Agenda
25-0540. Resolution - Operation Green Light and Veterans Day 2025 (5min)
The Board is requested to adopt the attached resolution in support of Operation Green Light and in observance of Veterans Day 2025. Durham County Veteran Services empowers and increases healthy outcomes for veterans and their families by providing VA claim support services. The purpose of Operation Green Light, which occurs November 4-11 each year, is to illuminate the ongoing challenges many veterans face in obtaining their benefits. The initiative concludes with the observance of Veterans Day. By adopting this resolution, the Durham BOCC will: 1) Designate Durham County as a Green Light for Veterans County 2) Honor the service of all veterans in recognition of Veterans Day 3) Inform all citizens about claiming assistance available for veterans and their families through Durham County Veteran Services.
25-0568. Resolution - Honoring the Life and Legacy of DeWarren K. Langley (10min)
The Board is requested to honor and recognize the life and legacy of DeWarren K . Langley. Mr. Langley was a devoted public servant, mentor, and advocate who gave his life ’s work to lifting others and building a more just Durham. The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Chair Kevin McIver would also like to present a memorial plaque to the family of Mr. Langley.
25-0569. Resolution - Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Durham Interdenominational Ushers Union (5min)
The Board is requested to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Durham Interdenominational Ushers Union founded in 1925.
25-0453. Approve Certain Adjustments to the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds and Approve Grant Agreement Contract Amendment for ARPA Grant to Early Years in Amount of $1,690,296
The Board is requested to approve a change to the County ’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF), and to approve an amendment to the ARPA subaward agreement with Early Years to increase the allocation for the grant from $ 2,400,000 to $ 4,090,296, a $ 1,690,296 increase. As described below, these changes are necessary due to uncertainty over State legislation regarding guaranteed income programming that has created a substantial risk that the County ’s planned ARPA -funded initiative would not be able to be completed within the ARPA period of availability, a change in the contract scope for the ARPA -funded East Durham Market project, and the ongoing need for additional support for income -qualified families to access affordable childcare and related support services. Following enactment of ARPA in March 2021, Durham County received $62,445,275 under the CSLFRF program to help the County respond to the various health, economic, physical, and revenue impacts of the COVID -19 pandemic. Under U.S. Treasury Department regulations, the County was required to fully obligate its full CSLFRF allocation by December 31, 2024, which the County successfully was able to accomplish through the issuance of over 45 grants, contracts, and interlocal agreements. The County has until December 31, 2026 to fully expend all funds under the agreements. While U .S Treasury requirements prohibit entities from entering into new grants, contracts, or other agreements after December 31, 2024, the U .S. Treasury Department recognized through its Obligation Final Rule that circumstances may arise during the two -year liquidation period that could result in localities needing to make changes to already obligated ARPA allocations. Accordingly, the Obligation Final Rule permits local governments to make changes to its ARPA -funded initiatives, including canceling initiatives or reallocating funds between initiatives, provided that the entity does not enter into any new agreements using the ARPA funds after December 31, 2024. As part of the County ’s plan for deploying the CSLFRF funds, the Board of County Commissioners allocated $ 1,690,000 from the County ’s CSLFRF funding to support the DCo Thrives Guaranteed Income pilot program. While the County ’s selected vendor for the program has made progress in designing and building the program, the North Carolina General Assembly is currently considering legislation that would prohibit the County from implementing a guaranteed income program. While the legislation has not yet been passed and enacted, the uncertainty posed by the bill creates a substantial risk that the County would not be able to expend all of the allocated ARPA funding through the program by the December 31, 2026 deadline. Accordingly, it is recommended that the Board approves a pause and eventual transition of the work on the planned guaranteed income pilot to local funds and a reallocation of the remaining $ 1,490,679 budgeted for the pilot to allow the County to preserve the work already completed in designing the program while eliminating the risk that the County would be unable to utilize its full ARPA fund allocation. The Board is also requested to approve a budget adjustment for the County ’s ARPA-funded contract with Communities in Partnership (CIP) to operate the East Durham Market. Due to U .S. Department of Agriculture changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) registration requirements, CIP will not be able to administer a planned pilot of the County ’s Double Bucks program at the market . Accordingly, the County and CIP have agreed to amend the existing ARPA contract to remove $ 199,590 from the contract budget to remove the funding budgeted for the Double Bucks pilot. It is recommended that the Board approves this reduction to allow the County to reallocate the funding for utilization before the December 31, 2026 liquidation deadline. Finally, to ensure that the County ’s full ARPA allocation is utilized, the Board is also recommended to approve the reallocation of the $ 1,690,296 that will not be utilized for the DCo Thrives and East Durham Market projects to increase the Build Babies Durham grant award for Early Years from $ 2,400,000 to $ 4,090,000. These additional funds will be used to support continuation of childcare subsidies for income-eligible families (including subsidies for the provision of wrap -around services for eligible recipients), as well as associated administrative expenses.
