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9 <br /> is critical that the Board prioritize. He understood that there will be things that will be easy to <br /> accomplish, but wants to avoid returning in a year to learn that the items with one dot were all <br /> accomplished, but the items with five dots were still being agonized over. He said it would be <br /> unsuccessful, to do the easiest things. He hopes the Board will push itself today to prioritize, <br /> and follow through in the upcoming year. He wants to be able to say to people, "This is what we <br /> did this year," and to point to specific things, whether it is affordable housing, a scholarship fund, <br /> or something else. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he does not think the Board is effectively integrating the staff <br /> into the retreat. It may be that the idea of this retreat is that it is just for the policy makers to <br /> talk, noting that staff goals and strategies were really helpful. He would like to hear candidly <br /> what the department heads think about what the Board is doing. He would like to know from <br /> staff if the Board is giving good, positive and helpful guidance, or if it is sending staff down rabbit <br /> holes that are unproductive. Maybe that is not something for the retreat: the Board will hear <br /> from department heads during the budget process, but that is kind of formal. He would be open <br /> to hearing from anybody, and said staff can email him with feedback. He would love to hear it. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said Board members must be more candid with each other, if <br /> there are hurt feelings or grudges. Obviously, a lot of folks were unsatisfied with the way the <br /> bond discussion went, and there was never a conversation about that. He said he talked with <br /> Chair McKee separately, which was good. He said the Board should be candid with each other, <br /> in order to be able to work efficiently and effectively. All Board members are grown-ups, and <br /> can do this. Politically, Board members are all much closer in vision and ideology than is <br /> realized, but sometimes there are undertones; Board members need to be candid about it to <br /> resolve issues. He thought that kind of conversation is something that can be built into the <br /> retreat process, in the way that Commissioner Jacobs suggested, or it can be a separate <br /> conversation. All cards need to be on the table. <br /> Commissioner Price said the Board needs the opportunity to have a conversation and <br /> get its own ideas out, but it might be good for part of the retreat to include hearing from staff, as <br /> has occurred in other retreats. Otherwise it felt like a fishbowl, and she has no idea what is <br /> going on in the minds of staff, what may be realistic, and how it fits with the staff work plans. <br /> Commissioner Price said these goals have existed for a while. They are very good, but <br /> consider goal #6 for example, is it really effective now ten years after it was created? They <br /> honed in today on education, and to some degree on parks, but libraries and recreation and <br /> animal welfare are just not fitting there anymore. Maybe as Orange County is evolving our <br /> goals need to evolve. Maybe the goals should be shifted around to address other issues that <br /> get overlooked. <br /> Adjourn <br /> Chair McKee thanked the retreat committee, the Board, the staff and the facilitator for <br /> their efforts today. The meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m. <br /> Earl McKee, Chair <br /> Donna Baker, <br /> Clerk to the Board <br />