Durham, N.C. - The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Regular Session. Meetings are held in person with a hybrid option, inside the BOCC Chambers, located at 200 E. Main Street on the second floor.

Chair Brenda Howerton called the meeting to order.

All attendees were led by Commissioner in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Announcements: Monica Wallace, Clerk to the Board read the announcements.

Get FREE COVID Home Test Kits - All North Carolina households are eligible to order two free COVID-19 home test kits per month, now through June 30! Order now to have them on hand when you need them. To order, visit http://www.accesscovidtests.org/. Free home test kits are also available at the Durham County Department of Public Health. To obtain a kit, visit 414 E. Main Street where one can be picked up at the front entrance screening window. Kits are available on Mondays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. They are also available on Wednesdays from noon until 4 p.m.

Property Tax Relief Program - Durham County Tax Administration wants to help ensure that all property owners are aware of property tax relief programs that may benefit them. There are three major tax relief programs known as "˜homestead programs' available for homeowners who qualify. The application deadline for homestead programs is June 1, 2023. For more information, visit https://www.dconc.gov/tax and search for "relief," or call the Durham County Tax Administration at 919-560-0300.

Changes in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefit Transfer (SNAP/EBT) Started March 2023 - Extra SNAP/EBT (formerly Food Stamp) benefits or emergency allotments received during COVID ended March 2023. Recipients can view their regular monthly benefit amount online through the EBT Edge mobile app. Find information about free food in Durham at https://www.endhungerdurham.org/.

Need Help Buying Food? - SNAP may be able to help with buying food. Help with completing a SNAP application can be provided by Katy Forrest at Durham County Cooperative Extension. Call Katy at 919-909-7469 (para Español contacte a Milagros Guzman al 910-705-5504). WIC is a program to help women, infants, and children get food. For more information call Lincoln Community Health Center at 919-956-4042.

Kids Voting Durham: Civic Leadership Intern - Youth 14-24 - Looking for a meaningful experience this summer where you earn service hours, work with a great team of youth and adults, meet Durham decision-makers, and make an impact on your community and the upcoming elections? Learn more about the Civic Leadership Intern opportunities at Kids Voting Durham at https://www.kidsvotingdurham.org. Email questions to info@kidsvotingdurham.org or call 919-560-7321.

Children's Book Week Bookmark Design Contest for Kids - Calling all kid artists! The library wants you to help design a bookmark for Children's Book Week! The theme is "Read Books. Spark Change." Pick up a handout at your library location, create a design, and turn in the handout to the library by Saturday, May 13th. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 22nd. Get details about the contest at https://www.durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/10672310. For more information, contact Molly Schaefer at mschaefer@dconc.gov; Teresa Petro at mschaefer@dconc.gov, or Joel White at mailto:mschaefer@dconc.gov.

National Foster Care Month - May is National Foster Care Month and the 2023 theme is "Strengthening Minds, Uplifting." Throughout the month of May, Durham County Department of Social Services will help raise awareness about foster care in our community while honoring the young people in foster care, as well as the volunteers who support those in need of temporary or permanent homes. Learn more about how to help change the life of a child in our community at https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-f-z/social-services or by calling 919-560-8092. Raise Hope. Foster Dreams.

Deadline for FSP Application Extended to May 15 - The Fidelity Scholars Program combines an annual need-based last dollar scholarship with robust wrap-around services that lead to a degree or certificate. The program is designed to support students seeking their first degree in designated zip codes in Massachusetts, North Carolina, or Texas. To find out more information and to apply, visithttps://opportunities.uncf.org/s/program-landing-page?id=a2i8Y00000BGdw5QAD.

Minutes:

Commissioners approved the minutes of the April 10, 2023, Regular Session.

Ceremonial Items:

Resolution - Resilient and Thriving Communities Week - The Board approved a resolution from the Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Coordinator and the Durham Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Taskforce. The resolution proclaims April 29 - May 6, 2023 as "Resilient and Thriving Communities Week." The resolution is expected to be issued across the State and as a proclamation from the Governor. The resolution calls for the Durham Community to be trauma-informed and supporting of strategies that individual, family and community buffers that prevent the effects of adverse childhood experiences and adverse community environments. Additionally, it commits the Durham County Board of County Commissioners to collaborating with the Durham Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Taskforce to identify and implement policies to prevent adverse childhood experiences and promote resilience. Read the resolution here.

Proclamation - Older Americans Month - The Board proclaimed May 2023 as Older Americans Month. Read the proclamation here.

