Raymond, Ready For Service: What Have I Done?

I submitted my formal application to fill Bill’s seat (not his shoes) this afternoon. Along with my application, I provided some examples of my recent activism, a list of advisory boards I would like to represent Council on and some suggestions covering a few of the issues that Chapel Hill faces next year.

The additional material is representative but by no means exhaustive (I tried to keep it somewhat brief).

Here’s some supporting material listing some of the contributions I made these last few years. I listed proposals I made, proposals I assisted on and proposals created in collaboration with the advisory boards I served on. On other issues I’ve flown solo, like requesting that the process of siting a new landfill begin and on others I’ve been one among many pushing for change.

• UNC
  • Main Campus development
    • OI4 creation – mainly concerned about creation process and time
      limits.
    • Attended most UNC outreach and progress reviews
    • Provided feedback on modifications
      • Noted disappearance of residence halls
  • Carolina North
    • Lobbied for a new negotiation dynamic. Endorsed LAC negotiation framework.
    • Attended every Carolina North meeting.
      • Posted online video of many meetings for broader community review.
      • Feedback on process and proposals.
        • Many suggestions, to numerous to list, representative examples:
          • Shift CN focus to “green”, treat new campus as
            “green” laboratory
          • Parking ratios, metrics on “greenness” building
            heights
          • Development agreement, traffic management, Bolin Creek
    • Attended many Carolina North Leadership Advisory Committee meetings
      • Lobbied for environmental assay, continued environmental monitoring
  • Innovation Center
    • Design review sessions.
    • Feedback on detachment from Carolina North plan.
  • Methane gas project
    • Asked Chapel Hill and OC BOCC to team on LFG recovery for TOC
    • Attended LFG proposal meeting and provided feedback
      • Constant environmental monitoring as per Cameron Power Plant
      • Noise abatement
      • Impact on Mens Shelter project
  • Horace-Williams Citizens Committee member under Julie McClintock’s leadership
    • Drafted HWCC response to Chancellor Moeser’s letter
    • Environmental Sub-group
      • Pushed for process to use “best in class” metrics and
        continuous environmental monitoring of site
      • Help draft environmental guidelines and proposed specific criteria
    • Draft of new work proposal fleshing out the HWCC principles adopted 2004

• Finance
  • Technology Board recommendation saving $50K yearly
  • As citizen, contributed to Citizen Budget Committee efforts
  • Suggested specific improvements 2003-2007
  • Multi-year budget horizons
  • Lobbied for permanent Citizen Budget board

• Downtown
  • Called for decent bathrooms, water fountains, sidewalk handicap accessibility,
    family-friendly pocket park, WIFI, comprehensive policing plan, way-signs
  • Downtown Parking Task Force
    • Pushed for new parking study – Downtown Partnership commissioned
      one
    • Use of new customer friendly technology
    • Re-balance parking allotments – lease remote, preserve prime
      spaces
    • Implementation team proposal with Aaron Nelson
    • Better signs, less signs

• Town Operations
  • Technology
    • Comprehensive evaluation of technology use
      • Council commissioned technology assessment report
    • Operational efficiencies
      • Got $50K yearly savings on leases
      • Proposed $100K+ license fee reduction plan
      • Proposed trouble ticket with online access so citizens could track staff
        activity/responses and management could measure proficiency
    • Website overhaul
      • Non-proprietary design with eye towards permanent presence
      • ADA usability standards
      • Privacy provisions
      • On-line payments
      • On-line access to Council and public communications
        • Council and other relevant email posted
        • On-line video of Council, Planning Board and other meetings
        • Audio of all advisory board proceedings
        • Seven day deadline for Council agendas
        • Pushed adoption of David Lawrence list-serv/’blog process for advisory board
          communications
      • Planning/Inspections tracking system
      • Trouble ticket process for residents to ask for and track issues
        • Streetlights out
        • Waste removal
        • Inspections
    • Open documentation and open source systems initiatives
      • Ensure Town documentation is openly available irrespective of computer
      • Use free and open-source software to reduce cost and promote open documentation
        initiative
    • Communications upgrades/deployments
      • WIFI
      • Fiber optic collaboration with DOT
    • Emergency Operations review
      • Suggested consolidations at TOC
  • Resource use
    • 2004 Green fleet modifications
    • Bio-fuel use – Public Works subsequently purchase 1,000 gals.
    • Proposed targeted reductions and staff reward process
    • Requested fuel/energy/water records to be posted on-line for citizen analysis
  • Staff training/development
    • Proposed “spot award” program
    • Merit-based raises
    • Turnover problem with up-and-coming staff
• Arts
  • Promote more community arts opportunities
    • Founding member of Friends of Lincoln Center Arts Program
      • Expand Chapel Hill’s hands-on arts program
    • Locate new community arts center at Community Park or other central location
    • %1 Art Program – more funds for local artists
  • Reform Arts Commission
• Development Process
  • Greater community outreach
    • “Bang the drum loudly” – neighborhood presentations
    • Use of 3D models and other on-line tools to show scale/placement
  • Comprehensive plan reform
    • Evergreen process so new ideas/standards can be incorporated more frequently
    • Discuss metrics for measuring compliance with goals
• Orange County issues
  • Waste management
    • Siting of the transfer station
    • Request that the process for siting new landfill or incinerator begin
  • UNC Airport – volunteered to be the Orange County representative on
    the Airport Authority