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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP-0530 - Staff assistance for Citizen-Initiated Ordinance Amendments 12-02-1996-14e • POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE DECEMBER 2, 1996 EFFECTIVE DATE: December 2, 1996 POLICY: NUMBER: P: 0530 REVISIONS: The Administration recommends that a general description of amendments proposed by citizens be presented the Board of Commissioners for direction prior to the drafting of proposed text by the Planning Staff, and that the Board indicate at that time whether or not the Planning Staff is to prepare an ordinance text to be presented for public hearing. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 2, 1996 Action Agenda Item # 1 y~- ~ SUBJECT: STAFF ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING Yes _x_No BUDGET AMENDMENT NEEDED Yes x No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Willis Extension 2583 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: I~lsborough - 732-8181 Durham ~ - 688-7331 Mebane - 227-2031 - 967-9251 To consider establishing olic 'th respect to the amount of staff assistance to be provided to citizens initiating ordinance amendments. sACKGROUND: At its meeting on September 17, 1996, the Boazd of Commissioners discussed citizen- initiated ordinance amendments. In question was the amount of Planning Staff time which should be spent assisting applicants in developing proposals, which may not be supported by the staff or governing boazds. The Boazd of Commissioners directed the County Manager to review the issue and to report back to the Boazd with policy recommendations. Historically, the Planning Staff has worked closely with citizens in developing amendment proposals. Most proposals have implications beyond the specific needs of the citizen proposing the amendment. Citizens often do not have the expertise to convert their ideas to a more broadly-applicable ordinance form. Depending on the complexity of issues involved, a considerable amount of time can be spent by the Planning Staff to develop a proposal for the applicant. Since the idea would have been generated by the applicant rather than the County, the content or purpose of the proposal may not be supported by the Staff, Planning Board or Boazd of Commissioners. In order to make the most efficient use of staff resources, the Boazd of Commissioners may wish to consider reviewing the general purpose of citizen- initiated amendment requests prior to the drafting of any text by the Planning Staff. ~ Chapel Hill i APPLICATION FOR 3 CITIZEN-INITIATED AMENDMENT Date Name of Applicant Address Phone Ordigance: Zoning Ordinance Subdivision Regulations Comprehensive Plan Other Detailed description of proposed amendment, including reason for request:. Attach additional sheet(s) if needed. • APPROVED 12/17/96 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1996 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, December 2, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the Old County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners William L. Crowther, Alice M. Grodon, Stephen H. Hafkiotis and Don Willhoit. COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Managers Albert Kittrell and Rod Visser, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (all other staff will be identified appropriately below) COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. RECORDING TAPES ARE KEPT FOR FIVE (5) YEARS. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve the minutes as presented for August 20, October 1, October 15, November 4 and November 19, 1996 and to approve the minutes for November 13 as corrected. . VOTE: UNANIMOUS 2. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION A resolution of appreciation was presented to Commissioner Willhoit for his twenty years of service to Orange County as County Commissioner. A motion was made by Commissioner Hafkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve the resolution as stated below: ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA ~eso[ution of CommendAtion for ~-on ~il[hoit WHEREAS, Don Willhoit was nominated by the voters of Orange County to The Board of County Commissioners in the Democratic Primary of May, 1976, and WHEREAS, he was elected by the voters of Orange County to the Board of County Commissioners in the General Elections of November, 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992, and • WHEREAS, during his 20 years of continuous service, he was elected by his fellow Commissioners as Chair of the Board in December of 1983, 1984 and 1985, and through his knowledge and leadership skills and understanding of those addressing the Board, he always provided reassurance to those who 9 ;: The County Commissioners considered changes to the Animal Control Ordinance eliminating the use of license tags, redefining "adequate shelter' and other changes that would improve the County's animal cruelty investigation process. Health Director Dan Reimer made this presentation. In response to a question from Commissioner Brown, Animal Control Director John Sauls explained the procedure for licensing an animal. . Commissioner Halkiotis asked how many pets are vaccinated and John Sauls said 26,000 animals are vaccinated. They estimate that there are 40,000 animals in the County. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve the recommended amendments to the Animal Control Ordinance as presented in the agenda, effective January 1, 1997. VOTE: UNANIMOUS E. STAFF ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS At its meeting on September 17, 1996, the Board of Commissioners discussed citizen- . initiated Ordinance amendments. In question was the amount of Planning Staff time which should be spent assisting applicants in developing proposals, which may not be supported by the staff or governing boards. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve the policy with respect to the amount of staff assistance to be provided to citizens initiating ordinance amendments as stated below: • "The Administration recommends that a general description of amendments proposed by citizens be presented to the Board of Commissioners for direction prior to the drafting of the proposed text by the Planning Staff, and that the Board indicate at that time whether or not the Planning Staff is to prepare ordinance test to be presented for public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS F. CHARGE TO CAPITAL NEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Commissioner Gordon suggested extending the timeline for this committee to complete its objective and also narrowing the charge. This will be reworked and brought back for approval at the meeting scheduled for Saturday. G. SOUTHERN VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FINANCING RESOLUTION A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve the resolution as attached to these minutes on pages which completes the financing arrangements for the new Chapel Hill/Carrboro City schools elementary school to be constructed in the Southern Village development VOTE: UNANIMOUS 10. REPORTS A. GROUND WATER RECHARGE RATES IN ORANGE COUNTY • ~ Planner David Stancil summarized the findings of a U.S. Geological Survey report on ground water recharge rates in Orange County. This project was jointly funded by Orange County and the ORANGE COUNTY 1 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS • ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 2. 1996 Action Agenda Item # 14' e. SUBJECT: STAFF ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING Yes x No BUDGET AMENDMENT NEEDED Yes x No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: . Mary Willis Extension 2583 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough - 732-8181 Durham - 688-7331 Mebane - 227-2031 Chapel Hill - 967-9251 .PURPOSE: To consider establishing a policy with respect to the amount of staff assistance to be provided to citizens initiating ordinance amendments. BACKGROUND: At its meeting on September 17, 1996, the Boazd of Commissioners discussed citizen- initiated ordinance amendments. In question was the amount of Planning Staff time which should be spent assisting applicants in developing proposals, which may not be supported by the staff or governing boazds. The Boazd of Commissioners directed the County Manager to review the issue and to report back to the Board with policy recommendations. • Historically, the Planning Staff has worked closely with citizens in developing amendment proposals. Most proposals have implications beyond the specific needs of the citizen proposing the amendment. Citizens often do not have the expertise to convert their ideas to a more broadly-applicable ordinance form. Depending on the complexity of issues involved, a considerable amount of time can be spent by the Planning Staff to develop a proposal for the applicant. Since the idea would have been generated by the applicant rather than the County, the content or purpose of the proposal may not be supported by the Staff, Planning Boazd or Boazd of Commissioners. In order to make the most efficient use of staff resources, the Boazd of Commissioners may wish to consider reviewing the general purpose of citizen- initiated amendment requests prior to the drafting of any text by the Planning Staff. 2 The Planning Staff could draft ordinance language to carry out the ideas put forth by the applicant, if so directed by the Boazd of Commissioners. Otherwise, any proposal • to be submitted for a public hearing would need to be prepared by the applicant, with the assistance of his/her own private consultant, rather than the Planning Staff, if assistance is needed. RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends that a general description of amendments proposed by citizens be presented the Boazd of Commissioners for direction prior the drafting of proposed text by the Planning Staff, and that the Board indicate at that time whether or not the Planning Staff is to prepare ordinance text to be presented for public hearing. • • APPLICATION FOR 3 CITIZEN-INITIATED AMENDMENT Date Name of Applicant Address Phone Ordinance: Zoning Ordinance Subdivision Regulations Comprehensive Plan Other ~etailed description of proposed amendment, including reason for request:. Attach additional sheet(s) if needed •