Minutes 06-10-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Jacobs asked what the County contributes to the Visitor's Bureau. Laurie Paolicelli said Orange County levies 3 percent occupancy tax and has given all of its occupancy tax to the Visitors Bureau. Commissioner Pelissier asked what percentage of the occupancy tax Chapel Hill contributes. Laurie Paolicelli said Chapel Hill contributes 18 percent. She said Carrboro and Hillsborough currently contribute zero, but they have recently established legislation to levy 3 percent, and she believes they will work with the Visitors Bureau in the future. Chair Jacobs said if the majority of the Board wants to waive rent, then it can be counted toward Orange County's contribution. Michael Talbert said the County contribution would not change, it would just be spent differently. He said there are two components to the indirect cost; one is an actual overhead plus the rent. He asked if the Board wants to eliminate half of this and charge 50 percent of what would be normal under the indirect cost plan. Chair Jacobs said that is all the Board was being asked to consider. Chair Jacobs said Economic Development has a small staff, and the Board sees all of the things they are working on. He said there is no one whose primary focus is business retention, and he would propose another position to address this issue. He said this would be somewhere in the range of$45,000 to $65,000. Steve Brantley agreed that the department has a small staff, and they continue to do the same tasks. He said it is a full time job to do something new, like business retention. Commissioner Rich asked if this proposal is for this budget season. Chair Jacobs said yes. Commissioner Rich and Commissioner Price expressed their support for this. Chair Jacobs said this should be added to the list for Thursday's meeting. Tonya Walton said this position with benefits would be about $78,000. Commissioner Price said the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) is changing its bylaws, and dues are being increased from $20,000 to a per capita amount of $41,499 with no cap. She said there may be other options, and this may not provide enough bang for the buck. Steve Brantley said this is a calculated decision, based up review of what the organization has done for the County in the past. He said there was originally no choice in becoming a member; but in recent years the benefit has been marginal, and now dues are doubling with no increase in services. He feels the County can put their money to better use with a program at the Department of Commerce, and this can be done for a third of the price. He said this can be done for one year, and if it does not work they can go back to the RTRP. He referred to the yellow handout. Michael Talbert said he fully supports this, and he noted that all of their leads come from the Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Price said most of the businesses that come through RTRP are going to Wake and Durham County. She said there are other counties that are contemplating this same decision. Chair Jacobs said he wholeheartedly supports this change. Commissioner Gordon asked what is currently in the budget. Steve Brantley said Friends of North Carolina is in the budget now for $15,000. • Emergency Services, Pg. 284