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22 <br /> Chair Hamilton said she advocated in the past for a strategic communications advisory <br /> committee drawing from community members to help network county information, but that <br /> proposal had not been supported. She said she hoped an upcoming strategic communications <br /> plan would address the measurement and tracking of communications effectiveness. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said she hoped that project-based stakeholder groups will show <br /> improvement in the county's communication with the public. She pointed out that the Board's <br /> meetings are listed on social media, and that there is a half-page section in the News of Orange <br /> each week. She said that they could increase communication to the radio station in Hillsborough. <br /> Chair Hamilton asked for ideas on other ways to communicate better with the community <br /> and understanding what they are thinking about. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott said a weekly session on WHUP would be good, like how the <br /> Chair does a weekly radio show on Chapelboro. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said the chamber of commerce sponsors the weekly show and <br /> maybe someone could do that for the northern part of the county. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler said she liked the idea of ongoing listening sessions that are on specific <br /> topics, and to rotate locations. She asked Wil Glenn if that would be hosted by staff. <br /> Wil Glenn said that staff would lead the session and report back to the Board. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler said the county does that already and noted a couple of examples. She <br /> said it would be good to hear what people think on specific topics. <br /> Chair Hamilton said one of the topics she would like to engage the community on is around <br /> budget issues. She said the Board should consider taking time in a business meeting to address <br /> pre-submitted community questions about the budget. <br /> Wil Glenn said the county will have two budget information sessions were being planned <br /> for May 26th and May 28th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, before the BOCC meetings. <br /> Commissioner Bedford also noted the importance of engaging faith-based organizations <br /> as a communications channel, pointing to their effectiveness during the census, and identified <br /> Justice United as a group that had at times operated without full information about county <br /> activities, suggesting that more proactive outreach to that organization and similar groups would <br /> improve mutual understanding. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler said BOCC meetings are an opportunity for the public to learn about <br /> what the county is doing. She gave a couple examples of issues the county and commissioners <br /> were working on for some time, but the public and community groups did not know that they <br /> were being addressed. She asked how they can share this work with the community. <br /> Wil Glenn gave a couple of examples of how the county can publicize initiatives, including <br /> attending community events. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she liked the idea of attending community events. <br /> Chair Hamilton said the county could proactively get community groups information. <br /> Wil Glenn said that is part of the strategy. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she would the county to track information and <br /> comments from the public to determine what issues are becoming important to the community. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler said she would like for the strategic communications group to bring back <br /> information from the public and to share which strategies have been effective to reach a wider <br /> audience. <br />