Orange County NC Website
8. What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for <br />the upcoming year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the <br />Commissioners' attention? <br />1. UDO: Adoption of a Unified Development Ordinance that allows for streamlined <br />permitting - -- especially in the EDDs and involving land targeted for EDD <br />expansion -- -that inspires confidence in investors and developers and allows for <br />application -to -build timelines comparable with surrounding counties <br />2. EDC Membership: Currently, only 5 - 6 EDC members regularly attend <br />meetings, and of these individuals, only two citizen volunteers (Brian Russell and <br />Lee Rafalow) and one elected official (Randee Haven - O'Donnell) hold terms that <br />have not yet expired. The terms of all others expired Spring or Summer 2010. <br />The Commissioners would be well - served in having more members on the EDC <br />and members with current, hands -on private sector transactional experience in site <br />selection, business investment and finance, labor recruitment and workforce <br />development, real estate, entrepreneurship, and business expansion experience <br />with start-ups as well as businesses with 10 — 50+ employees. In addition, all <br />members should be comfortable advocating economic development and be well - <br />versed in industry - standard economic development principles and regional <br />practices beyond Orange County. This business - oriented membership also will be. <br />best prepared to transition or implement any structural changes to the <br />organization. Taking a page from business: Restructuring without bringing in new <br />blood rarely results in improvement, innovation, or creativity. <br />3. EDC Operating Rules and Procedures: Regardless of the EDC's organizational <br />structure, The Commissioners also would be well - served to adopt operating rules <br />and procedures for the EDC that supports the de- politicization of business <br />recruitment, retention, and support activity and that inspires trust in the business, <br />investment, and development community. <br />4. Communication: Adoption of standard orientation required of all appointees to <br />Orange County boards and commissions, consisting of applicable regulations, <br />rules, and procedures. Such orientation should also clearly distinguish between <br />rule and tradition and include copies of all applicable forms and templates with <br />directions in their usage, and points of contact. Each board, for its members, also <br />include a membership roster, copies of member applications /CVs, a summary of <br />board history, and relevant rules, processes, procedures, and resources applicable <br />to that board. <br />Collaboration: Continued frequent and regular communication between EDC <br />members and County economic development director and specialist, UNC, local <br />and area municipal and county Chamber of Commerce leadership and members, <br />local economic development professionals, County Manager, and County <br />Commissioners. Increased communication and collaboration between County <br />planning staff, planning board, and the EDC would increase the quality of <br />analysis and decision - making. (However, we do not recommend the integration or <br />