Agenda - 11-04-1998 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 PROPOSAL: ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT (ERCD) I. Mission of the Environment and Resource Conservation Department (ERCD) On June 22, the Board of Commissioners created a new Environment and Resource Conservation Department. The May 25 memoranda from Dr. Gordon (please see Appendix E) lay out a number of concepts that would easily translate into a mission for the new department. Based on the staff work group's reading, this mission statement would include: A. Overseeing, implementing, and coordinating County goals for environmental protection and resource conservation. An important key for the County's future quality of life is 'staying green while we grow'. The concept of "green infrastructure" has become popular in other counties and regions as a means of providing reasonable access to nature and establishing a Countywide system of natural areas, parks and trails to support wildlife populations. The preservation of our skeletal framework of natural areas and important resources has been identified as a crucial component of how livable Orange County will be in the future. A number of the existing Commissioners goals are directly related to this concept, and the creation of this department. While future goals may be added to address new initiatives that the Board wishes to address, the following goals represent examples of ways that the County is already working to build and maintain "green infrastructure." The following goals appear to be a good fit with the new department, and responsibility for them should be transferred to the Environment and Resource Conservation Department: 1. Natural Resource Preservation 2. Water Resources (ground water) 3. Historic Preservation 4. Farmland Preservation 5. Watershed Protection 6. Shaping Orange County's Future 7. Sustainability