25-0478. Approve Execution of Contract with FST Technical Services in the amount of $182,173.00 for Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning Services for the New Durham City/County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
The Board is requested to authorize the County Manager to execute a contract with FST Technical Services to provide Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning Services for the New Durham City /County EOC in the amount of $ 173,498.00 plus contingency of five percent (5%) in the amount of $ 8,675.00, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $182,173.00. RFQ No. 25-042 for Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning services was advertised on March 23, 2025. Seven (7) responses were received on May 1, 2025, and were evaluated by a selection committee represented by County Engineering, General Services, and Emergency Management. After evaluation of proposals, the committee selected the top three scoring firms for interviews that were held on July 22nd, 2025. FST Technical Services was rated as the most qualified firm for the project. FST Technical Services will provide Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning during design and throughout construction. Commissioning is a prerequisite for LEED certification. The USGBC recognizes commissioning as a Best Practice “to support the design, construction, and eventual operation of a project that meets the owner ’s project requirements for energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and durability .” LEED divides the commissioning process into two parts. Fundamental Commissioning is required for LEED certification and focuses on installation and verification of mechanical and electrical systems during construction. Enhanced Commissioning, which offers optional credits that contribute to achieving the County ’s LEED Gold certification level for new buildings, extends beyond the fundamental process to cover a broader scope of commissioning services and requires commissioning through 10 months post-occupancy.
25-0529. Authorize the County Manager to execute a contract amendment for underground sand filter design services in the amount of $19,877.50 with O’Brien Atkins Associates, for a total revised contract amount not to exceed $4,976,691.50 for the Emergency Operations Center.
The Board is requested to Authorize the County Manager to execute a contract amendment for sand filter design services in the amount of $ 19,877.50 with O ’Brien Atkins Associates, for a total revised contract amount not to exceed $ 4,976,691.50 for the Emergency Operations Center. As the new EOC facility undergoes the site planning stages of design, it has become apparent that the new facility will require the construction of two underground sand stormwater filters to achieve the nutrient removal requirements as established for the Falls Lake Watershed. Underground sand filter design services are above and beyond the original scope of work for the facility, in which O ’Brien Atkins has provided a proposal in conjunction with Michael M. Simpson & Associates (MMSA) to provide structural engineering, technical specifications, and regulatory construction oversight. These services are crucial to ensuring that all federal, state, and local codes and requirements are met to maintain storm water filtration mandates for the project . Funding for this amendment is available in the previously approved EOC Capital Project account.
