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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 09-02-1997 - 9a r ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 2, 1997 Action Agenda Item No. _q SUBJECT: Bond Education Committee Charge and Structure DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/1) ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proposed Charge and Structure Sharron Siler, ext 2302 Draft Timeline for Bond Education Campaign Draft Agenda for 9/3/97 Meeting Letter Inviting Citizen Participation on the TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Bond Education Committee Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a charge to, and structure of, a Bond Education Committee that will develop and disseminate information to voters concerning the November 4, 1997 bond referendum. BACKGROUND: The Board of Commissioners has scheduled a referendum on each of 5 bond orders, totaling $60.6 million, to be presented to Orange County voters on November 4, 1997. At its August 20 meeting,the Board adopted a resolution indicating its intent to appoint a citizens' committee to carry out a bond education effort for Orange County citizens during the next several months. The Board scheduled an organizational meeting for this group for 7:00pm on Wednesday, September 3, 1997 at the Homestead Community Center Attachments to this abstract include: a proposed charge to the committee; a suggested sub- committee structure for the overall Bond Education Committee; a draft timeline of activities and meetings for the Committee, leading up to the November 4 election; and a suggested agenda for the September 3 organizational meeting of the Bond Education Committee. Public funds may be spent to present relevant factual information to voters about the proposed bonds, the projects expected to be financed by the bonds, and the circumstances and needs that have given rise to the bond referendum. Public funds may not be spent on campaigns either to promote or defeat passage of any bond order put before the voters. The 1997-98 Orange County Budget includes a$12,000 appropriation for Bond Education Committee activities and informational materials. As the subcommittees undertake their work and develop cost estimates for the production and distribution of informational materials, the Board could consider an additional appropriation, if needed, from the Contingency account. t 7 RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss, amend as necessary, and approve a charge and structure for the Bond Education Committee. 3 9/3/9 CHARGE TO ORANGE COUNTY BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE $60.6 MILLION BOND REFERENDUM NOVEMBER 4, 1997 • become familiar with the purposes of each of the 5 bond orders • become familiar with the projects expected to be addressed with bond funds • understand the community needs that led the Board of Commissioners to adopt each of the 5 bond orders • develop appropriate informational materials that will address the 5 bond orders • design and implement a campaign to distribute relevant factual information about the bonds to Orange County citizens in the most effective and efficient manner possible • design and implement a process for informational meetings with civic groups, non-profit agencies, neighborhood associations, and other interested parties in the community • ensure that equal access to factual information is provided to all individuals and groups, regardless of their position for or against any bond order • encourage all eligible voters to participate in the November 4 election SUGGESTED BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE STRUCTURE Bond Education Committee Steering Committee— Schools Subcommittee Recreation & Parks Subcommittee Public Buildings Affordable Housing Subcommittee Subcommittee Information& Outreach Efland Sewer Subcommittee Subcommittee 4 ORANGE COUNTY 1997 BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE I. STEERING COMMITTEE (Commissioners Brown and Halkiotis, Committee Co-Chairs, Subcommittee Chairs, John Link) II. INF013MATION & OUTREACH SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD; Representative from each Bond Issue Subcommittee) Staff: Sharron Siler, Coordinator; Buck Tredway, Kim Hoke, Kathy LaFone, Beverly Blythe III. SCHOOLS SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD) Staff: Rod Visser, Ken Chavious, Donna Dean, Keith Lane IV. PARKS & RECREATION SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD) Staff: Bob Jones, Albert Kittrell, Ted Abernathy V. PUBLIC BUILDINGS SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD) Staff: Jerry Passmore, Pam Jones, Marti Pryor-Cook, Albert Kittrell VI. AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD) Staff. Tara Fikes, Albert Kittrell, Ted Abernathy VII. EFLAND SEWER SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD) Staff: Paul Thames, Albert Kittrell, Keith Lane 5 Timelines for 1997 Orange County Bond Education Committee 8/18 to 9/3/97 Invite citizens to participate by letter Newspaper ads- Home Page, etc. 9/2/97 BOCC confirms charge to the committee, establishes subcommittees and schedule of events 9/3/97 First committee meeting. All who come are on a subcommittee. Share tasks and timetables. Subcommittees on the five bond issues, steering committee, information and outreach 9/4 to 9/19/97 Educational materials including brochures and vendors developed. Speakers' Bureau and speaker engagements developed (subcommittees work) Week of 10/6/97 Meeting of full committee to confirm game plan, schedules, etc. Share final products of Ed. Campaign. 