Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item 3 - Discussion on a Potential Framework for Intergovernmental Collaboration with Municipal Partners 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 4, 2019 Action Agenda Item No. 3 SUBJECT: Discussion on a Potential Framework for Intergovernmental Collaboration with Municipal Partners DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Attachment A: Proposal from the Dispute Travis Myren, 919-245-2300 Settlement Center Bonnie Hammersley, 919-245-2300 PURPOSE: To discuss a potential framework for intergovernmental collaboration with the County's municipal partners. BACKGROUND: During the Board's annual retreat, one of the themes that emerged was a desire to improve collaboration and cooperation with the municipalities within the County. This type of intergovernmental collaboration has historically been facilitated through a joint meeting process. However, some feedback to staff suggested that some elected officials believed the joint meeting framework lacked a clear purpose and few deliverables. As part of a brainstorming exercise about how to have a more deliberate collaboration process, the School Collaboration framework seemed to represent a good example of how the County and the school districts are able to identify joint issues, set goals, and reduce collaboration barriers. The School Collaboration framework consists of representatives from the County and each of the school districts, administrative leadership from each body, and other staff as required for support on specific topics. The Collaboration work group is facilitated by a professional facilitator who solicits agenda items in advance of the meeting, facilitates the work group meetings, and creates a set of minutes from those meetings that is distributed to each of the governing bodies. A similar framework could be used with municipalities where a small group of representatives from each of the governing boards meets to explore collaboration opportunities and report out results. The role of the facilitator is outlined in the proposal from the Dispute Settlement Center which is provided as Attachment A. FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial impact is associated with this discussion. If the Board chooses to employ a framework that involves a professional facilitator, funds would need to be budgeted to compensate the facilitator. 2 SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. Effective collaboration between the County and its municipalities will foster a more inclusive view of policy issues. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board discuss the potential framework(s) for intergovernmental collaboration and direct staff to take necessary steps to implement the policy decision. 3 Dispute Settlement Center Attachment A Donna Baker Clerk to the Board Board of County Commissioners Orange County March 15, 2019 Dear Ms. Baker, Thank you for the opportunity to present a possible approach for the potential local government collaborative for Orange County and its municipalities including Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and perhaps Mebane. This collaborative would be modeled on the successful Orange County Schools Collaborative, which has been facilitated by the Dispute Settlement Center (DSC) since the group was founded in 2004. 1 joined the DSC in January 2019 as their director of group facilitation after 15 years consulting with teams in the public and private sectors to improve collaboration and communication. Please see my enclosed bio for more information about my background. The overarching purpose for this group would be to strengthen collaboration among the county and municipalities in Orange County. Stronger collaboration among local government entities would benefit residents of Orange County. The recommendation is for a one-year pilot for this group, meeting 3-4 times. At the end of the pilot phase, we would assess the collaboration to identify outcomes, successes, other benefits, as well as what didn't work and what to change. As facilitator of the initiative, I would be responsible for: • Coordinating meetings and agendas • Facilitating meetings • Summarizing meetings via notes • Leading the evaluation of the meetings and pilot phase Design and facilitation with the group would begin be establishing the framework for work together, including: • Establishing the group's role • Clarifying how members will work together • Defining what collaboration means to them • Identifying what success looks like and the metrics that will be used to determine if it is reaching its success • Agreeing to the scope 4 Please know this approach can be adjusted as needed. Thank you again for the opportunity to share initial thoughts. I look forward to next steps! My best, Maggie Maggie Ellis Chotas Director of Group Facilitation Dispute Settlement Center 919.929.8800, ext 23 mchotas@disputesettlement.org