Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to Chapel Hill Town Council's October 28th work session.

We are pleased to have you join us.

Tonight's meeting has been called specifically to allow council additional time to focus on the draft land use management ordinance or LUMO with specific focus on a set of recommendations from the Planning Commission.

Um before we before we begin, as I trip over my words, um, we want to remind our audience that the format of a work session is different than of our business meetings, even though we are not in the library, um, but we're still in a work session nonetheless.

Um work sessions are an opportunity for the council to dive more deeply into specific topics.

Um these meetings are more conversational and less formal.

Um finally, we value public input and we do want to hear from you.

Um there'll be opportunities for the public to speak at upcoming business meetings.

Um our next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18th at 6 p.m.

here.

Another way to give us your input is by emailing us at Mayor and Council at Chapel Hill NC dot gov.

Um before we get started, I have two quick announcements to share.

Um, first, we wanted to express our gratitude to Chief Leah and members of the Chapel Hill Police Department for their commitment and tireless work to bring justice for the Hedge Peth family.

Um this past week the trial concluded with a conviction.

Um while nothing can bring her back, we continue to think about her family and are thankful that they now have some accountability and answers after many, many weird years of waiting.

Um in addition, we want um to commend Chief Leahw along with the department, investigators and staff.

Um, we know this has been a long and really difficult process, and we commend them for their care and commitment it has taken to see it through.

Um

my next announcement is that early voting is underway and will continue through um October 31st.

So if you are like me, you haven't voted yet, but you will.

I know.

I have to my kids want to come, so I gotta find a time.

We can all go.

After that, the polls will be open from 6 30 a.m.

to 7 30 p.m.

on election day, which is Tuesday, November third.

Um there are four early voting sites in Chapel Hill and Carberough, uh, the Chapel Hill Public Library, the Seymour Center, Chapel of the Cross, and the Dregford Library Complex.

Uh this year there are several amendments on the ballot, which will impact our ability as a local government to serve our constituents.

So we encourage everyone to be informed about those before voting and please go vote.

Uh with that council members, anything to share.

Okay.

Um we'll then have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss.

We will not be changing the draft this evening.

Um, we'll be signaling our interest to staff in the direction we wish to take when the LUMO comes back on November 18th.

Um the types of input staff will be looking for for uh from us tonight are whether we want to stay with the draft language as is, um, adjust to reflect the planning commission's recommendations, make different adjustments, or have this come back at a later time as a text amendment or something else.

Um before I hand things over to Taz, um, council members, I want to check in with everyone about how we move through the information and give direction as a board tonight in an efficient and effective way.

Um, staff has provided us with a table of the planning commission's recommendations, which I believe Taz, you'll be working

from.

And for our purposes tonight, I think it makes most sense for us to go topic by topic with clarifying questions first, followed by discussion, an alignment check with our April 8th whys and what's goals, and a recap of the interest and next steps.

Um, does that work for you

all?

Okay.

Um thank you.

One other thing I'd like to touch on is the matter of additional amendments.

Um this is a um something that I'd like to get your feedback on.

Um the town manager and I um discussed this and would like to suggest it and hear whether council wants to use it.

So um

I

want to suggest we move forward with anything that comes out of tonight.

You know, I know that several of you are interested in proposing amendments.

Um, and Ted and I have talked about kind of how to do that in the most orderly and transparent way so that people can track what's going on.

You can kind of ask questions of each other or of staff as we go.

Um this would also mean we're not kind of working through new ideas on the fly on the 18th, and everyone has time to consider in advance.

So I would propose that by close of business on Wednesday, anyone interested in an amendment would send Sam and Ted a short statement of the interest behind

it.

Um they would sort what comes in and let everyone know what they received.

Staff would then draft amendment language council could use at the November 18th public hearing, and it would go out with the agenda packet the following week.

Um, some amendments might be really simple, some might need some policy framing, and some might come back as a choice between options.

Um, nothing about this would limit one's ability to still make amendments, uh, motions from the floor, including friendly amendments.