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Attachment 1 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 WORK SESSION <br /> 5 November 11, 2021 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Work Session on Thursday, <br /> 9 November 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Building. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Renee Price, Vice Chair Jamezetta Bedford, <br /> 12 and Commissioners Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee, and Anna <br /> 13 Richards <br /> 14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None <br /> 15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> 16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager <br /> 17 Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> 18 appropriately below) <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Chair Price called the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting to order at 7:00 <br /> 21 p.m. She said this is the first time this board has held a public meeting in person since the start <br /> 22 of the pandemic. <br /> 23 Chair Price said the County Attorney requested the addition of a closed session at the <br /> 24 end of the meeting. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to <br /> 27 add a closed session to the agenda, pursuant to NC General Statute § 143-318.11(a)(3) "To <br /> 28 consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the <br /> 29 attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body." <br /> 30 <br /> 31 VOTE: Unanimous <br /> 32 <br /> 33 1. Food Systems Community & Economic Development Update <br /> 34 The board received a presentation and discussed regional food and agricultural systems <br /> 35 status, COVID effects, current initiatives, trends and directions. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 BACKGROUND: <br /> 38 There has been growing interest in recent years around local and regional food systems and the <br /> 39 extent to which a more proximate, deep, diverse, and equitable system is possible. The recent <br /> 40 pandemic has further illuminated issues, challenges, and also opportunities within the <br /> 41 economic, social, and environmental aspects of food systems. North Carolina, and Orange <br /> 42 County in particular, has led many advances over the years in sustainable food systems and <br /> 43 agriculture. In the current environment, values and demand are changing rapidly, creating the <br /> 44 need for effective responses in policy, funding, education, and advocacy. Informed <br /> 45 collaborative regional efforts, based on trusted community relationships, are critical in the <br /> 46 development of more resilient food systems. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Mike Ortosky, Community Development Agent— Orange County Cooperative Extension, <br /> 49 introduced the item and made the following PowerPoint presentation: <br /> 50 <br /> 51 Slide #1 <br />