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<br />THIS THE 4th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2006. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />7. Special Presentations <br />a. Presentation of the Orange County Women's Agenda for 2006-2007 <br />The Board considered receiving the results and prioritizing the issues of the Orange <br />County Women's Agenda Assembly. Commissioner Foushee and Commissioner Gordon <br />attended this event. <br />Cutler Andrews is the Chair of the Advocacy Subcommittee of the Commission for <br />Women. He gave the results of Orange County Women's Agenda Assembly, which took place <br />on October 12th at the Southern Human Services Center. The priority issues that were <br />identified, in descending order, were economic self-sufficiency, access to health care, <br />education, child care, violence against women, and civic participation and equality. The <br />Commission will join other counties at the General Assembly in February 2007 to present this <br />agenda to the State legislators. He asked the County Commissioners to keep the Orange <br />County Women's Agenda in mind as policy is formulated throughout the year. He congratulated <br />the County for having its first female County Manager. <br />Commissioner Gordon commended the Commission for Women on its work and also <br />Commissioner Foushee as the liaison. She said that, while all of the priorities are important, <br />she was glad to see economic self-efficiency at the top of their list. <br />Commissioner Jacobs commended this group also. He made reference to page six, <br />which addresses older citizens, healthcare, and improving wages and benefits for aides in long- <br />term care facilities. He said that the childcare services community is looking for the exact same <br />kind of support and training for its employees. It struck him that there is no leadership outside <br />of Orange County in this area. He suggested thinking about, with the social safety net, how the <br />County can start to address these service areas and get better training and wages. He also <br />made reference to page 13, where it addresses equal public representation, and said that he is <br />becoming more convinced that they need to open up the political process and have non- <br />partisan County Commissioner elections. He also thinks that the Board should consider looking <br />at trying to help with public financing of County Commissioner election races. It is starting to <br />become expensive. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that there is a collaborative effort between HRC and the <br />Commission far Women and the number of student volunteers impressed her. <br />Chair Carey said that he was unable to attend this event and he commended all for their <br />work. He said that all of the action items were focused at the State level and he would like to <br />lend some local action to this as well. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that, among the Commission, it is felt that the County is <br />going over and beyond. <br />Human Rights and Relations Director Milan Pham said that the next step after they <br />present to the legislatures is to return to the local governments to see how they are faring on the <br />Women's Agenda. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to <br />accept the Orange County Women's Agenda. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />8. Public Hearings-NONE <br />9. Items for Decision--Regular Agenda <br />a. Bennett-Andrews Preliminary Plan <br />