HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-06-1999 - MemorandumMEMORANDUM
TO: Orange County Board of Commissioners
FROM: John M. Link, Jr., County Manager
DATE: - April 6, 1999
RE: Proposed Goals for 1999 -2000
As a follow -up to my submission to the BOCC of the proposed goals for 1999 -2000
on April 1 and my request for feedback if there were omissions, Commissioner Jacobs
brought to my attention the following two items:
1. Inclusion of an overarching goal on Rural Preservation/Rural Character per the
discussion of the BOCC as reflected on Page 3 of the draft minutes of the February 15
Work Session (attachment).
2. Inclusion of a goal related to Strategic Planning for Services to the Elderly (Page 5 of
draft minutes).
Upon review, staff agrees that Item 1 needs to be addressed and a revised goal will
be sent to the BOCC by Friday for consideration at next week's work session on April 13.
It is unclear to staff as to whether Item 2 should be a report or goal. I had indicated
that we would provide a report, but certainly would be glad to pursue a goal as the BOCC
wishes.
I expect that we may not have captured all of the BOCC's intentions and we look
forward to our discussion next week to address items that need clarification.
Attachments
RFAFT 3
1 PLANNING (addit comments)
2 * review cell tower regulations in concert with Board of Adjustment permit decisions
3 and Class B Special Use Permits
4 * review flexible development regulations
5 * review and discuss time limits for development process
6 * look at a grid system for future location of cell towers
7 + review the future technology for cell towers
8
9 TRANSPORTATION
10 + discuss the University's student expansion and transportation of students
11 * receive an update from the University, on projected. growth
12 * stress to the TTA our needs here in Orange County for transportation
13 * look at the benefits of Orange County being a part of another transportation district
14 + determine strategies to get what we need from regional groups like TTA, DOT, etc.
15 * promote park and ride lots
16
17 OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION AND PARKS
18 Commissioner Jacobs read a goal which he will share with each Commissioner for their
19 comments.
20 look at TDR and the possibility of transferring within the County jurisdiction,
21 make a decision on TDR for Orange County,
22
23 Chair Gordon made reference to the Shaping Orange County's Future Task Force and asked
24 Environment and Resource Conservation Director David Stancil to explain how managing growth
25 and preserving open space in the rural areas, and exploring the cluster approach in the rural areas,
26 may be addressed by this Task Force. He said that some of the rural character ideas have been
27' identified time and time again by the Land Use and Growth Committee and the Environment,
28 Resource and Conservation Committee. Although, they will not have recommendations to the
29,' County Commissioners until September, based on what has happened so far, he feels these
30 issues will be addressed.
31
32 Chair Gordon said that a goal needs to be developed to include new initiatives, for open
33 space, agricultural preservation, rural buffer preservation; flexible development and open space
34 acquisition. She would like.to see the issues outside of the Joint Planning Area addressed first.
35 The Board decided to carry forward the points listed under rural character preservation. They will
36 react to the various proposals as this goal is articulated.
37
38 PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES
39 Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to his meeting with area law enforcement officials
40 about locating a firing range in Orange County. They hope to be able to raise outside funds to
41 build this facility. John Link said that he plans to put funds for this item in the CIP.
42
43 DISTRICT ELECTIONS FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
44 Commissioner Carey said that he feels the Board needs to have representation from all
45 areas of the County. He asked that the County Commissioners consider a public hearing on this
46 - issue to hear what citizens have to say before making a decision.
47
48 Commissioner Halkiotis said that he does not support district elections. He feels that there is
49 a segment of the population who will always feel that they are not represented.
5
It was decided that this would be a topic for the Board of County Comm issioners/Health
2 Board meeting scheduled for next month.
3
4 Commissioner Brown asked for a report on the services the County provides in the whole
5 area of substance abuse - what is being done and who is doing it.
6
7 Commissioner Jacobs made reference to a handout at the January 16 retreat on a strategic
8 Aging plan and said that he feels we need to address some of these issues. He feels we need to
9 have equal opportunities for seniors in the northern and southern parts of Orange County.
10
11 Comm issioner.Brown feels that this is the time to develop a senior plan. The Board decided
12 that they need to discuss this further and make some decisions.
13
14 ESL'
15 Chair Gordon said that she feels it is important to support ESL as much as possible.
16
17 Commissioner Jacobs wants to make government more accessible to people who don't
.18 speak English. He supports training for employees in speaking Spanish. Also, Commissioner
19 Halkiotis supports having Spanish signs in all County buildings.
20
21 Chair Gordon said that she would like to.see a heavy emphasis on the newcomers to our
22 area getting what they need to succeed, including learning English. That needs to be the message
23 and we need to support that with dollars and have classes readily available at different times during
24 the day and evening hours.
25
26 Commissioner Carey feels we need to do both -- teach English to the Spanish speaking
27 residents and teach Spanish to those who interact with citizens. We also need to address the
28 literacy in this County.- We have residents here who cannot read.
29..
30 It was clarified that Lucy Lewis, Orange County'Literacy Director, is trying to address many
31 -issues dealing with ESL along with issues dealing with literacy, and that allocating additional
32 funding to the Literacy Council may be the best thing to do to help this countywide effort.
33
34 Commissioner Halkiotis feels it is important to get information out to the Spanish speaking
35 citizens in Spanish so that they can understand health issues%and issues affecting their children.
36 Some parents are working three or four jobs and do not have time to learn English. He feels we
37 need to. re-sign all our buildings which could probably be done for $1,000.
38
39 Commissioner Brown feels that teaching employees Spanish is probably not too successful.
46 However, she feels that teaching employees to have a sensitivity to people who don't understand
41 what is going on is very important. She feels we should consider hiring people who speak Spanish
42 and also identify those we have hired who speak different languages. John Link said that this is
43 something they can work on.
44
45 WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
46 Commissioner Brown made reference to the proposal for the wastewater treatment and
47 management program. It was decided that this will be discussed at the BOCC/Health Board joint
48 meeting scheduled for March 9.
49