Minutes 01-27-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 Bonnie Hammersley said that the "ambassadors" idea reminds her of a Residents Academy. She said that is something that she has wanted to do here for a long time, but she hasn't had the resources until now (for example, through the new Community Relations Coordinator, Todd McGee). The Academy can help them to communicate, and it can help them to develop interest among residents in serving on their advisory committees. She said she has had conversations with Chapel Hill Town Manager Roger Stancil about doing a joint Residents Academy, to help people understand the differences across the Town and County. Project Engage does this for Aging services, but as they talk about doing something that would have a County-wide focus she thought this was important and worth considering. Commissioner Price said that Carrboro has a similar kind of"academy." Travis Myren said the Sheriff's Office also has one. Commissioner Marcoplos said the urban/rural divide is real. It keeps popping up in a number of issues— landfills, airports; the Light Rail is a good example. One of the key drivers is the way they elect their County Commissioners. It is not the most democratic way they can do it. There is never going to be a Republican County Commissioner in Orange County; that fuels a lot of understandable resentment, because people feel that they are not even a part of the process. He said in 1992, he and others brought up the issue of fair representation. A task force was formed that initially was completely against changing the way the County Commissioners were elected (five at-large seats), but they heard from the community and put out a report in 1993 recommending that it be changed. One recommendation was for Cumulative Voting, or Instant Runoff Voting. They need to give people a real vote. He said he would propose that they do this. It doesn't mean that a minority is going to run the County, it means that people can have a meaningful vote and might get one representative --which is fair for the proportion of people who are in that camp. It is an elegant system and a great way to bring people together by taking away the resentment. When the storm comes, it will be a lot better for everybody if they are closer together, less resentful, having more community. Chair Dorosin noted that the Board will have a work session in March to talk about the voting system; it's a good point that the voting system is relevant to the local urban/rural divide. In reply to a question from Chair Dorosin, Mr. Roberts said that Cumulative Voting is not prohibited in North Carolina. Commissioner Burroughs said that the Firearms Safety Committee is an example of an effort to collaborate across rural and urban residents. She said she does not think that should be a one-off. She said she could think of other issues that might benefit from a facilitated committee process, such as the bicycle issue. The value of the facilitated committee is having people representing all sides, taking time to have a thoughtful discussion, and develop recommendations to which they would be highly responsive. It's a model she hoped they will continue to use creatively. Commissioner Burroughs said on another note that there is an enormous risk from the new federal administration of losing funding for important County functions, including the risks that come from not knowing the status of federal funding until late in the local budget planning cycle. Commissioner Jacobs agreed, and said part of preparing for that risk is to remind themselves and their constituents that the County will not be able to fill the hole. They will need to strategically patch the biggest chasms. Commissioner Rich asked whether the Board should take another look at the CIP, given that the County needs to be more cautious about spending. Bonnie Hammersley said that the Board has an opportunity to review the CIP every year; the Board votes on funding items in the CIP one year at a time. As they go into FY 17-18 budget cycle the Board will have the opportunity for thoughtfulness within the context of our changing times, to decide whether it wants to change directions. Commissioner Jacobs said he is not sure that the annual CIP review is sufficient because it does not force the Board to confront its priorities. Staff often tells them they can