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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 19, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. c~ <br />SUBJECT: Environmental Responsibility Goal -Status Report <br />DEPARTMENTS: Environment & Resource <br />Conservation (ERCD) <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1) Environmental Responsibility Goal David Stancil, 245-2510 <br />2) Sample -Action Strategy Feasibility Chart Christina Moon, 210-2595 <br />3) Draft Environmental Leadership Policy <br />4) Best Workplaces for Commuters Report <br />5) Proposed Next Steps /Recent Initiatives __ <br />PURPOSE: To receive a status report on the implementation of the adopted Environmental <br />Responsibility in County Government Goaf (or ER Goal for short), to introduce a draft <br />Environmental Leadership Policy and other possible tools for future implementation, and to <br />request direction on potential next steps. Implementation of this goal is Board of Commissioners <br />Priority P-12 for FY 2009-10 ("Implement Environmental Responsibility GoaP'). <br />BACKGROUND: On December 5, 2005, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopted <br />a new goal entitled, Environmental Responsibility in County Government (attached). The <br />Board asked a number of advisory boards to review the new goal and to develop a series of <br />potential action strategies to facilitate implementation. ERCD along with the Commission for <br />the Environment (CfE) was asked to coordinate the review process. <br />During 2006 and 2007, a number of individual activities toward the Goal were initiated, <br />including: <br />• Creation of an in-house Environmental Stewardship Action Committee (ESAC) with <br />representatives from each department. <br />• Solicitation and compilation of action strategies for the 10 Goal objectives, developed by <br />all of the relevant advisory boards, County departments and agencies. <br />• Drafting of a potential Environmental Leadership Policy for Orange County government. <br />• Research into, and consideration of, mechanisms to promote carpooling and more <br />efficient employee commuting patterns, such as the Best Workplaces for Commuters <br />national program. <br />• Discussion of ways to engage County employees in activities promoting environmental <br />awareness and responsibility, and <br />• Familiarization with the Countywide Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast. <br />