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6 <br /> 1 WHEREAS, the County wishes to empower the residents of Orange County to take advantage <br /> 2 of these recent advances in this promising renewable energy technology; <br /> 3 NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, declare our support for <br /> 4 this technology and direct the County Manager and staff to encourage and facilitate its adoption <br /> 5 by individual residents. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 This 15th day of September, 2015. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Price for the <br /> 10 Board to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached resolution of support for small <br /> 11 solar installations in Orange County. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Chair McKee said he forgot to invite Matt Hughes to speak when item 4-b was being <br /> 16 discussed. He asked if Matt Hughes would like to speak. <br /> 17 Matt Hughes, Human Relations Commission Board Member, thanked the Board for <br /> 18 adopting this resolution. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 2. Public Comments <br /> 21 <br /> 22 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 23 Robert Seymour said he is pleased to give comments regarding some of the needs in <br /> 24 Orange County, in hopes that money may be available. He said he is representing seniors in <br /> 25 Orange County. He praised the County for the two existing senior centers, but said they are <br /> 26 now full, and the seniors are still coming into Orange County. He added that seniors are living <br /> 27 longer. He said the Seymour Center needs more parking, which is a good thing. He said the <br /> 28 more ethnic groups are being reached than ever before. He said seniors today represent a <br /> 29 different kind of group. He said he hoped the Board would not see seniors as a liability, but as <br /> 30 a resource in Orange County. He asked the Board to fund the senior needs through the bond. <br /> 31 Mary Kraft read the following: <br /> 32 We urge you to reconsider how the bond referendum is earmarked. The <br /> 33 message we have for you today is that the demands of the senior population are <br /> 34 clearly growing faster than that of the schools, and if we ignore this emerging <br /> 35 reality, and fail to make the capital investments now, we will be placing everyone <br /> 36 in the County at risk. <br /> 37 A relatively short time ago you caused to be established something called <br /> 38 Project EngAGE, to anticipate and prepare for the gray tsunami: the accelerating growth <br /> 39 in the number of people above the age of 60, which already exceeds the number of <br /> 40 children in our county schools, and by some accounts is anticipated to explode by more <br /> 41 than 80% in the next ten years. So you engaged a volunteer corps of senior advocates <br /> 42 identifying and quantifying what this means for the county and the services the county <br /> 43 provides. <br /> 44 Over the last year, a group of 28, some of whom are behind me, have gained first hand <br /> 45 knowledge and direct experience with the special difficulties and opportunities this <br /> 46 demographic presents: <br /> 47 30% of people over 65 fall every year. <br /> 48 25% of this population lives in poverty <br /> 49 As we age our metabolism slows; our taste buds dull; and we lose interest in <br /> 50 shopping for groceries, cooking and even eating; our stamina, balance and strength <br />