Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, October 23, 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 Nimasheena Burns in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

 Agenda Adjustments: The Board made no adjustments to the agenda.

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

1. Vaccine Information for DCoDPH - Keep yourself and your loved ones safe this fall! Schedule your appointments for updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots or stop by the Health Department at 414 E. Main Street for free COVID-19 home tests! Find out more information about scheduling your COVID vaccine appointment here: https://www.dcopublichealth.org/COVIDvaccines. Find more information on Flu Season here: https://www.dcopublichealth.org/FluSeason.
2. Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community - The Durham County Department of Public Health and Aetna will host a free event - Nourish! Mindful Eating for the Beloved Community - on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Durham Center for Senior Life, 406 Rigsbee Avenue. There will be food, giveaways, mindful movement, health screenings, and more! Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mindful-eating-for-the-beloved-community-tic.
3. Prescription Drug Take Back - Peace Missionary Baptist Church located at 2608 NC Highway 55 will be hosting a prescription drug take back drive-thru on Saturday, October 28th from 10am - 2pm. Citizens will be able to safely dispose of unused and/or expired medications as well as learn about community resources. For more information, please contact Donna Rosser at 919-560-7765 or by email at drosser@dconc.gov.
4. Veterans Benefit Fall Fest - The Durham County Veteran Services Department be on hand for a Veterans Benefit Fall Fest on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Lowes Grove American Legion Post 416, 5419 S. Alston Ave. Apply for VA Health Care Enrollment, VA Compensation/Pension disability benefits and services, and more. The Durham County Register of Deeds will be on site, along with the USDVA Raleigh Vet Mobile Unit. Registration desired, but not required. Call 919-560 -8387.
5. Cohort 7 of BULLS ACADEMY - Open Enrollment for COHORT 7 of the BULLS ACADEMY is OPEN! The enrollment process has changed - you must first attend one of our Information Sessions to gain access to a Cohort 7 application. But don't worry - this makes it easier to submit a successful application. In the Information Session you'll learn more about the BULLS ACADEMY and how Life Sciences may be a good fit for YOU! Two more info sessions are on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and Wednesday, Nov. 15. Both are virtual and start at 12 p.m. Applications close on December 1. Follow this link to join the sessions: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89306668070.
6. 2023 Municipal General Election - The 2023 Municipal General Election is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Early Voting period runs from Thursday, Oct. 19 until Saturday, Nov. 4. Find out more information on the election, including how to register to vote, polling locations, and more at http://www.dcovotes.com/. Questions? Contact the Board of Elections at 919-560-0700.
7. DCo On the Go Design Contest - Durham County has ordered a new vehicle that will serve residents as a “mobile Durham County Office.” DCo On the Go will include broadband access, meeting rooms, large screens to share videos, and other services. This vehicle will need distinctive artwork and the County is asking local artists to assist! The DCo On the Go Design Contest is open to artists 18 years and up and winning designs for the bus wrap will be eligible for cash prizes up to $1,000. Younger residents in grades 6-12 can help design art for a rear panel of the vehicle, with prizes up to $250. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Visit www.dconc.gov/DCoOnTheGo for more information and how to apply.
8. Read the DCo Youth Risk Behavior Survey - The 2021 Durham County Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) report is available at www.healthydurham.org. This report details the health and wellbeing of Durham County middle and high schoolers. This is the first YRBS that captures post-pandemic student health data. New sections are featured including School Support, LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Disability, and COVID19.
9. Take the DCo Stormwater Survey! - Our Stormwater and Erosion Control Division of the Durham County Engineering and Environmental Services Department needs your feedback! We want to know what you know about stormwater to help make our outreach and education better for the community! They ask that you take a quick Public Knowledge Assessment survey - with a chance to win one of three $50 gift cards! Survey closes at end of October! Take the survey here - http://bit.ly/DCoStormwaterSurvey.
10. Grant Opportunities for Family Farms - NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program is providing grant awards to NC family farms for new and innovative agriculture projects. The program will award a minimum of 50 grants with a maximum award of $8000. The deadline to apply is 6pm on December 15, 2023. For more information, please visit http://www.ncagventures.org/.
11. . Subscribe to Durham This Week Online Newsletter! - Did you know that each week the Durham County Manager’s Office releases a newsletter - Durham This Week Online - featuring a weekly message from County Manager Dr. Kimberly J. Sowell. It also provides updates on County services, news items, video releases, job listings, and much more! Subscribe today at https://bit.ly/SubscribeDTWO.

Minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes from the October 2, 2023, Work Session and October 9, 2023, Regular Session.