Proclamation - National Drug Court Month - The Board proclaimed May 2023 as National Drug Court Month. For over two decades, the treatment court community nationwide has come together each May to shine the light on the success of Drug Courts. This year, National Drug Court Month comes amid increased interest in criminal justice reform as policymakers at all levels are seeking solutions that focus on behavioral health and finding a coordinated response to address increased substance use across the nation. Read the proclamation here.

Resolution - Honoring the Life and Legacy of Mr. Nathan T. Garrett, Sr., former County Commissioner and Business Leader. The Board approved a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Nathan T. Garett, Sr. who made his transition on April 26, 2023. The resolution was prepared for his funeral service held on Saturday May 6, 2023 at Duke Chapel. Mr. Garrett was known as a pioneering, successful civic and business leader who was North Carolina's first African American Certified Public Accountant. He established the first Black-owned accounting firm in the state, and over the years his business became one of the largest minority-owned firms in North Carolina. Mr. Garrett was elected to the Board of County Commissioners and served with distinction from 1972-1974. Read the resolution here.

Other Business:

Durham County Manager Dr. Kimberly J. Sowell presented the Recommended Budget for FY 2023-24 to the Durham County Board of Commissioners. This is in accordance with N.C.G.S. 159-12 of the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. The recommended budget is $889,605,733, a 12.1% increase over the current budget. The budget includes a 3-cent tax rate increase. Durham Public Schools will receive $10.8 million more than its current appropriation. Employee Compensation will include a 7% cost of living adjustment. A public hearing for the FY 2023-2024 Budget is scheduled for Monday, May 22, 2023, during the BOCC's Regular Session in Chambers at 7 p.m. Residents may sign up to give comment in person or virtually by contacting the Clerk to the Board's office at clerk@dconc.gov or 919-560-0025. See the recommended 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget here.

Consent Agenda: Commissioners considered the following items. See full agenda for complete details:

City-County Planning Department FY24 Work Program

Capital Project Amendment No.23CPA00021 reducing the budgets of four DPS capital projects by $1,338,298.48 in 2016 General Obligation Bond Funds and increasing the 16 GO Bonds Northern High School Replacement capital Project (5910SH239) by $1,338,298.48.

Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 23BCC00088 the Department of Social Services to recognize funds in the amount of $664,000 for our Representative Payee Program aka "Trust Funds" from State Revenue Funds for Citizens Incapable of Handling Their Own FundsFY23 Durham Transit Work Program amendment.

Request for consent to accept proposed settlement agreements in DOT v. City of Raleigh, et al (18 CVS 1932) and DOT v. City of Raleigh, et al (18 CVS 3817).

Award contract for absence management provider to The Standard.

Joint partnership with the City of Durham on affordable housing initiatives - interlocal agreement.

Carver Creek Campus Permanent Supportive Housing funding approval

Public Hearings: Commissioners conducted a public hearing and received public comments on the following:

Zoning Map Change, 4000 Sancar Way (Z2200053) - Commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance amending the Unified Development Ordinance by taking property out of the Office and Institutional (OI) zoning district and establishing the same as the Science Research Park - Center (SRP-C); and to adopt the appropriate Statement of Consistency pursuant to NCGS §160D-605.

Ordinance to amend the Durham Unified Development Ordinance for Improving Access and Walkability -Commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance amending the Unified Development Ordinance, incorporating revisions to Section 13.6 Street Connectivity Requirements; 13.4 Block Standards; 12.3 Streets; and 12.2 Ingress and Egress Requirements effective June 1, 2023; and also voted to adopt the appropriate consistency statement as required per NCGS § 160D-605.

Durham County Transit Plan - The Board received comments and will vote at its May 22nd meeting.

Utilities Division's Draft System Development Fee Analysis - The Boardreceived comments on the Utilities Division's Draft System Development Fees Analysis performed by Wildan Financial Services.

Other Business:

Commissioners received a report from the Classification and Compensation MAG Study Report, Proposed Pay Plan.

Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 9:49 p.m.

Board meetings are cablecast live and rebroadcast on Durham Television Network (DTN) on Spectrum Channel 8. Replays are available on DTN along with AT&T U-verse Channel 99 and Frontier Communications Channel 70. Meetings can also be viewed on the County's YouTube channel. To view the agendas and recordings of the BOCC's Regular Session meetings, visit the BOCC's Website.

The next hybrid Regular Session is scheduled for Monday, May 22, 2023, inside the Commissioners' Chambers on the second floor at 200 E. Main Street.

For more information about BOCC meetings, contact the Clerk to the Board's Office at 919-560-0025 or email clerk@dconc.gov.

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