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ORANGE COUNTY <br />HILLSBOROUGH <br />NORTH CAROLINA <br />f~~~ <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />FROM: Laura E. Blackmon, County Manager <br />DATE: March 18, 2008 <br />~srczG/,islied >7d2 <br />RE: Recommendation Regarding Media Consulting Services for Land Transfer Tax <br />Referendum Voter Education Effort <br />At the March 6, 2008 meeting, the Board directed the Manager and staff to solicit proposals for land <br />transfer tax media consulting services at both the $75,000 and $100,000 budget levels. In keeping <br />with the Board's desired timetable, I am recommending that at tonight's meeting you accept a <br />proposal for consulting services from Ballen Media, for reasons that will be outlined briefly below, <br />and in more detail during your meeting tonight. <br />On March 10, staff distributed the attached RFP; (a copy of which you received early last week) to a <br />list of nineteen firmsthat we believed might have the capability and interest ~to undertake the voter <br />education effort leading up to tl2eMay 6 landlransfer tax referelidum. We-:also posted the RFP on <br />the County's website so that other ~oteiltially interested firiils could likewise consider submitting a <br />proposal. <br />Staff received two ,proposals by he deadline' for responses that-lead Veen established as noon on <br />Monday, March 17. The proposals were from Ballen Media of Durham aild from The Campaign <br />Network of Carrboro (pa~-tileriug- with.: Goddard Claussen of Washing~toil,., DC). Copies of both <br />proposals were transmitted to you via e-mail yesterday afternoon and also accompany this memo <br />for reference. <br />We interviewed representatives from both firms this morning. The interview panel included me; <br />Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones; Budget Director Donna Coffey; and Project <br />Manager Rod Visser. We also consulted with County Attorney Geof Gledhill this afternoon <br />regarding how to translate whatever proposal you approve tonight into the form of an agreement <br />between the County and the Board-approved consultant. <br />Although both firms submitted responsive proposals that we think reflect each firm's ability to <br />competently carry out the County's desired voter education effort, the panel felt unanimously that <br />the Ballen Media proposal was the stronger of the two. Specifically, staff and I were favorably <br />impressed by Ba11en's: <br />Demonstrated core competency in developing and disseminating messages intended to <br />educate and inform, in contrast to materials that would advocate or persuade <br />Experience with educational campaigns, such as a rural AIDS testing program <br />AREA CODE (919) 732-8181 • 968-4501 • 688-7331 • 227-2031 • FAX (919) 644-3004 <br />Ext. 2300 <br />