Commissioner Allam and Vice Chair Jacobs made a special joint statement on behalf of the Board regarding the conflict in the Middle East.

Ceremonial Items:

1. Announcement and swearing in of the New County Tax Administrator - The Board publicly announced Keyar J. Doyle as the new Durham County Tax Administrator.  Immediately after, Monica Wallace, Clerk to the Board, completed the swearing in. Mr. Doyle thanked Commissioners for the appointment and promised to serve the community well. Board members then took turns welcoming Mr. Doyle to his new position as Durham County Tax Administrator. He has worked in the office as an Appraisal Division Manager.
2. Proclamation - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - The Board adopted a proclamation in observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is an annual observance designed to educate people about breast cancer, risk factors, and treatment. During this time, people are encouraged to get mammograms and screenings which have been shown to help make early detection possible. The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the chances are substantially greater that the cancer is treatable. A pink ribbon is the symbol associated with materials and events related to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read the proclamation here.
3. Proclamation - Color the World Orange Day - The Board proclaimed November 6, 2023, as Color the World Orange Day in Durham County, NC. Color The World Orange™ is an annual event held the first Monday of November to spread awareness of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). This is why we ask landmarks, buildings, Town Halls, and companies to change their lights to orange and ask you to wear or do something in orange during CRPS awareness month. 1 in 3,800 people are diagnosed with CRPS every year and we need to unite throughout November to support everyone who has had their lives turned upside down by the condition. Read the proclamation here.
4. Resolution - Operation Green Light 2023 - The Board adopted a resolution in support of Operation Green Light 2023. The National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of County Veteran Services invite county entities throughout the United States to show support for veterans by lighting their buildings green. Last year, more than 300 counties participated in Operation Green Light, according to NACo. As we observe this week, Durham County Courthouse outside lights, and other county locations will glow green during the week of Veteran's Day for Operation Green Light. The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) notes Operation Green Light will draw attention to the 600,000 veterans residing in North Carolina counties and draw attention to the resources available county-wide through the Veterans Services Offices. NACo also encourages residents, meaningful landmarks, businesses, and other organizations to participate by changing one light bulb in their home to a green bulb. Read the resolution here. Employees from the Durham Veteran Services Department shared remarks and thanked Commissioners for their support.

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

1. 2023 Updated Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement
2. Approve $1,074,404.09 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to support Carahsoft Northwoods-Traverse platform, a case management tool, for the Department of Social Services
3. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00036 FY 2023-24 Encumbrance Rollover - Increasing Multiple Funds Budgeted Expenditures and Revenues by a total of $22,841,176.13
4. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00043 for the Department of Social Services to recognize funds in the amount of $43,446.38 as part of the American Rescue Plan for Adult Protective Services (APS) under SSA Title XX Section 2042(b). The APS Essential Services Fund must be used to provide and arrange for essential needs on behalf of an individual receiving Protective Services for Adults Planning and Mobilizing Services (SIS Code 204)
5. Approval of an Amendment to the Contract Between Durham County and The Wood Group, LLC for Property Management Services at the Shoppes of Hope Valley located at 3825 S. Roxboro St. to Increase the Amount from $36,000 to $87,000
6. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00049 Social Services to Appropriate $1,728,956.74 in General Fund fund balance to add 35 positions to the Department of Social Services to address staffing needs for Medicaid Expansion
7. Approval of Lease Agreement at the Shoppes of Hope Valley Between Durham County and Samet Corporation/WC Construction Company, LLC

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

23-0783 - An Ordinance to Amend the Durham Unified Development Ordinance Provisions Related to the Comprehensive Plan 

Motion 1. The Board voted 4-1 to adopt an ordinance amending the Unified Development Ordinance, incorporating revisions to Common Review Procedures (Section 3.2), Comprehensive Plan Adoption/Amendment (Section 3.4), Zoning Districts (Article 4), District Intensity Standards (Article 6) and Purpose, Applicability and Use Regulations for Design Districts (Section 16.1) effective upon adoption; and

Motion 2. The Commissioners voted 4-1 to adopt the appropriate consistency statement as required per NCGS § 160D-605.

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

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission—Jack O’Doherty and Suzanne Wolinsky

Discover Durham Tourism Development Authority—Barry Van Deman

Durham County Women's Commission—Kelly Lindsey

Durham Planning Commission —Edward Johnson and Kari Wouk

Environmental Affairs Board—Rebecca Howeffler

Congratulations to all our appointees.

Closed Session: The Board adjourned into Closed Session pursuant G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4).

The Board gave direction to staff, but took no further action.

 Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 9:23pm

 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, November 13, 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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