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19 <br />was defined as a farm, and each "district" was reserved a seat on the agricultural advisory <br />board. As enrollment increased, state and county staff realized the potential for the advisory <br />boards to become unmanageable as 20, 30 or more farms became part of the program. They <br />used an alternative definition that was subsequently provided for in the new model ordinance - <br />defining a "district" as a geographic area of the County, within which there would be qualifying <br />certified farms. One representative from each "district" was appointed to the advisory board. <br />In April 2005, the APB completed a lengthy review of the ordinance and received comments <br />from the Ccunty Attorney about the ordinance language and provisions. <br />The attached recommended changes to the Voluntary Farmland Preservation ordinance would <br />address the changes noted above, and would specifically: <br />1.. Lower the acreage threshold from 80 acres to 20 acres to allow for more small farms <br />and alternative/organic operations to qualify; <br />2, Modify the terms and definitions of Voluntary Agricultural Districts to he in keeping with <br />new model ordinances and other new ordinances in other counties - to create <br />geographic areas as "districts" within which qualifying farms would enroll, and provide <br />that a member from these farms within a geographic district would be appointed <br />(currently, each farm was its own district and had a dedicated seat on the board); and <br />3, Make needed membership and attendance changes to allow for removal of members <br />who are not active (these provisions did not exist previously). <br />Please feel free to contact myself or Tina Moon (cmoonCa~co.orange.nc.us , 245-2583) if we can <br />provide any additional information. <br />