Durham Board of County Commissioners Regular Session Highlights from November 27, 2023

Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, November 27, 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.

Commissioner Heidi Carter led all attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda Adjustments:

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

1. Durham Holiday Parade – Cheer on hometown bands, drill teams, schools, and community groups as they make their way down Main Street in downtown at the Durham Holiday Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, presented by the City of Durham’s Parks and Recreation Department. The procession will conclude with a guest appearance from Santa. This free event will be held rain or shine. Seating is not provided. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. More information here: https://www.dprplaymore.org/309/Holiday-Parade.
2. Welcome Baby Annual Coat Drive – The Welcome Baby Annual Coat Drive has begun! They are accepting new and gently worn winter coats, hats, and gloves for children sizes newborn to 8. Drop off your donation at 721 Foster Street, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The drive runs through January 5, 2024. Please contact Cindy Riley at ckriley@dconc.gov or 919-560-7319 if you would like to host a “drive”. Additional drop off locations in Durham will be posted on our website www.welcomebaby.org.
3. New Intake Line for Aging and Adult Services – Help spread the word! The Durham County Department of Social Services has a new dedicated centralized Intake Line for its Aging and Adult Services Division. The new number is 919-560-8588. Residents can call to get assistance with information and referrals for Aging and Adult Services programs, Adult Protective Services reports, guardianship referrals, Meals on Wheels referrals, in-home aid referrals, adult home care complaints, adult placement services, community resources, and get answers to your other questions. For more information on Aging and Adult Services, visit https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-f-z/social-services.
4. Navigating Grief During the Holidays – The Durham County Main Library will host the 2nd Annual Navigating Grief During the Holidays community event from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, December 2. This free event features a remarkable lineup of speakers, each offering a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and resources for the bereaved, guiding them through the holiday season without their loved ones. Register at https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/11268866.
5. New Star Talk Podcast from DCo Sheriff – The latest edition of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office podcast “Star Talk” is out! This time Sheriff Clarence Birkhead and Capt. Kimberly Lane have a discussion surrounding the recruitment and training division. Find the Sheriff’s podcast episodes here: https://planning-durhamnc.hub.arcgis.com/.
6. New Durham Planning Dashboard – For those interested in development data and trends, Durham County has a new online resource at their fingertips with the Durham City-County Planning Department’s new Durham Planning Dashboard. Data will be updated quarterly on this interactive website designed to let users easily explore trend data, population and demographic information, and an interactive map that provides tools to check the status of development cases, review past approvals, and review data and other information about parcels of land. To access the dashboard, visit https://planning-durhamnc.hub.arcgis.com/.
7. DCoDPH Hosting Holiday Healthy Eating Webinar – Join the Durham County Department of Public Health for a free webinar, “Healthy Eating During the Holidays” on Tuesday, December 5, 6-7 p.m. This virtual Zoom session will inform participants about tips you can do this holiday season to stay healthy with so many food options at work, home, and everywhere in between. Chelsea Hawkins, MPH, RDN, LDN, will be the guest speaker. Register at https://tinyurl.com/23jaa6p4.

Minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes from the November 13, 2023, Regular Session.

Ceremonial Items:

1. Resolution – Honoring the Memory of Arnold Dennis – The Board approved a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Arnold Dennis, who transitioned on November 1, 2023. Arnold Dennis served as Durham County’s Youth Home Director from September 1985 until his retirement in December 2005. He was highly regarded for his intellect and passion for the community, especially for young justice-involved youth. Mrs. Betty Dennis gave remarks on behalf of the family, and representatives from Rites of Passage also attended.  Read the resolution here.
2. Recognition of OES Director Jim Groves for Receiving the Colonel Phillips Nichlos Waters Award from the NC Emergency Management Association – The Board recognized Durham County Office of Emergency Services (OES) Director Jim Groves was awarded the 2023 Colonel Phillip Nichlos Waters Award from the North Carolina Emergency Management Association (NCEMA) during the organization’s 2023 fall conference. This award is presented to the local emergency management leader who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in their Emergency Management program and has contributed to the overall good and advancement of Emergency Management in the State.  Read the recognition here.
3. Recognition of Gudrun Parmer for receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for her 25 years of Outstanding Service, Dedication and Leadership as the Director of Durham County’s Criminal Justice Resource Center – The Board recognized Gudrun Parmer for receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for her 25 years of outstanding service, dedication, and leadership as the Director of Durham County’s Criminal Justice Resource Center. Gudrun, who retired six months ago, distinguished herself in her work with the justice system not just within Durham County but across the country. Supporters of the award, including Rep. Marcia Morey, shared positive comments about Gudrun’s professional impact in Durham and beyond. Read the recognition here.

Other Business:

1. Board of County Commissioners Highlights – The Board received an overview of highlights of the work of the Durham County Board of Commissioners over the past three years with a focus on policies and programs initiated and prioritized in service to the Durham County community from Chair Brenda Howerton. Comments included recovering from COVID-19, Economic Development successes, the impact of American Rescue Plan Act funding, new executive leadership, family-friendly policies, support for education, affordable housing, and more.

