Minutes - 20071207 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Laura Blackmon said that she sees that sometimes the Board wants to make certain people happy, so it tries to be everything to everyone. Chair Jacobs said that compassion is important to the Board. Phillip Boyle asked Commissioner Foushee why she chose "diversity" and Commissioner Foushee said that this jumps out because the County Commissioners have talked about tolerance, affordable housing, childcare subsidies, and adult day care. Phillip Boyle said that this is a working list for Orange County and it can become guiding values for the County elected officials and staff in how the County carries out its functions. At this point, the Board took a short break. 2:56 p.m. to 3:08 p. m. Why does Orange County government exist - what is its purpose, its mission, its reason for being? Phillip Boyle asked each County Commissioner to craft a statement of 25 words or less that captures Orange County's purpose, its mission, and its reason for being. Individual Statements from Four County Commissioners. • To provide the services and policies necessary to protect and promote the health, welfare, and safety of Orange County residents. • To promote justice and tolerance, protect people, places, and things and to provide basic services efficiently. • To ensure that all of its citizens have fair and equitable opportunities for safe communities, education and public health services. • To protect and enhance the well-being of our people and our environment, and to effectively provide facilities and services to carry out that purpose fairly. Commissioner Carey said that mission statements need to capture what is done, but also what might need to be done as public servants. Phillip Boyle said that after this statement, the Board will craft a vision statement. The mission statement is the tangible portion and the vision statement is the legacy statement. Since he had not provided an individual statement, Chair Jacobs suggested a statement, as follows, which summarizes the individual statements of the other four Commissioners: "To protect and enhance opportunity, justice and tolerance, and the health, safety, and welfare of our people and environment." Phillip Boyle said that this mission statement should capture clearly, tangibly, and compellingly what Orange County government is. Commissioner Nelson said that it does not cover animals, but he does like it. Commissioner Gordon suggested, since there was space for six more words, to add at the end, "in a fair and effective manner." Other suggestions included, "in a fair and transparent/effective manner" and "fairly, transparently, and effectively." Discussion ensued about how to include animals in the statement. Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones suggested saying, "other living things." The Board agreed with this, but would also like to include historic buildings. Phillip Boyle said that this mission statement says why Orange County government exists and is grounded in what Orange County government does. Draft Board Statement: