Orange County NC Website
29 <br /> 1 the bond and he is hoping that in a year they will be able to point to 100-150 housing units that <br /> 2 were built as a result. It helps them to hold themselves accountable, and helps the community to <br /> 3 hold them accountable, to have some of those types of goals that one can really see if they did <br /> 4 it or not. Or they said they would build 100, but we built 75. They can tell people that they have <br /> 5 the most innovative environmental policies in the state, but it is better if they can show people <br /> 6 the reservoir that exists as a result of those policies, or the parks, or a map with all the land that <br /> 7 has been preserved forever. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 Commissioner Jacobs said that some programs provide tangible outcomes better than others. <br /> 10 The Lands Legacy program provides a report every two years. He said he does not know that <br /> 11 they do anything like that with Agriculture or the Tax Office. He said revaluation is coming. The <br /> 12 more they can show how the tax process is open to scrutiny and how it is helping people — <br /> 13 accepting late filers under the Homestead exemption, for example, or how they work with <br /> 14 people on Use Value --the better it will be. People aren't always going to read a report, so they <br /> 15 need to consider other things. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Commissioner Jacobs said maybe Chair Dorosin's earlier idea about having an "Orange First" <br /> 18 moment at the start of each meeting would be helpful. They can have a featured County service <br /> 19 each week: how they help you. They don't really explain to anybody what they are doing in <br /> 20 economic development; Morinaga is already four years ago. What are they doing now? They <br /> 21 can talk about how they are helping small businesses, or putting the small business directory on <br /> 22 line. Maybe they can ask senior staff to think about which services to highlight over the course <br /> 23 of the coming year: They should be able to cover every department in 50 meetings, 25 of which <br /> 24 are regularly scheduled. "What are they doing this year that is new or better than what they had <br /> 25 done before?" <br /> 26 <br /> 27 Commissioner Burroughs agreed. They could do something very short at the start of their <br /> 28 meetings, and accompany it with a ready-made press release or visual for the media and public <br /> 29 to run with, so the outreach is ready to roll. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Commissioner Jacobs suggested a link. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Commissioner Burroughs said at least the people in the meeting room will have heard it and <br /> 34 they could target the content to the people they think will be attending given what is on the <br /> 35 agenda for the night. They can package it so it will be amplified beyond what Chair Dorosin says <br /> 36 in that short message. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Commissioner Marcoplos asked what the most successful communication efforts have been in <br /> 39 the past year. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 Commissioner Rich said she was extremely impressed how well County residents were <br /> 42 organized to talk about guns. The message got out quickly, and there was overflow attendance. <br /> 43 They see this with the schools every year at budget time, but this was not as predictable an <br /> 44 agenda item, it was off the cuff, and she was impressed with how it worked. They can learn from <br /> 45 it: you can get the word out there. They just have to figure out how. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Commissioner Burroughs said that passion plays a factor in how responsive the public will be to <br /> 48 an issue or a message. <br /> 49 <br /> 50 Bonnie Hammersley said consistent communication is important. They have an opportunity now <br /> 51 to put together a communications strategy. They are always going to have things that don't <br /> 29 <br />