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

1. Approval of Lease Agreement between Durham County and Progress Carolina NC, LLC for Space at the 115 N. Queen Street Deck – Suite C (Former 300 E. Main St. Deck) and Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00067 Recognizing $19,344 in Annual Rent Revenue
2. Approval of Lease Agreement between Durham County and Coastal Horizons for Office Space in the Justice Services Department at 326 E Main Street; and Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00066 Recognizing $18,139.27 in Annual Rent Revenue from Coastal Horizons
3. Approval to enter into a contract with Hayti Reborn – Justice Movement as sub-recipient for the 2023 Bryne Discretionary Grant Program (BJA) and Budget Ordinance Amendment 24BCC00068 to recognize $700,000 in Grant Funding for the 2023 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Bryne Discretionary Grant Program (BJA) to Community Intervention and Support Service Department
4. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00059 Cooperative Extension to recognize $7,000 in grant funding from the University of North Carolina Institute for the Study of the Americas Building Integrated Communities (BIC) initiative for the enhancement of MyDurham Academy for immigrant and refugee residents
5. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00061 Cooperative Extension to Recognize $3,600 in Rental Fees for the new Durham-Orange County Mobile Poultry Processing Program
6. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00062 Cooperative Extension to recognize $4,905 in grant funding from the Town and Country Garden Club for the Briggs Avenue Community Garden Orchard Project
7. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00063 Cooperative Extension to recognize $1,852 from the Briggs Avenue Fall Festival plant sale for Briggs Avenue Community Garden program expenses.
8. Capital Project Amendment No. 24CPA00011 Appropriating $13,948,000 of 2022 GO Bond Funds for Three New Museum of Life and Sciences Capital Projects: $7.3M for the Create, Reinvent and Renew Learning Environments Capital Project (61903100CD040); $5,850,000 for the Program and Event Infrastructure Capital Project (61903100CD041); and $798,000 for the Sustainability Upgrades Capital Project (61903100CD042)
9. Approval of Property Management Agreement with TradeMark Properties, Inc. for the Management of the Shoppes of Hope Valley
10. Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.24CPA00012 and Budget Amendment No.24BCC00060 Reducing the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Capital Project (47302635DC089) by $1,068,500; Increasing the New Orange Factory Road Farm Campus Capital Project (47302635DC157) Budget by $1,068,500; Appropriating $1,068,500 of General Fund Fund Balance and Transferring $1,068,500 to the PAYGO Fund for the New Orange Factory Road Farm Campus Capital Project for a New Total Project Budget of $2,137,000; as well as Approve the Purchase of 128.99 Acres of Property located at 308 Orange Factory Road from Cameron Grove Holdings, LLC, for $2,107,000 in addition to $30,000 for Closing Costs and Soils Analysis, for a Total Purchase Price of $2,137,000; and Authorize the County Manager to Execute All Documents Necessary to Effect This Transaction
11. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00065 Cooperative Extension to recognize a $200 contribution from the Pi Alpha Zi, Iota Chapter for 4-H programming.
12. Approval of contracts for the American Rescue Plan Act Community Grants Awarded in RFP Category 3: Improving Child and Family Social-Emotional and Mental Health Children Ages 0-12, totaling $168,315
13. Approval of Slater Road Lift Station Water and Sewer Project as an American Rescue Plan Act project totaling $10,000,000
14. Approval of contracts for the American Rescue Plan Act Community Grants Awarded in RFP Category 7: Crime Interventions, totaling $455,000
15. Approval of Property Tax Releases and Refunds for October 2023
16. Approval of FY2023-24 Contract with the DPS Foundation for the Bull City Community Schools Project
17. Approval of contracts for the American Rescue Plan Act Community Grants Awarded in RFP Category 4: Improving Child and Family Social-Emotional and Mental Health Children Ages 13-24, totaling $450,740.00
18. Approval of contract for the American Rescue Plan Act Community Grants Awarded in RFP Category 3: Improving Child and Family Social-Emotional and Mental Health Children Ages 0-12, totaling $48,000.

Other Business:

1. County Food Security Initiatives Update and Upcoming Plans – The Board received an update on County-funded food security initiatives during the fiscal year 2022-2023 and their impact in Durham County, as well as heard about and provided input on upcoming food security plans and initiatives, from Mary Oxendine, County Food Security Coordinator and Donna Rewalt, County Extension Director. Read the presentation here.

Board and Commission Appointments: Commissioners made appointments to the following Boards and Commissions:

1. Durham County Women’s Commission — Alexandra Alvarez
2. Farmland Protection Advisory Board — Kenyon Browning and Nicolle Conelly

Congratulations to all appointees.

Item(s) pulled from the Consent Agenda:

Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 9:37 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, December 11, 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.