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2 representatives specifically requested, as stated in the petition, that the Board "alter the method and manner by which Orange County Commissioners are elected to afford equal and fair representation to the residents of the county by adopting NCGS 153- 58(3)b, permitting the voters of Orange County to choose commissioners by electoral districts with each district being as nearly equal in population as practicable." The petition continued, "Further, that the qualified voters of each district nominate candidates and elect members who reside in the district for seats apportioned to that district and that some of the commissioners, but not more than half of the board, be allocated to the county as a whole, to be nominated and voted upon by the qualified voters of the entire county." Neither those making the request nor the petition submitted included any explanatory information or detailed any specific proposal regarding the format or implementation of the requested district representation for the Board. Upon hearing the request, the Board of Commissioners asked that the Orange County Manager and County staff review the issue and the petition submitted and provide a report to the Board. Staff subsequently provided that report at the Board's May 5, 2005 work session. The report included information on the following: 1) the legal framework for structure of boards of county commissioners; 2) the various methods of at -large election, district election, and combination of at- large /district election utilized for boards of commissioners in the 99 other North Carolina counties; 3) a history of past discussions by the Orange County Board of Commissioners in regard Board representation and election; 4) some limited boundaries and statistics information showing the population distribution as it may relate to the consideration/ formulation of district representation for Orange County. The report was not intended to be an investigation of the benefits, costs, opportunities, hurdles, or timelines that may be associated with the consideration and possible implementation of district representation for the Board of Commissioners. It was intended to provide an initial framework of information upon which the Board of Commissioners could deliberate and determine as appropriate any further steps in evaluating this issue and responding to the request and petition submitted. Following staff's May 5th presentation of the report, the Board scheduled tonight's public hearing as well as the public hearing that occurred on August 24, 2005 in Chapel Hill. The Board had also requested additional information to which staff responded in Attachments 2 through 8 of the August 24, 2005 public hearing materials. Attachment 9 to the August 24, 2005 public hearing materials included three options developed by Chair Moses Carey that provide different concepts for nominating county commissioners by residential district. Those options served in some instances as the basis for public comments at the August 24th public hearing, and will likely also be discussed during tonight's public hearing. It should be noted that the concepts detailed in these options have not been assessed or number - tested, and following the public hearings and any direction from the Board, will likely require assessment and refinement for additional review and discussion by the Board. At the August 24, 2005 public hearing, the Board heard input from several residents on their views regarding the structure of the Board. Tonight's public hearing provides another opportunity to hear that input.