P-0530 - Staff assistance for Citizen-Initiated Ordinance Amendments 12-02-1996-14e

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ORANGE COUNTY 1 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS • ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 2. 1996 Action Agenda Item # 14' e. SUBJECT: STAFF ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING Yes x No BUDGET AMENDMENT NEEDED Yes x No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: . Mary Willis Extension 2583 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough - 732-8181 Durham - 688-7331 Mebane - 227-2031 Chapel Hill - 967-9251 .PURPOSE: To consider establishing a policy with respect to the amount of staff assistance to be provided to citizens initiating ordinance amendments. BACKGROUND: At its meeting on September 17, 1996, the Boazd of Commissioners discussed citizen- initiated ordinance amendments. In question was the amount of Planning Staff time which should be spent assisting applicants in developing proposals, which may not be supported by the staff or governing boazds. The Boazd of Commissioners directed the County Manager to review the issue and to report back to the Board with policy recommendations. • Historically, the Planning Staff has worked closely with citizens in developing amendment proposals. Most proposals have implications beyond the specific needs of the citizen proposing the amendment. Citizens often do not have the expertise to convert their ideas to a more broadly-applicable ordinance form. Depending on the complexity of issues involved, a considerable amount of time can be spent by the Planning Staff to develop a proposal for the applicant. Since the idea would have been generated by the applicant rather than the County, the content or purpose of the proposal may not be supported by the Staff, Planning Boazd or Boazd of Commissioners. In order to make the most efficient use of staff resources, the Boazd of Commissioners may wish to consider reviewing the general purpose of citizen- initiated amendment requests prior to the drafting of any text by the Planning Staff.