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APPROVED 3/13/2012 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />PLANNING RETREAT <br />SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER <br />February 10, 2012 <br />9:00 a.m. <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Board retreat on Friday, February 10, 2012 at <br />9:00 a.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners Valerie Foushee, <br />Alice Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Earl McKee, Bernadette Pelissier, and Steve Yuhasz <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br />COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: John Roberts <br />COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton and Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker <br />SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT FACILITATORS: Kelly O'Brien and Shannon Tufts <br />Purpose: To agree on Orange County's priority investments in Communications and Information <br />Technology. <br />Chair Pelissier welcomed everyone and Introductions were made. <br />1. PURPOSE OF THE RETREAT <br />To agree on Orange County's priority investments in communications and <br />information technology <br />2. REPORT FROM STAFF: FISCAL HEALTH OF THE COUNTY <br />Clarence Grier, Financial Services Director, reviewed anticipated revenues and <br />expenditures for the upcoming FY 2012-2013 budget. <br />The Commissioners asked County staff about the decrease in state funding for <br />childcare; County staff responded that this decrease was due to program <br />administration transferring from the County to the state. County staff also stated <br />that personal property tax revenues (from sources such as vehicles) are expected <br />to grow the tax base. Manager Frank Clifton reported that expenditure growth in <br />retiree benefits has nearly doubled in the past few years, so rising post- <br />employment costs will require attention in the future. <br />3. COMMISSIONER EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RETREAT <br />The Commissioners were asked to share what they wanted to get out of the <br />retreat, as well as one item or aspect they would bring to the discussion. These <br />included: <br />What do you expect to get from the retreat? <br />• An idea of how to use communications to better inform the public <br />(improve messaging to citizens) <br />• Development of a strategic communications plan <br />• An understanding of the tools, strategies, and attitudes used internally <br />and externally for communications and information technology <br />