions before we open up the public hearing okay with that I will open up the public hearing for this agenda item for the Udo text Amendment for tier Cory we did not have anyone sign up to speak on this item either in person or virtually so with that I will close the public hearing and bring it back to the board for a final opportunity for questions or comments okay with that then we have before us a statement of consistency as well as yeah that needs to be adopted so I will entertain these do we adopt both yeah yeah Madam chair I make a motion to adopt an ordinance amending the unified development ordinance incorporating revisions to Article 4 zoning districts article 8 Environmental Protection and article 12 infrastructure and public improvements second moved by commissioner Jacob seconded by Vice.

Chair Burns all in favor say I I any opposed okay the adoption of the ordinance passes moves us to the second motion I okay second motion I make a motion to adopt consistency statement as acquired by North Carolina General statute 160 D- 605 second moved by Vice chair Burns seconded by commissioner Wendy Jacobs all in favor say I I any opposed the eyes have it 5 to Z to adopt the consistency statement thank you thank you so much that moves us on to our second public hearing for the night agenda item 24-12 public hearing the street closing requests to permanently close a 1,112 linear foot portion of Electra Road 1,168 linear foot portion of a 30 Lane between exom and redwoods Road and all of exom Road evening Bo count sorry good evening Board of accounting Commissioners the request to permanently close a 694 linear foot portion of exm Road a 1,112 linear foot portion of Electra Road and a 1,168 linear foot portion of a 30 foot Lane between Electra Road and Redwood.

Road case number SC 22008 refers to a request by Jose Torres on behalf of Durham County to permanently close the aformentioned portions of exom Road Electra Road and the 30 foot Lane Jose Torres on behalf of Durham County request the permanent closure of exom Road running south from alectra Road portions of alectra Road running Southwest from Redwood Road and portions of a 30 foot Lane between Redwood and exom Roads running south from Redwood Road 1,12 linear foot County maintained section of Alexa road is currently only utilized for access to County owned property as proposed for permanent closure the 1,168 linear foot portion of the 30 foot wide Lane is unimproved and the 694 linear foot portion of exm road is unimproved and both are proposed for permanent closure all adjacent Parcels are owned by Durham County the portion of the RightWay is presently open but not maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and if closed the right away would be recombined with the adjacent County owned properties than.

Staff is available to answer any questions thank you so much and your name I just want to make sure we address you properly you're Keegan right yes thank you so much Keegan we have any questions or comments from Commissioners regarding this item commission howon yes thank you Madam chair just one question what is what I I guess what I can figure out from the information was what's the impact of closing this road is there what's the impact so the rights away proposed for closure only border county-owned parcels and as part of the closure all of those Parcels would be recombined including that RightWay land into a single parcel which would then be available for development there's a site plan application that is under review now that has holding comments from that case planner it's not a case I'm reviewing but has holding comments from that case planner regarding not being able to approve the site plan until the street closing as well as I think a minor special is approved but specific to.

The scope of the street closing it would just be a matter of being able to redevelop the single person okay all right thank you what would be the size of that parcel once it's. Combined doesn't I.

Che.

Good evening Jessica dri the planning department while Keegan's looking that up I just wanted to give a little more information about the purpose of the recombination so this County property is actually the sheriff's firing range for practicing and by combining those Parcels that are currently divided up and have those streets it provides a more permanent buff they're going to be extending somewhat toward the north which is where this is going to be all combined and so that that buffer becomes greater a little safer for the Neighbors so since they're firing towards them and yeah the total area of the recombined lot would be about 90.2 Acres 90.2.

90.2 and so the plan or like the application that's pending this decision is that a develop like a housing development project or is that a leave it's revisions to the existing use that's there the existing Durham County flying range other like supplemental development for that County property for fire. Yeah so it's not like we're building this buffer and then building more houses within that buffer Ste thunder so there is a the firing range is there currently and they are going to try to bring it up to a little safer conditions and also exp I'm sorry could somebody move them I'm having trouble hearing everyone so there is a firing range there currently under use and this is going going to allow it to be a little safer but also they can expand it so that it is more useful and that's what that pending application is yes it's for the expansion of a current use thank you are there any questions or other comments commissioner Carter are all of these changes related to this one.

Project are these I don't know I just have trouble following the narrative I understand the one we've just been talking about but the other parts where we're closing a portion of Road or a lane is is that is are these all connected or yes okay the motivation is all the same for all of okay Electra exom and the 30 foot Lane are all connected and would all be recombined into the same parcel fing closure got it thank you I see no other hand so with that I will open up the public hearing and we have one speaker signed up to speak Miss Wanda Allen if you can come up to where Monica our clerk is and you'll have three minutes to speak please introduce yourself and give us your address hello everyone happy New Year I'm glad to see you guys again and I truly do want to thank you for the opportunity to speak you did address some of my questions because when I reviewed the documents it wasn't very.

Clear but I still have a question I need for the Board of County Commissioners to answer so you have in front of you Monica and I tried to work technology but it didn't work so we came up with another plan I have asked her to pass out in front of you a map that is on your website that has identified a algae scrubber it's number 15 if you look at that and my question to you guys is really straight and forward are we closing off this area with the potential of using some of this space for the algae scrubber that's my question the data shows that we have already funded Dam has already funded $1 million of our tax dollars to fund an allergy scrubber and we all as Citizens in Durham want to know what are we doing with closing these roads it is a potential sight that that algae scrubber could be put there so and the the questions that I have if the algae scrubber is so great then why isn't.

