Minutes 09-15-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Nicholas Petro, National Weather Service (NWS), gave an overview of the Storm Ready program, and said to be recognized as Storm Ready, communities must meet guidelines established by the NWS in partnership with federal, state, and local emergency management professionals. More specifically, to be recognized as Storm Ready, communities must: • Incorporate severe weather threats into their hazard mitigation and emergency response plans. • Establish a 24-hour Warning Point and Emergency Operations Center. • Establish multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public. • Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally. • Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars, severe weather spotter training and by conducting emergency exercises. He said the NWS has designated Orange County as a Storm Ready County, and this is a result of their dedication in Orange County. He said this would help prepare the Orange County Community. Commissioner Rich thanked Josh Hollingsworth and Kirby Saunders for their hard work, and for using Social Media to promote and educate. e. Orange County Resolution of Support for Small Solar The Board considered approving the resolution of support for small-scale residential solar installations in Orange County, and authorizing the Chair to sign the resolution. Chair McKee said past Commissioner John Hartwell brought this proclamation forth. John Hartwell said this is a rare and needed opportunity to better the community. He said when he went to get his permit for Orange County for this solar array; he was not very well received. He said this is not how it should be. He said with the adoption of this resolution, Orange County residents will be empowered, and the staff will be receptive to other residents wanting permits. John Hartwell read the resolution: ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Resolution of Support for Small Solar WHEREAS, the widespread adoption of solar technology would reduce the necessity to build additional nuclear or fossil-fuel generating plants with their attendant problems; and WHEREAS, the County has endorsed the development of a pilot solar photovoltaic system within its own County facilities; and WHEREAS, the County's 2030 Comprehensive Plan establishes several goals and objectives encouraging the development of alternative energy sources in accordance with applicable land use regulations; and WHEREAS, the price of small residential solar voltaic arrays has recently fallen and kits containing all of the necessary electrical components have become readily available, and WHEREAS, recent local efforts to promote the development of small residential solar have been successful, including the Solarize Orange project which has resulted in new solar installations on over 150 homes and small businesses across Orange County in 2014 and 2015; and