HomeMy WebLinkAboutShaping OC Task Force 011702 Orange County
Hillsborough
North Carolina
Manager 's Office Established 1752
January 17 , 2002
Mr . Robert Morgan , Manager
Town of Carrboro
301 W . Main St .
Carrboro , NC 27510
Dear Bob :
SUBJECT : Status Report — Recommendations of the Shaping Orange
County ' s Future Task Force
Earlier this fall , the Orange County Commissioners requested review by county
departments of recommendations from the Shaping Orange County ' s Future
( SOCF ) Task Force . Following review , department heads prepared brief , bullet-
style status reports on their activities toward addressing the recommendations .
Many of the recommendations may have been implemented independent of the
report . Enclosed are three relevant attachments . Attachment A is a compilation of
the county department head reports ; Attachment B is the instruction sheet to
department heads for preparation of the status reports ; and Attachment C is a
summary table of action strategies for " Sustainability and Community Building " and
" Critical Areas to Maintain or Improve Quality of Life . "
My purpose in sending this to you is two -fold : First , I request that you share
Attachment A with your elected officials and department heads to indicate the
current status of SOCF in Orange County ; and second , I hope you will consider a
similar process with your department heads (Attachments B and C may prove
helpful in this respect ) . Our goal is to compile the county and municipal comments ,
share them with Task Force members who may want to make final style/format
changes to the Task Force report , and issue the final report with press release as a
newspaper insert . We don ' t have a specific deadline at present , though we are
hoping for this spring . Receipt of town comments by February 15 should make it
possible to achieve a mid - May publication date .
The Task Force ' s Provisional Report and Recommendations from May 2000 is the
source document for recommendations . You should have a copy of this , but if you
find that another is needed , please contact Gene Bell ( gbellgco . oran orange nc . us ) in the
Orange County Planning Department at 245 - 2589 who is managing / monitoring the
transition. of the report to actual implementing policies .
200 S. Cameron Street PO Box 8181 � Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Phone : (919) 245 - 2300
Fax (919) 644 - 3003
Mr . Robert Morgan , Manager
Page 2
January 17 , 2002
Thank you for your attention to this request . As we wrap up the " Shaping " initiative ,
I think we can all take a great deal of pride in our collaborative efforts and look
toward a future in which many of the recommendations will have a positive impact
on policy issues and critical decisions .
Sincer ,
John . Link , Jr .
Coun y Manager
Attachments
J
Orange County
Hillsborough
North Carolina
Manager 's Office Established 1752
January 17 , 2002
Mr . Eric Peterson , Manager
Town of Hillsborough
137 N . Churton St .
Hillsborough , NC 27278
Dear Eric :
SUBJECT : Status Report — Recommendations of the Shaping Orange
County ' s Future Task Force
Earlier this fall , the Orange County Commissioners requested review by county
departments of recommendations from the Shaping Orange County ' s Future
( SOCF ) Task Force . Following review , department heads prepared brief , bullet-
style status reports on their activities toward addressing the recommendations .
Many of the recommendations may have been implemented independent of the
report . Enclosed are three relevant attachments . Attachment A is a compilation of
the county department head reports ; Attachment B is the instruction sheet to
department heads for preparation of the status reports ; and Attachment C is a
summary table of action strategies for " Sustainability and Community Building " and
" Critical Areas to Maintain or Improve Quality of Life . "
My purpose in sending this to you is two -fold : First , 1 request that you share
Attachment A with your elected officials and department heads to indicate the
current status of SOCF in Orange County ; and second , I hope you will consider a
similar process with your department heads (Attachments B and C may prove
helpful in this respect ) . Our goal is to compile the county and municipal comments ,
share them with Task Force members who may want to make final style /format
changes to the Task Force report , and issue the final report with press release as a
newspaper insert . We don ' t have a specific deadline at present , though we are
hoping for this spring . Receipt of town comments by February 15 should make it
possible to achieve a mid - May publication date .
The Task Force ' s Provisional Report and Recommendations from May 2000 is the
source document for recommendations . You should have a copy of this , but if you
find that another is needed , please contact Gene Bell ( gbellgco . oran orange nc . us ) in the
Orange County Planning Department at 245 - 2589 who is managing / monitoring the
transition of the report to actual implementing policies .
