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6 <br /> 1 6. Regular Agenda <br /> 2 <br /> 3 a. Presentation of Final Report from the BOCC Elections Advisory Group (BEAG) <br /> 4 The Board received the Final Report on the Process for Electing County Commissioners <br /> 5 in Orange County from the BOCC Elections Advisory Group. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 BACKGROUND: <br /> 8 At the Board of Commissioners' April 7, 2020 Virtual Business meeting, a request/petition was <br /> 9 presented that the Board discuss and potentially change a portion of the process under which <br /> 10 some or all Board members are elected. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 The Board subsequently discussed the issue at its May 5, 2020 Virtual Business meeting and <br /> 13 voted to: <br /> 14 1) Establish a committee to study alternative methods of election; <br /> 15 2) Select members for the committee no later than January 31, 2021; <br /> 16 3) Have the committee review options and report back by July 31, 2021; and <br /> 17 4) For the Board to review the recommendations, and if necessary conduct public <br /> 18 hearings and make a decision in time for the March 2022 primary election. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 The Board subsequently discussed the proposal further at its September 10, 2020 work <br /> 21 session. Staff requested direction from the Board on: <br /> 22 • the total number of members the committee should include; <br /> 23 • whether the committee should consist entirely of residents; <br /> 24 • whether election or other experts would be considered/appointed; <br /> 25 • whether there should be representation from nonprofit entities; <br /> 26 • whether there would be a formal application process; and <br /> 27 • any other details regarding the establishment of the committee. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Based on direction given at that meeting, the Clerk's Office solicited applications from Orange <br /> 30 County residents for fifteen (15) seats for the BOCC Elections Advisory Group, with <br /> 31 appointments to be made by January 31, 2021. The Group materials noted that the purpose is <br /> 32 to "study alternative methods/districts to elect the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and <br /> 33 make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners." <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Staff advertised the application opportunity on the county website and also published two Public <br /> 36 Service Announcements regarding the Group. The opportunity to apply to serve was shared on <br /> 37 WCHL radio station. An announcement also occurred at the Board's October 20, 2020 <br /> 38 Business meeting that the county was recruiting for potential appointees to the BOCC Elections <br /> 39 Advisory Group and that applications were available on the county website under Board of <br /> 40 Commissioners -Volunteer Advisory Boards & Commissions. The county received applications <br /> 41 from twenty-three (23) interested individuals. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 At its February 2, 2021 Business meeting, the Board of Commissioners appointed fifteen (15) <br /> 44 members to the BOCC Elections Advisory Group. The Board directed the Group to select Co- <br /> 45 Chairs, with one individual from the District 1 electoral area of the county and one individual <br /> 46 from the District 2 electoral area of the county. The Board also approved a charge and timeline <br /> 47 for the Group, with the Group to provide its report back to the BOCC by July 31, 2021. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 The BEAG subsequently convened seven times, with its first meeting on February 25, 2021. <br /> 50 Retired District Court Judge Jay Bryan joined the Group as its Facilitator at the Group's second <br />