Minutes-09-21-2023-Work Session - Strategic Plan

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30 Slide #35 Environmental Scan Discussion What stood out in the presentation? Did you learn anything nevi? Which themes are the most important in shaping your thinking about the future direction of Orange County? b Commissioner Greene said she was surprised that climate issues were not at the top of community priorities. She said she felt climate action should be a priority for the Board. Commissioner Fowler said many of the responses from the community have a climate impact, such as bicycle and pedestrian trails and affordable housing. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she was surprised that the white population of the county was decreasing and the black population was staying the same. She was also surprised that the Latino population only increased by 1%. She said it doesn't feel like that in the schools. Chair Bedford noted that it might be related to in-county migration due to mobile home parks closing in the municipalities and populations moving to the rural areas. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said in the northern part of the county, it feels like the black population is decreasing. Commissioner Richards said it felt similar in Chapel Hill. Commissioner Fowler said the Latino population might be under-represented. Commissioner Hamilton said that when she went to apartments and condos while campaigning, she was surprised by the number of African Americans living in those developments. She said that as African Americans move to the county, they might not be living in traditional African American communities. Bonnie Hammersley said that the percentage of African American employees has increased by 20% from 2015 to 2023. She said the White employee population grew by 4%. She said 43% of employees live in the county. Travis Myren said that most of the students leaving the school systems for charter schools are white.