Item:
Title
Authorize the County Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the City of Durham Governing the Development of a New Durham Cultural Roadmap by the Durham Cultural Advisory Board
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: April 14, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve the Amendment to authorize the County Manager to execute the first amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Durham governing development of the Durham Cultural Roadmap. The amendment to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement would extend the date of the agreement until December 30, 2027, to complete all activities related to this project including presenting to Boards and Commissions and initial implementation of the plan. The Durham City Council approved the amendment on December 16th, 2024.
Background
On October 2, 2022, the Board suspended the rules and voted to authorize the County Manager to execute the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (ILA) with the City of Durham governing the development of a new Durham Cultural Roadmap by the Durham Cultural Advisory Board.
In June 2022, the City and County each allocated $150,000 ($300,000 total) in FY23 funding to support the creation of a cultural plan for Durham. On October 3, 2022, the City and County approved the Cultural Roadmap ILA authorizing the City to develop the Durham Cultural Roadmap in partnership with the DCAB. By April 2024, the City and County, with AMS Planning and Research, heard from over 1,300 residents through interviews, surveys, focus groups and events. This engagement resulted in the Durham Cultural Roadmap Phase I Report, completed in late April 2024. Following Phase I completion, the City and AMS Planning and Research ended the consultant contract through the Termination for Convenience. In September 2024, the City published a Request for Proposals (RFP) for cultural planning services for Phase II and Phase III and is proposing to enter a contract with MJR Partners, LLC (Consultant) to engage with the community and develop a cultural plan.
The City anticipates that Phase II and Phase III of the cultural plan will include review and collection of data, Phase I Report assessment, equitable engagement, funding analysis, plan recommendations, and strategies for implementation, ending in a plan presented for adoption for City Council and County Commissioners in May 2026. Extending the agreement end date until December 30, 2027 will support City and County’s efforts to align with the plan creation and implementation timeline. The Consultant’s proposed revised timeline is as shown in Exhibit 4, attached.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This ILA aligns with Strategic Goal 5: Accountable, Efficient and Visionary Government.
Resource Persons: Brenda Hayes-Bright, Assoc. AIA, CDT, MPM, Project manager/Public Art Manager and County Liaison to the Cultural Roadmap Planning group, Peri Manns, ASLA, LEED GA, Deputy Director of E&ES, Jay Gibson, PE, Director of E&ES, Rebecca Holmes, Cultural and Public Art Manager, City of Durham, E’Vonne Coleman, DCAB, Joseph Jordan, DCAB Chair, Jaci Field, City of Durham Division Manager, Arts Culture, Sustainable Communities
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board authorize the County Manager to execute the first amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Durham governing development of the Durham Cultural Roadmap. The amendment to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement would extend the date of the agreement until December 30, 2027, to complete all activities related to this project including presenting to Boards and Commissions and initial implementation of the plan.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________