Agenda - 05-15-2018 8-a - Minutes

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15 • Finally for a local focus, time limited crisis assistance – due to particular weather events 1 (localized flooding, extreme cold) have had more requests for assistance to prevent 2 homelessness than previous years; ongoing availability of mental health resources, 3 transportation access for rural sector. 4 5 As always, we continually appreciate the support of the county manager and county 6 commissioners in recognizing our work and services to our Orange County citizens. 7 8 Commissioner Rich asked if staff would provide the Orange County transportation plan 9 to Board of Social Services as well. 10 11 2. Environmental Impact as Part of Agenda Abstracts 12 13 PURPOSE: 14 To consider incorporating an additional information section into the Board of Commissioners’ 15 meeting agenda abstracts to address Environmental Impact. 16 17 BACKGROUND: 18 At the Board of Commissioners’ February 6, 2018 regular meeting, a petition was submitted 19 that the Board considers incorporating an additional Environmental Impact information section 20 into the Board of Commissioners’ meeting agenda abstracts. 21 22 The Board’s meeting agenda abstracts currently includes information such as the Subject, the 23 responsible Department, the Purpose, Background information, the Financial Impact and 24 Recommendations from the Manager (and other staff on occasion). Agenda abstracts also 25 include a Social Justice Impact section, which was added in September 2015 and relates to the 26 five (5) Social Justice Goals adopted by the Board of Commissioners in September 2010. 27 28 This item gives the Board the opportunity to discuss possibly incorporating an additional 29 information section to address Environmental Impact. If the Board does determine to move 30 forward with the additional section, it will be necessary to establish a framework as a basis for 31 any statements or conclusions included by staff in the Environmental Impact section of future 32 abstracts. In conjunction with that framework, the Board will also need to determine the 33 topics/issues that would and would not be addressed in the new section. Topics that could or 34 could not be considered for inclusion are: air quality, drinking water quality, groundwater impact, 35 watershed impact, visual impact, vehicular impacts, pedestrian impacts, safety impacts, noise 36 impacts, vegetation impacts, and likely others. 37 38 Commissioner McKee asked if there is a goal trying to be accomplished by this petition. 39 Commissioner Marcoplos said the goal is similar to the other impacts noted on 40 abstracts, and considering the environment is always important. He said this evening’s item is 41 to define the scope of what they would like to include. 42 Commissioner McKee said he is not opposed to it, but the County’s policies reflect the 43 Board’s commitment to social justice and the environment, and he is not sure adding another 44 section causes any greater emphasis. He said the Board’s actions speak far louder than its 45 words. He said the agenda abstracts all blend together, and he rarely reads past the financial 46 impact. He said he would never oppose it, but he is not sure this change would add anything. 47 Commissioner Jacobs said he does not always read the social justice goal either, but 48 the abstracts are outwardly directed, and serve as a communication tool, to the public. He said 49 the current federal and state administrations are attacking the environment, and it is a 50