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14 <br /> 1 • Planning Board: Craig Benedict, Director <br /> 2 Craig Benedict reviewed the following highlights: <br /> 3 o new public hearing process, which allows for some expediting <br /> 4 o amendments made regarding temporary health care structures, and those who <br /> 5 are unrelated to allow for more flexibility <br /> 6 o collaborating on affordable housing issues, work with Information Technology on <br /> 7 broadband, and working with Economic Development on new SWOT Analysis <br /> 8 Craig Benedict said some goals for 2017 are: <br /> 9 o Housing —clustering of homes; public water and sewer; off site septic <br /> 10 o considering rural clustering <br /> 11 o streamlining regulations <br /> 12 <br /> 13 3. Discussion Regarding Election Method for Members of the Orange County Board <br /> 14 of Commissioners <br /> 15 Greg Wilder, County Manager's office, reviewed the following background information: <br /> 16 <br /> 17 BACKGROUND: <br /> 18 At the Board of Commissioners' January 24, 2005 regular meeting, representatives of a group <br /> 19 of Orange County residents addressed the Board and submitted a 1,200-signature petition to <br /> 20 the Board regarding the method by which the members of the Board of Commissioners were <br /> 21 elected in Orange County. The representatives requested that the Board review the current <br /> 22 method of election for the members of the Board, which entailed all five members of the Board <br /> 23 being nominated and elected to staggered four-year terms on an at-large basis. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 At the Board's direction, the County Manager and County staff reviewed the issue and the <br /> 26 petition submitted and provided a report to the Board at the May 5, 2005 work session. The <br /> 27 report provided an initial framework of information upon which the Board of Commissioners <br /> 28 could deliberate and determine as appropriate any further steps in evaluating the issue and <br /> 29 responding to the request and petition submitted. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 The Board then pursued a series of meetings over the next 13 months, including public <br /> 32 hearings, Board discussions on possible draft district maps/plans for either a five or seven <br /> 33 member Board, and decisions on specific map/plan issues. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 The public hearings and discussions led to the development of a map/plan (identified in 2006 as <br /> 36 "Proposal D")for a seven-member board that met all statutory requirements. The County <br /> 37 Attorney prepared a draft resolution calling for a November 2006 referendum in concert with <br /> 38 "Proposal D", and the Board approved that resolution and the election plan/map at its June 27, <br /> 39 2006 regular meeting in preparation for a voter referendum as required by the North Carolina <br /> 40 General Statutes. The approved resolution and election map/plan are provided at Attachment <br /> 41 A. The population deviations for the approved 2006 map/plan, based on the 2000 Census, are <br /> 42 provided at Attachment B. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 In the November 2006 referendum, the voters subsequently approved the election plan/map <br /> 45 with more than two-thirds supporting the initiative. The election plan/map was implemented with <br /> 46 the May 2008 primary election and all seven members of the current Board have since qualified <br /> 47 and been elected under the plan. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 The election plan/map approved in 2006 established a district/at large system for electing seven <br /> 50 members of the Board of Commissioners, and includes two nominating districts. <br />