200 S. Cameron Street PO Box 8181 � Hillsborough, North Carolina 2 72 78
Phone : (919) 245 -2300
Fax (919) 644- 3003
Mr . Eric Peterson , Manager
Page 2
January 17 , 2002
Thank you for your attention to this request . As we wrap up the " Shaping " initiative ,
I think we can all take a great deal of pride in our collaborative efforts and look
toward a future in which many of the recommendations will have a positive impact
on policy issues and critical decisions .
Sincerely ,
hn M . Link , Jr .
County Manager
Attachments
Orange County
Hillsborough
North Carolina
Manager 's Office Established 1752
January 17 , 2002
Mr . Calvin Horton , Manager
Town of Chapel Hill
306 N . Columbia St .
Chapel Hill , NC 27516
Dear Cal :
SUBJECT : Status Report — Recommendations of the Shaping Orange
County ' s Future Task Force
Earlier this fall , the Orange County Commissioners requested review by county
departments of recommendations from the Shaping Orange County ' s Future
( SOCF ) Task Force . Following review , department heads prepared brief, bullet-
style status reports on their activities toward addressing the recommendations .
Many of the recommendations may have been implemented independent of the
report . Enclosed are three relevant attachments . Attachment A is a compilation of
the county department head reports ; Attachment B is the instruction sheet to
department heads for preparation of the status reports ; and Attachment C is a
summary table of action strategies for " Sustainability and Community Building " and
" Critical Areas to Maintain or Improve Quality of Life . "
My purpose in sending this to you is twofold : First , I request that you share
Attachment A with your elected officials and department heads to indicate the
current status of SOCF in Orange County ; and second , I hope you will consider a
similar process with your department heads (Attachments B and C may prove
helpful in this respect ) . Our goal is to compile the county and municipal comments ,
share them with Task Force members who may want to make final style/format
changes to the Task Force report , and issue the final report with press release as a
newspaper insert . We don ' t have a specific deadline at present , though we are
hoping for this spring . Receipt of town comments by February 15 should make it
possible to achieve a mid - May publication date .
The Task Force ' s Provisional Report and Recommendations from May 2000 is the
source document for recommendations . You should have a copy of this , but if you
find that another is needed , please contact Gene Bell ( gbellgco . oran eg nc . us ) in the
Orange County Planning Department at 245 - 2589 who is managing / monitoring the
transition of the report to actual implementing policies .
200 S. Cameron Street PO Box 8181 Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Phone : (919) 245 - 2300
Fax (919) 644 - 3003
Mr . Calvin Horton , Manager
Page 2
January 17 , 2002
Thank you for your attention to this request . As we wrap up the " Shaping " initiative ,
I think we can all take a great deal of pride in our collaborative efforts and look
toward a future in which many of the recommendations will have a positive impact
on policy issues and critical decisions .
Sincerely ,
ohn M . Link , Jr .
County Manager
Attachments
Attachment A
Comments on Recommendations of the Shaping Orange County ' s Future Task
Force from the following Orange County Departments :
1 . Arts Commission
2 . Economic Development
3 . Environment & Resource Conservation
4 . Health
5 . Housing & Community Development
6 . Human Rights & Relations
7 . Planning & Inspections
8 . Recreation & Parks
9 . Social Services
10 . Soil & Water
11 . Solid Waste
December 19 , 2001
ARTS COMMISSION
Sustainability& Community Building
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 1 d. Create more all- county shared events .
Response : Working with BOCC , EDC , Visitors Bureau , and others on 250tt' Anniversary
special events .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 4a . Provide and promote gallery space in all public and
quasi-public buildings.
Response : Developed proposal for hanging system in Southern Human Services Center,
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 4b . Encourage displays of art and arts performances in
public spaces and in businesses.
Response : Subcommittee of Arts Commission formed to explore options and invite
participation from local businesses .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 4c. Create partnership between high schools and
community to create cultural arts centers which are accessible and low- cost for
community event use.
Response : No action taken to date .
Task Force Recommendation 1 . 4d. Establish a space for arts and community groups to
have shared officesimeeting space to plan projects and foster partnerships.