There more down the East Coast I know this is surprising to you guys because you guys know my background I work for the federal government I work with US EPA so I do care and I am very serious about Falls Lake but I know the algae scrubber is not the solution okay so and if the algae scrubbers were that effective there would be more the Florida has two and they have not corrected Florida's problems so and as one of the research you have it on your website as in one of the documents that the researchers have stated the reason the allergy scrubber is not that effective it's like taking a thimble and trying to clean up Falls l so we also know that balls Lake water is allocated to Raleigh and part of that process of using an algae scrubber is that you lose water and it is also evaporated so we now know that Al scrubber can treat six tons but we know that we're producing.

About 26 tons from Falls Lake so we as the CI cens really want to know what is all this land going to be used for I heard you tonight or heard someone tonight say that it's going to be extended to add more buffer for the citizens for drive and range but we want to know is it any of this going to be used for the algae scrubber thank you thank you Miss Wanda St you want to respond or answer me this before we close it this was Rel to the algae scrubber would there have been something in our materials about an algae scrubber not with respect to the street closing the street closing would just be regarding the closure of the right of way and the recombination of that RightWay area into adjacent pareles and if it were related to an algae scrubber and we were asking what the motivation for these changes were you probably would have told us something about an algae scrubber in addition to or instead of a sheriff's.

Firing range yeah applicant application materials for Street closing does require some mention of what is intended for that space But it was more broadly speaking about Redevelopment and in the context of that existing site plan application that is specific to the firing range no algae scrubber but there does not appear to be any sort of reference to an Aly scrubber in the site plan application materials and there was not any reference to the alga scrub in the street closing application materials okay thank you.

Wendy Jacobs thank you I just want to get clear on something Durham County is the applicant for this correct yeah application was submitted by Jose Torres on behalf of dur okay so Jose I think you could probably help if we could if you could maybe talk about since we are the applicant you know in these circumstances we often will ask whoever the property owner is to explain what is what is the purpose as you were just saying commissioner Carter I think it would help to get clarity that this is just because I there's some confusion this does not involve an algae scrier you know that that we this is definitively for a sheriff's firing range did you mean Julio I'm sorry what did I say Jose oh God I'm so sorry Julio who's my apologies for that.

Julio that that it would just be good to get CL since we are the applicant what is the purpose of these road closings good evening and Happy New Year ACM been call names neigh Jose Tores I need to find out when the gentleman says the applicant right Jose is it Jose Tes yeah I don't know who Jose Tor is yes my apologies on that yes okay so I need to do some research because I'm not aware of the Ary scrubber so I really apologize but I'm lost at this one I appreciate you br that research to bring back to us theant didn't fall your portfolio well ask cored I need to get with Perry and Jay to see if this was brought up I know we are talking about expanding the fighting range for the sheriff that's been in works but I never heard the other side and I need to figure out you know with the gentleman here who is who's the person that he has been talking to because Jose doesn't.

Ring ring a bell on my side I I do oh.

Sorry well I really have no idea on that on that no wait AE y'all wait AE keep us on track of this item since oh manag okay I going to say since staff has mentioned to us that it's not related to the algae scrubber if we can have that question directed to staff to respond to us via email of a description of what is algae scrubber so we can get that but to keep us on the focus of what staff has informed us the purpose of this closure is for for I see Sarah Young stepping up and I did just want to throw in one thank y'all for who want everybody pH a friend but we we have maps and along with what commissioner Carter said the case area that we're discussing and could you throw this in there also Madam director the case area does not even extend to the water so I do just want to I've looked at the maps the case area that we're talking about doesn't even.

Extend to the water or the algae scrubber so I'll let you do your thing but did want to elevate that for everyone in this room but all right I looked up Commissioners I looked up real quick because this is the first that planning staff has heard about any sort of algae scrubber so I educated myself via Google very quickly an algae scrubber is a water filtering device which uses light to grow algae in the process undesirable chemicals are removed from the water so that's a very short version of what an algae scrubber is but again we have no knowledge this is the first we've heard of anything related to that it's not related to what was told to us the reason for the case is if that helps thank you for that I am going to call for or close the public hearing and formally bring it back to our board for discussion I know we jumped ahead of ourselves a little bit and see if there's any further questions or comments now that the.

Public hearing is closed from Commissioners I think the algae scrubber is the city's property too anyway sorry commissioner Wendy Jacobs I'd just like to make a motion if we ready if there's no other questions comments then yes I'd like to make a motion to permanently close a 1,112 linear foot portion of elector Road a 1,168 linear foot portion of a 30 foot wide Lane between Redwood and exm Roads and excuse me all of exm. Road it's been moved by commissioner Wendy Jacobs seconded by commissioner Howton all in favor say I I any opposed the eyes have it five to zero thank you so much Keegan thank you that brings us to the end of our public hearing portion of the agenda no items were pulled from consent agenda so we will move to our final item was it.

Which is a closed session the board is requested to adjourn into Clos session to consider the qualifications competence performance character Fitness conditions of appointment or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee or to hear or investigate a complaint charge or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee pursuant to General statute 14331 18.11 A6 I will entertain a motion to go into close session so move Madam Chair mve by Vice chair Burns seconded by commissioner Carter all in favor say I I I any oppose we are in close session thank you everyone for joining us this evening have a safe drive home and please stay safe in the inclement weather we're expecting tomorrow.

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Yes okay good evening again we have come out of close session no action was taken and with that I will call for an adjournment.

Night.