Minutes 01-25-2019 BOCC Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 Chapel Hill and residents from unincorporated areas not understanding how it benefits them. She stressed the need to communicate more effectively to constituents how they benefit from decisions made on projects within jurisdictions. Commissioner McKee recalled a conversation he had with a long-time resident who had myriad complaints about the County government. He said he finally asked the resident, "What do want me to do?" and the response was, "Put it back like it was." He said his response was that the 1950's were not very good for a lot of people, and even if he could put it back, he would not. Commissioner Marcoplos said he recognized the need to communicate more with the public in a time where the traditional media is not as robust as it once was. He said this has resulted in a system where Chapel Hill and Carrboro get a lot of media coverage, but many times more consequential decisions made at the County level are ignored. He said the number of papers who have stopped publishing or had reduced coverage and readership. Commissioner Price said many times people living in unincorporated areas want to be recognized and have healthy representation from their local officials, as well as recognition that what benefits rural areas of the County also benefits the municipalities. Commissioner Dorosin said the representatives from municipalities need to speak to this. He said an intergovernmental effort was needed to communicate to the public, such as a website, where economic development and other successes could be listed on the website, which could be hosted by the County. He said buy-in is needed from municipalities to truly recognize the One County vision. He said there also needs to be recognition that the County is interconnected and success is shared across the county. He expressed gratitude that the conversation was happening as early as it was, before the Assembly of Governments meeting. Commissioner Price recognized Annette Moore, of Human Rights and Relations for pushing the "One Orange" theme. She also mentioned the publications that highlighted these themes and successes throughout the County. Chair Rich said it is important to recognize positives and successes, as opposed to dwelling on the negative, when talking with the other jurisdictions. She said it makes it a lot easier to have conversations about more difficult issues. Commissioner Dorosin said a collaborative relationship with towns existed based on funding for things like economic development, and this was an incentive for all to communicate positively together on a "one orange" message. Bonnie Hammersley said this was a good and robust conversation, and it would be a good way to begin discussions at the Assembly of Governments. Chair Rich agreed. Commissioner McKee said he could provide an opening to the conversation based on his perspectives at the AOG. Bonnie Hammersley said when she moved here, people were upset with her for living in Chapel Hill and not in "Orange County". She said Commissioner McKee's recollection of history for the group was helpful in her understanding of how Orange County works. Affordable Housing; Background • Background Presentation (Sherrill Hampton): Affordable Housing; Existing programs, successes and needs, budget and funding streams • Open Discussion: Identifying priorities and consensus on affordable housing in Orange County among the Board of County Commissioners • Agreement on priorities to be discussed Sherrill Hampton presented this item: AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERVIEW