Minutes 11-17-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Price said as the Board proceeds with this issue it would be good to see what the living wage would need to be if the cost of living allowance (COLA) goes up. She said perhaps incremental analysis would be useful. Travis Myren said staff could prepare a historic analysis of how fair rental markets have increased over time and at what rate they may be expected to increase in the future. Travis Myren said the federal poverty rate calculation would have produced an hourly rate of$12.53. He said the County was already at an hourly rate of$12.76 and chose to remain there. Commissioner Rich said this issue is discussed every year during the budget process and suggested taking that information and working it into the analysis. Commissioner Jacobs asked if Travis Myren could track Orange County's living wage in his historical analysis. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mark Marcoplos said he agreed with Chair McKee that the living wage is a subsistence wage and when one's income drops down below the living wage, one must start using social services. He said it is important to consider all the elements of the equation. b. Update on the Campaign for a New "Welcome" to Orange County Interstate Sign The Board considered receiving an update on the campaign for a new "Welcome to Orange County" interstate sign, providing any comments or questions to staff and acknowledging that staff will move forward with the campaign. Laurie Paolicelli, Orange County Community Relations and Tourism Department Director, said this sign project is really a symbol of how the County sees itself and how the County wants travelers and residents to see Orange County. She reviewed the following information: BACKGROUND: Orange County has an opportunity to change the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) "Welcome to Orange County" Interstate sign, currently located on Interstate 40 at mile marker 269 heading west. The sign is damaged and is currently slated for replacement. The current sign welcomes interstate travelers with the message "Orange County: You'll Be a Fan for Life". Community Relations will launch a local contest asking residents to vote for which slogan should be used on the new replacement sign. Orange County, together with a media partner, will offer six (6) signs that the community can vote on, rather than an "open slogan naming". Providing six (6) slogans for the public is a format that is based on past programs of NCDOT that became contentious as a result of the anonymous curtain of the internet (see Attachment 1). NCDOT initiated a contest asking for public input to name the 1-40/440 rebuild project in Raleigh that began in 2015. NCDOT found that the general public that became interested had a sense of humor. What started out in a serious vein quickly took a distinct twist when the unexpected quirky responses started pouring in (see Attachment 2). Orange County Community Relations suggests working with media partner, Chapelboro & WCHL, to have the public vote for their favorite slogan via various forms of media including Chapelboro and WCHL Radio. To provide a wider reach, the department will also utilize social media and WHUP Radio Hillsborough. Using radio and social media as the point of collection is the most efficient and cost effective way to engage residents AND gain valuable feedback over an 8-week period. The goal is to use the talents and creativity of Orange County