HomeMy WebLinkAbout013106 Item 1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 31, 2006
Action Agenda
Item No. T
SUBJECT: Follow -up from BOCC Retreat — Goals and Objectives and BOCC Priorities
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S):
2002 Commissioner Goals (Previously
Provided in separate cover notebook
for January 20 BOCC Retreat —
Attachment 4c)
Table — Commissioners' Short Term
Priorities (Previously Provided in
January 20 BOCC Retreat Notebook
— Attachment 4a)
Templates for Commissioners' Priorities
(Previously Provided in January 20
BOCC Retreat Notebook —
Attachments 4b -1 through 4b -43)
Attachment 1 — Draft Summary of Staff
Notations of, BOCC Comments at the
Retreat regarding the Short -Term
Priorities
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Link, 245 -2300
Rod Visser, 245 -2300
REMINDER NOTE: BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES WILL
WANT TO BRING THE TWO NOTEBOOKS FROM THE JANUARY 20, 2006 BOCC
RETREAT TO THE JANUARY 31 WORK SESSION.
PURPOSE: To provide an opportunity for the Board to continue discussions that began at the
January 20, 2006 BOCC Retreat regarding the Board of Commissioners' goals and objectives,
priorities, and potential priorities.
BACKGROUND: At the January 20, 2006 BOCC Retreat, the Board began a process to:
• clarify and check progress on the current short -term priorities;
• consider how previously established goals and objectives might shape the
approach to accomplishing BOCC priorities for the upcoming year;
• identify any new ideas that individual Commissioners may propose for
consideration along with potential priorities that were identified in November
2005; and
• be mindful in so doing of what the BOCC and staff can handle "on the plate" at
any one time.
2
During the Retreat, the Board reviewed the current short -term priorities, identified any new
ideas that individual Commissioners proposed as potential priorities along with those identified
in November 2005, and offered comments or suggestions regarding these priorities and
potential priorities.
The Board determined at the Retreat that it wanted to move forward at this January 31 work
session with discussion of the previously established goals and objectives and how they might
shape the approach to accomplishing BOCC priorities for the upcoming year.
Previously Established Goals and Objectives
For the January 20, 2006 Retreat, staff provided as a reference for the Board's use a separate
notebook containing the most recent set of goals and objectives from the Board's January 2002
retreat. Each individual goal in the notebook was preceded by a one page companion update
document that addressed the following points:
• summary of activities and events related to the goal since 2002;
• current areas being worked on now, including those that are stated on the November 9,
2005 Commissioners' Priorities Summary presented to the Board by the County
Manager; and
• looming unresolved issues (including any advisory board priorities and any areas of need
for coordination and /or resources).
The Board may wish to review the 2002 goal statements by exception, and indicate to the
Manager and staff if anything included therein should be considered in establishing current
BOCC priorities.
Attachment 4c — 2002 Commissioner Goals (Previously Provided in separate cover
notebook for January 20 BOCC Retreat)
County Commissioners' Priorities List
In November 2005, the Manager requested the County Commissioners' feedback on the top
five to seven Board of Commissioners' priorities over the upcoming months with the objective of
identifying the key areas for near term staff focus. The Commissioners shared this feedback
individually.
Staff then compiled the Commissioners' individual feedback into a priorities list organized by
major subject category and provided an update under the "Staff Comment" section on the
status of that priority. This was shared with the Board earlier. The list provided in the January
20, 2006 BOCC Retreat Notebook was that same list with the major subject categories grouped
as follows for discussion purposes:
Top Priorities
Under "top" priorities, the list shows those priority subject areas in which three or more
Commissioners indicated a priority. These are:
• Budget
• Emergency Planning
• Efland — Mebane Issues
• Environmental Responsibility
• Land Use Plan Update
• Schools
• Solid Waste
• Space /Facilities /Construction Project Improvements
Other Priorities
Under "other" priorities, the list shows those major subject areas in which at least one
Commissioner indicated a priority. These are:
• Economic Development
• Elections
• Health
• Human Resources
• Orange County Process
• Parks
• Transportation
Attachment 4a Table — Commissioners' Short Term Priorities (Previously Provided
in January 20 BOCC Retreat Notebook)
Commissioners' Priorities Template
As an aid to Commissioner preparation for the retreat, staff used a template to compile brief
(generally one page) updates for each of the 43 priorities identified in the table at Attachment
4a. The updates were provided in numerical order in the BOCC Retreat Notebook in the
following attachments.
Attachments 4b -1 through 4b -43 Templates for Commissioners' Priorities
(Previously Provided in January 20 BOCC Retreat Notebook)
As previously noted, the Board had an opportunity at the Retreat to review the current short -
term priorities and offer any comments or suggestions regarding these priorities. The Board will
likely want to expand on its discussion of the priorities at January 31 work session in
conjunction with the other areas of review. A draft summary of staffs notations of BOCC
comments at the Retreat regarding the short -term priorities is provided at Attachment 1. The
Board will likely want to review /clarify /correct the notations included in this draft summary.
