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Cl <br /> PROPOSED POLICY - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS POLICY MANUAL <br /> MEETING DATE: NUMBER: <br /> EFFECTIVE DATE: REVISIONS: <br /> POLICY: Toward a Sustainable Community <br /> Orange County is committed to the concept of a sustainable community. A sustainable <br /> community uses and protects its human and natural resources to meet the current needs while <br /> insuring that enhanced community assets are available for future generations. It seeks improved <br /> public health, an informed citizenry, and a better quality of life for all of its residents while <br /> promoting efficiency, conservation, pollution prevention, and developing local resources to <br /> strengthen the local economy. <br /> Sustainable Community Principles <br /> Sustainability is a fundamental organizing concept against which to evaluate proposed programs <br /> and policies in the areas of land use planning, environmental protection, economic development, <br /> housing, transportation, solid waste management, health and social services, and public safety. <br /> Such programs and policies should therefore be prepared in a manner which addresses the <br /> following principles of sustainability: <br /> Interdependence: Integrate long-term economic, environmental, and social considerations <br /> into all decisions to reflect their inherent interdependence. <br /> Partnership: Invite cooperation and unify efforts between governments, business, <br /> environmentalists, non-profit organizations, citizens, and others to address <br /> interdependence. <br /> Stewardship: Balance resource use and conservation between present and future <br /> generations so that future generations are not compromised. <br /> Diversity: Maintain diverse biological, economic, and social systems. <br /> Prevention: Anticipate and prevent social, economic, and environmental problems <br /> rather than attempt to solve them after the fact. <br /> Equity: Insure all community members equal opportunities to contribute to the <br /> economy, enjoy the environment, and participate in decisions that affect <br /> them. <br /> Responsibility: Ask all community members to take responsibility for sustaining their <br /> community and environment. <br />