Minutes 01-27-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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25 be better to break the bigger topics down into smaller, observable pieces, so they can see what the progress is on these goals. They are more likely to initiate and complete the smaller, observable tasks than they are the things that are bigger and less well defined. Commissioner Burroughs said the Manager already is doing the smaller tasks; it would help us to see and hear about these smaller pieces when she reports on these goals. Chair Dorosin said the BOCC has a reputation for being really good at planning things— "let's have a mobile home strategy!" — but less good about actually executing things. They passed the bond and he is hoping that in a year they will be able to point to 100-150 housing units that were built as a result. It helps them to hold themselves accountable, and helps the community to hold them accountable, to have some of those types of goals that one can really see if they did it or not. Or they said they would build 100, but we built 75. They can tell people that they have the most innovative environmental policies in the state, but it is better if they can show people the reservoir that exists as a result of those policies, or the parks, or a map with all the land that has been preserved forever. Commissioner Jacobs said that some programs provide tangible outcomes better than others. The Lands Legacy program provides a report every two years. He said he does not know that they do anything like that with Agriculture or the Tax Office. He said revaluation is coming. The more they can show how the tax process is open to scrutiny and how it is helping people—accepting late filers under the Homestead exemption, for example, or how they work with people on Use Value -- the better it will be. People aren't always going to read a report, so they need to consider other things. Commissioner Jacobs said maybe Chair Dorosin's earlier idea about having an "Orange First" moment at the start of each meeting would be helpful. They can have a featured County service each week: how they help you. They don't really explain to anybody what they are doing in economic development; Morinaga is already four years ago. What are they doing now? They can talk about how they are helping small businesses, or putting the small business directory on line. Maybe they can ask senior staff to think about which services to highlight over the course of the coming year: They should be able to cover every department in 50 meetings, 25 of which are regularly scheduled. "What are they doing this year that is new or better than what they had done before?" Commissioner Burroughs agreed. They could do something very short at the start of their meetings, and accompany it with a ready-made press release or visual for the media and public to run with, so the outreach is ready to roll. Commissioner Jacobs suggested a link. Commissioner Burroughs said at least the people in the meeting room will have heard it and they could target the content to the people they think will be attending given what is on the agenda for the night. They can package it so it will be amplified beyond what Chair Dorosin says in that short message. Commissioner Marcoplos asked what the most successful communication efforts have been in the past year. Commissioner Rich said she was extremely impressed how well County residents were organized to talk about guns. The message got out quickly, and there was overflow attendance. They see this with the schools every year at budget time, but this was not as predictable an agenda item, it was off the cuff, and she was impressed with how it worked. They can learn from it: you can get the word out there. They just have to figure out how. Commissioner Burroughs said that passion plays a factor in how responsive the public will be to an issue or a message. Bonnie Hammersley said consistent communication is important. They have an opportunity now to put together a communications strategy. They are always going to have things that don't touch everyone. If an issue doesn't really touch you, you are not going to show