Minutes 04-16-2024 - Business Meeting

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16 referenda in November 1988, November 1992, November 1997, November 2001, and November 2016. The 2024 Bond Education Committee is proposed to be comprised of Orange County residents, Board of Education members or staff from Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and members of the Board of Commissioners who will communicate to voters about the school capital needs that have led to the proposed November 5, 2024 bond referendum. A draft charge (Attachment 1) and a suggested composition (Attachment 2) for the Bond Education Committee based on past County bond referendum efforts are attached. Both are starting points for Board discussion and decisions. Public funds may be spent to present factual information to voters about the proposed bond, the projects expected to be financed by the bond, and the circumstances and needs that have given rise to the bond referendum. Public funds may not be spent on campaigns either to promote or defeat passage of any bond order before the voters. Budget Amendment#8 included on the April 16, 2024 Board of Commissioners' Business meeting agenda proposes allocating $50,000 to support the Committee's activities and information materials. Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board, introduced the item. She reviewed the materials in the agenda packet. She said the Community Relations office planned to be the staff liaison for the committee. Commissioner McKee arrived at 7:50 p.m. Chair Bedford reviewed the charge for the committee: ■ Become familiar with the purpose of the bond order ■ Become familiar with the projects expected to be addressed with bond funds ■ Understand the community needs that led the Board of Commissioners to adopt the bond order ■ Assist in developing appropriate informational materials that will address the bond order ■ Assist in designing and implementing a campaign to distribute relevant factual information about the bonds to Orange County residents in the most effective and efficient manner possible, using multiple media and information outlets ■ Assist in designing and implementing a process for information meetings with civic groups, non-profit agencies, neighborhood associations, and other interested parties in the community ■ Ensure that equal access to information is provided to all individuals and groups, regardless of their position for or against any bond order ■ Encourage all eligible voters to participate in the November 5t" election Vice-Chair Greene asked if the charge was similar to previous bond initiatives. Tara May said yes. The Board agreed by consensus that they were fine with the proposed charge. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how much time people will be given to apply and she asked what criteria will be used to select the members of the committee. Tara May said they are ready to roll out the application tomorrow and they will work to advertise the openings. She said that it will follow the normal agenda process for the June 4t" meeting and the deadline will be May 30t"