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13 <br /> 1 referendum in an expected low turnout election. There was some desirability of pursuing <br /> 2 a November 2014 referendum, but significant concern that there would be inadequate <br /> 3 time to address all the steps needed for a successful bond referendum, including <br /> 4 partner, stakeholder, and citizen involvement in the process. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 Michael Talbert said that to pursue a November 2014 referendum, the Board would <br /> 7 have to make major decisions on this between now and summer. The Board can take it <br /> 8 as information today and add it to a work session on March 11, but if they need a task <br /> 9 force they need to make decisions today about that. <br /> 10 Chair Jacobs said they could add a work session between now and March 11 to discuss <br /> 11 this, if need be. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 Michael Talbert said it is feasible to address this again on March 11, but he agreed with <br /> 14 Commissioner Dorosin that the longer they push this out, they have by default decided <br /> 15 not to do this in November 2014. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Commissioner McKee said it took about 18 months in 2001 to put a bond referendum in <br /> 18 place. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Commissioner Pelissier said they have not even discussed affordable housing yet; they <br /> 21 need time to prepare and educate the citizens on this topic in a bond. She noted the <br /> 22 first time they put up the quarter-cent sales tax for a vote, they had inadequate time to <br /> 23 educate voters about the issues. The second time we were better prepared. She does <br /> 24 not think they can realistically do it in November 2014. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Commissioner Gordon said she has experience in bond referendums, both ones that <br /> 27 passed and failed. It is her judgment, based on successful bond referenda, that the <br /> 28 more deliberate a process there is of getting stakeholders on board, and taking time to <br /> 29 educate voters, then the more likelihood of having a better chance of success. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Rod Visser said that as the facilitator he has heard a lot of disappointment that they <br /> 32 want to do this but do not feel there is enough time to do it right for November 2014. It <br /> 33 sounds like they are providing guidance to the Manager and staff that they should not be <br /> 34 jumping through "hoops" to try to get everything done for a November 2014 bond <br /> 35 referendum. He asked if anyone disagreed that is a fair reading of the discussion just <br /> 36 held. No one stated disagreement, but Chair Jacobs suggested that they could take the <br /> 37 February 11 work session for staff to bring information about what would be involved in <br /> 38 developing a November 2014 bond referendum back to the Board of County <br /> 39 Commissioners. It may be premature because of things beyond our control, but he is <br /> 40 hesitant to vote either yes or know without the Board knowing what is involved. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Rod Visser pointed out that what Chair Jacobs proposed also represents a decision and <br /> 43 asked the Board how they feel about that. He heard a request that staff pull together <br /> 44 some of the things they have discussed today about timelines and impacts and getting <br /> 45 partners together and bring that information back for the February 11 work session. <br /> 46 Then the Board could consider at that point whether the writing is on the wall that <br /> 47 November 2014 is out of the question, or whether it could get done. This would be a <br /> 48 deliberate postponement of that decision until after the Board gets more information. <br /> 49 <br /> 50 Commissioner Rich said she preferred Commissioner Jacobs's approach. Unlike <br /> 51 Commissioner Gordon, she has not lived through one of these bond referenda. They <br /> 52 know a number from Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools but they haven't heard anything from <br /> 53 the Orange County Schools. <br /> 54 <br />