Accomplishments During Bill’s Terms of Office

• Environment
• Downtown
• Neighborhoods
• Transportation
• Economy
• Town-Gown
• Affordable Housing

As a member of the Town Council during the past eight years, I am proud of the following achievements.

• Environment
  
  
  • Helped secure passage of a new ground-breaking policy which require new development projects to exceed energy efficiency standards by 20%. This policy is the first of its kind in North Carolina.
    
    
  • Played a leading role in forming a partnership between the town and UNC that pledges a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
    
    
  • Have been a leader on the Council in land preservation. I worked to secure the purchase of the Erwin Trace and fought for continued protection of the rural buffer.
    
    
  • Took a leadership role in the rewriting of the town’s Land Use Management Ordinance during in my first term. This plan for responsible growth has helped to preserve the things we all value about Chapel Hill.
    
    
  • Petitioned successfully for the creation of a special council committee on Sustainability, Energy, and Enviromernt which has led to the creation of the town’s Energy Bank and Green Fleets Policy, as well as close co-ordination with NC Greenpower.
  
  
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• Downtown
  
  
  • Spearhaded the resurgence of downtown through the Downtown Economic Development Project and other new sustainable developments. These projects will stimulate business and enhance our quality of life while also establishing Chapel Hill as the environmental leader of the south.
    
    
  • Led the effort to redesign Streetscape. Mikyoung Kim, an internationally significant artist and landscape architect, is undercontract to design and oversee the construction of this work starting in 2007.
    
    
  • Have been a leading voice on the Council for finding a downtown location for the Kidzu Children’s Museum, which will provide an anchor to bring families downtown to enjoy all our community has to offer.
    
    
  • Have spoken up for public safety, to ensure that everyone can feel secure in our downtown. This has resulted in the establishment of a special Chapel Hill Police Department Unit for downtown.
  
  
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• Neighborhoods
  
  
  • Enacted strong new measures to protect neighborhoods, resulting in the creation of five new neighborhood conservation districts. These new measures will help ensure that the historic character of Kings Mill/Morgan Creek, Mason Farm, Northside, Pine Knolls, and Greenwood is preserved.
    
    
  • Worked to protect the northwestern quadrant of town from being overrun by poorly planned development through the creation of the Northern Area Task Force, which is taking a thoughtful look at that area and producing recommendations that will ensure a renewed vibrancy and quality of life.
    
    
  • Have been the leading voice on council for the protection of neighborhoods and the broadd community from the impacts of UNC expansion and growth in general.
  
  
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• Transportation
  
  
  • In my role as TTA board member, worked to greatly improve the options Chapel Hillians have for connecting to the rest of the region. New service to Hillsborough, as well as expanded express service to Raleigh, has made it easier for local residents to get around without getting in their cars.
    
    
  • Served on the Chapel Hill Transit Master Plan oversite committee to ensure the future growth of public transportation in town will be robust and focused on best serving Chapel Hillians.
    
    
  • During my first term of office, had a leading role in the creation of the fare free Chapel Hill transit system, and option now under consideration for TTA.
    
    
  • Through my work on the Metopolitan Planning Organization - the lead agency responsible for multimodal transportation planning - Chapel Hill has received over 1 million dollars for greenway and sidewalk projects.
  
  
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• Economy
  
  
  • Successfully led the fight against a tax increase for the citizens of Chapel Hill this year, and 3 of the past 5 years.
    
    
  • Took the lead in hiring Chapel Hill’s first economic development director, who will work to expand commercial opportunities in our community and by extension increasing the tax base, reducing the burden on individual residents in a sustainable manner.
  
  
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• Town-Gown
  
  
  • Served as a key liason with UNC since joining the council in 1999. During my second term in office, I served on both the Chapel Hill Horace Williams Advisory Committee and the UNC Leadership Advisory Committee.
    
    
  • Worked diligently to expand collaborative efforts with UNC. The Downtown Partnership, planning for Chapel Hill Transit, and close coordination between our Visitor Center and UNC Undergraduate Admissions are positive outcomes from these efforts.
  
  
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• Affordable Housing
  
  
  • Leading role in establishing Chapel Hill's 15% requirement as a national model for the creation and support of affordable housing.
  
  
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