Other BOCC Priorities
At the January 20, 2006 BOCC Retreat, individual commissioners identified other suggested
priorities since the November 2005 list was compiled. These potential priorities included:
• Commissioner Listening Sessions
• One -Stop Permitting
• Development Regulations Related to Lots of 10 acres or more
• Youth Services Opportunities at the SportsPlex
• "Branding" of Orange County Government Publications, Materials, Etc.
• Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
At the January 31 work session, the Board may want to add to and /or expand on these potential
priorities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no additional financial impact associated with the Board
continuing its discussion of goals and objectives, priorities, and potential priorities. There may
4
be financial impacts associated with any decisions regarding goals and objectives, priorities,
and potential priorities made by the Board.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board continue its discussion of
goals and objectives, priorities, and potential priorities, and provide any comments, direction, or
other feedback to staff.
ATTACHMENT 1
Commissioners Short Term Priorities
(Reflects those major categories in which three or more Commissioners indicated priorities.)
DRAFT SUMMARY OF STAFF NOTATIONS OF BOCC COMMENTS
AT JANUARY 20, 2006 BOCC RETREAT
Priority
BOCC Comment
Budget
1. Improve budget and CIP development process.
Provide regular in -depth updates of the
budget drivers affecting the operating and
capital budgets, thereby facilitating fiscal
responsibility.
2. Define new capital funding policy.
Commissioner Foushee wants to see written text for
policy — no specific date determined
Finalize the new capital funding policy.
Commissioner Carey — incorporate lottery impact into the
policy
3. 2006 -16 CIP
Commissioner Gordon wants to see this happen
Develop the 2006 -16 CIP early in the budget
cycle.
Emergency Planning
4. Review changes to EMS planning reflective of
This item is still on the table.
BOCC comments.
5. Launch study of emergency management/
This item is on the January 24 BOCC meeting agenda
fire /rescue squad services.
6. Ensure that the necessary fire, rescue and
disaster procedures (the latter including
evacuation procedures) are in place.
W
-2-
Priority
BOCC Comment
Efland — Mebane Issues
7. Adopt small area plan for Efland — Mebane.
Commissioner Jacobs — Meeting with Orange County
Schools and City of Mebane on January 30. Wants
BOCC to agree to what we want from Mebane — rural
Efland — Mebane Small Area Plan
boundary outside of Mebane —
Commissioner Carey — look at principles that we can
glean from current joint planning agreement to take to
the table as ideas that could be worked on. No specific
principles identified.
BOCC assignment — for January 31 meeting — BOCC
to put in writing and discuss premier points of
mutual interest with Mebane.
8. Establish plan to create assessment project for
Commissioner Jacobs — This needs to be in place by
water and sewer in Economic Development
opening of the middle school.
District.
Commissioner Halkiotis — This is important and timely in
consideration of the debt service numbers that Donna
Dean presented earlier.
As part of a work session during the budget process, talk
about what BOCC wants to happen with regard Efland
sewer — particularly with regard to upcoming bond
referendum.
9. Continue talks /pursue long term agreement with
Commissioner Carey — We need to continue to talk — not
Orange — Alamance.
sure what long -term agreement may be a result.
Commissioner Jacobs — having a plan for Efland -
Mebane may give some direction to where growth may
occur — Orange County could help with infrastructure.
0
-3-
Priority
BOCC Comment
Environmental Responsibility
10. Adopt Environmental Responsibility goal.
Commissioner Jacobs is not aware of an "internal group
of department heads" who are working on environmental
Implement an environmental responsibility goal
stewardship — re: pesticide use, low flow use fixtures to
within County government.
public, etc.
Do we use sheep instead of mowers? Contact/work with
Duke Power regarding their use of pesticides? (John Link
asked David Stancil to take the lead on this initiative.)
11. Implement structure to advance Environmental
Responsibility goals within County government.
12. Develop and implement energy conservation
Commissioner Halkiotis commented that the progress on
initiative.
this was acceptable.
13. Develop sustainability /green building standards.
14. Implement the water resources initiative.
Commissioner Gordon noted that this was adopted by
bocc last May and that it is a top priority coming from
commission for environment. She noted that it was
important to concentrate on things that really helped the
citizens and that this was important to keep on radar.
Commissioner Carey noted that this initiative cuts across
a number of different departments, commissions and
staff and that all needed to play a role in fashioning the
outcome.
(John Link noted that this related to resource protection
and development and that he was leading a short term
working group to work through process.)
Commissioner Jacobs stated that he did not understand
the notation "the planning board would like to participate
etc..." — (reading from goal update) — what did this
mean?
KI
Priority
BOCC Comment
(John Link indicated that he was interested in the science
regarding what we're facing in terms of groundwater and
that would be the foundation for any regulation.)
Land Use Plan Update
15. Decision on options to use in updating
Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Decision /completion of Land Use element options.
Decide on options for the Land Use Element of
the Comprehensive Plan and move the other
elements of the Comprehensive Plan forward.
16. Accelerate transfer of development rights
The need for further TDR plan and development was
discussions.
discussed.
