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6 <br /> plan and all of its enrollment elements will be a significant transition to navigate for our monthly <br /> clients which average 16,436. We anticipate that families will call with questions beginning in <br /> June as the enrollment information is distributed; therefore, more staff time will be needed in this <br /> capacity, along with verifying current addresses for enrolled participants. <br /> As we go forward into this next fiscal year, the DSS Board members appreciate the ongoing <br /> support from the county commissioners and county manager in our staff's work and services to <br /> our Orange County citizens. <br /> Going forward, the DSS Board appreciates the support of the Board of County Commissioners <br /> Commissioner Price asked if there could be clarification about the 55 on the wait list. <br /> Nancy Coston, DSS Director, said the State had everyone go to a childcare wait list <br /> while it determined if there were any available funds to reallocate. She said DSS is looking into <br /> how much County funds are available to serve children without getting over extended. She said <br /> some funds may be moved around to serve more children, and this waiting list has a tendency <br /> to grow rapidly. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if this was the same list to which the Board directed <br /> additional funding last year, or the year before. <br /> Nancy Coston said yes, it was three years ago when the State made large cuts. She <br /> said there were a few years thereafter when the money was not needed, but it is needed again. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the federal shutdown had an impact. <br /> Nancy Coston said there was some bad information that went out about the food <br /> program, and her food and nutrition staff was very stressed; but the State managed to space out <br /> the next distributions so the families did not get into a crisis, and any gaps were filled with extra <br /> funds, food bank, donations, etc. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin referred to the subsidies, and asked if there is an issue in <br /> capacity of service providers, or if it is just an issue of funding. <br /> Nancy Coston said at this point, it is just an issue of funding. <br /> • Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) Cecilia Redding, Vice Chair <br /> Cecelia Redding said she is a farmer in Orange County, and reviewed the following <br /> APB's accomplishments: <br /> • In 2018, reviewed and recommended approval for 16 additional farms as Voluntary <br /> Agricultural District and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District farms, adding 1,748 <br /> acres to these programs. This increased the total enrollment in both programs to 14,303 <br /> acres on 109 farms throughout the County, and increased acreage in all of the seven <br /> Agricultural Districts. <br /> • Hosted the third annual breakfast program/informational workshop for existing and <br /> prospective VAD/EVAD farm owners to encourage new participants and answer <br /> questions; nearly 100 attended at the Schley Grange Hall. <br /> • Starting in 2018, the APB fills a dedicated seat on the board of the Orange <br /> County Food Council, in recognition of the close ties between the two programs. <br /> • Promoted participation in the Century Farm Program by assisting farm owners with the <br /> enrollment process. <br /> • Continued installing new road signs to identify farms enrolled in the Voluntary <br /> Agricultural District programs, as well as to recognize participating farmers and increase <br /> program visibility <br />