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11 <br /> My understanding is there is a budget proposal that would freeze new funding for Lands Legacy <br /> for up to 90 years. No new funds for[and acquisition or for conservation easements. Existing <br /> funds will be used up within just a few years,so I suggest maintaining some level of funding each <br /> year to keep the program operating,and to be ready when new opportunities arise. <br /> ■ i know first-banal that the opportunity to protect land depends on a lot of factors—willing <br /> landowners, having partners,sometimes Luck,and available funds. It is vital to have <br /> money available when those situations line up. <br /> • The County is in the process of writing a Trails Plan; I attended a public input session just <br /> last week. The new Trails Plan will help further goals from the County's 2030 Parks& <br /> Recreation Master Plan,which found that the kind-s-ofrecceationJaciiitie_s_0_C_r_e ' ents <br /> want most are trails—walking trails,nature trails,bike trails,greenways. Trails and <br /> greenways are relatively low-cost facilities that benefit alt_people. Funding will be needed <br /> to acquire land to establish new trails. Similarly,the current Lands Legacy Action Plan <br /> prioritizes working with partners,here and in neighboring counties,to protect important <br /> wildlife corridors—altowing wildlife to navigate safety between existing green spaces. <br /> • Land acquisition for trails and for wildlife corridors is much less costly than buying land <br /> for parks and preserves. But there needs to be a dedicated source of funds at the ready. <br /> So again, I recommend maintaining an adequate level of funding in future years to keep the <br /> Lands Legacy program operating,and to be ready when opportunities arise that would enable <br /> the County to protect special places,either on its own,or better,in partnership with one of our <br /> fine land trusts and with matching contributions from state trust funds. <br /> 1 Thank you for this opportunity to comment. <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Shirley Thompson said she is a lifelong resident of Orange County. She said that she has <br /> 4 a problem with her water and has spent $7,000 and was told it would take another $8,000 to fix <br /> 5 the issue. She said that she does not have that kind of money and borrowed the $7,000. She said <br /> 6 she has not had water in her home since January 2024 and cannot afford to continue to look for <br /> 7 solutions. She asked the Board for assistance. <br /> 8 Charlotte Holmes spoke on behalf of her mother who does not have a ramp to her home <br /> 9 and could not get and out of her home after experiencing medical issues. She said there are <br /> 10 several residents in northern Orange County who need home repair assistance. <br /> 11 Allan Green said that conservation easements are needed to preserve farmland in Orange <br /> 12 County. He said there are elderly people who have easements at risk. He asked the Board to <br /> 13 remember the comments they made at the Whole Orange effort. He said that it is clear that the <br /> 14 easements are needed. He said they will also need trails and connectivity. He said this is a high <br /> 15 priority in the Parks and Recreation surveys. <br /> 16 Roger Callahan said he participates in the Handy Helpers program. He said his groups <br /> 17 helps people who need ramps, grab bars, or toilets fixed in their homes. He said that this is his <br /> 18 chosen work in retirement. He said this is a moral responsibility for our elders. He said there are <br /> 19 about 20 volunteers that work with them, and they use the money from the Department on Aging, <br /> 20 but that funding sometimes runs out. He said there is much work that needs to be done. He said <br /> 21 there is an estimate of about$2 million in need and a two-year wait time for the work to be finished. <br /> 22 He said they literally have elders falling through the floor. He said that the work he does allows <br />