10/7 to 11/1/97 Educational campaign presentations Newspaper articles Bond Hot Line Call-in radio-TV shows Phon-A-Thon Meeting of On as needed basis, Subcommittees Weeks of 9/15 " 9/29 10/13 10/27 Staff Available John Link Buck Treadway Albert Kittrell Budget Staff Support Rod Visser Bob Jones Ken Chavious Jerry Passmore Beverly Blythe Tara Fikes Sharron Siler Paul Thames Pam Jones Ted Abernathy Marti Pryor-Cooke 08/27/97 bndsch97.doc 6 ORANGE COUNTY BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE Homestead Community Center September 3, 1997 (7:00 P.M.) AGENDA I. Welcome & Charge to the Committee (7:00pm - 7:10pm) Bi//Crowther, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 11. Overview of Bond Process (7:10pm - 7:30pm) John Link, County Manager a. Bond Referendum Components b. Structure of Subcommittees C. Staff Support- County & School System Roles d. Financing e. Preliminary Schedule 111. Subcommittee/ Small Groups Discussions (7:30pm - 8:15pm) IV. Subcommittee Reports (8:15pm -8:45pm) V. Next Steps (8:45pm -8:55pm) Vi. Adjourn (9:00pm) BOND ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEES (Schools, Parks & Recreation Facilities, Public Buildings, Affordable Housing, and Sewer Systems) TASKS September 3, 1997 1. List any questions or concerns regarding the bond issues or education process. (To be addressed by the Steering Committee) 2. Determine the subcommittee's goals for informing the public about the bond referendum. 3. Determine dates for subcommittee meetings. 4. Select a representative to serve as a resource to the Information & Outreach Subcommittee. 5. Provide names, addresses, and phone &fax numbers of members available to participate in the Speakers Bureau . (Hopefully, all subcommittee members will be available/) 6. Identify the key points regarding your bond issue which should be stressed to the community in the educational materials. 7. Identify the most frequently asked questions (and answers) to your specific bond issue. (These will be compiled in a "Question&Answer" sheet to assist members preparing for the Speakers Bureau.) 8. Identify persons to work proactively with the media; e.g. letters to the editor, guest columns, radio interviews, etc. Y Orange County Commissioners 8 ' P_-O. Box 8181 200 S Cameron Street Hillsborough, NC 2 72 78 FriUlant L Crowther,Chair Established 1752 Stephen H.Halkiods, rice Chair Moses Carey,Jr. Alice M.Gordon August 27, 1997 Margaret W.Brown Dear Interested Citizen: On behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, I am asking that you consider serving on the 1997 Orange County Bond Education Committee. With the proposed November 4th County Bond Referendum, the citizens of Orange County will have a unique opportunity to influence the destiny of our community into the next century. The five bonds: schools, parks and recreation facilities, public buildings, affordable housing, and sewer systems are extremely important and deserve an informed electorate. The committee is responsible for coordinating the educational efforts to inform our citizenry about bond- related issues. You are invited to attend an organizational meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3rd at the Homestead Community Center, located on Homestead Road, in Chapel Hill. We will discuss the committee's mission, schedule of activities, and the specific subcommittees that will be incorporated in this bond education effort. Enclosed for your reference is a brochure which outlines the five bond areas. If you are interested in serving on the Bond Education Committee but will be unable to attend this meeting, please contact Kathy Baker in the Clerk's Office. She can be reached at 968-4501 or 732-8181, ext. 1-2125#. The voice mail will take messages at this extension before 8:00 am. and after 5:00 p.m. if these times are more convenient for you to call. When using the voice mail, please indicate your phone number and an appropriate time for her to follow- up with you. I hope that you will be able to join us in this very important step towards meeting the future needs of our county. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation in this effort. Sincerely, U-) . C William Crowther, Chair Board of County Commissioners Enclosures Meeting: Wednesday, September 3, 1997, 7.00 p.m. Homestead Community Center (We hope you'll be able to attend!) You Count In Orange County AREA CODE(919) 732-8181: 968-4501: 688-7331 : 227-2031: FAX(919) 644-3004 z_ Ext 2130