Orange County NC Website
19 <br /> 1 • Formation of new levels of accountability, which includes development of an equitable set <br /> 2 of processes, seeking to gain further community trust. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 In the fall of 2021, the study team invited the BOCC, as well as others serving on other transit <br /> 5 plan governing boards (GoTriangle & DCHC MPO) and staff, to participate in initial small-group <br /> 6 interviews. From those interviews, the team learned about overall needs, and the study process <br /> 7 continued to allow for a facilitated workshop with elected officials from each of the transit plan <br /> 8 governing boards (GoTriangle & DCHC MPO). These needs were defined through five overall <br /> 9 elements to be incorporated into a new governance framework: Representative, Equitable, <br /> 10 Collaborative, Transparent, and Accessible. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 From these five elements, the elected officials further helped to weigh-in on how much change <br /> 13 was necessary to primary elements of the existing framework. This feedback provided leadership <br /> 14 and guidance to develop draft alternatives for consideration in a new governance framework. <br /> 15 <br /> 16 Staff from all three parties to the existing governance framework attended joint workshops in <br /> 17 March and April 2022. These workshops focused on critical elements that informed the foundation <br /> 18 of what a new ILA could offer to all parties. Discussion focused on multiple alternatives of critical <br /> 19 elements that comprise the following four areas: Membership, Voting Structures, Financial <br /> 20 Planning, and Program & Plan Development. Outcomes of this workshop indicated: <br /> 21 <br /> 22 1. Formalizing greater involvement from multiple jurisdictions and entities at the Staff <br /> 23 Working Group (SWG) level and associated representative voting structures (the SWG is <br /> 24 the technical recommending body for plan implementation elements). <br /> 25 2. Clearly defining roles & responsibilities for each signatory to the updated interlocal <br /> 26 agreement. <br /> 27 3. Solidifying the County's role in annual work program/budget development with the tax <br /> 28 district administrator. <br /> 29 4. Defining terminology and language consistently to ensure clarity and transparency for all <br /> 30 parties who will use this updated governance framework for plan implementation in the <br /> 31 future. <br /> 32 5. While referencing State Statutes, the updated ILA and supporting documentation will <br /> 33 further define equity as it relates to utilization of tax revenues throughout the county, as <br /> 34 well as accounting for regional transit needs. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 In parallel with the Interlocal Agreement development, discussions with all three parties to the <br /> 37 agreement discussed critical elements that would require further definition or supportive guidance <br /> 38 through supplemental policies & procedures and not be specifically codified in the ILA. These <br /> 39 items include updated SWG Bylaws and Financial Policies, as well as incorporating plan <br /> 40 implementation administration/management elements throughout. Throughout the summer of <br /> 41 2022, several multi-agency staff meetings were held to work through some of the finer details of <br /> 42 the ILA. The result is a final Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement that reflects the study <br /> 43 process goals and the five critical elements identified above. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Following is a summary of key study outcomes that are encapsulated within the draft ILA: <br /> 46 <br /> 47 1. Greater municipal involvement in Transit Plan/Annual Work Program <br /> 48 development/implementation and representation on the SWG. <br /> 49 2. BOCC now a governing body, with authority to approve Annual Work Program/Transit <br /> 50 Plan. <br /> 51 3. Parties endeavor to streamline project agreements. <br />