HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-24-2000-1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 24, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. 1
SUBJECT: Legislative Initiative Process
DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Revised Draft -Orange County's Plan for
an Effective Legislative and Lobbying
Campaign for the 2000 North Carolina
INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Link, ext 2300
General Assembly Session TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Draft Calendar Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Message Madness 2000 Information Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To discuss Orange County's overall legislative plan for the 2000 North Carolina
General Assembly Session including review of 1999 legislative activities and discussion of an
effective legislation support campaign for 2000.
BACKGROUND: The 2000 North Carolina General Assembly Session begins on May 8, 2000.
This is planned to be a "short session" of the Legislature. The BOCC has expressed a desire to
formulate a legislative package to pursue for the 2000 North Carolina General Assembly
Session. The Board has also discussed becoming more actively involved in the legislative
process in support of Orange County's legislative package through the development of a
coordinated plan for making direct contact with legislators and legislative-committees. This
coordination effort would also be utilized, as appropriate, to support proposals by the North
Carolina Association of County Commissioners, other counties, and other entities. Activities to
counteract legislative proposals which would harm Orange County or North Carolina counties in
general may also occur. The Board has also voiced an interest in reviewing Orange County's
legislative activities from 1999.
Staff previously provided a draft proposal concerning the BOCC's efforts relative to a
coordinated legislative effort for the 2000 General Assembly Session. That proposal was
discussed at the Board's April 11, 2000 work session and has been revised based on Board
comments. The "time considerations" language has been deleted, and a few other minor
revisions are included based on Board comments and further staff review. They are shown in
bold. A revised draft is attached. Information regarding the County's 1999 legislative activities
as well as the legislative areas available for consideration during the "short session" have been
previously provided by the County Attorney. The revised proposal, the 1999 review, and the
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short session information should provide the BOCC with a basis to develop a 2000 legislative
package and a coordinated plan to support the County's legislative initiatives.
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A draft Calendar on the County's legislative preparation activities for the next month has also
been attached for everyone's reference. It details a tight time schedule facing the County. It is
worth noting that the draft calendar does not address meeting with Orange County's legislative
delegation, which- had .been scheduled for May 15, 2000. The meeting cannot occur on that
evening due to the Legislature being in session. The Calendar also does not address meeting
with representatives of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners prior to the
beginning of the Legislative Session. Both meetings are specifically discussed in the.
Legislative Initiative Process document:
Information on the Common Sense Foundation's Message 2000 is also attached. This was
also briefly discussed at the April 11, 2000 BOCC work session.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None other than normal staff time.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board proceed as it desires.
REVISED DRAFT
ORANGE COUNTY'S PLAN FOR AN EFFECTIVE
LEGISLATIVE AND LOBBYING CAMPAIGN FOR THE
2000 NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SESSION
The Orange County Board of Commissioners has expressed a definite. desire
that Orange County and specifically the Board itself be actively involved in
the legislative process associated with the 2000 North Carolina General
Assembly Legislative Session. As it is understood, this involvement would
primarily encompass members of the Board making direct contact with
General Assembly members and/or committees with the goal of promoting
the county's legislative agenda. Efforts would also be made, to varying
degrees, to 1) support proposals that would benefit North Carolina counties
in general and 2) oppose efforts which would harm or undermine Orange
County and/or all North Carolina counties in general. To the extent possible,
Orange County's, the Board's, and individual members' activities would be
coordinated with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
and with other counties and entities to help ensure an effective, timely, and
successful effort.
With this overall objective in mind, and with the North Carolina General
Assembly Session scheduled to begin on May 8, 2000, it is important for
Orange County to move forward with establishing aframework/process for
its activities relative to the General Assembly's Legislative Session. The
following information attempts to provide an initial proposal for discussion
as the county plans for this effort.
PARTICIPANTS IN LEGISLATIVE EFFORT
As a first step in the planning process, it is worthwhile to identify all the
participants. It is also beneficial to note some of the responsibilities of, those
participants, with the understanding that circumstances, time considerations,
and the complexities of the legislative process may demand that various
participants temporarily adjust their roles/responsibilities for the benefit of
the overall effort. These altered duties could include participants other than
members of the Board addressing General Assembly members and/or
committees. All actions taken by participants should be fully shared with
REVISED DRAFT
other participants to allow for coordination of activities, to allow, the
opportunity for feedback, and to safeguard against any opportunities for
misunderstandings. The participants and their roles are as follows:.
Board of County Commissioners: Establish Orange County's legislative
agenda and revise as necessary; Review and provide direction regarding
other proposals which may potentially impact Orange County or North
Carolina counties in general; Provide oversight and direction to county staff
before, during, and after the legislative session to clarify and focus activities
and improve the process.
Individual Members of the Board of Commissioners: Represent Orange
County and the Orange County Board of Commissioners to members and
committees of the General Assembly; Present the full Board's positions on
legislative initiatives :proposed by Orange County; Present the full Board's
positions on other proposals that may potentially impact Orange County
and/or North Carolina counties in general; Coordinate efforts, when
appropriate, with other commissioners, with the North Carolina Association
of County Commissioners,_tyith other counties' representatives, and with
other entities; Provide daily feedback to staff, especially the Assistant to the
Manager, on bill status, committee actions, future committee meetings,
communication improvements, and any other items relative to the county's
legislative agenda; Report on activities to the full Board.
John Link, Coun Manager: ',Assist the Board of County Commissioners
with the formulation of Orange County's legislative agenda; Provide updates
to the Board on the status of Orange County's legislative initiatives;
Communicate. to the Board other legislative initiatives which may potentially
impact Orange County; Discuss with the Board the various issues, and
positions voiced by the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners and other entities that may potentially impact Orange
County; Report on activities to the full Board; Receive information and.
direction, from-the Board on various ,legislative matters; Provide,. information
and direction to staff.
Geof Gledhill, County Attorney: Assist the Board of County
Commissioners with the formulation of Orange County's legislative agenda;
Provide updates to the Board on the 'status of Orange County's legislative
initiatives; Communicate to the Board other legislative initiatives which may
potentially impact Orange County; Discuss with the Board the various issues
REVISED DRAFT
5
and positions voiced by the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners and other entities that may potentially impact Orange
County; Report on activities to the full Board; Receive information and
direction from the Board on various legislative matters; Provide information
to county staff.
Rod Visser. Assistant County Manager: Assist the Board of Commissioners,
County Manager, County Attorney, and Assistant to the Manager with
various responsibilities as necessary to enhance the Orange County's
legislative efforts; Report on activities to the Board and County Manager;
Receive information and direction from the Board and County Manager on
various legislative matters; Provide information and direction to county
staff.
Greg Wilder. Assistant to the Manager: Maintain constant oversight of
Orange County's legislative agenda; Remain fully informed on status of
bills related to Orange County's legislative agenda; Remain fully informed
on status of bills proposed by other entities that may potentially impact
Orange County; Share information in a timely manner with
designated/appropriate Board member(s) or all Board members on
legislative actions, committee meetings, and other events where all or
portions of Orange County's legislative agenda maybe discussed; Share
information in a timely manner with County Manager and County Attorney
on legislative actions, committee meetings, and other events where all or
portions of Orange County's legislative agenda may be discussed; Share
information in a timely manner with designated/appropriate Board
member(s) or all Board members on legislative actions, committee meetings,
and other events where all or portions of bills potentially affecting Orange
County may be discussed; Share information in a timely manner with
County Manager and County Attorney on legislative actions, committee
meetings, and other events where all or portions of bills potentially affecting
Orange County may be discussed; Forward, as appropriate, information on
legislative issues to other participants; Maintain contact with North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners and other entities regarding
legislative proposals and opportunities for cooperation; Receive information
and direction from the Board and County Manager on various legislative
matters; Report to the Board and County Manager on activities.
Other Coun Std taff (As Needed): Assist other participants with background
information, potential impacts, and alternatives relative to various legislative
REVISED DRAFT
6
initiatives being considered by the Board and/or the General Assembly;
Follow activities of legislation specific to their departmental functions
both personally and via any professional association relationships and
forward general and potential impact information to other participants.
Private Citizens Interested in a Particular Item : At his or her discretion.
INFORMATION FOR LEGISLATIVE EFFORT
To ensure consistent expectations by all parties as it relates to involvement
in the 2000 North Carolina General Assembly Session, it is important to
document what information will be communicated to each participant by the
other various participants. This will assist in the overall effort, diminish
confusion, and provide all participants with direction.
Initial Review and Consultation: Through a series of initial meetings, the
Board of County Commissioners will discuss and formulate Orange
County's legislative initiatives for the 2000 General Assembly Session.
These meetings will include the Board, the County Manager, the County
Attorney, the Assistant County Manager, the Assistant to the Manager, other
county staff as appropriate, and any other. interested parties. The, Board,
County Manager, and County Attorney will be the primary participants
during these discussions as various legislative initiatives are formulated, '.
evaluated,, and refined. Discussions on legislative proposals and positions of
the North Carolina Association of County.Commissioners, other counties,
and other entities will also be reviewed at this time. The overall goals of
these meetings are to finalize Orange County's 2000 legislative initiatives
and to determine Orange County's positions/roles regarding legislative
proposals, as known, by other entities. The Board, County Manager, and,
County Attorney will then meet with Orange County's legislative delegation
as well as other participants to share the County's legislative package.
Committee Meetings: Once the 2000 North Carolina General Assembly
Session begins and bills are introduced, Orange County's legislative
proposals as well as other items of interest to Orange County will be directed
to various legislative committees for review and discussion. The Assistant
to the Manager will provide the Board and other participants with the initial
REVISED DRAFT 7
bill assignment information as well as any available information regarding
timetables for committee discussions on the various bills. As the session
continues, the Assistant to the Manager will follow the committees' schedule
regarding the discussion of items and inform the designated/appropriate
Board member(s) and/or all Board members as well as the County Manager
and County Attorney of those committee discussion times.
Revisions to Bills: As the General Assembly session progresses and
committees review items proposed by or of interest to Orange County,
revisions to the language/content of bills maybe proposed to account for
discussion and new information. These changes could be proposed by
members of the legislature, by other counties, or by other entities with an
interest in the same legislative matters as Orange County. The Assistant to
the Manager will maintain oversight of this activity. As amendments are
proposed, the Assistant to the Manager will distribute copies of them to the
designated/appropriate Board member(s) and/or all Board members as well
as the County Manager and County Attorney. Standard operating procedure
will be that any position Orange County takes regarding a bill amendment
will require approval of the Board prior to any representative of Orange
County expressing a position on the amendment or revised bill.
Circumstances may arise where a Board member (or members) or county
staff recognize 1) a need to amend an Orange County legislative initiative or
2) a need to vary Orange County's position on a proposal from another
entity. In situations such as this, standard operating procedure will be that
those participants proposing the change should formulate and distribute the
proposed revision in written form to all participants and any other interested
parties. The Board will then review the revision and determine whether or
not to approve the amendment or revised position.
Legislative Actions: As the General Assembly session progresses, items
proposed by or of interest to Orange County will be approved, disapproved,
or redirected by legislative committees or by the two bodies of the
Legislature. The Assistant to the Manager will maintain oversight of these
actions and inform participants of them as they occur.
Individual Conversations: Part of the process of advancing Orange County's
legislative agenda will involve members of the Board as well as other
participants having individual conversations with specific legislators, small
groups of legislators, or with the General Assembly's legislative staff.
REVISED DRAFT
These conversations will certainly have. a bearing on the success. of Orange
County's legislative agenda as well as on the efforts and strategies of all
participants promoting the county's initiatives. With this in mind, all
participants should make substantial effort, to share information from their
individual, conversations with. the other participants. This will not only
provide all participants with relevant and complete information, but,will also
allow everyone to focus their. efforts accordingly on the issue in question.
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners: At the beginning of
the 2000 Legislative Session as well as throughout the session to
adjournment, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners will
be following the activities of the Legislature and its various committees.
Orange County, and specifically the participants, should plan to utilize all
reports, services, summaries, updates, and other benefits provided by the
Association as the county's legislative agenda is advanced. An initial
meeting with Association staff should occur prior to the beginning of the'
Legislative Session to ascertain the nature,. content, and schedule of the
Association's legislative publications. This meeting could also serve as an
opportunity to explore additional means through the Association whereby
the county and its legislative participants might improve their effectiveness
and efficiency in promoting the legislative agenda.
COMMUNICATION TOOLS
With any undertaking such as this initiative, it is mandatory that substantial
communication occur between participants to enhance the effectiveness of
the effort and maintain coordination and agreement. The following details
how communication. should occur between participants.
Initial Review and Consultation: Through a series of initial meetings, the
Board of County Commissioners will discuss and formulate Orange
County's legislative initiatives for the 2000 General Assembly Session.