Transfer of development rights
discussions /decisions
17. Devote more attention to rural activity nodes,
Commissioner Jacobs — This was happening in 2
nonconforming uses.
different places (EDC and Planning) and that EDC may
have different take than planning
18. Meet with Durham Economic Development District
owners and Durham elected officials.
19. Launch joint planning with Hillsborough.
Commissioner Jacobs noted that there was a meeting
next week.
Schools
20. Bring closure to school capacity issue for SAFO.
Commissioner Carey noted that the school collaboration
group made some recommendations.
Resolution of SAFO issues
(Rod Visser noted that there was an item regarding this
Decide on the impact of class size reduction on
on agenda for the BOCC's January 24 meeting.)
school capacity and incorporate the decision into
n n r�
Signal intent to move to lower classroom sizes with
W
-5-
Priority
BOCC Comment
SAFO.
addition of next elementary school — for next couple of
years will continue to operate with higher student/teacher
ratios
21. Revision of school construction standards
22. Bring closure to school system funding equity
(Previously discussed earlier in the day)
debate.
Discuss school funding and opportunity.
Define and move towards funding equity.
Define school equity funding and then decide the
school funding equity issue.
23. Bring closure to school merger debate.
(Previously discussed earlier in the day)
Solid Waste
24. Solid waste contract with Alamance County for
use of their landfill.
25. Pursue municipal solid waste talks with Alamance
County.
26. Retain or adequately replace NC 57 Solid Waste
This is urgent.
Convenience Center.
Commissioner Jacobs — The sooner we can develop
map for town of Hillsborough with center footprint and
house footprints (in Fairview), the better.
(Pam Jones — Roy Wilkerson has agreed to continue the
County's lease at a cost of $500 per month with a 60 day
out clause (beginning April 1).
Commissioner Halkiotis asked if the County could begin
determining where customers who use the Highway 57
site coming from and how many are town of hilisborough
residents?
WINI
IN
Priority
BOCC Comment
27. Resolve issues regarding land clearing debris
The County needs to look at other ways of approaching
landfills.
this issue — Example: Are there farmers willing to be on
retainer to use their land for storage of land clearing
debris?
Land clearing debris from subdivisions — all organic
decomposition site co- located with park — There would
be a need for 80 to 100 acres according to ERCD.
28. Reevaluate siting and sewer requirements of new
Commissioner Carey — This needs to move forward with
solid waste headquarters.
this as it pertains to affordable housing on the Greene
tract.
Space /Facilities /Construction Project
Improvements
29. County buildings /facilities long range plan
Commissioner Carey — We need to do this especially as
adoption
it relates to being able to afford the plan
30. Identify and implement plans to remedy space
needs.
31. Orange County Durham Tech campus
Commissioner Jacobs noted that he, Commissioner
Halkiotis, and staff had met with Senator Burr's economic
Monitor the construction of the Orange County
development person a few days ago and noted that they
Campus of Durham Tech to ensure that it meets
are taking a little different approach with community
Orange County standards and also proceeds in a
colleges, encouraging partnerships and collaboration in
timely manner.
accessing federal money
Donna Dean is going to Senator Burr's meeting with
community college representatives on January 23.
32. Include green building standards at DTCC.
The additional cost of $250k was noted.
33. Start Central Orange Senior Center planning.
Start meeting next week
34. Construction of Senior Centers
-7-
Priority BOCC Comment
Construct both Senior Centers in a timely manner.
35. Animal Shelter This has been included in the CIP.
s
Other Commissioners' Priorities
Priority
BOCC Comment
Economic Development
36. Continue to promote the Buy Local
Encourage school districts to buy local (especially from
Campaign
local farmers) — may factor into non -per pupil funding
Elections
37. Adopt a form of districts for election of
Commissioner Carey wants to bring this to closure by
BOCC.
March 2 — need two more meetings on this topic (one work
session plus regular meeting).
Commissioner Foushee supports it being closed by March
2.
Health
38. Ensure that the Mill Creek community health
(Rosie Summers noted that the hold up is the capacity of
water project proceeds in a timely manner.
state lab to process water samples — they are down two
staff people and having to share resources they have.
They should be able to get all of the samples in to the state
by end of March. There is about a two week turn around
time at state level. They are beginning to give feedback to
residents and are not turning up anything unusual yet.)
Human Resources
39. Improve employment diversity (new
personnel director).
40. Recruit and select HR Director.
in
Priority
BOCC Comment
Orange County Process
41. Make it a top priority to include complete
(John Link noted that timeliness is always staff's goal and
information in the BOCC agenda packets
that there is not a second team. When someone is out
and post it on the web site in a timely
sick, there is not someone who steps in to complete the
manner. (Note that if the information is not in
task.)
the agenda packet, it is difficult to get it
posted on the web site so that members of
the public will have time to review it.)
Parks
42. Increased pace in the forward progress on:
- Fairview
- Northern
-Twin Creeks
Transportation
43. Continue to promote the provision of transit
and other transportation options to the single
passenger automobile.