25-0548. Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.26CPA010 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.26BCC031 Appropriating $3,020,000 of Debt Service Fund Fund Balance for the Temporary OES Fleet Maintenance Facility Renovation Capital Project (4730DC164), as well as Contract Amendment for the Construction Manager at Risk Contract for GMP#2 for the OES Fleet Maintenance Facility Renovation Project
The Board is requested to approve Capital Project Amendment No .26CPA010 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No .26BCC031 appropriating $ 3,020,000.00 of Debt Service Fund Fund Balance funding to the PAYGO Fund to support the Temporary OES Fleet Maintenance Facility Renovation Capital Project (4730DC164). The amendment also requests authorization for the County Manager to execute a contract amendment or change order with Samet Corporation for the OES Fleet Maintenance Facility Renovation project located at 1129 E. Geer St ., Durham NC, for GMP# 2 in the amount of $ 2,476,112.96 (Bid Packages plus allowances), execute any other related contracts including change orders if necessary not to exceed the available budget of $ 2,699,918.61 for GMP# 2 of the project. ( See Attachment 2, Page 3) Project Name and Number Current Budget Increase / Decrease Updated Budget Geer Street TEMP Fleet Maintenance Facility (4730DC164) $1,000,000.00 $3,020,000.00 $4,020,000.00 TOTAL $1,000,000.00 $3,020,000.00 $4,020,000.00 On June 9, 2025, the BOCC awarded the Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R) pre-construction services contract to Samet Corporation. The pre -construction services phase of the project was the first step in the CM@R process in which the contracting team provided cost estimating, constructability reviews, schedule development and value analysis of the project design. For an efficient scheduling process, the project has been broken down into 2 packages. On August 11, 2025, the BOCC approved GMP # 1 early release packages which consists of which were immediate and long lead time. ( 1) Site Utilities -Sprinkler Service (2) Electrical Switchboards, Panels, MTS and (3) Mechanical HVAC Units and Exhaust Capture. GMP # 2 covers the balance of the improvements required for Office of Emergency Services (OES) to move operations into the facility. This mode of bidding allows for timely completion of construction activities and the turnover of the facility, currently scheduled for April 8, 2026. The goal of the Office of Emergency Services project is to renovate approximately 8,000 square feet of space at 1129 E. Geer St ., formally used as a metal fabrication facility, to house the OES Fleet Maintenance Facility. The new facility delivery is critical as the current facility is scheduled for demolition in December 2025. The scope of work includes interior renovations and building system upgrades and replacements.
25-0563. Approval of Subaward Agreement with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council for $1,213,974 to Provide Home Assessments, Quality Assurance Checks, and Contractor Management for the Energy Burden and Emissions Reduction Program
The Board is requested to authorize the County Manager to enter into a Subaward Agreement with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC) in the amount of $1,213,974 to provide home assessments, quality assurance checks, and contractor management for the Energy Burden and Emissions Reduction Program (EBERP). The funding is provided through a $ 1.5 million Department of Energy Grant for this purpose, and the funds have already been received by the County. EBERP is a grant -funded program to provide energy efficiency retrofits and limited home repair to low -to-moderate income households in Durham, Orange, and Granville Counties over a 3-year period. The goal is to retrofit at least 200 homes in the three -county area to reduce energy use and energy burden. PTRC will use their applicable experience to provide home assessments, quality assurance checks, and manage contractors providing low -income residential energy efficiency improvements and minor home repair.
25-0576. Approval of Property Tax Releases and Refunds for September 2025
The Board is requested to approve the Releases & Refunds for September 2025, which includes adjustments to the current year ’s levy as well as prior years’ levies. Due to property valuation adjustments for over assessments, listing discrepancies, duplicate listings, and clerical errors, etc. the attached reports detail monthly releases and refunds for September 2025. This month ’s report includes releases and refunds for tax year 2025 totaling $ 1,617,895.68. Prior tax years’ (2015-2024) releases and refunds are in the amount of $21,414.69. September 2025 releases and refunds total $ 1,639,310.37.
25-0546. Board and Commission Appointments (10min)
25-0580. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26OPA003 for the Opioid Settlement Fund to Transfer $61,598 from the Post Overdose Response Programmatic Area to the Recovery Response Programmatic Area
The Board is requested to approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26OPA003 for the Opioid Settlement Fund to Transfer $ 61,598 from the Post Overdose Response Programmatic Area to the Recovery Response Programmatic Area. This is an administrative transfer only to ensure funds are properly aligned within the correct programmatic purpose within the Opioid Settlement Fund