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17 <br /> 1 Commissioner Price said if the numbers were to increase it is likely due to gentrification, <br /> 2 lack of employment, etc., and she would like to see data collected about the causes of <br /> 3 homelessness in Orange County. <br /> 4 Corey Root said there has been great success in housing those who have been <br /> 5 chronically homeless. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 b. Update on Orange County's Website Redesign <br /> 8 The Board previewed the newly revised Orange County Government Internet website. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 BACKGROUND: <br /> 11 For the past year, a team of staff has been working to review and improve the County's official <br /> 12 website page. The process began in fall 2017 with the solicitation of proposals from website <br /> 13 vendors. Several firms responded, including the company that had been hosting and providing <br /> 14 design services for the website. A team of 15 staff members from various departments <br /> 15 reviewed four proposals and ultimately chose a new vendor, CivicPlus. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 CivicPlus is based in Manhattan, Kansas, and provides design and hosting services to more <br /> 18 than one thousand local government clients in the United States, including the Town of <br /> 19 Carrboro and many counties in North Carolina. The new website will offer more functionality <br /> 20 and improved design and navigation for residents as well as a more robust tool kit for staff to <br /> 21 maintain the site. Residents will be able to register with the site and create personalized <br /> 22 notifications so they will be made aware whenever new or revised information is posted to the <br /> 23 website. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 Todd McGee, Community Relations Director, presented this item and previewed new <br /> 26 website online. He said the new website will go live on September 271H <br /> 27 Commissioner Burroughs said she really liked that idea of highlighting employees, <br /> 28 sharing their stories and appreciating them. <br /> 29 Commissioner Rich asked if the departments have individual websites. <br /> 30 Todd McGee said yes, and the link will directly access their websites. He said the <br /> 31 Visitors' Bureau uses the County website as a gateway to its website. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 c. Update on the First Annual Orange County Local Fest <br /> 34 The Board received an update to the Board on preparations for Orange County's First <br /> 35 Annual Local Festival. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 BACKGROUND: The FY2018-19 Budget authorized up to $50,000 in Article 46 sales tax <br /> 38 proceeds to produce an Orange County Local Festival. The County retained Evan Hatch as the <br /> 39 Event Planner. Mr. Hatch has fifteen years of experience in folk arts and cultural programming <br /> 40 which includes experience in event planning and festival production. Mr. Hatch has been <br /> 41 working closely with a group of Orange County departments to produce Local Fest. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Orange County Local Fest is intended to be a local, grassroots festival that celebrates and <br /> 44 promotes Orange County's commitment to its heritage, diversity, culture, sustainable living and <br /> 45 agriculture. The event will be held at the Blackwood Farm Park on Saturday, September 29, <br /> 46 2018 from 10:OOam to 6:OOpm. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Revenue generated by the event is proposed to support the Breeze Farm Incubator. To date, <br /> 49 sponsorships have raised $2,000. Additional revenue is expected from vendors contributing a <br /> 50 portion of their sales during the event and booth rentals. <br />