Agenda 12-02-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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11 1 Commissioner Marcoplos said they are all good applicants. 2 Chair Rich asked if these should all go on the consent agenda for appointment. 3 Commissioner Bedford said this is a 15-person board, and only one person will be a 4 minority. 5 Chair Rich said diversity will be a challenge with this board due to the composition of 6 farmers in Orange County. 7 Commissioner McKee said the BOCC can recruit to try and change this lack of 8 diversity. 9 Commissioner Marcoplos said the Board needs to have a discussion about this 10 challenge of recruitment. He said the County must spread the word about these boards to 11 more diverse groups and people within the community. He said he is not sure of the best 12 way to achieve this, but it will be the most fruitful way to diversify the applicant pool. 13 Commissioner Price said all of these boards have been in place for so long, with the 14 same people, and the BOCC tends to say OK. She said this causes some applicants to 15 think it is not worth the time to apply. 16 Commissioner Marcoplos said this needs to change. 17 Chair Rich said the BOCC can charge this advisory board with this challenge of 18 greater diversity. 19 Commissioner Price said diversity is a challenge across the County, and something 20 needs to be done overall. She said the County claims to value diversity, but needs to show 21 people that their voices are wanted; people need to feel included. 22 Chair Rich asked if the BOCC should move these recommendations to the consent 23 agenda, as well as reach out to the advisory board to encourage more diverse recruitment. 24 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the staff person is who is assigned to this Board 25 could be identified. 26 Thom Freeman-Stuart said Peter Sandback. 27 Commissioner Dorosin said the BOCC could charge Peter Sandback to reach out to 28 other organizations related to people of color involved in agriculture. He said the County 29 needs be creative and break out of this rut, and task itself to be more inclusive. 30 Bonnie Hammersley said can speak to all staff reps for the Boards and 31 Commissions, and discuss outreach for diversity on the BOCC's behalf. 32 Commissioner Price said she and Thom Freeman-Stuart have plans to go to some 33 organizational meetings, and are in the process of coordinating this. 34 Commissioner McKee said the BOCC also needs to take responsibility. He said 35 there are some applicants and advisory board members that he has personally recruited, 36 and if BOCC members know, or meet, people who are impressive and align with these 37 committees, the BOCC members should reach out. 38 Commissioner Marcoplos said it is fine to reach out to staff to get this going, but it is 39 important to also look at how the Board can impact getting more diverse applicants, so it 40 does not just fall on the various boards and commissions. He said there needs to be a 41 systematic approach and process. 42 Commissioner Bedford asked if it is a requirement that the applicants own a farm. 43 Thom Freeman-Stuart said no it is not a requirement. 44 Commissioner Bedford said farmhands might be good to approach. 45 Commissioner Dorosin said perhaps the Food Council could help. 46 Commissioner Greene said perhaps the Breeze Farm could also help. 47 Commissioner Bedford said perhaps Cooperative Extension, to broaden the scope. 48 Commissioner Price said County also needs to build a culture of inclusiveness, and 49 people need to feel they will get something out of serving on a board.