Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-15-2010- 4aaORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 15, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. + - OQ SUBJECT: Next Steps: Orange County and Town of Chapel Hill Library Needs DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Clifton, County Manager, 245- 2306 Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager, 245 -2307 Lucinda Munger, Library Services Director, 245 -2528 PURPOSE: To confirm next steps on strategies and funding supports for meeting library needs in Orange County. BACKGROUND: The BOCC at its meeting on June 1, 2010 received a status report from the County Manager on County funding support for the Town of Chapel Hill Library, including an overview of allocation history and proposals presented by the County Manager and the Town for further consideration. In summation, the Town's upper -end expectation would exceed County current expenditures for its new Main Library, and it would have a doubling impact on the General Fund since a million dollar increase in library funding creates a million dollar increase in County allocation for education as well. Additionally, it would not resolve the priority of library services in the southern portion of the County from either a capital or operational perspective. Following discussion, the BOCC reached consensus on proposed action steps. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved as follows: A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Yuhasz to develop a three year plan that would identify a funding stream for Orange County library needs, including the Southwest library branch and rural Orange; and develop a time limited (3 -5 year) memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would include a formula that would address future County support for, and potential future changes to, the Chapel Hill Library system (such as interoperability, and effects that a Southwest Branch Library would have on Chapel Hill Library non - resident usage), noting that funding is non - permanent. The BOCC asked County Management to draft the motion with review by the Library Director and include it on the June 15, 2010 meeting agenda for formal confirmation. Contingent upon the Board's confirmation of these action steps, staff will pursue the following: Develop a 3 -year plan that would: • Identify a funding stream for Orange County library needs • Include the southwest library branch and rural Orange Develop a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Chapel Hill (time- limited, 3 -5 years) that would: • Include a formula to address future County support for, and potential changes to, the Chapel Hill Library system (such as interoperability and the effects a southwest branch library [of Orange County] would have on the Chapel Hill non- resident usage [of the Chapel Hill Library]) • Establish that the funding is non - permanent FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to BOCC confirmation of the next steps as presented. There would be considerable budgetary implications regarding BOCC adoption of an official 3 -year plan for meeting County library needs, along with future financial contributions to the Town of Chapel Hill in support of its library functions. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board confirm the next steps on strategies and funding supports for meeting library needs in Orange County as presented.