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Committee moves to hire PR support as ballots loom, members press for outreach to UNC and hard‑to‑reach groups
Summary
The committee approved circulating an RFP for public relations support to ensure consistent materials; members emphasized urgency because ballots will be mailed in September and urged outreach that includes UNC‑Chapel Hill students and 'hard‑to‑reach' populations.
Committee members and staff reviewed a draft scope of services for public relations support intended to ensure consistent messaging for all committee members as they educate voters about a potential school bond.
Travis Myren, a county staff member, said the RFP "will be sent out as soon as possible" and described a selection approach in which staff would vet proposals and present finalists to the committee, possibly as soon as Aug. 11. Myren told the committee that staff could present finalists to the committee for selection.
Committee members raised timing concerns. Sarah Smylie urged the group to set a deadline so that information is available before early voting begins; she noted ballots will be mailed in September. "The ballots will already be sent out in September," Smylie said, arguing for posting any existing materials on the county website to reach voters during early voting.
Andrea Tanner asked whether the exact ballot text had been determined; staff replied that it had been prescribed by the state. Commissioners asked that early voting dates be listed among important outreach dates.
Members also discussed who should be targeted by tailored messaging. The draft called for "tailored messaging to reach diverse stakeholders within the community." Andrea Tanner suggested explicitly including UNC‑Chapel Hill students as a stakeholder group. Dr. Danielle Jones said the committee should be specific about which stakeholders will be targeted in future meetings. Chair Jean Hamilton suggested language that emphasizes reach "from rural community members to the UNC‑Chapel Hill community" and recommended adding "hard to reach community members." Samantha Earnhardt raised whether outreach should prioritize voters more likely to turn out and those with children in school.
The committee scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Solid Waste Administration Office at 1207 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, and adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
