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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 5, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. h <br />SUBJECT: Advertising for Board and Commission Vacancies <br />DEPARTMENT: Clerks Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Advertising Rates <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board <br />245-2130 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a request to authorize the Clerk to the Board's office to advertise (paid <br />ads) in order to assist in the process of filling volunteer positions on Orange County's Advisory <br />Boards and Commissions. <br />BACKGROUND: The Clerk to the Board currently does not have an advertising budget line <br />item for paid advertising to solicit volunteers, especially for hard to fill positions, for Boards and <br />Commissions. Staff currently uses the Internet (Orange County website), PSAs, news releases, <br />word of mouth, etc. <br />Other surrounding jurisdictions: <br />Durham County: advertises once a month in three different papers, budgets approximately <br />$12,000 and spends around $10,000 for the year. <br />Town of Chapel Hill: minimal (included with other ad costs) but they do not consider their <br />advertising efforts to be successful. <br />Town of Carrboro: advertises in The Chapel Hill Herald and in The Carrboro Citizen; advertises <br />in the fall for all advisory boards with terms expiring in February, and at other times throughout <br />the year when vacancies occur (3 or more/year). Budget line item for all ads-agendas, notices <br />of public hearings, etc. and advisory board vacancies -- $10,000. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Attached are the advertising rates for 4 local newspapers (Chapel Hill <br />Herald, News of Orange, News and Observer and the Carrboro Citizen) for a 2-column by 8- <br />inch ad and a 2-column by 4-inch ad. Sample ad rates for 30-second spots on WCHL radio are <br />also included. Since there is not a current budget, the proposal is to use funds from the BOCC <br />contingency in the amount of $2,500 (advertising in 4 papers up to 4 times between Feb-June <br />2008). <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the Clerk to the <br />Board's request to pursue paid advertising for Board and Commission volunteers for the period <br />of February - June 2008, with the funds to be budgeted from BOCC Contingency Fund in the <br />amount of $2,500.