HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-21-2011 - 5uORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 21, 2011
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 - U
SUBJECT: Reconfiguration of Advisory Board to Orange County Economic Development
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution To Repeal the 1982 Resolution Frank Clifton, 919-245-2306
Creating the Orange County Economic Gary Shope, 919-245-2325
Development Commission
o recognize t e contn utions o t ose m ivi ua s aving serve in a past capacity
as a member of the advisory group to the Orange County Economic Development Commission
and to approve a resolution to dissolve the Economic Development Commission as currently
constituted.
BACKGROUND: Over the past two years, the Board of County Commissioners has studied in
detail and thoroughly discussed how to best structure its economic development efforts.
Numerous actions have been taken to enhance and expand the County's role in economic
development. Presentations and recommendations by representatives from the UNC School of
Government have helped establish a new direction and formulation for the role and structure of
an economic development advisory board for Orange County.
The Board of Commissioners has increased the County's emphasis on economic development
with several significant actions, including:
Expanding the Small Business loan program and issuing several loans to local
entrepreneurs;
Pursuing inter-local agreements with the City of Durham to extend water and sewer
utilities into the Eno Economic Development District located on East Highway 70;
Employing engineering services to design water and sewer utilities in western Orange
County along Interstates 85 and 40 that will eventually connect to the City of Mebane;
Granting initial approval of a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to streamline
County development regulations; and
Increasing funding of economic development support staff.
The County has hired an experienced and well-qualified Economic Development Director, and
the Board of Commissioners recently approved its first Business Investment Incentive Grant to
a local expanding industry.
2
The County Economic Development Director has formulated a staff level `working group' of
professionals involved in economic development-related functions in the County, Towns,
utilities, and other related groups. This group will come together on project-specific
opportunities to provide technical expertise and support. The Economic Development Director
is also making local industry visits within Orange County in afact-finding effort to gain further
background with regards to local business needs.
In the coming months, a reformulated advisory organization structure and specific
recommendations to support continued growth economic development will be presented to the
Board of Commissioners. It is envisioned that members would include business and industry
representatives from varying sectors, chamber of commerce representatives, utility
management team members, educational representatives (including local schools, UNC, Duke
and Durham. Technical Community College representatives) along with representatives from the
retail, tourism, real estate, banking and other related commerce sectors.
The Economic Development Director will explore these options and recruit talented individuals
to volunteer to serve in these capacities.
Staff with assistance from UNC consultants will draft new guidelines and focus points for this
new advisory group structure to use as the basis of economic development efforts. The current
plan is to complete much of the preparatory work by Fall 2011 and have a presentation for the
BOCC later this year with the intent to implement a new structure once approved by the Board
early next year, or sooner if possible.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no direct financial impacts beyond existing budgets approved
by the Board.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
A. Approve the attached Resolution ("Resolution to Repeal the 1982 Resolution Creating
the Orange County Economic Development Commission') that formally dissolves the
Economic Development Commission;
B. Authorize the Board Chair to provide written expressions of appreciation to current and
past members of the advisory group to the Orange County Economic Development
Commission for their service to the County;
C. Direct staff to develop a proposed reconfigured Economic Development Advisory Board
structure along with recommendations as to the suggested membership categories and
organizational representatives; and
D. Encourage staff to initiate recruitment of qualified persons to be considered by the Board
of County Commissioners for appointment to the newly constituted Orange County
Economic Development Advisory Board.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Resolution to Repeal the 1982 Resolution Creating the Orange County Economic Development
Commission
WHEREAS, a Resolution by the Orange County Board of Commissioners authorized the creation of the
Orange County Economic Development Commission on December 14, 1982 (revised January 20, 19$7,
January 4, 1988, and June 28, 1994); and
WHEREAS, since the creation of the Orange County Economic Development Commission in 1982,
economic development in Orange County has undergone significant changes, and as a result, the
Board of Commissioners of Orange County have determined that it is in the best interest of the County
to create a different entity to guide economic development within the County; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Economic Development Commission was created as provided in
North Carolina General Statute Chapter 158, Article 2, which stipulates that a resolution creating an
economic development commission may be repealed in the same manner as it was originally adopted;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
ORANGE COUNTY-THAT:
1. As provided in North Carolina General Statute Chapter 158-8, Article 2, the Orange County
Board of Commissioners hereby repeals the resolution creating the Orange County Economic
Development Commission, effective immediately; and
2. The Orange County Economic Development Commission is hereby dissolved; and
3. The-Orange County Economic Development Department Director_shall propose to the Board of
County Commissioners an alternate entity to advise the County on Economic Development
issues; and
4. The formation, membership, and function of this alternative entity shall be approved by the
Board of County Commissioners as provided in General Statute Chapter 158-$, Article 2; and
5. Pending the creation of a new entity to advise the County on Economic Development issues, the
Economic Development Department shall remain a part of Orange County Government
reporting to the Orange County Manager.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the recent members of the Orange County Economic Development
Commission will be sent a letter thanking them for their exceptional and tireless service to the residents
of Orange County.
This the 21St day of June, 2011.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners