1	Beaufort County Council Retreat Summary Information February 22-23, 2008 Barry Nocks, Facilitator
2	Retreat Objectives Provide an opportunity for Council members to discuss issues of concern together Develop better understanding of issues facing Council and processes to follow in addressing them Develop better working relationships with each other and staff Begin strategic analysis of Council activities Identify short list of Council accomplishments for the coming year
3	Overview of Retreat Agenda Introduction/facilitator role Summary of interviews & issues from Council and staff discussions Discuss list of Council accomplishments 2007 Financial analysis report—staff Saturday morning—Chair opening remarks Environmental scan of Council: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats identify discuss key issues & patterns Dealing with key issues in 2008 process issues substantive issues Identify key accomplishments for 2008
4	Key Issues from facilitator interviews with Council members and selected staff Maintaining desired levels & quality of county services Building revenue streams to support service needs and prudent budgeting Refining County budgeting process for best possible management & future growth Facing annexation & growth Issues Maintaining local Quality of life/environment Improving Council’s working relationship w/ School District [Note issues are NOT in priority order]
5	Key issues (continued) Dealing with rural/isolated areas of the county Maintaining best possible communication among Council, staff Staff implementation of Council policies Increasing the supply of affordable housing Promoting further economic development Creating additional transportation options Improving working relationships within Council Identify specific actions for 2008
6	Maintaining service levels Continue to provide basic services (library, parks, roads, etc); jail, sheriff, EMS, court, Evacuation, etc. Meeting capital/facility needs for future population Meeting annual operational needs with limited budget Dealing with different service levels in urban, suburban and rural areas Distinguishing between needs & wants Setting priorities among competing needs in a limited budget: process & action Refine alternatives for specific problem areas—law enforcement center, detention center, etc.
7	Building Revenue Streams Dealing with property tax cap of 6% Facing public concerns regarding school and county combined tax burden Understanding Beaufort County’s tax burden relative to rest of SC Identifying & maintaining other revenue sources beyond wide range of sources already used (development fee, 1 cent sales tax for roads)
8	Budget process refinements Reinforce management of budget processes to make Council policies and administrative actions consistent (Expenditure control, reserve balance control) Refine capital project projections in CIP Refine operating budgets in new projects/existing programs Project net revenues and incorporate in decision-making to insure balanced budget Council monitoring/review of progress & results Annual (short term) and long term cycles for funding Create reporting opportunities between Council and other elected officials’ budgets
9	Annexation & Growth Issues Specifying the impacts of annexation on county budgets & services—what are the real effects, as the county still receives its mills? I.e., How do we better understand the relationship between cities and counties in understanding growth impacts? Consider alternative ways to organize services in urban growth areas; i.e., consolidation, reconfigure service provision, set county levels in municipalities/urbanized areas, etc. Growth management strategy and integration with municipalities Identify growth levels at county build-out assuming current development agreements and available land, then service needs projection
10	Quality of Life Issues Protect and promote water quality with growth Insure that storm water runoff is controlled Critical lands should be protected Maintain the natural environment in & around Beaufort County
11	Working with School District Education is a critical service for county residents, current and future Council has financial, but otherwise limited control over schools Greater mill/tax revenues likely needed Sharing of resources necessary Cooperation for county future important
12	Serving the needs of low income County residents Reality of two different populations in Beaufort Poor population is mostly rural Their needs include: education, services, isolation Immigration has become a local issue Potential for public-private-volunteer cooperation to help provide services
13	Communication Issues within Council Communication is always important! Issues to address include: what information to Council how often for whom within Council from whom to Council role of committee chairs, administrator, staff; Among Council members Maintaining consistency of information flow
14	Communication issues within County Government How should information be shared: With other elected officials & their offices in County government With other jurisdictions in and around the county Regionally With State officials and Legislators With staff
15	Implementation of Council policy Council oversight process overall Council committees & relationship to staff—what are reporting responsibilities? Council Committee structure and oversight process in each area
16	Affordable housing Levels of need within the County Importance of decent housing recognized Options to consider noted: With development agreements With County funds Public/private partnerships
17	Economic development Extremes of wealth & poverty exist in the County (more than most counties) Small middle class, high service needs, large retirement groups, military bases Seek to create technology and other jobs Industrial park, other options to be considered
18	Transportation Issues County has unique character with islands, waterways, marshes Rural areas need increased access Public transportation needs throughout the county High cost of roads given local conditions
19	Saturday Discussion Overview of Friday points and suggested actions SWOTs analysis – Environmental Scan of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats To Do list with methods Issues for the coming year
20	Key Issues–Discussion Points from Friday Maintaining county service levels Constant challenge, what tradeoffs can be made? Building revenue streams current budget process Budget process refinements Work collectively w/ other officials to develop budget (including sheriff, courts, etc); current and 3 year budget On-going conversations among staff and committee chairs Buffet analogy/what to provide to whom, who pays? Annexation & Growth Issues Review specific service expectations for county; build on N regional plan & agreement/communication; understand impacts (level of build-out, retirement housing), causes; consider ways to limit growth; promote non-residential growth Quality of life/environment Env. & Water quality critical for Beaufort; cost impacts of regs; Working relationship w/ School District Develop more communication;
21	Key issues—Discussion Points from Friday Dealing with poverty areas Continue to work with non-profits and others Communication issues Council Committees key to decision-making; use staff as needed for specific issues; council communicates policy issues through committee chairs to staff; Staff implementation of Council policies Work through committee structure & chairs; setting deadlines for specific issues through committee chair, council chair, staff Affordable housing Consider specific regulation impacts/approaches in future development agreements; define what populations are targeted; regional approach; continue and expand on current approaches Economic development Continue to work regionally to offer incentives & opportunities Transportation options Potential new legislation to encourage water transport; density/urban core areas would encourage public transit Council working relationships discussed under communication Identify specific actions for 2008 for Saturday Budget Report—very limited revenue increase, greater expenditures for COLAs, Health Insurance that creates net negative w/o cuts
22	Council Strengths Noted on flip chart
23	Weaknesses
24	Opportunities
25	Action agenda-the big issues
26	To Do list – Specifics for 2008
27	Workplan: Relationship with other officials
28	Workplan: Budget guidance
29	Workplan: Staff Communication & Board composition
30	Service areas to study in detail
31	Workplan: public safety
32	Workplan: Recreation & Culture
33	Other issues for 2008
34	Other issues 2008 continued
35	Other issues 2008 continued
36	Appendix—Background Slides
37	Appendix Outline Process concepts for analysis Process for service focus Committee structure concepts Service areas for study Core contents of reports
38	General Process
39	Process concepts
40	Process to determine what services to provide
41	Committee structure to follow for substantive services
42	Public safety analysis