Response : Possibility for meeting space part of county space study and medium -term
plan for housing OCAC in the " rock building " on Churton Street .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 4e. Promote the accessibility of space to use for artists '
studios and cooperatives.
Response : Working with EDC on this goal .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 5a . Create incentives to support local artists.
Response : Arts Commission continues Grassroots Grants program in support of local
artists , open to working with all on other creative incentives .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 5b . Create a public-private partnership to fund arts .
Response : Research underway into models ; no action taken to date .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 6a . Develop a county arts incubator.
Response : Arts Commission and EDC have had preliminary discussions with potential
funders ; no formal action taken to date .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 6b. Establish a community arts resources center. . .
Response : Possibility for community resource center part of county space study and
medium -term plan for housing OCAC in the " rock building " on Churton Street .
_.,. .. .. .... . . ........ . ....... . .. .. .. .. . _..... _____.._ .. .. .. .� . . ..... .. .. . . ..,.. . ...... .. ..... ........,.., .. .. .,,. .. . ... . ...", ... ..�. ... . .,.._ . � w : ._. ., ,:u.,::::ww::.a„n�,.. ,,..,. uo...o...u,..,..,w.o..,.�u:w.uaau:u.u..,u.u.., ..,aou..m.:.u..:u......,...:, .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 6c. Broaden OC Arts Commission database to include
rural and immigrant arts.
Response : Small grant has been secured from North Carolina Arts Council to begin
research and identification process later this fall .
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Sustainability & Community Building
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 1g. Establish partnerships between urban and rural
residents through community support for local farming.
Response : This task is one of the responsibilities in the work plan for the new Agricultural
Economic Development Coordinator, and will include the completion of the agricultural
guide and promotion of farmers markets and community supported agriculture ventures .
Task Force Recommendation 1 . 6a . Develop a county arts incubator.
Response : The EDC and Arts Commission have had preliminary discussions with
potential funders ; no formal action taken to date .
Task Force Recommendation 5: la . Create a set of sustainability indicators using the
SOCF Sustainability Committee indicators as a starting point.
Task Force Recommendation 5: 1b . Create a permanent County Database for these key
indicators.
Task Force Recommendation 5. 1d. Use the indicators to help determine effectiveness of
current policies and identify needed policy changes .
Task Force Recommendation 5: 2b. Establish a general guide of standards and criteria
based on resource limits that will help to define parameters of sustainability in Orange
County.
Response : The EDC continues to work with ERCD , Planning , and others in creating and
tracking the set of sustainability indicators .
Economy
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 1 . Adopt a set of criteria for supporting current
businesses and recruiting new businesses that will support sustainability goals and work
off of current and emerging economic strengths.
Response : Work pending formal adoption of sustainability goals .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 2a . Work with the Chambers of Commerce and the EDC to
establish and fund a public/private task force to recruit and support desirable businesses
that meet the adopted criteria .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 2b. Make development regulations more flexible to
accommodate desired businesses.
Task force Recommendation 1 : 2c . Have County and Towns construct a shell spec
building in order to attract companies needing immediate space. When sold, build
another.
Response : No action taken to date .
Task Force Recommendation I . 2d. Support maintenance and start- up of desirable
businesses through a variety of means .
Response : This work continues through :
a ) business retention and expansion program
b ) small business loan program
c) helping businesses work through various regulatory processes
Task Force Recommendation ' : 3. Seek Federal and State and private funding to support
sustainable development initiatives.
Response : This effort is continuous and on - going .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 4. Improve farming viability by support farming —
traditional and new — through a public/private partnership .
Response : Consistent with the recommendation , the County was successful in obtaining
a commitment from N . C . A&T State University to fund one - half of the cost of an
Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator position for two years ; the county
committed the remaining funds . One hundred percent of the incumbent ' s time will be
devoted to improving farming viability .
Task Force Recommendation 1 : 5a . Examine the potential negative impacts of e-
commerce on loss of local shopping and business profitability.
Response : No formal study undertaken to date .
Task Force Recommendation 1 . 5b . Support local e-businesses.
Response : This work continues through :
d ) business retention and expansion program
e) small business loan program
f) helping businesses work through various regulatory processes