Minutes 06-07-2018 Budget Work Session

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15 Commissioner Jacobs referred to the position of the development services concierge, which was described as a person at the desk on the second floor. He said it is his understanding that there is still insufficient representation for a businessperson who comes in and meets with Planning and Inspections. He said it is a chronic problem, and asked if this person will help to address this imbalance. Steve Brantley said this person will help facilitate a group of people and departments to get together an ombudsperson effort. He said this person will convene what already exists in the predevelopment meeting, but will now also include Economic Development, the Health Department, etc. Commissioner Jacobs said Environmental Health is another enforcement entity, and he said there are too many of these enforcement entities sitting down with people who do not know how to navigate government. He said he would like to see a County employee sitting next to these people to serve, if not as an advocate, at least as a translator. Steve Brantley said this position is intended to help facilitate the process. Craig Benedict said this person will be a liaison between departments, and a customer service advocate. Bonnie Hammersley said the position being discussed this evening was created in response to some of the issues that happened this past year when people do not know how to navigate the system. Commissioner Price asked Laurie Paolicelli if there is increased interest in coming to Orange County in the aftermath of HB2/bad publicity. Laurie Paolicelli said those issues do come up, and that is why the VB keeps a fund balance to respond very quickly to such instances. She said a lot of business has been won back, but it is hard to know the amount of business that has been lost. She said tourism levels are returning to normal. Chair Dorosin said he is interested about the Airbnb issue, and hearing more about its impact, but he has no interest in the County getting involved in enforcing HOA regulations in neighborhoods where Airbnb guests are disruptive to neighbors. He said those types of issues are for HOAs to resolve, not the County. Chair Dorosin referred to the notion that Carrboro and Hillsborough do not contribute to the Visitor's Bureau, and said residents of those areas say the occupancy taxes go pursuant to the statute. He asked if there is a funding issue that the County should be thinking about. Laurie Paolicelli said it is a tough question to answer. She said the County collects a 3% tax on all hotels in Orange County, the majority of which comes from Chapel Hill ($1.1 million). She Chapel Hill also opted to give the VB $250,000 annually. She said Carrboro and Hillsborough came to the occupancy tax party late, with Hillsborough collecting $75,000 annually, and Carrboro collects $150,000 annually. She said these towns have elected to save this occupancy tax stream to fund special events, put up wayfinding banners, etc. She said this is a sound use of these funds, and this is more of a policy question. Chair Dorosin clarified that Orange County gets the occupancy tax throughout the County, and thus the fees that are due to the County have been paid. Laurie Paolicelli said yes, and the towns have independent prerogative to levy their own 3% tax. Chair Dorosin said the towns have some part that they have the right to spend as they will. Laurie Paolicelli said that some people argue that because Chapel Hill is giving additional funds to the County, that the other towns should do the same. Chair Dorosin asked if Chapel Hill keeps its 3%. Laurie Paolicelli said Chapel Hill gives $250,000 of its own 3% to the County, on top of the 3% tax levied by the County. Chair Dorosin asked if the VB has items it is looking forward to in 2018-19.