These meetings will include the Board, the County Manager, the County
Attorney, the Assistant County, Manager, the Assistant to the Manager, other
county staff as appropriate, and any other interested parties. The Board,
County Manager, and County Attorney will be the primary participants
during these discussions as various legislative initiatives are formulated,
evaluated, and refined. Discussions on legislative proposals and positions of
REVISED DRAFT
the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, other counties,
and other entities will also be reviewed at this time. The overall goals of
these meetings are to finalize Orange County's 20001egislative initiatives
and to determine Orange County's positions/roles regarding legislative
proposals, as known, by other entities. The Board, County Manager, and
County Attorney will prepare the final legislative package and provide all
participants with a copy of the package. An explanation of each provision
within the package should also occur. This will help establish a basis for all
future actions and communication.
Telephone, E-mail. & Facsimiles: An important component of Orange
County's legislative success will be the use of immediate communication
tools to provide everyone with an update on the status of bills, committee
meeting times, the contents of individual conversations, revisions proposed
by other parties to Orange County's legislative initiatives, and all of the
other sharing of information that will be necessary. To that end, all
participants should plan to utilize telephone, a-mail, and facsimile
communication to share information with other participants. If facsimile or
e-mail is used, participants may need to make some effort to verify receipt
by the other participants. All participants should make concerted efforts to
check their fax machines and a-mails regularly, especially during the
legislative "crunch" rimes when the Legislature and its- committees are
acting swiftly and without much lead-time.
Status Reports and Updates: All participants, including various county
department heads whose functions will be affected by proposed
legislation being considered by the General Assembly, should provide all
other participants with status reports and updates of the impacts of the
proposed legislation as well as their activities in regard to legislation.
This should occur at both established times as well as when circumstances
dictate. The form and content of these reports and updates are at the
discretion of each participant. However, written reports would likely
provide the best means of sharing information, and participants should
realize that Orange County's legislative efforts will be vastly improved if all
participants have as much access to information and background as possible.
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Publications: At the
beginning of the 2000 Legislative Session as well as throughout the session
to adjournment, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
will be following the activities of the Legislature and its various committees.
9
REVISED DRAFT
10
Orange County, and specifically the participants, should plan to utilize all
reports, services, summaries, updates, .and other benefits provided by the
Association as the county's legislative agenda is advanced. As part of the
initial meeting with Association staff noted earlier, Orange County should
ascertain the nature, content, and schedule of the Association's legislative.
publications. This meeting could also serve as an opportunity to explore
additional means through the Association whereby the county and its
legislative participants might improve their effectiveness and efficiency in
promoting the legislative agenda.
Final Review: ,Following adjournment of the Legislature and. some
opportunity for. participants to individually, assess their roles, the .process,
the legislation .approved during the Session, and other facets of this
legislative effort, all participants should meet to discuss the outcomes of the
legislative session as they relate to Orange County. The participants should
review the county's legislative agenda and legislative initiatives .proposed
by other entities. Participants should further discuss the impacts of any
approved legislation, on county departments and county government as
a whole. Preparations should also begin for the 2001 General Assembly
Session. The participants should also thoroughly evaluate the county's
lobbying campaign. to provide for improvements for 2001. Areas such as
communication, contact strategies, timing of activities, participant roles, .and.
other components of the program should be discussed. Orange County's
successes and failures during the 20001egislative session should provide
some .direction in these areas in preparation for 2001.
DRAFT 11
ORANGE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
CALENDAR
April 11, 2000
Apri124, 2000
(Work Session)
May 3, 2000
(Regular Meeting)
May 8, 2000
May 9, 2000
(Work Session)
May 16, 2000
(Regular Meeting)
Review of Draft Legislative Initiative Process
Approval of Revised Legislative Initiative
Process & Draft Calendar
Discussion of Potential Legislative Agenda
Items
General Assembly Session Begins
Approval of Final Proposed Legislative Agenda
Items
Public Hearing on Final Proposed Legislative
Agenda Items & Final Approval of Items
May 17, 2000 Deadline for Submission of Legislative Agenda
Items to General Assembly's Bill Drafting
Division
Note: Meetings with both Orange County's legislative delegation and
representatives of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
are not included on this draft calendar based on the fact that they are not yet
scheduled.
Additional Note: The advertising of the May 16, 2000 public hearing on
Final Proposed Legislative Agenda Items will occur after the Board of
Commissioners' approval of the specific items on May 9th
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