HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-20-2017 - 8-f - Establishing a County Government Academy for Orange County Residents
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 20, 2017
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-f
SUBJECT: Establishing a County Government Academy for Orange County Residents
DEPARTMENT: Community Relations.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Agenda
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Todd McGee, Director, Community
Relations, (919) 245-2302
PURPOSE: To approve the development of a County Government Academy (CGA) as a series
of classes held each spring and fall to educate residents about the many services and
responsibilities of Orange County Government and thereby benefit Orange County by creating a
pool of informed residents who would be more likely to serve on one of the many Orange
County volunteer boards and advisory committees.
BACKGROUND: A County Government Academy is designed to educate, inform and engage
citizens. Programs are typically conducted by staff at minimal or no cost to participants, and are
held at night over the course of several weeks. Many North Carolina cities and counties conduct
these courses, including Durham, Chatham and Guilford counties, as well as Carrboro and
Hillsborough. Chapel Hill is in the initial phases of creating its own program.
Rick Morse, an associate professor of public administration and government at the UNC School
of Government, has conducted extensive research into these programs. In an article for the
School of Government’s “Coates Canons” blog, he wrote: "Citizens academies are educational
programs conducted by cities and counties aiming to create better informed and engaged
citizens. These programs involve ordinary citizens participating in several (between six and
twelve) sessions taught by local government officials on the wide range of local government
services and operations. Programs are usually taught to cohorts of 20-25 residents and end with
a graduation. Participants not only learn about their local government, but also learn about how
they can be directly involved in it by, for example, serving on boards or committees."
Morse’s research showed that local governments who host a county college reap several
benefits. Graduates of the program are often surprised to learn how many services their local
government provides and wind up serving as unofficial community ambassadors. The programs
help develop a deeper pool of informed residents who take an active role in their community by
serving on boards or committees. Communities also see an increase in social capital because of
the positive interactions between residents taking the class and government staff members who
participate in the sessions, which helps build trust in the community.
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FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Community Relations Department will revise the current Guide to
Orange County Government publication to serve as the unofficial “textbook” for the County
Government Academy program. The department will write and design the publication. In
addition, minor costs for snacks for participants will be realized. One session will be a budget
simulation exercise developed by the School of Government (SOG) called “Bottom Line”. A
faculty member from the SOG would facilitate the simulation and provide the materials. There is
a fee for this service. Total costs for the course are estimated at $1,000, and would come from
existing funds in the Community Relations budget.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
• GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage their government through
voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to
participation.
By making the program available at no cost, the program will build trust with community groups
that are traditionally under-represented on volunteer boards and committees.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the development
and implementation of a County Government Academy program beginning in winter/spring
2018.
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COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE
200 South Cameron Street Bonnie B. Hammersley, County Manager Phone (919) 245-2300
Post Office Box 8181 Fax (919) 644-3004
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
www.orangecountync.gov
To: Board of Commissioners
From: Todd McGee, Community Relations Director
Subject: County Government Academy for Orange County residents
Date: November 7, 2017
The Community Relations Department has been charged with developing a County
Government Academy (CGA) program for Orange County residents. The CGA would
consist of eight sessions. Participants will be meet beginning in February on the first
and third Tuesdays of each month (mirroring the Orange County BOCC schedule).
Sessions will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until 7:30 or 8 p.m. After each session ends,
participants will be encouraged to attend the BOCC meeting.
The Community Relations Department will advertise for participants via the Orange
County social media channels, the Orange County Message Monitor network, the
Orange County website, through a PSA that will play throughout the year on WCHL and
through articles in local media (News of Orange).
Other opportunities to promote the college will be pursued, including appearances on
WCHL by staff.
Tentative schedule
• Session 1 (Feb. 20, 2018 – Chapel Hill): Who’s responsible for this? An overview
of the intergovernmental system (state, federal, municipalities and schools) and
the role of county government. Presenter: Kara Millonzi, School of
Government
• Session 2 (March 6, 2018 – Hillsborough): Public safety. Tour of the Orange
County 9-1-1 Communications Center and the Emergency Operations Center
with presentation from emergency management staff combined with tour of
Passmore. Presenters: Dinah Jeffries/Kirby Saunders and Janice Tyler.
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• Session 3 (March 20, 2018 – Chapel Hill): Bottom Line! Budget simulation,
facilitated by faculty from the School of Government at the University of North
Carolina-Chapel Hill. Presenter: Lydian Altman, SOG.
• Session 4 (April 3, 2018 – Hillsborough): Public health/DSS. Tour of Orange
County public health facilities at Whitted with presentation from Health
Department staff and presentation from DSS. Presenters: ??
• Session 5 (April 17, 2018 – Chapel Hill): Animal Services. Tours of Animal
Services facility with presentations. Presenters: Bob Marotto.
• Session 6 (May 1, 2018 -- Hillsborough): Board of Elections/Register of
Deeds/Planning. Presenter: Tracy Reams, Mark Chilton, Craig Benedict.
• Session 7 (May 15, 2018 – Chapel Hill): Solid Waste. Tour of Solid Waste facility
with presentations. Presenter: Muriel Williman.
• Session 8 (June 5, 2018 – Hillsborough): Volunteer opportunities; Course review
and feedback; Graduation ceremony (receive certificates at BOCC meeting).
Presenters: Thom Freeman and Todd McGee.
Scavenger Hunt extra-curricular activity
In addition to the classroom activities, attendees will be assigned a county scavenger
hunt to be completed before the end of the program. Attendees will be asked to visit
county facilities not included in the curriculum and find out answers to questions about
those services.
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